To the Wonder

Malick picks over-ripe fruit from earlier tree and cooks them into somber slice of life.  Plot meanders aimlessly, probably struggling to see with endless sunsets in its eyes.  Cast who actually made the cut prove they can walk with feeling. Title is a toast to wondering what the film’s about.

Mockingjay: Part 1

Expository non-plot hardly whistles by as the capital pays the bird to remain flightless in the hopes of raking in more Pan-Emerican dollars.  Meanwhile the rebels leak a host of nude photos to raise public awareness, while Gale gets stormier, Peeta gets thinner, and Julianne regrets not making better contacts.

The Big Short

This economics lesson is kind of boring so here’s a half-dozen Oscar winners to explain it to you.  Interesting editing and solid performances anchor Crazy, Stupid Banks and mask the virtual absence of plot or character developments.  Shorting The Sheep of Wall Street’s awards chances would be a solid bet.

True Story

Hillco’s performances are almost as straight as the truly twistless plot.  Certainly doesn’t reflect any unethical embellishments, as a compelling and well-paced first half falls terribly flat and is sentenced to an underwhelming conclusion without chance of appeal to anyone.  Finale will leave audiences wondering why This is the End.

The Monuments Men

Danny Ocean hears artocaust has occurred and assembles his Fantastic Mr. Friends (plus an Artist), even hiring Private Ryan to consult as they steal stolen scenes.  Band of Grandfathers’ Downfall is total tonal confusion between corny comedy and heavy-handed history resulting in a monumentally unsatisfactory Intollerable Basterd of a film.

Brooklyn

Saoirse drags her lonely bones to America as her accent finally goes home.  Despite an understated plot Emory certainly isn’t bored as he brandoes it again.  Walters stays seated and stands out as several other wizards immigrate into a story that is endearing and pleasantly simplistic but not spectacularly memorable.