Moneyball

Pitt delivers another expectedly good performance in least sporty sports movie ever. Jonah peaks over the comedic hill, revisiting Evan Alrighty. A quick clever movie that actually says very little, very simply and slowly. Sorkin and Zaillan’s writing again make uninteresting premises into compelling stories, and competent leads cement quality.

The Descendants

Another tragicomedy about Paynefully unhappy people. Clooney’s most down to the earth performance, with only one ‘look at my eyebrows’ lapse, is a bit like Schmidt turned sideways. Supported by comedic bit player army and truly ascendant kids. Forster’s first forcible performance and Lillard proves that he’s still pretty shag-y.

Hugo

Scorsese casts an actor even more baby-faced than Dicaprio in first family film. Child stars play Potter cast perfectly as Kingsley mopes his way through a quasi-historical depression. Flashbacks can’t seem to break Law free of his A.I. days, as Borat slapsticks a weird taste on an otherwise quaint film.

J. Edgar

Dicaprio dons Benjamin’s buttons for this sprawling depiction of bureaucratic sneakery. Essentially an unreliable sister movie to the even more tedious Good Shepherd, with a stronger performance from the Departed lead. Watts shines light on well-handled controversial elements, essentially Leo’s resistance to getting nailed by a perpetually young sounding Hammer.

Bridesmaids

Female reboot of tired Apatow formula ends up supergood thanks to remarkable ensemble cast. McCarthy steals the show and countless puppies from army of SNL vets, while well-cast brit roommates fall by the wayside. Byrne burns bridges while unknown male star builds career. Starts with a bang as Hamm porks.

The Hangover: Part II

The Hangover Again, only this time it hurts. Phillips pukes this one out on its two year due date, and this underdeveloped clone struggles along the same path as its predecessor, never managing to outdo a single joke. On the bright side, the cast are still funny, if completely predictable.

The Help

Stone sinks into the background and helps her darker supporting stars shine the brightest. Alarmingly long, and strangely comedic in feel, this race relations piece astonishes on several fronts. Spencer finally lands a large enough role and executes it masterfully, while Chastain and Davis keep the critics in their pockets.

Immortals

Tarsem maintains long Hollywood tradition of making mediocre movies about Greek Gods. He does elevate the 300 slow-mo style to an Olympian level as he executes the most beautiful carnage ever captured on ‘film.’ Rourke and Cavill take their rolls seriously, but the screenwriter and the Gods’ costumer certainly didn’t.

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (2011)

Swedish film (virtually identical shots, character appearance, and pacing) plus Social Reznor score and Finchermatography equals still a great, if very familiar movie. Craig manages to separate this more bookish investigator from the bonds of his repertoire, and Rooney’s Noomi is powerful but very derivative. A difficult but excellent re-watch.

Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol

Bird soars in live action debut and confirms suspicions that yes, Renner can save any series. Brilliantly comedic and excellently executed, this Ghost overshadows the rest of the series. Slightly contrived ending and light-speed global travel make parts of movie improbable, but expected retirement suggests upcoming merger, The Bourne Impossible.