The Lego Movie 2: The Second Part

Though Lord Miller supplied the building blocks, in the hands of less expert craftsman, the result feels piecemeal at best. Painfully disjointed opening vignettes could’ve used a bit of cohesive glue, and a few clever self-referential gags and reversals of cinematic expectation in third act don’t compensate for schizophrenic storytelling.

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.

Love & Mercy

Masterfully presents the pitch perfect parallel performances of Dano and Cusack.  Integrates documentary, cinematic and surrealist styles with the flair and skill of Wilson armed with an animal army.  Banks certainly generates interest, but it’s Giamatti’s Eugene-ics that make for the most compelling and disturbing part of this Beach Boyopic.

Movie 43

Outstanding cast of A-listers assemble to breathe life into SNL rejected short scripts… and fail. Stolen jokes, weak performances, and senseless frame story further ensure disaster.  Like ‘Funny or Die’ but mostly the latter as each segment manages a moment of humor, then milks it to painful and poisonous death. 

The Hunger Games: Catching Fire

Apparently the game-makers caught and fired whoever did the Shakicam to part 1, because this sequel is well choreographed and crisply shot.  With deeper character development, larger cast, and imaximum number of digital tricks, the only thing extinguishing this fire’s sure victory is a twisty spoiler of a ship-sized plothole.

The Hunger Games

Battle Royale: America Edition bourne edits around the gore to market violence to teens.  Clever modifications make for solid adaptation of cerebral action novel to screen.  Technology is a bit forced, as is love story with utterly emotionless baby Thor.  Jones, Harrelson, Tucci, Banks and Kravitz add fantastic fifth elements.

Zack and Miri Make a Porno

Jay cuts hair to signify Smith going Rogen in Apatow attempt. Plenty of clever gags come easy from ample risqué situations, but lack the overall lovable Clerks quirks. The nudity aside, an otherwise fairly conventional recent rom-com. Brandon and Long steal show and take more from each other than names.

Role Models

Hybrid of Apatow and Phillips comedic styles puts Rudd alongside Stifler in his first decent Role since Pie. Generally funny with humor stemming from endearing irreverence. Succeeds at building emotional connections but also forsakes them in favor of gotcha jokes. Fairly satisfying plot gets a bit too fantastical towards end.

W.

Alarmingly objective and seemingly fair representation of recent controversial events. Brolin’s performance is incredibly compelling without becoming a caricature. Supporting cast are for the most part impeccable as well, thought Wright and Newton are a bit hard to accept. Objectivity hindered by amusing and unrealistic compilation conversations of so-called Bushisms.