Darkest Hour

Joe gets it Wrong again, the year’s 2^nd best Dunkirk film, British Lincoln, turns out to be Dullest Two Hours. Even-Older-man’s brilliant performance is utterly riveting but struggles to maintain audience support through shelling of bizarre stylistic missteps. Interesting but subpar subway scene proves that you Winston, you lose some.

Dawn of the Planet of the Apes

If only the VFX team could have painted better story motivation or character development onto a script filled with dialog more on-the-nose than dots on Serkis.  Brilliant effects (excluding over-ambitious deer) hardly make up for a film so over-simplified that any ape could understand it (and declare war in response).

Lawless

Labaeiouf finally lets real actors take center stage, and the result is an excellent film.  Hardy’s invincibility is easier to accept than his relation to siblings.  Chastain’s anything but chaste, and Pearce steals show from underused Oldman.  Selective use of brutal violence make it all the more powerful and shocking.

True Romance

Tarantino’s tale of a clean Slater’s injection into criminal world is brilliantly crafted and expertly populate with the best bit parts that Walken, Oldman, Hopper, Pitt and others have ever done.  Turning Slater and Arquette 1 into empathetic charaster is a True Miracle.  Naturally born prequel to Stone’s killed romance.

The Dark Knight Rises

Rises to challenge of tying in elements of both predecessors.  Nolan incepts outside cast, all of whom perform spectacularly.  Replaces technological faults of previous films with medical and logical gaps.  Geriatric batman’s recovery, Cathaway’s equipment, and strongman’s weak motivation lack conviction.  Regardless, powerful film.  Could have used a spinning top.

The Dark Knight

Three performances unhindered despite facelifts, one makeup, one CG, and one re-casting.  Cleverly philosophical story transforms Bat into symbol that Begins began.  Thematic elements, dark vs. light, chaos vs. chance, etc. sometimes overwhelm a plot which keeps rebooting through the film.  Disappointing last page of Ledger in film and life.

Batman Begins

The bat rises like a depressed phoenix in this gloomy resurrection of a previously kitschy saga.  Deep voiced Bateman, Caine’s Alfred, and Freeman’s Q provide performance highlights, while bad guys are bit underwhelming.  Phenomenal rendition of origin story overshadows weaker second act.  Clever twist, but not so clever realism-evaporating device.

Kung Fu Panda 2

Worthy sequel to a brilliant film. Lacks emotional truth of a Pixar film, but still finds clever dialogue, incredible fight scene effects, and underused voice actors of first installment. Builds on first and leaves room for a third, in fact almost begs for a tri-doosh to contain this Black-built Panda.

Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy

Hardy, Strong, Hurt, Oldman. All perform well and names describe Gary perfectly. His performance is top-notch as he rides a Titanic cast-list into a slow and methodical spy quasi-thriller. More tinkering and tailoring than soldiering or spying. One would imagine that a movie this big would be easier to follow.

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2

Happy Potter and the Octilogy ending battle. Final chapter is far-cry from blue-balled predecessor. Kill Voldemort vol. 2 leaves all the apparating behind and focuses instead on hurling digital fire back and forth. Brief stop by the Matrix weapons room precedes Aslan Potter saving the day. Then poof, aging spell.

Book of Eli

Sheriff Gordon rallies EVERYONE to hunt down Kimbo Slice in I Am The Road Warrior. Comic book perfectly stylistically rendered for screen. Washington meets George and Martha before massive shootout and strange boat scene straight from Children of Inside Men. Then, like Clockwork the eternal king of dystopian Doomsdays appears.

Leon the Professional

Melodramatic ‘90s music cues aside, a nearly perfect movie. Oldman, Reno, and Portman give their best performances to date in Besson’s perfectly choreographed action flick. Features a perfect blend of testosterone packed action and sentimental character study. Leon should pay a visit to the distributors of the abominable American re-edit.