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 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 Master

Phoenix rises from the ashes to become highlight of an impressively neutral portrayal of Scientology-style cults.  Anderson’s There Will Be Liquor lacks the cinematography of its Bloody predecessor and has even less story to-boot.  Hoffman’s return and Adams’ appearance in another religious piece still leave Doubts about meandering anti-climactic plot.

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 Ides of March

Old-fashioned political drama. Witty banter of a Sorkin script without clever plotting or potent subtlety. The messages are nothing new and story seems to build to shameless punch-line but even in spite of unrelated plot-points still carries suspense to the end. If Clooney went into politics it would be unfair.

Boogie Nights

Compelling look at veritable porn family and even more compelling looks at RollerGraham and most of Moore. Brilliant long shots, great performances, and resurrection of Reynolds lend to nearly perfect ensemble film. Wahlberg accurately predicts ‘big stardom’ despite odd car scene with his ten dollar 13-inch-long. Cast reappears in Magnolia.

The Invention of Lying

Gervais finds the screenwriting pot-of-gold with this brilliant high-concept premise and then tosses it in the crapper, with alarmingly unclever story. Toes line of controversy but avoids leaping into it and disappoints with a disappointingly (and literally) Deus Ex Machina conclusion. All-star comedic supporting cast cannot support this film enough.

Magnolia

Anderson channels Altman to perfect his Boogie Nights structure. Complex non-story with who’s who of actors delivering performances of their careers. Cruise plays his most obnoxious and sympathetic character yet and Hoffman proves how great he is. Even spontaneous musicality and amphibious precipitation can’t detract from this mind-bogglingly beautiful masterpiece.

Doubt

Julie and Julia try to figure out Capote’s habits without dirtying their own. Excellent performances from lead players steer film to emotional excellence. Suffers from ‘clearly still a play’ syndrome despite addition of single exterior scene featuring award nominated performance from Viola Davis’ mucus. Certain to cause countless unwinnable debates.