The Gift

Edgerton steers both film and its family on a path to insanity.  His gift is really just a compelling role to himself, as Bateman plays an intolerable two-dimensional tool white Hall collapses and is carried around by manipulative men.  Quasi-clever final present undermines itself by confirming hate-able hero’s obnoxious opinions.

Transcendence

Pfister pounds a heavy-handed reverse Matrix out of No-lan’s Land.  Sludge slow pacing, artificially injected character arcs, and unsatisfying set-pieces fill the space between the unnecessary bookends like so much bland code in a self-destructive program.  Or perhaps it simply transcended human audiences and would be better enjoyed by machines.

Iron Man 3

Freaky scientist becomes bad Guy after upgrading from explosive plants to explosive people.  The one-size-fits-all super-suit gets passed around while Stark struggles with feelings of Ironic inadequacy following up Avengers.  Concludes with surprise Love Guru, a presidential piñata, an asbestos bra, and a Guy’s Flamer’s vs. Tony’s Toys Quidditch match.

The Town

Ben’s back. In Boston, in action, in more ways than one. Daredevil and Gossip Girl perform uncharacteristically well alongside ever-spectacular Renner. Hamm’s a ham hunting these mad men, and Cooper can’t quite pronounce words wrong right. Tense and exciting, like old Affleck has Heated up Departed and Gone Baby Gone.

The Prestige

Wolverine vs. Batman in a chronologically complex dual to the death, masterminded by the screenwriting genius of the Nolan brothers. Odd appearances by Bowie and Gollum only add to this excellent film, and though a few of the twists feel contrived, the whole thing becomes more impressive upon repeat viewing.