Sex and The City 2

Date Released: May 27. 2010
Director:  Michael Patrick King
Cast: Sarah Jessica Parker, Kim Cattrall, Cynthia Nixon, Kristin Davis, Christopher Noth, David Eigenberg, Jason Lewis, Mario Cantone and Evan Handler

Genre: Comedy, Romance
Rating: 4/10

Sex and the City 2 is based around fun, fashion, and the friendship between four women who’ve been friends for years.  In this sequel Carrie, Samantha, Charlotte and Miranda leave the Big Apple and travel out the country to Dubai, taking a break from their busy lives and loves.  It's a getaway that comes at the right moment for them because they are finding themselves in and fighting against the traditional roles of marriage, motherhood and more. The movie is full of the hottest fashions for the most fashionable individuals.
Posted by: Latonya Chin

Casino

Date Released: November 22, 1995
Director:  Martin Scorsese
Cast: Robert De Niro, Joe Pesci, Sharon Stone, Don Rickles Alan King, James Woods
Genre: Drama
Rating: 8.1/10 (IMDB.com)

     I couldn't help reviewing this movie not only because it's one of my all time favorites, but because it's on almost everyday! So it feels like.  The film was based on a true story and adapted from the book "Casino", written by Nicholas Pileggi, the same writer who wrote Wiseguys for which the movie "Goodfellas" was based on.  Sam "Ace" Rothstein (De Niro) was a pioneer in the spots betting industry who revolutionized bookmaking by setting odds and spreads.  Connected with the Chicago mob, Rothstein is sent out to run the fictional Tangiers casino (Stardust) in Las Vegas while the Chicago outfit skimmed money from the count rooms.  Nicky Santoro (Pesci) is a gangster sent out to Las Vegas to make sure "no one messed with Sam" and to make sure the skimming schemes continued like clockwork.
     Things soon get out of hand.  Rothstein marries a former call girl and casino hustler Ginger (Stone) which soon develops into a tumultuous relationship.  Nicky Santoro develops ambitions of his own and begins a string of robberies and murders which winds up attracting the attention of the FBI.  As matters progress into more and more chaotic situations, Santoro begins an affair with Ace's wife Ginger while the Las Vegas gaming commission rejects Rothstein's gaming license application.  As murder, betrayal, and deception run rampant, the FBI begins to clamp down on the outfits operations.  As Rothstein states in the film, they were given heaven on earth, and somehow managed to mess everything up.
     I mainly wanted to review this film because I hold a very strong opinion that this movie is better than "Goodfellas."  Many people hold "Goodfellas" in high esteem and regard it as one of the best films to ever be made.  The argument that I always contend with is that "Casino" is the same movie as "Goodfellas".  In other words, the characters are not only extremely similar, but they are also played the same way by many of the same actors.  I don't really believe this to be true, but if that is the best argument people can come up with than I am in good standing.  Here is my argument.  The story of "Casino" is better.  It is more entertaining, has better dialogue, more interesting characters, more memorable scenes/quotes, and a better ending (Pesci being beaten with metal bats).  "Goodfellas" was a terrific film.  A classic in it's own right.  I just find the second half of that film to be kind of boring and drawn out.  The ending also came off as very abrupt.  "Casino" keeps you interested from minute one all the way through the end.  From a technical film making standpoint, Scorsese always produces great films.  But this film is kind of underrated in my opinion.  I find in watching the movie again and again, that I notice certain things within the story that I've never realized before.  A true mark of a great story/film.  If you are a fan of gangster flicks then I highly recommend this picture.  Warning to all those who haven't seen this film; It is very violent and not for the squeamish.

My Rating: 8.8/10
Playing on Encore

Posted by Matt

The Virgin Suicides

Date Released: May 5, 2005
Director: Sofia Coppola
Cast: Kirsten Dunst, James Woods, Kathleen Turner, Josh Hartnett, Hanna R. Hall
Genre: Drama
Rating: 7.6/10

The Virgin Suicides is a film about the Lisbon family that appear to be a healthy, successful 1970s family living in a middle-class Michigan suburb. Mr. Libson is a math teacher, his wife is a very religious mother of five attractive teenage daughters who catch the eyes of the neighborhood boys. The movie opens with the youngest daughter, 13-year-old Cecilia commits suicide, the family spirals downward into a creepy state of isolation and the remaining girls are isolated from social interaction, mostly the opposite sex by their protective mother. Unfortunately, the mother's strategy backfires, when the seclusion from the outside world makes the girls even more intriguing to the obsessed boys who will go to absurd lengths until their obsession ends with the death of the other four girls. 


Posted By: Latonya 

The Blind Side

Date Released: November 20, 2009
Director:  John Lee Hancock
Cast: Sandra Bullock, Quinton Aaron, Tim McGraw, Jae Head, Kathy Bates
Genre: Sports Drama
Rating: 7.7/10 (IMDB.com)

      The "Blind Side" is a film based on the 2006 book The Blind Side: Evolution of a Game by Michael Lewis.  "The Blind Side" tells the story of professional football player Michael "Big Mike" Oher (Aaron) who grew up in impoverished environments of Memphis, Tennessee and was eventually taken in by Leigh Ann (Bullock) and Sean Tuohy (McGraw) and molded into a superior football player.
     Oher, living homeless on his friends couch, is admitted to Wingate Christian Academy due to his athletic ability.  Oher, struggling to fit in and still living homeless is approached by Leigh Ann Tuohy who offers to take care of him.  Slowly, Michael becomes a member of the Tuohy family.  Eventually, Oher is allowed to join the school football team after his grades improve.  When Leigh Anne Tuohy suggests that Oher tap into his "protective instincts" and regard his teammates as he would members of his family, Oher dominates on the field.  As the film progresses, more and more information about Oher's life is revealed including that his biological mother was a drug addict. Oher, being recruited by the top football colleges across the country, works hard to obtain a 2.5 GPA so he can be eligible for a football scholarship.  Oher eventually accepts a scholarship to Ole' Miss while the NCAA begins to investigates the Tuohy family for NCAA violations due to their booster involvement with Ole' Miss.
     I was mildly entertained by this film.  I can't help but state that my true feelings while watching this story unfold were that the Tuohy family weren't just taking care of Oher for nothing.  The Tuohy's being alumni's and being involved with booster activities at Ole' Miss kind of spells it out for me that they were taking care of Oher so they could convince him to play there.  The movie does not portray this notion entirely. With that being said, the story itself of an impoverished foster child overcoming his tumultuous past to go on and make millions of dollars as a professional football player satisfied me. Sandra Bullock won an Academy Award for Best Actress for her role as Leigh Anne Tuohy. I hate to sound negative, but I thought she was good in the film, but not worthy of an award or even a nomination in my opinion.  The child who plays the Tuohy's son is one of the most annoying child actors I've ever seen.

My Rating: 6.8/10
Currently Airing on HBO

Posted by Matt

The Princess and The Frog

Date Released: December 11, 2009
Director:  Ron Clements, John Musker
Cast: Anika Noni Rose, Keith David, Jennifer Cody, Bruno Campos, Micheal-Leon Wooley, Jim Cummings
Genre: Kids and Family, Animation
Rating: 7.3/10

Yes, I have younger syblings and over the weekend we took time out to watch Princess and the Frog. It was a wonderful movie with a fairy tale, love story and suspense all wrapped up in one. The movie is animated for children, but as an adult watching there are a few key details you would want to understand. The movie is set in 1920s New Orleans centering around the fairy tale of the princess kissing a frog to turn him into a prince. Unfortunately the princess, a young colored girl named Tiara doesn’t have time for princes or frogs or kisses as she works non-stop so she can afford to open her very own restaurant. As the story unfolds Tiara is mistakened for a princess by the prince Naveen who wants her to kiss him and turn him back into a prince from a frog, that doesn't work and Tiara herself turns into a frog. From there the two encounter countless obstacles on their journey to becoming human again. This movie is a wonderful film to see whether your an adult or a child.

Posted By: Latonya

Windy City Heat

Date Released: October 12, 2003
Director: Bobcat Goldthwait
Cast: Perry Caravello, Don Barris, Tony Barbieri, Lisa Arch, Bobcat Goldthwait, Jimmy Kimmel, Dane Cook
Genre: Comedy
Rating: 6.6/10 Stars (IMDB.com)

     "Windy City Heat" was a made for TV movie that premiered on Comedy Central in 2003.  The movie has presently gained an immense cult following since its debut.  The movie "stars" Perry Caravello, a struggling actor/comedian who believes he is the star of an action spoof film titled "Windy City Heat".  The entire movie is a practical joke on Perry. The pranks that are being played on Perry are the movie. Longtime friends and comedians Don Barris (Big Lou) and Tony Barbieri (Mole) are Perry's co-stars who continually play pranks on him throughout the movie while the temperamental Perry reacts.  Other guest stars including Dane Cook, Adam Carollla, and Bobcat Goldthwait also contribute to the prank. Because the unsuspecting Perry is "willing to do anything to be a star", and believes that he is being filmed at all times for the behind the scenes material for the DVD, he never questions anything.
     This movie is a comedic masterpiece. "Windy City Heat" made me laugh so hard I literally had to pause the movie at different points to gather my composure. To writers Don Barris, Mole, and Jimmy Kimmel, my hats off to you for putting together one of the most brilliant practical jokes to ever be played on someone. Let's not forget Perry Caravello, who is hilarious in his own right, especially when he loses his temper. All I can say is watch, enjoy, and spread the word.  Make sure to watch the bonus material on the DVD, especially "the reveal" segment. The best part is, The Perry Caravello saga continues........

My Rating: 9/10
Available on DVD:  http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_ss_i_0_15?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=windy+city+heat&sprefix=windy+city+heat

Posted by Matt

Chloe

Date Released: March 26th, 2010
Director: Atom Egoyan Cast: Liam Neeson, Julianne Moore, Amanda Seyfried, Max Thieriot, Laura DeCarteret, Nina Dobrev
Genre: Drama/Thriller
Rating: 6.5/10 Stars

The thriller Chole was about an untrusting wife who attempts to prove that her husband is cheating by hiring an escort to seduce him, not knowing she was putting her family in danger during the process. Catherine (the wife) is a respected doctor, and her husband, David, is a dedicated music professor. They've been married for years and have a teenage son together, but lately the passion has faded from their romance. As the story unfolds the Chloe (the escort) lies about the things that she was hired to do with the husband, only to find out that Chloe is trying to get close to Catherine. This movie really keeps your eyes glued to the screen because you never know what will happen next. It is definitely a must-see!