Silent House (*** out of ****)

Horror films need something special to work now a days. Paranormal Activity and The Blair Witch Project worked for so many (personally not me) because it used a technique (hand held camera) to create a sense of realism. Recent films such as Insidious and Don't Be Afraid of The Dark used imagination to draw in audiences to their tales of woe. So why not try a bit of both? In comes english remake Silent House a film that succeeds in a bold attempt at filmmaking.

Silent House takes place in real time for 88 minutes. What's even better is that the film is done in one single shot. So the film in a sense is a startling play. No quick cuts nor any jumping to other perspectives. The camera is a fly on the wall in this grueling tale. Sarah (Elizabeth Olsen) is helping her father and uncle fix up a run down lake house. However when Sarah says she hears somebody walking around up stairs, shit hits the figurative fan. Elizabeth Olsen is a blessing for this film. Only two films I've seen with her in them and both times she tears the walls down. Here she creates the right amount of hysteria without it ever seeming fake. Great stuff there. The ending I'm sure will divide some but don't let that stop you from trying something new. In terms of scares I wouldn't say it is phenomenal but one particular scene I personally heard the loudest gasps/screams in a theater to date. Silent House does something fresh and success tremendously.

*** out of ****

John Carter (**1/2 out of ****)

"A Princess of Mars" was written by Edgar Rice Burroughs nearly 100 years ago. The book inspired sci-fi and fantasy franchises from Star Wars to Avatar to Flash Gordon. In some ways it was the birthplace of elements both genres would later immortalized as classic story telling. It is a interesting tale, but making the film now might have been a mistake. We've seen it before and just because this story was first, doesn't erase our memories.

John Carter (Taylor Kitsch) fought for Virginia in the Civil War and is quite the leading character. It's lucky they got Taylor Kitsch for the role, his eyes seem to speak for his soul. Carter has had a hard life and it gets harder on Mars. Describing how he got there isn't the point but what he does there. Carter's body isn't use to Mars's gravity and allows for him to jump unimaginable distances and pack a powerful punch. Carter gets involved in a war between the city states of  Helium and Zodanga (yes the names only et more confusing) as well as a tribe of twelve foot tall green martians. John Carter involves some fun action scenes, impressive visuals and interesting characters. However it's lack of emotion and too much familiarity brings the film back down. Waiting for the visual effects to be this glorious wasn't  abad thing, too bad people have been taking from the story so as to leave John Carter as a run of the mill blockbuster when it could have been more.

**1/2 out of ****

Act of Valor (*1/2 out of ****)

I feel it's obligatory to start this review with saying that Navy Seals are heroes. That's a genuine idea I have and really the entire general public too. It's however not a nice way to honor them with such a terrible film.
The film stars active duty Navy Seals who are just as uncomfortable in front of the camera as an actor would be in a firefight. These soldiers must stop a ploy by a terrorist organization that plans to work with a drug cartel to smuggle suicide bombers across the border. Maybe I'm being a cynic but that plot just just screams stupidity. It's like they took everything the government fears and threw it together in a crude movie. That silly plot actually eats up about an hour and fifteen minutes of the film. For a movie that is about Navy Seals in combat, they sure did include as many cliche plot points as possible. Act of Valor is not so much a film as it is a very long infomercial. It's just as tedious of a film as that idea sounds.

*1/2 out of ****

Wanderlust (**1/2 out of ****)

Paul Rudd's charm is almost a curse. He's so damn likable that any movie he's in increases it's enjoyability tenfold. However even a movie that isn't particularly moving, good, or memorable gains elements of those qualities simply by having Paul Rudd grace the film with his presence. Normally I'd say I'm exaggerating the actor greatly (for example I believe any film with Peter Sarsgaard can't be that bad) but even the general public who views Paul Rudd movies seems to think this way. Paul Rudd makes Wanderlust worth your time but not something to run out and see immediately.

George (Paul Rudd) and Linda (Jennifer Aniston) are typical classy New Yorkers but after some bad financial problems are forced to leave their beloved city. After plans with working for George's brother (Ken Marino) fall through they end up deciding to give a welcoming commune a try. It's like a cult but instead is just friendly and carefree hippies. Wanderlust has some laughs (one giant continuos one involving Paul Rudd and dirty talk) and never gets too serious for it's own good. It's fun for awhile but need does it feel enriching watching the film. Here's your standard Paul Rudd comedy of the year and it's actually not half bad.

PS: Bonus points for a big screen "Stella" reunion

**1/2 out of ****

The Secret World of Arrietty (***1/2 out of ****)

A problem many face when watching films these days is immersion. Often it becomes very apparent one is watching a film just to pass time. Everyone does it so there's no shame in it. However think of the times when you were so entranced with the story and images on screen it felt like your standing right by the characters in their struggle. The Secret World of Arrietty is one of those rare films that simply being in its presence is a treat.

Arrietty (Bridgit Mendler) is a borrower along with her parents. Borrowers are little people (about the size of a finger) that live under the floor and in the walls of homes. They borrow small things, items people won't miss (a cube of sugar, a tissue etc). They live in the crawl space of a country house in a darling miniature home. Arrietty's parents are Pod (Will Arnett) and Homily (Amy Poehler), Pod goes into the house to borrow the supplies they need and Homily stays at home and worries about him getting squished. A young kind boy arrives at the house to rest before a heart sugary. The boy is Shawn (David Hernie) and one night he sees Arrietty in the house. The borrowers worry that when a human sees them that their curiosity will consume them to destroying these tiny people's lives.

Studio Ghibli films are always spectacular (with the exception of Tales from Earthsea). They contain a wondrous imagination with youthful tales to entertain children. However adults too can take the sophisticated stories and beautiful colors/music to heart. The Sercret World of Arrietty is blessed with a lovely soundtrack, majestic colors and interesting characters. There are never true villains in films Hayao Miyazaki films (He wrote this film but decided to let a friend Hiromasa Yonebayashi to take the helm in directing it). Just characters that have conflicting interests. Here is another example in how human these characters seem. This is an engrossing film for all ages. It's only February but I feel that this will be one of the highlight films of the year. I hope you'll see it and think so too.

***1/2 out of ****

Chronicle (*** out of ****)

I fooled myself into thinking that the shaky/personal camera angle was both dumb and done. I was wrong. It took the rather fantastic film Chronicle to show me the errors of my way. It takes that concept but instead of relying on it as a selling point, the film uses it just as tool for a bigger picture. Other pieces that almost finish this puzzle is its thrilling story, funny jokes and best of all; characters you can actually stand behind.

Andrew Detmer (Dane DeHaan) is a outsider in high school with a drunk and abusive father. The basic tough upbringing we've al seen in movies before, so let's spice things up. But before talking about that, let's finish out the cast. Matt (Alex Russell) is Andrew's cousin, their friends but not very close. Matt is kind and popular but also pseudo intellectual. Those pricks that learn solely to impressive others. In real life you hate these people but in film they make interesting characters. Then there is Steve (Michael B. Jordan) the live wire popular kid running for class president. Andrew has decided to film everything (a barrier between life and himself) so hence the shaky camera angle is introduced. The three boys at a party find a hole in the field and climb in to discover something. With out going into too much detail (better to see for yourself), they gain the power of telekinesis. 

For the first hour they discover the limits of their powers and have fun. This part of the film is so delightful I never wanted it to end. It felt like the audience too had the power and was experiencing all this joy with our trio. It won't be all fun and games in the end. I'd imagine if you gave the average person telekinesis they would abuse the power for their own gain (lots of stealing). I actually looked forward to the eventual change I thought was sure to come. One of the leads does turn (I'm sure you already know but I won't say) to darker sides but in a shallower way. Instead of going crazy I'd have like to see a character that even when doing something wrong still seems so right. That fact (among other things) makes the final act a tad outlandish. A shame because I had loved everything up until this point. There are some minor flaws in logic outside of the ending, but the finished product is still too strong. Chronicle is one not to miss. It is far to much cinema fun.

*** out of ****

Safe House (**1/2 out of ****)

For some reason it feels like every other action movie since The Bourne Ultimatum has been trying to be like it in some way. It's the crazy editing, brutal fights, C.I.A monitoring that we see far too often. Safe House is another one of those films and while it's not great, it isn't too bad either.

Matt Weston (Ryan Reynolds) is a C.I.A operative that sits in a "safe house" all day long. Twelve months and no visitors until the day Tobin Frost (Denzel Washington) is brought in. Tobin is a rouge agent that has worse enemies than the county he betrayed. Those villains attack and Matt must bring Tobin to the next Safe House, of course it won't be that easy.

The film is a mix of good and bad. There are two thrilling action scenes and about three confusing ones (the editing makes it unclear what's happening). Like Matt, the audience is not sure whether to trust Tobin, it's fun for a while but in the long run it isn't great. The villains follow a predictable formula (I called the ending after ten minutes). There's nothing truly wrong with this film, but nothing to make memorable. One day later and I feel unaffected by viewing it. Props to Denzel for actually getting water boarded in the film. 

PS: can anyone explain to me why somebody calls Tobin Frost "the black Dorian Gray". I've been thinking about it and either the line is incredibly simple or I'm mixing something.

**1/2 out of ****