Chuck plays Critic.....
Thoughts on movies - will continuously be updated as we watch more.
Ratings Key:
Total Stars Available in any category: 5.
Ratings given for Plot, Acting, Pace, Entertainment Level, and Overall
All ratings by Chuck, unless noted otherwise.
The Imitation Game (2014)
The story of Alan Turing and his team of cryptographers attempting to find a method to decipher the German code machines in order to turn the tide of World War II.
Plot: 4 stars. Very intellectual, not an "expect to laugh a lot" story.
Acting: 5 stars. Benedict Cumberbatch and crew do a terrific job.
Pace: 3 stars. Was slow at times, though partly attributed to the serious story line.
Entertainment Level: 3 stars. A strong focus on story with a slow pace, there is very little in the way of additional effects to draw the viewer in.
Overall: 4 stars. A solid effort worth seeing.
Interstellar (2014)
Spiritual successor to "2001", in which man traveled to space to investigate the origin of life, "Interstellar" finds Matthew McConnaughey traveling to space to find a way to extend human life.
Plot: 3 stars. Complicated and with a couple of twists.... but ultimately leaves you wondering "did they out-think / out-clever themselves?"
Acting: 4 stars. Phenomenal cast, but some of the characters are caricatures and unbelievable.
Pace: 3 stars. Long movie (2:45), but it doesn't feel super-long. Moves along decently.
Entertainment Level: 4 stars. Big stars and excellent special effects makes it entertaining.
Overall: 3 stars. Decent, but not epically good. (Full disclosure - I hated "2001"..... so this isn't surprising.)
Fury (2014)
Brad Pitt as a tank commander leading his team in German territory in the latter days of World War II.
Plot: 3 stars. As we've seen before, WWII was brutal, but much of this was war-movie familiar.
Acting: 3 stars. Pitt is serviceable as the leader with humanity, the rest of the cast is likewise solid.
Pace: 3 stars. Pretty long, the film starts slowly, but moved along in the second half.
Entertainment Level: 4 stars. Brad looks good, and the tank scenes are strong with decent action.
Overall: 3 stars. If you've seen other war movies, you've seen a lot of this before, but it's executed fairly well.
American Sniper (2015)
Clint Eastwood directs the story of Chris Kyle, the man credited with the most confirmed kills in America's history prior to and through his multiple tours in war-torn Iraq.
Plot: 3 stars. Nicely balances Kyle's personal background and motivations with war action.
Acting: 4 stars. Bradley Cooper shines as Kyle, and Sienna Miller does a fine job as his wife who has to deal with Kyle's time away and "war affliction."
Pace: 4 stars. The action in Iraq is well paced.... and appropriately brutal. Not for the squeamish.
Entertainment Level: 4 stars. Lots of action throughout, and a big Hollywood star at his finest.
Overall: 4 stars. It is big, brutal, and violent, but we see heart as well.
Still Alice (2015)
The story of Alice and her family, coping with early-onset Alzheimer's and it's devastating effects on a brilliant mind.
Plot: 3 stars. Much of the story is formulaic, though done well. It's pretty obvious, from the start, what direction the movie will take, and there are few surprises.
Acting: 4 stars. Julianne Moore is 5-star worthy, and Kristen Stewart is also solid. However, the rest of the cast, including Alec Baldwin, come across as wooden and one-dimensional.
Pace: 3 stars. As noted, the plot is predictable. However, the movie doesn't drag, and moves along well overall.
Entertainment Level: 4 stars. Not spectacular, the entertainment here comes primarily in watching Moore's magic as she deals with Alice's transformation.
Overall: 4 stars. It's not an upbeat movie, but Moore's performance is worth seeing.
Kingsman: The Secret Service (2015)
Adventures surrounding a young recruit attempting to make it in a British secret agent society.
Plot: 3 stars, assuming you go in with suspended disbelief. It ain't real, and if you start with that premise, it's okay.
Acting: 3 stars. It's got Michael Caine, Colin Firth, and Sam Jackson, all of them having loads of fun, and none of them thinking about getting an Oscar.
Pace: 3 stars. It moves along well at times, as should be expected, but drags a bit at points.
Entertainment Level: 3 stars. It would have been 4, because it's fun. However, there's lots of unnecessary cursing, and some really ridiculous violence effects that just make you laugh, which make you cringe a bit too much.
Overall: 3 stars. It's campy and fun at times, but sure isn't going to win any awards.