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With summer now in the rear-view mirror (and falling further into the past with each second), I thought it best to take stock of the movies I saw this summer. As always, there were a few that got away (THE EAST), some I have yet to see (THE SPECTACULAR NOW, IN A WORLD, CLOSED CIRCUIT, THE LIFEGUARD) and some that I didn’t want to see at all (IRON MAN 3, MAN OF STEEL, PACIFIC RIM, THE WOLVERINE). I’m sure I will catch them later on Netflix or cable. Here’s how they rate:  THE GOOD BEFORE MIDNIGHT The sequel to both BEFORE SUNRISE (1995) and BEFORE SUNSET (2004) has positioned itself as the best film of the year for me. Ethan Hawke and Julie Delpy shine as Jesse and Celine. Like the previous two installments, they find themselves spending time walking and talking (Greece this time instead of Vienna or Paris). What started out as a movie about a one-night stand has turned into the best movie series ever about the evolving nature of love. Can’t wait for the next installment in nine years time. THE BLING RING Sofia Coppola’s blistering true tale of a gang of teens who robbed celebrity houses becomes a damning indictment of our desperate drive for fame and celebrity worship. If one is not famous, one is nothing. Emma Watson gives one of the best performances of the year as an amoral teen although she is equally matched by Katie Chang and Taissa Farmiga. Check out my review HERE. BLACKFISH A shocking and moving documentary about the treatment of orcas at Sea World in general and the whale Tillicum in particular. How it all led up to the tragic death of trainer Dawn Brancheau in 2010 (though we learn that hers is not the only death at a park). Powerful and damning though a tad one sided. Should be a contender for the Best Documentary Feature Oscar. THIS IS THE END Hilarious send up of apocalypse movies, zombie movies, and Hollywood celebrity all at the same time. Raunchy and cutting but still the funniest movie of the year so far. Emma Watson has the funniest cameo of the year so far. Check out my review HERE. THE WAY WAY BACK A refreshing and true coming of age tale set at a Massachusetts water park. Steve Carell plays a great jerk. Sam Rockwell steals the film. I hope there are Oscar nominations for both. ELYSIUM Neil Blumkamp’s follow up to DISTRICT 9 is better, stronger, and more biting. Like the best science fiction, it not only sets up a believable future world but also makes thoughtful commentary on the world of today. Jodie Foster should be an Oscar contender for Best Supporting Actress. WE’RE THE MILLERS Funny. A bit formulaic but elevated by some creative twists, humorous characters that we come to genuinely care about, and inspired performances from the whole cast. MONSTERS UNIVERSITY After the disappointments of CARS 2 and BRA VE, Pixar gets back on track with this prequel to 2001’s MONSTER INC. Not in the same league as other Pixar classics but a fun time. The level of realism in some of the sequences is astonishing. TURBO What can I say? I’m an Indianapolis 500 fanatic so any movie that has the greatest race in the world center stage is OK in my book. Enough quirky characters and humor to put it over the top. A fun family film for all ages. To borrow the ad line from 1978’s SUPERMAN: “You will believe a snail can race.” JOBS Ashton Kutcher steals the show. His performance as Steve Jobs will probably end up as one of the best of the year. Unfortunately, the rest of the film is just average. The storyline in predictable. The large cast and massive plot holes requires a foreknowledge of Apple’s history in order to make sense of it all. The movie never reconciles the fact that Jobs comes off like a major prick and yet we are still expected to admire him.  Ace Showbiz THE BAD THE CONJURING I kept hearing how scary this film is but I never was scared once. I liked the period detail of the 1970s but the script followed predictable lines, the dialogue came straight from dozens of other haunted house movies, and James Wan’s direction telegraphed every scare well in advance. THE LONE RANGER A major disappointment but not the disaster many claim. Still, it is far too long at 2 ½ hours. Johnny Depp has miscast himself as Tonto. Armie Hammer fails to register as the title character. The whole enterprise fails to capture the look and feel of the classic series. Helena Bonham Carter channels Rose McGowan from Planet Terror in the most over the top performance by the most unnecessary character in a movie this year. THE HANGOVER PART III Proves the adage that each sequel is 50 percent less funny the original. The whole cast looks like they can’t wait for the movie to end so they can cash their checks and move on with their careers. Check out my review HERE. THE GREAT GATSBY The biggest disappointment of the year. Leonardo DiCaprio makes a fine Gatsby but he can’t rise above Baz Luhrmann’s ridiculously over the top production. So bad in spots it makes you wonder i Check out my review HERE.  JforJetpack THE UGLY
KICK ASS 2 Good message. Bad directing. Needed to be campy. Played straight. Contains the year’s single most disgusting scene so far: the rape of a girl that is played for laughs. THE PURGE Interesting premise and the cast tries hard but they can’t rise above clichéd characters, predictable plotting, and villains who seem to be visiting from THE STRANGERS and FUNNY GAMES. THE INTERNSHIP A huge misfire. Vince Vaughan and Owen Wilson play nimrods who seem to think that if they just keep talking their scenes will eventually get funny. Instead, you just want them to SHUT UP!!!! R.I.P.D. The worst film of the summer: bad casting, bad script, bad makeup, and bad special effects. Jeff Bridges seems to be playing Rooster Cogburn again but without the charm. Ryan Reynolds makes us wonder if he is star material. Only Mary-Louise Parker makes an impression but that is no reason to go see this shameless MEN IN BLACK rip-off. What were your Good, Bad, and Ugly movies this summer?
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