The Expendables

2010, Rated R, 103 minutes, Directed, Written and Produced by Sylvester Stallone, Cinematography by Jeffrey Kimball, Original Music by Brian Tyler

With: Sylvester Stallone (Barney Ross), Jason Statham (Lee Christmas), Jet Li (Ying Yang), Dolph Lundgren (Gunner Jensen), Eric Roberts (James Munroe), Randy Couture (Toll Road), Steve Austin (Paine), Diselle Itie (Sandra), Terry Crews (Hale Caesar), Mickey Rourke (Tool)

80s action movies are known for the extreme action, deplorable acting, great one liners and twice over, action. The Expendables brings in an a-list cast of action stars both past and present in an attempt to bring back the lost art of an 80s action blockbuster and for the most part succeeds. Although the action is intense, it does not come frequently enough and there was a significant dearth of one-liners. In order to enjoy this film, which I did, you have to do two things: leave the notion of a cinematic masterpiece at home, and bring every guy you know along with you (thanks Roby).

How to Train Your Dragon

2010, Rated PG, 98 minutes, Directed by Dean DeBlois & Chris Sanders,  Written by, William Davies, based on the novel by Cressida Cowell, Produced by Kristine Belson & Tim Johnson, Original Music by John Powell

With: Jay Baruchel (Hiccup), Gerard Butler (Stoick), Craig Ferguson (Gobber), America Ferrera (Astrid), Jonah Hill (Snotlout), Christopher Mintz-Plasse (Fishlegs)

For whatever reason, I seem to have developed a June pattern for animated children’s films. I suppose it has something to do with the summer feel and remembering the wonderful days of summer childhood. Whatever the reason may be I had the opportunity to see How to Train Your Dragon in theaters. The movie, which takes place in a land of storied Vikings and mythical dragons, is a mostly entertaining film with great visuals and a decent cast.

84 Charing Cross Road

1987, Rated PG, 100 minutes, Directed by David Jones, Written by Hugh Whitemore based on play by James Roose-Evans based on book by Helene Hanff, Produced by Geoffrey Helman, Cinematography by Brian West, Original Music by George Fenton

With: Anne Bancroft (Helen Hanff), Anthony Hopkins (Frank P. Doel), Judi Dench (Nora Doel

I do not often come across a movie that is about the love of books. As a book lover myself I was very intrigued about a movie that was about letters written between a British bookseller and a New York writer. What made it intriguing, unfortunately was also  not quite right for film. Almost the entire movie is letters being read as the actors silently act out their emotions. It is an interesting concept that makes the movie mildly entertaining but by no means take your breath away exciting.

Crazy Heart

2009, Rated R, 112 minutes, Directed by Scott Cooper, Written by Scott Cooper based on a novel by Thomas Cobb, Produced by Scott Cooper, T-Bone Burnett, Robert Duvall,  Cinematography by Barry Markowitz, Original Music by Stephen Bruton & T-Bone Burnett

With: Jeff Bridges (Bad Blake), James Keane (Manager), Maggie Gyllenhaal (Jean Craddock), Colin Farrell (Tommy Sweet), Robert Duvall (Wayne)

I have always been interested in the creative process of songs. So many of them are heartbreaking and I wonder if that really happened to the artist. The tagline for Crazy Heart was “The harder the life, the sweeter the fall.” Let me just say that Bad Black (Jeff Bridges) had a hard life. The movie gives us an excellent and insightful picture into the life of an artist, but, moreover the life of a man struggling to overcome his past mistakes and confront his addictive present. It is a character driven film seen through the lens of music and life; both those elements of the film shine like a melodic sunset.

Eastern Promises

2007, Rated R, 100 minutes, Directed by David Cronenberg, Written by Steven Knight, Produced by Robert Lantos & Paul Webster, Cinematography by Peter Suschitzky, Original Music by Howard Shore

With: Viggo Mortensen (Nikolai), Vincent Cassel (Kirill), Armin Mueller-Stahl (Semyon), Naomi Watts (Anna)

The mafia lives in the world of secrets and deception, money and power, influence and intimidation. Eastern Promises fits squarely into that world in its depiction of the Russian mafia in London. It is a slow burn film that inches its way forward into a crescendo of twists and fights. It is a deep investigation into the underworld that while well focused undoes itself in the minutiae and teeters on the brink of monotony.