Great dialogue. Mostly a great cast and a memorable ...
356809
What a remarkable film. Great dialogue. Mostly a great cast and a memorable film. For those in the 5O-plus crown, you shouldn't miss this movie if for no other reason than you get to view a thumbnail sketch of many of the historical events that have taken place in your lifetime. Some of the actors portraying presidents did better than others, but those characters are not highly developed and thus do as well as they need to. Forest Whitaker is a powerful actor in The Butler, perhaps his finest role yet. Cuba Gooding, Jr. is a great fence at times. He offers incredible moments of levity when the films gets too heavy and also develops a realistic friendship. Out of five stars, Oprah Winfrey took two of them away. It's difficult for me to respect Lee Daniels when he casts a part because someone bought it. Producers or associate producers should not be allowed hand-pick a role because he/she is footing part of the bill under the guise of "it's an important film and I must underwrite it and have a part in it." Oprah publishes a magazine with her face of the cover of every single issue. She likely a fine publisher and is without question a great TV personality who resonates with untold numbers of women. However, a credible actor she is not. It was easy to tell some of her character was slapped into the script to raise the profile of her part. The problem is the film was weakened as a result of it. Her part was just not very interesting and Daniels let it go. Unreal. I was stunned to see Winfrey get equal billing with Whitaker. Nevertheless, just plug your nose thinking of money, Oprah and Daniels, there is more than enough great storytelling despite the trio. It's obvious to me Whitaker and Gooding, Jr. should be landing far larger roles than they have been.
3668267
Quick story recap:  The story of how The Grand Budapest Hotel came into possession of the Lobby boy, Zero Moustafa. The are a lot of twists and turns along the way that make it a good story.  The dialogue is witty and delivered at a fast pace, it takes a moment to get used to.  There are interesting camera angles and techniques, some old techniques but work really well here.  I liked the sets and costumes were a nice touch. .

The acting was good especially with headliner Ralph Fiennes, who played the legendary concierge of the Grant Budapest Hotel.  Lots of familiar faces makes cameos and play very strange characters.  Those faces even briefly added to the fun of the film:  Bill Murray, Owen Wilson, Ed Norton, William Dafoe, Jude Law, and Jeff Goldblum of the most notable though there are more you'll surely recognize.

The movie as a whole is pretty good once you get used to the dialogue and the way they cut it in the editing room.  It's funny though, it has a dry wit about it, and there are lots of dry humorous moments leaning on absurdity throughout.  Overall, it's a fun, and quick movie (around 90 minutes).  They didn't waste any time in there.  I'd call it the little weird funny movie that could.
760038
It was difficult to keep up with the dialog but the acting and scenes were great.
3397936
This is an excellent film by Peter Jackson. It's wonderfully shot. Thrilling and tense. The surreal elements are stunning and inventive, and yet it is probably more compelling in what it chooses not to show. The acting is solid all around (Wahlberg is sort of the weak link here, but not terrible by any means -- if anything, he seems miscast), but the real stand-out is Saoirse Ronan. It's amazing that she can be so young and yet display such sensitivity and nuance in her performance. This isn't just raw talent but the polish of an actress many many years into her career. The conclusion, I thought, wasn't exactly fulfilling. It felt a little too simple and very much lacking in seeing through the telos of all the emotional turmoil Suzie's death had wrought. The reconciliation as well felt rushed. There was definitely a beat or two of story missing from it. But up until this moment I thought it was a pretty incredible ride.
174831
This was based on a play, and I like the kind of dialogue they used. They were great actors and I appreciated the intelligence in the story.
4083592
Great movie, worth seeing time and again. A number of actors/actresses in the early phases of their careers.  Hugh Grant's comic timing is under-appreciated and you understand why Andi McDowell is one of the few models who successfully made the transition from the runway to the big screen.  A very sympathetic portrayal of same-sex relationships long before it was truly acceptable to do it. And some of the best eccentric characters possible.
857372
I cannot say enough good things about this film. I admit it was Jennifer Morrison that drew me to the movie, but it was the cast and the terrific story that kept me interested. Tom Hardy is very good in the role of the bitter brother and you can tell he really beefed up for the role (he wasn't nearly as big back when he was in Star Trek: Nemesis). Joel Edgerton looks to have moved on his from his Star Wars days and is making a name for himself. He plays the never say die father of two who not only pushes himself to the limit in the ring, but also tries his damnedest to mend old wound between he and his brother.

Nick Nolte plays a sobered up father to both Hardy and Edgerton and gives arguably the best performance of his career. Not to be undone, Jennifer Morrison also gives a solid effort and is a standout in a film that has testosterone flowing through it.

The MMA fight scenes are well choreographed and gritty. They feel very real and you can tell they brought in some people from the world of MMA to make sure they did those scenes justice.

Overall, the film is a great piece of work and I have to say it's a pity that it didn't do better at the box office.

With all that being said, I have to admit I am a little disappointed in the blu ray transfer. I understand a film like this is going to have a little grit in the film and be a little grainy. The problem is, at times, there is so much grain that it detracts from the film's efforts. I expect some grain during night scenes, but in some of them there was so much of it that it was hard to make out certain objects. Even during the daytime scenes where grain usually isn't a problem turned out etched and often felt like there wasn't a huge amount of effort into transitioning this brilliant movie into a format that would do it justice. The sound was alright, but there were a few scenes where I had to adjust the volume to hear all the dialog.

For the film - 4.1 / 5
For the BR xfer - 2.2 / 5
2101055
True the dialogue is at times lacking and the plot isn't particularly original, but this is a solid film.  The cinematography is fantasitic and scenes will keep you engaged.  The basic premis is one that has been done countless times, but there is more than enough originality in the way the themes are presented to make this film worthwhile.  As an added bonus there is plenty of blood and guts to keep any action movie enthusiast entertained.
4430271
For some people, this movie might be a little difficult to follow because of necessity it must be a little choppy.  But, for those who get past it you will find great acting, dialogue and a base story of uncoditional love that is fantastic.  The cast does a wonderful job of making the story almost believable.
2113813
Great actors, great story, very memorable.  I'm a religious guy so I don't really agree with the thoughts but I can definitely see where they are coming from.  Our way of looking at life and after life are shaped by our experiences.
4015234
Dialogue is superb.  This guy knows how to say what people say.  Tia Suarez is a budding star of a character.
3238680
I finished this movie yesterday, and simply have to watch it again. Contrary to some others who have reviewed the movie, I did find myself having an intense connection with the main characters. Despite the broad use of profanity (which is actually quite appropriate to the a context of the subject matter), I did enjoy seeing it, and had it in mind for hours afterward. A lot of impact. One minor puzzle was my wonderment as to why the Germans didn't just pound the tank with Panzerfausts from the outset. It did, however, make for a great story. Some might not have the stomach or ears for this movie but, otherwise, it's well recommended. Reminded me in one sense of another "grizzly" favorite - Goodfellas.
2037636
This was one of my favorite films from 2010 but this is my first revisit in 2 years.  I had forgotten some of the key plot points so I was surprised to find myself caught up again in the twists and turns of the terrific political thriller.  Former British prime minister Adam Lang (Pierce Brosnan) is vacationing on an unspecified island off the Massachusetts coast.  It is here that he had been writing his memoirs.  Needing help, he hires "The Ghost" (Ewan McGregor) to rewrite the manuscript.

Two events conspire to complicate what appeared to be a mundane chore.  First, the initial ghost writer and friend of Lang has turned up mysteriously drowned on the beach.  Second, a scandal has broken regarding the former PM being involved in torturing prisoners found in Pakistan.  As "The Ghost" (his only name as near as I can determine) begins his rewrite he finds a handful of clues that contradict the initial biography given to him.  There is some evidence that Lang had been recruited into politics by an American professor teaching in England who has ties to the C.I.A.  In other words, Lang may have been a puppet of the U. S. government and their war in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Director and co-writer Roman Polanski proves he still has it.  The tension is there and of course there is a surprise at the end.  While the movie has a few unlikely threads, it is overall very well done.  This excellent Blu ray transfer came with a DVD on the flip side instead of 2 separate discs.  There are 3 special features including an interview with Polanski.  The soundtrack is DTS-HD Master Audio on the Blu ray.  Both versions are in 2.35:1 aspect ratio.
1348316
If nothing else, this movie has a great cast and a very interesting storyline.  It begins in the first few years of the 20th century somewhere in the West.  A 700 mile race is promoted by a newspaper that sets rider  and horse against each other and the elements.  It also pits the wealthy  and their resources against those of more modest means with obvious  results.  However, I feel the strengh of "Bite the Bullet" is  not so much a story of classes as it is the characters themselves.  With a  plethora of well-known character actors, the movie takes the time to  develop each of these characters in a manner that makes "Bite the  Bullet" an enjoyable and very watchable movie.  Obviously, as a  person who loves the wide-screen version of any movie, I cannot wait for  "Bite the Bullet" to come out in DVD and widescreen format.  However, until that time, I feel that once you see the cast involved in  "Bite the Bullet" you will enjoy watching this wonderful and  underrated version an era coming to an end.
2116496
The Genesis Code is a great conversation starter. The themes are explored with great taste. The mixture of veteran actors with novices is commendable. Great flick.
4408556
I had forgotten about this movie and was about to rent ONE HOUR PHOTO, another very worth while movie. But I  saw this title instantly remembered how much I liked this movie the first time I saw it years ago and enjoyed it just as much this time around. The slow burn of the tension of not only what a "cutter" does and the childhood memory that haunts Williams character make it fascinating. This is a great movie to watch with friends for there is so much to be discussed after the film. Would you want your every memory recorded? And then edited for family/friend viewing? I can see the help of this, but more so the harm. There are ideas here that are left open for interpretation by the viewer and hence for those inclined to "what if" philosophical discussion, hours could be spent after the movie viewing. Needless to say Williams acting is top notch. I wish he didn't chose to leave this mortal coil as he did. So much talent. When I think of my own life some of the most important and/or enjoyable moments would not be suitable to some watching in a Rememory of me, hence maybe leaving the impression of a small life. Have you thought about yours?
3760135
Great cast does a really good job in this movie.  Very enjoyable to watch even though there are some emotionally tough moments.  It even has underlying "think about it" stuff.  This is probably a movie critics would poo poo or possibly folks who live for the Oscar picks.  I happen to like seeing movies (not always) that leave me overall upbeat.  And speaking of beat, definitely some really good music in the soundtrack.  After having seen him in It's Complicated, it was fun to see Emjay play a kid I liked.  He is a great young actor.  If you're looking to just "chill" for a couple of hours, this is good.  Be forewarned, if you don't have anything to eat while watching, you will want it after!