Recently Seen Movies

Up in the Air (B+)

A film that takes a dive into the life of a frequent-flyer. George Clooney nails this part, as a traveling professional, who specializes in firing people. Although his job is extremely depressing, he is able to overcome it, and actually enjoys his life in the air. Things suddenly take a turn when the company plans to cut back it's traveling agents, and have them work from their base in Omaha, Nebraska. To complicate things even further for Clooney, is his growing fling with a fellow frequent flier played by Vera Farmiga. The two develop a unique relationship of no-attachment, until finally it gets too serious. However the film has an icnredible twist at the end, when he drops in on Farmiga in Chicago. Major props to this film for not taking a cliche route and avoiding predictability.

A Serious Man (C)

The Coen brothers have began to specialize in their black comedy genre always mixing laughter with discomfort. This film falls perfectly into that category, about a Jewish man who simply cannot get a break. After having troubles at work, with his wife, with his neighbors, and with his kids, he decides to seek counsel from several rabbis. However even the rabbis advice does not help him. Finally he decides the best thing he can do is keep going, and he is able to recieve a boost of happiness at the end at his son's bar mitzvah.

The Damned United (B)

A great film about English futbol, that tells the story of famed coach Brian Clough, known as the greatest manager the English national side never had. Michael Sheen does a phenomenal job as the cocky and ambitious English manager. The film focuses on his rise as the head manager of Derby County, and as his collapse as the manager of Leeds United. In the beginning of the story, Clough develops a rivalry with the popular Don Revie, coach of Leeds United. In the early 1970s he is able to lift Derby County up the ranks, who are then able to beat out Leeds United for the championship. However he is sacked from Derby County, and granted the position in Leeds United. Blind by his rivarly with Don Revie he is unable to win the respect of the Leeds United players, and after 40-some days he is fired from the position. A great film, with a historical insight on English footbol in the 1970s.

Adventureland (B-)

Jesse Eisenberg, star of The Social Network, stars as this college student trying to raise some summer money to attend Columbia University. He lands a job at a theme park called Adventureland, where he finds friends, enemies, and a love-interest. Similar to Superbad or Waiting, the film has a solid cast of funny actors, as well as some good situational humor.


Bottle Shock (B-)

This is a very interesting Indie Film about the 1976 wine competition known as the Judgment in Paris, a competition that put American wine-on the map. Alan Rickman plays the sophisticated sommelier in France, looking to expand his wine collection. After rumors of California Wine, he travels to Napa Valley to get a taste himself. He is especially amazed at the taste and culture of the valley, and takes several bottles with him back to France. In the wine-tasting competition America is thus able to beat out the French. The story especially focuses on the vineyard of Chateau Montelena, which would eventually end up winning the overall competition.


Captain Corelli's Mandolin (C+)

There was once a time, that Nicolas Cage was my favorite actor. This was back in the mid 90s when he did awesome action films like The Rock, Con Air, and Gone in 60 Seconds. They he began making terrible career decisions and the rest is history. However in 2001 he starred in this WWII drama about an Italian captain who falls in love with a Greek woman. The story itself was quite awe-inspiring. In the backdrop of the Italian invasion of Greece, Captain Corelli is an extremely passionate lover of music. He falls for the daughter of the local Greek doctor, played by the stunning Penelope Cruz. The setting of Greece is incredible. The only downside to the film, was sadly Nicolas Cage's terrible Italian accent, which discredited the film as a whole.


Green Zone (B-)

This one was surprisingly quite informative and extremely controversial. Matt Damon plays an ambitious commander in the aftermath of the invasion of Iraq, on a search for Weapons of Mass Destruction. After several failed missions, he begins to doubt his intel, and question the overall operation. In search of answers, he begins to disobey his authority, and manages to track down the General of the Iraqi army. This general informs him that their WMD program was dismantled in 1991, and the entire thing was a giant farce. Infuriated by this discovery, Damon reveals to all the major press sources that there aren't any weapons of mass destruction in Iraq. My only complaint was that the filming, was extremely shaky and dark at times. However it still is a very commendable film, for bringing up this extremely controversial topic, of the Bush government lying to us, which many people seem to overlook.