2013 Mid-Winter Round-up: From Silver to Silly

SILVER LININGS PLAYBOOK--2012

ROMANTIC COMEDY DRAMA

  

PLOT:  Two mentally unstable people fall in love.

Pat (Bradley Cooper, The A Team) is bipolar and is finally getting out of institution.  With the help of his friend he meets recovering sex addict Tiffany (Jennifer Lawrence Hunger Games). They fuss, fight like a romantic comedy but this movie is so different it should get an award for originality.  His parents are Robert DeNiro and he is very good and Jacki Weaver.  The big surprise is Chris Tucker (Rush Hour films) is good as Pat’s friend in the institution.  He is not loud but very subtle.  It is good and strange like IFC films so if you can deal with that please watch.

LAST STAND--2013

ACTION

PLOT:  Sheriff has to stop a drug lord from crossing the Mexican border.

Ray Owens (Arnold Schwarzenegger) is back in action and the only reason you should see it because of Arnold and the body count.  It is an expensive B-movie but it is good. The villain is okay but he could have been better.  It didn’t do well in theaters but it will explode on video. Action hounds must go!!!

PARKER--2013

ACTION

PLOT:  Parker is a thief and he has to get revenge on the gang that tried to kill him.

If it is January or February, Jason Statham has a movie.  He really plays the same character all the time-ready to kick a lot of butt.  You know there will be action and he has two pretty women with him and one is Jennifer Lopez.  She plays a down on her luck real estate agent who helps him.  She is very attractive and funny too but she deserves much better and I hope she gets it. The shocking thing about this B-movie is it is directed by Taylor Hackford, the man who directed Ray, the movie about Ray Charles. In spots it is vile and violent –action hounds take a look.

HANSEL AND GRETEL:  WITCH HUNTERS--2013

HORROR/ACTION/FANTASY

PLOT:  Beloved fairy tale has a new twist to it.

You know the story but now after burning one witch they make it a business of killing witches. Jeremy Renner (Hawkeye, Avengers) and Gemma Arterton (Prince of Persia) are Hansel and Gretel.  They don’t speak noble English they speak like in modern times and it is very funny.  Famke Janssen is Muriel queen of the evil witches, and is very good at being very bad.  It should have been on video, but it is good enough for theatres if you like that sort of film.