New additions to the blog..

I have decided to add another genre for review to the blog. When most people head out for a movie, they usually hit a restaurant before or after so why not review them on my site along with movies people may want to see.

I recently posted on FaceBook about a delicious dinner I had at the Bohemian Brewery and Grill and a few people replied about it and my cousin Natalie mentioned that I should create a blog to review Restaurants and that she would contribute.. so I am going to hold her to her offer and have added her as a contributor to this blog.

So please check back often for not only reviews on movies we have seen, but now restaurants we have visited!

Gran Torino

Starring:
Clint Eastwood
Christopher Carley

Directed by:
Clint Eastwood

Written by:
Nick Schenk
Dave Johannson


This movie restored my faith in the movie industry. It has been so long since I have been able to say "that was one of the best movies I have ever seen." Actor / Director Clint Eastwood (Walt Kowalski) gives one of his best performances not only as an actor, but as a director as well. Movie new comers Bee Vang (Thao Vang Lor) and Ahney Her (Sue Lor) provide an excellent contrast to the rough and ragged Eastwood. I had never seen Christopher Carley(Father Janovich) star in anything else, but I really enjoyed his character and how well his character fit in the movie.

Walt Kowalski is a retired Korean War Veteran who has just lost his wife and it doesn't take long before you find out that he is an EXTREMELY onry individual would prefer everyone, even his own two boys and their families, leave him alone. He lives in the middle of a very ethnic neighborhood, surrounded by Mong(H'Mong) people, which are a specific group of Vietnamese individuals. You can tell right away there is going to be conflict when you hear Walt discuss his time in the Korean war and uses every slang term there is for Koreans from "slant-eye" to "gooks". When a fight breaks out next door and it crosses onto his lawn he breaks it up and unknown to him saves a boy (Thao) from a gang looking to recruit him. This starts a chain reaction of kindness from his neighbors toward him even though he doesn't want it. Sue Lor, Thaos brother, finally gets him to come over for a family BBQ and from there on out he has a new respect for the H'Mong people, even though he doesn't openly show it, still referring to them as gooks and other slang terms. He openly admits that he has more in common with them than with his own kids, and a new family circle is born between him and his neighbors.

Everything about this movie just worked for me. The story kept me guessing and entertained throughout. I've read some reviews that say the movie had to many "cringe" moments because of the racist dialogue, but to me it was authentic and real. I have heard numerous war veteran refer to their foes in slang / racist terms to this day, that is just how it was. So I didn't feel the cringe at all.

This movie carries an R rating for language and violence. There was no nudity to speak of.

I am giving this movie a 9.5 out of 10 as it will remain in my top 10 movies of all time list for long while I am sure.

Four Christmases

Starring:
Vince Vaughn
Reese Witherspoon
Robert Duvall
Sissy Spacek

Directed by:
Seth Gordon

Written by:
Matt Allen
Caleb Wilson

Let me start out by saying that this isn't the first movie that I have seen since Death Race, but since starting my family blog I haven't been able to find the time to write as many reviews as I would like. That being said, I'll get right to it. Vince Vaughn (Brad) and Reese Witherspoon (Kate) had decent on screen chemistry, Reese was able to keep up with Vince's quick wit and did an excellent job overall. Robert Duvall (Howard) plays Vince's father in the movie and fit quite well into the role. Sissy Spacek (Paula) plays Vince's "out of this world" mother. Jon Voight makes a cameo appearance as Reese's father. Tim McGraw also makes a cameo as Vince's brother.

The best way I can describe the overall feel of this movie is in one word, UNCOMFORTABLE! Brad and Kate have always came up with an extravagant story to avoid Christmas with their families. This year they get fogged in at the airport and are spotted on the news by their relatives and forced to spend Christmas Day at each of their parents house. Problem is both of their parents are divorced meaning four stops. Each stop provides a more uncomfortable situation than the last and it also provides a look into their past and they discover things about the other that they never knew.

While the laughs are abundant throughout the whole movie, so are the awkward situations that make some kringe, myself included. There is enough romance in the movie for it to be considered a romantic comedy.

The movie carries a PG-13 rating, I am guessing for language although I really don't recall the language being all that bad.

All in all for me the movies uncomfortable situations made it less enjoyable to watch than the laughs made up for so I give this movie a 5.5 out of 10

Burn After Reading

Starring:
George Clooney
Frances McDormand
Brad Pitt
John Malkovich
Tilda Swinton

Directors:
Ethan Coen
Joel Coen

Written by:
Joel Coen
Ethan Coen

Burn After Reading is the next movie created by the bizarre minds of the Coen brothers since their multiple Oscar winning film No Country for Old Men. And when I say bizarre, they seem to have carried on the tradition with this movie. I couldn't help but send out a tweet after I saw this movie proclaiming it "The #1 WTF movie of the year". Because literally, that three word phrase passed through my head multiple times while I was viewing this film.

This movie features an all star cast, most of which have earned academy awards, including the directors themselves. Although this time around I don't think they are shooting for oscar gold, however, I could be wrong as a variety of different films lately have garnered those honors. The movie plays out as John Malkovich's character, Osbource Cox, has quit the CIA after being forced into a demotion. A couple of gym employees get a hold of some information that belongs to him, and they believe this to be highly classified information. They hope to get a "reward" out of Osbourne for it and instead find themselves threatening extortion. And in the mix is George Clooney who plays is a nervous sex crazed maniac who is having an affair with Osbourne's wife played by Tilda Swinton and also gets greatly intertwined with all the chaos.

In this movie you find some of the most bizarre circumstances taking place. You wonder how in the world could something like this happen and I couldn't help but agree with one of John Malkovich's lines where proclaims that everyone around him are morons. But the movie does bring a few unsuspecting moments that really change the pace of the movie (and also made me say WTF). It also had some pretty good inconspicuois humor and was even more hilarious when the CIA agents come on screen and make their professional analysis of all the chaos.

I would give this movie a 7 out of 10.

Traitor

Starring:
Don Cheadle
Guy Pearce
Jeff Daniels

Directed by:
Jeffrey Nachmanoff

Written by:
Jeffrey Nachmanoff
Steve Martin

Before I saw this movie, I really didn't know what it was about. All that the trailers told me is that the FBI was hunting down someone. But it was shown to me in a way that made me interested in it. I can see why the trailers didn't reveal much as this is a story where you need only be revealed elements of the plot as the story moves forward.

Also, I find that this movie will be difficult to review without revealing too much of. But I will stay away from spoiling anything and give a quick review. Guy Pearce is an FBI agent investigating terrorist activities and Don Cheadle is a Sudan born individual that served in the US military that is now involved in the terrorist activities that the FBI is investigating.

This is a movie that left me on the edge of my seat. I couldn't help wonder what the next move was going to be from each group that was involved. There definitely were some upcoming moments that were predictable, but I feel that it also had an equal amount of moments that kept you wondering what would happen next.

I also feel a little surprised that this wasn't a controversial movie, or at least not one that I heard was controversial. There are parts of this movie that show how a terrorist group plans and carries out massive scale attacks against various countries. These attacks are also chillingly similiar to ones we have seen before. There were parts of this movie that I found myself cringing at some of the things these people did.

Everyone did an excellent job in their roles, althought I can't say that anyone was really outstanding. It was good to see Guy Pearce again as he seems to have been missing for a while, and I really like him. This movie also seems to have elements of other similar international, espionage type movies, so many people may not find anything too unique about this picture.

I am however, glad to have seen it, as this seemed to be a rather quiet opening.

I would give this a 7 out of 10.

Death Race

Starring:

Jason Statham

Joan Allen

Ian McShane

Tyrese Gibson

Directed by:

Paul W.S. Anderson

Written by:

Paul W.S. Anderson

I was pleasantly surprised by this movie. The publicity for it didn't really scream "must see". When I showed up in the theater on the first Friday after opening there was 3 other people in the theater with me, so needless to say I wondered what I was in for. I am glad to say I was in for one heck of a thrill ride. Joan Allen does an excellent job in her role as the Warden, she is the person you love to hate. Jason Statham plays his usual tough guy role, but as the movie goes on you begin to see that there is more there than the tough exterior. I loved Ian McShane in the HBO series Deadwood, and his performance in this movie doesn't disappoint either. Tyrese Gibson does a great job portraying the guy you want to hate, but something about him makes you not able to.

The story starts off in 2012 and the economy is tanking. Crime is at an all time high, Federal run Correctional Facilities are bursting at the seems, so private run institutions are formed to accommodate the need. These institutions raise money by holding various events that are broadcast on TV, one such event is Death Race. Warden Hennessey (Joan Allen) formed the Race to grab ratings and advertising cash after viewers started getting bored with boxing and gladiator fights other institutions had started. Death Race is a 3 stage Race with Cars built and driven by inmates. The cars are equipped with both offensive weapons and defensive weapons. Which are activated and deactivated at the flick of a switch so Hennessey has total control. Jensen Ames (Jason Statham) is an ex-race car driver turned still mill worker who is just trying to provide for his wife and daughter. After his wife is found dead and he is found laying next to her with a bloody knife in his hand he is sent to Hennesseys institution and invited to drive in the Death Race. This is where he meets Coach (Ian McShane) who built the car he is to race in. Win 5 races and you are set free. Machine Gun Joe (Tyrese Gibson) has won 3 races and is not about to let Ames get in his way of freedom.

The movie carries a R rating for language and gore. There is no nudity or sex in the film.

As I stated before, this movie surprised me with how well it was written and how well it stuck to the plot and never left you saying to yourself "c'mon get on with the show already."

I am giving it a 7.5 out of 10.

Tropic Thunder

Starring:
Ben Stiller
Jack Black
Robert Downey Jr.

Directed by:
Ben Stiller

Written by:
Ben Stiller
Justin Theroux
Etan Cohen

I originally was not interested in this movie at all. I've never been a big Ben Stiller fan, in fact I really don't think there has been a role he played that I liked. To add to that, the only movie he directed that I had ever seen was The Cable Guy and I never understood that movie. Well, I gave this one a chance, and I am so glad I did.

The idea behind this movie is a bunch of "A-list" actors have come together to star in a big budget Vietnam war movie. But since these actors are used to being the main stars and being waited on hand and foot, they find it difficult to work with each other, and the rookie director is unable to manage them appropriately. Taking some desperate advice, the director places the actors away from their hotels and comfortable living and into the jungle to force them to make a movie on schedule and more realistic. From there, the differences between movie magic and real life are blurred and the cast get into more war like circumstances then they realize.

This movie had a huge cast in it. Did I mention Ben Stiller? I hope so, cause he's in it, and I would have to say that I actually liked him in this movie. Funny thing is, this was fairly typical to his acting style. Confused? So am I. I guess I feel his character fit so well in this movie that I didn't find him as awkward or annoying. Still plays the "action star" for this movie. Jack Black plays the controversial, loudmouth "comedian", and he is, well, typical Jack Black. Robert Downey Jr. plays the multiple Oscar winning actor who goes as far as dying his skin to play this role in the movie they are filming, and when the actor starts to play a role he refuses to ever go out of character on or off set until the movie is in consumer hands. What is hilarious about this is he doesn't sound or look anything like Downey Jr. I also found myself pleasantly surprised that Matthew McConaughey was in this movie and that he even had a substantial role.

Then you come to Tom Cruise. I found that he played one of those characters that I just can't stand. Remember when I said I didn't like typical Ben Stiller roles? The character Cruise plays, is along those lines of an annoying Stiller. But yet, I found myself laughing every time Cruise was on screen, because it was so atypical Tom Cruise. It was great to see him stop taking himself so serious and let loose for once.

I would say that I really enjoyed this movie. It wasn't so cheesy a comedy that it was too unrealistic and yet it was still funny. In addition, you do find a good amount of action sequences to accompany the slapstick situations and they tie into the story quite well. And you can't help but laugh at these actors who are either trying to just get by or the ones that just can't seem to let go of the roles that they play.

If I had to rate this movie, I would give an 8 out of 10.