Movie Info:
Writer: Billy Bob Thornton
Director: Billy Bob Thornton
Cast: Billy Bob Thornton, Dwight Yoakam, J.T. Walsh, John Ritter, Lucas Black, Natalie Canerday, James Hampton, Robert Duvall, Rick Dial, Brent Briscoe
Rating: N/a
Studio: Miramax

Release Info:
Theatrical Release: November 27, 1996
DVD Release Date: August 4, 2009
Online Availability: Amazon for $23.99

I remember hearing a lot about Sling Blade during its Oscar hype. There was a virtually unknown man that wrote, directed, and acted in this movie about a mentally disabled man that just got out of the mental hospital. The story was about how he befriended a young boy and proceeded to live his life free of the institution, with his new friend at his side. It almost sounded like a more redneck, less commercial version of I Am Sam (without seeing it, that is). In the beginning I had no interest in seeing Sling Blade. At that point, it seemed like movies with guys that were “slow” was all the rage. Sure, each of them were different, but they were out in abundance for a few years. This one seemed to be the most odd to me. Sam had heart and Forrest told one hell of a story, but Karl…all he did was grumble his speech and eat biscuits and mustard. To be honest, I wasn’t expecting to be wowed.

Then I learned that John Ritter was in the movie, starring as a homosexual Dollar Store manager named Vaughan. I have loved Ritter since I was a child, watching him as the insanely funny (and adorable) Jack Tripper on Three’s Company. I rarely, if ever pass up a chance to see his work. So, I had no choice but to watch Sling Blade once I learned that he had a part in the movie. While Ritter was subtly brilliant, as always, it was not his performance that surprised me, as much as it was the film as a whole. Sling Blade caught me by surprise. It started with a slow feeling that the movie was pretty good and before I knew it I was totally immersed.

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Written by Ashtyn - Visit Website
Ashtyn Evans is a writer, advocate, free thinker, and all around cynical person. Always quick to find the negative in anything pop culture, she loves being a part of that which she despises. Ashtyn and Dominick own numerous blogs together, as well as a full-time writing business. In her spare time she is a full-time college student studying History and Psychology. She plans to one day give up her freelance career and be a full-time blogger, novelist, and domestic goddess. She can be contacted for writing projects, fan mail, or just to say hi. She really is friendlier than we make her look.

Movie Info:
Writers: Susannah Grant, Steve Lopez
Director: Joe Wright
Cast: Jamie Foxx, Robert Downey Jr., Catherine Keener, Nelsan Ellis, Tom Hollander
Rating: PG-13
Studio: Dreamworks Video

Release Info:
Theatrical Release: April 24, 2009
DVD Release Date: August 4, 2009
Online Availability: Amazon for $22.99

As a mother of a child suffering from mental illness I was particularly interested in seeing The Soloist. While my son’s mental illnesses are different than the ones that are portrayed here in this film, I still looked forward to it from the moment that I heard about it. The idea that someone can go from a loving home to the streets because of a mental illness is a sad, but common fact. What’s also sad is that many of these people (all of them really) have at least one thing that make them special. Often these things are ignored because the harsh life on the street takes its toll. Of course, if I was not in this situation there would still be a few things that drew me to this movie.

One of those things is Robert Downey Jr. I have been a fan of Downey Jr.’s for decades. The first movie I ever really remember seeing him in was Less Than Zero. I have been all but hooked on him ever since. There was a brief period where he disappeared off the face of the Earth (or so it seemed), but lately his acting talents have been unstoppable. It’s hard to not want to see the movie from an actor that has starred in such hits as Tropic Thunder, Ironman, and Zodiac, to name a few.

Of course, adding Catherine Keener and Jamie Foxx into the mix certainly doesn’t hurt. It’s hard to dismiss the talent of either of these actors. I have been a long time fan of Keener and her work in movies like Into the Wild, Capote, and An American Crime. Foxx, on the other hand, really managed to catch my eye as a serious actor in blockbusters like Ray and The Kingdom. The cast is round out with an intelligent and thoughtful bunch of supporting actors that handle their respective jobs and roles with ease.

The Soloist is an uplifting film. Knowing that there is a man out there that would go to the lengths that many would pass over just to be another man’s friend manages to make you feel good somehow. On the flip side, it’s also a very sad movie. It’s sad because you see the devastation of life on the big city streets. While LA is shown, it’s easy to assume that other big cities are equally as ravaged by homelessness, drugs, crime, and mental illness. It’s sad because you see some good people out there and yet you can’t do anything to protect them when they refuse to protect themselves. That is one of the lessons learned, but not easily followed in The Soloist; sometimes you have to just suspend logic and be someone’s friend when they need it. Rules do not apply. Sometimes friendship is what a man truly needs to get by.

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Written by Ashtyn - Visit Website
Ashtyn Evans is a writer, advocate, free thinker, and all around cynical person. Always quick to find the negative in anything pop culture, she loves being a part of that which she despises. Ashtyn and Dominick own numerous blogs together, as well as a full-time writing business. In her spare time she is a full-time college student studying History and Psychology. She plans to one day give up her freelance career and be a full-time blogger, novelist, and domestic goddess. She can be contacted for writing projects, fan mail, or just to say hi. She really is friendlier than we make her look.

Movie Info:
Writer: David Loughery
Director: Steve Shill
Cast: Idris Elba, Beyoncé Knowles, Ali Larter, Jerry O’Connell, Bonnie Perlman, Christine Lahti
Rating: PG-13
Studio: Sony Pictures

Release Info:
Theatrical Release: April 24, 2009
DVD Release Date: August 4, 2009
Online Availability: Amazon for $25.99

I am rarely surprised by movies, but every now and then one comes along and surprises me. Obsessed is one of those movies that had me surprised. For starters, Beyonce is in this and doesn’t sing. It’s like seeing a John Travolta movie where he doesn’t dance. The entire event is one that leaves people shocked. While it’s a rare thing, Beyonce manages to excel in her role as a strong and confident wife and mother that is willing to stop at nothing to protect her family.

This was not the thing that surprised me the most though. The movie itself was quite surprising because the trailer did a good job at deceiving viewers, or at least they managed to deceive me. I’d planned to see Obsessed from the first viewing of the trailer, but after seeing the movie I realized that I didn’t know as much about the film as I originally thought. If you go into this film thinking that it’s going to be about infidelity then you will be wrong. The plot actually has a much more demented, confused tone to it. I mean that in the best of ways. Obsessed was actually better than I had thought it was going to be, and I thought I was going to like it from the beginning.

One of the best things about this movie is Ali Larter’s character. I’ve always found Larter to play in some interesting roles. The fact that she exudes sex appeal does not hurt either. Larter plays the obsessed, Lisa, a temp worker at a law firm that needs some serious psychiatric help. Calling her a fruitcake would be putting it mildly. Of course, in true movie fashion she doesn’t just sit around on her own. She sets out to infect the world with her madness. Two of the people she infects the most are Derek Charles (Idris Elba) and his wife Sharon (Beyonce).

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Written by Ashtyn - Visit Website
Ashtyn Evans is a writer, advocate, free thinker, and all around cynical person. Always quick to find the negative in anything pop culture, she loves being a part of that which she despises. Ashtyn and Dominick own numerous blogs together, as well as a full-time writing business. In her spare time she is a full-time college student studying History and Psychology. She plans to one day give up her freelance career and be a full-time blogger, novelist, and domestic goddess. She can be contacted for writing projects, fan mail, or just to say hi. She really is friendlier than we make her look.

Movie Info:
Writers: James Gray
Director: James Gray
Cast: Joaquin Phoenix, Gwyneth Paltrow, Vinessa Shaw, Isabella Rossellini, Moni Moshonov, Elias Koteas
Rating: R
Studio: Magnolia Home Entertainment

Release Info:
Theatrical Release: February 13, 2009
DVD Release Date: June 30, 2009
Online Availability: Amazon for $

This film could have gone terribly wrong. It could have been bad in all of the wrong ways. Luckily, thanks to a near-perfect script and some incredibly solid acting there is only one thing wrong with this movie. It’s said to be Joaquin Phoenix’s last picture. Knowing that someone as talented as Phoenix is walking away from acting is nothing short of a bummer, but seeing that this is where he chose to end the line, cannot help but make you feel good. Two Lovers is a romantic drama about a set of perpetually flawed characters.

Phoenix plays Leonard. He’s a guy with some mental problems. At the least he suffers from depression, though his mom calls it Bi-polar and if you know anyone that has it, you’ll probably agree. He lives with his parents and works for their dry cleaning business. His mom is a strong, Jewish mother. She is always in his business, but it’s clear that it is because she loves him and wants the best for him. Then there are the women in his life. One is dependable and though she has received a bad break with men in the past, it’s obvious that she has a good heart. The other, makes bad choices, indulges in various drugs to kill the boredom and is a complete mess in all of the wrong ways.

One of the biggest morals of the story is that people in love only see what they want to see. Leonard makes excuses for Michelle, the girl that’s a mess. He doesn’t care about her problems because she is amazing. Meanwhile, Sandra, the more dependable option, settles for Leonard, in a way, because he’s the best (or only) option available to her and she doesn’t want to be alone. It’s obvious that she cares about him, but there is no real indication to show that if Sandra had someone else she would still be with Leonard.

Two Lovers is anything but your modern day romance. This is a thinking man’s picture. It’s told through the eyes of Leonard, or with him as the main character. Some might say that these women are weak, but I don’t see that as the case. If anything, I think they all suffer from the same weaknesses. Michelle has forced herself into a bad decision and has low self-esteem. She hangs on the comfort of one man, stringing him along and controlling the relationship while waiting for another that offers her no stability or control.

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Written by Ashtyn - Visit Website
Ashtyn Evans is a writer, advocate, free thinker, and all around cynical person. Always quick to find the negative in anything pop culture, she loves being a part of that which she despises. Ashtyn and Dominick own numerous blogs together, as well as a full-time writing business. In her spare time she is a full-time college student studying History and Psychology. She plans to one day give up her freelance career and be a full-time blogger, novelist, and domestic goddess. She can be contacted for writing projects, fan mail, or just to say hi. She really is friendlier than we make her look.

Movie Info:
Writer: Frank A. Cappello
Director: Frank A. Cappello
Cast: Russell Crowe, Helen Slater, Etsushi Toyokawa, Michael Lerner, Kyusaku Shimada, Kristopher Logan, Kelly Hu, Andrew J. Ferchland, Ian Ziering
Rating: R
Studio: Sony Pictures

Release Info:
Theatrical Release: December 20, 1996
DVD Release Date: June 16, 2009
Online Availability: Amazon for $18.49

I am almost torn in my decision (or lack thereof) to tell you to run screaming for the hills rather than watching this movie. No Way Back goes by in a blur. The characters are, for the most part, uninteresting and unrelatable. You understand that there is a struggle and that things need to be done to save lives, but you really don’t care. It’s impossible to care with writing as bad as this. In fact, studios should think long and hard before letting Frank A. Cappello have any of their cash. He’s definitely not worth it.

Being fair, I will state that Cappello wrote Constantine, which was by far his biggest hit. He didn’t direct that though and I think that this is where this goes from bad to worse. As bad a writer as he may be, he’s worse when it comes to directing.

I was shocked to find that Cappello is not listed as a producer for this because it’s just plain awful. Everything about it sucks. This film only has one redeeming quality. Helen Slater is the only thing that makes this movie worth watching. I remember watching The Legend of Billie Jean over and over when I was younger. I absolutely loved that movie and loved Slater because of her part in the film. She is actually the main reason that I wanted to review this. Something told me that if all else failed Slater would make it watchable. Boy, was I right on that one. I don’t think she saved the movie, but she made it bearable if nothing else.

I’ve been a fan of Russell Crowe for awhile and generally like his work. I could be nice and say that he tried his best, but I think the more accurate thing to say would be that he’s come a long way. It’s hard to give your all when your script calls for nothing. If nothing else, I am sure that No Way Back taught Crowe to pick his roles better.

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Written by Ashtyn - Visit Website
Ashtyn Evans is a writer, advocate, free thinker, and all around cynical person. Always quick to find the negative in anything pop culture, she loves being a part of that which she despises. Ashtyn and Dominick own numerous blogs together, as well as a full-time writing business. In her spare time she is a full-time college student studying History and Psychology. She plans to one day give up her freelance career and be a full-time blogger, novelist, and domestic goddess. She can be contacted for writing projects, fan mail, or just to say hi. She really is friendlier than we make her look.

Movie Info:
Writer: Eric Guggenheim
Director: Gavin O’Connor
Cast: Kurt Russell, Patricia Clarkson, Noah Emmerich, Sean McCann, Kenneth Welsh, Eddie Cahill, Patrick O’Brien Demsey, Michael Mantenuto, Nathan West, Kenneth Mitchell, Eric Peter-Kaiser, Bobby Hanson
Rating: PG
Studio: Walt Disney Video

Release Info:
Theatrical Release: February 6, 2004
DVD Release Date: June 16, 2009
Online Availability: Amazon for $23.99

Miracle was released in 2004 and I am sure I heard something about it at that time, but I effectively managed to block it out. In fact, when they told me I would be receiving this for review, I didn’t even know what this movie was about. I skimmed through the synopsis and waited for it to arrive, assuming that the movie would help me learn all that I needed to know.

I had read enough to learn that the movie was a true story about hockey, though if I hadn’t read anything I could have guessed that by the hockey players on the front of the Blu-ray cover. Being from Michigan, and a die hard Red Wings fan, it’s safe to say that hockey is near and dear to my heart. Still, I don’t watch too many movies about hockey. I don’t even watch that many movies where people ice skate. The only hockey movies that even comes to mind are Mighty Ducks and Youngblood. Though I am sure I have seen more.

Miracle is a true story about a virtually unknown group of college kids that make up the US Olympic hockey team. In a time when America needed it the most, these boys pulled together and dug deep enough to find a way to be winners. The story is filled with that feel good feeling, but it’s got a good amount of drama packed in with it, too.

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Written by Ashtyn - Visit Website
Ashtyn Evans is a writer, advocate, free thinker, and all around cynical person. Always quick to find the negative in anything pop culture, she loves being a part of that which she despises. Ashtyn and Dominick own numerous blogs together, as well as a full-time writing business. In her spare time she is a full-time college student studying History and Psychology. She plans to one day give up her freelance career and be a full-time blogger, novelist, and domestic goddess. She can be contacted for writing projects, fan mail, or just to say hi. She really is friendlier than we make her look.

Movie Info:
Writers: Justin Haythe
Director: Sam Mendes
Cast: Leonardo DiCaprio, Kate Winslet, Kathy Bates, Kathryn Hahn, Dylan Baker, Michael Shannon, David Harbour
Rating: R
Studio: Paramount

Release Info:
Theatrical Release: January 23, 2009
DVD Release Date: June 2, 2009
Online Availability: Amazon for $26.99

Movies like Revolutionary Road are often in a class of their own. They are dramatic, filled with meaning, and yet sometimes painful to watch. They are interesting because everyone gets a different meaning out of them. Some people love them for the strength they offer in telling a story that few movies will tell. Others shy away from them due to their controversial nature. In any case, when the climate is right, when the director is talented and the cast is deserving of such a role, the result is next to none. It becomes incredibly hard to top these films. Revolutionary Road is at the top of this list. It is a movie that will leave you in awe with nothing to say and a whole lot to think about.

There are movies that you know you will love before you even see them. It does not matter how much you know about them. You just know they are going to be something special. The combination of Kate Winslet and any good leading man is almost always a winning combination. Movies like Finding Neverland and The Reader say all one needs to know about Ms. Winslet’s acting skills. Pairing her with Leonardo DiCaprio though, well that ensures not only success, but an electric performance that will leap from the screen and into you.

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Movie Info:
Writers: Jean-Jacques Annaud, Alain Godard
Director: Jean-Jacques Annaud
Cast: Jude Law, Ed Harris, Rachel Weisz, Joseph Fiennes, Bob Hoskins, Ron Perlman
Rating: R
Studio: Paramount

Release Info:
Theatrical Release: March 16, 2001
DVD Release Date: May 19, 2009
Online Availability: Amazon for $17.99

I was not aware of this, but I had the chance to view bits and pieces of Enemy at the Gates before this review. I knew I had to see it due to my fascination with war movies, but I wasn’t sure I had seen it before. In all honesty, there is only one scene that I have watched in the whole movie. Ah, but what a scene it was. I often say that love scenes (now, more easily categorized as sex scenes) are not done the way that they used to be.

Enemy at the Gates may just be the exception. There is only one sex scene in this film and it is quiet, passionate, and hotter than you would expect sex between two fully clothed people to be. Maybe it’s the environment. I don’t know what it is, but that one scene makes the entire movie worth watching.

I shouldn’t say that too loudly though because this really is a pretty good movie from start to finish. The acting is superb. Sporting names such as Jude Law, Ed Harris, and Joseph Fiennes (among others), Enemy is packed with the star power necessary to make this semi-true story an emotional rollercoaster that offers one hell of a ride. Of course, without good direction these actors would not have had the vision of the project to offer such performances, so praise deserves to land with the director, as well.

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Movie Info:
Writers: Christopher McQuarrie, Nathan Alexander
Director: Bryan Singer
Cast: Tom Cruise, Kenneth Branagh, Bill Nighy, Tom Wilkinson, Carice van Houten, Thomas Kretschmann, Terence Stamp, Eddie Izzard, Kevin McNally
Rating: PG-13
Studio: 20th Century Fox

Release Info:
Theatrical Release: December 25, 2008
DVD Release Date: May 19, 2009
Online Availability: Amazon for $24.99

I had heard quite a bit about Valkyrie while it was being made. Most of the information had to do with filming locations and Tom Cruise. Apparently, the Germans are not a big fan of Scientology, and as such, they are not a big fan of the poster boy for this pseudo-religion. While I thought that denying camp locations for filming just because of Cruise was amusing, his personal religious beliefs (and the thoughts of the Germans) had no bearing on whether or not I would see this film.

In all honesty, I had to think long and hard about seeing Valkyrie. I have problems seeing movies with actors that fail to captivate me. When I watch a Tom Cruise film, I often have to struggle to see the character. He always remains Cruise to me, and with his more erratic behavior in the past, it’s hard to watch him and not think of those moments. The actual movie gets lost because it is all about Cruise.

The one thing that convinced me to watch Valkyrie was the subject matter revolving around WWII. In my opinion, this is one of the most interesting periods in history. Even though there have been hundreds of movies filmed on the subject, when the next one is released I will probably be in line to see it. So, for me, Valkyrie was a given, even if it meant having to sit through Tom Cruise to see it.

As with most movies there are some good and bad elements to consider. The most impressive aspect is that Valkyrie is based on a true story that hasn’t been talked about much, especially in film. For people that grew up with the misconception that Germans (during this period in history) are all evil, this gives you a chance to see that some knew what the Nazis and Hitler were doing was wrong. Not all of them believed in the Final Solution, and some of those that didn’t were willing to fight for what was right.

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Written by Ashtyn - Visit Website
Ashtyn Evans is a writer, advocate, free thinker, and all around cynical person. Always quick to find the negative in anything pop culture, she loves being a part of that which she despises. Ashtyn and Dominick own numerous blogs together, as well as a full-time writing business. In her spare time she is a full-time college student studying History and Psychology. She plans to one day give up her freelance career and be a full-time blogger, novelist, and domestic goddess. She can be contacted for writing projects, fan mail, or just to say hi. She really is friendlier than we make her look.

Movie Info:
Writers: Scott Kosar
Director: Brad Anderson
Cast: Christian Bale, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Aitana Sánchez-Gijón, John Sharian, Michael Ironside, Larry Gilliard Jr.
Rating: R
Studio: Paramount

Release Info:
Theatrical Release: January 18, 2004
DVD Release Date: May 19, 2009
Online Availability: Amazon for $19.99

Method actors intrigue me. I love a person that is so willing to be consumed by their craft that they do not want to pretend to be someone else. They want to become them. Method actors are entirely few and far between in Hollywood. Perhaps that is one of the problems with Hollywood. At times it seems to be more about the paycheck and less about the craft. Some of the best and most notable actors in Hollywood subscribe to method acting techniques. They don’t play the character, it becomes who they are whether it involves living with a family that your character lived with, confining yourself to a prison, or hiding in the wilderness and learning to survive on next to nothing. Method actors are the best because they give everything up for that realism.

Among names like Robert De Niro, Sean Penn, Edward Norton, James Dean, and Marlon Brando there is another method actor rising in the ranks. Christian Bale has proven that the character is the most important thing to him. He uses his body in extreme ways to make sure that the character is believable and authentic. For The Machinist, Bale dropped over 60 pounds, surviving on under 300 calories a day (the equivalent of an apple or some tuna fish and a cup of coffee). He wanted to drop more weight, until he was down to 100 pounds, but producers made him stop losing at 120 pounds. When you hear the tagline, “If you were any thinner you wouldn’t exist,” you won’t believe it’s true until you actually see it.

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Written by Ashtyn - Visit Website
Ashtyn Evans is a writer, advocate, free thinker, and all around cynical person. Always quick to find the negative in anything pop culture, she loves being a part of that which she despises. Ashtyn and Dominick own numerous blogs together, as well as a full-time writing business. In her spare time she is a full-time college student studying History and Psychology. She plans to one day give up her freelance career and be a full-time blogger, novelist, and domestic goddess. She can be contacted for writing projects, fan mail, or just to say hi. She really is friendlier than we make her look.