My End of Summer Movie Grades

Well, summer is on its way out and with it goes a rather lackluster season at the movie turnstiles. Despite big monetary numbers, attendance was down at theatres this summer and several films underperformed (Cars 2, Pirates 4) despite still doing decently. Then there were also gigantic flops that you couldn’t pay me to see (Cowboys & Aliens, The Change Up, Green Lantern). On the other hand there were fabulous films that were both critical and commercial successes (The Help, Harry Potter). With the final weekend upon us dumping two big film turds (Shark Night 3D, Apollo 18), it is interesting to note that one very good movie will end the summer on a positive note, The Debt. This taut thriller spans three decades of spy intrigue as Mossad agents hunt a treacherous Nazi doctor and features fantastic performances from this year’s “It Girl” Jessica Chastain (The Help, The Tree of Life), Martin Csokas (The Bourne Supremacy), Oscar nominee Tom Wilkinson (In the Bedroom), hottie Sam Worthington (Avatar) and Oscar winner Helen Mirren (The Queen). I really enjoyed the film (despite Worthington’s terrible accent~ his acting was still good remember!) and gave it an ”A-” grade. It was one of several movies I would recommend from the past few months. With that said, take a look at all the grades for the movies I saw over the summer. Enjoy and let me know your faves.

2011 Summer Movie Grades~

The Help: A+
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2: A
Crazy Stupid Love: A
Glee 3D Live: A
Beginners: A
The Whistleblower: A-
The Debt: A-
Bridesmaids: A-
Super 8: A-
Midnight in Paris: A-

Sarah’s Key: B+
Captain America: B+
Thor: B+
Rise of the Planet of the Apes: B+
X-Men~ First Class: B
Bad Teacher: B-
The Hangover Part 2: B-
One Day: C+
Columbiana: C

Fast Five: C
Larry Crowne: C-
Pirates of the Carribean~ On Stranger Tides: C-
Transformers~ Dark of the Moon: D+

And check out The Debt from Focus Features in theatres now. Here’s the trailer.

http://www.youtube.com/user/SeeTheDebt?v=FI4mrRgELgA&feature=pyv&ad=13258451385&kw=the%20debt%20trailer

Today’s Oscar Contender~ “The Whistleblower” is Fascinating, Harrowing and Fantastic

Rarely do Oscar worthy films come out in August, but it’s not without precedent. Two years ago, Meryl Streep grabbed her 16th Oscar nomination for Julie & Julia that month and this year several films aim to replicate that success. Out at the end of the month is the thriller The Debt with Oscar winner Helen Mirren, Jessica Chastain (The Tree of Life) and Sam Worthington (Avatar), and August 8th, the highly anticipated film adaptation of the award-winning novel The Help hits theatres. This one stars Oscar winner Sissy Spacek, Oscar nominee Viola Davis, Emmy winner Allison Janney, Chastain (again), Bryce Dallas Howard, Octavia Spencer and Golden Globe nominee Emma Stone and has awards written all over it… However, there is one small film opening on August 5th that deserves serious Oscar attention, The Whistleblower. This dark, compelling, and exceptionally done political thriller details the true story of Kathryn Bolkovac (played by Oscar winner Rachel Weisz) who served as a peacekeeper in post war Bosnia in the 90′s and worked to uncover a massive sex trafficking scandal. She fought different law enforcement officials from multiple countries, U.N. dignitaries, political policies and corrupt people of all stripes to bring these horrible crimes to light, and the film captures her struggle with unflinching integrity and honesty. It’s a disturbing picture to watch at times, but an important one that is wonderfully realized by first time writer/director Larysa Kondracki. It features an Award-worthy performance by Weisz who is given ample exemplary support by Moncia Belluci, Oscar nominee David Strathairn (Good Night and Good Luck), Oscar winner Vanessa Redgrave (Julia) and a brilliant international cast. I highly recommend the film which I saw earlier this week. Check it out next week in Los Angeles and New York with other cities opening throughout the month, and hopefully Academy members will remember the film at the end of the year especially for Picture, Screenplay and Actress (Weisz). For more on the film (which I give an “A” grade to), head here and watch the trailer below.

The Whistleblower