Black Swan Review

Natalie Portman is dancing with Oscar in this film. If Natalie Portman doesn't win a best actress Oscar for her performance, she will have been nothing short of robbed. Her portrayal of a ballerina playing the lead role in the "Swan Lake" ballet, is nothing short of fantastic. Her character gets so wrapped up in her career and the role that the lines between real life and the role get blurred and she completely gets enveloped by the role. Of course, we shouldn't ignore the fact that this movie is great in other ways too.

This movie also stars Barbara Hershey (Erica Sayers), Portman's mother. She is a control freak and former ballerina herself. You end up feeling a love hate relationship with her. Winona Ryder, the ballerina Portman ousts for the lead role in "Black Swan", is powerful in her portrayal of a past-her-prime ballerina. Her character is so gruesome at times, I found myself covering my eyes in some scenes. Ryder is brilliant in her performance. It is good to see her back in movies. Vincent Cassel (Thomas Leroy) does a great job as the artistic director of the ballet company who has the power to make or break any career. His character is sexy and creepy at the same time. Mila Kunis (Lily) is the best friend/biggest threat to Portman's (Nina) character and she is magnetic in this movie. It is easy to see why Nina is drawn to her.

Last but not least, Darren Aronofsky delivers this fabulous story with his usual dark mood. As usual, Darren exhausts you. I found myself very wound up and tired at the same time after watching this movie. He has the wondrous ability to draw the viewer into his movies and you are both haunted and mesmerized at the same time for hours sometimes days. In the case of his movie, "Requiem for a Dream", I still shiver, squirm and feel downright uncomfortable years after I seeing it.

See "Black Swan" before it leaves the theater. This movie needs to be seen on the big screen because it was shot so brilliantly and the performances were so great. You will forget that you are watching a movie and you will feel like you were in the story.

Jimmy King's review of the Kings speech

The Kings Speech

Directed by Tom Hooper

Written by David Seidler

(Colin Firth) is thrust into the position of King George VI after his father King George V (Michael Gambon) dies and his brother cannot hold the title as King Edward VIII (Guy Pearce) The major responsibility of any King as that they speak for their entire country. The problem is that this King has a stammer problem that cripples his in his attempts to speak. The more important the topic the more he stammers.

His wife Queen Elizabeth (Helena Bonham Carter) seeks a speech therapists to cure her husbands stammer. She finds Lionel Logue (Geoffrey Rush) an Australian who takes on King George and demands that they both be equals for the therapy to work. Logue and the King develop a love hate relationship at the end proves to be unbreakable and ultimately successful in helping the King through his toughest challenge which is to address his country in a speech that will give confidence for entering into war with Germany.

The look and feel of the movie were smoky and dark as one would expect of britian in the early 1900's. Beautifully shot and well thought out. I thought I wouldn't like it but I was immediately drawn into the story and vicariously felt the fear and angst of not being able to speak his mind which his entire country needed for strength. The interaction between the King and Logue was executed in the way you would expect Geoffrey Rush to. A master class in acting from Mr Rush.

I raise my glass to this movie for turning me around.

The King's Speech

The King's Speech starring Colin Firth, Geoffrey Rush and Helena Bonham Carter, is a great movie. My partner, Jimmy, didn't want to see this film because he loathed the movie, "The Queen" so much. I dragged him along and he ended up loving it! Colin Firth's performance as King George VI of England was awesome. Colin draws you into his performance so well you feel the tension in every part of your body as he struggles to speak. The story is well written and executed by all. You feel so sorry for King George once you know all that he has endured in his life. Turns out being royal isn't all that it is cracked up to be. With very little affection and very few true friends it is a wonder that all that was wrong with this King was a speech impediment. Helena Bonham Carter plays King George's Wife (a.k.a The Queen Mum). She truly was the embodiment of the Queen Mum, so sweet and supportive, just as you imagined her to be in real life. Geoffrey Rush's character, Lionel Logue is the King's speech therapist and loyal friend. His technique, tenacity and patience are wonderfully portrayed by Rush. I also have to comment on the way this film was shot. The camera work was very creative and definitely had a hand in enhancing the feelings of anxiety and rhythm of the movie. As the King struggles to find a rhythm of breathing in his speech therapy, the camera pans in and out of the shot like a diaphragm breathing, allowing for a truly unique transition between shots. Many people won't notice the subtle but brilliant camera angles and creative shots but if this movie had been shot not using those techniques, it wouldn't have had the same impact. Good job to the cinematographer, Danny Cohen. Brilliant work!

Inception Review

Inception is one of the best movies this year. Leonardo DiCaprio gets better looking every year. He looks fantastic and his acting is impeccable in this film. His role would be tough for anyone because the story and character are both so complicated. He pulls this off flawlessly though. We have come to expect nothing but the best from this actor and every film he is in is better for having him. This film is complicated and the story can be hard to follow if you have a short attention span but it is a fabulous and very unique story. Kudos to Christopher Nolan for having the guts and imagination to write and direct this movie. Also lighting up the screen in this spectacular creation is Lukas Haas. He was the little boy in "Witness" and now he is all grown up. Ellen Page, Marion Cotillard, Michael Caine, Ken Watanabe and Pete Postlethwaite are among the long list of great actors that make this movie interesting to watch. Don't go to the bathroom or concession stand or you will miss enough of the movie to confuse you. There is no deception about "Inception", it is a must see movie with lots of thrills.

Knight and Day Review

If you are looking for a movie to see this coming Fourth of July weekend, go see this one! It doesn't matter if you are going with a group of guy or girl friends or even a date night. This movie has something for everyone. It has adventure, comedy and romance wrapped up in one fun package. Tom Cruise (Roy Miller) and Cameron Diaz (June Havens) have never looked better. June's antics will drive you nuts. She is unnerved much of the movie and Roy Miller has to keep her safe and deal with the bad guys chasing him. She is a bit dingy but her muscle car, tomboy behavior saves her from herself. As a girl who appreciates a good muscle car, (my favorite being the'68 Camaro) I loved the car scenes in this movie. GO see this movie! You will enjoy the ride.

Get Him to the Greek

"Get Him to to the Greek" is the funniest movie I have seen since "The Hangover". The music is also part of the act in this movie with hilarious songs. The lyrics are a total riot! With songs like "The Clap", you'll know what I mean. Jonah Hill and Russell Brand star in the story of an unlikely friendship of a rock star and record company intern. Aaron Green (Jonah Hill) is trying to get Aldous Snow (Russell Brand) to his come-back concert in L.A. and they have many adventures on the way. Aldous is a drugged up, sexually charged mess and a constant handful for Aaron. Aldous' former lover, Jackie Q. (Rose Byrne) is just as crazy as Aldous and totally out of touch with reality but very funny and sexually promiscuous as you would expect a rock star/groupie to be. She has her own music career and her lyrics are both terribly wrong and funny. Sean combs plays Aaron's boss, Sergio Roma. He rips it up on screen with his character's focused and driven behavior. I don't want to say anything more because I don't want to ruin the movie for you. If you are in the mood for a comedy, go see "Get Him to the Greek". Put your seat belt on for this ride. You will need it to keep from laughing yourself into the theater floor.

Sex and the CIty 2 Review

This movie is not what you have been reading in the other reviews. Other reviews are ripping this movie to shreds but I disagree. I thought it was entertaining and fun. It was as good as the first movie. Don't get me wrong, it isn't Oscar worthy but it is definitely worth seeing if you are a Sex and the City fan. If you aren't a fan and aren't familiar with the characters, you will still be entertained but you will not always understand what is going on since you don't have a history to work with. If you are a Sex in the City virgin, you definitly won't get the wedding at the beginning. Anyway, the fashion, which has gotten a lot of attention, is colorful but a little to 80's for me. Having lived through that fashion faux pas, I really don't need to go back there again. Old isn't always new again ladies! I am sure I won't be seeing the red sea urchin dress that Samantha (Kim Cantrall) was wearing on anyone else. I did enjoy the story line and the trouble Samantha gets herself into. The scenery was beautiful too! The Middle East is a gorgeous part of the world and filled the big screen with it's warm hues. The ladies looked gorgeous in the scarves and colors chosen for their Middle Eastern scenes. Carrie (Sarah Jessica Parker) and Big (Chris Noth) continue to be a great couple and continue to reinvent the rules of marriage. I am all about reinventing marriage ; ) Miranda Hobbes (Cynthia Nixon) takes a big step int he right direction in this film and it is good to see! She also has aged better and looks the best out of all of our sexy friends. After years of watching her look frumpy on the TV show, she has finally come into her own and looks amazingly HOT! Speaking of HOT, Smith Jerrod (Jason Lewis) and Aidan (John Corbett) make an all too brief appearance. This movie has great flow to the story and you forget about time entirely. Strap on your Manolo Blahniks and go to the movies!