21: Nothing More than Slick. ***

In a world of high stakes risk always have to be made, but how about making illegal risks? 21, asks that very question as the premise is a nifty little story about some harvard-wannabe's that cheat at the tables to win loads of cash. Jim Sturgess plays Ben Campbell, a young man that want's so badly to go to harvard med. The only problem is that he need three hundred thousand dollars to afford tuition. During one of his classes his teacher (Kevin Spacey) notices that he is a genius and reels him into a little club. This club has four other students, one of them is a cute girl (Kate bosworth). This club is special, they count cards at tables in vegas and beat the system, they get rich very quickly. Ben is not wanting to join but he wants to go to harvard; so he needs the money but a moral lesson is to be learned here.

This movie is fast, slick, and the cast is perfect for what they need to be. Sturgess and Spacey play well together and Spacey of course brings his sly charm to a very sick character. It almost feels like that Spacey is here to mentor young actor Sturgess, as Spacey plays his character with spunk and energy. Sturgess isn't terrible good but he plays the character the way he's supposed to be; and he's also a very likeable actor so the girls will love him. That is what brings this movie down, a superficial sense of life. The film brings up really intense moral issues, stealing, lying, cheating and backstabbing the ones we love. Just because these issues are brought up doesn't mean the movie has tons of meaning. It never really deals with the issues, things happen, characters feel bad, and the movie rolls right along has fast as it can. It never stops to bring real life to it's characters and the only two characters that matter are Ben and his teacher. Kate Bosworth is there to bring eye candy and a superficial love affair that has no meaning. The three others in the club might as well shouldn't even exist, they are there simply because they have to. Ben's two other friends he ditches are barely in the mix as well. I wish the writer and director would try to bring more flesh to these bare bones characters as they are all so very interesting. Laurence Fishburne plays the vegas boss who is in charge of security and he's just awesome. He brings an awesome tough as nails character to the screen, I wish the movie was about him.

This movie could have been a whole lot better than it was, but it was wasn't bad either. Sure the acting is surface level (Except from Spacey and Sturgess), sure this could have been way cooler, but the movie was a fun watch. It's fun, fast paced, sexy and very slick. Watching these people in action as they beat the system and deal with the consequences is awesome. The one moral they do deal with in full force is retribution and a long life criminal getting his due, you may run but you can't hide from your personal demons. This movie could have gone two ways, it could have been an engrossing drama with many moral questions and answers, or it could have been a slick fun good time. It took the lesser way, and it was a good time, nothing more and nothing less.

The Fighter: A Triumph. ****

Only a few good movies come out during the course of the year and this movie is a gem to behold. A very special story is at the heart of this movie, a story about a broken family, a rough neighbourhood, and a dream of taking over the boxing world. David O. Russell has directed one of the most sensitive movie's I have ever seen and he doesn't take sides with any of the characters, he just shows us what their lives are all about.

At the center of the film is Mickey (Mark Wahlberg) ; a man that always had a dream of being a professional boxer and who held his older brother, Dickey (Christian Bale), up as an idol. Dickey used to a professional boxer and he fought sugar ray leonard and made the big man fall to the mat, he didn't win the fight, but he did knock Mr. Ray to the ground, this is why he's the pride of his town. Now he's a crack addict and very unhealthy, but he's making a comeback film so he can fight Mr. Ray Leonard again. This movie isn't about heroics or making epic comebacks from the dumps; this movie is about a broken family, two boys, a bunch of sisters and how they try to make their lives right. Mr. Wahlberg and Mr. Bale showcase their acting chops magnificently, finally Wahlberg has shown us that he really is a great actor and he deserves every award that is coming to him. He plays his character with such a gentle spirit and a crazy determination to do what is right for his family and his girl. He plays it perfectly and doesn't over do it, it's perfect. Christian Bale is absolutely brilliant, he plays with such tenacity, and his character is so believable that it's haunting to watch him in action, he is electric. These two carry the film beautifully as the director has the confidence just to put the camera in front of these two and watch them fly with their characters. The supporting roles are also amazing. Amy Adams sports her acting chops play Charlene, the tough as nails girl that works at the town bar, eventually she goes out with Mickey and teaches him how to stand up for himself. Adams goes from Julie and Julia to this hard town boston girl that would fight for her rights, literally. Awards are surely to be handed out to these three if not nominations.

This film is a roller coaster ride with a big heart; the emotions spread throughout this movie overflows the screen and will eventually win you're heart over. There are heartaches and troubles but also triumphs and defeats, a movie that truly cares about the human heart. David O Russell doesn't use big theatrics or crazy camera tricks; he just simply tells this amazing true story about a family and how they struggle to find a purpose to live, a story about addiction and how it ruins a life and a story about redemption because there is always a second chance no matter how old or young. This movie is a triumph of the human spirit filled with compassion and a showcase for wonderful acting. The Fighter shows us that a great story is all we need to be moved, and this movie will move you, it's impact full, wonderful, sensitive, troubling and simply great. This isn't a sport movie, it's a movie about life and all the trials within, but it's what we do when we face them that is the most important. Will you give in? give up? or will you run full face into them and fight them to the death? This is the true fighter in us.

The Book of Eli: Mr cool isn't enough **

The end of the world is a popular topic these days as religions predict it and people with faith believe in it. Some say the world will see a war, others say a cataclysmic weather pattern will torch the earth, and some think a viral attack will kill millions, but we are all fascinated with it. This year we've had plenty of films about the end of the world and most haven't made the cut. The Book of Eli, is a nice effort trying to bring us a new world and a hopeful message but it falls flat in many respects.

Denzel Washington as the lead in this movie is the smartest move The Hughes Brothers went with while looking on who to cast for the film, Mr. Washington is cool, collect and has plenty of charisma to share with the rest of his cast. He actually makes this movie watchable; every scene he's in has an energy and there are moments in this movie that are so cool. Watching Denzel dismantle a group of bad guys in such a cool fashion never gets old; there is one moment in the movie where he turns a gun on a shop owner after the owner threatens to shoot him, but stringing a bunch of cool parts together does not justify for the bland story line. Nothing really happens in this movie, the catastrophe doesn't ever get explained and Denzel just walks around this baron landscape as the audience continuously wonders what this movie is really about. We know there is a special book, which is easily predicted as the bible, and a whole lot of wandering that is never warranted.

There are moments in this film that could've have been really fascinating but the writer clearly skimped out and would rather try and make the movie roll from scene to scene rather than taking one idea and fleshing it out. The part: when Eli (Washington) falls upon a house and he walks in and meets an old couple. At first they seem nice, the old lady offers him tea, and the man makes easy small talk with him. Then things slowly turn ugly; this lovely old couple trap people and kill them so that they can eat their bodies and survive, they are cannibals, this is terrifying but as soon as suspense is created it all goes away when it turns and a shootout. Moments like these could have made the movie so terrifying and exhilarating but the writer and directors seemed to take the easy way out. The action scenes in the movie were cool but it wasn't anything new to the genre and there was only really two big fight scenes. In between the fighting and the pithy one liner dialogue is a really boring road story.

The movie rolls on and during the entire feature all I was wondering was, "where is this movie going", and it didn't go really far, it was cool at times, and Denzel Washington did the best job he could carrying this dead weight. He was cool, the action was the cool, the story was bland and the twist, well i'm not a huge fan of a movie made just for a cool twist. The ending of this movie is amazing and powerful, but it is a real shame the rest of the film wasn't as amazing as the ending was. This is truly a snore fest that really didn't have to be made. The ending makes this movie watchable as does Mr. Washington. The Hughes Brother tried their best trying to swing for home run with this film and they almost did; they brought vibrance and a cool look but the films pacing is dull and I really would never watch this one again, A nice try, but a bland story never helps.

The Road: Love Conquers All Evil. ****

11/10

Many films have tried to captivate our imagination by showing us a vast new world, Avatar was a huge success just because of the 3D and how we actually felt like we were living in this world, The Matrix was also a huge success because of the future that it took place in was so undeniably cool. These imaginings were cool and were attractive but the world imagined here in The Road is simply the polar opposite of these two films described. It's a bold and unique vision that will not be everyone's cup of tea, frankly I won't be watching this one multiple times, but this movie was incredible in more than one ways.

Let's start with the acting, Mr. VIggo Mortenson is one of the most compelling actors around, he picks rolls that most people would sneer at but he pulls them off with a subtle class and a whole lot of realism, in this film he plays the perfect everyman. He plays a father who has a small family but has lost his wife through and extraordinary event that has brought the world to it's knees. American has become a baron wasteland; it's grey, cold, foggy and the people you meet on the road generally attack you and take all of you're possessions along with you're dignity. He is forced out of his home when his wife commits suicide and raiders are coming to attack the house, he takes his son with him on a journey to nowhere. Viggo plays this role so confidently that his subtle breathing and movements show how this man of dignity has to do anything to keep his boy okay; sometimes that makes him the bad guy. As a later character states in the movie, "We have lost our humanity," this movie isn't a light one. The depressing imagery is the least dreary thing of the film, every time the heroes go into a house it's terrifying, every discovery has a dispiriting catch, and the raiders that eat and attack the innocent make The Road one of the most terrifying films of the year.

The only hope surrounding this movie is the love and compassion between father and son, "Do we still have the fire in us?", as the son asks his dad about this spirit of fire within them that keeps them going; the only hope in a hopeless and lawless world, a world without humanity. As disturbing and hopeless this movie is; this center is what the whole story and picture revolves around and it makes it all that more powerful. This story is so powerful, watching Viggo interact with his boy (Kodi-Smit Mcphee) is a joy and warms the heart as these characters are immersed in such a horrific world.

Raw power is what defines this movie, the set is absolutely breath taking, we don't have to imagine a world here but the filmmaker has taken us there which is a huge break through and it's a simple reminder that film can really do without 3D. This is a world that we don't want to see, a baron wasteland, with canballistic clans that feed on the innocent, and no hope in sight of rescue or a better life, but as an old man says "Now that I've seen you're boy, I've seen God's angel, his gift to man, he is our hope," These words are so powerful, this movie is a triumph, it's bold, unique and compelling and tells a story most people would be scared to tell.