MOVIE REVIEWS

Following are reviews of recently released or soon to be released films.  Films include: Crazy Stupid Love, The Guard, Higher Ground, Horrible Bosses and Captain America. 
All of the films will receive a DONLOE Scale rating. On the Donloe Scale, D (don’t bother), O (oh, no), N (needs work), L (likable), O (OK-Outstanding) and E (excellent-exquisite).

CRAZY, STUPID, LOVE

This ensemble comedy with several stories interwoven, focuses on the split-up of straight-laced Cal (Steve Carell) and Emily (Julianne Moore), who have been married more than 20 years. Emily, who is having an affair, has become bored with the marriage and wants to move on. Cal takes the split hard.
Jonah Bobo, who plays the couple’s 13-year-old son, Robbie nearly steals this movie. He has a crush on the family babysitter (Analeigh Tipton), who has a secret crush of her own.
The fun begins when Cal meets a womanizer named Jacob (Ryan Gosling) at a club.  Jacob not only helps Cal with a complete makeover, he teaches him how to pick up women.  Jacob meets his match when he begins a relationship with Hannah (Emma Stone), a law student who tries to get him to be monogamous.
The movie comes together quite nicely at the end with a few surprises.
Marisa Tomei and Kevin Bacon also star.
Crazy, Stupid, Love, (Warner Bros.), written by Dan Fogelman, is rated PG-13 and is currently in theaters nationwide.  Length: 117 minutes.
On the DONLOE Scale, Crazy, Stupid, Love gets an O (OK).

DON CHEADLE and BRENDAN GLEESON

in THE GUARD

THE GUARD

    This is a smart, funny and dramatic film. It’s a tale of murder, police corruption, blackmail and drug trafficking.   Two cops, Wendell Everett, an FBI agent from America (Don Cheadle) and a salty Irish small town policeman named Sergeant Gerry Boyle (Brendan Gleeson) join forces to bring down a drug-smuggling ring. Everett and Boyle are initially at odds, especially with Boyle’s constant racially insensitive rants. Boyle resents Everett’s arrogance and Everett dislikes Boyle’s small town thinking.
    Both Cheadle and Gleeson are impressive in their roles.
The Guard was the official selection of the 2011 Sundance, Tribeca and Los Angeles Film Festivals.
The Guard (Sony Pictures Classics), written and directed by John Michael McDonagh, stars Don Cheadle, Brendan Gleeson and Fionnula Flanagan.
The Guard, rated R, is currently in theaters. Running time: 96 min.
On the DONLOE Scale, The Guard gets an E (excellent).

VERA FARMIGA in HIGHER GROUND

HIGHER GROUND

This is actress Vera Farmiga’s directorial debut.   The film depicts the landscape of a tight-knit spiritual community thrown for a loop when one of their own begins to question her faith.  The Film tells the story of a thoughtful woman’s struggles with belief, love and trust – in human relationships as well as in God.
Faith, love and honesty are the cornerstone of this story about a woman who learns that no matter how many time she loses her footing, she has within herself all that’s necessary to get to a higher place.
Higher Ground, stars Farmiga (also directs), Joshua Leonard, John Hawkes, Donna Murphy, Dagmara Dominczyk, Norbert Leo Butz, Bill Irwin, Ebon Moss-Bachrach
Higher Ground (Sony Pictures Classics), with a running time of 109 min., is set for an August 26, New York and Los Angeles release.
On the DONLOE Scale, Higher Ground gets at O (OK).

CHRIS EVANS is CAPTAIN AMERICA

CAPTAIN AMERICA: The First Avenger

This is a great popcorn movie that, of course, doesn’t take itself seriously. It’s the latest in the comic book turned movie offerings. The blockbuster film, directed by Joe Johnston (The Rocketeer), doesn’t deliver anything new, but it is a lot of fun. Set in 1942, during World War II, the movie stars Chris Evans in the title role. He plays a U.S. Army soldier-turned-superhero (a character first introduced by Marvel Comics 70 years ago).  Captain America is a one-man army, who kicks butt and takes names.
Evans plays Steve Rogers, who, once a scrawny asthmatic, through a science experiment becomes Captain America, who is determined to serve his country.
The film, directed by Joe Johnston, also stars Stanley Tucci, Tommy Lee Jones and Derek Luke.
Captain America (Paramount Pictures), written by Christopher Markus and Stephen McFeely, is rated PG-13, running time: 2 hr. 1 min.
On the DONLOE Scale, Captain America: The First Avenger gets an O (OK).

JAMIE FOXX in HORRIBLE BOSSES

HORRIBLE BOSSES

This is a funny movie. It stars Jason Bateman and Jason Sudeikis.
Horrible Bosses (Warner Bros.), currently in theaters, has a running time of 97 minutes.
    The story is simple. Three friends, who all work at three separate jobs, conspire to kill each other’s bosses. Of course, none of the three friends is a criminal, but when they try to hire Motherf---ker Jones, played by Jamie Foxx, to do the dirty deeds for them, all kinds of funny is let loose.
    This movie goes to show you, that even good folks can go bad. Revenge rules in this wacky comedy.
Kevin Spacey is a smarmy, sadistic boss to Bateman’s character; incredibly corrupt Colin Farrell gives Sudeikis a case of the flux and Jennifer Aniston sexually harasses Dale, played by Charlie Day.
Horrible Bosses (Warner Bros. Pictures), directed by Seth Gordon, is rated R; running time 1 hr. 37 min.
On the DONLOE Scale, Horrible Bosses gets at O (OK).