Chasing Beauty

This is a great documentary about fashion models and the ups and downs of trying to make it in the industry. The pace is quick and skillful as it volleys back and forth between the horror stories of experienced models and the trials and tribulations of up and comers. Fascinating interviews with seasoned models Hoyt Richards and Beverly Peele mine the creepy underbelly of their personal experiences. To tell how they earned a little cash on the side, or to tell how they spent their surplus millions would spoil the suspense. It’s better to hear it from the people themselves, as they use the documentary camera as a confessional. Filmmakers also follow a selection of young, hot billboard types as they try to stay thin, work out, and meet agents. And the only real criteria for them is whether or not they have “it”, whatever “it” is that models have. There’s no way to learn “it”, there’s no way to practice “it”, it’s just something models… HAVE. The mysterious force that leads to fame and fortune and shampoo endorsements. Chasing Beauty is a funny and satisfying journey, and makes you question exactly how glamorous the spotlight really is. Kudos to the filmmakers.

Stoker

Man, oh man, does this thing take a while to get going. It's not even clear what genre this movie is until about an hour into it. When that genre finally reveals itself, and it is a FUN and surprising revelation, the movie starts to become interesting. But it's over too quickly  after that and you’re left wondering why you sat there for the first hour. The performances from all the principles, Nicole Kidman and Mia Wasikowska, are all top-notch, but the pace is brutal. Is it me? Am I impatient? Have I been watching too much TV? Possibly. Or, possibly, the filmmakers here could take a lesson from Argo about pacing.

Spring Breakers

Spring Break! Spring Break forever, bitches! Bikinis! Titties! Guns! Cash! Money! Drugs! America! Swimming Pools! Aww Yeah! Sex! Cash! Pop music! America! The Beach! Bikinis! Titties! Pop Music! Brittany Spears! Beer! Sex! Shotguns! Bullets! Thump thump! Rich! Cologne! Pot! Cars! Go USA! Scooters! Fun! Bikinis! Ka-blam! Sex! Aww Yeah! USA Forever! Bikinis! Gold! Ka-POW! Spring Break! America! Beer! Chugging! Bang! Bikinis! Sex! Cash! Pop music! America! The Beach! Bikinis! Titties! Cologne! Pot! Cars! Go USA! Scooters! Titties! Guns! Cash! Spring Break forever, bitches!

The Incredible Burt Wonderstone

I laughed a few times at this, but it's nothing starkly memorable. It's a straightforward bromance, structured like so many of the Will Ferrell/Vince Vaughn/Adam Sandler bromances. The premise of the competing magicians is great, but one wonders if all of the magic potential was mined here. Is fun to see Jim Carrey as an over-the-top, one-dimensional nemesis. Efforts to make him the likable everyman stifle his craziness, but here he gets to be his wacky, dickie best. However,  there's something missing from this and I'm not sure what. There is a gooey, schmaltzy center, a romantic side, that may cannibalize the zany potential.

Oz: The Great and Powerful

It's funny to think about who Sam Raimi was 30 years ago, and the radical arc of his directing career. He's obviously not afraid to tackle revivals with loyal fan bases, but resurrecting "Oz" falls into a special category of ballsiness. What matters most is casting. James Franco is perfect as the Wizard, not because he is such a wonderful actor, but because he yields and gives way to the witches, who are the true stars of the movie. Nevertheless, there's still something sleazy and slimy about him. His eyes half shut as he finagles his way into Oz, and then must examine himself and his own motives to save the innocents. To talk about the witches too much would be to give away plot points and spoil some fun surprises. Suffice to say, Raimi knows this is the best part of the story and this is where all his fun and flourish goes. It’s not a life-changing movie by any means, but it's a wonder to behold and a delight to watch.

Side Effects

I watched this again because I like it so much. I especially liked noticing a couple of the times that the script "cheats." The plot holes are barely noticeable in this otherwise tight and surprising thriller.