Young Hollywood Guide

Friends With Kids

2012-03-07T21:30:00.000-05:00

What I liked:

Fabulous cast: Jennifer Westfeldt, Adam Scott, Maya Rudolph, Chris O'Dowd, Jon Hamm, Kristen Wiig, Edward Burns, and Megan Fox.
Kelly Bishop!
Westfeldt not only starred in it but also wrote and directed it.
The writing was fantastic. The characters felt real. They talked, thought, and acted like people that I know.
The story was very current and fresh. A modern day, funny, RomCom.
Great soundtrack.

A Separation

2012-03-07T21:11:00.000-05:00

What I liked:

It's a fascinating story with an interesting look at life in Iran.
Wonderful acting by everyone involved: Peyman Moadi, Leila Hatami, Sareh Bayat, Shahab Hosseini, Sarina Farhadi, Merila Zare'i, and Ali-Asghar Shahbazi.
Won the Oscar for Best Foreign Language Film.

Project X

2012-03-01T19:04:00.000-05:00

What I liked:

I think what helps sell this movie is that the actors are relatively unknowns: Thomas Mann, Oliver Cooper, Jonathan Daniel Brown, Kirby Bliss Blanton, Brady Hender, and Nick Nervies.
Miles Teller!
Martin Klebba!
Fantastic party soundtrack.
Full of "college humor".
It's a great example of why parents should never leave their teenage kids home alone.

21 Jump Street

2012-03-01T18:50:00.000-05:00

What I liked:

Oscar Nominee, Jonah Hill, was great and heavily involved as he co-wrote it.
Channing Tatum is good at playing the dumb pretty one.
The supporting cast is filled with stars from the small screen:

Nick from New Girl (Jake M. Johnson)
Erin from The Office (Ellie Kemper)
Ron from Parks and Recreation (Nick Offerman)
Rob Riggle from The Daily Show
Cole from Scrubs (Dave Franco)
Ice Cube from Barbershop
Kate from United States of Tara (Brie Larson)

Movies + Basketball = Love

2012-03-01T18:23:00.000-05:00

DVD Day

2012-02-28T18:42:00.000-05:00

New to DVD:

Hugo - Grade A
Read the full review here

Live Blogging the 2012 Academy Awards

2012-02-26T20:28:00.037-05:00

Hit refresh and repeat...

Morgan Freeman as a warm up act for Billy? Nice.
Bieber!
I love Billy's opening skit.
His song medley is amusing.
I like the set design for the Oscars.
Best Cinematography - Hugo
Best Art Direction - Hugo
I do not like Meryl Streep's gold dress.
That JC Penny commercial was awful.
Best Costume Design - The Artist

Live Blogging the Red Carpet for The 2012 Academy Awards

2012-02-26T18:22:00.021-05:00

Hit refresh and repeat...

Kudos to Melissa McCarty for not wearing black.
I love Shailene Woodley's look. The cream dress and hair are perfect.
Jessica Chastain looks lovely in the strapless black and gold dress.
I like Giuliana Rancic's white dress. This could be her best look to date.
I like Ellie Kemper's dress but not the hair.
I do not like Bérénice Bejo's dress or hair.
Michelle Williams looks lovely in coral red while her BFF, Busy Philipps looks lovely in black.
Viola Davis looks lovely in an emerald Vera Wang gown.
So happy to see that Rooney Mara didn't wear black.

My Oscar Picks 2012

2012-02-26T15:22:00.001-05:00

Leading Actor: Jean Dujardin for The Artist
Supporting Actor: Christopher Plummer for Beginners
Leading Actress: Viola Davis for The Help
Supporting Actress: Octavia Spencer for The Help
Animated Feature: Rango
Art Direction: Hugo
Cinematography: Tree of Life
Costume Design: The Artist
Directing: Michel Hazanavicius for The Artist
Documentary Feature: Paradise Lost 3: Purgatory

Read more »

2011 Razzie Nominations

2012-02-26T10:32:00.000-05:00

Worst Picture

Bucky Larson: Born to Be a Star
Jack & Jill
New Year's Eve
Transformers: Dark of the Moon
Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Part I

Worst Actor:

Russell Brand - Arthur
Nicolas Cage - Drive Angry 3D, Season of the Witch, Trespass
Adam Sandler - Jack & Jill, Just Go With It
Taylor Lautner - Abduction, Twilight
Nick Swarson - Bucky Larson

Worst Actress

Martin Lawrence (as "Momma") - Big Mommas: Like Father, Like Son
Sarah Palin (As "Herself") - Sarah Palin: The Undefeated
Sarah Jessica Parker - I Don't Know How She Does It, New Years's Eve
Adam Sandler (As "Jill") - Jack & Jill
Kristen Stewart - Twilight

2012 Film Independent Spirit Awards

2012-02-25T19:08:00.000-05:00

Act of Valor

2012-02-24T22:13:00.000-05:00

What I liked:

It is based on true events.
The film stars actual, active duty US Navy SEALs and SWCC.
It is action packed! There is not much down time in this movie.
The special effects and footage of real weapons and equipment are fantastic.

Wanderlust

2012-02-24T09:53:00.000-05:00

Maybe if you drink the kool aid, you will like it too...

What I liked:

It has a great cast: Paul Rudd, Jennifer Aniston, Justin Theroux, Alan Alda, Malin Akerman, Ken Marino, Joe Lo Truglio, Kathryn Hahn, Kerri Kenney, Lauren Ambrose, Michaela Watkins, Jessica St. Clair, David Wain, and Michael Ian Black.

DVD Day

2012-02-20T19:55:00.000-05:00

New to DVD

The Way - Grade A
Read full review here

J. Edgar - Grade B+
Read full review here

Tower Heist - Grade C
Read full review here

Martha Marcy May Marlene - Grade B
Read full review here

Live Blogging the 2012 Grammys

2012-02-12T20:02:00.036-05:00

Bruce Springsteen kicks off the Grammys. He looks and sounds as good as ever.
What does Lady Gaga have on her head? Sigh. Wouldn't it be weird if she tried to look normal for once?
I think LL Cool J's prayer was classy and touching.
I need details on Nicki Minaj's look.
Best Pop Solo Performance: Adele
I do not love Katy Perry's blue hair.
Best Rap Performance: Jay Z and Kanye West
"Don't You Want To Stay" is a beautiful song. Kelly Clarkson looks nice and sounds lovely.
The Foo Fighter's Wasting Light album was fantastic and deserves all the Grammy love. "Walk" is one of my favorites!

2012 BAFTA Awards

2012-02-12T18:26:00.000-05:00

Best Film: The Artist.
Outstanding British Film: Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy.
Best Director: Michel Hazanavicius for The Artist.
Best Original Screenplay: Michel Hazanavicius for The Artist.
Best Adapted Screenplay: Bridget O'Connor and Peter Straughan for Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy .
Best Animated Film: Rango
Best Leading Actor: Jean Dujardin for The Artist.
Best Leading Actress: Meryl Streep for The Iron Lady.
Best Supporting Actor: Christopher Plummer for Beginners.
Best Supporting Actress: Octavia Spencer for The Help.

A full list of winners can be found here.

Safe House

2012-02-09T22:03:00.000-05:00

What I liked:

I liked Ryan Reynolds in this role. It was a more serious part than what he usually does and in a way, a supporting character to Denzel Washington's role even though Reynolds might have more screen time.
Denzel is always fun to watch when he acts like a wild card.
It has a great supporting cast: Vera Farmiga, Brendan Gleeson, Sam Shepard, Robert Patrick, and Nora Arnezeder.
It was smartly written and action packed.

Super Bowl XLVI

2012-02-05T17:55:00.000-05:00

Follow me on Twitter @younghollywoodg for Super Bowl XLVI updates.

This Means War

2012-02-03T18:12:00.000-05:00

What I liked:

There is eye candy galore: Chris Pine, Tom Hardy, and Reese Witherspoon are all lovely looking.
All three have chemistry together, especially the guys. This helps make their friendship more believable.
Chelsea Handler was very funny.
The story was amusing and entertaining.
It has a decent soundtrack. I enjoyed hearing "This is How We Do It" by Montell Jordan.
The set design for each character's home was interesting. Lots of cool artwork.
I like that Pine's character made a reference to watching CHiPs, which stared his real life father, Robert Pine.
There is a humorous exchange in a video store that should make any single movie lover smile.

Chronicle

2012-01-31T17:46:00.002-05:00

What I liked:

It stars Dane DeHaan, Alex Russell, and Michael B. Jordan (The Wire).
DeHaan has Brad Pitt's eyes.
It has decent special effects.
It's only 1 hour and 24 minutes long.
It starts of interesting...What would teenage boys do nowadays if they got super powers?

Albert Nobbs

2012-01-30T11:52:00.000-05:00

What I liked:

Glen Close did a fine job acting and you could tell that this was a labor of love for her. Close played this character in a stage production based on the book Albert Nobbs: A Novella by George Moore.
The supporting cast was made up of Janet McTeer, Mia Wasikowska, Aaron Johnson, Pauline Collins, Maria Doyle Kennedy, Brendan Gleeson, Jonathan Rhys Meyers, and Bronagh Gallagher.
Beautiful lighting and set design.
I liked that Close co wrote the song "Lay Your Head Down" for the film.

SAG Awards 2012

2012-01-29T20:00:00.019-05:00

Love love love Michelle Williams' dress.
Loved that Armie Hammer was nominated for J. Edgar. Well deserved.
Outstanding Male Actor in a Supporting Role - Motion Picture: Christopher Plummer for Beginners.
Outstanding Female Actor in a Supporting Role - Motion Picture: Octavia Spencer for The Help.
Outstanding Male Actor in a Leading Role - Comedy Series: Alec Baldwin for 30 Rock!

Live Blogging the Red Carpet for the SAG Awards 2012

2012-01-29T18:30:00.022-05:00

Live blogging the Red Carpet on E!

Julianna Margulies looks nice. I like her strapless dress.
Octavia Spencer has on a great dress. Love it much better than her dress from the Golden Globe Awards.
Love that Spencer brought Josh Hopkins as her date. Who knew they were friends?! (Cougar Town come back 2/14!)
Melissa McCarthy in a long sleeved, dark dress. Surprise, surprise.
Ashley Simpson does have a old Hollywood glamour look going on.
Diane Lane looks lovely in an asymmetrical blue dress.
I like Rose Bryne's jump suit but not the hair. Wish it was a dress though...

Big Miracle

2012-01-28T13:49:00.002-05:00

What I liked:

This film is based on a true story and the book Freeing the Whales: How the Media Created the World's Greatest Non-Event.
Drew Barrymore plays the perfect Greenpeace activist.
John Krasinski plays the level headed reporter who breaks the story.
The supporting cast is impressive: Ted Danson, Dermot Mulroney, Kristen Bell, Kathy Baker, John Michael Higgins, Vinessa Shaw, James LeGros, Rob Riggle, Shea Whigham, Andrew Daly, Tim Blake Nelson, and Stephen Root.
Newcomer, Ahmaogak Sweeney, did well for his first role.
Loved all of the real footage from 1988.
It is a great story that can teach us about the environment and team work. It's also family friendly.
Even though Danson plays "a bad guy" he is a good guy in real life and a big supporter of Oceana.
The special effects were pretty cool as the whales looked real.
The film's social media campaign is pretty impressive.

The Vow

2012-01-26T19:00:00.000-05:00

What I liked:

Channing Tatum and Rachel McAdams have decent chemistry together.
Jessica Lange and Sam Neil play perfect over bearing rich parents.
Scott Speedman! I was always Team Ben.
Tatum shows a fair amount of skin in this film.
The story, which was based on a true event, was ok.
Enjoyed the Soundtrack.
Chicago made for a nice backdrop.

Oscar Nominations 2012

2012-01-24T08:58:00.004-05:00

My initial reactions to the Oscar Nominations:

No nomination for Michael Fassbender for Shame?! That's ridiculous.
A surprise nomination for Demian Bichir for A Better Life.
A surprise nominations for Gary Oldman for Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy.
Surprise nominations for Extrememly Loud and Incredibly Close including a nomination for Max von Sydow and for Pest Picture.
Is 21 Jump Street going to change their ads to say: Oscar Nominee - Jonah Hill?
Congrats to Bridesmaids and Margin Call on scoring Best Originial Screenplay nominations.
Wish 50/50 would have been nominated.
Rango is nominated again?! Why!?
Best Picture nominations: War Horse, The Artist, Moneyball, The Descendants, Tree of Life, Midnight in Paris, The Help, Hugo, and Extrememly Loud and Incredibly Close. I agree with 5 out of 9.
A full list of nominations can be found here

DVD Day

2012-01-24T07:00:00.000-05:00

New to DVD

50/50 - Grade A
Read full review here

Shame

2012-01-22T11:26:00.000-05:00

What I liked:

Michael Fassbender gave a fantastic performance. He says so much without uttering a word because his eyes are so expressive. He definitely deserves an Oscar nomination for Best Actor.
Carey Mulligan was great as the messed up little sister. Her performance of "New York, New York" was slow but haunting and poignant.
I wish they would make this film into a series, opening with the scene in the nightclub where Sissy sings and then flashing back to the time where Brandon and Sissy were kids. Their past would make for one emotional drama.
It was well written by Steve McQueen and Abi Morgan.
McQueen also does a beautiful job directing.
James Badge Dale!
Love the movie poster.

Red Tails

2012-01-20T18:04:00.001-05:00

What I liked:

Lots of things blow up and the special effects were pretty good.
The in-flight fighting was cool.
There are a lot of good actors in it: Terrence Howard, Cuba Gooding Jr., Nate Parker, Tristan Wilds, Elijah Kelley, Leslie Odom Jr., David Oyelowo, Marcus T. Paulk, Michael B. Jordan, Andre Royo, Bryan Cranston, and Gerald McRaney.
The Wire represents: Bubbles, Wallace, and Michael!

Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close

2012-01-18T18:36:00.000-05:00

What I liked:

The kid was fantastic. Thomas Horn rightfully deserved his Critic's Choice win and I think he should get an Oscar nomination for his performance.
Sandra Bullock and Tom Hanks were perfect choices to play his parents.
Max von Sydow (the Renter) was just the right combination of silent and compassionate.
Also making an appearance in the film: John Goodman, Viola Davis, and Jeffrey Wright.
Oskar has the coolest grandma in the world. How many grannies do you know would answer the call of a walkie talkie in the middle of the night?
The story was very creative and interesting as it was adapted from the book written by Jonathan Safran Foer. Having said that...

Carnage

2012-01-18T06:18:00.001-05:00

What you need to know:

Besides for the opening and closing credits, you are watching the same four people, in the same apartment, bicker and converse for 79 minutes.

BAFTA Awards Nominations 2012

2012-01-17T10:22:00.000-05:00

The British Academy of Film and Television Arts Award Nominations are out. Here are their top choices in film:

Best Film
The Artist
The Descendants
Drive
The Help
Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy

The full list of nominations can be found here

DVD Day

2012-01-17T06:59:00.000-05:00

New to DVD

The Ides of March Grade: A-
Read full review here

Live Blogging the 2012 Golden Globes

2012-01-15T20:00:00.056-05:00

Here we go...

I love Ricky Gervais.
Whoa, dissing the network that hired you.
And now dissing the Globes?! Love it.
Way to take a joke Jodi Foster!
A Justin Bieber joke! Love it.
A Tourist joke?! Love it.

Live Blogging the Red Carpet for The 2012 Golden Globes

2012-01-15T18:01:00.041-05:00

Hit refresh often...
Watching the red carpet coverage on E!

George Clooney looks like Clooney. Stacy Keibler is lovely in red. Still don't like them as a couple.
Not loving Giuliana Rancic's nude color dress. The black one that she had on earlier was better.
Really don't like Kelly Osbourne's grey hair.
Sarah Hyland from Modern Family looks beautiful. Love the dress.
I like the black and white dress that Claire Danes from Homeland is wearing.
Piper Perabo...wow...risky.
Jessica Castain...not loving the dress and the hair is a little too stiff.
The dog from The Artist cracks me up. Nice tie.

The Iron Lady

2012-01-14T21:03:00.001-05:00

What I liked:

Meryl Streep gives another outstanding performance.
Alexandra Roach gives a fantastic performance as young Margaret Thatcher.
Jim Broadbent, Harry Lloyd, Anthony Head, Richard E. Grant, and Roger Allam make up this wonderful supporting cast.
Hair and makeup did an excellent job.

The Artist

2012-01-14T20:42:00.001-05:00

What I liked:

Jean Dujardin is mesmerizing. He has an infectious smile and a sparkle in his eyes. He is so enjoyable to watch which is extremely important in this silent film.
Bérénice Bejo, John Goodman, James Cromwell, Penelope Ann Miller, Missi Pyle, Beth Grant, Ed Lauter, Joel Murray, Ken Davitian, and Malcolm McDowell make up the rest of the wonderful cast.
The dog deserves some props for being funny and talented.
The story isn't as silly as the trailer makes it out to be.
The score is fantastic considering it is the only thing that you hear.

Live Blogging the 2012 Critic's Choice Movie Awards

2012-01-12T20:01:00.037-05:00

The cold open is not funny but props for the cameos.
Rob Huebel & Paul Scheer are not doing great.
I like Florence + The Machine's Shake It Out.
Best Supporting Actress: Octavia Spencer for The Help.
Best Supporting Actor: Christopher Plummer for Beginners! Love the pink shirt! Funny acceptance speech. More please!
Love the house band: Fitz and the Tantrums!

Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy

2012-01-12T18:10:00.005-05:00

What I liked:

Fantastic ensemble cast: Gary Oldman, Colin Firth, Mark Strong, John Hurt, Toby Jones, Ciaran Hinds, Benedict Cumberbatch, and Tom Hardy.
Oldman gives another stand out performance. He's so good at blending into the character.
It's Boardwalk Empire'sAl Capone (Stephen Graham)!
I love all of the code words: The Circus, the grownups, Control...
The hair and makeup people did an excellent job.
They made a fun website for the film: http://www.tinker-tailor-soldier-spy.com/

DVD Day

2012-01-10T07:25:00.000-05:00

New to DVD

Moneyball - Grade B
Read full review here

Oscars® Trailer: "Off the Grid"

2012-01-05T21:36:00.001-05:00

So far, so good...I'm getting excited!

Man on a Ledge

2012-01-05T21:25:00.003-05:00

What I liked:

Well acted by everyone: Sam Worthington, Elizabeth Banks, Jamie Bell, Edward Burns, Ed Harris, Anthony Mackie, William Sadler, and Genesis Rodriquez.
Lost's Man in Black, Titus Welliver.
It's an entertaining thriller/crime caper movie. Don't think about it too much because you will spoil it for yourself.
Glad to see that Billy Elliot still has a few dance moves left in him.

DVD Day

2012-01-03T07:31:00.000-05:00

New to DVD

I Don't Know How She Does It - Grade D+
Read full review here

Movies that entertained me in 2011

2011-12-28T20:19:00.000-05:00

In no particular order...

Hugo
Midnight in Paris
50/50
The Way
Beginners
Super 8
The Ides of March
Warrior
Friends with Benefits
Hanna
Win Win
Margin Call
Attack the Block
The Muppets
Being Elmo
J. Edgar
My Week With Marilyn
Thor
Bridesmaids
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo

2011-12-20T07:20:00.002-05:00

What I liked:

Watch The Social Network to see Rooney Mara as the girl next store. Then watch this to see the transformation from that to total bad ass. She was fantastic in this role.
The entire cast was top notch: Daniel Craig, Christopher Plummer, Stellan Skarsgard, Robin Wright, Joely Richardson, and Geraldine James.
Yorick van Wageningen was great but prefer him in this film.
Fascinating mystery shrouded in layers with twists and turns.
The score was rocking. Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross know what they are doing.
Enya's "Orinoco Flow (Sail Away)"
The opening credits are visually stunning.
It's Lost's Charles Widmore!

DVD Day

2011-12-20T07:09:00.001-05:00

New to DVD

Midnight in Paris - Grade A
Read full review here
Midnight in Paris [Blu-ray]

Warrior - Grade A-
Read full review here

Dolphin Tale - Grade B+
Read full review here

The Adventures of Tintin: The Secret of the Unicorn

2011-12-17T18:36:00.000-05:00

What I liked:

The animation was excellent; life like at times.
The story was interesting. The audience seemed to laugh a lot.
Written by Steven Moffat (Coupling!), Edgar Wright, and Joe Cornish. It is based on the comic book series by Hergé.
I love Capt. Haddock's anchor sweater.

Joyful Noise

2011-12-16T21:23:00.001-05:00

What I liked:

Keke Palmer and Jeremy Jordan can sing! They would be a great addition to Glee.
The music was good.
Queen Latifah never looked better. Dolly on the other hand...

Mission Impossible 4 - Ghost Protocol

2011-12-15T16:36:00.000-05:00

What I liked:

Got to love a movie that opens with Josh Holloway. Oh Sawyer, how I have missed you.
Screen time was divided up pretty good so you don't get an overload on one person.
Paula Patton looks amazing. I want to know what her workout routine is.
Simon Pegg brings humor to the group.
Tom Cruise and Jeremy Renner have great chemistry together.
Slumdog Millionaire sighting! It's Anil Kapoor!
Midnight in Paris sighting! It's Léa Seydoux!
Tom Wilkinson, Ving Rhames, and Michelle Monaghan.
The special effects were amazing. You should really see it at an IMAX theater if you can.
Was that a picture of Daniel Roebuck aka Arzt from Lost during the train station scene?!

The Golden Globe Nominations 2011

2011-12-15T08:52:00.005-05:00

Initial thougths to the Golden Globe nominations:

No love for Melissa McCarthy?!
Ryan Gossling for Crazy Stupid Love?
Ides of March and 50/50 getting some love!
A nomination for Joseph Gordon-Levitt!
Kelsey Grammer for Boss?
American Horror Story, Boss, Homeland, Game of Thrones and Boardwalk Empire for best Television Drama? Network television must be mad!
Rango was nominated for Best Animated Film?! Someone needs to explain this to me.
Zooey Deschanel and New Girl get nominations!
The Wire reunion with Dominic West and Idris Elba!

SAG Award Nominations

2011-12-14T10:00:00.000-05:00

Here's my first reaction to the SAG Nominations:

Super excited that Armie Hammer was nominated for his supporting role in J. Edgar.
Surprised by Nick Nolte's nomination for Warrior.
Happy for Jessica Chastain and Melissa McCarthy's supporting role nominations.
Very excited that Midnight in Paris recieved an Outstanding Cast nomination.
The TV nominations for the Drama category have a lot of new faces.

Full list of nomination can be found here.

Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows

2011-12-13T18:22:00.000-05:00

What I liked:

Robert Downey Jr. and Jude Law have great chemistry and I enjoy watching them banter back and forth.
Rachel McAdams!
I love how Guy Ritchie directs these films. The slow motion and the quick shots make it fun to watch.
The clues and twists in the movie make it interesting.

The Sitter

2011-12-11T20:54:00.000-05:00

What I liked:

It's only 81 minutes long.
Jonah Hill was pretty funny.
The kids are annoying in the beginning but grow on you.
Landry Bender was pretty cute. I would like to see her play a younger version of Emma Stone or the little sister of Emma Stone in a movie.
If Max Records looks familiar, you probably remember him from Where the Wild Things Are.
J.B. Smoove!
Cheese from The Wire aka Method Man!
Susan from Friends aka Jessica Hecht!
I liked that Hill's character tells the kids how it is.
Pretty great soundtrack, especially "Escape (The Pina Colada Song) by Rupert Holmes!

War Horse

2011-12-08T22:18:00.001-05:00

What I liked:

Loki! F.Scott Fitzgerald! Tom Hiddleston!
Jeremy Irvine did an excellent job for his first film.
The story was kind of interesting in that it had layers that kept on building.
Beautiful scenery.
The horses did a great job acting.

New Year's Eve

2011-12-07T21:25:00.000-05:00

What I liked:

It's not a good sign when my favorite parts happen in the credits, so if you do see this movie, stay until the end!
The cast that is not on the poster is more interesting than the ones on the poster. Keep your eyes open for Cary Elwes, Alyssa Milano, Common, Penny Marshall, Sarah Paulson, Carla Gugino, James Belushi, Joey McIntyre, Jack McGee, Yeardley Smith, Amare Stoudemire, Cherry Jones, and Matthew Broderick!

DVD Day

2011-12-06T07:10:00.001-05:00

New to DVD

The Help - Grade B+
Read full review here

Cowboys & Aliens - Grade B+
Read full review here

The Hangover 2 - Grade C+
Read full review here

The Debt - Grade B
Read full review here

Mr. Popper's Penguins - Grade B-
Read full review here

DVD Day

2011-12-02T09:12:00.001-05:00

New to DVD

Friends with Benefits - Grade A-
Read full review here

Young Adult

2011-12-01T21:53:00.000-05:00

What I liked:

The characters were real. You will recognize a piece of someone that you know in these characters. You may even see yourself. There is something to be said for characters that you can relate to.
Solid acting by the cast: Charlize Theron, Patton Oswalt, Patrick Wilson, and Elizabeth Reaser.

National Board of Review Awards

2011-12-01T16:30:00.000-05:00

The NBR Awards are out and I am surpised by some of the winners.

Best Animated Feature - Rango?! Really?!
Best Film - Hugo! One of my favorites of the year!
Best Original Screenplay - 50/50. Another favorite!
Best Supporting Actress - Shailene Woodley. I just don't see it.
I saw 8 out of the 10 Top Independent films and agree with their choices.
I think Midnight in Paris is missing from their Top Films list.

For all the list of winners check out http://www.nbrmp.org/awards/

We Bought a Zoo

2011-12-01T16:28:00.000-05:00

What I liked:

Matt Damon was fantastic. He was funny, cute, serious, emotional, and real.
Colin Ford nailed the teenage angst and it doesn't hurt that he looks like a young Damon.
Could Maggie Elizabeth Jones be any cuter?!
Almost Famous alum, Patrick Fugit!
Elle Fanning is fabulous in everything that she does.
For Curb Your Enthusiasm fans...Leon Black (J.B. Smoove)!
Scarlett Johansson, Thomas Haden Church, John Michael Higgins, Stephanie Szostak, and Angus Macfadyen round out the rest of the cast.
The story is based on a true events.

Award Season Starts!

2011-11-29T12:09:00.001-05:00

The Gotham Awards and Independent Spirit Awards have announced their nominees for the 2011. The full lists can be found here:

http://gotham.ifp.org/
http://www.spiritawards.com/

A few of the films that are nominated are listed below. These are not big budget blockbuster films, rather they are the smaller, independent ones with incredible acting and emotional stories. Be sure to check them out on DVD or at a theater near you.

Beginners
The Descendants
Take Shelter
Margin Call
Martha Marcy May Marlene
50/50 (Still would have like to see Joseph Gordon-Levitt get nominated)
Win Win
The Artist
Tree of Life
Midnight in Paris
A Better Life

DVD Day

2011-11-29T07:16:00.000-05:00

New to DVD

30 Minutes or Less - Grade B
Read full review here

Our Idiot Brother - Grade D+
Read full review here

The Art of Getting By - Grade C+
Read full review here

One Day - Grade B
Read full review here

The Descendants

2011-11-23T19:44:00.001-05:00

What I liked:

George Clooney did well playing a regular guy as opposed to a super spy or the head of a casino heist.
Shailene Woodley wasn't annoying like she is on The Secret Life of the American Teenager. Having said that, I don't get what all the Oscar buzz is about.
Beau Bridges, Rob Huebel, Laird Hamilton, Matthew Lillard, and Judy Greer!
The beautiful backdrop of Hawaii.

Hugo

2011-11-22T07:01:00.004-05:00

"...film had the power to capture dreams."

What I liked:

A delightful and imaginative story that was adapted from the 2007 children's novel The Invention of Hugo Cabret by Brian Selznick.
There is a fascinating hidden history lesson on Georges Mélies that includes actual footage of his films. You can see A Trip the the Moon below. (Thanks Matt!)
Asa Butterfield was a wonderful Hugo Cabret.
The supporting cast was excellent: Chloe Grace Moretz, Sir Ben Kingsley, Sacha Baron Cohen, Christopher Lee, Helen McCory, Michael Stuhlbarg, Emily Mortimer, and Jude Law.
Martin Scorses did a great job directing. I loved how the camera moved with the characters instead of being stationary all of the time.
Lots of great quotes.
The set design and props were beautiful and full of details.
Lovely lighting.

DVD Day

2011-11-22T06:50:00.000-05:00

New to DVD

Super 8 - Grade A
Read full review here

Being Elmo - A Puppeteer's Journey

2011-11-20T19:34:00.000-05:00

What I liked:

It's a magical and inspiring story.
A great behind the scenes look at being a puppeteer.
A wonderful homage to Jim Henson.
Whoopi!

The Muppets

2011-11-20T19:09:00.000-05:00

What I liked:

Obviously, all of The Muppets!
All of the cameos! No spoilers here!
Great message in the story.
Fantastic soundtrack.
Very colorful and fun!
Kudos to Jason Segel for making all of this happen.
A rapping Chris Cooper.

My Week With Marilyn

2011-11-20T17:54:00.000-05:00

What I liked:

I think this is one of Michelle Williams' best performances. When she smiled and acted like the bubbly Marilyn, she really seemed to capture Monroe's essence. Having said that, when she played the sad, depressed Marilyn, I saw less Monroe and more Williams.
Eddie Redmayne was wonderful as Colin.
Kenneth Branagh was fantastic as Laurence Olivier.
The supporting cast of Dougray Scott, Dominic Cooper, Emma Watson, Julia Ormond, and Judi Dench were equally great.
I loved the lighting in this movie.
The story was very interesting. You get a behind the scenes look at everything from how a movie was made back then to Marilyn's personal life.
Beautiful soundtrack. I was impressed that Williams sung all of her own songs.

Like Crazy

2011-11-16T07:01:00.000-05:00

What I liked:

It was well acted by Anton Yelchin, Felicity Jones, Jennifer Lawrence, Oliver Muirhead, and Alex Kingston.
Anna Scorpio (Finola Hughes)!
It does a fine job depicting the feelings of a first date, the beginning of a relationship, the frustration of the end, and the break up.

The Rum Diary

2011-11-15T07:00:00.000-05:00

What I liked:

Puerto Rico makes for a beautiful backdrop.
The 60's fashion was fun.
Amber Heard is just gorgeous.
Johnny Depp, Aaron Eckhart, Michael Rispoli, Richard Jenkins, Giovanni Ribisi, and Heard all acted well.
There were some funny moments.

DVD Day

2011-11-15T06:52:00.000-05:00

New to DVD

Beginners - Grade A-
Read full review here

Larry Crowne - Grade F
Read full review here

Dolphin Tale

2011-11-13T19:44:00.000-05:00

What I liked:

There is a great message to the story.
It's a nice family movie.
Harry Connick Jr., Ashley Judd, Morgan Freeman, Kris Kristofferson, Nathan Gamble, Cozie Zuehlsdorff, and Austin Stowell all gave good performances.
Rufus steals every scene that he is in.

Happy Feet Two

2011-11-13T19:35:00.000-05:00

What I liked:

Super cute penguins!
Fantastic animation.
There is a good moral to the story.
Excellent music.
Robin Williams, Elijah Woods, Pink, Common, Brad Pitt, Matt Damon, Sofia Vergara, and Hank Azaria all give great vocal performances.

Martha Marcy May Marlene

2011-11-11T07:00:00.000-05:00

What I liked:

Not only is Elizabeth Olsen beautiful but she can act too. Her performance felt very real and not overdone. It is quite and accomplishment considering this is her first major movie role as a leading actress.
John Hawkes was fantastic at Patrick. You can't take your eyes off of him when he is on screen because you want to see every move that he makes.
Sarah Paulson gives dept to her character. She shows just the right amount of concern, guilt, and acceptance.
Hugh Dancy is lovely.
The story was interesting and I didn't mind how it moved back and forth between the past and present.

J. Edgar

2011-11-10T07:00:00.000-05:00

What I liked:

Leonardo DiCaprio and Armie Hammer had great chemistry together.
Hammer was the highlight of the film and deserved a nomination for best supporting actor.
Great supporting cast with silver screen stars - Naomi Watts, Judi Dench, Dermot Mulroney, and Josh Lucas as well as small screen stars - Ed Westwick, Jordan Bridges, Josh Stamberg, Michael Rady, Ken Howard, Geoff Stults, Jeffrey Donovan, Denis O'Hare, Stephen Root, Michael Gladis, Amanda Schull, and Lea Thompson.
It was written by Dustin Lance Black and I liked his take on Hoover's personal life.
It was directed and produced by Clint Eastwood.

Jack And Jill

2011-11-09T07:00:00.001-05:00

What I liked:

Elodie Tougne and Rohan Chand were super cute as Sandler's kids.
The cameos were fun. Spoiler Alert: Be on the lookout for David Spade, Norm MacDonald, Dana Carvey, Regis Philbin, Shaq, Drew Care, John McEnroe, Christie Brinkley, Bruce Jenner, and Johnny Depp (?!)
I am not the biggest fan of Katie Holmes but she was alright in this.

Take Shelter

2011-11-08T17:18:00.000-05:00

What I liked:

Michael Shannon is an amazing actor and gives a riveting performance.
Jessica Chastain is also amazing. She has owned 2011 (see The Help, The Debt, and Tree of Life).
It's a Boardwalk Empire reunion with Elias (Shea Whigham) and Agent Neslon Van Alden (Shannon).
Not only does it take place in Ohio but it was also partially shot here.
Kathy Baker!
Katy Mixon can steal a scene with just a look.
It is a very interesting story that keeps you guessing until the end.

Happy Birthday YHG!

2011-11-08T14:37:00.000-05:00

The Young Hollywood Guide is one year old!
Thanks to everyone for their support! Please continue to comment, share and send me your suggestions!

DVD Day

2011-11-08T07:20:00.000-05:00

New to DVD

The Change Up - Grade B-
Read full review here

Tower Heist

2011-11-02T20:00:00.000-04:00

A poor man's Ocean's 11...

What I liked:

It has a great cast: Ben Stiller, Eddie Murphy, Casey Affleck, Alan Alda, Matthew Broderick, Judd Hirsch, Téa Leoni, Michael Pena, Gabourey Sidibe, and Nina Arianda.

DVD Day

2011-11-01T07:06:00.000-04:00

New to DVD

Cars 2 - Grade C+
Read full review here

Crazy, Stupid, Love - Grade C+
Read full review here

Water for Elephants - Grade B-
Read full review here

In Time

2011-10-30T16:06:00.000-04:00

What I liked:

Justin Timberlake and Amanda Seyfried are easy on the eyes.
Cillian Murphy, Johnny Galecki, Matt Bomer, Olivia Wilde and Alex Pettyfer make for an interesting supporting cast.
Vincent Kartheiser always plays a great slime ball.
Interesting concept for a story.

Anonymous

2011-10-27T07:17:00.001-04:00

What I liked:

Very well acted by Rhys Ifans and Vanessa Redgrave. The supporting cast was also very good: Joely Richardson, Sebastian Armesto, Rafe Spall, David Thewlis, Edward Hogg, Sam Reid, Xavier Samuel and Jamie Campbell Bower. And if you are wondering where you have seen the actress who played Anna De Vere, it is Helen Baxendale, aka Emily from Friends.
The story was interesting. What if Shakespeare didn't write what we know to be as Shakespeare? There are many conspiracy theories out there. This is just one of them.
The costumes are exquisite.

Margin Call

2011-10-26T19:23:00.001-04:00

What I liked:

Outstanding ensemble cast: Kevin Space, Jeremy Irons, Stanley Tucci, Demi Moore, Paul Bettany, Zachary Quinto, Simon Baker, Penn Badgley, Mary McDonnell, Aasif Mandvi, and Ashley Williams.
Tucci gives an insane monologue of numbers. Love him.
The storyline is fascinating and intriguing. Even if you don't understand the financial market, you are aware of of the implications that this event is creating.
I liked the way that the music was used and not used. Sometimes the silence enhanced the scenes.

Puss in Boots

2011-10-26T07:16:00.000-04:00

What I liked:

The animation was wonderful.
Antonio Banderas brings so much life to Puss.
Salma Hayek was a nice compliment to Banderas as Kitty Softpaws.
Zach Galifianakis played a great Humpty Dumpty.
The dance number in the beginning was enjoyable.
The moral of the story was nice but may be too subtle for kids to grasp.

DVD Day

2011-10-26T07:14:00.000-04:00

New to DVD

Attack the Block - Grade B+
Read full review here

Captain America - Grade B+
Read full review here

The Three Musketeers

2011-10-21T18:00:00.000-04:00

What I liked:

Matthew Macfadyen and Luke Evans were fine.
Orlando Bloom as a bad guy.

Marvel's The Avengers- Trailer (OFFICIAL)

2011-10-16T20:18:00.001-04:00

Cleveland never looked so good!

The Big Year

2011-10-11T19:24:00.000-04:00

"The bird is the word."

What I liked:

It has a diverse cast - Steve Marin, Jack Black, Owen Wilson, Anjelica Huston, Rashida Jones, Joel McHale, Jim Parsons, Rosamund Pike, Kevin Pollak, JoBeth Williams, Paul Campbell, Dianne Wiest, Brian Dennehy, Anthony Anderson, Steven Weber and Corbin Bernsen.
The concept of a Big Year is kind of interesting although I can't imagine that it would rely solely on the honor system.

DVD Day

2011-10-11T06:29:00.000-04:00

New to DVD

Horrible Bosses - Grade B-
Read full review here

The Ides of March

2011-10-05T18:53:00.000-04:00

What I liked:

Could this cast get any better? George Clooney, Ryan Gosling, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Paul Giamatti, Evan Rachel Wood, Marisa Tomei, Jeffrey Wright, and Max Minghella?! All gave solid performances.
Clooney did a fine job directing.
The story was interesting and smart.
The dialogue was fantastic.
The score was complimentary to what was on the screen.

Machine Gun Preacher

2011-10-05T07:08:00.000-04:00

What I liked:

This film sheds light on the despicable tragedy that is happening in southern Sudan.
Gerard Butler did ok in this dramatic role but I felt like he was acting like Sam Childers instead of being Childers.
Michelle Monaghan and Kathy Baker were fine in their supporting roles.
Michael Shannon brought a sort of sympathy to his character.
The child actors in Africa were all amazing.

Footloose

2011-10-05T07:00:00.000-04:00

What I liked:

I liked this version more than the original. The updates gave it a better flow.
Kenny Wormald did a great job in his first major role. Granted, you will always think about Kevin Bacon when you think of Footloose, but Kenny brought his own something, something to the role.
Loved Miles Teller as Willard. He brought so much more life to the character than the original had. He was my favorite part of the whole film!
The preacher had a much smaller role this time around, so Dennis Quaid did not have to compete with John Lithgow.
The modern dancing and the contemporary music was fun and energetic.
Ray McKinnon!

The Way

2011-10-01T18:35:00.000-04:00

What I liked:

A heartfelt story of hope, faith, and acceptance.
Exceptionally well casted.
Martin Sheen does a wonderful job taking you on this journey with him by knowing when to be emotional, when to be cynical, and when to be accepting. He never looks forced to "act" in a scene, it all comes out naturally.

50/50

2011-09-28T07:00:00.001-04:00

What I liked:

Joseph Gordon - Levitt is just wonderful. He always plays each of his roles with such honesty! If Oscar nominations came out tomorrow, his name could easily be under Best Actor for this role.
Seth Rogen was great as the best friend. He seemed comfortable in the supporting role and added just enough laughs without being insensitive.
Angelica Houston looks fantastic and gives a lovely performance. She should really act more. The film industry could use more talent like hers.
Anna Kendrick gives a hearwarming performance.
Bryce Dallas Howard is becoming a master at playing a heartless bitch. (See The Help.)
Philip Baker Hall and Matt Frewer were perfect as Adam's cancer buddies.
The story was great and full of emotion.
Excellent soundtrack.

DVD Day

2011-09-20T06:29:00.000-04:00

New to DVD

Bridesmaids - Grade B+
Read full review here

Live Blogging the 2011 Emmy Awards

2011-09-18T18:28:00.047-04:00

Pretty stage.
Spock!
Ari! Dancing!
Jane Lynch would be a great addition to The Big Bang Theory!
Jane and Peggy! Love the Mad Men skit!
Not loving Jane Lynch's dress. Too shiny for TV.
A Katie Holmes/Tom Cruise joke? Yawn.
Emmytones?! Too early to judge.

Live Blogging the Red Carpet for The Emmy Awards

2011-09-18T15:30:00.038-04:00

Watching E! Live on the Red Carpet...

Love the color of Cobie Smulders dress.
The Modern Family girls have arrived. I like Sarah Hyland's dress but not Ariel Winter's. Not age appropriate, IMO.
How tall is Cat Deeley? Or how short is Ryan Seacrest?
Julie Stiles looks lovely.
Lea Michele - not loving those shoulder pads but the back of it looks nice.
Don't like the ruffles on Jayma Mays' dress.
Lots of red dresses early on.
Jane Lynch is the best. She will be great tonight.

I Don't Know How She Does It

2011-09-15T22:04:00.000-04:00

What I liked:

It was nice to see Greg Kinnear.
Christina Hendricks is lovely.
Busy Philipps is always great.
Kelsey Grammer was used sparingly.

DVD Day

2011-09-13T06:10:00.000-04:00

New to DVD

Thor - Grade B+
Read full review here