2010 MISSES: "THE AMERICAN"

If I had seen this movie before the year end I probably would have included it in my top 10, or at least in my honorable mentions. "The American" is a great film. Yes it is slow, but it has excellent acting, directing, and all of the above that makes a movie great. The slow style, in my opinion, works to it's benefit. You understand the atmosphere, the characters, the situations better because of it. For a movie called "The American", I don't think the mass American audiences can get down with this film. Not just because it takes place in Italy, but the film style has a very European vibe. Clooney has a very subdued performance and besides brief moments of action and nudity, this film doesn't really embody the spy thriller we are accustomed to. The obvious comparison here is "Le Samourai" with a hint of Japanese thriller, and while I wouldn't say it is as good as the classics I am comparing it to, it is definitely worth your time and one of the better modern spy thriller genre pictures.

*3 and 1/2 Lance Approvals*

2010 MISSES: "CATFISH"

People called this the "real" facebook movie. That was all I knew about "Catfish" going in. The people who said this were completely wrong. Yes, it involves facebook, but could be any social network really and isn't about facebook specifically. The film follows a young man who gets involved in an internet relationship, but the girl he has fallen for may not be the person she says she is.

You liking this movie will depend a lot on whether you believe it is real or not. There are a lot of fake documentaries out there right now such as "Cloverfield", "Paranormal Activity", etc. This movie is nothing like those and has a more "real" vibe. Still, some things play out so perfectly its hard to believe it's real. Assuming that is it, "Catfish" can be an extremely creepy movie and in an even stranger sense, a heartfelt movie. Whether you think it's fake or not, I'd just assume it is for your own viewing enjoyment. It is worth at least one watch.

*3 Lance Approvals*

2010 MISSES: "TRON LEGACY"

I'm still playing catch up on some 2010 releases I missed, so here is one I've checked out after 2010 expired. You've all heard about it and chances are, if you read this blog, you were a fan of the original or at least heavily influenced by it as a child. I was one of these children. The special effects were so cool for it's time, but watching the original "Tron" compared to "Legacy" is like playing Alex Kidd on Sega Master System compared to Call of Duty Modern Warfare 2 on an HD TV. I don't want to say it takes away from the original, but it definitely plants it as more of a cult film, opposed to an innovative one. I was simply amazed by the visuals in this film. I haven't really felt that way in a long time, maybe only rivaled by "The Dark Knight" and "Avatar" in recent memory. I'd go as far as putting this film in my top 10 most visually stimulating movies of all time along with industry standards such as "Alien" and "Blade Runner". Sadly, that is almost all "Tron: Legacy" has to offer besides a few bits here and there.

I will praise Jeff Bridges for his performance. He isn't given much, but he always makes it interesting. He always makes you laugh and he always makes you cry. He is one of the greatest living actors of our generation. The terrible script doesn't hold him back, but it hinders other actors who aren't quite as gifted. I really hate to dog on someone who I know nothing about, but the young lead actor in this film playing Bridge's son is atrocious. He is given so many horrible one liners, and he helps bring them to a whole new level of bad acting. Other cartoonish characters aren't given much else to work with as well. The scenery is more intimidating than any character in this film. I'm glad it's a sequel and not a remake, but nothing original is done in the story department. Oh well, I don't think I should expect anything like that in this day and age. Watch this film for it's stunning visuals, or at least as a Jeff Bridges fan. Otherwise you may not fall into the hype.

*2 and 1/2 Lance Approvals*