Cars 3

I was hesitant going in to this viewing. After watching the first two in this series, I was ready to pump the brakes, if you will. Mostly, I pressed play to get the movie out of the way and off my to-be-watched list. And early returns—the first hour or so of the story—were not promising, offering only what seemed to be a litany of sports show cliches about the veteran player on the verge of being washed up. And then...something unexpected happened: a payoff came at the climax that was surprising and turned the story into something fresh and, dare I say it, downright noble. Part of the early hang-up comes from the movie’s focus, which is much more tightly fixed upon the milieu of stock car racing in this outing versus the previous installments. That’s not my territory, personally, so the start can be a bit boring here; it gets a little too deep into the weeds, as it were. Speaking of weeds, that is actually another of this film’s strengths: the visuals are beautifully rendered, right down to the blades of grass during Lightning’s backwoods training sequences. The world of the cars has never seemed more real than in the minute details that are shown here. And while the adversaries in this plot are not especially memorable, the characters on the protagonist side are exceptionally well played, including the memories of the late Paul Newman (who voiced Lightning's mentor Doc Hudson) and Chris Cooper filling a similar role as Smokey. It’s hardly perfect, but the ending feels so right that you can’t help but appreciate it. Not exactly an epic trip, but not a wrong turn, either.

The Town

Apparently, that Affleck boy can make a movie. With the newly crowned Best Picture Argo still hanging in the award-season air, I watched this other, earlier case in point. What the man offered here was a well-crafted film, one with a good visual sense and excellent pacing, both of which served well an otherwise pedestrian story. A lot of what's in that story has already been well covered in other films, though I do appreciate the touch of ambiguity in the ending. One bit of absurdity, or at least a questionable choice: would any Bostonians, even Charlestown bank robbers, actually try to rip off the Red Sox? Seems highly implausible. But that doesn't spoil the movie--it's still worth a look.

The Muppets (2011)

This is a very difficult call. Today's kids will undoubtedly be able to enjoy this movie in a very straightforward way, but if you're old enough to remember the original Muppet Show--and those people are in many ways this film's intended audience--watching this movie is very much a mixed bag. A lot of the film is a downer--a necessary component, perhaps, given the fall-and-rise plot--but still, this story can be surprisingly depressing. It's very easy to get caught in memories of the faded glory that was our youth, and that's a harsh juxtaposition against the presumably light-hearted romp a Muppet movie should be. But then again, it is the Muppets, and there is still something there, in those characters, in the very idea of the Muppets. You probably should watch it, but just go in knowing it may not be what you expect.

Syriana

Everybody's guilty. Including you. So seems to be the message of this work. It would be nice if there was story to go along with that sentiment. Remember, kids: a viewpoint does not a narrative make--and you know how I feel about narrative. As it stands, the food for thought goes hand in hand with the muddle of disparate plot threads. They do all weave together eventually, but from a film-making standpoint, clear expression of a central idea is lost (or at least suffers). Overall, a tough call--I know these are issues we should all be interested in, but you need to bring some keen interest and wide-ranging knowledge to play at this table. If you think you've got the intellectual grit for it, dive in. Otherwise, just go with a light comedy.

Seabiscuit

You're going to hate me for saying this, but yes, the book is better. Not that this flick is bad. The filmmakers did a wonderful job of recreating the era, down to the smallest details. And the performances by Tobey Maguire, Chris Cooper and Jeff Bridges are first rate, capturing their subjects with impeccable accuracy. But the written story is so rich that you miss too much if you only see this movie.

The Patriot

A movie which too often indulges in overkill, though it still makes its point: many hard sacrifices were made in order to found this country. Mel Gibson gives stud-in-training Heath Ledger some lessons in being an action hero. Overall, worth a look.

October Sky

You know how this thing's going to play out every minute it's on the screen--and it's still a wonderful movie to watch. Hopeful and high-spirited, it's a good movie to watch when you want a little uplifting (and it even comes with rockets for the task!).