Amour

This was the 2012 Cannes Film Festival Palm d'Or winner.  Georges and Anne, are retired music teachers in their eighties.  They have a time-tested love.  But as Anne's health fails, Georges becomes her caregiver, and the couple's bond is tested like never before.  This is a typically French movie with a "what in the hell happened" ending.  I give it 3 bags of popcorn.  Stars Jean-Louis Trintignant, Emmanuel Riva, Isabel le Huppert.

Django Unchained

Freed slave Django is saved by a German bounty hunter who makes him a partner in his bounty hunter operation.  Dajango's wife was sold at a Southern slave market.  Django and the German team up to find and free her.  They travel back to the South and track her to a sadistic plantation owner.  The movie is much better than I expected and the violence is not overwhelming.  The German bounty hunter is spectacular and delivers some great and funny lines.  Yes, you will laugh.  It has a real kick in the butt ending.  I give it four bags of popcorn.  Stars Jamie Fox, Christopher Waltz, Leonardo DiCaprio, Kerry Washington.

Zero Dark Thirty

This pulse-pounding thriller dramatizes the night of May 2, 2011, when the Navy's SEAL Team 6 set out to capture or kill Osama bin Laden.  The world knows of their triumph but the movie chronicles  every perilous second.  The movie centers around the CIA agent Mia who tracked down bin Laden and fought the establishment to carry out the mission.  Jessica Chastain does give an Academy Award performance as Mia.  5 to 6 bags of popcorn for this thriller.  Also stars Jason Clark, Joel Edgeton and James Gandolfin.

The Impossible

The movie tracks a family's harrowing experiences during the massive 2004 Tsunami in Thailand.  On December 26, 2004 , Maria, Henry and their three sons are vacationing  on the beach when the Tsunami hits. This is their story of coping and surviving this trauma.  I give the movie 4 bags of popcorn.  It keeps your attention while the disaster unfolds but can't compare to other thrillers that are out now like Argo or Zero Dark Thirty.  The movie stars Naomi Watts, Evan McGregor, Tom Holland and Samuel Joslin.

 

Rust and Bone

To support his young son, faded boxer Ali Takes a job as a bouncer and meets the free spirited Stephanie, who trains whales at a water park.  After Stephanie suffers a devastating accident, Ali begins a poignant and unexpected relationship with her while pursuing a boxing career.  Typically French, the movie is very entertaining and the lead actors are superb.  Lots of ins and outs so I won't say any more.  Definitely should be on your go to the theater list.  I give it 4 bags of popcorn.   Movie stars Marion Cotillard, Matthias Schoenerts, Armand Verdure and Celine Sallette.

Promised Land

Taking advantage of hard economic times, two salespeople for natural gas company come to a small town to buy drilling rights from residents.  To their surprise, a local school teacher mobilizes a campaign aimed at blocking the company's plans.  The film addresses a situation that is happening in many states.  Of course the big corporation is the bad guy--which might not be necessarily true.  Not earth shaking movie but entertaining.  I give it 3 bags of popcorn. If you miss it at the theater, it is a good DVD pick.  Stars Matt Damon, John Krasinski, Frances McDormand and Hal Holbrook. 

Les Miserables

The musical version of Victor Hugo's epic tale of love and sacrifice done in the Big Screen Treatment.  The bloody era of the French Revolution is the backdrop  to Jean Val jean's long struggle for redemption.  I have seen the stage  production three times and was ambivalent about the story.  Hollywood's version knocked my socks off.  I even cried and you all know how jaded I am.   I finally got Victor Hugo's message.  There is so much more to the story that romance and stage can not do the action shots justice.  It stars Hugh Jackman, Russell Crowe, Ann Hathaway, Amanda Seyfried, Sacha Baron Cohen.  4 to 5 Bags of Popcorn for this one.

The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey

Beloved Hobbit Bilbo Baggins is back in a visually spectacular tale inspired by the Lord of the Rings.  Joining the effort to free the kingdom of Erebor,  Bilbo also faces a fateful encounter with Gollum.  This fantasy and adventure at it's best.  It helps that the 3D presentation is superb.  Not for one who can't believe in elves, hobbits, and other weird characters.  Oh there will be two more segments since three hours was not enough time to do the Hobbit adventure justice.  It stars Ian McKellen, Elijah Wood, Cate Blanchette and Orlando Bloom.  My wise brother suggested I rate movies with bags of popcorn.  My rating system will be:  4 Bags=You'll shoot yourself if you miss it; 3Bags=Entertaining and worth a trip to the theater; 2 Bags= Catch it on DVD; 1 Bag=See it if desperate.  The Hobbit gets 3 Bags.