The Best Movies of the 2011 Summer

It’s officially been three weeks since my last post. I’m not making excuses but I’ve been extremely busy, I haven’t seen many new movies lately, and I have been experiencing extreme technical difficulties (i.e. My computer will not even turn on — I’m currently using my brother’s until I can troubleshoot the problem with mine.) That being said, I wanted to post something, so I figured I would discuss my favorite films of the summer season as the warm weather slowly begins to fade into fall.

Midnight in Paris

Far and away one of Woody Allen’s best movies in recent memory. Owen Wilson shines as he wanders the streets of Paris in this fantastical relationship drama tinged with science fiction elements.

Super 8

The super team of Abrams and Spielberg bring the magic back to movies in this alien flick that conjures comparisons to such classics as The Goonies and E.T.  You can’t help but love and cheer for these kids as they fight to save their town from an alien invasion.

X-Men: First Class

A great new installment in the X-Men series. Set in Cold War Era 1960’s, First Class does a superb job of introducing and shaping the characters that played such huge roles in the original trilogy. McAvoy and Fassbender redefine the roles of Charles Xavier (Professor X) and Erik Lensherr (Magneto) that were so poignantly portrayed by Patrick Stewart and Sir Ian McKellen respectively.

Captain America: The First Avenger

Chris Evans nails his role as ‘Cap’ and Joe Johnston puts together a terrific stand alone feature that doubles as an extended lead-in to the upcoming ensemble movie, The Avengers, due out in Summer 2012. If you’re looking for your Summer blockbuster, this is it!

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part II

Wow! What a way to end the highest grossing franchise of all time. The films have only gotten better as this series has gone on and this installment is no exception. If you’ve spent any amount of time reading and/or watching these stories than you owe it to yourself to see it through to the end. You will not be disappointed.

Crazy, Stupid, Love

Certainly out of my movie wheelhouse, but admittedly one of the most enjoyable films of the Summer. Steve Carell shines as a new divorce who is trained in the wooing ways by the always impressive Ryan Gosling. Be forewarned, this is NOT your typical romantic comedy and I wouldn’t have it any other way!

If you haven’t seen these flicks already, do yourself a favor and go catch some good cinema! Enjoy and please revisit this page to let me know your thoughts.

Cowboys & Aliens (4.5/10)

Over a year ago when the adaptation of Cowboys & Aliens was announced with such names attached as Jon Favreau, Brian Grazer, Daniel Craig, Harrison Ford, Ron Howard, Damon Lindelof, and even the great Steven Spielberg, I must admit I had high hopes. I even made a friendly wager with my brother that it would be a smash hit. With names like these working on a project together how could it turn out bad? I don’t know if the issue was ego or pride or just too many people working on a project resulting in a severely unfocused vision, but regardless the final product was a tremendous disappointment. That sad fact is now being reflected in critical reviews and at the box office.

While I was not a huge fan of the movie as a whole, there were some above average aspects to the film including the Alien VFX and Makeup which looked original, realistic, and very well executed. Frequent Favreau and Darren Aronovsky collaborator, Michael Libatique (The Fountain, Iron Man, Requiem for a Dream), successfully left his signature look on the film by creating a world that looked like it was taken straight out of a Sergio Leone film with some futuristic and interesting additions. The acting highlights were few and far between, but the performances that stood out include the always dashing Harrison Ford as semi-villain Woodrow Dolarhyde, Sam Rockwell (one of my favorite actors at the moment) adding some comedic relief as Doc, and the surprising Olivia Wilde (maybe I just like her eyes?) as the mysterious Ella Swenson.

Those are about the only good things I had to say for Cowboys & Aliens as the film struggles to overcome too many glaring story issues including a miserably paced first act, overtly convenient plot devices, and a general lack of universality. Why do we care about this small western town? Is the whole world getting attacked? The whole story just seems way too small and the characters too inconsequential for anyone to get heavily invested. Also, hasn’t the idea of an alien race coming to Earth to harvest our natural resources been beaten to death? That being said, the cast and crew did a sufficient job of adapting a small indie comic for the screen and they successfully took elements from both the Western and Sci-Fi genres, but ultimately the film as a whole falls flat and leaves the viewer feeling a bit cheated after investing two hours of their time (plus all the wasted anticipatory excitement). There are several other better choices at the theater, so take my advice and see something else and wait to watch Cowboys & Aliens from the comfort of your own home.

Crazy, Stupid, Love (7.5/10)

Of the ten films I have reviewed in my short career as a film critic only one or two of them have been anything close to romantic comedies (i.e. Midnight in Paris and Bridesmaids), so clearly I am not an avid Rom-Com fan. Though they may not fit the stereotypical romantic comedy mold, I thoroughly enjoyed both of those flicks, but Crazy, Stupid, Love certainly fits that mold and I loved it regardless. It is a raw, heartbreaking, and ultimately hopeful outlook on love that steps outside of Hollywood norms to present a relatively accurate portrayal of love.

This is a character piece so the people and the actors who portray them took center stage. Steve Carell did a fantastic job as Cal, an average 40 year old man who gets his world turned upside down when his wife of 25 years, played by Julianne Moore, asks for a divorce. He made a name for himself portraying goofy and typically stupid characters, but he really needs to focus on these heartfelt roles that truly let him shine. Ryan Gosling can apparently do no wrong (Seriously, someone needs to get me this guys work out plan!) as he steps outside of his comfort zone and plays Jacob, a young bachelor who takes Cal under his wing after learning of his plight. Emma Stone plays Hannah who meets Jacob and struggles with the possibility of leaving her steady boyfriend for the “hot guy at the bar.” The gorgeous up-and-coming Analeigh Tipton (The Green Hornet, Hung) plays Jessica, the babysitter who is secretly in love with Cal and to be honest I can not wait to see what she does next. The stellar cast is rounded out by Kevin Bacon as divorce catalyst David Lindhagen, Marisa Tomei as the hilarious teacher/recovering alcoholic Kate, and even a small roll from Josh Groban.

The story moves along relatively quickly and never leaves you bored. Though it is fairly straightforward there are several twists (some larger than others) that help set Crazy, Stupid, Love apart from its Rom-Com contemporaries. Overall, the directing team of Glenn Ficarra and John Requa (I Love You Philip Morris, Bad Santa) along with writer Dan Fogelman (Tangled, Cars 2) did a terrific job of creating something original, honest, and heartfelt in a genre that has become increasingly stale over the years. Crazy, Stupid, Love is at once a great escape and also a powerful reminder of the harsh realities of love and the struggles one must endure in order to see that love grow and flourish over time.