Four Christmases (Theaters)

Four Christmases was such a huge disappointment for me I’m not even sure where to begin. I had actually expected a decent film based on its strong cast and the trailers released over the course of the year but unfortunately for me, this film did not live up to my expectations.

Now the film wasn’t horrible to say the least, but there was absolutely nothing that stood out for me. The comedic value was mediocre and I never felt any chemistry between co-stars Vince Vaughn and Reese Witherspoon. During the Christmas season, these types of films should help prepare you by getting you into the holiday spirit, but this film seemed to forget it was a Christmas movie altogether. There was absolutely nothing “spirited” about it. The film seemed to focus more on vulgarity and sexual references to get by rather than sharing any real gifts of Christmas to its audience.

Personally, I would recommend that you skip this film this holiday season and wait for its release on DVD. It does have its moments but its definitely not worth the price of admission.

synopsis:

When upscale, happily unmarried San Francisco couple Kate and Brad find themselves socked in by fog on Christmas morning, their exotic vacation plans morph into the family-centric holiday they had, until now, gleefully avoided. Out of obligation–and unable to escape–they trudge to not one, not two, but four relative-choked festivities, increasingly mortified to find childhood fears raised, adolescent wounds reopen…and their very future together uncertain. As Brad counts the hours to when he can get away from their parents, step-parents, siblings and an assortment of nieces and nephews, Kate is starting to hear the ticking of a different kind of clock. And by the end of the day, she is beginning to wonder if their crazy families’ choices are not so crazy after all.

We Own the Night (DVD)

we_own_the_night_ver2Being a fan of films involving mobsters and crime syndicates, We Own the Night was a definite must see for me. The film itself will never be considered a classic mob movie, but I did enjoy most of the feature.

First off, I must mention that the casting of the movie was superb. I won’t hid the fact that there were some instances where I felt that several characters were under developed, but overall I was satisfied with the outcome. Joaquin Phoenix in particular, who played the lead role of Bobby Green had definitely put on one of his most convincing performances thus far in his career.

The plot of the film was your basic gangster type material. As with films such as Scarface, the Godfather, and Heat, We Own the Night focused primarily on the glamorization of the mobster lifestyle and the consequences that come along with it.

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