I received my Christmas present, a Steve Martin movie without pratfalls. It’s Complicated comes from the mind one of my most respected screenwriters Nancy Meyers (What Women Want, Something’s Gotta Give) Give her the opportunity to go nuts with some uncensored dialogue and you get this movie.

It follows ex-couple Streep and Baldwin continuing their sexual relationship after many years of being divorced and shit. Streep has become the “other woman”. But at the same time is dating her architect played by Steve Martin, who I’m kinda sad didn’t get a bigger part.

Streep is looking pretty good for sixty. You can’t deny that. And she and Baldwin have such great chemistry that I found myself rooting for them about halfway through.

There’s no doubt (lol Streep movie pun) in my mind that the actors had a blast making this movie. If you’re coming into this with a closed assed mind, or you’re from someplace in the country where it’s all backwards and shit. Then this movie isn’t for you. For anyone who loves great acting and some truly hilarious cracks on human relationships… don’t waste any more time and buy yourself a ticket.

I haven’t enjoyed myself in a movie like this is while.  It was great to cure my holiday blues. It also proves that age is just a number. It’s the slut on the inside that counts… wait… whatever. That sounded right.

P.S.

The pot smoking scenes are worth the price of admission alone.

A+

There’s no feeling quite like going into a movie and not knowing what the fuck it was about. Up in the Air based on Walter Kirn’s book of the same name, gives you that rare treat.

Damn, it’s hard to write a review for this without spoiling it… fuck.

George Clooney plays Ryan Bingham, a man who travels around the country to various workplaces and conducts employee layoffs on behalf of bosses too cowardly to do it themselves. On occasion, he delivers motivational speeches about the virtue of a relationship-free life, often using a backpack analogy. He relishes the comfort of being anonymous during his perpetual travels. He does not have a personal life and chooses to stay away from his family (although he pays his family a visit during his sister’s wedding). He is close to achieving his personal goal of 10 million frequent flyer miles. Truly baller.

During his frequent flying, he meets a woman named Alex, played by Vera Farmiga, with whom Bingham starts to pursue a somewhat casual relationship. Bingham receives a business partner, Natalie Keener, played by Anna Kendrick, a young, ambitious, but still naïve graduate.

During the course of the movie, Clooney gets schooled on what is truly important in life. As he goes from place to place, firing people and listening to their stories.

When all is said and done. You’re left just as the movie says “Up in the Air”. The movie was filmed on location in a bunch of airports, that was pretty badass. It’s worth your money. One of the best of the year. I just wish it was longer.

A-

I walked into the theater on Christmas Day expecting a blockbuster hit, not a stellar movie.  Mr. Holmes and the Doctor havethoroughly silenced my fears.  Guy Ritchie’s Sherlock Holmes provides a well-balanced mixture of action and plot, with a few momentary slow-motion glimpses into Holmes’ thoughts.  In several fight scenes, one sees first-hand Holmes’ famous deductive reasoning in what is almost a “How-to” for concise ass-kicking.

I have heard frustrations from a couple die-hard fans of the books about the decision to make Doc Watson into more of an action-inclined character as opposed to his previous meek self.  His past life provided a counter-balance to Holmes’ madness, and this is missing in the new Watson.  Instead, he complements Holmes, providing a calm mind as well as a swift helping hand in battle.  Their school-girl banter shown several throughout the film is reminiscent of the television show Gilmore Girls.  This is however, not a bad thing.  This banter provides a quick reprise from the much darker storyline.

*********Spoiler below*********

Die-hard fans of the detective will be pleased to know that Moriarty does make an appearance in the film, and the film ends with an introduction to Holmes’ next adventure, and the next film: the pursuit of Moriarty.

B+