Valentine's Day - no, I do not believe this to be a contender in any trophy race. Should you see this movie? First I pose this question: Are you a 16-28 year old woman accompanied by 16 other 16-28 year old women? Is that right? Well, do you have access to Love Actually? Oh you don't? Well then sure.
The Last Station -- Big fan of this somewhat flawed biopic about Tolstoy and his wife (the divine Helen Mirren as the obvious inspiration for Anna Karenina). You should see this if you are ready to see the olds getting wild, if you are feeling somewhat ponderous, and romantic. Is that a mood?
Alice in Wonderland -- Tim Burton's latest acid trip which spins the classic story into some warped feminist commentary that takes Alice through Wonderland and into capitalism. Steely gray palates and wonky special effects transform the magical place of childhood fantasy into a sideshow carnival. Meanwhile Johnny Depp dances...to the bank. I was bummed about this highly-anticipated film and have begun to lose trust in Mr. Burton (last good film: Sleepy Hollow was in 1999). You should see this film on netflix while simultaneously doing your nails and cleaning your floor. The distraction will make the narrative less painful.
The Art of the Steal -- You should see this slightly skewed documentary about the legal disputes arising from ownership battles over the famed Barth Collection outside Philadelphia if you want to get really mad at the "Man." While the facts in this piece seem a bit misleading or at times absent without cause, I believe that the powers that be acted wrongly in loaning and "stealing" the works from this institute. I wish the filmmakers had been a bit more unbiased in their tactics, but still.
The Runaways - Dakota Fanning and Kristin Stewart as the rock band helmed by Joan Jett didn't sell me in previews, but turned out to be very captivating as the rebellious femmes. Sure there were tons of cliche shots and set-ups, but overall the film was enjoyable. Nice to see young actresses exploiting their acting chops. See it if you are feeling a bit emo and possibly a little badass.
Hot Tub Time Machine - For those who want a nostalgia trip, or a bromance Hangover style, this is certainly silly and stomach-churning, but surprisingly fulfilling.
