The Last Exorcism Part II

The Last Exorcism Part II (UR) 2013

Directed by Ed Gass-Donnelly

Starring:  Ashley Bell, Julia Garner, Spencer Treat Clark, David Jensen, Tarra Riggs, Louis Herthum, Muse Watson, Erica Michelle, Andrew Sensenig and Judd Lormand

Here We Go:  This follow-up to The Last Exorcism brings you life for Nell (Bell) after the last movie.  Not a whole lot to say about this movie.  The Part I was entertaining but at times outlandish, poorly written and plagued with bad acting and bad cinematography.  Part II takes away the "entertaining" and leaves you with poor writing, bad acting and bad cinematography.  The one highlight is that Ashley Bell gives a strong lead performance if you can look past the bad script she had to work with.  

Bottom Line:   Skip it.  

Lawless

Lawless (R) 2012

Directed by John Hillcoat

Starring:  Shia LaBeouf, Tom Hardy, Jessica Chastain, Gary Oldman,Guy Pearce, Mia Wasikowska, Jason Clarke and Dane DeHaan

Here We Go:  Think old Western flick mixed with a '20s gangster film.  The Bondurant brothers are running a bootlegging business during Prohibition and have to deal with a new local lawman trying to stick his hand into their earnings.  This movie really has an outstanding all around cast that takes a decent, but not great, script and makes a good movie.  Shia LeBeouf is just right as the weakling little brother but it is really Tom Hardy and Jason Clarke that make this movie.  Both were very well cast and you truly believe they could be good ole' boys cooking up some moonshine in your backyard.  

Bottom Line:   Watch it!

Les Misérables

Les Misérables (RATING) 2013

Directed by Tom Hooper

Starring:   Hugh Jackman, Russell Crowe, Anne Hathaway, Amanda Seyfried, Sacha Baron Cohen, Helena Bonham Carter, Eddie Redmayne, Aaron Tveit, Samantha Barks, Colm Wilkinson and Bertie Carvel

Here We Go:  The lives of people from different backgrounds intersect during the time surrounding the French Revolution, and light is shed on the personal struggles that they all face.  About 98% of this movie is done in song, which I thought might be more than I could sit through, but it was enjoyable.  The entire cast was amazing; however, special recognition goes to Jackman and Hathaway for their abilities to convey such intensely raw emotion - while singing!  The movie is largely dramatic, but there are some funny scenes (mainly involving the innkeeper and his wife).  To be honest, the ending had me in tears, which is an accomplishment in itself.

Bottom Line:  Watch it...maybe with a tissue nearby.