Mama

Mama (PG-13) 2013

Directed by Andres Muschietti

Starring:  Jessica Chastain, Nikolaj Coster-Waldau , Megan Charpentier, Isabelle Nélisse, Daniel Kash and Julia Chantrey

Here We Go:  Two little girls are left to fend for themselves in a cabin in the woods, but a supernatural mother comes forward to raise them for years as her own.  Mama is a twisted, creepy movie with a good back story and a solid ending.  The little girls were so believable that they easily sold the story with their expressions alone.  Just watching little wild children scurrying around is disturbing enough, but then enter the evil mother and littlest one looking like an adoring lunatic and the creep-factor increases.  It must be said that Jessica Chastain played her part beautifully - her reactions and delivery are so real that you can easily forget that she is just acting.    The ending could have easily gone for predictable, but I think there's enough of a twist to take you off guard.

Bottom Line:  Watch it!

Mirror Mirror

Mirror Mirror (PG) 2012

Directed by Tarsem Singh

Starring:  Julia Roberts, Lily Collins, Armie Hammer, Nathan Lane, Mare Winningham, Michael Lerner, Sean Bean, Danny Woodburn, Martin Klebba, Sebastian Saraceno, Jordan Prentice, Mark Povinelli, Joe Gnoffo, Ronald Lee Clark and Robert Emms

Here We Go:  This version of the Snow White story finds Snow White (Colins) running from her evil stepmother (Roberts) to the helping hands of a scrappy group of dwarfish thieves.  The dwarfs teach Snow White how to use the art of thieving to win back her kingdom and free her people from the Queen's tyranny.  Of course, the basic story line of this fairy tale is true to form; however, this version is very refreshing!  It is colorful, feisty, funny and fun!  Children and adults will get lost in this magically whimsical world, the costumes are amazing and the Indie number at the end puts a charming cherry on top.

Bottom Line:  Grab some popcorn, because this one is one to watch!

Magic Mike

Magic Mike (2012) R

Directed by Steven Soderbergh

Starring:  Channing Tatum, Alex Pettyfer, Matthew McConaughey, Cody Horn, Olivia Munn, Matt Bomer, Riley Keough, Joe Manganiello, Kevin Nash, Adam Rodriguez, Gabriel Iglesias, James Martin Kelly and Caitlin Gerard

Here We Go:  Are the men in this movie hot?  Absolutely.  Will any man watching this with their woman benefit from the aftershock of this movie?  More than likely.  Because this movie is strictly about eye candy.  If you're watching this movie for any other reason, you're either crazy or...nope, you're just crazy.  At the end of the day, Magic Mike is about aging male strippers who live like teenagers.  It's just kind of a sad picture of a group of immature degenerates.  Then the dancing starts again, a fireman takes the stage and all is well again.

Bottom Line:  Watch it, fast forward, watch the dancing, fast forward, watch more dancing....  The end.

My Week with Marilyn

My Week with Marilyn (2011) R

Directed by Simon Curtis

Starring: Michelle Williams, Eddie Redmayne, Kenneth Branagh, Dominic Cooper, Julia Ormond, Emma Watson, Judi Dench, Zoë Wanamaker, Toby Jones, Derek Jacobi and Dougray Scott

Here We Go:  There were times during this movie where you can just see Michelle Williams get it.  She literally embodies Marilyn and you feel swept away by the realness of an untouchable Hollywood icon.  My Week with Marilyn is effortless.  This movie makes an hour and a half seem like you're standing there along with the people involved each day in these private moments.  So, whether you're a fan or not, you will walk away from this movie satisfied and feeling as if you know more about the person than the actress.

Bottom Line:  Watch it!

The Master

The Master (2012) R

Directed by Paul Thomas Anderson

Starring: Joaquin Phoenix, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Amy Adams,Laura Dern, Ambyr Childers, Rami Malek, Jesse Plemons, Kevin J. O'Connor, Christopher Evan Welch, and Madisen Beaty

Here We Go: Joaquin Phoenix plays a degenerate sailor with nothing to do but drink himself to death. He meets up with a charismatic "genius," played by Phillip Seymour Hoffman, and the two immediately take to each other. This is should be a character study, but instead is an exercise in pretension. Phoenix's character is abrasive and crude, while Hoffman is by far the best part, as a charlatan who may or may not be based on Scientologist creator L. Ron Hubbard.

Bottom Line: Skip it, and watch one of P.T. Anderson's good flicks. Also NOT kid safe, random sex with sand, and bizarre old lady nudity for no reason.