sandwichjohnfilms

Argonaut Pictures Welcome To The Rileys Movie Review By: Windy City Gal / @rosenfie *Spoiler Alert* Welcome to the Rileys , directed by Jake Scott (HBO Voyeur Project) and starring James Gandolfini (The Taking of Pelham 123, The Sopranos), Melissa Le o (Everybody’s Fine) and Kristen Stewart (The Runaways, The Twilight Saga) is the story of a couple (Gandolfini and Leo) who’s marriage is all but over due to the tragic death of their teenage daughter, but find comfort and redemption with a teenage runaway (Stewart). Tired of his depressing life and agoraphobic wife, “ Doug Riley ” (Gandolfini) decides to stay in New Orleans after a convention when he meets a 16-year old runaway stripper/prostitute, “ Mallory ” (Stewart). Mallory, who is mature beyond her years in some ways and still a child in others, isn’t willing to admit the comfort she desires from a real family. After seeing the warm heart of Doug, Mallory allows him to live with her (for $100 per week) in her run-down...

"The Town" Movie Review By: Windy City Gal / @rosenfie " The Town ", directed and co-written by Ben Affleck , is a film based on the novel " Prince of Thieves ." Starring Affleck, Jeremey Renner ("The Hurt Locker"), Slaine ("Gone Baby Gone") and Owen Burke as a group of bank robbers, "The Town" takes place in and around Boston, and follows the complications that arise when Affleck's character, Doug MacRay, falls for one of his hostages, Claire ( Rebecca Hall ). Deciding he wants to follow a different path than his life-imprisoned father, MacRay tries to leave his gang of thieves, only to be coerced into one last job, lest his girlfriend/former hostage be harmed. The last job, however, is no standard bank job. The foursome must steal the cash load from Fenway Park after a blockbuster night. What ensues is an all out gun fight between four smart crooks, the entire Boston Police Department and a slew of FBI agents....

THE AMERICAN Movie Review Review by Windy City Gal  (aka @ rosenfie ) " The American ", directed by Anton Corbijn and starring George Clooney , is the story of a skilled, yet aged assassin, Jack, who is physically and mentally tired of a lonely life on the run. In the opening of this thriller, Jack's dedication to his job is made evident to the audience in a gasp-worthy moment.  After being nearly shot in Sweden, Jack heads back to Italy to determine how he was discovered.  Being in a line of trust-no one work, he disregards instructions from the head of his assassin squad and heads off to a little Italian village to finish his last job.   During his stay in the village, Jack has various personal and professional encounters.  He comes to befriend a priest (as much as an assassin can befriend someone, let alone a priest), fraternizes with a prostitute and deals with his client while outrunning the Swedes who have followed him back to Italy.  All a da...

INCEPTION Review by Windy City Gal (@ rosenfie ) “ Inception ,” directed by Christopher Nolan (“The Dark Night”) and starring Leonardo DiCaprio (“Shutter Island), Joseph Gordon-Levitt (“500 Days of Summer) and Ellen Page (“Juno”) is a trippy, futuristic story where people have the ability to insert themselves into people’s dreams to extract or add information. Cobb ( DiCaprio ), a skilled extractor who is desperate to get home to his children, takes on one last job that will free him from the fugitive lifestyle he’s earned as a dream-thief. However, this job requires inception, or adding information to one’s mind - the most dangerous and tricky skill in dream invasion. To complete this task, DiCaprio works with a dream architect ( Page) to develop the perfect setting for inception and joins forces with his usual cohort ( Gordon-Levitt ), a chemist and other invaluable team members. The inception takes the team on an around-the-world journey, both in life and in dreams, ful...

"Get Him to the Greek" By Windy (aka @rosenfie ) " Get Him To The Greek ", directed by Nicholas Staller and starring Jonah Hill and Russell Brand is a spin-off from 2008's " Forgetting Sarah Marshall " by the same director. Though a spin-off, there's one immediate mis-step (or creative liberty). In "Marshall", Russell Brand's character, Aldous Snow, meets Jonah Hill's restaurant host character several times. In "Greek", the two apparently have never met. Aside from that one obvious change, "Greek" produces non-stop laughter from start to finish in the same manner as "The Hangover" - scenes that are so inappropriate you don't know if you should laugh or cover your eyes. John Hill plays Aaron Greene, a peon working for music producing mogul Sergio Roma, hilariously portrayed by Sean "P. Diddy" Combs . With a last-stitch effort to keep the the music company profitable, Greene sugg...

The "Twilight" Saga: "Eclipse" Review by Windy (aka @rosenfie ) Authors Note: As stated in my "New Moon" review , I am a Twihard and this review is written from a Twihard perspective. Therefore, you already have an idea of where this is going... "Eclipse", the third film in The "Twilight" Saga franchise, is directed by David Slade ("30 Days of Night") and stars Robert Pattinson, Kristen Stewart and Taylor Lautner. The first two films in the series "Twilight" and "New Moon" were highly sought after by "Twilight" fans. The third installment, "Eclipse,' however, expands its reach into the male audience with its action sequences. This film is the best of the three for many reasons. The actors seem more at ease with their characters, the special effects are stronger (as would be expected with a bigger budget) and there's more action and story lines. In "New Moon",...

Sex And The City 2 Review By: Windy Windy reviews “Sex And The City 2". Take a swing by her website and check out what she’s been up to lately. Sex and the City 2 (SATC), directed my Michael Patrick King and starring Sarah Jessica Parker , Kim Cattrall, Kristin Davis and Cynthia Nixon , opens with aerial views of New York City skyscrapers and “Empire State of Mind” by Alicia Keys and Jay-Z playing in the background. The opening scene features Carrie Bradshaw/Preston leaving her apartment in a casual white dress, reflective gold oversized sunglasses and a pair of gold sequin stilettos to match. Per the usual SATC style, Carrie narrates most of the story, starting with how she met Charlotte (Davis), Miranda (Nixon) and Samantha (Cattrall) in the 80’s and 90’s. Each character is shown in a brief flashback to illustrate how they looked back then. Carrie had two looks – the first with Converse (which have made a comeback) and a spiral perm, and the second as a Madonna do...

"Kick-Ass" Kicks Ass Review by Windy Windy reviews “Kick-Ass”.  Take a swing by her website and check out what she’s been up to lately. “Kick-Ass” Kicks Ass “Kick-Ass”, directed by Matthew Vaughn and starring Aaron Johnson (“Kick-Ass”), Chloe Moretz (“Hit-Girl”), Christopher Mintz-Plasse (“Red Mist”), Nicholas Cage (“Big Daddy”) and Mark Strong (Frank D’Amico), truly does kick ass. “Kick-Ass” has a somewhat similar formula to films such as “Date Movie”, “Epic Movie” and “Dance Movie”, but follows a story of its own with a distinct plot and is more successful at engaging the audience.  There are plenty of odes to other superhero movies including “Superman” (soundtrack), “Spiderman” (dialogue), “Batman” (costume) and “The Matrix” (action sequences).  There are even some similarities to “Superbad”, aside from having Christopher Mintz-Plasse in the film.  However, “Kick-Ass” succeeds where the other formula movies fail. Aaron Johnson stars as the typical high schoo...

Shutter Island Movie Review By: Windy Another review by Windy ,make sure to stop by and say Hello to her . I am so glad she is on my team. Shutter Island, directed by Martin Scorsese and starring Leonardo DiCaprio, Mark Ruffalo, Michele Williams and Ben Kingsly, is the story of a Federal Marshall, Teddy Daniels (DiCaprio), sent to a mental institution to investigate the disappearance of a patient. However, as we get deeper into the film, we learn Daniels has alternate motives for visiting the island. Having fought in World War II, rescued prisoners from Dachau Concentration Camp and lived through the loss of his wife, Daniels is a person who is more troubled on the inside than he realizes. DiCaprio sinks his teeth into this role and loses himself in his character. This is one of the few films where I forgot I was watching DiCaprio and instead focused on the character. Every aspect of Daniels is well executed – from his mannerisms to his display of emotion, including loss, confusio...

Valentine’s Day Movie Review By:Windy Make sure you stop by and let Windy know that she is doing a great service to all of us film lovers with her reviews. “Valentine’s Day”, directed by Gary Marshall and starring…well…everyone, is a Robert Altman-like film in that it focuses on several different developing stories that are all somehow intertwined. However, the film is light-hearted and not meant to be taken as seriously as an Altman film. Initial reviews of “Valentine’s Day” have not been positive. I, therefore, went into the film with low expectations. To my surprise, the film was entertaining. Julia Fitzpatrick and Dr. Harrison Copeland, played by Jennifer Garner and Patrick Dempsey, have “cutesy” on-screen chemistry. They are believable as a just-in-love goofy-acting couple. They might just be the best matched couple in the movie. Jamie Foxx provides the regular comic relief in the film, with barely a single serious moment in his scenes. He perfectly plays the role of the sco...

Book Of Eli Movie Review #2 By:Windy Windy had a busy week and took the time to give us another great review. Looks like we didn't differ much on our separate reviews of this film. Please stop by her site and let her know how much u enjoy her reviews. In seeing the previews, one might call The Book of Eli “The Road, with Action”. After reading Cormac McCarthy’s post-apocalyptic book, “The Road”, there was no doubt this film would have a similar backdrop. Eli, terrifically played by Denzel Washington, is a loner in a wild west inspired post natural-disaster world where one must be tough mentally and physically to survive. Washington displays the perfect calm yet bad-ass attitude that we’ve come to expect from his action roles. Without skipping a beat, he rids derelicts of their appendages, lives and pride at the same time. You’re not quite sure where he is going or what his mission is in the beginning of the film, but you quickly understand his resolve to accomplish his missio...

The Lovely Bones Movie Review By:Windy Windy has been a busy girl this week. I don't know when she finds the time to write reviews for my site and work on her own . We are so glad she is a part of the SandwichJohnFilms team. “The Lovely Bones”, based on the best-selling novel of the same name by Alice Sebold and directed by Peter Jackson, is the story about a family dealing with the crisis of their murdered 14-year old daughter, Susie Salmon, and her father’s hunt for her killer. Most of the story is told from Susie’s point of view after her murder, as she watches her family struggle to cope with her loss and search for her killer. She is stuck in what her younger brother refers to as “the in-between” – a place between Earth and heaven – because she refuses to let go of her family or her killer. Susie, played by Saoirse Ronan (“Atonement”) gives a moving portrayal of a spirit running a gamut of emotions, starting with confusion, moving to fear, and ultimately release. ...

Invictus Movie Review By:Windy Windy , what more can we say here over at SandwichJohnFilms. But thank you and keep them coming. Make sure you go check out her site and let her know what a great job she is doing. Out of the night that covers me, Black as the Pit from pole to pole, I thank whatever gods may be For my unconquerable soul. In the fell clutch of circumstance I have not winced nor cried aloud. Under the bludgeonings of chance My head is bloody, but unbowed. Beyond this place of wrath and tears Looms but the Horror of the shade, And yet the menace of the years Finds, and shall find, me unafraid. It matters not how strait the gate, How charged with punishments the scroll. I am the master of my fate: I am the captain of my soul. - William Ernest Henley- On February 11, 1990, Nelson Mandela was released from prison after 27 years of incarceration. The above poem, Invictus, fueled his strength while imprisoned and helped provide him the courage to lead South Africa...

Brothers Movie Review By: Windy Windy is just blowing into theaters all over town, and thank god she is writing for us. I am grateful she is taking the time out to do reviews for the site. Make sure you check out her site here and let her know what a great job she is doing. "Brothers," directed by Jim Sheridan ("Get Rich or Die Tryin'") and starring Tobey Maguire, Natalie Portman and Jake Gyllenhaal,, is the story of a family who believes their Marine son (Maguire) is killed in combat and must learn to move on with their lives. Gyllenhaal enters the picture as the ex-con brother who slowly turns into "the good guy" as he realizes > > his brother's family needs a father figure. All the while, Maguire's character is a POW in Afghanistan. In a sense, Maguire plays two characters in this film, the family-oriented Marine before being held in Afghanistan, and the damaged, paranoid Marine post-war. With Maguire's initial character, there ...

Sherlock Holmes Movie Review By: Windy Windy has out done herself again. Coming in with a home run review! What would we do without her? Make sure to visit her site and let her know what a great job she is doing. "Sherlock Holmes", directed by Guy Ritchie,takes place in 1891 London, just as the well-known Tower Bridge was being constructed. The film is extremely fast paced in both movement and dialogue-too fast at times. It may have been the dialect of the time, but in 2009, the words become hard to discern. Kudos to Robert Downey Jr for picking up such a strong dialect, but it needed to be slowed for the audience. Downey Jr's character is well-developed, as we hear his thoughts throughout the movie, see into his home and learn about his techniques for solving mysteries. Dr. John Watson, played by Jude Law, is also well developed as Holmes' partner who has to balance life-threatening detective work, his friendship with Holmes and his relationship with his soon-to...

It's Complicated Movie Review By: Windy Chicago must have had some Hellish wind storms, Windy our resident Film reviewer blew into two films this weekend. We will start with "It's Complicated" first. And make sure to come back and read her review of Sherlock Holmes. Please make a pit stop to her site here . "It's Complicated," starring Merryl Streep, Alec Baldwin and Steve Martin, is the story of a divorced couple of ten years who begins having an affair with each other after sparks ignite at their son's graduation weekend. Merryl Streep and Alec Baldwin are perfectly cast as the divorced couple who portray palpable on-screen chemistry. Every emotion they share - anger, happiness, laughter, confusion - is felt through the screen. They play off of each other quite nicely as if they have acted together for years. Alec plays the perfect seducer while Streep plays the not-so-sure-but-jump-feet-first "victim" of seduction. Their comedic tim...

Twilight:New Moon Review. Better Late Then Never By-Windy City Gal I know the review is a few weeks late. But better late then never is what I say. Want to thank Windy City Gal for another great review and be sure to come back soon for her review on Sherlock Holmes and It's Complicated. Also Make sure to check out her one of a kind Blog Here . Author's Note: I am over 30, in a relationship, have no children, and am a self-proclaimed Twi-hard who has seen New Moon five times as of writing this article. Writing a review for "New Moon" is no easy task, as there are two points of view to take: the craftsmanship (i.e. Oscar) point of view, and the Twi-Hard point of view. Therefore, I comment from both perspectives below. ----- "What I've realized over the last week is I won't necessarily get good reviews for this movie. Having swallowed that, this was made for the fans, and if you don't get it, then you don't get it." - Chris Weitz, Entertainm...

Up in the Air Movie Review By-Windy City Gal "To know me is to fly with me" - Ryan Bingham (George Clooney) We added a new team member to the Sandwichjohnfilms Family coming all the way from the Chicago. Windy City girl just blew into our family. And we are lucky to have her. Also check out her awesome blog over at Windy City Gal . Up in the Air, directed by Jason Reitman and starring George Clooney, Vera Farmiga, and "Twilight's" Anna Kendrick, focuses on Ryan Bingman (Clooney) as a no-baggage, traveling "corporate downsizer", void of any human relationships. Bingham's relationship-less life puts him in a perfect position to layoff people across the country without batting an eyelash. There might not be a more fitting role for Clooney. We all know his eternal bachelor status, and this movie represents it perfectly. I'm not saying he hasn't loved. We've seen many a girlfriend, but the movie eerily portrays similarities between his m...