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Shutter Island | Movie Reviews By Bruce Kantor

ssherron — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 06:00:28 +0000

Shutter island

Two US Marshalls played by Leonardo DiCaprio and Mark Ruffalo go to a hospital for the criminally insane to investigate the disappearance of an inmate. The story which takes place in 1954 shows horrendous living conditions. As the story progresses the two are unable to leave.

Leonardo is haunted by the death of his late wife as well as his days in the army liberating Nazi death camps. A number of psychological twists tell the tale. Explaining the twists would give away the plot and the surprises in the film. Needless to say there is a lot of suspense and violence in this Martin Scorsese production.

This is the type of film which will compel the viewer to see it twice. The second time things which were not apparent in the first viewing will become apparent. Shutter Island is definitely not for children and perhaps not as much for women as for men. Women will enjoy Mark Ruffalo and Leonardo DiCapro. We enjoyed the twists and intrigue of the film.

I rate Shutter island a 4.5 out of 5 for a suspense film.

bruce@kantorandassociates.com

From Paris With Love | A Movie Review By Bruce Kantor

ssherron — Thu, 11 Feb 2010 03:01:14 +0000

From Paris With Love

From Paris with Love stars John Travolta and Jonathan Ryes-Myers. Set in Paris and shot on location, this film is a comic shoot um up. James Reece, Rhys-Meyers, is the assistant to the American Ambassador and has a part time job working as a low lever operative for the CIA. He gets a real assignment when he is told to go to the airport to meet an American spy, Charlie Wax, Travolta. Reece is to be Wax’s driver and ends up as his partner.

Wax is not what we would imagine as a spy. He has a shaved head, beard and a large silver earring to go along with his bling bling necklaces. Wax is in Paris to solve a problem with the daughter of an American official and to seek out and stop a terrorist attack on an international gathering in Paris. There are several scenes of endless gun shots and places being shot up. Reece has a beautiful French fiancé named Caroline played by Kasia Smutniak. Kasia is a Polish supermodel and is beautiful. She is unaware of Reece’s activity with the CIA or is she? She figures later in the film.

There is a car chase with a high powered Audi with Wax hanging out of the window with a grenade launcher. Unbelievable but remember folks this is only a movie. It is said that to enjoy fiction one must suspend disbelief. This principal is true with this film. Most of it is unbelievable but the combination of Travolta and Ryes-Myers works to make it fun. You will not see this movie at the Academy Awards but it is worth the price of a bag of popcorn.

I rate this film 3 of 5 for an action film.

bruce@kantorandassociates.com

Bruce Kantor owns Kantor & Associates in Matthews, NC.

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Caroline’s Movie Review | The Blindside

ssherron — Sun, 13 Dec 2009 21:23:36 +0000

“The Blind Side” depicts the story of Michael Oher, a homeless African-American youngster from a broken home, taken in by the Touhys, a well-to-do white family who help him fulfill his potential. At the same time, Oher’s presence in the Touhys’ lives leads them to some insightful self-discoveries of their own. Living in his new environment, the teen faces a completely different set of challenges to overcome. As a football player and student, Oher works hard, and with the help of his coaches and adopted family, becomes an All-American offensive left tackle.

The Blind Side starring Sandra Bullock and Tim McGraw is a heartwarming movie not to be missed this holiday season. While Bullock and McGraw give good performances, Quinton Aaron (Michael) and Jae Head (SJ) have breakthrough performances. The movie is long, about 2.5 hours and is slow to get started. Overall a very heartwarming tale of a family that reached out to someone for no reason other than to help (or so the movie tells us).

I found myself growing a bit antsy in my seat in the beginning due to the fact the movie has such a slow build. If you are the type of movie goer that enjoys story building, you will enjoy this most of all. I on the other hand, prefer a movie that gets right to the point and often times wish movies would start from the end and work backwards. I will say this by the end of the movie I was crying tears of happiness in seeing that one person can make a difference in another’s life.

Other than the movie starting slowly the only other complaint I have is that when Lou Holtz was featured in the movie recruiting for the University of South Carolina he asked Michael to wear the “Carolina Red”. Well since I am fourth generation South Carolina grad this offended me to no end…..Lou Holtz who coached at South Carolina should know better we are Carolina Garnet! Maybe that is why he went to Mississippi State and Lou is no longer our coach.

Caroline gives the Blind Side 4.5 Scoops out of 5 Scoops

caroline@ballantynescoop.com

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