The Fighter (2010)

It takes a very tough person to stand in the ring for more than a few rounds. Same goes for this movie. It is not for the weak-minded or faint of heart. But it is well worth the pain of watching horrible people ruin each others lives. Mark Wahlberg was the main character here and did a great job, but as in the fiction, his older brother played by Christian Bale, gets all the glory and won the Oscar. And their clueless, self-serving mother played by Melissa Leo also won. There is no lack of talent or great performances here, but one one can win. Amy Irving was also nominated for her role as the champ's love interest, but the wicked witch of Lowell won out. Based on real people and events, this movie is a mix of actual and mocked footage. Very well done. And, some of the people in the real story of the early 2000s play themselves. This adds a great feel to the movie. Watch this movie with someone who feels they have to choose between family and success.

The Other Guys (2010)

If you are fan of Will Ferrel, you will most likely enjoy this one. If you are fan of Mark Wahlberg, you may not enjoy his attempt at comedy. It fell flat for me. If you like Samuel L. Jackson or Dwayne Johnson, you will enjoy the first parts of the story. If you are Yankee fan, you may not. If you are a fan of Michael Keaton, you may not like his choice of character here. If you are fan of Eva Mendes you might like this.

While there are a few good laughs this story plays like an over-long SNL sketch. But that is the case with most Ferrel movies in my opinion. They take a good thing to far and dwell on what was funny the first time or two, too long.

The PG-13 rating is a bit weak if you ask me. There are enough sexual references to make parents wish they had not watched this with their teens.

Watch this with a guy between the ages of 18 and 28.

Three Kings (1999)

About half way between now and the liberation of Kuwait a very interesting movie was made. What was it all about? Who can say for sure.

George Clooney plays a Special Forces officer who tends to color outside the lines. Mark Wahlberg plays a soldier who helps Clooney's character steal gold that Saddam stole from Kuwait. Ice Cube and Spike Jonze also play unconventional soldiers who help. So who are the Three Kings? No spoilers here, watch and find out.

While it does get a little preachy at times, the action and the comedy are there if you are paying attention. It is not such a terrible thing to hear what might have been the point of view of some at the time on both sides of the conflict.

Watch this movie with someone who thinks war is all about honor and glory.

Date Night

Just out on DVD this goofy movie is fun for everyone over the age of about 18. No, it's not R-rated, but not many under that age will get all the best bits. Married couples, or couples who are in a comfortable groove will most likely appreciate the point.

Steve Carell and Tina Fey, arguably the funniest people on TV, star as a married couple out for a night of something different. Their worst crime, as you will see, is taking some other couple's reservation at a very in-demand restaurant. Non-New-Yorkers take note. You can shoot someone, steal their car, and even resort to blackmail, but worst of all is to pretend to be someone else and take their reservation. Be warned.

This movie is outrageous as it is funny. The guest appearances are very good. Mark Wahlberg is great with his limited role. But can anyone tell me while he needed a wardrobe assistant?

This is a great date movie because regardless of how the date goes, it's better than the one portrayed in this movie.

Watch this movie with couple who are stuck in a rut.

Max Payne

Normally, the transition from the little screen to the big screen is awkward at best. In this case going from video game to feature film was not all that bad. Admittedly I had low expectations and have never played any of the Max Payne games. Those who are avid fans of the game may feel different however.

Mark Walhberg is stoic and brooding in this role, which is appropriate. In fact, until the end, he showed almost now emotion at all. Since I have no clue as to how the game character behaves I cannot make that comparison. But I was pleasantly surprised at how this story was told in bits and pieces and we were not given too much information too fast or too slow.

For example we are not told until just the right time about the dark angels who haunt the movie from the beginning. I liked that.

Beau Bridges plays an old family friend with conflicting interests. Chris 'Ludacris' Bridges (no relation) plays a similar character on the other side of the law. Nicely done. Mila Kunis, yeah the voice of Meg Griffin, plays a vague assassin for the Russian mob in New York and factors in more prominently as the movie goes along. Bond girl Olga Kurylenko has a delicious role early in the picture as the sister of the Kunis character and the catalyst that brings Payne and the assassin together. Chris O'Donnell and Donal Logue play interesting characters with too-short screen time.

Watch this movie with someone who has, AND someone who has not played the game, and see how their opinions differ. Let me know?

Four Brothers

This story runs deeper than your average revenge pic. There are plot and character twists that make it much more interesting AND much more fun.

Director John Singleton takes a great script and turns it into a well-told, smart, funny, sad, but also satidfying story. The plot and characters are do believeable one might expect this to be based on real events. No doubt there are real people behind everyone in this movie. There are no over-the-top, hard-to-swallow, performances.

You may not recognize Fionnula Flanagan's name, but I bet you've seen her face and heard her voice. She has been a familiar face on American TV since the days of Bonanza. For the fans of "Waking Ned Devine", she played the wife of the main living character. Brilliantly.

In this movie she plays the adoptive mother of children who are difficult to place in foster care. What she ends up with is four difficult boys who are not related to each other, but have this wonderful soul for a mother, in common. These same four "brothers" unite as adults to revenge the murder on their adoptive mother on the steps of her home.

Garrett Hedlund, Andre Benjamin, Tyrese Gibson, and Mark Wahlberg play the four bothers. The chemistry between these professionals is amazing on the screen. Not everyone could have pulled this trick off, but somehow these guys make it work.

The movie has a dark look, but that is no trick. Shot entirely on location during the winter, all the snow is real, including the scene on the frozen lake. Allegedly, outside temperature never rose above 24 degrees Fahrenheit during shooting. Detroit IS a cold place in winter.

The language is graphic as is the violence. In fact, I'm told some very big box office names turned down the roles because the script was too violent. Ouch. But along with that comes a great dose of family as each of the sons, in turns, have visions of the deceased mother.

If none of the above scares you off, watch this movie with someone with whom you have a bond but are not related to.

We Own the Night

Please tell me Joaquin Phoenix (Parenthood, Gladiator, and Walk the Line) is not the new Richard Burton. Dark. Brooding. Playing primarily one type of character. I would like to see more from him.

I know Mark Wahlberg (Perfect Storm, Four Brothers, and The Departed) can play more that just tough guys. Please tell me he is not the new Kirk Douglas. Way too good-looking to play "normal" guys, way too smart to play just one type of role.

Had thus movie starred Richard Burton and Kirk Douglas way back when, it would have been very little different. Some of you may see that as a good thing, and some may say that would be a bad thing. I see it as a good thing. A good story is a good story regardless of who plays the roles. But, casting the wrong people can ruin a good story. In this case, the two big box-office names were brought in and given Producer status in order lend their names to the project (my assumptions and opinions only). But they do make a good story more watchable. But they do not make it a great story.

Robert Duvall (The Great Santini, Colors, and Falling Down) is the glue that keeps this cast together like the old pro he is. The other two play his sons. Yes, be prepared to suspend belief. Though they choose different life-styles, their father is the one constant in their lives. And it is ultimately the father that units the boys again with a single purpose.

I think the thing I liked best about this movie was that the things I expected to happen never did, and the things I did not expect, kept happening. So, either I'm getting worse at guessing, or writers are getting more clever. Hopefully for all of us it is the latter.

Watch this movie with a sibling you've always secretly admired.

Shooter

As conspiracy theory stories go, this one is up there among some of the best. "If you want your man dead, what better way than to stand him next to the President". As action movies stories go this a pretty good one, but not up quite so high. That is not a bad thing however, it just means the director, Antoine Fugua, did not over-do it. I respect that.

Mark Wahlberg pulls his roll off well as a loner marine sniper who feels the country has its back on him so he returns the favor. Considered expendable and a pawn, he retreats to the mountains of Wyoming. One of the interesting parts of this story is to try and figure out who the pawns are and who the chess players are. It's not terribly difficult, but is presented in a very interesting way.

This movie qualifies as "a good story well told". The ending is a little sloppy however, leaving more questions than answers.

Ned Beatty is a wonderfully fun dirty senator. Kate Mara (Brokeback Mountain and We Are Marshall) is pretty fun to watch and a pleasant surprise. Danny Glover almost overplays his part, and comes off a little stiff at times, but is believeable.

Watch it with someone who thinks faster than you do.