Trance

If Danny Boyle is involved, I'll always be interested. And though Trance can be accused of being many things, I can never say boring was a word that came to mind.

James McAvoy plays Simon, an art auctioneer turned thief involved in a robbery gone wrong. In the process of stealing a highly coveted painting named "Witches in the Air", Simon is hit in the head, disabling any memories of where he put the painting. The other criminals involved in this plot, led by Vincent Cassell as Franck, are far from happy about Simon's recent memory loss and will do anything to help him recover where the painting in. This desperate time brings them to Elizabeth (Rosario Dawson), a hypnotist who might be the only hope in recovering this painting. What she brings to the table, her true intentions, and what Simon will remember are things that will take everyone for a spin.

Trance's visuals are a dream come true (pun intended). All of the scenes involving Simon's inner most thoughts look amazing, very reminiscient of Eternal Sunshine where there's almost an animated quality to the live action scenes you're viewing.

Though everyone gives a sturdy performance, once Rosario Dawson shows up, you won't be able to take your eyes off her. Her performance here is stunning. Every scene she keeps your mind going, your attention never drifts off and she really gives a strong base into her character. Her character is the best spell this movie will cast on you.

Unfortunately, Trance struggles in the execution. About halfway through, you know a big twist or two is coming. Which is really quite the understatement of the year. Trance takes so many spins and then more spins on those spins you feel like you're on Roger Rabbit's Wild Ride which is fun but also might make you queasy. Too many surprises and turns were added it feels like overkill. Trance is an unforgettable ride that might leave your brain in a permanent trance.

2/4

You're Next

I'm doing a revision on my original review of 2.5 stars, because after a second viewing, I fucking loved every minute of it. I loved the 80's feel watching it, I loved how wickedly nasty every character was and how most of their deaths matched it. I loved how even in the middle of bodies hitting the floor that didn't stop them from giving each other Shit and calling each other out (the scene with the slo mo run out the door is everything). One of the most underappreciated horror movies of the decade by myself included.

3/4

The Conjuring

If there's a more fun and effective way to get your blood pressure raised then The Conjuring, I sure as hell haven't heard of it. The Conjuring is a blast and easily one of the best horror films of the last decade.

Vera Farmiga and Patrick Wilson play Ed and Lorraine Warren, two charismatic ghost hunters who work with truth and logic on their side. Rarely is a case so bizzare or malicious that the two can't offer a reasonable explanation for it; until they meet the Perron family, a group whose signs of being haunted range from creepy sounds and things being moved, to dead pets and unexpected guests. And surely enough, it even manages to go downhill from there.

The Conjuring has such an authentic nature you never really feel like you're watching a movie. I could watch the leads play the Warrens all day long and never believe they weren't real people on screen, the leads manage to give their roles some charisma and personality as well. They aren't your typical stiffs. The Perron family led by Lili Taylor as Carolyn Perron will make your bones shiver portraying a sense of compassion in their roles as each are haunted to death.

It's refreshing how James Wan has proven his versatility as a horror director I must say. After watching movies like Saw, I knew he could do the gory shit well but I never knew he could do the suspense well and he nails it. Every scene is milked to its' utmost potential, sometimes resulting in a false alarm, other times resulting in pure terror. Every set piece, character, doll, situation is used perfectly to nail the feeling of terror. The Conjuring is a roller coaster ride of a movie.

One of my other biggest compliments about The Conjuring is its' look. It takes a lot for a piece of scenery to make you feel spooked but even the scenery in The Conjuring is made to frighten. Every set piece looks amazing it reminds me of something you would see in The Haunted Mansion.

And unlike most horror movies which tend to fizzle out towards the end, The Conjuring stays strong until the credits roll. The exorcism scenes are spectacular (The Last Exorcism...take notes) the make-up is astounding. Everything works in The Conjuring, I loved every minute of it.

3/4

Admission

I was completely on board to enjoying Admission, I was really hoping the formulaic previews weren't an accurate display of how Admission would play out. Sadly, I was wrong, Admission is even more predictable and sitcom-y then the previews indicated I was waiting for the laugh track to come on at any second.

I don't think Admission's disappointing streak can be blamed on the cast. Tina Fey's always on board for a good time, once again proving that in disappointing movies like this and Baby Mama, she can ALMOST elevate anything. She makes you root for her character even though you pretty much know how she will start up in the movie and where she will end off. Paul Rudd also fares well as her romantic interest, though he isn't given much to do, he does it well.

Tina Fey stars as Portia, a college admissions officer sent to a quite unusual school to look for recruitments. She meets up with Paul Rudd's character John who introduces her to an aspiring student who might possibly be the child she put up for adoption many years ago. The only issue is that he's unlike any other student on their acceptance list, getting him in seems almost impossible (but you know rules will be bent to get him in).

Every situation in Admission can be seen miles away. Though some of them are enjoyable (thanks mainly to the cast's charm) it's impossible to really enjoy it when you feel like you've seen it so many times. The last half definitely falls flat on its' face, as the comedic tones have been replaced by hum drum dramatic themes that never feel authentic. Admission is a by-the-books bore that could have been stronger if someone had taken a chance instead of phoning it in.

2/4