In Time

In this episode we interview fans of the sci-fi thriller, In Time. Our host, Jared Canfield, has no time to waste to see the movie goers as we get their Real Reactions.

Martha Marcy May Marlene

Don’t let the clunky title fool you – Martha Marcy May Marlene unfolds like a beautiful, poetic song. Just like music, you enjoy the words and become entranced with the beat that sticks in your head for days, but in the end, you are not quite sure what the lyrics exactly mean. I could tell you every line of the film right now, but I still would not be spoiling much, for what happens is all determined by the viewer’s perspective.

The Skin I Live In

There is a scene in The Skin I Live In, the latest film from celebrated Spanish director Pedro Almodovar (Volver, Talk to Her) where a man in a silken tiger costume tries to rape a woman wearing a flesh-colored body suit. And as it turns out, that’s not the craziest thing that happens over the course of the film. But if you’re up for a little craziness (okay, make that a lot), then Almodovar’s plastic-surgery-revenge-horror-thriller (take a moment to let that genre cocktail sink in), might be just what you need, even if it’s not among his finest efforts.

In Time

Justin Timberlake has been soaring through the celebrity world since his days of 90s pop music. He has impressed teenage girls with his marionette-like dancing abilities. He has wowed the New York twenty-somethings with his multiple appearences on Saturday Night Live. And he finally snuck his way into my mother’s heart with his performance in The Social Network. It is this success that surprises me about his decision to play the leading role in such a disappointing film.

The Rum Diary

Would you go see a movie about Rose’s life before she went aboard the Titanic? How about watching a film following the members of Pirate Radio before their radio show? It sounds pretty boring compared to the amazing adventures that happened afterwards. Who wants to hear about random backstory when you can have brilliant tales of triumph, loss, hatred, and love? Sadly, that was what was wrong with The Rum Diary. It was the prequel to the movie you wanted to see.

The Mighty Macs

In The Mighty Macs, written and directed by Tim Chambers, the tale is as old as time: Cathy Rush (Played by Carla Gugino, who either has the most amazing lips ever, or just has an amazing plastic surgeon), ex-high school player turned housewife to NBA referee Ed Rush (David Boreneaz) takes over a rag-tag team of girls at the financially-floundering Immaculata College, which is run by nuns that – you guessed it! – couldn’t care less about sports.

Paranormal Activity 3

Take Shelter

It’s fitting that the narrative structure of Jeff Nichols’ Take Shelter, which involves images of violent weather, resembles a hurricane. The opening act is filled with jarring lightning, followed by weaker rains, before settling into the eye, and then moving back into the storm. It’s not so much a constant path of escalation as it is a big cycle. And this cycle, in addition to any number of elements, is part of why Nichols’ film stands as one of the best offerings of the year.

Margin Call

Last year Hollywood had us take a look at the financial mess we got ourselves into through greed and corruption in Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps. A glossy take on the economy, Wall Street is packed with arguments, motorcycle chases, and last-minute heroism with no moral ambiguity.

Johnny English Reborn

I’m just going to throw this out there from the get go: I am not a fan of Rowan Atkinson. To be perfectly honest, he creeps me out a significant amount. Whenever I would see those commercials for Mr. Bean movies as a kid, I would just immediately switch the channel or twitch violently until it was over. I have a compulsory reaction to not like him. I’m not sure if it’s the way he looks, his brand of comedy, or his interesting name, but Rowan Atkinson has just never really gotten it done for me.