Kev's Reviews

This riveting biographical film reveals the family, the secret and the professional lives of FBI director J. Edgar Hoover (Leonardo DiCaprio). While the criminals in the U. S. are being seized by Hoover and his agents, Hoover struggles with conflicting feelings about himself and the relationship with his protege Clyde Tolson (Arnie Hammer). The cast and movie crew worked together and produced a great film audiences will talk about for generations! ***** (FIVE stars).

Neal Page (Steve Martin), an advertising executive, is trying to make a flight home to Chicago to have Thanksgiving with his family. But misery disrupts his traveling plans. Misery aka Del Griffith (John Candy)- an obnoxious, lovable salesman takes Neil on a wild goose chase that keeps him hungry for his turkey. John Candy and Steve Martin are a dynamic pair of comedians who, in this movie, illustrate every travelers worst nightmare. Aside from the disgusting eighties music, the film is pretty good. *** (three stars).

After being fired from her job, making out with her boss and being told by her daughter that she is going to go all the way with her boyfriend, Claudia Larson (Holly Hunter) travels home for Thanksgiving. There, she endures a grueling trial called the family Thanksgiving dinner. As tempers erupt and turkeys go airborne, Claudia remembers childhood memories and finds that the most valuable things are the memories shared among loved ones.  With this movie comes memories every family will laugh at as they recall them. **** (four stars).

In a no-holds-bar presidential campaign, dirty tricks threaten to soil one young spokesperson's (Ryan Gosling)  idealism in an intense political campaign where winning is relative. Directed by George Clooney, this gripping political thriller reveals the story from the stand point of a spokesman during the 2004 failed election of Howard Dean. The cast gave outstanding performances lead by Ryan Gosling. Co-staring Paul Giamatti, Phillip Seymour Hoffman and Marissa Tomei. *** (three stars). I thought it would be more enticing.

The suicide of Jack McEvoy's twin brother, Sean, seemed fishy to Jack. The Denver reporter believed that it was a homicide and found evidence to prove it at the scene. McEvoy needed catch the perpetrator to have closure on the matter. He joins forces with Denver's finest to capture the killer. The homicidal maniac uses his cunning skills to make the vicious killings look like suicides, each of his targets haunted by one case they couldn't crack. The killer leaves a calling card: a quotation from the writings of Edgar Allen Poe. This is a great book, ingeniously written by the best author I've ever read. ***** (FIVE stars).Connelly masterminds cold-blooded impulses of a sly pathological killer.

Micheal Bay's third installment of the Transformers saga dates back to when Neil Armstrong landed on the moon. The Apollo 11 team made their historical touch down in The Sea Of Tranquility and found a downed Transformer. In present day, while Sam Darwicki (Shia Labouf) works day to day at his new job, and comes home to his girlfriend, the Decepticons are ready to seek revenge on Optimus Prime and his team of Autobots. This Transformers flick was fairly decent compared to the other two (I thought the first one was the best). Why does  Michael Bay have at least one overly cute damsel in distress? *** (three stars).

Adam Sandler and Jack Nicholson team up as a dynamic, comedic duo in this wacked-out comedy about a business man named Dave Buznik (Adam Sandler), who goes into anger management counceling after a dispute with a flight attendant. When his therapist, Dr. Buddy Rydell (Nicholson), moves in with Dave and turns out he has anger issues himself, usually calm Dave might be driven to the brink of insanity after all. This is a stupid-funny movie that mostly everyone will enjoy. *** (three stars).

Nominated for an Academy, this docu-drama pits television newsman Edward R. Murrow (David Strathairn) against Sen. Joseph McCarthy and his crusade to quell the red threat at home. Ignoring corporate pressure to back down, Murrow and his clan of staff members examine the lies and fear tactics conducted by McCarthy during his search for Communists. This well-done drama is injected with actual recordings of McCarthy's addresses. ***** (FIVE stars)

Christian Bale is back as the caped crusader, Batman, this time aiding Leutenant Gordon (Gary Oldman) tracking the mob. District Attorney Harvey Dent (Arron Eckhart) is also locking up the criminals via the trials. The situation gets dicey when a deranged lunatic only known as the Joker (Heath Legder) bargains with a mob boss. This intense thriller is sculpted around a well-designed plot, edged with exceptional actors. Oscar-winning performance by Heath Legder keeps people hooked.  **** (four stars). There was an editing glitch during the scene in which Rachael (Maggie Gyllenhaal) died.