Now Playing

Here's a look at the new movies I saw this week.

Birdman
Starring: Michael Keaton, Edward Norton, Zach Galifianakis, Naomi Watts, and Emma Stone
Synopsis: "Birdman" is a fascinating film. It's been hailed by critics as a masterpiece and it will likely be a player come award time. And there is a lot to like about the film. But it's not the kind of movie that will likely appeal to mainstream audiences. It feels like a very meta exploration of life, the careers of Keaton and Norton, the nature of criticism, and where the motion picture industry is. If that sounds incredible, you're the target audience of "Birdman." If it doesn't, you likely won't appreciate what writer/director Alejandro González Iñárritu is trying to do here. That being said, Keaton is incredible in the lead role. He looks like he's having fun, and he's really sinking into the part here. Norton is also incredibly good, and it feels like he's using the part as a way to acknowledge and play into his reputation in Hollywood. The film is ostensibly about an actor who was a famous superhero, gave that up, and is trying to showcase his chops as an artist with an adaptation of a Raymond Carver short story on Broadway. But there are a lot of layers to film, and there are aspects of the film that are surrealist, which don't all meld together. Sometimes I was fascinating by the acting, story, and craft here, other times I was a bit confused at what Inarritu is trying to accomplish. Overall I remain torn about "Birdman." It's worth seeing Keaton's performance, but as a stand alone film it doesn't quite work.
Rating: R for language throughout, some sexual content and brief violence. Enter with caution.
Verdict: Two stars out of four.

Interstellar
Starring: Matthew McConaughey, Anne Hathaway, Michael Caine, Mackenzie Foy, Jessica Chastain, and Wes Bentley
Synopsis: Christopher Nolan is one of the best filmmakers working today. He began his career with “Memento,” a film shot entirely in reverse. Later, he applied his unique style and vision to the re-booted Batman franchise, which exposed him to legions of movie-goers worldwide. Though Nolan delivered three of the finest blockbusters of this century with his “Dark Knight” trilogy, it’s his original films that have always inspired curiosity and fans. He’s a brilliant visual storyteller, but sometimes his high-concept plots can be hard to track. That’s certainly the case with “Interstellar.” Nolan and his brother and co-writer, Jonathan, spent a lot of time nailing the science. Their depiction of black holes and space travel have been hailed by scientists like Stephen Hawking and Neil DeGrasse Tyson. But it’s the plot that might be the most difficult to swallow for audiences. Nolan is a brilliant filmmaker. He eschews much of the modern effects-driven storytelling that has dominated local multiplexs, but his visuals are stunning nonetheless. That’s true of “Interstellar,” which can’t help but inspire the mind to dream of other worlds and space exploration. Nolan has also said he’s a fan of “2001: A Space Odyssey,” and you can see that film’s influences throughout the 169-minute run of “Interstellar.” Nolan spent a long time making sure his science was solid, too, which is a credit to him and the production. But what has always drawn me to his films is rich characters, themes and narratives. And some of that is quite compelling with “Interstellar,” too. The film is a fascinating exploration of American culture and ingenuity, it asks hard questions about how we’re stewarding this planet and it has a rich dynamic between fathers and daughters — both as seen through Cooper and Murph and Professor Brand and his daughter Amelia. In fact, through three quarters of this film, I thought it was close to a masterpiece. But then we get to the third act. I’m sure it was meant to tie up some of the narrative in the mind of the Nolans, but it doesn’t work for me, and for many others. I thought some of the decisions stretched credulity and took the film in a direction I didn’t expect. That being said, while the third act diminished the final product for me, it by no means ruins the film. This is a movie with stunning visuals, an engrossing plot and rich performances. It’s still better than most of the films released this year, the final act just pushed it from exceptional to good for me. Those who are fans of film and fans of Nolan won’t want to miss this film. Additionally, “Interstellar” is one of those films that should be seen on the big screen to fully appreciate the visual storytelling it contains.
Rating: PG-13 for some intense perilous action and brief strong language.
Verdict: Three stars out of four.

Upcoming Releases:

Friday, November 14 — "Rosewater," "Beyond the Lights," "Dumb and Dumber To," "Foxcatcher"

Friday, November 21 — "The Hunger Games: Mocking Jay, Part One"

Wednesday, November 26 — "Horrible Bosses 2," "The Penguins of Madagascar"