Posts Tagged ‘michael fassbender’

Stephen Soderbergh’s experimental action film Haywire packs punch and an exceptional cast, but there is a reason why action movies are done a certain way. While some of the director’s techniques work, others fall flat, resulting in an entertaining but far-from-groundbreaking film.

Read FilmJabber’s full Haywire movie review.

Ridley Scott is returning to the sci-fi genre for the first time in decades with the highly anticipated movie Prometheus. You may recall that Scott is responsible for such classics as Alien and Blade Runner. In fact, Prometheus was originally intended to be a prequel to Alien, though it has evolved into something that appears to be much more epic in scope, set in the same universe but not necessarily featuring those same pesky acid-bleeding, mouth-in-mouth-in-mouth aliens.

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It’s true that the ultimate prize any actor can receive is an Academy Award. And yet, this year’s Oscars prove more than most that even the best performances can go overlooked. Seven of the top ten actors listed here were not nominated for an Academy Award, and only nine of the 20 actors who were nominated (for Best Actor in a Leading Role, Best Actress in a Leading Role, Best Actor in a Supporting Role and Best Actress in a Supporting Role) earned a place on this coveted list.

After all, FilmJabber’s list is coveted. Because we say it is, that’s why. Without further ado, here are the 20 best performances of 2011:

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The nominations for the 84th Annual Academy Awards were announced yesterday. And they were… shall we say… uninspired. Several of the year’s best films were ignored outright, while the movies and performances that played to Oscar sentiments were rewarded with nominations, regardless of originality or creativity. Here are 12 observations, or reactions if you will, to the movies that will compete at this year’s Academy Awards.

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This dynamic action-thriller Haywire, directed by Oscar® winner Steven Soderbergh (Contagion), opens in theaters everywhere Friday! The movie boasts a talented cast that includes Channing Tatum (GI Joe: Rise of the Cobra),  Ewan McGregor (The Ghost Writer),  Michael Fassbender (X-Men: First Class),  Antonio Banderas (The Legend of Zorro),  Bill Paxton (“Big Love”),  Michael Douglas (Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps),  Michael Angarano (Almost Famous); and introduces mixed martial arts (MMA) superstar Gina Carano as Mallory Kane,  in a demanding lead role that has her performing her own high-adrenaline stunts.

We’re giving away a Haywire prize pack - enter to win today!

Many critics and bloggers assemble top ten movie lists (like the best movies of 2011) this time of year. Many put together ‘worst of’ lists, too. I purposely avoided movies like Jack and Jill and Zookeeper this year, however. Those stinkers were clearly avoidable from the onset.

Unavoidable, however, were the movies I was really looking forward to. You know, the ones with awesome trailers and great potential. The ones that promise to be the next best thing. The movies that don’t live up to those lofty expectations. They may not be the worst movies of the year – in fact, some may be halfway decent – but they commit a greater sin: they break our hearts.

These are the ten most disappointing movies of 2011.

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Frankly, 2011 was not a great year for movies. There were a lot of good movies, but few great movies. Spielberg released two movies, but neither were among his best. Scorsese made a kid’s movie, which, despite popular opinion, is not an Oscar-caliber film. The comic book adaptations were entertaining but not mind blowing. The various sequels lived up to their predecessors, but nothing more.

Still, there were a few that stood out from the rest. Few if any on this list were amazing, but they are the best that 2011 had to offer.

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Masturbating in the bathroom at work. If you’ve ever done it, you might relate to Shame. Sex addict? Quite possible. Unable to form a relationship with another woman, even your sister? Yeah, you’ll relate to Shame, the gripping new drama from director Steve McQueen.

Read FilmJabber’s full Shame movie review.

A Dangerous Method tells the seductive tale of Dr. Carl Jung’s (played by Michael Fassbender) obsession with Sabina Spielrein (Keira Knightly), a mentally troubled yet beautiful patient he takes under his wing.  Throughout his work with Sabina, Jung forms a relationship and butts heads with the master in his field, Sigmond Freud (Viggo Mortensen), over what each sees as cracks in the other’s ideology.

Read FilmJabber’s full A Dangerous Method movie review.

If A Dangerous Method isn’t on your list of movies to see this holiday season, you better crumple it up and start over. David Cronenberg directs Viggo Mortensen (who also starred in Cronenberg’s A History of Violence and Eastern Promises), Michael Fassbender (X-Men: First Class) and Keira Knightley in this highly anticipated film.

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It was the summer of comic book movies, but few if any received the critical praise that X-Men: First Class received. Whether it was due to lowered expectations set by the last two movies – X-Men: The Last Stand and X-Men Origins: Wolverine – or something else, audiences and critics alike lapped up Matthew Vaughn’s prequel like slobbering dogs, lavishing it with praise that, frankly, it doesn’t deserve.

Nevertheless, despite its glaring flaws, X-Men: First Class is an entertaining movie that will fit nicely in a home collection. It’s now available on DVD and Blu-Ray.

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After a disappointing sequel and a miserable prequel, the X-Men franchise returns to the big screen with a new cast, a new time period and a new look. From director Matthew Vaughn (Kick-Ass), X-Men: First Class is an edgy reboot that entertains but fails to live up to expectations set by its predecessors.

Read FilmJabber’s full X-Men: First Class movie review.