‘Hope’ shows the real issues of marriage

Posted Aug. 30, 2012

Hope Springs might seem like a typical romantic comedy, even though it has some atypical, older-than-average stars.

Meryl Streep and Tommy Lee Jones portray a couple who have been married for over thirty years. The wife, Kay, decides she wants something more for their marriage, so she signs them up for a week of “intensive therapy.” Let the movies of hilarity and awkwardness begin!

One interesting thing Hope Springs does is illustrate that issues in marriages, while perhaps appearing to be caused by one person, in reality have their roots in the behavior of both people. The real surprise of the movie, however, is probably Steve Carell as the therapist, Dr. Feld. He’s an excellent actor, so I was curious to see how he would play a character that wasn’t driven by comedy. He nailed it. He sits in a chair for most of the movie, but still maintains the necessary gravitas and empathy for the character. Both Tommy Lee Jones and Meryl Streep were excellent, but we shouldn’t expect any less from them.

Hope Springs was an engaging and enjoyable movie, sometimes painful in its realism. If you don’t get a chance to watch it in theaters, I recommend you watch it when it’s available on DVD.

rrr

Posted Aug. 28, 2012

Hit and Run was written and co-directed by the main star, Dax Shepard, who has previously not had the main part in a big movie. He was surprisingly good, and able to hold up to the part and play it convincingly. He wasn’t even overpowered by Bradley Cooper with dreadlocks, which is saying something.

The plot of the movie is relatively predictable, but it is still funny. I think what makes it funny is that none of the characters is entirely stereotyped. They all have their own quirks, and that keeps the movie entertaining.

Hit and Run is certainly not a movie for everyone, since the language alone would offend some. However, it is funnier than a lot of recent comedies, and has a lot more stunt-driving than movies like Drive. It’s an enjoyable movie, but not a deep one. It’s fun to watch, if only because it seems the actors must have had a lot of fun filming the movie.

rrr

Posted Aug. 16, 2012

The Bourne series — both the movies and the books — have been popular for years now, so it’s no wonder that the powers that be decided to make some more movies.

I like the fact that the focus is shifted away from Bourne, to a new player, Aaron Cross (played by Jeremy Renner). This newest movie, The Bourne Legacy is perhaps the most interesting of the Bourne movies so far because viewers are dropped into the middle of the Cross story. It seems clear, as you watch the movie, that Cross has had moments of not wanting to participate in the program and moments where he’s broken the rules. He doesn’t seem surprised at all when the tables turn on him and he has to run for his life.

It perhaps doesn’t hurt that it’s been a shorter amount of time since Renner burst onto the scene in The Hurt Locker (he was in a lot of movies before that, but that one got him a lot of attention). Damon was good as Bourne, but Renner brings something new, and perhaps even more believable, to the plate.

It also seems evident that after making a few Aaron Cross movies, there will probably be a Bourne/Cross movie, which should be quite amazing, really.

The Bourne Legacy is an entertaining and quite thrilling movie, one that action enthusiasts are sure to enjoy!

Woiwode, of Jamestown, shares her reviews of movies and TV shows at reelquickie.areavoices.com

Tags: diversions, movies