Aloha

Wow, I remember when Cameron Crowe made good films. Hell, the man wrote "Fast Times at Ridgemont High" and directed "Singles" and "Jerry Maguire". He was my god for a while. However, his last few films have been bad, and this was downright awful. Everything you've read about how offensive it is to native Hawaiians is absolutely true, and I have no idea why Emma Stone was cast in the role she was in. This was really a miss for me, and I wish Cameron Crowe could just find his way again. 2/5

Aloha on Netflix

Joy

I really enjoyed this and felt this was Jennifer Lawrence's best acting job in a while. However, I have to say I'm getting really tired of seeing Cooper and Lawrence together in every movie, and particularly in every David O. Russell movie. It's starting to feel so repetitive to me, and it took something away from what was really a wonderful, well written, and heartfelt movie. Honestly, I think it was the difference between this being a very good movie to being an Oscar contender movie. Nonetheless, a very good film and worthy of the Oscar nod for Lawrence. 4/5

Joy on Netflix

Burnt

I feel like I've been souring a bit on Bradley Cooper lately - I think it feels like he's been spinning his wheels a bit I guess. I loved what he did in this film though - he was fire one moment and water the next. He really gave this his all and I appreciated it very much. The script was a bit lean though - could have used more character meat and about 10 more minutes to develop backstories a bit more thoroughly. Overall, nicely done, I was fully engaged. 3.5/5

Burnt on Netflix

Guardians of the Galaxy

This was genuinely fun & funny with great action throughout. The cast NAILED it, I really liked this! 4/5

Guardians of the Galaxy on Netflix

Serena

This Cooper/Lawrence dud is sixteen kinds of wrong with zero chemistry between the two. What happened here? Strange. 2/5

Serena on Netflix

American Hustle

My 3rd 2014 Best Picture nominee & it was BY FAR the best with note-perfect acting all around. Fantastic! 5/5

American Hustle on Netflix

Case 39

Zellweger is quite good but the plot is so thin & the solution so easy to spot that I was near annoyed by the end. 2.5/5

Case 39 on Netflix

The Place Beyond the Pines

This generational drama is told carefully & wonderfully with brilliant acting by Gosling & Cooper. 4/5

The Place Beyond the Pines on Netflix

Silver Linings Playbook

I can't explain it, I should have loved this, but I found it very average save for the amazing acting. David O. Russell's only truly astonishing film is "Spanking the Monkey" which is required viewing & just so amazing. This... honestly? Meh. 3/5

Silver Linings Playbook on Netflix

The Words

The layers of this intricate, insightful & ambiguous drama are perfectly structure & the acting is impeccable. I absolutely loved the end. Loved. It could not have ended better or any other way. A brave and noble choice. 4.5/5

The Words on Netflix

Limitless

This high-tech "Flowers for Algernon" was engaging, well paced & finely acted - i would have changed the ending though. 4/5


Limitless on Netflix

The Hangover

Um, no. I don't get the appeal of this movie or of Zack G. This was just pointless & stupid & nonsensical. 2/5

The Hangover on Netflix