Cowboys and Aliens (2011)

Or is it more like this?

VS.

Captain America: The First Avenger (2011)

Directed by Joe Johnston

Starring Chris Evans and Hugo Weaving 

(Rated PG-13)

3.5 stars (out of 4)

Reviewers Note: I saw this movie with a headache and a screaming baby in the audience. Without those distractions it may actually get the other half-star.

Having seen every comic book superhero movie this summer, I can say for certain this is the best. It really sets the standard for superhero movies that double as period pieces. There's no flying or x-ray vision here, its just good old-fashioned ass kicking.

The plot is completely revealed by the trailers. Any half-hearted comic book fan knows exactly what to expect from the plot, so its the execution that interests me.

Iron Doors (2010)

Directed by Stephen Manuel

Starring Alex Wedekind and Rungano Nyoni (R level content)

2 stars (out of 4)

Before I start reviewing I want to point out how this guy looks like Robert De Niro.

I really wanted to like Iron Doors. I liked Cube, Saw, Buried and Dolan's Cadillac. Iron Door's borrows heavily from those films. Putting people in rooms with no chance of escape dates back a long time in cinema, Luis Bunuel was using this basic premise in The Exterminating Angel (1962).

The Tree of Life (2011)

Directed by Terrence Malick

Starring Brad Pitt and Sean Penn (Rated PG-13)

No star rating could do it justice.

The universe begins and the universe ends. Somewhere in between people live and people die. None of this amounts to anything significant in a universal perspective, but paradoxically, everything that has meaning exists in this brief amount of time.

Terence Malick takes on the task of showing us everything; the alpha and omega, the beginning and the end.  Untold billions exist in Malick’s universe, but his camera centers on one family, The O’ Briens. This family isn’t any more or less special than any other. They experience happiness, financial problems, love and grief.  Everything that gives life meaning can be understood by observing the O’Briens.

Beginners (2010)

Directed by Mike Mills

Starring Ewan McGregor and Christopher Plummer (Rated R)

2 stars (out of 4)

 (Reviewer's note) This film is Rated R for reasons unknown. There is a couple seconds of nipple in the film, but other than that its very tame. Its been said that the MPAA is prejudice with its ratings when it comes to gay and lesbian films. I completely agree. The MPAA has a history of double standards towards the LGBT community and this is a perfect example. If you want more examples please watch the film This Film is Not Yet Rated.

I had really high expectations for this film. The first feature film that Mike Mills directed was Thumbsucker featuring Keanu Reeves, Lou Pucci and a few other notables. It was a very good independent film which I have in my dvd collection. For his follow-up he directs Christopher Plummer and Ewan McGregor, which I think are two of the finest actors on the planet. So my expectations were probably a little higher than they should have been and I believe that kept me from enjoying this film as much as  I could have.

Goodbye Solo (2008)

Directed by Ramin Bahrani

Starring Souleymane Sy Savane and Red West (Rated R)

4 stars (out of 4)

Goodbye Solo is nothing short of a masterpiece. Bahrani's other features were great, but this one is my favorite. This director is a master of character studies, which is especially apparent when you have two great characters such as William and Solo. It shows true poise as a director to take two such diverse characters and have them harmonize on screen.

The authenticity that Bahrani achieves is flawless. Living in Virginia, Ive been to the locations where this film was set, and they were presented accurately and beautifully.

Its amazing to me that actors I've never heard of and have probably never had a leading role can give such all-time performances. The top-notch acting by this pair of unsung heroes is yet another testament to the brilliance of Ramin Bahrani.