Starring: Bruce Dern, Will Forte, June Squibb, Bob Odenkirk & Stacy Keach
Written by Bob Nelson
Directed by Alexander Payne
A man reluctantly escorts his aging, alcoholic father to Nebraska when the old man becomes convinced that he’s won a million dollars in a sweepstakes.
ATTENTION! YOU MAY
(leave feeling like you) HAVE WON
A MILLION DOLLARS!
Grade: A-
c2013
By Daniel J. Hoag
Nebraska is playing now in select cities.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1821549/?ref_=nv_sr_1
Starring: Christian Bale, Bradley Cooper, Amy Adams, Jeremy Renner, Jennifer Lawrence, Louis C.K. & Robert De Niro
Written by Eric Warren Singer & David O. Russell
Directed by David O. Russell
Two swindlers are forced to help an overly ambitious FBI agent, and they soon find themselves neck-deep in political corruption and organized crime.
A comb-over and
bell bottoms would convince me
to do anything.
Grade: A-
c2013
By Daniel J. Hoag
American Hustle is now playing in theaters nationwide.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1800241/?ref_=hm_cht_t4
Starring: Judi Dench & Steve Coogan
Written by Steve Coogan & Jeff Pope
Directed by Stephen Frears
Based on the true story of Philomena Lee, an older Irish woman who went in search of the son whom she was forced to give up for adoption nearly 50 years prior.
Judi Dench battles
evil nuns – what more could you
want from a movie?
Grade: B
C2013
By Daniel J. Hoag
Philomena is playing now in theaters nationwide.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2431286/?ref_=nv_sr_1
Starring: Lake Bell, Rob Corddry, Ken Marino, Demetri Martin, Fred Melamed, Nick Offerman, Michaela Watkins & Geena Davis
Written & directed by Lake Bell
A female vocal coach attempts to break into the male-dominated voice-over industry.
As long as it’s a
world where more women get to
direct films, I’m in.
Grade: B+
c2013
By Daniel J. Hoag
In a World… is playing now in select cities.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2294677/?ref_=nv_sr_1
Starring: Waad Mohammed, Reem Abdullah & Ahd
Written & directed by Haifaa Al-Mansour
A young Saudi girl wants to raise money for a bicycle but finds only discouragement in the religious and political culture around her.
You can’t keep a good
woman down – but whole cultures
sure keep on trying.
Grade: A-
c2013
By Daniel J. Hoag
Wadjda is playing now in select cities.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2258858/?ref_=nv_sr_1
Starring: Martin Freeman, Ian McKellen, Richard Armitage, Orlando Bloom, Evangeline Lilly, Luke Evans, Stephen Fry & Benedict Cumberbatch
Written by Fran Walsh, Philippa Boyens, Peter Jackson & Guillermo del Toro
Directed by Peter Jackson
Bilbo Baggins continues his quest to help his dwarven companions reclaim their homeland – a journey that leads him straight into the lair of the mighty dragon Smaug.
Aren’t these films supposed
to be more about, you know,
the freaking Hobbit!
Grade: B
c2013
By Daniel J. Hoag
The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug is playing now in theaters nationwide.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1170358/?ref_=ttfc_fc_tt
Starring: Tom Hanks, Barkhad Abdi & Catherine Keener
Written by Billy Ray
Directed by Paul Greengrass
The true story of the hijacking of an American cargo ship by Somali pirates in 2009.
Finally a film
about pirates that doesn’t
involve Johnny Depp.
Grade: B+
c2013
By Daniel J. Hoag
Captain Phillips is playing now in theaters nationwide.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1535109/?ref_=nv_sr_5
Starring: Léa Seydoux & Adèle Exarchopoulos
Written by Abdellatif Kechiche & Ghalia Lacroix
Directed by Abdellatif Kechiche
Adèle is a young woman whose life is transformed when she begins an intense romance with Emma, an attractive artist with blue hair.
So explicit it
brings new meaning to the term
“three-hanky movie.”
Grade: A-
c2013
By Daniel J. Hoag
Blue Is the Warmest Color is playing now in select cities.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2278871/?ref_=nv_sr_1
The Haiku Review 