Endless Love:

Beautiful people, sweet romantic love story, great chemistry between leads. The story is classic formula that wouldn't be out of place in an Elvis film, but without the music. He's the classic misunderstood rough-hunk good guy Dad thinks is bad and beneath her, she is the penultimate beautiful Spring flower just blossoming, at the height of color and glory. This is a movie for those who want to feel that young love, not those who want an intellectual mind-exercise. Walk in with your eyes and heart, and let your mind idle and drift along for the ride, and you'll be fine. 7/10.

Skip the popcorn and take chocolates...and your lover.

Dan

Winter's Tale:

Winter's Tale: Poetic, gorgeous cinematography, magical, romantic to the point of breathless. Wonderful acting. Loved the special effects and artistry. I have to hush so as not to spoil, but one character was a bit...off. Beautiful story. 9/10

Dan

Vampire Academy:

Yup, I picked it. Nothing like watching a gaggle of blood-crazed wenches go all warrior-crazy over their wet-behind-the-fangs crush-muffins with strange magic and three kinds of goo-gaa eyes. Hey, at least it has heart and passion and only the babes sparkle...when they wear fancy dresses and jewelry. Kick-ass fun, better than expected, funny, edgy, and worth some popcorn. Yeah, nicely twisty. Who knew blood rage could be sweet? 7.5/10

Pass the popcorn.

Dan

Philomena:

Beautiful acting, on both leads. Reminds me of why I want to run as far as possible from organized religion. Creepy secret society types don't have anything close to a lock on God. Some of their members do, though. Great story that gets past the evildoers. There is good in the world despite the insane clowns. Bonus, no explosions, no bullets. Like simple malice isn't enough? 9/10

Dan

I, Frankenstein:

Epic Gothic opera on a grand scale, in the same sense that Star Wars is a Space Opera...not as ground-breaking and iconic as Star Wars, but extremely fun and cool. Definitely worth seeing. I love the Underworld series, and this has a very similar feel and vibe. In fact, I would love to see a crossover of the two franchises. Yes, I think we will see more of Adam Frankenstein and his hot lady scientist. And gargoyles and demons. Beautifully done and very clever. This one will stay with me. I think they've struck lightning, and I'm predicting a cult following. 8.5/10

Dan

August: Osage County -

Old wood and poison. Black widows crawling across your heart. Bleak, bitter, depressed and scorched Earth. Listen to Julia and just eat the fucking fish, PLEASE! I can't recommend this movie. It's not shock, it's utterly heartbreaking. I have to split it in two and give it two ratings: Acting - 11/10. Everyone did an outSTANDING job of becoming their character. This is one of those cases where all the big name makes a perfect team that utterly delivers on their part of the story...which gets me to the SECOND rating; Storyline - negative 10/10. I HATE this story. It is a pit of meanness and cruel dysfunction that the words "over the top" don't begin to cover. I walked out of the film full of bleak sadness. Like I said, " Listen to Julia and just eat the fucking fish, PLEASE!" Shaking my head and trying to shake this monstrosity off...

Dan

Nebraska:

Bleak. Depressive. Stark. Cold. Ruthless with a dash of heart. Frustrating. Isolating. Gritty, seedy, and too realistic. Stellar acting. Watch the hell out, headstones! Nutty, dirty, and entrancing. 8.5/10

Dan

Inside Llewyn Davis:

Bleak. Depressive. Stark. Cold. Ruthless with a dash of heart. Frustrating. Isolating. Good music but just a breath shy of great. Gritty, seedy, and too realistic. Excellent but not stellar acting. Carey Mulligan actually CAN be a bad girl. 7.5/10

Dan

The Wolf Of Wall Street:

I have never seen so many naked people in one movie. I don't know what was more naked, the asses or the greed. Over-the-top excesses in every area you can imagine, and then some. There are some incredibly funny and some incredibly intense moments. If you don't know anything in this flick, you should. Well, maybe not some of the sex deviancy maybe, but about Wall Street's insanity. All the same, I spent three hours amazed at the slow-mo train wreck. 9/10

Bring extra popcorn. You'll need it.

Dan

47 Ronin:

Everything you expect; beautiful cinematography, graceful martial arts, mystical ancient Japanese magic, honor, unrequited but mutual love, jealousy, greed...a wonderful example of the genre exquisitely acted. Just no surprises. I thoroughly enjoyed this film. I love this stuff. 7.5/10 and would've been higher if I had something shocking or completely new.

Pass the popcorn.

Dan

The Secret Life Of Walter Mitty:

I loved it. There is an "artists' heart" sweetness and flow to the film. The characters are gritty and real and loveable. Integrity, courage, dedication, and heart matter. So does keen observation...and catching your ride before everything blows up on you. Beautiful take on a modern literary classic. 8/10

Dan

American Hustle:

OMG. I think Hollywood has rediscovered the lost art of storytelling. I think these actors were all beyond phenomenal. I totally expect Oscar noms out of this. Jennifer Lawrence is supernaturally funny and brilliant, and Amy Adams and Christian Bale are the chess masters of emotional manipulation extraordinaire...maybe. I don't know who conned who...I think it changes minute-by-minute. More twists than a spinning windmill. But Jen & Amy alone together is a fire waiting to burn down the house. I need a new scale for this one. 100/100.

Dan

Our Lady of the Assumption Eracer Races, Circa 1974-1975, Beloit, WI:

The Hobbit - The Desolation Of Smaug:

Tippsssesss on your toesssesss preciousss, yesss, on your toesssesss! It'sss MINE! MINE!! Sneaking and fire and fighting and eatingsss! Don't losssse our Preciousss little hobbitsess! Puts itss ON! * This has to be the penultimate Celtic dragon story, and the technology has finally caught up with the imagination! I'm seeing awards appearing like magic! Like an arrow from an elven bow, like a fish in a barrel! Love and faith are what everyone need, and courage, for where the dark things lie, biding and biding the time to BITE! 10/10...11/10...

Dan

Thought As Autumn Passes To Winter...

Hunger Games - Catching Fire:

Better than the first movie. Acting: Top-notch. Casting: Awesome. Cinematography and graphics: phenomenal. Depth of plot: Amazing. This movie was timely and played perfectly on mordern psychology. Jennifer Lawrence deserves at the least a nomination. And it's just great storytelling. We're up two-fer this week in film. 10/10

Dan

The Book Thief:

Words have long ago stolen my heart, and this story did the same. This was written and filmed with the soft, magical eyes of a poet, and it will make and break your heart with ease. Beautiful cinematography, outstanding narration, incredible writing. Love, peace, and education are both gifts and privileges for those who guard them. So is memory. Just goes to show, smoke and shadows can hide beauty until the light is ready to show it. 10/10

Dan

Martin's Big & Tall Clothing...

Absolutely FANTASTIC store. Great clothes for tall guys, (I'm 6'6") and great deals. They also have layaway plans & will hold items up to a week. 10/10

The Spectacular Now:

Young love, tough love, secrets and shadows battle love and light. Extremely good acting, and a much deeper-than-average coming-of-age plot mix it up in this splendid little sleeper. It's easy to love the leading couple in this, but it hurts to watch what looks like it might be a train wreck in slow motion. The supporting cast is very good as well. If whiskey were a woman, she'd get a Screen Actors' Guild card and good money out of this role. This one's good to the last drop. Here's to young hearts on fire! 8/10

Pass the popcorn,

Dan

All Is Lost:

Robert Redford as the Old Man of the Sea, gaining intimate knowledge of the spin cycle. No one will ever find a floating pickle jar, but they may or may not find this guy tumbling around in the Indian Ocean. Very few actors can make you feel completely gripped in Poseidon's clutches for almost two hours with maybe ten words of dialogue the entire time, but Robert does it with ease. No shots fired, no explosions, just a damn good story. Catch the wave, or maybe an ocean breeze, or a fish...if you can. 10/10

Dan