"Winter's Bone" is a hopeful film amongst an arduous setting (4.5/5)

The backwoods are often the setting to a horror film. It’s in these back woods that backward hicks roam about strangling stranded teens and mutilating their corpses in some fashion. What a sense of imagination we all have. There aren’t anymore monsters in the backwoods than there are in the city, but through the power of film and other forms of media, we get an uneasy feeling when we’re roaming in mother nature’s backyard. There can certainly be evil deep in those woods, but something far more palpable than a man running around in a hockey mask. The evil I speak of is one of neglect and despair. When watching Winter’s Bone this notion will become all too apparent, as director Debra Granik throws us deep into the Ozarks, where homes are dilapidated and drugs act as a form of currency. It’s a place where humans behave like animals. Not out of choice, but sheer necessity. Much like how nature has crafted the rugged landscape, she helps carve the people who reside in her bosom. One such person is Ree Dolly (Jennifer Lawrence),a 17 year old girl who has the weight of the world on her shoulders. With her father on the run from the law, Ree leads her poverty stricken family one day at a time.

"Red" is a missed opportunity (3.25/5)

I feel bad for some actors. With the life and success of an actor being mostly integrated in their youth, actors are often put out to pasture by the age of fifty. Of course, there are actors and actresses who are widely successful once they reach middle age, but they’re merely the minority in a youth driven film world. If anything, you’ll see older actors getting bit parts or appearing in small independent films where they actually get the screen time to demonstrate the ability they’ve had for years, and will continue to have until death. Perhaps this is why I always have an invested interest in genre films that take in actors who are no longer part of the youth movement; films that let older actors gestate in what is often seen as a youthful setup. A current example of this would be Red. Featuring Morgan Freeman, Bruce Willis, John Malkovich, and Helen Mirren, Red is a box office vehicle for actors who would otherwise never be seen on a poster for a tent pole film. Actually, Willis still has some clout considering his iconic pull as John McClain, but that character is on the way out.

"Paranormal Activity 2" is a step up from the original (4/5)

If you’ve been reading my blog for awhile, it's likely you saw my slight displeasure for Paranormal Activity. I honestly enjoyed it, but I felt that it missed an opportunity in becoming a classic when it possessed a character I actually wanted to die. Obviously this can be a persistent problem if a film is trying to generate some ounce of fear based on the survival of its characters. Thankfully, at least for my own sake, Paranormal Activity 2 actually has a hoard of characters who are very likeable. The film, possibly knowing it needs to one up its predecessor simply because it’s a sequel, has a  family battling the disembodied spirits now instead of a couple in over its head. Individual actors portraying the family don’t stick out enough to warrant a huge praise, but their ability to establish a legitimate family bond gives us a reason to fear for their safety. In addition to the increase of terrified people, Paranormal Activity 2 also attempts to liven up its approach to delivering scares. The first film unapologetically used a single camera as a means to capture the terror. Despite its limited perspective, it was a nice to touch to give the film a voyeuristic feel. Director Oren Peli’s intentions were to  immerse the audience through the home movie approach, and it worked quite well. Yet, had this sequel gone the route of its predecessor, the film would’ve felt played out.

"Catfish" delivers a worthy message, but at what cost? (3.75/5)

The increased size and overall accessibility to the internet has undoubtedly made human connection easier. We can keep in touch with one click of the mouse. Yet, with increased activity on the internet and with a desire to increase the size of our social network, people often leverage their position behind the computer to build themselves into something they aren’t. More or less, they construct an avatar of themselves, fill it with some ounces of self truth, but also pounds of self exaggeration. The latter is done in an attempt to mold a friend acquiring persona. We all do it to some degree, but with the increased importance of social networking in our lives, I wonder how many of these people on my friend’s list do I know? Sure, I can know them superficially like their name and basic interests, but who are they really? By muddling over this question, you’re looking at the subject matter of Catfish, this years surprise documentary that came out of Sundance with controversy in tow.