Zimbio Film Reviews

(Paramount) The Bottom Line Should you see it? Yes. Why? Abrams' fantastic action sequences are genre porn for sci-fi geeks, and Cumberbatch is riveting in villain-mode. In glorious fashion, J.J. Abrams continues to reinvent the campy Star Trek franchise into something it never was before: cool. While Trekkies far and wide may argue this point, the old Star Trek TV series and movie franchise were never close to the pop culture phenomenon something like Star Wars was and it was never as...Read Full Story

(IFC Films) The Bottom Line Should you see it? Yes. Why? Baumbach seems to have found his comedic stroke with the help of Gerwig, who's insanely likable and easy to root for as a young woman at the crossroads. Greta Gerwig began her acting career as a mumblecore sweetheart. She appears as either a woman in a relationship or the object of men's desires in almost every film she's done: Baghead, Hannah Takes the Stairs, Nights and Weekends, Greenberg, Lola Versus, even in Arthur. She's...Read Full Story

(Warner Brothers) The Bottom Line Should you see it? Yes. Why? Despite its departures from the novel, this is a unique vision of a story everyone knows. It's also a visionary depiction of a golden era. This auto-tuned soap opera writer/director Baz Luhrmann is calling The Great Gatsby is a visual rollercoaster, a melodramatic fairy tale, and a wistful ode to romance. It's also predictably transparent when it comes to the classic American novel's weighty themes. Luhrmann does get credit...Read Full Story

(Lionsgate) The Bottom Line Should you see it? Yes. Why? Mud is an original story masterfully realized both by cast and crew with a stellar performance by McConaughey. With Mud, writer/director Jeff Nichols has cemented his place as one of the best young filmmakers and storytellers in America. His shooting style is simple and direct, employing tension-building techniques informed by the script itself. Imagine that. Nichols' muse is the south and he returns to it again here. Like all his...Read Full Story

(Paramount) The Bottom Line Should you see it? No. Why? After a sharp start, Pain and Gain quickly devolves into a mess. You can only laugh at these guys for so long before they're stupidity gets sad and annoying. Michael Bay's newest testosterone-spiked contribution to theaters everywhere is as boisterous as anything he's ever done. In fact, it's his first real comedy. Based on an incredible true story, Pain and Gain stars Mark Wahlberg and Dwayne Johnson as idiot Miami bodybuilders who...Read Full Story

(Universal) Is Oblivion Bona Fide? Considering it steals from nearly every sci-fi film in history, no. But, you could do much worse for brainless effects-driven fun. Oblivion, the latest American big budget visual feast of a movie, would be great if it were made 100 years ago or if every living soul had their memories wiped like its protagonist, Jack Harper, played by Tom Cruise. The film may be hailed as the second coming by young fans, but only because they won't be able to recognize...Read Full Story

(Sundance Selects) The Bottom Line Should you see it? Yes. Why? A Ken Loach film without a message, focused more on fun and friendship, is worthy of note. With stories filled with social and political commentary, Ken Loach has never missed a chance to say something important. It's surprising then his latest film, The Angels' Share, doesn't have a whole lot to say and is, instead, a heartwarming tale of redemption and friendship in modern Scotland. Using his signature authentic style...Read Full Story

(TriStar | Getty Images) The Bottom Line Should you see it? Yes. Why? It's simply stomach-churning gory fun with some subtle tributes to the original without being overdone. Victims in this new Evil Dead remake take needles to the face, mirror shards, wire nails, even chainsaws. Director Fede Alvarez likely looked up and down the human body and decided that the face, the most expressive and distinctive of our features, deserved its comeuppance. Faces are eviscerated here, as well as...Read Full Story

(Fox Searchlight | Pacific Coast News) The Bottom Line Should you see it? Yes. Why? Boyle takes a convoluted heist film and turns it into a visceral experience that's a challenge to solve. Danny Boyle's Trance is the kind of movie you just sit back, watch, and hope the end will answer the 100 questions running through your head. It's a risky plan, but an admirable one, and Boyle's film walks that fine line between stringing the audience along and building to an immense payoff. The payoff...Read Full Story

(Sundance Selects | Getty Images Europe) The Bottom Line Should you see it? Yes. Why? Writer/director Leon's knack for language and love of New York comes through in this subtle portrait of a city and its lively characters. In Gimme the Loot, there's a scene where two teens are hanging out and they make a bet that ends up in a kiss. Later, the boy gets a text from the girl, rushes to her place to see her, and is disheartened to find her hanging out with two friends. Outnumbered, the boy...Read Full Story