Cowboys & Aliens

Crossing the classic western and alien-invasion action-thriller, Cowboys & Aliens gives a new look to the traditional western by blending sci-fi elements with CG state of the art special effects.

Daniel Craig stars as Jake Lonergan, a stranger with no memory of his past and with a mysterious shackle encircling one wrist. He stumbles into the hardscrabble and unwelcoming desert town of Absolution in New Mexico. Nobody makes a move in the Absolution's fear laden streets unless ordered to do so by the town's benefactor, the iron-fisted cattle rancher Colonel Woodrow Dolarhyde (Harrison Ford).

As this gunslinger slowly starts to remember who he is and what he experienced, he realizes that he holds a secret that could give the town a fighting chance against the alien force. Lonergan pulls together a posse comprised of former opponents: townsfolk, Dolarhyde and his boys, outlaws, and Chiricahua Apache warriors to prepare for an epic showdown for survival.

In Clint Eastwood's tough but cool image and Steve McQueen's rugged appearance, Craig conveys much with few words while Harrison Ford delivers maximum impact in his portrayal of the tough, self-reliant Dolarhyde. Portraying a woman against type in a western genre movie is Olivia Wilde as Ella, the elusive, enigmatic traveler who shadows Lonergan wherever he goes.

Characters are introduced in creative fashion, gradually unfolding the story and revealing clues. Every character in the piece touches on a classic western archetype: saloon owner Doc (Sam Rockwell) and his wife Maria (Ana de la Reguera), the colonel's right hand man Nat Colorado (Adam Beach), the preacher Meacham (Clancy Brown) Sheriff Taggart (Keith Carradine), his grandson Emmett (Noah Ringer), and Dolarhyde's thug son, Percy (Paul Dano). Joining the cast as Deputy Sheriff Lyle is John Wayne's grandson Brendan Wayne.

Blockbuster filmmaker Jon Favreau is joined by an arsenal of top moviemakers that include Steven Spielberg, Brian Grazer, Ron Howard, Alex Kurtzman, and Roberto Orci, in this ambitious and well made feature.

Crazy, Stupid, Love.

From a first crush to a crushing breakup, relationships are the focus of Crazy, Stupid, Love, a coming-of-every-age comedy involving three generations of romance, consistently taking bad advice and performing crazy, stupid things for love.

Forty-something, straight-laced, Cal Weaver's (Steve Carell) perfect life becomes unraveled when he learns that his wife Emily (Julianne Moore) has cheated on him with her colleague, David Lindhagen (Kevin Bacon), and wants a divorce.

Tormented Cal is offered an unexpected and unusual lifeline in the form of alpha-male, ladies' man Jacob Palmer (Ryan Gosling) who thinks of himself as a gift to women. Jacob's new-woman-every-night modus operandi is challenged when he meets Hannah (Emma Stone). In the meantime, Cal's 13-year-old son, Robbie (Jonah Bobo) falls in love with his 17-year-old babysitter, Jessica (Analeigh Tipton) who has a major crash on Cal.

Based on a screenplay by Dan Fogelman, directors Glenn Ficarra and John Requa as well as producers Steve Carell and Denise Di Novi, take a dramatic, edgy and hilarious look at this non-traditional romantic comedy.

Giving a complicated and rich character depth, is the pivotal Cal-Jacob relationship. Steve Carell and Ryan Gosling place a fresh spin portraying characters on different ends of the spectrum, lost in their respective façade.

The humor comes very naturally out of situations and characters. Some of the funniest scenes involve the combustible relationship between Steve and Marisa Tomei as Kate, Cal's first post separation fling. Moore's effervescent personality provides balance between the comedy and drama.

This funny, witty, and smart, character-based comedy explores the notion that even as we get older, we don't always have all the answers, but how worthwhile it is to hang in there.

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2

Ten years after the first Harry Potter adventure, the 8^th final and shortest, installment of J.K. Rowling's immensely popular seven volume literary masterpiece comes to a close.

Before the last confrontation between Harry Potter (Daniel Radcliffe) and his arch-nemesis Lord Voldemort (Ralph Fiennes) takes place, Harry Potter, along with Hermione (Emma Watson) and Ron (Rupert Grint), must find and destroy the remaining Horcruxes, items in which the Dark Lord has embedded pieces of his soul in his quest for immortality. However, the destruction of each Horcrux makes the amphibious faced, Lord Voldemort, even more dangerous. The stakes are higher and no one, not even Harry, is safe.

In what may be his best film to date, returning helmer, David Yates, perfectly blends the thrilling feature with an emotional underpinning. Surprising revelations and complexities are uncovered such as Professor Severus Snape's (Alan Rickman) hostile nature towards Harry.

One of the many extraordinary scenes involves a magical bank heist featuring great 3D special effects and prosthetic makeup, taking up to four hours to apply on each of the dozens banker goblins.

The epic finale, augmented by impeccable acting in addition to well merged practical and visual designs, captures the imagination, delivering a satisfying, climactic conclusion.

Horrible Bosses

Drawing from pop-culture formulas, this brazen comedy directed by Seth Gordon, and written by Michael Markowitz, John Francis Daley and Jonathan Goldstein, leaps with high energy, comedic plot twists.

Three disgruntled employees, office drone Nick (Jason Bateman), accountant Kurt (Jason Sudeikis) and dental assistant Dale (Charlie Day) hire murder consultant MotherF* Jones (Jamie Foxx) to kill their bosses, that is the sadistic David Harken (Kevin Spacey), the irrational Bobby Pellet (Colin Farrell) and the sexy man-eater Dr. Julia Harris (Jennifer Aniston). The three buddies aren't exactly criminal masterminds and things don't turn out as planned, but it's too late to backtrack.

Though not a new theme, what propels the action and makes the raunchy, dark comedy work so well is the inept approach to the terrible plan and the dynamics between the three different, not so smart, but likable characters. Colin Farrell is barely recognizable, Jamie Foxx steals the show, Jennifer Aniston turns up the heat, while Charlie Dale delivers most of the laughs.

Fans will particularly enjoy viewing their old time favorites, Donald Sutherland and Bob Newhart in their cameo appearances.

Larry Crowne

Resonating with today's economic issues, is this heartwarming story about Larry (Tom Hanks), an unemployed and divorced middle aged man who enrolls at the local community college to widen his job prospects. Fellow college student Talia (Gugu Mbatha-Raw) and the public speaking professor Mercedes Tainot (Julia Roberts), provide Larry just the right spark needed to pull his life together.

Featured in their comedic roles are a mix of familiar and up-and-coming performers including Bryan Cranston as Mercedes' husband Dean Tainot, Cedric the Entertainer and Taraji P. Henson as Larry's friends and neighbors Lamar and B'Ella, as well as Wilmer Valderrama as Talia's boyfriend, Dell Gordo.

Notwithstanding the one dimensional characters and a predictable script, the strong acting make this light romantic comedy an uplifting summer entertainment.