Ed's Review Dot Com

2 Wolves Films, Strings of Films,

Josh Duhamel, Maria Bello, Laura Dern, Lucas Till, Kherington Payne, Tom Everett Scott, Jae Head, Sharlene Taulé

Very young, but popular N.Y.C. DJ Alex (Josh Duhamel) is on top of the world, but doesn’t realize how good he has it. Living with his single mom, Annie (Laura Dern) who has substance abuse problem herself, so Alex has the run of his life. But when an accidental overdose puts him in the hospital, his mother figures she can’t take care of him anymore, and has the court send him to live with his estranged father that he has never known in rural, very small town. He’s forced by the court to have a one hour weekly meeting with a local psychiatrist/parole officer. Alex doesn’t fit in very well, but finds he is a bit of a star to the local kids, and finds a way to fit in by assisting their school dance team with their music. In the meantime, he has to learn how to deal with his demons, and those that are out to get him while learning to fit in a whole new world much different that what he’s used to.

I found that this was a pretty decent film, and had the feel of a lot of the popular hip hop dance movies out there, crossed with the cheerleader movies, but with a mostly male point of view which made it quite a bit different. There are really good performances in this film. Josh Duhamel is very good as the troubled boy learning to be a better version on himself. Lucas Till is also very good knowing that he has his own demons, but trying to help in a most unusual way. Laura Dern is a good actress, but unfortunately doesn’t have much to do in this movie. That’s a shame, but she adds a lot to the part she is in. Perhaps the weakest part of the movie is that it is obvious where it is going, and there just aren’t many surprises, but it was still an interesting film to watch. The characters were well developed, the messages were loud and clear, and it was a chance to root for a stunning change in Alex’s life as he really deserved it. This film is rated R, honestly because of the drug use and one scene that was rather explicit, but was a good film for late teens and young adults who will identify with the characters in this story and will probably enjoy it very much. With the excellent cast, it’s worth giving it a whirl.

EdG – EdsReview Dot Com – A Movie Review Blog

Daryl Prince Productions, 2S Films, DiNovi Pictures,

Hilary Swank, Emmy Rossum, Josh Duhamel, Loretta Devine, Ernie Hudson, Frances Fisher, Marcia Gay Harden, Ali Larter, Jason Ritter, Julian McMahon, Andrea Savage

Kate (Hilary Swank) is a concert pianist. She’s a smart and a strong woman, but when she was diagnosed with ALS, her life began to fall apart. Her husband Evan is doing his best to take care of her, but Kate feels guilty for putting him through everything that she’s going thorough. She hires a college student, Bec (Emmy Rossum) to be her caretaker, but Bec is also a mess. Her mother has convinced her she’s a loser who will never amount to anything. But the bond between Kate and Bec grows stronger as they each teach each other what they need to survive.

ALS is a horrible disease. Playing someone with a degenerative disease like this isn’t easy. But Hillary Swank is a hell of an actress. It must have been horrible to have to play this part, and trust me, this film tugs at all the heart strings. There are many great characters in this movie, and it’s certainly sad enough. But this is a very touching story. Very well written, and stunningly acted, this is a story well worth telling. In addition, it certainly addresses the difficulty of taking care of someone in this condition, and it also shows the pain that it causes to be unable to take care of yourself and the desire not to be a burden to those who love and care for you. It’s touching how each of these two helped the other. This is a movie that is really well done, and superbly performed. The story is well worth the time spent, and this is a movie that everyone ought to see. I highly recommend this film.

EdG – EdsReview Dot Com – A Movie Review Blog

Anonymous Content, Best Medicine Productions,

Josh Duhamel, Dan Fogler, Miracle Laurie, Christie Burson, Peter Michael Goetz, Jamie Donovan, Ethan Maher

Two lifelong friends Mitchell (Josh Duhamel) and Carter (Dan Fogler) are on a road trip. These guys have fallen out due to Mitchell’s failed marriage and rebound marriage. Carter is a failing writer who never gets published and he feels like he has been abandoned by his best friend who has made a mess of his life, in his opinion. As they have decided to take the Scenic Route, the find themselves in a broken down truck on an empty road in the desert with very little likelihood of anyone coming by to help. Without food or water, these guys have to survive the harsh elements and the extreme heat in the day and cold at night. But what’s worse, they have no choice but to talk out their differences, and a vicious argument breaks out seeming to doom them even further.

This is a surprising little film. There is basically one set, in the desert alongside their broken truck, and basically the whole film is held up the the two friends as there are hardly any other actors. The desperation they feel is really real. But at the same time, this film is just as much about the relationships of these two guys, and how they view their lives and each others lives. There is great acting, real tension, and great interaction between these two guys. This make the hour and a half of this film fly by, and it’s over before you know it. There are many twists and turns along the way that will always keep it fresh and interesting. You probably won’t see them coming, either which makes it more fun. I found I really enjoyed this movie, and I was impressed with the script and the performance these guys gave. Lots of intelligent character development, very interesting back and forth by these guys, and a real sense of their desperate situation. All in all it’s a very well done film, and one I can recommend.

EdG – EdsReview Dot Com – A Movie Review Blog

Relativity Media, Virgin Produced, GreeneStreet Films,

Kate Winslet, Hugh Jackman, Liev Schreiber, Naomi Watts, Jeremy Allen White, Anna Faris, Chris Pratt, Kieran Culkin, Emma Stone, Jason Sudeikis, Justin Long, Leslie Bibb, Uma Thurman, Kristen Bell, Bobby Cannavale, John Hodgman, Halle Berry, Seann William Scott, Elizabeth Banks, Stephen Merchant, Nicole Polizzi, Johnny Knoxville, Richard Gere, Jack McBrayer, Kate Bosworth, Gerard Butler, Terrence Howard, Chloë Grace Moretz, Josh Duhamel

Charlie Wessler (Dennis Quaid) is a washed up producer who is going nowhere. He weasels his way onto the studio lot to pitch his latest idea for a blockbuster Hollywood film to producer Griffin Schraeder (Greg Kinnear). Unfortunately it is a series of extremely inappropriate sketches. This movie is basically a really far out series of unrelated stores tied together with the efforts Charlie makes to get his idea turned into a movie at all costs, even at gunpoint with hostages if necessary in this hilarious star studded off-the-wall comedy.

Outrageous is an understatement for this film. The sketches are the most inappropriate stuff you have ever seen. This movie has it’s roots in the classic 1977 “Kentucky Fried Movie” but rather than just being short sketches, this one ties it all together with Dennis Quaid’s efforts to get this piece of crap made, even though Greg Kinnear is going to do everything possible to make sure that doesn’t happen. What happens is a series of extremely funny bits with a TON of major stars. I don’t know how they talked all these people into being in this crazy film, but it must have been a real blast making it. It gets so out of hand, and goes where no film has gone before. I really enjoyed the craziness of this film. It is really out there. You have to be able to deal with the gross subject matter as nothing is off limits, and it’s really nasty sometimes, but the outrageousness of it is what makes it really funny. If you remember Kentucky Fried Movie, and if you enjoyed that, then you’re sure to crack up over this one.

EdG – EdsReview Dot Com – A Movie Review Blog

Nicholas Sparks Productions , Relativity Media , Temple Hill Entertainment,

Josh Duhamel, Julianne Hough, Cobie Smulders, David Lyons, Noah Lomax, Red West, Ric Reitz, Cullen Moss, Mimi Kirkland

Katie (Juianne Hough) is a young woman on the run. Hunted by police from Boston, she hops a bus and rides toward Atlanta. At a 15 minute stop in a little village on the coast of North Carolina, she gets off the bus, and stays behind. Southport is her Safe Haven, where she can try to blend in and disappear. But fate has more in store for her as she develops two close relationships. First, a young widower named Alex (Josh Duhamel) and his two children, a boy and a girl. The second relationship is with a young single woman living down the road from her named Jo (Cobie Smulders) who is dark and mysterious, yet doesn’t pry into Katie’s story and is a good friend when she needs one. Filled with romance, heavy drama, and suspense, this Nicholas Sparks novel (same guy who wrote The Notebook, a somewhat similar type romance story) this movie will keep you interested from start to the surprising end.

My wife an I were anxious for an evening out a the movies, but we just missed the movie we wanted to see. We decided since it’s a Friday night, to catch a different movie. We decided on Safe Haven because neither of us though Julianne Hough could act (ex. Rock of Ages), and we were curious to see what she could do with a decent novel. Well, we were really surprised. Josh DUhamel was really good as a sensitive, single dad, struggling to get over the death of his wife, and keep his children safe and sane. Julianne came in with an excellent performance as both the troubled fugitive on the lam, as the detached woman, trying not to get close to anyone, who can’t help being swept away by Alex’s charm. The scenery is breathtaking in this beautiful North Carolina seashore town, and the story is really good. The surprise ending probably isn’t necessary to the story, but doesn’t hurt. Now critics have (and will) blast this film as being too predictable and cheesy, but pay them no mind. They watch way too many movies and have gotten too jaded. Come into this one fresh, without prejudgements, and appreciate the beautiful story. I can name other movies that are very similar to this, but I won’t, as I don’t want to ruin the story, because if you go into it, like I did, without any knowledge of the plot, the suspense is really pretty good.

I think this guy is a hell of a writer, and this story did not disappoint me. I felt the casting was good, especially the kids, and the people were as friendly and charming as Southerners actually are. It was a chick flick, for sure, but one that is strong enough to keep me riveted to the screen from start to finish.

EdG – EdsReview Dot Com – A Movie Review Blog