Black Swan (2010)

Director Darren Aronofky (Requiem for a Dream, The Wrestler) brings us Black Swan, a psychological thriller starring a favorite of mine, Natalie Portman, Mila Kunis and Vincent Cassel.

The film is beautifully done, brillantly acted and holds a very artistic value. Natalie Portman was fantastic and will most likely, or at least should, win the Oscar for Best Actress. I guess im a bit of a fanboy for her but she is truly deserving as she was flawless in her role as Nina Sayers.

The film overall is an Allegory for the classic story of The Swan Lake. Nina who is the best dancer at the most prestigious ballet studio in New York and their forthcoming production has her cast as the Swan Queen. Nina struggles with the role as she can do the White Swan flawlessly but is too stiff and obssed with being perfect to convincingly do the role of the Black Swan. She lives with her overbearing mother who controls virtually every aspect of her life. But when Lily (Kunis) steps in to the studio Nina begins to loosen up but at the same time descendsinto madness as she believes Lily is trying to steal the role. We see this slowly build up, all coming to a head on the Ballets opening night.

Natalie Portman truly owns the movie and is perfect in every aspect. It not often that these artsy films that end up with a lot of Oscar consideration end up being really enjoyable for me but this was a suprise and I was not disapppointed like I was expecting, My only gripe is that it could have been a little darker in content and reveal her insanity at a slower rate but other wise beautifully done.

Black Swan recieves 8 "Red Eyes"... out of 10.

Dinner for Schmucks (2010)

Dinner for Schmucks brings about a comedy with some of my favorite Comedic Actors currently on the circuit. With names like Steve Carrell and Paul Rudd (Anchorman), Zach Galifnakis (The Hangover) and Jemaine Clement (Flight of the Conchords) theres no way they could make a bad movie...and they did not dissappoint. This screwball comedy delivers with the laughs and as many great comedies do, delivers with the hilarious one-liners.

Rudd plays a Finance Exec, Tim, who is in line for a promotion but in order to get it his boss lays down a challenge, bring the biggest Idiot to a dinner competition. In steps Carrell, Barry, who is a divorced IRS agent who spends his free time collecting and modeling mice. Hyjinks ensue when Barry nearly destroys everything in Tim's life, pushing his would-be fiance away while vieing for the promotion. Everything culminates in the final half-hour filled with laughs as the dinner table is finally reached and the "idiots" are presented.

The jokes are great and Carrell's awkwardness comes through yet again, often times being uncomfortable, but never-the-less funny. Galifinakis and Carrell really steal the movie away from Rudd as Boss and Employee, Rivals and Wife Stealer. Their "battle" at the dinner table is the defining moment in the movie and one of the funniest scenes in recent memory for me at least.

This movie is actually pretty funny but it could have been a lot better. Quite frankly I would like to have seen some funnier dialogue and one-liners from Jemaine Clement akin to a lot of episodes from FotC.

Dinner for Schmucks recieves 7.5 "That's what she Saids''...out of 10.

#1 - Mass Effect 2

Very Difficult Choice... My Love of Science Fiction versus My Love Of History. Mass Effect 2 is just so well put together and a beautifully done Space Opera to say the least. This game is just epic in every facet and Sheppard is one of the Greatest Video Game Characters ever created. Bioware is without a doubt the top studio producing games right now. ME2 is similar to Heavy Rain in that every action takes the story in a different direction. You can choose to be the good guy, the bad guy or maybe even the average guy. ME2 also provides a multitude of classes to play as each having a unique style that can be advantageous at time and detremental at other times. You are also given control over a large group of characters that you recruit and build up a rapport with. As far as the plot goes I can't recall much off hand, this came out in like the 1st or 2nd week of January which is when I played it, I keep intending to give another play through but never got around to it. Gamers can start with #2 but I do not reccomned it because Bioware implemented a great design so ME2 actually utilizes your save file from the first game and your decesions have outcomes in the 2nd. I Played ME2 on the PC and a version of it is coming out for the PS3 in Jan/2011 so technically it could win GOTY again. However, Mass Effect 3 is due to hit shelves in November 2011 so watch out cause Mass Effect 3 is my front runner for Next Year!

#2 - Red Dead Redemption

Very difficult choice between one and two Red Dead was one Hell of an adventure and I Loved every bit of it. The easiest way to describe Red Dead is that it's Grand Theft Auto set in the Old Time West. With a thrilling Narrative and Open World setting Red Dead Redemption is a thrill ride that doesn't relent untill the very end, it goes down in a Blaze of Gunfire! You play as John Marston, a former outlaw looking to go Straight but the Law wont let him. You essentially become the errand boy for some very powerful lawmen who want you to hunt down your old gang in exchange for your family. Along the way you meet a series of true characters that keep the plot driving foward. The game ends in a very unusual fashion so any potential players be fore warned...the ending is EPIC!

#3 - Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood

I only recently started playing the AC2 series. I played the 1st Assassin's Creed and I really did not like it. But a lot of people told me just move on to #2, its so much better. So Gamefly had it for like 10 bucks so I bought it. It took me 3 months or so to finally pop it into my PS3 and it has been love ever since. Took me about 5 days to finish AC2 so I quickly made sure I got my hands on Brotherhood which would tie up most of the story that was left untold. Warning: Do NOT Play Brotherhood without having already played AC2 you will be lost beyond all belief because the game throws you right into the action at start up. Brotherhood adds in a new bit of depth giving you control over your own Assassins Guild where you train random citizens, send them out on missions and have them accompany you and take out targets completly undetected. Although the game is shorter than the first part you really need to play in quick succession because it is a much more rewarding experience. AC2 takes place in 15th Century Florence Italy and Brotherhood changes it up to 15th Century Rome with the main character, Ezio, looking to take down the Borgia rule over the country and papacy.

#4 - Rock Band 3

No game has taken more time out of my life then the Rock Band series and with the additon of Pro-Mode, #3 is the best one yet. It is by far the most fun game and My Friends and I are almost always playing it. This installment brought out the best of songs with the star being Queen's "Bohemian Rhapsody" which is beyond fun. As well as the first batch of DLC being my favorite band, releasing about 12 tracks of The Doors' greatest hits. They also added a new peripheral in the Keyboard, which can basically be easy mode guitar, Im not a huge fan of the addition mainly because I can't do it so Im just going to stick with my Drums or Guitar notes. Rockband 3 Setlist

#5 - Heavy Rain

Heavy Rain is a very, very different type of game. It is strictly narrative based and the whole game is played via a series of motions done on or with the controller. The story is completly up to the user, via actions and inactions. The jist of the story is family man Ethan Mars is in search of his kidnapped son, who was taken by noted seriel killer dubbed, The Origami Killer. The game also introduces a sidekick in Madison Paige, an FBI Dectective in Norman Jayden and a Private Investigator in Scott Shelby. The game is riviting and well done, and I feel I played it in the way to best experince it, ONE Sitting...about 9 hours with only a short break or 2...but it was definetly worth it. Many may want to play it multiple times to see the different endings and I still wanna play it again but you can read all the different endings online, I still however want to see it all in action. I would probably have picked Fallout: New Vegas for 5th but I have yet to play it and it will probably be a while before I do.