Elysium Movie Review

Elysium 

Starring: Matt Damon, Jodie Foster, Sharlto Copley, Alica Braga, Diego Luna, Wagner Moura, William Fichtner, Brandon Auret, Josh Blacker

Directed by: Neill Blomkamp

Rated: R

Run Time: 109 mins

Genre: Action/ Drama/ Sci-Fi

Opens August 9th

By Lisa Minzey of The Reel Critic.com

Hey Phoenix Film Fans!  Opening this week is the latest film from “District 9” director Neill Blomkamp, “Elysium” stars Matt Damon, Jodie Foster and Diego Luna.

Set in the year 2154, the dystopian state that most of the Earth’s population lives in is pretty gross. Most of the remaining inhabitants live in poverty, shanty sq housing and  The wealthy elite live in space in a colony called Elysium, a star shaped paradise that orbits the Earth.

As a child,  Max (Matt Damon) was told by the nuns at the orphanage that he had a special purpose in life. As an adult, his life so far has been less than ideal. On parole for stealing cars, Max works in a factory assembling droids that police the population. When he is injured in an accident at work, taking in a lethal dose of radiation, Max has less than 5 days to live.

Located up on Elysium, there is a healing technology that if  one is a citizen of the wealthy utopia, enjoys the benefits of perfect health or rapid healing. Max, always wanting to go there, unfortunately, has a reason to go. The only one that can make it happen is human traffic smuggler Spider (Wagner Moura), who has been able to forge identities to get illegals on to Elysium to be healed.

If Max does one last job of stealing information out of Corporate giant John Carlyle (William Fichtner), Spider can get him up on Elysium, which would be beneficial not only for him but the world. The only person that could stop Max is Secretary of Defence Delacourt (Jodie Foster), who has arranged a military coup for the leadership of Elysium. Will Max be able to beat Delacourt at her own game or will he die a painful death?

If you ever wanted to see “Good Will Hunting”, The Bourne Identity” and “District 9” all in one shot, check out “Elysium”. This film is full of so many plot holes that it was difficult to get into the story. Another distracting aspect to the film was Jodie Foster’s interpretation of a wealthy elite accent. It comes across as part robot, parch French and part snooty British. It was as if she was confused as whom she was playing. Foster is usually such a powerful actress that it is surprising that never quite finds her footing in her character. Matt Damon’s character is a cross between Will Hunting and Jason Bourne which works decently. The story theme lacks originality as it feels like a recycled version of “District 9”, pinning the poor against the wealthy. You be the judge when “Elysium” when it opens in theaters starting Friday August 9, 2013.

Movie Review for Planes

Planes  

Starring: (Voices of:) Dane Cook, Stacy Keach, Brad Garrett, Teri Hatcher, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Priyanka Chopra, John Cleese, Cedric the Entertainer, Carlos Alazraqui

Directed by: Klay Hall

Rated: PG

Run Time: 92 mins

Genre: Animation/ Adventure/ Comedy

Opens August 9th

By Lisa Minzey of The Reel Critic.com

One of the last family films throwing its hat in the box office ring for the summer is the from the world of “Cars”, is the animated film “Planes”. Original slated for a direct-to-video release and with a different actor for the lead voice, can “Planes” reach the heights of box office success “Cars” had or will it crash and burn opening weekend? Read on to find out.

Dusty Crophopper (Dan Cook- voice) has big dreams of busting out of his mundane existence of crop dusting and being able to compete against the best flyers in the world in the Wings Around the World race. Unfortunately, crop-dusting planes are not built for racing, let alone high speeds, but Dusty refuses to listen to the naysayers. He enters the qualifying race for the Wings Around the World as the top 5 planes will make it in. Dusty places in 6th in the race just missing the qualifying group. Deflated, he goes home but his luck changes when he finds out that one of the other lanes has been disqualified for high octane fueling. Dusty is ecstatic but knows he has a lot of work to do to prepare for this life-changing race.

He enlists the help of retired plane Skipper (Stacy Keach) to help him train for distance, harsh weather and be able to get his speed up. Skipper flew missions during World War II, so he knows a thing or two about dangerous flying.

Dusty is flying against of of his heroes, Ripslinger (Roger Craig Smith), three time champ of the Wings Around the World Race. Ripslinger is looking for his fourth consecutive title and isn’t about to let anyone get in his way, especially a country bumpkin plane. Will Dusty be able to finish the race or will it prove to be too big of a challenge for the small time player?

The message of the film seems familiar, and a nice reminder that anyone can achieve their dreams if they put their focus, time and effort into it, but we’ve seen this in another film earlier this summer starring a bunch of snails. If you combine “Turbo” and “Cars”, making them aerodynamic, you get “Planes”. Lacking any originality in the story, but mildly entertaining for the Tonka and Hot Wheels kids, “Planes” is worth the look for a rainy day matinee. “Planes’ opens in theaters nationwide starting Friday August 9, 2013.

Movie Review for Percy Jackson: Sea of Monsters

Percy Jackson: Sea of Monsters 

Starring: Logan Lerman, Alexandra Daddario, Douglas Smith, Leven Rambin, Brandon T. Jackson, Jake Abel, Anthony Head, Stanley Tucci, Paloma Kwiatkowski, Nathan Fillion

Directed by: Thor Freudenthal

Rated: PG

Run Time: 106 mins

Genre: Adventure/ Family/ Fantasy

Opens August 7th

By Lisa Minzey of The Reel Critic.com

Hey Phoenix Film Fans!  The second film opening mid-week is the second film in the “Percy Jackson” series, “Percy Jackson: Sea of Monsters”. Reprising their roles are Logan Lerman, Alexandra Daddario and Brandon T. Jackson.

Years ago, 4 children were on their way to Camp Half-Blood but were being chased by shadowy figures out to kill them. Only 3 out of the 4 made it inside. The fourth child, Thalia, daughter of Zeus was overcome by the shadowy Cyclops, where Zeus turned her into a magical tree that acts as a protective barrier around the camp.

Fast forward to present day, Percy Jackson (Logan Lerman) is in a fierce competition to keep his status as camp hero. Clarisse (Leven Rambin), daughter of Ares, God of War, is constantly berating Percy, taunting him that she is the superior half blood. Percy proves the validity of his title when a mechanical bull breaks through the protective barrier that surrounds the camp,. Percy defeats the bull but the camp soon finds that the Thalia tree has been poisoned and is slowly dying. Annabeth (Alexandra Daddario), desperate to seek a solution to saving the camp and Thalia tree, remembers the only thing that can help heal the tree, the Golden Fleece. Embarking on a quest like this is no easy feat and even though Percy just saved the camp, Mr. D (Stanley Tucci) chooses Clarisse over Percy to go after the fleece. Slightly deflated, Percy still manages to go after the fleece himself as Luke (Jake Abel) has resurfaced, drudging up something so sinister it could end the world as they know it. Will they be Percy and friends be able to retrieve the fleece before Luke gets to it? Or will Luke win this time and end the world?

Much darker and serious in tone, “Percy Jackson: Sea of Monsters” challengers the viewer to remember the Greek Mythology myths learned in grammar school. The supporting characters were much more interesting in this film than the main players, which was a little disappointing to see the Percy character less charismatic than the first film. The 3D effects weren’t that bad and make the final scenes completely worth it. This is a decent sequel, just a little less exciting than the first film. Check out “Percy Jackson: Sea of Monsters” when it opens in theaters nationwide starting Wednesday, August 7, 2013.

The Act of Killing Movie Review

The Act of Killing 

Starring: Anwar Congo, Haji Anif, Syamsul Arifin, Sakhyan Asmara,

Directed by: Joshua Oppenheimer, Christine Cynn & Anonymous

Rated: NR

Run Time: 115 mins

Genre: Documentary/ Crime/ History

Opens August 2nd

By Lisa Minzey of The Reel Critic.com

Hey Phoenix Film Fans, opening this week is the award winning documentary “The Act of KillIng”. If you haven’t heard of this film yet, this is one that needs a closer examination as the content is not an easy pill to swallow.

Taking an in-depth look at the leaders of Indonesia, specifically a group that call themselves the movie theater mafia, a right -wing paramilitary group that committed crimes against humanity. In 1965, the Indonesian government was overthrown by the military. Anwar Congo and his friends, back then, were small time gangster leading death squad leaders targeting anyone they considered being communist, ethnic Chinese or any type of intellectual. Assisting the military, they killed millions of people in less than a year. These so called “Movie Theater Mafia” men, grew so powerful, they became the founding fathers of a right -wing paramilitary group that grew out of their death squads.

From their love of cinema, to help explain and further justify their actions, this documentary recounts the barbaric and sadistic acts of these men in reenactments of their crimes done in a theatrical style. Out of their love for cinema and being fans of some of the Golden Age Hollywood actors, Congo and his men would model themselves after the gangster roles in crime films to bring a sense of authenticity and be in the mindset that they were the gangsters on film stepping off the silver screen and into the streets to do the dirty work. Although they try to justify their actions as a social justice, do any of them feel and remorse for their actions or do they live in such a fantasy world that the end justifies the means?

Letting the viewer be a fly on the wall, Director Joshua Oppenheimer takes the viewer on these mind-boggling retellings of horrific killings, giving insight to the inner thoughts and workings to the cultural differences in Indonesia and the rule of the Pancasila Youth. It’s a brash and unapologetic way of storytelling, dishing the truth with little signs of regret. The raw emotions of fear and anger of the victims, with little or no regrets from the “mafia” leaders themselves is heartbreaking and chilling. They way that Anwar Congo and his men try to justify and spin their actions through propaganda of film makes you wonder if this is what life would be like if the Nazis were still in power today. A powerful and emotionally haunting film, this is one not to be missed. Check out “The Act of Killing” when it opens at Harkins Camelview 5 starting Friday August 2, 2013.

2 Guns Movie Review

2 Guns 

Starring: Denzel Washington, Mark Wahlberg, Paula Patton, Bill Paxton, James Marsden, Edward James Olmos

Directed by: Baltasar Kormakur

Rated: R

Run Time: 109 mins

Genre: Action/ Comedy/ Crime

Opens August 2nd

By Lisa Minzey of The Reel Critic.com

Hey Phoenix Film Fans!  New in theaters this week is the crime/ comedy "2 Guns" starring Denzel Washington and Mark Walhbergh. How does the duo fare are partners in crime? Read on to find out.

Dealing with shady people is an extremely lucrative business. Partners Bobby Trench (Denzel Washington) and Michael "Stig" Stigman (Mark Wahlberg) find themselves in a bit of a pickle. They have just paid a visit to Mexican drug lord Papi Greco (Edward James Olmos) and were stiffed n $100,000 worth of cocaine. Their contact to the cartel has been put down, and with nowhere to turn for their supplier, they decide to get revenge on Papi. Bobby and Stig end up robbing a bank where Papi is believed to have over $3 million dollars stashed away in a security deposit box. What they walk away with is over to $40 million dollars, so where did Papi get all that cash?

 Ironically, Bobby works for the DEA and Stig works for a Black Ops division in the US Navy, each not knowing the other man's identity. When the money ends up in the wrong side's hands, then do they find out that they money stolen was actually the C.I.A.'s courtesy of the amazing interpersonal skills of Special Agent Earl (Bill Paxton). Now with several interest parties vying for that cold hard cash, Bobby and Stig find themselves pawns in a deadly game of cat vs. mouse, but who will walk away the victor with the least amount of bodies in their wake?

 When it’s an action comedy, Mark Wahlberg really shines. The pairing of Denzel Washington and Wahlberg is a brilliant chemistry of wit, sarcasm, brain and brawn giving the audience a reason to root for these two slightly crooked characters. In a story like this, where each character is a magnification of psychotic personified, each actor shines with his or her given role where one is not upstaging the other (too much), but blends together for this maniacal symphony of immoral entertainment. Highly entertaining, every character is not whom you think, the dialogue zings just as fast as the bullets fly and the action sequences are just as high powered. One of the better law enforcement buddy comedies in recent memory, “2 Guns” is a definite must see in theaters when it opens nationwide starting Friday August 2,2013

The Smurfs 2 Movie Review

The Smurfs 2 

Starring: Neil Patrick Harris, Jayma Mays, Hank Azaria, Brendan Gleeson (Voices of ) Katy Perry, Christina Ricci, Jonathan Winters, J.B. Smoove, George Lopez, Anton Yelchin

Directed by: Raja Gosnell

Rated: PG

Run Time: 105 mins

Genre: Animation/ Comedy/ Family/ 3D

Opens July 31st

By Lisa Minzey of The Reel Critic.com

Opening mid week is the sequel to the 2011 film, “The Smurfs”. In “The Smurfs 2” we find the Smurfs preparing a surprise  party for Smurfette’s birthday. Giving a brief origin story on how Smurfette (Katy Perry - voice) joined the Smurfs, she was created by Gargamel (Hank Azaria), making her a naughty Smurf with a grey complexion. She infiltrated the Smurf’s village, cause quite a bit of damage until Papa Smurf (Jonathan Winters - voice) did a spell and made the good blue Smurf we all know and love.

When all the guys in the village blew Smurfette on her birthday, she felt neglected and went off on her own. On the other side of the dimensional portal, Gargamel was up to his old tricks again, this time in Paris, France. Apparently, he’s some sort of celebrity in the human world for his magic show. He uses the essence of Smurfs to power his wand, and he has created  two more pseudo Smurfs, Vexy (Christina Ricci - vice) and Hackus (J.B. Smoove - voice). The look like the other Smurfs, but lack the same blue skin/ magic essence. In his latest evil plan, he’s tasked Vexy to kidnap Smurfette so she will tell them how to make the Smurf’s magic essence.

Vexy nabs Smurfette and is determined to turn her into a Naughty, which is a badly behaving Smurf. Papa Smurf and the rest of the other Smurfs feeling bad for tricking Smurfette gather a search party to go to the human world to find her. They will need help from their human friends Patrick (Neil Patrick Harris) and Grace Winslow (Jayma Mays), whose own growing brood, Blue (Jacob Tremblay) and Pat’s step-father Victor (Brendan Gleeson) team up with the Smurfs, traveling to Paris to get back their girl.  They all quickly realize that getting Smurfette back will  be harder than they originally thought, putting all their relationships to the test.

The loveable blue characters have evolved some from the last film. They don’t over use the Smurf word for everything, which is a pleasant improvement over the first film. In the first film,  the word was on overkill. The message of this film is driven home both through the Smurfs and Human storylines, that family doesn’t have to be blood to care for someone and that your origin doesn’t really matter; that it is your choice on whom to be that determines your character. Aside from the heartfelt messages, the film is full of slapstick, nonsensical humor that will surely please the kids. Even though this has the 3D version, the graphics would be just as enjoyable in 2D. Check out “The Smurfs 2” when it opens in theaters nationwide starting Wednesday July 31, 2013.

The To Do List Movie Review

The To Do List 

Starring: Aubrey Plaza, Johnny Simmons, Bill Hader, Connie Britton, Clark Gregg, Alia Shawkat, Sarah Steele, Scott Porter, Rachel Bilson, Christopher Mintz-Plasse, Andy Samberg, Donald Glover

Directed by: Maggie Carey

Rated: R

Run Time:

Genre: Comedy/ Romance

Opens July 26th

By Lisa Minzey of The Reel Critic.com

Hey Phoenix Film Fans!  If you’re looking for a comedy to check out this weekend, opening in theaters is a film from award winning writer/ director Maggie Carey. “The To Do List” is Carey’s first feature film and packs in an impressive cast, lead by Aubrey Plaza, Bill Hader and Rachel Bilson.

In the great year that was 1993, overachiever Brandy Klark (Aubrey Plaza) has just graduated from high school and is eager to get started on her preparations for college. Her friends Fiona (Alia Shawkat) and Wendy (Sarah Steele) try to get Brandy to loosen up some and reminder her of her lack of dating experience during her high school years.

That night at a graduation party, Brandy has a run in with an older college guy, Rusty Waters (Scott Porter), igniting a dormant feeling of lust within her. After that night, fueled with determination, Brandy creates a to do list of sexual experiences she needs to have before leaving for college.

In her quest to shed her good girl/ virginal image, Brandy looks to the guys from her circle   to start off on her list. Her study partner Cameron (Johnny Simmons)  has been in love with her for most of their high school career, so when Brandy starts to experiment with him, he interprets that they are now an item. Brandy thinks nothing of it as she still has her eye on Rusty and will do anything to capture his attention. Will Brandy be able to accomplish her goal of finishing all the items on her list or will the so called harmless hook ups do more harm than good?

With any coming of age teenage sexual comedies, there is a certain level one would expect of awkwardness that is expected. For example, if you saw the movie “Sex Drive” or “American Pie” there’s a certain amount of raunchiness and uncomfortable situations that really enhance the comedic element of the film. Writer/ Director Maggie Carey tops the aforementioned films and takes it about 5 levels high in terms of uncomfortable humor with the amount of sexual terms, bodily fluid used and sexual situations scenes. Let’s just say, in an attempt to keep this spoiler free, you definitely need to leave the kids at home for this one and may not want to see with your parents or Grandma as it gets truly awkward. There were several times I had to look away from getting grossed out  by the vomit and bodily emissions, but it is done in good taste, without the use of any nudity.

Aside from the gross out/ awkward comedy, this film is fun to reminisce to as the details are spot on. From the props, to the costumes to the music, I found myself recognizing stuff I had when I was that age and being reminded of songs I loved. Aubrey Plaza is the perfect choice for the role of Brandy as her deadpan, sarcastic delivery is so spot on. This is a film you want to see at least once because it will be a topic of water cooler discussion. If you’re a fan of Plaza or any of the other cast members, check out “The To Do List” when it opens in theaters nationwide starting Friday July 26,2013.

Terms and Conditions May Apply Movie Review

Terms and Conditions May Apply  

Starring: Moby, Raymond Kurzweil, Mark Zuckerberg

Directed by: Cullen Hoback

Rated: NR

Run Time: 79 mins

Genre: Documentary

Opens July 26th

By Lisa Minzey of The Reel Critic.com

Also, opening at Harkins Valley Art this weekend is the award winning documentary “Terms and Conditions May Apply”. If you’re one of those people who usually click “I Agree” without reading the fine print when you sign up for anything online, you need to check out this film.

Featuring interviews from such people such as musician/ digital music rights activist Moby, author/ inventor Raymond Kurzweil and even an unauthorized interview from Mr. Facebook himself, Mark Zuckerberg, when you agree to the terms and agreements of any so called “free service”, what exactly are you agreeing to and what are these companies and the government doing with the information you so freely provide.

You may once or twice have heard “there is no such thing as a free lunch” as it’s impossible to get something for nothing; there's  some price to pay. Director Cullen Hoback delivers a frightening yet compelling look into the terms and agreements of what millions of people agree to daily when signing up for anything online. Yet if they took a closer look, they may not be so willing to give up their data so willingly. The technology may be fun, cool and improve the quality of life in some way but what are the true costs to you?  Check out “Terms and Conditions May Apply” when it opens at Harkins Valley Art starting Friday July 26, 2013.

Movie Review for The History of Future Folk

The History of Future Folk  

Starring: Nils d’Aulaire, Jay Klaitz, Julie Ann Emery, April L. Hernandez, Dee Snider

Directed by: John Mitchell

Rated: NR

Run Time: 86 mins

Genre: Comedy/ Music/ Sci-Fi

Opens July 26th

By Lisa Minzey of The Reel Critic.com

Another film on the indie circuit is opening this week at HArkins Valley Art. Winner of the Jury Prize at the 2012 Austin Fantastic Fest and the Audience Award at the 2012 Philadelphia Film Festival, “The History of Future Folk” stars Nils d’Aulaire, Jay Klaitz and Julie Ann Emery.

To get his young daughter to go to sleep at night, Bill (Nils d'Aulaire) tells his daughter Wren (Onata Aprile) stories of a man that hails from the planet Hondo, the courageous General Truis.  This Hondo bit crosses over into his stage act as a bluegrass singer at a local bar owned by his friend Larry (Dee Snider). Bill has been married to his wife Holly (Julie Ann Emery) for about 11 years and has failed to tell her the truth about his origins. What she thought to be the perfect life, comes crashing down on her as Holly learns that Bill has been leading a double life for all these years. The truth comes to life as Bill captures a would be assassin, Kevin (Jay Klaitz) send by the superiors from planet Hondo to complete his original mission.

Kevin isn’t the best hitman and is overtaken by Bill, who then takes him as a hostage, leaving him in his storage shed outside Bill’s Brooklyn home. Wren discovers Kevin by accident blowing things out of proportion with Holly and resulting in a huge fight between the spouses. Kevin is determined to finish the mission, but Bill quietly convinces him by playing him music that the mission needs to be aborted.

Together, Bill and Kevin form the band “Future Folk” which is a hit with the local crowd. Using the band as a cover to hide from the law, they now must figure out a way to save planet Hondo without destroying Earth in the process.

The title of this film gives crystal clear insight into the heart of this film. “The History of Future Folk” is a quirky gem of a film that belongs on a cult film fans list of must see films. What you see is what you get as the from the cheesy costumes, make up of the villain to the bluegrass banjo playing aliens, this film is truly entertaining, goofy and everything you would hope Future Folk would be. The lead actors appearance wise resemble a young John Cusack and John Candy, which would have been a team worth watching back in the day. The story is genuinely ridiculous, but charming in a B-movie way. Check out “The History of Future Folk” at Harkins Valley Art starting Friday July 26, 2013.

Movie Review for Crystal Fairy

Crystal Fairy  

Starring: Michael Cera, Gaby Hoffman, Juan Andres Silva, Jose Miguel Silva, Agustin Silva

Directed by: Sebastian Silva

Rated: NR

Run Time: 98 mins

Genre:Adventure/ Comedy

Opens July 26th

By Lisa Minzey of The Reel Critic.com

Hey Phoenix Film Fans!  Opening this week as a Harkins Shea 14 exclusive is the adventure comedy “Crystal Fairy” starring Michael Cera,  Gaby Hoffman and Juan Andres Silva. This film was nominated for the Grand Jury Prize and won the Directing Award for World Cinema at the 2013 Sundance Film Festival. This film is  artsier than the average Michael Cera film, but is he a strong enough draw to bring people to the theater?

When Americans travel abroad, the stereotypical belief is that we are all obnoxious, loud and rude. Such traveler, Jaime (Michael Cera), drives that stereotype home while traveling throughout Chile. Jaime has been staying with Champa (Juan Andres Silva), having drunken adventures at parties, doing drugs and living it up. The two young men have plans to travel to find a type of cactus, the San Pedro, whose hallucinogenic properties are legendary. Jaime is the type of partier that while intoxicated, will be everyone’s best friend. When he meets an unusual girl at a party the night before his planned cactus trip, he has no memory of inviting Crystal Fairy (Gaby Hoffman) to meet up with he and his friends.

Now sober, hungover and exhausted, Jamie is back to his normal self of an insensitive, self-centered jerk, who drives the group a little nutty on their quest ti find the perfect San Pedro cactus specimen. Will they be able to find it or will their entire trip be a bust? Can the guys tolerate Crystal Fairy's insane behavior or will they ditch her the first moment possible?

Watching a film centering around a hallucinogenic agent found in a cactus, you expect certain things. The story is uneven and disjointed, it will get really strange and new-agey, and that there's bound to be nudity along the way. “Crystal Fairy” has all the aforementioned elements, but billed as an adventure/ comedy, this film was severely lacking on the comedy. The last 15- 20 minutes of the film take a dive off into the deep end of Debbie- downer drama, killing any sort of comedy buzz it had going. It seemed to me that the only reason Michael Cera took this role was that it was a great excuse to go down to Chile, party on the beach and do drugs for a few weeks. Now Gaby Hoffman does a fantastic job as the free spirit Crystal Fairy, but a little overexposed in my opinion. She took the hippie chick and had no inhibitions in showcasing every bit of her self in several scenes, which one or two scenes max, would have driven home the same essence that the manifold of nude scenes tried to accomplish. Director Sebastian Silva did a great job bringing this film and characters to life, but the storytelling style became redundant and confusing. If you’re a fan of world cinema or strange drug-tripping films, check out “Crystal Fairy” when it opens Friday July 26, 2013.

The Conjuring Movie Review

The Conjuring 

Starring: Patrick Wilson, Vera Farmiga, Lili Taylor, Ron Livingston, Shanley Caswell, Hayley McFarland, Joey King, Mackenzie Foy, Kayla Deaver, Shannon Kook

Directed by: James Wan

Rated: R

Run Time:

Genre: Horror/ Based on a True Story

Opens July 19th

By Lisa Minzey of The Reel Critic.com

Hey Phoenix Horror Film Fans! Opening this week is the latest film from “Insidious” director, James Wan, “The Conjuring” starring Patrick Wilson, Vera Farmiga, Ron Livingston and Lili Taylor.  So how does “The Conjuring “ stack up to the disturbing “Insidious”? Read on to find out...

"The Conjuring" starts off laying the ground work with one of the famous Warren cases, the "Annabell", where a doll became possessed by a demon. Ed (Patrick Wilson) and Lorraine (Vera Farmiga) Warren are very well known demonologist/ paranormal investigators, where they travel around speaking about various cases, the most famous to this point is the "Annabell "case.

It was November of 1971. About the same time as the Warrens were doing speaking engagements in the area,  the Perron family was beginning a new life. Roger (Ron Livingston) and Carolyn (Lili Taylor) Perron have moved their family of 5 daughters of various ages into a farm house out in Harrisville, RI. Little did they family know that their new dream home was possessed by dark matters that are out to kill them.

As the paranormal activity amped up, the fear grew stronger in the house, leaving Carolyn scrambling to find a solution. She tracked down the Warrens to see if they would take on her case, desperately pleading for their help. Lorraine sympathized with Carolyn and convinced Ed to check out the house. When the Warrens arrived, it became a crystal clear decision to take on the case and time was off the essence. Growing stronger, the demonic forces started moving in fast, and if they didn't act quickly, blood will be spilled.

If you’re familiar with stories such as “Amityville Horror”, Ed and Lorraine Warren were the paranormal investigators involved in that case as well. What’s fascinating about “The Conjuring” is that it does a fantastic job of playing tricks of with the viewer’s mind of the unseen. Although not gory in nature, the psychological thriller aspect of the film is a truly terrifying experience because this is based on a true story. You know, actual people and events. I made the mistake of researching into the story after the screening, which made for a paranoid and sleepless night.

Patrick Wilson is really carving a notch out for himself with the throwback horror films as he’s been in “Insidious” and its upcoming sequel. Vera Farmiga and Lili Taylor both deliver powerhouse performances, equally creepy and nurturing toward the other actors.  Director James Wan masterfully takes the audience on a chilling and terrifying journey, getting into the head of the viewer and amping up the fear factor, based on the material is based in truth. Although this film is billed with films such as “Saw” and “Insidious” the gore factor is very minimal which makes it even scarier. Check out “the Conjuring” when it opens up in theaters starting Friday July 19, 2013.

R.I.P.D. Movie Review

R.I.P.D.  

Starring: Ryan Reynolds, Jeff Bridges, Kevin Bacon, Mary-Louise Parker, Stephanie Szostak

Directed by: Robert Swentke

Rated:PG-13

Run Time: 96 mins

Genre: Action/ Comedy/ Crime

Opens July 19th

By Lisa Minzey of The Reel Critic.com

Going head to head with a slew of other films this weekend is the action/ comedy "R.I.P.D.". Like another new release the weekend, the film is adapted off a comic book, Rest In Peace Department written by Peter M. Lenkov, which a fun piece of trivia for the kids, will be the 4th time Ryan Reynolds has starred in a film adapted from a comic book. Can you name the other the other three?

Boston Police Office Nick Walker (Ryan Reynolds) died from an unfortunate accident in the line of duty 3-4 days prior to the opening scene, so he says. While he was still among the living, he was in a bit of a conundrum. He and his partner, Bobby Hayes (Kevin Bacon) made the mistake of keeping evidence from a crime scene they busted up so it wouldn't end up in the hands of street thugs. What they "kept" was huge hunks of gold, thinking they could cash it in for a sweet payday. Unfortunately for Walker, he doesn't get that chance as he's shot down on a meth house raid. He's swept up to a waiting room of sorts where he's met by a processor, Mildred Proctor (Mary- Lousie Parker) who gives him two options; go upstairs and face judgement or join the ranks of the R.I.P.D. (Rest in Peace Department) for a term of 100 years, then face judgement. That would make his little indiscretion with the gold look less hard during his "hearing". Walker accepts and then meets his new partner, Roy Pulispher (Jeff Bridges).

Upon hearing that this maverick was being assigned a new partner, let alone a rookie R.I.P.D. recruit, Pulispher throws a fit. Proctor leaves him with no choice as the "Dead-os" have been increasing and they need all hands on deck.

Walker must find a way to navigate his new life, partnership and come to terms with leaving his old life behind, which Pulispher is challenging him every step of the way. They need to work together to find out the reason that the deados are collecting the gold before a more sinister action can take place, or face elimination themselves.

Although the fan boys may cry foul because Ryan Reynolds is a lead in another comic book adaptation, they key to any film to be decent is to ask, "Is this entertaining?". The pairing of Ryan Reynolds and Jeff Bridges, although an unlikely choice, work so well together in the way they banter and hold their own in action scenes. This film is not perfect, by any means, but what's unexpected is that it was so enjoyable to watch. Bridges's rough- and-tough cowboy lawman, Roy Pulispher was hilarious to watch, especially when his cover was revealed; as is Reynolds. Reminiscent of films such as "Beetlejuice", "Men In Black" and "Heaven Can Wait", this film blends the fantasy, action and comedy in such a way that it is enjoyable to watch. Even the 3D effects were incorporated well with the stop motion shots and action sequences. If you go into the theater with low expectations, you may walk away pleasantly surprised. Check out "R.I.P.D." when it opens in theaters starting Friday July 19, 2013.

Movie Review for Girl Most Likely

Girl Most Likely 

Starring: Kristen Wiig, Annette Bening, Matt Dillon, Darren Criss, Christopher Fitzgerald, June Diane Raphael, Natasha Lyonne, Bob Balaban

Directed by: Shari Springer Berman & Robert Pulcini

Rated: PG-13

Run Time: 103 mins

Genre: Comedy

Opens July 19th

By Lisa Minzey of The Reel Critic.com

As a child, Imogene was a precious one, questioning everything around her, never satisfied with the status quo. As she grew up and flowered into woman hood, that self righteousness blinded her to becoming a shadow of her former self. Ignoring the signs a round her, Imogene (Kristen Wiig) within a week went from having a cute Dutch boyfriend, a great Manhattan apartment, a decent job in publishing and an influential circle of friends to absolutely nothing. Desperate to regain what she lost in her relationship, she stages a "suicide attempt", ends up botching the whole thing and ends up in a hospital psych ward.  With no one left in her life to turn her over to, the psychiatrist calls Imogene's estranged mother, Zelda (Annette Bening) to be her caretaker for 72 hours. Imogene freaks out when she sees her mother, refusing to go with her, which results in her being heavily medicated, waking up in the backseat of a Camero parked in a casino parking garage.

To say that Imogene resents her mother would be putting it mildly and the resentment further grows as she enters her childhood home. Zelda's new boyfriend, alias name "George/ The Bouche "(Matt Dillon) claims to be a time traveling samurai who is a government agent, her younger brother Ralph (Christopher Fitzgerald) raises and sells crabs down at the boardwalk and there is a young guy named Lee (Darren Criss) shacked up in her old room. Every reason that drove her to leave her life before is stronger than ever until her mom drops a bombshell on Imogene and her brother. Their father who has been dead since she was 9, is actually alive and well, living in New York City.

Reeling from all the recent revelations in her life, Imogene struggles to pick up the shattered pieces of her life. She believed that once she finds her father that he will help her rebuild, and everything will go back to normal. What she finds may not be all what it's crack up to be.

More of an extension of her character in “Bridesmaids” Kristen Wiig is in dangerous territory of the dreaded “T” word, Typecast. Much like Annie in the aforementioned film, Imogene is the sad, middle aged woman that can’t seem to catch a break, but in this film, she’s not as funny; She’s just sad. The snarky, snobbish Manhattan attitude comes crashing down to Earth when it get’s real in Jersey, which was an interesting comparison on the city vs. suburbs mindsets of the neighboring states. The May/ December dynamic between Wiig and Darren Criss was a little strange at first, but as the film proceeded, was adorable to watch. The impression I took away is that Wiig can pull of this type of character, but the way the age of Imogene’s character was written, Wiig is slightly too old for the part. Overall, the cast of crazy characters were great, as well as the journey Imogene partakes on throughout the film; its just zany enough to be likable and not annoying. Check out “Girl Most Likely” when it opens in limited release starting Friday July 19, 2013.

Still Mine Movie Review

Still Mine 

Starring: James Cromwell, Campbell Scott, Julie Stewart, Rick Roberts, Geneviève Bujold

Directed by: Michael McGowan

Rated: PG-13

Run Time: 102 mins

Genre: Drama

Opens July 19th

By Lisa Minzey of The Reel Critic.com

Hey Phoenix Film Fans!  Another film opening this week at Harkins Camelview 5, (which also played at this year’s festival!) is the story based on true events, “Still Mine”  starring James Cromwell, Campbell Scott, Julie Stewart, Rick Roberts and Geneviève Bujold.

Based on  true events, an elderly man in New Brunswick is taken to court by the local housing authorities when he “disobeys” their rules. All Craig Morrison (James Cromwell) wanted to do was to build a suitable home, on his own property mind you, for his ailing wife Irene (Geneviève Bujold). Crag, although he may not act like his age (86 years old), his mind is rather sharp and so are his building skills. Irene, on the other hand, is showing signs of Alzheimer's and her memory is constantly failing. Using the same method of building as his shipbuilder father taught him, Craig assumed that his skill would be sufficient enough to build his own home. Now that he gave up his cattle and strawberry fields, Craig needed a project to keep himself busy. Downsizing from their current two story home made sense to him since, Irene’s health was starting to decline, and they really didn’t need the extra space.

Unfortunately, times have changed and Craig has been used to doing things a certain way for decades. The local building inspector feels that Craig’s work is unacceptable because he goes around the law, demanding that he stops working immediately or face the consequences. Will Craig be able to finish his home in peace or with the system engulf him and future dreams? “Still Mine” is a heart-warming film where you truly root for the underdog, in this case Craig. What was amazing that even at this man’s age, the amount of skill, energy and zest for life that this man had. James Cromwell is always a joy to watch, as is the rest of the cast, but creates a role that does justice for the real life man he portrays. Truly a gem among the crowded box office line up, “Still Mine” is one to check out when it opens Friday July 19, 2013 at Harkins Camelview 5.

Movie Review for Only God Forgives

Only God Forgives 

Starring: Ryan Gosling, Kristin Scott Thomas, Vithaya Pansringarm, Gordon Brown, Yayaying Rhatha Phongam

Directed by: Nicolas Winding Refn

Rated: R

Run Time: 90 minutes

Genre: Crime/ Drama/ Thriller

Opens July 19th

By Lisa Minzey of The Reel Critic.com

Ryan Gosling teams back with “Drive” director for another go at a dark indie film. From the man behind such films as “Bronson” and “Drive”, Nicolas Winding Refn has built a fan base for his raw, visualistic insight into deeply disturbed characters.  “Only God Forgives” is no exception but will audiences be eager to embrace his latest film?

Brothers Julian (Ryan Gosling) and Billy (Tom Burke) have been living in Bangkok for the past few years, mainly that one of them is hiding from a past crime. Neither brother is a saint as the film slowly unveils that their adolescent years were not empowering or functional. When Billy ends up raping a teenage girl and is killed over the crime, Julian is compelled to track down his killer, seeking vengeance on the crooked, ninja sword wielding cop,  Chang (Vithaya Pansringarm).

Upon hearing of her son’s death, crystal (Kristin Scott Thomas) rolls into town to collect the body and to conduct some business during her visit. Her presence in town set Julian into a quiet panic as Crystal’s hold on him reveals more into Julian’s psyche and personality. Crystal demands that Julian kills Chang and refuses any other outcome, but Chang is a resourceful man in his profession. It becomes a game of cat and mouse in this psychological thriller where blood will be spilled, but who will be the victor?

Unlike “Bronson” or “Drive”, which had proper story arcs, great character development and interesting premises, “Only God Forgives” is a jumbled mess of a film that moves along at a snails pace for story delivery.  Albeit deeply dark and disturbing, leaving little to the imagination for violence, torture and sexual innuendo, the character set up takes forever to get to the point, leaving Gosling and Pansringarm to aimlessly wander slowly around town, or in Pansringarm’s case, break into song randomly in karaoke scenes that seemed irrelevant to the story.  Kristin Scott Thomas’s Crystal, from the outward appearance, is a cross between Donatella Versace and a hooker drag queen, but her delivery is malevolent and psychotic. She is a solid contender to be on the list as one of the worst movie movie mothers of all time, giving Faye Dunaway in “Mommie Dearest” a run for her money. If anything, the cinematography is quite lovely and artistic on this film, the lighting painting the sets with emotion that the characters’ flatline on. “Only God Forgives” opens in theaters starting Friday July 19, 2013.

Movie Review for Turbo

Turbo  

Starring: (Voices of) Ryan Reynolds, Paul Giamatti, Maya Rudolph, Snoop Lion, Michelle Rodriguez, Samuel L. Jackson, Michael Pena, Luis Guzman, Bill Hader, Richard Jenkins, Ken Jeong, Ben Schwartz

Directed by: David Soren

Rated: PG

Run Time: 96 mins

Genre: Animation/ Family

Opens July 17th

By Lisa Minzey of The Reel Critic.com

Hey Phoenix Film Fans! Opening mid week is another contender for the family box office dollars. From Dreamworks comes the story of the dreamer snail Turbo brought to life with the voices of Ryan Reynolds, Paul Giamatti, Maya Rudolph and Samuel L. Jackson.

Being a dreamer is not always a good thing, especially when you're a snail. Turbo (Ryan Reynolds- voice) is a snail with a dream to be one of the fastest snails around. Turbo loves all things fast; cars, NASCAR and racing. One of his idols he watches on the TV every night, Guy Gagne (Bill Hader - voice), who spews inspirational quotes to further fuel this small snail's dreams.  In the real world, Turbo and his brother Chet (Paul Giamatti - voice) work at The Plant (a.k.a. tomato garden) processing tomatoes for eating and garbage. Chet is constantly covering for Turbo, for most people find him to be a joke.

When a conflict at work happens between the brothers, Turbo takes off not wanting to face reality. As luck would have it, Turbo is involved in a life changing accident that fuels his cells with nitrous oxide, super- charging him with rocket like speed.

At first no one can believe it. Turbo, not in full control of his super powers yet brings shame and outcast from the plant upon himself and Chet. As they venture out into the great unknown, another big dreamer (this time in human form), Tito (Michael Pena) finds the snails and keeps them as pets. Tito and his brother own a taco stand and food truck business, Dos Bros Tacos and like Turbo and Chet, Tito and his brothers have similar friction as dreamer v. realist.

Tito discovers that Turbo is one special snail and is willing to risk everything to enter Turbo as a contest in a high profile race to prove his worth and abilities. Only problem is that if Tito is wrong, it will be the end of his and fellow plaza store owners business. Can Turbo achieve his dream of being a top racer or is his dream just too big for a small shell to handle?

Compared to the other family films out in theaters now, Turbo is up against some heavy competition. For the most part, it's a cute story that has a positive message, great 3D animation and the marketing behind it. It may keep the kids interested for a while but for the adults, the story moves slowly, picking up at the end to a mediocre end. The film is entertaining but not enough to keep adults and kids attention for the long haul. You be the judge when "Turbo" opens in theaters starting Wednesday July 17, 2013.

The Way Way Back Movie Review

The Way, Way Back 

Starring: Steve Carrell, Sam Rockwell, Liam James, Toni Collette, Allison Janney, AnnaSophia Robb, Maya Rudolph, Rob Corddry, Amanda Peet, River Alexander, Nat Faxon, Jim Rash

Directed by: Nat Faxon & Jim Rash

Rated: PG-13

Run Time: 103 mins

Genre: Comedy/ Drama

Opens July 12th

By Lisa Minzey of The Reel Critic.com

Hey Phoenix Film Fans!  Opening this week is another film that played at this year’s festival, that if you missed, here’s your chance to catch it in theaters. Co-written and co-directed by Academy Award Winning writers for ‘The Descendants”, Nat Faxon and Jim Rash. This is the duo’s directorial debut, so how do they do? Read on to find out....

Every teenager’s nightmare is to go away with their family on a “family” vacation. Fourteen year old Duncan (Liam James) is in his own personal hell. Instead of visiting his dad in San Diego for the summer, he’s stuck with his mom Pam (Toni Collette), her jerk of a boyfriend Trent (Steve Carrell) and his stuck up daughter, Steph (Zoe Levin) traveling to Trent’s beach house on the Massachusetts coast. Trent has this unrelenting way of cutting Duncan’s self esteem down to nothing, citing it as a way to become closer as a family.

When they arrive at Trent’s beach house, Duncan feels more alone than ever as his mom gets pulled off with Trent and his friends; Steph and her friends ignore him, and the only other boy close to Duncan’s age is the next-door neighbor kid, Peter (River Alexander) who’s pretty unusual himself.

Trying to avoid Trent and his mom becomes a game to Duncan, so he spends his afternoons exploring the nearby town. He stumbles across the path of some of the local water park employees, one of them who takes Duncan under his proverbial wing. Owen (Sam Rockwell) is the overseeing manager/ resident comedian of Water Wizz water park and employs Duncan for the summer. Owen, along with fellow employees Caitlin (Maya Rudolph), Roddy (Nat Faxon) and Lewis (Jim Rash) help Duncan get through the summer by teaching him the ropes of the park.

While on his off hours, things around the home don’t get any better as tensions rise between Duncan, Pam and Trent. Will Duncan be able to survive the summer or will Trent get the best of him?

“The Way, Way Back” is a rare treat in the cinematic arena as it delivers big laughs, memorable characters and and uplifting feeling that leaves the viewer on a sort of film high. Everything magically comes together in this coming of age story that makes it stand out from the other films out there in the same genre. What was really amazing was to see Sam Rockwell in a role other than a psycho or villain, which he plays brilliantly. Steve Carrell was also playing against type, going for the villain role which he pulls off splendidly. The comedic timing and pairing of Allison Janney and River Alexander makes for one of the memorable mother/ son roles in recent memory, one more outrageous than the other. Toni Collette is more subdued in her role as Duncan’s mother Pam but plays the introvert amazingly. The rest of the cast is perfectly assembled, and one of the best comedic ensembles for a film this year. The writing is phenomenal, which stems out of a personal experience Director/ Writer/ Actor Jim Rash had as a teenager. By far, this is one of the best films of the year and one not to be missed. Be sure to check out “The Way, Way Back” when it opens Friday July 12, 2013.

Movie Review for Grown Ups 2

Grown Ups 2 

Starring: Adam Sandler, Kevin James, Chris Rock, David Spade, Salma Hayek, Maya Rudolph, Maria Bello, Nick Swardson, Steve Buscemi, Colin Quinn, Tim meadows, Jon Lovitz, Shaquille O’Neal, Oliver Hudson, Taylor Lautner

Directed by: Dennis Dugan

Rated: PG-13

Run Time: 101 mins

Genre: Comedy

Opens July 12th

By Lisa Minzey of The Reel Critic.com

Hey Phoenix Film Fans!  If you’re a fan of Adam Sandler, then this weekend you’re in luck as his new film “Grown Ups 2” opens in theaters. It’s been three years since the release of “Grown Ups” and one of the first sequels in the Sandler catalog of films.  Will audiences be delighted or disgusted with the latest film? Read on to find out...

Three years ago, Lenny Feder (Adam Sandler) had one of the best summers of his life reconnecting with old friends Eric Lamonsoff (Kevin James), Kurt McKenzie (Chris Rock) and Marcus Higgins (David Spade). Now that ‘s relocated from Los Angeles back to his childhood hometown, life has never been better.

It’s the last day of school/ first day of summer break. Lenny and crew have plans to have a great summer, but when  an old high school bully,  new frat boy bullies, missed milestone anniversaries, crazy bus drivers, teenagers who start dating, estranged children and 400 party guests cross paths all in one day,  making it a crazy start to a long summer season. How will the men get through this day or even the summer? When “Grown Ups” was released in 2010, who would have thought it would have spawned a sequel?  This is a rare case of the sequel being better than the original.  Sandler and crew spared no punches (Literally) in pulling every gag, joke and element that has been successful from every Sandler film since the 1990's and rolling into one film. There are elements of Happy Gilmore, The Wedding Singer, Big Daddy and several other films which this is the first sequel in the Sandler catalog.  I’ll admit, while it being completely absurd, somewhat gross and perturbing, sometimes a little crude humor goes a long way into making an otherwise ridiculous film more enjoyable.  This film knows exactly what it is and plays it up to the best of it’s ability. What has evolved is that although Sandler is known for some really crude humor, kids will be entertained and won’t be too obnoxious to bring them to. If you’re a fan of Sandler films, more on the family friendly end of the spectrum, check out “Grown Ups 2” when it opens in theaters starting Friday July 12, 2013.

Pacific Rim Movie Review

Pacific Rim  

Starring: Charlie Hunnam, Idris Elba, Rinko Kikuchi, Charlie Day, Burn Gorman, Max Martini, Robert Kazinsky, Clifton Collins Jr., Ron Perlman, Diego Klattenhoff

Directed by: Guillermo del Toro

Rated: PG-13

Run Time: 132 mins

Genre: Action/ Adventure/ Sci-Fi/ Fantasy

Opens July 12th

By Lisa Minzey of The Reel Critic.com

Hey Phoenix Film Fans!  What could be considered a "true summer blockbuster" film in the traditional sense is opening this week, the Guillermo del Toro's "Pacific Rim". Del Toro pulls triple duty on this film as he directed, co-wrote and executive produced. "Pacific Rim" stars Idris Elba, Charlie Hunnam, Diego Klattenhoff, Max Martini and Rinko Kikuchi.

Somewhere in the Pacific ridge, a rift between our universe and the home of the  Kaiju monsters has opened a portal for the monsters to travel to Earth, causing mass chaos and destruction. Think of a modern day Godzilla meets Jurassic Park type of beast that tears down the Golden Gate Bridge or the Sydney Opera House. We humans finally put our petty differences aside and work together to build these massive robots called Jaegers (German for Hunter) to fight and defeat the monsters.

The program worked for a while, but in 2017, the costs were becoming astronomical due to pilot error. To man one of these "Jaegers", it was a 2 man effort, much to act like the left and right sides of the hemispheres of the human brain. The more a pilot could link or connect to the other pilot the better the fighting team. Brother pilots Raleigh (Charlie Hunnam) and Yancy Becket (Diego Klattenhoff) find them in a fight for their lives when a Category 4 Kaiju attacks their Jaeger. Yancy perished in the battle leaving Raleigh to fend for himself. Shortly after that incident, the number of pilot errors rose, resulting in the dismantling of the Jaeger program. The solution to ending the robot program is to build a massive sea wall to keep the monsters out. Stacker Pentecost knows that is the wrong solution, so he goes rogue, starting his own black ops Jaeger program. He tracks down Raliegh to serve under him once more as the Kaiju attacks are happening more frequently. Can the Jaeger teams stop the dreaded Kaiju or will this be  the end of the human race?

Having built a fan base of eccentric creatures featured in his films, Guillermo del Toro has a created a niche for fantastic looking films. "Pacific Rim" is no exception; the 3-D effects are phenomenal; the stunts, Kaiju creatures are terrifying and grotesque, giving the audience non stop action from start to finish. What works is the uniqueness of the concept- it's Godzilla meets the transformers for the apocalypse. The first 30 minutes of the film is just set up of the world with monsters and robots and how we arrived at this point. Then the title credits flash, which still bugs me to have such a late appearance; it was distracting. What this film lacks is any sense of congruent logic in the storyline. What is appeared to be was alive action anime film turned into a big-budget monster fest. It's as if a 12 year old boy got a hold of his toy chest, dumped out the contents and made a really cool looking movie. Bright spots in the film were Charlie Day, Burn Gorman, and Ron Perlman. Any scenes with these guys are worth paying attention to. Another thing to consider before you go to the theater is that this film runs over two hours, which in my opinion, they could have cut at least 25 minutes out, and it could have been just as entertaining, so bonus footage for the enthusiasts.  "Pacific Rim" opens in theaters nationwide starting Friday July 12, 2013.

Twenty Feet From Stardom Movie Review

20 Feet From Stardom  

Starring: Merry Clayton, Lisa Fischer, Judith Hill, Stevvi Alexander

Directed by: Morgan Neville

Rated: PG-13

Run Time:

Genre: Documentary

Opens July 5th 

By Lisa Minzey of The Reel Critic.com 

Opening this week as a Harkins Camelview Exclusive is the documentary “20 Feet From Stardom”, winner of the Golden Space Needle Award at the 2013 Seattle International Film Festival and the Special Jury Prize at the 2013 RiverRun International Film Festival.

You have heard the songs, but do you know the story behind the lyrics? Many of the most beloved songs of all time feature voices you may never heard their names or seen their faces. This film chronicles some of the most famous back up singers and their journey through the music business. Interviews include appearances by talent such as Bruce Springsteen, Sting, Ray Charles (Footage), Lou Adler, Sheryl Crow, Bette Midler, Mick Jagger and many more.

What struck me as fascinating while watching this film is that it was an education in the music industry on how these singers got their break. While some tried to go solo and make it big on their own, the politicking, backstabbing and behind the scenes drama that is presented is rather engrossing. It was amazing to see what it takes to be a backup performer and the individual challenges they face behind the headliner names. If you’re a music lover, this is a must see film for you as it takes such an in-depth look at the Biz that you may be amazed at what you’ll learn. Check out “20 Feet from Stardom” when it opens at Harkins Camelview starting Friday July 5, 2013.