Pain & Gain

☆☆☆

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Directed by Michael Bay (“Transformers”) and based on real events, “Pain & Gain” is the outrageous story of a team of Miami Beach bodybuilders (Mark Wahlberg, Dwayne Johnson, Anthony Mackie) who join forces to realize the American dream…by committing extortion, kidnapping, and murder.
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This is one of those movies that gets harder and harder to watch as the characters get themselves deeper and deeper in trouble.

Many call this a comedy.
I didn’t hear one person laugh in the theater…because murder, kidnapping, and torture really aren’t funny. Especially when you know these things actually happened.

Rated R
2 hrs. 9 min.

Visit the official website and watch the trailer.

Oblivion

☆☆☆1/2

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Director Joseph Kosinski (“TRON: Legacy”) delivers an engaging sci-fi action pic starring Tom Cruise as Jack Harper, a drone repair man on post-nuclear Earth who along with his partner (Victoria played by Andrea Louise Riseborough) will soon finish their mission and leave earth to join Earth’s other survivors on Saturn's moon Titan.

Also starring Morgan Freeman and Melissa Leo
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The movie lacks emotion and the writing doesn’t make you care about the characters.

Rated PG-13
2 hr. 5 min.

Visit the official and watch the trailer.

The Place Beyond the Pines

☆☆☆☆

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Derek Cianfrance ("Blue Valentine") brings us the powerful story of Luke (raw and very real performance by Ryan Gosling) a father…who in order to support his infant son…makes what turns out to be a decision that has serious repercussions.

Cianfrance has an amazing ability to create films that are as real as home movies…and he manages to get very authentic performances from his actors (including Eva Mendes and Bradley Cooper).
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The film loses a little “steam” after Gosling’s exit.

Rated R
2 hr. 20 min.

Visit the movie website and see the trailer.

Admission

☆☆☆

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Tina Fey stars as Portia, a Princeton admissions officer struggling with the rules of this selective university and her heart…when it comes to one very special candidate. Paul Rudd, Lily Tomlin, and Fey’s talent make this an enjoyable film.
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So-so story elevated by some good actors.

Rated PG-13
1 hr. 47 min.

Visit the website and see the trailer!