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“Eagle vs. Shark”
It’s no secret that videogames and awkwardness go hand-in-hand, but it is a bit surprising tthis quirky romantic comedy turns them both into aphrodisiacs. “Eagle vs. Shark” features Jemaine Clement as Jarrod, a monotone gaming nerd who wins the affections of a timid burger-flipper named Lily. You might recognize Clement as one-half of “Flight of the Conchords” — the New Zealand comedy duo with a series on HBO of the same name.
“Eagle vs. Shark” marks the directorial debut on the silver screen for Taika Cohen. Cohen collaborated with Clement in directing two episodes of “Flight of the Conchords.” Fans of the HBO series will feel right at home with this familiar brand of Kiwi comedy; there is plenty of awkwardness, absurdity, and funny tenderness to enjoy. Newcomers to the comedy styling of “that place where ‘Lord of the Rings’ was filmed” are in for an endearing treat.
“Sunshine”
Whenever I happen to catch Michael Bay’s “Armageddon” while channel surfing, I always think to myself, “Man, this movie would be fantastic if it didn’t make me turn off my brain!” Danny Boyle must be a mind reader because “Sunshine” is everything I could ask for in apocalyptic sci-fi.
It’s 2057 and the Sun is quickly being destroyed by a kind of matter that makes nuclear fusion impossible. You don’t have to know much physics or astronomy to know that this is problemo numero uno for Earth. The film focuses on Icarus II, a team of scientists sent to get the Sun running smoothly again after the first outfit fails.
“Sunshine” has a captivating cinematography on par with “The Fountain” and phenomenal performances from Cillian Murphy and Michelle Yeoh. Fans of “28 Days Later” — a post-apocalyptic frenzy courtesy of Boyle and Murphy — should have “Sunshine” on their must-watch list for January.
“3:10 to Yuma”
There’s something about the Old West that makes for amazing cinema. Maybe it’s the grit of trying to make ends meet in a world full of cutthroats, maybe it’s the tension of the gun-slinging, or maybe it’s the sheer badassery of the characters. Lucky for us that “3:10 to Yuma” does all of these things better than any Western since “The Proposition” or “Unforgiven.” Even the original from 50 years ago pales in comparison to the intensity of the remake.
Christian Bale plays Dan Evans, a struggling rancher who can barely make enough money to feed his family. To make some all-important cash, Evans agrees to escort a ruthless, cunning outlaw – Ben Wade (Russell Crowe) – to a train that will take him to court. An intimidation game ensues where Evans and Wade are constantly trying to gain the upper hand on each other — before the 3:10 train to Yuma rolls into the station.
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