The fall movie season, aka Oscar bait time, is in full swing. With The Ides of March leading the way, one of the best films of 2011 is on display. Not to be outdone, Disney has released a fantastically fun, cheer in your seat instant classic in Real Steel. So, what’s the "reel" deal with the movies of the week of October 7, 2011?
Real Steel: Hugh Jackman stars as a washed-up boxer who now is a promoter/trainer of robot boxers in the wildly popular world of the Robot Boxing Federation. At the beginning of the film, Jackman is down on his luck and has just discovered that his son whom he barely knows is now under his care as his mother just died. That father-son bonding experience is at the heart of Real Steel. But, the action is also fantastic as the robots move so effortlessly you would swear it was the film’s boxing coordinator Sugar Ray Leonard in the ring himself. Check out our Real Steel review!
Dirty Girl: Dirty Girl is both a drama and a comedy, but hardly a dramedy. It takes place in Norman, Oklahoma in 1987 and yes, the soundtrack is fantastic. Juno Temple and Jeremy Dozier shine as a pair of teens who find each other when each needs a friend the most. It is funny, heartfelt and one of the surprises of the fall.
The Ides of March: Riveting, powerful and exquisite are all terms to describe George Clooney and his latest foray into directing. In The Ides of March, Clooney is a Pennsylvania governor running for president. It is the eve of the Ohio primary election, one which will determine who the Democratic party representative will be on the fall ballot. Ryan Gosling is a political aide to Clooney, and he is simply one of an all-star cast that shines. Paul Giamatti, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Marisa Tomei and Evan Rachel Wood all star in this crisp political thriller.
The Human Centipede 2: The follow-up to the gross-out film of last year, The Human Centipede. When a film’s ad campaign includes a barf bag, you get what this picture is going for and apparently, it succeeds.