50/50

50/50 is about a young guy (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) who is paranoid, and has a fear of driving because it's the fifth leading cause of fatalities, and is suddenly struck with cancer in his back.  He and his family are in complete and total shock, as I'm sure is often the case, and are unsure of how exactly to deal with the situation.  The story lays out his ups and downs and all the friends he meets along the way.

Adding some flavor to the story are some interesting characters including a girlfriend, played by Bryce Dallas-Howard, who doesn't know whether to stay or go, a neurotic mother (Anjelica Houston), a cooky but loyal friend (Seth Rogan) and an intriguing therapist (Anna Kendrick).  All of the actors do a stupendous job in their roles and I was even impressed by Bryce Dallas-Howard who I am normally not a fan.

While the idea of this movie seems depressing, I fully enjoyed it.  50/50 is extremely well told and though out.  This film really tells a story that I'm sure is the case for many who get hit by major traumatic events at a young age as many feel invincible prior to something like this happening.  I will share that I have not had cancer nor anyone close to me so it probably doesn't hit home like it might to many others.  Either way I would recommend checking this one out!

Midnight in Paris

First of all just let me say that my wife and I are going to Paris soon. We've never been, so we wanted to see some of the sights a little early through this film.  While we didn't know a tremendous amount about the movie we had a general idea of the story line.  Also, full disclosure, I'm not a fan of Owen Wilson.

Midnight in Paris ventures into the dramatic comedy territory.  I will say this area is a little out of my comfort zone because dramatic comedies tend to get a little dark for my taste.   The film is the story of an engaged couple who come to Paris for a vacation with their family.  When they arrive the two start to distance themselves from each other by their likes and dislikes.  During nightly walks, Gil (Owen Wilson) stumbles upon an amazing part of Paris that he falls in love with.  It's a blast from the past that captures his imagination and he feels Paris is perfect for him.

Wilson, Rachel McAdams, and Marion Cotillard are the stars of the movie and all are tremendous.  While I'm not a fan of Wilson (except in Behind Enemy Lines) his style fits well in this film.  One thing was impressive though, McAdams does a fantastic job of making you hate her with a passion.  Appearances are also made by Kathy Bates, Adrien Brody, Michael Sheen, and the wife of French President Nicolas Sarcozy, Carla Bruni.

Midnight in Paris was a very good movie which I would recommend checking out, especially if you enjoy the scenery of Paris.  Acting was superb, story was well-told and interesting, music was very good, and surprisingly the ending was nice.

Safe House

Safe House is the story of two CIA agents.  One, played by Denzel Washington, is a senior NOC who has supposedly gone rogue, until now when they have brought him to a safe house.  The other, Ryan Reynolds, plays the safe house "keeper" who is very green and has no idea what he's in for when his new guest arrives.  A very wild ride ensues.

Ryan Reynolds and Denzel Washington are outstanding in this movie.  While seeing Washington not cleaned up was odd, it fit well in the movie.  While the main stars of the movie are Reynolds and Washington, there is a very strong supporting cast.  This group includes Vera Farmiga, Brendan Gleeson, and Sam Shepard.  This, in my opinion, is where the cast really shines.

Safe House is a fantastic movie.  The action moments will keep you on the edge of your seat.  I would compare this movie to The Bourne Identity, and yes I realize this is very high praise.  The cinematography is very similar to Bourne and the story progression follows a similar path.  I would highly recommend anyone who enjoyed the Bourne series check this one out!