MINI-REVIEWS 12/13

Here's what's currently in theaters and worth checking out or avoiding this weekend.

Fink on Films uses a four-star scale

0 - offensive on every level
* - dreadful
** - decent
*** - great
**** - outstanding

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12 Years a Slave (****) - An impressive feat of filmmaking from Steve McQueen, who immerses audiences within the experience of Solomon Northup, a free man sold into slavery, an important brutal story that's brilliant even if the presence of Brad Pitt is a tad distracting.

About Time (*** 1/2) - A beautifully told and genuine story about fathers and sons led by newcomer Domhnall Gleeson in a breakout role - so much of things rings true, well as much as movie magic can.

All is Lost (*** 1/2) - A thrilling one man show - Robert Redford stars as 'Our Man' - a nameless figure lost at sea in his final moments, fascinating, thrilling and minimalist.

The Book Thief (***) - A mostly well-made WWII drama that is tied too closely to its source material - a bizarre voiceover narration holds back what is otherwise a strong film with good performances.

The Best Man Holiday (**) - Sincere but ultimately a bit dull, an ensemble drama with lighter moments that breaks no new ground in its 2 hour plus running time. (full review)

Blue is the Warmest Color (***) - Epic in scope with two brave performances, director Abdellatif Kechiche is tells the intimate story of two women coming into their own, falling in love and eventually drifting apart, parts don't quite work even if much feels emotionally accurate.

Captain Phillips (*** 1/2) - A solid thriller from Paul Greengrass and Tom Hanks, delivering smart edge of your seat thrills with a chilling conclusion.

Carrie (** 1/2) - A retelling of Carrie lacking the bite of director Kimberly Pierce's previous work, generally a solid genre exercise it lacks the bite we'd hope for from a director this smart. (full review)

Dallas Buyers Club (*** 1/2) - A haunting and vibrant exploration of the early stages of the AIDS epidemic, based on a true story and fronted by brilliant performances by Matthew McConaughey and Jared Leto.

Delivery Man (***) - A funny remake of the French Canadian hit Starbuck with a winning performance by Vince Vaughn as the world's most generous sperm donor. (full review)

Enough Said (*** 1/2) - Another briliant, funny perspective film by Nicole Holofcener led by two very funny and charming performances by Julia Louis-Dreyfus and James Gandolfini.

Gravity (*** 1/2) - An impressive technical feat from Alfonso Cuaron, led by a strong, psychological performance by Sandra Bullock. A must see in IMAX 3D.

The Hunger Games: Catching Fire (***) - Expanding on its original concept Catching Fire dives into further into media criticism providing providing somewhat of a warning in a very entertaining and smart package. (full review)

Last Vegas (** 1/2) - A light, good natured ensemble comedy that's entertaining while delivering exactly what you'd expect - a delightful package with too few surprises. (full review)

Nebraska (****) - Warm, strange and beautiful, a film I'm truly in love with, Bruce Dern stars as an elderly alcoholic, Woodrow in a stunning reflection of the roads taken and not taken in Rural Nebraska.

Oldboy (***) - A solid remake by Spike Lee - fun and violent remaining true to the original, the question remains - why make it, Spike?

Out of the Furnace (**) - Scott Cooper's flawed follow up to Crazy Heart is a thinly painted portrait on a rich canvas - lacking ethnographic research he creates a rather mundane thriller that otherwise showed promise. (full review)

Philomena (*** 1/2) - The true story of a sacked BBC correspondent (Steve Coogan) who teams up with a women searching for her son (Judi Dench) - an entertaining film that hits the cords Stephen Frears is best at hitting.

Some Velvet Morning (***) - Breaking no new ground, Neil Labute downsizes back towards a two-person character driven drama in a contained space with energetic performances by Stanley Tucci and Alice Eve. In theaters and on VOD (full review)

Thor: The Dark World (**) - Painfully boring action film that places disorienting sequences above character development.

Tyler Perry's A Madea Christmas (*1/2) - Not without laughs - including a few cringe inducing ones, this new Tyler Perry outing is lazier than his usual output, made quickly and cheaply. (full review)