[5.50/10] Begin Again (2014)

Begin Again (2014)

Quick Review: J. Carney's second 'love letter' to music, "Begin Again" ain't half as heartfelt and inspired as his previous effort, "Once", and yet its hippie nature makes you feel free, happy, and uplifted while you watch it, even if its trashy look takes away from it inner sparkle. Knightley and Ruffalo's surprising chemistry is without a doubt the driving force of the film, and they both do a solid job with what they are given, but sadly, the so-so story ends up being less fun than it's supposed to.

[6.00/10] A Most Violent Year (2014)

A Most Violent Year (2014)

Quick Review:  Competent director Chandor successfully maintains the quiet tension throughout the movie, the script is intelligently-written, and the neo-noir-ish feel of the visuals suits the time period it is set in, but despite all these qualities along with Isaac and Chastain's beyond terrific performances, "A Most Violent" year is too straightforward and laid-back to live up to its title, and to intrigue the audience deeply enough, not to mention the lack of climax, and the very monotonous pacing.

[7.00/10] Into the Woods (2014)

Into the Woods (2014)

Quick Review: A truly delightful mash-up of classic fairy tales, all of which blend smoothly into one jolly story, "Into the Woods" captivates with its splendidly murky visuals and grabs with its melodious songs. The cast work great together, with Blunt being the most memorable one, due to her genuine charisma, and great singing voice. Sure, the final act is a bit anticlimatic, and not all the actors are good at singing, but overall, this Broadway-inspired musical is a pure boredom killer at its best.

[7.75/10] Big Eyes (2014)

Big Eyes (2014)

Quick Review: It is inconsistent in tone as it shifts from vivid to moody, but that is exactly what makes it as enthralling as it is, along with the fascinating true story about art, lies, and greed, it depicts. Even though his signature style is still there, with "Big Eyes", the director shows us an entirely new much more subtle and intimate side of himself, abandoning the usual 'Burton vision', letting the power of the story and the top-notch performances by Adams and Waltz to absorb the audience.

[4.75/10] Seventh Son [3D] (2015)

Seventh Son [3D] (2015)

Quick Review: Generic, plotless, and messy, "Seventh Son" is your typical CGI-laden medieval fantasy flick, that has nothing to offer other than some okay action and creature effects, and a mostly fine cast that has very little to work with, due to a weak characterization, and a badly-written script, only Bridges manages to handle. The somewhat luminous, yet low on contrast visuals, and very poor 3D effects almost hurt the eye, and that is a huge technical mistake not at all easy to forgive.

[6.50/10] Penguins of Madagascar (2014)

Penguins of Madagascar (2014)

Quick Review: Fortunately, it has that sense of adventure most films of this type are missing these days, and the colorful and above average graphics add to the experience, and yet "Penguins of Madagascar" can hardly be called a total winner. More restless than 'cute and cuddly', the penguins themselves are very fun to watch but even though it does move along at a pretty brisk pace, the film cannot escape from all the silliness. Not that it even tries to...

[5.00/10] Taken 3 (2015)

Taken 3 (2015)

Quick Review: As contrived and unnecessary as its predecessor, if occasionally watchable, "Taken 3" has too many issues to be enjoyed properly -- from the messy pacing and pathetic editing, to the clumsy hand-to-hand fighting à la Steven Seagal style, overly choreographed chase scenes, conventional setting, and expected plot twist, everything about this sequel, apart from the always compelling Liam Neeson, is sub-par. Forest Whitaker's talent is entirely wasted here too.

[6.25/10] Laggies (2014)

Laggies (2014)

Quick Review: Giving yet another alluring performance just as good as her American accent in the film, Keira Knightley leads "Laggies" with confidence and glamour, supported brilliantly by Moretz and Rockwell. Lynn Shelton's subtle direction and the film's toned-down visuals blend well with the sort of 'away with the fairies' concept and the wise, yet amusing child/adulthood story about life's unpredictability that teaches us never to judge people for mistakes we can make ourselves.

[7.50/10] Whiplash (2014)

Whiplash (2014)

Quick Review: Telling an inspiring story about a young man's ambition for an excellence in jazz drumming, "Whiplash" is all about dedication, but at the price of repression as well physical and mental bullying... and it's utterly electrifying to watch, if not always as engrossing as it could be. One of the most promising actors working today, Miles Teller, and J.K. Simmons both do an impressive job outwitting one another, and playing dirty games in their student-teacher bond that drives the film.

[6.00/10] Force Majeure (2014)

Force Majeure (2014)

Quick Review: Can a lazy, limiting camera work and random editing work in a movie's favor? In case of "Force Majeure" it can, because it matches the tone of the emotionally resonant, satirical story it portrays. Both, Ruben Östlund's minimalistic direction and the snowy setting, that works as a blank canvas, allow the characters and their truly awkward dynamics take center stage, and the end result is a tad trying, yet oddly absorbing Swedish drama that you'll either appreciate or not.

[6.75/10] The Drop (2014)

The Drop (2014)

Quick Review: Its climax aside, it will hardly surprise you with anything unseen, but that doesn't mean that its screenplay is not cleverly-written, because it is. Frankly, the suspense could have been heightened, and the story tauter, but the atmospheric "The Drop" is still naturally gripping, without trying too hard to make an impression. Hardy and Rapace are excellently-cast, and they both turn in superb performances, building an on-screen relationship that is just as powerful as it is gentle.

[5.00/10] Cuban Fury (2014)

Cuban Fury (2014)

Quick Review: You can't help but being entertained by the naturally funny Nick Frost, who brings a smile to everyone's face every time he shows up on screen and C. O'Dowd does a convincing job playing his irritating character, but sadly, this good tandem is not good enough to cover up the script's shortcomings, such as painful predictability, sappy sentimentality, and lack of laughs. That said, the salsa-spiced "Cuban Fury" has some charm and fire to it when there is dancing.

[7.00/10] The Boxtrolls (2014)

The Boxtrolls (2014)

Quick Review: In comparison with Laika's splendid previous films, this one is neither as visually marvelous, nor as conceptually unique, and for those reasons it will hardly turn into a classic, but it still possesses some quirky originality, and the animation is crafted with rich imagination and flair for the extraordinary. Along with the grimly beautiful graphics, "The Boxtrolls" manages to stand out with a memorable villain and sympathetic characters that get more likable as the moral story unfolds.

[6.00/10] Magic in the Moonlight (2014)

Magic in the Moonlight (2014)

Quick Review: A sophisticatedly charming oddball romance, proving the old theory that opposites attract, "Magic in the Moonlight" might be a bit too cheesy and straightforward in comparison to Allen's previous work, but it's still pleasant and amusing to watch, and also exquisite to look at, due to the fuzzy, yet vibrant visuals it arrests the eye with. Luckily for us, Stone's magically likeable character easily makes up for the big dryness and stiffness of Firth's.

[4.50/10] Iceman (2014)

Iceman (2014) 

Quick Review: Being directed by the meticulous Donnie Yen himself, the action is pretty entertaining to say the least, thanks some decent choreography and great wire work, but that aside, "Iceman" is a lame and messy action comedy, riddled with such goofiness it's more often than not embarrassing to watch and not particularly amusing either. Not to mention the surprisingly cheesy made-for-3D special effects, which look awful in 2D and Yen's complete lack of comedic abilities.

[6.50/10] The Judge (2014)

The Judge (2014)

Quick Review: It's hard not to be engaged by a movie with the two great Roberts (Downey Jr. & Duvall) in the lead, and even though "The Judge" tends to be a bit sappy and melodramatic at times, that doesn't soften its sharpness too much. The script, while bright and intelligent is far from original, and although easy to predict, the story is still riveting in its own way, largely thanks to the strong screen presence all around. The film's polished cinematography also deserves a praise.

[4.00/10] Dumb and Dumber To (2014)

Dumb and Dumber To (2014)

Quick Review: Probably, watching two total morons saying and doing outrageously stupid stuff was kinda funny two decades ago, but in 2014 nothing about that feels refreshing. It would be a lie to say there are no decent moments in this plain dumb sequel, but those are very few and far between, and it's pretty obvious that "Dumb and Dumber To" relies on success of the original to cause interest. Carrey & Daniels got older, and so did all the jokes.

[6.75/10] Men, Women & Children (2014)

Men, Women & Children (2014)

Quick Review: It not only depicts the real-life problems of our modern society pretty accurately, but "Men, Women & Children" frankly shows our dependency on the internet and technology in general, and how they can be both a blessing and a curse, metaphorically. The exquisite score exudes calmness that contrasts with the issues the story focuses on, the ensemble cast delivers big time, but the documentar-ish narration is off- putting, and distracting.