THE REVIEW CORNER

    I love going to the movies.  I always have.  And for the last few years, I have truly loved writing reviews for movies that I see in theaters.  I started writing reviews out of boredom one summer and it has since turned into the number one thing I want to do with my life.  Ever since then, I've wanted to be a film critic.     There's something magical about going to a darkened theater and watching something on a large silver screen.  If you go to as many movies as I do, it probably wouldn't be quite as magical an experience after a while.  But it's still fun to go to the movies on the weekends.  I won't stop no matter how bad the movies get.     So how was the summer at the movies?  Some years, it's a great place to go to beat the heat for a few hours.  There's usually something good that's playing that's worth seeing.  Sadly, there weren't a whole lot of great movies this summer that made the theaters good places to beat the heat.  And now

Starring: Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Scarlett Johansson, Julianne Moore, Glenne Headly, Brie Larson, and Tony Danza Directed and written by: Joseph Gordon-Levitt     To the gentlemen with significant others, clear your internet history BEFORE you see this movie with them.     Jon Martello (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) has an interesting life.  He cares about only a few things; his apartment, family, church, friends, girls, and porn, especially the porn.  He's nicknamed "Don" because he hooks up with the most attractive girls every weekend.  One night at the club, he meets Barbara (Scarlett Johansson).  She's different from all the other girls Jon hooks up with.  She wants more than just a happy ending one night, meaning Jon's going to have to change his game if he wants to get with her.  And as much as he likes her, he likes his porn even more.  She hates that he watches porn, so something's going to have to give.     Don Jon is Joseph Gordon-Levitt's first featu

Starring: Chris Hemsworth,  Daniel Brüh l,  and Olivia Wilde Directed by: Ron Howard Screenplay by: Peter Morgan Based on true events     Behold, a look into why Formula One racing is so dangerous.     It's the 1970s, and Formula One auto racing is extraordinarily popular all around the world.  Our two main characters, James Hunt (Chris Hemsworth) and Niki Lauda ( Daniel Brüh l) have a tremendous rivalry that has captivated the world.  At the time the film takes place (1976), Lauda is the reigning world champion and looking to take the crown again.  But Hunt stands in his way, even with all the technical difficulties his team is having with the car.  Part way through the season, Lauda experiences a terrible crash in which he suffers severe burns all over his body, making it difficult to drive.  Who will win the world championship?  Formula One fans, you probably know the whole story.       Similarly to Formula One racing, this is a relatively fast paced film.  It's fast

Starring: Miles Teller and Shailene Woodley Directed by: James Ponsoldt Screenplay by: Scott Neustadter and Michael H. Weber Based on the novel by Tim Tharp     It looks like we have another teen romance movie on our hands.     Sutter Keely (Miles Teller) is a typical hard partying student.  He's a high school senior who acts like nothing really matters and doesn't care much about anything.  All that changes when he meets Aimee Finicky (Shailene Woodley).  She's the "nice girl", the inexperienced girl; pretty much the exact opposite of Sutter.  All Sutter wants to do is stay in the same spot for the foreseeable future and not do anything productive.  Aimee has goals and dreams that she wants to achieve.  She wants to move to Philadelphia and make a life for herself in the city.  After a while, these plans begin to include Sutter, because the more time they spend together, the more in love she falls with him.  Will he go with Aimee or stay where he is?  

Starring: Cate Blanchett, Alec Baldwin, Peter Sarsgaard, Sally Hawkins, and Louis C.K. Directed by: Woody Allen Screenplay by: Woody Allen     Here we have an interesting perspective on what it's like to lose everything we have in life.     Jasmine (Cate Blanchett) has lost just about everything she's ever had.  Her husband Hal (Alec Baldwin) has recently been arrested and thrown in prison for massive fraud.  The government has seized almost all their wealth, leaving Jasmine with a sense of denial that all of this is really happening.  Seeking to start a new life, she moves to San Francisco to live with her sister, Ginger (Sally Hawkins), while she can try to pick up the pieces and move on if she can.  Meanwhile, Ginger is dealing with some troubles of her own.     This is a somewhat troubling story line that is performed quite well and in an interesting fashion.  None of these characters seem like characters audience members are supposed to identify with, either in part