Oz the Great and Powerful

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(2013)

Genre: Adventure/Fantasy

Director: Sam Raimi

Writers: Mitchell Kapner, David Lindsay-Abaire, L. Frank Baum

Producers: Debbi Bossi, Grant Curtis, Joshua Donen, K.C. Hodenfield, W. Mark McNair, Palak Patel, Joe Roth, Philip Steuer, Tamara Watts Kent

Synopsis: Disney's fantastical adventure "Oz The Great and Powerful," directed by Sam Raimi, imagines the origins of L. Frank Baum's beloved wizard character. When Oscar Diggs (James Franco), a small-time circus magician with dubious ethics, is hurled away from dusty Kansas to the vibrant Land of Oz, he thinks he's hit the jackpot-fame and fortune are his for the taking-that is until he meets three witches, Theodora (Mila Kunis), Evanora (Rachel Weisz) and Glinda (Michelle Williams), who are not convinced he is the great wizard everyone's been expecting. Reluctantly drawn into the epic problems facing the Land of Oz and its inhabitants, Oscar must find out who is good and who is evil before it is too late. Putting his magical arts to use through illusion, ingenuity-and even a bit of wizardry-Oscar transforms himself not only into the great wizard but into a better man as well. When small-time magician Oscar Diggs (James Franco) pulls one flimflam too many, he finds himself hurled into the fantastical Land of Oz where he must somehow transform himself into the great wizard-and just maybe into a better man as well. -- (Written by Walt Disney Pictures)

Cast:

• James Franco
• Mila Kunis
• Rachel Weisz
• Michelle Williams
• Zach Braff

IMDb - Oz the Great and Powerful

The Book of Eli

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(2010)

Genre: Action/Adventure/Drama

Director: Albert Hughes, Allen Hughes

Writer: Gary Whitta

Producers: Brad Arensman, Yolanda T. Cochran, Susan Downey, Ethan Erwin, Broderick Johnson, Andrew A. Kosove, Erik Olsen, Steve Richards, Joel Silver, David Valdes, Denzel Washington, John David Washington, Steven P. Wegner

Synopsis: A post-apocalyptic tale, in which a lone man fights his way across America in order to protect a sacred book that holds the secrets to saving humankind. -- (Written by IMDb Editors)

Cast:

• Denzel Washington
• Mila Kunis
• Gary Oldman

IMDb - The Book of Eli

Friends With Benefits

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(2011)

Genre: Comedy

Director: Will Gluck

Writer: Keith Merryman, David A. Newman, Will Gluck, Harley Peyton

Producers: Alicia Emmrich, Glenn S. Gainor, Liz Glotzer, Will Gluck, Martin Shafer, Nicolas Stern, Janet Zucker, Jerry Zucker

Synopsis: While trying to avoid the clichés of Hollywood romantic comedies, Dylan and Jamie soon discover however that adding the act of sex to their friendship does lead to complications. (Written by IMDb Editors)

Cast:

• Justin Timberlake
• Mila Kunis
• Patricia Clarkson
• Richard Jenkins
• Woody Harrelson
• Jenna Elfman
• Andy Samberg
• Emma Stone
• Shaun White

IMDb - Friends With Benefits

Black Swan (jhunterfilmreview)

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 (2010
Genre: Thriller/Drama

Director: Darren Aronofsky

Writer: Mark Heyman, Andres Heinz, John J. McLaughlin

Nominee

Synopsis: Nina (Portman) is a ballerina in a New York City ballet company whose life, like all those in her profession, is completely consumed with dance. She lives with her obsessive former ballerina mother Erica (Hershey) who exerts a suffocating control over her. When artistic director Thomas Leroy (Cassel) decides to replace prima ballerina Beth MacIntyre (Ryder) for the opening production of their new season, Swan Lake, Nina is his first choice. But Nina has competition: a new dancer, Lily (Kunis), who impresses Leroy as well. Swan Lake requires a dancer who can play both the White Swan with innocence and grace, and the Black Swan, who represents guile and sensuality. Nina fits the White Swan role perfectly but Lily is the personification of the Black Swan. As the two young dancers expand their rivalry into a twisted friendship, Nina begins to get more in touch with her dark side - a recklessness that threatens to destroy her. (Written by Fox Searchlight Pictures)

Cast:

• Natalie Portman
• Mila Kunis
• Vincent Cassel
• Barbara Hershey
• Winona Ryder

 

IMDb - Black Swan 

jhunterfilmreview: Black Swan. A disturbingly breath-taking psychological thriller directed by Darren Aronofsky. Known for Requiem for a Dream and The Wrestler, this is Aronofsky's seventh feature film. The film stars Academy Award Nominee, Natalie Portman, Mila Kunis and Vincent Cassel, each delivering outstanding performances through their heavily layered characters. The first half of the film has a steady pace, but as it progresses, the intensity increases, and the characters' layers rapidly unravel. The transition of Nina (Portman) is particularly significant - she is initially frigid, nervous and unsure of every facet of her being, but eventually metamorphosis's (much like the story of Swan Lake) and embraces her extremely dark side. Furthermore, Mila Kunis plays a totally different role to what she is used to (Forgetting Sarah Marshall, That 70s Show, Family Guy), but really shines in this film. Something I also noticed was the heavy and consistent use of dark sets and props to follow the theme, and maintain its mysterious, disturbing aspect, and I thought that Aronofsky pulled this off extremely well. I believe that this film has earned its 4 Golden Globe nominations, and 55th place in the IMDb Top 250 movies of all time. The combination of superb acting, Matthew Libatique's stunning cinematography and Aronofsky's remarkable directing all contributed to my overall score of this 2010 masterpiece.

I give this film 9 stars...