Mediocrity has a name and that name is “Safe House”. Despite high hopes for a strong, intense spy story, “Safe House” delivers performances that at times seem like they were phoned in with a premise that has been seen many times before and many times better. Spies lie – often to each other. Sometimes they go rogue and become traitors. Sometimes the real explanation is muddled in gray areas.

“Safe House” presents Matt Weston (Ryan Reynolds) as a “housekeeper” of a low priority CIA safe house in Cape Town, South Africa. Having been at his post for one year, he speaks to his superior about moving up and how he seems to passed over because of his lack of accomplishments. Meanwhile, elsewhere in Cape Town, a rouge CIA agent is making his way to a meeting to collect information from a British Intelligence officer. The meeting is compromised and the rouge agent flees for his life. He finds his way to a U.S. Consulate for shelter. The man is Tobin Frost (Denzil Washington) wanted as a traitor and a terrorist. He is taken into custody and subsequently to Weston’s safe house by a team of interrogators. As soon as the interrogation begins, the house is compromised and the interrogators are killed. Weston is faced with the toughest decision of his career – what to do with Frost?

What follows is a sloppy mess of chase scenes, loss of control, regaining control, avoiding killers, avoiding police, and of course the now overused running across rooftops through a slum or ghetto area until someone finally falls through a tin roof. The pacing jumps from fast to slow to are they trying for comedy? and back again. “Safe House” fails to be the film it should have been. It is at best okay where it should have tended toward great.

Director Danial Espenosa and writer David Guggenheim would have done well to study CIA story films that actually work extremely well such as the 1975 film “Three Days of the Condor” in which Joe Turner (Robert Redford), a low level research officer, goes to lunch and comes back to find his team had been assassinated. After that he was out in the cold with everyone is trying to kill him. They could have studied any of the Matt Damon as Jason Bourne films and might have found a way to work in the subtlety and intensity that are lacking in “Safe House”.

Is “Safe House” worth seeing? Sure. Just don’t expect too much from a film that doesn’t really live up to the level of action and spy thriller intrigue that the trailers imply.

Rated: R (1 hour 55 min)

Ghastly… er… I mean Ghostly… Actually more like not a Ghost of a chance… “Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance”, a supposed sequel to “The Ghost Rider” is that rare film that is so bad that it is likely to develop an instant cult following and little else. Unfortunately, the vengeance of the spirit appears to be aimed at audiences hoping for a good movie.

The first time around we learned the history of the Ghost Rider and how motorcycle stuntman Johnny Blaze (Nicolas Cage) became The Ghost Rider. This time out Blaze has been trying to hide from society to keep the Ghost from coming out and killing. At the same time he is going insane or at least schizophrenic from the internal battle to keep the Ghost hidden while he tries to maintain control. He sort of succeeds until he is tracked down by the priest Moreau (Idris Elba) who wants him to find and protect Danny (Fergus Riordan) and his mother Nadya (Violante Placido) from Satan/Roarke (Ciarán Hinds). Turns out that Danny is the devils son and slated to become the part human vessel for the devil to transfer to so he can continue to roam the earth.

If you’ve seen the trailer then you have already seen most of the best parts of the movie including what happens when the Ghost Rider has to pee (A.K.A – the flame thrower). Nicolas Cage’s performance is nothing new or particularly exciting. His conflicted arguments with the Ghost over who is in control is augmented by pathetic CGI effects that keep bringing out and putting back parts of the Ghost’s skull imposed on Cage’s face. Choppy editing and a weak, almost lame script result in fare that is quite foul. Perhaps it’s time for Marvel Comics/Marvel Knights/Marvel Universe to stop making films for a while. Hardly worth paying the price of admission, this one barely rates watching when the inevitable DVD comes out. If you feel you must see it in the theater at least do yourself the favor of seeing it in 2D and save the 3D money for popcorn.

Rated: PG-13 (1 Hour 36 min)

It’s coming. The end of The Twilight Saga movies.

But along the way there will be events big and small and…disappointing.

Friday, February 10th was marked as the night that the DVD/Blu-Ray editions of “The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Part 1” would be released at midnight. Earlier in the day people lined up in  various locations for pre-release events. Promoted for weeks as the “Big Event”, 500 Target stores promised a special sneak peek of “The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Part 2”. Their Sunday, February 5 advertisement included a front cover fly sheet inviting all Twilighters to the 11 p.m. show.

Lasting about six and a half minutes, the sneak peek fell short of expectations. Advanced rumors had it that as much as the first 15 minutes of the movie would be shown. Instead, it was mostly a fast recap of the prior films and a promo for the “Part 1” release in less than an hour. When the subject matter finally turned to “Part 2” the three principle actors, Kristen Stewart who plays Isabella “Bella” Swan, Taylor Lautner who plays Jacob Black, and Robert Pattinson who plays Edward Cullen, provided some introductory comments which were finally followed by an approximately two minute scene from “Part 2”.

The scene presented:

Bella sits down on the sofa in a house and looks at words written on a piece of paper. Edward comes in from behind and sits down next to her. Bella says “It’s strange… Physically I feel like I could demolish a tank… and mentally I just feel… drained.” Edward asks “How about a bath?” Bella smiles. She glances again at the paper then looks at Edward as he says “I’ve had a bad habit of underestimating you. Every obstacle you’ve faced… I’d think you couldn’t overcome it… But you just did… You have given me something to fight for… a family.” They kiss. Edward then gets up and goes off to draw her a bath. She looks again at the words written on the paper - “Gather as many witnesses as you can before the snow sticks to the ground. That’s when they’ll come for us.”

When she turns over the paper she sees that it was torn from a copy of William Shakespeare’s “The Merchant of Venice”. Going to the bookcase she finds a copy of the play. The page was torn out of the front. Flipping through the book, Bella finds the inscription “J. Jenks, Seattle – destroy this”…

END OF SNEEK PEAK.

William Shakespeare also wrote “Much Ado About Nothing”. Many of those who attended the Target super short sneak peek show felt like they had wasted hours waiting for something that was practically nothing. If they had gone to select Walmarts they would have at least been treated to a proper showing of “Twilight: Eclipse”. Based on Target’s sneak peek, weakness will Part 2 be a significant film? Will a major war break out? Or will there just be a lynching as the note tends to imply? Perhaps a better clue will be found when the Official “The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn – Part 2” trailer premieres with the release of “The Hunger Games” on March 23.

The Innkeepers is Ti West’s (The House of the Devil) take on a good ol’ fashioned ghost story, and it’s a really fun time.  The writer/director/editor has the unique ability to convey an homage and at the same time make it feel new (sort of like a horror movie equivalent of The Artist).  The story is simple – the creepy old Yankee Pedlar Inn is on the verge of closing, and the two bored employees decide to try and contact the spirits that haunt the place in the last few days it’s open.  The film comes complete with a psychic former actress (Kelly McGillis), a mysterious old man (George Riddle), and retro, yet strategic camera dollying.

West takes his sweet time getting to the actual haunting, but it’s A – well worth the wait, and replete with suspenseful and startling moments throughout, and B – totally okay because the characters are good and the dialogue is often funny and feels like a better, more engaging and empathetic version of the trite, predictable dialogue of the older horror flicks West is pulling from.  Claire (Sara Paxton) and Luke (Pat Healy) are believable small town inn employees; their dynamic is realistic.  It’s not unpleasant or useless to watch them on their downtime – in fact, it creates tension to see them comfortable in a place they shouldn’t be comfortable in at all.  And I have to say, I much prefer Claire and Luke’s subtle characterizations through humor to the either melodramatic or non-existent character development that occurs (or doesn’t) in most recent American horror films.  The main characters of The Innkeepers didn’t have to suffer a trauma years ago that they repressed but that didn’t fail to infiltrate and ruin every part of their lives before they started to get terrorized by spirits.  They could just sort of be slacker, small town kids who work at an inn and are interested in ghosts.  It’s refreshingly simple, though still well-crafted and well written.

Lena Dunham, the indie wunderkind known for her film, Tiny Furniture, makes a funny cameo as a truly annoying coffee shop barista.  The film has that sense of self-awareness and is somewhat outwardly reflective of its own indie cred, but manages to not be at all pretentious about it.  The Innkeepers is just a pure, solid, and super fun ghost story that is entertaining throughout and feels classic without sacrificing any of the scare, getting good and frightening at the end.

What were they thinking? Katherine Heigl as Stephanie Plum, an out of work lingerie sales manager who becomes a recovery agent for her cousin’s bail bond business. In 2010 it was Jennifer Aniston pursued by her ex-husband Gerard Butler (The Bounty Hunter). Now its Heigl after O’Mara. Who next? Dolly Parton after…  well you get the idea.

The film adaptation of Janet Evanovich’s first in a series of Stephanie Plum novels serves the purpose of telling the story of how Plum gets into recovery work and pursues Joe Morelli (Jason O’Mara) whom she has a past with from high school. She does a fair job of investigating for a rookie and makes a friend in Ranger (Daniel Sunjata) a seasoned bounty hunter who always wears Kevlar. The plot manages a decent detective story as it turns out Morelli is really under cover and was set up. But this is far from being a great story. Heigl’s perkiness entertains for only so long.

When a studio offers discount tickets to the opening weekend as Lionsgate did with Groupon, one has to wonder how good the film really is. In this case the coupon would have helped with a viewing recommendation. As the first of what may become a franchise of Stephanie Plum movies “One for the Money” is a passable option for a date night movie especially fans of the book series. Humor  mixed with enough action to almost make you feel you get your money’s worth out of a ticket… discount ticket that is.

Rated: PG-13 (1 hour 31 min)

Once more the viewing public is being subjected to a first person, hand-held, documentary format movie. This time they seem to have gotten it right. Through a slight of hand plot device “Chronicle” allows for interesting dolly and crane shots that add a smoothness and lighting that was not possible with prior efforts like “Paranormal Activity” and “The Blair Witch Project” while still preserving the hand-held premise.

Set in Seattle, “Chronicle” begins slow and somewhat boring with teenager outcast Andrew Detmer (Dane DeHaan) making a video of his daily life. But then his cousin Matt Garetty (Alex Russell) and another student, Steve Montgomery (Michael B. Jordon) get him to record a strange sound coming from a hole in the ground. Naturally the trio have to investigate further climbing down into a chamber where they find a strange crystalline structure. As the sound increases and Steve’s nose begins to bleed, the camera breaks….

Sometime later a new camera records the three playing with Legos, hands free. Telekinesis – the ability to move objects with the power of the mind – is to blame. Enter a “Matrix” like world where three teenagers have Neo like abilities except with a sense of humor and no machines trying to kill them. All seems well as they grow their abilities until Andrew finds himself humiliated at a party. From then on he becomes an alpha predator (top of the food chain) setting up for a Evil vs. Good battle.

Overall “Chronicle” is one of the best self-documentary type films made delivering entertainment and food for thought. Does absolute power always corrupt or can it really be used for good? Or is the real answer in a grey area? And what about sequels? Where did the crystal come from? What happens in the future? Will there be a Chronicle II? Probably if the film does well enough at the box office.

Rated: PG-13 (1 hour, 24 min)

We, as a generally spiteful society, love to see the bad guy get what’s coming to him. And of course, if a gorgeous woman is doling out justice, heap it on! Who didn’t love Kill Bill and apparently someone out there actually liked Colombiana, but my problem with female vengeance stories or female actions stars in general is this: who could actually believe those women could hurt someone?

Now before any women out there get angry, I have to preface this with saying I love ass kicking women in really good action movies. I am simply saying these women tend to be waifish chicks that are in desperate need of a sandwich. I was once an immensely athletic gym rat and when I could (kind of) bench and definitely whoop some butt, I was no wilting flower. Gina Carano is, first of all, gorgeous. Second of all, she is an actual professional MMA fighter with a decent record. I actually went on YouTube and looked up her fights. Every man and woman should be terrified of fighting her.

This was her first big acting gig and a great one at that. Like I have said before, I am a big fan of action movies. This story is a classic one, but is told in a much more original way. Although it is mostly told in flashback: it is blunt, to the point, and gritty. Mallory Kane (Carano), a former Marine and now mercenary, works for a private company run by her former boyfriend Kenneth (Ewan McGregor). In the beginning of the movie, she makes it clear that now that she has left him, she will be leaving the company as well. With his best employee leaving and his company on shaky ground, Kenneth feels spurned to the point of treason and vicious revenge on his former lover.

I liked Ewan McGregor as a bad guy. He is one of my favorites for sure, but usually he is so likable and chivalrous. It was fun to see him as a sniveling and conniving jaded ex. He hires a man named Paul (Michael Fassbender) to kill Mallory under the guise of a friendly Mi6 agent. This had to be my favorite scene in the film. Fassbender and Carano go at each other like wild animals. The fight is brutal and believable. One of my favorite things this film did was not add that cheesy punch sound. They beat the living daylights out of each other in a swanky hotel room. Let’s just say Carano drop kicking him through a glass door was not the worst thing that happens to him.

It’s films like this that make me sad we don’t offer Oscars for fight choreography. Each of the actors, as well as their doubles, moved with grace and fluidity. All I wanted to do was kick box after leaving the theatre. And it isn’t all violence either. Some would say that an MMA fighter can’t act and I would agree for the most part. Carano is no Meryl Streep but the character called for a matter of fact and practical attitude which Carano delivered on fully. I didn’t even mind the usually boring and Ken doll like Channing Tatum. As for the rest of the cast, Michael Douglas was charming and sneaky as the government agent working Kenneth over for Mallory’s sake and Antonio Banderas is well… Antonio Banderas. Enough said. All joking aside though, this is a film that’s short enough to be suspenseful, but long enough to tell a good story. As for the end, let’s just say I hope to see Haywire II in theatres in the next year.

It’s a crazy awards season, folks. This year, the list of films and actors that would be nominated for Oscars wasn’t as glaringly obvious as it’s been in years past. There are so many “very good” films, and not the usual stack of five or six great ones to choose from.  We believe the nominees are more exciting this year than ever, as many more films were in contention for the coveted nominee spots. In fact, several films that critics were sure would be included were almost completely left out (Young Adult, Drive), and there were films that no one thought would be included that were (Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close…this year’s The Blind Side. Our theory is that old white men in the Academy have a weird thing for Sandra Bullock). The Oscars, thanks to the recent, confusing addition of many smaller films and indie releases getting big, critical praise, as well as the decreasing relevance of the Golden-Globes-as-Oscar-predictor, are pretty up in the air, and as movie fans with a vested interest in watching Hollywood react to its own, incestuous, self-congratulatory traditions,  who could ask for anything more?

So with that, Knickerbocker Ledger’s two self-proclaimed resident People Who Like To Tell You Their Opinions About Movies, Cait Rooney and Robin Zlotnick, give you our Oscar Predictions…

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Could Cousin Vinny play JoePa in a future biopic?

With this morning’s report that Penn State football coach Joe Paterno passed away, speculation always arises after an individual’s death of a potential biographical film. After singer Michael Jackson’s death, his estate announced that a biopic was “in the works” with actor Will Smith and singer Bruno Wars as possible contenders to play the late King of Pop.

Paterno, who led Penn State for most of his adult life, would have more than enough information to have a biopic made that would go from his time at Brown University, taking over as head coach of the Nittany Lions, and eventually falling due to Jerry Sandusky’s child sex scandal.

With his trademark Italian-American, Brooklyn-accent, a possible casting for Paterno could be Joe Pesci. Pesci, 68, has largely retired from acting but has appeared in 2006′s The Good Shepherd and 2010′s Love Ranch.

Pesci won an Academy Award in 1990 for Goodfellas and no doubt if a Paterno biopic was well done, a Pesci performance could be Oscar-material. Pesci would bring a certain tenacity to the role, especially in the fire that Paterno displayed on the field and in the press.

Tributes continue. The tributes for the long time coach have coming in from luminaries such as former President George H.W. Bush and current Penn. Gov. Tom Corbett, as well as Paterno’s former assistant Jerry Sandusky.

“I was deeply saddened to hear of the passing of Joe Paterno. He was an outstanding American who was respected not only on the field of play but in life generally – and he was, without a doubt, a true icon in the world of sports. I was proud that he was a friend of mine. Barbara and I send our condolences to his devoted wife Suzanne and to his wonderful family” – President George H.W. Bush

“Susan and I were saddened to learn of Joe Paterno’s passing. His legacy as the winningest coach in major college football and his generosity to Penn State as an institution and to his players stand as monuments to his life. As both man and coach, Joe Paterno confronted adversities, both past and present, with grace and forbearance. His place in our state’s history is secure.” – Penn. Gov. Tom Corbett.

“This is a sad day! Our family, Dottie and I would like to convey our deepest sympathy to Sue and her family. Nobody will be able to take away the memories we all shared of a great man, his family, and all the wonderful people who were a part of his life. He maintained a high standard in a very difficult profession. Joe preached toughness, hard work and clean competition. Most importantly, he had the courage to practice what he preached.” – Jerry Sandusky.

Once upon a time Disney created animated films in two dimensions… Happily, after a time they decided to create 3D special editions… not that the 3D was especially needed, but it became the reason to bring the films back to the big screen where they belong. First it was “Lion King” and now it is the 1991 classic “Beauty and the Beast” which hasn’t been seen on the big screen since a 2002 IMAX special edition. A generation had passed without being able to see the film as it was intended.

Based on the French fairy tale “La Belle et la Bête”,  “Beauty and the Beast” tells the story of a selfish young prince who refuses shelter to an old beggar woman on a stormy night. The woman turns out to be a beautiful enchantress who changes the prince into a hideous beast for not seeing the beauty within. He has until is twenty-first birthday to find love and be loved for who he is or he will forever remain a beast and his servants, who have been transformed into household items, will also stay in their changed form. The Prince/Beast (Robby Benson) lives in anger with his isolation.

Meanwhile in a nearby village, Belle (Paige O’Hara), a young woman with a voracious appetite for reading finds herself the unwilling subject of the town’s example of machismo chauvinism, Gaston the Hunter (Richard White). Gaston believes a woman has no use for books and reading. Belle, on the other hand, wants someone who can appreciate her for the way she is just like her inventor father, Maurice (Rex Everhart), does.

While traveling to a fair to show off his latest invention, Maurice stumbles across the Beast’s castle and seeks shelter from a storm. Upon entering he encounters a candlestick and a clock. They are in reality Lumière (Jerry Orbach) and Cogsworth (David Ogden Stiers), the Beast’s maître ď and majordomo respectively, who eventually offer Maurice hospitality for the night. They are joined by a teapot, Mrs. Potts (Angela Lansbury), and her son, a teacup named Chip ( Bradley Michael Pierce). All seems well until the Master enters the room in his usual Beastly fashion and imprisons Maurice.

When Maurice’s horse returns riderless, Belle has the horse take her in search of her father. Finding him imprisoned in the castle it is not long before the Beast shows up. When Belle offers to take her father’s place the Beast accepts, her father is released and sent home, and the questions begin… Will love show up in time? Will Maurice be locked up for his crazy tale of a ferocious Beast? Will the hunter catch his prey? Will Disney continue to create and release 3D versions of its classic animated tales?

For the answer to most of these questions you will have to go see the film which has been acclaimed in its 2D form for years. As for the 3D version, the effect is a bit like a pop-up book, showing depth between the separated layers of the original hand-drawn animation cells. It adds contrast to many scenes but can easily be skipped if the 2D where also available. Unfortunately, Disney seems to think they have to do 3D treatments to get people to show up. Fortunately, though, it has been their excuse to re-releasing the classics to theaters again. If you have never seen “Beauty and the Beast” on a big screen before consider it a treat. Go see it while you can during the current limited release.

Rated: G (1 hour 24 min) Limited Time Release.