James Patterson – Movie Reviews – O

Oblivion

Really handsome film with some moments but also a little too much dead space. Long ago I learned to leave out the parts that people skim. A lot of movie makers haven’t.

On DVD: Amazon
On Demand: Amazon | iTunes
Posters: Amazon

Observe and Report

There’s a line of dialogue in this movie that’s the perfect review: “I thought this was going to be funny, but it’s kind of sad.”

On DVD: Amazon
On Demand: Amazon | iTunes
Posters: Amazon

Obsessed

This was a huge hit on its opening weekend. Idris Elba has a very powerful screen presence—and this story pushes the audience’s buttons very, very effectively. On the negative side, I found the direction & prod values could have been much better.

On DVD: Amazon
On Demand: Amazon | iTunes
Posters: Amazon

Obvious Child

Tight, well-acted, kind of slick for an Independent. What this film is really about—at least my take on it—is seemingly very smart people who are incredibly dumb about life.

On DVD: Amazon
On Demand: Amazon | iTunes
Posters: Movie Poster Shop

Ocean’s 8

Sue and I both felt this was our favorite of the Ocean’s movies. Sharp opening scenes, sags a bit in the middle, logic lapses down the stretch. But all in all, a terrifically entertaining heist film. A-

Ocean’s 13

I loved Oceans 11 (both versions), didn’t care for Oceans 12, and Oceans 13 is in the middle of the pack for me. I wanted to love it, but it’s just too underplayed and “cool” for me. Not bad; just not what I had hoped.

On DVD: Amazon
On Demand: Amazon | iTunes
Posters: Amazon

Oculus

A smart horror story, but sometimes smart gets in the way of scary.

On DVD: Amazon
On Demand: Amazon | iTunes
Posters: Amazon | Movie Poster Shop

Oldboy

Josh Brolin is very good. This oddball movie from Spike Lee? Not so much.

On DVD: Amazon
On Demand: Amazon | iTunes
Posters: Amazon | Movie Poster Shop

Old Dogs

Do you have a friend who says things that are goofy/funny sometimes, but really embarrassing at other times, and doesn’t seem to know the difference? That’s this movie.

On DVD: Amazon
On Demand: iTunes
Posters: Amazon

Olympus Has Fallen

An old fashioned thriller, and I mean that in the best and worst sense of the phrase. Always entertaining but at times unnecessarily stupid.

On DVD: Amazon
On Demand: Amazon | iTunes
Posters: Amazon

Once

This is one of my favorite movies ever about music and art. It’s about a man and a woman who are going to practice their music even if they never make a nickel out of it and they have great passion for what they’re doing. It’s absolutely a delight.

On DVD: Amazon
On Demand: iTunes
Posters: Amazon

One Day

I am a Random House author in the U.K., and Random House Films needs my help. I’m not being arrogant about this, just clear-headed and truthful. Oh yeah, the film itself—not very good. No chemistry between the lovers (and I like Hathaway a lot).

On DVD: Amazon
On Demand: Amazon | iTunes
Posters: Amazon

One for the Money

Not much pace, no suspense, occasionally funny. You know you’re in some trouble when Debbie Reynolds gets more laughs than Katherine Heigl.

On DVD: Amazon
On Demand: Amazon | iTunes
Posters: Amazon

Only the Brave

Lively film based on a harrowing true story about firefighters in Arizona. Stunning cast led by Jennifer Connelly, Josh Brolin, and Jeff Bridges. B+

Operation Finale

This is an important story about the capture of Eichmann in South America. I wish it was a little better movie, but it’s still very emotional and powerful. B+

The Other Boleyn Girl

A lush, generally diverting soap opera, which at one point threatens to turn into a pulp opera. Henry VIII has never looked better, however. Svelte and hunky.

On DVD: Amazon
On Demand: Amazon | iTunes
Posters: Amazon

The Other Guys

This is one of those recent half-comedy, half-thriller flicks (see The Bounty Hunter and Cop Out). I thought the first half—mostly comedy—was pretty terrific; the second half not as good.

On DVD: Amazon
On Demand: Amazon | iTunes
Posters: Amazon

The Other Woman

Pretty funny when there are 2 women (Cameron Diaz and Leslie Mann), not so funny when they add woman number 3 (Kate Upton).

On DVD: Amazon
On Demand: Amazon | iTunes
Posters: Amazon

Our Brand Is Crisis

A serious subject for a movie—but not handled very well. Sandra Bullock was very good in the lead. C-

On DVD: Amazon | Barnes & Noble
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