REVIEW: Andy’s weekend movie "best bets"

Andy Morgan provides a weekly movie review for CacheValleyDaily.com. Andy also appears on KVNU's For the People Movie Show each Friday at 5 p.m. Other reviews from Andy Morgan are available at andyatthemovies.com. His column is a work of opinion, and does not reflect the views of Cache Valley Daily, the Cache Valley Media Group, or its employees.

<em><strong>OPENING THIS WEEKEND</strong></em>

<strong>SNITCH (PG-13)</strong>

If you enjoy Dwayne Johnson (aka The Rock) kicking bad guys in the nether regions and blowing stuff up, this movie is your golden ticket this weekend. Johnson plays a father who becomes an undercover informant and infiltrates a drug cartel in order to spare his falsely-accused son a decade long prison sentence.

<strong>DARK SKIES (PG-13)</strong>

What happens when PARANORMAL ACTIVITY and INSIDIOUS team up with aliens and have a baby? DARK SKIES is what happens. Think CLOSE ENCOUNTERS OF THE THIRD KIND, except with really grouchy aliens bent on snatching humans, and then stuff that into a haunted house. If you’ve seen the trailers, then you know this looks super creepy.

<em><strong>STILL IN THEATERS</strong></em>

<strong>A GOOD DAY TO DIE HARD (R)</strong>

Bruce Willis (LOOPER) is back as everyone’s favorite New Jersey cop, John McClane, this time unleashing chaos in Mother Russia whilst trying to track down his prodigal son, Jack. In the end, father and son bond through their love of shooting bad guys and blowing stuff up – like freeways, hotels, and Chernobyl. Just big, loud, explosive dumb fun.

<strong>SAFE HAVEN (PG-13)</strong>

Based on the Nicholas Sparks’ book of the same name, this movie is formulaic, but surprisingly good. It’s pretty people set against pretty landscapes and full of love, faith and hope. And maybe I’m corny, but the surprise ending was touching and unexpected. SAFE HAVEN also stars the dreamy Josh Duhamel (LIFE AS WE KNOW IT) and the heavenly Julianne Hough (ROCK OF AGES).

<strong>WARM BODIES (PG-13)</strong>

This new take on zombies signals Hollywood is leaving sparkling vampires and hunky six-pack-abs werewolves behind for romancing the undead, and that is a good thing. WARM BODIES is fresh, quirky and fun and definitely one of the best movies to hit theaters during the cinematic doldrums of February.

<strong>SILVER LININGS PLAYBOOK (R)</strong>

My favorite movie of the year is still playing in Cache Valley and if you haven’t seen it, you’re missing out on a life-changing experience. This movie is about finding hope and love and “silver linings” even when your life may have veered off course. Directed by David O. Russell (THE FIGHTER) and starring Bradley Cooper (THE HANGOVER) and Jennifer Lawrence (THE HUNGER GAMES), I’d be really surprised if this fantastic flick didn’t win a bunch of Oscars at the Academy Awards this Sunday.

<strong>LES MISERABLES (PG-13)</strong>

Watching Anne Hathaway (THE DARK KNIGHT RISES) sing “I Dreamed a Dream” is worth the ticket price alone, and will most assuredly win Hathaway the best supporting actress Oscar this Sunday. It’s a little slow, but it’s a spectacle and I definitely believe one of the year’s best.

<strong>LINCOLN (PG-13)</strong>

Some have this tabbed to win best picture at the Oscars, but I’m not so sure. Still, its classic Steven Spielberg (WAR HORSE) and missing this movie will cost you a chance to see one of the finest living actors (Daniel Day-Lewis) at the top of his craft as he brings our 16th president to life.

<strong>THE IMPOSSIBLE (PG-13)</strong>

This movie about the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami isn’t the easiest thing to watch, but at the same time the love and beauty of this film is tear-jerkingly good. I walked away full of hope that, despite what we might hear on the news, the world is full of kindhearted people willing and ready to lift their fellow man. Naomi Watts (J.EDGAR) is nominated for best actress for her portrayal of Maria Bennett, a woman desperately trying to reunite her family which has been scattered and lost because of the tragedy.

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