Big Hits

Step Up 3D

Following in the footsteps of two installments before it, “Step Up 3D” is chock full of catchy Hip-Hop/Pop songs and awe-inspiring dance routines. It’s exactly what we’ve come to expect from the “Step Up” movies, and there’s no question that in terms of dance, the third movie delivered. That said, the plot of latest chapter in the “Step Up” saga leaves something to be desired. The actors are stiff and unrelatable compared to the original’s Channing Tatum and Jenna Dewan, and the endearing Alyson Stoner, also known as “that girl from Missy Elliott’s ‘Work It’ video,” is relegated to a bit part with little dancing. “Step Up 3D” certainly isn’t perfect, but it is entertaining, which is what it was meant to be.

Eat Pray Love

Based on the bestselling book, “Eat Pray Love” was one of the most anticipated movies of the summer. Julia Roberts stars as Liz, a woman who, after a series of bad breakups, tries to find herself by traveling the world for a year, spending time in Italy (“Eat”), India (“Pray”) and Bali (“Love”). The movie had the complete recipe for a hit: a bestseller as inspiration, “Glee” director Ryan Murphy, Julia Roberts, Javier Bardem and more. But something went wrong. At more than two hours in length, the film still manages to feel incomplete. It shows snippets of all of Liz’s adventures but fails to truly convey how she grows in each section. The “Pray” section leaves the most to be desired by far. It doesn’t flow well, jumping from scene to scene with little consistency. With so much going for it, “Eat Pray Love” could have eaten away at the competition, but instead it was left to rot.

Twilight Saga: Eclipse

Since summer is the season of sequels, it’s only fitting that one of the most popular sequels, “The Twilight Saga: Eclipse,” was released this summer. “Eclipse” finds Bella Swan (Kristen Stewart) having to decide between loving a werewolf (Taylor Lautner) and a vampire (Robert Pattinson). While the other two films in the series have been fun, their entertainment value came mostly from their cheesiness. While not intentionally funny, the movies could certainly inspire a serious fit of giggles. This third movie, though, did no such thing. “Eclipse” was the first actually decent movie of the series. The acting improved significantly, with Kristen Stewart somehow fighting the urge to bite her lip every five seconds. The writing was more clever, and David Slade’s directing was a breath of fresh air. It certainly signals an upward trend for the teenage obsession.

The Kids are All Right

“The Kids Are All Right” tells the story of two kids who want to meet their biological father. The kids search for, find, meet and get to know the guy who donated his sperm to their lesbian mothers. “Kids” was one of the better movies this summer. It’s funny, complicated and engrossing. The story is original, and the acting superb. Both Julianne Moore and Annette Bening shine throughout the film, perfectly portraying a marriage that wasn’t specifically a “lesbian” marriage, but simply a marriage. “The Kids Are All Right” tells a previously untold story well and without excessive fanfare.

Inception

Arguably the movie of the summer, “Inception” played with minds until it was impossible for even the audience to tell what was real and fake. Directed by Christopher Nolan, “Inception” explores the world of Dom Cobb (Leonardo DiCaprio) as he invades people’s minds and steals their deepest secrets. Cobb has to perform one last job in order to return home to his family: plant an idea into his client’s competitor’s head, an action also known as inception. Everything about this film is brilliant. Nolan crafted a mind-twisting story that forces the viewer to constantly try to understand the characters’ world. The actors, including DiCaprio, Marion Cotillard and Ellen Page, all shine throughout the film. With both critical and popular acclaim, “Inception” has a one-way ticket to the Oscars.

Smaller Flicks

Exit Through the Gift Shop

In “Exit Through the Gift Shop,” real-life documentarian Thierry Guetta becomes the unofficial historian of the burgeoning street art scene. As the amateur filmmaker becomes entrenched in street art, Guetta finds himself in cahoots with the mysterious artist Banksy through a combination of coincidence and dumb luck. This is when things start to get weird. Banksy sees Guetta’s footage, realizes that Guetta is a terrible filmmaker and takes control of the project in hopes of salvaging this abomination. Meanwhile, Guetta returns to L.A. and inexplicably becomes an overnight sensation in the art world. The film concludes with a twist ending that questions the meaning of art and what makes it worthwhile. In a documentary for people who don’t like documentaries, “Exit Through the Gift Shop” manages to combine suspense, comedy and artistic philosophizing under the guise of a simple narrative.

Cyrus

What do you get when you cross indie comedy team Jay and Mark Duplass with ubiquitous funnymen Jonah Hill and John C. Reilly? The summer’s most outstandingly awkward comedy—”Cyrus”! After being single for seven years, brokenhearted divorcé John (John C. Reilly) fumbles his way into a serious relationship with the adorable Molly (Marissa Tomei). John and Molly seem to be on the relationship fast track until Molly’s adult son Cyrus (Jonah Hill) enters the picture. Cyrus’s world revolves around his mother, so John’s advances are earthshaking intrusions. John and Cyrus begin a rapidly escalating secret war for Molly’s affection, resulting in some hilariously uncomfortable hijinks. In a particularly cringe-inducing scene, Cyrus asks John, point-blank, if he has slept with Molly, while the three of them enjoy a quiet dinner. “Cyrus” relies heavily on the inherent awkwardness of these emotionally crippled characters for laughs, so fans of “The Office” should certainly take note.

I Am Love

“I Am Love” is one of the most visually arresting and technically accomplished films of the year. Tilda Swinton stars as Emma, a Russian woman married into an aristocratic Italian family. Emma is somehow bored by her extravagant lifestyle and finds excitement through an affair with her son’s best friend. Every scene is carefully considered and brings out the beauty in the rural Italian setting. However, director Luca Guadagnino is so concerned with technique that the film often feels cold and stilted. Despite its strong cast, the characters are difficult to relate to. Guadagnino attempts to position his film among the ranks of legendary Italian directors but fails to establish the human connection that made their films into classics. Ultimately, “I Am Love” is saved by the sheer opulence of its filmmaking, and feels more like a tribute to great film than an example of it.

Winter’s Bone

After seeing “Winter’s Bone,” I couldn’t help but think a more appropriate title would be “Deliverance: Family Reunion.” The film follows silent, tough-as-nails Ree on a quest to find her meth-cooking father before her ancestral home is seized from beneath her feet by the bond bailsman. She is thwarted at every turn, despite the fact that everyone she comes across seems to be related to her in some way. The film doesn’t pull any punches when portraying the criminal underbelly of the Ozark Mountains. This is definitely not the Ozarks you remember from summer camp. The setting seems entirely foreign, even though it’s practically in our own backyard. This fascinating backcountry thriller is recommended if you have ever wanted to see how to prepare a freshly killed squirrel.