The Company You Keep

1.5 Paws
Seen recently at Regal Omaha Stadium 16

I love Robert Redford. But at 77, I don't want to see him running through the woods in fugitive mode or exposing his chest hair after a night in a ramshackle cabin with Julie Christie.

That's only the beginning of my problems with this one, which may have assembled the best cast of veteran actors ever - Susan Sarandon, Chris Cooper, Nick Nolte, Stanley Tucci, Richard Jenkins, Sam Elliott, Brendan Gleeson and Terrence Howard. Unfortunately, they're stuck with craptacular dialogue that prevents them from living up to the promise of the storyline - a former activist is pursued by a journalist who has discovered his identity. And, if you really want to spoil your chances of cinematic success, cast Shia LaBeouf as the muckraking newspaper reporter. Could there be a more annoying, self-important, talentless actor taking home big bucks these days?

On the bright side, it made me go home and brush up on my scant knowledge of the Weather Underground. The more things change, the more they stay the same.

Bonus Bones: 2
The FBI's police dog had a few nice moments at the end of the film.

The Place Beyond the Pines

3 Paws

Seen recently at Aksarben Cinema

This one should eventually make its way onto the list of the top 100 films of all time.

A sweeping modern-day saga that spans 15 years, it looks at the lives of two characters (Ryan Gosling's Luke and Bradley Cooper's Avery) forever connected by a single, violent encounter that was over just moments after it began. Think Lawrence of Arabia on a motorcycle.

It's a bit on the long side (two hours and 20 minutes) for you fidgeters out there, but get your snacks ahead of time and then suck it up - it's masterful filmmaking from director/writer Derek Cianfrance, who started making movies at age 13. It also puts to rest any notion that Gosling and Cooper are nothing more than pretty faces - if it were Oscar time, both would be nominated for the best actor trophy. The entire supporting cast, which includes knowns (Ray Liotta) and unknowns (Ben Mendelsohn as Robin, who befriends Luke), is just as stellar.

Wow.

Bonus Bones: 5

Ryan Gosling's character dances with a sweet old dog. If that doesn't get you out of the house, I don't know what will.

Oz the Great and Powerful

2 Paws
Seen recently at Aksarben Cinema

I'm not sure exposing young children to flying monkeys and a melting witch is a good idea. In fact, I hold it partially responsible for the delicate state of my psyche today. There's something about the original, though, that draws me to it almost every damn time it's on tv - I can pretty much sing every song and recite an embarrassing number of lines (it's the original Rocky Horror Picture Show).

So I started to wonder - while being pounded by the Great and Powerful's mammoth advertising budget - could the 2013 offering deliver on the same scale? Nope, not even close.

It has its moments, though, thanks to James Franco's endearing performance as the con man turned wizard and the amazing facial animation of his flying monkey sidekick (Zach Braff). The evil witches, on the other hand, could have turned it up a notch - Margaret Hamilton would have kicked their wicked butts.

Bonus Bones: 0
No Toto this time.