Crisp Criticism - "Prometheus", "Men in Black III", "Take This Waltz", "Rock of Ages"

Prometheus (2012/US)   *

A team of explorers in 2089, who discover a clue to the origins of mankind on Earth, receive immense funding for a mission to find out more.
Philosophical, scrupulous, solemn sci-fi sequel in the Alien canon that is less akin to that film and more to the TV series Lost. Its attempt to elevate theoretical thinking by raising meaningful questions is commendable, but it ultimately buckles under the weight that those questions thrust upon it and becomes another unsatisfactory futuristic adventure with an ambiguous conclusion. It comes from a director with nothing interesting left to say.
 

d – Ridley Scott

w – Jon Spaihts, Damon Lindelof
ph – Dariusz Wolski

pd – Arthur Max
m – Marc Streitenfeld
ed – Pietro Scalia

cos – Janty Yates

p – Walter Hill, Ridley Scott, Tony Scott, Mark Huffam

Cast:    Noomi Rapace, Michael Fassbender, Charlize Theron, Idris Elba, Guy Pearce, Logan

Marshall-Green, Sean Harris, Rafe Spall

Men in Black III (2012/US)

Agent J travels in time to MIB's early years in the 1960s, to stop an alien from assassinating his friend Agent K and changing history.
Totally unnecessary and unsolicited sequel which, despite Brolin’s uncanny impression, sinks without a trace.
 

d – Barry Sonnenfeld

w – Etan Cohen   (Based on the Comic Book by Lowell Cunningham)
ph – Bill Pope

pd – Bo Welch
m – Danny Elfman
ed – Wayne Wahrman, Don Zimmerman

cos – Mary E. Vogt

p – Laurie MacDonald, Walter F. Parkes

Cast:    Will Smith, Tommy Lee Jones, Josh Brolin, Jemaine Clement, Emma Thompson,

Michael Stuhlbarg, Mike Colter, Nicole Scherzinger, Bill Hader, David Rasche, Michal Chernus, Alice Eve

Take This Waltz (2012/US)   *

A happily married Canadian woman falls for an artist who lives across the street.
Slight, affectionately acted domestic drama which alternates between pleasing humor and monotony.
 

wd – Sarah Polley

ph – Luc Montpellier

pd – Matthew Davies
m – Jonathan Goldsmith
ed – Christopher Donaldson

cos – Lea Carlson

p – Sarah Polley, Susan Cavan

Cast:     Michelle Williams, Seth Rogen, Luke Kirby, Sarah Silverman, Jennifer Poemski

Rock of Ages (2012/US)

A small town girl and a city boy meet at a popular nightclub on the Sunset Strip, while pursuing their Hollywood dreams.
Dreary adaptation of the light jukebox musical, of which it actually bears only occasional resemblance; it’s bland and flaccid from beginning to end.
 

d – Adam Shankman

w – Justin Theroux, Chris D’Arienzo, Allan Loeb   (Based on the Musical by Chris D’Arienzo)
ph – Bojan Bazelli

pd – Jon Hutman
ed – Emma E. Hickox

cos – Rita Ryack

p – Jennifer Gibgot, Garrett Grant, Carl Levin, Tobey Maguire, Scott Prisland, Adam Shankman, Matt Weaver

Cast:    Julianna Hough, Diego Boneta, Alec Baldwin, Tom Cruise, Russell Brand, Paul

Giamatti, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Mary J. Blige, Malin Akerman, Bryan Cranston, Will Forte, Anya Garnis