Been watching some more movies on Netflix lately, so I thought I'd give you a brief review of each.

Exam - 6/10

In the near future, candidates for a prestigious corporate career position are gathered in an exam room.  Tension rises as the clock winds down on their answers to their mysterious final exam question that will decide who is hired.  It's such an incredibly simple premise - job candidates writing an exam - that it's a feat to have made a successful plot on the back of it.  Time reveals the importance of the job to the individuals involved, but still manages to feel hokey and forced.  Despite beeing in a future scenario, ultimately it's still just a job at a company.  That's it.  Overall the movie is too clever for itself, best demonstrated by an ending that fails to meet the most minimal standards of scrutiny when it comes to basic logic or sensibility.  Interesting for being a unique premise, but ultimately falls short of an engaging experience.

The Quiet - 7/10

A thriller that follows an adopted deaf mute as she joins a new, dysfunctional family after the death of her father.  Being deaf, others find comfort in revealing their secrets to her.  At times brilliant, at other times hokey an awkward, the script feels a little undecided on what it wants to be - a complex character story, a social issue shock film, or a teen movie plot twist.  Due to the directional confusion, some of the potential magic is lost.  Even so, the experience manages to be an enjoyable one with distinct characters and satisfying conclusion.

Let Me In - 6/10

When a new neighbour moves in, schoolboy Owen finds a strong new friend in fellow 12-year old Abby, but notices over time there might be more to her than meets the eye.  A horror movie that can't quite decide if that's what it wants to be, all the character development in the world can't save a movie with a plot that is meaningless.  A confused mess of "who do I cheer for?" there's some redeeming qualities in making morality ambiguous, but can often fall into the trap of the unenjoyable position of "I don't like any of the options."  Along the same lines, the plot runs out of steam with nowhere to go, so a relatively aimless and sudden ending doesn't help the cause.  The relationship between the two children is the saving grace, but doesn't make up for an uninspired concept.

The Caller - 5/10

After moving into a new apartment during the process of her divorce, Mary Kee starts receiving creepy phone calls from an older woman she doesn't know.  Escalation ensues.  In fine horror fashion, the slightly overbearing ominous ambiance audio and creepy old-woman voice suggests that only bad can come of this, but is completely unclear what.  It takes a while to get there, so the slow pace early on is a hindrance.  Perhaps a little more focused on having a different plot than other movies before it (or the writer just really loved Frequency), the concept writes itself into a corner; there was no way to ever make this exciting.  Likable protagonists and heinous antagonists fail to make the final valiant effort in creating a reasonable climax a success.  This is nothing to call home about.

The New Daughter - 5/10

A tipping points for a lot of movies to me is whether or not I care about the characters.  Kevin Costner plays the quintessential "good dad" in this horror film, where after moving into a new house following a divorce, this newly single dad looks to rebuild his life with his two children, but starts to notice some odd behaviour in his teenage daughter.  Despite strong characters and good performances, the script fails to capitalize.  The premise is there, but there isn't follow-through on making the changes in the daughter creepy or even mysterious.  Progression is largely predictable, unexciting while managing to simultaneously feel directionless.  A short-lived climax and corny ending make for an overall forgettable foray.

Take Shelter - 2/10

A man, based on his just-a-little-too-real nightmares decides to build a tornado shelter at all costs.  This genre-defying disaster is an exercise in how to make a movie as unenjoyable as humanly possible.  Effective two hours of tedious build-up climaxes in nothing.  Nothing happens.  No conclusion, no payoff, no climax.  The movie could have arbitrarily ended at the conclusion of any scene in the last half hour and been as "good" or better.  The plodding pace was tiring but understandable development should there be a reason for it, but it must have gone into hiding because there's nothing here.

Easy A - 9.5/10

Olive, an upstanding but socially invisible high schooler suddenly finds herself in the spotlight when she inadvertently starts the rumour that she lost her virginity.  As long as you can manage the suspension of disbelief in the casting of Emma Stone as someone not getting attention from guys, this comedy hits every mark.  Accessible to a wide demographic, the script exudes the same feeling you get from the entirety of the Penderghast family: never forced.  Olive is wildly likable, the plot progression is natural and seamless, emotional investment avoids being ham-handed, and it includes a completely unnecessary musical number.  This is one movie that gets an easy A.