Review: Wild (2014)

             

   
       'Wild': A Biopic As Visceral As The Treacherous Territory On And Off The Pacific Coast Trail
   After watching this, I feel I have to give major props to Reese Witherspoon, who starred in/produced this and produced Gone Girl. If she didn't help bring those projects to the silver screen, then not only would we not have gotten this incredible journey of self-discovery, but we probably wouldn't have seen two of the most dynamic and complex female performances this year.

           Story:
     Wild follows the true story of Cheryl Strayed (Reese Witherspoon) who went on a long hike down the Pacific Coast Trail to rediscover herself after going through an ugly divorce as well as struggling with addiction after the tragic death of her mother (Laura Dern).

           Ups:
     I'll start off with the tour-de-force performance by Reese Witherspoon. I would say that she gives her best work since her breakout turn in Election, which is a complete 180 from this so she gets to showcase her impressive range as an actress. Yet interestingly she also gets to showcase the kind of charisma that made her a movie star and in the flashback scenes, she gets to add plenty of layers to her performance. For example, when Cheryl's mother Bobbi gets sick, Cheryl becomes more of a mother figure herself then after Bobbi's death, she becomes more of a reckless self-destructive cannon as she succumbs to addiction and sexual activity. But when Witherspoon is out on the trail, it feels as if she is molding the layers shown in the flashback sequences once she begins to reflect on or even relive them. This is a fully-dimensional and realized performance. While I am also on the subject of Bobbi, I also want to give a shoutout to Laura Dern's performance. Dern gives a rather poignant blend of both sunny and rainy as Bobbi is very cheerful on the surface despite her rough situation yet even though she shows off a wide smile, her eyes are filled with pain and sorrow. Despite not having a whole lot of screentime, Dern really leaves a mark when she is on screen.

      I also thought the cinematography by Yves Belanger was absolutely beautiful. I loved the shots of all the beautiful scenery on the PCT were very nice yet, like the flashback scenes that transport us to Cheryl's past, they had quite a bit of gritty realism. I figured that the PCT stuff would all be pretty glossy, but surprisingly no and both Belanger and director Jean-Marc Vallee (Dallas Buyers Club) kept the film's tone consistent. But, I still liked that a lot. Plus, one of my favorite scenes in the film is the opening sequence where Cheryl is plucking a hangnail out of her bloodied big toe. That scene just gives you an idea of what kind of story you are in for. It is also a great example of how to write or open a screenplay since they say that when writing the first ten pages, you have to introduce the characters and give an idea of what the story is about. So in that opening scene, screenwriter Nick Hornby was able to establish the film's tone and setting, then once the film cuts to Cheryl being dropped off at a hotel about to start her journey where we are introduced to her.

     Downs:
    Now, there were a few points here and there where I thought the pacing was a little slow. But, to be fair, it can be pretty difficult to make a movie about a woman hiking for two hours seem fast-paced in my opinion.

     Consensus:
   Overall, Wild is a beautifully directed yet no holds barred biopic that features a redefining performance by Reese Witherspoon. The cinematography is marvelous, the screenplay is spot-on, and watching the wilderness makes me want to take my own journey.

      Would I Recommend It?:
    Absolutely. I'd recommend it to Reese Witherspoon fans and anyone who wants to study screenwriting or cinematography as well as those who like movies.

Grade: A-

Oscars 2015: Golden Globes Predictions

Hello, Bloggers! The Golden Globes air on January 11th and even though many are probably going to save their predictions for who will win until perhaps a couple days before the ceremony, I figured I'd post my thoughts because I am so anxious to share my predictions with you folks. Let's take a look:

Best Motion Picture- Drama:

Boyhood

Foxcatcher

The Imitation Game

Selma

Theory of Everything 

Will/ Should Win: Boyhood- It is the current frontrunner for Best Picture and the HFPA could easily take part in rewarding the record-breaking masterpiece.

Could Win: Selma- Even though it is a late bloomer in this Oscar race, I wouldn't underestimate Selma's ability to possibly pull off an upset. Especially with the racial events going on with Ferguson. So, if any film were to best Boyhood, it might just be this film. The Imitation Game could also surprise, but who knows.

Missing From The List: Gone Girl

Best Motion Picture- Comedy Or Musical:

Birdman

Grand Budapest Hotel

Into The Woods

Pride

St. Vincent

Will/Should Win: Birdman- This one seems pretty set in stone. I only say "seems" because....

Could Win: Grand Budapest Hotel- It has received it's fare share of Best Film awards and nominations and has quite a bit of box office gold. Sometimes, they tend to award the biggest money makers in the different categories (i.e., Avatar, The Hangover, etc.)

Missing From The List: Obvious Child

Best Director:

Wes Anderson, Grand Budapest Hotel

Ava DuVernay,  Selma

David Fincher, Gone Girl 

Alejandro Gonzalez Innaritu, Birdman

Richard Linklater, Boyhood

Will Win: Richard Linklater- This is a tough call because this is an exceptional category. But because Linklater is winning his fair share of directors awards, that may give him an edge. 

Should Win: Alejandro Gonzalez Innaritu- While I find it difficultimately to argue with Linklater being the favorite, my personly pick would go to Alejandro for his equally inventive work.

Could Win: Ava DuVernay- Again. I wouldn't underestimate her film's ability to do well here.

Missing From The List: Christopher Nolan, Interstellar

Best Actor In A Motion Picture- Drama:

Steve Carell, Foxcatcher

Benedict Cumberbatch, The Imitation Game

Jake Gyllenhaal, Nightcrawler

David Oyelowo, Selma

Eddie Redmayne, Theory of Everything 

Will Win: Eddie Redmayne- He has a very physical role and the Globes sometimes like to anoint a future star or anoint the next generation at least.

Should Win: Jake Gyllenhaal- Gave one of my favorite performances of the year and while I admire the physical commitment Redmayne did, I would probably choose Gyllenhaal or even Benedict Cumberbatch.

Could Win: Benedict Cumberbatch- He has quite a fan following, so they could award him to please those viewers.

Missing From The List: Tom Hardy, Locke

Best Actor In A Motion Picture- Comedy Or Musical:

Ralph Fiennes, Grand Budapest Hotel

ichael Keaton, Birdman

Bill Murray, St. Vincent

Joaquin Phoenix, Inherent Vice 

Christoph Waltz, Big Eyes

Will/Should Win: Michael Keaton- This one might be pretty sewn up. But....

Could Win: Ralph Fiennes- He is also in a strong contender for Best Picture. 

Missing From The List: Chris Pratt, Guardians of the Galaxy

Best Actress In A Motion Picture- Drama:

Jennifer Aniston, Cake

Felicity Jones, Theory of Everything

Julianne Moore, Still Alice

Rosamund Pike, Gone Girl

Reese Witherspoon, Wild

Will Win: Julianne Moore- The consensus appears to be that this is Moore's year because who knows how many "moore" chances she'll have?

Should Win: Rosamund Pike- As much as I loved Moore's performance, I would love to see Pike tale this to maybe shake the race up and make it interesting.  

Could Win: Jennifer Aniston- The HFPA love their stars. I am not entirely sure her getting nominated for the Oscar is entirely certain, but we shall see if her "cake" will have enough layers to make it to the Oscars. 

Missing From The List: Marion Cotillard, Two Days, One Night

Best Actress In A Motion Picture- Musical Or Comedy:

Amy Adams, Big Eyes

Emily Blunt, Into The Woods

Helen Mirren, The Hundred-Foot Journey

Julianne Moore, Maps To The Stars

Quvenzhane Wallis, Annie

Will Win: Tough call, but I'll go with Amy Adams. If she does win, that might be the best she can do at this point.

Should Win: Emily Blunt- Since this is the Musical or Comedy category, Blunt's peromance was a smooth mix of both. 

Could Win: Julianne Moore- Kate Winslet won two Globes the same year. Don't see why Moore can't?

Missing From The List: Jenny Slate, Obvious Child (if she was on here, she'd be my vote)

Best Supporting Actor:

Robert Duvall, The Judge

Ethan Hawke, Boyhood

Edward Norton, Birdman

Mark Ruffalo, Foxcatcher

J.K. Simmons, Whiplash

Will Win: J.K. Simmons- It might take a lot of pounding on the drums to take him down.

Should Win: Ethan Hawke or Mark Ruffalo- Both gave such amazing and nuanced performances that I would find it hard to choose between the two. I'm certaintly not arguing with Simmons' acclaim, though. He deserves it as well.

Could Win: Mark Ruffalo- He is a double nominee for both this and The Normal Heart, so they could want to award him somewhere. Norton might also pull off an upset.

Missing From The List: Nobody off the top of my head.

Best Supporting Actress:

Patricia Arquette, Boyhood

Jessica Chastain, A Most Violent Year

Keira Knightley, The Imitation Game

Emma Stone, Birdman

Meryl Streep, Into The Woods

Will Win: Patricia Arquette- She has been winning everything left to right, even Best Lead Actress at LAFCA. She's the clear frontrunner as of right now for her deep and subtle work.

Should Win: Emma Stone- A true scene-stealing performance that still has me thinking about it. 

Could Win: Meryl Streep- Has a showy musical role and obviously is a legitimate name.

Missing From The List: Carrie Coon, Gone Girl or Tilda Swinton, Snowpiercer

Best Screenplay:

Birdman

Boyhood

Gone Girl

Grand Budapest Hotel

The Imitation Game

This one's tough. But I'll give it my best shot.

Will/ Should Win: Birdman- This category has marvelous scripts, but gun to my head, I would choose Birdman.

Could Win: Gone Girl- They could easily indicate the Best Adapted Screenplay if they can't indicate the Best Original one since this category isn't divided.

Best Original Score:
Birdman
Boyhood
Gone Girl
Grand Budapest Hotel
Imitation Game

Will/ Should Win: Birdman- Despite it being disqualified by the Oscars, the Globes could easily atone for that by giving the award. I think it should win because of how inventive it is.
Could Win: Grand Budapest Hotel- It was done by double nominee in this category Alexandre Desplat, who also scored Imitation Game.

Best Original Song:
"Big Eyes" from Big Eyes
"Glory" from Selma
"Mercy Is" from Noah
"Opportunity" from Annie
"Yellow Flicker Beat" from The Hunger Games: Mockingjay- Part I

Don't know, don't care. Too busy wondering where "Everything Is Awesome" is and why Noah is even at the Globes to begin with.

Best Animated Feature:
Big Hero 6
The Book Of Life
The Box trolls
How To Train Your Dragon 2
The Lego Movie

Will/Should Win: The LEGO Movie. No contest.

Best Foreign Language Film:
Force Majeure (Sweden)
Gett: The Trial Of Vivian Amsalem (Israel)
Ida (Poland/Denmark)
Leviathan (Russia)
Tangerines (Estonia)

Will/Should Win: Ida- It is an art house hit and received favorable reviews. It would be my pick to win. Although....
Could Win: Force Majeure- It has been released to quite a wide audience and was even released at an indie theater near where I live. So, because the HFPA tend to lean towards familiar names or films, they could award this film. Although something is telling me Leviathan could also pull off an upset.
Missing From The List: Two Days, One Night (Belgium), The Way He Looks (Brazil)

  I haven't seen a lot of the TV nominees, so I obviously won't go too deep into those. But, I will say that Matt Bomer should win Supporting Actor category for The Normal Heart after that shocking Emmy snub. Whether we will win remains a slight mystery, though. 

So those are my quick thoughts on the major film categories and you can feel free to write your thoughts on who should win or who will win. I will continue my Oscar coverage until February 22nd, when the Oscars take place, and from now until then, thanks for reading!

Review: The Imitation Game (2014)

       

      This 'Game' Thankfully Has The Right Amount Of Puzzle Pieces
        There is a line often used in the film that goes as follows, " It is often those that nobody imagines anything of that do the things that no one can imagine." That line certainly doesn't ring false as there are countless iconic and historical figures who defied people's expectations, like Albert Einstein or the man who is the subject of the film I will review, Alan Turing. But The Imitation Game, in a rather subtle way, shows how one person's imagination or ambition can be crushed by the invisible hands of our own people.

     Story:
    The Imitation Game follows the true story of real-life cryptologist Alan Turing (Benedict Cumberbatch) who tried to break the Enigma code to defeat the Nazis in WWII. He enlists of the help of a few other cryptologic, including short-term fiancee Joan Clarke (Keira Knightley). But not only did he struggle with trying to win the war, but trying to cover up his homosexuality which he would eventually be persecuted for.

      Ups:
    I'll start off with the brilliant performances. Benedict Cumberbatch is in top form as Alan Turing and gives a performance as tricky as the Enigma code. Not only was Turing gay, but he was potentially autistic and as someone who struggles with autism, I would say that playing someone with autism is tough business. You go overboard with the facial tics and stutters, you're overdoing it and if you overdo being introverted, you're underplaying it. Thankfully, Cumberbatch found a good balance and even uses Turing's facial tics and stutters to deliver a complex performance as whenever he does blink and stutter, that is when he is evaluating his options or under stress. Even when Cumberbatch is quoting dialogue, he is still able to showcase Turing's gauntlet of emotions through his facial movements. Keira Knightley is equally as fantastic and complex as Joan Clarke, who is quite spunky and feminine yet fiercefully tries to be "one of the guys". Some of the best scenes, are in fact, the ones between Cumberbatch and Knightley. The rest of the supporting actors, including Mark Strong, Charles Dance, and Matthew Goode, also do outstanding work as well.

   I would say another highlight of the film is the flashback scenes where we see Turing when we went to boarding school and had crush on a fellow student. I felt those scenes not only gave us a glimpse of his nature, but showed why he is as refined and introverted as he is. I also thought it was interesting how writer Graham Moore demonstrated the hardships this man faced in a way that doesn't demand our respect. For example, because Turing went through chemical castration just for being gay, we never see the procedure at hand yet I liked that we never do because it would've came off as rather patronizing.  Some could argue that the homosexuality aspect was just thrown in for dramatic measure, but I felt that it was included because we are given a glimpse of how back then, people would bite the hand that fed them. Turing helped crack the Enigma code for the British government and for the government to suddenly turn on him just because of his nature was utterly devastating. There are certain points where the characters talk about "playing God" and that is to me, the undertone with how the government is portrayed here. One last bonus the film has, besides the script and performances, is the beautiful score by Alexandre Desplat that for sure is worthy of likely Oscar consideration.

      Downs:
     I'll admit that one problem I had was that, and I might have a difficult time explaining this, when watching the film, I felt it had a rather cold and detached vibe. As I was feeling touched by Turing's story and Cumberbatch's portrayal,  when the film ended, I didn't really cry the tears or have an angry "people suck" reaction that I maybe thought I would. Maybe, those kind of expectations were a little too high. But eventually, as I reflected on the film after it was over, I was able to feel some kind of emotional reaction but in a rather subtle way. So, the film worked as a rather slow burn, I suppose.

       Consensus:
     Overall, The Imitation Game is a biopic that is as rich and complex as the man it portrays. The performances are fantastic, the score is beautiful, and the screenplay by Graham Moore is terrific.

        Would I Recommend It?:
       I would say if you like Benedict Cumberbatch or are a history buff, you should run out and see this. Due to the film's subject matter, some might write it off as another "Oscar bait" and I could see why since I had that kind of small skepticism going in, yet was pleasantly surprised. If you have those kind of preconceptions,  I would still say give it a try. It isn't just because it is a great film, in my opinion, but because it teaches us about a man who had great contributions to society, yet never got proper credit.

Grade: B+

Review: Life Itself (2014)

                

   A Powerful Documentary About Cinema That Also Manages To Be About 'Life Itself'

   Normally, I don't watch or review documentaries. But, I figured that for my first documentary that is the subject for this review, I would discuss one on a person that I have always followed before I even started my own film reviewing blog: Roger Ebert. Life Itself may focus on the hardships of his life, but manages to put so much effort into what he accomplished to film culture.

         

     Ups:

     Since it is a documentary and there isn't really any story or plot, I'm just going to go right into the ups. I'll start off by saying that I loved how they focused on Ebert's relationships with different filmmakers. Normally, the way I personally see it, a lot of film critics don't seem to share great bonds with actors because some critics tend to be harsh on certain films or actors. But Ebert managed to have a good relationship with the likes of Werner Herzog and Martin Scorsese. Not only them, but we even see directors being interviewed that Ebert recognized before they became more established and how through his highly publicized television series, he would discuss smaller scale films that many audiences aren't familiar with. I remember when I watched Ebert and Roeper every Saturday morning, they would talk about films I wasn't familiar with and had unknown talents. Nowadays, whenever I hear about a smaller scale film, past or present, I always tend to think of reviewing it so that hopefully more people will become familiar with it. When that occurs, I always think of Roger Ebert and how he would do the same thing on his show.

     Not only did they show his relationship between him and Siskel, but we surprisingly see how they had a very turbulent one. They came from very different walks of life, and they had such a difficult time getting along. But eventually, when Ebert almost left the show, Siskel became distraught. Siskel even said about Ebert, "he may be an asshole, but he's my asshole." So, at that point, even though they still didn't really become full-on buddies, they still grew to respect each other.

    
     Even though the scenes of Ebert at the hospital and at home were quite disheartening because they showed him in his awful condition, they still were slightly uplifting because of how Ebert would still be typing and still doing what he loves. While I was watching the film and those scenes, what I took away from it was that because I want to write and critique films, as long as I am able to write, no matter what I may be physically hit with, keep writing and doing what I love like what Ebert was able to do despite going through plenty of surgeries. 

     Downs:

  Now, this isn't necessarily something I didn't like, but I was a little surprised that they didn't include Ebert's relationship with Richard Roeper. But, I'm guessing that maybe Roeper didn't want to be involved or couldn't because of personal or work reasons. Other than that, there aren't any issues I have.

     Consensus:

    Overall, Life Itself is a powerful yet strangely inspiring look at one of the greatest film icons who is greatly missed. Much like Ebert, I have always loved films since I was a kid, and watching this film may motivate me, and hopefully any other film buff that watches this, to become something of a Roger Ebert ourselves.

     Would I Recommend It?:

    Absolutely. If you love movies and if you especially want to review them one day, run to Redbox or rent it on Netflix if it is available.

Grade: A+

Review: The Judge (2014)

                    

                  

                         'The Judge' Bangs The Gavel Too Much

              Since the film is about a father and his son, I figured I'd bring up something my own father always said: "When you put a bunch of great actors in a film with an awful script, it is like polishing a turd". That is certainly the crime that The Judge is guilty of and on more than one charge.

     Story:

   The Judge follows the story of a hotshot Chicago lawyer (Robert Downey, Jr.) who returns to his small town in Indiana to attend his mother's funeral. There is where he must reconnect with his family, including his father (Robert Duvall), a judge who gets arrested for allegedly murdering someone.

      Ups:

    I did think Robert Downey, Jr. and Robert Duvall did a fine job with what they are given. I also thought RD and Vera Farmiga, who plays an old flame of his, had great chemistry. The other actors aren't really fleshed out but they do the best with what they have. Plus, the film was beautifully shot.

     Downs:
    First off, this film is just WAY too long. It runs at about 2 and a half hours and there is so much unnecessary filler. In my opinion, it should've been about 106 minutes maximum.

     Next, I thought the film is "guilty" of too many cliches. The whole idea of a hotshot trying to learn the error of his ways and father and son butting heads has been done before and the film tries to rely on cheap sentiment when Duvall's character (spoiler alert) becomes diagnosed with cancer. Plus, there is this whole subplot that involves Farmiga's character's daughter and without giving anything away, I'll just say that it eventually gets gross.

     I also felt that the characters were so unlikable. Even as the different dramatic events start to unfold, like the father dying and getting arrested, you could still care less what the end result is for these people. While watching this, I just couldn't wait for this thing to be over.

      Consensus:
     Overall, my final verdict on The Judge is that it is guilty of one too many cliches, unsympathetic characters, excessive length, and trite melodrama. I wouldn't say the actors should immediately go to movie jail after this, but they deserved much better material.

       Would I Recommend It?:
       No way. Even if you love RDJ as much as I do, I would say look elsewhere. Life is short.

Grade: D

Review: Into The Woods (2014)

                                             

   Director Rob Marshall Takes Us 'Into' A Forest Of Actions With Consequences Through The Use of Its Fairy Tale Fables
   
     There is that old saying: Be Careful What You Wish For. Whenever we wish for something and actually get it, that tends to come with something that we may not want. Into The Woods manages to deal with that theme but through the use of some of our favorite fairy tales, thus creating a delightful and visually creative yet deep viewing experience.

      Story:
     Into The Woods follows the story of a baker (James Corden) and his wife (Emily Blunt) who are childless because of a curse put on their house by a witch (Meryl Streep). In order to break the curse, they must retrieve four special items and to do so, they must enter the woods and they stumble across different fairy tale characters, including Cinderella (Anna Kendrick), Little Red Riding Hood (Lilla Crawford), and Cinderella's Prince (Chris Pine).

     Ups:
    I'll start off with the acting from the cast. Everybody, from the older veterans to the younger children, all bring in their A-game with their acting chops as well as their pipes. Meryl Streep, of course, was brilliant and while she was a bit over-the-top, she did look like she was having a ball and she even almost brought a tear from my eye with her rendition of "Stay With Me". Next, I'll get into Emily Blunt. After watching her performance in this, it just left me with one question: Why isn't this girl a bigger star? Seriously, she's proven that she can be an action hero with Edge of Tomorrow and now she has proven not only her comedic chops, but musical as well. Blunt brought quite a few laughs out of me yet there are a few moments where she showcases her character's desperation. I even liked the scenes between her and James Corden as they both had great chemistry. Anna Kendrick is amazing as Cinderella and I was quite moved by her character's arc as she goes from a girl wanting to go to the ball escaping her servitude to wondering whether Prince Charming is really her Prince Charming. Speaking of which, Chris Pine owned every scene he was in as he brought great comedic timing to his role of the rather naive and narcissistic prince. I would say the second best number, behind "Stay With Me", was "Agony" where both Cinderella's prince and Rapunzel's prince, played by Billy Magnussen, sing about their own personal insecurities. I'd also like to acknowledge Lilla Crawford and Daniel Huttlestone, who play Little Red Riding Hood and Jack, respectively. Both of them give very mature performances for kids their age and hopefully they both have great things ahead of them.

   Next, I'll get into the direction by Rob Marshall. As proven by this and Chicago, Marshall has proven that musicals are his genre. I loved how because this is adapted from a Broadway musical, he gave the film a rather stagey feel which allows the two different mediums of film and Broadway stage to be molded together into one. Some people may feel that the two different mediums should be separate, but I personally love this type of molding because it allows different forms of artistry to make one more colorful portrait.Not only that, but because he doesn't do a lot of close-ups on the actor's face or have the camera go out on the roof as a musical number ends, he doesn't give the actors little breathing room or too much breathing room. I also thought every technical aspect, from the visuals to the production/art design, looked beautiful and very lavish.

   Downs:
   While I did enjoy the film, one chief complaint I had was that by the third act, the pacing does get very slow. I felt that it sort of took a while for the climax to get going. But to be fair, I'm sure the filmmakers wanted to take a bit of time for the characters to slowly realize they may or may not get their "happily ever after" and realizing the consequences by the wishes they've made.

   Consensus:
   Overall, Into The Woods is a colorful yet deep and meaningful fairy tale spectacle about being careful what you wish for. All the performances were spectacular, the visuals were beautifully done, and the direction by Rob Marshall proves that he is a true master of this genre.

   Would I Recommend It?:
   To anybody who loves musicals. If they irritate you, you may want to steer clear since there is quite a bit of singing throughout the film.

Grade: B

 

Happy Holidays!

Hello, Bloggers, I hope you all are having a very Merry Christmas. I recognize that I didn't do exactly 12 Movies of Christmas and I apologize for that. But I wanted to at least do a continuation of last year where I also attempted to do 12 movies.

Some of you who have read the film reviews I did may wonder why I chose films like Foxcatcher or Locke on there. But I figured I'd include films like those just to think outside the box. For example, Foxcatcher and Ida are both set in the winter either at one point or throughout the film. In my review of Locke, I said how minimalist films are like a tree and simple imagination used to make a greal Christmas, so that's why I picked that and because Christmas is a religious holiday, I picked Calvary because it deals with a priest. So, I figured I'd not just conform to doing the kind of traditional films everyone likes to watch around Christmastime.

Before the new year rolls around, I should be doing three new reviews for three films coming out that are Oscar hopefuls. One of them should have a review from me tomorrow or Saturday. The rest should be posted next week.

So, I hope that you all have a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year and here is to another great year of movies. Thanks for reading and Happy Holidays!

12 Movies of Christmas: Foxcatcher (2014)

                         

     
          'Foxcatcher': An Acting Master Class That Shows How Greed Is A Dangerous Animal
       
     While I do find horror movies to be scary, the kind that are the most terrifying, in my opinion, are the ones that are closer to real-life. Foxcatcher may not exactly be a horror film, thanks to its chilling direction, isolated setting, and real-life story it is based on, it certainly feels like one.

        Story:
     Foxcatcher follows the real-life story of paranoid schizophrenic heir John Du Pont (Steve Carell) who hires wrestler Mark Schultz (Channing Tatum) to become a part of Team Foxcatcher and win the Olympic gold medal. But once Mark's brother Dave (Mark Ruffalo) enters the picture and joins the team as a trainer, things slowly begin to become frictional as they chase to become a winning team.

       Ups:
    I'll start off with the acting. The three main actors are pretty much THE movie and I loved how even though they are playing real-life people, they still managed to turn the people they are portraying into fully-dimensional characters which extends their portrayals beyond simple mimicry. Steve Carell transforms himself both body and mind into the crazed John Du Pont. He can send chills just by the use of his stillness when sitting in his chair and has his fake nose represent how he is like a watchful "bird of prey" or eagle as he is referred to. So, you will not find a trace of the 40-year-old-virgin or Brick Tamland in his performance and I look forward to whatever dramatic work Carell has lined up next. Mark Ruffalo gives an equally astounding and rather heartfelt performance as Dave, the film's voice of reason and is the brother of Mark that acts as his father figure as well. While Carell's performance lives in his appearance as well as his mentality, Ruffalo's performance lives in his eyes. Even as Ruffalo is saying his lines, his eyes still manages to showcase his characters concern and doubt yet they also reveal how he might have the same type of drive to win that John does, but for slightly different reasons. Lastly, and certainly not least, is Channing Tatum as Mark Schultz. Even though Tatum isn't given a whole lot of dialogue, his performance is still reliant on his physicality. It isn't necessarily because of the muscular shape he is in, but because his character's constant thrusting and even self-harm is a representation of his character's primal instinct to win like he is a ferocious wolf or gorilla. Yet there are also subtle layers to be found in his performance as he reveals how he becomes John's robotic drone as well as Mark's inner child. Both of those layers, as well as Mark's primal instincts, make for a very sympathetic character.

     The way I see the title, "Foxcatcher", as well as how John is made to look like an "eagle" and Mark's animalistic tendencies, is that all these traits fit the film's thematic material. The film looks into themes of wealth and greed and through its title and characters, shows how wealth, greed, and the pursuit of victory are all like a ferocious animal. The Foxcatcher Farm is like a big jungle with the characters feeding off of each other for their own benefit and John observing the two brothers as if they are his prey.

     I also liked the direction from Bennett Miller. It was neat how Miller didn't use any dramatic music to fuel the suspense and whenever something involving the characters would seem off, he would still keep the camera rolling, not cutting away from the chilling atmosphere. Not only that, but because John Du Pont was a schizophrenic, Miller manages to delve into his condition without making it too obvious, in my opinion. We get the idea that John has some sort of problem, but it is not forced to us. Plus, the way he directs Carell and Ruffalo makes it seem they are at a subtle tug of war fighting for control over Tatum, who is caught in the middle, with Ruffalo being Tatum's calmer and Carell his inhibitor.

    Downs:
   My one chief complaint, and I'm not the only one that feels this way, is the pacing. This film was a little longer than it needed to be and there were a few things that could've been cut, in my opinion. However, it didn't drag to the point where I almost fell asleep.

    Consensus:
   Overall, Foxcatcher is a haunting tour-de-force about how greed, wealth, and the hunger to win are all a ferocious animal. The acting by Carell, Tatum, and Ruffalo is an absolute master-class and their different acting styles should definitely be studied in acting school, in my opinion. The pacing may be a little slow, but the film is a masterclass nevertheless.

    Would I Recommend It?:
    Probably not to everybody. It is very dark and dreary, which won't suit everybody's tastes. But I would say it is worth watching for the actors.

Grade: B+

12 Movies Of Christmas: Calvary (2014)

             

 'Calvary': A Comedy-Drama With A Delicate Balance Of Heavenly Laughs And Deep, Devilish Emotion

     Whenever we are under great times of distress, we always want to find a kindred spirit in somebody. Whether it'd be a parent, counselor, sibling, or a priest, we always try to find open ears. But, in my opinion, Calvary shows in a unique manner what could happen when those open ears slowly close and we might have nobody to find solstice in.

       Story:
     Calvary follows the story of a priest named Father James Lavelle (Brendan Gleeson) who receives a death threat during a confession. Afterwards, he spends an entire week before his planned execution by unravelling his inner demons while confronting his fellow townsfolk.

       Ups:
     First, I'll get into the performance by Brendan Gleeson as Father James. Gleeson brilliantly plays his role with great restraint that allows him to showcase different layered emotions, ranging from fury to rough compassion to charming warmth. He even manages to provide some comedic weight to his performance filled with such heavy dramatic emotions. Not only did I like the scenes where he interacts with the different townspeople, but some of the highlights include the scenes between him and Kelly Reilly, who plays his suicidal daughter Fiona. Those scenes provide quite a bit of heart and show us the more comforting and vulnerable side to Gleeson's more detached character. Even though James is the main character and a priest that is supposed to be rather comforting, James is more of a distant anti-hero that relies less on our sympathy.

     But not only does James hardly rely on our sympathy, but we see how he struggles to be the "good priest" that the at-first unseen killer says that he is. The way I see it, the film deals with the idea of what could happen when the person of a higher power who we need to be the voice of reason doesn't do much speaking. One can only conceal their emotions so greatly, that they can come off so coldly. Since the film mainly deals with the interactions between the characters, that is how I personally interpreted the thematic material.

    Not only did I like the performances by Gleeson and Reilly, but I liked how the other actors portrayed their vastly different characters. Chris O'Dowd, who you may remember as the cop from Bridesmaids, provides some slight humor and a surprising amount of pathos to his portrayal of the town butcher. There is also Orla O'Rourke, who plays the oversexualized Veronica, Pat Shortt as the local bartender Brendan, Isaach de Bankole as Veronica's Ivorian boyfriend Simon, and Dylan Moran as lonely billionaire Michael Fitzgerald. All of whom bring rather interesting laughs as well as deep drama. But Brendan Gleeson' real-life son Domhnall has a small scene as a young convict that James visits and he almost brought a couple tears out of me.

      Downs:
      NIL.

      Consensus:
      Overall, Calvary is an intimate comedy-drama about the importance of interaction as well as family. The performances by the cast, especially Gleeson, are all spot-on and the writing/direction by John Michael McDonagh is beautifully yet powerfully woven together. This one is bound to make the church bells ring.

      Would I Recommend It?:
      To certain people. While it is a wonderful film, it has a good amount of talking which won't be for everybody. But because Brendan Gleeson played "Mad-Eye" Moody, I would recommend it to fans who would recognize him from Harry Potter.

Grade: B+

12 Movies of Christmas: Locke (2014)

                 

     
         Once We Are 'Locked' In The Car, We Are In For An Intense Joy Ride With No Pit Stops
       
       The beauty of experimental films or films with simple plots and few locations, like Gravity, The Blair Witch Project, Boyhood, and the subject of this review, Locke, is that they have audiences thinking "How could they pull that off?" or "What will they do with just that?", which is why they want to see it for themselves. Thankfully, most people are pleasantly surprised by these crazy experiments as Locke is yet another great example of how minimalist films can be like one tree and simple imagination making a Christmas special.

       Story:
     Locke follows the story of a construction manager named Ivan Locke (Tom Hardy) who drives down the highway during the night and after he received one critical phone call, it then begins to slowly crumble Locke's personal life, ranging from his relationship with his wife, his children, and his job. Locke tries to juggle it all while confined in his car.

       Ups:
     First off, I'll discuss the performance by Tom Hardy. It is an absolute master-class and has quite a bit of layers to it. We see that his character showcases unapologetic candor yet he also has a bit of subtle charm with those two intersected layers being peeled off revealing a more crazed exterior as he channels his vulnerabilities by talking to himself in the mirror and through sudden eye blinks and tears and sweat, we see struggles of confidence.

    One thing that writer/director Steven Knight did, which I loved, was that he never cuts back and forth between the car and the different places that the unseen characters are in. From the beginning until the end, we are only in the car and once the conflict begins to elevate, the setting allows for some palm-sweating claustrophobia. Since this is an experimental film, going the aforementioned route of cutting back and forth would defeat the purpose of this little experiment and make the film seem cliched. The other actors are only heard and not seen, yet they manage to provide solid work. One in particular I'd love to acknowledge is Ruth Wilson who plays Locke's flustered wife Katrina. Despite never seeing her on screen, she undergoes a rather intense arc and really makes you feel her waves of ice shining through.

    Since the film deals with the main character trying to juggle his family and work life, I thought it was very interesting how they are woven together after the critical phone call that Locke gets in the beginning. As the film progresses and the conflict escalates, the tension would be in the form of interrupted phone calls and not just the brilliant score elevating the conflict.

      Downs:
      NIL.

      Consensus:
      Overall, Locke is a simple and experimental tour-de-force that features a master-class one man show by Tom Hardy that deserves serious Oscar attention. The direction by Steven Knight is spectacular, the storyline is intense, and I hope that it inspires other filmmakers to try to come up with experiments of their own.

Grade: A+

12 Movies of Christmas: Goodfellas (1990)

                                                               

                   
                     This Pretty Much Proves Why Scorsese Is A Master At 'Good' Movies

               In my opinion, what makes a film a genuine classic is when it not only has everything that makes a movie great, but potentially inspires other filmmakers to make something like it with their own respective vision. Goodfellas is certainly that kind of film since if Martin Scorsese didn't bring it to the screen, who knows whether we'd successfully see the long-running show The Sopranos brought to life or if we'd see special works of art from the likes of Quentin Tarantino, Paul Thomas Anderson, and David O. Russell.

            Story:
          Goodfellas is based on the true story of Henry Hill (Ray Liotta) who grew up in New York City and since he was a kid, would go on to become a gangster. He and his fellow associates, James Conway (Robert De Niro) and Tommy DeVito (Joe Pesci), then try to climb their way to the top, only to realize the hard way that eventually, all kings eventually become dethroned.

            Ups:
          First off, I'll discuss the direction my Mr. Marty Scorsese as well as the editing by his longtime collaborator Thelma Schoonmaker. The way they put the film together makes the structure seem like a fast-paced 2-hour drug high, which makes sense because since it is about mobsters, drugs are certain to be involved. So, that whole fast pace represents how the descent that these characters go into comes quickly and is a metaphor for a drug habit. Scorsese even uses his traditional directing techniques like the use of the long tracking shot. One of his more famous uses of this technique in the film is the scene where Henry takes Karen through the Copacabana club.

          Another thing that I really liked was the brilliant acting by the cast. Ray Liotta was just phenomenal as Henry Hill as he undergoes a rather fast-paced and aggressive character arc from mobster on top to one who lets his pride become his downfall. Robert De Niro also delivers solid supporting work as James Conway but the real scene-stealer is hands down Joe Pesci as Tommy DeVito. Pesci is like a hurricane in this as he destroys whatever is in his path yet you don't know what he'll hit or whether he'll hit you. After seeing this performance, it shouldn't surprise me that Pesci won the Best Supporting Actor Oscar. I also want to give a shout-out to Lorraine Bracco as Henry's wife, Karen. Bracco is so fiery and aggressive as Henry's flustered wife yet I kept waiting for her to appear back on screen. Not only is Goodfellas a director's and editor's movie, but it is also an actor's movie as well. It's very much an everything movie.

          Downs:
         NIL.

          Consensus:
         Overall, Goodfellas is a crime saga with an adrenaline rush that makes for unique filmmaking while also giving the film slight entertainment value. The performances all around are fantastic, Martin Scorsese's direction is flawless and Thelma Schoonmaker's editing is stuff to be taught in film school. It is, just, perfect.

          Would I Recommend It?:
          Absolutely. I'd recommend to Scorsese fans (If you like his work, this should be #1 on your watch list), film students, and people who generally love movies.

Grade: A+

         

       

Indie Review: Two Days, One Night (2014)

                   

           
                    Manages To Excel And Have Me Hooked Already After 'One' Watch

     Usually whenever a film tries not to be judgmental and give a right or wrong answer to the audience, it is up to the audience to discuss and decide it for themselves. Two Days, One Night falls under that category and while it may not cause a fiery debate amongst viewers, it will certainly have them formulating the answers on their own.

         Story:
     Two Days, One Night follows the story of Sandra (Marion Cotillard) who has been told that she is about to be laid off from her job because her co-workers were given the chance to either accept a bonus pay or let her stay with the majority voting for the bonus. That is until her boss decides to create a new ballot the following Monday and Sandra has a couple days to convince her co-workers to give up their bonuses to keep her off the streets.

        Ups:
     First off, I'll get into the direction by Jean-Pierre and Luc Dardenne. What was so great was how they were able to take a film that is literally about a woman roaming around trying to convince people to give up their bonuses and yet within about 30 minutes, I found myself pretty hooked. It might be because they incorporate several long takes to pull the viewers in. Due to the film's subject matter, it might be a hard draw, but thanks to the Dardennes, they might still keep you watching.

    Next, I'll get into the wonderful performance by Marion Cotillard. Interestingly, Cotillard is able to give us an idea of what her character is going through on an external and internal level. What I mean is there are scenes where is says what she feels yet there are others where she is processing the different reasons as to why her co-workers can or can't give up their bonuses. In those scenes, if you look closely at her eyes, you notice her desperation and lack of confidence. Yet, in her quiet moments, you get the sense of her doubt and frustration. Much like Agata Trzebuchowska's performance in Ida and Emily Watson in Breaking The Waves, Cotillard's work here is the kind they should be teaching in acting school. She is just that good.

    Another thing that I thought was very nice was how the film is like one big gray area. By that, I mean no character is really right or wrong. If one co-worker denies giving up their bonus, you want to scoff at them, yet you understand why they refuse to give it up. Plus, the character of Sandra is essentially an albatross yet she is angry for being that way. By convincing people to give up their bonuses, they will struggle to get by yet Sandra is just doing what is best for her loved ones. The film and the Dardenne brothers never judge both sides of the equation.

     Downs:
     NIL.

     Consensus:
     Overall, Two Days, One Night is a well-crafted and rather simple foreign gem that still manages to hook you from the beginning. It has its lead actress carry the weight of the film on her shoulders and not only does Cotillard not disappoint, but I cross my fingers that hope is not lost for her in this year's Best Actress race at the Oscars.

     Would I Recommend It?:
     Certainly not to everybody. It has subtitles and is pretty talky. But it is worth watching for Marion Cotillard's tour-de-force performance.

Grade: A

12 Movies of Christmas: Eight Crazy Nights (2002)

                             

                        In About More Than One Way, This Is A 'Crazy' Animated Romp

   Despite the criticism that Adam Sandler receives for his films (which I doubt he cares about because he always ends up laughing his way to the bank), one thing that I always tend to forget about and that plenty other audience members tend to forget about is how plenty of his comedies have heart as well as laughs. Even films of his that I'm not a fan of like Jack and Jill and That's My Boy tend to be sentimental. While Eight Crazy Nights offers a good amount of laughs, there is a good amount of emotion that has Sandler finding that right balance.

      Story:
    Eight Crazy Nights follows the story of a loner named Davey Stone (Adam Sandler) who is a drunken delinquent and when he is arrested once again. When hope seems lost for him, a dwarf-like man with a heart of gold named Whitey Duvall steps in and not only tries to help him get his act together, but maybe open closed doors about his past.

       Ups:
    One thing I liked was the voice work from Adam Sandler. He does the voice of Davey, Whitey, and even Whitey's sister Eleanore yet I kept forgetting that it was him voicing all of those characters. But he brings a surprising amount of pathos to voicing the character of Davey, who is rough around the edges yet was never always that way. Much like Click and Punch-Drunk Love, this performance shows just how capable Sandler is as a dramatic actor. Another voice actor I really liked was Rob Schneider who plays Mr. Chang, the owner of the town Chinese restaurant. I thought he was very funny.

    As I said, the film has a good amount of both humor and pathos. Not only that does that shine through in the story, but even the musical numbers. Some of which let out a few cracks while others just tug at the heartstrings and yet there are others that do a bit of both. But the story is something that people can easily connect with as it deals with grief and the different ways that people deal with grief. While the way we watch Davey deal with his own grief may not necessarily be gut-wrenching to watch to the point where you want to look away, it is a slight harsh watch just because of the event that is the backdrop for the story.

       Downs:
       NIL.

       Consensus:
      Overall, Adam Sandler's Eight Crazy Nights is a humorous yet heart-wrenching animated romp. It may not exactly be for the whole family due to its PG-13 rating, but it is still a treat for those of age.

       Would I Recommend It?:
       If you are an Adam Sandler fan, then yes, absolutely. But if not, then I would still say watch it and give it a chance. You might be surprised by it.

Grade: A

12 Movies of Christmas: Ida (2014)

                                                     

                 
                 'Ida': A Briefly Powerful Gem With A Chill As Cold As The Film's Setting
         
       We have seen plenty of films about different wars over the years, especially films about World War II, which usually come out at the end of the year. But while Ida deals with that war in a way, it interestingly takes a different angle and focuses on not just the aftermath, but how someone becoming a victim can affect the lives of their loved ones.

               Story:
              Ida follows the story of a Polish nun named Anna (Agata Trzebuchowska) who, after a meeting with her Mother Superior, decides to pay a visit to her aunt Wanda (Agata Kulesza), who tells her that her real name is Ida Lebenstein and that she is Jewish. Wanda even says how her parents were murdered during the war, prompting Ida to want to visit their graves while they both embark on a journey of self-discovery.

               Ups:
              First off, I'll get into the performances by the two leads or the two Agatas if you will. Agata Trzebuchowska is a quiet tour-de-force as Ida and gives one of those performances that proves how less is more. Agata's performance lives in her eyes, which showcase a series of emotions ranging from sorrow to doubt to even sexuality. There are quite a bit of layers to her character that you wouldn't really notice which is remarkable acting in my opinion. Agata Kulesza is also phenomenal as Wanda and what I really loved about her performance is just her unapologetic nature. Wanda is someone who doesn't take crap and acts as the voice of reason when it is called for. Kulesza brings such a quiet ferocity to her character and brilliantly plays the yin to Trzebuchowksa's yang since Wanda is rather sultry and hard-nosed while Ida is more proper and quiet. Two outstanding performances and if I had a ballot, they would easily make my shortlist for Best Actress (Trzebuchowksa) and Supporting Actress (Kulesza) at the Oscars.

             Next, I'll get into the cinematography. The black-and-white cinematography was absolutely stunning and beautiful yet it brings quite a haunting chill to the film thanks to the film's isolated setting. Not only that, but I think the whole black-and-white style represents how Anna and Wanda are the yin to each other's yang in terms of personality. I especially loved the direction by Pawel Pawlikowski and how he was able to direct the performances by the two Agatas. Even when Pawlikowski has the camera filming them from a distance, we can still feel their emotions. I also loved how since he also co-wrote the film, he didn't just create a standard road movie. What he and co-writer Rebecca Lenkiewicz did was not only have Wanda go on a journey of self-discovery, but have Ida decide whether she wants to literally and figuratively "become a nun". I thought that whole angle was very interesting and doesn't just make this a simple story about a woman wanting to find where her parents are buried.

             Downs:
             NIL.

             Consensus:
             Overall, Ida is a unique road movie that may be short in length due to its 80 minute running time, yet it has plenty packed into it. It has dynamic and complex performances by its two leads. beautiful yet haunting cinematography, and a brilliant storyline.

             Would I Recommend It?:
             If you like foreign films, I would say absolutely. But if you can't bear having to read subtitles, then I would probably say look elsewhere. But if you don't like reading subtitles, I would still say give it a chance. It is a masterful movie.

Grade: A+

Oscars 2015: Checklist

Hello, Bloggers, so far, some of the different guilds have announced their nominations leading up to the Oscars and plenty of the critics circles are announcing their nominations and winners. So, I figured that in case you want to stay on top of things during this awards season, I created a little checklist that you can invisibly go back to and check off after you've seen each film. I'll start off with five criticals. Here we go:


____ Birdman: First and foremost, there is Birdman. That film scored the most SAG nominations with 4 (Best Ensemble, Best Actor/Supporting Actor & Actress). It also did very well at the Globes with about 7 nominations. Plus, Michael Keaton has been winning plenty of critics awards and is currently a frontunner to win Best Actor. If it is playing near you, try to go to the nearest theater.

____ Boyhood: Fortunately, this film is being released on DVD and Video On Demand because watching this film come Oscar time is critical. It is doing just as well as Birdman and has been winning almost every Best Picture award it is up for. Watch it whenever you can. This one is a must.

____ The Imitation Game: This one hasn't come out in a lot of theaters yet, but it is surely an awards player since it is a biopic set in WWII about a man persecuted for his homosexuality. This one is almost guaranteed to be an Oscar hopeful given the subject matter, so when it comes out, I would suggest seeing it.

____ Selma: Another biopic that is yet to be released, Selma has received plenty of traction during the awards season. It may have gotten shut out by the SAGs, but that might be because they didn't set screeners out in time. Similar thing happened with Django Unchained and Wolf of Wall Street. It may have one or two strikes against it since it might be cast under the shadow of 12 Years A Slave, which just won BP, and although Oprah Winfrey is involved, she had The Butler, which got snubbed by the Academy, but I would still suggest seeing it just to be safe.

____ Theory of Everything: When the SAGs nominate it for Best Ensemble despite it not really being an actor's movie, you can tell that the passion for this film is really there. This film is slowly getting wider in release and if you want to be more into the Oscar conversation, then this film is a must.

Next, I'll go into some films that may not be absolute safe bets to do well across the board, but I would suggest seeing just in case:

____ Foxcatcher: It has support from the SAGs and even managed to score a Best Picture nod at the Globes. Some have put this film as a big question mark as to whether it will get recognized across the board, but I would still suggest seeing it just in case.

____ Grand Budapest Hotel: Now this one has done very well across the board at the Golden Globes and managed to score an Ensemble nomination at the SAGs. Plus, it might score a Best Screenplay or even a Production Design nomination at the Oscars, but the one strike against it is its early release date. Although by its guild nominations, Fox Searchlight has been making sure it is remembered, so I would say try and check this one off.

____ Into The Woods: It'll more than likely score a nomination for Meryl Streep, as well as in some technical categories. It did manage to score Best Picture-Musical Or Comedy nod at the Globes, but that may be because they like to squeeze in a musical whenever it comes out. But who knows whether that nomination will be as far as it goes.

____ Whiplash: Now that there can be  9 to 10 nominees, the Academy leaves room for a little movie that could, which could be Boyhood this year, yet they also leave room for an edgy indie (Precious, Winter's Bone). That edgy indie might just be Whiplash. Also, J.K. Simmons is a strong frontrunner for Best Supporting Actor.


Now, here are a few films that may not have received a whole lot of precursor attention, with nods here and there at the Globes and SAGs or almost none, but are potential dark horses in this race.

____ American Sniper

____ Gone Girl

____ Inherent Vice

____ Interstellar

____ Nightcrawler

____ Unbroken

____ Wild


So, that is my little checklist I made for you folks, so that you can potentially have plenty of work done before Nomination Day. Good luck during this awards season and thanks for reading!

Oscars 2015: 72nd Golden Globes Nominations Reactions

Hello, Bloggers, they literally just announced the Golden Globe nominees and here are my initial thoughts to the film categories. Let's take a look:

Best Motion Picture- Drama

Boyhood
Foxcatcher
The Imitation Game
Selma
Theory of Everything

It was quite a surprise to see Foxcatcher in here. That film got a much needed boost while the other films have gotten more comfortable. Of course, I was a little disappointed to see no Gone Girl or Interstellar and I was even more surprised to see no Unbroken. That film didn't just get shut-out in that category, but across the board as well.

Best Motion Picture-Musical Or Comedy

Birdman
Grand Budapest Hotel
Into The Woods
Pride
St. Vincent

Now, this category I did quite well in thus far. Into The Woods has yet to come out and I missed Pride. But, I was quite pleased with the list of films I have seen. I'm very happy to see St. Vincent and Grand Budapest Hotel on here. Birdman was sort of  expected to be on here, but I was still glad it on here. I was a little surprised that Inherent Vice didn't make the cut, though.

Best Director:

Wes Anderson, Grand Budapest Hotel
Ava DuVernay, Selma
David Fincher, Gone Girl
Alejandro Gonzalez Innaritu, Birdman
Richard Linklater, Boyhood

Thankfully, I don't have a whole lot of work to do in this category. I have yet to see Selma and it was very nice to see David Fincher in here as well as Wes Anderson. I was pretty stunned Angelina Jolie and Morten Tyldum (Imitation Game) didn't get in, but I never mind a good surprise.

Best Actor In A Motion Picture-Drama

Steve Carell, Foxcatcher
Benedict Cumberbatch, The Imitation Game
Jake Gyllenhaal, Nightcrawler
David Oyelowo, Selma
Eddie Redmayne, Theory of Everything

Jake Gyllenhaal's nomination just made my morning. The other ones were kind of expected, but this one, I am just over the moon about. I haven't seen Carell, Cumberbatch, or Oyelowo yet, but I will try and get on that.

Best Actress In A Motion Picture- Drama

Jennifer Aniston, Cake
Felicity Jones, Theory of Everything
Julianne Moore, Still Alice
Rosamund Pike, Gone Girl
Reese Witherspoon, Wild

Still no Marion Cotillard. Hopefully, her critics awards will give her the juice she needs. The actual nominees were kind of expected. I wasn't even too shocked Aniston got in because the HFPA love to get their stars to walk the red carpet. I figured if Cotillard didn't get in, she would have.

Best Actor In A Motion Picture- Musical Or Comedy

Ralph Fiennes, Grand Budapest Hotel
Michael Keaton, Birdman
Bill Murray, St. Vincent
Joaquin Phoenix, Inherent Vice
Christoph Waltz, Big Eyes

Like the rest of us, I knew Keaton would get in. I was very pleased to see Ralph Fiennes and Bill Murray in here as well. Haven't seen Joaquin Phoenix yet, though. But, who knows if I'll see Big Eyes because the nominations it has might be as far as it'll go, to be honest.

Best Actress In A Motion Picture- Musical Or Comedy

Amy Adams, Big Eyes
Emily Blunt, Into The Woods
Helen Mirren, The Hundred-Foot Journey
Julianne Moore, Maps To The Stars
Quvenzhane Wallis, Annie

Nice that Moore is a double nominee for her two vastly different performances in Still Alice and her darkly comedic turn in Maps To The Stars. Although, I just have one question about this category: Where's Jenny Slate in Obvious Child? 

Best Supporting Actor In A Motion Picture:

Robert Duvall, The Judge
Ethan Hawke, Boyhood
Edward Norton, Birdman
Mark Ruffalo, Foxcatcher
J.K. Simmons, Whiplash

Much like Best Actress-Drama, no real surprises here. But it is nice that Mark Ruffalo is a double nominee, though, for this and Best Actor in a Miniseries or TV Movie for The Normal Heart. 

Best Supporting Actress In A Motion Picture:

Patricia Arquette, Boyhood
Jessica Chastain, A Most Violent Year
Keira Knightley, The Imitation Game
Emma Stone, Birdman
Meryl Streep, Into The Woods

Chastain's nomination makes up for her getting snubbed by the SAGs and I certainly would love to see her film. The other four weren't too surprising, especially Meryl Streep. I figured that when this film was announced, she'd have an automatic bid. Into The Woods comes out in a couple of weeks and I do kind of want to see it.

Best Screenplay:

Wes Anderson, Grand Budapest Hotel
Gillian Flynn, Gone Girl
Alejandro Gonzalez Innaritu, Nicolas Giacobone, Alexander Dinelaris, and Armando Bo, Birdman
Richard Linklater, Boyhood
Graham Moore, The Imitation Game

Loving how Grand Budapest has gotten plenty of love since this is its 4th nomination and 2nd for Wes Anderson for this film. I was very thrilled Gillian Flynn got in, as well as Linklater and Innaritu and his crew. I have yet to see Imitation Game, though.

Best Animated Film:

Big Hero 6
The Book Of Life
The Boxtrolls
How To Train Your Dragon
The LEGO Movie

I have only seen LEGO Movie, so that's probably the only film I'll be rotting for here.

Best Original Score:

Birdman
Gone Girl
Imitation Game
Interstellar
Theory Of Everything

Did very well here so far, except for The Imitation Game. Sadly, this is Interstellar's only nomination, though. Any one of the actual nominees would be my pick to win.

Best Foreign Language Film:

Force Majeure
Gett: The Trial Of Viviane Amselem
Ida
Leviathan
Tangerines

Nice that Force Majeure got in here. Although, I still have to see Ida. Leviathan's inclusion doesn't surprise me, but I haven't heard of the other three.

Best Original Song:

"Big Eyes" from Big Eyes, by Lana Del Rey
"Glory" from Selma, by John Legend and Common
"Mercy Is" from Noah, by Patty Smith and Lenny Kaye
"Opportunity" from Annie
"Yellow Flicker Beat" from The Hunger Games: Mockingjay-Part I

Cool that Hunger Games is in here. Don't know what Noah is even doing at the Golden Globes, but I won't try and question it. The other three songs I haven't heard.


Now, onto a few of the TV categories. In particular, the ones The Normal Heart was nominated for. I loved that Matt Bomer got in for Best Supporting Actor in a TV Series/Miniseries/TV Movie. I'm really hoping he wins after he horrifically got robbed at the Emmys. But Julia Roberts got snubbed, surprisingly. I figured they would include her because she is a star and the HFPA loves their stars. At least Mark Ruffalo still got in and The Normal Heart got in for Best Miniseries/TV Movie.

So, those were my thoughts on the Golden Globe nominees and you can feel free to share yours in the comments section. You can write who you felt got snubbed and who you were happy to see make the cut. On Monday is when they should announce the Critics' Choice nominees and I will more than likely go into those. Until then, thanks for reading!

Requested Review #4: St. Vincent (2014)

                                                     

               
                      'St. Vincent': A Heavenly Comedy Of Slightly Devilish Proportions

Hello, Bloggers, welcome to another Requested Review, which is the first one in quite a while. Thanks to my buddy Chris, I was able to catch the uniquely heartwarming dramedy known as St. Vincent. 
              Story:
              St. Vincent follows the story of a misanthropic drunken war vet named Vincent (Bill Murray) who finds his life changed once he meets his new neighbor, a divorced mother named Maggie (Melissa McCarthy) and forms a bond with her son Oliver (Jaeden Lieberher).

              Ups:
            First off, I'll discuss the performances. Bill Murray delivers a career-high performance that in my opinion surpasses his award-winning work in Lost In Translation. Much like is work in Translation, his performance is a blend of both comedy and pathos, but his dramatic chops are really put into high gear in this as he portrays a man who appears hard-nosed yet has wonderful intentions. But when something serious happens towards the end, it feels is if his character goes through a physical and mental deterioration. Melissa McCarthy also switches gears as she impressively shows her dramatic range as Maggie and tugged at my heartstrings with her rather unaffected and quiet desperation. But one actress I'd love to acknowledge is Naomi Watts who plays Daka, a pregnant Russian stripper that serves as Vincent's muse. Watts' character could've easily geared towards the line of caricature, but Watts infuses the character with such comedic charm and layers as well since there are some moments where we see her showcase deceitfulness, sexuality, and warmth. For his first feature film, Jaeden Lieberher is fantastic as Oliver and gives a very authentic performance in my opinion as he showcases his character's insecurities and maturity the way most kids his age would. I thought some of the best scenes were the ones where Murray and Lieberher are together and start to form a bond, creating hilarity and heart despite becoming a pair of troublemakers. Hopefully, Lieberher continue to thrive in the industry.

           Next, I'll get into the story and the ending. The ending I'm obviously not going to give away. But I'll say that by the end, while it may get sentimental, here that actually works. Also, while the film is a drama with plenty of comedic elements pushing it forward, it touches on quite a bit of themes. One of them is the struggles of divorce as Oliver struggles to find a father figure since his father is mostly absent and Maggie struggles to make ends meet. Another is the idea of religion since Oliver goes to a Catholic school and his class is given an assignment to think of someone who has saint-like qualities and because of this, Oliver is able to see past Vincent's tough exterior and see him as a saint, hence the film's title.

          Downs:
          NIL.

          Consensus:
         Overall, St. Vincent is a dramedy that is heartwarming in the more unexpected places. The performances the cast are terrific, the storyline is unique and even though we have seen the whole "old grouch comes out of his shell" premise before, writer/director Theodore Melfi does it in his own special way and I look forward to more from this fresh talent.

Grade: A

Oscars 2015: SAG Nominees Reactions

Hello, Bloggers, they just announced the nominees for the 21st Screen Actors Guild Awards and here, I will post my immediate reactions to the nominees. I'll go into who I was happy with along with who got snubbed and who the surprises were. But, I will focus more on the film categories, though. Let's take a look:

Best Ensemble:
Birdman
Boyhood
Grand Budapest Hotel
The Imitation Game
Theory of Everything

So far, I did really well with this category, as I saw everyone of these nominees except The Imitation Game because it hasn't played where I live yet. But, out of the picks I have seen so far, my pick would go to Birdman. It was quite a surprise to see Theory of Everything on here though as I thought the film focused more on the two leads than the actual ensemble. It reminds me of when Dallas Buyers Club got in last year even though more of the love was on the two main actors. But, it feels pretty good knowing I don't have a whole lot of homework in this category thus far. But one shocker was seeing Into The Woods omitted from this list. Usually, they nominate the ensemble when a musical is in contention, but surprisingly not here. But, luckily I am a guy who likes these types of surprises.

Best Male Actor In A Leading Role:

Steve Carell, Foxcatcher
Benedict Cumberbatch, The Imitation Game
Jake Gyllenhaal, Nightcrawler
Michael Keaton, Birdman
Eddie Redmayne, Theory of Everything

I was very pleased to see Jake Gyllenhaal for his physically and mentally transformative work in Nightcrawler. That was a pleasant surprise for sure. So far, the only two nominees I haven't seen for Carell and Cumberbatch, but I'll get on that once their films play in my area. But the nominees that I have seen are very solid.

Best Female Actor In A Leading Role:

Jennifer Aniston, Cake
Felicity Jones, Theory of Everything
Julianne Moore, Still Alice
Rosamund Pike, Gone Girl
Reese Witherspoon, Wild

The surprise of this category is without a doubt Jennifer Aniston in Cake. This surprise has me worrying about Marion Cotillard, though, since Cotillard has won a few key critics awards and a SAG nomination would really give her momentum. She could still have a chance at the Globes, but we'll see. The other nominees weren't huge surprises, though. I was sort of hoping the surprise in this category would be either Marion Cotillard or even Jenny Slate for Obvious Child, but a fella can dream, right? But with Aniston's nomination, I guess I have to see Cake.

Best Male Actor In A Supporting Role:

Robert Duvall, The Judge
Ethan Hawke, Boyhood
Edward Norton, Birdman
Mark Ruffalo, Foxcatcher
J.K. Simmons, Whiplash

Surprisingly, I got all of these predictions right. I even figured Robert Duvall would get in because the SAGs love veterans and they love Robert Duvall. Thankfully, Ethan Hawke got in and Edward Norton as well. So far, I haven't seen The Judge because I missed it and Foxcatcher because it still isn't playing in my area. But, like with most of the other categories, I don't have a whole lot of homework to do, thankfully.

Best Female Actor In A Supporting Role:

Patricia Arquette, Boyhood
Keira Knightley, The Imitation Game
Emma Stone, Birdman
Meryl Streep, Into The Woods
Naomi Watts, St. Vincent

Now, for this category, I have a bit of homework to do as the only two nominees I have seen so far are Arquette and Stone. But, it was quite a shocker to see Naomi Watts in here for St. Vincent. When they announced her name, for a second, I figured they'd nominate her for Birdman, but she is still a double nominee nevertheless for Best Supporting Actress and Best Ensemble for Birdman. If it didn't go to Watts, though, I had a feeling it would go to either Laura Dern or Jessica Chastain for A Most Violent Year or, and this is me being optimistic, Carrie Coon for Gone Girl. But I like Naomi Watts and I love how we have a surprise like this. Still have to see St. Vincent, though.


Overall, I was very pleased with the list of nominees. There were some surprises I was very happy with and some shocking omissions. But, I am pleased with how the list of nominees turned out. Please feel free to share your thoughts on the nominees and even feel free to write who you felt got snubbed. Tomorrow, the Golden Globe nominations will be announced and I will certainly be covering those. Until then, thanks for reading!

12 Movies Of Christmas: Elf (2003)

                                               

       
       'Elf': A Small, Simple Holiday Comedy With Heart as Big as The Protagonist's Height

Hello, Bloggers, welcome to the latest edition of 12 Days Of Christmas. I know I didn't fulfill my promise of reviewing 12 films last year due to personal mishaps, but I will do my best to try and make up for that by reviewing 12 films that are either set on Christmas, take place in the winter, or are about Christmas. For my first review, I will discuss a film that leans towards the former. My first film is the 2003 modern classic Elf.

            Story:
            Elf follows the story of a grown-up elf named Buddy (Will Ferrell) who lives in the North Pole and decides to set out and find his father Walter (James Caan) who turns out to be on the naughty list. Once he arrives in New York City and finds his father, a slew of mishaps occur while Buddy falls in love with a woman named Jovie (Zooey Deschanel).

            Ups:
           One thing that I really liked was Will Ferrell's performance as Buddy. I really enjoyed watching Ferrell channel his character's cheerful optimism and how it affects those around him. I especially loved the scenes between him and Zooey Deschanel as they both have wonderful chemistry. Ferrell also has wonderful support from James Caan as his father. Caan is wonderful as Buddy's father who despite his neuroticism, takes Buddy under his wing anyways.

           I also thought that the story was refreshing and original. Not only was the idea of an adult elf becoming accustomed to the real world a nice idea, but it has a good amount of heart and pathos. It not only is about Buddy trying to blend into modern society, but the other characters undergo an arc of some kind. Walter slowly tries to accept Buddy as his son while Jovie slowly comes out of her shell after Buddy hears her beautiful singing voice.

            Downs:
            NIL.

            Consensus:
           Overall, Elf is a fun holiday treat for the whole family with a blend of humor and heart that is as sweet as a plain candy cane with peppermint stripes. The performances by Will Ferrell and his supporting cast are terrific and while the story may be simple, it is refreshingly original and is something that anybody can enjoy for the holidays.

Grade: A

Review: The LEGO Movie (2014)

                                           

 
   'The LEGO Movie': A Gem For The Family That Allows The Viewer To Use Their Creative And Thinking Blocks

       When I was a younger kid, I actually wasn't overly fond of LEGOs, yet when I heard about this film, I was pretty interested because I was unsure of how it would be pulled off. Not only was I amazed by how the filmmakers did it and not only did I find myself laughing hysterically, but I was so fascinated by how it in a subtle manner manages to pack together different themes and plot points and build them into a complex model.

         Story:
     The LEGO Movie follows the story of a Lego construction worker named Emmett (Chris Pratt) who is said to be a prophesied "Special" that can save the Lego universe from an evil tyrant known as Lord Business (Will Ferrell) who looks to glue everybody to the city eternally.

         Ups:
        I'll start off by discussing the film's story. Now, before I watched the film, I didn't really have a clear idea of what exactly it was about. But, I am surely glad that I didn't know a whole lot about it before because I was very surprised by what I watched. I was especially pleased by the thematic material it had to offer. It manages to delve into themes involving imagination, dictatorship to some degree, and *spoiler alert* father-son relationships. The imagination aspect was interesting because there are characters called "Master Builders" that build whatever they can imagine and put their creativity to great use while they are facing Lord Business, who is all about "following the instructions".  Another thing I liked was the different pop culture references to franchises like Star Wars, Lord of the Rings, and Harry Potter. Plus, I liked how the story delves into the different cliches that films about prophecies and such are faced with. For example, in the beginning, a wizard named Vitruvius, played by Morgan Freeman, says that a prophecy will come true and is serious because it rhymes. I thought that was very funny and that Morgan Freeman did a great voice performance. That brings me to my next point.

        I thought the voice performances were very nice. Chris Pratt did an amazing job as Emmett and really had me feeling for his character, hoping that he would become the "Special" that he is expected to be. While everybody else was fantastic, including Will Ferrell as Lord Business, Morgan Freeman as Vitruvius, Elizabeth Banks as Emmett's love interest Wyldstyle, and Will Arnett as Batman, I'd love to acknowledge a few standouts. One is Liam Neeson, who plays Lord Business' henchman Bad Cop/Good Cop, who is a play off of the good cop/bad cop-type deal that you see on cop shows or films and it was refreshing to see Neeson play a serious, brooding character in a hilarious film. Another standout I would say is Charlie Day as Benny, a Master Builder who is a "1980-something space guy" with a penchant for building spaceships. I loved seeing his character's cheery optimism even as they are in the face of danger.

         Downs:
         NIL.

         Consensus:
         Overall, The LEGO Movie is a very rich and hilarious family film with an underlying, multi-faceted storyline that showcases parody while dealing with powerful themes of imagination and dictatorship. It is films like this that really make me want to be a writer and share my own imagination like how children create different Lego models to share their own. The film is very much about the kid in all of us and is simply, as a song from the film says, "Awesome".

Grade: A