Indie Review: The Rover (2014)

        

      Red 'Rover', We Call David Michod Over To The Artiste To Watch Club
       After seeing this and Maps To The Stars, I can now come to this summary, since Robert Pattinson is in them: Thank the sweet merciful lord that Twilight is finished.

       Story:
       The Rover is set in a post-apocalyptic Australia that resulted in an economic collapse and follows the story of a loner named Eric (Guy Pearce) whose car, which is the one possession he has left, gets stolen. As he tries to retrieve it, he stumbles across the mentally challenged brother of one of the car thieves named Rey (Robert Pattinson) and they go on a journey of self-discovery.

      Ups:
      I'll start off with the performances. First off, Guy Pearce continues to prove just how undervalued he is in the industry. He just commands the screen and even does so with the use of his eyes. The film hardly has any dialogue yet Pearce is able to convey the anger and mystery surrounding his character through his body language and he even makes Eric more sympathetic as he bonds with Rey. Now onto Robert Pattinson. I have made it known that I despise Twilight yet I never faulted Pattinson for that and in this, he proves that he has serious acting chops. Since he plays a mentally challenged person, he manages to keep his performance grounded and never goes overboard. Thankfully, since he made so much money off those Twilight films, he can continue to pursue more legitimate smaller films.

     Next, I'll get into the cinematography. It is absolutely beautiful and captures the rather desolate and harrowing wasteland that is used as the film's setting. Also, while there were some action or shooting scenes, what surprised me was how it wasn't action-packed from beginning to end, yet I still found it interesting. It is more of a character study/road movie with action thrown in and hardly out of place with a quiet tone set in place. It is kind of like an indie Mad Max meets Of Mice And Men. 

    Downs:
    One chief complaint that I have is the pacing. There were points at times where the film dragged, but it didn't put a huge damper on the film watching experience like with Under The Skin, where practically nothing happens. But I do appreciate the subtlety that this film was aiming for.

    Consensus:
    Overall, The Rover is a quiet meditation on post-apocalyptic fare thanks to the fascinating efforts of Animal Kingdom director David Michod. The performances by the two leads are dynamic, the cinematography is beautiful, and the story's uniqueness is something to behold.

    Would I Recommend It?:
    Yes, but not to everybody. This film has a slow pace and might make some viewers asleep. But if you don't mind slow films, then you'll probably enjoy it.

Grade: B+

Indie Review: The Skeleton Twins (2014)

                           

     
            Different Sides Of The Two Actors Are Shown As If They Are Revealing 'Skeletons' In The Closet
         
             So, I'm guessing we are seeing a trend with SNL actors prove they can be serious too with names like Will Forte, Kirsten Wiig, and now Bill Hader going the indie route. Well, after watching their dramatic work that proves they can find a balance between being funny and serious, I can honestly hope for it to continue.

               Story:
               The Skeleton Twins follows the story of a struggling gay actor named Milo (Bill Hader) who, after a failed suicide attempt, lives with his fraternal twin sister Maggie (Kirsten Wiig) and her husband Lance (Luke Wilson). What follows is the learning the importance of family as well as how people fall apart then come back together.

                  Ups:
                  First off, I thought the two lead actors were absolutely outstanding and had wonderful chemistry. Bill Hader is a rather quiet revelation as Milo and reveals hidden layers to his character as Milo is someone who suffers from depression yet isn't sorry for himself and a lover with doomed optimism once he reunites with his teacher and ex-lover Rich, played brilliantly by Ty Burrell. In Bridesmaids, Kirsten Wiig showed audiences what she is made of, but here, she brings her comedic and dramatic strengths in full force as Milo's rather hypocritical and difficult sister with a heart of gold, Maggie. Even if the overall film was a failure, it would still be saved by these two.

               But while the film does have its funny and even musical moments, what surprised me was how they managed to find a balance between comedy and dark drama. The film deals with serious subject matter, like suicide, pedophilia, and depression, yet the filmmakers don't go too deep into the darkness of it all while still not making the film too light. Even as the film opens with Milo's attempted suicide, we're still not feeling completely bummed out as the film progresses even when things still get serious.

                Downs:
                I did think that the flashbacks where we keep seeing the plastic skeletons that Milo and Maggie always kept were a little heavy-handed. But that is mainly because I kept trying to figure out what the significance of the actual skeletons were.

                Consensus:
               Overall, The Skeleton Twins is a poignant yet powerful tragicomedy that successfully rests on the shoulders of the two leads. The honest performances by the cast are outstanding and the writing finds a nice balance between heavy drama and hilarious comedy.

               Would I Recommend It?:
              If you are a fan of Bill Hader or Kirsten Wiig, then I would say absolutely. Plus, if you are a fan of dysfunctional family movies or comedy-dramas, then I would say you might also like this.

Grade: A-

Indie Review: Blue Ruin (2014)

           

   
    Proof That Originality In The Film Industry Isn't In 'Ruin'
  
      Thank goodness we have a funding site like Kickstarter that allows creative voices waiting to be heard to potentially be heard. If it weren't around, I doubt we'd get the simple yet powerful piece of cinema that is Blue Ruin.

        Story:
         Blue Ruin follows the story of a man named Dwight (Macon Blair) who makes his return home to avenge the death of his parents. As he makes his return, he reunites with his sister Sam (Amy Hargreaves) while confronting the family of the man who killed their parents, thus unraveling a web of secrets and deceit.

        Ups:
       I'll start off by discussing the first 10 to 12 minutes. There is hardly a peep of dialogue, yet writer/director/cinematographer Jeremy Saulnier manages to introduce our main character through his appearance, a piece of newspaper to indicate his motives, and his habitat, which is his car. I absolutely loved that. I also loved the way Saulnier shot it. The cinematography work he does here is stunning as he makes us shutter in fear when Dwight is in a dark corner, yet still not safe in the light, thus creating a rather unsettling atmosphere. Saulnier also brings quite a bit of layers to his story. Not only is it a successful engeance thriller mixed with slight horror, but there is also a bit of black comedy thrown in. By watching this film, I am getting the sense that we might have a successful heir to the Coen Brothers.

      Next, I'll get into Macon Blair's performance. When watching Blair's work in this, it felt as if I was watching different actors playing two different roles since when the film opens and before he gets back home, he looks very rugged and is very shaky yet when he shaves his beard and cuts his hair off, his character is slightly more composed even as he continues to get more nervous once he becomes in way over his head. Very dynamic performance from an actor who I hope we get to see more of.

      Downs:
      NIL.
   
      Consensus:
      Overall, Blue Ruin is a small-scale gem that has a grand mix of being a morality/vengeancd tale combined with black comedy and a touch of creep. The performance by Macon Blair is something to behold and I can cross my fingers that he and Jeremy Saulnier will start to be on people's radars.

     Would I Recommend It?:
     Absolutely. If you are looking for something creative and fresh, I urge you to check this out. It could use a wider audience.

Grade: A+

Oscars 2016: What Lies Ahead?

Hello, Bloggers, since the 87th Annual Academy Awards are already behind us, why not take an early look at the 88th Annual Academy Awards and see what films, and actors, could easily make their way to the big show. Let's take a look:

I'll start off with members of the Oscar club who could make their return. After Lincoln, Steven Spielberg looks to strike again with St. James Place, a film based on a true story about the 1960 U-2 incident starring two-time Oscar winner Tom Hanks, as well as Oscar nominees Amy Ryan and Alan Alda. Plus, the film is co-written by the Coen Brothers. Quentin Tarantino looks to venture back into Western film territory with The Hateful Eight starring Samuel L. Jackson, which could do for stars Jennifer Jason Leigh and Kurt Russell what Pulp Fiction did for John Travolta and Bruce Willis. But how about a director that hasn't nabbed a statue yet? After American Hustle went home 0-10, David O. Russell might just return with a vengeance with the biopic Joy starring Jennifer Lawrence, Robert De Niro, and Bradley Cooper, which is about a housewife named Joy Mangano who invented the Miracle Mop. While the Ashton Kutcher vehicle Jobs failed to impress audiences and critics, the Danny Boyle-directed Steve Jobs looks to make a splash with Michael Fassbender taking the titular role and Aaron Sorkin penning the script. Interestingly, the film co-stars Seth Rogen and his frequent collaborator Jonah Hill scored his first Oscar nomination for the Sorkin-penned Moneyball. Could the same thing happen here? They do love when comedians go serious.

 Speaking of directors that haven't gotten their due yet, we also have Sea of Trees, directed by Gus Van Sant and starring recent Oscar winner Matthew McConaughey and fellow Oscar club members Ken Watanabe and Naomi Watts, who looks to have a banner year with this, Insurgent, While We're Young, Three Generations, and Demolition, starring Jake Gyllenhaal and directed by Jean-Marc Vallee. Gyllenhaal might be going for another round after getting snubbed for Nightcrawler with not just Demolition, but Southpaw, where he physically transforms himself by putting on muscle to play a boxer, and Everest, which is based off a real-life expedition. After Cate Blanchett had a quiet 2014, Blanchett is sure to potentially have a banner year with the Todd Haynes-directed Carol, where she plays a lesbian in the 1950's, Cinderella, the Terrence Malick-directed Knight of Cups, and Truth, which focuses on the last days of news anchor Dan Rather.

Now onto talent that has yet to join the Oscar club. Every year, in the actress categories, they like to shine a light on an up-and-comer. This year, that up-and-comer could be Alicia Vikander, who has quite a bit of films set for release this year: Ex Machina, The Man From U.N.C.L.E, Seventh Son, Tulip Fever, Adam Jones, The Light Between Oceans and The Danish Girl. The last two might garner her awards attention. But her Oceans co-star Michael Fassbender might have a good Oscar year with not just Oceans and Steve Jobs, but the Weinstein-produced adaptation of Macbeth. But how about an actress that has been around for quite a while yet never garnered this type of attention? Rachel McAdams, who has fallen off the radar recently, returns to the screen with a vengeance in 2015, with films like Aloha, Southpaw, and Spotlight, which deals with a Massachusetts Catholic sex abuse scandal and co-stars Oscar club members Michael Keaton and Mark Ruffalo. Plus, she'll also have the second season of True Detective. 

So, those are my thoughts on what kind of films we will probably see this upcoming awards season. Even though the next Oscars aren't until next year, I will periodically cover it until we get closer to when it takes place. Until then, thanks for reading and I look forward to yet another Oscar season!

Topic Of The Day: Silver Lining To Be Found From This Year's Oscar Wins

Hello, Bloggers, even though we are already past this year's Oscars, I figured I'd still discuss the biggest silver lining that can be found from the big winners. Here we go:

  With Birdman, Grand Budapest Hotel, and Whiplash being the big winners, with the first two earning 4 and the latter earning 3, it proved to be a great year at the big show for cinema. What I mean by cinema is films that are built more on precision from every angle of filmmaking. While film is considered an art form, films that fall under the label of cinema delve into the artistey of filmmaking. So, we got to see precision triumph over prestige and sentiment. It has typically been the other way around with BP wins like Dances With Wolves over Goodfellas, The English Patient over Fargo, Rocky over Taxi Driver, The King's Speech over The Social Network, Inception, and Black Swan, etc. So, it was a breath of fresh air to see them break the mold by seeing Birdman win over more traditional awards movies. Even though the more traditional films still didn't go home empty-handed, think of their wins as one goal scored during a hockey game to prevent the winning teams from having a shutout.

   But, by honoring more cinematic achievements, it leaves me hopeful that the Academy will eventually do what they are truly meant to: honor films about the artistry of filmmaking rather than those that intend to win awards. Of course, the likes of Locke, Starred Up, Stranger By The Lake, Place Beyond The Pines, We Need To Talk About Kevin, Shame, Let The Right One In, and Dogville probably still won't have a fighting chance. But as long as the studio films deal with the artistry of filmmaking and as long as an indie like Boyhood or Whiplash can sneak in, then I'm all for it.

  So that is what I feel os the biggest silver lining to come from this year's biggest Oscar winners. If you agree or disagree, please feel free to write your thoughts in the comments section. Thanks for reading!

 

 

Oscars 2015: Winners Reactions

Hello, Bloggers, the Oscars finally aired last night and here are my reactions to the winners and to the big show itself. Here we go:

Best Picture: Birdman

Just as I predicted, my favorite movie of 2014 prevails and wins the big prize. I love this win and consider it one of the best choices in this category.

Best Director: Alejandro Gonzalez Innaritu, Birdman

I figured it would go to Linklater to spread the love, but I am satisfied with this win nevertheless.

Best Actor: Eddie Redmayne, The Theory of Everything

After revisiting Theory of Everything, I can say that while I still would've gone with Michael Keaton as the winner, Redmayne was also deserving. Even though it is a more awards-y choice, still a fine win regardless. Plus, it was nice that they went much younger in one of the male acting categories because usually they honor the careers of older veterans. So this was quite a change of pace.

Best Actress: Julianne Moore, Still Alice

Finally! I can sleep better at night knowing one of our best actresses now has an Oscar.

Best Supporting Actor: J.K. Simmons, Whiplash

Of course. It had to be Simmons. Bonus points for an awesome acceptance speech.

Best Supporting Actress: Patricia Arquette, Boyhood

Surprisingly, Boyhood's only win of the night. But thanks to Arquette, the film didn't go home empty-handed.

Best Original Screenplay: Birdman

Yes! I had a feeling this would win since Grand Budapest Hotel was already taken care of in other categories.

Best Adapted Screenplay: The Imitation Game

At first, I felt bad for Damien Chazelle and his script for Whiplash. But when Graham Moore accepted his award, I was won over by his heartfelt speech. I still would've picked Whiplash, but thanks to Graham Moore, this win doesn't sting that much.

Best Cinematography: Birdman

Chivo strikes again!

Best Editing: Whiplash

Love this win!

Best Production Design/Costume Design/Makeup: The Grand Budapest Hotel

All very deserving wins that help create Wes Anderson's colorful masterpiece.

Best Score: The Grand Budapest Hotel

I had a feeling Alexandre Desplat would suffer a vote split between the two scores he was nominated for. But thankfully, not the case. Also, he thankfully won for a less traditional score than Theory of Everything and The Imitation Game.

Best Visual Effects: Interstellar

Of course.

Best Foreign Language Film: Ida

The only film from this category I've seen thankfully won. I love this movie!

Best Documentary: Citizenfour

Guess I have to see this.

Best Animated Feature: Big Hero 6

One of the few surprises of the night. Still haven't seen this, though.

Best Song: "Glory" from Selma

Kind of like with Graham Moore's win, I felt a little bad with "Everything Is Awesome" losing, but Common and John Legend still won me over with their performance. Very powerful song that almost brought tears out of me when I first listened to it.

Best Sound Editing: American Sniper

Kind of knew this one was coming.

Best Sound Mixing: Whiplash

Glad I got this one right. I especially think it was deserving for those final 15 minutes. Oh, my lord, those final 15 minutes.

Now onto the ceremony. I thought Neil Patrick Harris was a really good host. I liked how he offered a  blend of goth prestige and edge. In other words, he did a classy musical number with a video montage of classic films at the beginning, yet he still had that spoof of Birdman where he appeared on stage in his undergarments and made a shocking yet funny quip about Harvey Weinstein. So he found a right balance, in my opinion. I also loved that bit about Harris' secret ballot and how he interacted with the seat fillers who are usually just there to fill the seats of the celebrities who get up from them and not make interaction of any kind. So, it was nice how Harris gave them a few seconds in the sun. I also loved the musical performance by Tegan and Sara ft. The Lonely Island of "Everything Is Awesome" and how they handed out Lego Oscars to the audience. Seeing Oprah's face when she got one was priceless. Plus, seeing Julie Andrews appear on stage after Lady Gaga did her Sound of Music was very nice and to see her praise Lady Gaga was also classy. The tribute may have extended the ceremony, but I didn't really care. I thought the ceremony as a whole was wonderful and I was very pleased with the list of winners. If you have seen the ceremony, please feel free to share your thoughts in the comments section. It was a real pleasure covering the Oscars over these past few months and I will certainly cover next year's soon. Until then, thanks for reading!

Oscars 2015: Independent Spirit Awards Winners Reactions

Hello, Bloggers, the Independent Spirit Awards just aired and here are my quick thoughts on the winners. Here we go:

Best Feature Film: Birdman
I'll admit that this was a semi-surprise because since the Spirit Awards air on the IFC Channel and Boyhood was made by IFC Films, I figured that it would take it. But I love this win!

Best Director: Richard Linklater, Boyhood
Not too surprising, but I still love this win. If I had an Oscar ballot, Linklater would get my vote.

Best Lead Male: Michael Keaton, Birdman
Get that Oscar, Mikey! Take what is rightfully yours!

Best Lead Female: Julianne Moore, Still Alice
Looks like Moore gets to finally take what is rightfully hers.

Best Supporting Male: J.K. Simmons, Whiplash
Quite my tempo!

Best Supporting Female: Patricia Arquette, Boyhood
Glad she's likely to win.

Best Screenplay: Nightcrawler
Very good script.

Best Cinematography: Birdman
Of course.

Best Editing: Whiplash
Tight race between this and Boyhood. These are two of the best edited movies of the year, so it's hard to decide.

Best First Feature: Nightcrawler
Nice win.

Best First Screenplay: Dear White People
Still got to see this.

John Cassavetes Award: Land Ho!
Pretty neat that the only one in this category I have seen won.

Best Foreign Film: Ida
I am loving this award show!

Best Documentary: Citizenfour
I guess I have to watch this.

Robert Altman Award: Inherent Vice
Of course. Even the actors with about one or two scenes still make the most of it.

Special Distinction Award: Foxcatcher
I'm assuming it is for the main trio. If so, then I can certainly see why.

Overall, I was very pleased with the winners. Even if some pf them weren't surprising, I was still pleased with them nevertheless. If you have seen them, please feel free to write your thoughts in the comments section. Tomorrow night is the big show and I will be live tweeting throughout the ceremony. My Twitter name is @FilmGuy619. Until the big show, thanks for reading!

Review: Kingsman: The Secret Service (2015)

             

 
      'Kingsman: The Secret Service': An Amped-Up 'Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy' That Delivers The Goods At Every Level

      Kind of like how the main character tries to redeem himself later in the film, I was looking for a little redemption myself as I went with my gut and saw this instead of Fifty Shades of Grey after the time I didn't listen to my gut when I saw Noah instead of Captain America: The Winter Soldier. In this scenario, however, I realized the old saying "Go with your gut" couldn't be more true.

       Story:
   Kingsman: The Secret Service follows the story of a young man named 'Eggsy' (Taran Egerton) who becomes recruited to join a secret service agency named Kingsmen, which is where his deceased father used to work. At Kingsmen is where he is mentored by Harry Holt (Colin Firth) while a philanthropist named Valentine (Samuel L. Jackson) looks to take over the world.

     Ups:
    I'll start off with the performances. In particular, I'll start off with Taran Egerton. I thought he was brilliant as the rather loose cannon with a heart of gold that maintains his heart of gold as he progresses to become a Bond-esque spy. Here is hoping that Egerton has a long and bright career ahead of him after this as he certainly has a lot of charisma on screen. Next, I'll get into Colin Firth. To describe Firth in this movie, I'll say this: Who knew Colin Firth could play such a badass? He really pulls off his action scenes yet still manages to bring the right amount of emotional gravitas to his character and the scenes between him and Egerton are the heart and soul of the film. Of course, Samuel L. Jackson is also fantastic as the villain and I liked the lisp his character had. To me, that made his character more colorful and I also thought Sofia Boutella, who plays Valentine's henchwoman Gazelle, had a great presence on screen and I loved how she and Jackson played off of each other.

   Next, I'll get into the direction by Matthew Vaughn. Vaughn is the same guy who gave us Kick-Ass and he brought the same distinctive style with that film here. Like how Kick-Ass amped up the superhero genre while toying with its conventions, Vaughn does the same thing here with the spy genre. He directs the action scenes with such flare and helps maintain the film's unpredictability factor as when we think the film will go in one direction, it goes in another. Not only that, but the story manages to delve into the theme of "being a gentleman" and being true to yourself. As Eggsy progresses during the film, trying to better himself and seek a better opportunity for his life, he still tries to maintain his good-hearted nature. He even learns about being a gentleman from Harry, who recruited Eggsy as a favor to his father who saved his life.

    Downs:
    NIL.

    Consensus:
    Overall, Kingsman: The Secret Service is a highly-entertaining and colorful entry in the spy genre with explosive action, brilliant performances, witty humor, and a heart-driven story.

    Would I Recommend It? :
  Absolutely. If you want to have a good time at the movies and are desperate for an alternative to Fifty Shades of Grey, then go and see this.

Grade: A
 

Oscars 2015: Behind The Outrage Of A Snub

Hello, Bloggers, as part of my Oscar coverage, I will be doing a Topic Of The Day on Oscar snubs. Not necessarily those that were snubbed this year, but why people become so outraged when certain films or performances get snubbed and how people can overcome the potential anger that comes with snubs in the years to come. Here we go:

Now, when people take to Twitter or the Internet to vent their feelings about what film they thought got snubbed, it isn't necessarily because those films got snubbed, but because their own personal favorites got snubbed. Since there are millions of audiences with their own acquired tastes, the only reason the Academy can't recognize all those tastes is because there are only five slots in each category except for Best Picture. There are so many films that came out each year, yet so few slots. Not to mention, and I said this before in my TOTD about the snubbing of Selma, voters are like us because they have their own tastes. Some they share with audiences, some they don't. So when they show little interest in a film that some audiences like, it doesn't mean they are wrong for snubbing them. It just means they weren't as crazy about it. I mean, would I have loved to see them take a chance and nominate films like Gone Girl, Guardians of the Galaxy, or Interstellar for Best Picture? Sure. But I am not going to call them wrong for snubbing them because in art, their is no right or wrong answer. Everything is subjective. I know that their was plenty of controversy this year over them not nominating female writers or directors and not nominating black artists. But, in my opinion, it might just be because the films they liked just happened to be written and directed by males and the performances they liked just happen to be white actors. It isn't them being racist or sexist. They just have an opinion like everyone else and honestly, it makes audience members look bad by cursing at them. Even if you don't agree with what they picked, you shouldn't shun them for it. That is why some people, like myself, make their own Oscar ballots to list who they would nominate if they were voting members of the Academy.

Another reason that people become outraged by snubs is high expectations. If people watch the announcements on Nomination Day expecting their favorites that don't get nominated to be a sure thing, then their is bound to be disappointment. I would keep in mind that on Nomination Day, nobody, and I repeat, NOBODY is a sure thing. Anything is possible and anybody can get shut out. That's why I wasn't overly angry when The Lego Movie was snubbed for Best Animated Feature, Gone Girl for Best Adapted Screenplay, Jake Gyllenhaal for Best Actor, and Life Itself for Best Documentary. While I was a little saddened they didn't get in their respective categories and was hoping they would get in, the only reason I wasn't super upset is because I wasn't sure if they were going to get in. Not only that, but I knew that some of my favorites from last year, like Starred Up, Locke, and Obvious Child, had no chance at all. So, I wasn't expecting much and in forthcoming Nomination mornings, I would suggest watching with open expectations. That way, you won't feel too disappointed.

So, those are my thoughts on the outrage of an Oscar snub. Whether you agree or disagree, please feel free to write your thoughts in the comments section. The big night is in 7 days and until then, I will continue my Oscar coverage. Until then, thanks for reading!

Trailer Talk #25: Hot Pursuit, Trainwreck, Aloha, The Man from U.N.C.L.E., Poltergeist, Terminator: Genisys

Hello, Bloggers, welcome to another episode of Trailer Talk where I give a quick look at trailers for upcoming movies and say whether or not I will see them in theaters, at home, or at all. Let's take a look:

Hot Pursuit: First up is the trailer for Hot Pursuit starring Reese Witherspoon and Sofia Vergara. While I am a Reese Witherspoon fan and I love how she has turned her career around, this is an interesting next step for her as while she has been known for doing comedies, not necessarily these types. But she and Sofia Vergara seem to make an interesting pair and this could be another Heat. Will I see it? Probably not in theaters. But, I do hope to see it.

Trainwreck: Next is the trailer for the upcoming Judd Apatow comedy Trainwreck. This one looks like it has great potential, thanks to the talents of Amy Schumer, as well as the ensemble that includes Bill Hader, Brie Larson, and the always-reliable Tilda Swinton. I do hope to see this one in theaters.

Aloha: Next is the trailer for Aloha starring Bradley Cooper and Emma Stone. Normally, I don't really care for romantic comedies, but if there is one director that can get me to watch one, it is Cameron Crowe, who gave us Jerry Maguire, as well as my favorite movie Almost Famous. With him at the helm, as well as the ensemble (Bradley Cooper, Emma Stone, Rachel McAdams, Bill Murray, John Krasinski), how can I say no?

The Man from U.N.C.L.E: Next is the trailer for The Man From U.N.C.L.E starring Henry Cavill and Armie Hammer. Even tnough this looks like a film that might give James Bond a small craving before Spectre comes out later this year, this one has a lot of promise. I do like Henry Cavill and Armie Hammer and I am certainly hoping Hammer can recover after the colossal box office failure The Lone Ranger. But this one looks more light-hearted than Bond and I do love the 60's setting. I'll probably watch this in theaters.

Poltergeist: Next is the trailer for the upcoming horror remake Poltergeist. Three words to describe whether I will see this: No, No, and......yeah, No. This does not look like it has the same feel as the original and it saddens me that as we are being introduced to more original concepts in the horror genre, like The Babadook, we are still being saddled with cash-grab remakes. Just. No.

Terminator: Genisys: Lastly is the trailer for Terminator: Genisys. I'll admit that I was never the biggest fan of the series even though I haven't seen the first one (don't tell anybody), but I do love the second one. This one, however, might have me looking elsewhere in the showtimes for my local movie theater. I mean, since Arnold Schwarzenegger is back, they could've easily called it Terminator: Geriatric. I don't fully get the reason behind this sequel/reboot/whatever it is, but I have no ambition to see it.

Final Ratings:

Hot Pursuit: Rental
Trainwreck: More Than Likely
Aloha: Gotta See It!
The Man From U.N.C.L.E: More Than Likely
Poltergeist: NO!
Terminator: Genisys: NO!

So those are my thoughts on the trailers for the upcoming films. If you have seen these, please feel free to write your thoughts in the comments section on whether you plan to see these films in theaters. Thanks for reading!

Oscars 2015: Winners Predictions

Hello, Bloggers, here are my predictions of who will, could, and should win in all the categories at the Oscars. Let's take a look:

Best Picture:

Should/Will Win: Birdman. It won the guild trifecta: DGA, SAG, and PGA. Not only that, but like previous Best Picture winners such as Argo, Shakespeare in Love, Chicago, and The Artist, it is a film about show business. It has characters trashing critics, deals with an actor trying to achieve a comeback, and makes references to Hollywood, so it pushes the right kind of buttons. Although it is neck-and-neck with Boyhood. 

Could Win: The Grand Budapest Hotel. It did win at the Globes and could serve as an alternative for those that can't decide between the two frontrunners.

Best Director:

Should Win: Richard Linklater, Boyhood. This is a close one between Linklater and Alejandro Gonzalez Innaritu. But while I greatly admire both directorial efforts, I would award Linklater because of how his effort really paid off after the billion things that could've gone wrong.

Will Win: Alejandro Gonzalez Innaritu, Birdman. He did win the DGA and judging by the guild wins, people have responded to it.

Best Actor:

Should/Will Win: Michael Keaton, Birdman: He gave the performance of his career and what could be the performance of a lifetime. He does have veteran/comeback status and what looks to be a Best Picture frontrunner. Originally, I was going to say Redmayne will win, but I am just not feeling it no matter what the precursors tell me. He is already so young and he unfortunately received terrible reviews for Jupiter Ascending, so they might be like "Eh, maybe next time".

Could Win: Bradley Cooper, American Sniper: The film is making a killing at the box office and this is his 3rd acting nomination in a row. If anybody is breathing down Redmayne and Cooper's necks, it is Cooper.

Best Actress:

Should/Could Win: Rosamund Pike, Gone Girl: In my opinion, she gave the female performance of the year. Her co-star Neil Patrick Harris is hosting the show, which could be a small omen of hope and more of us have seen Gone Girl than the film the frontrunner will win for.

Will Win: Julianne Moore, Still Alice: One of the safest bets in the entire race. She is overdue, playing a woman with Alzheimer's, and won everything else. Moving on.

Best Supporting Actor:

Should/Will Win: J.K. Simmons, Whiplash: Another potential safe bet. If anyone else wins, fans of Whiplash will say "Not quite my tempo". But the person likely to steal his thunder might be...

Could Win: Edward Norton, Birdman: This is his 3rd nomination and at every critics award that Simmons won and had a runner-up had Norton as a runner-up to Simmons. So, he is pressing Simmons' shoulders. Plus, there is quite a consensus of how he got robbed for American History X, so there could be this feeling of making up for it.

Best Supporting Actress:

Should/Could Win: Emma Stone, Birdman: She checks a lot of boxes: Weight loss, big monologue scene, Funny actress going serious. But the performance is amazing and easily her best work since Easy A.

Will Win: Patricia Arquette, Boyhood: Like J.K. Simmons, she has been around for quite a while and is finally getting recognition in the film industry.

Best Adapted Screenplay:

Should/Will Win: Whiplash. Despite being a slight victim of category fraud because it was only adapted from a short film director Damien Chazelle made to get the funding to make Whiplash, it is seen by plenty as a favorite to deservingly win.

Could Win: The Imitation Game: If they decide to throw the movie a bone, since it has 8 nominations, this is where they are going to throw it.

Best Original Screenplay:

Should/Will Win: Birdman. It is between this and The Grand Budapest Hotel, but because Birdman is likely to win Best Picture, they'll have to reward it somewhere and this is one place. Plus, Budapest might already be taken care of with the tech Oscars it is likely to win.

Could Win: Boyhood. Depends on how much they love the film.

Best Editing:

Should Win: Boyhood. It did win at the Editors Guild and would also be my choice to win.

Will Win: Whiplash. Something tells me it'll be more than likely to win. Maybe it is the BAFTA win, but who knows.

Best Cinematography:

Should/Will Win: Birdman. Emmanuel Lubezki might easily pull off a repeat win.

Best Animated Feature:

Will Win: How To Train Your Dragon 2. 

I don't a pick for who should win because The Lego Movie isn't nominated and I haven't seen any of the nominees.

Best Documentary:

Will Win: Citizenfour. Easy. No contest. Moving on.

Best Score:

Should Win: Interstellar. The most harmonious score this year that tugs at the heartstrings.

Will Win: The Theory of Everything. It did win the Globe and depending on how in love they are with Theory of Everything, it could easily win.

Could Win: The Grand Budapest Hotel. Composer Alexandre Desplat is a double nominee for this and The Imitation Game, so we'll see.

Best Song:

Should/Could Win: "Everything Is Awesome" from The Lego Movie. This one is no contest. It would be so 'awesome' if it won. Last year, they did pick catchy (Let It Go) over sentiment (Ordinary Love), so the same thing could happen here.

Will Win: "Glory" from Selma. A more political choice, but the frontrunner nevertheless. I have a feeling that people will start tweeting and commenting about how Common and John Legend have Oscars while Leonardo DiCaprio doesn't. Mark my words.

Best Production Design:

Should/Will Win: The Grand Budapest Hotel. Moving on.

Best Costume Design:

Should/Will Win: The Grand Budapest Hotel. Again. Moving on.

Best Makeup:

Should Win: Guardians of the Galaxy. It would be awesome if a Marvel movie won an Oscar.

Will Win: The Grand Budapest Hotel. It does have the most nominations.

Best Visual Effects:

Should Win: Guardians of the Galaxy or X-Men: Days of Future Past. While I would be satisfied with whoever wins, either one of these two would be my pick.

Will Win: Interstellar. Despite not winning at the Effects guild, this outcome still looks most likely in my opinion.

Best Sound Editing:

Should Win: Interstellar.

Will Win: American Sniper. Movies about war seem to have good look in these categories.

Best Sound Mixing:

Should/Will Win: Whiplash. It is a movie about music, so...

Could Win: American Sniper. Like I said, war movies do well in these categories.

I'm only skipping the short categories because I don't know much about those (I never do).

So those are my predictions as to who should win, will win, and who could win at the Oscars on February 22nd. Whether you agree or disagree, please feel free to write your thoughts in the comments section. My Oscar coverage will continue until Oscar night and until then, thanks for reading!

Oscars 2015: BAFTA Awards Reactions

Hello, Bloggers, the BAFTA Awards just took place and here are my quick thoughts on the winners:

Best Film:
Boyhood

I had a gut feeling they would go with The Grand Budapest Hotel since it had the most nominations, but I was wrong of course. I do like this win, though.

Best Director:
Richard Linklater, Boyhood

Kind of predictable, but a fine decision nevertheless.

Best Actor:
Eddie Redmayne, The Theory of Everything 

A Brit winning for playing a famous Brit. Big. Freaking. Surprise.

Best Actress:
Julianne Moore, Still Alice

Looks like Moore gets to finally practice her speech. However, there goes Rosamund Pike's Oscar.

Best Supporting Actor:
J.K. Simmons, Whiplash

Are they rushing or dragging to give him the Oscar?

Best Supporting Actress:
Patricia Arquette, Boyhood

Best Adapted Screenplay:
The Theory of Everything

Probably one of the few surprises from this list of winners. But if The Imitation Game loses the WGA, that movie is SOL.

Best Original Screenplay:
The Grand Budapest Hotel

I figured if it wasn't going to go to Birdman, it would go to this. Now, it is officially between those two.

Best Editing:
Whiplash

Love this win!

Best Documentary:
Citizenfour

Surprise, surprise.

Best Animated Feature:
The Lego Movie

Everything is awesome!

Best Film Not In The English Language:
Ida

Wonderful win. Might boil down to this film and Leviathan. 

Best Cinematography:
Birdman

Birdman's only win of the night. But at least it didn't go home empty handed. There is a silver lining to anything.

Best Production Design:
The Grand Budapest Hotel

Of course.

Best Costume Design:
The Grand Budapest Hotel

Again. Of course.

Best Original Music:
The Grand Budapest Hotel

Wes Anderson certainly had a good night despite apparently not being there.

Best Makeup and Hair:
The Grand Budapest Hotel

Best Special Visual Effects:
Interstellar

I guess the team behind that film can breath easy after its stunning loss at the Effects guild.

Best Sound:
Whiplash

Makes sense.

Most Outstanding British Film:
The Theory of Everything

Knew it.

Most Outstanding Debut By A British Writer, Director, Or Producer:
Pride

Love this one! Terrific film.

EE BAFTA Rising Star Award:
Jack O'Connell

Yes! Here is hoping his star shines bright.

So overall, I felt that even though the BAFTAs were sort of predictable, I was still satisfied with most of the winners. I do like that Simmons, Moore, and Arquette won, and I wasn't even too upset that Redmayne won because I thought he was very good. I was just kind of hoping they would diverge and make things a little interesting. But I would love to hear your thoughts on the winners. Please feel free to write your thoughts in the comments section. Up until the 22nd, when the Oscars take place, I will continue my Oscar coverage. Until then, thanks for reading!

Oscars 2015: If I Had A Ballot

Hello, Bloggers, as part of my Oscar coverage, I figured that I would share my thoughts on what my personal Oscar ballot would look like if I was a voting member of the Academy and I will even acknowledge those who would've almost made the cut. Here we go:

Best Picture:

Birdman

Boyhood

Gone Girl

Guardians Of The Galaxy

Interstellar

The LEGO Movie

Locke

Obvious Child

Starred Up

Whiplash

Despite Starred Up being ineligible, I still feel that it wouldn't be out of place if it was actually nominated as it is powerful filmmaking at its finest. Also, just to spice things up, I figured that I'd include Guardians of the Galaxy, Interstellar, and The Lego Movie to create a balance between larger and smaller films.

HM: The Babadook, Calvary, The Grand Budapest Hotel, Ida, Life Itself, Pride, The Way He Looks

Best Director:

Damien Chazelle, Whiplash

Alejandro Gonzalez Innaritu, Birdman

Jennifer Kent, The Babadook

Richard Linklater, Boyhood

David MacKenzie, Starred Up

Not only would I have included Innaritu and Linklater for their revolutionary directing work, but Jennifer Kent, who made her breakthrough by using a monster movie as a character study, Damien Chazelle, who made a movie about drums and music seem like warfare, and David MacKenzie, who gave us a no holds barred look into prison life. 

HM: David Fincher, Gone Girl, Wes Anderson, The Grand Budapest Hotel, Christopher Nolan, Interstellar

Best Actor:

Pierre Deladonchamps, Stranger By The Lake

Jake Gyllenhaal, Nightcrawler

Tom Hardy, Locke

Michael Keaton, Birdman

Jack O’Connell, Starred Up

So many great leading male performances, so few slots. While I was pleased with who the Academy actually nominated and still kept Michael Keaton, there were still other performances that I would've loved to see get recognized. Some of which had no fighting chance like Jack O'Connell's Brando turn in Starred Up, Pierre Deladonchamps for his literal and figuratively full-bodied turn in Stranger By The Lake, and Tom Hardy's one-man-show in Locke. Of course, Jake Gyllenhaal isn't forgotten either for his best work to date as sociopath Lou Bloom in Nightcrawler. 

HM: Ben Affleck, Gone Girl, Bradley Cooper, American Sniper, Ralph Fiennes, Grand Budapest Hotel, Brendan Gleeson, Calvary, Matthew McConaughey, Interstellar, Channing Tatum, Foxcatcher, Miles Teller, Whiplash 

Best Actress:

Marion Cotillard, Two Days, One Night

Julianne Moore, Maps To The Stars

Rosamund Pike, Gone Girl

Jenny Slate, Obvious Child

Agata Trzebuchowska, Ida

While I am applauding Julianne Moore's amazing work in Still Alice, because I am a sucker for those neurotic ice queen roles, I went with her turn as psychotic Hollywood diva Havana Segrand in Maps To The Stars. Marion Cotillard and Rosamund Pike also find their way onto my ballot along with two breakthrough performances: Jenny Slate's hilariously layered turn in Obvious Child and Agata Trzebuchowska for her subtle yet powerful work as the titular dynamic nun in Ida.

HM: Jennifer Aniston, Cake, Emily Blunt, Into The Woods, Essie Davis, The Babadook, Gugu Mbatha-Raw, Belle, Reese Witherspoon, Wild

Best Supporting Actress:

Patricia Arquette, Boyhood

Carrie Coon, Gone Girl

Agata Kulesza, Ida

Emma Stone, Birdman

Tilda Swinton, Snowpiercer

Since Agata Trzebuchowska and Kulesza's characters are like two halves of the same, I figured it'd be fitting that they'd both be recognized. Despite her and Rosamund Pike never sharing the same scenes, Carrie Coon is a welcoming presence everytime she is on screen as the protagonist's stern yet sardonic sister Margo "'Go" Dunne. In my opinion, it was 'disorder' that Tilda Swinton wasn't nominated for her scene-chewing turn as corporal Mason in Snowpiercer,  who is like a shoe claiming to be a head. 

HM: Laura Dern, Wild, Kim Dickens, Gone Girl, Anna Kendrick, Into The Woods, Kelly Reilly, Calvary, Imelda Staunton, Pride, Naomi Watts, Birdman

Best Supporting Actor:

Ethan Hawke, Boyhood

Ben Mendelsohn, Starred Up

Edward Norton, Birdman

Mark Ruffalo, Foxcatcher

J.K. Simmons, Whiplash

As you can see, my lineup is almost similar to the Oscars, but that is because most of the supporting male performances that are getting recognized are some of the best of the year, in my opinion. However, if Ben Mendelsohn actually was nominated, I feel he would've given frontrunner J.K. Simmons a run for his money. 

HM: Josh Brolin, Inherent Vice, Michael Fassbender, Frank, Chris O'Dowd, Calvary, Christophe Paou, Stranger By The Lake, Tyler Perry, Gone Girl

Best Adapted Screenplay:

Gone Girl

The Imitation Game

Inherent Vice

Obvious Child

Wild

Best Original Screenplay:

Birdman

Boyhood

The Grand Budapest Hotel

The LEGO Movie

Whiplash

Even though it was recognized in the Adapted category, because it was put in the Original category everywhere else, Whiplash makes this already stacked category.

Best Cinematography:

Birdman

Grand Budapest Hotel

Ida

Interstellar

Stranger By The Lake

With the exception of Interstellar and Stranger By The Lake, it seems that I am in sync with the Academy in terms of this category. Interstellar, I felt, was beautifully shot by Hoyte von Hoytema. Stranger By The Lake was also beautifully shot too, but to contrast with the evil that lies beneath the surface, behind the sunny Eden-esque paradise. 

Best Editing:

Birdman

Boyhood

Interstellar

Locke

Whiplash

Best Production Design:

Divergent

The Grand Budapest Hotel

Into The Woods

Only Lovers Left Alive

Snowpiercer

As I said in my review of Only Lovers Left Alive, they managed to use the different settings and make it feel like they are characters themselves. While it may not be as in your face, it is still very inventive in my opinion. It seems that Tilda Swinton is like a good luck charm for this category as not only was Grand Budapest Hotel's colorful PD nominated, but Snowpiercer for its different train cabbages that are like different worlds. 

Best Costume Design:

Divergent

The Grand Budapest Hotel

Inherent Vice

Into The Woods

Snowpiercer

Some may seem surprised by my inclusion of Divergent on my ballot given the film's reception, but I just loved how they color-coded the different factions like in the book. 

Best Visual Effects:

Dawn of the Planet of the Apes

Guardians of the Galaxy      

Interstellar

Into The Woods

X-Men: Days of Future Past

Best Makeup:

Grand Budapest Hotel

Guardians of the Galaxy

Into The Woods

Snowpiercer

X-Men: Days of Future Past

Best Song:

“I Love You All” by Michael Fassbender, Frank

“Beating Heart” by Ellie Goulding, Divergent

“The Hanging Tree” by Jennifer Lawrence, The Hunger Games: Mockingjay-Part I

“I Won’t Let You Go” by Snow Patrol, Divergent

“Everything Is Awesome” by Tegan and Sara ft. The Lonely Island, The LEGO Movie

Best Original Score:

American Sniper

Birdman

Gone Girl

Interstellar

Only Lovers Left Alive

Best Ensemble:

Birdman

Foxcatcher

Gone Girl

Inherent Vice

Into The Woods

Best Sound:

Birdman

Interstellar

Starred Up

Stranger By The Lake

Whiplash

I decided not to divide the sound categories and just recognize which films had the best use of sound in general. Of course, Whiplash makes it on here since it is a film about music as well as Interstellar and Birdman. In a way, I felt that the filmmakers of Starred Up used the harsh sounds the characters make like the slashing of a knife to help add to the intense atmosphere. But Stranger By The Lake creates an intoxicating aura that can be heard in the background with the sounds of birds chirping mixed with men panting as they are engaged in sexual activity.

Best Foreign Language Film:

Force Majeure (Sweden)

Ida (Poland)

Stranger By The Lake (France)

Two Days, One Night (Belgium)

The Way He Looks (Brazil)

So that is what my ballot would look like if I was a member of the Academy. If you agree or disagree with any of my picks, please feel free to write your thoughts in the comments section.  My Oscar coverage will continue once the BAFTA Awards roll around tomorrow. Until then, thanks for reading!

Indie Review: A Prophet (2009)

                                       

     
      'A Prophet': A Prison Saga With Its Own Dsitinctive Voice That Allows It To Reach Out Into A Second Genre       

          It seems that I have had the best luck with prison movies lately, like Hunger and Starred Up. Both those films, along with the subject of this review, offer their own distinctive takes on prison life. A Prophet, however, is able to capture prison life while becoming a unique mobster drama.
          
            Story:
           A Prophet follows the story of a young convict named Malik (Tahar Rahim) who has been moved into an adult prison divided by Corsican and Muslim gangs. However, as he must figure out how to make it through his sentence, he finds himself under the wing of Corsican mafia leader Cesar Luciani (Niels Arestrup).

            Ups:
           I'll start off with the lead performance by Tahar Rahim. Rahim just commands the screen as he undergoes an intense yet silent arc as his character goes from timid juvenile to fiercely loyal henchman to ring leader. I liken his dynamic portrayal to Al Pacino's in the first Godfather. He is just that impressive. I would also like to give a shoutout to Niels Arestrup for his equally layered turn as Cesar, who rules his prison wing with an iron fist yet whenever he looks out his window, he reveals how in reality, he is a sad lonely man.

           Much like the two main performances, the story has plenty of layers to it. It manages to not only deal with prison life, but weave in themes involving heirarchy, the mafia, and even division between religion and heritage as Malik increases his power within the prison by going back and forth between joining the Corsican and Muslim sides. I feel that because of these layers within the story, this prison film is able to successfully have its own identity.

          Downs:
          NIL.

          Consensus:
          Overall, A Prophet is a hard-edged prison saga about using heirarchy to survive that features a splendid lead turn from Tahar Rahim. The performances are spectacular, the storyline is incredibly layered, and this film is one to be ranked among both the best prison and crime dramas.

          Would I Recommend It?:
          Yes, but not to everybody. If you don't mind reading subtitles and if you like mobster dramas such as The Godfather, then I would highly suggest giving this a watch.

Grade: A

Trailer Talk #24: Ted 2, Minions, Fantastic Four, Ant-Man, Far From The Madding Crowd, Insidious: Chapter 3

Hello, Bloggers, for the first time in quite a while, I have done a new episode of Trailer Talk where I give a quick look at trailers for upcoming movies and say whether or not I will see them in theaters, at home, or at all. Let's take a look:

Ted 2: First up is the trailer for the upcoming sequel Ted 2. Now, I loved the first film and while I have a feeling this sequel may not measure up to the first one, it still might get a few laughs out of me. We won't be seeing much of Mila Kunis, but we still have the dynamic duo of Mark Wahlberg and Ted. I might end up seeing this one in theaters.

Minions: Next is the trailer for the upcoming spinoff of the Despicable Me series known as Minions. Before I watched this trailer, I actually didn't have much expectations, but what has me sold after watching it is without a doubt Sandra Bullock as Scarlett Overkill. She rarely ever does voice work and it looks like she is doing a hilarious job in this. I might check it out for her.

Fantastic Four: Next is the upcoming superhero reboot Fantastic Four. While I am quite fond of Marvel and the source material, I had zero expectations watching the trailer for this. One reason is I was unsure what direction they would go in with the younger casting. But now that I have seen the trailer, my expectations were surpassed. I may have gotten Christopher Nolan vibes, but it may actually have potential to surpass the original Fantastic Four films. Whether I see it in theaters depends on the next trailers to come out.

Ant-Man: Next is the upcoming Marvel adaptation finally making its way to the big screen: Ant-Man. This is one I am super excited for. One reason is without a doubt Paul Rudd. I love Paul Rudd as an actor and I am quite excited to see him do a superhero film that will hopefully give him the audience exposure he really deserves. I am definitely seeing this in theaters and I do hope it ends up being this year's Guardians of the Galaxy. 

Far From The Madding Crowd: Next is the upcoming period piece adaptation of Far From The Madding Crowd. Although I never read the book it is based on or the original 60's film starring Julie Christie, I am actually pretty excited about this. That could be due to Carey Mulligan. I have enjoyed her work in Drive and especially Shame and I feel that she will especially deliver in this. Plus, I loved her cover of the song "Let No Man Steal Your Thyme" by Pentangle played in the trailer. Whether I see it in the trailer remains to be seen, but I will see it in the future.

Insidious: Chapter 3: Lastly is the second sequel on this post, Insidious: Chapter 3. I'll admit that I wasn't over the moon about the first film and I didn't even see the second. But this trailer had me cringing in my seat. Holy Toledo, does this look scary! Not to mention the cover of "Tiptoe Through The Tulips" might even be scarier than the original which says a lot because I get uneasy listening to the original. I don't know if I'll end up seeing it in theaters, but I do hope to see it eventually.

Final Ratings:

Ted 2: More Than Likely
Minions: Eh, You've Peaked My Interest
Fantastic Four: Eh, You've Peaked My Interest
Ant-Man: Gotta See It!
Far From The Madding Crowd: Eh, You've Peaked My Interest
Insidious: Chapter 3