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