Obviously Hollywood is on a roll with producing one film after another of those that are based on true stories. They've covered politicians, baseball players, football players, authors, actors, hikers, astronauts, and now painters are being covered in the form of "Big Eyes".
This is based on the true story of Walter Keane (Christoph Waltz), who was one of the most successful painters of the 1950's and early 1960's. The artist earned staggering notoriety by revolutionizing the commercialization and accessibility of popular art with his enigmatic paintings of waifs with big eyes. The truth would eventually be discovered though: Keane's art was actually not created by him at all, but by his wife, Margaret (Amy Adams). The Keanes, it seemed, had been living a lie that had grown to gigantic proportions. This film centers on Margaret's awakening as an artist, the phenomenal success of her paintings, and her tumultuous relationship with her husband, who was catapulted to international fame while taking credit for her work. This subsequently resulted in a huge legal battle in the mid 1960's in a controversial trial to beat none.
Others to round out the cast are Krysten Ritter as DeeAnn, a friend of Margaret's, Jason Schwartzman as Ruben, an art dealer, Danny Houston as Dick Nolan, an investigative reporter, Terence Stamp as John Canaday, an art critic, Jon Polito as Enrico Banducci, Elisabetta Fantone as Marta, James Saito as Judge, Guido Furlani as Dino Olivetti, Delaney Raye as Young Jane, and Madeleine Arthur as Older Jane, Margaret's daughter.
This was well paced and staged by director Tim Burton ("Pee-wee's Big Adventure" '85, "Beetlejuice" '88, "Batman" '89, "Edward Scissorhands" '90, "Batman Returns" '92, "Ed Wood" '94, "Mars Attacks!" '96, "Sleepy Hollow" '99, "Planet of the Apes" '01, "Big Fish" '03, "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory" '05, "Corpse Bride" '05, "Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street" '07, "Alice in Wonderland" '10, "Dark Shadows" '12, "Frankenweenie" '12). What actually surprised me was that Burton directed this. As you peruse his resume, he typically doesn't direct this kind of film. He's more attached to the whimsical, dark, quirky, oddballish type of movie, but he really pulled this off. The way that these two characters slowly started to deteriorate before one's eyes was well executed. Of course, both Adams and Waltz are phenomenal actors, Burton's direction was spot on. It was written by Scott Alexander and Larry Karaszewski and with the exception of a couple of places that were a bit jumpy, it was a tight, thought-out script.
If one is to see this, it will be more for Adams and Waltz's performances more than anything else. The way they clicked together was amazing. And the story? As you see Walter Keane slowly deteriorate, you see Margaret Keane slowly start realizing that she can be her own person and nobody else's. Definitely an interesting ride.
Out of 4 Stars: 3.5 Rated: PG-13 106mins.
Survival films have always showcased a great source of material as far as Hollywood goes, and therefore reap many profits from audiences who love to see the underdog overcoming extreme obstacles. Look at "127 Hours" with James Franco-- portraying a real character of a hiker striving to survive in the elements. Now we have another hiker in dire straights in the form of "Wild".
With the dissolution of her marriage with Paul (Thomas Sadoski) and the death of her mother, Bobbi (Laura Dern) to cancer, Cheryl Strayed (Reese Witherspoon) has lost all hope. After years of reckless, destructive behavior, she makes a rash decision. With absolutely no experience, driven only by sheer determination, Cheryl backpacks 1,100 miles of the Pacific Crest Trail, alone. This story captures the terrors and pleasures of one young woman forging ahead against all odds on a journey that maddens, strengthens, and ultimately heals her. One of the elements which helps her keep her sanity are some of the people she encounters along the way, such as Frank (W. Earl Brown), Greg (Kevin Rankin), Ed (Cliff De Young) and Jonathan (Michiel Huisman).
Others to round out the cast are Keene McRae as Leif, Cheryl's younger brother, Gaby Hoffman as Aimee, friend of Cheryl's, Brian Van Holt as Ranger, and Mo McRae as Jimmy Carter (no relation).
After seeing "Dallas Buyers Club" with exquisite direction by Jean-Marc Vallee ("Los Locos" '97, "Loser Love" '99, "C.R.A.Z.Y." '05, "The Young Victoria" '09, "Café de Flore" '11, "Dallas Buyers Club" '13), I simply had to see this film, and after viewing it, my conclusion is that the direction was effortless--Witherspoon held her own easily and obviously worked closely with Vallee when it came to the emotion of this character as well as staging and pacing. It was written by Nick Hornby based on Cheryl Strayed's memoir, "Wild: From Lost to Found on the Pacific Crest Trail". I couldn't help but think of the film "127 Hours" with James Franco after seeing this-- I guess because it was about two hikers in potentially perilous situations. But I loved "127 Hours" so getting into this story wasn't a stretch. This character Witherspoon played was so full of issues and the fact that she even was able to make this trail (issues and all), was amazing in and of itself. There were a couple of choppy areas, but all in all, a well scripted screenplay. Witherspoon will undoubtedly garner an Oscar nod for her performance as will Vallee's direction.
As stated above, if you liked "127 Hours", you will definitely love this. It, like 'Hours', is a great character study of determination, strength, survival and ultimately redemption.
Out of 4 Stars: 3.5 Rated: R 115mins.
Without sounding like a broken record, Hollywood is fascinated with films based on true stories, because so much of the time, truth is and can be more effective, more interesting, more powerful than pure fiction. As with the case of "Unbroken", these adjectives truly fit this film and more.
After a near-fatal plane crash in WWII, Olympian Louis 'Louie' Zamperini (Jack O'Donnell) spends a harrowing 47 days in a life raft with two fellow crewmen, Phil and Mac (Domhnall Gleeson and Finn Wittrock) respectively, before he's caught by the Japanese navy and sent to a prisoner-of-war camp lead by the ruthless, heartless Watanabe (Takamasa Ishihara).
During the length of time these men were in that camp, they were beaten, humiliated, tortured, malnourished with only scraps to live on...they were broken, however Zamperini knew that if he could take it, he could make it--to quote his brother Pete (John D'Leo) from their early years. He also told God, while in that raft, that if God gets him through all this, he would give his life to God. So with God, his brother's words and his fellow prisoners help, he made it, because he became unbroken.
Others to round out the cast are Garrett Hedlund as Fitzgerald, a fellow prisoner, Jai Courtney as Cup, Maddalena Ischiale as Louise, Vincenzo Amato as Anthony, John Magaro as Tinker, Luke Treadaway as Miller, Louis McIntosh as Harris, Ross Anderson as Blackie, Alex Russell as Pete (Older), C.J. Valleroy as Louie (Young) and Jordan Patrick Smith as Clift.
This was brilliantly directed by Angelina Jolie ("A Place in Time" (Documentary) '07, "In the Land of Blood and Honey" '11) and with the upcoming "By the Sea". The pacing, staging, the way she obviously worked with the editors to represent continuity and clarity was simply spot on. This has been nominated for several Golden Globe Awards and will undoubtedly be noticed come Oscar time. As I stated with "The Homesman" directed by Tommy Lee Jones, if Jolie ever wanted to retire from acting, she could enter the directing avenue full time and excel well. It was equally well written by Joel Coen, Ethan Coen, Richard LaGravenese and William Nicholson based on the book by Laura Hillenbrand. Typically when a film has this number of writers attached to, it has a great propensity of getting bogged down, lacking cohesiveness, and just getting lost in script, however with great writers as the Coen Brothers, this film could only soar. The writing was tight, cohesive, orderly and depicted true humanity and the redemption especially when there is such hardship--lessons we can all learn from. Kudos to all involved in this production.
Certainly if you like films based on true stories, this will hit home big time, however everyone loves to see the proverbial underdog and how that underdog becomes the victor in spite of the incredible odds against him.
Out of 4 Stars: 4 Rated: PG-13 137mins.
Musicals of late have incrementally made a comeback compared to those back decades ago. We've seen many including "Chicago", "Nine", "Burlesque", "Moulin Rouge", even "Rock of Ages", and the audiences keep coming back for more. Now with "Into the Woods" in the offing, I believe musicals are going to be around for a while.
This story is a modern twist on the beloved Brothers Grimm fairy tales in a musical format that follows the classic tales of Cinderella (Anna Kendrick), Little Red Riding Hood (Lilla Crawford), Jack (Daniel Huttlestone) and the Beanstalk, and Rapunzel (Mackenzie Mauzy)-- all tied together by an original story involving a Baker (James Corden) and his wife (Emily Blunt), their wish to begin a family and their interaction with the witch (Meryl Streep) who has put a curse on them. The witch requires the Baker and his wife to obtain four different objects-- all that come from the four different fairy tales in order to reverse the curse within three days when there is then a blue moon.
Others to round out the cast are Chris Pine as Cinderella's Prince, Tracey Ullman as Jack's Mother, Christine Baranski as Stepmother, Johnny Depp as Wolf, Tammy Blanchard as Florinda, Lucy Punch as Lucinda, Billy Magnussen as Rapunzel's Prince, Joanna Riding as Cinderella's Mother, Simon Russell Beale as Baker's Father and Frances de la Tour as Giant.
This was directed by the musical king, Rob Marshall ("Annie" (TV movie) '99, "Chicago" '02, "Memoirs of a Geisha" '05, "Nine" '09, "Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides" '11). When Marshall directed "Chicago", he may have sabotaged himself, because since then, what he has directed has been good, solid productions, however not the greatness that he was able to accomplish with "Chicago" He simply nailed the direction on that. The pacing, the stage numbers were executed with perfection. With this, it was solid, but the pacing and staging was just a bit off--like I said, he raised the bar a bit too high, so anything subsequent is not quite as polished. This was written by James Lapine based on the musical by Stephen Sondheim and Lapine. Connecting four different fairy tales is certainly original and fresh, but there were some places that were a bit too slow, so a bit long-in-the-tooth. Otherwise, the translation from stage play to the movie screen was executed well. As production values go, one couldn't expect any more: the photography by Dion Beebe, acs/asc ("Chicago") and costumes designed by the incomparable Colleen Atwood ("Alice in Wonderland") were amazing and will probably be looking at Oscar nods come that time. And, of course, what can I say about the music? The best part of this has got to be the music and lyrics by legendary Stephen Sondheim.
As films go, this being a whimsical comedy/fantasy production, being able to go into a theater and escape into total fantasy and adventure is what we all need to get us through that thing called life!
Out of 4 Stars: 3.5 Rated: PG 124mins.
Of all the films based on an original premise, "Annie" has probably the oldest or certainly one of the oldest origins, dating back to 1894 when "Little Orphan Annie" was first published. There has been several incarnations since then in print, other films and plays. When "Little Orphan Annie" published its last comic strip back in 1968, there was a while where this little girl wasn't popularized until much later.
This is the retelling of the story about Annie (Quvenzhane Wallis), a young, happy foster kid who's also tough enough to make her way on the streets of New York in 2014. Originally left by her parents as a baby with the promise that they'd be back for her someday, it's been a hard knock life ever since her mean foster mom, Miss Hannigan (Cameron Diaz) had been raising her. But everything's about to change when the hard-nosed tycoon and New York mayoral candidate Will Stacks (Jamie Foxx)-- advised by his brilliant VP, Grace (Rose Byrne) and his shrewd and scheming campaign advisor, Guy (Bobby Cannavale)-- makes a thinly veiled campaign move and takes her in after he saved her from being hit by a van. Stacks believes he's her guardian angel, but Annie's self-assured nature and bright, sun-will-come-out-tomorrow outlook on life just might mean it's the other way around.
Others to round out the cast are Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje as Nash, head of security, David Zayas as Lou, Zoe Margaret Colletti as Tessie, Nicolette Pierini as Mia, Eden Duncan-Smith as Isabella, Amanda Troya as Pepper, Dorian Missick as Annie's "dad", Tracie Thoms as Annie's "mom" and Mike Birbiglia as Social Services Inspector.
This was effectively and adequately directed by Will Gluck ("Fired Up! '09, "Easy A" '10, "Friends with Benefits" '11, "Iceland" (TV movie) '11). For a filmmaker that, first of all, doesn't have a ton of directing experience under his belt and secondly, has never directed a musical, scored big time, because directing musicals as opposed to comedies is incredibly different. In musicals, the timing is so different as is the pacing--there's choreography. This had to be quite a feat for Gluck to endeavor and he pulled it off expertly. It was written by Gluck and Aline Brosh McKenna based on the stage play book by Thomas Meehan which is based on the comic strip "Little Orphan Annie" as stated above by Harold Gray. For an updated version of a very old comic strip, this modern version was well conveyed in that a lot of audiences could identify with the different characters in this--seeing them going through some of the same things we all go through today. Of course, as with the musical, "Annie" with music by Charles Strouse and lyrics by Martin Charnin, this gives the film the lightness a lot of audiences will like, especially families, at a time of year that we all want to feel good right where we're at.
As musicals go, no this is no "Les Miserables", but this is certainly a fun-filled comedy for one and all to enjoy during this Christmas season when we all want that warm and fuzzy feeling when we go to the multiplex.
Out of 4 Stars: 3 Rated: PG 118mins.
As franchises go, what "Raiders of the Lost Ark" did for that franchise in the adventure realm, "Night at the Museum" has done for this franchise in the comedy realm. Every time you go to see one of these films, one realizes that you can count on it being funny, adventurous, fun, and rollicking which is why we have been offered a third installment entitled "Night at the Museum: Secret of the Tomb".
When an Egyptian tablet, which gives life to the museum exhibits, begins to fade, Larry Daley (Ben Stiller) rallies his friends (the exhibits) including Teddy Roosevelt (Robin Williams), Jedediah (Owen Wilson), Octavius (Steve Coogan), Attila the Hun (Patrick Gallagher), Ahkmenrah (Rami Malek) and Ahkmenrah's father, Merenkahre (Ben Kingsley) in order to find the cause of the tablet deteriorating. They span the globe to Egypt and London where Larry enlists help from his counterpart, security guard of that museum, Tilly (Rebel Wilson). Question of the day is: Can these friends find the source of the deteriorating tablet and how to repair it before it's too late?
Others to round out the cast are Ricky Gervais as Dr. McPhee, Dan Stevens as Sir Lancelot, Skyler Gisondo as Nick Daley, Larry's teenage son, Mizuo Peck as Sacajawea, Dick Van Dyke as Cecil, Mickey Rooney as Gus, Bill Cobbs as Reginald, Brad Garrett as Easter Island Head, Percy Hines-White as C.J. Fredericks, Brennan Elliott as Robert Fredericks and Crystal the Monkey as Dexter.
This was effectively directed by Shawn Levy ("Big Fat Liar" '02, "Just Married" '03, "Cheaper by the Dozen" '03, "The Pink Panther" '06, "Night at the Museum" '06, "Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian" '09, "Date Night" '10, "Real Steel" '11, "The Internship" '13, "This is Where I Leave You" '14) plus TV series and movies. By his very resume, this guy knows a thing or two about comedy-- his comic timing and pacing is basically second to none. As dysfunctional as most comedies are today--directing, writing, even acting, this pro will continue seeing more projects he can even handle. It was written by David Guion, and Michael Handelman based on a story by Mark Friedman, Guion and Handelman, which is based on characters created by Thomas Lennon and Robert Ben Garant. Even though there were a ton of sources, it was remarkably written well. Obviously the original of this franchise was the best-- fresh and original, this still was able to hold its own as an avenue to see where this story could even go. The visual effects predominantly created by MPC (Moving Picture Company) and Digital Domain were absolutely seamless. Such as how did they show dinosaur bones running down a corridor?
I wish to dedicate this film to the memories of both Mickey Rooney and Robin Williams. Both gave us all a vast body of creative work that we will never forget. Rest in peace to you both.
The premise of this is solid: exhibits in a museum coming alive after dark until dawn is very clever, and one that has a never ending list of plots. So hold on to your hats, because another installment could come.
Out of 4 Stars: 3 Rated: PG-13 97mins.
You know you're in the holiday movie season when a plethora of much awaited films have or going to be thrusted upon us very soon. Of course, with the Academy Award deadline date of 12-31 looming huge and coming quick, the number of these films are massive whether frothed with quality or ones to get the younger audiences in those theater seats. Ca-ching! So now we are being offered the last and final installation of The Hobbit series entitled "The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies".
This brings to epic conclusion the adventures of Bilbo Baggins (Martin Freeman), Thorin Oakenshield (Richard Armitage) and the Company of Dwarves. Having reclaimed their homeland from the Dragon Smaug (voice of Benedict Cumberbatch), the Company has unwittingly unleased a deadly force into the world. Enraged, Smaug rains his fiery wrath down upon the defenseless men, women and children of Lake-town. Obsessed above all else with his reclaimed treasure, Thorin sacrifices friendship and honor to hoard it as Bilbo's frantic attempts to make him see reason drive the Hobbit towards a desperate and dangerous choice. But there are even greater dangers ahead. Unseen by any but the Wizard Gandalf (Ian McKellan), the great army Sauron has sent forth legions of Orcs in a stealth attack upon the Lonely Mountain. As darkness converges on their escalating conflict, the races of Dwarves, Elves and Men must decide-- unite or be destroyed. Bilbo finds himself fighting for his life and the lives of his friends in the epic Battle of the Five Armies, as the future of Middle-earth hangs in the balance.
Others to round out the cast are Luke Evans as Alkrid, Evangeline Lilly as Tauriel, Ken Stott as Balin, Lee Pace as Galadriel, Ryan Gage as Alfrid, Orlando Bloom as Legolas, Hugo Weaving as Elrond, Dean O'Gorman as Fili, Aidan Turner as Kili, Stephen Fry as Master of Lake-town, Ian Holm as Old Bilbo, and Manu Bennett as Azog.
Considering his vast experience in directing this genre, the directing by Peter Jackson ("Meet the Feebles" '89, "Heavenly Creature" '94, "The Frighteners" '96, "The Lord of the Rings Trilogy" '01, '02, '03, "King Kong" '05, "The Lovely Bones" '09, the first two installments of "Hobbit" films '12, '13) it would seem that, after a point, he would just 'yawn' his way through this film, and in actuality, this installment was as fresh, if not fresher than its predecessors. Trust me, I'm not a huge fan of this or Lord of the Rings trilogy, but with all objectivity, this conclusion not only was amazingly directed and written well, but also wrapped up this epic story nicely. It was written by Fran Walsh, Philippa Boyens, Jackson and Guillermo del Toro. I believe that the only reason why this was an effective screenplay (with four screenwriters), was because it was the same team that wrote the other two installments, otherwise having all these 'hands in the pot' would've caused this story to be mired down in confusion and lack of cohesiveness as with so many other films with the same number of writers. I couldn't end this review without touting Weta Digital, Ltd. for their incredible visual effects and animation. This company was the same firm which created the visuals for the Lord of the Rings trilogy as well as the last two installments of this trilogy and it shows in spades. How do these guys do it?
If you plan on seeing this, you've got to see it on the large screen, lest it gets lost on a DVD. Trust me, after seeing this, you will walk away enjoying this nice tidy conclusion all in a 3D format too boot! Enjoy!
Out of 4 Stars: 3.5 Rated: PG-13 144mins.
Of late, we have seen a plethora of biblically based films: "Son of Man", "Noah", "God's Not Dead", "Left Behind" and others. I'm not sure why all the interest in these types of films, except that it might be reflective of our problematic society: finances, crime, diseases out of control. Sometimes through our intense lives, something that's conveyed in a compassionate way to relieve us of our problems is just what the doctor ordered. With this, we have "Exodus: Gods and Kings" in the offing to turn to so as to cause us to think more about our lives.
The year is 1300 BCE. This epic adventure is the story of one man's daring courage to take on the might of an empire. This tells the story of the defiant, passionate leader Moses (Christian Bale) as he eventually rises up against the Egyptian Pharoah Ramses (Joel Edgerton), setting 600,000 Hebrew slaves on a monumental journey of escape from Egypt and its terrifying cycle of deadly plagues-- frogs, blood, flies, locusts, hail.
To know how these men were at such odds with each other, one must go back into the past. You see, Moses was raised, as an infant, by Seti (John Turturro), along with Ramses, so they grew up as 'brothers'--depending on one another. Moses inadvertently meets Nun (Ben Kingsley) who tells Moses that a prophesy was made calling Moses the subsequent leader of the Jews to bring those out of slavery from the Egyptians. This perplexes Moses to the point where he starts to question where he actually came from, lineage-wise. This confrontation with Ramses simply fanned the fire and they soon were at odds with each other to a disastrous end.
Others to round out the cast are Aaron Paul as Joshua, Ben Mendelsohn as Viceroy Hegep, Maria Valverde as Zipporah, Sigourney Weaver as Tuya, Hiam Abbass as Bithia, Isaac Andrews as Malak, Ewen Bremner as Expert, Indira Varma as High Priestess and Tara Fitzgerald as Miriam.
This was effortlessly directed by Ridley Scott ("Alien" '79, "Blade Runner" '82, "Thelma & Louise" '91, "White Squall" '96, "Gladiator" 2000, "Black Hawk Down" '01, Matchstick Men" '03, "American Gangster" '07, "Body of Lies" '08, "Prometheus" '12, "The Counselor" '13) plus others. Like the old adage states: 'practice makes perfect', this guy has directed so many films that you know you're going to be faced with consummate talent and artistry. The emotion that his actors exude is so realistic and effective, that it almost looks like the actors aren't acting. It was equally well written by Adam Cooper, Bill Collage, Jeffrey Caine and Steven Zailian. Considering the huge number of writers on this, it should have been incredibly convoluted-- too many hands in the pot, but it was actually crafted together in a comprehensive way. Mind you, there were some choppy areas, but all in all, a solid script. Also, the visual effects ,predominantly created by MPC (Moving Picture Company), Double Negative and Method Studios, were cleverly intertwined within the story by Scott, so the actors, story with the visuals worked effortlessly with each other, not to mention that the visuals were seamless, to boot.
This epic film is one that must be seen on the large screen, lest it gets lost in anything else smaller. You will be pulled into this incredible story of adventure, loss, redemption and bravery all in a very effective 3D format for all to enjoy.
Out of 4 Stars: 3.5 Rated: PG-13 150mins.
Through the years, the western genre has apparently had its overhaul, and I believe the change has sparked a new interest in these films as ever before. We've seen "No Country For Old Men" '07, "The Three Burials of Melquiades Estrada" '05, "The Missing" '03, "Brokeback Mountain" '05, even "The Lone Ranger"'13, so why not add to that list by offering "The Homesman"?
Three women, Arabella Sours (Grace Gummer), Theoline Belknap (Miranda Otto), and Gro Svendsen (Sonja Richter) living on the edge of the American frontier are driven mad by the harsh pioneer life, and the task of saving them falls to the pious, independent-minded Mary Bee Cuddy (Hilary Swank). Transporting the women by a wood-covered wagon to Iowa, she is desperate for help on the daunting journey, and inadvertently comes across a low-life man who is in the process of being hung. To save his life, he, George Briggs (Tommy Lee Jones) reluctantly agrees to help her with these women. The unlikely pair, the proverbial 'odd couple', and three troublesome women head east, where a waiting minister and his wife, Altha Carter (Meryl Streep) have offered to take the women in. But the group must first traverse the harsh Nebraska Territories marked by stark beauty, psychological peril and constant threat.
Others to round out the cast are Jo Harvey Allen as Mrs. Polhemus, Barry Corbin as Buster Shaver, David Dencik as Thor Svendsen, William Fichtner as Vester Belknap, Evan Jones as Bob Giffen, Caroline Lagerfelt as Netti, John Lithgow as Reverend Alfred Dowd, Tim Blake Nelson as The Freighter, Jesse Plemons as Garn Sours, James Spader as Aloysius Duffy, and Hailee Steinfeld as Tabitha Hutchinson.
This was grittily and eerily directed by Tommy Lee Jones ("The Good Old Boys" (TV movie) '95, "The Three Burials of Melquiades Estrada" '05, "The Sunset Limited" (TV movie) '11). If Jones ever decided to quit acting, he could certainly go into directing full time, because he knows just how to extract the correct emotions from his actors at just the right time. Obviously, being an actor himself has definitely served him as a director--it's easier to direct when you've walked in the same shoes as the actors. He gave this story the starkness, the eeriness which actually made it very non-western like. It was written by Jones, Kieran Fitzgerald and Wesley A. Oliver based on the novel, "The Homesman" by Glendon
Swarthout which made for a meaty source. The only possible flaw in this was that there were a few places of lack of continuity which could cause little confusion, but over all, this premise was amazing and the execution in script was both interesting and intriguing. Besides, Jones clearly gets better with age like a fine wine, and with his incredible talent as a director and writer, this makes him that much more consummate. Also, Swank simply shined here as the hard-nosed, independent Cuddy. This has got to be the best thing she's done since "Million Dollar Baby" '04.
Whether you like westerns or not, you'll like this for reasons of good acting, directing and writing and the fact that this is not your typical western, which, in my book, makes this a film that soars.
Out of 4 Stars: 3.5 Rated: R 122mins.
As many of the 'based on a true story' films that Hollywood produces, it's getting to be rarer to see films that are pure fiction anymore, hence the new film, "The Theory of Everything". This is a true story/biopic that looks at a particular individual through the eyes of his wife.
This is the extraordinary story of one of the world's greatest living minds, the renowned astrophysicist Stephen Hawking (Eddie Redmayne), who falls deeply in love with fellow Cambridge student Jane Wilde (Felicity Jones) back in the 60's. Once a healthy, active young man, Hawking received an earth-shattering diagnosis of ALS (Lou Gehrig's Disease) or as it was called at the time, Motor Neuron Disease, at 21 years of age. Even though he was given approximately two years to live, his wife still fought tirelessly by his side, while Stephen was to embark on his most ambitious scientific work, studying the very thing he now has precious little of--time. Together, they defy impossible odds, breaking new ground in medicine and science, and achieving more than they could ever have dreamed.
Others to round out the cast are Charlie Cox as Jonathan Jones, Emily Watson as Beryl Wilde, Jane's mother, Simon McBurney as Frank Hawking, Stephen's father, David Thewlis as Dennis Sciama, Maxine Peake as Elaine Mason, Harry Lloyd as Brian, Alice Orr-Ewing as Diana King, Guy Oliver-Watts as George Wilde, Jane's father and Christian McKay as Roger Penrose.
This was crafted meticulously by director James Marsh ("John Cale" (TV movie documentary) '98, "Wisconsin Death Trip" '99, "The Team" (Documentary) '05, "The King" '05, "Man on Wire" (Documentary) '08, "Red Riding: In the Year of Our Lord 1980" (TV movie) '09, "Project Nim" (Documentary) '11, "Shadow Dancer" '12). The painstaking approach he took to showcase every nuance of Hawking and his mannerisms-- his smile, the way the body parts were deformed, his eyeglasses, etc. was amazing detail. Of course, Redmayne's performance of this scientist was near perfection and could possibly earn him an Oscar nod come that time. It was well written by Anthony McCarten based on the book, "Travelling to Infinity: My Life With Stephen" by Jane Hawking. This biopic, as seen through the eyes of Jane Hawking, dealt more with hers' and Stephen's relationship as dating, subsequently marrying and having to take care of Stephen as His ALS only progresses. Him being one that questions the reality of God and her being a member of the Church of England made some difficulties in their relationship, but, as the old adage says, "love conquers all" took over in their lives. Amazing that all of his theories seem to not include God, but considering that they are only theories, how can one dismiss another form of belief when your belief is based on theory? This was certainly an arena that was touched on, but since it was based on Jane's book, their relationship took precedence. There were a few places of confusions if one wasn't following along and it was just a bit long-in-the-tooth, otherwise an interesting script.
Look, whatever side of the fence you're on with Hawking's life beliefs, you are seeing this more for the acting and directing than anything else. It gives all something to think about, all with a good dose of fine acting thrown in for good measure.
Out of 4 Stars: 3 Rated: PG-13 123mins.
When it comes to franchise films, the 'Madagascar' collection has got to be one of the better ones--whether it be animated or not. When I saw the first film "Madagascar" in 2005, I wasn't expecting the fresh and funny movie it turned out to be, mostly because of the fact that so many animated flicks were being churned out, that this couldn't be anything special. I was proven wrong! Now we have "Penguins of Madagascar" and the fun and quality just never seems to end.
Super spy teams aren't born...they're hatched. Discover the secrets of the greatest and most hilarious covert birds in the global espionage biz: Skipper, Kowalski, Rico and Private (Tom McGrath, Chris Miller, Conrad Vernon and Christopher Knights) respectively. These elitists of the elite are joining forces with a chic undercover organization, The North Wind. Led by handsome and husky Agent Classified (Benedict Cumberbatch)-- we could tell you his name, but then...you know. Together, they must stop the villainous Dr. Octavious Brine (John Malkovich), otherwise known as Dave, from destroying the world as we know it. Can these operative penguins stop this over-the-top octopus before it's too late?
Others to round out the cast are Ken Jeong as Short Fuse, Annet Mahendru as Eva and Peter Stormare as Corporal, all part of The North Wind team, Andy Richter as Mort, Danny Jacobs as King Julien, Sean Charmatz as Cricket and Werner Herzog as Documentary Filmmaker.
This was brilliantly and wittily directed by Eric Darnell ("Antz" '98, "Madagascar" '05, "Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa" '08, "Madagascar 3: Europe's Most Wanted" '12) and Simon
J. Smith ("Bee Movie" '07). The quick action pacing was unsurpassed as was the sequencing of story buy these directors. Even though Smith has limited experience in the director's chair, having the seasoned Darnell along with him made this duo shine. It was wittily written by John Aboud, Michael Colton and Brandon Sawyer based on a story by Alan Schoolcraft, Brent Simons, Colton and Aboud based on characters by Darnell and McGrath. Perhaps I'm a bit bias in that the penguins have always been my favorite characters of this franchise. I guess it's because of the fact that even though they are wisecracking, the team effort they possess is spot on, and besides, they're penguins, which are odd enough characters that one would never assume could be co-ops. The premise of this was absolutely fluid: How they got started, how they obtained Private, and subsequently seeing them do what they do best. It all simply flowed like water.
If you love animated flicks and especially that of the 'Madagascar' franchise, you will love this, but if the animated film isn't your cup of tea, the story, wit and action should more than make up for the fact that this isn't a live action film. In any rate, enjoy--I should did.
Out of 4 Stars: 4 Rated: PG 92mins.
I've said before and I'll say it again, truth is stranger than fiction. This has got to be one of the motivating factors Hollywood has in producing films based on a true story as with the case of "Foxcatcher". This is a true character study whereas if it wasn't based on something true, I believe that Hollywood would be hard-pressed to come up with this particular premise.
Based on a true story, this tells the dark and fascinating story of the unlikely and ultimately tragic relationship between an eccentric multi-millionaire and two champion wrestlers. When Olympic Gold Medal winning wrestler Mark Schultz (Channing Tatum) is invited by wealthy heir John du Pont (Steve Carell) to move on to the DuPont estate and help form a team to train for the 1988 Seoul Olympics at his new state-of-the-art training facility, Schultz jumps at the opportunity, hoping to focus on his training and finally step out of the shadow of his revered brother, Gold Medal winner Dave (Mark Ruffalo). Driven by hidden needs, DuPont sees backing Schultz's bid for Gold and the chance to "coach" a world-class wrestling team as an opportunity to gain the elusive respect of his peers and, more importantly, his disapproving mother (Vanessa Redgrave). Flattered by the attention and entranced by DuPont's majestic world, Mark comes to see his benefactor as a father figure and grows increasingly dependent on him for approval. Though initially supportive, DuPont soon changes and begins to lure Mark into an unhealthy lifestyle that threatens to undermine his training. Then as DuPont's erratic behavior and psychological game-play ensues, that begins to erode Mark's already shaken self-esteem. What really drives DuPont's paranoia over the edge is how Dave exudes the self confidence that both he and Mark sorely lack which propels toward a tragedy no one could have foreseen.
Others to round out the cast are Sienna Miller as Nancy Schultz, Dave wife, Anthony Michael Hall as Jack, DuPont's assistant, Guy Boyd as Henry Beck, Brett Rice as Fred Cole, Jackson Frazer as Alexander Shultz, Dave and Nancy's son, Samara Lee as Danielle Schultz, Dave and Nancy's daughter, Francis J. Murphy III as Wayne Kendall, Jane Mowder as Rosie, David Bennett as Documentary Director, Lee Perkins as Corporal Daly, Daniel Hilt as Roberto Garcia, and Allan Oppenheimer as DuPont Dynasty Narrator.
This was brilliantly directed by Bennett Miller ("The Cruise" (Documentary) '98, "Capote" '05, "Moneyball" '11). Granted, this guy hasn't done a ton of work, but if one just reads this guy's resume, you will see that it's short on amount, but huge on quality. He obviously chooses his projects wisely-- kind of like Terrence Malik. He also does limited projects, but masterpieces in their own right. The subtlety he extracts from his actors is short of perfection-- it almost seems like one is eaves-dropping into real people's lives. It was equally written with such suppressed intensity and grit by E. Max Frye and Dan Futterman. The character development was both subtle in how these guys transformed within the story and showed us the complexities of these characters as well. These writers and director can work together any time they desire, because we will only be the victors of such a quality film as this certainly was. The end, however a bit bittersweet, surely shows us the realities of life we cannot avoid and hopefully will learn from.
Certainly if you're into great directing, writing and acting-- both Carell and Tatum were stunning in their roles, then this will be a feast for the eyes, because even though this moves a bit slow in spots, be patient, because it moves at this pace for a reason. There are possible Oscar nods written all over this film, so enjoy it for the art, and not so much for the way the story turns.
Out of 4 Stars: 4 Rated: R 134mins.
As we enter that time of year when we become that much close to the holiday time, we typically see films that are geared toward those that will be out of school and those that are centering on Thanksgiving and Christmas. Thanksgiving is just around the corner and what would be a better film to release than a movie based in a franchise. Hollywood has in the offing just the one that will thrill many in the form of "The Hunger Games: Mockingjay- Part 1".
This installment of the franchise finds Katniss Everdeen (Jennifer Lawrence) in District 13 after she literally shatters the games forever. Under the leadership of President Coin (Julianne Moore) and the advice of her trusted friends, Gale Hawthorne (Liam Hemsworth), Haymitch Abernathy (Woody Harrelson), Plutarch Heavensbee (Philip Seymour Hoffman), Finnick Odair (Sam Claflin), Effie Trinket (Elizabeth Banks) and others, Katniss spreads her wings as the Rebellion forces' Mockingjay symbol against the Capitol lead by President Snow (Donald Sutherland), and fights to save Peeta (Josh Hutcherson) and a nation moved by her courage.
Others to round out the cast are Willow Shields as Primrose Everdeen, Katniss' sister, Mahershala Ali as Boggs, Jena Malone as Johanna Mason, Jeffrey Wright as Beetee, Paula Malcomson as Katniss' mother, and Stanley Tucci as Caesar Flickerman.
This was directed by Francis Lawrence ("Constantine" '05, "I Am Legend" '07, "Water for Elephants" '11, "Gotham" (TV movie) '12, "The Hunger Games: Catching Fire" '13), and as he also is slated to direct Mockingjay- Part 2, his style in being able to team his actors in ways that causes them to depend on each other that much more, is amazing. It was written by Peter Craig and Danny Strong adapted by Suzanne Collins based on her novel, "Mockingjay". Even though these writers are strong when writing films with developed characters, this had a bit too many characters to have to 'keep track' of. But suffice it to say, the story was still able to flow as easily as anyone could expect. As franchises go, this is one of the better written ones--certainly many other franchises are suspect in their writing at best. The next installment is released in 2015, and is a continuation of this movie, and as this ended abruptly, the anticipation toward the next installment, Part 2, will assuredly be driving people crazy until that time. Curious to see what the filmmakers are planning to do with the unfortunate demise of Philip Seymour Hoffman, unless they were insightful enough to have both Part 1 and 2 filmed simultaneously.
If you are a Suzanne Collins fan, you'll obviously being in franchise heaven. Not everyone will run after this, but believe me, Hollywood is all too cognizant of that. But considering the mammoth demographic of this type of film, I don't think Hollywood is shaking in their boots.
Out of 4 Stars: 3 Rated: PG-13 123mins.
When it comes to comedy writing today, the best, or some of the best writing out there is done by The Farrelly Brothers. They actually have the ability to turn an otherwise dumb comedy into something that is smartly written that one can forgive that the majority of the characters in their films are stupid, conniving and total jerks depending on the premises of the stories. Most comedy writers today do not have this capability, so their films are just plain stupid and inane. Now we have "Dumb and Dumber To" which appears to be more of a re-hatching of their classic just in case you have forgotten about it.
This story revisits the titular duo of dumb Harry Dunne (Jeff Daniels) and dumber Lloyd Christmas (Jim Carrey), 20 years after the events of the first film, :Dumb & Dumber". Harry pays his first visit to his parents since the early '90s, and discovers a two-decade old postcard from a gal he hooked up with Fraida Felcher (Kathleen Turner) informing him that she's pregnant. It turns out she had a daughter Adele (Laurie Holden) and put the girl up for adoption. Harry is moved by the prospect of having an adult child out there somewhere (and it just so happens that he needs a kidney transplant), so he and Lloyd embark on a road trip to track down his daughter. Along the way they encounter many wacky situations-- like finding and stealing their old "Shaggin' Wagon" and end up driving a riding companion Travis (Rob Riggle) totally crazy because of their incredible stupidity and banality.
Others to round out the cast are Rachel Melvin as Penny, Steve Tom as Dr. Pinchelow, Don Lake as Dr. Meldmann, Patricia French as Ms. Sourpuss, Tembi Locke as Dr. Walcott, Paul Blackthorne as Dr. Meldman, Brady Bluhm as Billy, Bill Murray as Ice Pick, Eddie Shin as Gordy, and Gregory Fears as Man at Gas Station.
This has directors Peter Farrelly and Bobby Farrelly's stamp written all over this one. Just one look at their resume says it all, ("Dumb & Dumber" '94, "Kingpin" '96, "There's Something About Mary" '98, "Me, Myself & Irene" 2000, "Osmosis Jones" '01, "Shallow Hal" '01, "Stuck on You" '03, "Fever Pitch" '05, "The Heartbreak Kid" '07, "Hall Pass" '11, "The Three Stooges" '12). This is just one of many films that follow that similar format that these guys can do so well. This was written by Sean Anders, John Morris, Bobby Farrelly and Peter Farrelly based on characters created by Bobby Farrelly, Peter Farrelly and Bennett Yellin. Maybe it's that when "Dumb & Dumber" was released, it was considered fresh and original for its day, but now that we have this film, it almost seems like these guys--directors, writers and actors did this to market on an already sustained hit. And on top of everything, this was simply a rehash of the original and not nearly executed as well. Yes, there were some very funny moments, but were these laughs generated from nostalgia or were these lines really being funny? While the premise was original, in a sense, the layout and format we've all seen in many of their films, especially the original. "There's Something About Mary" was without a doubt , the best film (funniest) the Farrelly Brothers have done to this date. It was stupid, but done in such a slick, smart way, that you couldn't help but not laugh genuinely. I know these guys can do that again, for the talent is there hugely.
Certainly if you're a fan of the original film, this will be one you will want to see. But, beware, while there are similarities in this to its original, the differences will definitely be a hit and miss. This was made to be total fluff, but do you want to feel dumb and dumber yourself after exposing yourself this 109 minute running time?
Out of 4 Stars: 2 Rated: PG-13 109mins.
Seeing films where a character or characters are inadvertently flip-flopped in a situation of their life is certainly funny, perhaps because it becomes an extreme premise. We typically see these types of films in a comedic format because of the fun that happens to them. We've seen several: "Big", "Liar Liar", "Groundhog Day" to mention a few. So Hollywood just had to jump back on the band wagon by offering us "Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day".
For 12 year-old Alexander Cooper (Ed Oxenbould), every day is a bad day, and his family thinks he's being silly because they seemingly never have a bad day. On the eve of his 12th birthday party, he learns that another boy, Philip Parker (Lincoln Melcher) is having a party of his own and everyone is going to it. And then another kid punks him online. So at midnight of his birthday, he wishes that his whole family can experience a bad day. By next day, things for the family start to go bad: his mom's car is broken so they have to share a car, his sister Emily (Kerris Dorsey) contracts a horrid cold before she is to go on stage as Peter Pan, his older brother Anthony (Dylan Minnette), who's hoping to get his driver's license and bring his girlfriend Celia (Bella Thorne) to the prom, has to not only deal with Celia's snootiness, but he fails to get his license, his mom Kelly (Jennifer Garner) has a crisis at work which could cost her her job, and his dad Ben (Steve Carell), who has a job interview has to bring his younger brother with him, but because his pacifier is broken, he won't stop crying. What else could happen? Obviously Alexander didn't really think his wish would come to fruition--he was just fantasizing, but now he starts questioning the wish. Is it real or just a coincidence?
Others to round out the cast are Megan Mullally as Nina, Kelly's boss, Jennifer Coolidge as Ms. Suggs, Anthony's license tester, Mekai Matthew Curtis as Paul Dumphy, Alexander's buddy, Elise Vargas and Zoey Vargas as Baby Trevor and Dick Van Dyke as Himself.
This was effectively directed by Miguel Arteta ("Rita" (TV movie) '13) plus a ton of TV. The pacing of this would lean to be one that a TV show would envelop, so this was probably not a stretch for a director with the television experience as this guy has. The screenplay and screen story of this was by Rob Lieber which was based on a book by Judith Viorst. The premise of this could have easily fallen into being housed as a terrific TV movie, because of its domesticity and family situations, but the good thing about this going to the multiplex is that it is always nice to see more family-oriented films out there. This genre seems to be shrinking more and more every year, and I think it's healthy to see an audience of all ages going to their multiplex.
Alexander surely loved seeing his family going through the mill as he does on most days, but even he has to have some sympathy considering he, of all people, knows what they can truly experience, and it's no fun at all.
This was actually released last month, because I wasn't sure if it would actually be any good, but after viewing it, it was entertaining enough and had that message in it: Alexander- "There are bad days to make the good days look even better". Funny that it takes a 12 year-old to show us something we should all know.
Out of 4 Stars: 2.5 Rated: PG 81mins.
When it comes to animated films, Disney, out of the shear amount of years they've be producing them, is probably king. Their list of these films is endless--suffice it to say that they know a thing or two about the process of the animated flick and what it takes to woo us to that multiplex. Even though they are a massive machine churning out one 'mass audience appeal' film after another, I must say that when I viewed "Big Hero 6", it really captured my attention from first minute to last. Hey, I was having a weak moment.
This is a comedy-adventure about the special bond that develops between Baymax (Scott Adsit), a plus-sized inflatable robot and prodigy Hiro Hamada (Ryan Potter). Hiro learns to harness his genius thanks to his brilliant brother, Tadashi (Daniel Henney) and their geek friends. When a devastating event befalls the city of San Fransokyo and catapults Hiro into the midst of extreme danger, he has to not only turn to Baymax, but also to his close friends: adrenaline junkie Go Go Tomago (Jamie Chung), neatnik Wasabi (Damon Wayans Jr.), chemistry whiz Honey Lemon (Genesis Rodriguez), and fanboy Fred (T.J. Miller). Determined to uncover the mystery, Hiro transforms his friends into a band of high-tech geek heroes called "Big Hero 6".
Others to round out the cast are James Cromwell as Robert Callaghan, Alan Tudyk as Alistair Krei, Maya Rudolph as Cass, Katie Lowes as Abigail, Billy Bush as Newscaster, Daniel Gerson as Desk Sergeant, and Paul Briggs as Yama.
This was directed by Don Hall ("Winnie the Pooh" '11) and Chris Williams ("Bolt' '08). These guys have been attached to other animated films, but they are relative newcomers in the director's chair. They certainly have learned their craft well, because the direction in this seems like seasoned pros helmed it. It was written by Jordan Roberts, Daniel Gerson and Robert L. Baird based on a story by Hall and Roberts which is based on concepts and characters created by Man of Action (Duncan Rouleau and Steven T. Seagle). Disney seizes to amaze me in that it being the commercial giant machine it has become, I wanted to not like them, however when a story has just the right amount of humor and heart as this film has, one has to be objective, lest become an ineffective critic. This film has it all: heart, adventure, comedy, excitement, even a message all in an entertaining format. Granted, it is your typical 'good vs. evil' concept, but those guys at Disney simply pulled this off in spades.
This film is a film one can take anyone to, and with Thanksgiving right around the corner, what could a better time to see this? This is a gem on the big screen all in a nifty 3D format.
Out of 4 Stars: 3.5 Rated: PG 108mins.
Hollywood is simply fascinated with films based in the future where the Earth is or was going through some devastating event, war, pestilence, famine, alien attack, etc. The list of these films is as endless as the films are commonly rueful. Yet, we all still come back to the multiplex to catch a glimpse of these epics, in some cases. "Interstellar" certainly can be added to that ever popular list, and the results are cerebral as well as interesting and refreshing.
In the distant future Earth has been devastated by drought and famine, causing a scarcity in food and extreme changes in climate. When humanity is facing extinction, a mysterious rip in the space-time continuum, or wormhole, if you will, is discovered by Professor Brand (Michael Caine) and his daughter, Amelia (Anne Hathaway), giving mankind the opportunity to widen their lifespan for generations to come. One of the past's pilots, Cooper (Matthew McConaughey) along with Amelia, Doyle (Wes Bentley), and Romilly (David Gyasi) as explorers, must travel past our solar system in search of a planet that can sustain life. The crew of the Endurance are required to think bigger and go further than any human in history as they embark on an interstellar voyage--into the unknown. Cooper, the pilot of the Endurance, must decide between seeing his children again and the future of the human race. Can this work, and if so, how could it possibly be achieved?
Others to round out the cast are Jessica Chastain as Older Murph, Cooper's daughter, Matt Damon as Dr. Mann, Mackenzie Foy as Young Murph, Casey Affleck as Older Tom, Cooper's son, Topher Grace as Getty, Ellen Burstyn as Old Murph, John Lithgow as Donald, Cooper's Father-in-law, Leah Cairns as Lois, Tom's wife, Timothee Chalamet as Young Tom, Bill Irwin as TARS (voice), and Josh Stewart as CASE (voice).
Christopher Nolan ("Memento" 2000, "Insomnia" '02, "Batman Begins" '05, "The Prestige" '06, "The Dark Knight" '08, "Inception" '10, "The Dark Knight Rises" '12) directed this epic piece. One thing that can be said for Nolan is he typically gives us films that will cause a great deal of thinking. These films just aren't high-budget, high explosive films with amazing visual effects, but rather they are vehicles sparking a barrage of thinking--cerebrally in some cases. He consistently goes out on that ever extending limb breaking all the rules without giving us 'fluff' as with so many other films that mostly market on being explosive, highly visual where story certainly takes a back seat to effects. This was written by Jonathan Nolan and again, Christopher Nolan. This could've been so easily convoluted in plot sequence, but these consummate pros simply pulled it off. The only thing that puzzled me a bit was that, at times, the film's music had a tendency to overtake some of the voice over sequences, otherwise this production was spot on. I saw this in a pre-released 35mm cut version which was stunning, and I'm sure when it's formally released on Friday, the IMAX version should be captivating, to say the least.
Nolan is such a talented filmmaker and anything he's connected with is quality with a capital 'Q'. I recommend this film to one and all, because if the premise throws you a bit, the visual effects, acting, directing and cinematography will keep you glued for that 169 minute running time.
Out of 4 Stars: 3.5 Rated: PG-13 169mins.
Quirky, odd films are becoming a fairly main staple of the film industry. I feel that since Hollywood has produced some very ordinary, banal films throughout the last several decades, the independent film companies have jumped on the band wagon and have offered us movies that not only we can sink our teeth into, but have a clever premise all the while entertaining us on many levels. "Lars and the Real Girl", "Juno", "My Big Fat Greek Wedding", "The Fault With Our Stars", "Boyhood", "Locke", or any of the Coen Brothers films have captured our interest, certainly our attention while entertaining us with fresh writers, directors, and acting. "Birdman" is a film which definitely is quirky and original, but could use some work.
Riggan Thompson (Michael Keaton), once known quite well to movie theater goers as an iconic super hero called "The Birdman", had recently turned down a fourth installment of the franchise. Now washed up, he attempts to reinvent himself as a director, writer and actor by staging a new retelling of a classic Broadway dramatic play called "What We Talk About When We Talk About Love". The events leading up to the Saturday night premiere prove to be one disaster after another as the original lead actor is injured while on set and Riggan and his producer, Jake (Zach Galifianakis) scrambles to find a replacement, but the replacement, Mike (Edward Norton) proves to be exactly who these two need-- a method actor who takes the job way too seriously. But as Riggan has a difficult time juggling between the set, his replacement actor, and his equally washed up daughter, Sam (Emma Stone), a host of other disasters happen that prevent a proper staging of the play. Meanwhile, a New York Times critic (Lindsay Duncan) who Riggan has to woo threatens to kill his play without even seeing it because she can't stand Riggan-- his plastic, commercial movie star status whom she feels is not an actor.
Others to round out the cast are Naomi Watts as Lesley, Riggan's ex-wife, Andrea Riseborough as Laura, Amy Ryan as Sylvia, Merritt Wever as Annie, Jeremy Shamos as Ralph, Michael Siberry as Larry and Clark Middleton as Sidney.
The pacing in this--the in-your-face approach with these different characters, and amazing grit was extremely well delineated by director Alejandro G. Inarritu ("Amores Perros" 2000, "21 Grams" '03, "Babel" '06, "Biutiful" '10) plus several shorts. His direction keeps getting better with each project he's connected with. It was written by Inarritu, Nicolas Giacobone, Alexander Dinelaris and Armando Bo. Whereas the film more than exceled in the direction, the writing could've been a bit more polished. Trust me, the script was good, however there were scenes that really had not to do with the premise that could've been left out. Plus, there weren't a very strong difference between the 'dream' sequences and reality which added to a fair amount of confusion. But the premise and story was certainly fresh and original, which is what actually keeps you going throughout this. Emmanuel Lubezki, asc/amc ("Like Water For Chocolate" '92, "The Birdcage" '96, "Meet Joe Black" '98, "Ali" '01, "The Assassination of Richard Nixon" '04, "The New World" '05, "Burn After Reading" '08, "The Tree of Life" '11, "Gravity" '13) plus many others, photographed this and it shines with intricate detail within the gritty lights and darks which simply adds to the feel of this. Even Keaton gives the performance of a lifetime in this-- possibly could receive an Oscar nod come that time.
If you like more of the formulaic films, this probably isn't for you-- this being made for a select audience, however if you like quirky with a weird bent, this is one that will certainly fit the bill.
Out of 4 Stars: 3 Rated: R 119mins.
I'm sure you've heard that people will do just about anything to get their 15 minutes. Well, let's turn that around where the freelance camera crew will do just about anything to achieve their 15 minutes, for a price of course. "Nightcrawler" is basically about the latter, and the job done by these individuals basically match the name, because the name Nightcrawler emphatically gives me the creeps.
This is a thriller set in the nocturnal underbelly of contemporary Los Angeles. Louis Bloom (Jake Gyllenhaal), a driven young man desperate for work discovers the high-speed world of L.A. crime journalism. Finding a group of freelance camera crew, one crew lead by Joe Loder (Bill Paxton), film crashes, fires, murder and mayhem, Louis muscles into the cut-throat, dangerous world of nightcrawling-- where each police siren wail equals a possible windfall and victims are converted into dollars and cents. Aided by news director, Nina Romina (Rene Russo), a veteran of the blood sport that is local TV news, Louis blurs the line between observer and participant to become the star of his own story.
Others to round out the cast are Riz Ahmed as Rick, Louis' assistant, Kevin Rahm as Frank Kruse, Michael Hyatt as Detective Fronteiri, Ann Cusack as Linda, Rick Chambers as KWLA Anchor Ben Waterman, Holly Hannula as KWLA Anchor Lisa Mays, Eric Lange as Ace Video Cameraman, James Huang as Marcus Mayhem Video, Michael Papajohn as Security Guard, and Marco Rodriguez as Scrapyard Owner.
This was directed by seasoned writer Dan Gilroy. This guy was born to direct, because the pacing by the strategic actors was incredible. This being his first theatrical film, he will receive more work. Gilroy also wrote this gritty, on-the-edge-of-your-seat screenplay. The way that he used the actors to convey their own obsessiveness for being in this biz was so effective-- it made you feel as you were looking into the real world of nightcrawling almost as a documentary. One of the stars of this was that of cinematographer, Robert Elswit, asc. ("Boogie Nights" '97, "8MM" '99, "Magnolia" '99, "Heist" '01, "Punch-Drunk Love" '02, "Runaway Jury" '03, "Good Night, and Good Luck" '05, "Michael Clayton" '07, "There Will Be Blood" '07, "Duplicity" '09, "The Men Who Stare at Goats" '09, "Salt" '10, "The Town" '10, "Mission Impossible--Ghost Protocol" '12, "The Bourne Legacy" '12) plus many others. His ability to show just the correct amount of light in an overly 'dark' film is brilliant, and the photography is stunning--incredibly crisp as we saw in the film "There Will Be Blood", his Oscar winner. Gyllenhaal definitely out did himself in his performance. Playing a man teetering between self-driveness and sociopathic tendencies was an incredible tightrope to walk indeed.
For those into creepy, dark thrillers where each character looks questionable at best-- physically and mentally, this is the film for you. Otherwise, this might deem to be a movie some might squirm a bit too much at, like a... nightcrawler.
Out of 4 stars: 3 Rated: R 117mins.
When I watch a comedy film from Wes Anderson ("Moonrise Kingdom"), Paul Thomas Anderson ("Boogie Nights") or even The Coen Brothers, I think quirky, dry-witted and even weird. Well, when seeing "St. Vincent", it seemed to have a similar style of these notorious writers and directors, however I soon realized that it wasn't which surprised me. This being so dry that it seemed almost serious made this even a more appealing film than you'd expect.
Maggie (Melissa McCarthy), a newly divorced single mother, moves into a new home in Brooklyn with her 12-year old son, Oliver (Jaeden Lieberher). Forced to work long hours, she has no choice but to leave Oliver in the care of their new neighbor, Vincent (Bill Murray), a retired, bawdy curmudgeon with a penchant for alcohol and gambling. An odd friendship soon blossoms between the improbable pair. Together with a pregnant stripper named Daka (Naomi Watts), Vincent brings Oliver along on all the stops that make up his daily routine-- the race track, a strip club, and the local dive bar. Vincent helps Oliver grow to become a man, while Oliver begins to see in Vincent something that no one else is able to: a misunderstood man with a good heart.
Others to round out the cast are Chris O'Dowd as Brother Geraghty, Oliver's teacher, Terrence Howard as Zucko, a loan shark, Kimberly Quinn as Nurse Ana, Lenny Venito as Coach Mitchell, Dario Barosso as Ocinski, a classmate of Oliver's, Donna Mitchell as Sandy, Ann Dowd as Shirley, Sunnyside Administrator, and Nate Corddry as Terry.
This was well written and directed by Theodore Melfi ("Winding Roads" '99) plus many shorts. Granted, this guy is no Wes Anderson or Paul Thomas Anderson, but considering this guy has only written and directed one other feature film, this filmmaker is definitely going to go places. The subtle, dry comedy is not easy to accomplish, especially when it is coupled with some dramatic aspects that can pull the heartstrings. This is usually accompanied with a veteran, seasoned professional. This is one of Murray's better efforts and it was certainly interesting to see McCarthy in a 'straight' across the board actor, obviously giving center stage to Murray. This being the young actor, Lieberher's introduction to films, I can safely say he will be in more projects. He was a natural and held his own while around Murray. And Watts' Slavic dialect was a hoot! She had to have had a ball making this. Melfi's a little rough around the edges, however given more work, he will become yet another Wes Anderson and the like.
Between the premise, acting, writing and directing, this certainly has something for all kinds of people. It's quirky, fun, odd and entertaining all in the same film.
Out of 4 Stars: 3 Rated: R 102mins.
As the old adage states, "truth is better than fiction" seems to apply with so many films we have seen recently, i.e. "Zero Dark Thirty", "Pain & Gain", "When the Game Stands Tall", "Soul Surfer" and the most recent "Kill the Messenger". All of these films plus others are as diverse in their subject matter as they are in their genre. So when "23 Blast" came along with that 'based on a true story' disclaimer, as with its predecessors, I just couldn't resist.
In the prime of his youth, up and coming football star, Travis Freeman (Mark Hapka), lost his sight due to a sinus infection caused by a rare disease. Practically overnight, he became irreversibly blind, and subsequently had to cope with all the trials and tribulations awaiting him. With the love and support from his family, mom, Mary (Kim Zimmer), dad, Larry (Dylan Baker) and closest friends, Jerry Baker (Bram Hoover) and Ashley (Alexa PenaVega) and his 'tough love' physical therapist Patty Wheatley (Becky Ann Baker), he finally learned to push himself to extraordinary heights. Relying on his other senses and his instincts, he did the unthinkable! Displaying unconditional determination, he learned a lot through Coach Farris (Stephen Lang), he proved nothing could dampen the spirit of a champion.
Others to round out the cast are Max Adler as Cameron Marshall, one of the football players, Kevin Cooney as Coach Burley, Scott Sowers as Mr. Marshall, Cameron's dad, Isiah Whitlock Jr. as Dr. Connelly, Crystal Hunt as Molly, Timothy Busfield as Duncan, the Athletic Director and Fred Dalton Thomas as Coach Powers.
This was directed by newcomer, at least to the director's chair, Dylan Baker. He has a ton of acting experience, however this is his first theatrical film as director. some of the pacing was a bit stagy and looked a bit forced, but considering his minimal experience in that chair, he did an exemplary job. It was also written by first time writers for theatrical films, Bram Hoover and Toni Hoover. Even though this was based on a true story, these two still had the task of writing this story in the sequence as the original story went. There were few inconsistencies in script, but overall, this was written far better than one would think again, considering the experience. These artists will surely receive more work whether in front or behind the camera, but they were gutsy in that this director and writers were willing to go out on that precarious limb and live to tell the tale.
Hey, this, as were "Soul Surfer" and "When the Game Stands Tall" are inspirational films, and isn't it time that we learn a thing or two from others who went through, in some cases, tremendous obstacles so we hopefully can get back to trying to connect once again with each other?
Out of 4 Stars: 2.5 Rated: PG-13 98mins.
When one thinks of the term, hit man, usually they conjure up a film such as "The Godfather" or some other mafia related movie. However, ever since the film, Death Wish" back in '74, it sort of gave the term hit man or vigilante a more respected and even good connotation--good vs. evil, because the law won't protect the innocent. Since then we've seen "Diary of a Hitman" '91, "Hitman" '07 and even the recent "Equalizer" with Denzel Washington. So when "John Wick" came on the scene, the filmmakers undoubtedly wanted to market on a genre that people want to see more, especially when we are seemingly living in a society where people, quite literally, get away with murder.
An ex-hitman, John Wick (Keanu Reeves) comes out of retirement to track down the gangsters, Viggo Tarasov (Michael Nyqvist), his son, Iosef (Alfie Allen) and others, that robbed him of his reason for living. With New York City as his bullet-riddled playground, this is an interesting stylized take on the 'assassin genre'.
The huge mistake that Viggo's son makes is when he steals Wick's classic muscle '60s Mustang and kills his puppy dog, all the while having no idea who he just attacked. His father clues him in, only to let his son know that he will be coming after him, because this was no ordinary man--this was John Wick. He has been nick-named 'The Boogyman', where he will stop at nothing and is totally lethal. Of all people Iosef had to tamper with, this guy was not the one to force out of retirement. Talk about opening up Pandora's box.
Others to round out the cast are Willem Dafoe as Marcus, Dean Winters as Avi, Vitto's assistant, Adrianne Palicki as Ms. Perkins, Omer Barnea as Gregori, one of Viggo's goons, Ian McShane as Winston, Toby Leonard Moore as Victor, another one of Viggo's goons, Daniel Bernhardt as Kirill, Vitto's top henchman, John Leguizamo as Aureilo, Bridget Moynahan as Helen, Bridget Regan as Addy, Lance Reddick as Hotel manager/Charon and Keith Jardine as Kuzma.
Remarkably, this was directed by two stunt coordinators--David Leitch (81 films doing the stunts) and Chad Stahelski (71 films doing the stunts). The even more remarkale aspect of this is that it was directed as well as some seasoned directors could muster up. This is their first film in that director's chair, and considering their lack of experience in that chair, I'm curious to see what they'll do next, and undoubtedly there will be a next time. It was effectively written by Derek Kolstad ("One in the Chamber" '12, "The Package" '12). With all honesty, there were some areas of lack of continuity, but not really enough to distract from the intensity this film surely produced. It certainly shows what happens when a person is as driven as Wick is and that they will stop at nothing to right that incredible wrong. This is certainly something we've seen Reeves do before, but when he pulls off this similar character as well as he does, we can be all that more forgiving.
If your passion is clearly one of seeing wrongs made right, this will surely hit that cord, but even if you just want to escape for a 100 minute running time, this will fit the bill and then some.
Out of 4 Stars: 3 Rated: R 101mins.
Obviously Hollywood is on a roll with producing one film after another of those that are based on true stories. They've covered politicians, baseball players, football players, authors, actors, hikers, astronauts, and now painters are being covered in the form of "Big Eyes". 
