There are films based on true stories and then there's "The Finest Hours". What makes this a bit more incredible is the fact that this is so amazing that it just doesn't seem to be based on anything but a writer's imagination. Such as, unlike "The Poseidon Adventure" which is pure fiction, this is not, and this is what moves its audience to be glued to the screen.
In February of 1952, one of the worst storms ever to hit the East Coast struck New England, damaging a T2 oil tanker off the coast of Cape Cod and literally ripping it in half. On a small boat, faced with frigid temperatures and 70-foot high waves, four members including Bernie Webber (Chris Pine), Richard Livesey (Ben Foster) and others of the Coast Guard set out to rescue the more than 30 stranded sailors including Ray Sybert (Casey Affleck), Wallace Quirey (John Ortiz) and Frank Fauteaux (Graham McTavish) trapped aboard the rapidly- sinking half vessel. With Bernie's fiancé Miriam (Holliday Grainger) at home fretting and eventually confronting Bernie's commanding officer, Daniel Cluff (Eric Bana) to 'bring him back home', this film is as compelling as it is exciting.
Others to round out the cast are Kyle Gallner as Andy Fitzgerald, John Magaro as Ervin Maske, Michael Raymond-James as D.A. Brown, Beau Knapp as Mel Gouthro, Josh Stewart as Tchuda Southerland, Abraham Benrubi as George 'Tiny' Myers, Keiynan Lonsdale as Eldon Hanan and Rachel Brosnahan as Bea Hanson.
This was cleverly directed by Craig Gillespie ("Mr. Woodcock" '07, "Lars and the Real Girl" '07, "Fright Night" '11, "Trooper" (TV movie) '13, "Million Dollar Arm" '14), in that this filmmaker if like a chameleon if his resume says anything. He can create an atmosphere as quirky and over-the-top as "Lars and the Real Girl", and convince us that these guys in this film are in extreme peril and anywhere in between and do it with relative ease. This was well written by Scott Silver, Paul Tamasy and Eric Johnson, and since these three writers also wrote "The Fighter" '10, then I can certainly see why they would want to collaborate again, considering the quality of "The Fighter". Plus between these guys, there is definitely more experience which would allow anyone to realize that this would be written with the quality they would expect. This followed well, was cohesive, and gave its audience what they wanted: to sit on the edge of their seats while biting their nails down to the nub. The visual effects predominantly created by MPC (Moving Picture Company) and Mr. X, Inc. were absolutely seamless. The New England dialects by Pine, Grainger and others were amazing and gave the story that much more credibility.
Certainly if you have plans to see this film, get to the theater, because it will lose everything on a DVD format. This has suspense, drama, high-adrenaline and tons of action all in a great IMAX and 3D format. This is one roller coaster ride you will not soon forget.
Out of 4 Stars: 4 Rated: PG-13 117mins.
OK, it's another year which means another year of animated films to sink our teeth into. Hollywood didn't waste anytime on giving us the first animated film in the form of "Norm of the North". While I know there will be some very well done animated films produced for this year yet to be released, this film isn't an exemplary good kickoff of the year. Hey, the year is young.
This is a story about a polar bear of many words, Norm (Rob Schneider). His greatest complaint is simple: there is no room for tourists in the Arctic who come to visit quite often. But when a developer, Mr. Greene (Ken Jeong) threatens to build condos in his own backyard, after consulting with wise Socrates (Bill Nighy), Norm does what all normal polar bears do... he heads to New York City to stop it. As Norm Arrives with his ragtag lemmings at his side, Norm soon meets Vera (Heather Graham) and her very smart daughter Olivia (Maya Kay) whom he befriends. But with all that he experiences in the big apple, he finds that he has to take on the city, big business and a big identity crisis to save the day.
Others to round out the cast are Colm Meaney as Grandfather, Loretta Devine Tamecia, Michael McElhatton as Laurence, the Actor, Gabriel Iglesias as Pablo/Stan and Salome Jens as Councilwoman Klubeck.
This was whimsically and deftly directed by virtual newcomer, Trevor Wall (TV). For someone who has absolutely no feature film experience, this filmmaker excelled incredibly well. Obviously his TV experience honed him enough to be able to make the transition from TV to feature films without a difficult time doing it. This is why I have repeatedly mentioned in other reviews that one should 'cut their teeth' on something like TV before making that proverbial plunge. It was written by newbie writers to feature films as well. Even though both Daniel Altiere and Steven Altiere have a ton of TV experience, Malcolm T. Goldman has virtually no experience before this film at all. Truly, the lack of experience is indicative here in that for a 90 minute running time, it seemed to take forever to get to the end credits. It was choppy in places, and jumped around a bit too much. Could these guys write a better script in the future? Sure. Given other projects and enough time to hone their basic talent that I believe is here, and a solid screenplay will definitely be generated. The best thing I can say for this is the fact that Hollywood doesn't seem to care about good family films, and this certainly is something any parent could allow their small child to watch and not be worried about the content. I know, marketing wise, that the 18-34 single male demographic is what Hollywood shoots for when it comes to producing films that make a ton of money, but com'on, I believe families need good, clean films as well as any male teenager needs adrenaline, many explosions and a lot of sexy chicks.
As animated flicks go, this certainly isn't the best I've seen, however if you're a parent or guardian looking for a good, clean fun film with a wholesome message, this is the film for you. Enjoy!
Out of 4 Stars: 2.5 Rated: PG 90mins.
One thing to be said for independent films is that of originality. Whether it be a quirky comedy, an odd drama or a whimsical musical, one can be rest assured that when they leave the theater, their price of admission will definitely be well spent. When I saw my first trailer of "Room", I realized that there was a very unique and obscure quality about this production that must be seen, and after viewing it, my opinion became evident.
This tells the extraordinary story of Jack (Jacob Tremblay), a spirited 5-year-old who is looked after by his loving and devoted mother, Joy 'Ma' Newsome (Brie Larson). Like any good mother, she dedicates herself to keeping Jack happy and safe, nurturing him with warmth and love and doing typical things like playing games and telling stories. Their life, however, is anything but typical--they are trapped--confined to a windowless 10-by-10 foot space that Ma has euphemistically named Room. Ma has created a whole universe for Jack within Room, and she will stop at nothing to ensure that, even in this treacherous environment , Jack is able to live a complete and fulfilling life. But as Jack's curiosity about their situation grows, and Ma's resilience reaches its breaking point, they enact a risky plan to escape, ultimately bringing them face-to-face with what may turn out to be the scariest thing yet: the real world.
Others to round out the cast are Sean Bridgers as Old Nick, Wendy Crewson as Talk Show Hostess, Joan Allen as Nancy, William H. Macy as Robert, Tom McCamus as Leo, Cas Anvar as Dr. Mittal, Amanda Brugel as Officer Parker, Joe Pingue as Officer Grabowski, Randal Edwards as Lawyer, Zarrin Darnell-Martin as Attending Doctor and Justin Mader as FBI Agent.
This was creatively and uniquely directed by Leonard Abrahamson ("Adam & Paul" '04, "Garage" '07, "Dublin 26.06.08: A Movie in 4 Days" '08, "What Richard Did" '12, "Frank" '14) plus TV and a short. This filmmaker definitely sticks to what he does best: the indie film circuit. I truly believe that he wouldn't have a problem directing commercial films, but why do this when his heart is in the indie film? As with other films, he simply made these characters, especially Larson, come alive with painstaking realism where one would believe they are peering into someone's window and watching them live their life. It was equally written well by Emma Donoghue based on her novel. As with other very few novelists, this writer made this story incredibly compelling. Most writers can't make the transition from novelist to screenwriter, but Donoghue was able to master it in spades. And considering she only has a short, other than this, to her credit, all the more I am in awe of her ability. It's no wonder that she has garnered an Academy Award nomination. Brie Larsen was stunning as the loving, devoted, stressed mother to her son, Jack, and, again, is no wonder that she, too, has been nominated.
This is not a film for everyone, but certainly one that so many people should see. Emotionally, it runs the gambit--anywhere from funny to intense, to stressful, to fearful, to tearful, to redemptive and back again. It's a quirky little film, but I'll tell you, it packs quite the wallop that you not forget.
Out of 4 Stars: 4 Rated: R 118mins.
We have seen a plethora of apocalyptic type films in the past, if fact Hollywood has a fascination with them, so much so that many have spawned franchises: "Planet of the Apes", the "Divergent" series, "The Hunger Games" to mention a few. So, why not add "The 5th Wave" to that ever growing list of the apocalyptic films which has practically become its own genre.
Four waves have caused increasingly lethal situations, created by deadly aliens which humans have nick-named 'others', have left most of the Earth decimated. Against a backdrop of fear and mistrust, a lot created by the U.S. Army headed up by Colonel Vosch (Liev Schreiber), Cassie Sullivan (Chloe Grace Moretz) is on the run, desperately trying to save her younger brother, Sam (Zackary Arthur), whom he became separated from Cassie along the way. As she and friend, Ben Parish or 'Zombie' (Nick Robinson) as he's nick-named, prepares for the inevitable fifth wave, Cassie also teams up with a young man, Evan Walker (Alex Roe) who may become her final hope.
Others to round out the cast are Maria Bello as Sergeant Reznik, Ron Livingston as Oliver Sullivan, Cassie's father, Maggie Siff as Lisa Sullivan, Cassie's mother, Parker Wierling as Jeremy, Gabriela Lopez as Lizbeth, Cassie's best friend, Matthew Zuk as Wounded Man with Crucifix and Bailey Anne Borders as Julia.
This was credibly directed by J Blakeson ("The Disappearance of Alice Creed" '09) plus shorts. Although this filmmaker doesn't have a ton of experience in the director's chair, this was remarkably well helmed as there were many different factions up for consideration that one would be responsible for in a production of this size. Truly a seasoned director wouldn't have as a difficult problem with the logistics of a budget this size, but this filmmaker handled it with such ease that it surprised me. It was written by Susannah Grant, Akiva Goldsman and Jeff Pinkner based on the novel by Rick Yancey. Certainly the first two writers listed are quite the seasoned writers, whereas Pinkner isn't as seasoned, but even knowing this information, it was written better than the trailer had depicted. Both Goldsman and Grant have experience in writing apocalyptic type of films, "Divergent", "Insurgent", "I Am Legend", etc., so this was undoubtedly familiar ground for them, but now I'm wondering what they will come up with for the next installment. Com'on, there will have to be a franchise brewing here by the way it left its audience. As long as this makes money, and I predict it will, the franchise 'ca ching' gravy train has been born. This flowed much better than I ever dreamt it would, but only because of the writers involved here and for Moretz's performance. Hers and Roe's performance were amazingly real considering the type of film. The visual effects predominantly designed by Method Studios, Scanline VFX and Shade VFX were seamless which makes it a must see on the large screen.
If you're into Hollywood franchise series type films, this is a sure winner, however if something more thought-provoking, cerebral is your cup of tea, why on earth would you even bother wanting to go see this film. This is a great, entertaining, pure escapism film. Get it? Break out the popcorn!
Out of 4 Stars: 3 Rated: PG-13 112mins.
Believe it or not, it's been a little while since we've seen a bonafide sequel come our way. Yes, we've seen a plethora of reboots or continuations of a 'series' franchise, but not an actual sequel until "Ride Along 2" came along. This doesn't mean I'm necessarily welcoming more sequels, but as long as the sequel is well done, as most are not, then why not? I can tell you, this is not as good as the original, not that its predecessor was consummate, so do not get your hopes up.
This sequel picks up about a year after our heroes' last adventure. With Ben's wedding upcoming, James (Ice Cube) reluctantly takes Ben (Kevin Hart) with him to Miami to follow up on a lead connected to a drug-ring case he's been trying to crack. While in Miami, they meet Maya (Olivia Munn), a no BS homicide detective who lets them know that Miami is her turf. They also encounter A.J. (Ken Jeong), a shady, cocky computer hacker who reveals evidence that implicates a well-respected local businessman, the wealthy Antonio Pope (Benjamin Bratt), who harbors a vicious streak and rules South Florida's drug trade. If James and Ben can convince the authorities that Pope is a brutal crime boss, they'll be behind our heroes 100%. However if they fail, well, there may not be a wedding after all.
Others to round out the cast are Bruce McGill as Lt. Brooks of the Miami P.D., Tika Sumpter as Angela Payton, Ben's fiancé, Michael Rose as The Hitter/Gates, Sherri Shepherd as Cori, planner of the wedding and Glen Powell as Troy.
This was adequately directed by Tim Story ("Barbershop" '02, "Taxi" '04, "Fantastic Four" '05, "Think Like a Man" '12, "Ride Along" '14) plus others and episodic TV. He certainly put an equal amount of energy in this as he did with "Ride Along", but when he has a somewhat weaker script to work with, this is the best he could've done. Next, the writing. This was written by Phil Hay and Matt Manfredi based on characters created by Greg Coolidge, and even though it was written by the same guys who wrote the original, I believe the one ingredient left out here was that of Coolidge. The original by also written by Coolidge based on his story or idea. This was his baby, so leaving him out this time around was a grave mistake. Sure, original films are usually going to be better than those that follow, but this was in dire need of a pick-me-up. Of course, the two writers who wrote this are seasoned writers, but this truly needed Coolidge's stamp of approval. Don't get me wrong, there were funny moments in this, and certainly after a point, the storyline did pick up, but not after a fair amount of banal and predictable dialogue. The teaming of Ice Cube and Kevin Hart is a stroke of genius--such opposites in personalities, and Ken Jeong's role was uproarious, but without these elements, this would be yet just another stamped out formulaic comedy we've seen all too many times.
If you like funny characters in film, you will enjoy this, however if you're looking for a cohesive, well thought-out script, you might be sorry seeing this. Of course, if you're in a situation where you want or need to see pure fluff, like I was at, then this will definitely fit the bill. The decision's yours.
Out of 4 Stars: 2 Rated: PG-13 102mins.
Who's kidding who? Any film that centers on the imminent attack of an embassy, government annex, military base, a compound or the Pentagon has enough dramatic fodder to give us a sure fire script to bring anyone into the multiplex eagerly waiting to see how these films pan out. Films such as "Pearl Harbor", "Zero Dark Thirty", "United 93", "Captain Phillips", even "The World Trade Center" are sure to keep its audience glued to their seats. Now we have "13 Hours: The Secret Soldiers of Benghazi" to add to that never ending list.
This is an action thriller based on the 2014 non-fiction book written by Mitchell Zuckoff with the Annex Security Team. The film depicts the harrowing true story of the attack on a CIA annex in Benghazi, Libya on September 11, 2012, which killed four Americans including Ambassador Chris Stephens (Matt Letscher). After the assault begins, a U.S. Special Ops Team, including Jack Silva (John Krasinkski), Tyrone 'Rone' Woods (James Badge Dale), Kris 'Tanto' Paronto (Pablo Schreiber), Dave 'Boon' Benton (David Denman), John 'Tig' Tiegen (Dominic Fumusa) and Mark 'Oz' Geist (Max Martini), are sent to the annex to protect those still trapped within the compound. These guys are there to attempt to decipher what's happening and make sense of all the chaos and subsequently end up in the middle of the conflict only to try and save the others.
Others to round out the cast are Alexia Barlier as Sona Jillani, David Costabile as Bob, Peyman Moaadi as Amahl, Toby Stephens as Glen 'Bub' Doherty, Demetrius Grosse as DS Dave Ubben and Christopher Dingli as Sean Smith.
This was directed with grit, intensity and explosiveness by the high-adrenaline junkie Michael Bay ("Bad Boys" '95, "The Rock" '96, "Armageddon" '98, "Pearl Harbor" '01, "Bad Boys II" '03, "The Island" '05, "Transformers" '07, "Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen" '09, "Transformers: Dark of the Moon" '11, "Pain & Gain" '13, "Transformers: Age of Extinction" '14) plus videos. Just by his very resume, we know that he knows his way around an intense storyline. Not only did he show us the tragedy of this attack in the most violent of ways, but he even shows the aftermath of what happens to both sides of this conflict and the pain and anguish that ensues when both sides pay the price for a war situation. It was written by a virtual newcomer to feature films, Chuck Hogan and although this was certainly not Academy Award quality, it was truly a better written script than what would warrant considering this guy is a newer writer. Really, with the exception of a couple of places of lack of continuity, this script was solid. I'm waiting to see what this writer could hammer out next if this is a new venture for him. The photography by Dion Beebe, asc and the editing by Pietro Scalia, Michael McCuster and Calvin Wimmer was outstanding showcasing the intensity of the film frame by frame.
This film has a one two punch that not only will get your adrenaline moving, but will shed more light of what happened during those 13 hours of hell that none of us ever came to realize which makes this that much more poignant. Trust me, your emotions will run the gambit--from a slow crawl to a gallop, and by films' end one will truly feel the effects of this well after the end of the credits.
Out of 4 Stars: 3.5 Rated: R 144mins.
When it comes to gritty, survival films, Hollywood has graced our movie screens with some amazing conveyances of what it takes to survive and what tactics one must perform in which to survive. Films like "127 Hours", "Lord of the Flies", "The Grey", even the recent "The Martian" have been extreme nail-biters and will go down in the annals of Hollywood lore as ones that are unforgettable. So when viewing "The Revenant", I truly will not forget this film for quite some time.
Inspired by true events, this story captures one man's epic adventure of survival and the extraordinary power of the human spirit. In a fur trading expedition in the 1820's of the uncharted American wilderness, legendary explorer Hugh Glass (Leonardo DiCaprio) is brutally attacked by a grizzly bear and left for dead by certain members of his own hunting team consisting of Captain Andrew Henry (Domhnall Gleeson), John Fitzgerald (Tom Hardy) and Bridger (Will Poulter). In a quest to survive, Glass endures unimaginable grief as well as the betrayal of his confidant, Fitzgerald. Guided by sheer will and love for his family, Glass must navigate a vicious winter in a relentless pursuit to live and find redemption.
Others to round out the cast are Forrest Goodluck as Hawk, Glass' son, Paul Anderson as Anderson, Kristoffer Joner as Murphy, Joshua Burge as Stubby Bill, Melaw Nakehk'o as Powaqa, Fabrice Adde as Toussaint, Arthur Redcloud as Hikuc, Christopher Rosamund as Boone, Lukas Haas as Jones and Robert Moloney as Dave Stomach Wound.
This was intensely and grittily directed by Alejandro G. Inarritu ("Amores Perros" 2000, "21 Grams" '03, "Babel" '06, "Biutiful" '10, "Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance)" '14). As with "Birdman", this was brilliantly directed in that every single character in the film simply came to life by his ability to get his actors to exude the complexities and multi-dimensional nuances he can do so well, of course with actors like DiCaprio and Hardy, how he go wrong? It was equally written well by Mark L. Smith and Inarritu based in part on the novel by Michael Punke. Not only was this an amazing survival film, but an unbeatable cat and mouse game as well. It was one character staying just enough steps ahead of the other after a certain point. These guys are seasoned writers and it shows in spades--it's cohesive and extremely well thought out. The photography by Emmanuel Lubezki, asc/amc ("Sleepy Hollow", "Children of Men" "Gravity", "Birdman") was simply breathtaking. He will undoubtedly be nominated come Oscar time. He won last year Oscar for shooting Inarritu's "Birdman", a much deserved award. This has already garnered several Golden Globe nods, and will surely receive several Oscar nods as well--possibly win. The bear attack scene was spine tingling in that the way it was shot, it reeked of incredible realism. Between visuals by ILM (Industrial, Light & Magic) and Lubezki's cinematography, it's no wonder it came across looking that way.
Even if grit and intensity is not your cup of tea, the direction, writing, photography and both performances by Leonardo DiCaprio and Tom Hardy is worth a viewing of this. Who knows, this could be DiCaprio's year. Who Knows.
Out of 4 Stars: 4 Rated: R 156mins.
Reboots. Remakes. Redos. Whatever one wants to call them, Hollywood has made a plethora of them. And why not? It costs much less money, because the premises are basically already stamped out for you, no need for originality, and there no real character development since the film was already done, hence the word: reboot. So it's no wonder or surprise that "Point Break" isn't going to be that breath of fresh air once it hits the multiplex.
A young, inexperienced FBI agent, Johnny Utah (Luke Lacey) infiltrates an extraordinary team of extreme sports athletes he suspects of masterminding a string of unprecedented, sophisticated corporate heists lead by Bohdi (Edgar Ramirez). Deep undercover, and with his life in danger, he strives to prove to his instructor, Hall (Delroy Lindo) and co-operative, Pappas (Ray Winstone) that these athletes are the architects of the mind-boggling crimes that are devastating the world's financial markets. Filmed on four continents, North America, Europe, South America and Asia, "Point Break" presents extraordinary feats performed by the world's top extreme sports athletes, and involves some of the most daring exploits ever committed to film. Extreme sports include, snowboarding, wingsuit flying, free rock climbing, high-speed motocross and surfing 70-foot waves.
Others to round out the cast are Teresa Palmer as Samsara, Matias Varela as Grommet, Clemens Schick as Roach, Tobias Santelmann as Chowder, Max Thieriot as Jeff, Nikolai Kinski as Pascal Al Fariq and Judah Lewis as Young Utah.
As a reboot of the 1991 version of the same name, this certainly was as well done as its predecessor. Of course, the original wasn't a great film, so to say this was as good as the original is basically saying it wasn't as well done as it could've been. This was intensely directed by Ericson Core ("Invincible" '06, "The Courier/2.0" (TV movie) '08). Considering this guy has photographed quite a number of films, it's no wonder why his ability to direct comes to him fairly easily, especially when directors and cinematographers work so closely together. Not only did he shoot this with perfection, but also "Payback" '99, "The Fast and the Furious" '01, "Daredevil" '03, "Invincible" '06, "The Courier/2.0" (TV movie) '08) and others. This was written by Kurt Wimmer ("The Thomas Crown Affair" '99, "The Recruit" '03, "Street Kings" '08, "Salt" '10, "Total Recall" '12) plus others, based on a story by Rick King, W. Peter Iliff and Wimmer, which is based on the 1991 screenplay by Iliff based on a story by King and Iliff. The original version with Keanu Reeves in the Utah role and Patrick Swayze's Bohdi was certainly well cast and they pulled it off well. Surprisingly with Lacey's Utah and Ramirez's Bohdi, it was also intensely conveyed as the original. Whereas the original's effects were stunning, this version's effects more than surpassed that of the original, however there has been 14 years between the two versions so this version's visuals should be better. The real stars here are the cinematographers: Ericson, and the aerial cinematographer's Dylan Goss and Steve Koster, asc. The photography in this was unbelievable--a sight to behold, and for this reason, it really needs to be seen on the big screen.
If one is really into extreme sports, this truly fits the bill, however if you're more into a taught, more meaningful script, this is one that you might want to pass on. But if you were on the fence, go see it for the photography alone, because this would be enough to justify the price of admission.
Out of 4 Stars: 2.5 Rated: PG-13 113mins.
We've seen films based on novels all too many times, and we've seen a plethora of films which are fictional. But have you ever seen a film that is fictitious, but at the same time based on two real people? Yeah, I thought so, I'd never seen that combination myself, but "The Danish Girl" gives us that incredible combination.
Copenhagen, 1926. This is a fictitious love story inspired by the lives and work of two artists. Danish artist, Gerda Wegener (Alicia Vikander), painted her own husband, Einar Wegener (Eddie Redmayne), as a lady in her painting when her female model had to cancel her posing sit. When the painting gained popularity, Einar started to change, albeit slow, subtle, but changed and eventually decided to change to a female appearance and named himself Lili Elbe. With his feminine passion and ultimately Gerda's support, Einar, or Lili, attempted one of the first male-to-female gender reassignment surgery, a decision that turned into a massive change for their marriage. Even when she contacted a childhood friend of Einar, art dealer Hans Axgil (Matthias Schoenaerts) to talk with Einar, Gerda soon realized her own husband is no longer the man or the person she married before.
Others to round out the cast are Ben Whishaw as Henrik, Amber Heard as Ulla, friend of the couple, Jake Graf as Henri, Nicholas Woodeson as Dr. Buson and Adrian Schiller as Rasmussen.
This was brilliantly directed by the consummate Tom Hooper ("Red Dust" '04, "Longford" (TV movie) '06, "The Damned United" '09, "The King's Speech" '10, "Les Miserables" '12) plus shorts and TV. As one can see, this isn't a huge resume, but the quality is first rate. His pacing and staging in this was spot on as was the way he was able to get his actors to emit such pathos and emotion where they needed to be. This filmmaker definitely proved himself with his direction on "The King's Speech", and since then, I have had a special admiration for this true professional. Surprisingly, the writing by David Ebershoff ("The 19th Wife" (TV movie) '10) was amazing. I say surprising, because the film mentioned is his only experience in films at all, and this screenplay was phenomenal. Where did this guy come from? The script was incredibly cohesive, and the fluidity was unsurpassed. Not only will this writer be nominated come Oscar time, he will undoubtedly receive more work. This is as good or better writing than I've seen from most seasoned writers in this biz. This is certainly one of those examples where more experience doesn't necessarily mean better. The film was based on the novel by Lucinda Coxon.
Even though I'm not expressly interested in the subject matter here--don't attempt to mess with nature, I still can see a sure fire amazingly well crafted film in my midst. Redmayne and Vikander will also receive Oscar nods as well, because their performances were perfection. Enjoy this gem--I know I did.
Out of 4 Stars: 4 Rated: R 119mins.
Every time Quentin Tarantino comes out with a new film, it is a much awaited film, because each movie is always something to sink one's teeth into. From "Pulp Fiction" to "Kill Bill" to "Inglorious Basterds", his films continue to marvel and entertain us. So when "The Hateful Eight" was known to be Tarantino's eighth film, I had to make sure I saw this one.
Set six or eight or twelve years after the Civil War, a stagecoach hurtles through the wintry Wyoming landscape. The passengers, bounty hunter John Ruth (Kurt Russell) and his fugitive Daisy Domergue (Jennifer Jason Leigh), race towards the town of Red Rock where Ruth, known in these parts as "The Hangman", will bring Domergue to justice. Along the road, they encounter two strangers: Major Marquis Warren (Samuel L. Jackson), a black former union soldier turned infamous bounty hunter, and Chris Mannix (Walton Goggins), a southern renegade who claims to be the town's sheriff. Losing their lead on the blizzard, Ruth, Domergue, Warren and Mannix seek refuge at Minnie's Haberdashery, a stagecoach stopover on a mountain pass. When they arrive at Minnie's, they are greeted not by the proprietor, but by four unfamiliar faces. Bob (Demian Bichir) who's taking care of Minnie's while she's visiting her mother, is holed up with Oswaldo Mobray (Tim Roth), the hangman of Red Rock, a cow puncher Joe Gage (Michael Madsen) and Confederate General Sanford Smithers (Bruce Dern). As the storm overtakes the mountain stopover, our eight travelers come to learn they may not make it to Red Rock after all.
Others to round out the cast are James Parks as O.B.Jackson, the stagecoach driver, Channing Tatum as Jody, Dana Gourrier as Minnie Mink, Zoe Bell as Six Horse Judy, Gene Jones as Sweet Dave and Lee Horsely as Ed.
This was brilliantly written and directed by Quentin Tarantino ("My Best Friend's Wedding" '87, "Reservoir Dogs" '92, "Pulp Fiction" '94, "Jackie Brown" '97, "Kill Bill Vol.1" '03, "Kill Bill Vol. 2" '04, "Grindhouse" (segment "Death Proof") '07, "Inglorious Basterds" '09, "Django Unchained" '12). Tarantino's body of work is so 'bigger than life' that it seems that there would be more films to his resume. The craft of this is equal to his predecessors in the fact that his direction allows his actors to come alive with a different character development than you would normally see in another film of the same genre. His purposed intention of going out on a limb time and again is certainly evident when it come to the writing. His premises, cohesiveness, timing, continuity, and style is always spot on, as with this film as well. Of course, his signature is the amount of blood he uses in his films. With his last 3-4 films, the blood has toned down to a degree, and used more wisely where it's actually needed depending on the scene. I feel that this is not Tarantino becoming more conservative, but rather it's his getting better as a talented filmmaker. Gone are the days where the blood is spewed everywhere and is in the majority of the running time. Remember "Kill Bill"? There was blood everywhere, and in many cases wasn't warranted is a good deal of the scenes. But now the blood has to be warranted--sure, there's still plenty, but not like the good 'ol days. This is one film that simply rocked!
Whether you're a Tarantino fan or not, there's something in this for all who like this sort of film. Certainly if one is a Tarantino follower, you will be in heaven. The best thing about this filmmaker is the ability to write and direct a well crafted film that usually has some sort of message along with the entertainment factor. And it's all filmed in a Super Panavision 70mm format to boot.
Out of 4 Stars: 4 Rated: R 187mins., Panavision 70mm- 192mins.
There are films based on true stories and then there's "The Finest Hours". What makes this a bit more incredible is the fact that this is so amazing that it just doesn't seem to be based on anything but a writer's imagination. Such as, unlike "The Poseidon Adventure" which is pure fiction, this is not, and this is what moves its audience to be glued to the screen. 
