Thursday, January 22, 2015

AMERICAN SNIPER REVIEW


One of my favorite books of all time is about the late Chris Kyle, a veteran of 4 tours of the Middle East, as a Sniper with the Navy Seals. A man who after risking his life overseas, he lost his life in his attempt to help another vet.  I was curious when I heard Clint Eastwood and Bradley Cooper were doing a bio pic on Kyle's life and career. Heres the review.



American Sniper stars Bradley Cooper and Sienna Miller, and its directed by Clint Eastwood. It covers Kyle's life from before he joined the Navy and became a SEAL and sniper, to the day he was killed.  The film was incredible. It does not glorify someone responsible for 160 confirmed kills. It in fact shows the toll such a responsibility takes on our service men and women. It can be very hard to watch at times. But Cooper, and Miller keep us engaged the whole time, and with Eastwoods seasoned direction, the film never really takes a wrong turn. You care a lot about Chris Kyle, his friends, and his family. Its a movie that will blew me away.




THE VERDICT
With a powerful performances and excellent direction, "American Sniper," is one of the best,  most intense films of the year. I give American Sniper an A.

Tuesday, January 20, 2015

SELMA REVIEW


  Tonight I saw an important film about our nations history. About a time when whole races within our population were denied basic rights as citizens. It was about Dr. Martin Luther King, and the path he helped create in Selma, Alabama to help african Americans gain voting rights. It was incredible. Heres the story.



SELMA stars David Oyelowo as Dr. King, and it starts with an intrical piece of civil rights history, namely the bombing of the church in Alabama that killed 4 small little girls. It is the thing that spurs King to believe that to get voting rights to pass, the start of the movement must start in Selma Alabama. There he encounters what I can only call severe racism. People punch him in the face, and yell and scream.  They encounter a racist pig of a sheriff, and a governor who pretends he is helpful to the poor, but doesn't recognize the poor african americans because in his words, "They always want something." This film is incredible from start to finish. And very very hard to watch. But from the acting to the directing to the script and to the sounds and sites of this journey, you are never bored. In fact, you are sort of sad.
I went to see this with my mother, who was not alive during this time, and our friends, the Duffy's who were. Mr. D was eight, and told me that he was playing in a yard when his Aunt came out and told them that Dr. King had been killed, and that they thought was the government had been involved. Mrs D. was only four at the time, but she remembered stories her mother had told her. My mom only knew things through her own parents. But what was clear, that like with President Kennedy, his death had a profound affect on everyone. Not just because he'd been a force for change, but because he showed such leadership and grace. As you watch the movie you begin to wonder what would have happened had he lived.
There is a terrific scene in the film, between Oyelowo and Stephan James who plays John Lewis. Dr. King was dejected. A minister from Boston, a white man named James Reeb had come from Boston to march with them, and was beaten by redneck killers to death. He died of head wounds. King feels awful and begins to doubt whether he can lead the group to getting what they deserve, which is the right to vote. Lewis recounts the story of first hearing King speak. About how in the middle of wanting to give up, he didn't because of what Dr. King said. While Lewis is speaking, the camera is on King, and this is where Oyelowo really delivers. The loneliness, and struggle in Kings eyes is very real. The responsibility he feels towards each person there. Each life that is being risked. You can see that it was a very very hard road for him to be on. Not just because of what they were asking for, but because King understood the very real consequences of them not getting it.
I really do think, SELMA should be seen in high schools and middle schools all over. Mostly because sometimes, reading about something is not as good as seeing it. Mr. D REMEMBERS what it was like when King died. It's important when passing down our history to kids in school that we give them something more than just words. We need to show them where we came from.





THE VERDICT
Selma is amazing, with great performances, directing, and writing. I give Selma an A.

Monday, January 19, 2015

PADDINGTON REVIEW


And the biggest surprise for a Janurary movie goes to…. "Paddington!!!!" Seriously after I saw this movie had a 96% on Rotten Tomatoes, I new I had to go see it.  I grew up Paddington stories, and knew all the characters before I walked into the film, so all I prayed for was that they wouldn't screw it up.  Boy they didn't! It was superb!



Paddington (voiced by Ben Winshaw) is a bear from deepest darkest Puru, and after unfortunate circumstances, he must leave his home and his Aunt Lucy, and got to London to find a new home.
 Sitting quietly on his suitcase in Paddington Station, he meets the Brown Family. And through Mrs. Browns generosity, finds a temporary new home with them. Along the way, he meets a cast of characters, such as Mrs. Bird, the Brown's Irish housekeeper, and a mean taxidermist, played with a delicious kind of evilness by Nicole Kidman. This is the best over the top performance I have ever seen Kidman give. She so good she practically has theme music play every time she does something crazy or outrageous. "Dun Dun Dun!!!!!"  I overall was surprised by how good the movie is. As a childrens movie it never treats the audience like they are silly or too stupid. In fact we are let in on the thought that Paddington, (as he is named by Mrs. Brown) has a real dilemma. and him being here is perfectly normal. I only had one complaint. Not every joke worked. And some of them were a little predictable, but I have a feeling its because the story is about a British Family, and of course, we aren't going to always find everything funny in the same way.
 All the performances are great, especially Ben Winshaw, and Hugh Boneville. The CGI is quite decent, and it really took me back to being a little boy and reading the stories.




THE VERDICT
Paddington may be a bit predictable,  but its a great film with a heartwarming message at the end. I give Paddington a A-.

Thursday, January 15, 2015

BEST AND WORST OF 2014 NUMBER 4

BEST: GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY
WORST: TMNT




BEST: Guardians Of The Galaxy is amazing. I saw this film 4 times, and it has everything write with it. The comedy is great, the acting is superb, the action is awesome, and the screenplay has really no problems in it at all. This is a great film I suggest everyone should see.

WORST: TMNT has the worst cast of the year. It has barley anything right with the movie. First off  they have no famous actors playing the turtles, and the famous actors they do get either are given horrible part or have barley any screen time. I hate this movie!

BEST AND WORST OF 2014 NUMBER 3






BEST
#3: Whiplash is incredible! The Director also wrote it. The two main actors keep you engaged the whole time, and the story never gets boring. Well worth every penny to see it, and will be added to my DVD library. Easily the best performace Golden Globe Winner JK Simmons has ever given.

WORST
#3: The Nut Job made me angry. Crazy Angry. The story line was awful. The animation terrible. Hated it.

BEST AND WORST OF 2014 NUMBER 2





BIRDMAN
#2:  Birdman was a surprise for me. When I first saw the trailer I just thought "this looks so weird!" I will safely say that I was blown away. Not a weak link in the whole thing. A+

WORST
#2: Ever think something might be bad, but then you think, "Oh God not THIS bad...". Well that is "The Legend of Hercules," for me. Someone needs to tell Kellan Lutz that acting class would be a good thing.  Its hysterically awful. There is nothing redeeming here.

BEST AND WORST OF 2014 NUMBER 1





BEST
#1: Foxcatcher was amazing. It was my most anticipated film of the year and man it did not let me down. The story is engaging, the directing is great, but the performances are amazing. Each actor, whether it be Tatum, Carrell, or Ruffalo are doing their best work.  Terrifically done all around.

WORST
#1:  Transformers:Age Of Extinction is awful, awful, awful. The acting is bad, the dialogue is horrible, and the directing, dear god the directing, is cliche and stupid. The editing makes the CGI look like it was done by an eight year old. I could rant for hours about why it sucks. There are so much plot holes, you feel like you are a freeway full of them. Solid F +. If I could give it a lover grade I would.

Thursday, January 1, 2015

TOP 10 MOST ANTICIPATED FILMS OF 2015

1. STAR WARS EPISODE 7: THE FORCE AWAKENS
2.  THE AVENGERS: AGE OF ULTRON
3. SPECTRE
4. TED 2
5. MISSION IMPOSSIBLE 5 
6. JURASSIC WORLD 
7. ANT-MAN
8. THE HUNGER GAMES MOCKINGJAY PT 2
9.  THE HATEFUL EIGHT
10. TOMORROWLAND