THE REVENANT MOVIE REVIEW

From the first teaser to now, I was excited for "The Revenant." I was upset that its Christmas day release didn't apply to us here in Walnut Creek, but it doesn't matter. Because it remained one of my most anticipated films of the year, and when I finally got to see it it did not disappoint me.

"The Revenant," stars Leonardo DiCaprio, Tom Hardy, Domnhall Gleeson, and Will Porter. Its directed and written by Alejandro Gonzales Inarritu, who directed one of my favorite films of last year "Birdman." The story is about how fur trappers in the Dakotas, and how their guide Hugh Glass (DiCaprio) is mauled by a bear during their trip, and is left broken and unable to travel on his own. The Captain, (played by Gleeson,) makes Hardy and Porter stick with Glass and his young son Hawk, who is half native Indian, while the rest of the group hike to safety. Hardy's character, Fitzgerald is angered by the thought he has to stay there like a sitting duck,  and he sets a course of events in motion that cause DiCaprio to fight for everything that he has.

I loved this film from start to finish. It includes amazing performances, excellent cinematography, and incredible direction. Inarritu is probably going to win another Oscar. What he's done is amazing.  You feel the cold these men go through. Each pain makes you jump. You don't know how they survived through these harsh cold nights. And sometimes you are shown how they survived and it is not pretty. This is an excellent film, but its story is a hard ugly one. The performances are incredible but as far as they all go, this is DiCaprio's show. Every thing he goes through you go with him. He unpeeled Glass and his problems like he was peeling an onion. Hardy gives Fitzgerald the right amount of loathing, but DiCaprio is the star of this movie that's for sure. My only complaint is that there were a few scenes that took a little too long. But only a few.

                                                     
                                                                 THE VERDICT
"The Revenant," is spectacular, with great performances to amazing cinematography to fantastic directing. I give "The Revenant," an A.

SUICIDE SQUAD TRAILER 2 REVIEW

And my most anticipated movie of 2016 is now Suicide Squad. Im excited for Rouge One, Batman vs Superman, and Captian America don't get me wrong. But this trailer is one of the best trailers I've ever seen. A stellar cast with some of my favorite actors playing terrific characters. ( Will Smith, Jared Leto, Margot Robbie,  and Viola Davis) It also includes decent actors like Scott Eastwood, Joel Kinsman, Adam Beech, and yes even Jai Courtney, who despite driving me crazy with his lack of charisma, looks amazing in this. 

To explain what the Suicide Squad is about, 8 Batman villans that are in jail are given a task from government handler Amanda Waller, who works in special intelligence and national security. She offers them work in the government that will lead to reductions in their very lengthy sentences. If they refuse, a chip implanted will self destruct causing their heads to explode. The squad includes Dead Shot, Harley Quinn, Killer Croc, Rick Flagg, Captain boomerang, El Diablo, Katana, Enchantress, and Slipknot. In the trailer, they are all showcased in a hail of gun fire and action sequences to Queen's "Bohemian Rhapsody." And it is... Brilliant. Whoever put this trailer together, got a big fat pay check for it. 

This movie made me feel excited for the summer. And excited to see what they will do next. I give this trailer an A+

TOP 10 MOST ANTICIPATED FILMS OF 2016

1. Batman V Superman Dawn Of Justice
2. Captain America: Civil war
3. Suicide Squad
4. X-men: Apocalypse
5. Deadpool
6. Star Wars: Rouge one
7. Bourne 5
8. Tarzan
9.  Doctor Strange
10.  Star Trek: Beyond


Honorable mentions: Independence day: reassurance, Nice guys, Assassins Creed, and fantastic beasts and where to find them

HONORABLE MENTIONS OF 2015

TRAINWRECK
JURASSIC WORLD
SPECTRE
AVENGERS: AGE OF ULTRON
FURIOUS 7
SICARIO
RUN ALL NIGHT
BRIDGE OF SPIES
THE NIGHT BEFORE
TRUMBO
THE BIG SHORT
ANT-MAN
MISSION IMPOSSIBLE: ROUGE NATION
MAN FROM UNCLE
STRAIGHT OUTTA COMPTON

THE BIG SHORT MOVIE REVIEW

The Big Short is a movie I knew nothing about, I mean come on, what do I know about mortgages? All I knew was that it stars some of my favorite actors, including Ryan Gosling, Brad Pitt, Christian Bale, and Steve Carrell, and is directed by Adam McKay, of "Anchorman" fame. And while I enjoyed that, I worried he couldn't handle a movie where so much of it would be about math, and pther stuff that people dont understand. All of this film is based on what really happened to the american Economy during the housing bubble crisis, and some of the men who saw it coming, tried to warn the government, and when they weren't lsitened too, bet against America, making millions when the market crashed.  Its all detailed in Michael Lewis's book, "The Big Short." He also wrote "The Blind Side," and " Moneyball."

                        The trueness of this story is what makes this interesting. This destruction of our economy due to peoples greed and the fraudulant actions of some hit many people hard. What makes this film interesting is how hard these men tried to stop it, and how not listening to them, put American in a spiral for quite a few years economically.

 I can say I really enjoyed this film. With a plot that could have been quite boring, it was actually incredibly entertaining. With Goslings narration, sometimes he would break down explanations by giving the watcher someone to explain it in the easiest terms possible. " Now to explain Morgage Backed Securities is Anthony Bordain!" And as he chopped up fish, Bordain explains in simple terms what the heck is going on. Its a catchy device that works for people like me who know nothing about it.  This we can credit to McKay who lets the audience know they aren't as dumb about this as they think. That coupled with the acting,  makes it a movie worth watching.
My only complaint, is of course, regardless of the moments of explanation, there were still confusing things in it. But, perhaps thats good too. That we are all made to think a little more about it all.

             
                                                                    THE VERDICT
              "The Big Short," may be a little intimidating to take on, but with its excellent performances, hilarious scenes, and a great direction it comes out as an excellent movie. I give The Big Short an A-.

THE NIGHT BEFORE REVIEW

Another Christmas comedy is here! "The Night Before," starring Seth Rogen, Joseph Gordon Levitt, and Anthony Mackie. Which is a recipe for laughs all around. And since I love Mackie, and since I rated Rogen and Levitts last film together "50/50," one of the best I'd seen, I knew this had the potential of being terrific. 

"The Night Before," tells the story of Ethan(Levitt), who becomes an orphan on Christmas day 2001. To cheer him up, his friends Isaac and Chris(Rogen and Mackie.) start a tradition of taking him to Christmas parties all night, and they make this their tradition for the next 14 years. Yet they reach their 14th year, with Ethan Marrying, Isaac about to have a baby, and Chris a successful NFL player, and they know, this one must be their last. Fate plays a hand in Ethan getting his hands on three tickets to the ultimate Christmas party. Lost of things happen along the way as they get there.... each thing more outrageous then the next.

I gotta be honest I loved it. Its not that its just super funny, its really heartfelt. It tells you what Christmas is all about. Its story being that friends can be family. And that we should never forget that is one I think we could all use about now.  My only complaint is Tracey Morgan is the narrator and while he's terrific... I don't think it adds to the story. Other than that, if you like fun "R" rated Christmas comedy I highly suggest you see this.

                                                              THE VERDICT
"The Night Before," may seem generic and predictable at first, but its a really funny, heartfelt comedy that I absolutely loved. I give "The Night Before," an A.

STAR WARS EPISODE 7: THE FORCE AWAKENS MOVIE REVIEW

The most anticipated movie of the year is here! I finally got to see Star Wars Episode 7: The Force Awakens. Is it everything I wanted....? HECK YEAH! Here's the story...

With a cast that includes Daisey Ridley, John Boyega, Adam Driver, Oscar Issac, Harrison Ford, Peter Mayhew, Lupita Nyongo, Gwendoline Christie, Domhnhall Gleeson, Anthony Daniels, Carrie Fisher, Andy Serkis, and Mark Hamill,  I loved "Star Wars VII The Force Awakens." From the acting, to the story, to the action sequences, to the direction, I was never bored. JJ Abrams direction paid attention to the original story, while giving us new characters to believe in who we trust to take us to the next levels. May 26th, 2017 cannot come sooner. (Which is when Star Wars episode 8 comes out.) I love love love this movie!!!! 

                                                                     THE VERDICT

"Star Wars VII: The Force Awakens," has the originality of "A new Hope," and the Stakes of " Empire Strikes Back." Everything about this movie is excellent! I give "Star Wars VII: The Force Awakens," an A++++++++++++++++++++++++++.