Rush

Rush

This image is not my property.

A chronicle of the real-life feud between Formula One rivals James Hunt and Niki Lauda, this film, directed by Ron Howard, stars Chris Hemsworth and Daniel Brühl.

The scene is set from the beginning with one character saying, "Men love women -- but even more than that, men love cars!" This perfectly describes Hemsworth's performance as James Hunt, a playboy with a need for speed, success, and fame. 

The character of Niki Lauda, an Austrian who bought his way into the racing world, brings duality to the storyline.  While Hemsworth's good looks and acting go a long way, what really makes this movie worth watching is the sheer talent of Daniel Brühl in the role of Lauda. 

This film illustrates a relationship between the two drivers that can be described as passionate rivalry.  Throughout the plot, it becomes difficult to decide which of the racers to root for.  The viewer's gut feeling may be to cheer for Hunt (since a photo of Hemsworth's face is the image that was chosen for the movie posters), but at the same time Lauda's near-death racing experience is one of this year's most compelling on-screen stories. 

The leading ladies of this film are also phenomenal.  As Hunt says to his soon-to-be ex-wife, Suzy Miller (model and wife of Elizabeth Taylor's former husband, Richard Burton), played by Olivia Wilde, “Don't go to men who are willing to kill themselves driving in circles looking for normality.”  Wilde's performance is fairly short, yet powerful, as she attempts to work through the struggles of being married to a professional racer.  The real female star of this movie, however, is Alexandra Maria Lara who plays Lauda's wife, Marlene.  It is rare when an actress comes along who can give a performance with just the look on her face, encapsulating deep emotions.

While this movie is over two hours long, the overall quality is consistent.  It is artfully fascinating, terrifying, and thrilling.

Grade: A

The Way Way Back

The Way Way Back

In his first starring role, Lian James gives an unforgettable performance as Duncan, a shy 14-year-old on vacation with his mother (Toni Collette), his mother's boyfriend (Steve Carell), and his mother's boyfriend's daughter.

Released originally in July of this year, this indie-comedy delves into a range of emotions that we’ve all felt in our adolescent years.  From the first kiss to the first job, Duncan’s life feels real.  His personal growth throughout one summer vacation is moving as he goes transforms from a timid boy to a young man who can stand up to even his worst enemy, his mom's boyfriend, Trent.  

In his portrayal of Trent, Steve Carell proves that his acting range goes beyond ridiculous or foolish.  As a father figure to Duncan, Carell manages to create an unlikable persona that allows the audience to connect with the introverted main character. To cast Steve Carrell in a non-comedic role is a tragedy, however, The Way Way Back quickly makes up for that travesty when Duncan starts working at a local water park, Water Wizz.  

The comedic support in this movie is what keeps it going.  The staff at Water Wizz is made up of the talented Sam Rockwell (Seven Psychopaths' Billy), Maya Rudolph (Bridesmaids' Lillian), Nat Faxon (Ben and Kate's Ben), and Jim Rash (Community's Dean Pelton).  In addition, Allison Janney of 2007's Juno was perfectly cast as the family's neigbor, Betty, who has a wonderful way of breaking the tension in some of the most intentionally awkward moments of the film.

When it comes down to the selling points of this film, it's not about flashy cinematography or constant laughs, it is about how completely raw and honest the performances of all of the actors feel.  If you are a fan of Woody Allen's 2011 release, Midnight In Paris, this charming movie is one you'll want to add to your watchlist.   

Movies I can't wait to watch!

 Rush

Chris Hemsworth and Olivia Wilde

Gravity

Sandra Bullock and George Clooney

Don Jon

Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Scarlett Johansson, Julianne Moore, and Tony Danza

Carrie

Chloë Grace Moretz, Julianne Moore, and Judy Greer

Thor: The Dark World

Chris Hemsworth and Natalie Portman

The Hunger Games: Catching Fire

Jennifer Lawrence, Liam Hemsworth, Josh Hutcherson, Elizabeth Banks, and Woody Harrelson

Anchorman: The Legend Continues

Will Ferrell, Christina Applegate, Steve Carell, Paul Rudd, and David Koechner

The Family

The Family

This image is not my property

The Manzoni family is like a lot of American families -- a strong father, loving mother, two kids, and a loyal dog -- but there is something that sets them apart from everyone around them.  Giovanni Manzoni, played by Robert De Niro, is a former mob boss who became an informant to the F.B.I. and now lives under the close watch of the witness protection program.   

The film, based on the novel "Malavita" by French author, Tonino Benacquista, begins with the Manzoni family moving to Normandy, France and becoming the Blake family.  In their new surroundings, the Blakes attempt to assimilate, but when they don't get what they want, they hilariously seek revenge.  A perfect example of this is when Michelle Pfeiffer as Maggie Blake, wife to De Niro's character, sets a local grocery store on fire after less than satisfactory customer service.

The family dynamic is perfect with "Glee's" Dianna Agron as the charming and fearless 17-year-old daughter, Belle, and John D'Leo as the brilliant and manipulative 14-year-old son, Warren.  The casting of the Manzoni/Blake children is spectacular, as both young actors proved their ability to portray characters that had been brought up in a mafia family.

Though it may seem a bit unbelievable for the now 70-year-old De Niro to be playing the father of teenagers, but his portrayal as the head of the Manzoni/Blake family proved to be the best possible casting for the role.  Along those lines, Tommy Lee Jones, 67, portrayed a surly F.B.I. agent on the Manzoni case in a way that is unmatchable by the up-and-coming stars of Hollywood.   

This movie is billed as being action, comedy, and crime, but it might be easier to call it a "dramedy" spiced-up with some well-integrated violence.  Either way, what makes this film worth watching happens to be the way the family behaves in the time warp-esque town in Normandy.     

Despite the fact that some smaller storylines in the Sept. 13 release are left unfinished, the overall plot of the story is entertaining with its ironic humor and honest performances.

Grade: B+ 

 

Blue Jasmine

Blue Jasmine

Written and directed by Woody Allen, this drama captures the film legend's neurotic essence in artful way. 

Image from The Hollywood Reporter

The movie begins with former New York socialite, Jasmine, on a flight to San Francisco.  Jasmine, played by Oscar-winning actress Cate Blanchett, is the type of person who appears to others as an elitist or a snob, but as she arrives at her sister's apartment, it becomes clear that her story is going to be far more complex.

Blanchett’s performance as Jasmine proves to be raw and personal as the plot of Allen’s movie explores her decline in mental stability after her wealthy husband, Hal, is sent to prison after committing fraud.  The smooth-spoken Alec Baldwin plays Hal only appears in Jasmine’s flashbacks to her privileged life, yet gives one of the most memorable performances in the film.    

As a product of economic decline after her husband’s illegal business practices, she is forced to move in with her estranged sister, Ginger, and her two young nephews.  The evolution of their awkward relationship throughout “Blue Jasmine” is what makes this movie worth watching. 

In addition to the character studies of Jasmine and Ginger, another great takeaway is Allen’s brilliant writing.   His ideas come to life when expertly paired with Blanchett’s acting abilities.  Take this gem for example, when Jasmine mutters, “Anxiety, nightmares and a nervous breakdown — there’s only so many traumas a person can stand before they take to the streets and start screaming,” to her two nephews at a pizza shop.

The plot of Allen's most recent film has similarities to two of his most screenplays, “To Rome with Love” and “Midnight in Paris,” as each tends to jump around in time, yet “Blue Jasmine” lacks the charm and wonder that his earlier works encompass.  Although the story is told in an unconventional manner, Allen understands that his viewers are generally the type of audience that does not need a simplified story and this film becomes a patchwork of Jasmine’s most defining moments.   

Grade: B

The Butler

Lee Daniels' The Butler

Legends of entertainment industry, Forest Whitaker and Oprah Winfrey, shine in historical biopic

From "Lincoln" to "Argo" there is no questioning that historical feature films are among some of the most recognized films in our culture.  

In "The Butler," Oscar-winning actor Forest Whitaker becomes Cecil Gains.  The story of Cecil is loosely based on the life of Eugene Allen, an African American butler who served at the White House for 34 years from the 1950s through the 1980s.  The film begins with the murder of Cecil's father on a cotton plantation.  When the estate's caretaker, played by an elderly, spunky Vanessa Redgrave, sees that young Cecil has suddenly lost his father, she takes him into the estate and trains him to become a house servant. 

Years go on, as they do in most historical films, and Cecil moves away from the plantation.  As a young man, he struggles to find shelter and employment in a society that was yet to be rocked by a civil rights movement.  In a time of great need, he stumbles upon the opportunity to work under and learn from an experienced servant, who eventually leads him to a job serving at a Washington D.C. hotel.  Whitaker's performance is enchanting, as he leads the film's audience through his realization that serving in a time of segregation is a game of anticipating what wealthy white patrons will enjoy. 

In a matter of minutes Cecil’s wife, Gloria Gains, the leading lady played by Oprah Winfrey, is introduced and Cecil is hired as a butler at the White House under the Eisenhower administration.  From this point on, the film becomes a fascinating whirlwind of Cecil's experiences as a husband, father, and White House butler.     

This movie is nothing less than a top contender for the Academy Awards.  What makes the work of director Lee Daniels and writers Danny Strong and Wil Haygood transcend from good to excellent is the context of racial injustice and social upheaval in which they place the story.  To bring the issues that were being faced during Cecil's time of employment to the forefront of the movie, Cecil's son, Louis Gains, played by David Oyelowo, becomes a social activist. 

This film is worth viewing because of the portrayal of White House culture throughout the administrations of Eisenhower, Kennedy, Johnson, Nixon, Ford, Carter, and Reagan contrasting with the lives of the butlers, portrayed by Whitaker, Cuba Gooding Jr., and Lenny Kravitz.  The superior storytelling, cinematography, and acting allow it to brilliantly tackle the complexity of Cecil Gains’ life. 

Grade: A

The World's End

The World's End
Creative absurdity: nothing ruins a pub crawl like a robot invasion

The title might sound familiar, but it could also be because of the June release of "This is the End" featuring Seth Rogan and James Franco or the earlier debut of "Seeking a Friend for the End of the World" starring Steve Carell and Keira Knightley.  Interestingly enough, though these films may all share a common theme, they are quite different from each other.  The award for originality, however, goes to "The World's End."

From, Edgar Wright and Simon Pegg, the creators of "Hot Fuzz" and "Shaun of the Dead" comes a story about five friends attempting to relive their high school years. This Sci-Fi comedy starts with an introduction that could only be compared to a John Hughes film from the 1980s—in a cheesy, but charming way.  Fast-forward to 2013 and Gary King, played by Simon Pegg, is having a mid-life crisis and gathering up a gang of friends to attempt a feat that they failed to accomplish in their late adolescence: a pub crawl in their hometown known as "the golden mile." 

As the group begins their tour of their old stomping grounds, they begin to notice that something strange has happened to their little town.  This is where the science fiction comes in: robots!  It sounds strange, but it becomes hilarious and thrilling in a matter of minutes, once the first human-battling-robot scene happens.  "The World's End" is a cross between BBC's "Doctor Who" and the 2012 Ben Stiller comedy, "The Watch," as it bridges creativity and ingenuity with a good dose of the absurd. 

King is a character clearly stuck in his past, while his old school mates quickly come to realize this fact on their journey.  Among the concerned friends are Nick Frost (of "Shaun of the Dead") and Martin Freeman (of “The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey").  This film successfully touches upon the struggles of adulthood and lost friendships without turning into a dull "dramedy" like 2012's "This is 40."

As this is a comedy, the stress is less on acting and more on getting laughs.  The plot lags in a few places and mystifies in others, but there was clearly a lot of effort put into creating this film.  It was fun, but it won't be winning any prestigious awards.  

Grade: B-