One of 2013's most anticipate films, "The Wolf of Wall Street", will be coming to theaters Dec. 25!
For more information or to watch the NEW trailer, read Jessica Derschowitz's article.
Wednesday, October 30, 2013
Captain Phillips
Captain Phillips
From the Oscar-winning director, Paul Greengrass, comes this stunning Oct. 11 release, Captain Phillips. Based on a true story, the internationally-known Tom Hanks stars as Captain Richard Phillips in one of the year's best films.
The story behind this film is based on the events that happened in 2009 when pirates hijacked a U.S. Marines cargo ship off of the coast of Somalia in the Gulf of Aden. The ship, Maersk Alabama, was the first American cargo ship to be illegally seized in two hundred years.
While the story is one of the most compelling to be projected on the silver screen in recent years, it is the intensity and raw talent of the cast that makes this film worth watching.
Tom Hanks is undoubtedly one of the greatest actors of his time; his performance in this film is consistent with that of his best acting (Forrest Gump and The Terminal), as he completely closes the gap between actor and role, making for an unmatched viewing experience.
In addition to Hanks, what really makes this film worth watching is the fact that it is not a one-sided story. The movie is not only about the struggle of a crew on board an American ship, it is also about the motivation behind the pirates' brutal actions.
In his acting debut, Barkhad Abdi plays Muse, the leader of the Somalian pirates that board the Maersk Alabama. Muse, as well as the other pirates, are under great pressure to return home with a substantial amount of money for their bosses. While the fact that they are desperate does not forgive them for putting the lives of others in danger, it makes for a very complex and deep plot, full of emotional turmoil.
This movie is a true contender for the upcoming award season. Comparable Zero Dark Thirty, this is one of the best movies that have been released within recent years...not to mention, it's also based on a true story.
Grade: A
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| This image is not my property |
The story behind this film is based on the events that happened in 2009 when pirates hijacked a U.S. Marines cargo ship off of the coast of Somalia in the Gulf of Aden. The ship, Maersk Alabama, was the first American cargo ship to be illegally seized in two hundred years.
While the story is one of the most compelling to be projected on the silver screen in recent years, it is the intensity and raw talent of the cast that makes this film worth watching.
Tom Hanks is undoubtedly one of the greatest actors of his time; his performance in this film is consistent with that of his best acting (Forrest Gump and The Terminal), as he completely closes the gap between actor and role, making for an unmatched viewing experience.
In addition to Hanks, what really makes this film worth watching is the fact that it is not a one-sided story. The movie is not only about the struggle of a crew on board an American ship, it is also about the motivation behind the pirates' brutal actions.
In his acting debut, Barkhad Abdi plays Muse, the leader of the Somalian pirates that board the Maersk Alabama. Muse, as well as the other pirates, are under great pressure to return home with a substantial amount of money for their bosses. While the fact that they are desperate does not forgive them for putting the lives of others in danger, it makes for a very complex and deep plot, full of emotional turmoil.
This movie is a true contender for the upcoming award season. Comparable Zero Dark Thirty, this is one of the best movies that have been released within recent years...not to mention, it's also based on a true story.
Grade: A
Sunday, October 27, 2013
The Fifth Estate
The Fifth Estate
Starring Benedict Cumberbatch (of BBC's smash hit, Sherlock) as Julian Assange and Daniel Brühl (from the recent release, Rush) as Daniel Berg, this Oct. 18 release attempts to tell the story behind the not-for-profit media organization, WikiLeaks.
The film, over two hours long, attempts the brave task of telling the deep and complicated story of the events that led to WikiLeak becoming internationally known for being one of several news organizations to publish, "251,287 dispatches in all, from more than 250 US embassies and consulates...[that] reveal how the US deals with both its allies and its enemies," according to The Guardian.
Unfortunately, the first half of the film is dull, repetitive, and fails to really capture the audiences compassion for the characters. The story of WikiLeaks is fascinating, yet this movie does not do it justice. From the strange sequencing to the out-of-place storytelling devices, the way this revolutionary story is told turned out to be very disappointing. Compared recent successes in the Hollywood-told-true-story category, including The Ides of March and Argo, The Fifth Estate clearly deserved better writing and directing than it received.
In terms of positive elements of the film, the acting of the main cast was fantastic. As the plot thickens in the second half of the runtime, the intensity of the actors was impressive enough that, had the movie excelled in other areas, it could have been a contender in the upcoming award season. Cumberbatch captures a bizarre essence in the role of Assange that some critics have said seemed a bit too similar to Jesse Eisenberg as Zuckerberg in The Social Network. This is completely debatable, as the role of computer hacker/genius has not been thoroughly explored yet in the entertainment world.
While The Fifth Estate proved to be a somewhat cumbersome, if you are interested in the story, it is worth a watch when it comes to a Redbox near you.
Grade: C+
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| This image is not my property. |
Starring Benedict Cumberbatch (of BBC's smash hit, Sherlock) as Julian Assange and Daniel Brühl (from the recent release, Rush) as Daniel Berg, this Oct. 18 release attempts to tell the story behind the not-for-profit media organization, WikiLeaks.
The film, over two hours long, attempts the brave task of telling the deep and complicated story of the events that led to WikiLeak becoming internationally known for being one of several news organizations to publish, "251,287 dispatches in all, from more than 250 US embassies and consulates...[that] reveal how the US deals with both its allies and its enemies," according to The Guardian.
Unfortunately, the first half of the film is dull, repetitive, and fails to really capture the audiences compassion for the characters. The story of WikiLeaks is fascinating, yet this movie does not do it justice. From the strange sequencing to the out-of-place storytelling devices, the way this revolutionary story is told turned out to be very disappointing. Compared recent successes in the Hollywood-told-true-story category, including The Ides of March and Argo, The Fifth Estate clearly deserved better writing and directing than it received.
In terms of positive elements of the film, the acting of the main cast was fantastic. As the plot thickens in the second half of the runtime, the intensity of the actors was impressive enough that, had the movie excelled in other areas, it could have been a contender in the upcoming award season. Cumberbatch captures a bizarre essence in the role of Assange that some critics have said seemed a bit too similar to Jesse Eisenberg as Zuckerberg in The Social Network. This is completely debatable, as the role of computer hacker/genius has not been thoroughly explored yet in the entertainment world.
While The Fifth Estate proved to be a somewhat cumbersome, if you are interested in the story, it is worth a watch when it comes to a Redbox near you.
Grade: C+
Thursday, October 24, 2013
Carrie
Carrie
Based on Stephen King's 1974 novel, Carrie, this movie remake is the perfect thing to watch to get in the Halloween spirit.
In the Oct. 18 release, Chloë Grace Moretz plays the role of the timid and telekinetic 17-year-old Carrie White, originally played by Sissy Spacek in the 1976 version. Carrie is a character shaped by her mother's religious beliefs and fears of the outside world.
It was her mother, Margaret White, played by Julianne Moore, who really brought the scary to this film for the first two-thirds. From self mutilation to throwing her daughter into a closet under the stairs (think Harry Potter) to pray, Margaret takes the word nutjob to a whole new level.
In the midst of the struggles of adolescence, Carrie is bullied by her classmates and finds herself befriending the gym teacher who defended her when the harassment went from bad to worse. The gym teacher, played by Judy Greer (of Archer and Arrested Development) adds the slight touch of humor and realistic human compassion that any successful film needs.
What makes the film just weird enough to resemble the cult classic, 1976 version is the way Carrie is different from everyone else. No, not because she was home schooled; because she's telekinetic. In the film's culmination, the "hottest" guy in the school takes her to prom. She acts skeptical for most of the night as to why such a popular person would want to take her. Her skepticism, it turns out, was not unwarranted, as the bullies of the school pull a prank that turns her from an innocent girl to a witch-like murderess.
The special effects in this film that involve Carrie's telekinesis are nothing special, but they're certainly good enough to make the audience a bit nervous for everyone at the prom.
While Chloë Grace Moretz's talent was better used playing Hit-Girl in Kick-Ass, she proved to audiences that she is more skilled at playing an awkward teenager than Kristen Stewart in Twilight (not that it's much of a competition).
To be honest, this film isn't going to win any prestigious awards or be as well known as the original, but it's fun if you're in the mood for a horror-revenge flick.
Based on Stephen King's 1974 novel, Carrie, this movie remake is the perfect thing to watch to get in the Halloween spirit.
In the Oct. 18 release, Chloë Grace Moretz plays the role of the timid and telekinetic 17-year-old Carrie White, originally played by Sissy Spacek in the 1976 version. Carrie is a character shaped by her mother's religious beliefs and fears of the outside world.
It was her mother, Margaret White, played by Julianne Moore, who really brought the scary to this film for the first two-thirds. From self mutilation to throwing her daughter into a closet under the stairs (think Harry Potter) to pray, Margaret takes the word nutjob to a whole new level.
In the midst of the struggles of adolescence, Carrie is bullied by her classmates and finds herself befriending the gym teacher who defended her when the harassment went from bad to worse. The gym teacher, played by Judy Greer (of Archer and Arrested Development) adds the slight touch of humor and realistic human compassion that any successful film needs.
What makes the film just weird enough to resemble the cult classic, 1976 version is the way Carrie is different from everyone else. No, not because she was home schooled; because she's telekinetic. In the film's culmination, the "hottest" guy in the school takes her to prom. She acts skeptical for most of the night as to why such a popular person would want to take her. Her skepticism, it turns out, was not unwarranted, as the bullies of the school pull a prank that turns her from an innocent girl to a witch-like murderess.
The special effects in this film that involve Carrie's telekinesis are nothing special, but they're certainly good enough to make the audience a bit nervous for everyone at the prom.
While Chloë Grace Moretz's talent was better used playing Hit-Girl in Kick-Ass, she proved to audiences that she is more skilled at playing an awkward teenager than Kristen Stewart in Twilight (not that it's much of a competition).
To be honest, this film isn't going to win any prestigious awards or be as well known as the original, but it's fun if you're in the mood for a horror-revenge flick.
Friday, October 11, 2013
Upcoming Review: Captain Phillips
Captain Phillips
IMDb description: "The true story of Captain Richard Phillips and the 2009 hijacking by Somali pirates of the US-flagged MV Maersk Alabama, the first American cargo ship to be hijacked in two hundred years."
Starring: Tom Hanks
IMDb description: "The true story of Captain Richard Phillips and the 2009 hijacking by Somali pirates of the US-flagged MV Maersk Alabama, the first American cargo ship to be hijacked in two hundred years."
Starring: Tom Hanks
Don Jon
Don Jon
If you like Joseph Gordon-Levitt, this is the movie for you -- he wrote, directed and starred in this September 27 release.
While the idea of watching someone watch pornography may sound disturbing, this movie has a lot more to offer than what meets the eye.
The handsome and talented JLG plays a "Jersey Shore"-type character, Jon, who has some flaws. First and foremost: he has a porn addiction that leaves him with the belief that real human connection is less powerful than sitting behind his laptop and watching "dirty" videos.
The film gets interesting when he falls for Scarlett Johansson's character, Barbara. For the first time in his life, he finds a girl he really wants to be with -- not just for the night, but for the long haul. The more the couple bonds, the more he hides his addiction.
At the same time, however, he begins to gain more respect from his parents (played by Tony Danza and Glenne Headly) for bringing home a perspective daughter-in-law. As the story progresses, Barbara pushes for Jon to change to fit her mold of the perfect man.
The second half of the film stars Julianne Moore, as Jon gets to know her when he begins taking night classes. The rest, unfortunately, is spoilers. Let's just say, Jon realizes that his vanity and addictions are unhealthy and the movie comes to a close that is satisfying, yet could use a bit more work.
This film is hard to define on the genre scale, but an easy classification is drama. What makes it worth watching is JLG's commitment to his role, Johansson's portrayal of the the "ultimate woman" and the relevance of the subject matter.
While it probably won't win any awards, besides those found at the MTV Movie Awards, this was a great debut of JLG's writing and directing on the big screen.
Grade: B-
While the idea of watching someone watch pornography may sound disturbing, this movie has a lot more to offer than what meets the eye.
The handsome and talented JLG plays a "Jersey Shore"-type character, Jon, who has some flaws. First and foremost: he has a porn addiction that leaves him with the belief that real human connection is less powerful than sitting behind his laptop and watching "dirty" videos.
The film gets interesting when he falls for Scarlett Johansson's character, Barbara. For the first time in his life, he finds a girl he really wants to be with -- not just for the night, but for the long haul. The more the couple bonds, the more he hides his addiction.
At the same time, however, he begins to gain more respect from his parents (played by Tony Danza and Glenne Headly) for bringing home a perspective daughter-in-law. As the story progresses, Barbara pushes for Jon to change to fit her mold of the perfect man.
The second half of the film stars Julianne Moore, as Jon gets to know her when he begins taking night classes. The rest, unfortunately, is spoilers. Let's just say, Jon realizes that his vanity and addictions are unhealthy and the movie comes to a close that is satisfying, yet could use a bit more work.
This film is hard to define on the genre scale, but an easy classification is drama. What makes it worth watching is JLG's commitment to his role, Johansson's portrayal of the the "ultimate woman" and the relevance of the subject matter.
While it probably won't win any awards, besides those found at the MTV Movie Awards, this was a great debut of JLG's writing and directing on the big screen.
Grade: B-
Tuesday, October 8, 2013
Gravity
Gravity
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| This image is not my property. (For informative purposes only.) |
Starring Oscar-winners Sandra Bullock and George Clooney, this Oct. 4 release broke box
office records for Oct. weekend releases, having made $55.6 million. With ambiguous trailers and the tagline,
"Don't let go," audiences in over 3,500 theaters couldn't wait to see
what this sci-fi film was really about.
The scene is set with the opening caption,
"At 372 miles above the Earth, there is nothing to carry sound, no air
pressure, no oxygen. Life in space is
impossible."
During the 90-minute-runtime, Bullock and
Clooney portray Dr. Ryan Stone and astronaut Matt Kowalski, respectively, who
are working on a mission with the Explorer space shuttle. The movie’s plot really begins when the
movement of debris recently disbursed into their orbit suddenly threatens their
safety and all communication with Houston is lost. The storytelling technique is interesting
because the events throughout the film occur in a near-real-time manner.
Stone (Bullock) is an engineer on her first
mission, while Kowalski (Clooney) is a veteran astronaut who makes it his
mission to live life to the fullest, even when situations become dangerous. Within minutes, Explorer's mission is over
when Dr. Stone is thrown off the structure and looses all visuals of the
shuttle, but it's the calming charisma of Kowalski that allows for the pair to
make a brave attempt to return home.
Bullock shines as Stone, who becomes more
resilient throughout the experience, while taking on some of the brave, yet
breezy, characteristics of Kowalski in her fight to stay alive. Her best performance is when she talks about
her young daughter and delivers the line, "Tell her that I'm not
quitting," with the fiery determination that Academy Award nominations are
made of.
The viewing experience is unique, as the film
style changes from first person point-of-view, with shots of the astronauts
above earth, to third person point-of-view as the cinematography shifts so that
the viewer sees what Stone sees. This is
accomplished, especially in moments of suspense, by giving displaying the
inside of her space helmet, lit up with warning lights and steaming up with
each breath.
While some viewers have described the heavily anticipated
Oct. 4 release as slow or melodramatic, there is evidence to the contrary, as
this is one of the few wide-release films in recent years that take the time to
create a scene that is both stunningly beautiful and horrifying. The visuals and special effects of this movie
deserve a great deal of recognition, as the story would be impossible to tell
without them. Whether it’s the views of
the Northern Lights from the perspective of the astronauts or the portrayal of
objects floating in the zero gravity environment, the aesthetics of this film
are flawless. In some circumstances,
paying extra for a 3-D ticket isn’t worth the money, but this is the exception
to that rule.
This movie is not the typical sci-fi release, as
it offers more than flashy effects and frightening premises. While the action
and special effects of this movie (e.g. astronauts dodging debris, stunning
views of Earth from space, etc.) are worth paying lots of attention to, it's
the heartfelt performance provided by the leading actors that have earned this
film its success in the box office and the positive reviews from critics
worldwide. The Alfonso Cuarón-directed film offers proof of the
abilities of Bullock and Clooney to capture their audience's compassion.
Grade: A
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