2015 Movies
OSCARS Won/Nominated
IMDB Top 250
IMDB Top 250
7 Days in Hell
Dir: Jake Syzmanski Stars: Andy Samberg, Kit Harrington Brilliantly hilarious. This send up of sports specials that you miught find on ESPN or HBO is perfectly satirical and goofball. Andy Samberg plays a badboy tennis star, related by adoption to the Williams sisters, and it follows his rise, fall, and rise again during a Wimbledon match that lasted 7 days. Kit Harrington of Game of Thrones fame is Sambergs perfect opposite as a rival player. The interviews, the on-court antics....it all just works. The only reason this doesn't get an A is that it only lasts 45 minutes. If this was a 6 hour mini-series...I would have been extremely happy. So great!! A- |
American Ultra
Dir: Nima Nourizadeh Stars: Jesse Eisenberg, Kristen Stewart Eisenberg and Stewart are a really good pair...but this movie is a bit too uneven for it to work. I am not a fan of stoner humor...so that is one strike against it...but the extreme polarity between that stoner humor and the hyper-action when Eisenberg's character gets "activated" is both exhilarating and frustrating. They have been better together...but they still have great chemistry and that kind of keeps things together. C+ |
OSCARS
Best Documentary
|
Amy
Dir: Asif Kapadia Documentaries have two ways to be great...have a fascinating subject and have an artistic vision of presenting that subject. The rise and fall of Amy Winehouse certainly qualifies for that first way. Her roller-coaster career that was brought to a tragic end far too early is a powerful poignant story. And to get a look behind the curtain at her demons and her father's unsympathetic role in it all worked well. However...this is nothing much beyond a talking head piece. We see Amy at different points in her life at varying levels of sobriety...and then we see people commenting on her. Nothing artistic about it. Almost as if it were a simple newscast. B |
Ant-Man
Dir: Peyton Reed Stars: Paul Rudd, Evangeline Lilly, Michael Douglas, Corey Stoll You know this is going to be of the highest quality entertainment, because I am convinced that Marvel can really do no wrong with their track record. At this point it is nearly as reliable a brand as Pixar. Ant-Man is a good movie...nothing groundbreaking, but efficiently fun, exciting, and funny. I feel that Paul Rudd was a little underused in his Paul Rudd-ness. One scene, where he spoils a scene between Michael Douglas's Hank Pym and Evangeline Lilly's Hope really illustrates how enjoyable it would have been if Rudd was given a bit of free reign. The effects, while corny in premise, are astonishingly believable. We have come a long way since Honey, I Shrunk the Kids. Corey Stoll is also a very serviceable villain. Overall...it is an acceptable entry into the Marvel Cinematic universe, and if Marvel can make a movie about a shrinking man who telepathically converses with insects acceptable...I really think they can do anything. B Bluray |
Avengers: Age of Ultron
Dir: Joss Whedon Stars: Robert Downey Jr, Chris Evans, Chris Hemsworth, Mark Ruffalo, Scarlett Johannson, Elizabeth Olson, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Paul Bettany If you are invested in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, then it is almost impossible not to enjoy yourself at this movie. All the Iron Mans, Thors, and Captain Americas are all made to lead up to this film, and there is a certain bombastic joy to be had...but the novelty has worn off a bit and this sequel is not as fun as the first Avengers movie. James Spader as Ultron is very good, the additions of Elizabeth Olsen as the Scarlett Witch and Aaron Taylor Johnson as Quicksilver are both great, and Paul Bettany's Vision is a scene-stealer...but the story seems like a place-holder for the larger Thanos story that the entire franchise is heading toward. This film is pretty much 150 minutes of of robot smashing. It is done with verve and enthusiasm but there doesn't seem to be much at stake somehow. Also, there were things thrown into this film that made no sense to me. What is with the well that Thor travels to? What is with the FORCED Black Widow/Hulk romance? What is with Shoehorning Nick Fury in? Not a great Marvel movie...but since I like the characters so much...I know I could do a lot worse at the cinema. B Bluray |
OSCARS
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The Big Short
Dir: Adam McKay Stars: Christian Bale, Steve Carell, Ryan Gosling, Brad Pitt 1001 Movies You Must See Before You Die This is an oddly unique movie that presents one of the modern societal horrors, the crash of 2008, and embraces how unbelievable and absurd the atmosphere was and created a comic social commentary that is extremely entertaining and informative. It is a testament to Adam McKay and his cast that he made a way of explaining the financial mortgage markets and how obviously fucked up they were and made it fascinating. The little 4th-wall breaking vignettes like Margot Robbie in a bubble bath were a masterstroke to inject comedy and whimsy into otherwise boring financial plot exposition. A lot of fun...if a bit dire. A- |
blackhat
Dir: Michael Mann Stars: Chris Hemsworth, Viola Davis What a mess. This is a gorgeous, well-acted, well-directed, complete waste of time. Michael Mann is talented, but he made a bloated, 140-minute snooze-fest about hackers that really doesn't raise itself much above a goofy bond flick. Honestly. There are a few bursts of excitement and violence that snapped me back to attention but that attention was waning way too many times throughout the film. It is a shame when these directors get so successful and talented that no one can tell them NO. You can tell that not a single person told Michael Mann No when making this bore. C- |
Black Mass
Dir: Scott Cooper Stars: Johnny Depp, Benedict Cumberbatch, Dakota Johnson, Joel Edgerton, Kevin Bacon I had a sad realization while watching Black Mass, the story about Whitey Bulger and how he wielded power through becoming an FBI informant. Johnny Depp just isn't good anymore. Time and time again, Depp tackles a strange role, with strange makeup and performs characters as larger than life. In recent years...that approach rarely works, and feels like stunt casting and gimmicky. There is NO reason this movie should be as uneven and uninteresting as it is with a cast like this. I would bet money that it is because Depp spoils the atmosphere because no one can tell him to reign it in a bit. C- |
Black Sea
Dir: Kevin MacDonald Stars: Jude Law, Scoot McNairy I love myself some submarine thrillers, and this one by The Last King of Scotland director, Kevin MacDonald, is technically brilliant. The angles, the atmosphere, the set, and the tension is exactly what one wants from movies like this. However, the characters are never really given any depth so it is hard to worry about them or root for them. Also, it feels a bit like K19: The Widowmaker in that it is well done but the conflict is pretty self-imposed so its tough to care. Jude Law is very good as the captain , and the supporting cast is decent...but this story needed a bit of spit and polish to make it one of the greats. B- |
KEVIN'S PICK
Best Costume Design
|
Bone Tomahawk
Dir: S. Craig Zahler Stars: Kurt Russell, Patrick Wilson, Matthew Fox, Richard Jenkins This is quite a unique movie. It is a horror western that is ALL about the slow burn that pays off in a horrible, ultra-violent finale that is almost too much to take. That being said...rarely is such a slow burn so intriguing...simply because of the performances. Russell and Wilson are their usual excellent selves. The shining stars though are Fox and Jenkins. Fox plays a dandy with a short fuse that makes him so unpredictable that he is frightening. Jenkins plays an elderly simpleton that breaks your heart at his innocence. They are great and the quartet's banter as they cross the prairie in pursuit of savages really plays well. But when the moment of truth comes...it makes the endeavor unpleasant instead of exciting or frightening. Still...I like the originality and moodiness of this one. B- |
OSCARS
KEVIN'S PICK
Best Picture
Best Supporting Actor |
Bridge of Spies
Dir: Steven Spielberg Stars: Tom Hanks, Mark Rylance 1001 Movies You Must See Before You Die This truly is masterful filmmaking at its absolute best. Brilliantly directed and acted, fast-paced, authentic looking, exceptionally moody yet exciting. I loved every second of this. I don't know why I expected less from Spielberg and Hanks. Sometimes Spielberg's hirstorical dramas get a bit to procedural and preachy. This is the opposite. It is as good as Munich in how it gets hooks into the audience and drags them around to every emotion you can think of. Also...Mark Rylance is SUPERB as Rudolf Abel. A |
Buzzard
Dir: Joel Potrykus Stars: Joshua Burge It is impossible to not compare this film to Napoleon Dynamite, but it is much darker to the point of nervousness. I didn't really like the story nor the directing...but the personification of Marty by Joshua Burge was electric and carried the movie. He is always out to scam people, but you kind of root for him in a small way...that is until you don't. B- |
Circle
Dir: Aaron Hann & Mario Miscione A very interesting thought experiment but not very cinematic or very successful at storytelling. It does exhibit an interesting psychology experiment about snap judgements. 50 people stuck in a circle. Everyone has a vote about who is killed next that is anonymous to everyone else. Who is worthy of surviving? Interesting but amateur. C |
The Cobbler
Dir: Tom McCarthy Stars: Adam Sandler, Steve Buscemi I really wanted to like this movie, as the trailer almost made me weep. However, it is very sappy, very simple, and totally predictable. Adam Sandler is as blank as a board as he tries to act through a very emotionally heavy movie, and it really pulled me out of it. The idea that a cobbler has a magic stitcher that allows him to "walk in other people's shoes" is a decent enough premise, but it isn't handled well. Anything Sandler does varies from illegal, to creepy, to racist....when it should be, at least on some level, fun. I feel like all the pieces were there with Steve Buscemi and Dustin Hoffman lending their talents...but it all fell flat. Also, the ending is so corny that I was almost angered by it. There is some sweetness...but nothing that will be remembered. C |
Cooties
Dir: Jonathan Milott & Cary Murnion Stars: Elijah Wood, Rainn Wilson, Alison Pill, Jack McBrayer Another zombie movie. Another zombie comedy in fact. A bad school lunch infects a bunch of schoolchildren and they are the savage killers. The teachers have to fight for their lives. There is almost nothing unique about this movie...and you have seen it a million times...BUT...there is one thing. There is a strange satisfaction that a bunch of teachers where essentially beating down children. Some of that was damn funny. C+ |
Cop Car
Dir: Jon Watts Stars: Kevin Bacon, Shea Whigham Jon Watts is showing that he is a pretty intriguing filmmaker. This movie is desperately simple, where a pair of innocent, naive kids take a cop car for a joyride...and the Sheriff whose car it was is pretty serious about getting it back...for reasons that become clear. It is deliberate, straight-forward, and very well written and acted. Its simplicity is a bit of a detriment in ways, but it is still pretty interesting and exciting. B |
Crimson Peak
Dir: Guillermo del Toro Stars: Mia Wasikowska, Tom Hiddleston, Jessica Chastain Guillermo del Toro's star has been fading. We KNOW makes some of the most gorgeous films of the last decade+. He was most succesful with Pan's Labyrinth and Hellboy 2. Since then...he is all style and no substance. Crimson Peak is arguably the most beautiful movie of the year...but everything else is so dull. I was waiting for twists that never came. I wanted scares that never arrived. I expected gothic drama and got weird inheritance nonsense. Just a feast for the eyes that is a bore. D+ |
Daddy's Home
Dir: Sean Anders Stars: Will Ferrell, Mark Wahlberg, Linda Cardellini Sometimes movies come out that are so obvious and the comedy is like shooting fish in a barrel. This is definitely one of those. Will Ferrell is a wuss and the new stepfather. The birth father is Mark Wahlberg, who is a super-cool badass. aaaaaannnnnd....go! Ferrell and Wahlberg are good enough to squeeze enough life out of the premise...but it is all just so simple and familiar. B- |
Deathgasm
Dir: Jason Lei Howden Stars: Milo Cawthorne It is fun enough. A handful of death metal kids get together, bond over their art, and come across a piece of music that unleashes demons in town. It is that simple. There are laughs, there is gore, and there is some kind of secret society that want the music for themselves...or something. There is no higher calling to this film other than goofy, demonic action. B- |
Deep Web
Dir: Alex Winter This is an incredibly intriguing and exciting documentary...and it is the best kind of documentary that raises question after question...without ever actually answering them and trusting the audience to form their own opinion...and sometimes be uncomfortable about them. This WOULD have been an "A" documentary if it was more focused though. The film jumps around from explaining and exhibiting the Deep Web as an expression of the First Amendment, to a trial surrounding an administrator of a Deep Web site that sells drugs, to the injustice behind the drug war, to the underground movement of cyber-anarchists. All of it is interesting, and the film is made with flair and talent...but the jumbled narrative does get a bit confusing as to what the movie is actually about. You can argue for all of them. B+ |
Don Verdean
Dir: Jared Hess Stars: Sam Rockwell, Amy Ryan, Jemaine Clement, Will Forte, Danny McBride Jared Hess is such a strange filmmaker. Napoleon Dynamite was an inexplicable lightning-in-a-bottle situation...his other comedies seem like they can't quite get out of the gate. As if he is restraining his actors from really letting their comic talents break out. This one is better than most...about a guy who pretends to be an archaeologist and became famous a decade ago by finding relics like the shears that cut Samson's hair. Now he is faking it to make a living. It's just fine...but you can tell that there could be a LOT more to it. Just look at that cast. It is extraordinary. B- |
The D Train
Dir: Andrew Mogel & Jarred Paul Stars: Jack Black, James Marsden, Kathryn Hahn, Jeffrey Tambor I was pretty bored with this movie after about 20 minutes. It follows a loser trying to build up interest for his 20-year reunion...when he hatches a plan to get the big-man-on-campus from back then to RSVP yes...hoping it will boost attendance. It was bland not very funny. Then this film took a HARD left turn, shift into a higher gear, and became a very interesting, character piece, which slips far into dramedy territory. It is a bit jarring, but it made me MUCH more interested in the proceedings that seemed to be going nowhere. B |
The DUFF
Dir: Ari Sandel Stars: Mae Whitman, Robbie Amell, Bella Thorne Designated Ugly Fat Friend. That is what the acronym stands for, and Mae Whitman's comedy is as predictable as anyone could ever imagine. Watch the trailer...imagine how the movie goes...thats how it goes. It has charm, it has cute scenes, it has a few laughs...but predictability is its downfall. The villainous Bella Thorne isn't believable at all as she is comic book-like over-the-top. The main man, Robbie Ameell, also acts like no one in high school ever would. Its a huge, unoriginal mess, but I guess you could do worse. C |
Electric Boogaloo:
The Wild Untold Story of Cannon Films Dir: Mark Hartley This is a documentary about two Israeli cousins who were huge cinephiles. Despite their lack of artistry and talent...they went to Hollywood and started their own production company. What follows is more or less a list of the increasingly ridiculous movies that became famous for the "so bad it's good" quality. To see the story behind Over the Top, Superman IV, and Masters of the Universe is a lot of fun...but it is all not much more than an exhibition of those films. B |
Entourage
Dir: Doug Ellin Stars: Jeremy Piven, Andrien Grenier I never watched this show...so my interest was already nearly zero while heading in to this film. After seeing it...I have less than an interest in visiting the original show. Piven is entertaining...but none of the other guys have any interesting, redeeming, or attractive qualities. How am I supposed to enjoy myself when all of the characters are pretty unpleasant and I find myself entirely unsympathetic to any of their problems? D |
OSCARS
KEVIN'S PICK
Best Supporting Actress
Best Visual Effects |
Ex Machina
Dir: Alex Garland Stars: Alicia Vikander, Oscar Isaac, Domhnall Gleeson Alex Garland has made a neat, tidy, disturbing little sci-fi film that handles artificial intelligence pretty well. Oscar Isaac is great as the engineering genius, and Vikander is mesmerizing as Ava. I didn't buy into the entire thing as many have...I think because I felt like the film kept the world too small and the implications were never really felt like they were on the verge of earth-changing. However...it deserves its Visual Effects Oscar 100%. The effects are incredible. B |
Experimenter
Dir: Michael Almereyda Stars: Peter Sarsgaard, Winona Ryder The story of Stanley Milgram and his experiments is extraordinary...especially as a scientist who could understand his approach and his purpose. How to understand why Nazi soldiers carried out such horrible orders during the Holocaust? Its a fascinating question...and when we first start watching Milgram's experiments unfold, seeing how far people will go when given orders by figures in perceived authority, is great. All the other nonsense in this movie really sucks the life out of it all. If the ENTIRE movie was spent in those experiment rooms, seeing how disturbed people get but still "shock" their unseen subjects just because someone told them too...this would have been fantastic. C+ |
OSCARS
Best Original Song
|
Fifty Shades of Grey
Dir: Sam Taylor-Johnson Stars: Dakota Johnson, Jamie Dornan What trash. My wife is behind me 100% on this opinion so it isn't just a typical male POV. This movie isn't about anything but kinky sex. That is it. Girl meets Boy. Boy has kinky sexual desires. Girl accepts. Girl can't handle it. The end. There is no romance, no suspense, and nothing interesting. It is a shame because Dakota Johnson and Jamie Dornan are decent enough and the film looks great. There was just nothing to this movie but sex. It is a shame because you can almost sense the hollywood machine out to visualize a smutty book that is universally panned yet titilating simply for a few bucks. There is almost no desire to tell a decent story or give the plot and stakes. Constant sex was boring...such a shame. D- |
The Final Girls
Dir: Todd Strauss-Schulson Stars: Taissa Farmiga, Malin Akerman, Adam Devine, Thomas Middleditch The guy that made the clever and funny Isn't it Romantic has actually tackled that subject before. Where that movie had Rebel Wislon finding herself stuck in a romatic comedy...years before, the director made The Final Girls, a far superior film about a group of friends sucked into a cheesy 80s horror flick. The scary parts are scary and gory. The funny parts are funny (exceptionally so). And...what brings it all together...is the touching moments actually work very well. This is a very fun romp! B |
The Funhouse Massacre
Dir: Andy Palmer Stars: Robert Englund, Jere Burns What a fun, silly horror film. What a great premise. a bunch of uber-psychos from the local loony bin break out and take up residence in the local haunted house...where they prey on real victims but the locals think it is all special effects. It gross, funny, and all around everything you want from late-night horror schlock. A cannibal, a brute, a dentist, a taxidermist...all sorts of mayhem is to be had. An I love Jere Burns...but Angie Tribeca made it impossible for him to be scary...he is just hilarious. B |
Furious 7
Dir: James Wan Stars: The Entire Crew...plus Jason Statham & Kurt Russell I will say this about the Fast and the Furious franchise. It definitely knows what it is. This is essentially a superhero movie, filled with people who are indestructible and are always pulling off impossible stunts. In fact, this is one of the funniest movies of the year...and I mean that as a compliment. It is so absurdly over-the-top, it is almost impossible for you not to have a good time. It doesn't matter what the plot is does it? B |
Get Hard
Dir: Etan Cohen Stars: Will Ferrell, Kevin Hart I really feel like we are getting over-saturated with Kevin Hart. He is the only black man who does comedies anymore and he is the exact same character, to the point of interchangeability, in every single movie. That isn't to say that Will Ferrell isn't very similar...but at least Ferrell throws us a curveball now and then like Melinda & Melinda and Stranger Than Fiction. Also...Ferrell should stick to PG-13 comedy...because almost every R-rated joke in this film felt forced and unnatural...and therefore, unfunny. D+ |
Giuseppe Makes a Movie
Dir: Adam Rifkin This is one of the craziest fucking movies I have ever seen. Giuseppe Andrews was a character actor years ago, acting in Detroit Rock City, Never Been Kissed, and Independence Day. Since then, he has been living in a trailer park, making absurdly cheap, amateurish "films" starring some friends and local bums. There are three ways to watch this documentary. The first is as a demonstration of a brilliant passionate auteur whose passion is for art and not money. The second is as an absurdist, hilarious exhibition of someone who is completely off his rocker. The third is a dark, scary, sad story about a bunch of emotionally disturbed, delusional psychotics that shows how bad things can really get for some people. I can't decide how I watched it, and I feel strange about that. It was a fascinating but weirdly off-putting experience. B- |
Going Clear:
Scientology and the Prison of Belief Dir: Alex Gibney This was a fascinating documentary. Before it started, I felt like Scientology was a fish-in-a-barrell target for ridicule and criticism. It wasn't until I saw Alex Gibney delve deep into the inner workings of the religion that I understood just how crazy, manipulative, and borderline evil it really is. Gibney uses interviews with past big-wigs to really shine a light on how things began with sci-fi writer L. Ron Hubbard and evolved into the juggernaut under Miscavige. Some parts seemed to drag while they were explaining Hubbard's origins and aims, but when the film shifted to the modern church...the crazy really began to shine through. The film effectively enlightens the audience to what Dianetics is, to what the church believes, and to what extent the church has gone to protect itself and spread its influence. What it doesn't quite do it allow us to understand HOW the church makes its congregation swallow what it is selling. I just could not wrap my brain around it...and the film almost embraces the inexplicability of Scientology. The most interesting interviewee was Paul Haggis, as he explains all the money, all the audits, and all the insanity that came with the creation story. Its jaw dropping that such a cult exists...but the only difference between a cult and a religion is time. Give it a few centuries and we'll see the days of Miscavige and his conventions as equitable to the Pope. B+ |
Goosebumps
Dir: Rob Letterman Stars: Jack Black, Dylan Minette Jack Black as R.L. Stine is a good idea. Having all of his "Goosebumps" stories locked away in diaries because they can come to life. Cool. Decent budget with various monsters and villains portrayed effectively. Nice. Rated PG? Disastrous. They should have made this at least PG-13 because the action, the humor, and the scares are so juvenile, that they might as well not exist. The age group they seemed to be aiming at is way to young to make a difference in their success. It was a glaring error. I like the premise but the execution was skewed way to young and tame. C |
The Green Inferno
Dir: Eli Roth The Green Inferno has one purpose...to disturb the fuck out of you. It is essentially what Eli Roth has been doing his entire career. Put people in a gross, sick, fucked-up situation and let the depravity fly. That is all this is. Backpackers get kidnapped by a cannibalistic tribe, and then are killed, cooked, and eaten one-by-one. And it is gloriously horrible. The escape attempt is kind of brilliant and creative...but this is a movie about getting eaten...so it certainly isn't high art. B- |
OSCARS
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The Hateful Eight
Dir: Quentin Tarantino Stars: Kurt Russell, Bruce Dern, Jennifer Jason leigh, Samuel L. Jackson, Walton Goggins, Tim Roth, Damien Bechir, Michael Madsen For the first time...I don't care for a Tarantino movie. It seems like, being a cinephile, Tarantino figured out that he could get Ennio Morricone to score a movie for him, so he made a western that is essentially a 3hr conversation in a cabin. It felt so indulgent, like the directorial wonderboy was daring us to dislike a movie he wanted to make for himself. It is a weird result because it looks great, sounds great, the actors are at the top of their form...but it is all a huge "who cares" Nothing really surprised me or interested me...but I felt Tarantino enjoying the hell out of it and leaving his audience in the dark. C |
An Honest Liar
Dir: Tyler Meason & Justin Weinstein I have always been a fan of James Randi. He is a fantastic magician and his life's work of calling out people like Uri Gellar and Peter Popoff as frauds is honorable and interesting. This film, or at least most of it, effectively tells the story of this life's work. I had two problems with it however. The James Randi foundation has been offering $1 Million to any psychic, medium, etc who can prove what they do is authentic under scientific inquiry...probably the most relevant and significant part of Randi's life...but this film doesn't even touch on it. Also...the segue into his gay relationship with Jose Alvarez and the recent fraud allegations, while interesting, felt very strange and detached from the rest of the story...making an overly uneven documentary. C+ |
Hot Tub Time Machine 2
Dir: Steve Pink Stars: Rob Corddry, Craig Robinson, Adam Scott, Clark Duke The first movie was dumb, but it had a bit of charm and snuck in a BIT of character development with John Cusack and Rob Corddry. It was nostalgic, with a bit of 80s referential comedy with Chevy Chase and Crispin Glover. The sequel is an almost complete waste of time. I understand now why Cusack didn't return. The time travel aspect is just made up (going to the future to prevent the past/present?). The jokes are almost absent other than constant sexual humor from Corddry. No clever future comedy a la Idiocracy. It was all just masturbatory. Totally forgettable and almost angrily amateurish. D- |
The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 2
Dir: Francis Lawrence Stars: Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson, Liam Hemsworth The Hunger Games franchise suffered from the same fate as the Harry Potter franchise when they tried to split their last entry into 2 parts. It was inevitable that Part 1 would be a bore and all about buildup to the payoff that will come in Part 2...making it a completely pointless, incomplete film. Part 2 however...that is where all the cylinders are firing again and there is fun to be had. If the story ended with the first 2 movies...The Hunger Games would have had a better legacy...but it is a nice ending to a pretty significant group of films. B |
OSCARS
KEVIN'S PICK
Best Original Screenplay
Best Original Score Best Animated Film |
Inside Out
Dir: Pete Doctor & Ronnie Del Carmen Voices: Amy Poehler, Bill Hader, Lewis Black, Richard Kind IMDB #145 Pixar's last 3 movies were Cars 2, Brave, and Monsters University. So they were in a bit of a downswing. Well...with the arrival of Inside Out, they are back in form. This is actually one of the greatest, most mature films Pixar has ever had...and besides the colorful characters...it is a movie made more for adults than it is for children. Children would never capture the significance and heartache of when the "Islands" collapse or memories get lost and disappear and forever affect Riley. I found myself so moved, so touched, and so astonished by how well this film was executed. It is so creative to an almost unbelievable level. Again...I reiterate...arguably the best Pixar has ever done. A |
It Follows
Dir: David Robert Mitchell After a sexual encounter, a girl finds out that some strange, supernatural force is now forever stalking her. It will approach her slowly, never letting up, and it can change form. It provides some very creepy moments, especially one that takes place inside with a figure appearing in a doorway, and it services a decent, competent thriller. There is obviously an allegory here, one I accept as a metaphor for an STD, and the movie seems a bit too hellbent on that Allegory instead of the scares...but it still works pretty well. B- |
Jupiter Ascending
Dir: The Wachoskis Stars: Mila Kunis, Channing Tatum, Eddie Redmayne This is one of the most grandiose disasters I have ever seen. Who on earth keeps giving the Wachowski's money for these ridiculous, overexpensive failures? Why a C? because it is so far beyond terrible that is almost comes around to be charming in its awfulness. Like...what a good sport Channing Tatum is for dressing like a wolf and rollerblading everywhere. C |
Jurassic World
Dir: Colin Trevorrow Stars: Chris Pratt, Bryce Dallas Howard, Vincent D'Onofrio This is certainly an enjoyable, action-packed film...but I couldn't help but be disappointed in a lot of it. For an hour or so...I felt it was bland. There was little attempt to show the normal operations of the theme park, and that is what made the first movie so special. You cared about the characters and felt their danger when all hell broke loose. Also...something can definitely be said again about how good a filmmaker Steven Spielberg is because his effects, back in 1993, were actually more believable than this time around. All that being said...once Chris Pratt unleashes his raptors and throughout the rest of the film...it is exhilirating. B- |
Just Eat It: A Food Waste Story
Dir: Grant Baldwin Fascinating documentary about the amount of food we waste in our society. I just watched The Gleaners and I, but that film was more interested in artsy-fartsy nonsense. This gets down to the nitty gritty and follows the great Super-Size Me formula. It exhibits how much waste our society goes through and follows a couple going through a drastic experiment by living off only wasted food for 6-months. The amount of perfectly acceptable foodstuffs that they find is shocking, and angering. I was interested in this story thoroughly and it didn't pad it with unnecessary flair. B+ |
Kingsman: The Secret Service
Dir: Matthew Vaughn Stars: Colin Firth, Taron Edgerton, Samuel L. Jackson, Mark Strong Matthew Vaughn proves here that R-rated fare can produce astonishingly pure entertainment because the filmmakers are not hindered by making their film family-friendly. This James-Bond-for-modern-times romp is by all intents and purposes, perfect. It is gorgeous to look at, it is well acted, in serious and comedic fare, and the action is as good as anything you'll see in any comic-book movie. I enjoyed every second of this film, and the action sequences just kept getting better and better to the point that I was in a giddy euphoria watching them. Colin Firth is perfectly cast as Galahad, a Kingsman spy out to recruit a new "Lancelot" for their brotherhood. The stakes are grand, the fights are choreographed to ulta-precision, and the film has some audacious aspirations that were so appreciated. Wonderful cinema of the highest order. A Bluray |
Krampus
Dir: Michael Dougherty Stars: Adam Scott, Toni Collette, Daiv Koechner It just doesn't work. The filmmakers populated this horror movie about a demonic opposite to Santa with a bunch of talented comedians. Then they try to make a horror comedy that is neither very scary nor funny. The entire exercise is just bland and boring. D+ |
Kung Fury
Dir: David Sandberg Stars: David Sandberg. Jorma Taccone 30 minutes of absurd, ridiculous brilliance. This movie doesn't make narrative sense...but it is so funny and so silly, that it really doesn't matter. It has time travel, Hitler, Thor, Amazonians, T-Rex, and a character named "Triceracop"...treated as if that is totally normal. It is nearly impossible to explain the joy I had watching this thing...you just have to see for yourself. A |
The Last Witch Hunter
Dir: Vin Diesel, Elijah Wood, Rose Leslie Vin Diesel is really an enigma to me. I keep trying the movies that he headlines and I just can't fathom how he is as popular as he is. It must be the Fast and the Furious movies. Because this trash is just terrible. It is similar to Constantine, about a mystical man whose purpose is to rid the world of evil...but this film is just so corny. It isn't spooky enough. The action isn't creative enough. And most of all, Vin Diesel is just wooden and boring. D |
Love & Mercy
Dir: Bill Pohlad Stars: John Cusack, Paul Dano, Elizabeth Banks, Paul Giamatti The story about the musical brilliance behind the Beach Boys and Brian Wilson is a great story...and when Paul Dano is portraying Wilson in his younger days, creating magic, this movie shines as bright as any other biopic. When we get the modern-day, going crazy Wilson portrayed by Cusack...the movie loses a bit...because even though that part is significant...it is not NEARLY as interesting as learning who the Beach Boys were and how talented Brian was. B+ |
OSCARS
KEVIN'S PICK
Best Editing
Best Production Design Best Makeup & Hairstyling Best Sound Editing Best Sound Mixing |
Mad Max: Fury Road
Dir: George Miller Stars: Tom Hardy, Charlize Theron, Nicholas Hoult 1001 Movies You Must See Before You Die This is simply one of the most astonishing visual spectacles that has ever been made. The courage and audacity that George Miller must have had when he set out to make this thing is mind-boggling. The production design is insane, with the apocalyptic design of society and vehicles that puts almost every other dystopic action movie to shame. The stunt work is some of the craziest shit you have ever seen, and I have no idea how no one was killed during this production. Sure...the movie is one large, climactic chase scene...but the creativity and sensationalism is just amazing. A+ Bluray |
The Man From U.N.C.L.E.
Dir: Guy Ritchie Stars: Henry Cavill, Armie Hammer, Alicia Vikander, Hugh Grant TMFU has a lot of style and charisma, which is more because of the two lead men than Guy Ritchie. However, this story of an American and Russian spy who need to team up is incredibly predictable and oddly lacking in action (for a Ritchie film). If it weren't for the wonderful screen presence of both Cavill and Hammer...the film would be dull. You aren't going to be blown away by any of the espionage, especially in this modern cinema world where Mission: Impossible exists, but You will be able to watch the leading actors all day long. B- |
Man Up
Dir: Ben Palmer Stars: Simon Pegg, Lake Bell This is a pretty simple romantic comedy. Lake Bell is mistaken by Simon Pegg as his blind date. She is curious as to how the date will go so she goes with it and they have an eventful night. Bell & Pegg are charming and they have enough chemistry so this is a perfectly serviceable movie. It doesn't re-invent the wheel...but it's just fine...hinging on how much you like the leads. B- |
OSCARS
Best Picture
Best Actor Best Adapted Screenplay Best Production Design Best Sound Mixing Best Sound Editing Best Visual Effects |
The Martian
Dir: Ridley Scott Stars: Matt Damon, Jessica Chastain, Kate Mara, Jeff Daniels, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Sean Bean Cast Away on Mars...that is essentially what this film is...and Matt Damon does a phenomenal job. Ridley Scott shows he can still create outstanding, large-scale cinema. A huge plus is the stuff that doesn't involve Damon but involves his crew and their desire to go back and get him and the scientists on Earth trying to find out how in the hell they can pull this off. This is a bit of a grander scale Apollo 13 and it is so very exciting. A- |
Maze Runner: The Scorch Trials
Dir: Wes Ball Stars: Dylan O'Brien These are competently made and acted films, but it is WAY too light on plot ands story. All we are bludgeoned with is that immunes are important and everyone wants them. These isn't nearly enough how or why to give it that little something extra. It is just action sequence followed by visual landscapes followed by another action sequence...but I am not sure why. C+ |
KEVIN'S PICK
Best Original Song
|
Meru
Dir: Jimmy Chin & Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi This is a wonderful documentary because it has the benefit of having a talented filmmaker/photographer as one of the talented mountain climbers attempting an unscalable mountain. Meru, infamously monikered as the "Shark's Fin", is intimidating to a point that it feels almost like another subject in the documentary. Watching this mountaineer trio attempt and re-attempt the feat is astonishing, vertigo-inducing, and inspirational. To watch these men explain how they HAVE to do this, but if they die doing it, there will be no excuse, is angering and refreshing. It is a white-knucle thrill ride. B+ |
Mission Impossible: Rogue Nation
Dir: Christopher McQuarrie Stars: Tom Cruise, Rebecca Ferguson, Jeremy Renner, Simon Pegg This franchise still has a LOT of life left in it. Tom Cruise shines, doing what he is famous for doing, and dropping our jaws while he does it. Simon Pegg has become a great sidekick to Cruise's Ethan Hunt as well. Newcomer Rebecca Ferguson is also great as rival MI6 agent whose alliances are never quite clear. I don't think they used Jeremy Renner or Ving Rhames effectively...but this is "high-octane" action of the purest form. It is almost unthinkable that someone could not enjoy this film. That plane stunt is astonishingly effective. It left me breathless, dizzy, and exhilirated. B+ |
Mississippi Grind
Dir: Anna Bowden & Ryan Fleck Stars: Ben Mendelsohn, Ryan Reynolds It's an age old story. Mendelsohn is a deadbeat gambler. Reynolds is a happy-go-lucky good-luck charm. The unlikely pair head down to New Orleans for a big poker tournament. You will probably be able to guess most of the beats of this film. Also, Ryan Reynold's character will confuse and irritate you. He isn't bad per se, but his motivations are wholly unclear and enigmatic to the point of ridiculousness. That all being said...Mendelsohn is SO good that it carries the entire movie. He has since become the go to, stoic villain. Here, he is an incredibly sad, pitiful, mousy man who you just want to reach through the screen and either slap across the face or give him a huge hug. B |
Mr. Holmes
Dir: Bill Condon Stars: Ian McKellan, Laura Linney What a wonderful concept, executed to near flawless success. What an idea taking Sherlock Holmes and making it the end of his life, at the ripe-old age of 93. What would happen when one of the greatest minds in history starts to deteriorate. It really provides sadness, morose, but ever elevating excitement in watching Ian McKellan pour his heart into a superb performance. If I have one issue with the entire film, that could have easily been remedied, was the level of animosity that Laura Linney's housekeeper had toward Holmes. It felt forced and unexplained...even if it was performed very well. I loved this film. It is soft, slow, and delicately great. A- |
The Night Before
Dir: Jonathan Levine Stars: Seth Rogen, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Anthony Mackie Meh. I was looking forward to this comedy because I enjoy everyone who was a part of it. Three friends have been going out together, on Christmas Eve, for a long time. Now they are maturing and decide they have to do it one last time, while searching for the Holy Grail of Christmas parties, the Nutcracka Ball. I guarantee you can guess exactly what happens. There is manufactured drama where there really doesn't have to be...because without it...the movie has no conflict. It is just a kind of empty vessel of a movie. C+ |
Nintendo Quest
Dir: Robert McCallum This documentary pissed me off. I like the concept of searching, without the internet, for all original 683 NES cartridges...but the filmmakers just don't know how to do it right. We are interested in EVERY title he finds. Even if it adds 10 minutes to the run time...we should see EACH one AND their price. So dumb to gloss over that. Also...why on earth would you put in important parts of life that show what silly nonsense video games are in the grand scheme? This is a documentary that undermines itself at every turn. D |
The Overnight
Dir: Patrick Brice Stars: Adam Scott, Taylor Schilling, Jason Schwartzman, Judith Godreche I have to admit that this movie continually surprised me and delighted me as it went along, because I was convinced I knew where it was going and in ways I was right and in ways I was wrong. Adam Scott and Taylor Schilling are the new couple in town, and they are aggressively befriended by Schwartzman in a park because their son's seem to like each other. They are invited over for a friendly neighbor get-together. And then the night gets weirder and weirder. It never gets off-the-wall or sinister...but it is always odd and sometimes outrageous...and it is all entertaining. It will make you laugh., cringe, and be moved a little bit. Not too shabby. B |
Paul Blart: Mall Cop 2
Dir: Andy Fickman Stars: Kevin James Stop forcing Kevin James on me. I think we just have to accept that he isn't that great a comic actor. His stand-up is great...but between these Mall Cop movies, Pixels, Zookeeper and a handful of others...he's just not that good. Paul Blart goes on vacation with his daughter in Vegas, and there is a cop convention, where people don't give him respect because he is a Mall Cop, and then stuff goes down that only he can fix. Ugh. It's the same thing all over again. D |
Pawn Sacrifice
Dir: Edward Zwick Stars: Tobey Maguire, Liev Schreiber, Michael Stuhlbarg, Peter Sarsgaard Such a disappointment. I love me some Edward Zwick-directed films, and the performances here are top notch...but I have a problem with this movie for 2 specific reasons. Firstly...the Bobby Fischer/Boris Spassky was a cultural phenomenon, but we are only told about the Cold War significance of their matches. I never FELT it's importance at all. Also...it is hard to root for anyone in this movie. Sure, Bobby Fischer was a sick man as well as a genius, but it is hard to root for a hyper-egotistical, antisemitic, prima donna. It is also difficult to root AGAINST Spassky since he is played by a likeable actor and is portrayed as just another chess phenom, not a symbolic Russian enemy. Too much missing from this story to make it enjoyable. C- |
Pitch Perfect 2
Dir: Elizabeth Banks Stars: Anna Kendrick, Brittany Snow, Rebel Wilson, Hailee Steinfeld Again...the Pitch Perfect franchise is nothing but a guilty pleasure. This time around, the singing is still fun, the girls can still be funny, and the cameos are pretty enjoyable. However, the filmmakers took little to no effort to tell a story about these girls. At least in the first film, Anna Kendrick was trying to find her niche in college and the girls were trying to better themselves and become competitive toward their male rivals. This time...they just want to win a big competition...and since they have apparently won every title for the past 3 years in the story, the stakes seem so pointless. At points, the film can become infectious to a level that it elevates the entire movie...but it IS all pretty pointless. C+ |
Pixels
Dir: Chris Columbus Stars: Adam Sandler, Kevin James, Michelle Monaghan, Peter Dinklage This is an odd movie about an alien society that sends old video game characters to Earth as their harbingers of death. This was so much better in a Futurama episode, but there is a BIT of small, novelty fun here. Adam Sandler is actually a bit charming here, but his supporting cast looks bored and overblown. The effects are decent, I guess, but they are good effects portraying 8-bit creatures....so its strange. C |
KEVIN'S PICK
Best Adapted Screenplay
|
Predestination
Dir: The Spierig Brothers Stars: Ethan Hawke, Sarah Snook, Noah Taylor What a gem of a movie. The Spierig Brothers have adapted a Robert Heinlen short story and made quite a mindfuck of a movie. I do not want to really talk about the time-bending secrets behind this narrative only to say that it is intricate, detailed, puzzling, and totally bonkers...in the absolute best of ways. Sarah Snook is a marvel of an actress in this film and it is a shame that it is in a small, sci-fi, January release because she will be forgotten when awards season comes 'round. My jaw was almost dropped by the audacity of this film...that it had the courage to tell the story it told...because on paper, it is laughably absurd. On the screen, its fascinating. Props to the filmmakers for keeping their vision together and creating a great piece of science fiction deliciousness. A- |
Project Almanac
Dir: Dean Israelite Maybe seeing this film after Predestination isn't fair...but this is a lesser film in almost every way. You can tell right away that the filmmakers were out to make another Chronicle with the found footage idea surrounding a bunch of kids stumbling upon time travel. Most of the desired time travel cliches are there but they are never fleshed out. The paradox idea...touched upon and very cool. Not investigated. The ripple effect is there, but nothing beyond news stories. It starts strong with seeing something in a 10 year old video...but the film never quite elevates itself beyond a somewhat clever exercise. The romance is forced...the groundhog day-style comedy isn't done well. I'd see Predestination 10 times out of 10 again before this film. A little too simple and cheap. C- |
Prophet's Prey
Dir: Amy Berg The story about Warren Jeffs and his fundamentalist cult of a religion is a fascinating story. Again, I say it all the time...the best documentaries work on both subject and artistic levels. This doc doesn't have much art behind it. It just chronicles the formation and inner workings of the FLDS church...but that is enough to hold your interest. I found myself sickened and incredulous about the ways these women and followers are brainwashed to such an extreme way. That stuff is so entertaining to me. B |
KEVIN'S PICK
Best Documentary
|
The Resurrection of Jake the Snake
Dir: Steve Yu I watched this documentary on Netflix as sort of a nostalgia grab. I love me some classic WWF stars and docs...but I came away having seen one of the greatest documentaries I have ever seen on substance abuse, support, and redemption. Far more powerful than Amy, this film follows Jake the Snake as he tries to overcome his demons that seem insurmountable. It was tragically sad and overwhelmingly inspirational. I'm sure my own experiences with my father added to the poignancy , but I was astonished at its effect. A |
OSCARS
KEVIN'S PICK
Best Director
Best Actor Best Cinematography |
The Revenant
Dir: Alejandro Gonzales Inarritu Stars: Leonardo DiCaprio, Tom Hardy 1001 Movies You Must See Before You Die Inarritu is a master, and DiCaprio is one of the greatest actors we have...but one watches this marvelous piece of cinema with the wonder of why on Earth would anyone go through such misery for art? The lengths that DiCaprio, Inarritu, and the remaining cast were willing to go to make this amazing tale of survival and revenge, is nothing short of extraordinary. Not only that, but Inarritu is a virtuoso behind the camera...doing things the defy description as the story unfolds. Brilliant. A |
The Ridiculous 6
Dir: Frank Coraci Stars: Adam Sandler, Terry Crews, Rob Schneider, Taylor Lautner, Jorge Garcia, Luke Wilson Adam Sandler decided to make Netflix movies...fine. However...there is a pressure to do well when a movie will be marketed and distributed for theaterical release...which is very expensive. I feel like there was little risk behind this production, which comes across as flat and lazy, because Netflix subscribers will watch the movie regardless...because they pay for Netflix anyway and it will only take 90min of their day. It just felt too mediocre and amateurish...even though there are a few decent jokes peppered throughout. C- |
OSCARS
KEVIN'S PICK
Best Actress
|
Room
Dir: Lenny Abrahamson Stars: Brie Larson, Jacob Tremblay IMDB #146 It is such a shame when a movie is on course to be one of the very greatest of the year, and then the movie simply falls apart in the last third. Larson & Tremblay's performances as a captive mother and her child which she conceived and birthed while in captivity are extraordinary. Also...the story of that captivity and the subsequent reorientation into society is heartbreaking and perfectly balanced. Then...things happen that are so melodramatic to the point of incredulity that I actually became angry. The fights between Brie Larson and her mother, the needs for closure, etc...they were all so absurd and unbelievable that it nearly destroyed the movie. Watch the first 2/3rds and stop...it will be an "A" movie. B |
The Salvation
Dir: Kristian Levring Voices: Mads Mikkelsen, Eva Green, Jeffrey Dean Morgan Cliches and formulas are cliches and formulas for a reason. They work. This film does literally NOTHING new. It's a revenge western of which there are a million examples...but it is solid and interesting. Mads Mikkelsen is great as a Danish immigrant and Jeffrey Dean Morgan is a very good villain. Eva Green is misused but her presence is still important. The landscapes are beautiful, the violence is handled perfectly, and even though the story is infinitely predictable...it is still a fun ride and worth watching. B |
San Andreas
Dir: Brad Peyton Stars: Dwayne Johnson, Carla Gugino, Alexandra Daddario Massive destruction popcorn movies are needed every once in a while to feed the guilty pleasure monster. This movie is a bit of a guilty pleasure because Johnson is a bad ass, the massive earthquake special effects are top notch, and Daddario is hot. It is all fluff and superficial...but a decent amount of fun can be gotten from it. B |
Shadows on the Wall
Dir: Ben Carland Sometimes I get angry watching a film because I get a sense that I definitely could do this stuff if I just got up off my ass and did it. This is student-film layer amateur hour about a bunch of people who create a device that can delve into the deepest, farthest reaches of the Universe. That is just caveat. Just accept that's what it does. And then there are beings/ffigures that can travel to them through said device. How? Doesn't that defeat physics? No explanation? I can't really be scared if it makes no sense. I also can't care if no attempt is made to fictionalize the science. Blah. D |
Sharknado 3: Aw Hell No!
Dir: Anthony C. Ferrante Stars: Ian Ziering, Tara Reid Do I really have to explain this? There are tornados with sharks again, there are garbage actors, there are cameos that won't be relevant in 5 years, and the audacious novelty is wearing off. There is only a BIT of fun still around. C |
OSCARS
Best Cinematography
Best Sound Editing Best Original Score |
Sicario
Dir: Denis Villeneuve Stars: Emily Blunt, Josh Brolin, Benicio Del Toro Just like when Traffic came out back in the day...I think I really missed the boat with this one. I felt like this was competently made and acted, but I feel like it was just more of the same. Cops dealing with the horrors of the drug trade. I feel like I've seen it a million times and nothing in this film really spoke to me or provided anything novel. C- |
Sisters
Dir: Jason Moore Stars: Tina Fey, Amy Poehler Man oh man...this comedy just worked for me. I couldn't stop laughing, and very hard at that. Fey & Poehler have been making comedy for a while now, but this comedy is head and shoulders above Baby Mama. One of the great things with this movie is that Fey is uncharacteristically the unhinged one...and it is funny to see her playing so against type. Throw in some a cornucopia of supporting actors that each have gut-busting laughs associated with them (Cena, Barinholtz, Monihan, Bee, and so on and so on). This is just wall-to-wall fun. B+ |
Soaked in Bleach
Dir: Benjamin Stadler What a unique, compelling documentary that really filled-in some information about the death of Kurt Cobain that I had never seen before. This felt like the best Unsolved Mysteries episode ever produced, and I mean that as a good thing. It flawlessly transitions from voice-over graphics, to talking heads, to re-enactments using ebbing and flowing from dramatized dialogue to actual dialog from original investigator recordings. It really is something different and I loved it. B+ |
OSCARS
Best Original Song
|
Spectre
Dir: Sam Mendes Stars: Daniel Craig, Lea Seydoux, Christophe Waltz I just don't care for the modern day Bond. I enjoyed Casino Royale, but I was more than underwhelmed with the last 3 movies. Spectre is a bit better than Skyfall...but it is still overblown, overexpensive, and serious to a fault. I feel like there in no Bondian fun to be had. Not enough flirting, not enough gadgetry, not enough ridiculous villain exposition. Just blah...I have not been excited for Bond on years...and I won't be excited for the next one. C+ |
OSCARS
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Spotlight
Dir: Tom McCarthy Stars: Mark Ruffalo, Michael Keaton, Rachel McAdams, Liev Schreiber, Stanley Tucci 1001 Movies You Must See Before You Die This is a decent film about how journalists at the Boston Globe blew up the Priest sex abuse scandal in Boston, and eventually the world. It is an important, intrguing narrative...but this is not much beyond talented actors sitting around, discussing a very serious, important subject. In no world should this movie win the Best Picture Oscar over such brilliance as Bridge of Spies, The Revenant, and even Mad Max Fury Road. There are years that I don't agree with the winner...but this one flabbergasts me. B |
Spring
Dir: Justin Benson & Aaron Moorehead This is an odd movie, but an intriguing one. It is simultaneously a travelogue of Italy, a romance, and a sci-fi thriller...but MUCH less so the latter. Imagine Before Sunrise if Julie Delpy was some kind of strange creature. I kind of dug how little you knew, the bursts of clues that something is amiss, and the films ability to exhibit self-control and not slip into a common horror film. The leads are believable and the simple abrupt ending was oddly satisfying. It is genre-bending in a very interesting way and was refreshing because of it. B |
Spy
Dir: Paul Feig Stars: Melissa McCarthy, Jude Law, Rose Byrne, Jason Statham They are starting to fogure it out. We don't want Melissa McCarthy to just be a bumbling idiot in our comedies. We want her to show some competence, and it is those moments that shine in this film. The cast is top notch, with Jude Law, Rose Byrne, and Jason Statham all churning out straight-man comedy that fires on all cylinders. I just find the contrast between doofus McCarthy and competent McCarthy to be jarring. I HATE when she is a doofus, and I love it when she isn't. This is a step in the right direction with her, and Paul Feig really has a good hold on comedy these days. B- |
OSCARS
Best Editing
Best Sound Mixing Best Sound Editing Best Visual Effects Best Original Score |
Star Wars: The Force Awakens
Dir: JJ Abrams Stars: Daisy Ridley, John Boyega, Adam Driver, Oscar Isaac 1001 Movies You Must See Before You Die This movie is made for Star Wars fans...and it is virtually the same story as the original 1977 film. But it is undeniably made with talent, excitement, and it fires on all nerd cylinders. It brings back old characters and has us feel nostalgic all while introducing new ones that work effortlessly. JJ Abrams is the king of rebooting beloved film franchises. A- Bluray |
OSCARS
Best Original Screenplay
|
Straight Outta Compton
Dir: F. Gary Gray Stars: O'Shea Jackson Jr, Corey Hawkins, Jason Mitchell 1001 Movies You Must See Before You Die This is a great movie. The story about NWA is important in the history of music, rap, and free speech...and it is approached with as much maturity and respect as any other music biopic...and it shines. All of the leads feel authentic and bring a lot of emotional depth to the proceedings. I don't want to say that the racial strife was ham-handed as that is a bit too strong. But it was obvious and maybe lazy...but I guess to tell NWA's story, it was inevitable. B+ |
Superfast
Dir: Jason Friedberg & Aaron Seltzer Jason Friedberg and Aaron Seltzer are terrible filmmakers. A few times they have rised above the much and gave us something a BIT salvagable (Scary Movie, Meet the Spartans, Vampires Suck)...which is pretty much reliant on what it is they are skewering. This time they are tackling the Fast and the Furious franchise...and because it is a franchise that is ripe for spoofing...it makes this film not the worst thing in the world. It is still awful...but there are enough jokes peppered throughout that work that I have to acknowledge it. What else can be said? There are no stars and is is directed by two of the worst direcotrs in hollywood. Whatever. D |
Taken 3
Dir: Olivier Megaton Stars: Liam Neeson, Forest Whitaker, Maggie Grace A perfect example of the Hollywood money machine just squeezing every dollar they can out of even a moderate hit. Taken was a solid action film but nothing extraordinary. Taken 2 was slightly clever in making Neeson the captive. Taken 3 now has nothing to do with abduction and searching or anything. It is just a falsely accused thriller that transplants Brian Mills into it. I am so BORED by this. Why did they have to keep going with this franchise. D |
Ted 2
Dir: Seth MacFarlane Stars: Mark Wahlberg, Amanda Seyfried There was a lot of disinterest and backlash against this sequel, and I don't agree with it. I think it is pretty topical (Ted trying to prove his personhood) and the Seth MacFarlane-esque skewering is everything you would expect. There really isn't too much to this film except the gross-out, offensive comedy it promises...and I think it delivers on that promise. B |
Terminator: Genisys
Dir: Alan Taylor Stars: Arnold Schwarzenegger, Emilia Clarke, Jason Clarke, Jai Courtney, Matt Smith I am astonished at how TERRIBLE this movie is. Not only does it throw a wrench into the entire Terminator franchise continuity...but it destroys the archetypes that franchise created. John Connor and Sarah Connor are incredible characters....and they are just ruined completely...especially John. Also...what a WASTE of Matt Smith who is billeed as the villain but has all of 30 seconds of screen time. I just hated every second of this movie. The only reason it isn't an "F" is because I thought the explanation as to why Arnold is much older this time around was clever. That's it. D- |
KEVIN'S PICK
Best Foreign Film
|
Tokyo Tribe
Dir: Sion Sono This crazy film almost defies description. It is almost like an Asian Terry Gilliam’s Gangs of New York crossed with a Japanese hip-hop musical version of 1979’s The Warriors. It is about a handful of rival gangs uniting against a common enemy warlord. Throughout the incredibly directed antics, a hip hop beat rumbles beneath the surface. Occasionally, a young, hooded boy raps to the audience to explain plot developments. It is unlike anything you have ever seen, I guarantee that. It has rapping, beatboxing, hard R-rated subversity, swordplay, and martial arts. Sometimes the movie slows down and some of the characters are goofy as all hell, but the film is never boring. B |
Tomorrowland
Dir: Brad Bird Stars: George Clooney, Hugh Laurie I can't really explain why this movie is so mediocre. The visuals are solid and it seems to properly embrace the Walt Disney philosophy of "If you can dream it, you can do it!" I just never felt engaged. The villainy feels unnatural and forced and Clooney doesn't seen interested in it. It is as if Clooney feels he is above this kind of fare. Huge meh. C |
Trainwreck
Dir: Judd Apatow Stars: Amy Schumer, Bill Hader, Brie Larson I'm sorry...I just don't get Amy Schumer. I think she has been hilarious on the Comedy Central Roasts, her stand-up is ok...but her sketch show and this movie are just nothing that I enjoy. Judd Apatow is a brilliant comedic mind, but he has been getting worse and worse when he is behind the camera. There are some undeniably funny scenes in this film, but it thinks it is a whole lot funnier than it actually is. The final scene is so cliched, over-the-top, and corny...that my indifference toward the film really tilted toward dislike. I just want Apatow to produce and write...I no longer have any interest in his directorial endeavors. C |
Travis: The True Story of Travis Walton
Dir: Jennifer Stein This documentary involves the UFO abduction story that inspired the 1993 film Fire in the Sky. But it is not that great a documentary. There are a few WOW moments peppered throughout (like tree growth models since the so-called event) but 90% of this film is about how the parties involved all took lie-detector tests, and passed. A story about alien abduction should not be so simple and dull. C |
True Story
Dir: Rupert Goold Stars: Jonah Hill, James Franco, Felicity Jones The major problem with this movie is its pacing. It is so poorly directed and edited that no one has ever heard of it, which is odd because of the top 3 stars. It is a story of a disgraced reporter who a FBI Most Wanted criminal claimed to be when he was apprehended for murdering his wife and 3 young children. This alleged criminal then offers his story exclusively to the reporter. The story is somewhat riveting but told in a horribly disjointed way. The cuts aways are abrupt. The segues are extreme. The good parts are too short. The boring parts are too long. But...Hill & Franco being friends and colleagues...have a great report. B |
OSCARS
Best Actor
|
Trumbo
Dir: Jay Roach Stars: Bryan Cranston, Helen Mirren, Diane Lane Loved it. Bryan Cranston's portrayal of Dalton Trumbo, the blacklisted screenwriter of Oscar winning films such as Roman Holiday, The Brave One, and Spartacus, is certainly hammy, but no hammier than Philip Seymour Hoffman's portrayal of Truman Capote. It was strange and unusual, but he was 100% committed to it at all times and it was heartfelt. The supporting cast is one surprise after another and it was a thorough joy to watch the film snake through the life of this oddball. If I had to voice one complaint, it was how Trumbo's focus went from Political idealism to subversive capitalism in too abrupt a way. The man early in the film was very different than at the end...but not in the well-structured character-arc way. The good thing is it never detracts from the film's energy and enjoyment. A- |
Turbo Kid
Dir: Francois Simard & Anouk Whissel Stars: Michael Ironside If Quentin Tarantino made a movie that was part Mad Max, Part Stranger Things, and Part The Wizard...you might get something akin to Turbo Kid. It has the gorgeous 80s synth soundtrack...has the innocent kid actors who pull their weight, it has the hammy performance by Michael Ironside, and it has gory violence that would make Eli Roth blush. I have to admit...it was fun stuff. Goofy, silly, and ultimately without greater themes or purpose...but you could do a lot worse. B |
Unfriended
Dir: Levan Gabriadze I kind of dug the premise of this movie. It is a nice version of the found footage conceit by making it a bunch of friends on their computers being seen through their webcams on Skype. The tension is palpable and there are some decent scares. It is very obvious...but it does a decent job. B- |
Vacation
Dir: John Francis Daley & Jonathan Goldstein Stars: Ed Helms, Christina Applegate, Leslie Mann, Chris Hemsworth I wasn't too excited about this film, because I am such a fan of the original Vacation movies and I despise the modern trend of remaking classics. However...Ed Helms really brings it as Rusty Griswold who is out to take his family on the same trip to Walley World that he did as a kid. There are a lot of laughs to be had but I wish the film stretched its R-rated muscles a bit more. I still loved stuff like the family car, Hemsworth's predilection for faucet metaphors, and Helm's inappropriate talks with his son. Real misfire? Having Chevy Chase and Beverly D'Angelo show up. They are AWFUL....but there is a decent written joke then too. B Bluray |
VHS Massacre:
Cult Films and the Decline of Physical Media Dir: Kenneth Powell & Thomas Edward Seymour This is just a bunch of hipsters crying about nothing. I hated this film. This movie is actually trying to say that no-name independent films on VHS were the only worthwhile art on the only worthwhile media throughout cinematic history. I'm really sorry guys...but it is too bad that the So-Bad-It's-Good films that you love aren't worth putting on BluRay...it doesn't mean that the entire industry is in the crapper . How can you talk about the state of pysical media without even TOUCHING on the big studio system? Who thinks watching something like GRAVITY would be better off on VHS? NO ONE. Technology shifts and physical media will be around as long as people can make money on it. You know why? Because this is reality. A small pocket of hipsters wish VHS would stick around forever? So what. Hated this doc. D- |
The Visit
Dir: M. Night Shyamalan Stars: Kathryn Hahn For the first time in a long time...M. Night Shyamalan scared me. Two kids are sent to spend time with their estranged grandparents, with one filming a documentary for herself (that's the found-footage stuff). All seems normal until it doesn't. It is silly at a certain level...but there is a line, delivered by Kathryn Hahn that is so chilling...that it really unnerves you for the rest of the film. Clever and fun. B- |
The Voices
Dir: Marjane Satrapi Stars: Ryan Reynolds, Gemma Arterton, Anna Kendrick One of the darkest comedies I have ever seen, and by far the best performance by Ryan Reynolds. The trailers do not do this film justice. When the trailer shows a man with his cat & dog talking to him, you think the film is going to be campy and stupid. It isn't. The pets serve as a creepy plot device to show how a schizo is getting through his life ever since he stopped taking his meds. The movie is hilarious at times, nerve-wracking at others, and straight scary at others. It is a real delicate balalnce that was refreshing and unlike any movie I have seen before. Nearly every device in this movie could have been handled in a way that could spoil the entire thing...it never does...and that is impressive. I was almost embarrassed to like this movie but it was unavoidable. B+ |
The Wedding Ringer
Dir: Jeremy Garelick Stars: Kevin Hart, Josh Gad There is nothing original in this movie. It is equal parts Hitch, Wedding Crashers, and I Love You, Man...with Kevin Hart's sensibilities thrown into the mix. Most of it hinges on if you like Kevin Hart or not. If he is not your cup of tea, you will probably hate this movie. I kind of enjoyed myself. There is a severe sense of pity in this film toward the Josh Gad character, who is hiring out his best man and groomsen...and it almost elevates to the level of ruining the comedy...but it doesn't quite, and that makes the film better than it should be. Unfortunately...there are some really forced scenarios to earn its R-rating and it doesn't know how to end...and that left a bit of a bad taste in my mouth...but overall, you could do a lot worse with simple comedy. C+ |
Welcome to Me
Dir: Shira Piven Stars: Kristen Wiig, James Marsden, Linda Cardellini It is a shame when an independent filmmaker has a great idea, woos a big star into it, but doesn't quite have the money or talent to really bring that idea to it's full potential. Kristen Wiig plays a woman with severe emotional and psychiatric problems...who upon winning the lottery...wants to be the next Oprah but with herself as the only, and perpetual subject. It works...but not to the level you would hope. You will laugh, you will cringe, you may even cry here and there, but it all feels too small, too unpolished , and too amateur to take completely serious. It really is a shame because there was some great stuff here. C+ |
What We Do in the Shadows
Dir: Taika Waititi & Jemaine Clement Stars: Taika Waititi, Jemaine Clement What an absolute riot this movie is. The practicality of being a vampire is a huge cauldron of comedy. How do you satisfy your need for human blood? How do ancient vampires pass the time so easily? How do new vampires adjust to their new mythological lifestyle? Who does the dishes? All of these issues are touched upon in this faux documentary about a handful of roommate vampires. It is laugh out loud hysterical from almost beginning to end. The jokes around Stu, the human whom they all actually like, never gets old....and the run ins with the werewolves are so much fun. The tone, the dry comedy, and the direction is very strange in the best of ways. A- |
Where to Invade Next
Dir: Michael Moore Michael Moore has great ideas and is a good documentarian...but this film suffers from the same problem that his other films do...HIM. Whenever he feels the need to insert himself into his documentary storyline, it feels forced, it feels like a stunt, and it really irritates me. He speaks like he is an ignoramus to underline a point that is already underlined. Showcasing different societal institutions from around the world and how it works better than America's is PLENTY to catalyze a documentary. Michael Moore is insignificant in the grand scheme of that subject, but he doesn't seem to know that. It really does take away from the experience, even if a lot of great information is being divulged. B |
Wild Card
Dir: Simon West Stars: Jason Statham This movie is only for a certain kind of person. It is for people who love Jason Statham. I am one of those people so I give the movie a pass...but it is a mess. I don't really know what it is about. Is it about a guy beating up the wrong guy for the honor of his friend? Is it about a rich guy hiring said guy to teach him how not to be afraid? Is about that guy wanting to get away from Vegas and away from this violent life? I don't know...and the movie tries to be about all of these things. However, Statham oozes so much charisma, that it carries this mish mash, and the stunt fighting is still of the best caliber. The small scene involving the introduction of Stanley Tucci's character was also a delight. B- |
Z for Zachariah
Dir: Craig Zobel Stars: Chiwetel Ejiofor, Margot Robbie, Chris Pine It is billed as an Apocalypse drama, and in a sense it is, but it is set up in a unique, interesting way. The world is in Nuclear fallout, but a specific valley in the Adirondacks has thrived and avoided the danger, and therefore a farmgirl has been sustaining herself. She meets a scientist, and later a miner, who all avoided their own demise and found refuge with each other. There are no apocolyptic visuals, other than the scarcity of other people, so I was a bit disappointed in that...but the triangle that arrives with Margot Robbie, Chwietel Ejiofor, and Chris Pine, is powerful, interesting, and heartfelt. Ejiofor REALLY shines in an incredible way, but the other two hold their own as well. I may have handled the ending a bit differently...as vagueries may not have been the best approach...but this is a solid acting exercise. B |