MOVIE REVIEW: GET HARD

When millionaire hedge fund manager James (Will Ferrell) is nailed for fraud and bound for a stretch in San Quentin, the judge gives him 30 days to get his affairs in order. Desperate, he turns to Darnell (Kevin Hart) to prep him for a life behind bars. But despite James’ one-percenter assumptions, Darnell is a hard-working small business owner who has never received a parking ticket, let alone been to prison. Together, the two men do whatever it takes for James to “get hard” and, in the process, discover how wrong they were about a lot of things – including each other. ~ Jeremy Wheeler, Rovi

Director: Etan Cohen    

Cast: Will Ferrell, Kevin Hart, Tip "T.I." Harris, Alison Brie, Craig T. Nelson.

Release Date: Mar 27, 2015    

Rated R for Pervasive Crude and Sexual Content and Language, Some Graphic Nudity, and Drug 

Material    

Runtime: 1 hr. 39 min.    

Genres: Comedy    

Review:

Get Hard is exactly what it presents itself as, nothing more and nothing less.  It’s dated jokes about race, sexuality and just about anything feels like a retread.  Anyone’s enjoyment or lack there of will depend on how much you like Will Ferrell and Kevin Hart.  Ferrell and Hart have excellent chemistry together throughout and make even the laziest jokes work.  It’s all juvenile and sophomoric but if you were expecting anything deeper or more important then you walked into the wrong movie.  It’s a breezy film with enough laughs to keep it from getting stale.  It’s the definition of predictable and far from Ferrell’s best work, but still funny enough to make fans happy. 

B-

MOVIE REVIEW: KINGSMAN: THE SECRET SERVICE

Mark Millar and Dave Gibbons' comic series is adapted for the big screen in this Matthew Vaughn-directed action thriller. The story centers on a secret agent who recruits a juvenile delinquent into a top-secret spy organization. Together, they battle a tech genius with diabolical ambitions. ~ Jeremy Wheeler, Rovi

Director: Matthew Vaughn     

Cast: Colin Firth, Michael Caine, Samuel L. Jackson, Mark Strong, Mark Hamill.

Release Date: Feb 13, 2015     

Rated R for Sequences of Strong Violence, Language and Some Sexual Content.    

Runtime: 2 hr. 9 min.    

Genres: Action/Adventure, Comedy    

Review:

Kingsman: The Secret Service is the type of spy spoof that people always told me Austin Powers was supposed to be.  For whatever reason the Powers movies just never worked for me as a spoof but that’s neither here nor there.  Kingsman is a fun filled ride through all the spy tropes we’re familiar with done in the most gleefully and violent manner possible. Fans of Matthew Vaughn’s Kick Ass will find plenty to like here since its cut from the same cloth while laying down some groundwork for a possible franchise.  There are hints of its comic origins here and there as the film uses colorful ways to kill people ending with a “firework” display that plays out like David Cronenberg’s acid trip.  The action is top notch throughout and Colin Firth is shockingly at ease as an action star, showcased in an insane church sequence.  Taron Egerton delivers a star making performance as Eggsy while Sam Jackson and his lisp makes for a fun villain whose aided by a memorable hence woman.  There are a few issues here and there, the film could have been cut a tad and the much talked about joke at the end falls terribly flat even though I was expecting it.  They’re hardly fatal flaws but hopefully something that will get cleared up by the time the sequel hits.

B

Cindy Prascik's Reviews of The Gunman and Insurgent

Dearest Blog, yesterday it was off to the pictures for The Gunman and Insurgent, a pair of action-packed movies sure to get the blood moving. Or not.

Spoiler level here will be mild, nothing you wouldn't know from the trailers.

First up: Sean Penn in The Gunman.

A former assassin's misdeeds come back to haunt him.

Dear reader(s), if we're being honest, my first reaction when The Gunman's credits started rolling was, "What the hell did I just watch??" Not that it was a bad movie, or even a terribly strange movie, it just wasn't what I expected from the trailer. I went back and re-watched the trailer and, in hindsight, I'm not sure why I didn't get it. Luckily, it's a pretty good movie anyway.

Pluses: Sean Penn is on point in the lead. For me, he's one of those guys (like Tom Cruise) who, when I hear his name I think, "I don't really care for that actor." Then I watch him in something and say to myself, "Self, what were you thinking? That guy is awesome!" Though he's crippled on occasion by awkward dialogue, Penn is solid here, which is a good thing, because it's mostly on him to carry this one. Idris Elba and Ray Winstone are very good with limited screen time, and the movie is noticeably better when they're around. The story is interesting, with plenty of action, and there's an angry sex scene that, while not especially long or graphic, is pretty hot. Finally, at just under two hours, the movie is smart enough not to wear out its welcome.

Minuses: Javier Bardem is a total clown...thinking his mugging may even upstage Captain Jack Sparrow in that new Pirates movie. As for the female lead, Jasmine Trinca, both the actress and the role are entirely forgettable; you could have plopped pretty much any woman of an appropriate age in that slot and she'd have been no better, no worse, and no more important to the movie. A bunch of obvious soap-opera glances in the opening scenes reveal the baddie long before you should have any idea; in fact, the whole thing, while entertaining, is extremely predictable. Finally, Idris Elba appears twice in a two-minute trailer and exactly the same number of times in a two-hour movie. I LOVE Elba, and was really hoping to see more of him.

Distractions: Penn's newfound buff-ness and Trinca's funky front teeth.

The Gunman runs 115 minutes and is rated R for "strong violence, language, and some sexuality."
As is kinda the norm for this time of year, it's a passably entertaining, but ultimately forgettable, afternoon at the cinema.

Of a possible nine Weasleys, The Gunman gets five and a half.

Up next was the second installment in the Divergent series, Insurgent.

Tris and Four continue fighting the good fight against Jeanine and the faction system.

I've said it before and I'll say it again, literally every single review I saw of Divergent, the first film in this series, contained some version of the sentiment, "Well, that was way better than I expected!" It is, perhaps, for that reason that Insurgent is something of a disappointment.

Though it runs about 20 minutes shorter than its predecessor, Insurgent seems slow and long. I was pretty bored with it for major chunks of time. The action is decent, but repetitive, and much of the dialogue just seems silly.

Shailene Woodley remains (for me) nothing more than a poor man's Jennifer Lawrence...now with new dopey haircut!! I still have a crush on Theo James (curse you, lady Mary, for your deadly bed!!), and I shallowly found the movie far more interesting whenever he was onscreen. Aside from Kate Winslet, who is always reliable, this series has one of the more boring supporting casts I've ever seen, with a bunch of interchangeable actors who could be swapped out with barely a ripple.

Even having said all that, my chief annoyances were a weirdly made-up and bejeweled Naomi Watts (is that really how you picture the leader of your revolution??) and the awkward giggles drawn from my teenage audience by the non-starter love scene and a single almost f-word. (Hardly the movie's fault, but it still set my teeth on edge.)

Insurgent clocks in at 119 minutes and is rated PG13 for "intense violence and action throughout, some sensuality, thematic elements, and brief language."

Sadly, the middle frame of the Divergent series is exactly what I expect of most Y.A. adaptations. Here's hoping next year's finale is more like part one.

Of a possible nine Weasleys, Insurgent gets five.

Until next time...

 

Note to filmmakers: More Idris Elba is always better than less Idris Elba.

Cindy Prascik's Review of Run all Night

Dearest Blog, yesterday it was off to the pictures for the latest in a seemingly-endless series of "Liam Neeson Kicks Butt" movies, Run all Night.

Spoiler level here will be mild, nothing you wouldn't know from the trailers.

Well, dear reader(s), I have to be honest with you: with two major new releases on the weekend's docket, this was meant to be a double review. Yes, I love you all enough that I was going to force myself to see that damn princess movie.

However, when I got to the theatre and found it crawling with little girls--all of whom were queuing up to have their ideas of life and romance irreparably warped by some fool in a glass shoe--I had to dodge and go with a fourth screening of Kingsman: The Secret Service instead. It was the only responsible thing to do.

Liam Neeson...yadda yadda yadda...family in danger...yadda yadda yadda...guns, explosions, carnage...yadda yadda yadda...my hero!...yadda yadda yadda...the end.

Look, this is one of those movies where I have little sympathy for anyone who sees it and doesn't like it. It couldn't possibly be more exactly what you'd expect, so shame on you if you buy a ticket and then complain about it. Neeson is once again in fine butt-kicking form, perhaps a little rougher around the edges than in some of his other, similar films, but no less convincing as the guy you want to be hanging around with when there's trouble...ANY sort of trouble.

Joel Kinnaman does a terrific job as the neglected son, dragged into the very chaos he's worked his whole life to avoid, and Ed Harris is, of course, great as that guy you'd really be rooting for if only the movie weren't expressly designed to make you root for that other guy. Harris undoubtedly could pull off something like this in his sleep, but it sure is fun watching him.

The movie itself is a bit more grim than some others of its ilk. Not suggesting for a minute that the Taken movies and Non-Stop and A Walk Among the Tombstones are a barrel of laughs, but this one has virtually no lighter moments, and the few it attempts are so crass and abrasive that they don't do much to lift the tone.

The movie is set at Christmastime, and the omnipresent Christmas decorations are a stark contrast to the film's miserable atmosphere. The timing did leave me curious about a thunderstorm towards the beginning of the movie and the coloring trees at the end, though. In New York, in December?

Like the famous ghosts, I think Liam did this all in one night. We really shouldn't have experienced changing seasons, but I guess it's hardly the sort of movie where I'd expect perfect attention to detail. On a personal note, I was delighted to see Bruce McGill (a favorite in our house), Common, and the many, many New York Rangers references scattered about the movie.

Run All Night clocks in at 114 minutes and is rated R for "strong violence, language including sexual references, and some drug use."

It doesn't reinvent the wheel, but if you like watching Liam Neeson kick ass (and who doesn't?) you should be decently entertained. Of a possible nine Weasleys, Run All Night gets five.

And sorry about the princess.

Until next time...

(not my graphic)

MOVIE REVIEW: UNFINISHED BUSINESS

Ken Scott's comedy Unfinished Business stars Vince Vaughn as a struggling businessman trying to get his fledgling company off the ground. To do so he must travel with his partners (Dave Franco and Tom Wilkinson) on a foreign business trip in order to land a huge client. Unexpectedly, our hero discovers that he is competing against his former boss, and his attempts to show the prospective clients the best night of their lies leads to a number of unexpected complications. ~ Perry Seibert, Rovi

Director: Ken Scott     

Cast: Vince Vaughn, Tom Wilkinson, Dave Franco, James Marsden, Nick Frost

Release Date: Mar 06, 2014     

Rated R for some strong risqué sexual content/graphic nudity, language and drug use    

Runtime: 1 hr. 31 min.     

Genres: Workplace Comedy, Comedy     

Review:

Unfinished Business is a lazy uninspired comedy that’s a mish mash of various things while never really coming together at all.  The film seems like its fertile ground for the comedy but it just never pulls itself together.  As a result you’re left with various dead spots which make the relatively short film seem incredibly long.  Throw in an oddly shoehorned anti-bullying subplot and you have a strangely unfunny film even though Dave Franco and Tom Wilkinson are trying their hardest to pull something out of the film.  Vince Vaughn does his usual shtick looking more haggard than usual, probably how you’ll feel by the end of the film.

D

MOVIE REVIEW: CHAPPIE

Neill Blomkamp expands on his 2003 short film Neill Blomkamp in this futuristic sci-fi saga written in collaboration with screenwriter Terri Tatchellmore

Director: Neill Blomkamp 

Cast: Sharlto Copley, Dev Patel, Jose Pablo Cantillo, Sigourney Weaver, Hugh Jackman

Release Date: Mar 06, 2015

Rated R for Language, Brief Nudity and Violence

Runtime: 2 hr. 0 min.

Genres: Action/Adventure, Sci-Fi/Fantasy

Review:

Chappie is a worrisome film, not because it’s an awful film by any stretch but because it lays bare Blomkamp’s flaws as a director.  Chappie is filled with big ideas but mired by substandard execution and cartoonishly drawn characters.  Casting South African rappers from Die Antwoord is an odd choice made even worse by the fact that they are main characters.  If they’d been supporting characters it might have worked out a bit better for everyone involved.  Dev Patel, Sigourney Weaver and Hugh Jackman (who’s sporting Wolverine’s hairdo in reverse) are saddled by poorly drawn characters who are types instead of well formed characters with depth.  As for Chappie himself, he’s a well formed creation even though he leans a bit too much on the cutesy side than he should.  When all the explosions have ended and the film has run its course you can’t help but wonder if you’ve watched sub par Short Circuit remake.

C+

Cindy Prascik's Reviews of Chappie & The Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel

Dearest Blog: Yesterday it was off to the cinema--or, as it's more rightly called this weekend, "The Dev Patel Film Festival"--for a pair of unlikely bedfellows: Chappie and The Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel.

Spoiler level here will be mild, nothing you wouldn't know from the trailers.

First on the agenda, Neill Blomkamp's latest, Chappie.

In the not-too-distant future, human police in Johannesburg have been replaced by a robot force. A young programmer poaches a decommissioned police droid and creates the world's first true A.I.
Chappie is no District 9, however hard it might be trying. With that out of the way, it's not the disaster some early notices would have you believe, either.

Starting with the positives: The robot looks great...beautiful motion capture work, with natural movements that should be the envy of those ridiculous Apes movies. Sharlto Copley turns in a fantastic performance as Chappie, completely sympathetic even when he's behaving like the world's most annoying toddler. The story is entertaining, even though it's never too hard to guess what's coming. As a "message" movie, it's a bit ham-handed, but as an A.I. movie, it's waaaaaaay better than Transcendence. (Talk about backhanded praise!) Dev Patel is his usual wide-eyed, earnest self, perfect for a role like this, and Sigourney Weaver...well...especially when it comes to sci-fi, I guess having Sigourney Weaver is always better than NOT having Sigourney Weaver, and at least she hasn't been saddled with a random weird accent (lookin' at you, Jodie Foster!). Hans Zimmer provides a fantastic score, and the interspersed Die Antwoord tunes are ideally suited to the movie's harsh, ugly landscape.

On the negative side, I have to start with Hugh Jackman. Yes, THAT Hugh Jackman, arguably one of the world's most gifted all-around performers. Can we actually be meant to take him seriously here, a silly one-note baddie, stomping about in a mullet and goofy shorts, shooting the camera his best Snidely Whiplash looks?

Did he really read this script and think it was a good idea? I can't imagine. The movie throws a ton of screen time at Die Antwoord's Ninja and Yo-Landi, relying heavily on viewers finding the two super cool and awesome. In fact, they are anything but...unless you're a 14-year-old boy who is endlessly amused by vulgar t-shirts and tattoos of tiny men with giant penises, then, hey, they're super cool and awesome. In fact, all the characters are essentially caricatures of what they're meant to be, and the movie would have done well to dial everyone back a tick. Finally, though the movie never lost my attention, there's no denying the story is predictable and derivative, with a terribly contrived finish that left me rolling my eyes.

Chappie clocks in at 120 minutes and is rated R for "violence, language, and brief nudity."

It's got more problems than a calculus textbook, but I still kinda liked it. Of a possible nine Weasleys,
Chappie gets five.

Next up was The Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel.

(Or, "The further adventures of Heaven's Waiting Room.")

The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel was a fantastic film, sweet and sincere, with more feels than the average teenager's Tumblr.

Did it need a sequel? Of course not.

Did it do well enough for everyone to know it was getting a sequel? Well, hey, when this whole group is still kicking three years later, you gotta take it as a sign, eh? There's nothing I can say about the Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel that you don't already know, whether or not you've seen it. The movie features more wisdom from Mrs. Donnelly, more adorableness from Mr. Ainslie, more cougaring from Mrs. Hardcastle, and more well-intentioned shenanigans from Sonny. The age jokes never get old (see what I did there?), and the beautiful colors of India make it a joy to watch. If we're being honest, of course, you could take all that away and still there'd be no going wrong with this cast; they are the most perfectly perfect bunch of perfect to ever grace the silver screen. Special perfection marks to Maggie Smith and Bill Nighy; minus her deadpan delivery and his lovable awkwardness, the movie would definitely be missing its most special pieces.

The Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel runs 122 minutes and is rated PG13 for "some language and suggestive comments."

The Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel is a charming, funny, moving film, and, if it never takes a turn you didn't expect, maybe you never wanted it to, anyway. Of a possible nine Weasleys, the

Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel gets seven.

Until next time...

I may look harmless, but I'm taking over your cinema!!

Cindy Prascik's Review of Focus

Dearest Blog, yesterday it was off to the pictures for Will Smith's latest, Focus.

After a couple weeks' weather-enforced cinema break, I'd probably have dragged out for a rom-com starring Gwyneth Paltrow and Tyler Perry (*shudder*), but luckily this seemed more promising. (PS: I get royalties when somebody makes that rom-com!)

Spoiler level here will be mild, nothing you wouldn't know from the trailers.

Life is a series of scores for a couple con artists, until they cross a dangerous mark.

Getting the bad news out of the way first, the chiefest and greatest flaw of Focus is that it just HAS to be smarter than it is. If we, as viewers, are to buy these two as the world's greatest con artists, then we, as viewers, must be as victims...we can't ever guess what they've got up their sleeves.

Unfortunately, the exact opposite is true...it took me longer to figure out No Good Deed! That's not to say the plot isn't interesting--it's good fun--but if you're waiting for that "A-ha!" moment...well...you're gonna leave the theatre still waiting. For a relatively short movie, it also seems to take very long getting anywhere. I checked the time about an hour in and couldn't believe it wasn't further along.

On the plus side, the movie IS smart enough to lean heavily on the appeal of its two leads, and Will Smith and Margot Robbie have to be among Hollywood's most likeable. Smith, in particular, is just impossibly appealing for me; I root for him no matter what.

This is the sort of role that allows Robbie to run around in all manner of clingy cocktail dress and skimpy swimsuit, and I doubt anyone's got any complaints with that, either. Among the supporting cast, Adrian Martinez plays for laughs, while Gerald McRaney blusters his way through. The movie is thoroughly enjoyable, if never fully engaging.

Focus clocks in at 104 minutes, and is rated R for "language, some sexual content, and brief violence."

It's nothing special, but Focus is a perfectly passable afternoon of entertainment.

Of a possible nine Weasleys, Focus gets five.

Until next time...

What...what? Were you saying something?

MOVIE REVIEW: THE IMITATION GAME

Alan Turing, a pioneer of computers, led a group of scholars to crack the codes of Germany's WWII Enigma machine. A genius under nail-biting pressure helped to save millions of lives and was ultimately convicted for the crime of homosexuality.

Director: Morten Tyldum 

Cast: Benedict Cumberbatch, Keira Knightley, Allen Leech, Rory Kinnear, Mark Strong.

Release Date: Nov 28, 2014

Rated: PG-13 for some Sexual References, Mature Thematic Material and Historical Smoking

Runtime: 1 hr. 53 min.

Genres: Drama

Review:

The Imitation Game is a fairly standard biopic that’s finely crafted and well acted even if it’s a bit mechanical at times.  It benefits greatly from some impressive performances by Benedict Cumberbatch and Keira Knightley.  Benedict Cumberbatch captures the sadness, awkwardness and intelligence of Turing with subtle power.  There are moments in the film that provide him a perfect platform to display his immense talent.  The always reliable Keira Knightley is excellent in a supporting role.  It feels like a standard role at first but as the film moves on she’s allowed to flesh out the roles giving us a meatier role that what’s on the page.  The Imitation Game is filled some incredibly tense moments along with a fresh bit of humor sprinkled in, something you wouldn’t expect from this type of film and it’s theme.  The film’s script is filled with tons of parallels and metaphors which will keep your mind churning well after it’s done.  It’s a tragic tale but one that deserved to be told with an excellent and entertaining film.

B+

Cindy Prascik's Oscar Blog with Daniel's thoughts sprinkled in.....

Guys, guys, guyzzzzzzzzzzz...guess what?? I'm snowed in!! You know what that means? Instead of a third screening of Kingsman: The Secret Service (maybe paired with a sneaky peek at McFarlane, USA...admit it, you want to see it too), I'll be stuck at home and bored out of my skull! So, here, have another Oscar blog...because exactly what you needed right now is yet another person's opinion on other people's opinions.

I must admit up front that there are categories where I haven't had access to all of the films, but I can't let that stop me, because...snow day! And who believes Oscar voters actually watch all their screeners anyway? Also, let it be known that I've skipped categories where I haven't seen anything. (Lookin' at you, Short Form Documentary!)

Without further ado...

BEST PICTURE:

What will win: Birdman

What should win: The Imitation Game

What really should win: Calvary

It's no secret I'm appalled at how 2014's best movie was done wrong by awards season. Having said that, my motto for this category is "Anything but Boyhood!" I don't think The Theory of Everything or American Sniper legitimately belong on this list, either, but both are at least good pictures, whereas Boyhood is an unmitigated disaster. Also, for the last time this awards season: it's time to stop the genre snobbery. Guardians of the Galaxy and/or Captain America: The Winter Soldier should at least be nominated here.

DANIEL'S THOUGHTS - Oscars love splitting up Best Picture and Director unless there's a clear winner, Birdman will win meaning director will go to Linklater's Boyhood.

BEST ACTOR IN A LEADING ROLE:

Who will win: Eddie Redmayne

Who should win: Michael Keaton

Who really should win: Brendan Gleeson

Go on, Academy, sit there being wrong in your wrongness!

 DANIEL'S THOUGHTS - Think Michael Keaton is a shoe in.

BEST ACTRESS IN A LEADING ROLE:

Who will win: Julianne Moore

Who should win: Rosamund Pike

Who really should win: I'm actually okay with any of the ladies in this category. (Hold onto that, it might not happen again!)

DANIEL'S THOUGHTS - Since I haven't seen Julianne Moore's film I really have no idea except to go with the flow and say Moore has it locked up.

BEST ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE:

Who will win: J.K. Simmons

Who should win: J.K. Simmons

Who really should win: Bradley Cooper

I'm sure it was never seriously considered, but Cooper's Rocket was smart, funny, brave, emotional, sincere...and a raccoon. Top that if you can!! I'm also a little bit afraid "Oscar winner" J.K. Simmons might be suddenly unavailable for that Law & Order reboot.

 DANIEL'S THOUGHTS - J.K. is a shoe in and frankly I couldn't be happier since I think he's great but I think Cindy is right, Law & Order The Next Generation is probably out.

BEST ACTRESS IN A SUPPORTING ROLE:

Who will win: Patricia Arquette

Who should win: Emma Stone

Who really should win: Emma Stone

I'm good with my gal Emma on this one, though I do think Rene Russo (Nightcrawler) and Kelly Reilly (Calvary) should be among the nominees.

 DANIEL'S THOUGHTS - Arquette is winning because she's getting Boyhood love.  I thought it was a great performance but not the best I've seen this year.  Stone would be a great option.


BEST ANIMATED FEATURE FILM:

What will win: How to Train Your Dragon 2

What should win: Big Hero 6

What really should win: Big Hero 6

...but I'd be absolutely fine with The Boxtrolls, too. A travesty that The Lego Movie is not among the nominees.

 DANIEL'S THOUGHTS -Sadly I saw none of the nominees which doesn't matter because The Lego Movie should been nominated and won.


CINEMATOGRAPHY:

What will win: The Grand Budapest Hotel

What should win: The Grand Budapest Hotel

What really should win: John Wick

...and how is Nightcrawler not on this list??

 DANIEL'S THOUGHTS -The Grand Budapest Hotel is wonderful but Birdman was kind of magical as well either is fine with me.


COSTUME DESIGN:

What will win: Into the Woods

What should win: The Grand Budapest Hotel

What really should win: The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies

From the magnificent detail of Thorin's armor to the snugglieness of Bilbo's bathrobe, nobody matches Middle Earth on this one.

 DANIEL'S THOUGHTS -  I actually think The Grand Budapest Hotel has an excellent shot, well deserved too.

DIRECTING:

Who will win: Richard Linklater

Who should win: Wes Anderson

Who really should win: James Gunn

Listen, I'm not casting aspersions on anyone's talent, but if I randomly filmed some strange family for 12 years, I'd be in jail.



 DANIEL'S THOUGHTS - Linklater is getting this for his impressive experiment, it's hard to ignore what he pulled off and I've loved his "Before" films


FILM EDITING:


What will win: Boyhood

What should win: The Grand Budapest Hotel

What really should win: Captain America: The Winter Soldier

I could also be Team Nightcrawler here.

 DANIEL'S THOUGHTS - Birdman really impressed me on so many levels.


MAKEUP AND HAIRSTYLING:

What will win: The Grand Budapest Hotel

What should win: Guardians of the Galaxy

What really should win: The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies

Middle Earth is unparalleled in the artistic categories.

 DANIEL'S THOUGHTS - More than happy if Budapest wins....


MUSIC (ORIGINAL SCORE):

What will win: The Grand Budapest Hotel

What should win: Interstellar

What really should win: 300: Rise of an Empire

...and I'd also be good with Henry Jackman's Winter Soldier score here.

MUSIC (ORIGINAL SONG):

What will win: Glory

What should win: Everything is Awesome

What really should win: Everything is Awesome

The Academy just has to throw The Lego Movie a bone here.

 DANIEL'S THOUGHTS - In total agreement, everything is awesome should win just so we can say Oscar Winner Andy Samburg.

PRODUCTION DESIGN:

What will win: The Grand Budapest Hotel

What should win: The Grand Budapest Hotel

What really should win: John Wick

...again, how is Nightcrawler not on this list??
  
 DANIEL'S THOUGHTS - Another one for Budapest

SOUND EDITING:

What will win: Interstellar

What should win: The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies

What really should win: The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies

Obviously, I'm good with #OneLastOscar for Jackson's Middle Earth.

 DANIEL'S THOUGHTS -Interstellar will win, I know because of the ringing in my ear....


SOUND MIXING:

What will win: Interstellar

What should win: American Sniper

What really should win: The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies

I thought it was great. So sue me.

 DANIEL'S THOUGHTS -American Sniper should win, excellent sound mixing if you ask me but Birdman's beats are still in my head.  

VISUAL EFFECTS:

What will win: Interstellar

What should win: X-Men: Days of Future Past

What really should win: X-Men: Days of Future Past

Time in a Bottle. That is all.

 DANIEL'S THOUGHTS - Guardians of the Galaxy deserves this to be honest, it's effects are just fantastic!


WRITING (ADAPTED SCREENPLAY):

What will win: The Theory of Everything

What should win: The Imitation Game

What really should win: Guardians of the Galaxy

In for a dime, in for a dollar, right?

 DANIEL'S THOUGHTS - Theory or Imitation would be great choices.


WRITING (ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY):

What will win: Birdman

What should win: Birdman

What really should win: Birdman/Grand Budapest Hotel

...but this is another "Anything but Boyhood!" category for me!

 DANIEL'S THOUGHTS - Keeping my Birdman love going


So, there you have it. Discussion is, of course, welcome.

Hope everyone enjoys the Oscars!

Until next time...

Repent, Academy, for thou hast screwed the pooch on this one!

 DANIEL'S THOUGHTS - I really need to see Calvary

Cindy Prascik's Review of Kingsman: The Secret Service

Dearest Blog, yesterday it was off to the cinema for a picture totally worth braving the elements: Kingsman: The Secret Service.

Spoiler level here will be mild, nothing you wouldn't know from the trailers.

A young man headed down the wrong path is recruited as an international super-secret agent.

Dear reader(s), to say I was eagerly anticipating Kingsman: The Secret Service would be the grossest of understatements. In fact, I bought tickets, sight unseen, to watch it back to back, a feat previously achieved only by movies featuring a certain caped crusader. I am pleased to report the film does not disappoint.

Kingsman: The Secret Service is a comic-book movie for grownups. It's fun and funny and crass at times, but it's got a mature feel that has more to do with adult themes than with the film's f-word fueled R rating.

Kingsman features end-to-end action, including brilliantly-choreographed fight scenes, some terrific stunt driving, and even a bit of gymnastics, but it's never in a hurry just to jump from fight to fight, chase to chase; there's a STORY here.

The clever inclusion of just the right tunes in just the right places--tunes most of us likely never would have thought to put in said places--is the best I've seen outside an Edgar Wright picture. Colin Firth is a debonair gentleman spy; in fact, he makes it hard to imagine anyone else ever could have inhabited the film's leading role. Relative newcomer Taron Edgerton seems bound for superstardom if this turn as a smart, cocky ne'er-do-well turned secret agent is any indication.

The supporting cast is uniformly stellar, and, if I had one teensy complaint about this near-perfect movie, it's that I sure would have liked to see more Jack Davenport.

Kingsman: The Secret Service clocks in at 129 minutes and is rated R for "sequences of strong violence, language, and some sexual content."

As a wise friend predicted, of a possible nine Weasleys, Kingsman: The Secret Service gets all nine.

It's a  smart, funny, self-aware spy thriller that proves pushing the envelope has legitimate value and doesn't have to be just to shock.

Until next time...

50 Shades of Who Cares...this is how to be smokin' hot in a suit and tie!

MOVIE REVIEW: BIRDMAN

A fading actor (Michael Keaton) best known for his portrayal of a popular superhero attempts to mount a comeback by appearing in a Broadway play. As opening night approaches, his attempts to become more altruistic, rebuild his career, and reconnect with friends and family prove more difficult than expected. Lindsay Duncan.

Director: Alejandro González Iñárritu

Cast: Michael Keaton, Lindsay Duncan, Zach Galifianakis, Edward Norton, Andrea Riseborough, Emma Stone

Release Date: Oct 17, 2014

Rated: R for brief Violence, Some Sexual Content and Language Throughout

Runtime: 1 hr. 59 min.

Genres: Comedy, Drama

Review:

Birdman is a dizzying powerhouse of a film that’s showcases it’s cast and director on multiple levels.  Alejandro González Iñárritu has crafted a fascinating dissection of fame and celebrity culture through the guise of a mental breakdown.  Michael Keaton’s soul baring performance is simply amazing.  It’s an unglamorous performance which shows every inch of age on Keaton’s face while showcasing his impressive talent.  Aided by excellent supporting turns by Edward Norton and Emma Stone, Birdman maintains an impressive energy throughout as it builds to its crescendo.  There’s nary a moment when the film drags and it’s at it’s best when Norton and Keaton share the screen together since you can tell they are both having a blast while putting on some impressive performances.  If there’s a small drawback it’s the film does reek of self importance even smugness at some points.  That being said, Birdman is the type of prestige film that should hold up well upon repeat viewing thanks to some wonderfully crafted filmmaking and acting.

A

MOVIE REVIEW: BOYHOOD

Richard Linklater's Boyhood is a coming-of-age drama that the director spent twelve years making. He cast a young boy, Ellar Coltrane, and shot the film a few days at a time for over a decade so that he could capture how his leading actor, and the rest of his cast, aged. The film's story simply follows a boy named Mason (Coltrane) as he progresses from age 6 to 18 and deals with the typical travails of childhood like his parents' divorce, bad stepparents, falling in love, finding his artistic voice, and fighting with his bratty older sister. Ethan Hawke and Patricia Arquette co-star as Mason's parents. ~ Perry Seibert, Rovi

Director: Richard Linklater 

Cast: Patricia Arquette, Ethan Hawke, Lorelei Linklater, Steven Prince, Libby Villari

Release Date: Jul 11, 2014

Rated R for Sexual References, Language and Teen Drug and Alcohol Use

Runtime: 2 hr. 42 min.

Genres: Drama

Review:

Richard Linklater’s audacious cinematic experiment is truly unlike anything you’ve seen before in a movie.  It’s a ground breaking experience that truly takes us through a journey that all of can relate to.  At its core it’s a fairly straightforward film about the ups and downs of life but by letting us see the growth and aging of the cast of as a whole, it creates a certain singular effect as you watch the film.   Ellar Coltrane is truly authentic and effective as Mason from childhood up through the film’s finale.  Occasionally there’s some chunkiness’ in his delivery but overall it’s an impressive coup all things considered.  Patricia Arquette really shines as his mother as we follow her journey throughout the twelve years covered.  She brings a high level of believability and honesty to the role that’s hard to pull off.  Ethan Hawke is equally impressive while working with much less screen time.  The characters transformation is impressive and believable mainly due to Hawke’s impressive work.  The story is anything but idyllic and while some of the relationships presented do tend to follow a certain routine it never feels inorganic or cheap.  Linklater has a certain ability to capture reality on celluloid much like he’s done before on his Before series and he’s done it here with this masterpiece.

A

Cindy Prascik's Reviews of Jupiter Ascending & Paddington

Dearest Blog, with no Hobbit and nary a single decent-looking new release, there was really nothing to draw me to the cinema this weekend aside from the fact that I couldn't imagine sitting out two weekends in a row. Since I also lacked the wherewithal to sit through two stinkers in a row, I paired one of the weekend newbies with my sadly-neglected Paddington.

Spoiler level here will be mild, nothing you wouldn't know from the trailers.

First on my agenda, the comically horrible Jupiter Ascending.

Mila Kunis stars as a seemingly-normal Earthling whose life is endangered when she discovers she's universal royalty.

Dear reader(s), I shan't insult your intelligence by trying to tell you Jupiter Ascending isn't a mess; in fact, it is the cinema equivalent of your family room after the Super Bowl party, the Mall on Black Friday, Morgantown after a big game. I spent a good portion of the movie trying to determine whether the acting is literally the worst in history, or if the dialogue is just so poorly written there was nothing the actors could do with it.

Come next week he'll likely be an Oscar winner, but Eddie Redmayne is an embarrassment, a strangely-sweaty version of Gary Oldman's most over-the-top mid-90s baddie. I adore Sean Bean and Mila Kunis, but I hope they both fired their agents for getting them into this! Curious that a guylinered Channing Tatum, hardly the most respected name among the cast, was pretty much the only one who didn't make me cringe.

The story is a jumbled disaster that sometimes drags worse than the slowest David Cronenberg slog. A chase scene at the beginning is so long and repetitive that I fell asleep twice and woke up while it was still going. Having said all that, Jupiter Ascending is still oddly entertaining at times.

The sets and effects aren't anything special, but they are often very pretty, as are some of the costumes. There are plenty of funny moments--intentional and not--and (at risk of sounding girly) Kunis and Tatum make an adorable couple; it's not hard to root for them.

Jupiter Ascending clocks in at 127 minutes and is rated PG13 for "some violence, sequences of sci-fi action, some suggestive content, and partial nudity."

Bad as it is, I didn't hate it. How's that for backhanded praise? Of a possible nine Weasleys, Jupiter Ascending gets four and a half.

Next up was Paddington.

A young bear from "darkest Peru" comes to London looking for a home.

I admit, for a movie about which I'd been pretty excited, I've been shamefully neglectful of Paddington.

Its schedule never seemed to work with other movies I wanted to see, and, after a couple weeks, I'd sort of resigned myself to waiting for DVD. I am so glad I didn't! My first thought upon seeing a Paddington trailer was, "Please don't mess this up." When Colin Firth jumped ship (to be replaced by my beloved Ben Whishaw) and the US release was pushed from a perfect holiday date to mid-January No Man's Land, I couldn't help but expect the worst. I am pleased to report that, whatever the reasons for those bumps in the road, Paddington is a pretty perfect movie.

The story is sweet, but never sugarey. The cast is top-notch, and Whishaw couldn't be more perfect as the voice of our beloved bear. There are many great laughs, for kids and adults alike, with enough action to keep things moving along at a good clip.

Finally, the movie manages to bring home an important message without beating viewers over the head with it.

Paddington runs 95 minutes and is rated PG for "mild action and rude humor."

Paddington is perfect for folks of any age, a genuinely terrific afternoon at the movies.

Of a possible nine Weasleys, Paddington gets eight.

Until next time...

 
Well, there's always this...

MOVIE REVIEW: JUPITER ASCENDING

Mila Kunis stars as Jupiter Jones, an everyday girl in the future whose life takes an unexpected turn when an ex-soldier (Channing Tatum) comes looking for her in hopes that she can live up to her destiny as the savior of the universe. Andy and Lana Wachowski once again dip their feet into sci-fi territory with this sprawling Warner Bros. epic. ~ Jeremy Wheeler, Rovi

Director: Andy Wachowski and Lana Wachowski

Cast: Channing Tatum, Mila Kunis, Sean Bean, Eddie Redmayne, Douglas Booth.

Release Date: Feb 06, 2015

Rated PG-13 for some Violence, Sequences of Sci-fi Action, Some Suggestive Content and Partial Nudity 

Runtime: 2 hr. 5 min. 

Genres: Action/Adventure, Sci-Fi/Fantasy 

Review:

Hybrid Wolf space hunter with space rollerblades.  If you can wrap your head around Channing Tatum’s character alone then you might find something to like in the Wachowski’s nearly incoherent and utterly ridiculous Jupiter Ascending.  The story is absurdly outlandish even though it feels incredibly familiar as well.  Thankfully the Wachowski’s bring this usual visual flair to the proceedings making for some truly impressive action sequences that keep you entertained once you’ve decided to turn your brain off completely.  If you accept Eddie Redmayne, acting with combustible collagen fueled lips, as a mad despot then you might find some enjoyment in the silliness.  Mila Kunis is ok as the titular Jupiter but she looks just as confused as we are, as a result she played her character like a gullible moron who’s only happy with her space hunter wolf hybrid and his space rollerblades.

C

MOVIE REVIEW: A MOST VIOLENT YEAR

An immigrant and his family strive to maintain their burgeoning business while contending with urban violence and corruption during a particularly harsh New York City winter in 1981. Jessica Chastain and Oscar Isaac star in this urban drama from writer/producer/director J.C. Chandor.

Director: J.C. Chandor 

Cast: Jessica Chastain, Oscar Isaac, Albert Brooks, David Oyelowo, Alessandro Nivola.

Release Date: Dec 31, 2014

Rated R for some Violence and Language

Runtime: 2 hr. 4 min.

Genres: Action/Adventure, Drama

Review:

A Most Violent Year is a slow burner of a film that’s a fascinating character study.  J.C. Chandor’s film is a morality tale at its heart as we watch a man fight to keep his principles in tact while trying desperately to succeed.  It’s the kind of film that’s light on action and heavy on dialogue which can turn off some people, especially since the film is sold as a crime drama which it is an and isn’t.  It’s very much in that vein but doesn’t follow the well worn path.  At the center of the film is Oscar Isaac who is incredibly engaging and captivating as the lead.  Isaac has a simmering intensity throughout which keeps the film engaging as its moves at a methodical pace.  Jessica Chastain nearly steals the show as his wife and the film is so much better when she’s on screen.  Chastain’s an actress whose impressed me more and more with each passing film and this maybe her best yet.  Throw in some strong, if understated, supporting turns from Albert Brooks and David Oyelowo and you have a wholly impressive drama which feels like a throwback to headier films from the 70s. 

A

MOVIE REVIEW: PROJECT ALMANAC

David Raskin (Jonny Weston) is a high-school science nerd who dreams of going to MIT. When he and his friends (Sam Lerner, Allen Evangelista) find a "temporal displacement device" built by his late father, David can't wait to start tinkering. When they finally get the device to work, the teenagers jump at the opportunity to manipulate time in their favor -- but their joy is short-lived when they begin to discover the consequences of their actions.

Director: Dean Israelite 

Cast: Sophia Black-D'Elia, Allen Evangelista, Ginny Gardner, Jonny Weston.

Release Date: Jan 30, 2015

Rated R for some Language and Sexual Content 

Runtime: 1 hr. 46 min. 

Genres: Sci-Fi/Fantasy, Suspense/Thriller 

Review:

Found footage films are well past the point of expiration, so if you’re watching one you’re probably one of those people who still enjoys the genre to a certain extent.   Project Almanac uses the conceit fairly well while mixing in the time travel into the mix.  Time travel stories have built in issues to begin with and the plot here doesn’t really do anything special and its solutions to some of the bigger logical issues is just to ignore them.  Luckily, the film’s cast is likable enough to make the film fairly enjoyable even though it’s a tad too long for its own good.  It’s a solid bit of mindless fun even though it takes a good while to get going and once it takes off the film’s over, leaving an endless amount of possibilities on the table unexplored

C+

Cindy Prascik's Review Backstreet Boys: Show 'Em What You're Made Of & Wild Card

 Dearest Blog, by my count there were no less than seven movies opening this weekend.

Four of them looked pretty good, and the other three are playing at my local cinemas. So...to the cable box we go for Backstreet Boys: Show 'Em What You're Made Of and Wild Card.

Okay, dear reader(s), if we're being honest, and fair to my local cinemas (even the gross one), it would have taken a helluva movie to compete with folks as near to my heart as BSB and Jason Statham.

Were The Hobbit still in play, I'd almost certainly have paired one of the stinkers with another Hobbit screening, but no Bilbo meant a weekend of "home cinema" for yours truly.

Spoiler level here will be mild, I guess. Is it even possible to spoil a documentary?

Anyway...first on my agenda: Backstreet Boys: Show 'Em What You're Made Of, a behind-the-scenes look at the ups, downs, and enduring popularity of BSB.

Show 'Em What You're Made Of is an honest and heartfelt documentary. The peaks and valleys of fame, and of essentially living in each other's back pockets for two decades, are on full display, and the group members often bicker like old married people.

The conflict and raw emotion make for some hard viewing when you're a fan! (I'm scarred for life by watching Beatles yell at each other in Let It Be, and never did get all the way through Some Kind of Monster.) Still, it's clear Howie, Brian, Kevin, AJ, and Nick love one another like brothers, and it seems no dispute is significant enough to derail the BSB train for long.

The movie touches on the group's legal dispute with former manager Lou Pearlman (currently serving prison time for perpetrating one of the world's largest Ponzi schemes) but is mostly filled with clips of new and old videos, live performances, and behind-the-scenes goings-on, bringing back great memories and making some new ones. And of course there are the songs...oh, the songs! The voices! Backstreet Boys are as fine a vocal group as ever there was, and it's terrific to see how they've stood the test of time and outlived their "boy band" designation.

Backstreet Boys: Show 'Em What You're Made Of runs 101 minutes and is unrated. If you're considering age-appropriateness, there are a number of F-words and the usual adult themes you'd expect for this sort of thing.

I suppose I'm not the only one itching to say "Backstreet's Back" while writing about this movie, but it's clear that Backstreet was never gone. 20 years later, I'm still proud to be a fan.

Of a possible nine Weasleys, Backstreet Boys: Show 'Em What You're Made Of gets seven.

Next up was Wild Card.

Jason Statham stars as a Las Vegas bodyguard who lands on the wrong side of some very dangerous people.

Ahhhh...Jason Statham...a name that sends me to the cinema on opening day every time. Of Statham's three most recent "starring" vehicles, this is the second to go straight to VOD, so I had to assume it was, perhaps, not his best work. While that proved a correct assumption, it wasn't quite as bad as Redemption, so I'm counting it as a win.

Statham is great as always in the kind of role he could play in his sleep, and, if it's nothing new, it's still fun to watch. Unfortunately, Wild Card has little else to recommend it. It's only about an hour and a half, yet it drags along, never really getting anywhere.

The generally-likable Milo Ventimiglia is awful in such an awful role that it's hard to even look at him. Most characters are so poorly developed that you just aren't interested, and it's impossible to like/sympathize with the one person with whom you're probably supposed to like and sympathize.

If you look at the cast list and see a name you like, but that name's not "Statham," well...don't waste your time. The handful of other notable cast members probably don't have ten minutes' combined screen time. There is a bit of classic Statham action, but not nearly enough to keep Wild Card from being something of a snoozefest.

Wild Card clocks in at 92 minutes and is rated R for "strong violence, language, and some sexuality/nudity."

My love for Jason Statham is undiminished, but if I'm looking for a fix I'm probably gonna go dig out Death Race again.

Of a possible nine Weasleys, Wild Card gets four.

Until next time...

*squee*

Cindy Prascik's Review of Mortdecai & The Imitation Game

Dearest Blog, lemme tell ya: I'm a little bit exhausted from juggling all these awards hopefuls (that I never expected to see in my area) with regular new releases and weekly screenings of The Hobbit!

However, thanks to an understanding boss, this weekend I was able to catch Johnny Depp's latest as well as one of Oscar's favorites.

First on my agenda: Mortdecai.

Johnny Depp stars as art dealer/thief Charlie Mortdecai, called upon by MI5 to assist with a case.
Well, dear reader(s), even as a die-hard Depp fan, I'm growing bored with his seemingly endless succession of interchangeable goofy characters. Alice in Wonderland, Dark Shadows, and even Transcendence were all terrible disappointments to me. So, as a Depp fan, I'm pleased to say that Mortdecai, while far from perfect, represents a bit of a rebound.

Comedies are a sketchy business...so often you pay ten bucks for a ticket only to find that all the really funny bits were in the trailer. It is, perhaps, because Mortdecai is more amusing than gut-bustingly funny that it doesn't seem that way; instead of a dozen big laughs spread over two otherwise boring hours, Mortdecai is a more evenly-entertaining experience.

Depp is terrific as the self-absorbed Mortdecai, and, if his "weird people with English accents" routine is wearing thin, it works better here than it has in his last few attempts. As Mortdecai's loyal and long-suffering manservant, Jock, Paul Bettany is the movie's highlight.

 A running gag with Jock--not so much as hinted at in the trailers--provides the movie's best laughs.

Mortdecai is a caper as well as a comedy, and it's pretty entertaining. It doesn't drag on or over-inflate itself with unnecessary pretense. It's not too clever, but it IS fun, and, yes, there are even some laugh-out-loud moments.

Mortdecai runs 106 minutes and is rated R for "some language and sexual material." (For my money, I've seen far worse rated PG13...don't understand this rating at all.)

Mortdecai is not a special movie--you won't be talking about it next week, let alone next year at awards time--but Mortdecai IS a bit of mindlessly fun entertainment. Last I checked, that wasn't yet a crime in Hollywood.

Of a possible nine Weasleys, Mortdecai gets five and a half.

(It would have been six had it co-starred ANYONE besides Gwyneth Paltrow!)

Next up was The Imitation Game.

During World War II, English mathematician Alan Turing leads a team attempting to break Nazi codes.

Alright, I'm gonna say it straight up: though it has zero chance of taking home the Oscar, The Imitation Game is easily my favorite of the Best Picture nominees I've seen.

 (Still missing Whiplash, which hasn't hit my orbit yet.) Benedict Cumberbatch is phenomenal in the lead, often abrasive but still strangely sympathetic. Again, though he doesn't seem to have a legitimate chance of hearing his name called on the big night, his performance is as good as any I saw last year, and the supporting cast is uniformly strong as well.

The Imitation Game races against the clock to break Nazi codes and prevent further loss of life; as such, it's more "edge of your seat" than it probably seems from the description. The movie also touches on Turing's homosexuality, for which he was prosecuted later in life, under UK laws of the time. It's heartbreaking, but never miserable.

The Imitation Game clocks in at 114 minutes and is rated PG13 for "some sexual references, mature thematic material, and historical smoking."

The Imitation Game is riveting from start to finish, beautifully executed on all levels. The very definition of "must see!"

Of a possible nine Weasleys, The Imitation Game gets nine. Just go see it already!

Until next time...

Somehow I knew the Internet wouldn't make me do this myself! :-)