Author Archives: robcan28
Posted with BlogsyDVD Recommendations for December 12, 2014
Lots of great films released and re-released this week. Enjoy!
- Calvary (20th Century Fox)
- Ben-Hur: 55th Anniversary Diamond Luxe Edition (Warner Brothers)
- Forrest Gump: 20th Anniversary Diamond Luxe Edition (Warner Brothers)
- Fox Searchlight 20th Anniversary Collection (Fox Searchlight)
- Gremlins: 30th Anniversary Diamond Luxe Edition (Warner Home Video)
- Guardians of the Galaxy (Disney/Buena Vista)
- Natural Born Killers: 20th Anniversary Diamond Luxe Edition (Warner Home Video)
- Safe (Criterion)
- The Green Mile: 15th Anniversary Diamond Luxe Edition (Warner Home Entertainment)
- The Night Porter (Criterion)
- Time Bandits (Criterion)
Big Hero 6 (2014) Film Review 9 out of 10 Stars
9 out of 10 stars
102 minutes
MPAA Rating: PG
Family Friendliness: I think this film would be OK for small children although it is rated PG. Some scenes can get a little intense and possibly scary. There are some scenes where death is mentioned although it is never shown how it happened or any dead bodies seen.
Importance: Will probably win Best Animated Feature Academy Award. Should become an animatd classic.
See it? Yes.
ABBREVIATED REVIEW
Simply put, Big Hero 6 is a great animated feature that adults and children will enjoy equally. It was a slow weekend for movie releases so I saw this film and was extremely glad I did. What a treat for the eyes and senses. This film has it all. Great animation, innovation, story, characters, laughs and cries. Take your kids or see it alone. Some children leaving the theater said it was the best movie they had ever seen. Yes, it is that good!
What if The Hobbit was One Movie?
The Babadook (2014) – Film Review 8.5 out of 10 Stars
8.5 out of 10 stars
93 minutes
MPAA Rating: Not Rated
Family Friendly: Too scary for preteens and children. Should be Ok for teens although there is one scene of sexuality so beware.
Importance? Medium. Horror movies seem to last the test of time. Anything somewhat watchable becomes a cult classic with the horror crowd so I expect this one to be around for a while. Also a great job by writer/director Jennifer Kent who I expect to see good things from in the future.
See It? Yes.
The Babadook is the first great horror movie of the year. In a genre that is very sparse with good films, it is a very welcome surprise. Written and directed by Jennifer Kent, the main theme of The Babadook is a mother's ferocious love for her child, even in the midst of demons and possession.
Australian actors Essie Davis and Noah Wiseman play mother and son respectively and really hold your attention throughout this suspenseful film. Writer/director Jennifer Kent presents a dark and horror filled story that is not for the easily frightened.
Rotten Tomatoes gave this a 98% so I figured it was a must say. I think that rating is a little inflated, but I would still highly recommend seeing it if you can. If you can't find it in the theaters, add it to your Netflix queue.
DVD Releases – December 2, 2014
Here are my DVD/Blu-ray release recommendations for the week.
- Dawn of the Planet of the Apes (20th Century Fox)
- Mr. Smith Goes to Washington (Sony)
- The Hundred-Foot Journey (Disney/Buena Vista)
Beyond the Lights (2014) – 8 out of 10 Stars
8 out of 10 stars
116 minutes
MPAA Rating: PG-13
Importance: Low
Family Friendliness: some scenes of sexuality and some foul language. Lots of adult themes. I would be careful with this film and would rate it a PG-16, so beware.
See It? Yes.
I was really surprised by how much I liked Beyond the Lights. At first, I wasn't planning on seeing this film, but the buzz has been growing about this movie since it was released so I decided to check it out. I was totally impressed by the acting and material that I saw.
Gugu Mbatha-Raw (Belle) plays Noni Jean, a superstar, music performer who is currently controlled by the industry, but searching for her own voice and image. Police Officer, “Kaz” enters the picture as a solid foundation for her to build her new life upon. Both Noni and Kaz are kindred spirits, even though they're at very different places in their lives, and both controlled by obsessive parents and careers.
Mbatha-Raw is unrecognizable as Noni in the first half of this film and brilliant as a popular hip-hop idol. I really believed her as an accomplished singer and star at all times. Her emotional struggles, behind the scenes, were even more believable. If Belle was Mbatha-Raw's coming out party, this part will solidify her as a potent film star. Her presence on the screen is undeniable. Nate Parker (“Kaz”) is the perfect compliment to Noni's character. As a cop he is trained to be sensitive to what is going on below the surface of a situation. He immediately sees through Noni's shell and falls for the real person that he sees. The supporting actors also do a great job, especially Minnie Driver and Danny Glover as the parents of Noni and Kaz. Control is the theme in this film and it is prominent in every scene. Both Noni and Kaz strive to control their lives and futures, but those around them want pieces of the pie as well. Taking that leap to become who you really are can be difficult when you are trained from childhood to be obedient.
Gina Price-Blythewood has written and directed a real gem. She has really captured the current state of music in the world and we, as the viewer, feel we are seeing real artists behind the scenes. She will be one filmmaker to really watch for in the future. Please see this film. It deserves the attention and buzz it is getting.
The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 1 – Review 7 out of 10 Stars
7 out of 10 stars
123 minutes
MPAA Rating: PG-13
Family Friendliness: OK for the whole family. Smallest children won't be interested and might be bored.
Importance: Low
See It? Yes, if you are a Hunger Games fan and have seen the first two films in the series.
The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 1 is a mediocre, but watchable film. I wasn't bored, but I wasn't thrilled or pleasantly surprised like I was when I saw the first two installments in the series. Mockingjay is the first half of the “rebellion against the capitol” story. Katniss (Jennifer Lawrence) is the Mockingjay and the symbol of the rebellion.
The only actor of mention here is Jennifer Lawrence who is very good as Katniss and always interesting to watch on screen. Obviously, she is in a league of her own in this film, but I am sure she's getting a huge payday so I don't blame her for doing these films.
My main problem with Mockingjay is the same problem I had with The Hobbit: greed (also see Harry Potter). Money has to be the only reason there is to split a story that would work excellently in one film into two (Mockingjay) or even three (The Hobbit) films. In The Hobbit, the director is forced to work in characters and plots that weren't in the book to fill up the extra time (The Hobbit is only a 200 page book!). In Mockingjay, we see long, boring, actionless sections of the film which wouldn't be necessary had it been shot in one movie. I hope this isn't a new trend because it is ruining otherwise good films.
See it if you love Hunger Games or want to complete the series. Otherwise, you probably won't be too happy with the experience.
Foxcatcher (2014) Review 8.5 out of 10 Stars
8.5 out of 10 stars
134 minutes
MPAA Rating: Rated R
Family Friendliness: Rating based on adult themes, language, and some mild nudity. This film should be OK for teens to see.
Importance: High. Carrell will get a Best Actor Nomination at the Oscars and the film could be nominated for Best Picture. I wouldn't be surprised if Mark Ruffalo and/or Channing Tatum received nominations as well. Important memorial to a sad chapter in U.S. Olympic history.
See it? Definitely see this one.
Foxcatcher is a true story that depicts complicated and unhealthy relationships behind the facade of training for the 1988 Seoul Olympics wrestling team. Steve Carrell plays John du Pont, heir to the du Pont chemical fortune and wrestling afficianado. He invites Olympic gold medalist, Mark Schultz (Channing Tatum) to train with him in preparation for the 1988 Seoul Olympics. Eventually, Marks's older brother and wrestling icon, Dave Schultz (Mark Ruffalo) joins them as the coach. What ensues is a perfect storm leading up to disaster.
You will not recognize Carrell as du Pont. Both physically and emotionally this is not a character you have seen before from him. Do not expect laughs from Carrell, but be ready to experience a constant barage of awkward and sad moments in his genius depiction. Du Pont lives under the shadow of his mother, played so coldly by Vanessa Redgrave, and strives to make a name for himself in wrestling. Unfortunately, he knows nothing about wrestling. Although a star in his own right, Mark Schultz lives under the shadow of his more popular and social brother, Dave Schultz. Mark and du pont form their own strange and awkward wrestling relationship and bring Dave on board as coach only to see themselves both becoming jealous of him.
All three performances in this movie are excellent and Oscar worthy. Like Carrell, Tatum and Ruffalo transform themselves into almost unrecognizable characters physically and emotionally. The interplay between the three is spellbinding. The direction and writing in this film are top notch, focusing on the dark, underbelly of people and their relationships.
I highly recommend this film. It is very dark and hard to watch, but a must for true story lovers like myself. This film could propel Carrell and Tatum into competing for roles they weren't considered for before. I was thrilled to learn the background of a story that was well reported in the news. Check this film out. I think you will enjoy the experience.
Film Buffed 