87th Academy Awards

For the past 2 years I've shared my thoughts on the Academy Awards. This year my hearts not in it but why stop now. I'm not going to hit every category because for example, I haven't seen any of the Documentaries nominated or any of the Shorts. And I've only seen one of the Animated films that's nominated.

Let's face it, The Oscars have always been political due to the method of campaigning. When I watched the annual ceremony growing up the “campaigning” didn't bother me, because of course I didn't know it was going on. As an adult watching it seems the politics have gotten worse. I'm not sad, that's just how it is. What I do find sad is the snubs that happen every year. But that's a whole different blog post.

Okay let's get this party started! The award for Best Visual Effects, and the nominees are:

X-MEN: DAYS OF FUTURE PAST

INTERSTELLAR

GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY

DAWN OF THE PLANET OF THE APES

CAPTAIN AMERICA: THE WINTER SOLDIER

I think it will be between INTERSTELLAR and DAWN OF THE PLANET OF THE APES. This is a difficult choice for me but I'm going to root for INTERSTELLAR just because I'm a fan of practical effects and miniatures. This film rocked it in 70mm IMAX!

This next one I'm uncertain about. The award for Best Adapted Screenplay, and the nominees are:

AMERICAN SNIPER

THE IMITATION GAME

INHERENT VICE

THE THEORY OF EVERYTHING

WHIPLASH

The popular safe bet is probably between THE IMITATION GAME and THE THEORY OF EVERYTHING. In my opinion the one to look out here for is WHIPLASH. Yep, I'm rooting for WHIPLASH.

Now here are the nominees for Best Original Screenplay: BIRDMAN OR (THE UNEXPECTED VIRTUE OF IGNORANCE)

BOYHOOD

FOXCATCHER

THE GRAND BUDAPEST HOTEL

NIGHTCRAWLER

I don't think there is any doubt with this one, BIRDMAN OR (THE UNEXPECTED VIRTUE OF IGNORANCE) will be the winner.

For Best Sound Editing the nominees are: AMERICAN SNIPER

BIRDMAN OR (THE UNEXPECTED VIRTUE OF IGNORANCE)

THE HOBBIT: THE BATTLE OF THE FIVE ARMIES

INTERSTELLAR

UNBROKEN

Don't count out AMERICAN SNIPER in this category but I think it's a safe bet INTERSTELLAR will nab most if not all the technical awards this year.

The nominees for Best Sound Mixing: AMERICAN SNIPER

BIRDMAN OR (THE UNEXPECTED VIRTUE OF IGNORANCE)

WHIPLASH

INTERSTELLAR

UNBROKEN

Again, like I said INTERSTELLAR is the obvious pick here. But BIRDMAN just might upset the Christopher Nolan masterpiece.

Best Production Design, the nominees are: THE GRAND BUDAPEST HOTEL

THE IMITATION GAME

INTERSTELLAR

INTO THE WOODS

MR. TURNER

Disney always seems to do well in this category so I'm going to say INTO THE WOODS will win. But I kind of want THE GRAND BUDAPEST HOTEL to win!

This next category I would generally skip, but there is a film nominated here that should win hands down and that is GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY for Best Makeup and Hairstyling!

Best Music – Original Score:

THE GRAND BUDAPEST HOTEL

THE IMITATION GAME

INTERSTELLAR

MR. TURNER

THE THEORY OF EVERYTHING

If fit the movie but I wasn't too impressed with Zimmer's score for INTERSTELLAR. And where is GONE GIRL, BIRDMAN, and NIGHTCRAWLER? All three has awesome original music. Seeing that THE THEORY OF EVERYTHING won a Golden Globe for this category, I'm sure it'll win an Oscar as well.

The nominees for Best Film Editing are: AMERICAN SNIPER

BOYHOOD

THE GRAND BUDAPEST HOTEL

THE IMITATION GAME

WHIPLASH

This one should only really be between BOYHOOD and BUDAPEST HOTEL. If AMERICAN SNIPER wins in Sound Editing and or Sound Mixing, then it might sneak an win. But let's face it, AMERICAN SNIPER isn't going to win anything. I can totally see why WHIPLASH is nominated here. The intensity of music performance and acting had me by the balls! Worthy nomination!

Best Cinematography: BIRDMAN OR (THE UNEXPECTED VIRTUE OF IGNORANCE)

THE GRAND BUDAPEST HOTEL

IDA

MR. TURNER

UNBROKEN

No doubt in my mind that it'll be another win for Emmanuel Lubezki with the excellent BIRDMAN OR (THE UNEXPECTED VIRTUE OF IGNORANCE)

The nominees for Best Directing: BIRDMAN OR (THE UNEXPECTED VIRTUE OF IGNORANCE)

BOYHOOD

FOXCATCHER

THE GRAND BUDAPEST HOTEL

THE IMITATION GAME

I'm 99% certain the award will go to Richard Linklater for BOYHOOD. But Alejandro G. Iñárritu may steal for the win with BIRDMAN OR (THE UNEXPECTED VIRTUE OF IGNORANCE)

Best Actress in a Supporting Role:

Patricia Arquette – BOYHOOD

I have not seen WILD or INTO THE WOODS yet so I cannot make a honest pick. But from what I have seen, Patricia Arquette is my pick to win.

Best Actor in a Supporting Role:

Do I even have to list the nominees? We all know J.K. Simmons will win for WHIPLASH!

Best Actress in a Lead Role:

I cannot speak for three of the performances so as far as I'm concerned it's a free for all. But I loved Rosamund Pike in GONE GIRL!

Best Actor in a Lead Role:

Steve Carell – FOXCATCHER

Bradley Cooper – AMERICAN SNIPER

Benedict Cumberbatch – THE IMITATION GAME

Micheal Keaton – BIRDMAN OR (THE UNEXPECTED VIRTUE OF IGNORANCE)

Eddie Redmayne – THE THEORY OF EVERYTHING

Yes! I want Keaton to win an Oscar.

And last but not least, the nominees for Best Picture AMERICAN SNIPER

BIRDMAN OR (THE UNEXPECTED VIRTUE OF IGNORANCE)

BOYHOOD

THE GRAND BUDAPEST HOTEL

THE IMITATION GAME

SELMA

THE THEORY OF EVERYTHING

WHIPLASH

If BIRDMAN won I wouldn't complain but I think we all know the winner will be BOYHOOD.

JUPITER ASCENDING

Ever since STAR WARS I have had a deep love and interest in science fiction and space fantasy films. As a kid growing up there were 4 movies on heavy rotation at my house. THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK, FLASH GORDON, THE NEVERENDING STORY, and THE LAST STARFIGHTER. These films along with a few cheesy ones like BEASTMASTER cemented my love for fantasy.

JUPITER ASCENDING reminds me of going to the bookstore as a kid and looking at all the paperbacks in the Science Fiction section. I would always pick up something “lite” like a Star Trek book. But the others with their cool looking covers would send my imagination into overdrive. And for me, JUPITER ASCENDING was The Wachowskis bringing those awesome book covers to life.

There is a good 90 minute version of JUPITER ASCENDING somewhere within the films 127 minute runtime. The more I describe the new Wachowskis film to friends, I find myself liking it less and less. But rest assured I'm still a fan of their work and willing to give the film a second chance if a extended version or director's cut becomes available on home video.

Essentially the film is a Cinderella space opera set in a bright and colorful future. Mila Kunis plays Jupiter, a destitute caretaker who's life life is about to change. What Jupiter doesn't know is that she is the reincarnation of a queen. To keep things simple lets just say she is the reincarnation of a space queen. Queen to a intergalactic royal family of spoiled brats. These brats are actually thousands of years old.

To keep this less convoluted as possible I'll try to explain things even simpler. Balem Abrasax has his claim of Earth, but Jupiter Jones is the rightful heir. An assassination attempt is made and Titus Abrasax hires Caine Wise (Channing Tatum)to find Jupiter Jones and keep her safe. Once safe and sound Jupiter bureaucratically becomes royalty and rightful heir to Earth. The Abrasax family secret of harvesting earthlings to make cell rejuvenation cream is discovered. Will Jupiter forfeit Earth to save her family and the entire human race? Or can her and Caine put a stop to Balem?

Like I mentioned earlier, the more that I think about this film the less I like it. Besides the convoluted plot, we've got a severely miscast lead in Mila Kunis. After the Star Wars prequels I could understand why Natalie Portman would be done with space adventures, but I think she would have been a far better choice for Jupiter Jones.

And I felt Channing Tatum was under utilized. He did an okay job but I honestly felt he was more bad ass in the 21 Jump Street films. Sorry, but his gravity boots weren't as cool as the movie wanted you to think they were. I never thought I'd say this but I'm finding Tatum far more compelling in films like FOXCATCHER than in action/adventure roles.

As action is concerned, this movie could've had more of Channing Tatum and Sean Bean kicking ass, and less of Mila Kunis falling through the sky and screaming. It happens a lot and quickly annoying.

Yes, Sean Bean is in this thing and he's cool as usual. One thing though. I didn't quite catch his genetic splicing ability? His name is Stinger because he was spliced with a bee. And the house he was living in could double as a hive. But I guess his “ability” was loyalty? I mean Caine was spliced with a dog or wolf, and at least he did some dog like stuff whereas with Stinger I was never sure. It doesn't really matter I guess.

But the acting highlight of JUPITER ASCENDING is Eddie Redmayne as Balem Abrasax, the films villain. I had a blast with his performance. It's peculiar to down right laughably bad. It begs the question, what was he thinking! Especially after knocking it out of the park with THE THEORY OF EVERYTHING where he played Steven Hawking. I was talking to a friend a work and we both think that Eddie's chances of an Oscar this year are completely shot now. But holy cow, wouldn't it be amazing if he won! It'd be hilarious, but that's just me.

For me the only thing JUPITER ASCENDING has going for it is the visuals. The production design and costumes are awesome. The special effects were a nice change of pace from all out CGI. Most of the action was shot with blue screen. A practice you don't see much anymore. While it does look dated I prefer this old school method over heavy CGI. Because it feels like you are watching a film, not a video game.

I'd only recommend JUPITER ASCENDING to those who like space adventure movies. Especially ones from the 80's. This would make a great double feature with FLASH GORDON (1980). Just make sure you watch JUPITER ASCENDING first, that way you don't fall asleep.

TO HAVE AND HAVE NOT

Humphrey Bogart is one of my favorite actors. And the four films he made with Lauren Bacall, his wife, are among the ones I like the most. Most notably KEY LARGO and THE BIG SLEEP. But their first outing together, TO HAVE AND HAVE NOT might be number one for me.

I love CASABLANCA. What film fan doesn't? It's a classic! But the film I gravitate more to is the 'other' CASABLANCA, which is TO HAVE AND HAVE NOT. Both movie are similar. Strikingly similar. Both films are set during WWII, each one has a cool night club, and Bogart plays a cynical expatriate in each. The list of similarities goes on and on.

Yes, CASABLANCA is probably the better film. Director Michael Curtiz could light a B&W movie like nobody. I just happen to think that TO HAVE AND HAVE NOT is cooler. It's a Howard Hawks film, so you know the dialogue is going to be witty and fast paced, which I like a lot. Plus Bogart is way cooler in this one.

Bogart plays Harry Morgan, an American expatriate hiding out in Martinique during WWII. Harry and his first mate Eddie (played by Howard Hawks regular Walter Brennan) make their money by taking customers out deep sea fishing. One night at a club they run into a client who has yet to pay up. The gentleman's date for the evening, Marie, wants to get payed as well. Harry catches Marie (Lauren Bacall) pickpocketing her date. Shy about $500 dollars Harry stops her hoping to collect.

The chemistry between Harry and Marie begins almost immediately but the night is cut short when Vichy authorities/the Gestapo shoot up the place due to some French opposition. Both Harry and Marie are interrogated but released. The Vichy authorities intend to disrupt any activity that might prove detrimental to German interests. It is about this time that Harry decides it is probably a good time to leave, and decides to help the Free French resistance find a base to continue their opposition.

So it's probably because TO HAVE AND HAVE NOT is more of a adventure film than CASABLANCA is the reason I like it more. That, and the fact that I love the chemistry of Bogart and Bacall. From the moment of Marie's opening line “Anybody got a match?”, it was love at first sight after that. A Hollywood match made in Heaven!

Happy Valentines Day!

FRIDAY THE 13TH PART 3

It's a toss for up for me concerning FRIDAY THE 13TH PART 3, there are things I really like about the third film, but there are things about it that really bug me.  Things I even hate about it.  While it's not my least favorite entry in the series, I do think it's one of the weakest.  It was made to be seen in 3D and if you can't view it that way then quite frankly the film does not hold up very good.  According to interviews with cast and crew the movies budget focused on the 3D more than anything. And believe me it shows.

Until Paramount Pictures releases a proper home video 3D release of FRIDAY THE 13TH PART 3, it will continue to be the ultimate dud of the series.  What we are stuck with for the time being is a headache inducing 3D that requires the use of those lame red and blue lenses glasses.  They're lame because they don't freaking work half the time!  It's hard not to see a double image most of the time.  And if you are lucky to have the 3D work, the colors are very washed out and the picture has a blue and or reddish hue to it.

With the 3D being the main selling point of the film, everything else seemed to take a backseat. None of the acting is very good. There are plenty of entertaining moments but I cannot help but notice weak spots in performances throughout. It probably has to do with the script or lack of one. I have heard stories and seen interviews where production had started even before a script was completed. And when there was a script, rewrites were happening constantly.

Now while the acting is a tad sub par I think it's worth noting that the characters remain likable. And what little story FRIDAY THE 13TH PART 3 does have, you do have to admire the “final girl” characters story arc and how it actually comes full circle. Say what you will about slasher flicks just being “women in peril” schlock, but I found Chris's fight with Jason quite entertaining and empowering.

Chris and her friends go to her family's lake house for the weekend. This is a big thing for Chris, seeing that she was raped the last time she visited the lake house. It's time to put her fears to rest, as she puts it. Little do Chris and her friends know that there is a killer on the loose.

Fresh off his killing spree in Part II, Jason Voorhees takes his reign of terror from Camp Crystal and moves it to the other side of the lake. The weekend at the lake house turns bloody as Jason kills the “party goers” one by one. And Chris will literally have to face her fear as she discovers that it was Jason who raped her 2 years ago.

In terms of continuity the plot of this movie sucks. It makes zero sense continuity wise, but in all honesty continuity in a Friday The 13th film went out the door in the first sequel. I like these movies because they are apart of my childhood and pop culture, but Parts II – VIII have all been one glaring plot hole.

There is something else that bugs me about FRIDAY THE 13TH PART 3 and that's the costume/production design. In order for the 3D to work there had to be a lot of the color red and the color blue in front of the camera. The majority of the cast was wearing something either red or blue. The production design was the same way. The van they drove was blue, the lake house had a red barn, and the general store had red vending machines. You get the idea.

I think it's worth noting that this is the film where Jason gets his iconic hockey mask. A trademark that lasted the rest of the series. It wasn't until recently that I found out a little history behind the famous mask. Apparently the original idea was for Jason to not have a mask, but someone thought that the characters make-up wasn't scary enough so they stuck with the mask. One of the best ideas in the history of the franchise if you ask me!

I can only recommend FRIDAY THE 13TH PART 3 to those interested in the history of the slasher flick sub genre of horror. Other than that, you're perfectly fine with just checking out Part IV, my personal favorite of the series.

Happy Friday the 13th!

WHIPLASH

WHIPLASH kicked my butt! The most intense film I saw last year wasn't LONE SURVIVOR nor was it NIGHTCRALER. No, WHIPLASH utterly drained me. Between the scenes of Andrew (Miles Teller) playing the drums till his fingers bleed and countless moments of Fletcher (J.K Simmons) the band leader/conductor drawing blood from a stone to make sure his jazz band is the best, I was white-knuckled for most of the films 107 minute runtime.

No way am I a musical prodigy, but in a small way I could relate to WHIPLASH. A very small way. I played saxophone for 8 years, 5th grade through my senior year in high school. Up until high school I thought I was pretty great. It was in high school that I found out that being excellent at sight reading music wasn't going to cut it. And my jazz band experience humbled me quite a bit.

While I never had a band teacher that was driven quite like Fletcher, I did see glimpses of my instructors from high school. So if you were ever enrolled in band at school, you might be able to say “I remember that” if you see WHIPLASH.

Andrew is enrolled at a elite music school in New York. He is a jazz drummer in hopes of becoming the next Buddy Rich. He's good. He's so good that he catches the eye of Fletcher, a instructor/mentor who stops at nothing to get the best out of the students of the conservatory. Sometimes Fletcher can push a little too far. But how far is too far if students like Andrew truly want to be the best?

I've been a fan of Miles Teller since the FOOTLOOSE remake. Take note kids, this guy is going to be one of the next great movie stars. But the real star of WHIPLASH is of course J.K. Simmons as Fletcher, the instructor who will break a student to reach their potential.

The role is mesmerizing. I found myself laughing one moment only to be shockingly speechless the next. It makes you wonder if this guy is crazy, or does he truly have a point? While I disagree with his teaching methods, I totally believe the message of Fletcher.

We as a society, as a culture are dumbing down the future with “just okay” becoming the new “that's great”. It's a variation on the “everyone's a winner” and “no one's a looser” mentality.

WHIPLASH is the second feature from filmmaker Damien Chazelle. He also wrote the screenplay for the highly entertaining thriller GRAND PIANO. Now playing on Netflix, which I highly, highly recommend. I'm expecting great things from Mr. Chazelle in years to come. A true wonderkind.

So go see WHIPLASH for the amazing performance from J.K. Simmons, and stay for the cool jazz music.

AMERICAN SNIPER

Really don't want to review this one because of how political this film has become. I know it's not impossible to talk about AMERICAN SNIPER without bringing up politics, so I'm going to give it a shot. To help move this along I'll get the politics out of the way right off the bat. I supported the war, I support our troops, and any form of terrorism should be eradicated from this world.

I am overjoyed at how well AMERICAN SNIPER is performing at the box office. Before you get mad, it's not for the reasons you're probably thinking. This time of year is a ghost town for movie theaters across the nation. Hollywood and your local multiplex needed this. Heck. Clint Eastwood needed this! I think it's now officially become his highest grossing picture or something like that?

Sadly AMERICAN SNIPER doesn't live up to the hype. I was a big fan of GRAN TORINO but Eastwood's last great film was probably MYSTIC RIVER. Which is currently streaming on Netflix, so I should give it a re-watch to see if I still feel the same way about it as I did roughly 10 years ago.

As of late Eastwood films have felt very point and shoot movies. And his stories get a big budget just because of his name. Where did the director of UNFORGIVEN go? Maybe Quentin Tarantino was correct in saying that directing is a young man's game? But look at Martin Scorsese and THE WOLF OF WALL STREET? That my friends is an amazing picture!

I guess what I'm trying to say is that AMERICAN SNIPER felt like it could have been directed by anybody. Would it be doing the business that it is at the box office if Clint's name wasn't attached? It's possible, but I don't think so.

Unless you've been living in a cave, you all know what AMERICAN SNIPER is about. Bradley Cooper plays Navy Seal sniper Chris Kyle, who was a war hero saving countless lives on the battlefield during the Iraq war. At home between tours Chris finds it hard to leave the war behind. After 4 tours and suffering from PTSD, he finds help in helping others with the terrible disorder.

Once my patriotism wore off after a couple days from seeing the film, I found myself nitpicking the war movie cliches that I am will to put money on saying they didn't happen. Best example being, the solider who just got engaged and gets shot in the face immediately after telling his fellow Seals. Now I do realize I am watching a dramatic interpretation of the source material and the film is more about what war does to a man. But these war movie cliches sometimes took me out of the movie. Sorry if that sounds heartless.

I will go ahead and recommend AMERICAN SNIPER for two reasons. Bradley Cooper does an amazing job! Going in I didn't think he'd be able to pull it off, but his portrayal of a solider suffering from PTSD moved me. The second reason is two words, fake baby.

THE IMITATION GAME

THE IMITATION GAME is one of the biggest let downs in recent memory. When I first heard about the film it sounded like pure Oscar bait to me. Then a friend at work told me the story about Alan Turing. A British mathematician who cracked the Nazi enigma code during WWII. In 1952 he was prosecuted for being homosexual and accepted chemical castration as a alternative to prison. Two years later he killed himself. Such a sad story for a man who helped end a world war and basically invent the first computer.

If you want to know the story of Alan Turing I suggest you read the book that the films screenplay was based on, because you'll probably be more satisfied than what THE IMITATION GAME has to offer. THE IMITATION GAME is an incomplete film. It's incomplete on a emotional level. A total whitewash if you ask me!

The film shows us three significant times in Alan's life. In 1952 being interrogated/filing a report for a break-in at his home, During World War II being hired to crack the Nazi enigma code, and we see him in boarding school getting picked on for being different. Most of the films running time focuses on Alan and other mathematicians trying to break the code.

This was really only the best part of the movie. I really liked how Cumberbatch played Alan as the smartest mathematician in the room. The cast is great all around. Strong characters, especially Joan Clarke played by Keira Knightly. Two great scenes involving Keira, the first one being her introduction. To pick a team worthy of working beside Alan, he creates a test that has to be solved in under 10 minutes (or something like that) and Miss Clarke solves it in the quickest time. It's a really good scene. The second one is where Joan reveals to Alan that she knows he's gay buy still wants to marry him because of the mission and to keep him safe.

It's after Turing and his team crack the code that the film starts to loose it's steam. It looses it's identity. Throughout the movie we are giving clues that he is gay. Which by the way added nothing dramatically to the story. I say this because all the build up leads to nothing. He's gay, so what? Why should the audience feel sympathy for this character when we are not taken on that journey as film goers?

Possible spoiler alert!

The film ends several years after the war and Joan comes to visit Alan. He is weak and frail. Putting two and two together it's because of his court ordered chemical castration. Then the film ends with text telling us Alan was prosecuted because he was gay...his war heroism was kept top secret because of national security...he later killed himself because of his chemical castration. Tragic? Absolutely! Do I care? Yeah, but I'll have to read the book to truly grasp what Alan Turing really went through, meaning the whole story. Because the movie certainly failed detailing the events of his life after WWII. But that's just my opinion.

The Oscar nominations that THE IMITATION GAME has received is a clear indication just how deep the pockets of Harvey Weinstein truly are. This film shouldn't be in the running, especially for Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Screenplay.

BIRDMAN OR (THE UNEXPECTED VIRTUE OF IGNORANCE)

Once I heard about this film I just had to see it. Michael Keaton playing an actor who became a massive star after playing the title role of Birdman, a popular superhero movie. And leaving the role at the peak of it's popularity. Art imitating life am I right!

BIRDMAN OR (THE UNXPECTED VIRTUE OF IGNORANCE) is a great film. It was one of my favorite films of 2014. Partly due to the fact that I've always been a long time fan of Michael Keaton. The other reason is my continued growing appreciation of art house cinema.

Last year I started watching the works of filmmaker John Cassavetes, a pioneer in American independent film making, with his improvisational methods and his cinema vertie (documentary style) technique. I became a fan while watching a good portion of his work. Some worked for me and some did not. All in all I enjoyed the process.

What Alejandro González Iñárritu's new film reminded me most of was what if Cassavetes had directed a Federico Fellini film. Fellini's film 8 ½ is a movie that constantly flowed through my mind while watching BIRDMAN OR (THE UNXPECTED VIRTUE OF IGNORANCE). The more I think about it, this would probably make for an interesting double feature!

Fellini's 8 ½ is probably the best film ever about directing. It's about a troubled filmmaker who is having some serious director's-block as he attempts to get a new movie off the ground. Overwhelmed by his work and personal life, the director retreats into his thoughts, which often focus on his love life, both past and present. These thoughts also teeter into the fantastical, and as he tries to sort out his many entanglements, the filmmakers new film starts to become autobiographical.

In BIRDMAN OR (THE UNXPECTED VIRTUE OF IGNORANCE) Micheal Keaton stars as Riggan Thomson, a former cinema superhero who quit the role of Birdman at the height of franchises popularity. Washed up, Riggan is now getting ready a ambitious Broadway production that he hopes will give him the comeback that he needs. It's a creative gamble that he hopes will prove that he is an artist and not just a has been movie star. Days before opening night a cast mate is injured, forcing Riggan to hire an actor who is notorious for shaking things up on set/stage. All of this plus Riggan must deal with his girlfriend, daughter, and wife.

Iñárritu's new film has two popular gimmicks going for it. The meta aspect, seeing that Keaton played a popular superhero character in real life for two movies then left the series. And the second gimmick that might be more popular than the first, is that BIRDMAN OR (THE UNEXPECTED VIRTUE OF IGNORANCE) looks like it was all shot in one take.

Keaton cast as Riggan Thomson because he played Batman is indeed very cool. It adds a nice touch to the viewing experience. The film edited to make it seem like the movie was one continuous shot was awesome. However, I still consider the famous stedicam shot from GOODFELLAS to be the best. It's only one scene but no trickery was done, it's genuinely one take.

What I like more about the “film being one continuous shot” is what it represents. The impression I get is that it is about the franticness of a Broadway production. Ever since I had the once in a lifetime opportunity (for this Midwestern at least) to see a Broadway play, I have a deep, deep respect and admiration for the art.

One of my favorite scenes in the film is where Riggan gets locked out of the theater during a public test run ( I forget what they call those). So he is locked out and has to walk a block or two through Times Square and enter the lobby of the theater to get back on stage. It's a cool scene and quite comical for reasons I won't ruin here.

BIRDMAN OR (THE UNEXPECTED VIRTUE OF IGNORANCE) is still in theaters because of Oscar season and I highly recommend checking it out.

TOP 10 FAVORITES OF 2014

It's that time of year again, time for the top ten films I saw in 2014. Man, 2014 was an awesome year for movies! There's still a lot of films I haven't seen yet, some are my fault (THE BABADOOK) and others were out of my control (INHERENT VICE). I'm just glad I got to see WHIPLASH at the last minute.

There's a lot of good films I saw this year so I really don't have time to list any "close but no cigar" picks. But to kick things off I'm going to pick one film that I thought was the worst film I saw in 2014. I knew this film was going to be bad, but holy cow did this film suck (no pun intended)

DARIO ARGENTO'S DRACULA

Here are some other ones that I thought we're pretty awful.

VAMPIRE ACADEMY

OLDBOY

TAMMY

TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES

And let's not forget the biggest let down of 2014,

AMAZING SPIDER-MAN 2

Okay! Now on to the good stuff!

BIRDMAN OR THE UNEXPECTED VIRTUE OF IGNORANCE

THE GRAND BUDAPEST HOTEL

BOYHOOD

WHIPLASH

ONLY LOVERS LEFT ALIVE

GODZILLA

X-MEN: DAYS OF FUTURE PAST

The Top 10

10. EDGE OF TOMORROW

I really dislike the ending of this movie, but there is no denying that this was one of the best genre films of 2014! And nobody saw it. Shame on you all! Get over your Tom Cruise hate and rent one of the best summer films of the year. And if you do indeed cannot stand Tom Cruise then you'll have the time of your life because he dies a million times in this thing!

9. JOHN WICK

Don't steal his car and especially don't kill his dog, which was a gift from his dying wife. I love action movies and JOHN WICK was the film I've been waiting years for Hollywood to make. It's almost perfect. I wouldn't change a thing, except maybe that ending.

8. SNOWPIERCER

The American debut from Korean filmmaker Joon-ho-Bong (The Host). So now all three of my favorite Korean directors have done their English language debut, and this film is my favorite of the bunch!

Set in a future where a failed climate change experiment goes wrong and wipes out most of the Earths population. The survivors find home on board Snowpiercer, a train that travels around the globe. On the train a class system has formed. A group of lower class citizens from the back of the train are bound and determined to make it to the front of the train. The revolution has begun!

7. CAPTAIN AMERICA: THE WINTER SOLDIER

A breath of fresh air for the Marvel Cinematic Universe. This film being part thriller and part comic book movie is a nice touch to the series. The opening scene still gets me every time! “On your left”!

6. GONE GIRL

The greatest “turn” in a film I've seen in 2014. One so great that merely mentioning it can ruin the movie. And get this, Madea very well could get a Best Supporting Actor Oscar for this film! Funny as it sounds, it's well deserved. All the major acting awards are well deserved for GONE GIRL.

5. DAWN OF THE PLANET OF THE APES

Apes riding horses! What more do you need? In all seriousness though the new Apes films are kicking butt! The original is one of my favorite genre films of all time. It's a miracle we're even getting a new series after that Tim Burton disaster.

I think 2011's RISE OF THE PLANET OF THE APES is a little better but like I said, apes riding horses!

4. INTERSTELLAR

INTERSTELLAR is my favorite big screen experience of 2014. 70mm IMAX all the way!

3. NIGHTCRAWLER

Holy crap! It's been since Halloween and I still think about this movie daily. This is Jake Gyllenhaal's best performance!

2. THE RAID 2

THE RAID 2 might be the greatest action film ever made. THE RAID was amazing and like everybody else I thought the sequel would be just more of the same. But what we got was the Godfather Part II of action sequels. This film is so badass that it has a fight scene that I've watched three times now, and I still get goose bumps at how it's going to end!

1. GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY

GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY is awesome! Go back and read my review to see why! But to be perfectly honest I didn't think it was going to be my cup of tea at first. The comic book movie balloon has to pop sometime, and I really thought this was going to be Marvel Studio's first bomb. Boy, was I wrong (I'm wrong most of the time anyways). I think this franchise is the new crowned king of the MCU, and I'm not complaining.

THE INTERVIEW

Last week scared me. Really scared me. It scared me how quickly “fear” prevented the release of a comedy in America. We lost. But how do you deal with bullies? You stand up for yourself and fight back if necessary. And on December 24th 2014, Sony along with selected theaters across America did just that! THE INTERVIEW is now streaming online and will be in theaters Christmas Day.

About a month ago when I watched INTERSTELLAR in 70mm IMAX it was my favorite theatrical experience of this year. And probably for several years to come. That all changed with the Sony hack and controversy surrounding THE INTERVIEW. Let's just say George Clooney and I share the same sentiment when it comes to dictators telling Americans what they can or cannot watch. So now that the politics are out of the way, let's talk about the movie.

On Christmas Eve I had the privilege to rent THE INTERVIEW online. And like I thought, the movie was average with some amazing comedic performances. It's easily the best comedy I've seen in 2014, but that's not saying much when your competition is TAMMY or SEX TAPE.

In case you've been living under a rock, you should know the plot of THE INTERVIEW and the story behind it's cancellation. James Franco and Seth Rogen play Dave Skylark and Aaron Rapoport who run a celebrity tabloid talk show called “Skylark Tonight”. When they land an interview with surprise fan, North Korean dictator Kim Jong-un, they are recruited by the CIA to turn their trip to Pyongyang into an assassination mission.

The movie is good, not great. Rogen and Franco are a duo I hope we continue to see more of. I've been a big fan since PINEAPPLE EXPRESS and thought it and THIS IS THE END were both masterpieces.

I hate reviewing comedies because I don't want to give anything away or most importantly ruin good jokes. Seriously, I'm the worse when it comes to trying to explain a funny scene. Some of my favorite moments are when Dave (Franco) is hanging out with Jong-un, played by Randall Park. It's Park who really steals the show in THE INTERVIEW. The whole movie hangs on his performance. And he nails it! If he hadn't, then the film as a whole would really be another forgettable comedy.

Acting wise Seth Rogen has been putting out funny funny stuff recently. He's good in this film, but what I am becoming more impressed with is his talents behind the camera. Last years THIS IS THE END was one of my favorite films of 2013. And with all the attention that THE INTERVIEW is getting, I don't seeing things slowing down for these guys. Directors Evan Goldberg and Seth Rogen are quite the team. It takes talent to make a screwball comedy that also shows glimpses of the cruel realities going on in North Korea. But the film stays funny from beginning to end. The satire never gets real preachy. Which is a good thing.

THE INTERVIEW is highly recommended! Go see it to support freedom of artistic expression, and then stay for the biting satire and occasional dick and fart joke.

Go see a movie this holiday weekend. It doesn't have to be THE INTERVIEW, there are plenty of other good flicks now playing at the theater.

Merry Christmas!

DRIVE HARD

DRIVE HARD is the sequel to the 2011 Nicolas Cage film DRIVE ANGRY! No, just kidding. It's the latest film from the master of Ozploitation himself, Brian Trenchard-Smith (BMX BANDITS, DEAD END DRIVE-IN). If you didn't know, Ozploitation is Australian exploitation films. I was looking forward to this movie since I first heard about it. It sounded like a return to forum for the director. Not to mention a cool bit of casting. John Cusack and Thomas Jane in a heist movie, better yet an Ozploitation heist movie! Count me in! Too bad this film falls flat on so many levels.

All the ingredients are there for a rip roaring exploitation heist film, but what we get is more of a made-for-television action/comedy. Comedy is really only the saving grace for DRIVE HARD. And that's probably me just being very nice trying to find something of merit in the movie. It is very evident that both Cusack and Jane are trying the best they can with the material. And when the material isn't working, they are just having fun working off of each other. The experience for me was like riding in a car with the driver continuously pumping the breaks. Pun intended.

A former race car driver (Jane) turned driver's instructor, is about to get his life turned upside down when a mysterious thief (Cusack) forces him to be a getaway driver in a bank robbery. The heist puts them both in the sights of the cops and the mob. It's a wild chase across Australia's Gold Coast.

With a plot as simple as that, what could go wrong? For starters you've got a movie titled DRIVE HARD that has some of the most boring car chase scenes I've seen in a long time. Next you have two pretty awesome actors phoning it in. About 30 minutes in I was about to shut the movie off but as lazy as they may be I found myself enjoying the banter between Thomas Jane and John Cusack. But sadly we're just talking brief moments here and there.

Whenever these two aren't on screen is when things get really mediocre. Anytime the movie would cut to the police and or mob that's when the story really felt by-the-numbers. What's to blame? Is it the director, Brian Trenchard-Smith? No. I blame the script and budget of the film. Mainly budget. Too many scenes of characters telling us about the story and not showing us. During a “high speed” pursuit Cusack's character is going on and on about how this particular heist was about revenge. Okay, fine. But wouldn't this be better if it were told in a flashback? Not during a Sunday drive, oh sorry, not during “chase” scene.

Like I mentioned earlier the banter between the two leads made me laugh a few times. There are scenes where I have to wonder if they know the script is crappy and they are ad libbing their lines? With Trenchard-Smith's background in exploitation I wouldn't be surprised if he told Cusack just to play his character from GROSSE POINT BLANK? Especially during the gas station scene.

Final thoughts. If the director was given a better script and bigger budget then DRIVE HARD might have been the film that I was hoping for? I cannot recommend this movie to anyone, not even to the fans of the talented actors involved. To those curious about Brian Trenchard-Smith, search his name on Netflix. I think they still might have some of his gems on there?

RIDE IN THE WHIRLWIND

Sometimes I will get into a mood where I want to watch everything I can get my hands on. In a film history sort of way. Several years ago I did that with THE SEVENTH SEAL and Fritz Lang's M, kinda as a self taught lesson in film school. Turns out they are now a couple of my favorite films. Same thing with the film THE RED SHOES, a film about the ballet. I could care less about the ballet. But I remember hearing that THE RED SHOES was Martin Scorsese's favorite film. So I had to watch it. Had to. And what a movie night it was! Thanks to Mr. Scorsese I am now a big Powell & Pressburger fan.

An era of film making I am currently digging is the mid 60's and early 70's in Hollywood. All the major studio heads of yesteryear were either dead or retiring. And the suits buying these studios really didn't know the first thing about making movies. So they put their faith and trust in the “New Hollywood”. Maverick filmmakers like Martin Scorsese, Francis Ford Coppola, and William Friedkin just to name a few.

Monte Hellman is another filmmaker that can be lumped into that bunch. And in 1966 he made two westerns. Two films that were forgotten as soon as they were released. THE SHOOTING and RIDE IN THE WHIRLWIND. Both of which were co-produced and starred Jack Nicholson. Nicholson even wrote the screenplay for RIDE IN THE WHIRLWIND.

Often referred to as 'micro westerns' these films would go on to become cult classics. Being called 'micro westerns' I think comes from the fact both films are low budget ( which you can't tell because of how stunning the production value is), and the story each movie tells is surprisingly small for a western .

RIDE IN THE WHIRLWIND is probably the most honest depiction of the west in a movie I have ever seen. Everything is sandy and dusty. All the characters have a look of desperation about them. All around it's just a very naturalistic feel. Hellman's depiction of the west is almost post apocalyptic. Which can account for the 'micro western' label. The characters in RIDE IN THE WHIRLWIND seem like they could be some of the last remaining people on earth.

Three cowhands on the way to a cattle drive bunk at a cabin for the night. Little do they know that their hosts are outlaws who recently held up a stagecoach and killed a man. When an vigilante posse attacks the cabin, the trio is mistaken as part of the outlaw gang. Two of them escape only to be relentlessly hunted down by the avenging pose.

A movie like RIDE IN THE WHIRLWIND is one that grows on you. When I finished watching it I could take it or leave it. But after a few days I kept thinking about the film and liking it more and more. I can't remember the last time I watched a western where the frontier was such a lonely place. And where the people who live in it look like prisoners who've given up hope.

Final thoughts. While I typically like my westerns a little more stylized, RIDE IN THE WHIRLWIND is a cool little film. For such a small budget there is some excellent locations and high production value in the cinematography. One cool piece of trivia, the shooting location for the movie is now underwater. Yep, Glen Canyon near Kanab, Utah where the film was shot became Lake Powell.

I'd recommend RIDE IN THE WHIRLWIND to avid movie buffs and fans of 60's counterculture films.

INTERSTELLAR

The best theatrical experience of 2014 happened a week ago when I went to see INTERSTELLAR in 70mm on the IMAX screen. If you have the opportunity to see this film in that format then I highly recommend you see it. Immediately! But if you can't, then see it anyway at your local multiplex. It's a film worth seeing in a theater on the big screen.

Film vs. Digital Presentation, where do I stand? In a movie theater I prefer seeing a movie that was shot on film. Those days are numbered. Sadly, what's gone completely is the sound of the projector . I miss it deeply. All the theaters in town have converted to digital projectors. Before the switch over one of my favorite theatrical activities was going to midnight showings of classic and or cult films. If a 35mm print of JAWS is playing at a theater near you, it's worth going! I hate nothing more than going to a midnight showing of say THE LOST BOYS and it turns out to be a DVD blown up on a big screen. Yeah, of course I don't have a theater size screen at home but DVD? Seriously? I can watch that at home, thank you very much.

Probably the worst experience to date with film vs. digital was a few months ago when I went to see a Duran Duran concert film at the theater. I know, I know you're probably thinking Duran Duran? Really Caleb? Hey, I liked them when I was a kid and plus the main draw for me was that the concert film was directed by David Lynch! Unfortunately when the movie started it was a blu-ray. The weird thing about it was that the concert was one of those via satellite performances. It was meant to be seen live. The lead singer even mentioned fans watching from movie theaters. So why are we watching it on a disc? I almost left to get my money back but was too lazy. Several others complained, mentioning they could have just watched this at home.

Now of course when it comes to watching movies at home I want the best presentation possible. Blu-ray all the way baby! If restored correctly a film can look just as good as it did theatrically. But the experience is not the same. It's hard to explain. I find it similar to the vinyl record vs. compact disc debate. They both sound good, but vinyl has a warmth to it that digital does not. The same with film, there's a (for lack of a better term) texture to it.

I remember seeing volume 2 of KILL BILL and there were “tricks” done with the print. Cigarette burns along with a beeping sound that complemented a reel change or splice in the film. All of that is non existent on home video.

Film will just always look better too. Digital almost made me stop the debate this year with the movie NIGHTCRAWLER. It looked so good that if it was indeed shot on a digital camera then I would stop being so hard on the format. But, what a shocker. NIGHTCRAWLER was shot on film.

Movies shot digitally tend to loose 35mm look if the filmmakers don't know what they are doing. Technology and technique are getting there, take Cinematographer Roger Deakins for example. He shot the latest James Bond film SKYFALL digitally, and the production looks like it was shot on 35mm. So it can be done, but Deakins is one of the best if not the best cinematographers working in Hollywood.

I think I've made my point. Time to move on.

So, this finally brings me to INTERSTELLAR in 70mm IMAX. Was it worth it? Yes, yes, a million times yes!

I really dig Christoper Nolan's directing style as of late. Location shooting, IMAX cameras, practical effects, and the art of miniatures. He is a epic filmmaker. THE DARK KNIGHT RISES may have it's problems but I love the movie because the scale of the movie is so huge. Everything about it feels grandiose. The same can be said for his new film INTERSTELLAR.

In the not so distant future, Earth is becoming a dust planet. The only sustainable crop/food source is corn. That's about to die off soon because nitrogen levels are increasing. So not only will humans starve to death they will eventually suffocate as well.

We meet Cooper, a farmer and father of two. He also just so happens to be an awesome pilot. After discovering some strange coordinates Cooper and his daughter Murph go see where they lead. Their discovery is quite cool, they find NASA working underground. For who knows how long NASA has been planing a mission to find another planet.

Cooper makes the tough decision to leave his kids and join the expedition to find a new home for the human race. Plan A, find a new planet in enough time that the people of Earth and travel to it and be saved. Or plan B, find a planet and populate it with test tube babies. Can Cooper and the team of scientists find the human race a new home in time? Or is time against them? More importantly, space time.

What lies ahead is a pretty epic space adventure. Just let the journey take you. There is something for everyone here. Science nerds will be pleased for the most part. At moments INTERSTELLAR gets knee deep in theories, gravity, black holes, and all that cool stuff. Philosophy isn't left out either. Characters get into discussions about good and evil in the cosmos and if love, if the power of love can factor in it at all. Second to the visuals, these discussions were my favorite thing about the movie.

My only gripe with the film was some pacing issues here and there. A lot of cutting back and forth during a pretty suspenseful and crucial moment. Cooper and his crew hit a major snag and time is of the essence, bet we cut to people back on Earth coughing up dust? That stuff is important but could have been edited somewhere else. The technique worked in INCEPTION, but here I just found it to be a major distraction.

So final thoughts, INTERSTELLAR is the movie event of 2014. Go see it and see it BIG!

Highly Recommended!

STAR WARS: THE FORCE AWAKENS Teaser Trailer

The wait is finally over. We now have a 88 second glimpse of the new Star Wars film. Now the real fun begins. The sense of wonderment and excitement of what those 88 seconds have given fans. The Force Awakens indeed.

The STAR WARS: THE FORCE AWAKENS 1st teaser trailer gave us more than I was expecting. I honestly expected a non footage trailer with a Tie-Fighter or Millennium Falcon flying toward the screen. Well, I was kinda right?

I love this teaser trailer! Love it. It shows a lot without telling us really anything at all. I like how we get a glimpse of the new cast of characters. Because lets face facts, the original cast considering their age should all play second fiddle. In terms of selling the film that is. In the second trailer we'll see them for sure I bet.

So judging from the trailer it appears that the Empire is still in operation. Or are Stormtroopers under the Republic? I'm gonna say no. From the looks of John Boyega's character in that Stormtroopers outfit, I would guess a covert operation went south. So we have another crash landing on Tatooine. Or is it Tatooine?

The planet is probably Tatooine because next we see a new Droid and who I think is the star of Episode VII, Daisy Ridley. In the 88 second teaser we see her character hop on a cool looking speeder. This was my favorite part of the trailer because it looks the most Star Wars-ish to me. Everything from her costume to the speeder reminded me of the classic Ralph McQuarrie illustrations/concept art.

Then we see Darth Arthur and Sithcalibur. Ever since Darth Maul and his badass lightsaber, we can't have a Star Wars movie without that “nerd sword” moment now. All joking aside I am intrigued at the crude design of the Jedi weapon. The image leaves me wanting to know more. Great stuff!

Now for the money shot! The Millennium Falcon doing an awesome evade maneuver. Notice the new radar antenna! It took me more than a few viewings to notice it but it's there. This makes perfect sense seeing that the old one got destroyed at the end of RETURN OF THE JEDI.

I consider this first teaser trailer a success. It made me excited to be a Star Wars fan again. And that is awesome. Cannot wait for the second trailer!

JOHN WICK

JOHN WICK will be my favorite film of 2014. It seems I say that a lot. But I believe good movies should make you feel that. So far this year GRAND BUDAPEST HOTEL, CAPTAIN AMERICA: WINTER SOLDIER, SNOWPIERCER, BOYHOOD, THE RAID II, and NIGHTCRAWLER have all been justified for being my favorite film of the year. But 2014 isn't over yet and there are still a handful of movies coming out that could very well claim the top prize. But JOHN WICK will be my favorite film of 2014.

This is the type of action film I've been waiting a long time for. It's filled to the brim with no nonsense tough guys (and gals) who's actions speak louder than words. And by action I'm just not talking about the film's amazing scenes of gun-fu! No sir. Let me just say that looks can kill in JOHN WICK. One of my favorite scenes is when the Russian crime boss is told that his son stole John Wick's car. The expression (acting) on his face is priceless. Without a single word of exposition you realize this guys son just messed up, messed up big time.

I love the world building that is in JOHN WICK. It feels very much like a comic book or graphic novel. It's very tongue-in-cheek but the film plays it straight. I like how there is a lavish hotel that assassins go to, and while staying at the Continental they honor a code of no violence.

That's right. John Wick is a hitman. A retired hitman seeking vengeance on the punks who stole his car and killed his dog. John's dog was a gift from his terminally ill wife. She bought it for him in hopes to ease the grievance of her passing. It did. Until some punks killed it because John wouldn't sell his car to them.

To make matters worse John finds out that the punk responsible is the son of his former boss. Russian mob boss Viggo Tarasov. Viggo tries to reason with Wick but there's nothing he can say or do, John Wick the Bogeyman is coming for vengeance. Yeah, this guy is so bad ass that they gave him the nickname, The Bogeyman!

The nickname fits seeing that John Wick is pretty much the Jason Voorhees of assassin hitmen. Just replace the signature machete with a gun. Lots of guns.

JOHN WICK is the directorial debut of David Leitch and Chad Stahelski. These guys have a extensive background in assistant directing and stunt coordinating. Mr. Stahelski happened to be Keanu Reeves stun double in all three Matrix films.

Hopefully JOHN WICK does well enough at the box office that way we can see more action films from Leitch and Stahelski.

The screenplay was really good too. I wonder if Derek Kolstad is a big fan of Richard Stark novels? Or a Lee Marvin fan?

My only complaint of the film is that it was shot digitally. Trust me, you can tell. It stuck out like a sore thumb, especially after seeing NIGHTCRAWER which was without a doubt shot on film. I was nervous at first but once the action and story kicked into high gear it didn't bother me. The important thing is that the story made me forget about it. I only bring up this complaint because digital can look cheep if the filmmakers don't know what they are doing.

Final thoughts. JOHN WICK is an action film made for action movie fans. So if that's you then I recommend this film to the highest degree!