Jay's Picks:
It's been an unbelievable year at the movies. Probably the best since 1999. 2013 served up such a great number of quality films that it was difficult to settle on this list. These pictures represent the very best of the year for me. Each of them showed something that was unique and moved me in some way. This is not a ranking. They are listed alphabetically by title. Also, beware, there may be some minor spoilers. If you haven't seen any of these, do yourself a favor and check them out.
12 Years a Slave
Directed by Steve McQueen
Starring Chiwetel Ejiofor, Michael Fassbender, Lupita Nyong'o, and Benedict Cumberbatch
Few experiences at the movies rang as true as Steve McQueen's adaptation of Solomon Northrup's memoir of his years in captivity. He was a free man living in the North when he was duped by a couple of con men, kidnapped and sold into slavery. The film traces his journey through twelve years of hell as he is subjected to and made to bear witness to the tortures and indignities that so many endured during those dark years of American history. Chiwetel Ejiofor has been on my radar for years. He was great as the villain in Joss Whedon's Serenity and equally as brilliant in Alfonso Cuaron's Children of Men. This this will be the year Ejiofor finally breaks through and gets the recognition he deserves, an Oscar nomination for Best Actor, is all but assured.
There are several fantastic supporting performances as well. Michael Fassbender as slave owner Edwin Epps is particularly disturbing. He is an evil man lost in the grip of a broken psyche, whose only way to maintain his sanity and control is through violence and abuse. He is particularly fond of his young slave girl, Patsy, played exceptionally by Lupita Nyong'o, who is often a pawn caught in the bitter games that go on between Epps and his wife (Sarah Paulson).
For such a disturbing and dark story in the telling, it is hauntingly beautiful at times. Cinematographer, Sean Bobbitt makes Mississippi gorgeous to look at, bright and glowing with its weeping willows and shimmering waterways. It is a stark contrast to the atrocities that are being committed on a day to day basis, all being witnessed by Solomon, who comes to be the audience's eyes into a window of time that should not be forgotten.
12 Years a Slave will most certainly have a big presence at this year's Academy Awards, and it should. So often we get movies that sometimes do not live up to or deserve the hype they get prior to awards season. Thankfully, this is not the case with Steve McQueen's virtuoso picture. It paints the most realistic portrait of slavery in America that I have ever seen on film.
MEMORABLE MOMENT: Solomon is hung from a tree for striking an abusive and ignorant supervisor. The length of rope used is just enough to keep his toes barely on the ground. He is made to hang there for the entire day while fellow slaves walk past trying their best to ignore him. He is eventually cut down, but the entire scene was horrific in its brutality and the indifference that those around him had to Solomon's predicament.
The Act of Killing
Directed by Joshua Oppenheimer
Congo and his cohorts describe how they went about murdering untold amounts of people. He describes how he would rig his preferred method of strangling his victims with a simple wire. These old men are revered and celebrated in their country for their acts of violence, which the military dictatorship that now runs the government, and the general populace, see as acts of heroism committed in the line of duty.
The movie takes a sharp turn into the bizarre though, when Anwar and his friends suggest they reenact the scenes of bloody killings that they committed. What follows is a series of elaborately staged productions that Oppenheimer films. The result is both disturbing and audacious. One scene has them perform a particular act of torture in the vein of a 40's style film noir. Another is a gaudily staged musical that takes place by a gorgeous waterfall with women singing. Congo and his friends' love of American movies shines through as they equate their crimes against humanity with old Westerns and gangster movies.
I'll keep from mentioning the documentary's final scenes, but Anwar slowly throughout the course of the movie begins to show subtle signs that he may be remorseful. The Act of Killing is a insightful look into the minds of men who have committed the worst of wrongs against their own countrymen, and how they, and their society, disconnect from the violence they have embraced.
MEMORABLE MOMENT: Later in the film, Anwar returns to the scene of where he killed many of his victims. It's a small patio out back of a nondescript building that we've seen earlier. He again begins to talk about the people he has murdered here and suddenly he is overcome by a coughing fit that goes on for some time. Is this choking spell an unconscious sign of remorse? We never know, but it is as if his very body is physically reacting to memories of blood and anguish.
American Hustle
Directed by David O. Russell
Starring Christian Bale, Bradley Cooper, Amy Adams, Jeremy Renner and Jennifer Lawrence
David O. Russell serves up some of the most fun you'll have at the movies this year with his 70's era saga of con men and grifters, American Hustle. Based in part on the ABSCAM scandals near the end of that decade, it plays a little fast and loose with the truth, but that's ok, because it states clearly at the beginning, "Some of this actually happened." It sizzles and pops with the glitz and glamour of the era in a way I haven't seen since 1997's Boogie Nights. Russell pulls out all of his tricks to deliver a fun, tightly paced, crime drama that is hard to believe actually happened.
The opening shots of the movie introduce us to Irving Rosenfeld, played with magnificent greasiness by Christian Bale. He's a successful con man, and along with his beautiful business partner and mistress, Sydney Prosser (Amy Adams), he makes a ton of money scamming desperate men looking for quick lines of credit. Their chickens come home to roost, though, when they are caught by an ambitious FBI agent named Richie DiMaso (Bradley Cooper with cinema's best perm). DiMaso enlists Irving and Sydney to help him bring down local New Jersey mayor, Carmine Polito (Jeremy Renner).
The rest of the film revolves around the complicated scam the three concoct involving a fake Arab sheik and a payoff of hundreds of thousands of dollars to expedite improvements to Atlantic City. It also involves the jealous games played between Irving, Sydney, Richie and Irving's young wife Rosalyn (a very funny Jennifer Lawrence), as they all collide in one of America's most famous cons involving the mob, multiple congressmen, and one US Senator.
Russell continues to prove himself to be a filmmaker of vast talent. With a kick-ass soundtrack of classic 70's hits that are used in just the right scenes and a group of actors and actresses at the top of their games, American Hustle is some of the most fun I've had at the movies this year.
MEMORABLE MOMENT: In the opening scenes of the movie we see Irving preparing for his day by trying to piece together a complicated hair piece that combines his own combed over hair with a toupee that he glues on using some sort of adhesive. Its both funny and insightful, as we see how methodical Irving will prepare for something he considers important.
Before Midnight
Directed by Richard Linklater
Starring Ethan Hawke and Julie Delpy
Watching Richard Linklater's Before trilogy has become something unique in the cinema experience for me and for others who recognize it's brilliance. Three movies released with 9 to 10 year gaps between them that give us a brief glance into the relationship of two people as they meet, fall in love, separate, meet again, and now sort through the problems that threaten to tear them apart. It works so well because we know them. We've seen them in their 20's, their 30's and now their 40's. Their story has spoken to us at times in our lives where we identified with their romance differently then we do now. The Jay in 1994 who watched Before Sunrise is a different person, as was the man who experienced Before Sunset in 2004. This year I got see Before Midnight, and once again Jessie and Celine's story finds me at a different stage of my life and their struggle to make things work spoke to me deeply.
Now married and living in Europe with two young daughters, the movie concerns the couple's night in a Greek hotel without their kids. Hidden tensions explode as they unload their emotional baggage. A night that was supposed to be a much needed romantic getaway turns sour as resentment bubbles to the surface.
Ethan Hawke and Julie Delpy do the best work of their careers in this third installment. Delpy, in particular, gives a dynamic performance, that is both brave and honest. It's one of the best of the year. They -- along with Linklater -- have truly created something special in these movies. Before Midnight is a movie about what happens after the gloss of romantic love has lost its sheen, and two people have to hit bottom, hurting each other deeply along the way, in order to come out with some hope of staying together.
MEMORABLE MOMENT: Celine tells Jessie, after their argument in the hotel room comes to head, that she doesn't love him anymore. It's a moment that the scene has been building to, and when it comes it is no less heartbreaking.
Now married and living in Europe with two young daughters, the movie concerns the couple's night in a Greek hotel without their kids. Hidden tensions explode as they unload their emotional baggage. A night that was supposed to be a much needed romantic getaway turns sour as resentment bubbles to the surface.
Ethan Hawke and Julie Delpy do the best work of their careers in this third installment. Delpy, in particular, gives a dynamic performance, that is both brave and honest. It's one of the best of the year. They -- along with Linklater -- have truly created something special in these movies. Before Midnight is a movie about what happens after the gloss of romantic love has lost its sheen, and two people have to hit bottom, hurting each other deeply along the way, in order to come out with some hope of staying together.
MEMORABLE MOMENT: Celine tells Jessie, after their argument in the hotel room comes to head, that she doesn't love him anymore. It's a moment that the scene has been building to, and when it comes it is no less heartbreaking.
Blackfish
Directed by Gabriela Cowperthwaite
The second documentary on my list is Gabriela Cowperthwaite's gripping film about SeaWorld's most famous killer whale, Tilikum. "Tilly" is a bull orca who has been in captivity for most of his life. He has given birth to 21 calves and has been involved in the deaths of three people. Two of these people were SeaWorld trainers and the movie tries to expose the theme park's efforts to cover up or alter the circumstances around these deaths to make them seem more of a result of error on the victim's part, rather than a product of the erratic behavior of an animal that is not meant to live in a pool.
The documentary interviews several former SeaWorld trainers who have fascinating stories to tell. They talk about how most of them had no background in marine biology at all, but were promoted to their positions from others areas of the park. They had no experience in working with these majestic creatures, all they had was their love of working with them. The film tracks the life of Tilikum from his time at a much smaller park in British Columbia, where he lived in a very small pen with 2 other female orcas. Seeing how these whales are impacted by being confined to such small quarters, its no surprise they grow frustrated and act out, sometimes with violent results.
Blackfish has had quite an impact on SeaWorld's popularity since it came out last Spring. High School groups have cancelled their field trips to the parks in protest and general attendance has started to drop. It's always interesting to see when a movie can change people's attitudes towards something like this. But, at it's core Cowperthwaite's doc is also gripping and entertaining as well.
MEMORABLE MOMENT: Archival footage shows Tilikum's life at the park in British Columbia and in one scene shows how he was the victim of vicious attacks by the two female orcas he was forced to live with. It's a pretty disturbing moment that could be seen as the origins of the behavior issues Tilly would develop over time.
The Conjuring
Directed by James Wan
Starring Patrick Wilson, Vera Farmiga, Lily Taylor and Ron Livingston
Nothing is better than a well-done horror film. They are harder and harder to come by nowadays, but last summer, James Wan took us back in time and gave us one hell of a 70's era haunted house movie. The Conjuring relies on atmosphere, performance and subtlety. It builds tension until it explodes upon the audience in its final third, ratcheting up the scares to a level that never feels overdone or cheap.
Patrick Wilson and Vera Farmiga star as real-life paranormal researchers Ed and Lorraine Warren. In the 1970's they made a name for themselves by investigating some of the most famous hauntings on record like the one in Amityville. This particular case is one that hadn't gotten as much attention. It concerns the Perron family and the haunting of their new house. I know, not a lot of originality there, but I assure you Wan does a fantastic job drawing on the nostalgic themes that permeate so many scary movies and elevating it by adding the characters of Ed and Lorraine. Their relationship and the nature of their work adds both of sense of grounding and a quirkiness that places the film apart from others in a genre stuffed with clichés.
The Conjuring was the perfect summer movie in a year where the blockbusters that were supposed to highlight the year did not live up to their hype. It may have been simple but it was effective and very well made.
MEMORABLE MOMENT: The Warrens have a room in their house where they display relics and mementos from the many hauntings they have investigated. It is creepy and cool all at once. In one terrifying scene their daughter ventures into the room (she isn't allowed to go into) and gets locked in. Did the freaky doll have anything to do with it? She screams and screams, trying to get out.
Gravity
Directed by Alfonso Cuaron
Starring Sandra Bullock and George Clooney
Sandra Bullock has never been one of my favorite actresses. Here she gives her best performance. Her Dr. Stone, at the beginning of the film, is a woman who is scared, broken and seemingly incapable of saving herself. The loss of her daughter before the events of the movie, defines her character from the start. The journey she takes, from the accident that strands her in space until her dramatic reentry into Earth's atmosphere, is easily deciphered as a metaphor for rebirth. Through adversity, she is transformed into a woman who is strong and secure in her ability to go on living.
Cinematographer, Emmanuel Lubezki, continues to prove why he is the best in the business. He, along with Cuaron, has created a masterpiece of imagery. Their partnership has resulted in some of the most awe-inspiring advances in film making seen since Stanley Kubrick's, 2001: A Space Odyssey.
MEMORABLE MOMENT: At her lowest point, Dr. Stone finds herself in a capsule with the oxygen levels decreasing. Resigning herself to her fate, she tells her daughter she'll see her soon. Then she is shocked when astronaut, Matt Kowalski (George Clooney), returns to the capsule after he was thought lost. The scene between them and the twist that comes at its ends sets up the thrilling final act of the movie.
Jagten (The Hunt)
Directed by Thomas Vinterberg
Starring Mads Mikkelsen, Thomas Bo Larsen and Annika Wedderkopp
Since his role as the villain, Le Chifre, in the excellent James Bond movie, Casino Royale, I've been a fan of Mads Mikkelsen. Here he gives one of the best performances of the year as a man whose life is destroyed by a lie that will not go away, even after his supposed victim repeatedly says she made the story up. Mikkelsen brings a great sense of desperation and resilience to the role, and Vinterberg gives the movie bright glow in the early scenes only to replace it with darker more depressing tones later. The film is thrilling and keeps you at the edge of your seat, angry at the persecution of Lucas, and repulsed by the hysteria the town descends into, despite the evidence that supports his innocence.
MEMORABLE MOMENT: While trying to shop for groceries Lucas is refused service by the butcher due to his status as a child molester. When he demands he be able to buy his groceries he is violently attacked and beaten by the employees of the store. Bruised and bloody he returns to the store and head butts the butcher, forcing the manager of the store to allow him to buy his food.
Nebraska
Directed by Alexander Payne
Starring Bruce Dern, Will Forte and June Squibb
Alexander Payne seems incapable of making a bad movie. Election, Sideways, About Schmidt, The Descendants, and now Nebraska, the filmmaker is gifted with the talent of taking stories about regular everyday people and their problems and making them entertaining and moving. In his latest, Payne turns his lens on Woody Grant (Bruce Dern in a career role), aging and showing signs of dementia, he gets a Publisher's Clearinghouse-type notification in the mail that informs him that he has won a million dollars. All he needs to do is get to Lincoln, Nebraska to collect his prize. His son David (Will Forte) tries his best to convince his dad that the prize is a fake, just an attempt to get him to sign up for magazine subscriptions, but Woody is not deterred. In order to placate his dad, and maybe as a way of connecting with him and dealing with his own midlife crisis, David agrees to drive him to Nebraska despite the protestations of his mother and Woody's wife, Kate (a hilarious June Squibb).
Along the way we get to meet the Grant's extended family when they stop off for a visit. There are numerous scenes involving aunts and uncles that are seriously funny in their realistic depiction of a typical Midwest family. Stacy Keach and Bob Odenkirk do great supporting work as one of Woody's old business partners and as David's older brother, Ross.
This is Payne's fourth picture in his home state of Nebraska, and he chose to film this one in black & white. It's a good choice as it adds a sense of bleakness and intimacy to the movie. The flat landscapes are stark and expansive. The performances though are what makes it worth acclaim. Payne makes great casting choices and Dern in particular is a wonderful as the alcoholic father that is only looking to reclaim some sort of glory before he dies.
MEMORABLE MOMENT: David and Ross decide to get an air compressor that was stolen from their dad years ago back from his former business partner, Ed Pegrem (Keach). After successfully lifting it from Pegrem's barn, they are informed by their parents that they have stolen from the wrong farm. What follows is a hilarious moment where the brothers try to return the compressor with their parents waiting in the car.
Short Term 12
Directed by Destin Cretton
Starring Brie Larson, John Gallagher Jr. and Kaitlyn Dever
Destin Cretton is a relatively new filmmaker, and he really does a great job telling Grace's story. It is an emotional and touching movie that will stay with you long after you watch it. Grace manages to create a family around her of orphaned and abandoned children who are broken, just like she is. I think it is true that often when children experience trauma they find ways to connect with others and surround themselves with people that compensate for what they don't have. Unfortunately, sometimes like Grace, they feel they don't deserve it.
MEMORABLE MOMENT: Grace attends an anniversary party for Mason's foster parents In this touching scene we see how many children this couple has fostered and touched in their lives, as the couple is surrounded by the people they helped raise. Grace is overcome by the feelings of love that surround her and it defines how different Mason's troubled childhood was from hers. In this moment they are the closest.
Stories We Tell
Directed by Sarah Polley
Stories We Tell combines old home footage with well-made reenactments to bring the Polley household to life. You get a real sense that this is family with secrets but also a lot of love. It almost feels like, while you watch her family members interact with Sarah while she's off screen, that you're watching more of a home movie, pet project. Something that wasn't meant for public consumption. It's intimate and feels intensely personal.
Of course, the mystery of Sarah Polley's father is revealed later in the movie, but by that time it almost doesn't seem to be the point. It's more about finding the truth that lies hidden in the tales told by brothers, sisters, a father . . . tales that come to define who we used to be.
MEMORABLE MOMENT: Polley meets her biological father quite by accident when she meets him for lunch to get his opinions on another man she had always been told might be her real dad. It is a surprising moment and illustrates how the truth is not always discovered in the ways we think it will be.
The Wolf of Wall Street
Directed by Martin Scorsese
Starring Leonardo DiCaprio, Jonah Hill, Margot Robbie, Matthew McConaughey and Kyle Chandler
Martin Scorsese continues to cement his legacy as one of the greatest American filmmakers of all time with this over-the-top, glorious, nearly 3 hour long romp of debauchery and excess. The Wolf of Wall Street is drawing a lot of comparisons to the director's earlier works like Goodfellas and Casino, and I think that's fair. They share many similar themes like main characters who embrace a life of crime in order to achieve the American Dream. Jordan Belfort (Leonardo DiCaprio) is a common stock broker who, after being laid off by his firm in the mid-eighties, goes to work at a "penny-stock" firm in Long Island where he develops ways to cheat the system by earning huge commissions on garbage stock offers. After that he partners up with Donnie Azoff (an unhinged Jonah Hill) and they start Stratton Oakmont, where they bring a whole bunch of like-minded scam artists to join in their quest to make as much money, do as much drugs and basically break every rule possible to get what they want.
There's been a lot of people who have slammed Scorsese's movie for not showing the effects that his cheating of the system caused to the many people who lost their money. But that's another picture, not this one. This is satire, and those who thinks it glorifies Belfort's lifestyle are missing the point. Men like him do not pay for their crimes, we've seen this evident in the aftermath of 2008's financial crisis. Wall Street grifters, unlike common criminals, rarely suffer for their crimes. They are beyond the system . . . "too big to fail," if you will. I think that message came through loud and clear in Scorsese's film.
DiCaprio gives the best performance of his career. Its the most physical role he's ever played and he nails it by taking the character to often such absurd lengths. At times you question the validity of many of the situations Belfort gets into, but they are all there in his memoir, which the movie is based on. The viewer is forced to believe him, as the narrator, but how can we, when everything he's earned in life he came to by lying?
MEMORABLE MOMENT: Donnie (Hill) visits Jordan at home to bring him a bottle of Lemmon 714 Quaaludes, a very hard to find drug. After taking them Jordan receives a phone call from his private investigator, demanding he go to a pay phone and call him. Jordan drives to a nearby country club, calls the PI and is informed that his phones are tapped by the FBI. Then the drugs kick in. The result is one of the funniest scenes in recent years as Jordan tries desperately to get home before Donnie uses the phone.
The World's End
Directed by Edgar Wright
Starring Simon Pegg, Nick Frost, Martin Freeman and Rosamund Pike
British filmmaker, Edgar Wright, rounded out his famous Cornetto Trilogy this summer by releasing his follow-up to Shaun of the Dead and Hot Fuzz, The World's End. It brings back stars Simon Pegg and Nick Frost and places them in the roles of old friends, Gary King and Andy Knightly. Gary's life hasn't been going so well. He longs for his school days when he and his group of friends, including Andy, attempted an epic pub crawl that ends at an establishment appropriately called The World's End. After a bit of convincing he gets his friends Andy, Oliver (Martin Freeman), Steven (Paddy Considine) and Peter (Eddie Marsen), to agree to return to their hometown to attempt the crawl again. In his mind, Gary sees their failure to finish this important quest when they were younger, a big turning point in their lives, but also when they were happiest. He hopes to rekindle that which made him feel most alive.
The group begins their pub crawl and it becomes obvious pretty quickly how much things have changed in the places they remember. The pubs are commercialized, the people don't know them, and every bar looks like a cookie cutter remake of the one before. The friends themselves have changed. Andy, a recovering alcoholic, no longer drinks. The movie is trying to comment on the disappointments that come with adult life and the yearning many of us feel for times gone by.
Then the aliens come.
From here on out the movies goes into full-on action mode, as the friends begin to realize some of the very people around town are actually aliens. The action is very well done, mixing physical comedy with intense fighting. It's Edgar Wright at his best. The World's End was my favorite summer movie this year. It is fun, smart and exciting. It has a heart as it speaks to the middle-aged masses who sometimes yearn for how things used to be.
MEMORABLE MOMENT: After discovering that aliens have invaded their town Andy (Frost) finally decides to have a beer. Later when they are being attacked he breaks a pair of bar stools and uses them to fight off a wave of invaders. It's the funniest, most exciting fight scene of the year.
Well, that is my list. Now I thought I'd also share with you with my biggest disappointment of the year . . . .
Pacific Rim
Directed by Guillermo del Toro
Starring Idris Elba, Charlie Hunnam, Rinko Kikuchi and Charlie Day
I don't make worst movies of the year lists. The reason being that most likely I didn't see the worst movie of the year. I avoid seeing movies I know will be that bad. I do have disappointments, though, and Pacific Rim was a pretty big misstep for Guillermo del Toro. To be clear, I am a fan of his previous work. Kronos, Blade II, The Devil's Backbone, Hellboy, and especially Pan's Labyrinth are all exceptional movies. His talent is not in question, but why make this movie, and why with such a bad script? Nothing about Pacific Rim is compelling to me. It's Transformers meets Godzilla with no story. Even an actor as good as Idris Elba looks lost in this.
Sure the effects are amazing and a lot of things blow up, but why did del Toro feel the need to be Michael Bay? I keep coming back to the fact that he left directing The Hobbit trilogy to make this. It's a real shame because it could and should have been way better, but he falls into the trap of style over substance that so many visual filmmakers fall into. His next movie, Crimson Peak looks like it will be a return to making smaller films like Labyrinth. Here's hoping there's no giant robots in it . . . .
Matt's Picks:
The following films are what I consider the best released this past year. They are in alphabetical order.
12 Years a Slave
Directed by Steve McQueen
Starring Chiwetel Ejiofor, Michael Fassbender, Lupita Nyong'o, and Benedict Cumberbatch
This film is long overdue! Director Steve McQueen turns a vicious slavery tale into a somewhat beautiful aesthetic and moving tale. Chiwetel Ejiofor hands in what I consider the best performance of the year (and, yes, even above Matthew McConaughey's role in Dallas Buyers Club). Michael Fassbender and Lupita Nyong'o both turn in wonderful supporting roles as well. The only slavery film that has come this close to reality was John Singleton's 1997 film Rosewood -- although, even though the film is based on the true story of the 1923 racist lynch mob that destroyed an African American community, that film still has somewhat of a "Hollywood touch" to it. With this film, McQueen has really earned his place amongst some of the great contemporary directors.
In this film, Ejiofor's Solomon Northup is completely robbed of his freedom, only to be shuffled from master to master -- mostly due to his rebellious nature -- and trying not to get himself killed. Along the way, he meets the hard worker Patsey (Nyong'o), who is also mistress to their alcoholic slave-owning master Epps (Fassbender). This is a film that needed to be made. Not only because it addresses racial issues, but also, in general, inequality issues -- a topic that is ever-so-present today.
MEMORABLE MOMENT: When a large group of slaves are first introduced to their new master Edwin Epps (Fassbender), who reads from the Bible/Scripture of Luke 12:47, to justify slavery. And Northup is freed.
42
Directed by Brian Helgeland
Starring Chadwick Boseman, Harrison Ford, Nicole Beharie, T.R. Knight and Christopher Meloni
Chadwick Boseman gives an outstanding performance as the legendary Jackie Robinson! I didn't think I would be that impressed by this film, but the story of Robinson's struggle is brave and heartfelt. It is a testament to the strength of his character. All performances here are great and the film is a landmark amongst others of its ilk this year -- namely, The Butler and 12 Years a Slave. It's easy to see why Robinson is considered a hero by many. He had to swallow a lot of pride and anger to lead the way for other men of color. And the world is all the better for him.
MEMORABLE MOMENT: When Robinson asks Major League executive Branch Rickey (Harrison Ford) if Rickey wants a player who doesn't have the guts to fight back against the taunts and physical threats of teammates and other baseball players and coaches. To which Rickey replies, "I want a player who's got the guts not to fight back!" This enlightens Robinson to use tolerance and restraint as opposed to violence and revenge. Throughout the film, when Robinson comes against these taunts which would cause most of us to fly into a rage, Robinson keeps his cool.
MEMORABLE MOMENT: When Robinson asks Major League executive Branch Rickey (Harrison Ford) if Rickey wants a player who doesn't have the guts to fight back against the taunts and physical threats of teammates and other baseball players and coaches. To which Rickey replies, "I want a player who's got the guts not to fight back!" This enlightens Robinson to use tolerance and restraint as opposed to violence and revenge. Throughout the film, when Robinson comes against these taunts which would cause most of us to fly into a rage, Robinson keeps his cool.
Directed by David O. Russell
Starring Christian Bale, Bradley Cooper, Amy Adams, Jeremy Renner and Jennifer Lawrence
David O. Russell's Silver Linings Playbook was so good I couldn't wait for his next film -- especially when I heard he was getting Bradley Cooper and the uber-cool Jennifer Lawrence to star, as well as a previous star of his film The Fighter (Christian Bale). I was not disappointed. American Hustle, loosely based on the FBI ABSCAM operation of the late 1970s/early 1980s, follows FBI agent Richie (Cooper) as he forces two con-artists, Irving (Bale) and Sydney (Amy Adams), into trying to prove Camden, New Jersey's mayor (Jeremy Renner) is corrupt and illegally using Mafia money. There is no surprise with this roster of actors that the acting is superb and the story does have its twists. I especially enjoyed Irving's morality crisis when he discovers that Renner's mayor truly is a good man. This was one of the few Christmastime releases I enjoyed. I'm a little surprised that I've liked Russell's latest films as I was not too crazy for any of his earlier work (Flirting With Disaster, Three Kings, and I Heart Huckabees). If you're a fan of any of these actors and Scorcese films, I recommend this one.
MEMORABLE MOMENT: Irving comes clean.
Directed by Gabriela Cowperthwaite
When the tragic death of SeaWorld Killer Whale (Orca) trainer Dawn Brancheau in February 2010 by one of the killer whales, Tilikum, occurred, people were shocked. Well, after watching this documentary, you won't be surprised anymore. In fact, you'll be downright saddened and angry. This is a documentary about an immoral group of creatures: SeaWorld executives. I know, I know. But SeaWorld gives those animals a good life, and, besides, those animals don't have any real feelings. Well, I've got a movie I think you should see. This doc follows the history of capturing killer whales (particular Tilikum and his history) as well as the previous "accidents" of orca trainers with their animals. This film is just proof positive why documentaries are just as important as -- if not more so -- the news media, especially in this age of poor, oftentimes biased reporting.
MEMORABLE MOMENT: When one of the fishermen who caught Tilikum (as a calf) described (and video is shown) of Tilikum's pod (family) crying and calling out to him as he was being taken away by the fishermen.
Captain Phillips
Directed by Paul Greengrass
Starring Tom Hanks, Barkhad Abdi and Catherine Keener
It should be no surprise by now that Tom Hanks is a great actor and puts out great films -- especially when teamed up with a great director and writer(s). In this case, the story is based on the true story of Captain Richard Phillips and the hijacking of the MV Maersk Alabama, adapted by Billy Ray (Breach, The Hunger Games), and directed by Paul Greengrass (United 93, The Bourne Supremacy). Phillips is one of those films where even though the viewer knows what's going to happen, the events onscreen nevertheless keep you on the edge of your seat with an intensity that is exceptional storytelling. What is even better is that Greengrass chose to get no-name actors (and real-life Somalis) to portray the hijackers (Barkhad Abdi, Barkhad Abdirahman, Faysal Ahmed, Mahat M. Ali), as well as actual military personnel, adding to the authenticity and believability of the actors. I have to admit that I'm not a guy who's usually impressed by military actions but what the Navy SEALs accomplish in this film is amazing! And it's true to how they actually saved Capt. Phillips. By the end of the film, the viewer is just as emotionally drained after the past two+ hours as Hanks, and Hanks' acting in the final scene is just one pure example of why he's considered one of the best in his craft.
MEMORABLE MOMENT: Near the end of the film with the Navy SEAL mission to save Phillips in an almost-inescapable situation, and Hanks' emotional response in the med bay.
MEMORABLE MOMENT: Near the end of the film with the Navy SEAL mission to save Phillips in an almost-inescapable situation, and Hanks' emotional response in the med bay.
The Conjuring
Directed by James Wan
Starring Patrick Wilson, Vera Farmiga, Lily Taylor and Ron Livingston
This was a surprising year for me in terms of horror movies. I don't usually like them or am impressed by them enough for them to make this list. But director James Wan (Saw, Death Sentence) and screenwriter brothers Chad and Carey Hayes have gotten my full attention with this one! And it's not just because it's a "scary movie." It's because of the way the story takes precedence over its mission to scare you. Yes, there are plenty "what's-in-the-dark, jump-out-and-scare-you" scenes and effects, but the true story of a paranormal investigating husband-and-wife team, Ed and Lorraine Warren (Patrick Wilson and Vera Farmiga), adds to the other side of the story -- the creepiness of ESP and the true suffering and wrath of the spirits they come across ... and the sometimes hit-or-miss moments of their job (like when they are called to inspect a house only to find out it's just a draft from the pipe work). There is no gore in this -- just good ol' fashioned possession (fans of The Exorcist, take note! And be sure to listen closely for the Amityville Horror reference at the end of the film). The story may be as cliché as a rom-com's but it's one of the most finely-tuned takes on the story I've seen in a long time.
Memorable Moment: Annabelle the Doll gets her hair brushed. And Carolyn Perron (Lili Taylor) gets trapped in the basement!
Memorable Moment: Annabelle the Doll gets her hair brushed. And Carolyn Perron (Lili Taylor) gets trapped in the basement!
Directed by Joseph Gordon-Levitt
Starring Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Scarlett Johansson, Julianne Moore and Tony Danza
Let's hear it for a rom-com that does not follow the usual formula with which movies of this genre typically use! Writer/director/actor Joseph Gordon-Levitt, in his first role as writer/director, stars as Jon Martello, an Italian-American man who loves his women and his porn. Most women he has sex with, he immediately leaves afterward. Then, one day, he meets Barbara (Scarlett Johansson) and he falls hard for her. She talks him into waiting to have sex and he tolerates her love for rom-coms (romantic comedies), which he finds completely annoying because he finds them unrealistic. When Barbara finds out Jon is addicted to porn, their relationship comes into trouble. Now, I know what you're thinking -- you think you know where this is going to go because of the usual formula that Hollywood rom-coms have shoved down viewers' throats for the past 34 years or so. But ... you would be wrong. What starts out as looking and sounding (oh, the cussing!) like a Jersey Shore wannabe film turns into a film with undercurrents of philosophical meanings and metaphorical moments -- all wrapped up in an independent Hollywood package. An especially interesting turnaround is the metaphor about how Jon believes all rom-coms are the same and unrealistic, but he fails to realize that porn falls into the same category. This aspect runs parallel with the solitude in Jon's lifestyle throughout most of the film; most activities he does keep him alone and it isn't until Jon truly feels a connection that he begins to connect with others. The film features a great cast -- Tony Danza, Julianne Moore, Glenne Headly, and Brie Larson -- and proves that Gordon-Levitt is a new triple threat force to be reckoned with!
MEMORABLE MOMENT: Jon's sister's (Larson) words of wisdom, and Jon's final confrontation with Barbara.
Evil Dead
Directed by Fede Alvarez
Starring Jane Levy, Shiloh Fernandez, Lou Taylor Pucci, Jessica Lucas and Elizabeth Blackmore
... And here's the second horror film to grace the list! I'm also not usually one for re-makes, especially with the Evil Dead films! But I have to admit, this one rocks! The only aspect I did not like about this version is the way the reading from the book of the dead was done. In the original, writer/director Sam Raimi had the brilliant idea of not following the usual cliché of some idiot teenager reading from some evil-looking book, the passage is read by a professor on an audio recording. In this version, director/screenwriter Fede Alvarez made the mistake -- in my opinion -- of having one of the characters read the text, thusly running into the same cliché the original had so brilliantly avoided. Nevertheless, I thoroughly enjoyed every other aspect to the story -- especially the metaphor of Mia's (Jane Levy) heroin addiction running parallel to her possession by the book. Whereas The Conjuring didn't feature any gore, this movie has it in abundance.
Memorable Moment: It starts raining blood! BLOOD!
Frozen
Directed by Chris Buck and Jennifer Lee
Starring Kristen Bell, Idina Menzel, Jonathan Groff and Josh Gad
As a father, it's pretty much a given that you're going to start inadvertently memorizing all Disney movies and characters. Luckily, for me, I don't mind Disney films -- in fact, I'm quite damn fond of 'em -- especially the way Disney makes them now! Whereas Brave centered around mothers and daughters, Disney's latest, Frozen, is about sisters. Based on Hans Christian Andersen's tale The Snow Queen, Disney's adaptation is about sisters Elsa (Idina Menzel) and Anna (Kristen Bell) who grow up close at first, but, after an accident, become estranged. When Elsa ends up placing her kingdom in eternal winter, it is up to little sister Anna to seek her out and try and get Elsa to stop the curse. What is so beautiful about this story is the many metaphors racing throughout the story. Elsa's "talent" is representative of anyone who is different; and the love in the film is a love that is more important than some romantic "true love's kiss" kind of love -- it's unconditional love. With films such as Up, Wreck-It Ralph, Wall-E, Tangled, Toy Story 3, Brave, and Frozen, Disney has proven that they are no longer merely a movie producer of "kids movies." Their stories are some of the most heartfelt, well-written and -plotted I've seen in recent years.
MEMORABLE MOMENT: The act of true love.
The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug
Directed by Peter Jackson
Starring Martin Freeman, Ian McKellen, Richard Armitage, Luke Evans, Evangeline Lilly, Orlando Bloom and Lee Pace
Director Peter Jackson's first act of his Hobbit trilogy, An Unexpected Journey, fell flat for me and did not make my "best of 2012" list. Fortunately, with Smaug, Jackson gets back on track to what made his Lord of the Ring films so great and fun. I would easily see (and buy) an extended version of this film! The addition of the love triangle between Legolas, Turiel, and Kili doesn't really bother me as it did not take central focus of the story (not yet, anyway!), and the addition of Gandalf's visit to Dol Guldur is very welcomed as I greatly approve of Jackson's tying this film series to his masterpiece LOTR series. As for the dragon Smaug, played by Benedict Cumberbatch, he met every expectation I had; then again, I'm a little biased because, when it comes to Cumberbatch, I'm a BIG fan of his (if you have not seen his Sherlock on BBC yet, I immediately order you to Netflix, rent, or buy the first two seasons)!
To me, whereas the only real highlight of Journey was the meeting between Bilbo (Freeman) and Gollum (Serkis); in Smaug, the highlight was the barrel river ride/fight scene. Seeing Legolas in action was a sight to behold just like in the LOTR films, and even seeing what fighting these dwarves could do in such a tight situation gave me a newfound respect for them and The Hobbit franchise. Up until this movie, I found the movie series and the book to be not that impressive simply because I didn't quite care for the dwarves or their plight. To me, I had the same belief that Beorn (Mikael Persbrandt), the "skin-changer," has: "I do not care much for dwarves. They do not think of anything that they feel is beneath them."
But this film has finally returned to the magic that made the LOTR films so great! This is one of the few blockbusters I was really wowed by this year!
MEMORABLE MOMENT: The barrel river ride/fight scene!
The Impossible
Directed by J.A. Bayona
Starring Naomi Watts, Ewan McGregor and Tom Holland
Based on the Alvarez's -- a family of five -- harrowing real-life story of their experience during the 2004 earthquake and tsunami that hit Phuket, Thailand, the day after Christmas. In this film, the family's nationality was changed from Spanish to British, but it makes no difference. If you see any film that emotionally guts you, it's this one. The action, terror and drama never subside in this film, and, by the end, you feel like you've gone on a major emotional rollercoaster. Naomi Watts and Ewan McGregor are both superb (as usual), but one of the major heavy hitters here is 14-year-old actor Tom Holland, who plays Lucas, the oldest of the three sons. The film is a beautiful testament to the fragility of life and the fact that we are all here to help one another. You can only watch this film in awe, while realizing that life is a gift and beautiful. A powerful movie!
MEMORABLE MOMENT: The tsunami hits.
Let the Fire Burn
Directed by Jason Osder
Starring Michael "Birdie" Africa, John Africa, and Ramona Africa
Truly one of the most captivating documentaries I've had the pleasure of watching! Director Jason Osder takes previously unreleased archival footage, new footage, and public hearing meeting footage, and edits it together to make a masterpiece of documentary cinema. The film centers on the May 13, 1985, assault on a radical group called MOVE in a Philadelphia neighborhood, which created a six-alarm blaze, destroying 61 homes, and killing 5 children and 6 adults. What's worse is that the blaze was started -- and allowed to persist -- by Town officials and police. This documentary perfectly captures how intolerance, prejudice and fear can lead to incredible violence. It is a bipartisan film that focuses on the wrongdoings of both sides -- the town and police officials, and the MOVE members. I could not take my eyes off of every interview and scene presented -- even though they were recorded some 28 years ago! The music is powerfully affective and this documentary is essential viewing about a tragedy in America's history which most in this country either have no knowledge of, or have completely forgotten!
MEMORABLE MOMENT: When the evidence is presented that the police commissioner intentionally did not convey to the Fire Chief to extinguish the blaze, therefore causing the death of innocent lives and the destruction of several innocent neighborhood residents' homes.
Man of Steel
Directed by Zack Snyder
Starring Henry Cavill, Amy Adams, Michael Shannon, Russell Crowe, Kevin Costner and Diane Lane
So this is it. The moment all Superman fans have been waiting for since it was revealed that Dark Knight trilogy helmsman Christopher Nolan and director Zack Snyder (Dawn of the Dead, 300, Watchmen) were rebooting the franchise. Of course, Man of Steel is better than any current standalone Marvel Comics movie (i.e., Captain America, Thor, The Incredible Hulk, The Wolverine, or any of the Iron Man trilogy). But the question most people may ask is: "Is it better than The Avengers?" More on that in a moment.
If you were to think more about Superman's plight, you'd see that he doesn't have it so easy either. There are many philosophical complexities and moral dilemmas presented in Superman's stories. Man of Steel features all of these complexities of Kal-El's existence:
1) The knowledge that despite his love for humans and his feeling of being one, knowing he will always be an outsider -- check!
2) The knowledge that any time an alien comes to defeat him or make him suffer, it is his mere presence on Earth that brings them there so he believes any destruction or human casualty is his fault -- check!3) The knowledge that any small physical reaction could lead to instant disaster and would garner great scrutiny and fear from the humans he so loves -- check!
4) Having to truly sacrifice those he loves the most ... even meaning letting loved ones die for the "greater good" -- check!
5) Being solely opposed to killing ... no matter good or evil -- check!
It has been reported that the "controversy" (if that's what you want to call it) of Man of Steel particularly touches on two aspects of the film. One involves that last bullet point I just mentioned. The other is the destruction of Metropolis at the end of the film when Superman (Henry Cavill) fights General Zod (Michael Shannon) and his Kryptonian cronies -- an inevitable result considering a bunch of super-powered alien beings are there to take over the planet and trying to kill Superman (this is definitely no Superman II where Superman flies away to avoid destruction and human casualties). The fact that the destruction of a city is even an issue proves that critics and audiences are merely nitpicking for any negative criticism they can find. What would one expect when a group of beings with the same superpowers as Superman -- but with no morals -- and determined to rule Earth, come here? Also, was there a lot of this nitpicking when The Avengers, Watchmen, Transformers 3, or G.I. Joe were released (and that doesn't include all of the numerous alien-related films where New York is destroyed)? Did their destruction of a city sully the film's worth? Besides, if you want to get into semantics, then you have to remember that Superman has unlimited strength and can move at the speed of light, so I'm sure the city could be rebuilt in no time. Besides, if it weren't for the heavy action you expect from a Superman film, then those same critics who are moaning about the destruction of a city would be saying how little action there was in the film (remember what most people said about Bryan Singer's 2006 Superman Returns?).
So ... onto the question I originally posed: Is Man of Steel better than The Avengers? Yes. And I'll tell you why. Basically the same type of threat that was in The Avengers (i.e. a demigod being attempting to have alien beings take over Earth, starting with a major city) is the same threat in Man of Steel. The one major difference? The threat that took an entire superhero team (and a few random regular humans) to diffuse in The Avengers took only one man (and a few random regular humans) in Man of Steel! But it's just not that. Man of Steel takes the audience into every aspect of Superman's character (his birth and more background into his birth parents and home planet, his formative years, and his reclaiming his heritage and powers), and also injects some of the new origin material that has inhabited the comics for the past few years. The scope is massive and Snyder pulls it off without making the audience roll their eyes. To say this is not your grandfather's or father's Superman is a huge understatement! Man of Steel introduces the audience to the contemporary Superman. Nolan and screenwriting partner David S. Goyer inject more of the alien world and technology of Krypton into the story, which is necessary seeing how the main hero and villain(s) are alien (Kryptonian) and this is an origin story. The film explores both Clark's farm-bred past and his isolated present, which is what makes the story so great. Unlike Avengers, which would not have worked if not for each character (save Hawkeye and Black Widow) having their own respective movie before its release, Man of Steel shows both Kal-El and Zod's background, almost making Zod a character with which to sympathize. In fact, there is a bit of art imitating life when it comes to Zod's views as well as the reason behind Krypton's fate. But I cannot go into those points without giving away the story.
I believe an updated cinematic origin and retelling of Superman is long overdue, and Nolan, Snyder and company have greatly succeeded! The acting is well-done, the writing is stellar (with plenty of quotable lines), there is plenty of action (at least enough of what a fan would expect from a Superman movie), and every major complexity of Kal-El's life is conveyed in all of its bittersweet glory.
It should be pointed out that if Nolan & company did a somewhat "traditional" origin story -- the same one all audiences have seen over and over again -- critics and audiences alike would be quick to point it out and complain about how unoriginal and ho-hum the film would be. If there are two things that Man of Steel is not, it's unoriginal and ho-hum! If Man of Steel is the beginning franchise in what DC Comics Films will be offering, we're in for one hell of a fun, imaginative, heartfelt, cool ride! Man of Steel is the best big movie of the summer and the best action film I've seen so far this year!
MEMORABLE MOMENT: Superman versus the Kryptonians in Smallville. And Jonathan's sacrifice. It's hard to choose because there were so many moments that gave me chills.
Now You See Me
Directed by Louis Leterrier
Starring Jesse Eisenberg, Mark Ruffalo, Morgan Freeman and Michael Caine
To be honest, this movie was not some wonderfully clever script or deep, meaningful story -- just a fun, entertaining film to watch. There are plot twists aplenty in this heist comedy-action-mystery directed by Louis Leterrier (The Incredible Hulk, Clash of the Titans) -- a director with which I am not a big fan. Nevertheless, the cast is wonderful with Morgan Freeman, Michael Caine, Mark Ruffalo, Jesse Eisenberg, Woody Harrelson, Isla Fisher, Melanie Laurent, and Dave Franco. The use of magic and deception -- along with the plot twists -- keep my mind guessing and the story never stalls. Not many films can do that, and, for that, as well as having more of a story than I thought it would, this film makes the list.
MEMORABLE MOMENT: When Dave Franco and Mark Ruffalo get in a tussle.
Prisoners
Directed by Denis Villeneuve
Starring Hugh Jackman, Jake Gyllenhaal, Terrence Howard, Viola Davis, Mario Bello, Melissa Leo, and Paul Dano
The best crime thriller of the year! If there was any justice Hugh Jackman would have gotten nominated for an Academy Award/Oscar for his role in this film, and the film itself would've been nominated for best picture. Prisoners is about the abduction of two young girls and the families, detective (Jake Gyllenhaal), and suspects involved. This is director Denis Villeneuve's first American film and writer Aaron Guzikowski's second feature film, and, wow, what a film for beginners! The film has its fair share of twists and keeps the viewer on the edge of their seat -- even more so than You're Next -- as well as guessing who took the kids and if the kids are even still alive. As a parent, these types of films are difficult to watch because the topic of abducted children hits too close to home; one can't help but think the worst. However, I was very impressed by this film! All of the performances are powerful, and the story just works. The great aspect to this story is that it makes the viewer question his/her values and morals. It makes you ask yourself the question How far would I go to find my kid? And How far is too far?
MEMORABLE MOMENT: Keller (Jackman) figures it all out.
Saving Mr. Banks
Directed by John Lee Hancock
Starring Emma Thompson, Tom Hanks, Paul Giamatti and Colin Farrell
This was probably one of my most favorite of the year. Even though the scene near the end of the film portraying Mary Poppins author P.L. Travers (Emma Thompson) as weeping because of her facing up to what happened to her father, which was not the case in real life; Travers wept because she did not approve of the Disney film version of her books. Nevertheless, the drama works for this film and Thompson's performance as well as Tom Hanks' portrayal as Walt Disney are nothing short of fantastic. The story of Disney adapting Ms. Travers' Mary Poppins is no surprise who know the history of the production on the 1964 film. But for those who don't know, they would be surprised to find out that Travers was not enthused at all at having her creation made famous by Disney, and she was quite difficult to work with. The acting, directing, music and story all mix together splendidly, while also getting a big glimpse into Travers' childhood. Ironically, this film is one of my favorites this year, right up with another Hanks film (Captain Phillips).
MEMORABLE MOMENT: Disney pays Travers a visit in London. And Ms. Travers thinks of her father while viewing the film Mary Poppins.
Short Term 12
Directed by Destin Cretton
Starring Brie Larson, John Gallagher Jr. and Kaitlyn Dever
Writer/director Destin Cretton (who is mostly known for his short films) has hit one out of the park with this film! The story -- about a group foster home supervisor (Brie Larson) and her struggles with both the kids' issues as well as her own -- leaves the viewer with many feelings, most of which stem from the oftentimes pain and difficulty one has to go through when it comes to love and healing ... but without being pretentious or falling into that genre of "troubled-kids-who-just-need-an-inspiring-teacher-who-believes-in-them" (i.e. Dangerous Minds, Stand and Deliver, Lean on Me). I can't gush enough about how great the story and Larson are in this film. Hopefully, it will be an Oscar contender.
MEMORABLE MOMENT: Jayden (Kaitlyn Dever), one of the foster kids, sharing the children's story she wrote.
Star Trek Into Darkness
Directed by J.J. Abrams
Starring Chris Pine, Zachary Quinto, Zoe Saldana and Benedict Cumberbatch
This one was really good, but it barely made my list. If the writers of the new re-booted Star Trek franchise had not have set up the time travel loop like they did in the first installment, then I would've hated this movie. Basically, it's Star Trek II: Wrath of Khan (so those of us who remember viewing the original Khan will see the many aspects J.J. Abrams and his writers lifted from that film); however, Darkness is also a prequel to Khan. Nevertheless, it's action-packed, well-acted (especially with the inclusion of Benedict Cumberbatch). The film has a cool story that lives up to its equally awesome trailer. I also enjoy the way the crew is sort of splintered in this sequel; there had to be some way to show that this crew works their best when they work together. Yes, it's a popcorn action flick, but it's one of the few good ones in 2013.
MEMORABLE MOMENT: Harrison's (Cumberbatch) revelation as to who he really is. And the fight of Spock vs. Harrison.
TWA Flight 800
Directed by Kristina Borjesson
Of all the documentaries I watched this year, this one may very well be the most important, angering, and heartrending I've seen. The film follows independent investigator and physicist Dr. Tom Stalcup as he enlists the assistance of actual National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigators who worked on the crash of TWA Flight 800 when it happened. After much in-depth research and hundreds of eyewitness interviews, they come to the conclusion that Flight 800 did not crash as a result of a mechanical failure or malfunction of the fuel tank, but rather because of a missile attack. Most may say it sounds crazy or use that "c" word, but, trust me, just watch this once and you'll seriously by questioning what the public was told then, and is still told today. A powerfully intense documentary that will keep you thinking about it for several days, weeks after watching it.
MEMORABLE MOMENT: The FBI and NTSB get help from the CIA (in the form of producing a video broadcast) trying to explain how several people saw lights ascend toward the plane (the CIA video says the light was not ascending, but rather it was a part of the plane descending) and how "there was no conspiracy." And eyewitness proof of the FBI's altering of evidence. And the investigators present their new findings to some of the family members of the victims of the Flight 800 crash.
Warm Bodies
Directed by Jonathan Levine
Starring Nicholas Hoult, Teresa Palmer, John Malkovich and Rob Corddry
The last (sort of) horror film on my list, albeit it's more of a dark romantic comedy rather than a horror film, but it deals with zombies, so I'll run with "horror romantic comedy." Warm Bodies, based on the 2010 novel by Isaac Marion, is basically William Shakespeare's Romeo & Juliet with a zombie spin. The film centers around zombie R (Nicholas Hoult), who narrates his thoughts and feelings since he cannot talk. He ends up falling in love with human Julie (Teresa Palmer) and, after R saves Julie's life, the two end up spending time together ... but in a guarded way since, you know, R is a zombie. I like that the film's story doesn't take itself too serious but gives out a meaningful message of two different races getting along for the common good. A fun film that's sharp, witty, full of action and snarky romance.
MEMORABLE MOMENT: The cool concept that zombies can experience their victims thoughts and feelings when consuming their brains. Gross, but interesting.
The Way, Way Back
Directed by Nat Faxon and Jim Rash
Starring Liam James, Toni Collette, Steve Carell and Sam Rockwell
Screenwriters/actors Nat Faxon and Jim Rash (who also wrote the wonderful movie adaptation of Alexander Payne's The Descendants) have written one of the best films of the year! But it wasn't that easy getting their story to screen; it took years to find a distributor for the film. Luckily, for the movie-going audience, Fox Searchlight picked it up, and even though it was released in mid-summer to mostly limited theaters, it proves that some of the best films are rarely seen ... or widely distributed. The film centers around 14-year-old Duncan (Liam James), who is on his way to a small resort town for summer vacation with his mother Pam (Toni Collette), her jerk of a boyfriend Trent (Steve Carell), and the boyfriend's daughter Steph (Zoe Levin). Feeling alienated and awkward, Duncan does not quite fit in anywhere ... until he meets Owen (Sam Rockwell), the owner/operator of a local water park. One of the reasons I was especially drawn to this film was because I deeply relate to the Duncan character in how shy and awkward he is around others; I was the same way when I started high school. It wasn't really until I started work at an amusement park that I really started coming out of my shell and feeling like I belonged. This coming-of-age film has a special heart to it -- with superb acting, a great soundtrack and quite a bunch of laugh-out-loud moments.
MEMORABLE MOMENT: Duncan confronts Trent at a party. And Owen has a heartfelt moment with Duncan.
You're Next
Directed by Adam Wingard
Starring Sharni Vinson, A.J. Bowen, Nicholas Tucci, Wendy Glenn, Rob Moran, and Joe Swanberg
A film that some may categorize as horror but I'd list it more as a thriller. Newcomer director Adam Wingard (V/H/S) and writer Simon Barrett (V/H/S) have hit one out of the park with this starts-off-being-a-slasher film that quickly transforms into a thriller/suspense/survivalist flick! Die Hard fans rejoice! Only, instead of a high-rise building, it's a giant backwoods mansion that the victims must survive. The movie is simple. A family comes together for the parents' 35th wedding anniversary, only things go awry when someone starts killing off the guests. Sounds like every other story we're used to seeing in a home invasion thriller; however, things change for the killer -- and the audience -- when one of the guests starts fighting back. I have to say -- this is a film where the pacing doesn't rest, the music is creepy and intense (think cheesy-yet-creepy 1980s synth, but it's cool!), and the twists and turns in the story keep the audience guessing and satisfied. The best thriller of the year!
MEMORABLE MOMENT: The blender gets put on puree.
MATT'S BIGGEST DISAPPOINTMENT OF 2013:
The worst film of 2013, by far, is Guillermo del Toro's Pacific Rim! But, I sort of knew that would be the case so there was no disappointment when it inevitably sucked; I'm only happy I didn't pay to see it in the theater or to rent (I watched it at my brother-in-law's house). So I have to list the one film that I was most disappointed in this past year. A film I thought would be good but was one big flop! And here it is:
A Good Day to Die Hard
Directed by John Moore
Starring Bruce Willis, Jai Courtney, Sebastian Koch and Yuliya Snigir
Remember when John McClane (Bruce Willis) was cool? Yeah, me too. I even remember seeing the kick-ass trailer for this film and getting so excited! That's why I was so pissed off, disheartened and sick all at once upon viewing this lame sequel to the impressive 2007 fourth installment Live Free or Die Hard. What's especially lame about this installment (besides the story's main threat/MacGuffin) is the way McClane -- one of the coolest, toughest characters created -- is written and portrayed. They make Willis' McClane out to be some lame, old fogey, while making McClane's son Jack (Jai Courtney) the new badass. Blasphemy! What the viewer starts off thinking, "OK. This will be a father-son adventure flick like Indiana Jones (Harrison Ford) and his dad, Henry (Sean Connery), in Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade," turns out to be just the opposite -- plain awful. John McClane says stupid things that are supposed to be funny (I guess?), but they just leave those of us who saw the first Die Hard puke a little in our mouths.
The Die Hard movies have always had action sequences that are hard to swallow (remember in Live Free or Die Hard when McClane drives a car into a flying helicopter?), and I've always taken these sequences with a grain of salt. But A Good Day to Die Hard's action scenes are too much to stomach. Maybe I'm being too harsh. Maybe a man can live through being thrown at full force from a helicopter high in the air, through a large plate-glass window two to three stories down and onto a hard, cement floor, and then not have any broken bones. Maybe he can survive exposure to an area of Chernobyl in Pripyat, Ukraine (an area that Ukrainian officials says won't be habitable for another 20,000 years!) ... even without the film's special contraption to keep away the lethal radiation. Maybe it's just me, but these sequences (and more), as well as the transformation of McClane into a lame fogey, are too much to take. During the film, there were numerous times I was insultingly chuckling at how bad the scenes were and rolling my eyes. Plus, add on to it that the overall story simply isn't that good, and this movie is a stinker. But what's worse is -- as opposed to the Voltron rip-off story of Pacific Rim -- A Good Day to Die Hard had such great potential! Willis has hinted that there may be another Die Hard installment in the future, and as a die-hard fan, for his sake, I only hope the writers get it right next time!
Be sure to check out Jay & Matt's discussion on their picks here!
No comments:
Post a Comment