10 Years

10 Years (2011)
Directed by: Jamie Linden
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 59%

I had seen 10 Years advertised at RedBox numerous times but was always hesitant to rent it. I am always leery about spending money on movies I had never heard of (especially if they have some big names in them). I decided to watch the trailer and was convinced to at least give it a shot. Watch it here:
My impressions from the trailer were, "What? Channing Tatum is in...whoa, Justin Long...Ari Graynor...CHRIS PRATT!? Done!" So I rented it and was actually very impressed with it.

10 Years is not ground breaking in any way. It is a film about a group of twentysomethings coming back to their hometown for their ten year reunion. Everyone has grown up and done something with their lives. Marty (Long) has become successful in New York, AJ (Max Minghella) is wealthy and married, Jake (Tatum) is contemplating marrying his girlfriend Jess (played by his real life wife Jenna Dewan-Tatum), Cully (Pratt) and Sam (Graynor) are married with two kids, etc. What makes the film work so well are the actors. You believe that these people were friends in high school and now they are going to relive those four years in this one night. One of the characters that was not shown enough was the reunion organizer Julie (Kelly Noonan). She spends the entire film making sure everything is perfect and the people are socializing yet she doesn't have any meaningful moments with anyone. She is like a voyeur peeking in on the lives of people she went to school with. I am not sure how high school reunions are planned but I assume the person in charge was a generally popular person while they were in high school. So why is she so scattered? Sure, she is concerned with making sure everything is going well but she is barely in the film. I believe she is, in a way, a representation of those people that live in the "glory days"; those people that can't let go. The most compelling story in the film was Cully's. He was the stereotypical douche in high school. He picked on smart kids, band kids, and anyone else not in his own social circle. He plans to utilize the reunion as a way to make amends. The problem with this plan is that he hasn't changed much. He has grown up and matured enough to secure a wife, a good job, and manages to keep his children alive but, socially, he is still the same person. This comes out over the course of the film as he tries to apologize to the people he tormented in high school. In the end, he ends up making a fool of himself and keeping the reputation he earned in high school which is absolutely heartbreaking. 10 Years isn't without laughs and happy moments though. Reeves (Oscar Isaac) has become a wildly successful musician. Throughout the film, several people come up to him and tell him his song "Never Had" is their favorite and it has changed their lives. He accepts their compliments and tries to be as cordial as possible, but his attention is always on Elise (Kate Mara). Elise was a recluse in high school and came to the reunion on a whim. Reeves has had feelings for her since junior year but has never expressed them to her. This reunion may be his last opportunity to do so.

My only real complaint about the film is that the pacing gets off near the end. Throughout the whole film we are following several different stories within the same space. A conversation between two characters will be on screen at one point and then we'll shift to someone getting a drink at the bar. We'll then shift back to the conversation and it feels that it has progressed naturally. When everything is getting wrapped up; things seem to pause when we aren't watching. Two characters decide to TP a house and get caught while in the act. They go into the home to apologize and then the film shifts back to the bar that everyone else has congregated at. We stay there for a good ten minutes or so and then we shift back to the house. The two characters are still in the doorway and haven't made their apology yet. That is jarring to me. All I can think about is how they have been awkwardly standing there for ten minutes waiting to say something. It happens with other scenes as well so it wasn't just an editing overlook. Everything should have continued to flow naturally as it had the whole time.
No BS

10 Years is an enjoyable movie. There is nothing too serious going on. Ten years from now you probably won't remember 10 Years. That being said, I enjoyed it. Aubrey Plaza is great for the small time she is in it, Chris Pratt is always worth watching, and the stories within the story are pretty well crafted and engaging.

My Score: 7/10

Zero Dark Thirty

Zero Dark Thirty (2012)
Directed by: Kathryn Bigelow
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 93%

When I first saw the trailer for Zero Dark Thirty last summer; I was excited about the thought of being able to see how the manhunt for Osama bin Laden unfolded. I had just seen Act of Valor and thought that a movie done in the same style, with a more notable cast and bigger budget would be the best action movie to hit the theaters since Die Hard. What Zero Dark Thirty delivers, however, is a taut political thriller with some action thrown in at the end. I shouldn't really say "thrown" in. It was very deliberate in its placement. The majority of the film sets up the last half hour. The audience sees how the persistence of a few CIA agents eventually leads to the discovery of bin Laden's compound and, ultimately, his death.

The strongest aspect that Zero Dark Thirty has going for it is its incredible cast. Jessica Chastain, Kyle Chandler, Mark Strong, Jason Clarke, and a few other less well known folks deliver fantastic performances. The character that many will relate to is Maya (Chastain). She embodies that urge that America had to find and kill bin Laden. In the beginning (which takes place shortly after 9/11) she is a timid CIA operative that has been shipped out to the Middle East to aid in terrorist interrogation. Over the next ten years her life becomes consumed with the hunt for an impossible man to find. The rest of the CIA (and the country) have all but forgotten about bin Laden or are at least not actively thinking about him. Maya represents that undying desire to seek vengeance. She becomes consumed with finding him. She has no friends, rarely leaves her home for social occasions, and is worn and haggard by the end of the film. What's important to note though is that without her commitment, bin Laden would have continued to live in hiding for many more years. The question that Zero Dark Thirty leaves us with is "what do we do now"?

There has been a myriad of controversy surrounding Zero Dark Thirty. Accusations of pro-torture and a strategic theatrical release have been hurled by the Left and the Right. I am not going to go into too much detail because I don't want to get preachy or political. What I will discuss is what I experienced as I watched the film. If you want the arguments then go here.

Torture is actually not a huge plot device in Zero Dark Thirty. I believe there are three maybe four scenes of "active" torture. These actions, however, lead to information pertinent to the hunt for bin Laden. The information is not revealed during a torture scene but it is implied that the detainees were worn down to the point where they gave in and provided information. I think war is a necessary evil. Human beings are not perfect creatures so there will always be conflict. In times of great duress despicable things must be done to obtain information that could save a many lives. I believe that is what the film is trying to convey. As far as the strategic theatrical release; there is nothing pro or anti any President in the film. There are references to the WMD hunt of Bush's terms but it was about the lack of intelligence they had regarding their invasions.

No BS

Zero Dark Thirty is not an action movie. If you're wanting to see SEAL Team 6 busting in and kicking ass for two and a half hours then look elsewhere. What we are provided with is a story about the bureaucracy behind the bin Laden manhunt. The story drags at times and it is easy to lose track of the several Islamic names that are given in the film. If you can pay attention and follow the story then you will be rewarded with one of the best combat scenes in recent movie history.

My Score: 7/10

The Oscars

Well, it is that time of the year again! Christmas is over and with it so is 2012. On February 24th, we will find out who will add the ever coveted Oscar Statue to their collections. This is an exciting time of the year for me because I like movies. That's really it. The people don't choose the winners, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences does, but the winners are ultimately the best movies of the year. In this entry I am going to go over the nominees. After that, I will break down who I think will win their award(s) and who I think should win but before I get to that; I want to give a VERY brief history of the Oscars.

On May 16, 1929, the first set of awards were given out at the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel. There were 270 people in attendance and the winners had already been announced. Over the years, the ceremony went through numerous changes to format. The Oscar statuette, actually called the Academy Award of Merit, consists of a knight holding a sword. He is standing on a film reel that has five spokes which coincide with the original five categories within The Academy: writers, directors, actors, producers, and technicians. The source of the name of the award, Oscar, is unconfirmed. There are many that claim they influenced the name (Bette Davis has stated that it is named after her husband, Harmon Oscar Nelson) and there is a rumor that someone proclaimed that it looked like King Oscar II. Whatever the true origin may be is irrelevant. The Oscar is the most coveted award in film if not all of entertainment.

The Categories and Nominees

Over a dozen awards are given out every year at the Oscar's Ceremony. The categories that are recognized have changed through the years. Best Assistant Director, Best Original Musical or Comedy Score, and Best Original Story are among the discontinued awards. The categories that will be awarded this year are:
Best Visual Effects
The Hobbit, Life of Pi, The Avengers, Prometheus, Snow White and the Huntsman
Best Film Editing
Argo, Life of Pi, Lincoln, Silver Linings Playbook, Zero Dark Thirty
Best Costume Design
Anna Karenina, Les Miserables, Lincoln, Mirror Mirror, Snow White and the Hunstman
Best Makeup
Hitchcock, The Hobbit, Les Miserables
Best Cinematography
Anna Karenina, Django Unchained, Life of Pi, Lincoln, Skyfall
Best Production Design
Anna Karenina, The Hobbit, Les Miserables, Life of Pi, Lincoln
Best Sound Mixing
Argo, Les Miserables, Life of Pi, Lincoln, Skyfall
Best Sound Editing
Argo, Django Unchained, Life of Pi, Skyfall, Zero Dark Thirty
Best Original Song
"Before My Time" from Chasing Ice, "Everybody Needs A Best Friend" from Ted, "Pi's Lullaby" from Life of Pi, "Skyfall" from Skyfall, "Suddenly" from Les Miserables
Best Original Score
Anna Karenina, Argo, Life of Pi, Lincoln, Skyfall
Best Animated Short
Adam and Dog, Fresh Guacamole, Head Over Heels, The Longest Daycare, Paperman
Best Live Action Short Film
Asad, Buzkashi Boys, Curfew, Death of A Shadow, Henry
Best Documentary (Short)
Inocente, Kings Point, Mondays At Racine, Open Heart, Redemption
Best Documentary (Feature)
5 Broken Cameras, The Gatekeepers, How to Survive A Plague, The Invisible War, Searching for Sugar Man
Best Foreign Language Film
Amour, Kon-Tiki, No, A Royal Affair, War Witch
Best Animated Feature
Brave, Frankenweenie, ParaNorman, The Pirates, Wreck-It Ralph
Best Adapted Screenplay
Argo, Beasts of the Southern Wild, Life of Pi, Lincoln, Silver Linings Playbook
Best Original Screenplay
Amour, Django Unchained, Flight, Moonrise Kingdom, Zero Dark Thirty
Best Supporting Actress
Amy Adams (The Master), Sally Field (Lincoln), Anne Hathaway (Les Miserables), Helen Hunt (The Sessions), Jacki Weaver (Silver Linings Playbook) Best Supporting Actor
Alan Arkin (Argo), Robert De Niro (Silver Linings Playbook), Philip Seymour Hoffman (The Master), Tommy Lee Jones (Lincoln), Christoph Waltz (Django Unchained)
Best Leading Actor
Bradley Cooper (Silver Linings Playbook), Daniel Day-Lewis (Lincoln), Hugh Jackman (Les Miserables), Joaquin Phoenix (The Master), Denzel Washington (Flight)
Best Leading Actress
Jessica Chastain (Zero Dark Thirty), Jennifer Lawrence (Silver Linings Playbook), Emmanuelle Riva (Amour), Quvezhane Wallis (Beasts of the Southern Wild), Naomi Watts (The Impossible)
Best Director
Michael Haneke (Amour), Ang Lee (Life of Pi), David O. Russell (Silver Linings Playbook), Steven Spielberg (Lincoln), Benh Zeitlin (Beasts of the Southern Wild)
Best Picture
Amour, Argo, Beasts of the Southern Wild, Django Unchained, Les Miserables, Life of Pi, Lincoln, Silver Linings Playbook, Zero Dark Thirty

In my next post I will breakdown who I think will win and who I think should win.

Gangster Squad

Gangster Squad (2013)
Directed by: Ruben Fleischer
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 33%

Gangster Squad is, stylistically, one of the most interesting movies to come out of Hollywood in a long time. From start to finish; the film feels larger than life. There are scenes that are taken straight from comic books and the pulp stories of the 40's and 50's. It is a movie that is a ton of fun to watch.

The best way to describe Gangster Squad is by comparing it to a superhero movie. Notorious gangster, Mickey Cohen (Sean Penn) has made Los Angeles his personal playground. He lives a life of fine dining, fine women, and...fine...cime...? He is the king of LA. He owns the police force, the courts, the politicians, and some of the local businessmen. John O'Mara (Josh Brolin) is a WWII veteran trying to adjust to normal life. He has grown used to the trenches and is now looking to find the familiar feeling they provide. His solution is to become an officer with the LAPD. He is one of the few officers that wish to challenge Cohen. After O'Mara successfully brings down one of Cohen's fronts he is recruited by the Chief of Police, Bill Parker (Nick Nolte), to destroy Cohen's empire. O'Mara recruits an army of fellow officers that are striving to keep their streets free from Cohen's hands. They are the only force that stands between Mickey Cohen and the control of the entire Western United States.

Where Gangster Squad falls flat for me is that there is simply not enough time to introduce its characters. I stated above that the best way to watch this film is by comparing it to a superhero movie. John O'Mara is a World War II veteran that is striving to fight evil the only way he knows how (Captain America). Jerry Wooters (Ryan Gosling) is a womanizing playboy whose reckless behavior turns out to be his strongest asset (Iron Man). Bill Parker is a veteran police officer that is determined to bring criminals to justice by recruiting a group of talented officers together to combat Mickey Cohen (Nick Fury). Coleman Harris (Anthony Mackie) is a young detective that has incredible aim with a switch blade (Hawkeye). Conway Keeler (Giovanni Ribisi) was known in the Army for his supreme intellect. He specialized in the more covert areas of warfare (wire taps, surveillance, alarm disabling, etc) (The Hulk...maybe...because of the intelligence and all...?). Max Kennard (Robert Patrick) has been an officer in the LAPD for most of his life. He is known for his excellent marksman ability (also Hawkeye). Michael Pena's character (Navidad Ramirez) is added for some comic relief but ultimately does pull his weight (not sure who his analogue would be). What ultimately serves as a determent to the film is that unlike The Avengers, Gangster Squad did not build up to this epic tale of justice being served. Because of this, there is no character development, shortcuts are taken in the narrative so that the audience understands what's going on without much effort, and some of the roles feel pieced together from overused archetypes (i.e. the grizzled veteran, the damsel in distress, the hero, etc). Now that my gripes have been aired I will discuss why this is an absolutely fantastic movie.

When viewing a movie it is important to go in with the correct mindset. If you want Gangster Squad to be a true life neo noir then you will be upset at what you get. Judging from the trailers I knew that this movie was going to be over the top and that I was going to love it! As I discussed previously, one of my favorite things in film is the long take. Gangster Squad has TWO of these incredibly difficult feats of cinematography. One follows Jerry Wooters from the street outside a club, through the front lobby, and then he turns right once he enters the main room and the camera continues to move forward. The focus is then turned to the people and actions inside the room. We see people dining, dancing, talking, drinking. The camera then turns and Wooters reenters the frame and becomes the focus again. We follow him to a table where he sits down and begins to speak with a friend of his. This whole scene lasted somewhere between 2 and 4 minutes but it feels like an eternity if you realize what is going on. When Wooters sits down he has a discussion with Jack Whalen (Sullivan Stapelton). Their 1 minute conversation is comprised of nearly 20 cuts. The next long take comes later in the movie when the Squad takes down one of Cohen's establishments. I won't give any details because it is so much fun to watch so just look for it!

Ultimately, I believe that the likability of the characters and the over the top action is what sells this movie. Ryan Gosling is practically one long "Hey Girl" meme the whole time but it works with his character.

No BS

Gangster Squad is a fun, albeit violent, movie. It can feel trite at times but overall it is definitely a great escape. Do you need to see it in theaters? No, but because of the crazy action it would only be better on a large screen.

My Score: 7/10

Les Miserables

Les Miserables (2012)
Directed by: Tom Hooper
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 70%

Let me preface this review by saying that I knew almost nothing about Les Miserables when I walked into the theater. I had seen the 1998 version starring Liam Neeson but I didn't remember anything about it. So, keep that in mind.

Months before Les Miserables was set to open in theaters I had seen a behind the scenes look at the making of the movie while I waited for another movie to start. The feature showed how the actors sang their numbers live as they heard music in hidden monitors. Hugh Jackman (who plays Jean Valjean) explains that he could sing a song one way and then come back and do it completely different if he felt led to do so. This was such an incredible revelation to me. Typically when a musical is filmed, the cast records their songs in a studio and then they come back and mime their parts. Singing and recording the pieces live allows the actors...to act. They can get lost in the moment and, in turn, so can the audience. I was so excited that I told everyone I could about it. I convinced Katie and it was added to our Christmas Day agenda. Come Christmas we got started a little later than we had liked and we weren't able to see it that day however it didn't take long for us to make up for it. We went a few days later.

Les Miserables is a story about redemption. Jean Valjean is serving the end of a prison sentence at the beginning of the film. He is under the watch of a man named Javert (Russell Crowe). When Valjean is released, Javert makes sure that Valjean knows that he will be undesirable company. He is an ex convict and is therefore damned to be an outcast. It is then when the audience is told that Valjean is in prison because he stole bread and tried to escape from the jail he was being kept in. Valjean makes his way through the city and eventually to a church where he is taken in by a priest. He is fed and then promptly robs them. When Valjean is captured and taken back to the church, the priest insists that the items Valjean stole were, in fact, gifts that he was given in order to get him on his feet. After being moved by the gratitude of the priest, Valjean swears to live a better life at the expense of losing his identity. Years pass and Valjean is now living as a wealthy businessman. Fantine (Anne Hathaway) is under his employ but she is released when it is discovered that she has an illegitimate daughter, Cosette. Fantine is forced into a life of prostitution in order to provide for her and her daughter. I will stop my summary here because if I explain the whole plot then what fun would seeing the movie be!?

With Les Miserables being a musical of course the best parts are seeing the actors perform as if they are on a stage. The number where the Thenardiers (Sacha Baron Cohen and Helena Bonham Carter) reveal how they rob their inn guests is truly amazing to watch. However, arguably the most moving part of the entire film is Anne Hathaway singing "I Dreamed A Dream".




I was in tears seeing what Fantine had to go through in order to provide for herself and Cosette. I have never felt so moved in a movie before. It is worth seeing this just to see Hathaway sing this.

No BS

Les Miserables is a wonderfully done musical. The costumes, sets, and props feel authentic. I am positive there will be an Oscar nom for art direction, costume design, and obviously for the music. At 158 minutes (2 hrs 38 minutes) this is a long movie but you don't realize it unless you are not captivated by what you are watching. If you are not into musicals then definitely don't see it because you will be alienated. If period films aren't your thing (they aren't mine) then you might want to rethink seeing it. However, as I stated above, Les Mis is worth seeing just to see Anne Hathaway sing "I Dreamed A Dream".
My Score: 8/10

Jack Reacher

Jack Reacher (2012)
Directed by: Christopher McQuarrie
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 60%

Jack Reacher is based on the novel, One Shot (2005), by Lee Child. I have not read the book so I am not sure if it remains faithful to the source text but I do know that it is actually a pretty solid movie. Jack Reacher (Tom Cruise) is a drifter that used to serve in the Army as a Military Police Investigator and was quite good at what he did. Reacher is said to have keen observational skills and is highly trained in hand to hand combat. According to his Wikipedia page, Jack Reacher is 6 ft 5 inches tall (which is funny that he is being played by a notoriously short (5 ft 7 inches) actor but I digress.
The film starts with a man driving a van into a parking garage, unpacking, assembling, and loading a sniper rifle, and then systematically firing at seemingly random people across the river from his location. This scene is very well done. It is unnerving how long it takes for him to begin firing. The scene is done in a first person point of view. The audience is looking through the scope at the people enjoying their day on an average day in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. When the shooter fires his first round you see the people react through the scope. It then follows each victim as he takes them down. It really is an interesting way to do the scene. The suspected shooter, James Barr (Joseph Sikora) is taken into custody but is put into a coma after he is mercilessly beat when he is put into prison. Reacher sees Barr's name on the news and immediately begins to head to Pittsburgh. It is revealed that Barr has gotten into trouble while in the Army and Reacher promised him if he ever did anything again then he would personally put Barr in the ground. Reacher wanted to make sure he was good on his promise.

This film was a lot of fun to watch. Despite some questionable moments (if you see a man that is obviously fleeing the cops are you really going to help him escape by hiding him in a group of people at a bus stop?) Jack Reacher delivers an exceptional story. It is one of the best thrillers I have seen in a while and definitely one of the best that Cruise has done recently. Also, Werner Herzog is probably the most gruesome villan I have ever seen. He rivals the best Bond villans!

No BS

Jack Reacher is a great film but the story can get out of hand if you are not keeping things straight in your head. The pacing is a little sluggish at times but if you get captivated by the plot and all the moving parts then you are not likely to notice long enough to check the time. I don't believe there is a lot of language (if you read Jack Reacher's bio on his wiki page you'll see that he rarely swears), there is not much bloody violence but the opening scene can be hard to watch. If you like thrillers or Tom Cruise or you just like good movies then don't miss this one.

My Score: 7.5/10

This Is 40

This Is 40 (2012)
Directed by: Judd Apatow
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 50%

This Is 40 is the second "serious comedy" done by Judd Apatow (the first being Funny People). I saw this movie when it hit theaters and I don't think I have laughed harder in quite a long time. Before I go further there is something you, as my audience, must know. I have an unabashed bro crush on both Judd Apatow and Paul Rudd. I would see anything either one puts out (and, for the most part, have). That being said, let's get to it.

This Is 40 is a coming of age story for those in their 40s. Both characters, Pete (Rudd) and Debbie (Apatow's wife, Leslie Mann) are married with two children and each of them is about to hit midlife. With the big 4-0 they feel that they must change things about their lives in order to better themselves. Debbie is to quit her secretive smoking and Pete is to eat healthier. With these self imposed changes comes feelings of anger and frustration with each other because they feel that they have peaked in life. Their two children, Sadie and Charlotte (played by Apatow and Mann's children Maude and Iris, respectively) get caught in the crossfire and in turn begin to act out. During the film, we learn that the record business that Pete has poured himself into is failing and Debbie's boutique is losing money due to employee theft. Turning 40 has caused Pete and Debbie to step back from their lives and reevaluate their changes. It has made them grow up.

I personally enjoyed this movie more than some of Apatow's other "funnier" films. There were moments where I couldn't breathe because I was laughing so hard (due to Paul Rudd's ability to make anything hilarious). Case in point, please feel free to enjoy this clip from Wanderlust. NSFW

In addition to outrageous comedy there are scenes of poignant emotion. You feel that Apatow and Mann have actually had the conversations that Pete and Debbie are having. You wonder if This Is 40 is an autobiographical story that Apatow is telling through his work. All of the actors do a fantastic job (including a semi cameo by Knocked Up co-star Jason Segel). Maude and Iris Apatow are turning out to be great talents and will do so as long as Apatow and Mann continue to nourish their careers. I think that if you enjoy Apatow's brand of humor then you cannot miss this one.

No BS

This Is 40 is crude, raunchy, and every other synonym in the Thesaurus. If you are offended by sexual jargon, nudity and foul language then you should avoid this one. If you want to ease into Apatow's work then start with something more innocuous like The Cable Guy (written by Apatow) and then move into his more recent work such as The 40 Year Old Virgin and Knocked Up. If you can accept that there are people that talk like his characters do then you can move past the things that make you feel uncomfortable and you can enjoy the films for what they are.

My Score: 7/10

Django Unchained

Django Unchained (2012)
Directed by: Quentin Tarantino
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 89%

I will start this review by saying that Quentin Tarantino is my favorite director in the history of film. He is a fanboy that realized his dream of making films. He pays homage to films (both obscure and well known) in his work. He has never, in my opinion, made a bad movie. That being said, if you do not like Tarantino's style of film making then you will probably disagree with what I am about to say. That, however, does not matter to me.

Django Unchained is an incredibly well crafted film that does more for the Black community than it is getting credit for. I saw Django on Christmas Day and I can honestly say I have never had more fun in a theater on Christmas. I went with my mother and my girlfriend and all three of us thoroughly enjoyed every minute of it. I will start things off by discussing the stylistic choices that Tarantino made. If you are at all familiar with Tarantino's work then you might know about the so-called "Tarantino" or "Trunk" shot. Here is a YouTube clip of this in several of his films.

What he does here is simple yet it is a significant trademark. The audience is being talked to in these shots. Tarantino's characters are looking directly at the camera and are speaking to his audience. In his film Inglorious Basterds, Tarantino pulls off his trunk shot without a vehicle at all. This clip is graphic so skip it if you are squeamish.

After Aldo Raine carves the Swastika into Hans Landa's head we see a new version of the Tarantino shot. Instead of the camera being placed in the trunk we, the audience, have a first person view of Brad Pitt and B.J. Novak. We have become Hans Landa. Tarantino, speaking through Aldo Raine, says to us that what we just watched is his masterpiece. While it may be tongue in cheek (it's not) it is incredibly powerful when a filmmaker can speak directly to you without breaking the fourth wall. The Tarantino shot in Django Unchained is present in a more traditional sense. Towards the end, Django frees a group of caged slaves and he looks directly into the cart where they are being held. Because I saw this a few weeks ago I cannot remember what he says but it is in there.
Tarantino also borrows heavily from the Spaghetti Westerns of the 1960's. The Spaghetti Westerns were films made by Italian directors about the American West. The use of wide shots showing the hero on horseback against an empty desert is a widely used shot as well as quick zooms to the characters faces. Perhaps the most popular aspect of old Westerns, the shootout, is done in fantastic fashion in Django Unchained. It is incredibly violent but oh so satisfying!

Django Unchained's story is one that everyone can enjoy. A German bounty hunter, Dr. King Schultz (Christoph Waltz) purchases Django (Jamie Foxx) because he is familiar with the people that he has been contracted to kill. Once that contract has been fulfilled, Schultz offers to help Django find his wife, Broomhilda (Kerry Washington) if he'll stay on as a partner in his bounty hunting endeavors. Django obliges. They trace Django's wife to Candyland which is run by the ruthless Calvin Candie (Leonardo DiCaprio). The two must then figure out a way to either steal Broomhilda or purchase her from Candie.
Django Unchained has been getting criticized for its seemingly exorbitant use of the N word. We all know what N word I am talking about so lets be adults. What Tarantino has produced is a pretty accurate portrayal of America was in that time. Slavery is still legal in this story therefore the Black race is seen as property. There is no reason to make a film that is supposed to be accurate of the time it is set in and not use the terminology and language of the day. That would be like making a movie about a prison and having all the characters behing in a civil manner towards each other. It doesn't happen. I promise you that this is a film that the Black community can be proud of. Check out this video. Go to the 13:55 marker and watch Samuel L. Jackson's response to the interviewer. *Ignore Quentin Tarantino's strange ensemble*

If Jackson, Foxx, DiCaprio, Waltz, Washington, and Tarantino can stand behind what they have created then dammit, it's good enough for me!

No BS

Django Unchained is a fun film to watch but can be hard to digest for those not familiar with Tarantino's style or substance. It has several brutally violent scenes, brief nudity, tons of foul language, and of course portrays slavery. I cannot recommend this movie if any of that makes you uncomfortable. If you, on the other hand, do not care about any of that nonsense then by all means SEE THIS MOVIE!
My Score: 9.5/10

Silver Linings Playbook

Silver Linings Playbook (2012)
Directed by: David O. Russell
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 91%

Katie, her brother, his girlfriend, and I saw Silver Linings Playbook tonight. Our other two choices were Parental Guidance and The Guilt Trip. I was not keen on either of those and I had wanted to see Silver Linings so that's what we went with. I feel we made a wise decision.
Silver Linings Playbook is one of the most meaningful films I have seen recently. The characters are fleshed out and do not feel like archetypes or cliches. Bradley Cooper gives a terrific performance in one of his few roles where he isn't a complete douchebag (lovable douchebag but douchebag nonetheless). Jennifer Lawrence proves with this role that she will not be type cast as...anything really. She did well as Katniss in The Hunger Games, she was great opposite John Hawkes in Winter's Bone, and now she can add Silver Linings Playbook to her repertoire of successful films. However, the role that really surprised me is Robert De Niro. He has, in my opinion, become a cliche in himself. Much like Al Pacino and Samuel L. Jackson; De Niro embodies a specific character. He is a tough guy, a badass, someone not to be trifled with. De Niro gets to show that he is more than that in Silver Linings Playbook. We see his struggle to support his family, his desire to understand and communicate with his son (Cooper) that is living with Bipolar Disorder. His performance is one of the most important aspects of this film.

The way that Silver Linings Playbook was filmed and edited becomes another medium for the story to be told through. Pat (Cooper) is living with undiagnosed Bipolar Disorder and he is not taking medication for it. Because of that he goes through intense mood swings that are triggered by severe stress, anxiety, or even something as simple as a song. Russell has done a brilliant job of making the audience feel the anxiety that Pat feels throughout the film. In one scene, Pat is desperately looking for his wedding video that is seemingly lost in the clutter of his parent's home. As he franticly searches through boxes and piles of Eagles tapes a Led Zeppelin song plays over the noise. As things crash to the floor, Pat begins to yell at his parents, accusing them of hiding it from him. Pat's father, Pat Senior (De Niro) starts yelling at him and the neighbor's begin to call the police. This is all happening while the Led Zeppelin song continues to blare in the background. We, the audience, feel Pat Jr's intense feeling of anxiety and dread because everything is coming to a point and it is too much for him to handle.

One of my favorite scenes in the entire film takes place in a crowded ballroom. I am a sucker for long takes. They are one of the most fascinating things in film for me to watch. A long take is when the camera does not cut for an abnormal amount of time. We have been trained to view films in a specific way with cuts and edits. Rarely do we watch a scene without a dozen or more cuts even in just a few minutes of the movie. One of my favorite long takes is from the Scorsese film Goodfellas. If you haven't seen it watch it here:

We follow Ray Liotta from his car on the street, down the stairs, through a crowded kitchen, out into the dining room, and finally to his table that has been brought out for him. All without a cut. That is incredible! There is a moment like this in Silver Linings Playbook that follows Pat through the ballroom that is full of people sitting and dancing. It truly is remarkable.


No BS

Silver Linings Playbook is actually a pretty easily digestible film. It is a little long at just over 2 hours but it doesn't really feel like it. The performances of the actors make it an enjoyable movie. There is a perfect balance of emotional drama and dead pan humor to keep things flowing. The pacing doesn't lag at any point in the movie. There is quite a bit of language but it's believable coming from these characters. This one is definitely not one to miss.
My Score: 8.5/10

Looper

Looper (2012)
Directed by: Rian Johnson
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 94%

I saw Looper when it came to theaters and was extremely captivated by the entire premise. This is the most original idea to come out of Hollywood in years and it's a great sci fi flick too! I think what I like the most about Looper is the believability of everything. First, to start things off, lets discuss the feel of the film. Johnson has directed (and written) a tight story with likable characters (especially Pierce Gagnon's Cid). The world these characters inhabit feels like it is from the future without having to add lightsabers, spaceships, robots, or aliens. Joseph Gordon-Levitt's character (Joe) drives a Miata that could easily be a "classic" 2010 model and there are converted late model vehicles all through the city. That's not to say there aren't any flying cars. Paul Dano's character (Seth) used a large chunk of his earnings to purchase a flying motorcycle which speaks volumes about his character. Next is the living spaces. There are no crazy high rises with electronic doors and retina scanners. Everything is very modern without being overkill. A large portion of the film takes place on a farm which is perhaps the least likely setting for a science fiction film (Luke's moisture farm aside). The visual effects don't get in the way of the story. Pay attention to Godron-Levitt's facial prosthetics. He really does look like a young Bruce Willis. Again, everything is very believable.

Looper, in a nutshell, is the story of Joe, a Looper, who earns a living by killing people that are sent from the future to his present day. He stands in a field and waits for the victim to appear, he shoots them with his Blunderbuss, collects the bars of silver stashed on victim as payment, burns the corpse, then goes about his day. This seems to be a great way to earn a a living. The Loopers live extravagant lives and mostly waste the money they earn. The Loopers go through their routines until the day when they get someone with gold, not silver, stashed on them. This is them closing their Loop which is their future selves. Most of the time the Looper has no idea they have closed their Loop until it is already done. Joe's story is a little different.

I absolutely love this film and I think that to skip it would be doing yourself a disservice.

No BS

Looper is an exciting film to watch. The science fiction plot is easy to digest as it is not over the top. Some of the camera work and story telling decisions might be a turnoff for some (semi non linear plot, time travel, violence, nudity) but overall the story and actor performances should be enough to engage even the most cynical viewers.

My Score: 8/10

Jiro Dreams of Sushi

Jiro Dreams of Sushi (2011)
Directed by: David Gelb
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 99%

Netflix had been pimping this movie to me for months now and I finally decided to watch it with my girlfriend. This documentary tells the incredible story of the 85 (now 86) year old sushi chef Jiro Ono. This is one of the most beautifully crafted documentaries I have ever watched. The art of sushi crafting is portrayed through wonderful camera work, dialogue between Jiro and his associates (sons, apprentices, food vendors), and music. Jiro is described by noted Japanese food critic Masuhiro Yamamoto as a maestro conducting a beautiful symphony through food. He explains how each course is similar to the diffent movements within the symphony. Each piece is akin to a piece of music that contributes to the overall experience. Watching all the work that goes in to prepping these meals makes me understand why each visit will cost someone over 30,000 Yen ($300)!

No BS
This documentary is about an 86 year old sushi chef that shows no signs of wanting to retire. He has been honing his craft his entire life and his sushi is regarded as the best in the world. If you're a fan of documentaries then make an effort to see this one. It's in Japanese with English subtitles so that may bother some but what is being said is so interesting that you don't realize you're reading after a while. It's a little slow at times which may cause you to want to tune out but I promise it is worth sticking around.

My Score: 7/10

My Attempt to Write Meaningful Film Reviews

Hello! First, let me say thank you for taking time to read my first post. This is something I have wanted to do for some time now and am using the New Year as a kickstarter for this project. I hope you enjoy! What I aim to do: My goal in writing this blog is to provide friends and strangers alike with a review of films I watch. I seek to differentiate my reviews though because I have a background in film studies. I studied at Georgia State University from 2007-2010 in their Film and Video Studies major program. I learned quite a bit about film structure, pacing, mise en scene, cinematography, etc. I wish to incorporate these into my reviews. However, there will be another aspect to my reviews; something I am referring to here as my No BS Review. I understand that not everybody cares about long takes (I have no idea why) and that the homages to other films are lost on some (myself included) so I wish to provide those people with a review as well. These two reviews will differ from time to time. Some times I will score a film higher based on technical merit and then score it lower because it is slow or uninteresting. I will do my best to keep each one interesting though. Thank you again for taking the time to read this and I hope that you will become a fan and a commenter. Please tell your friends!