War for the Planet of the Apes

War for the Planet of the Apes is the third in the rebooted trilogy from the original Planet of the Apes saga from the 60's and 70's. More than likely based on the resounding critical and audience response from these three films this wont be the last but if it is in fact the finale let me just say...WOW!

As is the case with any traditional trilogy if you haven't seen the previous two you should actually stop what you're doing and watch them...Now that you're back you know how exceptional in quality they both are and that two in a trilogy are of equal or greater quality to each other is rare enough and it is this reviewers opinion that the third exceeds all expectations and is quite simply an extraordinary conclusion to this trilogy that is smart, groundbreaking, ambitious, emotional and for lack of anymore adjectives is EPIC in every sense of the word.

Summarizing the plot is really an injustice to everything that is going on around you during the film and the little you know the better. It does continue the story of Caesar, the leader of the genetically evolved apes. Due to the outcome of the second film Dawn of the Planet of the Apes it is both known by ape and human that war is inevitable. A sect of the human army is led by a sadistic colonel played by the outstanding Woody Harrelson (The People vs. Larry Flynt). Caesar still pines for peace but due to circumstances beyond his control that path can no longer be treaded and he is forced to face demons from his past to preserve his and his fellow apes future. Being as all the titles of the film have "Planet of the Apes" somewhere in there it's not a major spoiler to figure out where all this is leading to but the journey to that  point is what makes this series so special.

What also makes this series special is the continuing evolution of the motion capture performance by human Andy Serkis as the ape Caesar. Along with the films the technology to capture these performances has evolved as well. No longer needing to be hampered down by gobs of makeup and prosthetics there are real performances here from real actors, Steve Zahn and Judy Greer are other well known names who capture the movement and emotion in these apes. It will not be long before an actor will be recognized with an Oscar for a motion capture performance and I see no reason why Serkis can't be the first one.

Continuing his vision from "Dawn" director and co-screenwriter Matt Reeves unfolds visually breathtaking scenes along with scenes of little dialogue but with a lot of importance. These are smart blockbusters for smart people, studios get a lot of guff from people (myself included) regarding remakes and reboots but War for the Planet of the Apes shows that when its down right it can almost make you forget about those original damn dirty apes.


 10 out of 10 donkeys

The Big Sick

Early rock n' roller Eddie Cochran once sang that "there aint' no cure for the summertime blues". I don't like to speak for those no longer with us but I have a feeling Mr. Cochran might rethink this sentiment had he had the pleasure of watching the newest release from Amazon Studios titled "The Big Sick". It is a movie of its time in a lot of ways and will both make you laugh and cry.

Kumail Nanjiani is a Pakistani born character actor probably best known for his role on HBO's very funny tech comedy "Silicon Valley". "The Big Sick" is an autobiographical take on how he met his American born wife Emily V. Gordon, who co-wrote the screenplay along with Nanjiani. So as to not give away any major plot points I'm not going to delve too deeply other than Emily gets sick and is placed in a medically induced coma shortly after breaking up with Nanjiani, the movie is about what takes place after this even.

What I will say is that "The Big Sick" is a mix of "Terms of Endearment" and "(500) Days of Summer." It is a refreshing take on love and culture in the 21st century. Had Nanjiani not written the screenplay himself it is almost assured he wouldn't have been cast to play himself due to the fact that realistically nothing about him says "traditional leading man", while the role of Gordon is played by Zoe Kazan (granddaughter of famed director Elia Kazan). The two leads play great off of each other akin to Woody Allen and Diane Keaton in another film this can take its DNA from, (Annie Hall). I want to take special note of Holly Hunter (Raising Arizona) and Ray Romano (Men of a Certain Age) who play Emily's parents. Kumail is the only one around when Emily gets sick and he has to give authorization to place Emily in the coma, this makes for an awkward meeting for her parents and him as they have never met before. Hunter and Romano are not automatically a pairing you'd think of but its ridiculous how believable they are as a longtime married couple. The rest of the cast is filled with faces you know from the stand-up/improv community, Kurt Braunohler is a standout as Kumail's roommate Chris.

What stood out to me the most during the movie was its take on culture and its stressing that as cultures we are different there are similarities as well. The scenes around Kumail's parents dinner table are some of the most honest and funny scenes in the entire movie and a confrontation between Kumail and his parents towards the end of movie is both heartbreaking and something that a lot of us regardless of creed or color have had to have. But understand that this isn't a movie with any type of blatant political agenda.

If a slow paced period piece such as "The Beguiled" isn't your cup of tea and you are still looking for a movie in this summer of busy I don't think you can go wrong with "The Big Sick". Much like the before mentioned (500) Days of Summer as well as "Little Miss Sunshine" I think this is a movie destined to have legs as it expands nationwide and more and more people are able to see it.




9 out of 10 tuna fish sandwiches

Spider-Man: Homecoming

Finally, after two indies and one mid level studio offering The Aisle of Mann's favorite web slinging superhero has finally swung in for a review!

The debate can be made, and agreed upon by myself that there hasn't been a good Spider-Man movie since way back in 2004 with Spider-Man 2 from the original Tobey Maguire starring Spidey series. That trilogy ended in 2007 in a mess with Spider-Man 3 which makes Batman and Robin look like On The Waterfront. Then starting in 2012 Andrew Garfield (The Social Network) was cast as the new Peter Parker in what ended up being two utterly forgettable Amazing Spider Man movies, by 2014 the franchise was dead. So why the fuss over Spider-Man? He got 5 movies and 3 of them were awful. The answer is that other than Batman and Superman, Spider-Man is the most recognizable superhero and if we are just talking from the Marvel universe he is #1. Superman is an alien from another world and Batman is a billionaire detective, Spider-Man (Peter Parker) is a teenager from Queens who happens to get bit by a radioactive spider, gets superpowers yet still has to deal with life's everyday struggles. He's easily the most relatable superhero, and as long as that is the case his movies will still get made.

So now because of a monumental deal between two major movie studio that could be an article on its own Spider-Man is now able to hang out with his buddies Iron Man, Captain America and the rest of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, essentially this is the equivalent of when George Lucas sold off his creative stake in Star Wars. Nerds rejoice!

But after all the ballyhoo and hype what of the movie? Spider-Man: Homecoming is a worthy addition to the Avengers universe and can stand completely on its own as one of the best high school set movies of the decade. Spider-Man: Homecoming wastes no time going back and retelling the tale of the spider bite that made Peter Parker who he is, much like we never need to see Martha and Thomas Wayne murdered in front of little Bruce Wayne in any future Batman movies. This film finds newcomer Tom Holland (The Impossible) as our friendly neighborhood Spider-Man and while protecting New Yorkers from petty thieves and helping old ladies with directions he's trying to put together a resume that will impress his mentor Tony Stark/Iron Man (Robert Downey Jr.). Enter Adiran Toomes, aka The Vulture played by Michael Keaton who comes full circle from playing the titular hero in 1989's Batman to the villain here. Can Peter Parker defeat The Vulture's evil plan as well as juggle the daily riggers of high school and get a date with his dream girl Liz for the Homecoming dance and impress Mr. Stark enough to become a fulltime Avenger?

All the intricacies of a standard Marvel movie is enough to give non fanboys a completely understandable headache. My biggest complaint with the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) is that they spend too much time connecting the movies together, its like the ultimate soap opera with spandex. Spider-Man: Homecoming does fall into this trap but only slightly, it does a good job of introducing newbies to the events that lead us up to this point, most notably from last years Captain America: Civil War in a quick and funny recap towards the beginning of the film. It's only during the conclusion of the film that this type of connectivity feels rushed and contrived.

With much respect to OG Tobey Maguire, Tom Holland is the perfect Peter Parker/Spider-Man. He brings the joy, confusion and ego that one would expect would come with being one with superhero abilities. I was disappointed with Michael Keaton during the first half of the film simply because of no fault by himself the film didn't give him much to do or he is hidden behind the vultures mask. This changed abruptly with the simple opening of a door that will give audiences a gasp moment they will be talking about after the movie, from that point on he is definitely in the top tiers of Marvel movie villains. two other cast members that will cause discussion are Marisa Tomei as Aunt May and Disney teen queen Zendaya in a mystery role that this reviewer will not reveal. Aunt May is traditionally an older aunt as evidenced by Rosemary Harris and Sally Field playing her in past entries. Casting Tomei keeps the running theme of going younger all around though I think the filmmakers tried to hide her attractiveness behind some old lady glasses that are just distracting. Zendaya is great in her role but a twist that again will have audiences who know their source material talking afterwards is completely unnecessary and lazy, again by no fault of her own. Other cast highlights are Jon Favreau reprising his role from other Marvel movies as Happy Hogan and newcomer Jacob Batalon as Peter Parker's best friend and Spider-Man's guy in the chair.

There are of course the major action set pieces, the one taking place at the Washington Monument is especially thrilling. It is however the smaller things that set this Spider-Man apart, without those it would just be your standard reboot gone wrong. For a 175 million dollar budgeted film indie director Jon Watts keeps the CGI to a minimum and the overall tone small scale, Spider-Man isn't trying to save the world, he's trying to save the ones he cares about.  Spider-Man: Homecoming is a great reintroduction to those who maybe liked the first Iron Man but not as invested in this cinematic universe as some of us are and who will be until it inevitably collapses in on itself like a dying star.


8.5 out of 10 glowy things

Baby Driver

"Baby Driver" is a high octane pop up restaurant for your eyes and ears that makes the "Fast and Furious" franchise look like an episode of "Thomas and Friends", if it was filmed in "Smell-O-Vision" your nose would get an invite as well. It is the latest film from acclaimed fanboy director Edgar Wright (Scott Pilgrim vs. The World, Shaun of the Dead) and can simply be described as a pulpnoiractionromancemusicalcomedycarhipsterheistsploitation (relax grammar nerds) that can reserve its spot as easily one of the best genre films of the decade.

Baby (that's B A B Y), played by Ansel Elgort (The Fault in Our Stars) plays the titular hero who due to a car accident has a constant humming in his ear that he remedies by constantly having music playing whether it be from his tape deck or from one of his numerous iPods. It is his tunes that give us the soundtrack to the movie, music as it is in life is the blood that keeps this movie going. An eclectic soundtrack that is Soul and R n' B is base also includes cuts from Dave Brubeck and T. Rex. When you're watching "Baby Driver" notice that during key scenes the music is incorporated as sound effect, a shoot-out featuring "Tequila" is an easy example to hear. Wright is a fan of tracking shots and another highlight of his skills as a director and the use of music is a walk by Baby through downtown Atlanta with "Harlem Shuffle" accompanying him in his ears and on the graffiti and store signs he passes by on his strut. Another way to put all of this is that if you don't like the soundtrack you probably wont like the movie, it' s that essential to the movie.

Elgort plays the "aw shucks" type serviceably well but I almost think someone like Michael B. Jordan would have been better suited for the role. Baby is a wheel man for a big time Atlanta mob boss played by the ridiculously consistent Kevin Spacey. He drives various bank robbers to and from their destination and chaos and high speed chases usually ensue and during a break from all the action he meets a waitress named Debora played by Lily James (Cinderella). They soon find out they both have the same dream to escape their lives in a car they can't afford with a plan they don't have, with music playing all along the way. James is naturally British and struggles with the southern belle accent but she's not asked to much else other than to look pretty and she does that immensely well, Eiza Gonzalez has the meatier female role with the same amount of eye candy.

The rest of the cast includes Jon Bernthal (The Walking Dead), Jon Hamm in his best non Don Draper role to date, Jamie Foxx in a villainous role that will hopefully make most forget his earlier bad guy role in the Amazing Spider Man 2 and cameos from of the world of music including Flea from the Red Hot Chili Peppers and 70's ballad master songwriter Paul Williams. As with any film miscasting can throw off even the most skillful of directors vision, This cast understands the goal looking to be achieved and goes with it and never looks back.

"Baby Driver" is destined to become one of the high watermarks for pop culture for this year. The movie is already a hit, the soundtrack will sell, you'll see numerous Halloween costumes paying tribute to varying characters and as we speak some film school drop out is trying to put his own spin on it.

Come for the car chases, stay for the music. Your soul depends on it.



9.5 out of 10 mix tapes

The Beguiled

It's been argued recently that the Hollywood system for films is broken. Currently we are being force fed the 5th in the lucrative "Transformers" franchise as well as had entries from well established cinematic universes ranging from Marvel (Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2) to new kid on the block "The Dark Universe", which Universal is using to resurrect its classic movie monsters (The Mummy). Now I can easily make the argument that for every "Pirates of the Caribbean: This Ship Has Sailed) we get quality: "Wonder Woman". With that being said the fact remains that basically every weekend the multiplexes are being filled with either a sequel, reboot, remake or some sort of combination of all 3.

Surely there must be some escapism for the theatergoer who doesn't constanly need an explosion or product placement crammed down their eye sockets, the indie studios have something up their sleeves right? Well yes and no...

"The Beguiled" is the latest entry from acclaimed director Sofia Coppola (Lost in Translation) and, wait for it...is a remake of a 1971 little seen Clint Eastwood starrer which is also based on a novel of the same name. Easily forgettable during its initial release in the 70's version has become somewhat of a minor classic in as it was one of the early entries in the film renaissance that occurred during the decade as well as its a type of role for Eastwood that is quite different then what we are used to.

The new version has a very impressive cast. Colin Farrell (The Lobster) takes on the Eastwood role, Nicole Kidman (To Die For), Coppola muse Kirsten Dunst (Marie Antoinette) and Fanning sister #2 Elle Fanning (The Neon Demon) headline the small cast and they are all fantastic, especially Kidman and Farrell.

Set in Virginia 3 years into the US Civil War Farrell plays an injured Union soldier discovered by one of the young girls who attend Kidman's Christian boarding school. Reluctantly Kidman's headmistress agrees to take the enemy soldier in to heal his wounds before turning him over to the Confederate army.

What follows is a slow building of a southern gothic tale filled with suspense and sexual tension that concludes with an ending that has the perfect amount of tension and dark humor to satisfy. Along the way we get beautiful cinematography of the Southern plantation on which the school is set as well as the dim candle lit interior scenes. Coppola wisely doesn't try to go outside of her wheelhouse in terms of camera tricks or other studio fare standards, she sets the scenes and lets her tremendous cast do the hard work for her.

Having seen both versions I don't know that it was necessary to bring a new version into the 21st century. There certainly is a lot to admire here and I would still recommend it especially as the original is not currently streaming on any platform that I could find.

7.5 out of 10 anatomy books


*going forward our ranking system will vary depending on a certain item that I found memorable from each film. As example, Forrest Gump might receive 9 out of 10 cans of Bubba Gump Shrimp

Robocop

The initial notion of an updated "remake" of the 1980's ultraviolent, ultra campy "Robocop" comes off as sacrilege to those of us who hold it in high regard. Having pretty much emptied the closet on horror/slasher remakes from the 70's, early 80's movie studios have their cash grabbing hands set on seminal classics from the 80's/early 90's that hold a special place in film nerds hearts and still hold up incredibly well on DVD/Blu Ray. The original "Robocop" was released in 1987 and directed by Paul Verhoeven who has also seen another of his signature films from this era, "Total Recall" receive the remake treatment recently. The original was at the forefront of the late 80's surge in violence in film and with a straight to the point title like "Robocop" you knew exactly what you were getting, which was a low budget, campy, over the top multi-genre film that spawned a franchise of its own and countless rip offs. The 2014 comes with a lot of pre release buzz, most notably about the change in Robocop's signature silver suit and the change from the hard R rating the original carried to the more monetarily friendly PG-13 rating and 100 million dollar budget featuring state of the art special effects. It was with great caution that I entered the theater to see the new "Robocop", was this going to be yet another Hollywood cash grab that taints everything that I loved about the original or could this be a new vision for a new century?

The essential storyline from the original is still in tact, Detroit police officer Alex Murphy played by Joel Kinnaman from TV's "The Killing" is critically injured while on duty and is transformed by mega corporation OmniCorp into the first human/robot police officer known of course as "Robocop". The story takes place in the year 2028, its a period where machine justice or more commonly known as drone warfare are taking over. With the American public's support waning its decided that this hybrid is the best way to get the support needed to pass legislation to take this new action to full force and make the public less "robophobic". The premise is topical and relevant in today's world with drone warfare still in its infancy stages but the prologue setting up Robocop actually taking action does drag a little.

If the original "Robocop" did not exist this version would be a perfectly above average movie and the advancement in special effects actually does hold it above the original in that regard. Kinnaman's scenes as a human are perfectly fine and once he is actually "Robocop" he does make his own mark in the shoes owned by the original "Robocop" Peter Weller. The PG-13 rating does contradict the originals take on violence by making this an essentially bloodless movie but features countless amounts of guns and weaponry and acts of violence, its a contradiction that is frustrating in that it shows the truth of crime without the harsh realities of the consequence. The story of "Robocop" trying to keep what is left of his human side while still being an effective police officer and family man works for the most part and there are odes to the original in the opening musical score and flashes of the beloved original "Robocop" suit.

The best thing about the new version is the cast which features a surprising array of actors who are having a great deal of fun with the material. Michael Keaton plays the head of OmniCorp and his role shows that he is on the cusp of taking the Alec Baldwin route of switching from one time leading man to great character actor. Gary Oldman plays the scientist who is the Dr. Frankenstein to Robocop and while it isn't apparent if he is actually aware that he is acting a Robocop movie he still is Gary Oldman and delivers a convincing performance. Samuel L. Jackson (not Laurence Fishburne) appears in an extended cameo as a TV show host in the vein of Bill O'Reilly or Rachel Maddow, he does what Samuel L. Jackson does best: yell and use (bleeped) profanity. The special effects are an update and do enhance the overall story and the filmmakers do the correct thing in keeping the CGI fight scenes down to a couple training scenes in the beginning but even those make it seem like you are watching a video game as opposed to a movie. The relationship between Robocop and his wife and young son is an interesting storyline that is kind of thrown to the background when I would of liked to have seen more and then kind of comes back in the end to really no avail.

My overall opinion coming out of the new "Robocop" is indifference. There is nothing necessarily wrong with the new version and if you aren't familiar with the originals I applaud you to go see it, its a fun ride with topical undertones. As was the case with "The Lego Movie" it is known that you can take a known, beloved commodity and make a good, original movie from it. The Robocop's of cinema past should though be held in a higher regard then just having a "we can make it better" mentality. While overall indifferent if they should make a "Robocop 2" I will purchase a ticket, if with maybe a little less apprehension-just a little.

The Lego Movie

We are barely into the new movie season and "The Lego Movie" has come out of nowhere to become one of the most imaginative, witty, surreal and utterly enjoyable movie experience I've had in some time. It's rare for a movie to completely surprise me but "The Lego Movie" does this without even stopping to catch its breath. It's both great for the kids with its bright colors and fantastic animation as well as adults with its witty, irreverent, semi politically/socially charged storyline and inside jokes throughout.

The basic story that "Lego" tells is of the main character Emmet Brickowski's unflappable desire to be exactly the same as everyone else in his metropolitan Lego world that he lives in. This Lego world is ruled by "President Business" voiced by Will Ferrel and he has laid out instructions that all the inhabitants live their lives by. Everything from how to exercise in the morning and what TV shows to watch is covered in this manual, think of it like "1984" for tykes. Emmet happens to stubble upon a missing "piece" of Lego lore that proclaims him "the special" and the savior that can overthrow President Business and return the Lego world to prosperity and most importantly individuality. The themes about individuality is really what should resonate with the kids in the audience, the adults will recognize the comparisons to today's world of the NSA and other hot topic political issues that comes off so crisp and funny that it wont matter what side of the aisle you personally sit on. In his quest to truly become "the special" Emmet befriends other master builders such as  Wyldstyle, voiced by Elizabeth Banks (Pitch Perfect), a 1960's spaceman named Benny voice by Charlie Day (It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia), a Lego prophet voiced by the voices of all voices Morgan Freeman (The Shawshank Redemption), a unicorn/kitten mix aptly named Unikitty voiced by Alison Brie (Mad Men) and the stealer of the show Batman in all his dark grizzled glory voiced by Will Arnett (Arrested Development). Other recognizable characters such as Superman, Abraham Lincoln and William Shakespeare also appear in Lego mini figure form.

This film is a mix of computer generated animation such as what you see in Pixar movies and stop motion effects as what is seen in movies like "Coraline" and "The Nightmare Before Christmas". The execution is so slick and concise that Lego's look like actual Legos which is much more impressive than how it reads. multiple scenes feature massive set designs including metropolitan cities, large scale car chases with explosions and scenes underwater and in the cloud. All used with Legos. Directors Phil Lord and Christopher Miller have a great eye for animation having used it for "Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs" as well as incorporated it in their live action venture "21 Jump Street". Their visual eye is definitely one to watch as "The Lego Movie" hovers on game changing territory.

The standard "kids movie" has taken a different form as of late. Gone are the days of studios releasing fodder just so mom and dad can get the kids out of the house for a bit. It's still early in the year but I'd be hard pressed to predict that any actual adult comedy released this year will make me laugh as loud and consistently over "The Lego Movie"-especially in the first 40 minutes. Fan's of the actual Lego toys themselves will also have moments to cheer for during the movie as well as fanboys and girls of a certain movie franchise that takes place in a galaxy far far away...

The best way to sum up "The Lego Movie" is that "Everything is Awesome", the adult in me enjoyed it as much as the 10 year old in me would, if not more. Its hard pressed to find a movie that the whole family can go see, mark "The Lego Movie" as the exception to the rule.

Lone Survivor

"Lone Survivor" hits you in the head from almost the beginning in the true, harrowing story of a team of Navy SEALS sent on a mission to locate and kill a high ranking member of the Taliban which goes every which way but right. The movie gets to this set up very quickly and what results is two hours of heart wrenching action and emotion that puts you in the middle of what these true heroes are plighted with on a regular basis.

The movie is based on the memoir by SEAL member Marcus Luttrell, the "Lone Survivor" of this mission played here by Mark Wahlberg. Though Luttrell would be best described as the main character the movie is an ensemble piece with notable co-stars such as Emile Hirsch, Ben Foster, Taylor Kitsch and Eric Bana. There is not a lot of character development here other than some brief dialogues about home, girlfriends and wives, this is the movies major flaw but it does make up for it in part with the harrowing action and raw emotion that comes from this true story. This appears to be director Peter Berg's main intention as he succeeds in showing the heroism at close range and you come out of the theater understanding the importance that these individuals take on while we the common public live our lives. Wahlberg has always been a dependable actor but due to his popularity in throw away action movies and comedies doesn't get nearly enough opportunities to show his dramatic range. While not a showy performance his role in "Lone Survivor" ranks up there along with his supporting role in "The Departed" and his breakout role in "Boogie Nights".

There is no political agenda in "Lone Survivor", which normally I would say is a good thing but since there is so little character development it at times feels like you are watching just one long battle scene. It is not till close to the end of the movie when Luttrell is rescued by an Afghani villager that the real emotion starts to set in. Director Berg made an impressive movie a few years back "Friday Night Lights" but since has kind of settled into Michael Bay territory with movies such as "Hancock" and "Battleship" that are much more style than substance. I realize that to stay true to fact you can't have long periods of dialogue during the intense battle scenes but I feel its almost necessary to keep the attention of the moviegoer. Berg does deserve credit as this movie is the most accessible to the public as it is about a period in American history that for multiple reasons a lot of us would like to forget. From a technical aspect the battle scenes are nothing short of exhilarating, Berg uses the recently popular "shaky cam" effect to put you on the side of the mountain where the battle takes place but doesn't overuse it to where nausea could take place. The smaller moments, though few they are take precedent over the gunfire and incoherent yelling and the relationship that starts between Luttrell and his Afghani rescuer really add to the overall effect the movie puts on you and is unbelievable, if it weren't true.  

I came away from "Lone Survivor" with a much greater appreciation and understanding to what thousands of men and women do for me and our country every day. Just the knowing that this is a unbelievable, true story adds to the emotion that is felt throughout, especially during the end credits when pictures of the real men are shown. The violence is real and no holds barred but isn't excessive or glamorized in any way, shape or form-its necessary. I think true stories such as this do need a platform as no matter what your own opinions are you cannot do anything but admire and respect those that do make the ultimate sacrifice for us.

The Wolf of Wall Street

"The Wolf of Wall Street" could easily be the most polarizing movie to come out of mainstream Hollywood in quite some time. The movie is the newest collaboration between heralded, legendary director Martin Scorsese and his new, frequent muse Leonardo DiCaprio. Much has been made of the excessive, graphic nature of the movie including sex, drug use and the apparent new record of number of uses of "The F word" at 506 times during its 3 hour running time. The movie does boast all of these things and at times all 3 are going on at the same time. It sometimes goes off into random places and comes back without any explanation as to where it went, its probably about 20 minutes too long because of this but in all it is a chaotic cluster-f*** masterpiece and is my choice for the best film of the year.

 The film is based on real life former Wall Street stockbroker Jordan Belfort's memoir of the same name. The film has hints of other movies from this same arena such as "Wall Street" and "Boiler Room" along with Scorsese classics such as "Goodfellas" and "After Hours". This is the 5th collaboration between Scorsese and star DiCaprio and with maybe the exception of the Howard Hughes biopic "The Aviator" is their best collaboration as "Wolf of Wall Street" swims gloriously on DiCaprio's shoulders as his performance is a cross between Gordon Gekko from "Wall Street" and Travis Bickle from "Taxi Driver". The characters in "WOWS" are not redeemable in any way but you can't help but seemingly root for Belfort in his odyssey to simply make as much money as possible and live to the fullest excess of life. Jonah Hill is the closest thing to the second lead in the picture which is full of small but effective supporting roles including director/actor/"meathead" Rob Reiner as Belfort's father, the absolutely gorgeous newcomer Margo Robbie as Belfort's 2nd wife Naomi and Matthew McConaughey in a can't miss semi cameo as Belfort's first boss on Wall Street Mark Hanna. His scene with DiCaprio in which he explains the in's and out's of Wall Street is alone worth the price of admission.

Scorsese, going into his 4th decade of making movies looks to be as fresh as ever. All the normal Scorseseism's are here and it still comes off as if it were directed by a hot young upstart. The soundtrack is also a big plus here even without the inclusion of the Scorsese house band "The Rolling Stones". A lot has been made of the glamorizing the films appears to have towards sex, drugs and the faceless victims of the never-ending fraud/manipulation that goes on throughout. The movie is definitely not for the faint of heart but you should know that going in. From all accounts this is how these people acted during the early 90's and if you have any sense you realize the downfall that is coming to each of them and realistically does not glamorize them. The drug use is furious and throughout the picture but one scene in particular involving Quaaludes at a country club is one of the more powerful "drugs are bad" messages I've seen on film, again all the excessiveness and glamour is followed with consequence. Actress Robbie might be criticized as being just a stunning face on screen, which for the most part she is but towards the end she emulates other strong female performances in Scorsese films including Sharon Stone in Casino and Lorraine Bracco in "Goodfellas".

Much like last years "Argo" and "Zero Dark Thirty", "The Wolf of Wall Street" and another potential Oscar contender "American Hustle" are great companion pieces to each other. Both being period pieces of the not too distant past and showcases greed/corruption all while pursuing the American dream. DiCaprio's performance is the major standout between the two, "American Hustle" as a whole is the best acted film of the year, DiCaprio hands down gives the best individual performance of the year and is in thanks in part to Scorsese continuing to show why he is the best, most consistent director of the last 40 years. I'd say that there is no middle ground when it comes to "Wolf of Wall Street", you will either think it should be collecting Razzie's instead of Oscars or is the masterpiece that I say it is.

American Hustle

"American Hustle" reeks of the 1970's. Everything from the costumes to the hairstyles to the soundtrack which ranges from Tom Jones to Wings. Director David O. Russell continues his hot streak and brings together a dream team cast that combines to make one of the most misleading, yet immensely entertaining films of the year.

"American Hustle" is the basis of a true story wrapped around in fiction (think Titanic). Set around the real life "Abscam" scandal of the 1970's. Christian Bale and Amy Adams are the two con artists who've mastered this scheme involving counterfeit art dealings as well as using bribery to bring in New Jersey powerbrokers (mafia) and corrupt politicians. When a hot wired FBI agent played gloriously by Bradley Cooper infiltrates the scam the con goes to a whole new level and can be brought down by their own bullshit as well as Bale's unhinged wife played by current Hollywood darling Jennifer Lawrence. "American Hustle" draws comparisons to past films but is most notably an offspring of Martin Scorsese's "Goodfellas".

With arguably the best movie trailer of the year "American Hustle" opens with countless awards buzz as well as high "must see" status from both film aficionados and Joe the Plumber and his wife. The biggest misconception coming in the pre release buzz is that this is a comedy, while there are definitely dark funny moments "American Hustle" is better appreciated as a crime drama. Following "The Fighter" and my pick for best film of 2012 "Silver Linings Playbook", director David O. Russell goes in a somewhat different direction then he did in his previous two films. There is a great comfort here between the director and his 4 leading actors, this comes as no surprise as both Adams and Bale were nominated for Oscars for their turns in "The Fighter" (Bale won) and Cooper and Lawrence both nominated for "Silver Linings" (Lawrence won). Because of some slow character development scenes early on I can't say that "American Hustle" is the best film of the year, however it is definitely in the top 10 and the cast's performances make it easily far and away the best performance based film and each of the four and good bets for Oscar nominations in the lead and supporting actor fields.

Cooper especially runs circles around his fellow actors here, echoing whispers of classic 70's Pacino as FBI agent Richie Dimaso. Going deeper and deeper into the con, as well as getting involved with Adam's character further unhinges Cooper's character and we get some great scenes, especially between Cooper and his boss played in a great small role by comedian Louis CK. Bale, trades the batsuit for extra pounds and the comb over to end all comb overs as lead con man Irving Rosenfeld disappears into his role which is not half as flashy as Cooper's but you actually forget that its Christian Bale you are watching.

Amy Adams as former stripper turned "British" financial advisor Sydney Prosser turns in yet another stellar supporting performance, this time with the help of 70's glam, her wardrobe becomes apart of her performance and one would be hard pressed to find another such performance this year. Jennifer Lawrence, looking like a young Ellen Barkin is absolutely in her own category here asIrving's bored housewife Roslyn. Her role here is pretty minor even in supporting actor terms yet every time she is on screen the movie becomes that much more interesting. Highlights include her take on the risks involving "Science ovens" and a performance of "Live and Let Die" while wearing dishwashing gloves. Lost under these 4 powerhouse performances is the 5th lead, a good-hearted yet corrupt New Jersey mayor played by Jeremy Renner. Renner, a good actor does a good job here but even with a poof hair do that would make Snooki jealous gets lost in the shuffle other than a great confrontation scene between him and Bale's character.

As stated earlier the biggest flaw with "American Hustle" are the character development scenes early in the film. While character development and introductions are necessary as the actors do such a good job with their roles the lengthy development is not needed. Once all that is finished this is where the movie really gets going. The film has narration by multiple characters which is again a tribute to "Goodfellas" though I would have liked to have had more of that, especially during the main con scene as it is so elaborate its almost dizzying.

"American Hustle" is going to divide viewers. The marketing campaign has been both the films best friend and worst enemy. What cannot be denied is the exclamatory performances that anchor the film as well as the entire vibe that the movie gives out. Director Russell has become such a director that his films have become event status features and will continue to incite great debates between moviegoers.

Anchorman: The Legend Continues

The sequel to "Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy" has been eagerly anticipated by myself as well as San Diegites all over the world. Sequels to popular comedies for the most part are immensely underwhelming, I'm looking at you "Hangover Part II".  The first "Anchorman" was a modest hit upon initial release but grew a massive pop culture following by those who waited til DVD or had to watch it a 2nd time to actually get it (me). In what seems like a never-ending promotional blitz since 2012 when the sequel was announced we finally have another adventure with Ron Burgundy and the Channel 4 News team.  The question is, how does it hold up to the original? The answer to that is that while "Anchorman 2" is not the near perfect comedy that "Anchorman" is, it is still very very funny with a lot of great quotable lines that will make fellow fans happy and satisfied.

Ron Burgundy is one of the best characters created in the 2000's. It's everything from his mustache to his overall outlook on life. Created from the mind of star Will Ferrell and director/co-writer Adam Mckay Burgundy is the poster boy for mid 70's political incorrectness and male chauvinism. McKay and Ferrell have been writing partners since their days on SNL and their comfort level with each other shows on screen in "Anchorman" along with other collaborations such as "Step Brothers" and "Talladega Nights", they are not afraid to go outside the comfort zone sometimes taking chances on bits that are just too out there and don't stick but more times than not are hilarious. The first "Anchorman" focused mainly on sexism in the 70's with a local San Diego news station as the background. "Anchorman 2" shifts the setting to New York City in 1980 with Burgundy and his news team taking a job at one of the first 24 hour news stations in the world.

Gone in this sequel are a lot of the political and social undertones from the first instead giving us a lot more of the goofiness of Burgundy and other cast of characters who all return for the second go around. The rest of the channel 4 news team consists of Paul Rudd as "man on the street" Brian Fontana, sportscaster Champ Kind played by David Koechner and fan favorite weatherman Brick Tamland played by Steve Carell. Paul Rudd is again the MVP of the news team in terms of getting the most laughs for me. Carell, now arguable as big of a star as Ferrell thanks to his role in "The Office" and "The 40 Year Old Virgin" now seems kind of out of place in the role of Brick but while he is not as memorable as he was in the first he still gets a few good laughs.

The one problem that "Anchorman 2" has is that there are almost too many jokes to go around, this is a complicated problem. There are moments in the film that I laughed out loud more so than I have in a theater in a long time but there are also moments that just fall flat. Brick showing up to his own funeral and a scene in Ron's Winnebago come to mind. Scenes such as this could have easily been removed to make the scenes that do work (which there are a lot of) stick with the moviegoer. A lot of the funniest scenes come by so quickly and in succession of each other its almost hard to keep up. Christina Applegate also returns in very funny form as Veronica Corningstone and her scenes with Ron and their son are some of the best in the movie. Instead of introducing another female love interest for Ron played by the beautiful Meagan Good I would of liked to have seen more of Veronica in the mix.

While there is light commentary on how we receive the news now and even a bit on race in America Anchorman plays mainly and best as a spoof in the vein of "Airplane!" and "The Naked Gun". Everyone involved is completely on board for the ridiculousness and not in it just for a cash grab, looking at you "Meet the Fockers".... The appeal of the characters shows in the plethora of cameos, everyone from cinema icons to rappers to even an Oscar winner. There are a lot of great quotable lines that I think will remain in the pop culture pantheon along with "I love lamp" and others from the original.

The finale of "Anchorman 2" is a major hark back to the original. It is both one of the best scenes in the movie along with being one of the most absurd scenes I think I've seen. Without any spoilers I'll just say that a werewolf, minotaur and the ghost of Stonewall Jackson among many others are involved. "Anchorman 2" will certainly not bring any new converts to Burgundy's gang but if you are a fan of the original get your jazz flutes out and spray on a little Sex Panther and enjoy!

Nebraska

"Nebraska" the newest movie from heralded director Alexander Payne (Sideways, Election) in all its black and white glory is both a triumph as a film as well as a showcase for heralded yet underappreciated actor Bruce Dern. For the type of movie that "Nebraska" is I cant find a more appropriate word to describe it other than it is perfect.

"Nebraska" centers around Dern's character Woody Grant who has received a letter in the mail declaring him the winner of 1 million dollars. Woody takes it upon himself to walk from his home in Billings Montana to Lincoln Nebraska to collect his supposed winnings until his ne'er do-well son played impressively by SNL/MacGruber alum Will Forte to take this opportunity to bond with his estranged father on this road trip . Along the way they stop off in Woody's former hometown where word of his "millions" soons spreads fast and Woody becomes a living legend in the town no matter how obvious it is that Woody is in fact not going to be a millionaire.

Director Payne is one of America's most consistent directors of the last 15 years, all of his films share a dark comic undertone that is not lost at all on "Nebraska". Payne's most popular film has to be considered "Sideways" and "Nebraska" is actually a good companion piece to it, even though its almost completely opposite. "Sideways" took place in wine country on California's central coast, its beautiful scenery was showcased. "Nebraska" in contrast is shot in black and white and shows the dull, flat landedness that is America's Midwest, its dull and boring and that's the way it should be. What's similar between the two films is the depiction of the characters as being actually believable, flaws and all. Woody's pursuit of the money is not so much a thing of greed, he wants a new truck because he has never had a new truck before, he wants a new air compressor because his previous one was stolen by a "friend" 30 years ago. The Odyssey that takes place shows Woody's son David that underneath the alcoholic, distant father he grew up with was a man who couldn't say no to anyone and never went for his dreams. I do promise this is a comedy.

Actor Bruce Dern has worked with everyone from Alfred Hitchcock to Quentin Tarentino. He is a name you might not know but a face you would definitely recognize. His role here is probably the safest bet there is for an Oscar nomination if not a win, its both funny and heartbreaking. If you come from or at least know a dysfunctional family then you will find humor in this movie and the supporting cast does nothing but enhance this experience. The before mentioned Will Forte is a great surprise here and the scenes between him and Dern are some of the best between two actors in recent memory. Relative unknown June Squibb is a scene stealer as Woody's long suffering wife and another great character actor Stacy Keach shows up as a former business partner of Woody's who is looking to settled an old debt. everyone involved from Dern to the actresses playing waitresses are pitch perfect here.

On paper a movie about an old man's odyssey for a cash prize that is shot in black and white and not starring Clint Eastwood is obviously not an easy sell nor probably appealing to the average moviegoer. I can say that if you appreciate dark humor and great acting you will appreciate "Nebraska", whether or not you can exactly relate to it.

The Hunger Games: Catching Fire

There are movies like the "Twilight" series and then there are movies like the "Hunger Games" series. Similar in that the hero is a female protagonist caught in a love triangle and torn between what is right and wrong but different in almost every other facet up to and including how the execution of the movie adaptation from YA novel series to worldwide blockbuster franchise is done right or for lack of a better term: holocausty.

"The Hunger Games: Catching Fire" is the 2nd in the 4 movie series based on the "Hunger Games" YA trilogy of novels (make sense?) The original brought two major things to the table upon its release last year, first was a new franchise that both women and men could find interest in and more importantly it brought Jennifer Lawrence into the mainstream with her role as heroine Katniss Everdeen. Catching Fire is the rarest of rare sequels in that it exceeds the overall experience from the first movie, basically improving on every flaw that the first one had.

I, along with other fans of the book series felt that the 3 books dissolved in quality as they progressed. The filmmakers have made great decisions in creating new things for the book to film adaptation that even at a 2 and a half hour running time makes the film feel fast paced and not just recycling the best things from the first movie. The first Hunger Games is by no means a bad movie but it took its time introducing the characters and original director Gary Ross relied too much on the hand held shaky camera to get his point across. "I Am Legend" and go to "TRL" music video director Francis Lawrence is better suited for this type of material, "Catching Fire" just seems crisper and cleaner than its predecessor.

Lawrence is, as stated in previous entries a "AOM" fave. Continuing to show she has many hats, "Catching Fire" is her follow up to last years Oscar winning turn in what was my favorite film of 2012 "Silver Linings Playbook".  Unlike say Kristen Stewart, Lawrence seems game and ready to take on a blockbuster franchise as well as hone her craft with smaller fare like "Silver Linings" and "Winter's Bone". Delivering hokey dialogue is a must in this kind of movie and Lawrence delivers on all levels, her take on Katniss has to be considered one of the best female action heroes along with Sigourney Weaver's "Ellen Ripley" from the "Alien" series. The rest of the cast is almost pitch perfect. Early 2000's indie darling and almost "it" girl Jenna Malone nearly steals the movie from Lawrence as fellow arena competitor Johanna Mason, its definitely a supporting role but every time she is on screen you want more of her. Donald Sutherland as President Snow and Phillip Seymour Hoffman as game creator Plutarch Heavensbee eat up all their scenes and the 2 or 3 they have together are especially juicy. Much like Anthony Hopkins in "Thor 2" these two distinguished actors know they are above the material they are given but they have fun and do the most with it. Stanley Tucci and Elizabeth Banks return as fan favorites Caesar Flickerman and Effie Trinket. Josh Hutcherson improves the most from the first film as one part of the Katrniss, Peeta, Gale love triangle. Liam Hemsworth, Thor's younger and especially boring brother treads dangerously on Robert Pattison territory again as Gale. Other fun casting choices include Jeffery Wright and Amanda Plummer as two older arena competitors and especially Patrick St. Esprit as Commander Thread who makes a great splash in his lone introductory scene.

For the uninitiated "The Hunger Games" tells the story of America in the distant future that has been through another, much more destructive civil war. The losers of the war have been divided into districts with "The Capitol" ruling over them all. As a constant reminder to stay in check each year "The Hunger Games" are held which requires a lottery in each district selecting one male and female to travel to the capitol and participate in a fight to the death with the other competitors with the lone remaining survivor reaping the benefits as "Hunger Games" champion. This premise is what sold me in the beginning and leaving out the fancy costumes and love triangles its far and away the most interesting thing about the movies. "Catching Fire" wisely focuses more on the training for the games and the battle itself than the first one. "Catching Fire" also needs to set up a lot bigger picture that will be seen in parts 1 and 2 of "Mockingjay" and it does so-unlike some Marvel features without taking away from the current movie at hand.

"Catching Fire" in no way suffers from a sophomore slump, if you were a fan of the first movie this should exceed all expectations and if you've read the books you'll be especially happy.

Dallas Buyers Club

"Dallas Buyers Club" is a small movie whose premise alone shouts "nominate me for something!" Usually things so blatantly packaged for end of the year awards consideration are either A) dramatically overhyped to make some money or B) so randomly mis-marketed that it gets lost in the shuffle. "DBC" avoids these ploys almost in full, this is a good movie with an outstanding performance from the nude bongo player himself- Matthew McConaughey who has transformed himself from absurd action and or romantic comedy roles to probably one of the best mainstream Hollywood actors going now.

"DBC" is the true story of Ron Woodruff, a rodeo cowboy/hustler who after years of a hard partying lifestyle and countless random unprotected sexual encounters finds himself with the HIV virus in the mid 1980's which was the beginning and the scariest time for AIDS in America. Confused as to how he could contact what is perceived as only a "gay" disease there is a moment early in the film when McConaughey as Woodruff reaches the point of realization that this is in fact a real situation that he now has to deal with, its a moment with no dialogue that immediately makes you feel empathy for the character and shows what a commitment McConaughey has made to the role- along with the much publicized 40 pound weight loss he made for the role. For the majority of his career McCounaughey has been an actor with a lot of potential, from his early work in "Dazed and Confused" and "A Time to Kill" but never seemed that interested in becoming a truly great actor. Roles in such fodder as "How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days" and other mindless crap has only helped in the conclusion that he just wasn't interested in expanding his horizons. With recent roles in another indie "Bernie" and his supporting turn in the "Citizen Kane" of stripper movies "Magic Mike" which he was criminally overlooked for in last years Oscar race he has seemed to turn a corner, "DBC" is for lack of a better term his official coming out party.

The title "Dallas Buyers Club" is in reference to the "club" that Woodruff starts to supply himself and others with HIV/AIDS with currently unapproved or illegal drugs to fight off the disease. Along the way he meets a transsexual named "Rayon" played by one time 90's TV star and current 30 Seconds to Mars frontman Jared Leto. Leto as well transforms himself into his role in a very effective and heartbreaking turn that has the potential for Oscar talk in the supporting actor category. Jennifer Garner also stars as a doctor torn between doing what she feels is right and what her bosses at the hospital feel is right, Garner is perfectly fine in the role but doesn't bring anything new to the table. Look for one time 80's star Griffin Dunne "After Hours" in a near cameo as the doctor working in Mexico who turns Ron onto to these new experimental drugs.

"DBC" at first glance could be lumped in with other "message" movies such as "Milk" or "The Help" but it really isn't. Its basically a black and white story about a time period in America that is confusing and scary for those who thankfully haven't had any experience with it. While I didn't necessarily identify with Woodruff the man you can't help but feel his pain and identify with the position that the politics and culture of the time put the people effected by this disease in. For that much the movie is good with the bonus of the fantastic acting by the performers that makes this a film that you should not miss.

Thor: The Dark World

"Thor: The Dark World" is the latest installment in the Marvel Studios "Avenger" series, it follows the years earlier "Iron Man 3" as the two most current follow up's to 2012's superhero mash up "The Avengers". Thor probably ranks behind only Iron Man as the most popular Avenger and a lot of that has to do with the good will that the original "Thor" brought as well as his role in "The Avengers". Most of this is due to star Chris Hemsworth's ability to bring a human side to the half man half god Asgardian. While its a good sequel the problem with "Thor 2" is that it suffers from a lot of the same problems that plagued "Iron Man 2" in that it preoccupied with setting up future installments of "Thor" and other Marvel entities.

With a : title such as "The Dark World" its already a preconceived notion that most of this adventure will take place in other realms other than Earth, unfortunately this portion of the nearly 2 hour film is the weakest and to be blunt: boring. The story begins with the return of an old enemy of Thor's home planet of Asgard. As this is the main villain at hand this is the main problem I had with "Thor 2". The villain known as "Malekith" is basically a dwarf that looks like something cut of "Lord of the Rings", he doesn't really talk and is not a very imposing figure unlike the much more charismatic, glam rock star in waiting "Loki" who is also featured and is just screaming for his own stand alone movie. Malekith also disappears for times and while its a welcome absence there is no feeling for his return and in turn never poses a threat to Thor and or the overall picture.

What does work is anytime Thor is on Earth. He does reunite with his true love "Jane Foster" played again by Natalie Portman who does look annoyed at times but never the less does a admirable job as the scientist/damsel in distress. "The Dark World" sets are often dark and dusted with charcoal and CGI that makes it look more like a video game. Thor on Earth plays like a fish out of water which adds to the comedic and relatable elements for the audience. The final battle scene ranks up their with the finale of "The Avengers" and a lot of this has to do with the human elements it brings with being based mostly on Earth. Other cast highlights include Anthony Hopkins as Thor's dad King Odin, I always enjoy seeing actors with such a high caliber as Hopkins delivering slightly over the top dialogue while overacting, if Shakespeare ever wrote a Hollywood blockbuster I hope it would be something like Thor. Kat Dennings, one half of TV's "2 Broke Girls" offers a lot of comic relief as Portman's intern and the depressingly underused Rene Russo returns as Thor's mom Frigga.

As a whole "Thor 2" works even with some parts not working at all. If you've followed the characters through their miscellaneous adventures you will find enough here to stay entertained even with the massive fails that occur during the middle portion. As with any Marvel feature be sure to stay until the last end credits roll as you get not one but two Easter eggs one of which sets up the big screen adaptation of the lesser known Marvel comic "Guardians of the Galaxy" featuring an almost unrecognizable Benicio Del Toro as "The Collector".

Captain Phillips

"Captain Phillips" is the harrowing, tension filled and exhausting in the best way true story of Somali pirates overtaking of an American freighter ship under the command of said Captain Phillips played by Tom Hanks in a career rejuvenating role that is not to be missed.

Directed by Paul Greengrass of "United 93" and the two best entries in the original Jason Bourne trilogy (Supremacy and Ultimatum), "Captain Phillips" is a tightly wound thriller that is both large in scale and intimate enough to make you feel as if you are a witness to it all. Greengrass is the master of using the camera in a hand held manner that is ideal for this type of story. With scenes taking place in confined spaces onboard the freighter ship as well as the dramatic conclusion inside a lifeboat with Captain Phillips and his pirate hijackers it is a claustrophobic that much like the earlier released "Gravity" helps the viewer experience what the characters are experiencing though here we don't have the 3D technology to exacerbate this sensation-its not needed.

The almost always reliable Hanks has been in a slump as of late choosing to go with roles that require bad haircuts and uninspired acting (The Da Vinci Code), "Captain Phillips" is a welcome returned to form for the actor as this is the type of role that is expected of him and is sure to bring with it an onslaught of end of the year award consideration. Much like the movie itself Hanks brings quiet moments, especially early on in the film as the mild mannered family man Captain who is put in a position that no everyman could be expected to handle any other way than he executes here. The other great performance here is from absolutely unknown Somali actor Barkhad Abdi as the head pirate by the name of Muse. A role that could be easily played as a faceless villain, Abdi brings the human touch to Muse who is clearly out to make a better life for himself by the only way-or option that he knows its a remarkable performance is that its a menacing portrayal but part of you understands why he is who he is.

The events in the movie are true, but as with any "true" story it is hard to really know what happened and even how accurate that events that did happen are portrayed. That being said every moment in this film is believable, there are small moments of humor that break the tension even for a second that seem genuine in a moment of crisis. The scenes on the lifeboat towards the end are the most effective and emotional even with Hanks clearly going for a certain gold statue towards the harrowing conclusion, nothing feels forced.

October brings with it the start of the awards season for cinema and with "Captain Phillips" and the before mentioned and reviewed "Gravity" it looks to be an exciting and ridiculously competitive season. Do yourself a favor and seek out "Captain Phillips" before it gets lost in the inevitable awards bait shuffle, its a decision you will not regret.

Gravity

 The 3D genre for most, including this reviewer had seemed to run its course again. After the shock and awe that films such as "Avatar" and "Tron Legacy" brought to those that viewed them in their big screen glory went to the wayside as seemingly every movie that comes out each subsequent week had a lame post 3D conversion to squeeze another dollar out of the moviegoers pocket. With the release of "Gravity", the epic new space opera starring arguably the biggest movie stars in the world: George Clooney and Sandra Bullock the genre has been flipped on its ear and brings moviemaking technology and cinema on its own right to a level not seen before. In a word "Gravity" is simply breathtaking.

The simple premise is two astronauts, the veteran played by George Clooney and the rookie played by Sandra Bullock in easily her least Sandra Bullockly role get stranded in outer space after an accident involving a Russian missile debris leaves their space shuttle inoperable and the two of them spinning seemingly into oblivion. The director, Alfonso Cuaron has created some of the best visuals that I've ever viewed in a movie theater and his use of 3D completely immerses you in outer space as if you are there. There are moments that will leave you breathless and leave your heart racing all in one fail swoop, the film is being released as well in 3D IMAX locations and I can only imagine how much more the large formatted screen adds to it, to be sure standard 3D at the minimum is the only way to view this film. Seeing it in 2D would just be a disservice. Cuaron is almost assured a best director Oscar nomination, there are segments of the film that are just one long take that do nothing but help put yourself in the place of the two astronauts he has crafted this skill even more since his last film 2006's inhumanely underrated "Children of Men". Technical Oscars such as editing, sound, cinematography and of course special effects are a lock.

Other than Ed Harris's voice, Bullock and Clooney are the only ones here. While Clooney does a good job as the veteran astronaut and the calm to Bullock's panicky frenzied Dr. Ryan Stone don't be fooled, this is Bullocks movie in easily the best role of her career. The idea alone of two astronauts floating in space isn't anything groundbreaking, nor that interesting. The two performances intertwined with the visuals are what sells it. The scripted dialogue itself isn't anything to write home about and even has quite a few clichés towards the end but Bullock and to a lesser degree Clooney since he doesn't have the same amount of screen time that Bullock does make you believe and feel that they are in peril.

The runtime is a crisp 90 minutes, any longer and I'd have probably needed a Valium to calm myself. "Gravity" for me was more than a movie-its art. Wherever the 3D technology goes from here "Gravity" will be looked on as the film that took the next step, its the type of film that there needs to be more of it is what makes the movie going experience simply that, an experience.

The Butler

"The Butler" is probably the first movie of the summer that your mom, grandmother and aunt want to see, more or less because Oprah is in it. "The Butler" tells the true story of Cecil Gaines, played by Ridgemont High's own Forest Whitaker. Mr. Gaines was a butler in the white house for 8 Presidents, the movie is basically history through his eyes during the height of the Civil Rights movement while he serves the people who will shape it. Basically "The Butler" is "Forrest Gump", if Forrest Gump was a butler. The movie is riveting in parts however it does commit the mortal movie sin of trying way way too hard to become a prestige picture. The performances, especially from Oprah and Forest Whitaker are great and the overall story and execution is worthy.

Usually a movie with the cast predominantly made up of African Americans has the words "Tyler Perry's" in the title, its unfortunate and unnecessary but the majority of films made or starring African Americans are crap. Even when Hollywood deems a movie with this subject matter marketable it either comes off as a movie about kindly white people helping blacks in need (The Help) or just comes off as blatantly racist or stereotypical (Precious). The director of "The Butler" is Lee Daniels who also directed "Precious", himself an African American and while "The Butler" is a lot more accessible to the mainstream than "Precious" was the fact that this movie has Academy Award consideration written all over it the overall message of it sometimes gets lost.

Cecil Gaines was raised on a cotton farm in the south and after the death of his father by one of the farm owners family members Cecil is brought into the house, again by a kindly white woman (Vanessa Redgrave) and is taught how to serve the family and houseguests thus is his destiny to become a butler. Cecil as a grown man finds himself working in a hotel and through the recommendation of one of his regulars gets a job at the white house starting off with the Eisenhower administration. All of the Presidents are played by name actors: Robin Williams and Dwight Eisenhower, James Marsden as John F. Kennedy, Liev Schreiber as Lyndon Johnson, John Cusack as Richard Nixon and Alan Rickman as Ronald Regan. The other presidents that he served during his tenure are left out, either due to running time or they couldn't find any name actors that resemble them. Cusack as Nixon for me was the only one that really stood out and the choice to have name actors in these small, almost niche roles comes off more as stunt casting than anything as their screen time is minimal at best.

When on the clock Gaines is there solely to serve, if you believe the movie he was there to comfort Jackie Kennedy after JFK was assassinated and help Lyndon Johnson with his apparent constipation problem with prune juice always readily available. Where "The Butler" succeeds are the scenes featuring Gaines's family including his wife played in a great turn by Oprah Winfrey and his battle with his son (David Oyelowo) who is at the forefront of the Civil Rights movement and battles with his father on this subject matter. Had the movie focused more on this element and less on the showcase of Presidents the movie's overall message would be more clear rather than a cinematic Cliff's note of history through the turbulent 60's, 70's and early 80's.

Despite the criticism overall "The Butler" is a worthy movie and probably an important one for those not familiar with the time period on which is focused here. Though not as enthralling as his turn in "The Last King of Scotland" which got him an Oscar statue Whitaker is almost assured of a nomination for his work here as well as Oprah for best supporting actress as she certainly is not playing "Oprah" playing a character.

Blue Jasmine

"Blue Jasmine" is the latest film from legendary filmmaker Woody Allen. While not up to par overall with recent Allen flicks like "Vicky Christina Barcelona" and "Midnight In Paris" Jasmine does offer a tour de force performance by lead actress Cate Blanchett as well as solid supporting performances which comes as expected from Allen films. This reviewer is sort of a late bloomer to the work of Allen only fully becoming appreciative of his films with his more recent work.

The story is set mostly in present day San Francisco, a first for an Allen film and tells the story of Jasmine, played by Blanchett who comes to S.F. from New York after the death of her husband played by the always dependable Alec Baldwin who was in prison for a Bernie Madoff like financial scandal that lead to his suicide while in prison. Jasmine moves in with her adoptive sister Ginger played by British actress Sally Hawkins. Jasmine herself has recently suffered a nervous breakdown of sorts and the movie is basically her story of trying to adapt from her life of luxury and riches to trying to pick up the pieces and try to survive in a life of normalcy.

Allen has been making films since the 70's, he has always written female characters well from Diane Keaton in his most famous movie "Annie Hall" to most recently Scarlett Johansson in films like "Match Point" and the before mentioned "Vicky Christina Barcelona". Allen is pushing 80 years old and while his movies are generally set in modern times I often wonder if he actually still does all his own writing, be that as his may the script here is solid as usual even if with a 90 minute run time it does run long in places and some plot points like Jasmines relationship with her stepson fall flat and take away from the overall story. The dialogue remains sharp and timely and while this is much more a drama than comedy there are enough chuckles among the melodrama.

Blanchett is most assuredly getting an Academy Award nomination for her role here and if the remaining years female performances don't show something outstanding she is clearly the frontrunner to take home her second statue. Jasmine is either crazy or ignorant to the fact that her life is changed and Blanchett doesn't play either side to the point of parody or imitation of past performances in other films, its sad, depressing and funny all in one. The rest of the cast is filled with also great performances from Baldwin as well as character actor Bobby Canavale and an out of nowhere subtle performance from former 1980's stand up comedian mega star Andrew Dice Clay. Clay's performance is really really good, its unfortunate though that he only has a few scenes in the film or he could easily be looking at a best supporting actor nomination for himself which would be in the vein of Mickey Rourke getting his nomination for "The Wrestler" but its unlikely to happen. Ahead of seeing the movie I was looking most forward to seeing another stand up comedian, Louis C.K. but again while he is very good with what little screen time he is given I was looking for more humor from his character, this could be just the expectation from myself as I am a huge fan of his stand up and TV work on "Louie".

So overall unless you are interested in seeing great performances or are a fan of Woody Allen either from past or present "Blue Jasmine" is probably not the film for you. If you are interested though rent "Annie Hall" or "Hannah and Her Sisters" or "Vicky Christina Barcelona" so you get an idea of what to expect from this auteur. It will be well worth your time.

Kick-Ass 2

"Kick-Ass 2" comes in as one of this reviewers most anticipated movies of the Summer, if not the year. The original "Kick-Ass" came out in 2010 and while not a huge box-office success grew enough of a fanboy and cult following that three years later we now have the aptly titled "Kick-Ass 2". For the uninitiated, "Kick-Ass" is the name of our titular hero who during regular hours is Average Joe high school senior Dave Lizewski. The movie, as was its predecessor uses the most of its R rating  is extremely violent but still keeps its humor in tact and while not as outstanding as the original is still a sequel that is warranted and immensely entertaining.

The story picks up with Kick-Ass abandoning his role as a community service superhero and trying to lead a normal life. His former partner the fan favorite Hit-Girl, played by the great young actress Chloe Grace Moretz is not adapting as easy to regular life and she soons enlists Kick-Ass to help her defend the city to keep the dying wish of her father, Big Daddy formerly played in his last truly great performance by Nicolas Cage. Soon it comes about that another former average joe superhero, Red Mist has now converted himself into average Joe super-villain known as "The Motherfucker" who seeks vengeance against Kick-Ass for the death of his father at the end of the first installment.

Highlights:

Hit-Girl: I thought one of the difficulties the sequel might have is making the character of Hit-Girl as outlandish and brazen as she was in the first movie. The big problem is obviously Hit-Girl is no longer a 9 year old girl who curses and wields a butterfly knife whilst kicking bad guys heads in. Now as a 15 year old the cursing element isn't as shocking obviously but the character is still one of the better ones of the last decade. Chloe Grace Moretz looks to be the Jodie Foster of her generation, I look forward to seeing her continue to take on complex and varying roles a'la Jennifer Lawrence and Scarlett Johansson. Hit-Girls storyline works as she mutates into your stereotypical 15 year old teen-bop as well as still holding onto the great elements that are Hit-Girl. Robin wishes she was her indeed.

Jim Carrey: Jim Carrey takes the place of Nicolas Cage as the big name in the cast. Carrey has separated himself from "Kick-Ass 2" during the publicity tour because in light of the recent school shootings and gun control battle he didn't think it was appropriate. This is a shame as the role of Colonel Stars and Stripes, another suburban super hero is easily his best role in years and its unfortunate that its both more of a cameo than a supporting turn and that he has turned his back on it after declaring that he was a fan of the first film.


Violence is a big part of the movie, most of it over the top and often played for laughs. I can understand in theory Carrey's point about not wanting to seemingly endorse a product that glamorizes violence given the numerous events over the last year alone. My counterpoint would be that the movie is rated R for good reason but its kind of hypocritical that movies such as Iron Man 3 and Man of Steel show destruction upon destruction which leaves thousands upon thousands dead but because they actually don't show people dying or they show bloodless deaths it's ok because it gets a PG-13 rating. 

Kick-Ass doesn't try to be anything that its not. If you are a fan of the original then you will love this new entry, if you have no idea who or what Kick-Ass is then its probably not the movie for you.