Blackhat Movie Review

01/20/2015 (DVD) Tuesdays with Mell The Good Lie, White Bird in a Blizzard, The Zero Theorem, Rudderless & more

This week: True stories filmed in GA, trippy movies, crazy moms, folk music, & the mafia: A varied mix sure to please any movie goer.
2014 PG-13 Drama

Director: Philippe Falardeau    

Writer: Margaret Nagle

Cast: Reese Witherspoon, Arnold Oceng , Ger Duany, Emmanuel Jal, Carey Stoll, Sarah Baker

 Filming locations:

Lawrenceville, Georgia

              

Atlanta, Georgia, USA

              

South Africa

Plot: Sudanese refugees given the chance to resettle in America arrive in Kansas City, Missouri. where their encounter with an employment agency counselor (Witherspoon) forever changes all of their lives.

Review: Though this movie didn't get as much much as the Oscar nominated Wild, this film has gotten some Heartland Awards and looks to be another notable performance by Witherspoon this year. I'm liking this Indie Witherspoon film streak. Given the fact that Ger Duany & Emmanuel Jal were two of these Lost Boys of Sudan, the name given to the groups of over 20,000 boys of the Nuer and Dinka ethnic groups who were displaced and/or orphaned during the Second Sudanese Civil War, that served as inspiration for the movie, it should provide much needed realism to their roles, and I look forward to seeing it. Also of note is the Heartland film festival nods & some Christian undertones where in the trailer at least one of the Sudanese boys says he's praying for their counselor & another praying in a church. Also, I've seen pictures of Witherspoon with her family going to church. Nice to see faith displayed in a positive light.

Rating: TBD

Watch with:

documentary "How Violent Are You" - part of the BBC's Horizon series 

2014 R Drama Mystery Thriller

Director:

 Gregg Araki

Writers:

 Gregg Araki (screenplay), Laura Kasischke (based on the novel by)

Cast: Shailene Woodley, Eva Green, Christopher Meloni, Shiloh Fernandez, Gabourey Sidibe, Thomas Jane, Dale Dickey, Mark Indelicato, Angela Bassett

Plot: In 1988, a teenage girl's life is thrown into chaos when her mother disappears.

Review: I really hope the trailer didn't give too much away, but I still wanna see this. It looks like everything I love about movies: Great acting, intriguing story, beautiful production. Trivia: Eva Green, who plays Shailene Woodley's mother in the film is, in reality, only 12 years older than Woodley. Gregg Araki based the look of Kat Connor on Winona Ryder's style from the late 1980s.

Rating: TBD

Watch with:



2013 R Drama Fantasy Scifi

Director:

 Terry Gilliam

Writer:

 Pat Rushin (screenplay)

Cast: Christoph Waltz, Rupert Friend,  Lily Cole, David Thewlis, Peter Stormare, Ben Whishaw, Mélanie Thierry, Matt Damon, Tilda Swinton 

Filming locations:

Bucharest, Romania

Strada Grigore Cobalcescu Nr. 41, Bucharest, Romania

(Qohen's home, exterior)

MediaPro Studios, Bucharest, Romania

(Qohen's home and other interiors)

Romanian Athenaeum, Bucharest, Romania

(Qohen's workplace)

Carol Park Mausoleum, Carol Park, Bucharest, Romania

(Qohen in the park)

ICPE Technology Park, Bucharest, Romania

(Qohen's examination by the 3 doctors)

PLOT: A computer hacker whose goal is to discover the reason for human existence continually finds his work interrupted thanks to the Management

Review: I love Terry Gilliam's style & previous work. This looks to fit right in with that. It's good to see Waltz in a different type of role for once instead of the bad guy he plays all the time. Trivia: The name "Qohen Leth" references "Qoheleth" (sometimes transliterated as "Qohelethin" or "Koheleth"), the original Hebrew name (and presumed author) of Ecclesiastes--the Bible book that investigates the meaning of life. According to director Terry Gilliam, Matt Damon and Ben Whishaw worked for scale just to be in this film, thus bringing the production in on schedule for a fraction of its original budget.  36 shooting days. Director of photography Nicola Pecorini decided to shoot on film rather than digitally. 

Rating: TBD

Watch with:


2014 R Dramedy Music

Director:

William H. Macy

Writing Credits  

Casey Twenter	...	(written by) &
Jeff Robison	...	(written by) &
William H. Macy

Cast: Miles Heizer, Billy Crudup, Jamie Chung, Felicity Huffman, Selena Gomez, Kate Micucci, William H. Macy, Anton Yelchin, Laurence Fishburne

Produced by: William H. Macy et al.

Music by: 

Eef Barzelay Filming locations: Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA Guthrie, Oklahoma, USA

Plot: A grieving father (Crudup) in a downward spiral stumbles across a box of his recently deceased son's demo tapes and lyrics. Shocked by the discovery of this unknown talent, he forms a band in the hope of finding some catharsis.

Review: I love music movies, the actors can sing, the music sounds amazing, and I love dramedies because they're a slice of real life. Looks like even Gomez is good in this. Directorial debut of William H. Macy. Yelchin, Crudup, Gomez, Macy & more perform in this. 

Rating: TBD

Watch with:


2014 R Crime Drama Thriller

Director:

 James Mottern

Writer:

 Emilio Mauro

Cast: Ben Barnes, Toby Jones, Harvey Keitel, Leighton Meester

Filming Locations:

 Boston, Massachusetts, USA

Plot: Nick Tortano (Barnes) is a mafia criminal whose life spirals out of control once he becomes a made man. With the lives of his loved ones at risk, including his girlfriend, he must decide what's truly important to him.

Review: Mafia movies are a dime a dozen, but I love Leighton Meester & the trailer looked powerful so I'm interested. I hope she gets to do some real acting here.

Rating: TBD

Watch with:

2015 Golden Globe Winners & My Picks

Winners say winner

My picks are in pink

 BEST MOTION PICTURE – DRAMA

Boyhood-Winner

Foxcatcher

THE IMITATION GAME

SELMA

THE THEORY OF EVERYTHING

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A MOTION PICTURE – DRAMA

Jennifer Aniston-Cake

Felicity Jones-The Theory of Everything

JULIANNE MOORE STILL ALICE-Winner

ROSAMUND PIKE GONE GIRL

REESE WITHERSPOON WILD

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A MOTION PICTURE – DRAMA

STEVE CARELL FOXCATCHER

BENEDICT CUMBERBATCH THE IMITATION GAME

JAKE GYLLENHAAL NIGHTCRAWLER

DAVID OYELOWO SELMA

EDDIE REDMAYNE THE THEORY OF EVERYTHING-WINNER

BEST MOTION PICTURE – COMEDY OR MUSICAL

Birdman

THE GRAND BUDAPEST HOTEL-WINNER

INTO THE WOODS

Pride

St. Vincent

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A MOTION PICTURE – COMEDY OR MUSICAL

AMY ADAMS BIG EYES-Winner

EMILY BLUNT INTO THE WOODS

HELEN MIRREN THE HUNDRED-FOOT JOURNEY

JULIANNE MOORE MAPS TO THE STARS

QUVENZHANÉ WALLIS ANNIE

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A MOTION PICTURE - COMEDY OR MUSICAL

RALPH FIENNES THE GRAND BUDAPEST HOTEL

MICHAEL KEATON BIRDMAN-WINNER

BILL MURRAY ST. VINCENT

JOAQUIN PHOENIX INHERENT VICE

CHRISTOPH WALTZ BIG EYES 

BEST ANIMATED FEATURE FILM

BIG HERO 6

THE BOOK OF LIFE

THE BOXTROLLS

HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON 2-WINNER

THE LEGO MOVIE

BEST FOREIGN LANGUAGE FILM

FORCE MAJEURE

GETT: THE TRIAL OF VIVIANE AMSALEM 

IDA

LEVIATHAN-WINNER

TANGERINES

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A SUPPORTING ROLE IN A MOTION PICTURE

PATRICIA ARQUETTE-BOYHOOD-WINNER

JESSICA CHASTAIN A MOST VIOLENT

KEIRA KNIGHTLEY THE IMITATION GAME

EMMA STONE BIRDMAN

MERYL STREEP INTO THE WOODS

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE IN A MOTION PICTURE

Robert Duvall The Judge

Ethan Hawke-Boyhood

EDWARD NORTON BIRDMAN

MARK RUFFALO FOXCATCHER

J.K. SIMMONS WHIPLASH-WINNER

BEST DIRECTOR - MOTION PICTURE

Wes Anderson-THE GRAND BUDAPEST HOTEL

AVA DUVERNAY SELMA

DAVID FINCHER GONE GIRL

ALEJANDRO GONZÁLEZ IÑÁRRITU BIRDMAN

RICHARD LINKLATER BOYHOOD-WINNER

BEST SCREENPLAY - MOTION PICTURE

WES ANDERSON THE GRAND BUDAPEST HOTEL

GILLIAN FLYNN GONE GIRL

ALEJANDRO GONZÁLEZ IÑÁRRITU, NICOLÁS GIACOBONE, ALEXANDER DINELARIS, ARMANDO BO BIRDMAN -WINNER

RICHARD LINKLATER BOYHOOD

GRAHAM MOORE THE IMITATION GAME 

BEST ORIGINAL SCORE - MOTION PICTURE

ALEXANDRE DESPLAT THE IMITATION GAME

JÓHANN JÓHANNSSON THE THEORY OF EVERYTHING-WINNER

TRENT REZNOR, ATTICUS ROSS GONE GIRL

ANTONIO SANCHEZ BIRDMAN

HANS ZIMMER INTERSTELLAR

BEST ORIGINAL SONG - MOTION PICTURE

“BIG EYES” — BIG EYES
Music by: Lana Del Rey, Daniel Heath
Lyrics by: Lana Del Rey, Daniel Heath

“GLORY” — SELMA-WINNER

Music by: John Legend, Common
Lyrics by: John Legend, Common

“MERCY IS” — NOAH
Music by: Patti Smith, Lenny Kaye
Lyrics by: Patti Smith, Lenny Kaye

“OPPORTUNITY” — ANNIE
Music by: Greg Kurstin, Sia
Lyrics by: Sia, Will Gluck

“YELLOW FLICKER BEAT” - THE HUNGER GAMES: MOCKINGJAY - PART 1
Music by: Joel Little, Lorde (Ella Yelich-O’Connor) 
Lyrics by: Lorde (Ella Yelich-O’Connor)

BEST TELEVISION SERIES - DRAMA

THE AFFAIR-WINNER

DOWNTON ABBEY

GAME OF THRONES

THE GOOD WIFE

HOUSE OF CARDS

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A TELEVISION SERIES - DRAMA

CLAIRE DANES HOMELAND

VIOLA DAVIS HOW TO GET AWAY WITH MURDER

JULIANNA MARGULIES THE GOOD WIFE 

RUTH WILSON THE AFFAIR-WINNER

ROBIN WRIGHT HOUSE OF CARDS

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A TELEVISION SERIES - DRAMA

CLIVE OWEN THE KNICK

LIEV SCHREIBER RAY DONOVAN

KEVIN SPACEY HOUSE OF CARDS-WINNER

JAMES SPADER THE BLACKLIST

DOMINIC WEST THE AFFAIR

BEST TELEVISION SERIES - COMEDY OR MUSICAL

GIRLS

JANE THE VIRGIN

ORANGE IS THE NEW BLACK

SILICON VALLEY

Transparent-WINNER

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A TELEVISION SERIES - COMEDY OR MUSICAL

LENA DUNHAM GIRLS

EDIE FALCO NURSE JACKIE 

JULIA LOUIS-DREYFUS VEEP

GINA RODRIGUEZ JANE THE VIRGIN-WINNER

TAYLOR SCHILLING ORANGE IS THE NEW BLACK

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A TELEVISION SERIES - COMEDY OR MUSICAL

LOUIS C. K. LOUIE

DON CHEADLE HOUSE OF LIES 

RICKY GERVAIS DEREK

WILLIAM H. MACY SHAMELESS

JEFFREY TAMBOR TRANSPARENT-WINNER

 BEST MINI-SERIES OR MOTION PICTURE MADE FOR TELEVISION

FARGO-WINNER

THE MISSING

THE NORMAL HEART

OLIVE KITTERIDGE

TRUE DETECTIVE

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A MINI-SERIES OR MOTION PICTURE MADE FOR TELEVISION

MAGGIE GYLLENHAAL THE HONORABLE WOMAN-WINNER

JESSICA LANGE AMERICAN HORROR STORY: FREAK SHOW

FRANCES MCDORMAND OLIVE KITTERIDGE

FRANCES O’CONNOR THE MISSING

ALLISON TOLMAN FARGO 

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A MINI-SERIES OR MOTION PICTURE MADE FOR TELEVISION

MARTIN FREEMAN FARGO

WOODY HARRELSON TRUE DETECTIVE

MATTHEW MCCONAUGHEY TRUE DETECTIVE

MARK RUFFALO THE NORMAL HEART

BILLY BOB THORNTON FARGO-WINNER

 BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A SUPPORTING ROLE IN A SERIES, MINI-SERIES OR MOTION PICTURE MADE FOR TELEVISION

UZO ADUBA ORANGE IS THE NEW BLACK

KATHY BATES AMERICAN HORROR STORY FREAK SHOW

JOANNE FROGGATT DOWNTON ABBEY-WINNER

ALLISON JANNEY MOM 

MICHELLE MONAGHAN TRUE DETECTIVE

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE IN A SERIES, MINI-SERIES OR MOTION PICTURE MADE FOR TELEVISION

MATT BOMER THE NORMAL HEART-WINNER

ALAN CUMMING THE GOOD WIFE

COLIN HANKS FARGO 

BILL MURRAY OLIVE KITTERIDGE

JON VOIGHT RAY DONOVAN

NOMINATIONS BY MOTION PICTURE AND TV SERIES OR PROGRAM TELEVISION SERIES OR PROGRAM

TV Series/Made For TV Movie

FARGO – 5
TRUE DETECTIVE – 4
THE AFFAIR – 3
THE GOOD WIFE – 3
HOUSE OF CARDS – 3
THE NORMAL HEART – 3
OLIVE KITTERIDGE – 3
ORANGE IS THE NEW BLACK – 3
AMERICAN HORROR STORY: FREAK SHOW – 2
DOWNTON ABBEY – 2
GIRLS – 2
JANE THE VIRGIN – 2
THE MISSING – 2
RAY DONOVAN – 2
TRANSPARENT – 2
THE BLACKLIST – 1
DEREK – 1
GAME OF THRONES – 1

HOMELAND – 1

THE HONORABLE WOMAN – 1

HOUSE OF LIES – 1

HOW TO GET AWAY WITH MURDER – 1

THE KNICK – 1

LOUIE – 1

MOM – 1

NURSE JACKIE – 1

SHAMELESS – 1

SILICON VALLEY – 1

VEEP – 1

MOTION PICTURE

BIRDMAN – 7

BOYHOOD – 5

THE IMITATION GAME – 5

GONE GIRL – 4

THE GRAND BUDAPEST HOTEL – 4

SELMA – 4

THE THEORY OF EVERYTHING – 4

BIG EYES – 3

FOXCATCHER – 3

INTO THE WOODS – 3

ANNIE – 2

ST. VINCENT – 2

A MOST VIOLENT YEAR – 1

BIG HERO 6 – 1

THE BOOK OF LIFE – 1

THE BOXTROLLS – 1

CAKE – 1

FORCE MAJEURE TURIST – 1

GETT: THE TRIAL OF VIVIANE AMSALEM – 1

HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON 2 – 1

THE HUNDRED-FOOT JOURNEY – 1

THE HUNGER GAMES: MOCKINGJAY – PART 1 – 1

IDA – 1

INHERENT VICE – 1

INTERSTELLAR – 1

THE JUDGE – 1

THE LEGO MOVIE – 1

LEVIATHAN – 1

MAPS TO THE STARS – 1

NIGHTCRAWLER – 1

NOAH – 1

PRIDE – 1

STILL ALICE – 1

TANGERINES MANDARIINID – 1

WHIPLASH – 1

WILD – 1