2014 PG-13 Bio Drama
2X Gold Globe winner: Best Actress & Best Actor in a Musical/Comedy: Adams & Waltz
Director:
Tim Burton
Plot: A drama about the awakening of the painter Margaret Keane, her phenomenal success in the 1950s, and the subsequent legal difficulties she had with her husband, who claimed credit for her works in the 1960s.
Review: Burton finally gets serious with this biopic with artistic qualities that mirror his own. The last few of Tim Burton's films have been all style no substance. I'm happy to say that he pushes himself in a new direction while still staying true to his aesthetic. He lets the artwork tell most of the story in terms of visuals with a few CGI moments used very effectively and evocatively. It's also a beautifully shot film with several moments that look as if they could be framed and hung as artwork. The fashion and music also lends itself to be Tim Burton-esque. In anyone else's hands this could've been a very boring biopic with an interesting story line. In his hand, it's special. The actors also did very well. Waltz had nuances here that I loved, even though he yet again plays the bad guy. Adams is always good and is no exception in this. The only problem I had with this film was that at times I found her character to be weak. I understand the time period was different, but a woman who had the courage to leave her first husband in the 50's seems to be too weak to cut the ties to conman husband number 2. I know she was afraid, but the film doesn't depict dramatically enough to me her feelings of fear, hopelessness, enslavement, and captivity. On paper he was an abusive man. If you read a list of the things he did to her then there's no denying that. However, the film felt light. He came off as a douche bag, not as dangerous as Margaret said he was. I do wish I had seen this in the theaters for the visuals. Not perfect but a step in the right direction.
Rating: Not The Brightest Crayon In The Box But Sure Is Pretty
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2014 PG-13 Action DramaDirector:
Ridley Scott| Jeffrey Caine | (written by) and | |
| Steven Zaillian | (written by) |
Stars:
Christian Bale, Joel Edgerton, Ben Kingsley, John Turturro, Aaron Paul, Ben Mendelsohn, Sigourney Weaver, Hiam Abbass, etc.
Plot: The defiant leader Moses rises up against the Egyptian Pharaoh Ramses, setting 600,000 slaves on a monumental journey of escape from Egypt and its terrifying cycle of deadly plagues.
Review: I was looking forward to this movie as a Christian who enjoys Bible films. For the most part, I enjoyed this. Everyone was good in this movie, I loved the clever explanations for the plagues, and the character development was there. This was made as if it was a historical biopic. The director wasn't arrogant or insulting enough to portray this film as sci-fi the way Aronofksy did with the film Noah. My only caveat to this film was the casting. Although the actors were all solid, none of them looked the part or spoke the part. As least have everyone have the same accent, even if it is a British one. Historically, films made in English that depict people in other countries have the actors speaking in British accents. However, maybe that's a habit we should break. The actors should have the accents of the people in that country, and the actors portraying them should be the same race/nationality/ethnicity of the people they are portraying or at least be able to look the part. There are plenty of people of Jewish & African decent, or that at least look like they could be, that could've played every role in this film. I'm continuously annoyed that actors are miscast due to studios believing that white actors are needed to make films any money. The director is quoted as saying that he used the actors he did because "the movie would not be financially viable without white actors." Ugh. That's just gross. If you can get past the weird tanning lotion and makeup to make the actors look darker (black face anyone?), then you will enjoy this as a well-acted, creatively realized mostly-biblically accurate historical drama. If you can't get past the visual distraction of the actors, you won't. It was a watch once for me in order to support a Christian film, and I'm happy it was respectful of the material. However, I cannot in good conscience watch it again because it is not respectful to the Jews, Africans, & Egyptians that lost out on great acting gigs because of studio heads seemingly too afraid of ethnic diversity.
Rating: Noteworthy (During the film I saw past the actors looks enough to enjoy it)
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2014 PG Animated adventure comedyStars:
Tom McGrath, Chris Miller, Christopher Knights, John Malkovich, Benedict Cumberbatch, Ken Jeong, Peter Stormare & Andy Richter
Plot: Skipper, Kowalski, Rico and Private join forces with undercover organization The North Wind to stop the villainous Dr. Octavius Brine from destroying the world as we know it.
Review: I haven't seen a Madagascar movie since the first one, but the penguins have always been my favorite characters in it so now I'm gonna catch up so I can watch this.
Rating: TBD
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(TV Series)
2014 R Dramedy
Golden Globe nominee: Best Actress Comedy (Moore)
Director:
David CronenbergWriter:
Bruce Wagner (screenplay)Stars:
Julianne Moore, Mia Wasikowska, Robert Pattinson, John Cusack, Olivia Williams, Sarah Gadon, Carrie Fisher
Music by: Howard Shore
Plot: A tour into the heart of a Hollywood family chasing celebrity, one another and the relentless ghosts of their pasts.
Review: I love David Cronenberg for his visceral, visual style and his absurd character studies. I'm curious how his visual style will translate in a "normal" non-genre film.
Rating: TBD
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2014 NR Horro, Drama, ThrillerDirector:
Jennifer KentWriter:
Jennifer Kent
Plot: A single mother, plagued by the violent death of her husband, battles with her son's fear of a monster lurking in the house, but soon discovers a sinister presence all around her.
Review: I was late in the game of jumping on the bandwagon of wanting to see this. The premise of it on paper seems silly, and the name is dumb. However, after watching the trailer and seeing some film critics that I actually respect review this film, I'm so on board. Let's do this!
Rating: TBD
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2014 R DramaDirector:
George C. WolfeWriters:
Shana Feste (screenplay), Jordan Roberts(screenplay), 2 more credits » based on the book by Michelle WildgenStars:
Hilary Swank, Emmy Rossum, Josh Duhamel, Stephanie Beatriz, Jason Ritter, Julian McMahon, Ali Larter, Loretta Devine, Ernie Hudson, Marcia Gay Harden, Frances Fisher,Production Co:
Daryl Prince Productions, 2S Films, DiNovi Pictures See more »
Review: I saw the trailer to this in the previews before another movie I rented on DVD. I always like watching the previews on DVD because I discover films I might not learn of otherwise. Swank doesn't do a lot of films, but she's a great actress. It's nice to see Rossum in drama mode since I'm always watching her in the comedy show "Shameless". I'm curious to see if Duhammel's good in this because I've only ever seen him in comedy or action mode. I'm rooting for him since he's such a nice guy and is from the city I live in now.
Rating: TBD
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2014 UR Drama Musical Romance
2X SUndance Sepcial Jury PRize winner: World Cinmea: Enselbe & Dramtic
Director:
Stuart MurdochWriter:
Stuart Murdoch (screenplay)Filming Locations:
Glasgow, Strathclyde, Scotland, UK
Plot: As Eve begins writing songs as a way to sort through some emotional problems, she meets James and Cassie, two musicians each at crossroads of their own. Belle & Sebastian musical, directed by the mastermind behind the band.
Review: I love good musicals, Browning has a beautiful voice, I love the style of the 60's time period, and the music is awesome. What more can I want?
Rating: TBD
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2015 R Action, True Crime, Drama
Plot: The inside story of the planning, execution, rousing aftermath and ultimate downfall of the kidnappers of beer tycoon Alfred "Freddy" Heineken, which resulted in the largest ransom ever paid for an individual.
Review: I've had a Heineken. Not a fan, but I love true crime movies, and I had no idea this actually happened. Looks like Pain & Gain but dramatic.
Rating:
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2013 ThrillerWriter:
Victor TeranStars:
Nikki Reed, Thomas Dekker, Scott Bakula, Noel Gugliemi, Gina Rodriguez, Jason Priestley, Joseph Julian Soria, Jake Hoffman,
Plot: A reclusive American composer with an online following has a tentative romance with a beautiful social worker. This offers a glimmer of hope, but his mind fractures as the voices in his head grow louder and more destructive.
Review: There's a talented cast here with a great premise. I hope it pans out.
Rating: TBD
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Netflix Instant
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April 16th
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April 17th
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April 18th
- Noah (2014)
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