Thoughts on 5 Films

1. Everest - This is such a perfectly epic story to be put into a visual format, but this movie definitely fails it. I'm not really sure what went wrong because the cast is excellent and it is absolutely gorgeous to look at, but it's oddly dull overall. I think it was just too conventional, and it lacked emotion. The characters weren't really developed enough to actually care about the outcome (I mean obviously we care, but not enough to feel anything other than "well, that sucks"). I don't really connect with stories like this - where someone sets out to dangerously face the elements just "for fun". I would never ever, ever be inspired to climb Mount Everest unless someone paid me a shitload of money (that could be transferred to my family in case I die. And to be clear...I would die) or if there was like a cure for Cancer at the top. Otherwise, I don't get it. The only reason that I invested in the story at all is because of the cast. Josh Brolin is definitely becoming one of my all-time favorite actors. He's definitely the star, along with Jason Clarke (who sports a sexy Australian accent - I had no idea that was his natural accent. Yummy.). While Gyllenhaal, Keira Knightley, Robin Wright and many others are sufficient in supporting roles. Oh and Sam Worthington is in the movie! I didn't even realize he was in it until about an hour in, which is weird. He just fades into the background, I guess.

2. Maze Runner: The Scorch Trial - I really liked the first one. It stuck with me for months after, which is rare for a movie like this. I liked that they had to "solve" a puzzle in order to survive. This one wasn't as original or interesting. In all honesty, I felt like I was watching an episode of The 100. Especially the parts where they are in the weird sterile building being told that they are "safe", along with the references to "the mountain people". But The 100 is one of the best shows on television right now, and it is hard to compete with. It's interesting that their escape from The Glade wasn't a happy ending. They spent the entire first movie escaping from an actual "safe" place, only to now have to deal with an apocalyptic Earth filled with evil humans, a deadly virus, and some crazy-ass lightening storms. I just feel like the whole "apocalyptic Earth" part has been done to death, and this movie didn't offer anything new. The cast still sells the film, and I like the character twists. I also like Lili Taylor. She is killing it on this season's American Crime. I'm happy to see a resurgence in her career.

3. Our Brand is Crisis - I actually really liked this movie. I know that I am a bit biased because I am a HUGE Sandra Bullock fan (I mean, I'll even stick up for All About Steve. Yes, I'm *that* big of a fan). I think this movie is obviously very relevant to what's happening with the presidential nominees this year, so that helps it significantly. However, it's still a fascinating (and partially true) story. The cast is great; the cat-and-mouse type relationship between Bullock and Billy Bob Thornton is really well done. It's hard to believe that this is their first time working together, because they seemed to naturally exude a sense of camaraderie. I laughed a lot during their first exchange of witty, passive-aggressive banter. The supporting cast is excellent as well, AND Zoe Kazan ISN'T playing a "manic pixie dream girl" character!!! WHOA. I like that the movie blurs the lines between our supposed "hero" and "villain"; we never really know who started the infamous rumor, or who the "better" candidate really is (and if it's the guy who won, then that is freakin' scary). I laughed a lot, which wasn't expected. I laughed every time Sandy credits a famous quote to Warren Beatty (I don't know why, but it's just funny), plus, who doesn't love Sandy screaming for a bus to go faster?! I could watch that all day. There are also some really depressing moments (especially the constant reminder that if "voting changed anything, they would make it illegal") that really highlight the disgusting nature of politics. Overall, I think it's a pretty solid and balanced political movie.

4. Black Mass - Extremely generic mob movie. I don't know if my expectations were just too high or if the movie was just too mediocre, but I was so bored through most of it. I will always root for Johnny Depp, and he is excellent as Whitey Bulger. I do think the prosthetics and blue contacts were distracting, and the performance was a bit over-the-top; especially compared to the rest of the cast, all of whom played it pretty low-key. In fact, I was way more impressed with the supporting cast than I was with Depp. I adore Julianne Nicholson. Her scene with Depp is heart-poundingly intense. I was really happy to see Jesse Plemons, because he is so great. He deserves all of the roles he's been getting lately. I know the comparisons to Matt Damon have been circling for years, but it was really noticeable with the Boston accent. Benedict Cumberbatch with a Boston accent, though, is just plain odd. It doesn't work at all. The story is interesting. Surprisingly, I wasn't very familiar with it. I had no idea that he worked with the FBI to turn in his enemies (and kept committing horrific crimes in the process). Doesn't look too good that the FBI participated in such activities, but I'm sure stuff like this still happens.

5. Mission: Impossible - Rogue Nation - I'm not the biggest Mission: Impossible fan. In fact, I really don't like any of them except the last one. And I don't really remember anything about it, except the Burj Khalifa scene, so I can't really say I'm a "fan" of that one either. I heard a ton of great things about this one, so I thought there would be another magnificent scene, at the very least. But there isn't. The plane scene is cool, but not nearly as exciting. I'm glad that this heavily advertised scene was the first scene, because it gave me hope that there would be much more to the movie. There were a few other really great, intense scenes, but I don't know....I just didn't see anything to rave about. I heard really great things about Rebecca Ferguson, too, and I assumed from the very beginning that she would be a "bad" character. I was right (and wrong), but I didn't see anything special about her performance, either. I think the best part was Jeremy Renner (always). He's just the best, and that scene where they spot each other during the car chase and then he has to do the 3-point turn in the truck made me laugh so hard. That's probably the only scene I will remember a year from now.

3 Thoughts on Deadpool

1. Ryan Reynolds - To be honest, I'm not really a Ryan Reynolds fan. I never have been. He's not a great actor and I don't think he's hot at all. I think he just has a really great manager and publicist; somehow he was thrust into the spotlight without really deserving it. That's not to say that I haven't liked some of his films. Actually, I like most of them; I just find him "meh" in all of them. The first film that made me think differently was The Voices, which I saw at the end of last year. Reynolds was actually fantastic as a likable murderer. It was the first time I felt like he was attempting something different. And maybe this is his specialty - a likable bad guy. After all, Deadpool is certainly not your typical hero. He's an asshole, who is concerned with seeking revenge - not the usual "saving the world" superhero. As Deadpool, Reynolds is absolutely his very best. Perhaps it was his enthusiasm and investment in the movie itself, but he just really goes for it and it's a perfect performance.

2. Valentine's Day - Has there been a marketing campaign *this* good in recent years? Because nothing comes to mind. It's nothing short of genius. First, I feel like I've been hearing about this movie for YEARS. Second, they made an adult movie (rated R) and clearly marketed it as that. Third, they gave it a release date of Valentine's Day. This may seem odd, but when you think of the intended audience (adults), how do you make up for the "loss" of the teenage audience? You make sure that it is advertised to all adults. Capitalize on the Valentine's Day date movie. The odd part, though, is that it actually is the perfect Valentine's Day movie. It is a love story more than anything else, and it is romantic. It's also hilarious, which is always a good choice for a date movie.

3. The "game changer"? - There has been a lot of attention placed on the success of Deadpool and what it all means for the future of superhero movies. I don't really think it's going to change much. It's not as innovative as people are making it out to be. There have been several superhero movies that focused on humor (most recently Guardians of the Galaxy), and there have been ones that are rated R (Kick-Ass). The success of the movie is simply because they made a great movie. The pace was incredible, the dialogue was smart, the story was interesting, the characters were fully-developed and best of all (what is usually missing), the villain was a strong part of the story. Actually, no, the best part is definitely the jokes. It's joke after joke and 99% of them are hilarious. It's meta without being annoying or repetitive. It's vulgar without being offensive. If it has a flaw, I didn't see it.

3 Thoughts on Hail, Caesar!

1. For the love of movies - I feel like this movie was specifically made for movie lovers; People who have studied film, worked on film sets, screenplay writers & readers, or just self-taught cinephiles. I don't know if an average moviegoer audience will fully embrace the old-school film techniques, or the silliness of the dialogue, or the abrupt but classic Hollywood dance sequence. I think it's just perfect. I love the optimism, along with the combination of black humor, subtle humor, and laugh out loud humor. It all works incredibly well, and had me smiling through the whole thing. I wouldn't be surprised if it ended up on my Top 10 list of 2016 (and it's technically the first movie I've seen so far this year, so hopefully this is a fantastic start to a great year for movies).

2. The Coen brothers - I don't know if I've ever really discussed my thoughts on Coen brother films on this blog before, so here it is: I have mixed feelings. Some of their films I absolutely adore - Hudsucker Proxy, Fargo, No Country for Old Men, and, Burn After Reading. Some of their films I find mediocre (and the dreaded word in film criticism, "overrated") - The Big Lebowski, O' Brother, Where Art Thou?, and, Inside Llewyn Davis. And then, there are some of their films that are so bad, I try to forget about them - Intolerable Cruelty and The Ladykillers. This one falls between "adore" and "mediocre", even though it was closer in theme and tone with the "so bad" ones. I love that they have a signature style and approach to film-making, and they have a knack for those "small moments" that I refer to as "pure Coen Brothers genius".

3. The star - In watching the trailer, or just looking at the cast list, one would assume that the "star" of the movie is George Clooney, right? Well, it's not. Also, the other bigger names, like Scarlett Johansson, Channing Tatum, and Jonah Hill are in two or three very small scenes. The "star" in my opinion is Josh Brolin, but even more important, the scene-stealer is absolutely Alden Ehrenreich. He's fantastic. Every scene he is in, is a highlight of the movie. I think it must be a difficult thing for an actor to pretend to be a bad actor...I mean, it goes against every natural instinct. He's definitely the memorable character of the movie, which is a huge compliment considering the A-list actors involved. Tatum was also a stand-out, mostly because he nailed that dance sequence and the comedic ending of the movie (two things he excels at: dancing and comedy. Please stop giving him action movies).

Thoughts on 5 Films

1. Ted 2- Really disappointing sequel. I thought the first one was pretty hilarious, at least for a movie about a talking bear. I expected it to be more of the same vulgar, politically incorrect humor, but instead it felt like the same jokes over and over again. I didn't laugh once in the first 40 minutes. The only part I enjoyed was the reprisal of Giovanni Ribisi's character. He was the funniest part of the first one, and they definitely acknowledge that in this one by recalling the hilarious "I Think We're Alone Now" scene (this time in a Ninja Turtle costume!). There are two other parts that I laughed at - when Ted can't help but sing "Sweet Caroline" (absolutely brilliant) and Amanda Seyfried (as Sam L Jackson) saying "I put a frown face on Facebook! How am I supposed to explain that?!" after she thought Wahlberg's character was dead. Seyfried is growing on me, but I did feel the absence of Mila Kunis (only because I love her). I think the story is obviously problematic; it was easy to forego a realistic story in the first one because it was told in a "fairy-tale" style, but this one is just ridiculous.

2. Burnt - I was expecting a pretty terrible movie, but I actually didn't think it was so bad. I really wanted to see it because I was a huge (and possibly the only) fan of Kitchen Confidential (I even own the first and only season). Bradley Cooper as a sexy chef is a dream come true (insert heart eyes emoji). Honestly, it was hard for me to be impartial, because he's just so perfect, so I'm not really sure if the movie was good or not, but it certainly wasn't terrible. My biggest problem with the movie is all of the food shots. Most images of food makes me sick, and I lose my appetite, and I cringe out of sheer disgust. In other words, I don't like knowing how my food is prepared, and I don't savor in the image of food sitting pretty on my plate. Also, do fancy chefs really cook stuff in plastic now? I don't understand how that is safe? Doesn't plastic release chemicals when it is burned? And why is so much food wasted just because it doesn't look or taste "perfect"? It's disgusting. Anyway, Cooper is perfection (obvi), Sienna Miller does a great job, as does the rest of the cast. And the betrayal at the end? WHOA. I didn't seen that coming at all, but it made perfect sense. It could have been a better movie, if it dug a little deeper into the obsessive nature of being "the best" at something, but it stayed pretty much at surface level.

3. Time out of Mind - The subject matter of this movie is extremely depressing, but it needs to be told. It's about a man struggling to come to terms with the fact that he's homeless. It's great insight into the many problems that cities have with dealing with the homeless population. When you're young (and/or naive) you may wonder why homeless people don't just go to a shelter, right? Well, as seen in this movie, it's a bit like sentencing oneself to prison. You lose your freedom, and in turn, your sense of self-worth. Then there's organizations like the Salvation Army that help homeless people after they admit that they need to be "saved" by God. It's all a bit depressing to think about. There are also mothers who refuse to get "help" in fear of being separated from their children (which if she is homeless might be the best thing, but it's a devastating decision still, no?). Anyway, I think this movie could have gone even further to show the problems with "the system" (after all, our main character is a white male - he is treated far better than minorities are). However, it's still a heartbreaking situation that highlights how easy it is to suddenly be homeless. The moment when he questions "am I homeless?" is just soul-crushing. Gere is at his best; straddling the line between naivety and an aging stubborn male. There is a scar on his head that is highlighted, but I believe, never directly referenced, indicating a possibility of a head injury. I sort of like not knowing his full-story because it emphasizes the humanity of the strangers we pass on a daily basis living on the street; doing their best to survive. We don't know their story, but assumptions are made, and this needs to change.

4. Sleeping with Other People - I thought this had a different (better) concept than the one we are given. I was under the impression it was about a couple (who are also best friends) who are in an open relationship. In theory, it is, it's just that the characters never really acknowledge that they are in a relationship. The are just presented as friends (without benefits) who discuss their relationships with other people to each other, even though they are clearly in love with one another. I think the worst part of the movie is the fact that it's written by a woman. Here are the 3 reasons why I assumed it was written by a man: 1. The first scene with Jason's character getting pushed into a moving taxi because he cheated (and bitches be crazy...). 2. The "I'm going to teach you how to masturbate" scene. Yes, there is actually a scene where a MAN teaches a WOMAN how to finger herself. 3. This same man claims that every woman he's had sex with (which we assume is a big number) has had an orgasm and it's never questioned. All 3 of these things usually come from a (delusional) male brain. BUT NOPE. Women can be just as fucking stupid. Anyway, there are some parts of the movie that I genuinely like (a lot). I do like their relationship; but I'm a crazy person who believes that friendship is the most important part of a relationship. Sudeikis and Alison Brie have great chemistry together (even though I think Sudeikis is fucking booooring. It's hilarious how he describes how boring the guys she's in love with is. It felt like he was talking about himself.). Plus, I laughed out loud a few times, especially at the end credits. Literal tears were streaming down my face from laughing so hard. Overall, the movie is very successful, I just can't understand how it came from a female brain.

5. Hitman: Agent 47 - So incredibly dull, generic and derivative. I'm not a huge fan of Rupert Friend, probably because I'm not a huge fan of Homeland (it's a good show, not great), I was interested in seeing him in something different, though. He didn't impress me; especially if you make the obvious comparison between this character and Jason Bourne. The movie is a bit like the Bourne movies in that it's about turning humans into weapons, but there's no style to the character. It's very one-note. Also, the supporting cast is rough. The girl from that terrible show, Betrayal, is the female star (the one that needs to be rescued several times, even though she is a trained weapon, as well. Makes sense.), and she is just as terrible here as she was on the show. And Zachary Quinto is NOT an action star. He was so awkward in those scenes - and obviously *spoiler* he is the bad guy because FUCKING DUH. The movie isn't necessarily bad; it doesn't even make it into my 2015 Worst List, but it's just sort of pointless. I won't remember a thing about it in 6 months. Guaranteed.

3 Thoughts on Joy

1. Jennifer Lawrence - I like Jennifer Lawrence, just not usually in David O. Russell movies. I think she received way too much credit for Silver Linings Playbook (Cooper carried that movie full-force), and she was the weakest link in American Hustle. However, I think Lawrence shines in this movie. Oscar nomination worthy? NOPE. But, still much better than her previous collaborations with O. Russell. She seems more reserved and mature in this role than in her previous efforts. The performance isn't as "showy", except at the very end, which is so bad it almost ruins everything. I don't think that's her fault, though. I blame O. Russell on that atrocious ending.

2. David O. Russell - There has been a definite shift in O. Russell movies. I admit, I miss the days of Three Kings and the absurdity of I Heart Huckabees. I think part of his problem lately is definitely the casting. It's like he's stuck on repeat and it's getting really boring. His current obsession with Lawrence is insufferable; He doesn't even put her in parts that are right for her. I also believe that his films have been a little more serious in theme, and his biting sarcasm has been toned down. However, he is still an incredible filmmaker and storyteller. Anyone could have made a biopic about Joy, but O. Russell created a story involving fact-based events with a sense of dazzle. It has his signature stamped all over it, and that's a great thing.

3. Everything else - It's very telling that I saw many people (mostly men) writing this movie off as "the mop movie", as if the subject matter is instantly dull. In reality, it's the story of Joy Mangano, an incredibly successful businesswoman/inventor, who created items that changed the way "home-makers" (who, even in this day and age, are mostly still women) cleaned and organized their home. She came up with an idea that would make her life easier, and busted her ass to get it made and into the homes of millions of people everywhere. If you don't find that fascinating, then I don't have words for you. The style of the movie is also a highlight. It's not as obvious as American Hustle (which was still perfect for that story), but it feels genuine of that time period. There are several negative aspects of the move - the pace is a little too slow, the editing is choppy and distracting, and as stated above, the ending is ridiculous (there is nothing worse than a strong female character, after getting burned by humanity, deciding that chopping off her hair will solve all of her problems). So, in the O. Russell canon, this is probably one of his worst films - but I don't really think that's an insult. It's still better than 90% of the crap out there.

Thoughts on 5 Films

1. The Last Five Years - I had this on my list because of Anna Kendrick, but then I saw that it has the guy from Smash (who is now on Supergirl), and I really like him, so I watched it immediately. I didn't like it, for a few reasons. First, I like some musicals (Chicago, Moulin Rouge, Once), but this was hard to pay attention to. It reminded me of Into the Woods (also starring Kendrick), because it just sounds like they are singing the SAME song for the entire movie. Second, I hated the story. In a way, I actually really like the concept because it's about a marriage that disintegrates within five years (I'm a sucker for a realistic approach to marriage), but it's the way that this marriage falls apart that I have a problem with. It boils down to him being an asshole and her being an unsupportive bitch. It's hard for a writer and an actress to find success in the real world, so if one of them actually does, then wouldn't the other one be ecstatic? I don't understand jealousy/resentment of someone that you love. After becoming successful, he has a world of opportunities, and in turn, temptation, which is probably the best song in the movie - the insight into his conflicted mind is interesting, but if he feels this way, I question his "love" for his wife. It seems like he settled because he couldn't do better, and now that he's famous, well, all bets are off (and *spoiler* then he cheats on her). However, maybe if she was supportive of his success, he wouldn't feel the need to stray? She is essentially living off of his success, the least she can do is support him. The whole story is just really obvious that these two don't belong together. I did appreciate the lyrics to the songs; if you force yourself to pay attention, there are some lines that are real gems ("these are the people that cast Russell Crowe in a musical") and I appreciate how difficult it is to film a musical like this.

2. Straight Outta Compton - YOU GUYS, I'm sorry, but I don't understand. This movie is nothing more than a made for television movie but with swearing and mild violence (and I mean the old school *cough* terrible *cough* tv movies). I was slightly too young to really consider myself an N.W.A fan; my rap days started with a solo Dr. Dre and Snoop, but really, I was a gigantic Biggie fan (I cried the day he died). So, as someone who knew very little about the N.W.A saga, I thought this movie would give some fantastic insight and it fails. It doesn't tell me anything that I didn't already know even in my limited knowledge (except that Dr. Dre's brother died). I mean, the whole movie is about how they got screwed by their record execs (*GASP* NO WAY! THAT DIDN'T HAPPEN TO PRETTY MUCH EVERY ARTIST THAT EXISTS. Quick someone make an *N SYNC/Lou Pearlman biopic and enter it in the Oscar race). They did a terrible job of presenting the *only* interesting/relevant story which is the history of police brutality against the black community. I mean, the fact that this is still happening almost 20 years later, is disgusting. It's interesting when life effects art (as they state "art is a reflection of our reality"), but it's more interesting when art effects life - and in the case of the N.W.A, they didn't really effect anything, did they? According to the actors introducing the film at the SAG awards, they claim that the N.W.A "started a revolution", but I'm not so sure about that. The Rodney King verdict happened after the N.W.A became popular, and race relations among the police force hasn't changed (and is arguably worse). I personally think it's a mistake to not at least address this. The other part that I found problematic (and essentially poorly written) is Jerry Heller, portrayed by Paul Giamatti. At first, he is seen as a very generic white savior character (they could have easily focused their success on their hard-work, their instant popularity in local clubs, their talent, etc., instead it's because a white guy discovered them? Um...ok). Then, he is turned (almost instantly) into the villain of the story. I just think there has to be a lot missing from those sudden turn of events (and I think it's interesting that Heller filed a lawsuit because of how he was portrayed). Anyway, it's not a bad movie. The cast is decent and it has a few really great moments. I just don't see anything to rave about.

3. Irrational Man - (*spoilers*) I wasn't really aware of what this movie is about. I just knew it was a Woody Allen film with Joaquin Phoenix and Emma Stone. That's enough to excite me, but unfortunately, this movie is really bland. Allen tends to go through phases, for me, of super highs and super lows. With this, To Rome with Love, and Magic in the Moonlight, I'm afraid he is on a super low (I'm ignoring Blue Jasmine because I'm not sure that movie would have been as good without Blanchett's sublime performance). So, here is why I hated this movie: 1. Emma Stone is no Scarlett Johansson. That would usually be a compliment coming from me, because I'm not a fan of Johansson. However, I think she's excellent in Allen's films. He brings her to life. He has the opposite effect on Stone. She is usually so charismatic and adorable onscreen. But with this and Rome, she is almost unbearably boring. 2. The romance is unsettling. She falls for her (older) professor, essentially choosing him over her more "appropriate" boyfriend. I think this is supposed to be seen as a mistake, but they set the boyfriend up as a jealous, insecure asshole from the very first scene, so honestly, he needed to be dumped. I think some women do tend to fall for more "damaged" guys (no, I don't understand the psychology behind this), but this guy is a psychopath. It should be called Psychotic Man and the Irrational Woman who Falls for Him. 3. This man is a GODDAMN PSYCHOPATH. Allen has definitely written immoral characters before, but usually there is a motive, or at least an understanding to character actions. This guy is not only self-destructive and narcissistic (both common Allen character traits), but he plans a murder of someone he doesn't even know based on the words of a stranger. That's psychotic. And, here's one reason I enjoyed this movie: Parker Posey. The end.

4. Fantastic Four - Oh Lord. I just don't understand how something this terrible gets made and then actually released. Especially when you have a cast that's this good. I don't remember the original Fantastic Four movies being any good, but I know, specifically, that I didn't like the cast (at least for the roles that they played). Remaking it with a group of talented, up-and-coming actors seemed like a fantastic idea, but I think they forgot about the script. I mean, there is no story whatsoever. It introduces characters who then spend the next hour of the movie doing "science stuff", they get super-powers from a freak accident and then....??? They fight off a bad guy (whose name is Victor Von Doom. For reals) for like 5 minutes. That's the whole movie. The bad guy is probably the worst villain I've seen in a long time. He has no motivation to be bad and he says dialogue like "there is no Victor, only Doom". This is obviously meant to set up a series of movies, but if you fuck up the plot, dialogue and characters this bad, then no-one is going to want to see more. So, believe the reviews - this movie is absolutely terrible.

5. The Diary of a Teenage Girl - I had really high hopes for this movie. Not only did it receive tons of festival praise, but I used to work for two of the producers back in the day. I am so happy this film was so successful for them, because they have a knack for picking great scripts. Hopefully, they will continue to see success (which seems likely, since this year they are producers on the famous "Daniel Radcliffe farting corpse" movie). This was advertised as a  "groundbreaking" teenage girl "coming-of-age" story, which actually is the only thing that irked me. There were plenty of these stories when I was growing up (Now and Then and My Girl spring to mind the quickest), but I guess after seeing the movie, I realize that this was definitely more sexually explicit for a female story. There is usually a lot of build-up towards "the first time", and then the story ends. This story begins with "the first time" and continues exploring a teenage girls brain. I don't think I've really seen many stories of young women actually enjoying sex - it's more of a mid-life story that's told, so it's definitely refreshing. It's still not necessarily something I connect with. I honestly don't think I was ever as needy as this girl is (and many girls are). I never really cared if guys found me physically attractive; and I never really cared what guys were thinking about me. That's not to say that I didn't have crushes, I did, but I was just a very independent person. My crushes didn't control how I felt about myself. So, I can't really connect with the story. It escalates from "I just had sex" to "I'm doing drugs and giving blow-jobs to strangers for $15", which kind of negates the healthy "normal" sexual awakenings of a young woman. I feel like someone who is anti-sex before marriage would use this story to prove their point. I'm not judging her, but I don't think that's her proudest moment (but sure, we all have our moments, so I appreciate the boldness of having a character who lapses judgement because of her own insecurities). However, I also find this girl extremely selfish. Sure, she's young and she is disgustingly manipulated by her mother's boyfriend, but she's old enough to realize the damage and hurt that this inappropriate relationship would do to her mother. Plus, any girl who jokes about being raped, is not someone I will ever relate to. So, as someone who doesn't relate to really anything in the movie, I still enjoyed it. It's a strong story, the dialogue is poetic, and the actors (specifically Bel Powley and Kristen Wiig) are excellent. It's definitely one of the best movies of 2015.

Thoughts on 5 Films

1. Mortdecai - Obviously, after seeing the trailer, and reading the reviews, I wasn't expecting a good movie. At all. However, it does have an intriguing cast. I know everyone hates Johnny Depp now (not me; never will), and I know he hasn't picked the best roles lately (although, I haven't seen Black Mass yet, I've heard it's a "return to form" role). He's still entertaining to watch; he definitely dissolves himself into every role, whether it's good or bad, so I don't really agree with the criticism that he's "given up" and "only in it for the paycheck now". I thought that him and Gwyneth Paltrow were an odd pairing, but it could work (it didn't), and the supporting cast is awesome (Paul Bettany, JEFF GOLDBLUM, Ewan McGregor). The movie is sort of fascinating, to be honest, it reminded me of those cheesy 90s movies like Once Upon a Crime (and fuck yes, I LOVE that movie in all of its cheesy glory); it just wasn't funny enough to really hit those levels of "so bad it's good". The running joke was about his mustache and it wasn't funny, at all. The plot was all over the place, and it didn't seem to make sense, although, I was pretty bored so I found it hard to pay attention to any of the intricate details that may have helped the plot. Bettany was, by far, the best part of the movie; he has some great reaction scenes. Overall, though, it's catastrophically awful, and even worse, a gigantic waste of money.

2. Dope - I adore this movie. It's so much fun. I think the biggest reason that I enjoyed it is because it reminded me of the movie Go, and that was one of my favorite movies when I was a teenager. It's completely different in tone and structure, but it has that same plot points and pace. Someone recommended this movie to me, based on my love of independent movies; I didn't really know anything about it and I really haven't heard many people talking about it, which is a shame. The cast is excellent. The dialogue is smart and hilarious (my favorite scene is when he is arguing against the metaphor that is being thrown at him - "I wouldn't order a Macklemore CD. That wouldn't happen."). My favorite aspect of the movie, though, is the story of this kid, a minority, who lives in a bad neighborhood, and is raised by a single mother, absolutely refuses to use it as an excuse, and furthermore, he refuses to use it to gain sympathy on his Harvard application. He deserves to go to Harvard because of his hard work and determination; not because of his "story". The second best part is the music. At first, it's a little jarring because he's listening to 90s hip-hop (on cassette), and dressed like DJ Jazzy Jeff, but then the dialogue refers to bit coins (which I still don't understand) and Justin Bieber (ditto). It's like he's the hipster of hip-hop. He talks about Summertime as a "classic" song, which is true and is in clear contrast of "new" hip-hop, especially during the club scene when that God-awful song is playing (it literally just repeated "these girls let it pour" over and over again. What does that even mean?? Wait...I don't want to know.). The third best part of the movie is that it is memorable. I will remember the scene when he is being seduced by the beautiful, naked stranger who questionably offers to take his virginity because it is such a cliched, unrealistic scene that is in every teenage coming of age story, and then it taints the whole thing in the grossest way possible (I won't spoil it, but it's definitely memorable). I will also remember the last line of his Harvard essay (which should have been the last line of the movie, but they ruined it with an unnecessary scene), because it stings so much. And lastly, I will remember the credits because I could not stop watching him dance; it made me smile literally from beginning to end.

3. Infinitely Polar Bear - I think I built my expectations up too high for this movie. I figured it had an interesting subject matter, a bipolar man trying to care for his two daughters, and it had one of my favorite actors (favorite might be too strong of a word, but certainly one of the most likeable actors), Mark Ruffalo. The movie is just ok. There really isn't any depth to it, which is a shame because it could have definitely dug a little deeper into this complicated mental illness. It did show the ups and deep downs that this character suffered through. It did show the effect that his illness has on his family; and that, in some small cases, domestic abuse isn't always black and white (trust me, this is hard for me to admit, but there ARE certain cases where mental illness is a huge factor, and if you love someone who suffers from one, and you know they love you, etc...). I think they did a good job of showing that this person would never truly mean to be hurtful; he loves his kids (even when he is screaming at them and giving them the finger. I honestly laughed so hard). I didn't really like the wife's story. I don't know; I understand her motivation to give her kids a better future, but you have to consider their "present" before their "future" and leaving them in the hands of a mentally ill person while you go to school in another state doesn't seem like the best idea. I just question the whole plot (he comes from a very wealthy family, I highly doubt they would let those children starve). I think the bigger picture is just too problematic, but there are some nice small moments that work really well.

4. The Walk - I think if you've never seen the documentary Man on Wire, then this movie might be of interest (but I highly recommend you watch the doc instead of this movie). It's such a well-known story, especially in NY, the movie just doesn't play out with any sort of excitement. Visually though, it is better than I was expecting. The ads and trailer looked horrendously fake, but it works somehow as a whole film. I love JGL, and I don't think I've said anything bad about his acting, ever, but there is a first for everything. The accent? ATROCIOUS. The movie was difficult to watch because of it. However, I definitely understand why he was cast. He is this type of entertainer - one who is passionate and determined (if you want proof, search his opening number of his SNL episode.). The movie tries to tell the story of "why", but it doesn't actually answer this question, other than this man wanted to achieve the impossible. I guess it must be an amazing feeling, to defy the odds, it would make one feel invincible. But, honestly, I still don't get it.

5. Sicario - I was really looking forward to this movie. I was quite upset with myself for not having seen it in the theater, but again, 2015 was a tough year for me (2016 is amazing, so far, FYI). Denis Villeneuve teaming up again with Roger Deakins, is an automatic win. Villeneuve is definitely moving up on my list of favorite directors (Incendies, Prisoners, Enemy are all very solid movies). Plus, a fantastic cast of Emily Blunt, Benicio del Toro, Josh Brolin AND Victor Garber (I know, I know, not many people include Garber when talking about this movie, but I adore him always and forever.). The story seems pretty straight-forward at first, the plot is actually a little bit dull in the beginning, then the middle bit is a little hard to follow, but THEN the last 40 minutes are spectacular. I should have expected a twisty story, considering Villeneuve's previous films, but I didn't really know where the story was going. There is a very shocking scene, that I think most filmmakers would shy away from, which is exciting (and stomach-turning at the same time). I like that it just ended without any particular resolution, but instead, an impending sense of doom. Overall, I wish the whole movie was as intense as the third act, but it's still one of the best movies of the year (but probably my least favorite of Villeneuve's films).

4 Thoughts on The Golden Globes

1. The Host - I really don't care what anyone says, I think Ricky Gervais is hilarious. And mean. Very mean. I'm considered a nice person (and I'm often criticized as being "too nice", to which I say fuck right off. I'll be as nice as I wish.), but I often roll my eyes at celebrity hi-jinks. I feel like Ricky calls out the bullshit. A perfect example is Jennifer Lawrence and her "essay on feminism". As a feminist, I will admit that it's absolutely necessary for all women to speak out about the injustices of the pay gap that still exists. HOWEVER, when you're throwing numbers around that exist in the millions, the message gets lost. It's absolutely ridiculous for someone making 52 million in one year to complain about any type of money issue. If she wants to make an impact, then I suggest she donate to the millions of women who live in poverty because they can't afford to pay a babysitter, and therefore have a hard time maintaining a job. I'm on one of my epic sidetracks now, but my point is that it's hypocrisy at its best (worst?). Ricky making fun of her is essential, because some of these celebrities live in clouds - and sadly they are the ones with enough money to make an impact. I feel a similar way about the Caitlyn Jenner fiasco. Sure, transgender role model, but she KILLED SOMEONE, so human role model? Um. No. I love that Ricky pointed out that she "didn't do a lot for women drivers" (and is he really getting flack for saying that? That was in no way criticism of the transgender community, but a comment on how that family is so popular that they are essentially above the law. If anything it's a joke about female drivers, which isn't a new joke, and it's true. Women are shitty drivers.). So, needless to say, I enjoyed Ricky as the host. Keep those "mean" jokes coming, Ricky.

2. The Show - Last year, I watched the Golden Globes on an hour delay so that I could fast-forward through all the boring parts. This year, I didn't even watch it until the next day. It just doesn't feel like an important awards show anymore. I know, I know "important" and "awards show" doesn't really go together. But, as someone who loves movies and television, I love to see talent awarded, and I used to love the Golden Globes. I appreciated that it didn't really take itself too seriously. Now, though, the Hollywood Foreign Press just doesn't seem to be inline with my opinions (doesn't make them wrong, but I mean, they did nominate The Tourist. Nope, still not over it). I like that the show doesn't really have any sketches or gimmicks. It's just a host and presenters. You think, it would move pretty quickly, but nope. The main reason for this is that almost all of the presenters obnoxiously tried to steal as much stage time as possible. They need to limit who gets to do elaborate jokes, and they should do a better job of approving said jokes, because Jonah Hill dressed as the bear from The Revenant is a severe waste of precious minutes. And, what the fuck was with Amy Schumer and Jennifer Lawrence? Why did they start talking all whiny like that? Was that supposed to be funny? Sexy? It wasn't either. The only presenters I enjoyed were Brad Pitt and Ryan Gosling (because duh), and Amber Heard and Jaimie Alexander (also, because duh). There really wasn't even any good speeches, either. The worst (by far) was Quentin Tarantino accepting the award for Ennio Morricone, and he made the win all about himself (that's soo Quentin). Even Denzyl Washington seemed clueless on stage accepting an award that he knew he was going to win. Oh, I did like Taraji P. Henson's "I've waited 20 years for this" shout at the orchestra. Those poor people, they tried their best to play off every single winner to no avail. They even (had the nerve) to play off Leo. That's brave, orchestra people. I think the best part of the show was all of the audience reactions that were caught on camera. I know Leo's face when Lady Gaga bumped his arm is the one that became instantly popular, but the one that made me laugh was Alan Cumming's reaction after the banter between Ricky and Mel Gibson. Plus, it took balls to pan the camera to Harvey Weinstein when Ricky was talking about producers paying for awards. I mean, it's a known thing, but still...He's right there! And he owns Hollywood. I wouldn't mess with him.

3. The Winners - 2015 wasn't one of my favorite years in film. The Big Short is a landslide for my favorite movie of the year, so I would have liked to see it win for Bale and for Comedy. And speaking of comedy, let's get this out of the way, because it was continuously joked about - The Martian is not a comedy in any way, shape, or form. I wouldn't categorize The Big Short as one, either, but at least, there are very funny moments. I didn't laugh at all during The Martian, although I did hear of people laughing (was it the disco thing? Because that was just the same joke, over and over again. How is that funny?). I think the whole reason that I ever liked the Golden Globes is because they separated comedy and drama. But, it defeats the purpose, if they are just going to fill the comedy category with dramatic movies. I can't really comment much further on the movie side of the awards, but the television side was straight up crazy. First, how did no-one tell me that one of my favorite actors, Gael Garcia Bernal, is in a television show? HOW?! (Also, how do I watch it? I loathe Amazon. Is there another way?). Second, how did Mr. Robot not win? WAIT, WHAT?! They actually awarded the best show of the season?! HOLY SHIT. Kudos, Hollywood Foreign Press, you may have gained my respect again. Another one they got correct is Maura Tierney. I've been a huge fan of hers since NewsRadio, and of course, E.R., and I am in complete shock that this is her first Golden Globe nomination (and win). She definitely stole the show in season 2 of The Affair. It made me sad that someone like Rachel Bloom (who might be very talented, I don't know), can win such an award so quickly (off of a 1/2 season of a show that not many people watch), while it took Tierney 20 years? It kind of puts the whole ridiculousness into perspective. Third, how did Ben Mendelsohn not win? I love Christian Slater, but Ben deserved the win. Plus, Lady Gaga is alright on AHS. She's better than I thought she was going to be, but award-worthy? No fucking way. Overall, though, I can't complain about a show that gives an award to Leonardo DiCaprio AND Kate Winslet (Titanic fangirl forever).

4. The Fashion - There were some really beautiful dresses this year. My favorite is surprising because I usually like more subtle dresses, but I thought Kirsten Dunst looked absolutely stunning. The shape of that dress is just perfect. I think it's impossible to look at her in that dress and not say out-loud "DAMN, GIRL". I also liked Brie Larson's goddess dress and Alicia Vikander's white dress, which are both things that I usually don't like. I really didn't see any stand-out dresses that I didn't like, and I don't really care to look through the sea of pictures to find one. The guys were all pretty handsome, too. Brad Pitt looked like late 90s/early 00s Brad Pitt (my favorite Brad Pitt). And Christian Slater! I never really thought he was hot like most girls my age, but now, at 46(!), he's really handsome. Orlando Bloom looked real good, too. I didn't realize he was coming back to the POTC saga. I feel like he's kind of disappeared. The worst was Channing Tatum's hair, which was much more disturbing that Jonah Hill as the bear from The Revenant. 

3 Thoughts on The Big Short

1. The cast - The main (i.e. ONLY) reason I wanted to see this movie is because of the cast. I will see anything with Christian Bale. ANYTHING. He's always fascinating. In this, he plays Michael Burry, a socially awkward genius with a glass eye and a penchant for heavy metal music. And like always, he's the best part of the movie. He's one of the few actors who gets completely lost in a role; I never see Christian Bale in any of his characters, and as much as I love the other actors in this movie, I can't say that about any of them. Brad Pitt is always Brad Pitt in some way. Ryan Gosling is always Ryan Gosling. Ryan has the most charismatic role, which is why several reviews cite his performance as the highlight, but the reality is, he just has the best lines. To me, the highlight, aside from Bale, is the supporting cast. Specifically, the trio of Rafe Spall, Hamish Linklater and Jeremy Strong. All are incredible.

2. The story - The part that I wasn't that excited about was the actual story. I'm really not into financial/Wall Street type stories because I don't feel like I ever truly understand what is happening; instead I usually just know when something is "good" or "bad" based on character reactions. I did enjoy the recent movie Margin Call, which had a similar theme, but I will fully admit that I didn't understand every detail. The brilliance of this story is that the filmmakers understand that the general audience probably doesn't "get it", considering that people who do this for a living don't fully "get it". So, they dumb down the financial aspects, use terminology that anyone can understand, and pause the story to explain the plot (more on this in the next section). While I fully understand how this tactic isn't for everyone, it completely worked for me. COMPLETELY. Not only did I enjoy the movie, I learned a lot about what happened during the financial crisis of 07-08. Before this movie, I could tell you that people defaulted on their loans and the big banks went into debt and the government bailed them out; which is essentially what happened, but this movie explained why it happened and how the banks should have been held responsible for their own corruption. It's always amazing to me to see so many people living above their means, not able to afford their mortgage and car payments, and I always blamed them for their own greed, but really it's the banks that are allowing this to happen. If you're giving a loan to someone who has no income and/or proven bad credit history, what do you expect to happen? It's completely fascinating. It's also fascinating that there are people who predicted this housing collapse, and no-one did anything about it. It's interesting that the author of the book (that the movie is based on) also wrote Moneyball, because that movie did a great job of explaining the politics and history behind baseball. The combination of this intelligent story and director Adam McKay (known for comedic movies), is absolutely perfect.

3. The editing - As I said above, the movie uses a lot of different tactics to help the audience follow the story. First, it uses celebrity guests to explain certain situations (my favorite *spoiler* - Margot Robbie in a bubble bath). Yes, this is a little disruptive to the plot. Yes, it's a little too condescending. Yes, it still works, brilliantly. Second, it defines financial terms in the bottom left corner of the screen. Third, it uses different editing and sound techniques for the four main plots/characters. Again, yes, it's disruptive. But I would argue that this is what kept my attention for the entirety of the movie. Each part felt like a different movie, therefore avoiding any dragging plot-lines. I'm actually finding it hard to find a flaw, and trust me I've spent the last 3 days trying. It's by far my favorite movie of 2015 (and yes, I still have a lot to see).

Thoughts on 5 Films

1. The Man from U.N.C.L.E. - I had really high hopes for this movie. I usually like Guy Ritchie films, with the exception of the Sherlock movies (which are still decent). Snatch is one of my favorite movies ever. Ritchie has a really fun style, not only aesthetically, but with his use of dialogue. It usually movies really quickly, with lots of throwbacks to previous scenes, forcing the audience to pay attention to every detail. I liked the look of this movie from the trailers, it seemed to be Ritchie back in form, but I think the actors fail to sell the dialogue, and therefore, it falls flat. The back and forth banter felt forced and awkward (the accents, although necessary, were a disservice to the pace that the dialogue should have followed). I'm not a big Henry Cavill fan (pretty, but blah), but Armie Hammer and Alicia Vikander have interesting chemistry. It was probably the only thing that kept me entertained through the entirety of the film. Although, I did look at the clock at one point and gave a heavy sigh that I still had a whole hour to get through. The end did pick up, and had some surprising twists and turns, but overall, it's just a very pretty movie, with very pretty people, with very little fun, especially if you compare it to the similarly themed movie, Kingsman: The Secret Service, also from last year.

2. Tangerine - There is always one movie every year that is critically praised to an extreme (currently at a 96% RT rating), that I absolutely loathe (see The Grand Budapest Hotel from last year). This is that movie. I am absolutely baffled as to how anyone enjoyed this movie. I can appreciate the very basic level of enjoying the fact that it's starring characters that are under-served in the film industry, but it's a really annoying movie with annoying characters who basically run around creating drama and yelling at everyone around them. It's literally just two people walking around the dirty streets of LA, screaming. That's it. As I watching in astonishment that something like this can receive critical praise, I started to read about the movie (because anything was better than actually watching it) and I discovered that it's all filmed on an iPhone. So, yes, that's pretty impressive, too. However, creating a film about horrible, conceded, self-absorbed people who YELL AT EVERYONE and create chaos everywhere they go and presenting them as the "funny", is disturbing to me. And if you think I'm exaggerating, watch the scene when they are screaming at each other at the donut shop at the end, in which one of them is holding a child who is screaming out in fear and confusion while the adults around her are fighting. That child's scream was real and I strongly feel everyone involved should be arrested for child endangerment. And if it wasn't real, someone give that kid an Oscar.

3. American Ultra - I'm not a huge fan of Jesse Eisenberg or Kristen Stewart, but I thought this movie looked fitting for both of them and the trailers were pretty interesting. It's a great concept; it's been done before but not really in a stoner setting. I really liked her character - she supports him and loves him, and most importantly, believes in him. She makes a conscious choice to stay with him, even though he tries to push her away. I think it's increasingly hard to find female characters that are like this. The movie is a little silly at times, and not nearly as funny as it should be, but I did enjoy it for the most part. The twists kept me interested and it features an awesome supporting cast - John Leguizamo, Connie Britton, Topher Grace and Tony Hale - all are perfectly cast. It's written by Max Landis, who also wrote Chronicle (which I loved). He seems to be a pretty controversial person on social media recently, but you can't knock the fact that he has a knack for creating something new out of old concepts. I don't really understand the hatred towards him.

4. Ricki and the Flash - My mother begged me to see this with her in the theater, but I refused. It looked absolutely ridiculous and cheesy. The title alone, is off-putting, but then the trailers....ugh...the trailers. I thought for sure it would make my worst list, but good news, it's not awful. It's mediocre, and yes, absolutely ridiculous and cheesy. Meryl Streep will always be praised just for being Meryl Streep, but she's certainly earned her reputation with some stunning performances. I like the choices that she makes, and this is certainly a different role for her. But singing Lady Gaga? No thanks, Meryl. Her daughter, Mamie Gummer, who plays her daughter in this movie, is usually someone I enjoy, but I think they both overdid their roles here. Also, I can't take Rick Springfield seriously in any role except Dr. Drake from General Hospital. I hated the whole feminist aspect of the story. Ricki declares "if I were a man, it would be ok if I left to be a rock star". Um...no. There are plenty of people with abandonment issues because their father left (for whatever reason). Sorry, this is NOT a feminist issue. This is a "you're a shitty parent" issue. Surprisingly, the part that I liked was with the guy that all the girls love from Captain America (Bucky!). I don't actually like him (IT'S CARTER BAIZEN FROM GOSSIP GIRL), but he was super cute in this movie.

5. Tig - Wow. If you are having a shitty day/week/month/year, then I suggest you watch this documentary on comedian Tig Notaro to put some things into perspective. I knew of her because she became famous after her breast cancer diagnosis. She infuses her diagnosis into her stand-up, and to be honest, I was skeptical. Without having seen the sketches, I assumed that she exploits her situation (a situation that millions of women are dealing with, and aren't as fortunate as Tig), to gain fame. After watching this documentary, and absolutely bawling my eyes out, I want to kick myself for assuming the worst in humanity. The cancer diagnosis is actually the third horrific event that happened to Tig in a series of extremely unfortunate events, and it was her breaking point. She never meant to use the diagnosis as a way to gain attention, it just sort of happened that way, because her now infamous routine hit the audience and fellow comedians with a wave of inspiration. The documentary explores this surprising reaction, but also Tig's apprehension to continue talking about it, and also her struggle to follow it. It's incredibly inspirational to see someone who has experienced the worst kinds of pain, pull herself out of depression, determined to discover the joys of life, such as love. As someone who suffered from depression last year, and am proud to say that I survived it, I can't explain in words how much someone like Tig effects my mindset. I'm glad that she shared her story.