Thoughts on 5 Films

1. The Meddler - I saw the trailer for this film a while ago, and I really wanted to see it, but then I heard nothing about it. I guess it didn't have much of a release, and it's a "smaller", quieter film. I really liked it. Susan Sarandon is one of the greats. And she definitely excels in this movie with her NY/NJ hybrid accent. I actually looked it up to see what it was supposed to be - and several critics listed it as either "Brooklyn", "Jersey", or "New Yawk", which seems like a failure, but it's actually brilliant. No-one around here has a "typical" accent. You pick up bits and pieces, and it all blends together. I think her accent is spot-on perfection. I thought the movie would focus more on a mother/daughter relationship, but it really just focuses on the mother. She "meddles" in her daughter's life, but her daughter (played by the always delightful Rose Byrne) is absent for most things because she's focused on work (and hanging on to the hope for a relationship with her ex). I am very close with my mother, but in a really distant way - I know that doesn't make much sense, but she really knows nothing about my personal life. I am glad that she's not a meddler, but I don't really see the problem with the mother's actions in this movie. She's just a lonely, and very charitable, woman who wants to connect with people. It's a little offensive that the audience is supposed to think that her random acts of kindness are somehow unhealthy?? It's kind of weird. I do agree that she needs to get a life of her own, but helping others is hardly something we should discourage. Anyway, overall I really enjoyed this movie. It's sweet, and that's something that's rare nowadays. Also, the small scene with the telephone in the hospital made me cry! It's so weird that a scene like that - one that isn't even essential to the story - can bring on such emotion. It just shows how well-written the story is.

2. The Handmaiden - Park Chan-wook is brilliant. I knew this movie would be brilliant. And it was. I love his use of sound and silence. It was more noticeable in Stoker than this, but it's still really well done. I didn't know what the movie was about, other than it focuses on a Handmaiden (probably), but it's a really twisted story of love, seduction, loneliness, revenge and betrayal (which seem to be themes in all of his films). *spoilers ahead* I definitely did not expect the twist at the end of the first part - I don't know why, I definitely should have. However, once that twist was laid out, I knew how the rest of the film would go. It's obvious that these two women were going to conspire together and form their own plan in order to escape and live happily ever after. I have to admit, while I found it visually stunning, and the story is originally twisted, I got a little bored. It felt very long, which I've never found with Chan-wook's films before. It's definitely not my favorite of his, but it is still one of the best films of 2016.

3. Mascots - Where has Christopher Guest been??? His movies make me laugh so much, and I didn't even realize how much I've missed his "mockumentaries" until I saw this pop up as a recommendation on Netflix. Best in Show is my favorite of his, but all of them are wonderful in some way. This was a bit of a disappointment, mostly because two of Guest's "regulars" are missing - Eugene Levy and Catherine O'Hara. Their absence can definitely be felt. Presumably there were scheduling issues due to the fact that these two are now on one of the funniest shows currently on television - Schitt's Creek (seek it out, it's worth it - Levy's son, Daniel, is superb). There are still some regulars in this - Parker Posey, Bob Balaban, John Michael Higgins, along with some newcomers (in respect to Guest's films) - Zach Woods, Chris O'Dowd. There are definitely some laugh out loud moments - some of my favorite include:"coming from every place you can imagine " and then lists a bunch of boring states; "'In Your Ear' otherwise people think you're talking about something else"; the micro-penis discussion; the fact that everyone has Hockey player names that are spelled wrong; The Gluten-Free channel. I could list a dozen more, but that's all the movie is. Just some funny, random lines here and there. I don't really care about any of the characters, and I got bored with the story after about an hour.

4. Live by Night - Well, the streak is officially over. This is the first Ben Affleck directed film that I not only didn't love, but I actually didn't like it at all. I can find some nice things to say about it - some stunning shots, satisfying performances, interesting story. However, there is much more awful than good. As many stunning shots as there are, there are also some really unnecessarily complicated ones - like, what was up with weird circular tracking shot when Zoe Saldana is introduced? And for every satisfying performance, there is also some terrible ones - ahem Sienna Miller (was that supposed to be an Irish accent? LOL). And for every part of the story that is interesting, it's also been done a million times before (it reminded me a lot of the TV series Magic City). I enjoy these Prohibition gangster stories, but it has to do something new. This one focuses a lot on the KKK, which is actually pretty interesting, but it doesn't go deep enough. I have a feeling the book might be better - which reminds me that I probably should read some of Lehane's books, because I like some of the adaptations (Mystic River, Gone Baby Gone).

5. Nine Lives - I needed something light and goofy after watching The Handmaiden, and what's more of a perfect choice than Kevin Spacey trapped in a cat's body??? It doesn't get any more ridiculous than that! And, probably the oddest double-bill ever (what can I say, I have an eclectic taste in movies). I wish I could say that this is a cute movie, but it's a little mean-spirited in my opinion, so it negates the cuteness. Like, why would I root for this guy at all? The "lesson" is for him to spend more time with his daughter, but I feel like he didn't really learn anything about the fact that he is a dick to everyone that he comes into contact with. So, like, maybe she is better off not having him around? I did laugh when Christopher Walken appeared just because I totally forgot that he was in this and it's just so ridiculous. Also, I really wish someone would give Jennifer Garner a meaty role - I don't know why she keeps doing roles as "the wife" in cutesy family movies or mediocre dramas. I read that she has no interest in doing action stuff (I guess she had enough after the intensity of Alias), but why not a psychological drama (in which she is the STAR not a side character)?

Summer Movie Preview: 17 Movies That I'm Excited For

1. Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2  (5/5) - The first one is a blast, and also the first movie of the MCU that I've watched multiple times - I think a total of 4 so far (the only other one that comes close is the first Iron Man, which I've seen twice). I've already read some early reviews about this sequel and they seem mixed, but it also just seems to be a bunch of DC and Marvel fanboys finding another excuse to argue with each other. If the movie is as fun as the trailer is, then I will be happy. Plus, Baby Groot makes me happy.

2. 3 Generations (5/5) - If you were to ask me to make a list of my current favorite actresses, Naomi Watts would be number two (although I alternate between her and Cate Blanchett for number one). Elle Fanning would definitely make the list - she's probably my second favorite "millennial" actress (behind Mia Wasikowska). Susan Sarandon has always been incredible; I actually forgot how amazing she is, but lately she is killing it on Feud and she was great in The Meddler. I think this movie looks kind of cheesy and will probably be over-dramatic, but I don't care - with this cast, I can't help but be excited.

3. Manifesto (5/10) - Um, Cate Blanchett as 13 DIFFERENT CHARACTERS?! Why is nobody talking about this? It's like a dream come true! I don't even care what it's about!

4. Alien: Covenant (5/19) - I was one of the few who didn't shit on Prometheus (it has its problems, but overall, I love the ideas that it presents). This looks like it steps back into more of a traditional Alien sequel, which I am all for. Although, I think a lot of questions that Prometheus asked will be answered, and even more will be left in question, but that's the beauty of these films. The trailer is pretty creepy too, plus I like Katherine Waterston.

5. Baywatch (5/25) - Yeah, I KNOW. And yeah, I DON'T CARE. I want to see this for three reasons: 1. Nostalgia - I spent my summers hanging out at Venice Beach when I was a kid and I used to watch them film scenes from the TV show. 2. I think Zac Efron is hilarious. 3. Alexandra Daddario is stunning. I was hoping she would finally do a project that doesn't rely on her looks (bc I think she's a great actress), but maybe next time?

6. Wonder Woman (6/2) - I have contained my expectations to a bare minimum so that I'm not disappointed. It's hard to not be FREAKING OUT that there is finally a Wonder Woman movie arriving on the big screen, but I also kind of hated the trailer. I mean, it was decent, but nothing about it seemed amazing. I have been a big fan of Wonder Woman since watching the old TV show when I was a kid and the tone of the trailer just seemed off to me. But I'm soooooo hopeful that I am dead wrong.

7. Rough Night (6/16) - I've written extensively about not really being a Scarlett Johansson fan (again for any newcomers - stunning woman, seems like a wonderful person, not a great actress). I am really interested in seeing her do an all out comedy though because one of the roles that I actually liked her in was Don Jon because she actually seemed like she was trying, and I adored her collaborations with Woody Allen - and those are lighter "comedy" type roles. I also love Jillian Bell - she makes me laugh so much.

8. The Beguiled (6/23) -  I so want to love a Sofia Coppola movie. My favorite is probably Marie Antoinette, but I don't love it. And I liked The Virgin Suicides when it first came out, but I tried watching it again a few years back and it was horribly dated and not even watchable. There are still many things I admire about Coppola, though. Her films have such a sense of style, interesting visuals, fantastic music, and poetic dialogue. It just never works for me no matter how hard I try. I'm hoping this is THE ONE, though.

9. Transformers: The Last Knight (6/23) - Ok, I concede, this is getting pretty tiring. I'm definitely done with the Transformers universe after the last one (which I still enjoyed to an extent). I won't see this in the theater, but I will still watch it once it's on home release. Just because I have to.

10. Baby Driver (6/28) - I am trying my best to avoid the trailer because I don't really want to know anything about it, but everyone seems to say really good things about it so I am excited.

11. The House (6/30) - Um, Amy Poehler. Done.

12. Spider-Man: Homecoming (7/7) - I really liked Tom Holland in the role of Spider-Man, so I've been looking forward to the solo film. I have successfully avoided the trailer so far, and hopefully I can continue this streak. The Raimi films are very special to me (the third one doesn't exist in my world), and I don't think anything will ever replace them. But, I enjoyed the "Amazing" Spider-Man movies very much. Probably because I just really like Spider-Man.

13. A Ghost Story (7/7) - I heard a lot of great things about this movie coming out of Sundance. Plus, Casey Affleck and Rooney Mara were already great together in Ain't Them Bodies Saints (even though I didn't love the movie). They have great chemistry, and I feel like they are both on the same acting level.

14. War for the Planet of the Apes (7/14) - Is this the last one? I don't even know, but I hope so. I have enjoyed them all, but enough is enough. Let's not drag it out anymore (AHEM Pirates of the Caribbean). I'm hoping for an epic ending though!

15. Atomic Blonde (7/28) - This is my most anticipated movie of the summer because of one reason: JAMES MCAVOY. I know, I know, Charlize Theron is the star and is going to undoubtedly kick some ass. But did you see how great McAvoy looks?! I might die of happiness while watching it. I admit, that this movie could end up being terrible, but McAvoy usually only picks quality projects so I think it's going to end up being AWESOME.

16. The Dark Tower (8/4) - I don't really know much about this Stephen King series, but Idris Elba is always a reason to watch a movie.

17. Detroit (8/4) - Katheryn Bigelow's next directorial effort, starring John Boyega and Will Poulter. I really like both of them - Boyega was bound to be a star even without Star Wars, and Poulter was the highlight of We're the Millers. I was honestly really looking forward to his rendition of Pennywise, so I was disappointed when that fell through. However, he's still making some strong acting choices.

Thoughts on 5 Films

1. Train to Busan - Wow. It's brilliant. I was instantly put into a state of awe after the first scene with the deer (note to self: reanimated zombie deer are terrifying). I wasn't even aware that this was a zombie movie. I've seen constant, almost overbearing, praise for it among film twitter but never really researched what it was about. I knew while watching it, that it would definitely place among my top 5 of last year, but after that ending, it shot right up to number one. It's probably going to remain my favorite film of 2016 (I still have so much to watch) and one of my favorite zombie movies of all time. I loved every second of it, every shot, every character, every relationship (ok maybe not every second - the "washing the blood off his hands" scene was a little too literal and obvious, but nothing is perfect). The zombies are actually terrifying - the virus is transferred instantly, and the zombies are fast and react quickly. It makes the film move really fast and you feel a sense of urgency for the entire length of the film. I love that it addresses this natural human instinct to fend for yourself, but ultimately in situations like this, humanity would only survive if people stick together. And how about that little girl? Best acting performance of 2016? Damn straight. (FYI - her name is Soo-an Kim, and I will be watching her career intently).

2. The Dressmaker - I don't even know what to say about this movie. It's just so weird, and not in a good way. We are made to sympathize with the main character, the almost always spectacular Kate Winslet (is it weird that I think her worst performance is in Titanic? Also, the poster and the scene in the beginning with Winslet in the gigantic hat is so reminiscent of Titanic. That had to be on purpose.), even though she is rude and elitist. We are made to believe that she is an innocent victim of a childhood tragedy even though the small town around her believes in her guilt. But then it ends with her doing something so horrendous and self-serving - it actually made me angry that I spent time sympathizing with her. That's not even the worst part of the movie. The worst part were all these weird scenes of wacky physical humor that just didn't fit with the movie at all. Also, I do think that fashion is important (for some people) because it can give people confidence to express themselves through art (and yes, fashion is art, don't even try to debate me on this). However, it's used in this movie as a way to show superiority over other people and that isn't cool. And I'm really glad that the scene with the rats was actually important to the story (I guess), because it was so weird to just have a random scene with a guy that jumps into a group of rats.

3. Assassin's Creed - I was half expecting a bad movie, half hoping the critics were just exaggerating. They weren't. It's spectacularly bad. Definitely one of the worst of last year. First, I've never played the video game that it's based on, so I was prepared to not "fully" understand it. But shouldn't it, you know, make sense? It's made for a general audience. You can argue against that notion, sure, but my opinion is that if it's a big budget film with A-list actors, it's meant to be for a general audience. And yes, I realize that the video game has a massive following, but so does something like Star Trek and those recent movies are meant to entertain an even wider audience than just the "fans". Anyway, this movie made zero sense to me, and I don't feel like they made any effort to make it accessible. There is actually a ton of explanation and talking, but it never really actually explains anything. Second, I watched it with someone who is a fan of the video game and he didn't like it either, so that's a failure on both levels. Third, at the very least, it should have some visually amazing action sequences, but they are extremely boring and repetitive. And fourth, how do you fuck up a movie with Michael Fassbender and Marion Cotillard? Sure, Macbeth wasn't the best movie, but it was satisfying enough and well-acted. If this was my first introduction to these two actors, I would assume they are just awful. What accent was Cotillard trying to do?

4. Captain Fantastic - I really enjoyed this movie! I didn't really hear much about it until Viggo was nominated for the Oscar. Just little shouts here and there, but I didn't see it on anyone's list for best movies of last year (it will be on mine, once I update - and this year it will be significantly different than the one I did in January). I don't think I want to go into much detail about the plot, because I think I enjoyed it more by not knowing anything about it. I will say that it asks a lot of valid questions about our education system (in America), and that it's quite funny, and also, disturbing. The scene in which the public school kid gets quizzed on the Bill of Rights and fails miserably, while his much younger child can not only recite it, she actually understands what it is. The story does a good job of showing both sides of the coin (his children obviously have no "street smarts", as his oldest exclaims "Unless it comes out of a fucking book, I don't know anything about anything!"). There are definitely different types of intelligence and it's a disservice to all to define one as superior than another. Viggo does an incredible job (and definitely Viggo > Casey x100), but George MacKay is the standout of the film (and George > Lucas x100 - 1. HAHA George Lucas 2. why wasn't MacKay even an awards contender???). The absolute best part of the movie, though, is the end - the cover of Guns N' Roses' "Sweet Child O' Mine" is stunning; so stunning that it actually made me cry hysterically. Although, I am a big fan of GN'R - their song lyrics are wonderful (just try listening to "Patience" and tell me otherwise).

5. Deepwater Horizon - Not good, not bad - just one of those movies that is entertaining but far from memorable, which is exactly what I was expecting. It's really a tragic story of the BP oil spill. It's a bit like the Titanic - could have been prevented if it weren't for ego and money. The cast is strong - Marky Mark as our hero is a given, supported by Kate Hudson, Kurt Russell (have they ever been in a film together?), Gina Rodriguez and John Malkovich (so weird to see him in a "normal" role, but fitting that he's the villain). Directed by Peter Berg who is becoming the poor man's Michael Bay (and I say that with LOVE). There's a whole fuck ton of foreshadowing, then the spill begins and it's just explosion after explosion. I didn't really have a sense of location and perspective, which is important for films like this. There were a lot of moments that I was a little confused as to what was happening and why certain characters did certain actions. I actually laughed out loud when he threw her over the fire - did that really happen? I'll have to look that up, because it's not funny, but it is really funny to watch.

3 Thoughts on Logan

1. It's beautiful - Like, so beautiful. I could stare at it for hours. There are just so many shots that really captured the story, the emotion, the history, and the genre (Superhero Western. Is that a thing?) so well. It's by far my favorite X-Men movie; Nothing else even comes close. It does beg the question, though, why the Hell were the other Wolverine movies so terrible? Honestly, I actually hated them. I wasn't expecting much with this, and I certainly wasn't expecting to be blown away. Jackman's performance is especially stunning. I appreciate his passion for this character, and his commitment to providing a satisfying closure to this character.

2. It's violent - Of course I expected the violence, but this was like really, really stunningly violent. And some of the most violent scenes revolved around the little girl, Laura. It was shocking (in a good way). The choreography of the fight scenes are so well done, and the natural back and forth between Logan and Laura is just so much fun to watch. It also never pulls any punches - there are consequences to the fight scenes. People die. People you root for are brutally murdered. So, prepare yourself.

3. It's...long - I'm a firm believer that most movies, especially superhero movies, do not need to be any longer than 2 hours. I understand the argument from many cinephiles, that if a film is good then you should want to keep watching it, but for me I believe any good story can be told within a 2 hour time frame. There are exceptions - and this is one of them. This feels like an epic tale, similar to classic Greek tragedies like The Odyssey. It deserves more time, and it uses every second appropriately. However, I honestly felt like I lost a whole day after watching the film. It really drained all of my energy. So, prepare yourself.

Thoughts on 5 Films

1. American Pastoral - This is an amazing story, and should, in theory, be an amazing film. Something's missing, though, and I can't quite put my finger on it. It's Ewan McGregor's directorial debut, and it's certainly not bad for a first effort. The cast is phenomenal - especially Jennifer Connelly. She's one of the most consistent actresses in Hollywood, and somehow is still under-rated. I wish the story delved into her psychology more (which I have a feeling the novel does); mostly because I wanted to watch more of Connelly in this role. Dakota Fanning is still awesome - she gets a lot of hate now, while everyone praises her sister (whom I also adore), but it's totally unnecessary to compare the two (although, I am a complete hypocrite because Kate Mara > Rooney Mara). Also, the daughter at a younger age is played by the little girl who plays Josslyn Jacks on General Hospital and holy crap....she's a good little actress!! I think the biggest problem I have with the movie is the narration from the brother and his friend (told from a 45 year high school reunion) - it doesn't really make sense how these two people would really know the inner-workings of this family dynamic. My other problem is that it just doesn't go deep enough. The whole dynamic of this entitled family during this time of racial tensions (the Newark riots of 1967 is a key scene, and eerily reminiscent of watching the present day news) and how this family is torn apart by this entitlement is fascinating. The extreme rebellion of the daughter is the driving force of the story, yet strangely not really explored enough. There's so much there to explore, too! Like how she goes from violent protests to Jainism. It's incredibly interesting. I added the novel to my read list, hopefully it dives much deeper than this film.

2. Manchester by the Sea - I was prepared for an emotional movie. So many people commented on crying during this movie; I waited to watch it in order to fully prep myself. For most of the movie, I was left confused. It's sad, sure, but hardly an innovation at emotional manipulation. Then, towards the end, the scene with Michelle Williams that has been used in many ads, and all of Michelle's awards clips, broke me. It's like I've seen it so many times, but I never really understood what it was referring to. Obviously, knowing the story behind it, is heartbreaking. *spoilers* I guessed from the initial viewing of this scene, that they lost a child together. But, Jesus Christ, all three children?? From a fire?? Ugh. I can't think of anything worse. So, when she says "you can't just die", I just burst into tears and I couldn't stop. And, in all honesty, if I lost my three children in a fire that was my fault, I would want to die. I can't imagine living after that. I like that the ending didn't try to erase anything, or give any closure. Overall, I think the movie is a very successful story of loss (in many different forms). As far as Casey Affleck goes, I'm not sure it's an award-worthy performance. However, I've been a Casey Affleck fan ever since Ocean's Eleven. And as far as the controversy, I feel like it is extremely one-sided, and as much as it pains me to say, I don't really believe the story 100%. However, it also bothers me that Affleck has never denied any allegations. So, I'm on the fence about the whole thing. I'm bothered that these allegations from 2010 have suddenly resurfaced as a "dark secret"- I remember reading about it when it happened, it was public information and was reported on extensively. Why is it suddenly a thing just because he's in a movie that had awards buzz? It's like it was purposely meant to destroy his awards momentum, and that is ridiculous. Anyway, Michelle Williams does give an award-worthy performance and she's in the movie far more than I was led to believe. And what is it with Kyle Chandler picking small roles in Oscar nominated movies?? He has a knack for it and it kind of blows my mind (Zero Dark Thirty, Argo, Carol, The Wolf of Wall Street). On a side note, I didn't know that there is an actual town called "Manchester-by-the-sea". How cute! Learn something new everyday!

3. Complete Unknown - I never heard of this movie, but I have Amazon Prime now, and it was listed as a new release starring Rachel Weisz and Michael Shannon...and YES PLEASE! Apparently, it is an Amazon original. I had no idea they did original movies (and a lot of them!). I don't think this one was given a wide release, though. And I understand why. The story is good, but it's just really slow and really boring. It's set up like a slow-burn mystery, but it is given away from the beginning, so I'm not sure what the "mystery" is supposed to be. I can relate to the main character, because I've done the whole "start over" thing (and am sort of doing it right now), although not to such extreme (I've always remained myself, and I keep in contact with the important people in my life). I understand the need to start over, though. I understand the need to have a blank slate. Ultimately, I find it a bit unfulfilling. I regret not keeping in touch with certain people - ones who have had a positive effect on my life. It's a bit of a psychotic nature to just show up in someone's life, which is the plot of this movie. She disappears, and then reappears in her ex-boyfriend's life and pretends she's someone else. He obviously recognizes her and begins to question her motives (which aren't as exciting or malicious as we expect). It's just a blah movie, however, the actress who plays Shannon's wife is absolutely stunning. I've never seen her before, but now I'm obsessed (her name is Azita Ghanizada).

4. Hacksaw Ridge - Where do I begin? I will start by saying I liked this movie much more than I was expecting to. I've read a lot of mixed reviews, and I haven't really been a fan of Mel Gibson's previous directorial ventures. I was expecting to be bored, and I wasn't in the least bit. It is full of energy, intensity, and urgency. However, the real success is deemed from the story, itself, and boy, is it an incredible one. I would argue that it would be hard to make a "bad" movie out of this true story. And I can (perhaps) argue that a better one could have been made. I will always be aggravated by films that show war heroes "falling in love" before they go to war, as if it makes his life "more" worth living, and/or makes someone "more" worth saving. The love story is completely unnecessary, and horribly over-dramatic (and grossly over-acted by both parties) and if you research the "real" story, it isn't even portrayed in a correct timeline. There are quite a bit of differences in the true story vs the film, which always happens in movies, in order to create dramatic effect. However, a very minor thing that bothers me (in a major way) comes from a comment that my boyfriend (who LOVED the movie) made during a key scene in the movie in which a Japanese "sniper" is featured - my bf pointed out that the Japanese did not have snipers in WWII because it wasn't an honorable way to kill someone. That's a pretty big error...right? Especially when it seems that Gibson went out of his way to show the Japanese "honorable" war tactics. So, I looked it up and found several articles about a Japanese sniper actually shooting our hero (that was cut from the movie version). And I thought, well, my bf is wrong (it happens sometimes). Then, I curiously looked up the word "sniper" in relation to WWII, and it has a completely different definition than our modern-day sniper. So basically, Gibson heard/read the story of him getting shot by a Japanese "sniper" and decided to add a sniper scene to the movie (without doing SIMPLE research that took me 2 whole minutes to find). And that drives me insane. It's also necessary for me to address the elephant in the room, that it is very problematic for a known anti-Semite to make a movie about WWII. It's an interesting choice, and in my opinion, a calculated move to focus on the Japanese enemy. I'll just leave it at that, though: Problematic. I also think that Vince Vaughn was a terrible casting choice. I'm a huge fan, but his performance is laughable (and not in a good way). It felt like a parody. As for Andrew Garfield, someone I'm also a fan of, I didn't love his performance either. He played the character very dopey. That could have been based on the character, although nothing I've read described him that way. It's an odd choice, and it didn't work for me. As for the brilliance of the film, starting from the initial climbing of Hacksaw Ridge until the end - it's a stunning achievement. The violence is visceral, and never forgiving in its brutality; Combined with the sheer act of bravery and selflessness from Desmond Doss, I can't help but be blown away. Some of those battle scenes are the best ever put to screen, and as much as I would like to, I can't deny that Gibson created an extraordinary film. Well, half of a film, at least.

5. Kubo and the Two Strings - The animation is wonderful, and stunning, and magical, and OH MY GOD I WROTE A WHOLE PARAGRAPH AND BLOGGER WENT DOWN AND DIDN'T SAVE IT. Ugh...now I have to write the whole thing again and I have no memory of what I wrote. Anyway, so yeah...the animation is great. However, the story is kind of slow and depressing. There is a nice uplifting ending as a payoff, but it takes so long to get there, and I'm not sure it's worth it. The voice actors were a little off for me - especially Charlize. Her voice was so monotonous, and part of the reason the film moves so slowly. I hardly recognized Matthew McConaughey's voice. It sounded like a Brad Pitt/George Clooney hybrid. I would have preferred his natural voice. And *spoiler* were we not supposed to know those were his parents the whole time? Because it's obvious from their very first introduction. I think even kids would have picked up on that. I think the tone of the movie was a bit all over the place, too. It was too mature for children, and a bit too scary (but hey, Scar from The Lion King was pretty damn scary too, I guess), but the jokes were all catered to children. It just didn't work for me. Overall, though, if you are a fan of animation, I highly suggest watching this just to experience the beauty of it.

Thoughts on 6 New TV Shows

1. Riverdale - So...I don't get it. I mean, I like the show, sure. In the same way that I enjoyed Gossip Girl, The O.C., and the show that it copies the most from, Pretty Little Liars. Literally, every story line so far has been done by another teen show (student/teacher thing - Dawson's Creek, and obviously PLL. The jock who also is a musician thing - Glee, and yes, also the comics, but I feel like critics are praising this show for this well-rounded character, as if it didn't exist on television before). I don't get why it is being so praised - and like from legitimate film/tv people who would usually look down their noses at shows like this. It's nothing special, at all. I also don't get the love for Veronica, when Betty is clearly the stronger character and better actress. Plus, I don't get the relation to the comics, other than the names, and appearances of the characters. Archie, for me, was always about this happy-go-lucky guy and his friends getting into dumb high school fun/drama. Apparently there is a version of Archie that is horror themed, and I guess that is what this show stems from, but I just find it weird. I also don't get the guy who plays Archie. Is he supposed to be hot? And can they get like a professional to fix his awful dye job? And I can't believe that the kid who plays Jughead is Ben from Friends, but now I can't unsee it. Anyway, after all my ranting, did I mention that I actually do like the show?? Because it's a fun, trashy, teen drama, and I am always a sucker for those.

2. Powerless - I like the idea - a series focused on the "others" in a superhero world. It's cute, and a lot of fun can be done with that; especially within a sitcom format. Unfortunately, it's super cute, but not any fun yet. And it's certainly not funny at all. Vanessa Hudgens is part of the problem; she's super adorable but her comedic timing is non-existent. Danny Pudi plays the exact same character from Community, but without the supporting characters to make him funny. It's all fixable at this point, but I haven't really heard anyone talk about it, so I feel like it will get cancelled before given a chance to get good. It's a shame because there are so few good sitcoms right now.

3. Legion - Visually stunning. I'm not fully on board with the plot and some of the over-acting (*ahem* Aubrey Plaza), but I am intrigued a little bit more with every episode, so I guess that is a success. I just think each episode is really dragged out for effect. I would prefer a shorter season with episodes of quality, in this case. If they keep throwing in scenes like the muted one, though, I will keep watching. I like the cast a lot - Dan Stevens is wonderful, but my favorite is Jean Smart. She was so good on Fargo last year, so I am very happy that Noah Hawley recognized her genius. Rachel Keller seems very familiar to me, but I haven't seen her before. I think she just reminds me of Ruth Wilson (which is a very good thing). I'm hopeful that the show continues to grow a little bit faster than it has been, and continues to be as weird and beautiful.

4. 24: Legacy - Ugh. I love 24 so much. It's such a perfectly ridiculous action/drama television series. The problem with a reboot is that Jack Bauer IS 24. Chloe IS 24. Tony Almeida IS 24. Without these characters, it's not 24. However, there has been talk of Tony among the new characters, and if he shows up, I will scream out of sheer joy (I'm a few episodes behind, DON'T SPOIL ME!!). As far as the new cast is concerned, UGH. So dull. Everyone except Kathryn Prescott (from Skins! I LOVE HER!!). Aside from the countdown clock and the split screens, the show doesn't feel like 24 at all. It's just another generic "save the world from terrorists" tv show, and we have enough of them already (Homeland, Quantico, Blindspot, I could go on for FOREVER).

5. Feud - I've only seen the first two episodes so far, but it is GLORIOUS. Just so much fun. I should have guessed with a Ryan Murphy show - his first seasons are spectacular, but Scream Queens was such a disappointment, that I had my doubts with this one. I was so wrong. It's fantastic to watch the ins and outs of this epic "feud" that was pretty much forced upon these two powerful women in Hollywood. I can't wait to see more. Surprisingly, I haven't seen Whatever Happened to Baby Jane. It's one of those movies that I've always assumed that I watched at some point. I'm going to wait until the series is over to watch it. It will be more fun that way.

6. Taboo - OK, I can't really say much about this show because I gave up after two episodes, but Jesus fucking Christ was it difficult to get through those two episodes. I struggled with every minute. Not only was it boring, but Hardy's accent is hard to understand. And I'm usually pretty good with accents. I decided to cut it out of my life quickly instead of furthering the torture.

Thoughts on 5 Films

1. The Accountant - This was the most boring movie I've watched in a while. It's a shame because I wanted to love it. It's so weird how Ben Affleck can be so great in one movie, and then the next he's a big dull dud. It's like he forgets how to act. Or maybe he doesn't care. The supporting cast is great - Anna Kendrick (who has grown on me), J.K. Simmons, Jean Smart (I am LOVING her resurgence), Jon Bernthal, John Lithgow, and the girl from the new tv series, Shooter (I think I like her. I know I like the show) - but all were given very little to do. I was never really invested in the plot at all, and it was obvious from the beginning that J.K. was more important to the story than he was letting on. I don't really have anything else to say. It's just mediocre to its very core.

2. Passengers - From the trailers, I knew this movie was going to fail. And it shouldn't have. It stars two of the biggest names in Hollywood at the moment, looks fantastic, and seems to have an intriguing premise. There was just something off about the trailer, though. It seemed like they gave away waaaay too much, the dialogue was stiff, and there was just something not quite right. When the film was finally released, it received a fairly strong backlash for an unexpected reason - a film starring a highly successful female actress (known for badass independent roles) was accused of some pretty icky and offensive story-telling. So, it seems like a HUGE part of the movie is left out of the trailers. *spoilers ahead, that is, if you live under a rock* The plot is about this one man, who is part of a group of people who have voluntarily been placed into a hibernation state in order to travel to another planet (that takes like 100 years to get to). The problem is that he wakes up too early, after a glitch in the system. He lives a life of loneliness and depression for a full year (and that's supposed to be long time, apparently), until he decides to wake up the pretty girl he's been eyeing up (essentially murdering her). And THEN we are supposed to root for them as a couple. Pretty horrific, right? However, it makes for a pretty interesting commentary on what humans will do to avoid being lonely. This is where the movie succeeds. It never tries to pretend like what he does isn't horrific. It's part of the plot. So, in short, the outrage is kind of ridiculous. The problem is that they went with a happy ending, and therefore negating his horrific act. My proposed ending would have been a much stronger commentary - and that is that he should have died (after all, he's a MURDERER), and then she would have been stuck in this same void of loneliness, so then she wakes someone else up, essentially giving in to her own imperfect human nature. It would have been depressing as fuck, but it would have given the movie a point. And man, that would have been a fantastic story. Plus, it would have solved the whole misogynistic aspect if she does the same exact thing...right? Anyway, other issues with the movie - Pratt and Lawrence struggle with their chemistry and the plot of saving the spaceship gets really ridiculous once Lawrence Fishburne shows up. And one major plus of the movie - it's fucking beautiful. Those production design nominations are TOTALLY deserving.

3. The Girl on the Train -  Oddly, I liked this movie. I didn't really expect to. The ads reminded me of Gone Girl (which originally I liked, even with all of its many faults, but the more I think about it, the more I HATE it with a passion). I am not familiar with the book, so I thought that the story was going to be all twist and turny (like Gone Girl), but it was pretty obvious as to how it was all going to end...it was just a matter of getting there (and spoiler...in movies like this, it's ALWAYS the husband. Never fail. Although the whole gaslighting thing was unexpected, and oddly relevant to current events). I adore Emily Blunt. She is great here. Kudos to the supporting cast, too - Laura Pepron, Lisa Kudrow, Allison Janney, and JUSTIN THEROUX!! I haven't seen him in anything in so long. I know he's on that show that gets some pretty good reviews (I want to say it's called The Leftovers), but I haven't seen it yet. I don't think I've seen him in anything since The Ten which was like 10 years ago. Overall, I was fully entertained watching this movie even though I couldn't really relate to it. I don't really understand obsession/jealousy of complete strangers (although I get that she is replacing this obsession with her own experience in a marriage). I do connect to the scenic environment though - I used to take that train ride all the time when I was in college - and I actually remember staring out at the houses along the tracks. It was surreal watching her do the same thing, albeit more focused. While this film might not be as well-made as Gone Girl, it certainly has a better story (and a better female lead).

4. Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them - Ok, I probably can't give a fair opinion on this film because I fell asleep while watching it. Twice. However, I think that speaks volumes, because I rarely fall asleep (I think the last time was with Hugo, which kind of makes sense. These types of movies are obviously not my favorite). I hated the Harry Potter movies (SORRY NOT SORRY), so I guess I shouldn't have expected much with this movie, but it looked kind of cute. And the parts that I was awake for were cute. But it was all so dragged out and boring. The biggest reason why I didn't like the HP movies, though, was because of the acting. It's pure torture. Daniel Radcliffe and Emma Watson were just unbearable to watch, but I am willing to give them a chance now that they are older (and so far Radcliffe has redeemed himself, Watson not so much, but I'm excited to see Beauty and the Beast). At least this was well-acted, although I feel like Eddie Redmayne always portrays his characters as if they are autistic (which is confusing sometimes). Anyway, I'm sure many will find joy in this movie, and that's always a good thing. It's just not for me.

5. Arrival - So, I loved it. Not in the way I thought I was going to love it. The sci-fi was a little dull and unoriginal. However, the human story behind it is A+. Sure, it's a story about this language expert trying to create a dialogue with alien invaders, and essentially saving the world by bringing "us" together (world peace...blah blah blah), but it's also a story of motherhood, and the joy and heartbreak that mothers endure. It's the story of a devastating loss, having the choice to do it all again, and deciding to endure the same pain because it is part of your own identity. I am not a mother, but I have great respect for all who take on *literally* the most important role in our modern world. I also know that my own mother endured a great deal of suffering as a young mother, and I know that if given the choice, she would do it all the same. Whether you want to classify it as destiny, God's will, etc., we can't deny that our choices and our past all form our future. Changing it could be catastrophic. I love that this is what the story evolved into instead of a straight-forward sci-fi. Amy Adams was definitely robbed of an Oscar nomination, and the film is a very close third in my list of favorite movies from 2016. There was only one very obvious misstep - and that is the one piece of dialogue that ruins the whole movie's "surprise" twist (the part where she refers to her daughter's father - I groaned internally because I honestly felt like it ruined everything that came before it). The actual twist is revealed a few scenes later, so I think it was supposed to be more of a foreshadowed hint, but unfortunately it is screaming with overt plot details. Other than that, though, a stunning piece of film-making.

3 Thoughts on The LEGO Batman Movie

1. The "meta" superhero story - As much as I love the new incarnation of Batman, and other superheroes, it's kind of nice to see a new animated tale of these beloved characters. It's more explicit in the "good" guy versus the "bad" guy, has fun with the story (as opposed to the "real" grittier versions), and it can be over the top ridiculous because it's a cartoon! It's reflective of the superhero genre, in that it recognizes the personal side of being a superhero. Most of these stories equalize "personal" story with "love" story, while this one shows the loneliness that someone like Batman would encounter. I think Batman v Superman attempted to do the same (with the whole "Martha" bit), but it came out of nowhere and was therefore laughed at. This movie embraces Batman's loneliness and tries to teach the lesson of opening up to others - like working as a team to accomplish a common goal. It also touches on the subject of competition as a motivator - i.e Batman needs The Joker in order to feel fulfilled and become a better superhero. Overall, it's a super cute way of sending these positive messages to kids, while still entertaining an adult audience.

2. The jokes - While I enjoyed the story and the animation, I'll be honest, I was hoping for funnier. It's cute and there are moments where I smiled, but there weren't really any laugh out loud moments. Of course, there are plenty of Marvel digs, as expected - none were funny. A lot of the jokes, not just the Marvel ones, seemed really obvious - like the references to Robin and his outfits. I realize it's for kids, so obvious jokes are necessary but I feel like the jokes were too adult for kids, but too obvious for adults to enjoy - does that make sense? Anyway, I did enjoy the many references to old school '60s style Batman, although I'm not sure many kids did.

3. The cameos - Just like The LEGO Movie, the cameos are fantastic. Aside from the typical Batman characters (friends and foes - like every friend and foe that exists in the world of Batman), there is a whole slew of "bad guys" at the end including a Dalek, a Gremlin, King Kong, The Kraken (OMG hilarious!), and The Wicked Witch of the West. All of it was perfection. I also liked that Michael Cera was the voice of Robin - because that's just perfect. And it took me the entire movie to realize that it's Zach Galifianakis' voice for The Joker. I knew it seemed familiar, but I couldn't place it. Actually, all of the voice actors were perfectly cast for their characters - so much so that I would actually love to see a live-action version with these same actors.

Thoughts on 5 Films

1. Sully - The Hudson River has always been a part of my life - I grew up in Upstate New York, in a town along the Hudson, and up until 2 months ago I lived a block away from the famous river (and only a few miles away from where the plane landed). It's well know for its views of the Hudson Valley (especially during the Fall season) and of course, for its view of the Manhattan skyline, but once you've been around it your whole life, the views get lost and you think of all the ugly things (DEAD BODIES). I was always scared of walking the path along the river for fear of discovering something traumatizing. Now, it's famous for one thing: Sully. I remember the crash well (um...it was only 8 years ago; isn't it too soon to make a movie out of already?), but I never really paid attention to the media circus that occurred afterwards. While I still feel this movie is a little unnecessary, I did enjoy it. It felt a little like they were trying to convince the audience that Sully is indeed a hero, but apparently people questioned this fact, so I guess the convincing is justified. The whole investigation seems excessive, to me, considering that no one died, but I guess they need to do these types of investigations in order to keep other people from trying such heroic acts unless absolutely necessary. Sully absolutely did the right thing - when his choices are possibly crashing into Manhattan buildings (something I don't think NYC could live through again), possibly crashing into New Jersey (a heavily populated state - especially near Teterboro), or "crashing" into the Hudson River, I think the answer is pretty clear. The film very clearly tells the story of a hero, and of many heroes who came to the aid of the passengers stranded in the river - it's amazing to learn that it only took 24 minutes to rescue everyone! Truly the best of NY/NJ was shown that day. The only thing that disturbed me was the woman holding the newborn baby....WAITING IN LINE to be rescued. Did that actually happen? Did people not let a woman with a newborn baby get rescued first?? That's disturbing (and not the best of NY/NJ!).

2. Jack Reacher: Never Go Back - The first film was decent, but hardly memorable. I actually had to refer to my post on here to see my thoughts, and boy, was that a mistake! I got stuck in a void of reading old posts, and wincing at the grammatical errors, run-on sentences, and sidetracked thoughts (much like this exact sentence! How ironic!). As you can probably tell, I don't edit. I just write. It's much more fun and cathartic that way. Anyway, this sequel isn't all that exciting. I'm sure I will forget it even quicker than the first one. However, I might remember the girl who plays Reacher's "maybe" daughter because she is a terrible young actress. I'm talking really, really awful. She's young, and it could easily be blamed on the cheesy dialogue, but I think a stronger actress would have had more fun with the dialogue instead of stiff and awkward. It did seem like this film was *trying* to do something empowering for women by having Colbie Smolders as the female lead - and maintaining her character strong-willed, smart, and not traditionally "feminine", even having her as a possible romantic interest for Reacher is refreshing. I'm not really a fan of Smolders (I know, I know, Marvel fans seem to love her but she's bland to me), but she played the role well. The story was pretty predictable, and there are no memorable action scenes, which is pretty disappointing because that's all I really look forward to with movies like this.

3. Finding Dory - Again, I have no recollection of the first one. It's one of those animated movies that I just don't understand why it's so praised (others I don't understand - the Toy Story trilogy, Frozen, Ratatouille). Unfortunately, it came out before I started this blog so I can't even read my thoughts to remind myself. However, as soon as I started watching Finding Dory, I started to put the pieces together - first, I remember liking Dory, but I realized that a story that revolved around her would probably be super repetitive (and I was right). Second,....wait...I have nothing else to say. I would love to say that I enjoyed this, at the very least, for what it was - an entertaining kids movie, but when something as wonderful as Zootopia is released in the same year, I just couldn't help but be disappointed. It's just not very fun, special, or memorable at all.

4. 13 Hours: The Secret Soldiers of Benghazi - I'll be honest, I don't know much about the history of Benghazi. It was turned into an online meme, and an excuse for people to not vote for Hillary Clinton. The only thing I really knew was that it was a raid (battle? attack? not really sure of the proper term) that put our troops into unexpected danger, and there were a lot of questionable calls from our government. It's all pretty vague. The film does a little bit to clear up the story behind Benghazi, and also, obviously, humanizing it, but I still don't really understand why it happened. Or how it could have been avoided. Or how it was Hillary Clinton's fault (ahem). I was looking forward to this movie because I love Michael Bay (always and forever), and I love John Krasinski even more. I'm waiting for him to get an A-list role, and I was hoping this was it (it's not). Bay is often accused of "ruining" blockbusters but, I think he's a great director. He takes a more serious, and restrained tone for this film that feels appropriate, but also keeps the intensity at just he right level. I thought Krasinski would be more charismatic, but he's kind of dull - as are the rest of the actors, which consisted of a ton of familiar faces (James Badge Dale, the guy from my cat's favorite show Grimm, Edie Falco's husband from Nurse Jackie, David Costabile, and "Pornstache"), all of whom are interchangeable.

5. Whiskey Tango Foxtrot - The trailer for this was really painfully awkward, and unfunny, so my expectations were leveled, but I still thought it would be funny. It's Tina Fey! And produced by Lorne Michaels! While it had some funny moments, overall it's not very good and waaaaaaaay too long. There are so many little side-plots that seem really unnecessary to the point where I stopped paying attention (only to realize that it does all come together in a cohesive way - so I suggest you pay attention if you can bare it). I think the part that I'm most disappointed by is *spoilers ahead* that Margot Robbie's character falls into the bitchy backstabbing friend cliche. I actually really liked her character - and the friendly competitive relationship between her and Fey's character. It's rare to see female friendship among professional women so I was excited (and not surprised because Tina Fey is always very supportive of other women) but then they went and ruined it all. Such a shame because it was totally unnecessary. I actually did like the main plot, too - with her shaking up her life by taking a job in Afghanistan. Talk about getting out your comfort zone! It could be inspiring and motivating if it wasn't so Goddamn boring! Maybe I will read the book?

Thoughts on 5 Films

1. American Honey - I was really excited about this movie, until I saw that the runtime is almost 3 hours, which seems TOTALLY unnecessary for this story. I read some really strong reviews, most of which is praise for Sasha Lane, while also addressing the length - most claim that it "flies by". I agree with Sasha Lane; she is spectacular, especially for a debut performance. The length, though, is the films detriment. I felt every single second of it. They could have EASILY edited it by at least 30 minutes without effecting the film at all (first step - get rid of most of the scenes inside the van. One or two would have sufficed). I don't want to focus on the negative, though, because I get why it is dragged out, repetitive, and a little dull in parts - to emphasize this "life on the road" lifestyle. And in that sense, I think that it is successful. They also get the whole American "trash" life very authentically (I was raised in that lifestyle for part of my childhood, and I still embrace it - but probably because I got out of it. I can look at it and appreciate what I've learned from it). Lane and Shia LaBeouf have wonderful chemistry. I will once again point out that LaBeouf is a fantastic actor, and he is more in his element in smaller, independent films like this (and A Guide to Recognizing Your Saints - if you haven't seen it, get on it NOW). He will always get shit on for the Transformers films, and because he's always been a garbage human being (who is currently redeeming himself), but I will always stick up for him, as an actor, anyway. He plays this charming leader of this cult-like door-to-door sales team, and he perfectly embodies someone that would earn your trust due to his likeability and ability to convince people that they are special. The film is littered with these oddly beautiful shots, combined with a similar narrative structure, it definitely reminds me a lot of Spring Breakers, which a lot of people loved (I liked it); it's probably not as memorable, though.

2. I Am Not a Serial Killer - I didn't really know what to expect with this movie, and just taking the title as literally as possible, I assumed the movie was about a guy being accused of murder, and him convincing us that he didn't do it. That's not really what it's about at all (LOL). *slight spoilers ahead* It's about a young man, who realized at a young age that he has the same tendencies as homicidal maniacs, trying to live a "normal" life by setting rules for himself to keep himself from murdering people - it's basically the beginning of Dexter before he starts murdering people. The title is almost his mantra, if you will, his need to convince himself ,"I AM NOT A SERIAL KILLER". Things start to fall apart for him when a series of murders start to happen in his town. He investigates, and finds out who the murderer is and then tries to stop him from murdering people. It's interesting as a horror movie, because it actually offers an interesting, original plot (I honestly thought all the possible horror plots have been used), but it's also even more interesting as a character drama because it relies on the notion that you can change who you are. You can become someone other than yourself. The idea that someone can sacrifice their own personal need to murder, and instead become a hero, is incredibly fascinating (and oddly) heartwarming. There is also a really awesome sci-fi twist to the story, and I loved every second of it. I miss Christopher Lloyd. I feel like I haven't seen him in anything in years, and honestly, this might just be his best work yet.

3. Bridget Jones's Baby - I'm a big fan of Bridget Jones. It's the only role I've enjoyed Renee Zellweger in (oh and Chicago, but I'm convinced it's only because the movie is awesome - I mean, even Catherine Zeta-Jones is good in it, and that's saying something). I have to admit, though, I definitely saw the second one, and liked it, but I have no recollection of it whatsoever (in my defense, I've only seen it once and that was 12 years ago!). This one starts with her being single (so I guess her and Mark break-up at some point in the second one??), and Daniel is dead (wow...that's not funny, and side-note did everyone else think he was going to appear at some point? Why would they note that the body was never found? That's odd foreshadowing that never went anywhere...), and she is struggling to date at 44. It starts off in the right direction - with Jones switching from Celine Dion's All By Myself (a song that is synonymous with Bridget Jones) to House of Pain's Jump Around - making me feel sufficiently old (THANKS). But then, it just gets dumb - Jones and her friend attend a concert featuring the very famous Ed Sheeran and don't recognize him (my mom is 55 and describes him as having "the voice of an angel"). There is no way someone who runs a news program doesn't know one of the most famous singers in the world. Anyway, that's just one example of the ridiculous "out of touch" plot. While I applaud the story for being about a woman having a baby at 44, and embracing her age at every turn, it felt a little too forced - her doctor describes her as "geriatric", a term used for elderly people; sure, it's funny to see her reaction, but there is no way a DOCTOR would describe a 44 year old as "geriatric". It's just dumb. Then, there's the whole triangle thing between Mark and a new love interest - McDreamy (he's always the rich, handsome, "McDreamy" character), and it's obvious as to who she will pick (and obvi that's whose baby it will end up being). It gets really boring and repetitive around the half-way mark, so I'm sad to say that this whole endeavor was just a waste of time.

4. Love & Friendship - I've read amazing reviews for this movie, some citing Kate Beckinsale's performance as award-worthy. While I adore her, I found the praise for her, and this movie,  a *little* hard to believe. First, as I've said before, I'm not really a fan of Jane Austen. All of her novels are the same - catty women and asshole men eventually find themselves in love with each other. Second, Beckinsale is great in the Underworld movies, but when she's in a serious role, she's a little bland - to pull off this dialogue, I think a stronger actress is needed - someone with more of a presence. And after watching this movie, I stand by these two things. As an adaptation of Lady Susan (no, I've never read it and it's unlikely that I ever will), it's exactly like every other Austen story. And, to me, it's just sooooo boring. And it doesn't even make sense - like none of these people are in love, it's just all for show and money. I just couldn't get into it at all. There were some amusing moments, and witty dialogue, but not enough to make me like the story, or root for any of the characters. Or pay attention to it after an hour. Beckinsale is charming and sweet, but it's no different than every other actress who has performed in an Austen adaptation. I guess, with all of the praise, I just expected something exciting. Something different.

5. Triple 9 - HOLY SHIT THIS CAST. Casey Affleck, Anthony Mackie, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Woody Harrelson, Kate Winslet, Aaron Paul....should I go on??? OKAY....Gal Gadot, Clifton Collins Jr, Teresa Palmer, and a tiny but memorable appearance by Michael K. Williams. INSANE right?! And obviously, it's not a good movie. If it were a good movie, with this cast, it would have been MUCH more popular. Instead, I barely heard of it, other than a few whispers in the film twitter universe. It's an interesting movie, with a decent, inventive plot, but it just goes nowhere and is edited terribly. The casting choices...were interesting, to say the least. I mean, Kate Winslet is one of the greatest working actresses today, but a Russian mob leader? Um...I don't buy it at all. It was incredibly distracting (although I did like that the "bad guy" was a woman - a terrifying, "no holds barred" woman). I also was really disturbed by Aaron Paul's over-acting white trash "fuck-up" of the group - a role that he should seemingly excel in based on past roles - but he was terrible. Casey Affleck, Anthony Mackie and Clifton Collins Jr. kept my interest, they stood out in every scene among a huge ensemble. Ejiofor is inconsequential, which is ultimately problematic considering it's really "his" story for the most part. I enjoyed this movie, parts are intense, parts are surprising, but overall it's not cohesive and disappointing for a cast of this caliber.