THE FORCE AWAKENS

A long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away.... QUE MUSIC!!!!

It's been thirty years (THIRTY FREAKIN YEARS!!!!) since we last left Han, Leia, Luke, Chewbacca, R2D2, and C-3PO and the galaxy is in pretty bad shape. Luke has mysteriously vanished and in his absence The First Order arose out of the ruins of The Empire (consider them The Empire 2.0), their aim is total and complete control of the galaxy and they have a special weapon of ultimate destruction to aid them in their quest.  One of the most feared leaders of The First Order is Kylo Ren, who has been spreading fear and destruction wherever he goes as he attempts to complete his own special, personal mission. The Galaxy's best hope lies in a stormtrooper named Finn and an orphaned scavenger named Rey.

This is the movie fans have been waiting for. It's big, heartfelt, very cool, touching, adrenaline-filled, and very, very fast. The whole film moves at a breakneck speed, but is unafraid to slow down for a few minutes here and there and has no problem with somewhat developing our new heroes and villains. I'm happy to report that Han Solo and Chewbacca are both lead characters here and we get to spend a great deal of time with them. Harrison Ford easily steps back into one of his most beloved roles and is just about flawless. The way he speaks, his mannerisms, his facial expressions....it's all still there. This is easily the best he's been in a very long time, and the material he's given to work with is strong stuff (and he interacts with our two new leads perfectly).

Chewbacca is  exactly as we remembered him as well, and is still very memorable and funny. His chemistry and friendship with Han continues to be one of the defining things about this franchise. Carrie Fisher is also quite good, and the scenes she shares with Han and Chewie are simply fantastic and touching. The chemistry between Han and her is still rich. R2-D2 and C-3PO also show up for a few minutes. BB-8 is completely adorable as well, and makes for a welcome addition to our cast of humans and droids.

As for the new characters: Daisy Ridley as Rey was definitely a fantastic find. She is one fine actress that sells her role very well, and is also super pretty. I found myself falling in love with her as Finn did. Speaking of Finn,  John Boyega as Finn was super likable and cool, even though he spends a good deal of the film in a panicked state as his first instinct is to escape from the clutches of The First Order (naturally, saner heads prevail). It was cool to have someone who is knowledgable about the weapons and tactics of The First Order, and therefore can better guide Rey and our returning heroes numerous escapes (not to mention he's pretty ok with a lightsaber). His chemistry and back and forth with Han Solo was highly entertaining and his relationship with Rey was sweet and believable (definitely more than I can say for the relationship between Anakin and Padme in the prequels).

Adam Driver as Kylo Ren commanded control of the screen whenever he was on. He is essentially Darth Vader 2.0. He is filed with a raw power, but lacks control. He is a tortured soul who is struggling with himself, but finds strength in the legacy of Darth Vader and has committed himself to becoming even greater and more powerful than Darth (And indeed, he is considerably more powerful than Darth. He does things we've never seen anyone do in previous Star Wars films. Call him whiny all you want, I personally consider him a bad-ass).  Oscar Isaac as Poe Dameron was also great as the head resistance fighter and ace pilot. He's cool, he's funny, he's likable....basically he's going to be our new Han Solo. He doesn't get much screen time, but I expect (and hope) that changes in the ensuing sequels.

One of the areas where The Force Awakens towers over the prequels are the action scenes. They are all beautifully shot (in fact, the whole film is beautifully shot), and the lightsaber battles are filled with raw adrenaline. The lightsaber battles in the prequels resembled more of a well-choreographed dance, but in The Force Awakens they feel real. It's two people fighting for dominance, control, and survival. The stakes are real, and the battles are intense and breathtaking. I forgot how much I loved seeing two people slashing at each other with lightsabers. The aerial battles are also fantastic. I loved the way the camera followed the numerous X-wings and Tie Fighters, swooping, diving, and spinning along with them....it's almost dizzying and gives you a YOU-ARE-THERE feeling.

Another thing I loved about The Force Awakens was the sound design. All the sounds from the original trilogy are back (one of the first scenes that really made me squee featured a tie fighter firing off rounds. This was my first time getting to hear that sound in theaters and it filled me with joy). There are also constant references to the original trilogy, although this never really bothered me. It all helped to bring you back into a world we all missed very much.

Star Wars: The Force Awakens drops audiences right back into The Star Wars world with little pomp and circumstance. Yes, there is some clunky dialogue here and there, and I feel that some characters could be a bit more well developed (That said, what we get here is still enough, and I expect them to continue to be developed with each sequel) but overall this is one hell of a successful film. I have no problems saying this is WAY, WAY, WAY better than Return of The Jedi. Star Wars has been redeemed and my interest in this awesome franchise has been renewed. I eagerly await the sequel. May the force be with you all.

4 STARS

KRAMPUS GIVES SMALLS CLAUS-TOPHOBIA

Michael Dougherty previously directed the great Trick r' Treat. Krampus is his latest outing and he does not disappoint.

In Krampus, Max (Emjay Anthony) is struggling with the fact that each proceeding Christmas has been getting rougher and rougher. His mom, Sarah (Toni Collette), and dad, Tom (Adam Scott) seem to be falling out of love, his older sister Beth (Stefania LaVie Owen) doesn't spend as much time with him as she used to, and his grandmother, Omi (Krista Stadler) seems to always get weirder around this time of year. Making things much worse are his cousins' family, which are a bunch of intolerable jackholes led by patriarch Howard (David Koechner), his wife Linda (Alison Tolman), the awful Aunt Dorothy (Conchata Ferrell), and their kids. After the family dinner ends in tragedy, Max denounces his belief in Santa and throws his list to Santa out the window. Unfortunately, this simple act has drastic consequences for Max and his family, as Krampus (a Christmas devil who kidnaps naughty people) is summoned to the house and proceeds to wreck his own brand of yuletide terror on the inhabitants within.

The story of Krampus has been around for literally centuries. I've been waiting for a film that does this creature justice. I was sorely disappointed in Rare Exports, but with the new movie Krampus, I am happy to say I've finally been granted my wish. I'm not saying Krampus is perfect, but it does get Krampus right and to me, that's really all that matters.


The stand-outs are Emjay Anthony as Max (A good kid who has a tendency to get in fights about Christmas. Emjay did a fantastic job.) , Toni Collette as Sarah (a frazzled and disheveled mother who is trying her best to stay afloat. Toni Collette was a natural in the role, and I really liked her.) , Adam Scott as Tom (Adam Scott is actually kind of a bad-ass here, and gets to have fun with some guns. I really dug his character as he gets to show that he is not a wimp in any way), Stefania LaVie Owen as Beth (the older sister who cares about her family but is a bit busy with boyfriend issues. I thought she was super cute, and I liked that the filmmakers made her character not the typical older teen sister), and Krista Stadler as Omi (the cool and kind of creepy grandma who only speaks in a foreign language). I found that I genuinely liked and cared for each of their characters, and wanted to see all of them make it out in one piece. The same cannot be said for David Koechner's Howard and family. They are all a bunch of ugly Americans, and I honestly could not wait to see how they would be dispatched during the film.

 Weta created the creatures in this film, using both practical effects and CGI. Needless to say, the designs are impressive. We get homicidal gingerbread men (who are more goofy than anything else, think Gremlins), dark elves (They were very cool, I loved their design), snowmen (Super creepy, they don't do anything but I loved how they looked), a demented jack-in-the-box (super disturbing), and of course Krampus himself (Loved him). It warmed my heart to see how cool the practical effects in this film were and while we only get 3 scenes with the titular Krampus, he is still a sight to behold. I must say I kind of wished there were more scenes with Krampus and crew, that said they are still in the film a good deal.  All together, Krampus and his holiday horrors make for quite the obstacle for our family to overcome.

Now, Krampus is PG-13, and this worried me a good deal. Well, it really shouldn't have. The lower rating doesn't kill the film, though I can't help but feel that this film should have been rated R. Some of the scenes involving Krampus and crew feel a bit neutered, and there are definitely parts where you could tell characters were begging to drop an F bomb. I'm hoping they release an R rated cut for blu-ray, but as a PG-13, Krampus still works fine. It's clear the PG-13 was slapped on there in attempt to market this film as a horror film for the family, but even with that rating a family film this is not (There's definitely stuff in here that could give your kids nightmares).

At it's dark heart, Krampus is a film about family and what happens when you lose faith/hope in Christmas. It's definitely tons of fun, but it's also a great deal sad too. The atmosphere and sets in the film are top-notch, and succeed at creating a beautiful dark, creepy Christmas vibe. Krampus manages to pull off comedy, sadness, darkness, a rich atmosphere, super-likable leads, and ties it all up with an ending that's way darker than you would expect it to be (It's completely perfect). Krampus makes for a fine holiday treat.

3.5 STARS

SMALLS ENJOYS THE DRUG ADDLED CHAOS OF THE NIGHT BEFORE

It's the night before Christmas, and the tradition that Isaac (Seth Rogen), Ethan (Jospeh Gordon-Levitt), and Chris (Anthony Mackie) share of going out on the town that night is ending. The tradition stems ten years back from Isaac's and Chris' attempt at cheering Ethan up after his parents were killed by a drunk driver shortly before Christmas. Now, Chris is a popular sports star who uses steroids, Isaac is married with a kid on the way, and Ethan is stuck in a rut. All but Ethan feel that they have outgrown their yearly night of drunken escapades. However, when Ethan stumbles upon tickets to a legendary Christmas party he and his friends have been searching for for years, it catapults the trio into the night to end all nights.

I really dug the emotional core of this film, which is Ethan having to deal with the loss of his parents (He never seems to have fully recovered from this loss), the fear that his friends are outgrowing him, and the fear of being alone. It's actually very sweet and touching. Needless to say, I also LOVED JGL in his role here. He is one of the best actors out there, but my favorite role for him to play will always be the normal guy. I wasn't head-over-heels in love with his arc, which involves him contemplating getting back together with his ex (played by Lizzie Caplan, who is given little to do. I still dug her here, and naturally she was beautiful), but having JGL in the film helps to elevate the proceedings a good deal nonetheless. I know I wouldn't have cared nearly as much about Ethan if JGL wasn't portraying him.

 I also genuinely enjoyed Seth Rogen's Isaac. His arc mainly involves a small box of drugs including molly, marijuana, cocaine, and shrooms, which his wife (played by Jillian Bell, who is super cool and likable here) gave to him in a clear effort to help him face his own fear of becoming a father. For most of the film, Isaac is just trying to survive the night and keep his cool while attempting to fight off the aggressive effects of the drugs. This is the most likable and the best Rogen has been in some time.

Anthony Mackie is enjoyable as Chris, although he isn't given nearly as much meat to chew on as JGL and Rogen. That said, some of the best parts of the film are the few brief scenes he shares with Ilana Glazer (She's awesome here), who plays Rebecca, a cute Christmas Grinch who keeps stealing the weed Chris has been charged with delivering to the party. The two work off of each other to an impressive degree. It's a shame Glazer's character kind of just disappears somewhere in the 2nd act.

Michael Shannon was another one of the more awesome aspects of the film. He plays Mr. Green, the stone-faced drug dealer with a heart of gold. Shannon's job is essentially to be the Clarence (from It's A Wonderful Life) of the film, dishing out wisdom in the handful of scenes he appears in. He's absolutely perfect, and each of his scenes is gut-wrenchingly hilarious.

All my love for the film beside (and yes, if it isn't obvious, I do love this film), I do have a few tiny issues with The Night Before. First off, the film is bookended by narration from Tracy Morgan. I have nothing against him, but these parts felt kind of weird, wrong, and annoying to me. The overall plot of the film was also too reminiscent of your typical, predictable Christmas film (and sure enough, everything is wrapped up nice and neatly by the end). For such a clever film, I kind of wish they had found some way to liven things up a bit plot-wise. All that said, While the plot may be a bit predictable to how each character's story is going to end, the proceeding chaos and fun is more than enjoyable enough for anyone to overlook what little issues they may have.

In the end, the heart of this film lies in the chemistry between the three leads, the numerous LOL moments, and the touching story about friendship and love. The Night Before may not be a perfect film, but I'll be damned if it doesn't get pretty close at times. I would say it's definitely a new holiday classic. Pour some liquor in your eggnog and drink up!

4.5 STARS

SMALLS GOES TO GRANDMA'S HOUSE WITH THE VISIT

In The Visit, 15 year old Becca (Olivia DeJonge) and her younger brother Tyler (Ed Oxenbould) go to visit their grandparents (Deanna Dunagan and Peter McRobbie). They have never met their nana and pop-pop (as they call them) due to a falling out between their mom (Kathryn Hahn) and their grandparents a long time ago, so they have no idea what to expect. Shortly after they arrive, the kids realize something seems a bit off with their grandparents, as Nana is clearly off her meds and Pop-pop is a bit awkward, stoic, and secretive. Naturally, things continue to spiral horribly out of control.

This is another found-footage film, but one where I never once questioned why the kids never put the camera down (and in fact, the camera comes in quite handy every so often). Becca is an aspiring film artist, and this latest project of hers is an attempt at getting closure for her mother. Tyler is a wanna-be rapper who is pretty interested in the female gender. Becca is the brains, Tyler provides the comedy and common sense. Both actors do pretty great jobs and are not only believable and super-likable, but also manage to inject some depth and heart into their characters. The same can be said for both grandparents (Though Nana is the clear stand-out of the two). They both sell their roles very well, and Nana is genuinely freaky and disturbing most of the time (Even when the sun is still out).

Really, the only negative thing I can say about The Visit is that I found it hard to believe a 15 year old could so expertly edit a student film so that it looked this pretty (plus, the numerous fade out shots are extremely well done and beautiful too). The Visit doesn't have much of a plot when you get down to it, instead choosing to focus on the grandparents ensuing freaky antics. It can get a bit slow at times, and it's hard not to wonder where the film is headed, luckily the ending is satisfying and there are plenty of disturbing moments and jump scares throughout to keep you distracted. The biggest twist in The Visit is that after 13 years,  M. Night Shaymalan finally managed to make a good film again. Let's hope he continues this possibly new trend and doesn't revert back to old habits. The Visit manages to deftly mix both laughs and scares (I did laugh pretty hard a few times, something I definitely wasn't expecting). It's a fun, funny, disturbing, and genuinely entertaining treat. Shania Twain, Bitches!

3 STARS

JURASSIC WORLD IS FINALLY OPEN TO THE PUBLIC!

"The lack of humility before nature that's being displayed here, um, staggers me."-Ian Malcolm

 "You stood on the shoulders of geniuses to accomplish something as fast as you could and before you even knew what you had you, you patented it,  and packaged it and slapped it on a plastic lunchbox and now you're selling it, you want to sell it, well.."-Ian Malcolm



A mere 22 years after the incident at the original Jurassic Park, John Hammond's dream has finally come to fruition...and it's Ian Malcom's worst nightmare come to life. Jurassic World has been open on Isla Nublar (just a few miles away from the original Jurassic Park site) for an unspecified amount of time (Seems like several years at least), and things seem to be going smoothly except for a few things....customer satisfaction levels are just below 90%, and somehow the public has grown tired of seeing living, breathing dinos. The morons in charge decide to spice things up by creating their own genetically modified dinosaur, a terrifying creature they dub the Indominus Rex. Naturally, things don't go so well.

The actors all do fairly good jobs. Chris Pratt completely owns his role as Owen Grady, a velociraptor  trainer who is the only person who seems to understand what the head honchos are doing is a very bad idea. "Their dinosaurs. Wow enough." he quips, and he's completely right. Pratt is not Star-Lord here, and manages to make a convincing and totally bad-ass hero. I also like that the bond he shares with the raptors is a shaky one at best. It goes without saying that Pratt is the best actor and character in the film.

Bryce Dallas Howard is pretty good as Claire, the no nonsense and up-tight businesswoman who is one of the higher-ups at Jurassic World. She goes to Owen for help figuring out the deal with the D-Rex and naturally, sparks eventually fly. She's an entertaining character that I grew to really like by the end of the film.  Irrfran Kahn impresses as Simon Masrani, the CEO of Masrani Global, which is the company that runs Jurassic World with a little help from InGen. I was shocked and pleased at how jovial his character was, he's essentially our surrogate Hammond. It's nice to see Kahn play a nicer guy for a change.

Ty Simpkins and Nick Robinson do exactly what is required of them pretty well (running, screaming, and looking on in awe-struck wonder at times). They play Claire's nephews, who are shipped off to spend a weekend with her at Jurassic World while their parents get divorced. Robinson plays the girl obsessed teen Zach, and Simpkins plays his younger brother Gray, who is TOTALLY into dinos (Yes, he definitely has shades of young Tim from Jurassic Park). Vincent D'Onofrio plays Hoskins, the InGen security expert who has some shady plans involving the D-Rex and Owen's raptors. He is basically the embodiment of InGen, and here that company is portrayed much the way it is in the novel...as pretty evil and bad.  I  have to give a shout out to my boy Jake Johnson, who plays the character of Lowery, one of the workers in the Jurassic World control room. He's a pretty cool guy who is a major Jurassic Park nerd (he even wears a Jurassic Park T-shirt which Claire chastises him on, saying it's in bad taste).  BD Wong also returns once again as the awesome Dr. Henry Wu, who is in charge of creating all the dinos on the island (including the D-Rex).


Jurassic World (the park) is really a beauty to behold, and it's a complete thrill to travel back to Isla Nublar again (it almost feels like going home in a weird way). The park is gorgeous, but is filled to the brim with numerous corporate sponsors (there's even a clever joke about Indominus Rex presented by Verizon Wireless). The numerous corporate entities are all handled a bit tongue-in-cheek (except for the overwhelming and tiring ads for Chevy), and it's done with a wink and nod to the audience. The film is very much commenting on the public's constant demand for bigger, better, scarier, and more more MORE (as the film puts it, more teeth!)! It's also in a weird way a comment on modern day blockbusters and why they are made the way they are made.

Michael Giacchino's score is a beautiful, gorgeous thing that uses some of the original score from Jurassic Park in key scenes, but still manages to emerge as it's own piece of art. Jurassic World is a film that is incredibly respectful and reverent to the original film, and it stays true to the message and tone of Jurassic Park. The film is filled with nods to the original classic, I don't know how much I want to give away, but there was one scene that had me seriously tearing up.

Jurassic World is indeed quite thrilling and fun, but the deaths that occur don't pack the punch that the deaths in the original had (except for one). I was also surprised that the film wasn't quite as chaotic as I had expected (certainly nowhere near as chaotic as Jurassic Park was. In fact, the D-Rex doesn't even really gobble up many park visitors, mainly feasting on any dino she can sink her teeth into and any teams sent in to contain her). That said, I was pleased that Jurassic World was able to effectively recapture some of the magic and wonder that the first film had (They even seem to use one and only one dino animatronic in a deeply affecting scene).

While Jurassic World isn't the masterpiece that I was hoping it would be, it's still a beautiful, gorgeous, and super fun film. It's a complete joy to re-visit Isla Nublar and some of the old sites from the original Jurassic Park (we even get the return of The King herself, the original T-Rex from the first film) and the film does manage to fit in some awe, wonder, and magic. Some parts definitely feel a little neutered and obviously it's nowhere near as great as the original classic, but overall Jurassic World is the only worthy sequel to Jurassic Park we've received thus far, and that alone makes this a definite must-see for any Jurassic Park fan.

3.5 STARS


Also, don't waste your money on the 3-D. And please guys, NO MORE SEQUELS. Quit while you're ahead.

THERE'S A GREAT BIG BEAUTIFUL TOMORROWLAND

Tomorrowland is director Brad Bird's latest film. Penned by both Bird and Damon Lindelof, the project has been shrouded in mystery since before the first trailer was even released. The film follows Casey (Britt Robertson), a teen who discovers a magical pin that gives her a glimpse at a futuristic land. Intrigued, Casey makes it her mission to travel to Tomorrowland by any means necessary and enlists the aide of grumpy inventor Frank (George Clooney), who himself got to visit Tomorrowland when he was just a child at the 1960's New York World's Fair. However, there are some sinister people out there who would do just about anything to prevent Casey and Frank from completing their mission. With the assist of Athena (Raffey Cassidy), a butt-kicking young girl with secrets of her own, maybe Casey and Frank can make it to Tomorrowland and save the future.

Our main leads all manage to impress and share a great deal of chemistry together (including Hugh Laurie as another inventor. He has what may be the best speech in the film. Keegan-Michael Keyes and Kathryn Hahn also impress with fun cameos). George Clooney pulls off the grumpy curmudgeon with a heart of gold pretty well, but for my money I'd say that it's newcomers Britt Robertson and Raffey Cassidy who are the standouts here. The design of Tomorrowland itself is also very impressive and pretty, clearly taking some inspiration from the architecture of Tomorrowland at both Walt Disney World and Disneyland (Yes, the film does indeed have some ties to the Disney parks. Keep your eye out for the Space Mountain building, which is a part of the landscape of Tomorrowland. The references/ties don't stop there though).

Brad Bird previously directed The Incredibles and Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol, and he brings with him here everything he learned from those two films, including action know-how. There are several action scenes in Tomorrowland and each one is thrilling, fun and absolutely fantastic. I'm also happy to say that Lindelof's bad luck streak seems to have ended for the time being, as the mystery at the core of the film is satisfyingly solved and the script itself is pretty well written.

I honestly didn't find anything all that wrong with Tomorrowland. The first 15 or 20 minutes didn't fully engage me, but once we jumped into Casey's story I was fully on board (also the last act does drag a little but not so much that it ruined my enjoyment of the film). I also love that Tomorrowland has a fantastic, positive message aimed at the optimists and dreamers of the world. Tomorrowland is a silly, fun film that had me constantly smiling with pure joy. I have no problem admitting that I loved this cool little film and I would highly recommend it. They've saved a seat for you on the rocket to Tomorrowland, so take the trip!

4 STARS

I also REALLY want one of those Tomorrowland pins now.

EX MACHINA PASSES THE TEST

In Ex Machina, Caleb (Domhnall Gleeson) is a coder at a Google-esque internet search giant. He wins a week-long stay at the fancy lodging of his boss Nathan (Oscar Issac). Once there, Caleb finds that Nathan intends for him to be the human part of a Turing test. It isn't long before the A.I. in question, named Ava (Alicia Vikander), has Caleb questioning what is really going on.

Alicia Vikander is quite memorable as Ava, the pretty A.I. at the center of the tale. The less I say about her the better (I will say that I couldn't really stop thinking about here, in a weird way I still can't. She also has an impressive nude scene).  Domhnall Gleeson is one of those big up-and-coming actors. He's appeared in some pretty good films lately (like Dredd, About Time, Frank, Calvary, Anna Karenina, Never Let Me Go, True Grit, and Harry Potter and The Deathly Hallows Parts 1 and 2. Look for him in Star Wars later this year), but has yet to really make it big. While I'm not sure this will be his big breakthrough, I do have a feeling this will get people talking about him and should certainly put him on more people's radar, so that's a good thing. I really liked his character here, and would say he does a great job in his role. Oscar Isaac just about walks away with the film as the mysterious but somewhat goofy and fun creator of Ava and the owner of the search giant. The discussions and scenes that he and Caleb shares are easily some of the best scenes in the film (Also love Isaac's dance scene). Gleeson and Isaac have a real back-and-forth going on, and they work perfectly together. I'd consider this to be my favorite performance from Isaac, which is saying a lot seeing how he's had some real memorable roles/films as of late (Drive, Sucker Punch, Inside Llewyn Davis, A Most Violent Year, Star Wars, X:Men Apocalypse). He was an up-and-comer, but I'd say he's just about made it now.

From everything I've heard, it would seem that Ex Machina is quite realistic as far as it comes to how the film deals with A.I. technology. The film brings to the forefront some real interesting ideas and discussions about A.I. technology, and how that will affect not just the future, but the future of the human race as well (in reality, this is some pretty terrifying stuff). Ex Machina is superbly directed and written by Alex Garland. This is his directorial debut but he's an expert script writer as he's written the screenplay for Dredd, Never Let Me Go, Sunshine, and 28 Days Later. With Ex Machina, I'd say he establishes himself as the next big thing for science fiction.

Ex Machina isn't completely flawless. I'd say it does get a little bumpy at times, but I found the overall experience to be quite thought-provoking and enjoyable. I went in knowing very little about the film and I thoroughly enjoyed following it down it's twisted, bizarre, freaky path.   For the first time in years we get a high quality, sci-fi film that actually encourages us to think (It also encourages us to take part in the Turing test as well, allowing us to decide if we think Ava's passed or not). Ex Machina is a talky, cerebral sci-fi film. I'm happy to say that, yes, this is really the real deal. The film easily passes the test for me. This is a new sci-fi classic. If you're one of the many who has been disappointed with the sci-fi offerings as of late, I'd say it's time you see Ex Machina.

5 STARS

BUG JUICE- SMALL'S TRAILER MANIA: STAR WARS, FANTASTIC FOUR, TOMORROWLAND, ANT-MAN, JURASSIC WORLD, TERMINATOR GENISYS, BATMAN VS SUPERMAN

Hey all! It's been a long time (and I mean a LOOOOOOOONG time) since I've done a trailer mania but seeing as a whole metric you-know-what ton of trailers for hotly anticipated films have recently been released, I see I have no choice but to review each one and post my thoughts below. Buckle your seat belts and hang on tight, because this is going to be a doozy

First up: The newest trailer for Brad Bird's Tomorrowland

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lNzukD8pS_s

Wow....I mean, just wow. The plot details still seem a bit scarce, but from what I can make out from previous trailers Earth is in bad shape, and a mystical place that Uncle Walt (as in Walt Disney) and other dreamers like him created may be our only hope. Crazy inventor Frank (George Clooney) and teen Casey (Britt Robertson) have seen glimpses of the place, and Frank has the means to travel there. For whatever reason, an android army has been sent to stop them. Still not sure exactly what's going on here, but the action in this trailer looks both silly and tons of fun. I'm pretty psyched, and not just because Brad Bird is directing or because the film has ties to Disneyland.....but because this looks like it really could be pretty good.




Next up is Star Wars: The Force Awakens

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wCc2v7izk8w

It's a good sign when I go through a trailer with a crazy smile plastered on my face. I am certainly a fan of Star Wars (how could you not be?), and this trailer hit all the right buttons for me. The scenes within look gorgeous (that crashed star destroyer...holy carp guys!), and it felt so good to see Chewie and Han back together (presumably entering the Millennium Falcon after quite some time). I like the glimpses we get of our villain Kylo Ren (MORE PLEASE) and of what I assume is the updated version of the Galactic Empire (Also really digging the new Storm Trooper outfits, and that groovy glimpse at Vader's helmet). Star Wars: The Force Awakens definitely looks quite promising (for right now, I'm saying it looks very, very good, certainly better than those awful prequel films). We still don't know much plot wise, but rumors suggest that the film could center around Luke's lost lightsaber from Empire Strikes Back. Unless further trailers eventually turn me off the film (which I doubt) I'm saying COUNT ME IN!


The next trailer we look at today is for a property that is near and dear to my heart (partly because the first film in the franchise is probably my personal favorite film of all time): JURASSIC WORLD

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aJJrkyHas78

FINALLY! We get a few great glimpses at our main baddie dino: The Indominus Rex (or D-Rex for short), and boy does she look pretty! Our main actors (Vincent D'Onofrio, Bryce Dallas Howard, Ty Simpkins, Jake Johnson, Nick Robinson, BD Wong, Irrfan Kahn, and Chris Pratt) all seem up to the challenge. I'm not expecting this one to be anywhere near the level of the first Jurassic Park, but I do think (and hope) it will be better than the two sequels we got after. The plot does sound kind of dumb (Pratt makes a good point: Why would anyone engineer even deadlier dinos? Don't you guys remember what happened in the first three films?), but the action looks insane and tons of fun (That shot of the pterodactyl getting snapped up by the Moassaur was all kinds of right). I'll mainly be checking in to see what a fully realized, and open to the public Jurassic Park would be like. I'm so excited, you wouldn't believe it. I've got to find a way to see this baby in IMAX 3-D! This is definitely the best trailer we have gotten for Jurassic World thus far.


Next in my queue is Batman Vs. Superman: Dawn of Justice

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xe1LrMqURuw

Still not sure what I think about this one. I do think the trailer looks mighty pretty, and Affleck as Batman looks intimidating, pissed off and scary as hell (dare I say he almost looks kind of perfect. Definitely reminds me of the Bats from The Dark Knight Returns.). I still don't have enough info to properly judge if this film is going to be good or not (Still not crazy about the casting of Jesse Eisenberg as Lex Luthor, but I do like Jeremy Irons aka Scar from Lion King as Alfred). I'll probably attend just to see Batman and Supes duke it out mano-a-mano. Easily the best part of this trailer was the last line: "Tell me, do you bleed? You will." Gives me the chills every damn time.


Next is Ant-Man

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1HpZevFifuo


Well, this was certainly better than the last trailer we got for the film. We get a ton more action here, and while I still can't say I'm excited for the film, it does look pretty fun and I love that Paul Rudd and Michael Douglas are our leads. For me, this trailer is all about that last shot of the model train de-railing....so simple but so darned funny. This film will definitely have a sense of humor.



Up next is the newest trailer for Fantastic Four

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=POBI7OhGB18

Still very hesitant about this film. We get a bit more plot, some more character interaction, and our first look at DOOM. From everything I've heard about this film, I'm still not digging it so far. The grittier look and tone, the casting of younger actors in the lead roles (I do like each individual actor, but am not sure they fit as The Fantastic Four), and (as you all should know by now) the decision to drastically alter the Doom character so he's now a hacker/programmer/blogger. Until I see more of the Doom character (and admittedly, Kebbell does look fine in the Doom garb) I'll still file this one under awful flop.

I've saved the worst for last: Terminator Genisys. Yes, this trailer contains MAJOR SPOILERS for the film.....YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jNU_jrPxs-0

I actually had hope for this film, not so much anymore. This trailer actually makes me angry. Why would ANYONE decide it's a good idea to make John Connor the main antagonist of the film....and a machine/human hybrid? I like that a large part of the film will be about saving John or undoing the damage that Skynet did to John, but the fact that they spoiled what seems to be a large and important part of the film has me worried(Plus, this doesn't make sense with the character of John Connor that the previous films had established. The John Connor I know would never willingly agree to become a man/machine ally to Skynet. All that said, I must say John does look very good in a suit.). The only reason studios pull this tactic is if they have no faith in the product they are marketing, and if they don't have any faith in Terminator: Genisys then why should we? Who knows, maybe the John as cybernetic antagonist plot won't be as big as it seems to be in this trailer. Only time will tell I guess (and where the hell is Matt Smith? Or is that going to be the BIG reveal saved for the film?). I really do hope the film surprises me and is the best installment in the franchise since T2, but I honestly doubt it as of right now. I'd hate to say it, but I'm expecting an awful flop (But hey, the lesser my expectations the more room the film has to surprise me).


So that wraps up this lengthy edition of Trailer Mania. I hope you all enjoyed reading my thoughts on each trailer. Till next time, I'm Smalls and you've just been bugged!

SMALLS BRAVES THE BIG BLUE WITH OPEN WATER

Open Water is based on the true story of a husband and wife who decide to take an ill-fated scuba-diving vacation. When they surface, they find their boat is gone and that they are now adrift at sea. It isn't long before the elements start to take their toll and hungry sharks show up. 

The film has a real intensity and epic feeling to it. The way Open Water handled the story and the character's choices made it feel like this was all fate, and the two couldn't avoid it. Blanchard Ryan plays Susan (who has a completely unnecessary but appreciated scene of nudity) and Daniel Travis plays Daniel, the doomed couple in the film. They both put on convincing and tragic performances (and Daniel has the best reaction in the film). 

Real Sharks are used in this film, in fact there is no CGI at all...thank God. It was shot on a budget of $130,000 and it shows (It has a very home movies-style look). Honestly though, I think the low budget ended up enhancing the film, as it all looks and feels more realistic. The soundtrack chosen  is incredibly effective as well. Open Water is expertly directed by Chris Kentis, and it was written, edited and partially shot by him as well. He seems to know what he's doing. Open Water is a terrifying, incredibly dark film that deals with themes of fate and man vs. nature. I would say it's a masterpiece.

5 STARS

FURIOUS 7 IS ALL KINDS OF RIGHT

In Furious 7, Dom (Vin Diesel) and crew find themselves the target of Deckard Shaw (Jason Statham at his most insane)), a psychopath who is out for revenge. With the help of Special Ops head Mr. Nobody (an always awesome Kurt Russell), a hacker named Ramsey (the lovely Nathalie Emmanuel), and old friend Dobbs (The usually magnetic Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson), they intend to take the fight to Shaw.

Furious 7 is a delightful theatrical romp. The whole cast does a fine job (including Tony Jaa and Djimon Hounsou as secondary villains), but the real star here I'd say is director James Wan. It is refreshing and exciting to see Wan step out of his usual horror element for a change. This guy is as adept at action as he is at horror. The action scenes are fast, furious, insane, constant, and tons of fun. Wan knows exactly what we want to see, and gives it to us in droves (They even find the time to destroy a few police cars!).
 There are also plenty of hot women in alluring outfits and bikinis. Wan lets us gawk over them, without these scenes becoming gratuitous. In his hands, Furious 7 emerges as a flawless, and unforgettable action film....and it's PG-13!  The film also handles Paul Walker's final farewell in a touching and appropriate way.

It's not often I cry in films, but I was laughing and smiling so hard that I was literally crying. Furious 7 had a lot of hype behind it, and it's actually able to live up to said hype and deliver the goods. The film is 137 minutes long, but I kind of wish it was longer. Let's hope James Wan is invited back to direct another Fast and Furious film, because this franchise has found it's sweet spot in his hands. Furious 7 continues the franchises long running themes about family while not allowing itself to get too bogged down in the drama. It's sure to please newcomers to the franchise, casual fans, and devoted die-hards. Furious 7 is easily one of the best action films I've seen. Thank you James Wan, may I have another....please?

5 STARS

DEADPOOL IS RATED R

That's right, spread the good news! Deadpool has officially received an R rating. For the last few days, a rating war ensued over the film that features our beloved merc with a mouth. If you are not already aware of who Deadpool is, allow me to introduce you. Deadpool, the Marvel comic character, is a cursing, fourth-wall breaking, violence loving, and completely insane mercenary.  Naturally, when the possibility of a PG-13 rating reared it's head, fans became worried. An R rated Deadpool would be the only way to do justice to the character. Ryan Reynolds, who has been cast as Deadpool, said he would fight for an R rating.

Knowing full well that fans were going to completely lose it, early today Fox announced that Deadpool would receive a PG-13 rating. It wasn't until later in the day that they revealed (via a funny video) that it was all an April Fools Joke and that, of course Deadpool will be rated R. As a huge fan of Deadpool (He is my favorite Marvel character), I'm pretty relieved and even more psyched for the upcoming film. Deadpool will slaughter theaters on Feb 12, 2016, bring a chimichanga when you see it.

Link follows

http://www.slashfilm.com/deadpool-rating-confirmed/

IT FOLLOWS ME HOME

There is a creature. It is passed around through sexual intercourse, and once it is passed onto you it will slowly follow you, taking the form of a complete stranger or someone you know or love, whatever will help it get closer to you. You and others previously infected are the only ones who can see it and once it reaches you, you will die.  It does not run, It just walks slowly towards you. You can run, but eventually it will find you.  The only way to get rid of it is to have sex with someone and pass it onto them. However, if it kills them then you re-inherit it's curse.  Jay (Maika Monroe) finds she is the latest target of the creature after she has sex with Hugh (Jake Weary). She thought they were in love, but the reality is that Hugh just wanted to pass the curse on to someone else as quickly as possible. Now it's her problem, and with the help of her sister Kelly (Lili Sepe), and their friends  Paul (Keir Gilchrist), Greg (Daniel Zovatto), and Yara (Olivia Luccardi) she's going to try to make it out alive.

The plot to It Follows is beautifully simple, different and terrifying. It is it's simplicity that allows so much terror to take root during the course of the movie. I also really appreciate that the film has smarts.  It's not uncommon to run into horror films these days that lack brains, or that had little thought put into them (like Ouija, for example). It Follows stands apart from the crowd because it is indeed quite smart, very scary, and it's clear a great deal of thought was put into the film.

The cast is pretty strong, with the standouts being Maika Monroe, Keir Gilchrist, and Jake Weary. The chemistry among the group of friends in the film is strong and believable. Maika Monroe's first big role was in The Guest, and I'd dare say she is even better in this film. Monroe is downright gorgeous, and she really nails the role of your normal, average young adult. She effectively conveys pure terror throughout the film, and it's hard not to sympathize with the poor girls' plight. I'd say that Monroe is quickly becoming a horror pro. While I kind of hated her character in The Guest (She's not a bad character, but the reason things play out the way they do in The Guest is kind of directly her fault), I absolutely adore her here.

In any other film, the character of Hugh would be a real bad guy, but the way It Follows handles his character is just great. He's not a bad guy, in fact he really does like Jay and wants her to survive the curse (partly because he doesn't want the curse to revert back to him). His actions are kind of despicable, but understandable and he emerges as a surprisingly likable character. Jake Weary plays the role just about perfectly, and I'd say he is a large reason why the character is as good as he is.

Paul is quite possibly my favorite character in the film. He is kind of a dork that has had a thing for Jay since they were both young. At first glimpse, he appears to just be your typical dorky best friend character, but he actually proves to be pretty effective. He is very helpful and takes a more active approach when it comes to assisting Jay with her situation. I really dug him, and Keir Gilchrist makes the role not just likable, but one of the more memorable characters in a horror flick in recent years.

Another one of the most memorable things about this film is easily the creature. The creature of the title is rich with potential. It feels as if it has it's own mythology and history, although we are never given any further info on it (We don't even know if it has a name or not...I'd like to think not, but who knows really?) and honestly we don't need to know every little detail about it. The creature partly derives some of it's terrifying power from the fact that we know just about nothing about it, leaving us to fill in the blanks on our own.

Besides the great casting, memorable characters, and unique concept, It Follows also has some real gorgeous cinematography. From it's opening shot of a tree-lined suburban street (I assume it's supposed to be somewhere up north, the setting really gives off a Halloween-y type vibe...as in the John Carpenter film) to it's chilling but simple final shot, the cinematography is always impressive. A lot of the areas are kind of empty, adding to the creeping tension and terror this film nails so expertly. Mike Gioulakis was in charge of the cinematography, and he clearly has an expert eye for the stuff as some of the images in It Follows will chill you, terrify you, and likely stay with you.

Every good horror film worth it's spit, should have a memorable score to assist in it's scares. It Follows is no exception. The score is done by Disasterpeace (God, I love that name!), and it's awesome in it's synth 70's/80's-esque ways. From the very little I could dig up, Disasterpiece appears to consist of one man, named Rich Vreeland. He doesn't appear to have done much, but MAN this is one way for him and his one man band to breakout. The score for this film is perfection! The score perfectly compliments the film, and helps up the tension, suspense, and terror felt during It Follows. I hope he's hired to do more horror films, because he seems to know what he's doing. I was definitely impressed.

It Follows was written and directed by David Robert Mitchell, and he excels at both. The direction is superb, and the script is pretty smart. What most impressed me though, is the unique concept of the film. It's a relief to find that there are still original horror ideas that we haven't seen before. At times it can feel like movies have run out of ideas, and It Follows proves that there are still original, unique, and interesting films and concepts to be made.

It Follows is really a sexual horror film, some may even call it a parable or metaphor of sorts (I suppose if one really wanted to find a message within, it would be: Be careful who you sleep with). It manages to make the act of sex, and nudity itself terrifying (often the creature will be fully nude when it stalks it's victim. Yes there is a good deal of graphic nudity in this film, both male and female). The film definitely succeeds at making the viewer look at sex in a completely new way.

It Follows is just about perfect, this is the kind of film Cabin In The Woods wanted audiences to demand. It's a breath of fresh air in the otherwise somewhat stale horror movie offerings of the last few years. It Follows is easily the best American horror film I've seen in years. It's a film of slow, atmospheric terror that crawls under your skin and stays there. It followed me home, and I have a feeling it may do the same for you too.

5 STARS

OSCAR SUNDAY

HELLO ALL!!!! It's Thursday when I write this, but like every movie fan all I can think about right now is Sunday. Why? Well, because Sunday (as all of you should know) is THE OSCARS!!!!! While I felt that this year The Oscars really showed how out of touch they currently are with things, I'm still going to take a look at some of the nominations and make my picks. Ready? or not! Here they come!!! MY 2014 OSCAR PICKS!!!!

Let's get the ball a-rollin' with BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY. 

The nominees are: Birdman, Boyhood, Foxcatcher, The Grand Budapest Hotel, and Nightcrawler.

My Pick: NIGHTCRAWLER (Dan Gilroy)!!!! This film had a fantastic script that painted a realistic portrait of the morally slippery times we currently live in. It's protagonist is a complete sociopath who finds refuge in the media obsessed culture we currently live in. It's a film that condemns the current state of our culture, but at the same time gives us a slimy protagonist that I, for whatever reason, felt compelled to root for (mainly because although he is not a nice guy, he still works his butt off to get to where he is by the end of the film. Just goes to show that hard work and perseverance pays off). 

Next up: BEST ADAPTED SCREENPLAY

The Nominees are: American Sniper, The Imitation Game, Inherent Vice, The Theory of Everything, and Whiplash.

My Pick: GONE GIRL (Gillian Flynn)!!!!!! Yes, I am not afraid to break the rules every now and then, and you will see this throughout this post. Gone Girl had a fantastic script by Gillian Flynn, which she adapted from her novel (which was also fantastic). I can't imagine why The Oscars chose to snub her, but ultimately it's them that miss out in the long run. Flynn clearly knows how to write, and she definitely deserves this award. (If I had to choose one of the nominees I would definitely go with Whiplash).

VISUAL EFFECTS

The Nominees are: Captain America: The Winter Soldier, Dawn of The Planets of The Apes, Guardians of The Galaxy, Interstellar, and X-Men: Days of Future Past.

My Pick: DAWN OF THE PLANET OF THE APES (Joe Letteri, Dan Lemmon, Daniel Barrett and Erik Winquist)!!! Because Andy Serkis as Ceaser wins every day. I would imagine this would be a natural shoo-in at The Oscars as well.

PRODUCTION DESIGN

The Nominees are: The Grand Budapest Hotel, The Imitation Game, Interstellar, Into The Woods, and Mr. Turner.

My Pick: THE GRAND BUDAPEST HOTEL ( Adam Stockhausen and Anna Pinnock)!!! This film managed to craft an intricate and absolutely gorgeous fantasy world, to the point where you could honestly spend the whole film just watching the sets and backgrounds, and still walk out completely satisfied. 

BEST ORIGINAL SONG

The Nominees are: Everything Is Awesome (The LEGO Movie), Glory (Selma), Grateful (Beyond The Lights), I'm Not Gonna Miss You (Glen Campbell...I'll Be Me), and Lost Stars (Begin Again).

My Pick: EVERYTHING IS AWESOME!!! A delightful, infectious virus that is sure to get stuck in your noggin for quite some time (for cryin' out loud, I'm still humming the damn thing). What's most interesting though, is that apparently it was born from a nasty break-up. Who would'a thunk it?!

BEST ORIGINAL SCORE 

The Nominees are: The Grand Budapest Hotel, The Imitation Game, Interstellar, Mr. Turner, and The Theory of Everything.

My Pick: WHIPLASH (John Hurwitz, John Wasson, Justin Hurwitz, Stan Getz, Nicholas Britell and Tim Simonec) !!!! I suppose this was snubbed becuase so many people worked on this the Academy didn't know who to credit for it. That said, that doesn't change the fact that this is still the best original score that reminded me how great of a musical genre jazz can be. (If I had to choose one of the nominees I would go with The Grand Budapest Hotel)

BEST MAKEUP AND HAIR STYLING

The Nominees are: Foxcatcher, The Grand Budapest Hotel, and Guardians of The Galaxy

My Pick: THE GRAND BUDAPEST HOTEL (Francis Hannon and Mark Coulier!!!There's not much I really have to add here....moving on...

FILM EDITING

The Nominees are: American Sniper, Boyhood, The Grand Budapest Hotel, The Imitation Game, and Whiplash.

My Pick: WHIPLASH (Tom Cross)!!! The editing in the film helps add to the tension of the film, assisting with the overall tone and pacing as well.

BEST DIRECTING

The Nominees are: Birdman (Alejandro G. Inarritu), Boyhood (Richard Linklater), Foxcatcher (Bennett Miller), The Grand Budapest Hotel (Wes Anderson), and The Imitation Game (Morton Tyldum).

My Pick: BIRDMAN (Alejandro G Inarritu)!!!!!!! I say Alejandro is the real star of Birdman. You can feel his fingerprints all over the film. Without him, Birdman would not be the super-cool film it is today!

COSTUME DESIGN

The Nominees are: The Grand Budapest Hotel, Inherent Vice, Into The Woods, Maleficent, and Mr. Turner.

My Pick: THE GRAND BUDAPEST HOTEL (Milena Canonero)!!!!! This goes hand and hand with Best Production Design. The costumes are beautifully realized and fit in with the time periood and fantasy world this film is set in. Like the production design, the costumes are gorgeous!

And now.....we get to THE BIG ONES!

CINEMATOGRAPHY

The Nominees are: Birdman, The Grand Budapest Hotel, Ida, Mr. Turner, and Unbroken.

My Pick: BIRDMAN (Emmanuel Lubezki)!!!! The whole film looks exquisite, managing to turn nall of NYC into a stage. I also love how the whole film looks like it is all done in one single shot. With the unique cinematography choices, Birdman manages to look like a bizarre, surreal masterpiece.

BEST ANIMATED FILM

The Nominees are: Big Hero 6, The Boxtrolls, How To Train Your Dragon 2, Song of The Sea, and The Tale of Princess Kaguya.

My Pick: THE LEGO MOVIE (Phil Lord and Chris Miller) !!!!!! How in the world (and WHY in the world) the Academy chose to snub this film is a complete mystery. But it ain't fair!!! The LEGO Movie took what could have been a giant, poorly done kids' toy commercial and added actual meaning, depth, and characters to it. The film looks freaking gorgeous, the little LEGO characters are freakin adorable, and it's one of the funniest films of 2014! How in the world the mediocre and pandering Big Hero 6 beat out LEGO Movie for a nomination is beyond me. Clearly, Phil Lord and Chris Miller were robbed. If the winners had any decency they would hand that award over to Phil and Miller. (I Guess if I HAD to choose one of the nominees I'd go with How To Train Your Dragon 2).

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS

The Nominees are: Patricia Arquette (Boyhood), Laura Dern (Wild), Kiera Knightley (The Imitation Game), Emma Stone (Birdman),and  Meryl Streep (Into The Woods).

My Pick: EMMA STONE (Birdman)!!!!! Ms. Stone has always been a fantastic actress, and she actually gets to spread her wings here a bit for a change!

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR

The Nominees are: Robert Duvall (The Judge), Ethane Hawke (Boyhood), Edward Norton (Birdman), Mark Ruffalo (Foxcatcher), and J.K. Simmons (Whiplash).

My Pick: J.K. SIMMONS (Whiplash)!!!!!!! Imagine J.J. Jameson, Gnry. Sgt. Hartman and Gordon Ramsey were thrown together in a blender. That's essentially J.K. Simmons' Fletcher in Whiplash. Simmons plays The Devil as a flesh and blood, three dimensional character with some soul. We hate him, but we understand why he is doing what he is doing. Fletcher wants to be the one to discover (or create) the next big jazz musician and he is willing to crush anyone and everyone who gets in his way,. He does some truly terrible and despicable things in the film, but with the intent for good. I'd go so far as to say his is the best performance PERIOD this year!

BEST ACTRESS

The Nominees are: Marion Cotillard (Two Days, One Night), Felicity Jones (The Theory of Everything), Julianne Moore (Still Alice), Rosamund Pike (Gone Girl), and Reese Witherspoon (Wild).

My Pick: ROSAMUND PIKE (GONE GIRL)!!!! Pike plays a considerably different character from what we are used to seeing her as. She is a complete homicidal psycho here and she is terrifying. It's easy to hate her, and she serves the films plot extremely well, perfectly embodying one of the film's central themes: How well can you really know your significant other? It's a brilliant performance, and she deserves the Oscar.

BEST ACTOR:

The Nominees are: Steve Carell (Foxcatcher), Bradley Cooper (American Sniper), Benedict Cumberbatch (The Imitation Game), Michael Keaton (Birdman), and Eddie Redmayne (The Theory of Everything).

Let me just point out that The Oscars made a mistake in snubbing David Oyelowo (pronounced Oh-Yellow-Woah). First off: the man is British, but in Selma he not only takes on a perfect American accent, he also manages to sound exactly like MLK. When speaking he puts the emphasis and inflections on exactly the right words and parts of words, just like MLK would do. His mannerisms also perfectly replicate that of MLK's. However, he's not just an imitation of impersonation of the man, Oyelowo IS MLK. He portrays the legend as a man just like every one else, complete with flaws and internal struggles. He is completely captivating, and he deserved at LEAST a nod. With that out of the way, let's move on to.... 

My Pick: JAKE GYLLENHAAL (Nightcrawler). Gyllenhaal proves something I have always known: He is a superb actor. He plays a complete sociopath, and it is impossible to tear your eyes away from him every second he is on screen. He completely owns every scene he is in and every line of dialogue he speaks. He creates a scary, intense character that is always a joy to watch.  It's a damn shame he was snubbed, and it is just further proof of how out of touch with the times The Oscars are today. (While we're at it, I don't think Michael Keaton deserves the win here, as I would consider it akin to James Franco winning for his role in This Is The End. Keaton plays his role well, but is essentially a parody of himself, so I don't think he qualifies. Just my opinion. If I had to choose one of the nominees I would go with Cumberbatch.).

BEST MOVIE

The Nominees are: American Sniper, Birdman, Boyhood, The Grand Budapest Hotel, The Imitation Game, Selma, The Theory of Everything, and Whiplash.

I could break the rules and say NIGHTCRAWLER because it really was the best film of 2014, but I won't. Instead, I'm going to change things up a bit...but before I do I just want to point out that both Gone Girl and Nightcrawler were snubbed for Best Picture....both of which were without a doubt two of the best films of 2014. Way to keep your finger on the pulse of film Oscars.

anyways, My Pick: SELMA!!!!! Out of all the nominees, I really do feel that Selma was the best. It was the film that brought me closest to bawling like a baby, not to mention it is a pretty important film about the terrible things people did to others all under the belief that whites were automatically superior to blacks.....just cuz. Selma portrays a terrible time where people thought men were NOT created equal, and it paints a realistic and devastating portrait of the Black Civil Rights Movement. The film is emotionally exhausting, but it is well worth your time. It is The Academy's job to celebrate and recognize important films, and I'd say this is the most important nominee this year and yes, it deserves that Oscar.

Here's an extra award for y'all: My Breakthrough Actor Award!!!!!

The Winner is Dan Stevens in The Guest. Stevens is a fairly unknown British actor, probably best known for his role in Downton Abbey. In The Guest he plays "David", a recently released soldier who makes the trek to a family's house who are currently mourning the death of their son, who died in the war and just happened to be "David's" best friend. He is there to fulfill a promise he made on the son's deathbed: That he would check up on the family and make sure they are all right. Naturally they are not, and so "David" sets about assisting them and helping them get back on their feet. There's only one problem: "David" may be a psychopath.  Stevens easily runs away with this film. He does some pretty bad things, but he's so darned likable I couldn't stop rooting for him. The Guest shows off this young actor's natural acting ability and may prove a gateway vehicle for bigger and better things for Stevens down the road (let's hope so).

So, there you have it. My Oscar Picks. I hope you all enjoyed this post, and I hope that maybe it made you think and challenged some of your own personal picks. Thanks for reading, and I'll see YOU on Oscar Sunday!

SMALLS SEES FIFTY SHADES OF SHIT

HEAVY SPOILERS FOLLOW


Fifty Shades of Grey is the story of Anastasia Steele (Dakota Johnson), who covers a journalist assignment for a friend that involves interviewing mysterious billionaire Christian Grey (Jamie Dornan). Inexplicably, the two almost immediately fall for each other and it isn't long before Anastasia finds herself whisked into a dark world that she isn't sure she really wants anything to do with.

Let's start with the good.  First off, both Dakota and Jamie are attractive in the film and they do look good naked. It's clear both are trying to give their roles their all, but the film, the source material, and the script gives them just about zip to work with. The film itself is adequately shot, it definitely looks like a movie (though I would argue it's not a movie at all. There is no character development, almost zero plot, and the script is just bad).   There are also a few good song choices within the film.  Unfortunately, that's about it for the good.

Now, onto the bad...and boy is there a lot to talk about here. Let's begin with the characters. Johnson's Anastasia Steele is a very weak character, who exists solely as a play thing for the men that surround her. They push her to and fro, and she doesn't seem to be all that bothered by this (her best friend even tries to take advantage of her in one scene). Ms. Steele is essentially a beautiful flower left on the street, constantly trampled upon by the men in her life. It's a sad portrait of a woman who is supposed to represent the every girl. Dornan's Mr. Grey doesn't fare much better. He is a blank slate with little to no character. Christian Grey is a billionaire with serial killer-like predilections (what exactly his self-founded company does is never explained, sadly). He is  portrayed as an expert predator who also happens to be "50 shades of fucked up" (imagine Buffalo Bill if he was a handsome billionaire).  Both characters are reprehensible in their own ways, and I found it hard to like either of them.

Our two unlikeable leads do wind up falling for each other, but we are never given a reason or explanation as to why. Both have no redeeming qualities whatsoever, and it's hard to see why either would like the other. Grey continually stalks Anastasia (even going so far as to follow her from Seattle to Georgia, showing up unannounced at a party her parents are throwing. He's a real creeper.). He proclaims to love her, but his actions tell a far different, and more disturbing story. He is in love with the feeling of being in control, and there's something about her mousiness (if she is a mouse, then he is the hawk) that brings out the absolute worst in him. He isn't romantically attracted to her (it's even questionable if he's physically attracted to her), he wants to own her and control her. He wants her to be his completely, and even says as much in a few scenes. He tries to win her over with expensive gifts like a brand new car  (he tows away her old car and sells it without her permission), a ride in a helicopter and an airplane, and her own room in his swanky bachelor pad (where he has previously tried and failed to woo 15 other women).

I suppose one could argue that Anastasia chooses to get involved with Grey because she intends to unravel the mystery of who this man is and what makes him tick. That said it's hard to understand why she doesn't run the other way when he makes clear who he is, what he's into, and what he intends to do to her. Both characters goals in this film are to change the other: She wants him to be a normal person (something that is clear will never happen, no matter how badly the film wants us to believe that all he needs is the healing touch of a woman), and he wants her to submit herself to him and his will completely (something that she reluctantly goes along with, though the reasons why are never clear. Every sign screams at her to run FAR AWAY from this psycho, yet she keeps traveling deeper into his sadistic world).

There are a good number of sex scenes, though only three take place in the "red room of pain" and those occur in the last 40 or so minutes of the film. I've never seen a film try so hard to be sexy, and fail so miserably. This has got to be the most non-sexy film I have seen. It doesn't help that we don't like these characters, and that we don't buy their relationship for a second.

Here I was thinking we were living in a progressive age, where gender roles and the way we think about women were beginning to change. Apparently I was wrong, how else could you explain this film's success at the box office and how millions of women are proclaiming that they love this. I honestly am dumbfounded, I guess we still have a long way to go and films like this certainly aren't helping things. I was one of the most vocal opponents to this film, I encouraged people to boycott it. Imagine my surprise to learn my stance was too soft, the appropriate response to films like this would be riots in the street. Everyone involved with the making of this film should be ashamed, and EL James should be cast out of society for making the awful book this movie was based on (and what's worse, we're likely to get three more films if not more, making this a Fifty Shades franchise. I expect each film to make untold amounts of money at the box office...depressingly).

Fifty Shades of Grey is a film that promotes gender roles and backwards thinking. It's depiction of BDSM and the relationship between a dom and a sub is both abhorrent and completely false. It's a film that treats women like they are objects, and acts like it's ok for men to beat them and say horribly degrading things to them (because according to the film deep down women actually love being treated like this.....GAG). The script is awful, the characters are reprehensible, and the scenes of sex are considerably not sexy. I suppose the only way to properly look at this film without losing one's mind is as a tale of the ultimate toxic relationship, and looked at as such it's got a surprisingly happy ending where the mouse learns to stand up for herself, say no, and leave the sadistic bastard although proceeding films are likely to fuck this up with her continually running back for more. In the end, Fifty Shades of Grey is so much worse than I thought it would be. It's an insulting, disgusting film That is both Sexist and Misogynist. It actually made me more sad and upset than it did angry. If you have so much as a brain cell to your name, you would stay far away from this film and it's sequels and would refuse to give it your hard earned dollar. Women deserve far better than this film and others like it.

0.5 STARS

SMALLS BUSTS A MOVE WITH KINGSMAN: THE SECRET SERVICE

Ladies and Gentlemen, it is with great pleasure that I proudly present the first great film of 2015.

Kingsman: The Secret Service follows Gary "Eggsy" Unwin (Taron Egerton), a street hoodlum with a heart of gold who was on his way to making a fine Marine until he flushed it all away to take care of his mom and baby sister. Fate comes a-knocking in the form of Galahad (Colin Firth), who whisks Eggsy away from his simple and unhappy life to begin training for recruitment in an age old spy agency known as The Kingsman. Eggsy's recruitment couldn't have come at a better time, as billionaire tech whiz Richmond Valentine (Samuel L. Jackson) is about to commence an evil plan to potentially save the Earth by doing away with most of the human population and Eggsy may be the only one able to stop him.

Colin Firth is clearly relishing his role here as one of the top Kingsman agents who acts as recruiter and close friend to Egerton's Eggsy.  Firth has his own share of cool action scenes, and one of them that he is the center of is easily one of the most memorable action scenes in years. He is a pretty great, memorable, and bad-ass character (watching him here, it's hard to believe that this man was to be the original voice for Paddington in that bear's newest film). Egerton himself is a fresh face and manages to impress as the hero of our action-adventure. Naturally he has many action scenes to his name and he shines in every one of them. Not only does Egerton potentially have a future career as an action star, he also makes for a likable hero and proves that he is a natural actor. He's definitely got the charm. Mark Strong plays a good guy for a change as The kinsman's tech wizard Merlin, and the super hot Sophie Cookson makes a good impression as fellow spy Roxy. It's also interesting that Mark Hamill makes a very brief appearance here as a British college professor.

Samuel L. Jackson plays the evil villain of our film, Richmond Valentine. Valentine is a lisping, violence-avoidant, hip, techy billionaire who has some very nasty plans up his sleeve for the human population of Earth. The day on which he plans to set his scheme in motion he has dubbed V-Day (like Valentine's Day, ironic considering what his Valentine's Day is to consist of). I relished getting to watch Jackson play against type in a very non-Sam Jackson type role. Every single scene he appears in he easily runs away with. Although he is clearly a very bad guy, I couldn't help but fall jn love with Richmond. Even when he's playing the ultimate non-bad-ass, Samuel Jackson is still all kinds of awesome and this is easily his best recent role, not to mention he easily disappears into his character.

The film is directed by Matthew Vaughn, who also directed Kick-Ass and X-Men: First Class. This guy has proven that he knows how to direct action films, and in his hands this film is all kinds of naughty, ultra-violent fun. The film itself also has that signature Vaughn Comic book shine and polish to it (I'd say the film actually looks a little too clean and polished honestly).  I would go so far as to say this is likely Vaughn's best film.

Kingsman is a hip new spy film, and it is a bit meta as it openly comments and plays with the way spy films of old worked and functioned. It also can act as a guide on how to be a gentleman, and uses The Knights of The Round Table as inspiration (characters are also codenamed to the characters in Arthurian legend: Michael Caine plays Arthur, Colin Firth plays Galahad, Mark Strong plays Merlin, and Jack Davenport plays Lancelot). The film itself has some of the most memorable action scenes in years, three of which are set to the tunes of Lynrd Skynrd's Free Bird, KC and The Sunshine Band's Give It Up, and a Pomp and Circumstance (The ending of the film is perfect as well, plus there is a scene that deals appropriately with Westboro Baptist). If that alone doesn't get you to sign up for this film, then there is no hope for you. That said, for myself Kingsman was exactly what I was looking for. It's a chaotic, ultra-violent, fun time at your local theater that only gets better as the minutes tick by.

5 STARS

BUG JUICE: THE FANTASTIC FOUR REBOOT AND DR. VICTOR VON DOOM

Hello, and welcome to another segment of Bug Juice!

For those not in the know, the new Fantastic Four reboot (or as the marketing is selling the film: Fant4stic) trailer has hit the web. I've had serious doubts about this film right from the get go, and while the new trailer does look interesting I still am not overly excited about this newest installment. For starters, I still feel that the characters are way too young. In Marvel comic lore, they are adults ranging from their 30's-50's but in the reboot they are considerably younger ranging in the mid-20's. However, that's not what disappoints me most about this reboot.

One of the defining aspects of the Fantastic Four is their nemesis, Dr. Victor Von Doom. Doom was an old colleague and friend of Dr. Reed Richards (aka Mr. Fantastic), who was horribly disfigured during the accident that gave the four their superpowers. Unlike Richards and his friends, Doom was not gifted with powers but was cursed with a mangled frame. Filled with rage, Doom used his superior intellect to become the supreme ruler of a small country called Latveria, as well as plotting various schemes to destroy Richards and crew. Defined by his flowing green cape and iron mask (which he uses to hide his disfigured face), Doom is my favorite Marvel villain....and the new reboot screws it up (Say what you will about the previous Fantastic Four films, but at least they got Doom right)!

From what I understand, in the reboot Doom is experienced in the web-o-sphere (and his name isn't even Doom, it's Victor Domashev). He is an expert programmer, and it sounds like he may be a blogger as well. How freaking lame! It would appear that he is not going to end up ruling a small country with an iron fist in the reboot (though I really hope they throw that aspect in somewhere in the film). The new trailer doesn't even feature any shots of Doom from what I can tell (though there is one shot of a mangled form crawling away from some wreckage that could easily be Doom).

I'm hoping they find some way to make Doom the bad-ass he always was and always will be, but for right now the words programmer and blogger suck all hope out of my being. The real Doom would be most displeased. I'll still probably see the film whenever it is released, and judge for myself.  For those curious, you can find the trailer HERE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_flR9_6msik (Once again, I think it looks interesting although it still doesn't fill me with optimism).

Till next time, You've just been BUGGED!

TOP 20 OF 2014

Yes, it is finally time for me to bid 2014 a fond farewell by taking a look back at what I consider to be THE BEST FILMS OF 2014. It took me quite some time to compile this list. I watched many movies, and tried to catch up on films I hadn't seen yet. Naturally, not all of your favorite films will be on this list (I bet a few are though). If you do not agree with my list, feel free to comment below and let me know your own list of best films. Before we get to the good stuff, let's explore some HONORABLE MENTIONS



Proxy- A fantastic, dark, disturbing film. It's almost Hitchcockian with the way it handles it's plot and proceedings. It's part mystery, and part intense psychological drama. The film enjoys slowly peeling back it's layers and playing with the audience, and what we know or think we know. All the actors and actresses do a pretty bang up job. Definitely one of the better made independent films, and one I would highly recommend given you can stomach this film's disturbing subject matter.


Big Bad Wolves- A surprisingly great film from Israel. It's sadistic, dark, and surprisingly jokey at times. It doesn't always go the way you think it would, and the film does play a few mind games with the audience and I guess it's a bit fun in that aspect (you are always guessing). While the ending isn't entirely satisfying, I still liked it.  The film is subtitled, but this is still one I would recommend. It is an expertly crafted film. Job well done Israel.


Cold In July- A film that continually morphs and changes right in front of your eyes. Michael C. Hall, Sam Shepard, and Don Johnson are superb in this southern fried Noir. I'm not going to tell you anything about the plot, because the less you know going in the better. The film is expertly directed by Jim Mickle, who seems to know how to craft perfectly structured scenes of suspense and tension. This is definitely one you would do well to check out if you are a fan of Noir, grit, and films that will take you on a journey.


Purge: Anarchy- Certainly not one of the best of the year, but damn was this film crazy and fun. Truly retarded in the best way possible.


A Walk Among The Tombstones- Liam Neeson's best film in a while. It's more of a film noir and a drama than anything else (not much violence here). Liam Neeson actually gets to act, and he portrays a fascinating character. I was surprised by how great this film was, and look forward to watching it again.


The Sacrament- AJ Bowen and Joe Swanberg are great as always as our two main protagonists, and Gene Jones is scary as our antagonist. It is a bit silly in some parts, but it's got one of the best endings to a handheld film I've seen (It's also easily the best ending to a Ti West film I've seen as well). I'm not a big fan of Ti West, but I guess this is probably the best film of his I've seen. The tension and suspense is always thick, plus our main characters are likable and it's easy to get invested in them and root for them.


Transformers: Age of Extinction- I can understand why most didn't like this film, but I personally really enjoyed it. I'm just glad someone made an almost 3 hour film of nothing but action, explosions, and robots fighting. It can get tiring, but I love that this is one of the ultimate action films. A real epic.



Boyhood: It's a cool film. It kind of just coasts along on it's fascinating concept. There's no real plot, or twists or turns (it's not even really a movie, maybe the word would be experimental film). We just sit and watch this one boy grow up all while he tries to figure out who he is. It's an interesting film, but it's incredibly long (exactly as long as Transformers 4) and it definitely drags a good deal. It's worth at least one watch if you're curious, and it's crazy to look at this kid at the end of the film and think that it's been the same actor since second one (we literally watch him grow up, pretty crazy). Boyhood is a unique film, I'm glad I got to watch it and it's certainly one of the better films of 2014 (although there are some films I can think of that are definitely better than this). I definitely liked it, I just didn't love it.


Inherent Vice- A film that I am still thinking about and pondering on. It's story is mesmerizing, it's characters endlessly watchable, and while the end isn't all that great it's the journey that counts here. This film touched me on a personal level, and I felt like I was in college again while I watched it. It's ultimately about one of the last of a dying breed as he wanders around a changing cultural landscape, lamenting the death of everything that was so great about America. A sad, but fun film. I've never had so much fun completely giving myself over to a film. A deeply rewarding experience.  I look forward to multiple repeat viewings


Oculus- One of the better horror films to come out of 2014. I loved how entangled you get into the plot, and how the film deftly mixes past and present together so that by the end you can't tell what is going on. With a perfectly crushing climax, and a fantastic story (plus Karen Gillan is great and hot as our main lead) I'd say Oculus is one to remember.






Ok, with honorable mentions out of the way, let's go on to THE TOP 20 FILMS OF 2014!


20. Starry Eyes- At it's heart, this film is a harsh commentary (and a condemnation) of an industry and a town that preys on young hopefuls with stars in their eyes (hence the title). Alexandra Essoe is beautiful, talented, and chilling here. She makes quite an impression, and her transformation scenes are handled quite well (They are really more of a metaphor than anything else, though what we are watching really is happening to her). Noah Segan puts on a superb supporting performance too. It's a bit disappointing that the end has to shoe horn in some slasher elements which I feel detracts from the film overall and just doesn't feel right. These parts don't gel with the film we were watching before, and I feel that this movie didn't need them. Ignoring those parts though, Starry Eyes is a smart, disturbing and engrossing watch that at times can feel like a product of the Hollywood of old. A great film. I also can't believe this was a kickstarter film, I never would have guessed that.


19.  The Gambler- Mark Whalberg's Jim Bennett is not a gambler, but a person who is unhappy with his life (he is also a literary professor at a college). He hates that he comes from wealth, that his mother is always looking out for him, and that most things were kind of just given to him. He wants to earn his life, and so chooses gambling as a way to lose all his money or commit suicide (whichever comes first). He borrows thousands from loan sharks, and does everything in his power to piss them off. It's not until he realizes that he's not just messing up his life, but the lives of people that he genuinely cares about that he is finally able to put on his big boy pants and set out to straighten things up. This is a real existential film about the pain of having everything you want, but not having to have worked to achieve it. We are not supposed to sympathize with Mark Whalberg here. That said, his quest to utterly destroy himself is an interesting one.  Whalberg does one of his better acting jobs here, and while his character isn't really all that likable he does look super cool in just about every scene he's in (even when he's getting the snot kicked out of him). John Goodman is easily the best part of this film as a loan shark who doubles as a father figure for Bennett that offers sage pieces of wisdom every now and then. Goodman owns every single scene he is in, and his monologues are pretty strong stuff. The Gambler has a strong script from William Monahan, great directing from Rupert Wyatt, and a fantastic soundtrack. This film is  pretty great and one of the rare intelligent films that doesn't want audiences to really get emotionally invested in the lead. I loved it.


18.  Stretch- One of the most enjoyable, batshit insane and crazy films I've seen. It's also really funny. Patrick Wilson, Chris Pine, and Ed Helms are perfect. It's the tale of a down on his luck limo driver nick named Stretch (Patrick Wilson) and the craziest night of his life, sparked by a crazed client (played to perfection by Chris Pine) who offers to give Stretch a tip in the amount that he needs to pay off the loan shark he is in debt to. There's a catchy, in order to earn the tip Stretch must do everything the client asks of him. Joe Carnahan directs this wild romp that was sadly dumped straight to dvd. This film deserved a better release, and I can only hope that it gets a good shelf life thanks to positive word of mouth. A real gem.


17.  The Guest- I LOVE THIS FILM!!! Dan Stevens is amazing and absolutely perfect here as a psychopath who sets out to help a family in his own special way. He is so damned likable and charming here (and a bit creepy at times too) that even though you know he is a psychopath you can't help but hope that you're wrong. This is really Steven's film, and I was surprised to find that I was completely on his side for the whole thing. His "David" is easily my personal favorite psychopath, and Dan Steven's performance is the main reason this film works as well as it does (also surprising that our "heroine" isn't nearly as likable as "David" is). I also like that the ending takes place at a Halloween themed event. While it's never fully explained what exactly is really going on here, the film is so much fun that you can't help but get whisked away in the thrill of it all (and the last act is indeed quite thrilling and exciting). The film also has a fantastic score/soundtrack and the cinematography is superb and very pretty. See it for Dan Stevens, the fantastic and seemingly simplistic plot (there is more going on under the surface here than there would appear to be though), and the thrilling and exciting action scenes. A top notch film, and a definite improvement over You're Next.


16. Edge of Tomorrow- It was so much fun getting to see Tom Cruise play against type for the first part of this film. I also loved getting to see him die again and again and again. This is a strong sci-fi film that plays like Groundhog Day meets Call of Duty, and it is probably the best video game film we're going to get for a while.


15. The Grand Budapest Hotel- I've never been a big Wes Anderson fan, but I sure did love this film. The film manages to be sad, smart, and hilarious in exactly the right doses as well as expertly telling it's many different stories. The sets are gorgeous, the acting from the leads and numerous bit roles are great, and the characters are all pretty memorable (especially Ralph Fiennes' Gustav M., who easily steals the show here). This is definitely one film worth checking out (though I would say if you are new to the films of Wes Anderson, this may not be the best place to start, familiarize yourself with this directors style first and then come back and watch this).


14.  The Imitation Game- A dry, but super informative film. It is very depressing near the end, but this is still an important story that is worth telling. Cumberbatch does not disappoint in the lead role. I can't wait to see what this guy does next.


13. Dawn of The Planet of The Apes- The film is filled with smarts, intelligence, action, and art. The vfx are also completely stunning. Andy Serkis as Ceaser is amazing as always, and the mo-cap and animation for the apes is just unreal....you really forget you are looking at animation. The action and scenes of war are also completely superb and thrilling. As far as the humans go, Jason Clarke was superb (easily going toe to toe with Andy Serkis in some scenes), Keri Russell is fantastic and smoking hot, and Gary Oldman is great as usual (He's not in the film much, and his role is not at all what you expect it to be). While this isn't exactly the war we were promised, it's still more than enough for now (can't wait for the third film which I expect to be called War of The Planet of The Apes). It's the blockbuster we need, and the one we deserve.


12. The LEGO Movie- One of the biggest surprises of 2014. This film was filled with imagination and wit. I walked in expecting a kids film and got so much more. From it's impressive visuals, to its smart and hilarious top notch script. It also has a sweet message at its core, and manages to shake up the usual hero's journey story a good deal. When have Lord and Miller ever disappointed, these guys seem like they just can't lose. Everything is indeed awesome.



11. Under The Skin- A spectacular feat of filmmaking. Challenging, poetic, hypnotic, haunting, beautiful, artistic, and maybe even unforgettable. The score immediately establishes itself as one of the best modern film scores, and the cinematography is otherworldly. Scarlett Johansson is sexy, beautiful, and scary as our main character: an alien sent to Earth to lure Earth males with promises of sex to their doom. Slowly, she finds herself growing more connected to humanity. If anything, Johannson's character is a lost, wandering cosmic child. Under The Skin is a tale about what it means to be human, and the human experience. It looks at humanity from an alien pov, and what it finds is fascinating, scary, and beautiful.  Oh yes, and Johannson has several tasteful and arty nude scenes. The way the film is done is sure to turn a few people off (it's got an art house vibe to it, and it's very indie), but Under The Skin is still one of the most unique, different, and satisfying film experiences you are likely to have in the modern day.


10. Birdman- A movie about broken people fighting against themselves and their flaws as they attempt to be better (or maybe a better word would be transcend), grappling with their own humanity and weaknesses along the way. Keaton, Stone, and Norton put on riveting, raw, real, honest performances as our leads. The camerawork and cinematography is pretty, unique, and at times surreal. It's a very different kind of film, and ultimately emerges as its own bizarre masterpiece.


9. Whiplash- The most tense film of 2014. J.K. Simmons puts on the performance of the year and is terrifying, brutal, and funny as Terrence Fletcher: The demon spawn of Chef Ramsey and Gny. Sgt. Hartman from Full Metal Jacket. Miles Teller puts on his best performance yet as the gifted Andrew Neyman, who completely destroys his life in his quest to be the best, encouraged and pushed over the edge by Fletcher. The film has some nice twists and turns, and a fantastic soundtrack. Whenever Teller or Simmons are on screen you can't tear your eyes away from them. Make no doubt about it, this is indeed one of the best films of 2014, and for vey good reason.


8. Captain America: The Winter Soldier- This was the film where Captain America finally became a bad-ass and one of my all time favorite Marvel heroes. The story is a smart spin on a 70's-esque government conspiracy plot mixed with a Marvel comic, and the way it ends changes the landscape of the entire Marvel Cinematic Universe. This film had some big balls. It's also clever, smart, thrilling, and even a bit funny. One of the best Marvel films, hands down.


7.  Guardians of The Galaxy- The happiest a film has made me all year. I've said plenty about this film by now, and I'm not sure what else I can really add. Come and get your love, if you haven't already.


6. The Babadook- The Best horror film of 2014. A terrifying, powerful, visceral horror film about people suffering with severe mental illness. It's horror where the monster is the illness. Both Essie Davis and Noah Wiseman put on terrific, terrifying, and real performances as mother and son, both of whom are linked by the same mental illness. This is one of the best modern horror films, even though the ending fell a bit flat (Loved how it went completely off the rails though). This is a strong, memorable film and one that is most definitely worth your time and money.



5. Snowpiercer- In 2014, Humanity's last ditch attempt to stop global warming tragically backfires, freezing Earth and most of humanity. Now, the remains of the human race live inside a train (named Snowpiercer) that traverses the globe with the poor confined to a life of poverty and hardship in the back, and the rich living the high life in the front. When Chris Evans'  Curtis plans a coup, things are shaken up for better and for worse. Snowpiercer is a high concept sci-fi actioner. The action scenes are good, but the real draw here is getting to explore Snowpiercer and the story itself. This is easily one of the best sci-fi films in recent years. It manages to be completely captivating, thrilling, and tense, not to mention it's sure to spark your imagination.


4. The Raid 2- The best action film this year. The actors did their own stunts and it's all impressively filmed. The Raid 2 is like taking a jumper cable to the heart, it's that thrilling.


3. Selma- A superb, emotionally exhausting film that effectively portrays the black civil rights movement by focusing on the events that occurred within Selma, Alabama. David Oyelowo is Martin Luther King Jr. and is complete perfection. In the film, MLK is not a super-being but is portrayed as a man with some flaws who struggles to balance his family life with his role as a leader. Despite his human weaknesses he is still able to overcome them and emerge as a hero.  The film has plenty of hard-hitting moments, and it really puts you through the wringer. The film also has great supporting performances by Tim Roth as Gov. George Wallace, Carmen Ejogo as Coretta Scott King (what a strong, inspiring character. Crazy to think she was last seen in The Purge Anarchy as the mother), Oprah Winfrey as Annie Lee Cooper, Tom Wilkonson as President Lyndon B. Johnson (who is not portrayed here as a bad guy but as a coward who chooses to remain neutral in the conflict and in doing so causes more harm), Giovanni Ribisi as Lee White, Dylan Baker as J. Edgar Hoover, Cuba Gooding Jr. as Fred Gray, and Martin Sheen as Frank Minis Johnson. This is a heartbreaking, and angering film. It's hard to believe we ever lived in a time where these kinds of terrible things happened and were allowed and even encouraged. It's a stark reminder of some of the USA's dark history, and that even though we have come so far the battle is still not over. An absolute must-see!


2.Gone Girl- A film that is not only a witty commentary on the media culture we live in, but also a harsh and cynical look at relationships, love and marriage. It's got fantastic performances by Carrie Coons, Ben Affleck, Tyler Perry, and Rosamund Pike.  Gone Girl is a vastly entertaining dreamy suburban nightmare that will make you think and will continue to haunt you long after the end credits have rolled. This is Fincher at his best.


1. Nightcrawler- Jake Gyllenhaal's oily Louis Bloom is the character of the year. He represents not just capitalism, but pure and unstoppable potential. The film itself is a seething condemnation of the media culture we currently live in. A culture that encourages psychopaths like Louis Bloom to keep doing their sick thing, and whats worse even rewards them for their behavior. It;s set in a terrifying world that is scary because it is all too real. A fascinating  film that is worth multiple viewings.




So there you have it, my TOP 20 FILMS OF 2014. I had a great year, and I sure hope you did too. It is my sincere hope that you had just as much fun reading this list as I did compiling it. Till next time, here's to a great 2015!