Hello friends, and welcome to Oscar season. This year's race looks like it's going to be a good one for a change. Let's take a look at my predictions.
BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY
The Big Sick
Get Out
Lady Bird
The Shape of Water
Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri
This race, for myself, comes down to Get Out and Three Billboards. Both are superb screenplays. My favorite would be Get Out, and I would be ecstatic if it won. That said, I think The Academy will likely choose Three Billboards (It's the obvious choice).
BEST ADAPTED SCREENPLAY
Call Me By Your Name
The Disaster Artist
Logan
Molly's Game
Mudbound
I'm so happy Logan edged into this category, and it would be my pick. I think The Academy will go with Call Me By Your Name though.
VISUAL EFFECTS
Blade Runner: 2049
Guardians of The Galaxy Vol. 2
Kong: Skull Island
Star Wars: The Last Jedi
War For The Planet of The Apes
All great choices and worthy nominees. My pick would be Blade Runner: 2049, The Academy's will likely be War For The Planet of The Apes (It would be nice if they switched things up a bit though).
SOUND MIXING AND EDITING
Blade Runner: 2049
Baby Driver
Dunkirk
The Shape of Water
Star Wars: The Last Jedi
I rolled these two categories into one. I would pick Baby Driver, and I think The Academy will too.
PRODUCTION DESIGN
Beauty and The Beast
Blade Runner: 2049
Darkest Hour
Dunkirk
The Shape of Water
My pick would be Blade Runner: 2049, I think The Academy will choose The Shape of Water.
ORIGINAL SONG
Mighty River- Mudbound
Mystery of Love- Call Me By Your Name
Stand Up For Something- Marshall
Remember Me- Coco
This Is Me- The Greatest Showman
Let me just say I'm SO HAPPY Beauty and The Beast didn't make it into this category. My pick is This Is Me, and it should be The Academy's too. The only reason they would choose something else (say, Mystery of Love) would be because of the backlash against Greatest Showman due to P.T. Barnum's circus' history of animal abuse and the inaccuracies of the film.
ORIGINAL SCORE
Dunkirk
Phantom Thread
The Shape of Water
Star Wars: The Last Jedi
Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri
My pick would be Star Wars: The Last Jedi, The Academy's will likely be either Phantom Thread or Dunkirk (I'll give the edge to Phantom Thread).
MAKEUP AND HAIRSTYLING
Darkest Hour
Victoria and Abdul
Wonder
My pick and The Academy's will be Darkest Hour. A shoo-in.
FILM EDITING
Baby Driver
Dunkirk
I, Tonya
The Shape of Water
Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri
My pick would be Baby Driver, I think it will be The Academy's too.
DIRECTING
Paul Thomas Anderson- Phantom Thread
Greta Gerwig- Lady Bird
Guillermo Del Toro- The Shape of Water
Christopher Nolan-Dunkirk
Jordan Peele- Get Out
My pick would be Jordan Peele, and it should be The Academy's too. That said, if they went with Guillermo or Gerwig I wouldn't be surprised (Though, let's be honest...Peele really is the best out of everyone in this category).
COSTUME DESIGN
Beauty and The Beast
Darkest Hour
Phantom Thread
The Shape of Water
Victoria and Abdul
My pick would be Beauty and The Beast, The Academy's will likely be the same.
CINEMATOGRAPHY
Blade Runner: 2049
Darkest Hour
Dunkirk
The Shape of Water
Mudbound
My Pick would be Blade Runner: 2049, The Academy's could be Dunkirk. I'm disappointed A Cure For Wellness and Last Jedi weren't nominated.
BEST ANIMATED FILM
Coco
The Boss Baby
Loving Vincent
Coco
Ferdinand
I Haven't seen any of these, so I don't have a pick. The Academy will choose Coco.
ACTRESS IN A SUPPORTING ROLE
Mary J. Blige- Mudbound
Allison Janney- I, Tonya
Lesley Mannville- Phantom Thread
Laurie Metcalfe- Lady Bird
Octavia Spencer- The Shape of Water
My pick would be Lesley Mannville, The Academy's will be the same.
ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE
Willem Dafoe- The Florida Project
Sam Rockwell- Three Billboards Outside Ebbing Missouri
Richard Jenkins- The Shape of Water
Christopher Plummer- All The Money In The World
Woody Harrelson- Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri
My Pick and The Academy's will be Sam Rockwell. Willem Dafoe was perfect in Florida Project, but this one belongs to Rockwell.
BEST ACTRESS IN A LEADING ROLE
Sally Hawkins- The Shape of Water
Frances McDormand- Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri
Margot Robbie- I, Tonya
Saorise Ronan- Lady Bird
Meryl Streep- The Post
My Pick and The Academy's will be Frances McDormand. This is her award to lose.
BEST ACTOR IN A LEADING ROLE
Gary Oldman- Darkest Hour
Timothee Chalamet- Call Me By Your Name
Daniel Day-Lewis - Phantom Thread
Daniel Kaluuya- Get Out
Denzel Washington- Roman J. Israel, Esq.
My pick and The Academy's will be Gary Oldman. Kaluuya is great, but if he wins it will be due to the demand for equal representation. I'm also disappointed Mark Hamill wasn't at least nominated.
BEST PICTURE
Get Out
The Shape of Water
Darkest Hour
Dunkirk
Lady Bird
Phantom Thread
The Post
Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri
Dunkirk
My pick would be Get Out, The Academy's should be Three Billboards (If they choose Shape of ater I would be deeply puzzled).
So, there you have it. My Oscar picks. Hope you enjoyed my thoughts. Till next time, I'll see you all on Oscar Sunday! PEACE OUT!
Wednesday, January 24, 2018
Tuesday, January 23, 2018
BEST FILMS OF 2017
That's right, for once I'm actually getting this list out before the end of January! 2017 ended up being a damn good year for film (as can be evidenced by an abnormally large honorable mentions list). Let's jump right into it, starting with honorable mentions.
HONORABLE MENTIONS
John Wick: Chapter 2- A sequel that (in my opinion) was far superior to the original. The film hits the ground running, immediately wrapping up the first John Wick with John finally regaining his beloved car. It doesn't take long before one of his former buddies comes calling with a deadly request that threatens to ignite a war. Only 20-30 minutes takes place in Italy, and that setting doesn't play as large of a role as I expected it too (it's more so just the location for the inciting incident). Most of this film is John Wick vs. all of NYC, and this outing seems to set up a third installment where it will be John Wick vs. everyone but this time, with no help. Every action scene in this film is fantastic. The first film had gorgeous, unique cinematography and John Wick 2 continues this tradition (like several fights that occur inside a lengthy art exhibit that involves a lot of mirrors). This outing isn't as personal for John Wick, but I dare say I enjoyed this sequel significantly more than I did the first film. I sat in the theater in a state of jaw-dropped stupor for most of the film. John Wick 2 does slow down a little bit at times, it's not exactly non-stop but there is plenty of action and all of it is thrilling. This is a sequel that feels natural and organic to what we saw before, and it delves even deeper into the hidden world of the hitmen/assassins that we saw in the first film. John Wick 2 is a success on every level, and I eagerly await the third installment. Let's hope they continue to blow our minds.
Guardians of The Galaxy Vol 2- Some of the humor doesn't always land (though when it does it is always hilariously funny), The film itself doesn't always flow (There are parts where it feels like we are watching two different movies), there's some clear expository dialogue at points, it spells out many of its messages (even when they really don't need to be spelled out), and it tries a little too hard to give every character an arc. Chris Pratt is fantastic as usual, Drax is as dumb and funny as always, and Kurt Russel is stellar as Ego. The character that easily steals the whole film is Baby Groot. he is completely adorable, acting much like a kid would. I am Baby Groot. The plot is stronger, and it's got one of the MCU's best villains to date. The songs are awesome and result in some serious fist-bumping moments (including the opening scene set to Mr. Blue Sky by ELO, and a climactic scene that utilizes The Chain by Fleetwood Mac). The camera is often handled in a loving way, and the film itself is always a visual marvel. I loved Guardians of The Galaxy 2. It's definitely a summer blockbuster. It feels gigantic, but at it's heart it's really a tale about a man meeting his father for the first time. I'll say it's not quite as great as the first film was, but Guardians Vol. 2 still rocks. It makes for a welcome and memorable sequel. I'll also give it credit for turning me into a blubbering mess upon a second viewing.
Jumanji: Welcome To The Jungle- Another sequel that works better than it has any right to in large part by lightly playing with video game tropes, being an inverse of the classic original film, and still being tons of awesome, hilarious fun. Definitely one of the best surprises of 2017.
Kong: Skull Island- Kong: Skull Island is a fairly solid film. It attempts to give most of its character some form of backstory (even if most of it is minimal). My favorite characters were Tom Hiddleston's James Conrad (who is a real bad-ass with a small backstory that makes that believable), John C. Reilly's Hank Marlow (He gets the most character development out of everyone and just about runs away with the entire film. He plays a "time-traveler": a WW2 era pilot that crash landed on Skull Island during the 40's), Thomas Mann's Slivko (Easily his best role to date, he's super likable), and John Goodman's Bill Randa. Samuel L. Jackson makes for a good villain with a believable (and sympathetic) motivation, and Brie Larson is very pretty (She gets the blunt end of the stick backstory-wise, and is pretty much there just to look attractive. A waste of a damn fine actress). The film itself is easily the most stunning, gorgeous big-budget blockbuster I've seen in a while. Most of the shots and locations are exquisite. Larry Fong was in charge of cinematography and Richard Pearson - editing, both of which are excellent here. Skull Island is a lush tropical paradise/hell, and the monsters that inhabit it are impressive (Some are nightmarish, others are beautiful). Kong himself has never looked better (or bigger, the sheer size of him....MY GOD.). The action scenes are all pretty fantastic, but nothing tops the initial helicopter Kong attack. It does try to insert some humor into the proceedings, most of which falls flat. There are a few jokes that work though. The setting/time period is pretty inspired. The film takes place in 1973 during the Vietnam War and the soundtrack, costumes/outfits, and attitudes are inspired by that era (I wasn't as crazy about the soundtrack as others are though). Kong: Skull Island is an inspired re-imagining of the Kong mythos, however it is definitely more interested with impressive visuals than character or story. If you're looking for a truly great film, you won't get that here. It is a highly entertaining, fun flick that is fairly well made (on the technical and directing side, at least. Jordan Vogt-Roberts is in charge of directing duties). It also sets up a larger universe (which is unneeded IMO). I enjoyed getting to spend some quality time with Kong (He appears more in this film than Godzilla did in his solo outing) and getting to explore this version of Skull Island (The creature design really is pretty nifty). If you're looking for a fun, visually impressive adventure and not much else, I could recommend Kong: Skull Island. It is one cool film. Kong is king once again.
The Lost City of Z- A real treat in theaters. Right from the amazing opening which completely immerses the audience in the amazon via a dark screen and top notch sound I was hooked. Charlie Hunnam is at his best here as obsessed 1920s explorer Percy Fawcett, who is determined to discover the fabled Lost City of Z. His quest just may be his undoing. The parts in civilization work due to some modern ideals and values Percy fights for, but everyone came here for the exploration bits and every time Percy isn't on one of his quests you can't help but shift anxiously, eager for the next one of these parts. An all around great film.
The Big Sick- The first act drags like nobodies business as there is an absence of plot and forward momentum, and it feel like it didn't need to be 2 hours plus. That said, the 2nd and 3rd acts work really well for the most part and great performances by Zoe Kazan, Kumail Nanjiani, Ray Romano and Holly Hunter help keep you invested. It's a sweet romantic comedy that is not only a true story, but is written by the two real life lovers as well.
War For The Planet of The Apes- Another visually impressive installment that brings a close to the Caesar trilogy in an emotionally satisfying way. Woody Harrelson and Andy Serkis are superb, and the first act is (in my opinion) the strongest part of the film. Once we reach the prison camp, things start to slide downhill a bit and some of the ending was predictable. A great film, but not quite as great as Dawn of Apes.
Mother!- A fun, disorienting and confusing experience in the theater bolstered by a fantastic performance by Jennifer Lawrence. Too bad it all ends up being Aronofsky's interpretation of The Bible. Can't imagine it plays as well at home as it does in theaters.
Better Watch Out- An exploration of the many forms of toxic masculinity dressed up as a Christmas film that pretends to be a home invasion thriller (for the first act). Yeah, this film is pretty damned great. Olivia DeJonge and Levi Miller keep us watching as the damsel-in-distress and her obsessed psychotic killer who just happens to be a hormonal 12 year old boy. A delightfully sick, twisted and fun film that has some depth and meaning to it.
Lady Bird- A coming-of-age film told from the perspective of a high school girl. Yes, it's all been done before but Saoirse Ronan's performance and Greta Gerwig's direction and script help elevate things. There should be plenty here that both guys and gals can relate to. A great film that is worth a watch.
The Disaster Artist- A film that I felt was overrated. It was quite funny, James Franco and Dave Franco were great (as was Seth Rogen in another one of his best performances), and it's cool to see the making of one of the worst films ever. That said, I just wasn't wow'd by it. If you are a fan of the Francos or The Room, it's probably worth a watch.
Colossal- Another exploration of toxic masculinity, this time by delving into the "Nice Guy" character. It's also a wacky, weird monster movie. Anne Hathaway is great, but it's Jason Sudeikis that steals the show as the villain who starts out as someone who appears to be genuinely cool and nice, but is slowly revealed to be much scarier. Yes, Sudeikis is scary and threatening here. Easily his most adult performance to date.
Brawl in Cell Block 99- A fun throwback to gritty, ultra-violent grindhouse prison films. This is one of Vince Vaughn's best roles as he plays an imposing, scary good guy who has a genuinely warm heart at his core but is unafraid to bash skulls to protect the ones he loves. The first act drags a bit, but once Vaughn starts fighting, the film never lets up.
See, I told you that the honorable mentions list this year was abnormally large. Anyways, enough with the appetizers, ON TO THE MAIN COURSE!
THE 21 BEST FILMS OF 2017
21. Wonder Woman- Finally, a strong, empowered female super-hero who kicks ass! Gal Gadot is not only gorgeous, she completely owns the role of Wonder Woman. In her hands, Wonder Woman is a niaeve but strong character who genuinely believes in the best in others and the world. In this way, her naivete is almost kind of one of her strengths as well. Wonder Woman is not the best super-hero film of 2017, but it is the rare super-hero film from DC that is actually very good, bordering on great. It's easily DC's best film since The Dark Knight.
20. Phantom Thread- A film that portrays a very different kind of romance. Daniel Day-Lewis, Vicky Krieps and Lesley Manville are all superb, the score is exquisite, and the direction is expertly done. The final line of dialogue is perfection as well. A carefully made, delightfully sick film.
19. The Shape of Water- Sally Hawkins, Doug Jones, Richard Jenkins, Michael Shannon, and Michael Stuhlbarg are all great. The film is surprisingly earnest, cute, sincere, and sweet,. It's over-flowing with nostalgia, not only is it set in a fantasized version of the 60's but some of our protagonists pine for a bygone era as well (not to mention our heroine lives above a movie palace). The Shape of Water is clearly meant to be Guillermo Del Toro's version of a sequel to The Creature From The Black Lagoon, and as such it kind of works (It's also a 2 hr film, but moves at a good pace and never really drags, doesn't really feel like a 2 hr film. Plus, Hawkins gets butt-ass naked quite a bit in the film). The Creature here (I refer to him as Gill), is a kinder, gentler version of The Creature from the original film....which is to say he's the creature really in appearance only. That aside, I really dug this film and it's message about tolerance, acceptance, love, and learning not to judge others. For me, this ranks right up there with Pan's Labyrinth.
11. Blade Runner: 2049- A film that immerses us in a fantastic, visually gorgeous, bleak future world. Ryan Gosling, Ana de Armas and Harrison Ford are superb. The plot and the mystery at its core are pretty damn good too. Yes, it's lengthy but I found Blade Runner: 2049 to be a rewarding, rich experience. It's also one of the best sequels in film.
HONORABLE MENTIONS
John Wick: Chapter 2- A sequel that (in my opinion) was far superior to the original. The film hits the ground running, immediately wrapping up the first John Wick with John finally regaining his beloved car. It doesn't take long before one of his former buddies comes calling with a deadly request that threatens to ignite a war. Only 20-30 minutes takes place in Italy, and that setting doesn't play as large of a role as I expected it too (it's more so just the location for the inciting incident). Most of this film is John Wick vs. all of NYC, and this outing seems to set up a third installment where it will be John Wick vs. everyone but this time, with no help. Every action scene in this film is fantastic. The first film had gorgeous, unique cinematography and John Wick 2 continues this tradition (like several fights that occur inside a lengthy art exhibit that involves a lot of mirrors). This outing isn't as personal for John Wick, but I dare say I enjoyed this sequel significantly more than I did the first film. I sat in the theater in a state of jaw-dropped stupor for most of the film. John Wick 2 does slow down a little bit at times, it's not exactly non-stop but there is plenty of action and all of it is thrilling. This is a sequel that feels natural and organic to what we saw before, and it delves even deeper into the hidden world of the hitmen/assassins that we saw in the first film. John Wick 2 is a success on every level, and I eagerly await the third installment. Let's hope they continue to blow our minds.
Guardians of The Galaxy Vol 2- Some of the humor doesn't always land (though when it does it is always hilariously funny), The film itself doesn't always flow (There are parts where it feels like we are watching two different movies), there's some clear expository dialogue at points, it spells out many of its messages (even when they really don't need to be spelled out), and it tries a little too hard to give every character an arc. Chris Pratt is fantastic as usual, Drax is as dumb and funny as always, and Kurt Russel is stellar as Ego. The character that easily steals the whole film is Baby Groot. he is completely adorable, acting much like a kid would. I am Baby Groot. The plot is stronger, and it's got one of the MCU's best villains to date. The songs are awesome and result in some serious fist-bumping moments (including the opening scene set to Mr. Blue Sky by ELO, and a climactic scene that utilizes The Chain by Fleetwood Mac). The camera is often handled in a loving way, and the film itself is always a visual marvel. I loved Guardians of The Galaxy 2. It's definitely a summer blockbuster. It feels gigantic, but at it's heart it's really a tale about a man meeting his father for the first time. I'll say it's not quite as great as the first film was, but Guardians Vol. 2 still rocks. It makes for a welcome and memorable sequel. I'll also give it credit for turning me into a blubbering mess upon a second viewing.
Jumanji: Welcome To The Jungle- Another sequel that works better than it has any right to in large part by lightly playing with video game tropes, being an inverse of the classic original film, and still being tons of awesome, hilarious fun. Definitely one of the best surprises of 2017.
Kong: Skull Island- Kong: Skull Island is a fairly solid film. It attempts to give most of its character some form of backstory (even if most of it is minimal). My favorite characters were Tom Hiddleston's James Conrad (who is a real bad-ass with a small backstory that makes that believable), John C. Reilly's Hank Marlow (He gets the most character development out of everyone and just about runs away with the entire film. He plays a "time-traveler": a WW2 era pilot that crash landed on Skull Island during the 40's), Thomas Mann's Slivko (Easily his best role to date, he's super likable), and John Goodman's Bill Randa. Samuel L. Jackson makes for a good villain with a believable (and sympathetic) motivation, and Brie Larson is very pretty (She gets the blunt end of the stick backstory-wise, and is pretty much there just to look attractive. A waste of a damn fine actress). The film itself is easily the most stunning, gorgeous big-budget blockbuster I've seen in a while. Most of the shots and locations are exquisite. Larry Fong was in charge of cinematography and Richard Pearson - editing, both of which are excellent here. Skull Island is a lush tropical paradise/hell, and the monsters that inhabit it are impressive (Some are nightmarish, others are beautiful). Kong himself has never looked better (or bigger, the sheer size of him....MY GOD.). The action scenes are all pretty fantastic, but nothing tops the initial helicopter Kong attack. It does try to insert some humor into the proceedings, most of which falls flat. There are a few jokes that work though. The setting/time period is pretty inspired. The film takes place in 1973 during the Vietnam War and the soundtrack, costumes/outfits, and attitudes are inspired by that era (I wasn't as crazy about the soundtrack as others are though). Kong: Skull Island is an inspired re-imagining of the Kong mythos, however it is definitely more interested with impressive visuals than character or story. If you're looking for a truly great film, you won't get that here. It is a highly entertaining, fun flick that is fairly well made (on the technical and directing side, at least. Jordan Vogt-Roberts is in charge of directing duties). It also sets up a larger universe (which is unneeded IMO). I enjoyed getting to spend some quality time with Kong (He appears more in this film than Godzilla did in his solo outing) and getting to explore this version of Skull Island (The creature design really is pretty nifty). If you're looking for a fun, visually impressive adventure and not much else, I could recommend Kong: Skull Island. It is one cool film. Kong is king once again.
The Lost City of Z- A real treat in theaters. Right from the amazing opening which completely immerses the audience in the amazon via a dark screen and top notch sound I was hooked. Charlie Hunnam is at his best here as obsessed 1920s explorer Percy Fawcett, who is determined to discover the fabled Lost City of Z. His quest just may be his undoing. The parts in civilization work due to some modern ideals and values Percy fights for, but everyone came here for the exploration bits and every time Percy isn't on one of his quests you can't help but shift anxiously, eager for the next one of these parts. An all around great film.
The Big Sick- The first act drags like nobodies business as there is an absence of plot and forward momentum, and it feel like it didn't need to be 2 hours plus. That said, the 2nd and 3rd acts work really well for the most part and great performances by Zoe Kazan, Kumail Nanjiani, Ray Romano and Holly Hunter help keep you invested. It's a sweet romantic comedy that is not only a true story, but is written by the two real life lovers as well.
War For The Planet of The Apes- Another visually impressive installment that brings a close to the Caesar trilogy in an emotionally satisfying way. Woody Harrelson and Andy Serkis are superb, and the first act is (in my opinion) the strongest part of the film. Once we reach the prison camp, things start to slide downhill a bit and some of the ending was predictable. A great film, but not quite as great as Dawn of Apes.
Mother!- A fun, disorienting and confusing experience in the theater bolstered by a fantastic performance by Jennifer Lawrence. Too bad it all ends up being Aronofsky's interpretation of The Bible. Can't imagine it plays as well at home as it does in theaters.
Better Watch Out- An exploration of the many forms of toxic masculinity dressed up as a Christmas film that pretends to be a home invasion thriller (for the first act). Yeah, this film is pretty damned great. Olivia DeJonge and Levi Miller keep us watching as the damsel-in-distress and her obsessed psychotic killer who just happens to be a hormonal 12 year old boy. A delightfully sick, twisted and fun film that has some depth and meaning to it.
Lady Bird- A coming-of-age film told from the perspective of a high school girl. Yes, it's all been done before but Saoirse Ronan's performance and Greta Gerwig's direction and script help elevate things. There should be plenty here that both guys and gals can relate to. A great film that is worth a watch.
The Disaster Artist- A film that I felt was overrated. It was quite funny, James Franco and Dave Franco were great (as was Seth Rogen in another one of his best performances), and it's cool to see the making of one of the worst films ever. That said, I just wasn't wow'd by it. If you are a fan of the Francos or The Room, it's probably worth a watch.
Colossal- Another exploration of toxic masculinity, this time by delving into the "Nice Guy" character. It's also a wacky, weird monster movie. Anne Hathaway is great, but it's Jason Sudeikis that steals the show as the villain who starts out as someone who appears to be genuinely cool and nice, but is slowly revealed to be much scarier. Yes, Sudeikis is scary and threatening here. Easily his most adult performance to date.
Brawl in Cell Block 99- A fun throwback to gritty, ultra-violent grindhouse prison films. This is one of Vince Vaughn's best roles as he plays an imposing, scary good guy who has a genuinely warm heart at his core but is unafraid to bash skulls to protect the ones he loves. The first act drags a bit, but once Vaughn starts fighting, the film never lets up.
See, I told you that the honorable mentions list this year was abnormally large. Anyways, enough with the appetizers, ON TO THE MAIN COURSE!
THE 21 BEST FILMS OF 2017
21. Wonder Woman- Finally, a strong, empowered female super-hero who kicks ass! Gal Gadot is not only gorgeous, she completely owns the role of Wonder Woman. In her hands, Wonder Woman is a niaeve but strong character who genuinely believes in the best in others and the world. In this way, her naivete is almost kind of one of her strengths as well. Wonder Woman is not the best super-hero film of 2017, but it is the rare super-hero film from DC that is actually very good, bordering on great. It's easily DC's best film since The Dark Knight.
20. Phantom Thread- A film that portrays a very different kind of romance. Daniel Day-Lewis, Vicky Krieps and Lesley Manville are all superb, the score is exquisite, and the direction is expertly done. The final line of dialogue is perfection as well. A carefully made, delightfully sick film.
19. The Shape of Water- Sally Hawkins, Doug Jones, Richard Jenkins, Michael Shannon, and Michael Stuhlbarg are all great. The film is surprisingly earnest, cute, sincere, and sweet,. It's over-flowing with nostalgia, not only is it set in a fantasized version of the 60's but some of our protagonists pine for a bygone era as well (not to mention our heroine lives above a movie palace). The Shape of Water is clearly meant to be Guillermo Del Toro's version of a sequel to The Creature From The Black Lagoon, and as such it kind of works (It's also a 2 hr film, but moves at a good pace and never really drags, doesn't really feel like a 2 hr film. Plus, Hawkins gets butt-ass naked quite a bit in the film). The Creature here (I refer to him as Gill), is a kinder, gentler version of The Creature from the original film....which is to say he's the creature really in appearance only. That aside, I really dug this film and it's message about tolerance, acceptance, love, and learning not to judge others. For me, this ranks right up there with Pan's Labyrinth.
18. Thor: Ragnarok- Damn was it a good year for females in super-hero films! Thor: Ragnarok gave us two strong female characters in Valkyrie and Hela (more on them in a little bit). This is the closest a Marvel film has come to feeling like a theme park ride. The 3D works perfectly, with plenty of screen penetrating moments and some gorgeous depth. I know the 3D was post-converted, but the whole film feels like it was made with 3D in mind. It's definitely the best way to see it. The film is beautiful, wacky, and super colorful (mainly the portions on Sakaar). Jeff Goldblum as The Grandmaster (the ruler of Sakaar. A cruel, wacky, power-hungry madman) isn't in the film much, and he doesn't emote a whole lot, but he is tons of fun. Definitely one of the more memorable Marvel villains. I also really dig that we get two strong, sexy female leads: Cate Blanchett as Hela and Tessa Thompson as Valkyrie (Yay for equality!). Chris Hemsworth does his usual bang-up job as Thor, and Tom Hiddleston is fantastic as Loki (Man, I missed him). Mark Ruffalo is also great as Banner/Hulk. The film is always gorgeously shot (cinematography by Javier Aguirresarobe), and the direction by Taika Waititi is strong and fun. I also love the answer to Thor and Loki's Hela problem. All that said though, the film does drag occasionally. Thor: Ragnarok is colorful, bright, wacky, goofy , funny, and tons of fun. I'd say if you have the chance to see it in IMAX 3D, do so as I can only imagine how stunning this film would look on the IMAX screen. This is definitely the best Thor film.
17. It- 2017 was a damn good year for Stephen King. He got quite a few great adaptations of his work, the greatest (in my opinion) being his horror epic It. This first in a two-parter (sequel set to be released 2019. Can't wait to see who they will cast as the adult version of the Losers Club) was exactly what I was hoping it to be. Bill Skarsgard's Pennywise is easily a new horror icon, and Finn Wolfhard shows he is more than just that kid from Stranager Things. Scary, funny, and nostalgic, It is a film about the start of growing up and out of youth, the magical bonds of friendship, first love, and being forced to face you fears. It also just so happens to feature a murderous clown.
16. Dunkirk- A PG-13 war film that is actually pretty awesome? Who would have known?! More driven by action than by character or plot (this doesn't really hurt the film all that much though). There is no real bloodshed, but we still feel the consequences of the warfare and attacks (It's violent, but not bloody). There is a thumping score that is persistent and almost constant, and that adds to the suspense and tension (It really drives and carries the film). It really does feel like you are stuck on Dunkirk with the trapped soldiers. The editing (by Lee Smith) is pretty great. There is little character or character development, but despite this some actors manage to make an impression (Fionn Whitehead as the main young soldier we follow, Mark Rylance as a captain of one of the civilian vessels sent to rescue the soldiers, and Tom Hardy as the main fighter pilot who is combating the germans. I loved that most of the cast was unknowns. It really is more of an ensemble piece.). The film also plays with time in interesting ways. Definitely the most suspenseful and tension filled film I've seen in theaters in 2017. The sound design and score (Score by Hans Zimmer, definitely his best score in a while) is also super-impressive as it at times blends into the sound of gunfire and battle. The cinematography is pretty great as well. Overall, quite an impressive film that is certainly best experienced in a theater with a good sound system.
15. The Florida Project- A film that shows the not-so glamorous side of Orlando. It feels super realistic (to the point where it doesn't feel scripted). In The Florida Project, we follow the life of 6 yr old Moonee (Brooklynn Prince) who is being raised (barely) by her white trash piece-of-shit mother (Halley, played by Bria Vinaite). They live in a 3rd rate motel called The Magic Castle, managed by stern but kind Bobby (Willem Dafoe). The film is shot mainly from Moonee's point of view, and it consists mostly of her home life and her adventures around the area outside of Disney with her friends. Brooklynn Prince and Bria Vinaite put on very natural and real performances (Brooklyn is cute and adorable as the 6yr old trouble-making vandal, and Vinaite succeeds at making you hate the ever-loving shit out of her character). For my money, the real standout is Willem Dafoe as Bobby, the only responsible "Adult" character in the film. His performance is fantastic and subtle (He quietly shows that he does care a lot about Moonie and how she is being raised). The only real problem with the film is it's abrupt ending that features a sudden tonal shift that left me stunned and confused (I kind of get what writer/director/editor Sean Baker was going for, but it ends up hurting the film in my opinion). The Florida Project is not a perfect film. Most of its characters aren't all that likable (except for Willem Dafoe's Bobby), not much really happens in it, and there's that abrupt ending I mentioned above. That said, it is still pretty superb when all is said and done. It sheds an honest light at how some people live (and does so without judgement, the judging is left to the audience) and I'd say it should be commended for that. It's actually a very sad film when you sit down and think about it. The Florida Project is definitely one of the best films of 2017. A24 does it again!
14. The Killing of A Sacred Deer- Another superb film from A24! Is it no wonder that I love the hell out of this production company?! This is exactly the kind film I would have expected the director of The Lobster to make next. What a perfect follow-up. The script and language is precise, specific, blunt, stilted and awkward (Wasn't crazy about the score though). The performances are strong all around (especially Colin Farrell, Barry Keoghan, and Raffey Cassidy). I went into this film completely blind, and I'll say that's the best way to see this work of art. It's a weird karmic horror film (and that's all I'll say about it). Like the Lobster before it, I'd say Yorgos still hasn't quite perfected his endings but the overall experience of Sacred Deer was very satisfying and worthwhile. Yorgos Lanthimos continues to make weird films full of poignant, timely themes that surprisingly work extremely well. Definitely worth a watch.
13. Star Wars: The Last Jedi- Suck it, haters! The latest in the new Star Wars trilogy takes the franchise in bold, new, unexpected directions. It opens up the world of Star Wars to newcomers, and actually works hard to make this beloved franchise more inclusive. Not only is the narrative and most of the character arcs rich and satisfying, it's also easily the more visually stunning Star Wars film to date. Fanboys are upset because they didn't get exactly what they wanted, and that the film didn't go the routes they expected it to. Tough shit. Rian Johnson's job wasn't to cater to you, it was to make a superb new entry that advanced and furthered the plot and characters of this new trilogy while enriching the universe of Star Wars as well. I feel truly sorry for anyone who didn't get any joy out of this film. 2017 was the year fandom turned toxic, and Star Wars is proof of this as the fans almost single-handedly destroyed something they love and hold dear. Star Wars: The Last Jedi is a phenomenal, brave, beautiful film. Thank you, Rian Johnson.
12. Brigsby Bear- A film about fandom, the love of film, and friendship. It was quite touching to watch a young man discover the beauty of the world for the first time, to decide to make his own movie based on a children's tv show only he ever saw, and to share his love of said tv show with the world and his new friends (who go on to help him make his movie). A beautiful film that left me grinning from ear to ear.
11. Blade Runner: 2049- A film that immerses us in a fantastic, visually gorgeous, bleak future world. Ryan Gosling, Ana de Armas and Harrison Ford are superb. The plot and the mystery at its core are pretty damn good too. Yes, it's lengthy but I found Blade Runner: 2049 to be a rewarding, rich experience. It's also one of the best sequels in film.
10. Call Me By Your Name- A slow, long, challenging, spellbinding and captivating film. It's 1983 and 17 year old Elio (Timothee Chalamet) is living an idyllic life in the northern Italian countryside when Oliver (Armie Hammer) arrives to be an assistant to Elio's father (Michael Stuhlbarg). Elio almost immediately becomes infatuated with the 30 year old and after a while the two enter into an awkward, secret, steamy relationship. Timothee Chalamet and Armie Hammer are electric both when alone and sharing the screen. Michael Stuhlbarg shines as well and gets a great speech near the end of the film. I especially liked the character of Elio, who is a cool intellectual nerd (who also is a very good dancer). Luca Guadagnino expertly and beautifully directs. The film is also VERY sexual at times (even uncomfortably so, like the apricot masturbation scene.The camera also lingers on the male body. No male nudity here except for one butt shot, we do get one quick shot of female breasts as well). My only real complaint is that the film glorifies the relationship near the end, and I couldn't fully go there with it. Call Me By Your Name made me feel a wide range of emotions, and got me thinking about certain experiences in my life I didn't necessarily want to be reminded of (But I guess that's the sign of a good film). It's ultimately the story of a boy's first real love and lost love. It's a bitter-sweet, truthful, melancholy, and beautiful movie and ranks as one of the best of 2017. Not for everyone, but I personally loved it.
9. Jim and Andy: The Great Beyond- I love Jim Carrey, let's just get that out of the way right now. Not only is he a deeply funny guy, he is also pretty deep and introspective. This was an incredible film. Jim and Andy is a Netflix Original documentary that was made by VICE (Which should tell you all you need to know about the quality of the film, which s to say it's high). It's a mind-altering, surreal, other-worldly, fascinating, and beautiful documentary that dives behind the scenes of Man In The Moon and Jim Carrey's life. There's also some pretty deep thematic material here as well. Highly recommended.
8. Spider-Man: Homecoming- Finally, a small-scale super-hero film. The stakes are very personal as well (No end of the world type stuff here). It's also one of the greatest films about Spider-Man we've gotten. Tom Holland is perfect as the young, nerdy high-school version of Spidey we've seen in the comics. Michael Keaton is great as well as a different version of The Vulture who does what he does in an attempt to keep his family living the middle-class life they've been living (a relatable motivation). The film also has one of the definitive Spidey moments in film that still has me tearing up. All in all, a spectacular film.
7. A Cure For Wellness- Easily the 2nd best horror film this year. My opinions on this film have stayed pretty strong. I've loved the shit out of it every time I've watched it. You have to appreciate that a film this weird, disturbing, gonzo, brutal, ambitious, ballsy, unique, different and gothic not only came from a big studio (20th Century Fox) but garnered a wide release as well. How did this happen? It's, quite frankly, a miracle and is enough to give one hope/faith in the studio system. Dane DeHaan and Mia Goth are superb (as is the eerie score and the gorgeous cinematography, which disappointingly did not garner an Oscar nod). A memorable, unique, lengthy horror film that sticks with you.
6. Logan- The only super-hero film I've seen that is likely to give audience members PTSD. Expect something more akin to Saving Private Ryan than Deadpool. The action is brutal and bloody, and the film is depressing and thoughtful (and LONG). It kind of drags, and you definitely feel the length. Boyd Holbrook makes for a tasty, fun villain. Patrick Stewart is fantastic as an ailing, unwell Professor X (Who suffers from dementia and Alzheimers). Hugh Jackman puts on his best performance yet as Wolverine/Logan. He brings a gravitas and weariness to the character that has not been seen as of yet. Dafne Keen is the real scene-stealer here as the semi-mute Laura/X-23, the "daughter" of Logan. She is a beautiful, but deadly and feral-esque 11 year old "gifted" with the same powers Logan has. Keen is incredibly expressive and empathetic throughout the film, her eyes tell you everything you need to know about her at any given moment. She announces her arrival into the acting world with a literal roar. I quickly fell in love with her here, and hope we get to see much, much more of her in the future. In the film, Logan and Laura share a strained but intimate bond. Both are broken individuals that may find the redemption they seek through each other. Logan is not a cathartic, fun movie-going experience. There is a good deal of action, and it is high-quality stuff but the focus here is on the characters and their journey. Logan left me at a loss for words, and the chills stayed with me until I arrived home. This is a deeply emotionally affecting film, and the longer you have spent with Hugh Jackman as Logan/Wolverine, the more meaning this film will have for you. Don't expect to walk out of this one feeling happy, it's actually quite a downer of a film, though there is some hope hidden in there. Logan is easily the most mature, adult super-hero film I've seen. in other words, don't walk in expecting a typical super-hero film.
5. Detroit- A grueling, unpleasant, uncomfortable, but important watch. Set amidst the backdrop of the 1967 Detroit riots, Detroit tells the little known, disturbing true story of the Algiers Motel incident. The whole film feels like it could have taken place in 2017 and deals with themes of inequality, police brutality, and more. I remember shifting uncomfortably in my seat, and wanting to be anywhere else instead of watching this film. It hit uncomfortably close to home, and the ending is anything but happy. A superb movie that is not fun to watch, but might as well be required viewing for anyone with a social conscience.
4. Darkest Hour- I think Joe Wright has officially become a visionary director in my eyes, and I'd say out of the films of his I've seen (which is most), Darkest Hour is his best. Gary Oldman's performance (which is incredible. He makes Churchill relatable, personable, and sympathetic. He also owns the heavy makeup and prosthetics he wears, to the point where they aren't noticeable. You can see the lines of worry, doubt and inner torment on his face throughout). and Wright's direction (which is superb) come together to humanize a historical figure in surprising ways. Kristen Scott Thomas (as Churchill's long suffering but fiercely devoted wife Clemmie), Ben Mendelsohn (as King George VI) and Lily James (as Churchill's personal secretary Elizabeth Layton) all deserve shoutouts as well. The cinematography (by Bruno Delbonnel) and editing (by Valerio Bonelli) are superb. Even the script (by Anthony McCarten) is great more often than not, with surprising moments of humor within. I expect Darkest Hour to have a strong presence at the Oscars this year (with Oldman walking away with Best Actor. He's long overdue for some recognition and this is a performance that is deserving of said award). Darkest Hour should have been a musty, dry, boring film that dragged but it is never any of the above. Not only is it a fine companion piece to Dunkirk, Darkest Hour is an all around superb, constantly tense film that held me in it's grasp from minute one, and it made me feel things and had me on the verge of tears a couple of times. I'd highly recommend it.
3. Baby Driver- Baby Driver is my personal favorite film of 2017, as well as the one I related to the most. It's a semi-musical action epic where a young man's love for music fuels him and keeps him moving. It's also a crazy fun car chase film that doubles as a loving homage to old-school Hollywood. Lead character "Baby" is easily a new cinematic icon. If you haven't seen Baby Driver yet, you're missing out. Pedal to the medal!
2. Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri- A film that never quite goes the way you would expect it to. It's sad, funny, touching, and dark. Frances McDormand (as a broken but strong and determined mother seeking justice for her dead daughter. She easily deserves Best Actress.), Woody Harrelson (as a tortured, dying sheriff trying to do good), Caleb Landry Jones ( as a kind advertising head who loans out billboards), and Sam Rockwell (as a piece-of-shit racist cop) are all superb and put on affecting, powerful performances. The script and direction by Martin McDonagh is strong as well. Three Billboards was a film that took audiences on a real rollercoaster ride, and it had me react audibly (and loudly) at a few of its twists and turns. An all around superb film that almost almost ALMOST made my coveted number one spot.
1. Get Out- I wasn't crazy about this film until I saw it a second time at home today, and then I fell head over heels in love with it. It's definitely a movie that rewards viewers on repeat viewings. There are so many complex layers and themes in this film. Not only is it a superb horror film, it's also an in-depth, disturbing exploration of social and cultural issues we face today. The script is tight and extremely well written. The film itself is probing, scary as shit, heartbreaking, and manages to be very funny at times as well. Get Out was THE film of 2017, and perfectly encapsulated what many are experiencing in today's say and age. Jordan Peele effortlessly emerges as a director/writer we should all keep an eye on (He definitely deserves Best Director, maybe Best Original Screenplay as well). I can't believe I'm saying this, but Get Out is the best film of 2017.
So, there you have it. The best films of 2017. I hope you had as much fun reading this list as I did writing it (ok, so writing it was actually pretty tough. There were so many superb films in 2017, and I really struggled with the placement of the top seven films on this list). Check back for my Oscar win predictions which should be up before the end of January. Thanks for reading!
Tuesday, January 16, 2018
BLADE RUNNER: 2049 WHISKS SMALLS OFF TO A MESMERIZING VISION OF THE FUTURE
Better late than never, I suppose!
In Blade Runner: 2049, K (Ryan Gosling) is a new model Replicant working as a Blade Runner for the LAPD in the year 2049. His job (like all Blade Runners) is to hunt down and "retire" (aka exterminate) all the old model Replicants. During a routine mission, he stumbles across a long-buried secret that may just hold the potential to turn the world as they know it upside down and spark a revolution or all-out war.
Blade Runner: 2049 is the sequel to Ridley Scott's magnum opus about humanity and what it means to be human. It's long but never boring. 2049 continues themes found in Blade Runner, but is more-so interested in expanding and enriching that film's universe than it is in ruminating on or exploring said themes. Blade Runner also feels and looks more like a Noir than 2049 does. 2049 is more of a detective mystery than anything else, and it's more plot and character based.
Ryan Gosling looks impressive and cool as always no matter what he is wearing. He puts on a subtle, nuanced and beautiful performance as K. In the world of 2049, society looks down upon and spits on all Replicants, so K doesn't exactly live a peachy life. He is married to/dating a drop dead gorgeous and sweet hologram named Joi (Ana de Armas). She is fiercely devoted to K and loves him deeply, sticking by his side no matter what and even assisting him in his detective work. Ana de Armas manages to make Joi and her relationship with K two of the strongest and most memorable things about this film, imbuing the character with a deep sadness as she yearns to be flesh-and-blood.
Sylvia Hoeks is all too hate-able as the evil Replicant Luv, who works as assistant to Jared Leto's Niander Wallace (who bought out The Tyrell Corporation and is making new, better, improved and more obedient Replicants. The old model Replicants are still being hunted down due to their tempers and unreliability). I found Jared Leto to be pretty annoying (despite one fantastic scene he shares with Harrison Ford). Wallace is a pompous, arrogant man with a serious God complex. Luckily, Leto isn't in the film much and Hoeks' Luv acts as main antagonist (which is better since she is definitely a stronger and more memorable presence).
Harrison Ford returns to play Rick Deckard, and puts on one hell of an emotional and affecting performance. I love how the film doesn't give us any answers about Deckard, instead allowing audiences to keep whatever conclusion they came to at the end of the first film. Ford doesn't appear until an hour and forty-six minutes into the film. That said, he still appears on most of the last hour of the film. Carla Juri's performance as Dr. Ana Stelline (who is in charge of creating the memories that are implanted into the Replicants) also stuck with me despite her small amount of screen time.
The cinematography (by Roger Deakins) in 2049 is phenomenal and memorable, too bad I can't say the same about the score. I found the score (by Benjamin Wallfisch and Hans Zimmer) to be ill-fitting most of the time, only seldomly recapturing the magic of the first film's masterful and other-worldly compositions. As for the action scenes...they were fantastic, though Blade Runner: 2049 isn't as focused on action as you might think it would be. I also definitely loved all the future tech sampled in 2049, especially the holograms of long-dead singers. I want to play with this tech like, now! The design of the future world 2049 is set in is simply mesmerizing and impressive. It feels like a logical leap forward considering what we saw in the first Blade Runner (Congrats to production designer Dennis Gassner and the whole SFX and VFX team!)
I definitely loved Blade Runner: 2049, though it's not quite as great as Blade Runner was. It's similar to Blade Runner, but quite different as well. Blade Runner: 2049 is a superb, emotional, touching, and powerful film that easily ranks in as one of the best of 2017. It also just so happens to be one of the best sequels out there (It feels like a natural and organic sequel to Blade Runner)!
4.5 STARS
In Blade Runner: 2049, K (Ryan Gosling) is a new model Replicant working as a Blade Runner for the LAPD in the year 2049. His job (like all Blade Runners) is to hunt down and "retire" (aka exterminate) all the old model Replicants. During a routine mission, he stumbles across a long-buried secret that may just hold the potential to turn the world as they know it upside down and spark a revolution or all-out war.
Blade Runner: 2049 is the sequel to Ridley Scott's magnum opus about humanity and what it means to be human. It's long but never boring. 2049 continues themes found in Blade Runner, but is more-so interested in expanding and enriching that film's universe than it is in ruminating on or exploring said themes. Blade Runner also feels and looks more like a Noir than 2049 does. 2049 is more of a detective mystery than anything else, and it's more plot and character based.
Ryan Gosling looks impressive and cool as always no matter what he is wearing. He puts on a subtle, nuanced and beautiful performance as K. In the world of 2049, society looks down upon and spits on all Replicants, so K doesn't exactly live a peachy life. He is married to/dating a drop dead gorgeous and sweet hologram named Joi (Ana de Armas). She is fiercely devoted to K and loves him deeply, sticking by his side no matter what and even assisting him in his detective work. Ana de Armas manages to make Joi and her relationship with K two of the strongest and most memorable things about this film, imbuing the character with a deep sadness as she yearns to be flesh-and-blood.
Sylvia Hoeks is all too hate-able as the evil Replicant Luv, who works as assistant to Jared Leto's Niander Wallace (who bought out The Tyrell Corporation and is making new, better, improved and more obedient Replicants. The old model Replicants are still being hunted down due to their tempers and unreliability). I found Jared Leto to be pretty annoying (despite one fantastic scene he shares with Harrison Ford). Wallace is a pompous, arrogant man with a serious God complex. Luckily, Leto isn't in the film much and Hoeks' Luv acts as main antagonist (which is better since she is definitely a stronger and more memorable presence).
Harrison Ford returns to play Rick Deckard, and puts on one hell of an emotional and affecting performance. I love how the film doesn't give us any answers about Deckard, instead allowing audiences to keep whatever conclusion they came to at the end of the first film. Ford doesn't appear until an hour and forty-six minutes into the film. That said, he still appears on most of the last hour of the film. Carla Juri's performance as Dr. Ana Stelline (who is in charge of creating the memories that are implanted into the Replicants) also stuck with me despite her small amount of screen time.
The cinematography (by Roger Deakins) in 2049 is phenomenal and memorable, too bad I can't say the same about the score. I found the score (by Benjamin Wallfisch and Hans Zimmer) to be ill-fitting most of the time, only seldomly recapturing the magic of the first film's masterful and other-worldly compositions. As for the action scenes...they were fantastic, though Blade Runner: 2049 isn't as focused on action as you might think it would be. I also definitely loved all the future tech sampled in 2049, especially the holograms of long-dead singers. I want to play with this tech like, now! The design of the future world 2049 is set in is simply mesmerizing and impressive. It feels like a logical leap forward considering what we saw in the first Blade Runner (Congrats to production designer Dennis Gassner and the whole SFX and VFX team!)
I definitely loved Blade Runner: 2049, though it's not quite as great as Blade Runner was. It's similar to Blade Runner, but quite different as well. Blade Runner: 2049 is a superb, emotional, touching, and powerful film that easily ranks in as one of the best of 2017. It also just so happens to be one of the best sequels out there (It feels like a natural and organic sequel to Blade Runner)!
4.5 STARS
Monday, January 15, 2018
BEFORE I WAKE
Gather 'round kiddies, it's Mike Flanigan time again!
In 2017 alone, Mike Flanigan gave us two films: Gerald's Game (which I previously reviewed for my Fright Fest) and Before I Wake. In Before I Wake, we follow Jessie (Kate Bosworth) and Mark (Thomas Jane), a couple who are still grieving over the accidental death of their son. In an attempt to heal and move on, they agree to adopt Cody (Jacob Tremblay), a foster kid with a troubled past and an incredible gift. Whatever Cody dreams come to life, unfortunately that means his nightmares do too. Naturally, this spells trouble for our three leads as they will have to find a way to confront the horrific nightmares and hopefully find a way to end them.
Before I wake is a film with a troubled history. It spent a good five years in development hell, wrapping filming at the end of 2013, but never being released until Netflix swiped it up for distribution this year. Watching Before I Wake, the only clue you really get to the trouble behind-the-scenes is a short reference to XBOX Kinect (which isn't in production anymore).
Maybe the sole reason to see this film is for the performances within. Kate Bosworth believably plays an unlikable character who starts out as a sympathetic grieving mother and fairly quickly turns into a child abuser as she attempts to manipulate Cody's gift for her own emotional needs. Thomas Jane is great as her troubled husband, who genuinely cares for Cody and is understandably upset when he finds out what his wife has been up to. Unfortunately, he is missing for most of the third act. Jacob Tremblay is (as usual) the shining star of the film. Mike Flanagan has always had a knack for coaxing the best possible performance from child actors, and he does so again here with Tremblay (though I would argue that Tremblay just is a naturally superb actor, as he gave the best performance of 2015 in Room). In Before I Wake, Tremblay plays a deeply troubled kid who is all too aware of his gift and the great good and great harm it can do to others. He resorts to chugging energy drinks, drinking coffee, and even minor self-harm to keep himself awake. He is aware his dreams have hurt others, and doesn't want anyone else to fall victim to his gift. His is a heartbreaking performance, but is still a joy to watch. Before I Wake was filmed well before Room, so technically you could say this was Tremblay's first breakout role.
As for the film itself, Before I Wake sets itself up as a horror film (It does have some horror elements to it, but it is never scary. I will say there are some creepy parts, and one disturbing part. I'll also admit the CGI used in the "wonder" scenes in the first act is effective and beautiful) but is in reality more of an attempt at exploration of/at being a musing on grief, loss, guilt, and fear. As such, it's not fully fleshed out and it's ideas don't feel fully formed. The first two acts are the strongest parts of this film, the third act grows sluggish though (and even kind of boring) and the ending feels a little too schmaltzy. Everything is more-or-less tied up in a neat bow by the end, which left me feeling kind of mixed on the film overall.
Before I Wake was surprisingly a hard film to watch due to all the child abuse Bosworth's Jessie willingly and selfishly doles out, that doesn't necessarily make it a bad film though. In fact, I would actually categorize this as a fairly strong-ish film. I'd definitely say that Before I Wake is certainly worth a watch for our three leads performances alone and it's interesting plot/story, just don't expect it to be Flanagan's best work (That's still Oculus IMO). Flanagan continues to be a promising filmmaker and despite it's flaws, Before I Wake continues to show his potential.
3 STARS
In 2017 alone, Mike Flanigan gave us two films: Gerald's Game (which I previously reviewed for my Fright Fest) and Before I Wake. In Before I Wake, we follow Jessie (Kate Bosworth) and Mark (Thomas Jane), a couple who are still grieving over the accidental death of their son. In an attempt to heal and move on, they agree to adopt Cody (Jacob Tremblay), a foster kid with a troubled past and an incredible gift. Whatever Cody dreams come to life, unfortunately that means his nightmares do too. Naturally, this spells trouble for our three leads as they will have to find a way to confront the horrific nightmares and hopefully find a way to end them.
Before I wake is a film with a troubled history. It spent a good five years in development hell, wrapping filming at the end of 2013, but never being released until Netflix swiped it up for distribution this year. Watching Before I Wake, the only clue you really get to the trouble behind-the-scenes is a short reference to XBOX Kinect (which isn't in production anymore).
Maybe the sole reason to see this film is for the performances within. Kate Bosworth believably plays an unlikable character who starts out as a sympathetic grieving mother and fairly quickly turns into a child abuser as she attempts to manipulate Cody's gift for her own emotional needs. Thomas Jane is great as her troubled husband, who genuinely cares for Cody and is understandably upset when he finds out what his wife has been up to. Unfortunately, he is missing for most of the third act. Jacob Tremblay is (as usual) the shining star of the film. Mike Flanagan has always had a knack for coaxing the best possible performance from child actors, and he does so again here with Tremblay (though I would argue that Tremblay just is a naturally superb actor, as he gave the best performance of 2015 in Room). In Before I Wake, Tremblay plays a deeply troubled kid who is all too aware of his gift and the great good and great harm it can do to others. He resorts to chugging energy drinks, drinking coffee, and even minor self-harm to keep himself awake. He is aware his dreams have hurt others, and doesn't want anyone else to fall victim to his gift. His is a heartbreaking performance, but is still a joy to watch. Before I Wake was filmed well before Room, so technically you could say this was Tremblay's first breakout role.
As for the film itself, Before I Wake sets itself up as a horror film (It does have some horror elements to it, but it is never scary. I will say there are some creepy parts, and one disturbing part. I'll also admit the CGI used in the "wonder" scenes in the first act is effective and beautiful) but is in reality more of an attempt at exploration of/at being a musing on grief, loss, guilt, and fear. As such, it's not fully fleshed out and it's ideas don't feel fully formed. The first two acts are the strongest parts of this film, the third act grows sluggish though (and even kind of boring) and the ending feels a little too schmaltzy. Everything is more-or-less tied up in a neat bow by the end, which left me feeling kind of mixed on the film overall.
Before I Wake was surprisingly a hard film to watch due to all the child abuse Bosworth's Jessie willingly and selfishly doles out, that doesn't necessarily make it a bad film though. In fact, I would actually categorize this as a fairly strong-ish film. I'd definitely say that Before I Wake is certainly worth a watch for our three leads performances alone and it's interesting plot/story, just don't expect it to be Flanagan's best work (That's still Oculus IMO). Flanagan continues to be a promising filmmaker and despite it's flaws, Before I Wake continues to show his potential.
3 STARS
Saturday, January 6, 2018
SMALLS IS SUCKED INTO THE GAME WITH JUMANJI: WELCOME TO THE JUNGLE
"It's Alan's house, I'm just living in it."
A long time ago, in the distant year of 1995, a film (starring the much beloved and dearly missed Robin Williams) was made about a board game with the power to alter and change our reality. It quickly became a beloved classic for kids that grew up in that decade. Now, twenty-seven years later, a sequel/update has been released. The game beckons to us, jungle drums pound, it's time to play Jumanji once again.
Jumanji: Welcome To The Jungle is actually a direct sequel to the 1995 film. Set in present day, we follow nerdy and panophobic (which means fear of everything) Stephen (Alex Wolff), popular phone obsessed Bethany (Madison Iseman), shy and awkward Martha (Morgan Turner), and football star Fridge (Ser'Darius Blaine). When all wind up sharing a detention class together, they uncover Jumanji (Now an old 90's video game console. Don't worry, it's all explained in the set-up.). Bored, they decide to play it and are quickly sucked into the harsh, unforgiving jungle of Jumanji, discovering they have been morphed into the avatars they chose once they arrive (Stephen is Dr. Smolder Bravestone as portrayed by Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson, Bethany is Professor Shelly Olberon as portrayed by Jack Black, Martha is Ruby Roundhouse as portrayed by Karen Gillan, and Fridge is Franklin "Mouse" Finbar as portrayed by Kevin Hart). Stuck in Jumanji, the four teens must band together and beat the game if they are to ever return to the real world.
Jumanji: Welcome To The Jungle is a clever inversion of the first film. Whereas in the first movie, the game brings the world of Jumanji into the real world, in this sequel our characters get trapped in the world of the game (much like Robin Williams' Alan Parrish in the original. I really like getting to explore the world that Alan was stuck in for twenty-six years here). In the first Jumanji, Van Pelt (the villain, as played by Jonathan Hyde) is a crazed, power hungry big game hunter. In this sequel, our villain is once agin Van Pelt (played this go-around by Bobby Cannavale, who is appropriately intimidating but isn't as memorable as the original Van Pelt), but now he's morphed along with the game. He's an explorer who can control the animals of Jumanji and is obsessed with a green gem that gave him this ability (He still retains some traits of the original Van Pelt. He's still power hungry, crazy, over-the-top, and his whole schtick still involves animals). We also get a lot of jungle drums pounding away, and some nice moments of rhyme. It's also explained early on that Jumanji morphed itself into a video game in an attempt to trick more kids and teens into playing it, and this sequel starts off right where the first film ended: With Jumanji washed ashore on a beach, still in it's old board game form (which was impressively recreated, I must say). Also, yes, there is one very brief nod to Alan Parrish in one scene.
The plot of Jumanji: Welcome To The Jungle is admittedly pretty thin. Luckily, our four main adult leads (Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson, Jack Black, Kevin Hart, and Karen Gillan) all do great jobs and make their characters likable (as for our teen leads, they don't get a whole lot of screen time, and the opening portion featuring them is pretty generic and boring. That said, they each do fine jobs). They each start out with three lives, and I was genuinely worried about them each time they lost a life. What propels Jumanji: Welcome To The Jungle forward is not just it's humor (which is actually pretty strong here) but also how it treats our main characters. Each of our protagonists gets to grow and advance throughout the film, and our adult actors were all convincing portraying teens stuck in adult bodies. I'd say Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson, Jack Black, and Nick Jonas (as Jefferson "Seaplane" McDonough, the avatar for Alex who was the first victim of Jumanji in it's video game form) were the most impressive. I had a lot of fun watching The Rock and Jack Black play against type, and Jonas got to show some real emotion while still playing a bad-ass adventurer.
I grew up watching Jumanji, and not only do I consider it quite a cool film, it's also one of my favorite movies of the late-great Robin Williams. Jumanji: Welcome To The Jungle carefully hands down my beloved reality-altering game to a new generation, while still staying faithful to the original film. I wasn't expecting much out of this update, but I am surprised to say I loved it. Jumanji: Welcome To The Jungle is likely the best surprise of 2017. It's a super funny, impressive film that uses strong characters, strong performances, and heartfelt messages/themes to make itself one of the better sequels/updates in recent years (and yes, since this is technically a video game movie, it gets to play around with some video game tropes as well).
4 STARS
A long time ago, in the distant year of 1995, a film (starring the much beloved and dearly missed Robin Williams) was made about a board game with the power to alter and change our reality. It quickly became a beloved classic for kids that grew up in that decade. Now, twenty-seven years later, a sequel/update has been released. The game beckons to us, jungle drums pound, it's time to play Jumanji once again.
Jumanji: Welcome To The Jungle is actually a direct sequel to the 1995 film. Set in present day, we follow nerdy and panophobic (which means fear of everything) Stephen (Alex Wolff), popular phone obsessed Bethany (Madison Iseman), shy and awkward Martha (Morgan Turner), and football star Fridge (Ser'Darius Blaine). When all wind up sharing a detention class together, they uncover Jumanji (Now an old 90's video game console. Don't worry, it's all explained in the set-up.). Bored, they decide to play it and are quickly sucked into the harsh, unforgiving jungle of Jumanji, discovering they have been morphed into the avatars they chose once they arrive (Stephen is Dr. Smolder Bravestone as portrayed by Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson, Bethany is Professor Shelly Olberon as portrayed by Jack Black, Martha is Ruby Roundhouse as portrayed by Karen Gillan, and Fridge is Franklin "Mouse" Finbar as portrayed by Kevin Hart). Stuck in Jumanji, the four teens must band together and beat the game if they are to ever return to the real world.
Jumanji: Welcome To The Jungle is a clever inversion of the first film. Whereas in the first movie, the game brings the world of Jumanji into the real world, in this sequel our characters get trapped in the world of the game (much like Robin Williams' Alan Parrish in the original. I really like getting to explore the world that Alan was stuck in for twenty-six years here). In the first Jumanji, Van Pelt (the villain, as played by Jonathan Hyde) is a crazed, power hungry big game hunter. In this sequel, our villain is once agin Van Pelt (played this go-around by Bobby Cannavale, who is appropriately intimidating but isn't as memorable as the original Van Pelt), but now he's morphed along with the game. He's an explorer who can control the animals of Jumanji and is obsessed with a green gem that gave him this ability (He still retains some traits of the original Van Pelt. He's still power hungry, crazy, over-the-top, and his whole schtick still involves animals). We also get a lot of jungle drums pounding away, and some nice moments of rhyme. It's also explained early on that Jumanji morphed itself into a video game in an attempt to trick more kids and teens into playing it, and this sequel starts off right where the first film ended: With Jumanji washed ashore on a beach, still in it's old board game form (which was impressively recreated, I must say). Also, yes, there is one very brief nod to Alan Parrish in one scene.
The plot of Jumanji: Welcome To The Jungle is admittedly pretty thin. Luckily, our four main adult leads (Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson, Jack Black, Kevin Hart, and Karen Gillan) all do great jobs and make their characters likable (as for our teen leads, they don't get a whole lot of screen time, and the opening portion featuring them is pretty generic and boring. That said, they each do fine jobs). They each start out with three lives, and I was genuinely worried about them each time they lost a life. What propels Jumanji: Welcome To The Jungle forward is not just it's humor (which is actually pretty strong here) but also how it treats our main characters. Each of our protagonists gets to grow and advance throughout the film, and our adult actors were all convincing portraying teens stuck in adult bodies. I'd say Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson, Jack Black, and Nick Jonas (as Jefferson "Seaplane" McDonough, the avatar for Alex who was the first victim of Jumanji in it's video game form) were the most impressive. I had a lot of fun watching The Rock and Jack Black play against type, and Jonas got to show some real emotion while still playing a bad-ass adventurer.
I grew up watching Jumanji, and not only do I consider it quite a cool film, it's also one of my favorite movies of the late-great Robin Williams. Jumanji: Welcome To The Jungle carefully hands down my beloved reality-altering game to a new generation, while still staying faithful to the original film. I wasn't expecting much out of this update, but I am surprised to say I loved it. Jumanji: Welcome To The Jungle is likely the best surprise of 2017. It's a super funny, impressive film that uses strong characters, strong performances, and heartfelt messages/themes to make itself one of the better sequels/updates in recent years (and yes, since this is technically a video game movie, it gets to play around with some video game tropes as well).
4 STARS
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