Welcome to a special episode of Lights....Camera....Popcorn!
Today I am going to countdown the 10 Best Films of 2012.
Here's the breakdown of my year at the movies.
Total number of films seen - 45
Avg score - 3 stars
What's up everyone.
I've counted down the rest. Now it's time for the best. This has always been a tough list for me to come up with in the past. 2012 however was a bit easier. That boys and girls was not a good thing. It was an indication that this year's crop didn't produce a better library of titles for me to rack my brain over. Now before some of you start to pick apart that last statement. I feel it's necessary to remind you that this list is comprised of ONLY the films I've seen this year. I realize that there are plenty of films that you may have seen that will rival any title I put up here but it's the nature of the game.
Before I dive into my top 10. Here are the honorable mentions. In no particular order.
The Hunger Games
The Master
Magic Mike
End of Watch
Silver Linings Playbook
The Hobbit : An Unexpected Journey
The Raid : Redemption
Cloud Atlas
10) The Dark Knight Rises - 5 star score - 4.5 stars. Recommendation - "Worth Every Penny!"
Who knew a comic book film could be so controversial. Coming off the immense success of The Dark Knight, Christopher Nolan and company had their work cut out for them. What followed three years later was by many, a less than stellar conclusion to the trilogy. Now as I wrote in my review of this film, I see every side of the argument and with some points agree 100% on how TDKR was disappointing. The film contained more plot holes and head scratching scenarios than the previous two films combined.
The villain wasn't as captivating as The Joker. That excuse however needs to be stricken from the record. After what Heath Ledger accomplished, there wasn't going to be another antagonist for Batman that was going to rival him in any capacity. What TDKR accomplished was finalizing Nolan's take on the character's mythology. Like it or not he finished what he started and that has to be commended. With films this popular, the pressure to keep the bat signal on as long as they can usually is the status quo of Tinseltown.
Nolan wanted no part of that and retired the cape and cowl. I applaud his effort and recognized what he was trying to do. Despite all the haters reigning fire on me for my defense of this film. The Dark Knight Rises came full circle from the roots set by Batman Begins and for that I was pleased. The presentation could have been handled a bit better but you can't please em all.
9) Skyfall - 5 star score - 4.5 stars. Recommendation - "Worth Every Penny!"
The James Bond franchise has had a very nice run recently. Thanks in most part to Daniel Craig's infusion of youth and power to the character. Not since the days of Connery has a Bond character commanded so much respect. I had a hard time deciding whether to put this on my list or leave it. My choice to put it here was aided by the fact that Skyfall was the first Bond film I've seen that had balls.
Skyfall made very tough choices with it's characters. Mainly Bond and M.
The film questioned M's ability to lead and effectively run MI-6 and Bond's ability to do what he does best. In a way father time was catching up with both of them in different yet similar ways. This was an awesome take on these ageless characters. We finally saw them age. For the first time in the history of the franchise, the great James Bond was fallible and mortal. Combine that with a Joker rip off villain played masterfully by Javier Bardem. Skyfall gave Bond fans a new reason to be on the heroes side. The future of the character is as always up in the air. Hopefully the powers that be can come to their senses and get cracking on Bond 24 before Craig actually becomes too old for the part.
8) Argo - 5 star score - 4 stars. Recommendation - "Worth Every Penny!"
Ben Affleck's been on quite a roll in the director's chair. His last 2 films, Gone Baby Gone and The Town were terrific crime dramas that were worthy of the accolades they received. His latest entry is getting a lot of Oscar buzz and with good reason. Argo was a very tight, slick and at times suspenseful film.
The last 15 minutes do go overboard a bit but it didn't change the fact that Argo hooks you from the beginning. The intrigue surrounding the characters hiding away and how the operation to rescue them gets planned out in Langley was very polished and entertaining.
Lastly, this film provided us with one of the best film catch phrases in years.
Argo F#@k Yourself!
Awesome!
7) Life of Pi - 5 star score - 4 stars. Recommendation - "Worth Every Penny!"
A nice segue from Affleck comes Ang Lee. Returning to big screen form with a stunning visual tale of wonder, adventure, friendships and hope. Life of Pi takes it's time to build but once it gets going, look out. This movie has so many themes and messages permeating through it that it might be hard to classify the film.
If that wasn't enough, the film was jam packed with some of the best visual effects and shots to be seen in a film of this nature. Films that contain effects like this one did historically rely on them to get you through a weak or meandering story. This is not the case here. Life of Pi is jam packed with an amazing narrative that you can't help but get swept away by it.
6) Django Unchained - 5 star score - 4.5 stars. Recommendation - "Worth Every Penny!"
What would a top 10 best film list be without a Quentin Tarantino entry. It's no secret to anyone who knows me but I have a man crush on this guy. I love his films. So much so that a critique can be made that I see all of his movies with rose colored glasses. I don't take much offense to that. I'll be the first to admit that I might be more inclined to be a QT apologist before I bash his work. That being said, aside from maybe Death Proof, name me a Tarantino film that wasn't worthy of praise in one form of another.
His latest and greatest is the second chapter of his revisionist history trilogy.
Django Unchained takes the spaghetti western and turns it upside down. As expected QT loads his film with rich, interesting characters with back stories detailed enough to make their own solo films. Then he takes the 2 leads and teams them up for a crazy ride filled with ponies, pistols and tons of profanity. I realize that this was a major point of contention with the film. The use or over use of the "N" word was widely seen as a basis to dislike the film. Everyone is entitled to their opinion. I will say that if someone can't separate the fact that this film has absolutely NOTHING to do with actual events then why do you care? Just enjoy the film for what it was.
A Tarantino film.
This is what he's known for. It's what he's best at. Long live the king!
5) The Intouchables - 5 star score - 5 stars. Recommendation - "Worth Every Penny!"
This one was a big surprise. A pleasant surprise. Recommended to me I rolled the dice and gave this film a look. WOW! was this film wonderful. A story of strength. courage, heart and the unlikeliest of friendships.
This film can be summed up in a scene between the main character Philippe who's a paraplegic and one of his friends at a restaurant. They were talking about the man he hired to care for him. Driss played by Omar Sy. Driss is from the projects and lives in a rough neighborhood. His friend says to Philippe.
"These street guys have no pity."
Philippe's response was perfect.
"That's what I want. No pity."
That was the moment when you knew that these men shared a bond that would never be understood by anyone outside their circle. The Intouchables was a masterpiece that was criminally snubbed of Best Foreign Language honors for this year's Academy Awards. Do yourself a favor and seek this film out.
You will be glad you did. Oh by the way. It's based on a true story.
4) Lincoln - 5 star score - 4 stars. Recommendation - "Worth Every Penny!"
We now come to one of the biggest films of the year. Lincoln is getting honors left and right. Daniel Day Lewis and Steven Speilberg have a lot to do with that. However, neither one have a leg to stand on without the terrific script by Tony Kushner. The script isn't perfect. There were a few balance issues but Speilberg takes care of that by giving us as much DDL as humanly possible. He was so awesome as Honest Abe that you couldn't take your eyes off him.
Does Lincoln walk away with the Oscar? It's not my pick, but it's got a great chance and right now is the odds on favorite against my #3 film.
3) Zero Dark Thirty - 5 star score - 5 stars. Recommendation - "Worth Every Penny!"
In my opinion the Best Film Oscar is a 2 horse race. Between Zero Dark Thirty and Lincoln. This movie had anticipation all over it from the announcement it was being made. It delivered on every conceivable level. Obviously liberties must be taken when watching this due to the very sensitive nature of the subject. Specific and intimate details about the operation to kill Bin Laden were paramount to the success of Zero Dark Thirty.
Of course, Jessica Chastain didn't hurt it's cause.
Her performance was thrilling, stoic and emotional. The growth her character takes is a journey worth taking with her. Her persistence on chasing down leads about Bin Laden were not just motivated by revenge but an outright will and belief that she was right. You could sense her eagerness and defiance against anyone who dared to challenge her intel. Finally, the moment that nailed it for me concerning her performance took place right at the end. The look on her face as she sits on the plane, reflecting on everything that took place over the 10 year man hunt. The expression of relief and satisfaction that she got the job done was worth all the tragedies and obstacles she endured.
Great! Great! Great!
My pick for Best Picture.
2) The Avengers - 5 star score - 5 stars. Recommendation - "Worth Every Penny!"
Did you really think this film wasn't making my list? As much as I went goo goo and ga ga over this one? No way was the best Marvel film wasn't going to make my Top 10. There was so much to love about this movie. The story, the characters, the dichotomy between each super hero before their eventual team up to save the world. For me, The Avengers was a full blown success due to two words.
The Hulk.
For the first time ever, The Hulk was properly represented on film. Picking up his storyline after The Incredible Hulk. Both Banner played by Mark Ruffalo and The Hulk were as close to the comic version as you could get. This is all thanks to Joss Whedon. He knew what it took to get the big green guy right. The Hulk is not a super hero. He's an anti hero. In Banner's eyes, The Hulk is a curse. He couldn't get rid of his alter ego fast enough. Whedon made that a major point of emphasis. Banner wanted no part of being in The Avengers and he wasn't supposed to be until he found a way to make "the other guy" useful.
The rest of the players all had their time to shine. Highlighted by Robert Downey Jr. as Tony Stark. The argument can be made that he had more life and personality in The Avengers than he had in both of his Iron Man films combined. He no doubt was a driving force but Whedon masterfully gave each character a chance to show off and flex.
This is why he was the perfect guy for the job.
Whedon is a great character director, specializing with ensemble casts. He knows how to give everyone their just desserts while keeping his eye on the overall story. Not to mention his knack for comedic timing, The Avengers was a wonderful blending of some of Marvel's biggest heroes banding together to form a super team. If done right, the future sequels could stake it's claim as the best comic film franchise in history.
So if The Avengers didn't make it to the top. What in the world could have beaten it?
1) The Grey - No Score. No Recommendation.
I know what you're thinking. No score? No recommendation? How is this my number one film of the year? Here's the answer. When this film was released I was recovering from my knee surgery so I never got the chance to see this in the theater. Thankfully my brother had it on Netflix one day I was at his house and we watched it.
So technically this will be my first DVD review ever.
The Grey was an UNBELIEVABLE film.
Written and Directed by Joe Carnahan. The Grey was a film that gripped me emotionally on levels that I didn't know were possible. This is magnified even further considering how simple the subject matter was for this one. The story of The Grey revolved around a security specialist Ottoway (played by Liam Neeson) for an oil drilling company in Alaska. His job was to protect the workers from the local wildlife.
The local wildlife being wolves.
The opening scene shows Ottoway lying in a snow bank several hundred feet away from the encampment. His rifle sight is tracking the area, looking out. He sees some guys heading toward the local bar when a wolf speeds after them. Ottoway calmly sets his target and kills the wolf without the guys realizing that they were seconds away from being attacked. Fast forward a bit and it's time for the guys to go home when their plane crashes. The rest of the film involves the survivors trying to brace themselves with the harsh weather and the wolves attacking.
Simple enough right? Well you would be wrong. The Grey has so much going for it that it goes way beyond a man vs beast story arc. The running theme of the film revolves around death and the many forms it can take. The wolves play a major role in the dwindling number of supporting cast members but they are not the only ways the survivors meet their demise. As survivor after survivor begins to expire, the realization that no one is going to make it begins to dominate your thoughts. The Grey does a fantastic job of creating that scenario leading up to the final showdown between Ottoway and the wolves pack leader.
This ends up being the final scene that created a lot of controversy. Not for what it showed but for what it didn't show. If you pay attention you will get what I meant by that. The way the film ended ruffled some feathers of the audience and critics alike. I for one LOVED how the film ended. It was a bold and smart way to finish the journey of these helpless men. Not all films are meant to have a happy ending or heroic climax. If you want to be real about it, take the situation these guys were in and ask yourself how anyone gets out of there alive. But in a sick twist, The Grey pulls and Inception on you and doesn't really give you the answer. You are teased with several possible outcomes, like the spinning top on the table. That's what made the ending of The Grey so perfect for me. You have no choice but to make a decision on the end for yourself. It creates great debate and thought.
Brilliant.
Well there you have it peeps. My 10 best films of 2012. Here's to a great 2013 at the cinema.
Until Next Episode...."I'll Save You A Seat!"
"D"
A Haunted House
Welcome to another episode of Lights....Camera....Popcorn!
Today's review is A Haunted House.
Directed by Michael Tiddes.
Written by Marlon Wayans & Rick Alvarez.
Review #202
MPAA Rating: Rated R for crude and sexual content, language and some drug use.
Run Time: 86 min
Cast
Marlon Wayans...Malcolm
Marlene Forte...Rosa
Essence Atkins...Kisha
David Koechner...Dan the Security Man
Dave Sheridan...Bob
Nick Swardson...Chip the Psychic
Alanna Ubach...Jenny
Andrew Daly...Steve
Cedric the Entertainer...Father Williams
Affion Crockett...Ray-Ray
J.B. Smoove...Kisha's Dad
Robin Thede...Kisha's Mom
Jordenn Thompson...Little Kisha
The parody film is not an easy one to crack. There has to be a very delicate balance with the films you blend together to make your parody story. The real good ones like the Airplane, Naked Gun and to a lesser extent Scary Movie franchise all did a good job of keeping things simple. What made those movies so funny was the expansive material to work off. For a while the genre has fallen into obscurity. Until now. I present to you the next wave of parody films that take aim at the Paranormal Activity films.
Good idea right? Not really.
Plot
Malcolm and Kisha move into their dream home, but soon learn a demon also resides there. When Kisha becomes possessed, Malcolm - determined to keep his sex life on track - turns to a priest, a psychic, and a team of ghost-busters for help.
The idea of poking fun at those films was a good one since they provide every reason to not take them seriously. That being said the biggest flaw with this movie is that it limits itself to just the Paranormal Activity films with a bit of The Devil Inside Me flick. This forces A Haunted House to be very one directional and flat. There's only so much you can do and show when you're bonded to one film franchise that employs one format. The found footage film craze for better or worse has dominated the horror genre. It's a big roll of the dice to try and duplicate that in parody form. This movie missed a lot more times than it hit.
Binding the story of A Haunted House to these ridiculous PA films gave me a less then stellar reception to some of the jokes. Sometimes with parody films some secondary characters can liven things up and give the film some punch. Here the supporting cast punches you in the nuts.
Unfunny. Unoriginal. Unforgivable.
The effort was there and there were some comical moments. Just not enough to sustain the entire run time.
On the 5 star scale. A Haunted House gets 1 star with a "Netflix It!" recommendation.
That's a wrap for today.
Until Next Epiosde..."I'll Save You A Seat!"
"D"
Today's review is A Haunted House.
Directed by Michael Tiddes.
Written by Marlon Wayans & Rick Alvarez.
Review #202
MPAA Rating: Rated R for crude and sexual content, language and some drug use.
Run Time: 86 min
Cast
Marlon Wayans...Malcolm
Marlene Forte...Rosa
Essence Atkins...Kisha
David Koechner...Dan the Security Man
Dave Sheridan...Bob
Nick Swardson...Chip the Psychic
Alanna Ubach...Jenny
Andrew Daly...Steve
Cedric the Entertainer...Father Williams
Affion Crockett...Ray-Ray
J.B. Smoove...Kisha's Dad
Robin Thede...Kisha's Mom
Jordenn Thompson...Little Kisha
The parody film is not an easy one to crack. There has to be a very delicate balance with the films you blend together to make your parody story. The real good ones like the Airplane, Naked Gun and to a lesser extent Scary Movie franchise all did a good job of keeping things simple. What made those movies so funny was the expansive material to work off. For a while the genre has fallen into obscurity. Until now. I present to you the next wave of parody films that take aim at the Paranormal Activity films.
Good idea right? Not really.
Plot
Malcolm and Kisha move into their dream home, but soon learn a demon also resides there. When Kisha becomes possessed, Malcolm - determined to keep his sex life on track - turns to a priest, a psychic, and a team of ghost-busters for help.
The idea of poking fun at those films was a good one since they provide every reason to not take them seriously. That being said the biggest flaw with this movie is that it limits itself to just the Paranormal Activity films with a bit of The Devil Inside Me flick. This forces A Haunted House to be very one directional and flat. There's only so much you can do and show when you're bonded to one film franchise that employs one format. The found footage film craze for better or worse has dominated the horror genre. It's a big roll of the dice to try and duplicate that in parody form. This movie missed a lot more times than it hit.
Binding the story of A Haunted House to these ridiculous PA films gave me a less then stellar reception to some of the jokes. Sometimes with parody films some secondary characters can liven things up and give the film some punch. Here the supporting cast punches you in the nuts.
Unfunny. Unoriginal. Unforgivable.
The effort was there and there were some comical moments. Just not enough to sustain the entire run time.
On the 5 star scale. A Haunted House gets 1 star with a "Netflix It!" recommendation.
That's a wrap for today.
Until Next Epiosde..."I'll Save You A Seat!"
"D"
Zero Dark Thirty
Welcome to another episode of Lights....Camera....Popcorn!
Today's review is Zero Dark Thirty.
Directed by Kathryn Bigelow.
Written by Mark Boal.
Review #201
MPAA Rating: Rated R for strong violence including brutal disturbing images, and for language.
Run Time: 157 min
Cast
Jason Clarke...Dan
Reda Kateb...Ammar
Jessica Chastain...Maya
Kyle Chandler...Joseph Bradley
Jennifer Ehle...Jessica
Harold Perrineau...Jack
Jeremy Strong...Thomas
J.J. Kandel...J.J.
Mark Strong...George
Fredric Lehne...The Wolf
Édgar Ramírez...Larry from Ground Branch
James Gandolfini...C.I.A. Director
Stephen Dillane...National Security Advisor
John Schwab...Deputy National Security Advisor
Martin Delaney...Assistant to National Security Advisor
Jeff Mash...Deputy Director of C.I.A.
Joel Edgerton...Patrick - Squadron Team Leader
Chris Pratt...Justin - DEVGRU
Taylor Kinney...Jared - DEVGRU
Callan Mulvey...Saber - DEVGRU
Siaosi Fonua...Henry - DEVGRU
Phil Somerville...Phil - DEVGRU
Nash Edgerton...Nate - DEVGRU EOD
Mike Colter...Mike - DEVGRU
Frank Grillo... Squadron Commanding Officer
There are two dates in recent record that have a profound effect on on us all.
9/11/2001 & 5/1/2011
These two dates mark the beginning and the end of one of the biggest tragedies in our countries history since Pearl Harbor. Like most of you I'll never forget the day I found out Bin Laden was killed. Of course now that one of the world's most wanted was dead. This left Hollywood a golden opportunity to cash in on the story. Thus the many different film and TV adaptations chronicling the events up to and leading to Bin Laden's demise surfaced with a frenzy.
Of the many projects on the slate involving this particular story, the one that caught my eye and many other people for that matter was Kathryn Bigelow's take. This was great news to read because you just knew that she was going to tell the story with as much accuracy and respect as allowed. Plus coming off her amazing work with The Hurt Locker there isn't anyone else that would be better with this material.
Plot
A chronicle of the decade-long hunt for al-Qaeda terrorist leader Osama bin Laden after the September 2001 attacks, and his death at the hands of the Navy S.E.A.L. Team 6 in May, 2011.
First off, it's important to keep two things in mind when watching this movie. Despite the statement in the beginning that this film was based on information from direct accounts of the people involved, doesn't mean that everything happened as you saw it. I don't mean to be condescending. I'm just providing a word to the wise because the film plays as if none of these scenes were over dramatized for thematic effect.
The second thing is that even though this film depicts the assassination of Bin Laden. Zero Dark Thirty is very much about the CIA Agent who goes by the name Mya. There isn't a last name because she's still an active agent and her record is purposely clouded in mystery. This movie is about her reassignment to not only Bin Laden's manhunt but the ongoing search for more planned attacks against the country.
Zero Dark Thirty takes you back to the beginning. The very beginning. The first thing you witness is a horrifying montage of news reports, mass panic and 911 calls from people trapped in the burning towers speaking to the operators on the other line. What made this sequence even more chilling is that all of this was playing in front of a blank screen. Your mind has to adjust to only what your hearing. It was a very disturbing yet powerful scene. It was in my opinion done to not only take you back to that unforgettable day but to inspire anger and vengeance against the coward who masterminded this attack.
It sets the stage for what comes next.
I fear I may have said too much so I will move on to what really made this a great film. I'll begin with the performance of Jessica Chastain who has come out of nowhere and exploded on the scene with reckless abandon. It's hard to tell how much of her portrayal of Mya is credible or counterfeit. Regardless she demands your attention and respect throughout. Her ferocious agenda never wavers and only intensifies when more Al Qaeda attacks take place. The biggest impact you see in Chastain's performance is the maturation and toughness that takes shape as the years in the middle east take their toll on her. There was a sense of hesitation in her when she first arrived. That quickly dissipated when it was time to get to work.
To put it simply. This woman never gave up. Her confidence and defiance against contrary opinions is what drove her to keep going. This was evident every second Chastain was on screen. Magnificent performance worthy of her Oscar nomination. She probably is my early front runner for the gold guy.
Chastain was awesome but none of that is possible without Mark Boal's script. This man knows how to tell a story via the written word. He knows how to make things simply complex. This film required a lot of exposition to get us all up to speed on what's happened and with what's going to happen. Those scenes were written carefully and very smartly. It's very easy to dumb things down so we all get it. This movie has no place for that kind of writing. It was evident that Boal and Bigelow did massive amounts of research to secure both an accurate and accessible portrayal of the events taking place. Not once did I feel lost with all the technical terms flying around the room at break neck speeds. The dialogue was sharp and concise enough to enjoy what you're watching while your brain processes the intelligence of the scenes.
Finally on to the puppet master.
Kathryn Bigelow is a bad ass who's not getting enough credit for her outstanding talent. If I were to ask to name the top 10 directors right now in Hollywood. Truthfully, would her name even register in your head? I know for a fact that it wouldn't initially pop up in mine and that's a crime. Her filmography may not have the same influencing titles as her XY comrades, that's doesn't mean she's any less talented.
Bigelow's star is rising and it's about time.
Why is it rising? Based on her last two films, her ability to craft a story is pitch perfect. The Hurt Locker and Zero Dark Thirty have some elements in common. The biggest being tension. There are moments in The Hurt Locker that made me almost pass out cause I was holding my breath. The same thing happens here and I think we can all figure out when. The assault on Bin Laden's compound was oozing tension and drama that for the first time in a long time my eyes were glued to the screen. That's an impressive feat considering I knew what happened during that siege in explicit detail.
After the news broke. TV shows were inundating us with reenactments and "first hand" accounts of Seal Team 6's mission. Everything from the chopper crash to how Bin Laden ate his final meal. In the form of a bullet. Knowing all of this going into this film I still couldn't wait to see how they pulled it off. That's film making people. Bigelow has the ability to create dread and distress even when retelling an event that the audience is fully aware of. The entire assault scene played like a horror film in the sense of what the hell was going to come out of the shadows. How she got snubbed for Best Director is beyond me.
It's wrong on so many levels.
Nevertheless, the proof is in the pudding. Kathryn Bigelow is 2 for her last 2 and has earned herself a seat at the big boys table. If she wasn't there already.
Zero Dark Thirty was a highly anticipated film from the moment of announcement. It was worth the wait and worth every cent and second I spent. You owe it to yourself and the people involved to see this film. You will not be disappointed.
On the 5 star scale. Zero Dark Thirty gets the full house. 5 stars with a "Worth Every Penny!" recommendation.
That's a wrap for today. Up Next is A Haunted House.
Until Next Episode...."I'll Save You A Seat!"
"D"
Today's review is Zero Dark Thirty.
Directed by Kathryn Bigelow.
Written by Mark Boal.
Review #201
MPAA Rating: Rated R for strong violence including brutal disturbing images, and for language.
Run Time: 157 min
Cast
Jason Clarke...Dan
Reda Kateb...Ammar
Jessica Chastain...Maya
Kyle Chandler...Joseph Bradley
Jennifer Ehle...Jessica
Harold Perrineau...Jack
Jeremy Strong...Thomas
J.J. Kandel...J.J.
Mark Strong...George
Fredric Lehne...The Wolf
Édgar Ramírez...Larry from Ground Branch
James Gandolfini...C.I.A. Director
Stephen Dillane...National Security Advisor
John Schwab...Deputy National Security Advisor
Martin Delaney...Assistant to National Security Advisor
Jeff Mash...Deputy Director of C.I.A.
Joel Edgerton...Patrick - Squadron Team Leader
Chris Pratt...Justin - DEVGRU
Taylor Kinney...Jared - DEVGRU
Callan Mulvey...Saber - DEVGRU
Siaosi Fonua...Henry - DEVGRU
Phil Somerville...Phil - DEVGRU
Nash Edgerton...Nate - DEVGRU EOD
Mike Colter...Mike - DEVGRU
Frank Grillo... Squadron Commanding Officer
There are two dates in recent record that have a profound effect on on us all.
9/11/2001 & 5/1/2011
These two dates mark the beginning and the end of one of the biggest tragedies in our countries history since Pearl Harbor. Like most of you I'll never forget the day I found out Bin Laden was killed. Of course now that one of the world's most wanted was dead. This left Hollywood a golden opportunity to cash in on the story. Thus the many different film and TV adaptations chronicling the events up to and leading to Bin Laden's demise surfaced with a frenzy.
Of the many projects on the slate involving this particular story, the one that caught my eye and many other people for that matter was Kathryn Bigelow's take. This was great news to read because you just knew that she was going to tell the story with as much accuracy and respect as allowed. Plus coming off her amazing work with The Hurt Locker there isn't anyone else that would be better with this material.
Plot
A chronicle of the decade-long hunt for al-Qaeda terrorist leader Osama bin Laden after the September 2001 attacks, and his death at the hands of the Navy S.E.A.L. Team 6 in May, 2011.
First off, it's important to keep two things in mind when watching this movie. Despite the statement in the beginning that this film was based on information from direct accounts of the people involved, doesn't mean that everything happened as you saw it. I don't mean to be condescending. I'm just providing a word to the wise because the film plays as if none of these scenes were over dramatized for thematic effect.
The second thing is that even though this film depicts the assassination of Bin Laden. Zero Dark Thirty is very much about the CIA Agent who goes by the name Mya. There isn't a last name because she's still an active agent and her record is purposely clouded in mystery. This movie is about her reassignment to not only Bin Laden's manhunt but the ongoing search for more planned attacks against the country.
Zero Dark Thirty takes you back to the beginning. The very beginning. The first thing you witness is a horrifying montage of news reports, mass panic and 911 calls from people trapped in the burning towers speaking to the operators on the other line. What made this sequence even more chilling is that all of this was playing in front of a blank screen. Your mind has to adjust to only what your hearing. It was a very disturbing yet powerful scene. It was in my opinion done to not only take you back to that unforgettable day but to inspire anger and vengeance against the coward who masterminded this attack.
It sets the stage for what comes next.
I fear I may have said too much so I will move on to what really made this a great film. I'll begin with the performance of Jessica Chastain who has come out of nowhere and exploded on the scene with reckless abandon. It's hard to tell how much of her portrayal of Mya is credible or counterfeit. Regardless she demands your attention and respect throughout. Her ferocious agenda never wavers and only intensifies when more Al Qaeda attacks take place. The biggest impact you see in Chastain's performance is the maturation and toughness that takes shape as the years in the middle east take their toll on her. There was a sense of hesitation in her when she first arrived. That quickly dissipated when it was time to get to work.
To put it simply. This woman never gave up. Her confidence and defiance against contrary opinions is what drove her to keep going. This was evident every second Chastain was on screen. Magnificent performance worthy of her Oscar nomination. She probably is my early front runner for the gold guy.
Chastain was awesome but none of that is possible without Mark Boal's script. This man knows how to tell a story via the written word. He knows how to make things simply complex. This film required a lot of exposition to get us all up to speed on what's happened and with what's going to happen. Those scenes were written carefully and very smartly. It's very easy to dumb things down so we all get it. This movie has no place for that kind of writing. It was evident that Boal and Bigelow did massive amounts of research to secure both an accurate and accessible portrayal of the events taking place. Not once did I feel lost with all the technical terms flying around the room at break neck speeds. The dialogue was sharp and concise enough to enjoy what you're watching while your brain processes the intelligence of the scenes.
Finally on to the puppet master.
Kathryn Bigelow is a bad ass who's not getting enough credit for her outstanding talent. If I were to ask to name the top 10 directors right now in Hollywood. Truthfully, would her name even register in your head? I know for a fact that it wouldn't initially pop up in mine and that's a crime. Her filmography may not have the same influencing titles as her XY comrades, that's doesn't mean she's any less talented.
Bigelow's star is rising and it's about time.
Why is it rising? Based on her last two films, her ability to craft a story is pitch perfect. The Hurt Locker and Zero Dark Thirty have some elements in common. The biggest being tension. There are moments in The Hurt Locker that made me almost pass out cause I was holding my breath. The same thing happens here and I think we can all figure out when. The assault on Bin Laden's compound was oozing tension and drama that for the first time in a long time my eyes were glued to the screen. That's an impressive feat considering I knew what happened during that siege in explicit detail.
After the news broke. TV shows were inundating us with reenactments and "first hand" accounts of Seal Team 6's mission. Everything from the chopper crash to how Bin Laden ate his final meal. In the form of a bullet. Knowing all of this going into this film I still couldn't wait to see how they pulled it off. That's film making people. Bigelow has the ability to create dread and distress even when retelling an event that the audience is fully aware of. The entire assault scene played like a horror film in the sense of what the hell was going to come out of the shadows. How she got snubbed for Best Director is beyond me.
It's wrong on so many levels.
Nevertheless, the proof is in the pudding. Kathryn Bigelow is 2 for her last 2 and has earned herself a seat at the big boys table. If she wasn't there already.
Zero Dark Thirty was a highly anticipated film from the moment of announcement. It was worth the wait and worth every cent and second I spent. You owe it to yourself and the people involved to see this film. You will not be disappointed.
On the 5 star scale. Zero Dark Thirty gets the full house. 5 stars with a "Worth Every Penny!" recommendation.
That's a wrap for today. Up Next is A Haunted House.
Until Next Episode...."I'll Save You A Seat!"
"D"
10 Worst Films of 2012
Welcome to a special episode of Lights....Camera....Popcorn!
Today I am going to countdown the 10 Worst Films of 2012.
Here's the breakdown of my year at the movies.
Total number of films seen - 45
Avg score - 3 stars
2012 was an up and down year. Over all there were more good to average films then bad ones. That doesn't mean I don't have 10 bad films to choose from. As is the case in every year since I've done these reviews. There have been quite a few stinkers and 2012 has it's fair share.
So let's begin shall we.
10) Safe House - 5 star score - 1 star. Recommendation - "Save The Loot"
Early on there was nice buzz and intrigue around this film. Decent cast, somewhat fresh plot and of course. Denzel. However what we got was another run of the mill action thriller which involved government agents and corruption. There was absolutely NOTHING new here to inspire any feeling of excitement or enjoyment. The dialogue was sloppy, the action was sloppier and redundant. Just not good enough for a film that has seen far better entries make it's way to the genre.
9) Snow White and The Huntsman - 5 star score - 1 star. Recommendation - "Save The Loot"
Like all the films on this list. SWATH started out with potential but ended up being falling flat to poor writing or story structure. However, this film had a much bigger hurdle to jump. It was part of the new craze in Hollywood. The re-imagination of classic fairy tales. That enough was cause for alarm but the powers that be deemed it wise to go ahead and give us this ridiculous film. There were elements to like from SWATH but nothing close enough to warrant your full attention or appreciation. Just another example of a studio's lack of vision or originality.
8) Red Dawn - 5 star score - .5 stars. Recommendation - "Save The Loot"
Here's a riddle for you. What's worse than a bad film? Remaking the bad film. Red Dawn was a silly film that required no brain power to watch. The one thing it did have going for it was history. When the original was made the country was going through the cold war with Russia. Making the Soviets the enemies who invade the US was not only smart it was practical. That wasn't the case here and while trying to tie in bits and pieces of the original to placate whatever fan base it had, the mixed bag turned into a mess of a movie.
7) Taken 2 - 5 star score - 0 stars. Recommendation - "Save The Loot"
There's nothing I can say about this film other than I deserved what I got from it. The first film was filled with plot holes and impossible scenarios. It also was very entertaining and fresh considering the subject matter and storyline. Naturally everyone tried their luck and gave it another go. BAD IDEA!
6) Jack Reacher - 5 star score - 0 stars. Recommendation - "For The Love of God Stay Home"
As I mentioned in my full review, there was quite an uproar after the announcement of this film hit the public. Largely in part to the fact that Tom Cruise looked nothing like the titular character from the book this train wreck is based on. That boys and girls was the least of your worries. Horrendous plot. Boring characters. Dull action. Uninspiring leading man. Waste of time.
5) Trouble With The Curve - 5 star score - 0 stars. Recommendation - "Save The Loot"
This one played me for a sucker. I bought into the Clint Eastwood baseball drama angle. I would have been better off being drilled in the head by a line drive. Forgettable as any movie can be.
4) The Watch - 5 star score - 0 stars. Recommendation - "For The Love of God Stay Home"
The R rated comedy boom was in full effect when this film was released. That doesn't mean your film has to spend 90 minutes dropping F bombs, surrounded by characters that you would rather run over with your car than laugh at. There was only 1 thing watchable in this film. Jonah Hill. His performance was funny enough to get me through this. Everything else was just pure drivel.
3) Total Recall - 5 star score - 0 stars. Recommendation - "For The Love of God Stay Home"
First off. I'm changing the score and recommendation I gave this film when I first reviewed it. After some reflection I realized I was being way too generous giving this film half a star. It pains me to no end how a remake can screw up so badly when the blueprint to success was staring them in the face. This is another case of defiant writers and directors refusing to accept the fact that their story is not original. So to combat that, they upset the apple cart by tweaking the story to fit their vision thereby upsetting ME!
2) Wrath of The Titans - 5 star score - 0 stars. Recommendation - "For The Love of God Stay Home"
This film screamed at me...."Don't watch me. You're going to be very unhappy!" Being the glutton for punishment that I am. I decided to give it the benefit of the doubt. For the simple reason that they were branching outside of the original film mythos and trying to tell a brand new story. Where was Medusa when I needed her. Her stone gaze could have ended my suffering. My hatred for this film burrows deep into my soul due to my undying love for Greek Mythology and the 1981 Clash of The Titans. The remake gave me shivers and not the good kind. This one has incurred my wrath.
Now time for the main event.
1) Prometheus - 5 star score - 0 stars. Recommendation - "For The Love of God Stay Home"
When it comes to me and movies, I can be pretty emotional on both sides of the coin. There are some who have the opinion that I like everything and can be too generous with my praise or scoring. There is some validity to those claims. I can at times be too positive towards a film that didn't deserve it. On the other hand when I dislike a film, I make sure my disdain comes through every word I type. If I hated a film then stay out of my way.
I HATED THIS FILM! I HATED IT! HATED IT! HATED IT!
Did I mention that I hated it?
Prometheus was supposed to be the most anticipated film of the summer. We were finally returning to the Alien franchise that Ridley Scott introduced us to back in 1979. Then as a bonus, the master was returning to his domain. Ridley was going to wash away the sins of inferior sequels and remind us what it was like to experience the pinnacle of sci fi/horror.
WHAT THE F#&K HAPPENED?
The answer is summed up in 2 words. Damon Lindelof.
For those who have been living under a rock for the past couple of years and don't know who I'm talking about. Lindelof is one of the creators of Lost and has written some DREADFUL summer blockbusters. The script for Prometheus was first written by John Spaiths. Then the suits took a look at it and realized that this guy can't write so what do they do?
They brought in another guy who can't write to polish it. So what ended up happening was two hack writers spent time polishing a turd. The final product became a film that created a divide that I haven't seen in a very long time. You either loved it or loathed it. There was no middle ground.The venom for this film was so toxic that Lindelof ended up becoming the butt of every joke pertaining to the film. He apologized for how mad the film made people and fell on the sword making himself the sacrificial lamb for all the hate mongers.
NOT GOOD ENOUGH!
OK. You have a sense of humor and know how to make fun of yourself. Fantastic. It doesn't excuse the fact that you helped write a very shitty film.
The problems with Prometheus kick off literally at the beginning. We are introduced to a scene filled with stunning visuals and landscapes. What followed was a confusing set of events that ended up following the rest of the film until the end credits. To make matters worse, the film was littered with some of the DUMBEST characters to hit a sci fi film since Spielberg's War of The Worlds. Clearly this is a byproduct of the horrible script that's filled with plot holes big enough to fly the Death Star through. These idiots spent the entire film contradicting themselves. A geologist who's expertise is tracking and mapping his surroundings gets lost in a cave. A biologist who freaks out at the sight of an alien corpse but can't wait to touch and examine a species he's never seen before with his bare hands.
WHAT?
The biggest crime falls on the lead character Elizabeth Shaw. Her stupidity knew no bounds. I've said this once before and coincidentally it's about Speilberg's War of The Worlds. That film was so bad and those characters were so annoying that I rooted for the aliens to destroy them all. I would have preferred a world without them. That's how much anger those characters inspired in me. I felt the exact same way here only it's 1000 fold. These people were so SO STUPID that I just wanted them to expire as fast as humanly possible so I could go home and play Call of Duty.
Hey Charlize Theron! Keep running straight ahead when a space ship is falling directly above you. Don't worry. It won't land on you. Just as long as you keep running right underneath it.
IDIOT!!!!
As expected a sequel is in the works as we speak. Lindelof has already announced that he will not be involved with this next installment. That's music to my ears but it comes with pause. Just because he's not a part of it, doesn't mean his replacement will be any better.
We'll just have to wait and PRAY!
Well that's a wrap for my 10 Worst Films of 2012.
Be on the look out for my 10 Best Films of 2012.
Until Next Episode...."I'll Save You A Seat!"
"D"
Today I am going to countdown the 10 Worst Films of 2012.
Here's the breakdown of my year at the movies.
Total number of films seen - 45
Avg score - 3 stars
2012 was an up and down year. Over all there were more good to average films then bad ones. That doesn't mean I don't have 10 bad films to choose from. As is the case in every year since I've done these reviews. There have been quite a few stinkers and 2012 has it's fair share.
So let's begin shall we.
10) Safe House - 5 star score - 1 star. Recommendation - "Save The Loot"
Early on there was nice buzz and intrigue around this film. Decent cast, somewhat fresh plot and of course. Denzel. However what we got was another run of the mill action thriller which involved government agents and corruption. There was absolutely NOTHING new here to inspire any feeling of excitement or enjoyment. The dialogue was sloppy, the action was sloppier and redundant. Just not good enough for a film that has seen far better entries make it's way to the genre.
9) Snow White and The Huntsman - 5 star score - 1 star. Recommendation - "Save The Loot"
Like all the films on this list. SWATH started out with potential but ended up being falling flat to poor writing or story structure. However, this film had a much bigger hurdle to jump. It was part of the new craze in Hollywood. The re-imagination of classic fairy tales. That enough was cause for alarm but the powers that be deemed it wise to go ahead and give us this ridiculous film. There were elements to like from SWATH but nothing close enough to warrant your full attention or appreciation. Just another example of a studio's lack of vision or originality.
8) Red Dawn - 5 star score - .5 stars. Recommendation - "Save The Loot"
Here's a riddle for you. What's worse than a bad film? Remaking the bad film. Red Dawn was a silly film that required no brain power to watch. The one thing it did have going for it was history. When the original was made the country was going through the cold war with Russia. Making the Soviets the enemies who invade the US was not only smart it was practical. That wasn't the case here and while trying to tie in bits and pieces of the original to placate whatever fan base it had, the mixed bag turned into a mess of a movie.
7) Taken 2 - 5 star score - 0 stars. Recommendation - "Save The Loot"
There's nothing I can say about this film other than I deserved what I got from it. The first film was filled with plot holes and impossible scenarios. It also was very entertaining and fresh considering the subject matter and storyline. Naturally everyone tried their luck and gave it another go. BAD IDEA!
6) Jack Reacher - 5 star score - 0 stars. Recommendation - "For The Love of God Stay Home"
As I mentioned in my full review, there was quite an uproar after the announcement of this film hit the public. Largely in part to the fact that Tom Cruise looked nothing like the titular character from the book this train wreck is based on. That boys and girls was the least of your worries. Horrendous plot. Boring characters. Dull action. Uninspiring leading man. Waste of time.
5) Trouble With The Curve - 5 star score - 0 stars. Recommendation - "Save The Loot"
This one played me for a sucker. I bought into the Clint Eastwood baseball drama angle. I would have been better off being drilled in the head by a line drive. Forgettable as any movie can be.
4) The Watch - 5 star score - 0 stars. Recommendation - "For The Love of God Stay Home"
The R rated comedy boom was in full effect when this film was released. That doesn't mean your film has to spend 90 minutes dropping F bombs, surrounded by characters that you would rather run over with your car than laugh at. There was only 1 thing watchable in this film. Jonah Hill. His performance was funny enough to get me through this. Everything else was just pure drivel.
3) Total Recall - 5 star score - 0 stars. Recommendation - "For The Love of God Stay Home"
First off. I'm changing the score and recommendation I gave this film when I first reviewed it. After some reflection I realized I was being way too generous giving this film half a star. It pains me to no end how a remake can screw up so badly when the blueprint to success was staring them in the face. This is another case of defiant writers and directors refusing to accept the fact that their story is not original. So to combat that, they upset the apple cart by tweaking the story to fit their vision thereby upsetting ME!
2) Wrath of The Titans - 5 star score - 0 stars. Recommendation - "For The Love of God Stay Home"
This film screamed at me...."Don't watch me. You're going to be very unhappy!" Being the glutton for punishment that I am. I decided to give it the benefit of the doubt. For the simple reason that they were branching outside of the original film mythos and trying to tell a brand new story. Where was Medusa when I needed her. Her stone gaze could have ended my suffering. My hatred for this film burrows deep into my soul due to my undying love for Greek Mythology and the 1981 Clash of The Titans. The remake gave me shivers and not the good kind. This one has incurred my wrath.
Now time for the main event.
1) Prometheus - 5 star score - 0 stars. Recommendation - "For The Love of God Stay Home"
When it comes to me and movies, I can be pretty emotional on both sides of the coin. There are some who have the opinion that I like everything and can be too generous with my praise or scoring. There is some validity to those claims. I can at times be too positive towards a film that didn't deserve it. On the other hand when I dislike a film, I make sure my disdain comes through every word I type. If I hated a film then stay out of my way.
I HATED THIS FILM! I HATED IT! HATED IT! HATED IT!
Did I mention that I hated it?
Prometheus was supposed to be the most anticipated film of the summer. We were finally returning to the Alien franchise that Ridley Scott introduced us to back in 1979. Then as a bonus, the master was returning to his domain. Ridley was going to wash away the sins of inferior sequels and remind us what it was like to experience the pinnacle of sci fi/horror.
WHAT THE F#&K HAPPENED?
The answer is summed up in 2 words. Damon Lindelof.
For those who have been living under a rock for the past couple of years and don't know who I'm talking about. Lindelof is one of the creators of Lost and has written some DREADFUL summer blockbusters. The script for Prometheus was first written by John Spaiths. Then the suits took a look at it and realized that this guy can't write so what do they do?
They brought in another guy who can't write to polish it. So what ended up happening was two hack writers spent time polishing a turd. The final product became a film that created a divide that I haven't seen in a very long time. You either loved it or loathed it. There was no middle ground.The venom for this film was so toxic that Lindelof ended up becoming the butt of every joke pertaining to the film. He apologized for how mad the film made people and fell on the sword making himself the sacrificial lamb for all the hate mongers.
NOT GOOD ENOUGH!
OK. You have a sense of humor and know how to make fun of yourself. Fantastic. It doesn't excuse the fact that you helped write a very shitty film.
The problems with Prometheus kick off literally at the beginning. We are introduced to a scene filled with stunning visuals and landscapes. What followed was a confusing set of events that ended up following the rest of the film until the end credits. To make matters worse, the film was littered with some of the DUMBEST characters to hit a sci fi film since Spielberg's War of The Worlds. Clearly this is a byproduct of the horrible script that's filled with plot holes big enough to fly the Death Star through. These idiots spent the entire film contradicting themselves. A geologist who's expertise is tracking and mapping his surroundings gets lost in a cave. A biologist who freaks out at the sight of an alien corpse but can't wait to touch and examine a species he's never seen before with his bare hands.
WHAT?
The biggest crime falls on the lead character Elizabeth Shaw. Her stupidity knew no bounds. I've said this once before and coincidentally it's about Speilberg's War of The Worlds. That film was so bad and those characters were so annoying that I rooted for the aliens to destroy them all. I would have preferred a world without them. That's how much anger those characters inspired in me. I felt the exact same way here only it's 1000 fold. These people were so SO STUPID that I just wanted them to expire as fast as humanly possible so I could go home and play Call of Duty.
Hey Charlize Theron! Keep running straight ahead when a space ship is falling directly above you. Don't worry. It won't land on you. Just as long as you keep running right underneath it.
IDIOT!!!!
As expected a sequel is in the works as we speak. Lindelof has already announced that he will not be involved with this next installment. That's music to my ears but it comes with pause. Just because he's not a part of it, doesn't mean his replacement will be any better.
We'll just have to wait and PRAY!
Well that's a wrap for my 10 Worst Films of 2012.
Be on the look out for my 10 Best Films of 2012.
Until Next Episode...."I'll Save You A Seat!"
"D"
Gangster Squad - The 200th Review
Welcome to another episode of Lights....Camera....Popcorn!
Today's review is Gangster Squad.
Directed by Ruben Fleischer.
Written by Will Beall.
Based on the book "Gangster Squad" written by Paul Lieberman.
Review #200
MPAA Rating: Rated R for strong violence and language.
Run Time: 113 min
Cast
Sean Penn...Mickey Cohen
Josh Brolin...Sgt. John O'Mara
Ryan Gosling...Sgt. Jerry Wooters
Mireille Enos...Connie O'Mara
Sullivan Stapleton...Jack Whalen
Emma Stone...Grace Faraday
Nick Nolte...Chief Parker
Josh Pence...Officer Darryl Gates
Anthony Mackie...Officer Coleman Harris
Robert Patrick...Officer Max Kennard
Michael Peña...Officer Navidad Ramirez
Giovanni Ribisi...Officer Conway Keeler
Holt McCallany...Karl Lennox
Troy Garity...Wrevock
Jack McGee...Lt. Quincannon
Austin Abrams...Pete
John Aylward...Judge Carter
Before I begin this review I would like to take this moment to once again thank each and every one of you who take the time to read these reviews. Never in my wildest dreams did I expect this kind of following let alone reach 200 reviews and I owe ALL of that to YOU. If it wasn't for your support and cool comments, I would have stopped doing this a long time ago. You guys keep me going which in turn keeps my undying passion for the silver screen flowing through my veins.
You guys kick ass!
Now without further adieu. Lights....Camera....Popcorn! presents it's 200th review.
Gangster Squad.
What is it about the gangster film that appeals to us so much? Is it because it's based in our world both past and present? Is it the fascination with a group of people who operate outside of the law with enough sophistication to avoid consequence (with some exceptions of course)? The bottom line is organized crime exists, it's as real and plausible as you can get. Hollywood just sensationalizes what we know to be true and it's always a fun ride. With the countless number of gangster/mob movies out there, everyone's got a favorite.
Gangster Squad had a real chance to become part of the conversation.
Too bad they squandered it.
Plot
Los Angeles, 1949: A secret crew of police officers led by two determined sergeants work together in an effort to take down the ruthless mob king Mickey Cohen who runs the city.
Before I begin, I want to go on record. I enjoyed Gangster Squad. Which is why I am so disappointed with it. I can review this movie in one word.
Wannabe.
Gangster Squad wants to be L.A. Confidential and The Untouchables but is more like the finale of The Sopranos.
Uninspiring and flat.
You can see the attempt it makes to put it's hat in the ring with the classic gangster films of yesteryear. The script falls short with some of the characters and the overall depth of the plot. The biggest being Mickey Cohen. The film begins with a short and sweet voice over explaining Cohen's swift and absolute takeover of LA. Why didn't we see any of it? The film just establishes him as the man in charge. You get a better sense of who he is and how you feel if you actually saw him do the things he did that put him in this position of power.
Gangster Squad tries to cheap it's way out of establishing Coehn's supposed ruthlessness by dishing out punishment to his failing subordinates. This is nothing new to films of this genre. The problem is not once did I fear or respect the man running things. Cohen looked and felt more cartoonish than chilling. The respect comes more from O'Mara as he leads his crew against Cohen's organization. The premise of Gangster Squad is simple yet intriguing enough to provide some major adventure. A golden opportunity was wasted in favor of montage sequences showcasing O'Mara and his men knocking over Cohen's operations all over the city.
Gangster Squad also falls with it's subplots. The relationships these characters share with each other are brushed off way too quickly. These are rich, interesting characters that deserved the chance to be known and felt for. I can't figure out why this was ignored but it's glaring and unfortunate. Towards the beginning of the third act, the film tries to get you to care but it doesn't resonate as well as it should because of the predictable outcome.
That's what bothered me the most about Gangster Squad. It comes so close to giving me what I was looking and hoping for but for some reason stopped dead in it's tracks and moved on to the next scene. Ruben Fleischer should know better. He directed Zombieland. That film was well crafted and drawn out. I'm surprised he didn't apply the same tactics he used in his debut feature. The film and I would have been better off.
All of this leads to the final showdown in act three. It's as over the top a gun battle as you can get but it still maintained some form of entertainment. I realize there's not much you can do with a bullet ballet to make it fresh but let's be real about this people. If you're firing round after round with a machine gun and the only thing between you and your enemy is a Christmas tree and nobody gets hit?
That borders on Naked Gun turf.
I realize this sounds damning but I really did like Gangster Squad. The problem is I wanted to love it and it wouldn't let me. If you are in the mood for a popcorn-esque mob movie then this is right up your alley. If you're looking for more intricacy and appeal then catch this past season of Boardwalk Empire.
On the 5 star scale. Gangster Squad gets 2.5 stars with a split "Netflix/Give It A Shot" recommendation.
That's a wrap for today. Up next is Zero Dark Thirty.
Until Next Episode...."I'll Save You A Seat!"
"D"
Today's review is Gangster Squad.
Directed by Ruben Fleischer.
Written by Will Beall.
Based on the book "Gangster Squad" written by Paul Lieberman.
Review #200
MPAA Rating: Rated R for strong violence and language.
Run Time: 113 min
Cast
Sean Penn...Mickey Cohen
Josh Brolin...Sgt. John O'Mara
Ryan Gosling...Sgt. Jerry Wooters
Mireille Enos...Connie O'Mara
Sullivan Stapleton...Jack Whalen
Emma Stone...Grace Faraday
Nick Nolte...Chief Parker
Josh Pence...Officer Darryl Gates
Anthony Mackie...Officer Coleman Harris
Robert Patrick...Officer Max Kennard
Michael Peña...Officer Navidad Ramirez
Giovanni Ribisi...Officer Conway Keeler
Holt McCallany...Karl Lennox
Troy Garity...Wrevock
Jack McGee...Lt. Quincannon
Austin Abrams...Pete
John Aylward...Judge Carter
Before I begin this review I would like to take this moment to once again thank each and every one of you who take the time to read these reviews. Never in my wildest dreams did I expect this kind of following let alone reach 200 reviews and I owe ALL of that to YOU. If it wasn't for your support and cool comments, I would have stopped doing this a long time ago. You guys keep me going which in turn keeps my undying passion for the silver screen flowing through my veins.
You guys kick ass!
Now without further adieu. Lights....Camera....Popcorn! presents it's 200th review.
Gangster Squad.
What is it about the gangster film that appeals to us so much? Is it because it's based in our world both past and present? Is it the fascination with a group of people who operate outside of the law with enough sophistication to avoid consequence (with some exceptions of course)? The bottom line is organized crime exists, it's as real and plausible as you can get. Hollywood just sensationalizes what we know to be true and it's always a fun ride. With the countless number of gangster/mob movies out there, everyone's got a favorite.
Gangster Squad had a real chance to become part of the conversation.
Too bad they squandered it.
Plot
Los Angeles, 1949: A secret crew of police officers led by two determined sergeants work together in an effort to take down the ruthless mob king Mickey Cohen who runs the city.
Before I begin, I want to go on record. I enjoyed Gangster Squad. Which is why I am so disappointed with it. I can review this movie in one word.
Wannabe.
Gangster Squad wants to be L.A. Confidential and The Untouchables but is more like the finale of The Sopranos.
Uninspiring and flat.
You can see the attempt it makes to put it's hat in the ring with the classic gangster films of yesteryear. The script falls short with some of the characters and the overall depth of the plot. The biggest being Mickey Cohen. The film begins with a short and sweet voice over explaining Cohen's swift and absolute takeover of LA. Why didn't we see any of it? The film just establishes him as the man in charge. You get a better sense of who he is and how you feel if you actually saw him do the things he did that put him in this position of power.
Gangster Squad tries to cheap it's way out of establishing Coehn's supposed ruthlessness by dishing out punishment to his failing subordinates. This is nothing new to films of this genre. The problem is not once did I fear or respect the man running things. Cohen looked and felt more cartoonish than chilling. The respect comes more from O'Mara as he leads his crew against Cohen's organization. The premise of Gangster Squad is simple yet intriguing enough to provide some major adventure. A golden opportunity was wasted in favor of montage sequences showcasing O'Mara and his men knocking over Cohen's operations all over the city.
Gangster Squad also falls with it's subplots. The relationships these characters share with each other are brushed off way too quickly. These are rich, interesting characters that deserved the chance to be known and felt for. I can't figure out why this was ignored but it's glaring and unfortunate. Towards the beginning of the third act, the film tries to get you to care but it doesn't resonate as well as it should because of the predictable outcome.
That's what bothered me the most about Gangster Squad. It comes so close to giving me what I was looking and hoping for but for some reason stopped dead in it's tracks and moved on to the next scene. Ruben Fleischer should know better. He directed Zombieland. That film was well crafted and drawn out. I'm surprised he didn't apply the same tactics he used in his debut feature. The film and I would have been better off.
All of this leads to the final showdown in act three. It's as over the top a gun battle as you can get but it still maintained some form of entertainment. I realize there's not much you can do with a bullet ballet to make it fresh but let's be real about this people. If you're firing round after round with a machine gun and the only thing between you and your enemy is a Christmas tree and nobody gets hit?
That borders on Naked Gun turf.
I realize this sounds damning but I really did like Gangster Squad. The problem is I wanted to love it and it wouldn't let me. If you are in the mood for a popcorn-esque mob movie then this is right up your alley. If you're looking for more intricacy and appeal then catch this past season of Boardwalk Empire.
On the 5 star scale. Gangster Squad gets 2.5 stars with a split "Netflix/Give It A Shot" recommendation.
That's a wrap for today. Up next is Zero Dark Thirty.
Until Next Episode...."I'll Save You A Seat!"
"D"
Django Unchained
Welcome to another episode of Lights....Camera....Popcorn!
Today's review is Django Unchained.
Written & Directed by Quentin Tarantino.
Review #199
MPAA Rating: Rated R for strong graphic violence throughout, a vicious fight, language and some nudity.
Run Time: 165 min
Cast
Jamie Foxx...Django
Christoph Waltz...Dr. King Schultz
Leonardo DiCaprio...Calvin Candie
Kerry Washington...Broomhilda
Samuel L. Jackson...Stephen
Walton Goggins...Billy Crash
Dennis Christopher...Leonide Moguy
James Remar...Butch Pooch / Ace Speck
David Steen...Mr. Stonesipher
Dana Michelle Gourrier...Cora (as Dana Gourrier)
Nichole Galicia...Sheba
Laura Cayouette...Lara Lee Candie-Fitzwilly
Ato Essandoh...D'Artagnan
Sammi Rotibi...Rodney
The man. The myth. The legend. Quentin Tarantino is at it again. The master of homage has graced us with his latest entry of his revisionist history series. Inglourious Basterds kicked things off and was one of his finest works to date. So what does he do for an encore? Two words.
Spaghetti Western.
Quentin Tarantino is a man of certain tastes. He likes what he likes and could care less if you do. His films have always catered to an audience of one. This is what makes him one of my favorite directors of all time. The man knows what he wants to do and let's nothing interfere. It's no secret to Tarantino fans that Spaghetti Westerns is one his favorite genres of films that directly inspire the stories surrounding his films.
The question I among others had was why in the world has it taken this long for him to tackle the wild west. The answer was obvious. He needed the right story to tell. Any master film maker like QT, he takes his time getting his ducks in a row. Then he sets out to tell the best possible story he can. That's why it takes him 2-3 years between film releases. He leaves no stone unturned and gets every detail figured out before putting eye to lens. The end results are smile inducing, entertaining rides that stimulate both the mind and body.
Django Unchained honors the master's homage to his beloved western genre.
Plot
With the help of his mentor, a slave-turned-bounty hunter sets out to rescue his wife from a brutal Mississippi plantation owner.
There is so much to love about this film that it would be impossible for me to list them all. Instead I'll mention what I loved the most about Django Unchained.
Unbeknownst to me. QT pulled a fast one on me and treated us all to a double feature. This movie is connected by it's two leads, Django and King Schultz, but their adventure is in two parts. This gave me the feel of watching two different films. I'm sure that wasn't the intent but it worked perfectly for me. After Schultz frees Django and sets out their quest to find the Brittle brothers, the film slows down, gives us a chance to recover and takes us on a completely different adventure that was full of suspense and intrigue.
This is something that Tarantino has down to a science.
The man is a wizard at pacing, in every aspect of his films. Whether it's from act to act or from my personal favorite, scene to scene. He knows how to push buttons and get every single drop of emotion out of a scene. He drives you mad with excitement, anticipation, fear and most of all attention. This is most evident in act three. I will not ruin it by mentioning which scene. I will say that you will know what's going to happen and still freeze in fear and anticipation. How does QT manage to pull this off every time? It's the next part of his puzzle that makes him so great.
His writing.
Tarantino's dialogue can cut through diamonds. He finds a way to weave together words that get more mileage than you could ever imagine. Like all masters, he's a student of his craft. The man has always been a good writer. His ability to accentuate the verbal volleys among his characters just amplify his expertise as a storyteller 100 fold. This isn't shocking to any fan of his work. Many of his biggest influences have been cinemas biggest and best film makers of all time. Sergio Leone, Akira Kurosawa, The Shaw Brothers to name a few have all made their mark on his work and we as the audience are the happy beneficiaries.
Getting back to Django Unchained.
The film feels like your in the wild west. Tarantino can take you back in time like the best of them. The grit, grime of the world these characters are in just bleed through the screen. It doesn't hurt that the performances are as always top notch. I've already covered QT's ability to write and pace his films. The final part is his ability to get kick ass performances from his cast. He knows what he wants and conveys that perfectly to his crew.
The rest speaks for itself.
Speaking of the cast. Django Unchained is highlighted by three exceptional performances. Christoph Waltz as King Schultz. Leonardo DiCaprio as Calvin Candie and Samuel L. Jackson as Stephen. You're probably asking why I didn't include Jamie Foxx. I mean no disrespect to his effort as the titular character. He was great. However in the pecking order of depth and importance to the overall story, Django falls a bit down the list. The reason being his motivations are simple and transparent. Everyone else have much deeper and specific roles that both help and hinder Django's progress. This is why I placed more stock in the other three.
What was most interesting about Candie and Schultz is they both looked out of place. Waltz was so amazing in Inglourious Basterds as The Jew Hunter that he would have seemed perfect to play Candie. On the other hand, DiCaprio is so clean cut that it's hard to see him as a villain at first glance. He would have been excellent as Schultz. Yet the roles for both men were reversed and it still worked. In the hands of any other director it probably would have failed but we're talking about you know who.
The dude loves to roll the dice and makes it work.
Finally, as is the case with all of Tarantino's films. Django Unchained does not skimp in the violence department. Blood flies everywhere so make sure you're not wearing white when you see it. It's raw, rough and gritty, which should be expected when you're story takes place in a period of history where rules and order were casually enforced. The film also has a ton of foul language with one specific word tossed around. I won't say which word it is but considering Django is a freed slave and the film takes place 2 years before the Civil War, it shouldn't take you long to put 2 and 2 together.
Bottom line. Django Unchained is another home run for Tarantino who continues to crank out entertaining pieces of celluloid. It's a shame that his next entry is a few years away.
The good news is that it will be worth the wait.
On the 5 star scale. Django Unchained gets 4.5 stars. With a resounding "Worth Every Penny!" recommendation.
That's a wrap for today. Up next is Gangster Squad. My 200th review!
Until Next Episode...."I'll Save You A Seat!"
"D"
Today's review is Django Unchained.
Written & Directed by Quentin Tarantino.
Review #199
MPAA Rating: Rated R for strong graphic violence throughout, a vicious fight, language and some nudity.
Run Time: 165 min
Cast
Jamie Foxx...Django
Christoph Waltz...Dr. King Schultz
Leonardo DiCaprio...Calvin Candie
Kerry Washington...Broomhilda
Samuel L. Jackson...Stephen
Walton Goggins...Billy Crash
Dennis Christopher...Leonide Moguy
James Remar...Butch Pooch / Ace Speck
David Steen...Mr. Stonesipher
Dana Michelle Gourrier...Cora (as Dana Gourrier)
Nichole Galicia...Sheba
Laura Cayouette...Lara Lee Candie-Fitzwilly
Ato Essandoh...D'Artagnan
Sammi Rotibi...Rodney
The man. The myth. The legend. Quentin Tarantino is at it again. The master of homage has graced us with his latest entry of his revisionist history series. Inglourious Basterds kicked things off and was one of his finest works to date. So what does he do for an encore? Two words.
Spaghetti Western.
Quentin Tarantino is a man of certain tastes. He likes what he likes and could care less if you do. His films have always catered to an audience of one. This is what makes him one of my favorite directors of all time. The man knows what he wants to do and let's nothing interfere. It's no secret to Tarantino fans that Spaghetti Westerns is one his favorite genres of films that directly inspire the stories surrounding his films.
The question I among others had was why in the world has it taken this long for him to tackle the wild west. The answer was obvious. He needed the right story to tell. Any master film maker like QT, he takes his time getting his ducks in a row. Then he sets out to tell the best possible story he can. That's why it takes him 2-3 years between film releases. He leaves no stone unturned and gets every detail figured out before putting eye to lens. The end results are smile inducing, entertaining rides that stimulate both the mind and body.
Django Unchained honors the master's homage to his beloved western genre.
Plot
With the help of his mentor, a slave-turned-bounty hunter sets out to rescue his wife from a brutal Mississippi plantation owner.
There is so much to love about this film that it would be impossible for me to list them all. Instead I'll mention what I loved the most about Django Unchained.
Unbeknownst to me. QT pulled a fast one on me and treated us all to a double feature. This movie is connected by it's two leads, Django and King Schultz, but their adventure is in two parts. This gave me the feel of watching two different films. I'm sure that wasn't the intent but it worked perfectly for me. After Schultz frees Django and sets out their quest to find the Brittle brothers, the film slows down, gives us a chance to recover and takes us on a completely different adventure that was full of suspense and intrigue.
This is something that Tarantino has down to a science.
The man is a wizard at pacing, in every aspect of his films. Whether it's from act to act or from my personal favorite, scene to scene. He knows how to push buttons and get every single drop of emotion out of a scene. He drives you mad with excitement, anticipation, fear and most of all attention. This is most evident in act three. I will not ruin it by mentioning which scene. I will say that you will know what's going to happen and still freeze in fear and anticipation. How does QT manage to pull this off every time? It's the next part of his puzzle that makes him so great.
His writing.
Tarantino's dialogue can cut through diamonds. He finds a way to weave together words that get more mileage than you could ever imagine. Like all masters, he's a student of his craft. The man has always been a good writer. His ability to accentuate the verbal volleys among his characters just amplify his expertise as a storyteller 100 fold. This isn't shocking to any fan of his work. Many of his biggest influences have been cinemas biggest and best film makers of all time. Sergio Leone, Akira Kurosawa, The Shaw Brothers to name a few have all made their mark on his work and we as the audience are the happy beneficiaries.
Getting back to Django Unchained.
The film feels like your in the wild west. Tarantino can take you back in time like the best of them. The grit, grime of the world these characters are in just bleed through the screen. It doesn't hurt that the performances are as always top notch. I've already covered QT's ability to write and pace his films. The final part is his ability to get kick ass performances from his cast. He knows what he wants and conveys that perfectly to his crew.
The rest speaks for itself.
Speaking of the cast. Django Unchained is highlighted by three exceptional performances. Christoph Waltz as King Schultz. Leonardo DiCaprio as Calvin Candie and Samuel L. Jackson as Stephen. You're probably asking why I didn't include Jamie Foxx. I mean no disrespect to his effort as the titular character. He was great. However in the pecking order of depth and importance to the overall story, Django falls a bit down the list. The reason being his motivations are simple and transparent. Everyone else have much deeper and specific roles that both help and hinder Django's progress. This is why I placed more stock in the other three.
What was most interesting about Candie and Schultz is they both looked out of place. Waltz was so amazing in Inglourious Basterds as The Jew Hunter that he would have seemed perfect to play Candie. On the other hand, DiCaprio is so clean cut that it's hard to see him as a villain at first glance. He would have been excellent as Schultz. Yet the roles for both men were reversed and it still worked. In the hands of any other director it probably would have failed but we're talking about you know who.
The dude loves to roll the dice and makes it work.
Finally, as is the case with all of Tarantino's films. Django Unchained does not skimp in the violence department. Blood flies everywhere so make sure you're not wearing white when you see it. It's raw, rough and gritty, which should be expected when you're story takes place in a period of history where rules and order were casually enforced. The film also has a ton of foul language with one specific word tossed around. I won't say which word it is but considering Django is a freed slave and the film takes place 2 years before the Civil War, it shouldn't take you long to put 2 and 2 together.
Bottom line. Django Unchained is another home run for Tarantino who continues to crank out entertaining pieces of celluloid. It's a shame that his next entry is a few years away.
The good news is that it will be worth the wait.
On the 5 star scale. Django Unchained gets 4.5 stars. With a resounding "Worth Every Penny!" recommendation.
That's a wrap for today. Up next is Gangster Squad. My 200th review!
Until Next Episode...."I'll Save You A Seat!"
"D"
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