Spike Jonze, the director of “Her,” is no stranger to the bizarre. His past films “Being John Malkovich” and “Adaptation” combine elements of fantasy, surrealism, and science fiction. His latest film, though, is perhaps the one that is most relatable to audiences. We have all felt a connection to our mobile devices, at least to some extent. “Her” is just taking that connection to an extreme. But underneath the hints of satire, “Her” is also a surprisingly believable love story, as well as a truly unique and existential look on just what it means to be human. Continue Reading »

The “story behind the story” is a common theme to movies, seen in such films as “Ed Wood, ” “Hugo,” and the movie “Hitchcock.” They are a glimpse behind the curtain of film directors; a way to see how their “product” was made. “Saving Mr. Banks” tells the story of P.L. Travers, and of her inspiration behind the character Mary Poppins. It also deals with her interactions with Walt Disney later on in life, and of his determination to purchase the movie rights from her. Although this may not satisfy every Disney lover, “Saving Mr. Banks” is a thoughtful, engaging film. Continue Reading »

The quote “Keep it simple, stupid” has never been more fitting than when you relate it to Alexander Payne’s movies. His films are realistic and relatable portrayals of family life; emphasizing themes that everyone has to face at one point: the death of a loved one, growing old, learning to accept your choices, and, above all things, the idea of redemption. And never has he accentuated these ideals so perfectly than in the black-and-white southern-based “Nebraska.” This may not be the best film of the year. But it’s definitely one of my personal favorites. Continue Reading »

For the last 40 years, Martin Scorsese has been a significant figure in the movie world. Although primarily known for his gangster dramas, such as the classic “Goodfellas” or more recently “The Departed,” he has, in recent years, started to expand into other genres. He has done thrillers, with “Shutter Island,” historical biopics, with “The Aviator,” and even an adventure fantasy film, with “Hugo.” But never before has Scorsese been so bawdy, raunchy, and somehow funny at the same time. “The Wolf of Wall Street” succeeds for several reasons: as an acting film, as a biopic of a man with flawed views of wealth and success, and, above all, as a satire on the overindulgent lifestyles of the richest people in our country. It is also one of the best films of the year. Continue Reading »

In my review of the first “Hobbit” movie, subtitled “An Unexpected Journey,” I described the film as “flawed,” “awkward,” and “dull.” Almost exactly a year later, we finally have the second installment in Peter Jackson’s trilogy, this time subtitled “The Desolation of Smaug.” A larger, more magnificent, more thoughtful achievement; this is a major improvement on the first film. It still may not have the same lasting legacy as the original series, but for a fun, riotous adventure, it is at least worth a viewing. Continue Reading »

Although we hate to admit it, slavery played a substantial role in the early years of our country’s history. The words “all men are created equal” appear in our own Declaration of Independence, yet it wasn’t until 1865 that slavery was finally made illegal. Despite its prominence, though, there are few movies that focus on the subject. “Django Unchained” is the only recent example, and this is more of a Tarantino fantasy than a political satire. For this reason, “12 Years A Slave” is a significant achievement. Here comes a film that is not afraid to show what slavery was really like, in all of its horrific brutality. This is not what you would call a “fun” movie. But it is an essential one. Continue Reading »

Providing an accurate rating for “Prisoners” is possibly the most difficult decision that I have made on this blog. The reason is that this an expertly crafted film; complete with exceptional performances, beautiful cinematography, and an elaborately complicated screenplay. Perhaps this is the issue, though. In some ways, maybe it was just a little too much. At times, “Prisoners” gets ahead of itself, never knowing just quite where it stands. Yet, despite its rating, I would actually recommend seeing this film. (If only so that I had someone to talk to about it.) Continue Reading »

The first “Thor” introduced us to the hero from Norse mythology and the Marvel comics; showing us his origin on Asgard, why he came to Earth, and how he eventually learns the value of humbleness and self-sacrifice. We were also introduced to Loki, Thor’s evil and resentful brother. Since then, we have seen the two once again in “The Avengers,” when Thor teamed up with a gang of other superheroes in order to fight off Loki once again. And, finally, that leads us here, to “Thor: the Dark World” (“Thor 2”). At this point, we already know the characters, we know what’s happening, and we know who to root for. So, let’s get right to the action. Continue Reading »

This is the age of CGI; a period in movie history when filmmakers are able to fully convey complicated visuals, due to advances in technology. As a result, the trend within the last couple of decades has been in taking older films, and then re-imagining them with new digital effects. The problem that inevitably results, however, is that many films focus a great deal on the effects, and they do so at the expense of the story itself. Luckily, the remake of the classic horror film “Carrie” does not completely fall victim to this trend, and still manages to present an engaging, entertaining story. This version attempts to bring “Carrie” into the modern era of cell phones and social media, when bullying has now become more than just what happens at school. Despite its dark material, “Carrie” is also a surprisingly fun time, especially now in October, when horror movies are at their prime. Continue Reading »

In honor of Halloween, coming in a little more than two weeks, I decided to write a post concerning horror movies. Specifically, I will be discussing two films: “Let the Right One In” and “Let Me In.” The first is a Swedish-language horror film from 2008, directed by Tomas Alfredson; while the second is the American remake that came a couple years later, directed by Matt Reeves. Of the two, it is “Let the Right One In” that will most likely be remembered in coming years. Yet, in a sea of mediocre remakes, “Let Me In” rises above most of them, and is at least comparable to the original. Continue Reading »