David O. Russell fans rejoice; another trailer for his latest film American Hustle has been released. With a star-studded cast including Christian Bale, Bradley Cooper, Amy Adams, Jennifer Lawrence, and Jeremy Renner, American Hustle tells the story of a con artist and his partner in crime, who were forced to work with a federal agent to turn the tables on other cons, mobsters, and politicians - namely, the volatile mayor of impoverished Camden, New Jersey.
The latest trailer is posted below:
American Hustle hits theaters December 25, 2013. What did you think of the trailer? Will you be catching this new David O. Russell film this Holiday Season? Comment below and let us know!
Let me start by saying that Don Jon is completely different than the trailers portray it. It isn't just some dumb comedy about a couple friends who have sex with women and watch porn. It has a very deep message about life and love, and an even bigger theme about addiction. This may be one of my favorite movies of 2013. Before this, I enjoyed Joseph Gordon-Levitt (who will now be referred to as "JGL" for the rest of this review) enough for his acting ability, but now I respect him for his writing and directing, as well.
From simply watching the trailers for this, I figured it would be one of those stupid comedies that would follow someone with a "silly" problem like watching porn, only to conquer that and win the woman at the conclusion of the film. This is, actually, a well-written character piece where porn isn't just there for the sake of funny situations, but is a REAL thing Jon has to deal with in his daily life. Aside from his addiction, we also learn others things about this character through his actions, friends, family, and really interesting daily routine.
This film tells the story of Jon (Known by his friends as "Don
Jon"), played by JGL. There are only a few things that he cares about in
life, which he tells us in the very beginning of the trailer, and the
very beginning of the film. Go watch both. We follow Jon through
his daily life, seeing what drives him. The fact that everything, from writing and directing, was done by JGL (along with being the star) very much creates an exceptionally strong character. It is very much a character film, following Jon, but also those around him, who are all played by some very funny, talented actors.
First, we meet Jon's "boys." Boddy (Rob Brown) and Danny (Jeremy Luke) are a fun duo. They have Jon's back in the various clubs and bars they frequent. We have his family, which consists of his father (Tony Danza), his mother (Glenne Headley), and sister (Brie Larson), which are the stereotypical Italian-Jersey family. Each one of them has their own idea of what Jon should be doing with his life, and we understand why for every one of them by the end of the movie.
Lastly, we meet the two woman encountered in the film. The ones encountered more than once, I mean. We have Barbara (Scarlett Johansson), the one Jon wants to win over. In doing so, Jon begins to sacrifice his entire lifestyle. Then, we have Esther (Julianna Moore), who is a fellow college student of Jon's. She slowly shares a bond with him and becomes a voice of reason when things are really bad.
There are some brilliant moments throughout this movie. My eyes were locked on the screen for, easily, the entire thing. It is very much "over-the-top," which works. All of the actors are very animated. You aren't just watching JGL, who seems to be stealing the spotlight. While it is deserved, Brown and Luke are just as "big." Danza and Headley has some very funny, small side moments with themselves and others. Every single time Larson was in view, I was laughing. You'll see why. Johansson is beautiful, of course, but more than that, is a very strong character. She isn't just there for the eye-candy. Moore is beautiful, but in a different way. She is the extreme opposite of her co-star, emotionally.
The film is nice in the technical sense, as well. Visually, there is a lot of color, fast cuts, and it is constantly moving, not staying still for too long. Sound design is important, too. Blending with the soundtrack 100% (which includes "Good Vibrations" by Marky Mark. Beat that). However, this isn't a perfect film. It has some problems. Halfway through, some of the characters seem to have changes that I didn't understand fully. They did things that they wouldn't have done an hour before. It's a sacrifice made for time, but also to make the film better. That being said, I liked the changes, but wish we would've seen them a little clearer.We HAD to see the growth in these characters. Otherwise, it is just another movie in the "Let's drink, sex, and fool around with our friends" genre. Or, boring, for short.
Overall, though, this film is one of the better things in the theaters. Do I think it is an "Oscar" contender? No. Do I care about the "Oscars?" Not too much. I love this film for what it is. It is one of the best films I've seen in 2013, for sure. JGL is off to an amazing start, and I'd like to see him continue writing and directing. Hopefully, we'll see him continue to create more, equally entertaining movies. I wasn't a HUGE JGL fan before, but I am now.
A gigantic, unstoppable storm is on the horizon. With its immense power, it can destroy and kill. There's only one catch. It's not really there - it's only in your mind. This is the story Jeff Nichols tells in his 2011 film, Take Shelter. For those of you that can remember, Nichols recently released the film Mud, which I reviewed at an earlier time. I gave the film a rave review. But as much as I loved Mud, I loved Take Shelter even more. It's a film with heart and soul that's not afraid to enter a dark part of the human mind.
Take Shelter tells the story of Curtis LaForche (Michael Shannon), an everyday blue-collar worker. But there is something that makes him unique. He's a paranoid schizophrenic, experiencing delusions and hallucinations. He has nightmares that make it impossible to sleep, and he has a constant fear that a storm is on the horizon. Keeping his condition a secret from his wife, Samantha (Jessica Chastain), and his deaf daughter, Hannah (Tova Stewart), he begins to expand on the storm shelter in the backyard in order to prepare for the storm. But eventually, his schizophrenia begins to take over his life, and it puts his relationships with his wife, daughter, and friends in danger.
Nichols is clearly a talented director. He makes movies that impact your opinions of the world and get under your skin. His movies are just so real. Take Shelter is no exception. This film succeeds from an original idea, a good script, and phenomenal performances from Michael Shannon and Jessica Chastain.
Not only is the idea of making a movie about paranoid schizophrenia unique, so is the way the story is told. Not only do you know what Curtis is going through, you see it and hear it through his eyes and ears. Like Curtis, you see the storm. You see the motor-oil rain. You hear the distant thunder. It's up for you the viewer to decide if what your seeing is real or just another dream or hallucination. Just like the character, you have a hard time distinguishing between fantasy and reality. You are put into the shoes of a paranoid schizophrenic, and its quite the experience.
Not only did Nichols direct the film, he wrote it too. The script is just as strong as his directing. It's raw and real. It's easy to follow and the story he lays out is simply spellbinding. You fall into the world Nichols creates and you don't leave until the credits start rolling up. Not only does he create a realistic world, he also creates a great set of characters. While the words on the script make the characters, its the actors in this film that flesh them out.
Michael Shannon and Jessica Chastain take this movie by the horns and ride it into success. Shannon does a superb job of playing a paranoid schizophrenic whose main concern is his family. You can see all of the emotional stress he's under in every shot of the movie. He does a particularly great job in the scene where he warns members of the community of the impending storm. He balances somewhere between a crazed madman and a concern family-man under a lot of stress - and it works well. It's hard to rise to Shannon's performance, but Jessica Chastain does a fine job herself. She masters a wide array of emotions. Her performance as the wife carrying the weight of her deaf daughter and her schizophrenic husband on her shoulders is masterful. I can't rave enough about these two performances these actors give in the film.
Take Shelter is a phenomenal work of cinematic art. Like Mud, it's a small film with a big heart. But also like Mud, it has a slightly unsatisfying ending. Like the ending of Inception, this movie ends with the audience just guessing as to what happens with the characters. It's an ambiguous ending. Generally, I don't like ambiguous endings. But if done well, and if it makes sense for the story, then they work. This is a case where the ending works, even if it doesn't satisfy. Overall, Take Shelter is a great psychological drama-thriller that is well worth a watch. You'll be captivated from beginning to end, and chances are you'll be thinking about the ending for some time after the credits finish rolling.
Imagine having no oxygen. You're breathing in nothing but CO2. You feel lightheaded, but you still have to make it to a safety zone. You're surrounded by space debris traveling thousands of miles per hour. You only have a little amount of time. This is just one of the many challenging situations that the characters are placed into during Alfonso Cuaron's Gravity. Gravity is a psychological thriller like no other. Alfonso brings the film a raw edge, and it succeeds due to its originality, its breathtaking visuals, and the spot-on acting from the stars.
The plot for Gravity is straight-forward. It tells the story of bio-medical engineer Dr. Ryan Stone (Sandra Bullock) on her first space shuttle mission. Accompanying her is space veteran Matt Kowalski (George Clooney), who is on his final space mission. Together they are working on space shuttle Explorer when a shower of space debris from a Russian satellite test comes past the shuttle. During the debris shower, Explorer is damaged, causing Stone to become separated from Kowalski. Stone needs to find Kowalski, because together they need to find a way back to Earth. Otherwise, they'll die in space, lost in an endless mass of black, never to be seen again.
This movie could have easily been a cheesy summer blockbuster. But it's not. Alfonso adds a raw edge and enough character development to save it from being a bad movie.
Watching Gravity is like re-experiencing cinema. It's so unique and original that you'll have a hard time comparing it to another movie. Yes, it is a space film. And yes, space films have been made before. But the way this story is told is so original. Unlike other space movies, Gravity puts you right up with the stars. You literally feel what the characters feel and experience the tension they feel in space. There are even some sequences when you take on their point of view and see what they see, adding more suspense to the film.
As one might expect, though, the primary selling point of this film is its visual effects. The visuals in this film are simply perfect. I never once felt out of the scene. Everything seemed so real, from the space explosions to the sunrise over the Earth. Speaking of space explosions, the disasters in Gravity are flawless. Not only do they look real, they sound real as well. By that I mean, you see the explosions, but you can't hear them because you're in space, where sound ceases to exists. This is a fact that many other space films seem to gloss over, but Alfonso sticks to the stark realism of outer space. The only sounds in the film are Sandra Bullock's deep breathing inside her helmet and the music score. Other than that, the only things you'll hear are the characters talking into their radios.
Without doubt, this movie is entirely character-driven. The plot is pretty simple: survive. The characters need to go from one destination to the next and only have a little amount of time to do it. If the movie relied on plot alone, it would have been boring and suffered. But Sandra Bullock and George Clooney manage to breathe life into Gravity. The stars add depth to their characters and make you more invested in them. You actually care if they survive or not. This was not an easy task for the actors, particularly because you never really get to see their whole personalities and how they interact with other people. Because the whole film takes place in outer space, we never get to see their families, their houses, or anything about their past. We only hear about them. And yet, you are drawn into Dr. Stone and Matt Kowalski. But make no mistake, the posters may say the film stars Sandra Bullock and George Clooney, but Bullock is the real star of the film. Gravity is told from her perspective, and so it is her story we follow. Bullock nails the character and the range of emotions she goes through realizing she may die soon in the middle of nowhere.
Gravity could have easily been a flop, from its jarring opening to its even more jarring ending. But once you see who directed the movie (Alfonso Cuaron, who directed the Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban) and who produced the movie (David Heyman, who produced all the Harry Potter films), you'll understand why the movie came out being so good. Technically, its brilliant. Visually, its stunning. Dramatically, its intense. And the acting is solid throughout. If you're looking for a good, unique cinematic experience that pulls you into uncomfortable situations, then I highly recommend this movie. If you experience vertigo, claustrophobia, or even a fear of open spaces, then this film probably isn't for you. But from my perspective, Gravity is a must-see that I can see being nominated several times at the upcoming Academy Awards.
RATING: 4.5 / 5
This movie is rated PG-13 (intense perilous sequences, some disturbing images, and brief language)
As Eric stated a month ago, I am posting my predictions, too. However, when he said "soon," I don't think he thought a month, Then again, he probably did... Hopefully I'm be a little more active now that I have so much free time, which I spend watching movie or TV.
So, here is my list. You'll notice some similar choices. That's because of two things. One, Eric and I have very close tastes. Two, it is very, very hard to predict this sort of thing without seeing half of the movies. I'm sure Eric's list will change in time, as will mine.
(I would also like to take this time to express my hatred of the term "Oscars." Until the 2013 "Oscars," they've always been, officially, the Academy Awards. "Oscar" is just a stupid nickname! It was coined with this nickname by Academy Award librarian and Director of the Academy of Motion
Picture Arts and Sciences Margaret Herrick. The story says that when she
first saw the statue in 1931, she said that it looked like her Uncle
Oscar... Well, to the list...
1. American Hustle
Director: David O. Russel (Silver Linings Playbook)
Stars: Christian Bale, Amy Adams, Jennifer Lawrence, Bradley Cooper, Robert De Niro.
Why It Should Be Nominated: As Eric stated, this is based on our director and cast. High from the success of Silver Linings Playbook, Russel is bringing back a big chunk of that cast, along with additions like Bale and Adams (Both of which are well-known at the "Oscars.")
2. The Counselor
Director: Ridley Scott (Blade Runner)
Stars: Michael Fassbender, Brad Pitt, Javier Bardem, Cameron Diaz, Penelope Cruz
Why It Should Be Nominated: Cormace McCarthy is writing the screenplay. McCarthy is famous for writing a number of novels, which have been extremely successful in both writing and film. The Road won the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction in 2006, while No Country for Old Men won the "Oscar" for Best Film in 2007. With one of the best directors in the business, with an all-star cast. This is one to watch.
3. Gravity
Director: Alfonso Cuaron (Children of Men) Stars: Sandra Bullock, George Clooney, and Ed Harris
Why It Should Be Nominated: We don't often see science fiction with such "Oscar" buzz. It'll be a nice change of pace to see this in that list. And, as Eric said, it has a unique premise. Our director, Cuaron, has also shown he can handle this type of material with his movie, Children of Men.
4. Inside Llewyn Davis
Director(s): Ethan Coen, Joel Coen (No Country for Old Men)
Stars: Justin Timberlake, Oscar Isaac, and Carey Mulligan
Why It Should Be Nominated: Firstly, one movie nominated for the "Oscar" each and every year must star John Goodman (see The Artist, Argo . Not only that, but the Coen Brothers haven't yet had a bad film. They can do everything from comedy to tragedy (see Raising Arizona, Fargo). Their films have raided the "Oscars" multiple times, receiving 33 nominations, wining 6.
5. The Monuments Men
Director: George Clooney (The Ides of March)
Stars: Matt Damon, George Clooney, Cate Blanchett, Bill Murray, Jean Dujardin
Why It Should Be Nominated: John Goodman is in this one, too. Apart from that, who doesn't love a WWII movie? Hitler is the best villain in the world. With a team like this, including Bill Murray of all choices, what is there NOT to like?
6. Nebraska
Director: Alexander Payne (The Descendants) Stars: Bruce Dern, Will Forte, June Squibb, Bob Odenkirk, Stacy Keach
Why It Should Be Nominated: This one may be a bit of a strech, but Payne has proven time and time again to be an extremely talented director, who is able to bring out the best performances in his actors and create an interesting story out of the smallest of things. This could be the black sheep in the "Oscar" list in 2014.
7. Saving Mr. Banks
Director: John Lee Hancock (The Blind Side) Stars: Tom Hanks, Emma Thompson, Colin Farrell, Ruth Wilson, Paul Giamatti
Why It Should Be Nominated: Historical movies like this are always fun. Especially when it is painting a person like Walt Disney is a light we've never seen him. With Hanks playing the part of Disney, we're sure to see something special that we've come to expect in every film starring Hanks.
8. The Secret Life of Walter Mitty
Director: Ben Stiller (Zoolander) Stars: Kristen Wiig, Ben Stiller, and Sean Pean
Why It Should Be Nominated: Ben Stiller is moving back into the director's seat, which he has fit very well before. He's an extremely funny, extremely talented man both in behind and in front of the camera. It'll be very much a departure from this list, but is deserving of having its own spot.
9. The Wolf of Wall Street
Director: Martin Scorsese (The Departed) Stars: Leonardo DiCaprio, Jonah Hill, and Mathew McConaughey
Why It Should Be Nominated: Again, Eric said it best: Scorsese + DiCaprio = Success. However, something feels much, much different about this upcoming film from others between these two. It has the feeling of something lighter, like a Hugo, but then spins into something completely different like a Taxi Driver. Scorsese has always been able to bring out the very best of DiCaprio, much like De Niro. This will be the same.
There is is. Now, this is a combination of my own picks and predicted winners. That being said, talking to me in the future, my mind may have changed, but this is it, at this very moment. If I had written it a month ago (like Eric wished), it would be very different. Reviews to come soon!
What would you do if you could turn back the hands of time and once again return to a younger age? This is the major premise of director Burr Steers's movie, 17 Again, whichM focuses on a miserable middle-aged man who returns to the age of seventeen in order to choose which life he wants to live. Despite the fact that the movie is built on a typical romantic-comedy formula and has one cliche after another, 17 Again has just enough charisma and chuckle moments to survive it from being a total waste of time.
17 Again follows the life of Michael "Mike" O'Donnell (Matthew Perry), a middle-aged man who is in the process of getting a divorce from his wife, Scarlet (Leslie Mann). Miserable with his life, he takes a drive on a dark and stormy night. Seeing the high school janitor trying to jump over a bridge, Mike tries to save him and ends up going over the rail, falling into a swirling vortex. He awakens the next morning back in his bed, but he's much younger. He's seventeen again. Young Mike (Zac Efron) now has to try to reevaluate his life and return back to where it all started - high school. Pretending to be a normal teenager, Mike has to go through several awkward moments to figure out what he wants to do with his life.
If you like simple teen comedies that don't require any thinking, then this is the movie for you. Personally, I prefer a more sophisticated romantic-comedy, like Silver Linings Playbook, but sometimes we all need an easy movie to just watch and relax on a Friday night. And in that regard, this movie works well, despite all its stereotypes, cliches, and formulaic plot.
The comedy aspects in the film are pretty hit and miss. Some are hysterical and some are just stupid. The movie is sprinkled with a wide variety of jokes, from people's behaviors, to fart jokes, to a penis joke. For the most part, they work well. But the ones that don't work bring the movie down and make it a low-class comedy.
Surprisingly, 17 Again is actually saved primarily from Zac Efron. For all the hate he gets, he's actually not a terrible actor. His charisma and charm makes the movie much more enjoyable than it would have been. He is actually really funny in some of the scenes, particularly when he is trying to figure out how to act as a modern teenager. But the funniest character in this movie is hands-down Ned Gold, played by Thomas Lennon. Almost everything he said at least made me grin. And he's the one that gets the great "hand-baby" joke!
What bothered me most about the movie were the glaring holes. Like how did Ned, Mike's best friend, not recognize him when he became seventeen? And how did the coach not recognize this great 'new' basketball player? And how did the wife not recognize her husband? After all, she's been with him since high school. These were just some of the numerous holes that turn this movie into a slice of Swiss cheese.
The movie has a weak start with Zac Efron in his natural form - no shirt. But he does get dressed quickly and remains that way for the duration of the movie. As the story progresses, the film does get better. It is by no means a great movie, but it is good for some simple weekend comedy. It's at least worth one watch, and you're almost guaranteed to laugh at least once.
RATING: 3 / 5
This film is rated PG-13 (language, some sexual content, teen partying)
As stated yesterday, here is my list of possible Best Picture nominees. Tyler's list will posted soon, so keep checking the blog!
1. The Wolf of Wall Street
Based on the true story of Jordan Belfort, from his rise to a wealthy stockbroker living the high life to his fall involving crime, corruption, and the federal government.
Why Should it be Nominated: Martin Scorsese and Leonardo DiCaprio working together for the fifth time = movie magic.
2. Saving Mr. Banks
Author P.L. Travers reflects on her difficult childhood while meeting with filmmaker Walt Disney during production for the adaptation of her eponymous novel, Mary Poppins.
Why Should it be Nominated: It's based on a shockingly true story and if it's done correctly, it may change how people view both Walt Disney and the movie, Mary Poppins. It also includes an excellent cast, including Tom Hanks.
3. August: Osage County
A look at the lives of the strong-willed women of the Weston family, whose paths have diverged until a family crisis brings them back to the Oklahoma house they grew up in, and to the dysfunctional woman who raised them.
Why Should it be Nominated: It's based on an award-winning play. Oh, and it stars Meryl Streep... need I say more?
4. Inside Llewyn Davis
A week in the life of a young singer as he navigates the Greenwich Village folk scene of 1961.
Why Should it be Nominated: The Coen Brothers. Period.
5. The Monuments Men
In a race against time, a crew of art historians and museum curators unite to recover renowned works of art stolen by Nazis before Hitler destroys them.
Why Should it be Nominated: It hosts an all-star cast with some pretty amazing talent powering the film. Also, George Clooney has been on an outstanding streak of being involved in top-notch movies.
6. Gravity
A medical engineer and an astronaut work together to survive after an accident leaves them adrift in space.
Why Should it be Nominated: It's been said by early reviews that it features excellent special effects, great acting, and a unique, interesting story. It could be this year's Life of Pi. Oh, and there's George Clooney again.
7. 12 Years a Slave
In the pre-Civil War United States, Solomon Northup, a free black man from upstate New York, is abducted and sold into slavery.
Why Should it be Nominated: Historical movies have always done well at the Academy Awards and this movie seems to be very well put together, featuring a talented cast.
8. American Hustle
The story of a con artist and his partner in crime, who were forced to work with a federal agent to turn the tables on other cons, mobsters, and politicians - namely, the volatile mayor of impoverished Camden, New Jersey.
Why Should it be Nominated: It's the same director that made Silver Linings Playbook and pretty much the same cast, including Bradley Cooper, Robert De Niro, and Jennifer Lawrence. It also stars Christian Bale and Amy Adams. With a cast like that and a well-established director, David O. Russell, I'm sure it will do well.
9. Blue Jasmine
A life crisis causes a vapid and narcissistic socialite to head to San Francisco, where she tries to reconnect with her sister.
Why Should it be Nominated: It has done extremely well among critics, it has a good cast, and it's said to be yet another Woody Allen classic.
