FEATURE: Oscar Predictions

Oscar season is practically upon us, and in preparation for this season, Tyler and I will be sharing with you our predictions.  Based on early critical reviews, trailers, and the people on each project, we will attempt to predict which films will be nominated for the Best Picture Award at the upcoming Academy Awards.  If you all enjoy this new feature, we will continue to predict nominations for other Oscar categories.  Predictions for Best Picture will be posted tomorrow evening, so stay tuned!

REVIEW: Schindler's List

When you think of iconic movies and pieces of cinematic history, what comes to mind?  While answers will vary, for many people, Schindler's List is a definitive piece of cinema.  And they're right.  Schindler's List goes beyond just being a simple little movie, it becomes a piece of culture and history.  Steven Spielberg, who directed the movie, is so articulate with details and all of the actors painstakingly bring the characters to life, making a rare piece of movie magic.

Schindler's List is the true story of Oskar Schindler (Liam Neeson) during the tragedies of the Holocaust.  Oskar, being the business man that he is, finds war the perfect time to start a factory and get rich fast.  Getting help from a Jew, Itzhak Stern (Ben Kingsley), the two set out to start a business to produce army mess kits.  Together they hire Jews from the ghetto, but Schindler's only goal is to make money.  As the war continues, the Jews are relocated to a camp under the control of a sadistic SS Lieutenant by the name of Amon Goeth (Ralph Fiennes).  Jews are being killed one by one, and only Oskar can step up to the plate to try and save them.

Make no mistake, the events and characters in this movie are 100% fact.  And Steven Spielberg, known for making his scenes feel extremely real, holds absolutely nothing back.  What makes this movie so unique is that from beginning to end, it never feels like a movie.  It feels like a documentary.  And through a strong script, a focused director, and a powerhouse cast, Schindler's List gets under your skin and becomes more than just a film.

The acting in this movie is just beyond belief.  Never once did I doubt the characters or think that the actors were doing a bad job.  You can tell that everyone was moved by the story, so they really committed to nailing the characters.  However, the top three performances go to Liam Neeson, Ralph Fiennes, and Ben Kingsley.  They each play such different people, and its their contrasts that make each stand out.  Liam Neeson plays the perfect hero.  He's perfect because he's flawed.  He was a Nazi out to make money, but through a series of events, starts to care for the Jews.  His transformation on screen is phenomenal.  Also, the scene were he realizes he could have saved more Jews had he sold his car and other belongings is just so gut-wrenching and powerful.  Ralph Fiennes plays the perfect villain.  He's sadistic and crazed and enjoys torturing and killing Jews.  And Fiennes just knocks the character out of the park.  I imagine it would have been hard to play, but Fiennes never lets the audience down.  Finally, Ben Kingsley is just a lovable character.  He's so quiet and smart and loyal, he's hard not to love.  Kinngsley captures a variety of emotions, and portrays them in such subtle ways.  He, too, is amazing in this film.

    

Not only is the acting in this film way above par, so is the cinematography.  The shots and angles that are used are so deliberate and so powerful.  And the lighting is always spot-on.  And I have to tip my hat off to Spielberg for his use of color.  Color is really only seen at the very beginning and the very end, with the exceptions being the little girl and the candles during a Sabbath service.  The little girl in red has now become a staple figure in world cinema, and whenever you see a picture of her, the Holocaust and Schindler's List will always come to mind.  Although the girl is only in the film a brief time, her presence is felt and you will be impacted by her character.

Stark, and gritty, and real.  Reading about the Holocaust and witnessing its atrocities are two completely separate things, and nothing can really prepare you for this movie.  Chances are you won't feel like you're watching a movie, but that you are bearing witness to the real thing.  And that is what's so frightfully good about this movie.  Schindler's List is an iconic movie from a director like no other.  Nothing is held back from the topic at hand, making a fantastic historical film.  It is without hesitation that I can now finally give a movie a perfect score.

RATING: 5 / 5

This movie is rated R (language, some sexuality, nudity, and actuality violence)

REVIEW: Mud

Mud -  a tiny film with a big heart.  Director Jeff Nichols strikes gold yet again with his third movie, leading into what I'm sure will be a very successful career.  Mud is filled with heart and cinematic soul, and while it wasn't a Hollywood blockbuster, it certainly was one of the best movies I've seen so far this year.

Mud is the story of two young boys, Ellis (Tye Sheridan) and Neckbone (Jacob Lofland), who embark on a journey to a seemingly deserted island on the Mississippi River.  Upon their arrival, they discover an old boat stuck up in the trees, a result of their last flood.  Inside the boat, they discover food and boot prints, indicating that they are not alone.  This is where Mud enters the story.  Mud (Matthew McConaughey) is a man on the run, hiding from a group of bounty hunters who want him dead.  In order to protect his girlfriend (Reese Witherspoon), he had to kill a man, and ever since then, the law has been working against him.  So the two boys form a pact with Mud and try to help him avoid the bounty hunters and reunite with his true love.

This movie is just a gem, which is pretty amazing considering the plot isn't anything amazing.  But it's not really the story that makes this film work, it's the actors who bring it to life.  

Matthew McConaughey delivers one of his best performances as Mud.  Despite the fact that Mud is a wanted criminal, you still root for his survival and the downfall of the bounty hunters.  McConaughey never overplays the character; in fact, he almost underplays it to give the character a sense of mystery.  But he's not the only shining star in this movie.  Although she was only in the movie a very short amount of time, Reese Witherspoon nails her character, Juniper.  After Mud was over, I couldn't stop thinking about her and McConaughey.  Their performances resonate and stay with you.  That being said, the two boys also do a job well done, especially Ellis, who masters a variety of emotions,  from trust to betrayal.  The boys add some comedic relief to an otherwise serious story and throughout the film, they progressively mature.  The smaller roles, played by people like Sam Shepard and Joe Don Baker, also make the world more believable and add to a talented cast.  

What makes this movie even more incredible is the fact that, on the surface, there seems to be nothing incredible about it.  There is no action until the end.  The romance is only spoken of, never seen.  And the entire movie is really just a series of conversations between characters.  And yet, Mud gets under your skin and stays there.  It deals with profound themes that we ourselves question,  such as law and love.  With Ellis's parents getting a divorce, he begins to question love and if people can be true to one another.  And he learns that love hurts.  And the movie poses questions about the law, and if things are fair or not.  It's these themes and the characters involved in them that make this movie a masterpiece.

Mud is an incredible movie - no doubt.  It's a character-driven story with people that you would want to know.  It offers some of the best performances from both McConaughey and Witherspoon, as well as the rest of the cast.  The movie is nearly perfect, with the only part falling short for me was the ending.  While I enjoyed the conclusion, I was slightly unsatisfied.  However, that's just my opinion.  I could easily see how somebody would love the end; it just didn't fit me exactly.  Overall, though, Mud is a must-see and falls just below perfection.  I can't wait to see what Jeff Nichols comes up with next!

RATING: 4.8 / 5

This movie is rated PG-13 (violence, sexual content, language, and drugs/alcohol)

NEWS: Ellen DeGeneres to Host 2014 Academy Awards

Earlier this morning, Ellen DeGeneres, host of the Ellen show, officially announced that she will be hosting the upcoming Academy Awards.

In a tweet, she stated:

It's official: I'm hosting the #Oscars! I'd like to thank @TheAcademy, my wife Portia and, oh dear, there goes the orchestra.
— Ellen DeGeneres (@TheEllenShow) August 2, 2013

"We are thrilled to have Ellen DeGeneres host the Oscars," said Craig Zadan and Neil Meron, the producers of the 2013 Oscars.  "As a longtime friend, we had always hoped to find a project for us to do together and nothing could be more exciting than teaming up to do the Oscars.  There are few stars today who have Ellen's gift for comedy, with her great warmth and humanity.  She is beloved everywhere and we expect that the audience at the Dolby Theatre, an in homes around the globe, will be as excited by this news as we are."

This is not Ellen's first time at the Oscars.  She also hosted the Academy Awards back in 2007, thus marking the first openly gay individual to host the show.  As many may recall, she did a fantastic job as host and included humor that could be enjoyed by all.  

So, are you excited that Ellen will be hosting the 2014 Oscars?  Let us know, and comment below!

REVIEW: The Conjuring

Director James Wan once again brings us back to the place where nightmares are born.  Known for movies like the original Saw, Insidious, and Dead Silence, Wan has experience with horror movies, and he truly displays it in this movie.  The Conjuring shows Wan flexing his artistic horror muscles and bringing out all the best of his directing.  With powerful performances, good pacing, and a lot of suspense, The Conjuring proves to be a frightful well-made scary movie.

The Conjuring tells the true story of two paranormal investigators, Ed (Patrick Wilson) and Lorraine Warren (Vera Farmiga), who embark on their most terrifying case in history.  When Carolyn (Lili Taylor) and Roger Perron (Ron Livingston) move into their new house with their five daughters, everything seems fine.  But then the noises start.  As time passes, the odd noises and creepy voices intensify, until one night when everything goes wild and a demonic spirit makes its presence known.  Fearing for their lives, the Perron family seek Ed and Lorraine to purify their house.  But things won't be easy.  This demon is not going down without a fight.  Based on the horrifying true story, The Conjuring is a demonic tale of one family against the one of the most evil things on Earth.

If you can sit through this entire movie without being slightly scared at least once, then bravo to you.  The Conjuring is like the Amityville Horror on steroids.  This is not a ghost story.  This is a demon story.  And it is this difference that makes this movie much more frightening than other horror movies out there.  Even more terrifying, it's based on a true story.  Therefore, you can't say, "It's just a movie.  It's not real - it's just a movie," because these events actually took place.  And the events simply seem real due to excellent pacing and wonderful performances.

Not once did I look at my watch during this movie.  From start to finish, there are scares along the way to keep you at the edge of your seat the entire time.  It's not like some haunted house movies where things finally start to happen an hour into the movie.  This film cracks the creepy meter up within the first five minutes.  And the suspense is perfectly placed.  The music builds up at all the right times and you are left wondering what could be behind the next corner.  The first half of the movie is built more on loud noises and creepy voices to make you jump in your seat while the second half is more character-driven and focuses on the evil of the demon.

The acting in this movie from all the actors is just great.  Being based on a true story, the characters had to feel real - and they do.  I never once doubted them and they fit into their roles.  Of note, Lili Taylor does a brilliant job as the worn-down mom who wants her children to be safe and Vera Farmiga does well as the medium who has seen to much.  All the children do wonderful acting scared out of their wits and the men of the film do great too.  Without spoiling who, the person who becomes possessed near the end does a superb job acting as a demon, doing pretty much everything except for spinning his/her head!

The Conjuring is a well-made horror film that is sure to intrigue and frighten a wide variety of audiences.  It's the kind of movie that makes you keep your light on at night and hang crosses all around your room.  If nothing else, this film will definitely make you want to pick up that dusty, old Bible and start reading it, because you never know when a demon will strike.  I highly recommend this movie if you're looking for a quick scare and I suggest seeing it in theaters first for the full effect.

RATING: 4.5 / 5

This movie is rated R (intense and frightening scenes)

NEWS: Catching Fire Trailer Released

Earlier this afternoon, the official Hunger Games: Catching Fire trailer was released at Comic-Con.  The trailer can be seen below on YouTube or via the Entertainment section of Yahoo!.

While the trailer does reveal a major plot point, it's still a GREAT trailer.  It sets a perfect tone for the film and builds up the intensity.  We get our first look at many of the new characters, most of whom look their role.  I'm still torn on whether Sam Claflin will make a good Finnick, but I'll reserve judgement until I see the movie.  Personally, the trailer got me really excited for the film and now I can't wait until the fall.  What did you think of the trailer?  Did it get you excited?  Comment below and let us know!

The Hunger Games: Catching Fire will be released November 22, 2013.

NEWS: Catching Fire Trailer Released Today

Just wanted to give a quick reminder that this afternoon, the official Hunger Games: Catching Fire trailer will be released.  It will be first shown at Comic-Con and will be posted online almost immediately after.  When the trailer hits the web, we'll be sure to post it on the blog!