Directed by Dexter Fletcher
Written by Sean MacCaulay and Simon Kelton
Starring Taron Egerton, Hugh Jackman, Jo Hartley and Keith Allen
"Eddie the Eagle" is your typical underdog story. A less experienced, less talented athlete going up against the big dogs in competition. But unlike many films in its genre, this is a true story.
A man, who grew up wearing a leg brace for most of his childhood, is determined to beat the odds and become an Olympic athlete. Much to the likeness of the Jamaican Bobsled team, which also competed during the '88 Olympics in Calgary, he did so with little expectations but was more than happy to attend.
The story itself isn't much to write home about, as heart warming as it is. But the performances in this film, specifically by Taron Egerton, are extraordinary and bring this whole film together.
Honestly guys, I saw this on Thursday and completely forgot to write a review for it… so this one is not that informative…. It was good though. That's all you really want to hear anyway, right?
Directed by Stephen Hopkins
Written by Joe Shrapnel and Anna Waterhouse
Starring Stephen James, Jason Sedeikis, Shanice Banton and Jeremy Irons
With a not-so-subtle double meaning in the title, "Race" tells the story of Jesse Owens and his journey to the 1936 Olympics in Berlin as he faced racial adversity and pressure from his community to put his dreams to the side and boycott the Olympics under Hitler's regime.
Upon entering the theatre, I knew for sure I would be in for an inspiring movie about the great Olympian's life. We all know the story of Jesse Owens. It is one of the greatest sports moments in the history of not just America, but the entire World. It's very safe to say most people who go in to this movie know what they're getting into.
There isn't much about this film that makes it different from any other sports or civil rights movement film. It follows the same formula that all of those great movies do. The acting is decent, but nothing spectacular. And the same can be said about everything else in this film. What it does do is bring up the conversation that so many people avoid. And that is racial equality, or lack there of.
While Germany in 1936 was in no doubt a much worse state than the U.S., at least as far as racial inequality goes, the parallels the film made between the two countries really show the problems America ignored for so long. And while things have certainly gotten better, this film shows that the word "better" does not mean "fixed".
The one aspect of the film I did not expect, or even know about was the German citizens who accepted and supported Jesse Owens. Of course they were few and far between, but it gave insight into the German political tyranny that some of them saw, but feared for their lives if they spoke up. It showed how the mix of German citizens really was, rather than the archetypal "good German".
The film was decent and had great pacing and running sequences. It did a wonderful job at building tension even in scenes in which I knew the outcome. But overall, it's a movie that will most likely be forgotten with the exception of the random mentions brought up in discussions about it's subject.
Written and Directed by Robert Eggers
Starring Anya Taylor-Joy, Ralph Ineson, Kate Dickie and Harvey Scrimshaw
In his review of this dark and demonic horror film, Drew McWeeny of HitFlix.com writes:
"It feels like we're watching something we should not be seeing."
I usually try to avoid quoting other reviewers, because of course, reviewing a film is about putting your feel ins about a film into your own words. But, dammit, Drew nailed it with that quote. It is truly the best way to describe this film.
For myself, horror films rarely do anything for me. Out of all the genres, they are certainly the most predictable and formulaic. However, every so often a film is released that absolutely changes the game. It is rare, but when it happens, that horror film becomes one of my favorites of the year, if not of all time.
Inspired by actual reports of 17th century witch trials and folklore, Robert Eggers has created a film so sinister and unnerving that it kept me tensed up throughout the majority of its duration. And believe me when I tell you that it is an impressive feat.
One of the most striking things about this film is how truthful to the time period the world that the filmmakers created was. There was not a single piece of clothing, architecture or even line of dialogue that took you out of the story. That, on top of some of the best acting of any horror movie ever (that's right), teamed up for one hell of an experience.
One of the most surprising aspects of the film was the young actors in it. At first, I thought that due to the subject matter, these kids would have limited roles in the film. But every single one of them gave a performance that seemed eerily understanding to the scenarios being depicted. I actually worried for these kids and their mentality.
Had this film been widely released last year, it certainly would have cracked my Top 10 movies of 2015. But with how much I loved this movie, I think it has a good chance of cracking my Top 10 of this year, if not my Top 5.
Forget seeing Deadpool again. See this instead. Or see both in one day! That's cool too!
Directed by Tim Miller
Written by Rhett Reese and Paul Wernick, based on characters by Rob Liefeld and Fabian Nicieza
Starring Ryan Reynolds, Morena Baccarin, T.J. Miller and Ed Skrein
Quite understandably the most hyped up movie of any February since "The Passion of the Christ", "Deadpool" once seemed like the on superhero movie that would never be made. A character that revels in the macabre and a well placed dick joke seemed like a sure bust to a industry that kills creativity just to make the sacred PG-13 cut.
But Ryan Reynolds wasn't having it. While I'm sure he'd still deny it (unless he has already admitted and I'm just misinformed), we all know he released that animated footage on the internet. And fan girls and boys squealed at the very notion that there was someone who was even thinking about making a movie.
Cut to February 12th, 2016, and it's finally here.
Ladies….
This movie was exactly as I thought it'd be. Snarky, yet hilarious comments from the films protagonist, mixed with fourth-wall breaks and unforgiving violence. It delivered fully on all fronts and did not disappoint.
However, despite that R-rating, it still felt produced by Disney. It's hard to explain, but even through it's unique qualities that made it stand out from the rest of the Marvel Universe, it seemed just as formulaic and flat.
Before y'all go and bite my head off, I liked it. I liked it quite a bit. But if I never see it again, I won't be disappointed. It didn't feel as though it would offer anything more from the loyalty of a repeat viewer. And even through the refreshing dialogue from the lovable asshole that is Wade Wilson, I felt as though I had seen it before in all of the other Marvel movies.
Yeah, Yeah… I know, Mr. Pool
This of course is of no fault to the movie or it's filmmakers. I just have lost all interest in Superhero movies since the second Incredible Hulk movie. They all seem the same to me and really don't provide me with any worthwhile entertainment. For the 90+ minutes, I remain entertained and locked on the screen. But when I walk away, nothing has changed for me.
Granted, that's how I feel with most popular movies. I just feel the overall hype around superhero films drains me of any energy that could go into loving them more.
All that being said, go see "Deadpool". I know most of you are more normal than I am and will love it. I'll just join the old people in the next screening of "Macbeth".
Starring Josh Brolin, George Clooney, Alden Ehrenreich and Ralph Fiennes
In my mind, The Coen Brother's are America's directors. They seem to capture so many different sub-cultures of America perfectly while also satirizing them. The desperation of the American Middle-Class in "Fargo". Three run-away prisoners during the depression era in "O Brother Where Art Thou?". And many others (I don't feel like listing each one. Check their filmography out for yourself!).
In "Hail, Caesar!", the genius brother's tackle Hollywood during the Golden Age of film. Following a studio "fixer", the guy that runs around sweeping scandals under rugs and keeping his bratty movie stars in check, as he attempts to solve his biggest problem yet. The kidnapping of their biggest star.
While this film more than likely won't be named with the Coen Brothers' masterpieces, it sticks with the style that has come to distance the duo from other directors. And it is no exception for my belief that they have never made a bad movie. Not one.
This film certainly rewards the hardcore movie goers in the audience. While many of the jokes will go over the heads of people not familiar with classic cinema, there is seldom a sequence in which there is no reference or nod to classic films. That is probably it's most notable feature.
If you're a casual movie goer, or aren't incredibly familiar with classic films of the 50s, you might not "get" this one. Although I highly encourage everyone to see it, because, well… you never know. But it is certainly not a film that is designed for everyone, as the Coen Brothers rarely are.
