Zootopia (2016)

Directed by Byron Howard, Rich Moore and Jared Bush
Written by Way too many people to list… Like seriously, too many people. Come on Disney! Calm Down!
Starring Ginnifer Goodwin, Jason Bateman, Idris Elba and Jenny Slate

In a city of anthropomorphic animals, a fugitive con artist fox and a rookie bunny cop must work together to uncover a conspiracy.

Going into the theater, what I was expecting was a fun, clever and heartwarming story about some animals who think they're people. And that expectation was delivered, as promised. However, what I was not expecting was the blatant, yet incredibly important social commentary about prejudices and mob mentality.

"Zootopia" proved to be a more meaningful family film than anticipated. It is quite possibly the most vital animated film in history. It is more than just a self-confidence building film that Disney is mostly known for. It is about more than just accepting yourself. It is also about accepting others and not judging people because of their heritage.

The middle act of the film was so intense and topical that it feels as though this is the perfect time for this story to be shared with children. It perfectly mirrors much of the hate being spread right now and I was pleasantly shocked at how mature the themes were. But perhaps I'm over thinking it.

Great thematic elements aside, this film provided me with many laughs and a great couple of hours of entertainment. It is a fun movie that I feel the entire family will enjoy and it is incredibly clever. It is rare that I find a Disney movie lives up to it's hype. I feel most people are blinded by the "magic". But this is one that did not disappoint.

My Rating: 7/10

Being There (1979)

Directed by Hal Ashby
Written by Jerzy Kosinski based on his novel and Robert C. Jones (Uncredited)
Starring Peter Sellers, Shirley MacLaine, Melvyn Douglas and Jack Warden

A simple, sheltered gardener becomes an unlikely trusted advisor to a powerful businessman and an insider in Washington politics. With his literal dissection of everything said to him, his innocent and honest answers are taken as wise musings of the economic climate.

An elegant and subtle comedy, "Being There" is touching, yet slightly terrifying. While I'm sure the situations of this film would never happen in real life, the idea of an illiterate man with no formal education taking the political and financial world by storm raises some serious questions (i.e. Are all Politicians stupid? Answer: Yes.)

Peter Sellers is brilliant as the quiet, simple man of few words. He brings a humanity to his character that is sadly lost even in today's depictions of people with mental illness. As usual, he is hilarious. But this character, despite having the mind of a child, had a maturity to it that truly shows Sellers' depth.

In a modern world where comedies are loud and in your face 99% of the time, it is refreshing to watch the classics that are so widely regarded, yet simple and understated. It is remarkable that a film about "the village idiot", as the trailer describes,  could have such deep, meaningful themes of life and death. It is a rare, beautiful comedy.

My Rating: 8/10

Beginners (2010)

Written and Directed by Mike Mills

Starring Ewan McGregor, Christopher Plummer, Mélanie Laurent and Goran Visnjic

A young man is rocked by two announcements from his elderly father: that he has terminal cancer, and that he has a young male lover.

This movie has so much substance and thematic elements to it, it's hard not to enjoy it. A story dealing with love, life, the history of civilization between generations and gay rights, it brilliantly links all of these themes together into one coherent and emotional story.

A man so unsure about his ability to love due to the unexpected news that his father was secretly homosexual over the past 44 years, Ewan McGregor captures the confusion and insecurity of his character in a powerful performance. Winner of the Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role at the 2012 Academy Awards, Christopher Plummer delivers a stellar rendering of a man finally content and confident enough to live as he is. The acting is undoubtedly the power behind this moving film.

Delightfully humorous and painfully honest, at it's core this is a film about the growth of acceptance of homosexuals over the decades and the trials they were put through during the mid-nineteenth century. It is as relevant today as it was three years ago, and I believe it will remain so for a while.

My Rating: 8/10

The Dead Zone (1983)

Directed by David Cronenberg
Written by Jeffrey Boan, based on the novel by Stephen King
Starring Christopher Walken, Brooke Adams, Herbert Lom and Martin Sheen

At the peak of his life, a school teacher who is in love gets into a car accident after a perfect day. He wakes up from a coma five years later only to find he's lost his job and girlfriend. But he soon finds out that he has gained the ability to see the past, present and future of everyone he comes in physical contact with.

Yet another example of why Stephen King is the King of the horror/thriller genre, this movie grabs your attention early on and doesn't let go. Just when you think it's going to continue on the path it's on, it will take you off guard by taking a turn in another direction.

At first it seems as the entire movie will just be one long episode of "CSI". Although I was intrigues, I wasn't impressed with it. But before you know it, they solve the case and move on, turning into a soul searching film, asking the question, "if you know the future, should you change it?"

Oddly enough, this didn't feel like a Cronenberg film. Sure, it was one of his earliest movies, but it felt like it was made by entirely different director. That's not necessarily a bad thing. I was pleasantly surprised when I found out it was his movie. It's interesting to look at the evolution of a director's style, and this was close to the beginning.

"The Dead Zone" is a dark, brooding film that remains timeless, even after thirty-two years. I have found that that seems to be a trademark of Stephen King. No matter what time period his books and movies take place in, you can always find some way to relate to the characters.

My Rating: 7/10

The Story of Luke (2012)

Written and Directed by Alonso Mayo
Starring Lou Taylor Pucci, Seth Green, Cary Elwes and Kristin Bauer van Straten

Sheltered by his grandparents, Luke, a young man with autism, is thrust into a world that doesn't expect anything from him. But Luke is on a quest for a job and true love to prove everyone wrong. And he isn't taking no for an answer.

It is refreshing to see a movie about someone with autism that isn't depicted as being completely crippled by their disorder. So often in films today, people with mental disabilities are shown as having little function in the real world. This film completely trumps that stereotype and also plays to it through the supporting cast.

In the beginning of this film, Luke's family has the same prejudices towards him that many people in society have. They believe he can't fend for himself. They think that he can't think or speak. They are just ignorant to the disorder and it's affects. Yet as the film goes on, they begin to understand and are aware, somewhat, of what is actually going on in his head.

I am definitely not an expert on people with autism, so perhaps this film is completely off. But the few experiences I have had with autistic people is reflected in this film. Lou Taylor Pucci tackles his character with a reverence and understanding that is so easily lost when portraying someone with a neurodevelopment disorder, especially in a story that has the pressure of comedic timing.

Yet the writing and acting is so honest that it feels completely real. And despite the difficulty he has understanding social interaction, there is no doubt that each line is delivered with a hint of humanity. I can't remember witnessing a film like this.

My Rating: 7.6/10

The Devil's Backbone (2001)

Directed by Guillermo del Toro
Written by Guillermo del Toro, Antonio Trashorras and Mavid Muñoz
Starring Fernando Tielve, Íñigo Garcés, Federico Luppi and Eduardo Noriega

After Carlos, a 12-year-old whose father has died in the Spanish Civil War, arrives at an ominous boy's orphanage, he discovers the school is haunted and has many dark secrets that he must uncover. Mainly the mystery of "the one who sighs", the ghost of a little boy who wanders the orphanage.

There are truly no horror films like those of Guillermo del Toro. He has such a way with storytelling, that he does not need jump scares and gore to keep you terrified. He does so with a subtlety and grace of the building tension, until the pot boils over.

Rather than having a monster or ghost the source of fear in his films, he uses them as the victims to the much more real villain of human cruelty. It is certainly a privilege to watch his stories unfold and this is no exception.

Being one of his earlier pictures, "The Devil's Backbone" fells as though it set the course for his career. It also becomes apparent that his style has not changed, not that it needs to. The themes of the innocence of children and their first experience with death has been prevalent throughout his career, and this is no different. It is one of the thing that makes him unique. 

He does not present death as something you should be afraid of. He presents it as the sad, inevitable finale of life that we must all accept. He finds a way to find the beauty and humanity of pain and present it with a sense of calm and solace. He continues to show why he is one of the more unique directors out there.

My Rating: 7/10

Detachment (2011)

Directed by Tony Kaye
Written by Carl Lund
Starring Adrian Brody, Sami Gayle, Christina Hendricks and Betty Kaye

A substitute teacher who drifts from classroom to classroom finds a connection to the students and teachers during his latest assignment. During his stay with this school, he meets a young girl who is living on the streets, showing him just how bad it can be for those who never have anyone that cares for  them. Even if it is just a teacher.

A love letter to teachers everywhere, this film shows just how stressful and emotionally draining being an educator can really be. In a "No Child Left Behind" world, where state-wide testing is everything and the failure of a single student is the fault of their teacher, this is a display of just how frustratingly backwards the American mindset on education is.

Adrien Brody gives an amazing performance as a career substitute teacher trying to make as much of an impact as he can in a short period of time. Yet he keeps himself distant as to not have an emotional breakdown like the permanent teachers that surround him every day. This film will truly give you respect for those you took for granted during your school days.

In his biggest release since "American History X", Director Tony Kaye has taken his voice and style of film making and has shout it through a megaphone. The power of this film is one that is hard to find in the endless sea of movies released every year. To say that it is gripping is an understatement. It is rare that a film grabs you and keeps you hostage such as this one did. With a star-studded cast, where recognizable names clutter the line-up, this is a movie that anyone who values education should watch.

My Rating: 10/10

The Seventh Seal (1957)

Written and Directed by Ingmar Bergman

Starring Max von Sydow, Bengt Ekerot, Gunnar Björnstrand and Nils Poppe

A knight returning home from ten years of fighting in the crusades is greeted by Death, who has come to take him. He barters with the dark figure to play chess, in order to seek answers about life, death and the existence of God.

With it's dark themes and faith questioning protagonist, this film is definitely not one that could have ever been made in the United States at the time it was produced. Asking questions and seeking the answers that we all struggle with at some point in our lives, "The Seventh Seal" is a film we can all related to.

Arguably the most artistic film to come out of the 50s, this Swedish picture explores existentialism and does not give you a second to believe it's anything other than that. From the beginning, the imagery of a man playing chess on a beach with Death sets the tone for the rest of the movie immediately. And for that, it has become one of the most famous images in cinema history.

With thought provoking dialogue, backed with some of the best performances of it's decade, it is easy to see why "The Seventh Seal" has become such a renowned classic. While the techniques and technology used to make this remarkable film have become outdated, the themes are timeless and will never lose their relevancy. This movie is certainly not for everyone. But if you consider yourself a film buff, you have to see it. You may love it or you may hate it. But at least you will have an educated opinion on such a classic film.

My Rating: 7.3/10

Chappie (2015)

Directed by Neill Blomkamp
Written by Neill Blomkamp and Terri Thatchell
Starring Sharlto Copley, Dev Patel, Ninja and Yo-Landi Visser

In the future, crime is patrolled by an oppressive mechanized police force. When one police droid, Chappie, is stolen and given new programming, he becomes the first robot with pure artificial intelligence; the ability to think for himself.

The only problem with Neill Blomkamp as a director is that he struck gold with his first film. "District 9" was a masterpiece with a heart that no science fiction film will ever duplicate. At least not for a long time. What all critics need to realize is that Blomkamp is a science fiction film director. He will never NOT make a Sci-fi movie. It's his genre. It's his trademark.

Because so many critics have the cynicism of a film student who thinks that just because AFI says "Citizen Kane" is the best film ever made, he has to agree with it, they are especially critical when it comes to Science Fiction. Apparently, it's a law or something. And with the political tones of "District 9", many of them decided to overlook the foundation of it's genre.

Unfortunately for Blomkamp, for the rest of his career, critics will be expecting him to surpass, or at the very least, meet the brilliance of his first film. The chances of that are slim to none, and everyone needs to realize this and watch every single on of his films as if it's a new director. They need to disassociate it with the 2009 Best Picture nominee all together. Then perhaps, a decent film like "Chappie" will get the chance it deserves to be given a fair review.

But I digress…

As I said, this is a decent movie. While it's outer shell reveals a plot about a robot who can think for himself, at it's core it is so much more. It is a movie about the importance of life and how we must use the time we are given to be ourselves, never let anyone tell us how to be and overall, be good to each other.

One of the biggest stories behind this film is the inclusion of South Africa's hip-hop duo Die Antwoord. They were much of the inspiration for the story, as they played themselves as the two parents who raise Chappie. And while there are mumblings of turmoil on set caused by Ninja, it was not noticeable on screen and the two gave surprisingly good performances, regardless of their lack of experience. 

They weren't ground breaking or even amazing for that matter. But they were decent. Over the top, yes, but I believed them in their surroundings and expected MUCH worse from them and I've seen much worse from people who actually call themselves actors. I'd give them a C+ Overall.

But that hair, though…

I guess in all of these potentially incoherent ramblings I'm trying to say is that it's not as bad as everyone  is saying. It is a fun movie with good action sequences and great comedic relief. It may not be "District 9", but what did you really expect from a movie released in March ("Grand Budapest Hotel" excluded)?

My Rating: 6/10

The Better Angels (2014)

Written and Directed by A. J. Edwards
Starring Braydon Denney, Jason Clarke, Diane Kruger and Brit Marling

The story of Abraham Lincoln's childhood in the harsh wilderness of Indiana and the hardships that shaped him. His rocky relationship with his father, the tragedy that marked him forever and the two women who guided him to immortality.

The beautiful tragedy that was Abraham Lincoln's childhood always struck me with inspiration. When I first read about his pre-political life, I was dumbfounded that a man who had achieved so much greatness came from virtually nothing and gave himself every single bit of knowledge he would need to become the man that this country owes so much to.

Although, many parts of this movie were undoubtedly fictionalized for the sake of the story, I know for a fact that the main plot points of this film are accurate. And the monologue of the narrator is so incredibly poetic and adds so much to the incredible cinematography that this becomes more of a work of art than entertainment.

"There ain't nothin' worth talkin' about. 

Nobody much worth talkin' to… since he's gone."

Produced by Terrence Malick, I was skeptical of this film, regardless of the fact that it was about my favorite historical figure during the time in his life no one talks about. I am usually not a fan of his style of film making and although he did not direct this, it was shot much like a Malick film.

Perhaps it is my love for Lincoln or perhaps this was just done better than any Malick film, but this was a gorgeous movie. I can't quite pick out what is different from this compared to all of his other movies. Perhaps his protégé just has a better grip than he does at his own style. Maybe it's the lack of pretentiousness that is synonymous with Terrence Malick. Despite what the answer to that is, I love this film. 

"I asked him where'd he get so many blatant lies. 

He told me 'when a story learns you a good lesson, it ain't no lie. 

God tells truths in parables.'"

My Rating: 8/10

The Lazarus Effect (2015)

Directed by David Gelb
Written by Luke Dawson and Jeremy Slater
Starring Olivia Wilde, Mark Duplass, Sarah Bolger, Evan Peters and Donald Glover

A group of medical students discover a way to bring back living things from the dead. But when one of their own dies in an accident, they decide to use the barely tested method on her. She comes back to life, but with unexpected side effects.

Stealing cliches from several sub-genres of horror films, "The Lazarus Effect" has little originality to make itself stand out from the rest. Filled with jump scares, inexplicably dark rooms and predictable plot "twists", you feel as though you've seen this movie hundreds of times as it plays out.

The trailer itself is filled with spoilers, including the deaths of main characters and with a running time of 70 minutes, excluding the credits, the idea seems as though it were rushed. This movie could have been so much more, but the studio involved is the studio responsible for "The Purge" and "Paranormal Activity", two franchises that have more interest in making a quick buck than they do creating quality entertainment.

Of course Olivia Wilde would have demon eyes and

still be gorgeous. What else did you think would happen?

The only positive I can say about this movie is the cast. Olivia Wilde, Donald Glover, Evan Peters and Mark Duplass are some of my favorite actors. And while horror is not a new genre for Wilde and Peters, it's nice to see Duplass and Glover trying something new.

If you're like me and not a huge fan of horror movies, you could probably skip this one. It's nothing special. If you are a horror fanatic, who knows? You might love it.

My Rating: 5.3/10

Oscar Best Picture Nominee: Boyhood

With the Oscars coming up in a little over a week, I decided I would take these next few days to discuss my opinions of the Best Picture Nominees.

"Boyhood"
Written and Directed by Richard Linklater
Starring Ellar Coltrane, Patricia Arquette, Ethan Hawke and Lorelei Linklater

Formally known as "The 12 Year Project", "Boyhood" is a groundbreaking film in which Richard Linklater told the story of a boy growing up by using the same actors and filming a little bit each year to show the highlights of his life at each age.

I'm not going to lie to you guys. Some of you will not like this movie. I could sit here and say it's because you won't understand it, but that's simply not true. I have heard from others that they felt this film was slow-moving and uneventful, and I completely see where they are coming from. But I have to disagree.

While the image above is the main reason why I believe this film deserves every bit of attention it is getting, I also believe that it is a story every single one of us can relate to. Man or woman. At the surface it doesn't feel like much, but when you really dig deep into your own past you can truly connect with Mason. His growth as a person, every single person reading this has dealt with that. The struggle to really find your identity and figure out who you want to become.

It gives us such an impressive and immersive look into how we are all in control of our own destiny. Every decision we make affects the outcome of our lives. And whether that gives you solace or anxiety is up to you. Personally, it gives me solace. And the three hours of this movie go by smoothly and seems like less time than that.

I will not promise to everyone that you will love this movie. I know for a fact some of you might not even get through it. What I can promise you is a film like nothing you have ever seen before. And while you might not be able to connect with every aspect of Mason's life, I guarantee that there is something in there that is a little piece of you. Watch this movie!

My Rating: 9.5/10