Eye in the Sky (2015)

Directed by Gavin Hood
Written by Guy Hibbert
Starring Helen Mirren, Alan Rickman, Aaron Paul and Barkhad Abdi

In the age of drone warfare, much of the decision making regarding military attacks is done behind closed doors and spread amongst several people on different continents. This film by Gavin Hood opens those doors and lets the audience take a look at what goes on behind them.

While this is not the first film of its kind, "Eye in the Sky" is unique in its own way. It focuses on the moral struggle that not only the drone pilot faces, but also the numerous higher ups that chime in to green light the attack. Although the film takes place in three countries, it has a very claustrophobic feel to it. You are centered in on one small location for each character which only adds to the importance of the subject at hand.

With this all-star cast in which most of them act and react to things that aren't actually there (while filming), it is amazing how believable every performance is. Even though I know Aaron Paul and Helen Mirren are probably looking at blank screens, I believed that they were watching the events unfold before them in real time. That is something that is more difficult than it seems. Just ask Sir Ian McKellen.

One of the things that I loved about the film was Barkhad Abdi's return to the screen. You may remember him in his Oscar Nominated role in "Captain Phillips". When an actor comes out of nowhere and has success like he did, right away. I always worry that it won't go anywhere for them and that it was a fluke. But even in this, he proved to be a decent actor. And while we all know he will be typecast, at least he is making money doing so. And more money than he would driving limousines.

Overall, this film was a shining light in the dark months of film in early 2016. It is better than damn near everything that came out by a long shot, with a few exceptions. What makes this film great is that it creates a discussion or morality, not just between characters and audience members with opposing political beliefs. But for me, an internal dialogue of what I believe to be the just conclusion, if there even is one.

It had so much more going on than it needed to. It could just have easily had a lot of action and yelling and called it a day. But it chose to take the more difficult path and actually argue both sides of the debate logically and realistically. It was an unexpectedly intelligent and open minded film all while bringing up a subject that should be discussed more.

My Rating: 8/10

Just Before I Go (2014)

Directed by Courteney Cox
Written by David Flebotte
Starring Seann William Scott, Olivia Thirlby, Garret Dillahunt and Kate Walsh

A man in the midst of a divorce realizes his past has created a terrible life for him. So he plans to commit suicide in his hometown, but before he does, he seeks revenge on those who have wronged him. Things don't go according to plan when he finds that people aren't as they were when he was a child.

In similar comedies in which the premise is as dark as this one ("Better Off Dead", "Wilfred") the comedic relief is plentiful and condensed. However, in this film, the comedy is spread out and separated by inspirational and important life lessons. Sort of.

While all of the messages were well meaning and honest, they seemed to clutter the film. It kind of felt like the writer wanted to touch on many subjects instead of just one, so he shoved them all into one storyline.

As far as the humor goes, the entirety of the comedic relief relied solely on Garret Dillahunt's character. Very few laughs were had due to other performances, which is strange for a self described comedy. It had it's humorous moments, but all in all, it kind of fell flat.

This was a decent movie. It had it's moments. And for her feature film directorial debut, Courteney Cox did an excellent job creating a film that flowed well. While certain scenes did drag, the majority of the film moves well. This movie won't blow your mind. But it is enjoyable.

My Rating: 6/10

Shrink (2009)

Directed by Jonas Pate
Written by Thomas Moffett, based on the story by Henry Reardon
Starring Kevin Spacey, Mark Webber, Keke Palmer and Dallas Roberts

Unable to cope with a recent personal tragedy, LA's top celebrity shrink turns into a pothead with no concern for his appearance and a creeping sense of his inability to help his patients.

A humorous, yet dark mosaic of the protagonists patients' lives, this film does a great job of bringing out the comedy in tragedy. The lives of the characters are all connected through mutual loss, drug addiction and depression, yet somehow find themselves amidst the chaos.

Kevin Spacey is fantastic, as has come to be expected from the two-time Academy Award Winner. He continues to prove himself as an actor that makes other actors better. That fact is most apparent in the scenes he shares with Keke Palmer.

I wouldn't go far to say that the young actress isn't talented. I would just leave it at her inexperience. Before this film, she had yet to impress me. And even as the troubled student aspiring to become a filmmaker, she never wowed. But it was definitely an improvement from other roles.

With a very basic and overdone plot, this movie won't stick out above many others. It is relatively formulaic and easy to predict. But it is definitely not a waste of two hours. I enjoyed it thoroughly. It's entertaining. And in the end, that's all you really need from a movie.

My Rating 6.5/10

The Double (2013)

Directed by Richard Ayoade
Written by Avi Korine and Richard Ayoade, based on the novella by Fyodor Dostoevsky
Starring Jesse Eisenberg, Mia Wasikowska, Wallace Shawn and Paddy Considine

A clerk in a government agency finds his unenviable life takes a turn for the horrific with the arrival of a new co-worker who is both his exact physical double and his emotional opposite - confident, charismatic and seductive with women.

From the opening scene, this film shows it's unique voice that seems to be inspired in equal parts by Terry Gilliam, The Coen Brothers and Martin Scorsese. With the futuristic, yet technologically stagnate setting that Gilliam has been known for, the dark and often depressing humor of The Coen Brothers, and the psychologically draining conflict that made Scorsese a household name is all apparent within this film.

Within the first five minutes, it drives home a point that they could have easily spent the entire first act covering. This character has literally nothing going for him. Jesse Eisenberg is phenomenal as both the protagonist and antagonist, differentiating the two using only the subtlety of body language. While this does  create some confusion as to which character a particular scene is focusing on, it remains only momentarily before it is clarified.

With inspiring direction from the incredibly talented Richard Ayoade, this is certainly a film that has a voice like very few others. Every aspect of this movie is on point, from the writing and directing to the acting and cinematography. It's a shame that smaller, more creative films like this get pushed aside from the overrated and over publicized blockbusters that plague thousands of screens all of the world. It is the smaller, higher quality films like this that make movies worth while.

8/10

Faults (2014)

Written and Directed by Riley Stearns
Starring Leland Orser, Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Lance Reddick and Beth Grant

A down-on-his-luck author and foremost expert on mind control is given one last chance to pay back his manager. To do so, he takes a job to try to intervene with one woman whose parents say has been brainwashed by a group called "Faults". But during the job, his life begins to fall apart more so than it had, as he struggles to maintain control of the woman he was hired to help.

While this would be a stretch to categorize this as a comedy, this film has comedic tones that are rich with Coen Brother influences. The dark, situational humor that the sibling directors have become known for has been attempted by few and achieved by an even smaller amount of film makers. Riley Stearn is now apart of that group.

I can't be sure if the similarities were intentional, but being a huge fan of the Coen's, I was very pleased with how this movie played out. It was dark enough to keep it interesting, but humorous enough to maintain a feeling of familiarity amongst it's viewers. And the cult aspect of the story was just an additional element to make it even more riveting.

This film shows just how truly powerful and controlling a cult can be. And how easy it is to fall prey to their message of peace and tranquility, only to realize that it was a thinly veiled lie to achieve the leaders true goal-- spiritual domination.

While sprinkled with a layer of comedy, "Faults" is pretty terrifying film that is not at all outside the realm of possibility. The realism that this could and has happened to thousands of people creates an exceptionally frightening sequence of events that is fascinating to witness.

My Rating: 7.5/10

The Broken Circle Breakdown (2012)

Directed by Felix van Groeningen
Written by Carl Joos and Felix van Groeningen, based on the play by Johan Heldenberg and Mieke Dobbels with collaboration from Charolette Vandermeersch
Starring Johan Heldenberg, Veerle Baetens, Nell Cattrysse and Geert van Rampelberg

A religiously devout tattoo artist and an atheist banjo player obsessed with bluegrass music form an unlikely romance and instantly fall in love despite their differences. Years later, their daughter becomes ill, putting new strains on their relationship.

A heartbreaking story about the stresses of having a child with cancer, this film explores that terribly common scenario with a couple who have two separate views of the afterlife. In a brutally honest, yet with a hint of reverence, the filmmakers tackle such controversial topics as religion, stem cell research and the separation of church and state.

The two leading actors give painfully sincere performances, depicting the parents who may lose their only child. And the fact that the two performed the music throughout only adds to the impressive feat. The way the director uses delicately chosen songs to push the plot forward, while also giving more insight to where the characters are at emotionally, is truly a task that should not be overlooked. It is impeccable how well these songs say so much, yet don't bring the flow of the film to a screeching halt.

And the songs are pretty damn good, too.

One of the most unexpected thing in this movie is the performance of the little girl who plays their daughter. It is rare that a young actress such as herself can be convincing in their performances. I found myself thinking that they had hired one of their daughters to play her, but that was not the case. She just seemed so natural with them.

While the story is a heavy one and it may be hard to watch at times, "The Broken Circle Breakdown" is one of the more powerful films I have seen. And although it has only been about three years since it's release, I can tell that it is a timeless story that people will be able to connect with decades from now.

My Rating: 8/10