Movie Review: ANCHORMAN 2: THE LEGEND CONTINUES

ANCHORMAN 2: THE LEGEND CONTINUES
Director: Adam McKay
Starring: Will Ferrell, Paul Rudd, Steve Carell, David Koechner, Christina Applegate, Kristen Wiig, Dylan Baker, Greg Kinnear, Meagan Good.

The guys from the Channel 4 news team are back! It has been nearly a decade since Will Ferrell donned the mustache and fabulous hair as Ron Burgandy. Ron and his talented wife Veronica Corningstone (Applegate) are now co-anchors together and think they are being offered a promotion to the nightly primetime slot after anchor Mack Tannen (Harrison Ford cameo!) calls them into his office. The news does not quite go to plan as Veronica gets the promotion and Ron gets fired. By the hammer of Thor, no one fires Ron Burgandy! Ron does not take the news lightly as he is furious with Veronica and leaves her and their son, Walter, behind and heads back to San Diego.

Months pass and Ron is depressed and drowning himself in scotchy scotch scotch. He is approached by Freddie Sharp (Baker) of GNN, Global News Network about a new opportunity to be a part of the first 24-hour news station. He comes aboard and gathers his old crew of sports guy Champ Kind (Koechner), field reporter Brian Fantana (Rudd), and meteorologist Brick Tamland (Carell). Things do not look so bright once they hit headquarters and find out they have been given the graveyard shift time slot while their rival Jack Lime (Marsden) gets the primetime slot.

I will admit here that Anchorman and Elf are the only two Will Ferrell movies that I find are laugh out loud funny upon multiple viewings. On the contrary, I think Step Brothers is one of the dumbest movies ever made. I was so happy when news broke that Ferrell and co-creator Adam McKay would finally write a sequel to their smash hit. Comedy sequels are very hard to do well. They are rarely funnier than the first as the jokes get recycled and the laughs seem forced. The actors seem dull and bored and are only doing it for the easy paycheck. I thought that if any recent comedy could have a successful sequel, it would be Anchorman.

Why why why was I so disappointed? For one thing, the film is way too long. Even though the runtime is only two hours, it still feels long. I think McKay and Ferrell knew the audience would eat up anything they wrote without editing it down or realizing the pacing of many of the scenes. It feels over-stuffed and over-crowded with material that does not always work or works only for a bit. The whole idea behind Ron gathering the old gang takes way too long. Couldn’t we have just done a quick montage or something? Steve Carell’s Brick is expanded into a bigger role and actually given a subplot where he falls in love with the female version of Brick in fellow co-worker Chani (Wiig). I love Wiig and Carell, but all of that is so unnecessary. Part of what makes Brick funny is that he is quieter and the opposite in tone to Ron. The infamous quote “I love lamp” is perfect as it is a short random one-liner. That is what makes Brick funny. Giving him longer lines and a love interest loses the charm and innocence with the character. Brick and Chani just turn annoying after a few minutes. I think the overall story itself would have been fine if it was kept between Ron and the crew versus the Jack Lime character. It could have been simple but funny. Ferrell and McKay added in a boyfriend (Kinnear) for Veronica and a new boss (Good) for Ron to have anger towards. Giving attention to all of these people just makes the film feel bloated. There are some good laughs to be had here and there, but it is not consistent like it was in the first film. We do get treated to another brawl involving all of the local news teams, which is the high point of the film. That whole bit is chock full of celeb cameos.

I really wanted to like this movie. I wanted Ferrell and McKay to prove that comedy sequels can be successful. The first film felt smart and fresh. Here the laughs just seem stupid and cheap. I do not think my sense of humor has changed as I still find the first one hysterical no matter how many times I watch it. Frankly, I expected a lot more out of it. Maybe I was asking too much for an Anchorman sequel. We basically had a private screening of the film when we saw it as the other group behind us left halfway through. Would I have laughed more if it was a full house laughing their asses off? Maybe. A good comedy should be funny regardless of it is one person watching it alone or hundred people watching it together.

RATING: ** (2 out of 5 stars)

PAUL PREDICTS THE OSCAR NOMINEES

PAUL PREDICTS THE OSCAR NOMINEES

I have participated in Oscar predictions contests in the past and have had some succeed. Back in 2006, I entered a contest at a local movie theater and won three free months of movies. I have been watching the Oscars dating back to 1993, so I feel like I have a pretty good knack at determining who will or will not get nominated and then win in any given year. My predictions are not always perfect as the Academy does like to throw in some wild card picks each year. This year I am participating in a contest with fellow LAMB Member Shane over at his website Film Actually. Here are my picks on who may receive that golden phone call on Thursday, January 16 in the categories Shane has picked out.

BEST PICTURE
1. 12 Years a Slave
2. American Hustle
3. Blue Jasmine
4. Captain Phillips
5. Dallas Buyers Club
6. Gravity
7. Her
8. Nebraska
9. Saving Mr. Banks
10. The Wolf of Wall Street

BEST DIRECTOR
1. Alfonso Cuarón, Gravity
2. Paul Greengrass, Captain Phillips
3. Steve McQueen, 12 Years a Slave
4. David O. Russell, American Hustle
5. Martin Scorsese, The Wolf of Wall Street

*WILD CARD: Spike Jonze, Her

BEST ACTOR
1. Bruce Dern, Nebraska
2. Chiwetel Ejiofor, 12 Years a Slave
3. Tom Hanks, Captain Phillips
4. Matthew McConaughey, Dallas Buyers Club
5. Robert Redford, All is Lost

*WILD CARD: Leonardo DiCaprio, The Wolf of Wall Street

BEST ACTRESS
1. Cate Blanchett, Blue Jasmine
2. Sandra Bullock, Gravity
3. Judi Dench, Philomena
4. Meryl Streep, August: Osage County
5. Emma Thompson, Saving Mr. Banks

*WILD CARD: Amy Adams, American Hustle

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR
1. Barkhad Abdi, Captain Phillips
2. Daniel Bruhl, Rush
3. Bradley Cooper, American Hustle
4. Michael Fassbender, 12 Years a Slave
5. Jared Leto, Dallas Buyers Club

*WILD CARD: Jonah Hill, The Wolf of Wall Street

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS
1. Jennifer Lawrence, American Hustle
2. Lupita Nyong'o, 12 Years a Slave
3. Julia Roberts, August: Osage County
4. June Squibb, Nebraska
5. Oprah Winfrey, Lee Daniels' The Butler

*WILD CARD: Sally Hawkins, Blue Jasmine

BEST EDITING
1. Joe Walker, 12 Years a Slave
2. Christopher Rouse, Captain Phillips
3. Alfonso Cuarón and Mark Sanger, Gravity
4. Daniel P. Hanley and Mike Hill, Rush
5. Thelma Shoonmaker and The Wolf of Wall Street

BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY
1. Eric Warren Singer and David O. Russell, American Hustle
2. Woody Allen, Blue Jasmine
3. Joel and Ethan Coen, Inside Llewyn Davis
4. Spike Jonze, Her
5. Bob Nelson, Nebraska

BEST ADAPTED SCREENPLAY
1. Tracy Letts, August: Osage County
2. Richard Linklater and Ethan Hawke and Julie Delpy, Before Midnight
3. Billy Ray, Captain Phillips
4. Steve Coogan and Jeff Pope, Philomena
5. Terence Winter, The Wolf of Wall Street

BEST FOREIGN LANGUAGE FILM
1. The Broken Circle Breakdown, Belgium
2. The Grandmaster, Hong Kong
3. The Great Beauty, Italy
4. The Hunt, Denmark
5. Omar, Palestine

BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY
1. Sean Bobbitt, 12 Years a Slave
2. Bruno Delbonnel, Inside Llewyn Davis
3. Emmanuel Lubezki, Gravity
4. Phedon Papamichael, Nebraska
5. Roger Deakins, Prisoners

BEST PRODUCTION DESIGN
1. Adam Stochausen and Alice Baker, 12 Years a Slave
2. Catherine Martin and Beverly Dunn, The Great Gatsby
3. Andy Nicholson and Rosie Goodwin, Gravity
4. Michael Corenblith and Susan Benjamin, Saving Mr. Banks
5. Dan Hennah and Ra Vincent, The Hobbit: Desolation of Smaug

BEST SOUND MIXING
1. 12 Years a Slave
2. Gravity
3. Inside Llewyn Davis
4. Lone Survivor
5. Rush

BEST SOUND EDITING
1. All is Lost
2. Captain Phillips
3. Gravity
4. Lone Survivor
5. Rush

BEST COSTUME DESIGN
1. Patricia Norris, 12 Years a Slave
2. Michael Wilkinson, American Hustle
3. Catherine Martin, The Great Gatsby
4. Michael O'Connor, The Invisible Woman
5. Michael Orlandi, Saving Mr. Banks

BEST ORIGINAL SCORE
1. Hans Zimmer, 12 Years a Slave
2. Alex Ebert, All is Lost
3. John Williams, The Book Thief
4. Steven Price, Gravity
5. Thomas Newman, Saving Mr. Banks

BEST DOCUMENTARY FEATURE
1. The Act of Killing
2. The Armstrong Lie
3. Blackfish
4. God Loves Uganda
5. 20 Feet from Stardom

BEST ANIMATED FEATURE
1. The Croods
2. Despicable Me 2
3. Frozen
4. Monsters University
5. The Wind Rises

BEST VISUAL EFFECTS
1. Gravity
2. The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug
3. Star Trek Into Darkness
4. Pacific Rim
5. World War Z

BEST MAKEUP AND HAIRSTYLING
1. American Hustle
2. Dallas Buyers Club
3. The Hunger Games: Catching Fire

BEST ORIGINAL SONG
1. "Let It Go" from Frozen
2. "Young and Beautiful" from The Great Gatsby
3. "Atlas" from The Hunger Games: Catching Fire
4. "The Moon Song" from Her
5. "Ordinary Love" from Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom

THE 71st GOLDEN GLOBE AWARDS WINNERS

THE 71st GOLDEN GLOBE AWARDS WINNERS

Here are the winners for the 71st Golden Globe Awards brought to you by The Hollywood Foreign Press Association

BEST MOTION PICTURE-DRAMA

THE WINNER: 12 Years a Slave

OTHER NOMINESS:
Captain Phillips
Gravity
Philomena
Rush

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS-DRAMA

THE WINNER: Cate Blanchett, Blue Jasmine

OTHER NOMINEES:
Sandra Bullock, Gravity
Judi Dench, Philomena
Emma Thompson, Saving Mr. Banks
Kate Winslet, Labor Day

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR-DRAMA

THE WINNER: Matthew McConaughey, Dallas Buyers Club

OTHER NOMINESS:
Chiwetel Ejiofor, 12 Years a Slave
Idris Elba, Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom
Tom Hanks, Captain Phillips
Robert Redford, All is Lost

BEST MOTION PICTURE-COMEDY/MUSICAL

THE WINNER: American Hustle

OTHER NOMINESS:
Her
Inside Llewyn Davis
Nebraska
The Wolf of Wall Street

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS-COMEDY/MUSICAL

THE WINNER: Amy Adams, American Hustle

OTHER NOMINEES:
Julie Delpy, Before Midnight
Greta Gerwig, Frances Ha
Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Enough Said
Meryl Streep, August: Osage County

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR-COMEDY/MUSICAL

THE WINNER: Leonardo DiCaprio, The Wolf of Wall Street

OTHER NOMINEES:
Christian Bale, American Hustle
Bruce Dern, Nebraska
Oscar Isaac, Inside Llewyn Davis
Joaquin Phoenix, Her

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A SUPPORTING ROLE

THE WINNER: Jennifer Lawrence, American Hustle

OTHER NOMINEES:
Sally Hawkins, Blue Jasmine
Lupita Nyong'o, 12 Years a Slave
Julia Roberts, August: Osage County
June Squibb, Nebraska

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE

THE WINNER: Jared Leto, Dallas Buyers Club

OTHER NOMINEES:
Barkhad Abdi, Captain Phillips
Daniel Bruhl, Rush
Bradley Cooper, American Hustle
Michael Fassbender, 12 Years a Slave

BEST DIRECTOR
THE WINNER: Alfonso Cuaron, Gravity

OTHER NOMINEES:
Paul Greengrass, Captain Phillips
Steve McQueen, 12 Years a Slave
Alexander Payne, Nebraska
David O. Russell, American Hustle

BEST ANIMATED FEATURE FILM
THE WINNER:   Frozen

OTHER NOMINEES:
The Croods
Despicable Me 2

BEST FOREIGN LANGUAGE FILM
THE WINNER: The Great Beauty, Italy

OTHER NOMINEES:
Blue is the Warmest Color, France
The Hunt, Denmark
The Past, Iran
The Wind Rises, Japan

BEST SCREENPLAY
THE WINNER: Spike Jonze, Her

OTHER NOMINEES:
Bob Nelson, Nebraska
Jeff Pope, Steve Coogan, Philomena
John Ridley, 12 Years a Slave
Eric Warren Singer, David O. Russell, American Hustle

BEST ORIGINAL SCORE
THE WINNER: Alex Ebert, All is Lost

OTHER NOMINEES:
Steven Price, Gravity
John Williams, The Book Thief
Hans Zimmer, 12 Years a Slave
Alex Heffes, Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom

BEST ORIGINAL SONG
THE WINNER: "Ordinary Love", Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom

OTHER NOMINEES:
"Atlas", The Hunger Games: Catching Fire
"Let It Go", Frozen
"Please Mr. Kennedy", Inside Llewyn Davis
"Sweeter than Fiction", Once Chance

The 2014 Cecil B. DeMille Awards was presented to Woody Allen who, naturally, was not present so Diane Keaton accepted the awards upon his behalf.

What are your thoughts? Did the right people win? Any surprises or snubs?

Movie Review: AUGUST: OSAGE COUNTY

AUGUST: OSAGE COUNTY
Director: John Wells
Starring: Meryl Streep, Julia Roberts, Julianne Nicholson, Juliette Lewis, Chris Cooper, Margo Martindale, Ewan McGregor, Abigail Breslin, Dermot Mulroney, Benedict Cumberbatch, Sam Shepard

Did you have some family drama over the holidays? People acting crazy around the dinner table? Just wait until you meet the Weston family. Your family will seem a whole heck of a lot more normal after you spend a few hours with the Westons. Patriarch Beverly (Shepard) is an alcoholic and former poet who can no longer tolerate his marriage to Violet (Streep). After thirty plus years and three daughters, the love they once had for each other has vanished. Violet is suffering from mouth cancer and has become addicted to her pain pills and chain smoking. The audience knows from the very first scene the kind of woman, wife, and mother that Violet has become. The word "filter" does not apply to her as she has no judgment on the things that come out of her mouth. She has a loud, brash, tells it like it is mentality no matter who is on the receiving end of her tirade.

After Beverly's sudden disappearance, their family is reunited in their home in Osage County, Oklahoma. Their eldest daughter Barbara (Roberts) returns home with her husband Bill (McGregor) and daughter Jean (Breslin). Barbara is a bit of a control freak even though she watches her marriage fall apart and has to put up with mother's awful behavior and attitude toward her. Violet lays down huge guilt trips to her and has no qualms about telling her how Beverly was always disappointed her in. Barbara has a strained relationship with her two sisters Ivy (Nicholson) and Karen (Lewis). Violet's sister Mattie Fae (Martindale) and her husband (Cooper) and son (Cumberbatch) arrive with their own family dynamic. Once the whole Weston clan is united under the one roof in the hot summer Oklahoma heat, Violet unleashes a fury of "truth-telling" as various family secrets are unleashed leaving no one untouched and unaccounted for.

Playwright Tracy Letts (Bug, Killer Joe) has adapted the screenplay from his own highly successful play. I have seen the staged version, so it is a bit tough going into the movie without instantly drawing comparisons to that version. The dense play is a three and half hour meaty piece that, for obvious reasons, had to be severely cut down and edited to make it work as a movie. Letts is able to keep the integrity and heart of these characters in place without having to sacrifice the supporting characters or their story lines. The piece itself is a very heightened and intense look into this family. I do not know any family like this one that has so many problems with each person. Some of the story gets very dramatic and heavy in the way of the dysfunctional character development which works well on stage as you sit on the edge of your seat watching and hearing these massive family fights. I think director John Wells tried so hard at minimizing that tone to a more naturalistic feel to fit the screen that there is an element that gets lost in translation here. This is only the second movie John Wells directed and it feels a bit out of his comfort zone. He seems unsure of how to play out the tone and pacing of the piece and which characters should be in focus.

Wells has an overall brilliant cast of actors that have been given great material to work with due to Letts' meaty and complex screenplay. The casting of the family is important to the dynamic of this story. No matter how big or small their parts are, the majority of them are able to give strong performances and have a good familial chemistry to feel like they are all family. Julia Roberts gives one of the best performances of her career as it is stripped down and natural type of character that does not rely on her playing another gorgeous romantic lead living some glamorous life. It is quite fun to see her go up against Streep in some epic mother/daughter battles. Thank God she is finally in a good movie again. I HATED Mirror Mirror and Eat, Pray, Love. Ewan McGregor seems oddly miscast as Robert's philandering husband. He is not a bad actor, but does not seem like the right match to be Robert's husband. That may be the point, but I still want to believe they were a healthy couple at some point. Julianne Nicholson and Juliette Lewis are also wonderful as the two other sisters. Even though this is a strong ensemble film, there is no denying that this is Meryl Streep's movie. She is as brilliant as ever as a vial and wretched mother who has destroyed her family. She may be showy and intense in one scene depending on Violet's motivation and beg for sympathy in the next. Streep is always on and present and you cannot take your eyes off of her no matter how deplorable she acts towards her family. She is so unbelievable that it is quite fun watching her plays these mind games and tricks with her family. As Violet states, "Nobody slips anything by me."

Stage to screen adaptations are very tricky no matter if they are coming from plays or musicals. The world of the piece is typically opened up, characters are added, it takes place in numerous settings, scenes and musical numbers may be cut or added. This is the third screenplay Letts has adapted from one of his plays, which helps in creating it for a new medium. The entire play takes place in the Weston house. The majority of the film takes place in the house as well, but Letts and Wells still offer us glimpses of the Oklahoma setting which is vital to Letts' world. If you have seen the play, you might not be able to enjoy the movie as much. Letts' darkly funny script and these strong capable actors make the film work to an extent. I just wish Wells would have pushed them a bit further and made this even more of the elevated and heightened level that it is instead of taking the more natural and realistic take on it.

RATING: ***1/2 (3.5 out of 5 stars)

Movie Review: HER

HER
Writer/Director: Spike Jonze
Starring: Joaquin Phoenix, Scarlett Johansson, Amy Adams, Rooney Mara, Chris Pratt, Olivia Wilde

Is it possible to fall madly in love with someone even though you have never met them? I am sure that is not uncommon in the world of online dating. What if that person was your operating system? That is the fascinating and peculiar idea behind Spike Jonze's latest, Her. Theodore Twombley (Phoenix) is going through the divorce process with his wife Catherine (Mara). He feels alone, confused, and all of those other feelings that come when the love of your life wants to leave you. It probably does not help matters that he writes love letters for other people as a living through his job at "Beautifulhandwrittenletters.com".

A new, personal, talking operating system has been released on the market, and Theo purchases the new OS1. This new operating system is specifically catered and customized to grow and evolve around the person using it. Theodore gives his new OS1 a female identity who gives herself the name Samantha (Johansson). He is baffled at how intelligent and lifelike Samantha is. She has the capabilities of reading his email, browsing his computer, looking at his music and really knowing everything about him through what is found on his computer or cloud. The more Theodore uses and talks to Samantha, she goes from being a friend and organizer to someone who can sense his emotions and vulnerability. Their relationship continues to grow and when intimacy is experimented with, Theo realizes she is more special than anyone he has ever been with and starts referring to her as his girlfriend. He knows this is a strange and different kind of relationship and keeps Samantha a secret from his boss (Pratt) and good friend Amy (Adams).

Spike Jonze is the creative genius behind the likes of Being John Malkovich and Adaptation. His movies are original, different, and may be a bit odd at times. Her is all of that. It is by far one of the most original ideas and concepts I have seen all year. The story takes place in the future but Jonze never states what year it is. The design aesthetic is colorful and vibrant. The city and downtown landscape is a booming metropolis. You may notice that the clothing and costume design slightly contradicts that. Jonze and costume designer Casey Storm have decided to go vintage with high-waist pants and mustaches as the look which I see as them saying that this look has come back to fashion in this timeframe. Technology has soared to new innovative heights. I am sure it is only a matter of time before some of these technological advances start happening. The film provides an insightful commentary on the state of technology, how we come to use it, how it can control our lives, the obsession we have with our devices, online dating, and intrigues us with that concept of an individual falling in love with something so advanced it is practically human. Jonze, along with Phoenix and Johansson, present the romance with such a subtle and evolving growth and is treated like any other romance between two humans. Maybe I was too sucked into it, but there are times where you forget that Samantha is not a real person. When you succumb to the possibility of this being a real relationship, you forget that she is an operating system. You think of her as a voice on the other end of a phone or perhaps two people in a long distance relationship.

We last saw Joaquin Phoenix in a fully charged and highly physical role in 2012’s The Master which also starred Amy Adams. His performance here is far different yet equally impressive and demanding as that one. Theodore is a shy, introverted, and lonely individual. He builds this beautiful relationship all without ever filming any scenes with Johansson. Many of his scenes are him alone interacting with his device. There is an innocence and vulnerability to Phoenix that we don’t often see him portray. Johansson continues her string of really fantastic work within the past few years. Like I have mentioned before, I was a bit late on the ScarJo train, but I am fully on board now. Johansson treats Samantha as if she were a full-bodied character. She is breathtaking and sublime as she morphs from a simple voice of an operating system into this almost girl-next-door type of character. She never uses a cheap robotic techy type of voice. Their chemistry together is so warm and caring that you forget it is about a man falling in love with an operating system. I also find it interesting that Phoenix filmed all of his scenes with another actress cast as Samantha. I do not know how it was originally filmed, if the original actress’ voice was played back for Phoenix to act against or if he was acting without any sort of playback. Johansson took over in the part in post-production after Phoenix shot all of his scenes. Amy Adams and Rooney Mara should not be ignored. It should come as no surprise that they both give strong performances in smaller roles, especially since much of Mara’s work is in flashback montages.

Her is one of those instances where I, as a writer, cannot do justice in describing what the film is like and the journey it gives to its audience. It is best to experience it for yourself and obviously bring an open mind. If I had seen this in 2013 it would have made my Top 10 of 2013 list. Jonze has made another provocative film to add to his innovative repertoire.

RATING: **** 1/2 (4.5 out of 5 stars)

Movie Review: GRUDGE MATCH

GRUDGE MATCH
Director: Peter Segal
Starring: Robert De Niro, Sylvester Stallone, Kevin Hart, Alan Arkin, Kim Basinger, Jon Bernthal

So let me get this straight. Instead of watching Rocky or Raging Bull, I decided to watch Grudge Match which is basically Rocky Balboa vs. Jake LaMotta with Grumpy Old Men thrown in there for some very forced laughs. In their glory days, Henry "Razor" Sharp (Stallone) and Billy "The Kid" McDonnen (De Niro) were two of the biggest boxers who battled each other for the prize title. Razor won one of the battles and Kid won the other battle. Before they could fight in the rubber match, Razor announced his retirement and a bitter feud was started between the two of them.

Thirty years pass and the guys have moved on from the sport each living their own lives in their new business ventures. Sports promoter Dante Slate Jr. (Hart) sees an opportunity he cannot pass up. He offers the former boxers $15,000 each to take part in making a video game putting the two rivals together. Razor only agrees if he does not have to face Kid while filming. What would the movie be if that actually happened. Kid shows up to the filming earlier than expected and antagonizes Razor for old time's sake. Punches are thrown and their idiotic reunion is all captured by the production crew who all instantly put it online. The video goes viral and becomes a HUGE HIT! Offers come rolling in for an actual grudge match putting these two rivals back in the ring for the first time in decades. They are both past their prime physically so Razor hires his old trainer (Arkin) and Kid asks his son (Bernthal) to get him back in shape. Razor's old flame Sally (Basinger) shows up and complicates things a bit further.

Let me just reiterate that there are three Oscar winners, one nominee, and Kevin Hart that all agreed to be in this movie. Now I expect Kevin Hart to do this type of movie. The role is very much his style and brand of comedy. He has a few other movies coming out soon where he plays similar types of roles. Do I expect a little more from De Niro, Stallone, Arkin, and Basinger? Yes. That is not to say that they should only be doing heavy material. There is something so cheesy and gimmicky about this reunion premise. There is no hiding the fact it's a Rocky vs Raging Bull story. I am just surprised someone had the audacity to even pitch them this premise. De Niro and Stallone have both starred together in 1997's Cop Land, which was pretty good if memory serves correctly. I probably would not even have that big of a problem with the film if it was written better. The script goes from trying so hard to pump out the laughs that it is working in overdrive trying to make sure Alan Arkin's lines end in a punchline. Other times, it gets so lazy that any sort of twist or slightly dramatic moment is purely recycled from other movies that we have seen before, some of them you see coming a mile away. Kim Basinger has some pretty doozy lines that were laughable for the wrong reasons.

I do not know if it would have worked as a serious drama or if comedy was the better route to take. Since this is a reunion type of movie, they could have spent more time focusing on the past instead of treating it like a gimmick and joke. There are fun shots of a young Stallone and De Niro, but I think we could have used more of that. Maybe some cameos or supporting characters for Talia Shire or Cathy Moriarty? I think Jon Bernthal is the best part of the movie. There was something sweet about the son story line for Kid. I actually think the film had potential. There would be a good moment or scene where I was thinking that the film was picking up in quality and then it took three steps back. I just do not know what the point of the movie was. Was it the pure marketing ploy of putting two actors from legendary boxing movies back in the ring? If that was the sole reason, then I guess they succeeded. I think it is best to just go pop in the blu-rays of Rocky and Raging Bull and give them a fresh watch.

RATING: ** (2 out of 5 stars)

Movie Review: INSIDE LLEWYN DAVIS

INSIDE LLEWYN DAVIS
Director: Joel and Ethan Coen
Starring: Oscar Isaac, Carey Mulligan, Justin Timberland, John Goodman, Garrett Hedlund, Adam Driver, Max Casella, F. Murray Abraham

If you are involved in the arts in some fashion, you are probably familiar with that vagabond that is looking for his next gig traveling from place to place and bumming couches when needed. Llewyn Davis (Isaac) is at that point in his career. He used to perform as a singing duo with his friend Mike who recently committed suicide. Since Mike's death, Llewyn has been trying to make it as a solo artist playing at the Gaslight Cafe to get noticed. His latest album "Inside Llewyn Davis" is not selling well, but his lackluster agent did supposedly mail it off to Chicago producer Bud Grossman (Abraham).

In the one week the film spans, Llewyn cannot seem to catch a break. He learns he may have gotten his friend Jean (Mulligan) pregnant even though she is currently dating fellow musician Jim (Timberlake). After staying at a different couple's place, a cat gets loose when Llewyn leaves so he now feels in charge of taking care of it as it was his fault. He is completely broke and decides to hitchhike to Chicago to meet with Bud Grossman, which hits a few roadblocks along the way.

Joel and Ethan Coen have written many oddball characters in their canon of work. We get a few of them here but due to the way the film is structured they have brief appearances in Llewyn's life. John Goodman is a Coen staple and his take on Roland Turner provides for some good laughs even for the brief about of screen time he has been given. Adam Driver (TV's "Girls") is another standout adding the bass notes to the hilarious "Please Mr. Kennedy" track Llewyn, Jim, and his character record. Have I mentioned that Llewyn is a self-obsessed, angry, disgruntled guy that is hard to root for? Add this character to the every-growing list of movies where the central character has some serious issues. August: Osage County, Saving Mr. Banks, The Wolf of Wall Street are just a few examples. Some of his own misfortunes come from the bad choices he is making. He has ruined his relationship with Jean who rips him a new one every time they have an encounter. The interesting thing about this character is that I somehow felt like I knew him. Maybe it is because I know people that have gone through similar situations where you want them to improve and make better choices, but they do not seem to grow. Oscar Isaac succeeds tremendously at playing that narcissistic prick side of him, but still making him human enough where the audience can understand where he is coming from in life. You may not always agree with his choices, but there is still something about him that you do want him to succeed and learn from his misfortunes. I cannot imagine anyone else is this role.

I could not help but notice the particular use of lighting and shadow effects and the way the film always had this cold and smoky effect to it. You knew instantly it was a bleak and dreary winter week. I had assumed I was watching the camera work of Roger Deakins who normally shoots all of the Coen's films. I was surprised to find out that Bruno Delbonnel (Amelie, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince) was the man behind the camera. Deakins was still shooting Skyfall at the time production started. The film's setting in 1961 Greenwich Village, New York is exquisitely captured by Delbonnel. Not only did it fit the actual weather in Greenwich Village, but also the mood and tone of the central character. I feel like the cinematographer of a movie rarely gets the credit they deserve, yet they are such a vital part of capturing the tone and vision of the movie and bringing it to life.

What I appreciate about the Coens is how diverse and eclectic their films are. When you look at their body of work, you see a diverse palette of stories, characters, themes, and genres yet they retain their vision in every one. You can look at each film and know that it is the work of Joel and Ethan Coen. They have had a string of hits lately with True Grit, A Serious Man, and Oscar winner No Country for Old Men. Inside Llewyn Davis is another strong move for them. The real highlight of the film is the folk music produced by T. Bone Burnett (Crazy Heart, TV's "Nashville") and Marcus Mumford. It stands as the soul of the story as it not only enriches each scene, but delves into the inner spirit of Llewyn Davis when his outer disposition is less than cheery. After the movie was over, I was a little perplexed as I wanted more story behind it. I love the premise and setting of the 1960s folk scene and a singer trying to make it as a solo performer, but I wanted more out of it. There are some great supporting characters, but we only see them for a brief amount of time. The film is recommendable, but for some reason I could never fully dive right in and have the film take me over like other films of the Coens have done to me.

RATING: *** 1/2 (3.5 out of 5 stars)

Movie Review: AMERICAN HUSTLE

AMERICAN HUSTLE
Director: David O. Russell
Starring: Christian Bale, Amy Adams, Jennifer Lawrence, Bradley Cooper, Jeremy Renner, Louis C.K., Jack Huston, Michael Peña, Robert DeNiro

Sometimes it is the most random choices and tidbits that catch my eye that lead me to believe I will really love the movie. The use of the vintage Columbia Pictures studio logo and the phrase "Some of this actually happened" hit just the right spot even though I am sure most people will gloss right over them. I do not know too many folks that take an interest in studio logos. While Irving Rosenfeld (Bale) runs a chain of drying cleaning stores and a glass business, his real income comes as a con-artist selling forged artwork to prospective dealers. At a pool party he meets Sydney Prosser (Adams), a former stripper looking to reinvent herself. She is impressed and turned on by his confidence, not by his horrible comb-over and gut. She decides to join him in his con schemes by posing as the British "Lady Edith Greensley". Their new work partnership turns into a budding romance despite the fact that he is still married to Rosalyn (Lawrence) and has a son with her.

Irving's side business skyrockets with the help of Sydney, aka "Lady Edith". Their illegal work becomes the target of FBI Agent Richie DiMaso (Cooper). After their arrest for fraud and impersonation, he offers them a deal for their freedom in exchange for their help in arresting four other con artists on their most wanted list. They all get in a bit over their head with their attempt at bringing down New Jersey Mayor Carmine Polito (Renner) who is looking for extra funds to rebuild Atlantic City full of casinos. Polito's connections to the mafia make it difficult for their attempt at trapping him.

Director David O. Russell is known for being far more concerned about the characters than the actual plot. After watching American Hustle, that is quite evident. Russell also co-wrote the screenplay with Eric Singer and their characters are what stand out over any portion of the plot. Make sure to pay attention to the various character voice-overs as Russell and Singer use that device to explain side characters that pop up and connect the dots for the audience as to what is happening in the scheme. Their characters are over-the-top with their big personalities and the specific look for each one of them. Russell makes it quite clear how important each of these characters are. He spends his opening scene with Bale turning his messy hair into the perfect comb-over. Cooper is scene in hair curlers waiting for his perm to set. The whole design aesthetic is showy and obvious, but works for their approach to this story.

Russell and Singer have given their actors great material to work with and are catered toward the actors playing them. Bale and Adams both worked for Russell in The Fighter, while Cooper and Lawrence shined in his Silver Linings Playbook. Bale and Lawrence have both won the coveted Oscar for their work under his direction. Could any of these four receive some Oscar gold this time around? Lawrence has the biggest chance due to her category. She is as fierce and funny as always with a character we have not seen her play before. She makes it look so effortless as her New Jersey housewife is executed flawlessly. Apparently she has been watching "The Real Housewives of New Jersey" as research to go between sassy, fierce, dim-witted, and crazy. Lawrence may be getting all of the buzz for the movie, but Amy Adams has been given the role of her career. We normally see her in supporting roles, but she is able to come front and center here as Bale's counterpart. Even though she works all the time, she now has a role that knows how to use her in a new light. There are so many different angles and dimensions as she has to morph between Sydney/Lady Edith and how she really is living a lie to herself. It is the meatiest and edgiest performance we have seen from her. I still stand that she should have won the Oscar for The Fighter over Melissa Leo. Lawrence and Adams have a big cat fight in the bathroom and is one of the best scenes in the film. Christian Bale proves yet again why he is one of the best actors working today. He is one hell of a chameleon. Some may object to his Method style approach to his characters, but I applaud it as it always seems to work for him. Yes, that is his real hair and gut as he gained quite a bit of weight for his role. Call me crazy, but there are times where I thought Bale was channeling his inner DeNiro. Some of his mannerisms and gestures were very reminiscent as if he was playing the DeNiro type of character here. Coincidentally, DeNiro has a cameo sized role here which seems like an homage to the DeNiro characters we have seen in the past. He is even given the funny glasses and goofy hair like everyone else has been given to amply their character's looks.

David O. Russell's latest offering is a one hell of a fun ride. The story is loosely based on the ABSCAM operation in the 1970s and 1980s. He has taken more of a comedic angle to telling this story over say a dark, gritty, or violent nature. The characters are all these larger than life caricatures instead of being realistic approaches to their real life counterparts. I for one have no problem with his approach. If you are expecting something different, you may be thrown off. Russell makes good use out of using the music of the times as it is prominently featured throughout the movie. Elton John, The Bee Gees, and Paul McCartney are just some of the artists cranked to full volume to drive home the era. If you can go along for the ride and try not to compare it to other films or directors, you are bound to have a fun and exciting time. It made my Top 10 of the year!

RATING: ***** (5 out of 5 stars)

PAUL'S YEAR AT THE MOVIES: 2013 EDITION

PAUL'S YEAR AT THE MOVIES: 2013 EDITION

It has come to that time where I look back at my trip to the movies in 2013. Every year, I track all of the movies I saw for the first time. Whether they were the new 2013 releases or older films I was just discovering for the first time, I like to jot them down to see how I fare year to year. Before I go any further, I must give a special acknowledgment to my friend and fellow cinephile Max who I stole this idea from many years ago. I looked back at the 2012 Edition in this series where I noted that I had seen 113 new movies in that year. I am surprised to say that I beat that number with 119 new films under my belt in 2013, 81 of which were 2013 releases. As many of you know I got married in June, so my movie going went on the back burner the first half of the year as wedding planning and counting down to that special day was my priority in the first half of 2013. Each year I try to see more and more films, so I am pleasantly surprised to see I beat last year's numbers despite the slow start. I would love to get to every movie out there, but time and money plays a big factor into it.

As far as the blog is concerned, I created some new content including "The Snapshot Trivia of the Day", the "Halloween" Retrospective, Oscar Watch 2014, The Archives plus the traditional trailers, reviews, rewinds, and other articles. I have some new ideas and exciting things coming in 2014 so keep checking back! It has been an exciting year in the networking front as I got to interact with new readers and followers of the blog. In June, I was honored to become LAMB #1588 when I joined the Large Association of Movie Blogs. 2013 also marked my first trip to the Twin Cities Film Festival where I met some other bloggers and critics in the Minneapolis film scene. I love getting to know new people and discussing the films we either loved or hated.

Here is the list, plus My Top 10 of 2013 and the Worst of 2013, some noteworthy performances, and some other tidbits:

The List

The Sessions
Promised Land
Broken City
Side Effects
Amour
Take This Waltz
Beasts of the Southern Wild
Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy
Oz, The Great and Powerful
Side By Side
A Separation
Wreck-It Ralph
Compliance
Admission
The Silence
The Prodigal Son
Evil Dead
Flashdance
Days of Heaven
Jurassic Park 3D
Double Indemnity
Room 237
To the Wonder
The Place Beyond the Pines
ParaNorman
Iron Man 3
The Paperboy
The Great Gatsby
Bernie
Star Trek Into Darkness
Oblivion
Now You Seen Me
All Good Things
End of Watch
Lars and the Real Girl
The Way Way Back
Tucker and Dale Vs. Evil
Behind the Candelabra
Man of Steel
Beautiful Creatures
Stoker
Not Fade Away
Identity Thief
Mama
This is the End
V/H/S
The Heat
White House Down
The Exorcism of Emily Rose
World War Z
The Blue Umbrella
Monsters University
Despicable Me
Modern Times
The Conjuring
Red
Pacific Rim
The Wolverine
We're the Millers
Fruitvale Station
Lee Daniels' The Butler
Seven Psychopaths
Bachelorette
Blue Jasmine
Chronicle
Like Crazy
The Spectacular Now
Austenland
Hot Fuzz
The World's End
Best Worst Movie
The Possession
Isidious: Chapter 2
Prisoners
Anna Karenina
Don Jon
Enough Said
V/H/S/2
The Ward
Gravity
Captain Phillips
Nebraska
Honeymoon Suite
We Are What We Are
Winter in the Blood
Truth or Blood
The Search for Simon
Ghost Light
They Will Outlive Us All
Hot 'n Bothered
Casual Encounters
A Better Life
Mud
12 Years a Slave
Much Ado About Nothing (2013)
About Time
Thor: The Dark World
Only God Forgives
Frances Ha
Salinger
Dallas Buyers Club
JFK
The Hunger Games: Catching Fire
Frozen
Philomena
Parkland
Delivery Man
Prince Avalanche
The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug
Upstream Color
Jackass Presents: Bad Grandpa
What Maisie Knew
The Great Beauty (La Grande Bellezza)
Lovelace
Saving Mr. Banks
The Secret Life of Walter Mitty
August: Osage County
The Wolf of Wall Street
American Hustle

Paul's Top 10 of 2013

These are the films that had the biggest impact on me. There may be some different choices on here than you may find on other Top 10 lists out there, but that is what makes each film critic a little different. Please note I have not seen Inside Llewyn Davis (seeing it today!), Her , All is Lost, or Labor Day at this time, so those unfortunately will not be found here.

1. The Way Way Back

This indie hit from the summer just hit that part of my inner soul that spoke to so many of the feelings and emotions I went through when I was the age of the main character. Nat Faxon and Jim Rash wrote a hilarious and touching script that garnered fantastic performances from Sam Rockwell, Allison Janney, Steve Carell, and Toni Collette.

2. Gravity

Alfonso Cuarón's epic 3D masterpiece was an intense, breathtaking, and magical ride. It is one of those movies that is the true definition of why people go to the movies. As years and decades pass, I hope it is remembered as one of the genre's great films like 2001: A Space Odyssey.

3. Fruitvale Station

Fruitvale Station did not get the audience response it deserved. It hit theaters, but did not seem to last long which is quite unfortunate as it is one of the most important films audiences should have seen this year. It was an emotional kick to the gut with Michael B. Jordan giving one of my favorite performances of the year.

4. Nebraska

Alexander Payne's latest took me by surprise and is another film that touches numerous parts of the soul. Bruce Dern gives one hell of a performance as an cantankerous old man who is determined that he won a sweepstakes in the mail. The scenes between Dern and June Squibb as his feisty wife are hysterical. Payne perfectly captures that small Midwestern town vibe that is all too familiar.

5. American Hustle

David O. Russell has another hit on his hands with this con story somewhat based on the ABSCAM operation in the 1970s. It should come has no surprise that he as created some over-the-top characters brought to life by frequent collaborations Christian Bale, Amy Adams, Jennifer Lawrence, and Bradley Cooper.

6. 12 Years a Slave

Not since Steven Spielberg’s Schindler’s List has a film so vividly captured a horrifying chapter in history. Steve McQueen’s latest left me quite speechless afterwards as I tried to process everything that was thrown at me. Lupita Nyong’o is a revelation who was vulnerable and heartbreaking in every way. Chiwetel Ejiofor is another standout actor of the year who conveys so much emotion and range without it being a flashy or showy performance.

7. Philomena

Dame Judi Dench gives another stellar performance to add to her long resume. She proves yet again why she is one of the greats. Director Stephen Frears precisely executes this film that is based on a true story with the right tone without ever gearing toward Lifetime Movie of the Week status.

8. The Conjuring

I LOVE horror films, so it was refreshing to see James Wan's latest completely hit it out of the ballpark. It was suspenseful and scary without using copious amounts of gore and body parts. The Conjuring is an homage to the horror films of the 1970s that had the slow burn leading up to an insane edge of your seat finale. I think it is one of the genre's best in years.

9. Prisoners

This twisty ethical child abduction mystery thriller left audiences pretty divided. I can tell you that I was engrossed from the very first frame and did not check the watch in the entire two and a half hour run-time. Hugh Jackman was a bit over lauded for his work in Les Miserables, but I think his best performance comes here as a father who will stop at nothing as he searches for his missing daughter. Another high point is the work of ten time Oscar nominee Roger Deakins for his cinematography . He works his magic by framing so many of the shots into stunning visuals that tell their own stories as well as shape the story we are watching before us.

10. Saving Mr. Banks

Emma Thompson is practically perfect in every way as P.L. Travers who had no interest in bringing her novel "Mary Poppins" to the big screen. The supporting cast, including Jason Schwartzman, Paul Giamatti, and Colin Farrell, should be noted for their work in the story. If you grew up watching Mary Poppins like I did, it will be hard to think back to your childhood and the memories you have of that film. Don't be surprised if you start humming along the songs in your seat.

**HONORABLE MENTIONS: Blue Jasmine, Frances Ha, Much Ado About Nothing, The Wolf of Wall Street, The Place Beyond the Pines

The Worst of 2013

Truth be told, I do not end up seeing a lot of bad movies throughout the year. I do not mean for that to come out snobbish as I really do love a good bad movie that is just dreadful. Frankly, it can be easier to write about those God awful movies over a film that is just middle of the road average. It is just hard for me to justify spending money at the theater and wasting my free time on a movie that I know will be bad. Four of the movies below I did see in theaters and wasted some money on them. I had such hopes to only to be highly disappointed.

1. Truth or Dare
2. Evil Dead
3. Oz, The Great and Powerful
4. Only God Forgives
5. The Wolverine
**honorable mention--Pacific Rim

Noteworthy Performances
Barkhad Abdi- Captain Phillips
Amy Adams- American Hustle
Christian Bale- American Hustle
Cate Blanchett- Blue Jasmine
Sandra Bullock- Gravity
Bruce Dern- Nebraska
Judi Dench- Philomena
Leonardo DiCaprio- The Wolf of Wall Street
Chiwetel Ejiofor- 12 Years a Slave
Greta Gerwig- Frances Ha
Ryan Gosling- The Place Beyond the Pines
Jake Gyllenhaal- Prisoners
Tom Hanks- Captain Phillips, Saving Mr. Banks
Sally Hawkins- Blue Jasmine
Hugh Jackman- Prisoners
Michael B. Jordan- Fruitvale Station
Jennifer Lawrence- American Hustle
Lili Taylor- The Conjuring
Jared Leto- Dallas Buyers Club
Matthew McConaughey- Dallas Buyers Club, Mud, The Wolf of Wall Street
Lupita Nyong'o- 12 Years a Slave
Simon Pegg- The World's End
Sam Rockwell- The Way Way Back
June Squibb- Nebraska
Meryl Streep- August: Osage County

2013 has been a terrific year at the movies, and there are still a few high profile films I have not seen yet. I am really looking forward to a big 2014 and I have some exciting things coming for the blog, so stay tuned! As always, thank you so much for reading, commenting, and sharing the movies that you love. A big thank you to all of those following me on Twitter. Feel free to comment below on all of your favorites from 2013. What films touched your inner soul? What films did you want to run away from? Here's to a great 2013!