Black Sea Review (2015)

Black Sea

  Black Sea stars Jude Law and is about a group of men (half British and half Russian) who go on a quest for gold hidden inside one of Hitler's sunken U-boats. 

  I had a feeling that the movie would be intense, but I don't think I've been that stressed out in a while. Everything feels so claustrophobic from the start as we watch these men lock themselves within the metal torpedo of a submarine and sink to the bottom of the Black Sea.

  It was really interesting watching these characters interact with each other with such tension going on between the Russians and Brits and then the language barrier on top of it all. 

  Naturally, things start going bad and the movie really takes us on a rocky ride. The journey is at times exhausting, but I think that was the point. To see what these characters were willing to lose to become rich and get the gold, even to the point of death (which there was a lot of) really set a dark tone.

  The performances in Black Sea were really good and I bought Jude Law in this leader type character. Sometimes the accents were a bit tricky to become accustomed to, but it didn't detract too much from the story being told.
  It is a well done, solid film you won't be disappointed paying for. 3.5 out of 5 stars. (Worth Ticket Price)

Nightcrawler Review (2014)

Nightcrawler

  No, it isn't about the X-men character. Nightcrawler is about stringers. If you didn't already know, stringers are the people behind the camera at every emergency, car crash, murder, and shooting that is played on the local news. These guys wait for trouble, they film the trouble, then they sell it for money so that you and I can watch.

  Jake Gyllenhaal's performance in this film is by far the best I've ever seen him. It is absolutely brilliant, and I think the Oscars are insane for not nominating him for best actor. Everything about his acting in this is top notch; from the 30 pounds he lost to look like a hungry coyote, to his wide eyed, never blinking stare, to his total lack of a moral compass. Gyllenhaal transforms himself so much that you won't even recognize him.

  Dan Gilroy's directorial debut is one of the best movies of 2014. It really exposes the underbelly of nightlife in LA and how twisted the media and it's audiences are.

  Gyllenhaal's character is a study of a mind driven mad by the desire for success and how he completely loses his soul in the process of that. Essentially, Gyllenhal is the villain of his own movie and it is due to his incredible acting ability that we are able to connect with his character and understand the way his brain works. This not only makes us reflect on ourselves, but on society. That society creates an environment for a person like him to thrive in, yet is totally opposed to his actions.

  The movie is surprisingly funny at times, twistedly entertaining, sinister, and thought-provoking. It was a real mirror of the lengths depraved humanity will go to for entertainment, art, and money. 5 out of 5 stars. (A Must See)

The Drop Review (2014)

The Drop

  This review may be a little late, but I'm glad I have the opportunity to tell you about this awesome little flick. 

  The Drop introduces us to a character named Bob played by the brilliant Tom Hardy. Bob is trying to get out of gang life while running a bar with his cousin that holds all of the towns dirty money. Hardy's performance, much like his character in this, is really unassuming. You just can't quite figure him out. As the story progresses you really start to like this Bob character and all of his little quirks begin to make sense.

  The Drop takes its time to build the characters and set up the story which could bore some casual watchers, however, the payoff at the end makes it all worth it. 

  I believe this was James Gandolfini's last role before he passed away and I'd say it was a good one to go out on.  

  The Drop is a slow thriller that patiently fleshes out it's characters motivations before delivering with an epic finale. 4 out of 5 stars! (It's Great)

Prisoners Review (2013)

Prisoners

  So I saw this movie a long while ago, but never had the chance to review it. Considering that it is one of the best movies of 2013, I think it deserves a post.

  Let's get this out of the way now, Hugh Jackman was robbed of an Oscar for his performance in this film. He was intense, terrifying at times, and really just desperate to find his daughter. I was so impressed by the cast of this film and how they each represented different stages of grief at the loss of their children. The movie was so dark and unsettling, you really don't trust any of the characters.

  Runner up to Hugh Jackman's performance is Jake Gyllenhaal as the detective. You just feel like there is this past about him and even though they don't elaborate on it in the film, Gyllenhaal manages to give depth to what could have been a very generic character.

  Prisoners really begs the question, how far would you go to rescue your children? It is thought-provoking, it will stick with you for months, it'll have you questioning where your kids are at all times.

  I got chills multiple times while watching this movie. 5 out of 5 stars. (A Must See)

Whiplash Review (2014)

Whiplash

  Thank God for these late December releases because January has been the month of bombs.

  Whiplash has been nominated for best picture, which is exactly how it should be because the movie is crazy good!

  Andrew (played by Miles Teller) is a young drummer who wants to be one of the greats. His jazz teacher, Fletcher (played by J.K. Simmons) wants to create the next great with his controversial teaching methods that are both terrifying and psychologically torturous. Both actors do unbelievably good jobs in their complex roles, bringing so much life and energy to the intense scenes. 

  The film focuses on strong themes such as, "How far are you willing to push yourself to become the best?", "Can someone who is really passionate about something ever become discouraged by criticism?", "Is there a line to be crossed when pushing someone to become greater?", "How much should being the best cost you?", "Is 'good job' really the two most harmful words in the English dictionary?". 

  The psychological battle between Fletcher and Andrew is compelling to watch and yet unnerving at the same time. It's dark and edgy, the music is incredible. Considering this is 29 year old Damien Chazelle's debut film, it has tremendous directorial style and flare. Damien not only shows potential as a great a director, but this film proves he already is one. 

  Whiplash is one of the best movies of the year and one of my favorite movies as all time. This instant classic wins 5 out of 5. Flawless. (A Must See)

American Sniper Review (2014)

American Sniper   

 

  I'm not usually a fan of Clint Eastwood films because they tend to be on the boring side, but I have to say that American Sniper is definitely the best I've seen from him. 

  American Sniper was a lot like the movie Argo in that it's incredibly intense without having to add a bunch of explosions and too much gore. It tells a heavy story about a sniper who deals with post traumatic stress disorder during his four years on tour.
  I think it's worth saying that after watching this film, I definitely have a new found respect for the military.
  Bradley Cooper gives an excellent, dynamic performance as Chris Kyle and really transformed himself for the role. However, I do think his character could have been played by a lot of other actors and still would have been just as good. Kyle wasn't perfect and the movie never tries to portray him as so. In fact, I think it really humanized him.
  It's hard to say that I enjoyed American Sniper in the same way I would enjoy a Marvel movie or something. It's the story of a man's life that was hard and tragic and difficult. Because they try not to Hollywoodize the movie too much, the plotting does lag at points sometimes to the point where there isn't really a plot at all. This isn't necessarily a gripe, but from a movie stand point, it does makes it less entertaining then some of the other Oscar nominees. If I wanted to watch a movie about PTSD, I think 2009's Brothers was a more compelling character study, but American Sniper is a very well done film and gets 3.5 out of 5 stars from me. (Worth Ticket Price)