December 2015 Pt. 1

Jurassic World
Stars - Chris Pratt, Bryce Dallas Howard
Plot - Jurassic Park is open, thriving and successful... until they create a new dinosaur to bolster attendance, which is never a good idea.
Thoughts - I am not going to sit here and pretend that Jurassic World is any kind of deep, meaningful, thought provoking film, but, my gosh if it isn't fun! The special effects are insane, the performances are fun and solid, and the ending is intense.
Grade - B

Inside Out
Stars - the voices of Amy Poehler, Mindy Kaling, Phyllis Smith
Plot - The inner workings of the mind of an 11 year old girl (Joy, Sadness, Anger, Fear and Disgust) are thrown out of whack when her family moves from Minnesota to San Francisco.
Thoughts - Intended for children, this Pixar film has a lot to offer adults as well. This is a thoughtful, funny, heartbreaking and heart warming movie about growing up and learning that joy and sadness really go hand in hand.
Grade - B +

Amy
Plot - A documentary about the short, tumultuous life of the late Amy Winehouse.
Thoughts - This is a staggering and powerful look at Amy's life and profound talent. The doc follows her from bright faced young talent to the depths of her drug fueled downfall. This is sometimes hard to watch, but it's endlessly fascinating. Amy had the opportunity to be the voice of her generation, but her demons got the best of her.
Grade - B +

Star Wars: The Force Awakens
Stars - Oscar Isaac, Daisy Ridley, John Boyega, Harrison Ford, Adam Driver, Domhnall Gleeson
Plot - It's basically a rehashed plot of episode 4...
Thoughts - ...but that's not necessarily a bad thing. This Star Wars movie is everything you could possibly want. Sure, the plot feels stale, but the cast and effects are fresh. This is a fun, nostalgic, funny, heart warming epic that is worth the wait and more than lives up to the hype. Also, bonus points for a bad ass female lead who can take care of herself and doesn't need a man to save her!
Grade - A-

The Big Short
Stars - Christian Bale, Steve Carrell, Ryan Gosling, Brad Pitt
Plot - A look at the mortgage crisis of 2008 and the way it altered our economy.
Thoughts - This might be the smartest, funniest, weirdest movie of the year. It is the only movie in the history of the movies which includes both a quote from Mark Twain and an interlude where Selena Gomez explains advanced economics to the audience. The performances are spectacular, from the stars to the supporting players. And this is a fast paced, frenetic good time.
Grade - A-

The Danish Girl
Stars - Eddie Redmayne, Alicia Vikander
Plot - The story of the first Transgender artist, and the wife that stood by his side.
Thoughts -  I actually really enjoyed this love story initially. The performances are powerful and the cinematography is gorgeous. My biggest problem is that it felt detached and cold and illicited no real feelings. Then I did a little research and discovered the REAL story, which is far more interesting than the watered down version presented in this film.
Grade - B-

Best Actor 2014

05. Eddie Redmayne in The Theory of Everything - For believing the gradual breakdown of his body on screen. For portraying not only the physical aspects but also showing the mental strength and never wavering sense of humor. For the drinking and celebrating with his friends scene.

04. Macon Blair in Blue Ruin - For playing the revenge minded every man with strengh, wit and determination. For arriving as a fully formed star who you can't take your eyes off of. For the diner scene.

03. David Oyelowo in Selma - For playing a heroic, larger than life historical figure as an intimate, struggling man trying to do the right thing. For finding the humanity and the flaws. For that final speech.

02. Michael Keaton in Birdman - For making a comeback by playing a has been superhero actor (ha!). For being complex, dynamic,  utterly engaging and finding the humor and tragedy in every scene. For trashing his dressing room.

01. Jake Gyllenhaal in Nightcrawler - For playing a sociopathic, somewhat charming, always smarmy opportunist with non-blinking glee. For the absence of morals but total immersion in salesmanship. For giving the absolute,  hands down best performance of the year. For smashing the mirror (although it's honestly hard to pick just one great scene.)

The Theory of Everything

Remember back in 2010 when a really hip, edgy, exciting movie named The Social Network lost every award to a dull borefest named The King's Speech? Well, that might be this year but just replace The Social Network with Birdman and replace The King's Speech with either Boyhood or The Theory of Everything.  I'm not saying The Theory of Everything is a bad movie. It is, in fact, nice, and well acted and interesting, just like The King's Speech was. But it's far from exciting or intense. It doesn't have the same frenetic energy as a game changer like Birdman.

The Theory of Everything is the story of the college years of Stephen Hawking (played by Eddie Redmayne) including his relationship with first wife Jane (Felicity Jones) and his decent into illness when he is diagnosed with Lou Gehrig's Disease and given two years to live.  And just because the movie didn't necessarily hold my interest at all times, the life of Hawking is pretty extraordinary.  The smartest man in any room, when he finds out that he will slowly lose control of his muscles and lose the ability to walk and talk and even breathe, the first question he asks is, what about the brain?

And here is where I think the movie lost me. I'm not necessarily a science minded person, but I was much more interested in learning much more about Hawking's scientific achievements.  I get that he is this brilliant mind but I wanted to know much more about the body of work of a man who can't bathe himself or speak or type who one day decides to write a book. That is extraordinary,  but it seems like the movie largely glosses over these issues and focuses on the relationship aspect of the film, which would be fine except for the fact that Redmayne and Jones have zero chemistry.  It's hard to root for a couple when you are pretty sure they would be much better off as friends anyway.

Where the movie largely succeeds is in the performances.  Felicity Jones is solid as Jane, the brilliant wife who manages to study Spanish medieval poetry, join the church choir,  raise three kids and take care of a husband whose health is quickly declining. You can leave this movie thinking the woman is a saint (and it's based on her memoirs so maybe that's what she would like you to think). Redmayne is most impressive. In a performance like this, it is easy to fall into the realm of mimicry, but he never does. His physical transformation is impressive and he's bound to be Oscar nominated for his heart wrenching and utterly committed performance. He leaves it all on the screen and even if the movie sometimes falters, Redmayne never does.

Grade: B-