Captain America The Winter Soldier (2014) Review

I may be in the minority but I enjoyed the first Captain America movie. It wasn't the greatest superhero extravaganza put on film but it was enjoyable, old fashioned fun, even if it took a bit too much from Indiana Jones. I was probably more excited to see this sequel than any of the other Marvel movies since the Avengers. As the hype grew my expectations were raised. After seeing the film I can definitely say it was worth the wait even if it didn't exceed my expectations.

Captain America the Winter Soldier's plot is something I really don't want to reveal. I know that many people have seen the movie already but for those that haven't you aren't going to get any spoilers here. The story involves Captain America, S.H.I.E.L.D., Black Widow, and a certain Winter Soldier. It is a movie that is filled with several sequences of action and which has a decent espionage plot to back it up. Chris Evans does a great job of bringing to life this classic hero. The rest of the cast play their roles very well and at this point it is hard to imagine these iconic characters in anybody else's hands.

The action in this film is truly incredible. I don't usually commend movies for their action but Cap 2 deserves praise. The opening sequence is probably the best opening Marvel has ever done, a character scene followed by a Bond-like sequence aboard a ship. This sequence brought the Captain and his shield to life like I have never seen before. The camera seemed perfectly placed throughout the scene and the stunts felt realistic. This opening was followed by so many good sequences that I think there wasn't a poorly done action scene in the film. The plot and script of the film are good but not great. The major twists and turns were pretty easy for a mystery and spy enthusiast to spot but luckily there were a couple of little twists that were unexpected. The dialogue had a sharp wit that never felt forced (cough Iron Man 3 cough).  It did not feel all that original though. It played around with current events which was interesting, but it felt surface level. The center-piece of the film was the action.

It's a good thing that the action was so good but there may have been too much of it. If a couple of the scenes had been shortened I feel like the pacing of the film would have been better and the plot more exciting. This is probably the hardest thing for an action film to get right, the pacing. In many ways Captain America the Winter Soldier is one of Marvel's best but despite its potential it can't beat out the big two (the first Iron Man and the Avengers). It's still one heck of a fun movie 4/5

The Grand Budapest Hotel (2014) Review

Wes Anderson is a filmmaker with a unique vision. His films create characters and worlds that are truly original. For some, his style can be off-putting in its oddness, for others, everything he does is a delight, for me, I find that his creativity is exciting, but not everything he does works. When it does work though, it's a filmmaker at the top of his game. Such is the case with the Grand Budapest Hotel a film that is my favorite Wes Anderson film to date and one that I'm sure will be in the running for my favorite movies of 2014. In short it is a true delight.

The beginning of the film sets up the main story by framing it not once, but three times.
The main story takes place in 1932 at the Grand Budapest hotel and it is about Gustave H. an esteemed concierge. The story is told from the perspective of his lobby boy who was new at the time. Soon the lobby boy and the concierge are wrapped up in a caper involving inheritances, prison break-outs, priceless art, ski chases, and murder. Ralph Fiennes brings the concierge to life with peerless timing and wit. It is he who helps give the film its great doses of humor with his delivery. The cast list is one of the most esteemed I have seen in some time and every actor gets to make a memorable appearance. This is a film that can handle actor cameos very well and I felt like they were all done to good effect without detracting from the overall story.

The true star of the film is the world Anderson creates and the innovative techniques he uses to get us into it. First there is the way he frames the story as a book being read. Many films have been structured this way but in this case the frame narration takes on a truly literary style. I felt it worked very well and added to the atmosphere that helped bring us into this world. In the main story Anderson is able to create the feeling of a classic Hollywood back-lot but with a very Andersonian touch. This film is meant to evoke those cosmopolitan comedies done to perfection by Ernst Lubitsch in the 1930's and 40's as well as some of Alfred Hitchcock's earlier work. It is not just a tribute though, it comes into its own in the way that is able to combine all of those elements with its own signature style. This helps the film to feel thoroughly fresh. The comedy is wonderful and the film is never afraid to surprise, which helps add to the audiences enjoyment.

Overall this is an entertainment of a highest order and something which I have not seen in a long time; an escapist film that is both intellectually interesting as well as a truly wonderful escape. Unlike many great recent superhero blockbusters which have gotten their intellectual side by going darker, the Grand Budapest Hotel does what many of its great, old-Hollywood pedigree did and creates an uproariously funny and enjoyable comedy which has layers to be found underneath its surface.  By doing this, like his influences, Anderson creates a world I certainly would not mind exploring again 5/5!

Rushmore (1999) Review

Comedy has been a genre of film which has, and will always be, popular. As the industry changed comedy has changed with it and Rushmore belongs to a type of comedy that could only have existed in the last 20 or so years, the auteur comedy. The auteur comedy is a type of comedy that derives its personality and sense of humor from the unique mind of an author or auteur. These comedies were not possible in the studio era of Hollywood when the humor used in a comedy had to be universal so as to appeal to a wider audience. With the advent of independent filmmakers auteur comedies were made possible because films could now reach more niche audiences. The Coen Brothers are masters of this comedy with their zany, wonderful and totally unique contributions Raising Arizona and the Big Lebowski. Wes Anderson is a relative newcomer to the field but his unique style immediately earned him a following and Rushmore was his breakout movie.

Rushmore tells the story of a fifteen year old boy who falls in love with a first-grade teacher. This simple premise is what allows Anderson to create a unique world populated by equally unique characters. Just when you want to fall into the comfort of a cliché the rug seems to be pulled out from under your feet. Max, the title character, is a unique creation and one of the aspects that I liked best about the film. Schwartzman embodies the character and makes him come to life in an unforgettable way. Bill Murray gets to show some serious acting chops as well, playing Max's adult friend. Their relationship is really the one at the heart of the movie and it is its unique nature that makes the film feel very original. The film is definitely a comedy with lost of humor and absurd situations. Sometimes these situations are so zany they could only exist in an alternate reality.

It is this reality which sets Wes Anderson apart and which also creates his movies' greatest weaknesses. Anderson is not afraid to hold back with his imagination and at times this can create wonder and awe and at other times this can create confusion and dislike. The acting is top notch in this film and the performances add to this world that comes to life before our eyes. Its vivid quality is striking and I think that many will find this movie memorable if only for the world and characters created. Sometimes the film got too wacky in a way I didn't like but I think that this will all be up to personal preference. As with any auteur comedy most people will have parts of the film they really like and identify with and other parts that may be off-putting. Rushmore, while not as good as the best Coen comedies, has many moments that are both funny and incredibly well done. It creates an unforgettable world and I can see why it made Wes Anderson a household name. 4/5

Tim's Vermeer (2014) Review

Now that the Oscar season has passed it is time for the new year of films to really get underway. Two weekends ago the second 300 film was released and made nearly 50 million dollars. This weekend the highly anticipated Muppets sequel comes out and on April 4th Marvel will release their second Captain America film. With all of these blockbusters hitting the movie scene it is easy to overlook some of the hidden gems that are in theaters. Tim's Vermeer is one of them, a documentary that enlightens and entertains in a way no blockbuster could.

Tim's Vermeer tells the story of Tim, an inventor whose work in special effects has changed moviemaking. Tim is the epitome of the "self-made" man and he has a fascination with the great painter Vermeer. Tim believes that he has discovered a method that Vermeer may have used to paint so realistically. The film chronicles Tim's quest as he attempts to paint his own Vermeer using the technique he discovered.

Watching Tim's quest unfold is a true delight. The film does a great job of setting up his idea and then demonstrating it to truly incredible effect. You could here the gasps from the audience as that idea unfolded. I won't reveal what the technique Tim uses is because I wouldn't do it justice in explanation and because you should see for yourself. Besides the actual painting of the Vermeer the true star of Tim's Vermeer is Tim. This man is truly a genius. He is able to adapt his skills to almost any discipline he chooses and he has the determination to do it. The filmmakers do a great job of letting the audience get to know his character and allowing us to feel like we are a part of the process. The film is riveting from start to finish and was definitely worth seeing on the big screen. Tim's Vermeer is a very entertaining and well made documentary. It is an inspiring story of a man and his relentless pursuit of a goal. I think that it is a true treasure for filmgoers who want a respite from the major blockbusters. 4.5/5

2013: Year in Review

In honor of the academy awards being today here at long last is my personal review of last year in film. It was a very interesting year and I could even go as far as saying it was a very good year. This year it was not the blockbusters that wowed but instead the smaller films. these pleasant surprises are what took this year from being a typical year to being a good year. So, with that out of the way, let's get down to this year's big winners in my book.

Best Film: 12 Years A Slave, A truly excruciating experience 12 Years takes the top spot because of its ability to make history come alive in a horrifying way. The acting and directing were top notch as well and helped to make this one of the best epics in recent memory.

Honorable Mentions: Gravity, American Hustle, Nebraska, and Her

Best ensemble Cast: 12 Years a Slave, the casting is one of the most important aspects of an epic. 12 Years shines with its choices of actors both familiar to audiences and new. It was truly a group effort.

Most surprisingly Good Movie: Mud, This movie has been all but forgotten because it technically premiered at Cannes in 2012  but honestly it was one of the best films to be released in the US this year. It walked the line between crowd pleaser and art film very well and was a truly pleasant surprise.
Honorable Mentions: Nebraska

Most Disappointing Movie: Iron Man 3, I loved the first Iron Man and after some early buzz it looked like the third was going to be a return to form, alas, it was instead just as problematic as the second one and it really left me feeling underwhelmed and disappointed.

Best Utterly Stupid Movie: Anchorman 2, I'll admit that I laughed more at this than I should have but that's what this category is for.

Best action Sequence: The opening of Star Trek Into Darkness was reminiscent of blockbusters of old and was a great introduction to a really good sequel.
Honorable Mention: Superman Vs. Zod Man of Steel

Hitchcock Award (Best Action Movie or Thriller): Captain Phillips an example of a great Hollywood thriller using a real story and a great cast that includes and incredible performance by Tom Hanks.

So their you have it, 2013 was a really good year and there were plenty of films that deserve awards but which weren't even mentioned here but there is only so much room. I look forward to the Oscars tonight and another great year of movies this year!

12 Years a Slave Review

Some films are great because they are entertaining (here's looking at you Raiders of the Lost Ark). Other films are great because they are visually spectacular (Star Wars, Gravity, etc.). Still some films are great because they are important, not just artistically, but historically. After finally seeing the much-praised 12 Years A Slave I believe it falls into that last category.

12 Years a Slave tells the story of Solomon. He is a free man who is captured and sold as a slave. This about all you need to know going in. The film uses this simple and perfect plot to help show the horrific nature of the institution itself. By using Solomon, a real person, as an outsider the director is able to bring us into this horrible world as Solomon is being introduced to it. This makes Solomon a character we can identify with, which helps us to better put ourselves in his situation. It is this that helps the director give the film such impact on the viewer. As Solomon is seeing and being oppressed by the injustice for the first time, we , as viewers, are as well.

Make no mistake, this is not Django Unchained. Not to malign that film but it used this backdrop relatively realistically as a way to provide context for its rather pulpy storyline. 12 Years a Slave is about pulling no punches. Some scenes are so hard to watch they will make you cringe. This cringing does not come from the gore on screen but from the acts themselves and sometimes the mere elapse of time. There is a point in the film where the director allows events to elapse in real time and this mere device makes that scene so hard to watch. In that moment I was not witnessing history from afar but living it.  I was very happy that the film made sure to be real and not over-or under-play any aspects as to, in some way, glorify the proceedings. The film felt real and raw.

The acting helped to bring this realism to the forefront as well. Ejiofor gives a perfect performance. He brings Solomon to life. Fasbender Is also incredibly well cast in this film and he creates a truly horrifyingly realistic slave-owner. Benedict Cumberbatch also makes a welcome appearance and does well with his screen time. The directing in this film is top-notch. Steve McQueen knows how to work the audience to incredible levels (as in the scene mentioned above) The film is one of the most recent epics to come out of Hollywood that one could actually call great.

Some might find that comparing 12 years a Slave to the Hollywood epics of old is insulting. They may feel that by making this comparison I am ignoring the films realism and true purpose. The Idea people have about the classic epics is that they are romantic and this film is certainly not. The comparison comes into play because like a great epic of old this film has a fantastic ensemble and well constructed story. Also like a classic epic this film takes a broad topic or period of history and makes a film that perfectly  captures it. It is important to note that while those two points put 12 Years a Slave in the category of a Hollywood epic there are several points in the film in which McQueen purposefully tones down these qualities. The specific shot that told me this was the shot of the boat with the slaves going down the river. The interesting fact is that there is no full shot of the boat on the river. The shot is instead of the propulsion of the boat and the water. This choice gives the film a distinct lack of romanticism that does a film of such serious subject matter credit. This film should be honored with  best picture and it was honestly the best film of the year. 5/5!

The Lego Movie (2014)

As the first movie that I saw of 2014 the Lego Movie holds a special place. It was a fantastic start to this year of movies and I can honestly say that watching the Lego Movie was one of the most pleasantly surprising cinematic experiences I have ever had.

I am going to refrain from giving a plot synopsis of this film because I honestly feel that viewers should go into this as in the dark as possible. All I will say is that it is truly a Lego Movie. The cast here is fantastic. It includes Chis Pratt, Will Ferrell, Liam Neeson, Will Arnett, and Morgan Freeman. If that sounds like a fun cast to you than you would be right. You just get the feeling that all of these actors were just having a blast making this movie and it shows. The humor in this film is razor sharp and will go far over the heads of many kids who see this film. In fact I would say that adults may actually find more to enjoy in the Lego Movie than their children will. That's not to say that there isn't plenty for the younger ones to enjoy, there is, but this film is really almost geared towards an older audience.

The best thing about the Lego Movie is its storytelling and its originality. There are so many films these days trying to be like Pixar that it was refreshing to see a movie not trying to follow that mold. The Lego Movie feels unique and exciting in a way that animated movies quite frankly haven't for a couple of years. The cast and the humor in this film work on many levels and the whole experience will leave you smiling as the credits roll. I would recommend wholeheartedly seeing it for yourself because quite frankly the Lego Movie is awesome, period. 5/5!