2015 @ The Movies Archives - January

Monthly Movie reviews originally published on Facebook - YEAR 2:

January 1 2015 through January 30 2015:

2015 @ the Movies take 1 : “Big Eyes” In Tim Burton’s latest, a female painter (Amy Adams) gets robbed of her authorship by her unscrupulous husband (Christoph Waltz). They then become the wealthiest "art couple" of their generation selling countless reproductions of her work. Here resides the interest of the story: this irony or strange ambiguity - who is the author if the piece of art is mechanically reproduced? The printer? In our age of uncredited pictures reproduced ad infinitum online, there was a worthy theme to explore. However, Burton portrays painter Margaret Keane as the complete victim of her manipulative husband, and fails to address the murkiness of the situation. He seems more interested in the look of the film creating a lush late 1950’s San Francisco full of "big-eye"-popping colors. The plot and character development are neglected into the realm of formulaic biopicness… Quel dommage! Experienced at Wehrenberg Campbell 16 Cine in auditorium 5 withTerry Miller Barakat https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YOavDSErmak

2015 @ the Movies take 2 : “Whiplash” (2nd Viewing!) The piece retains all of its punch the second time around. This repeat viewing allowed me to appreciate more how power relations are in constant flux throughout the piece (Foucault would be proud). At first sight, the music teacher seems to be the great puppet master, but Andrew’s realtionship with the other characters also shows similar dynamics, and ultimately loops back for the final showdown. Miles Teller’s performance in scenes sans J.K. Simmons is definitely worthy of attention. Experienced at Moxie Cinema in theater 2 with Single-tear Susie & Kurtis Fletcher. 
A case in point: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mFRuFU-LwZI

2015 @ the Movies take 3 : “The Interview” As expected, the film is a mixture of butt humor and political satire. When the butt humor reaches hairy depth, the political satire is timid at best. I appreciate the fact that the piece both ridicules the absurdity of the North Korean regime and the profound stupidity of the US entertainment machine permeating the entire globe. However, the “Hurray for democracy!” resolution of the piece completely undermines any attempt at meaningful subversion. A more fitting conclusion would have been for our female Korean revolutionary to become the new supreme leader of NK to put, when the time comes, her child (of Rogen descent) on the throne… Then Kim Jong-un would have had something to whine about. Experienced at Moxie Cinema in theater 2 with Susie Park & Kurtis Lee.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=frsvWVEHowg

2015 @ the Movies take 4 : “Wild” This film could easily be called “Into the Wild Tracks” as a perfect representative of the lonely-hiker-with-a-checkered-past biopic genre. The road to self-discovery is a path through a hostile natural world where toe nail injuries are likely: groundbreaking! Yes, Reese Witherspoon gives a decent makeup-less oscar fishing performance. One originality of the piece is the use of very very brief flashbacks to synthesize the traumas that prompted the hike. Like disorganized chunks of memory that the audience needs to piece together. The muzzle flash reflected in the eye of a horse is my favorite. However, a heavy reverb-laden voice over quickly comes to explain everything and further longer flashbacks tie everything in a pretty bow at the end… of course, the film closes with the requisite pictures of the real person who truly did what the movie is really showing because it is a veritable, not fake, true real story in the life! Experienced at Wehrenberg Campbell 16 Cine in Auditorium 13 without makeup.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tn2-GSqPyl0

2015 @ the Movies take 5 : “Imitation Game” In a world… where biopics dominate the silver screen, it is high time for someone to get it right. Yes, the ambiance of war-torn Britain is perfectly captured (like I was there…), but the film shines by focusing on what matters: the human element. Turing’s life-long struggle to connect with others takes center stage and resonates far beyond the fact that he built the first computer and changed the course of history. Of course, the film owes a great deal to Benedict Cumberbatch’s impeccable interpretation, but Kiera Knightley shows a great range as well. See that’s one biopic that I like Phil :) Experienced at Regal College Station Stadium 14 in auditorium 3 with Susie & Kurtis. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nuPZUUED5uk

2015 @ the Movies take 6 : “Inherent Vice” The tendency of material to deteriorate due to the essential instability of the components or interaction among components. In the legal sense, inherent vice may make an item an unacceptable risk to a carrier or insurer. If the characteristic or defect is not visible, and if the carrier or the insurer has not been warned of it, neither of them may be liable for any claim arising solely out of the inherent vice. That said “dealing with the Hippie is generally straightforward. His childlike nature will usually respond positively to drugs, sex, and/or rock and roll, although in which order these are to be deployed must depend on conditions specific to the moment.” To which I retorted "What was “walking on water,” if it wasn’t Bible talk for surfing?” Experienced at Fuckhenberg Campbell 16 where cinema usually trudges towards a sure demise, but on that precisely chilly Sunday afternoon around 4:15pm in auditorium 6 it had a few breaths left… with Terry Snoozefest, Susie Overnighter & KurtisSaxotello. The only lines worth reading in this murky post are Thomas Pynchon's. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wZfs22E7JmI

2015 @ the Movies take 7 : “The Overnighters” AKA “Frack thy neighbor" A very unsettling documentary that is structured like a piece of fiction. Oddly, the documentarian keeps shifting the focus of the piece as if to enhance the complexity of the issues it raises. Each social problem becomes the outer layer of a deeper one with less prospects for an easy fix. What starts as a housing crisis in times of economic growth becomes a deep interrogation on faith, identity and the limits of selflessness. Highly recommended even on a Tuesday night. Experienced at Moxie Cinema in theater 1 - where cinema soars with new life - with Susie & Kurtis. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n_50-lKvqF4

2015 @ the Movies take 8 : “Selma” The film chooses to cast a wider net in its approach by not only focusing on MLK. The piece succeeds in creating a sense of group struggle. During the first half, it successfully avoids the biopic pitfalls and experiments with interesting sound & picture editing choices. Unfortunately, the last 15 minutes revert to stale agiographic documentary-like clichés that mar most biopics. Still worth watching, but doesn’t quite reach the biopic high mark set by "Imitation Game.” Experienced at Regal College Station Stadium 14 in Auditorium 11 withTerry, Susie & Kurtis and an older couple who would not sit by us.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x6t7vVTxaic

2015 @ the Movies take 9 : “Blackhat” When casting a movie with Chris Hemsworth in the lead role, it is extremely ill-advised to only give him hastily sharpened screwdriver to wield. The man needs his hammer! As for the villain, he needs a devious Loki, not an aging Seth Rogen look-alike in a damp Hawaiian shirt. Except for a couple a trademark action sequences, it is hardly believable that this was put together by Michael Mann. Experienced at Regal College Station Stadium 14 in auditorium 12 (the one with the yellow stains on the screen) with Susie , Kurtis & Tatiana and some dude who left 30 minutes in the movie. Better rewatch Mann’s 1981 “Thief” than this vapid bore: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EHgAEcVzh1o

2015 @ the Movies take 10 : “Foxcatcher” The best dramatic actors are comedians. This axiom behind the magic of “Breaking Bad” is perfectly illustrated by this dark study on the exercise of power. Steve Carell transforms into a tragic vulture persuaded to be an eagle. When “Whiplash” posits abuse of power as a condition for talent to emerge, “Foxcatcher” posits talent as the ultimate commodity. Let's not omit yet another great performance by Mark Ruffalo (The actor with the most coughable last name). A very powerful piece that further complicates the Oscar race. Experienced at Moxie Cinema in theater 2. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8361stZ8n0w

2015 @ the Movies take 11 : “American Sniper” It is hard to decide how to feel about this film that does not seem to know what it wants to be: part war hero-worship biopic shot like an NRA promo add, part timid socially-conscious commentary on post-war trauma. Bradley Cooper navigates the contradiction effectively, but not to the point of Oscar-worthiness. The portrayal of the Iraqi population is also quite problematic. They are innocent kids or treacherous adults with dangerous kids, not much nuance there. Finally, casting a Jafar look-alike for the super-villain “butcher” part is dubiously cliché. You are better off re-watching “Generation Kill”, “Hurt Locker” & “The Deer Hunter.” Experienced at Springfield 11 in IMAX with Susie, Tatiana & Kurtis. Sorry, I will not make the joke about the movie missing its target... Crap! I just did. For those of you who forgot who Jafar is:

2015 @ the Movies take 12 : “Beyond the Lights” All the ingredients are there: a young Afro-British woman groomed by her white single mother to be the next Beyoncé - there was so much to explore: music versus image, manufactured beauty, racial dynamics, body as commodity, mother/daughter relations etc… Gugu Mbatha-Raw & Minnie Driver certainly had the chops to pull it off. However, all the promises rapidly evaporate into a very insipid love story with a super-hunk-Whitehouse-hopeful cop who has the charisma of a puffed up sponge. The film is nominated for Best Original Song with the tune “Grateful.” A feeling I share considering I only had to pay $1.50 to experience this gem at the Palace Theatre in a very uncomfortable seat that brought back sweet memories of the early years of the Moxie Cinema... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sfcfZn8nq3w

2015 @ the Movies take 13 : “Police Story III: Super Cop” (1992 ENG Sub) Last time I saw a Jackie Chan film in the theater was the 1987 French release of Police Story I. Even though I never got to see Police Story II, I was able to follow this Hong Kong classic splendidly. Most of the interest for this 3rd installment resides in the virtuosity of the practical stunts. It is refreshing to feel this long forgotten thrill in the age of green screen dominance. However, the pre-1997 poke at the Mainland China regime by everybody’s favorite gravity-defining debonair Cantonese is a ton of fun. Experienced at the MONDO Moxie Cinema in theater 2 hanging from a helicopter with Susie Yeoh & Kurtis Chan https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XuwBN-o6iv0

2015 @ the Movies take 14 : “Paddington” With a trailer so bad that I almost asked for a refund before the beginning of the feature presentation, there was no chance in hell I was going to devote any more time to this production. However, the allure of a bargain Tuesday ticket at the downtown picture show and upon remembering that, besides France, there is no hell, I came to reconsider my initial revulsion. Good thing I did! Now, 98% on Rotten Tomatoes is certainly a bit carried away. Still, “Paddington" is beautifully made and full of interesting visual story telling ideas. The immigrant story subtext is also a pleasant twist - the scene of our recently arrived bear trying to greet crowds of oblivious Londoners in stilted English will resonate with the ESL crowd. Homesickness portrayed as a live band musically translating Paddington’s feelings at every street corner is also a great idea. The main flaw of the film is its villain. Her motivations don’t really make sense. Worse, the final showdown is weak and plagued by a very sappy speech that awkwardly hammers the subtext down the throat of the viewer… Experienced at Regal College Station Stadium 14 with Susie Brown and the noisiest movie goers ever. So as to avoid the hideous trailer, here a teaser:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sukaz4_-SHU

2015 @ the Movies take 15 : "Oscar Live Action Shorts 2015” 5 short films from 5 countries are competing this year. Overall, it is a strong selection that seems to place people’s need to connect with each other as its unifying theme. 

Parvaneh (Talkhon Hamzavi and Stefan Eichenberger - 25 min Switzerland) shows how, in the space of a few hours, two teenage girls can overcome the cultural divide and see the birth of a friendship. Nice effort, but the piece tends to keep the Afghani girl in the role of the victim saved by her Swiss pal too much. A nice opportunity to hear Swiss German and Dari, though.

Butter Lamp (Hu Wei and Julien Féret - 15 min France-China-Tibet) The most successful entry of the program that illustrates the idealogical power of pictures using the simplest setup: a single still camera shoots families of Tibetans posing for group portraits in front off absurd stock shot backgrounds. A gem! Best line: "Representatives from the local socialist bureau are coming. Clean your houses inside and out!"

See the how the old lady blocks Mao's iconic portrait :)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z3MD76xGXN4
The Phone Call (Mat Kirkby and James Lucas - 21 min UK) A counselor from a crisis hotline tries to save a suicidal man. An acting tour-de-force that missed its perfect ending by adding a useless sappy backstory wrap-up. The first 20 minutes are still a masterpiece.
Aya (Oded Binnun and Mihal Brezis - 39 min Israel and France) In the Jerusalem airport, a young woman pretends to be the driver of a newly arrived Danish traveler. A brilliant look at making deep human connections beyond social conventions in a very short time. The short explores a moment like a full-length feature film could not.
Boogaloo and Graham (Michael Lennox and Ronan Blaney 14 min - UK) Even though it takes place in Northern Ireland in 1978, this is the lightest of the selection. Two kids become obsessed with their pet chickens. The success of the piece resides mostly in the hilarious performance of the two kids - best line to persuade your parents to keep a pet chicken “My reading is really coming on!"
Experienced at Moxie Cinema in theater 1 with Susie, Kristina & Kurtis.

2015 @ the Movies take 16 : "Oscar Animated Shorts 2015” 5 shorts films from 4 countries are competing this year. Overall, it is a not the most exciting selection, but it has its moments. 

Me and My Moulton (Torill Kove – 14 min Canada) A very nice blend of form and subject matter for this look at out-there parental decisions (those pesky modernist architects!) that can be poetically problematic for a child who just wants a bike. Dig that jazz soundtrack.

Feast (Patrick Osborne and Kristina Reed) – 6 minutes/USA A strong contender with no strong offering from Disney or Pixar in the animated feature category, this dog POV piece overflows with gorgeous cuteness. I wish the human protagonists had remained off-screen throughout the piece, but it is a visual marvel.
The Dam Keeper (Robert Kondo and Dice Tsutsumi – 18 min USA) A beautiful piece that suffers from too many themes (bullying, punctuality, global environmental crisis, the power of caricature…) and is a bit too long for the same reason.
The Bigger Picture (Daisy Jacobs and Christopher Hees – 7 min UK) The most avant-garde piece in terms of form - it mixes 2D and stop motion animation in an interesting way. However, the story fails to grab as much the arresting visuals.
A Single Life (Marieke Blaauw, Joris Oprins, Job Roggevee – 2 min /The Netherlands) A fun twist on the time machine theme that feels like a sequence taken from a Tex Avery classic. Experienced at Moxie Cinema with Susie & Kurtis.
http://vimeo.com/95169157

2014 @ The Movies Archives - Dec.

Below is a monthly compilation of my 128 2014 film reviews originally published on Facebook:

December 5 2014 through December 29 2014:

2014 @ the movies take 120 “The Tale of Princess Kaguya" (English Dub 2nd viewing - It was my 2013 top pick) I caught the English dub to compare it to the Japanese version. As far as dubs go, this is a rather successful effort. The voice casting works. The songs suffer bit from the translation in terms of local color, but they are performed adequately. Of course, it is all worth it for the sumptuous visuals and a traditional tale with surprising depth. Last year, many raved about the female empowerment delivered by “Frozen” - IsaoTakahata’s Princess Kaguya goes even further in its exploration of resistance to patriarchal society, motherhood and even female body image (blackened teeth, anyone?). The way “Little Bamboo's” constantly growing body is portrayed in a very natural and never objectified or fantasized manner is very refreshing. Also featured are the cutest piglets ever which were probably Miyazaki-approved smile emoticon Next up, 3rd viewing with the Japanese version subbed in English! Experienced at Moxie Cinema in theater 1 with Susie & Kurtis. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tM6hcHp0_kU

2014 @ the movies take 121 “かぐや姫の物語 (The Tale of Princess Kaguya)" (Japanese with ENG sub 3rd viewing) Mike Stevens & Moxie Cinema crew, thanks again for bringing the subbed version to Springfield. The film is even more powerful in the original Japanese. The 1PM show had a great turnout and concluded with teary cheers and clapping - thanks Hiromi-sensei for attending and bringing friends and family, thanks Timothy for doing the same - thanks Susie & Kurtis for coming back. By the way, this is not simply the US market version with a different soundtrack and subs, it is the full Japanese original with all-Japanese opening and closing credit sequences - as a bonus the Japanese end credit song was subtitled in English which is not the case on the US version. Experienced in theater 1.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8TlxSboH-D8

2014 @ the movies take 122: "The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies" (2D Japanese sub). When I found the first chapter an absolute bore, the second one had a bit more of a spark to it. This third and final part manages to rekindle the boredom of the opening film albeit on a more feisty mode. Fans of overextended epic and expertly crafted battle scenes will rejoice. If you are more into character development and dwarf/elf bonding, you will be sorely disappointed. Hopefully, it will get nominated for best sound design, so I did not see for nothing... Experienced at 新宿バルト9 Wald9 Shinjuku in theater 5.http://youtu.be/1UjeE1zxUxQ

2014 @ the movies take 123: "楽園追放 Expelled from Paradise" (Japanese no sub). The goal there was to experience a real otaku anime on the big screen. Three anime features were showing this week in Tokyo: "Naruto: The Last Movie" (too mainstream), "Yuruyuri Nachuya Tschumi!" (a comedy with a lot of high school girls in very short skirts) and "Expelled from Paradise" which promised ball-shaped robot battles, a fan service-prone cyber-angel girl with impossible hair and some religious subtext... that third choice seemed the perfect blend of otaku madness. They had a 7:25pm and 1:25am showing (for extrovert hikikonomoris smile emoticon. I went to the 7:25pm showing at 新宿バルト9 Wald9 in theater 9. Reserved seating is mandatory and will cost you $17. The theater had about 500 seats and was completely packed. A good 50% of the audience consisted of couples on a movie date smile emoticon A melon soda and tempura sweet potato slices combo costs about $9. The digital projection was spotless and the sound booming. The movie was shockingly chatty. A good 2/3 of the piece, the spandexed lead girl was engaged in heated philosophical debates with a rogue Han Solo type on a desert cruise. Rest assured, the debate got heated enough for her generous bust to bounce quite a bit. The conclusion of the debate was a 20 minute battle scene that felt like a video game on crack. I can't wait to catch the english sub at the Moxie, Mike Stevens!http://youtu.be/aBsgKu6IeHQ

2014 @ the movies take 124: “The Gambler” This one caught me by surprise. I had not seen any trailer or advertisement for it - it just appeared! I first thought Mark Wahlberg was trying to pull a Keanu and start his own “John Wickesque” franchise - absolutely not, he plays an English professor! Marky Mark teaching freshman comp and reading Shakespeare with a gambling problem - that is too high concept to miss! The result is a weirdly interesting movie that doesn’t always work, but Wahlberg is pretty good facing Jessica Lange and Jabba “Goodman" the Hutt and the ending is kinda sorta boldish. I was still left with the feeling that this half misfire contained random sparks of a better film. Well… it’s the remake of a 1974 James Caan vehicle available on Netflix. I did my homework and watched the 1974 version - fascinating. The original is a razor blade of a film. 40 years later the blade is still there, but it is quite dull. Experienced at Regal College Station Stadium 14 in auditorium 5. A scene from the 1974 original not found in the 2014 version - like any English teacher heading to work:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b-LdRzkWrDM

2014 @ the movies take 125: “Unbroken” Here comes another perfect example of the WW2 ready-to-watch biopic: Dig out a true extraordinary tale of suffering, heroism and redemption that took place between 1939 and 1945 (even better if after 1941). Start with childhood scene during the harsh 30’s cut to 1940’s, unveil true hero pitted against foreign vilain. End with pictures of the real person (possibly old age footage if still alive). Ironically, the truly extraordinary fate of the central character (here Louis Zamperini) dissolves into a WW2 movie cliché. Yes, the film is perfectly executed with a very detailed depiction of the time period, but ultimately loses touch with its human element drowned in WW2 déjà vu… One special mention for the Japanese torturer who is interestingly ambiguous - the last shot of his family portrait is the best moment of the film. The other 216 minutes can be avoided. Experienced at Regal College Station Stadium 14 in Auditorium 14.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X8mBzKLhL0U

2014 @ the movies take 126: “Into the Woods” A Disney musical - it seems to be the perfect Pascal death cocktail. However, I had to catch it for Oscar race reasons. It is bound to be nominated for Best song, or Best film containing an actress named Meryl. When I understand the original material goes a bit further, I still found the polite subversion of classic fable tropes refreshing. The cast seems to have fun and it comes through. I heard purists were outraged because one song was cut from the film version. I don’t really know where they could have placed it. The piece is already quite longish. The repetitiveness of the plot doesn’t help either, but it goes with the fairy tale territory. I still don’t understand why they randomly break into songs, but that must me a cultural thing wink emoticon Experienced at Regal College Station Stadium 14in Auditorium 1. The initial teaser where most characters look over their shoulder still cracks me up, Kurtis: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iDWADpZEs70

2014 @ the movies take 127: “Exodus: Gods and Kings (3D)” another pre-Oscar watch for a shot at best costume design or best set design. I was also very impressed with the uncut version of Ridley Scott’s “Kingdom of Heaven” (2005) that I watched recently. It gave me hope that I would not have to suffer trough another “Noah.” Aside from Christian Bale’s horrible beard, it is an epic visual feast. It is going to be very hard to re-watch Charlton Heston (also a so-so beard) leading twenty guys across a misty puddle after this spectacle… Scott chooses to really focus on the Rameses / Moses relationship. However, he also surrounds them with a huge cast of famous faces (Sigourney Weaver, ben Kingsley, Aaron Paul…) that end up kind of waiting in the background for a chance to say half a line. We end up with two guys each wielding their own immense faceless crowd across vast deserts. With such a Caucasian-dominated cast, one could have avoided casting God as an impetuous British white boy with an impeccable RP English. "More tea with your locusts?” If you have 3h15 to spare favor the director's cut of “Kingdom of Heaven” for a much better and subversive Scott. Experienced at Regal College Station Stadium 14in Auditorium 11.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t-8YsulfxVI

2014 @ the movies take 128: “Whiplash” After really enjoying the intense short-film version that was part of the Sundance shorts selection, I was a bit worried seeing it expanded into a feature. The transformation is beyond successful - a sure contender for my top 5 of 2014. Not only the intensity of the original is preserved, but the complexity and ambiguity of the relationship between the two leads is taken to a new level. The acting is top-notch - so good to see J.K. Simmons shine in a lead role. The work on the soundtrack is also extremely impressive. Jazz fans will rejoice, but the piece is not just a drum-centric jazz feast. It is a thought-provoking look at the teacher/student relationship and about the dangerous energy it can generate. With current trends in education shying away from this energy, the film cultivates it to the extreme. “No words in the English language are more dangerous than 'good job." A perfect echo of this quote from “Nightcrawler” another favorite from 2014: "Having been raised with the self-esteem movement so popular in schools, I used to expect my needs to be considered. But I know that today's work culture no longer caters to the job loyalty that could be promised to earlier generations.” Experienced at Moxie Cinema in theater 2. Second viewing already planned smile emoticon https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7d_jQycdQGo

2014 @ The Movies Archives - Nov.

Below is a monthly compilation of my 128 2014 film reviews originally published on Facebook:

November 1 2014 through November 30 2014:

2014 @ the movies take 105 “Before I go to Sleep” The film fails everywhere “Gone Girl” succeeds - David Fincher must have watched it, and said to himself “This is what not to do when adapting a popular mystery novel.” Nicole Kidman (Christine) and Colin Firth (Ben) try their best, but they don’t manage to suspend our disbelief much. The far-fetched premise of a woman having to rebuild her memory every morning, needed to be treated like a Twilight Zone episode, or a kind of dark amnesiac Groundhog Day. There are glimpses of that, but the twist of the 2nd half completely kills the mystery. We cease to participate in Christine’s circular nightmare, we watch the soufflé peter out into a thick melodrama… Experienced at Regal College Station Stadium 14 in theater 8. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tQdnOYpyBCo

2014 @ the movies take 106 “Nightcrawler” This one will for sure be somewhere at the top of my best of 2014 list. A very dark psychopathic rags to riches story that is fascinatingly dangerous. The number one commodity in LA are narrative images. This film explores their lowest form that the media uses to trigger our most primal fears, so we will keep watching through the commercial break. Jake Gyllenhaal is perfect as a viciously efficient camera-wielding sociopath. As a pendant to the trash footage filmed by the protagonist, the film itself is beautifully shot - LA has rarely looked so striking - a very impressive directorial debut. Dan Gilroy is a veteran script writer, but this is his first time behind the camera. Repeat viewing already scheduled. Experienced at Regal College Station Stadium 14 in theater 3.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X8kYDQan8bw

2014 @ the movies take 107 “Pride” In the direct lineage of “The Full Monty” or “Kinky Boots”, this film is to be filed under British socially & sexually conscious comedy. As usual, it has a great script, quirky Brit humor, and a perfect cast (of the usual suspects). However, it is also very manipulative - pulling on every string in the book - a tear-joker of sort. Yes, it is a very pleasant time if you along for the ride, but it conveys an image of the Thatcher years that is a bit rosy in the cheeks. It shies away from the violence of the time keeping it regrettably a bit off-frame. Experienced at Moxie Cinema in theater 1 with Terry Miller Barakat. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vsFY0wHpR5o

2014 @ the movies take 108 “Interstellar" As he did (less successfully) with “Inception”, Christopher Nolan again walks the tightrope between large-scale blockbuster entertainment and philosophizing art cinema. In a very short scene, Nolan juxtaposes the immensity of deep space with the mundane sound of an earthly thunderstorm. The incongruous collage stems from a small moment between two characters coping with the trauma of space travel. This is the film at its best - questioning our sense of time, place and reality. It, unfortunately, sometimes meanders into scientific explanations as if worried to lose its audience with too many questions. It is still a thought-provoking spectacle worth exploring on a very large screen. Einstein is purported to have said “Gravity is not to be held responsible for people falling in love” - Nolan tells us “Maybe not, hit the books again.” Experienced at Springfield 11 IMAX with Susie Kekec & Kurtis Foster https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rt2LHkSwdPQ

2014 @ the movies take 109 “Laggies” Yet another decent film shot in mid-air by its trailer. In spite of Kiera Knightley's and Sam Rockwell’s solid performances, the piece doesn’t offer much more than what is shown in the trailer. Ironically, the most interesting part of the story is probably the Knightly/Rockwell interaction which takes us away from the original premise of 20 something lagging in the teenage world. Experienced at Moxie Cinemawith Susie Kekec & Kurtis Foster in theater 1. Not posting the damaging trailer - you are better off without it.

2014 @ the movies take 110 “Nightcrawler” (Second viewing!) The methodical perversion of every success-story movie trope is even more salient with this repeat viewing. Gyllenhaal’s performance is so powerful, it almost overshadows Rene Russo’s and Riz Ahmed’s (Rick) during the first viewing. However, I can see now that they both bring a lot to Gyllenhaal’s performance and make the great irony of the dialogues snap. Still a sure contender for top 10 of 2014. Experienced at Regal College Station Stadium 14 with Susie Kekec & Kurtis Foster in theater 6. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X8kYDQan8bw

2014 @ the movies take 111 “Birdman” Alejandro González Iñárritu is certainly not afraid of exploring alternate forms of story-telling. Most of his previous films (Amores Perros, 21 grams, Babel) are non-linear puzzles with multiple plots and a plethora of locales and atmospheres. With “Birdman” he explores the extreme opposite by almost sticking to the classical unities of live theater: 1 place, 1 action, 1 time. 95% percent of the film is a single extended take inside a Broadway theater - only time gets subtly sped up over 3 or 4 days. Digital cameras make it easier to pull off than when Hitchcock did it in 1948 with “The Rope.” However, the actors must have felt like they were doing a stage play. For a film about a washed-out movie star putting on a play to prove himself he is still an actor, how fitting. Michael Keaton & Ed Norton are spectacular and the film has so many levels of meta-meta-meta that I am still counting them. Repeat viewing is very likely. Did I also mention that the soundtrack is an extended Jazz drum solo by Antonio Sánchez? Experienced at Moxie Cinema with Terry Miller Barakat in theater 2. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8jAfBd3g6bA

2014 @ the movies take 112 “Big Hero Six” On paper, it feels like Pixar magic: high-concept futuristic world, teen dealing with the loss of his older brother through his relationship with a robot, Japanese-American lead character (that’s not common) and tough female heroes. The result often feels like weak straight-to-video Disney… yes, the animation, decors and attention to detail to create a visually coherent hybrid between Tokyo & SanFrancisco is splendid, but the human characters are flat clichés. Asian-Americans & tall girl with glasses are science nerds - how original! Caucasian doofus with bad hair is a comic-book nerd - shocking! Baymax, the healthcare inflatable robot, is the true gem of the film, too bad the plot is so predictable that the story spoils itself in the first 10 minutes. Still check out this early teaser for some fun Baymax moments that, for the most part, did not make the final cut (bad editing?) - also, if you were a boy genius, wouldn’t you think about deflating your puffy robots before fitting it with an armor? Experienced at Regal College Station Stadium 14 in theater 7 with Susie Kekec & Kurtis Fosterhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OvgyXKDXdZY

2014 @ the movies take 113 “Rosewater” A great effort for first-time director Jon Stewart. The film portrays the complexity of a country, Iran, that is too often reduced to a fanatic caricature in the western media. While the piece is honestly topical, it also explores the master/slave paradigm and points out the fluidity of power in a smart way: “What kind of massage?” I vividly remember the shock of watching “The Confession” (L’Aveu”) Costa Gavras’ 1970 film about political incarceration during the stalinist purges. “Rosewater" is a proud descendant of this lineage of politically aware movies from the 1970’s. My only gripes is that I would have liked to hear more Farsi - or Iran has the best EFL programs I have ever seen. Experienced at Moxie Cinema in theater 1 withKurtis Foster & Susie Kekec. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1jpAVB1JuMc

2014 @ the movies take 114 “The Hunger Games: The Mockingjay Part. 1” The first film in the series which doesn’t feature an actual "game" feels too much like a transitional chapter to really stand on its own. A bunch of secondary characters are thrown in the mix with minimal motivation: “We need to shoot a propaganda video on location to awaken sleepy Katniss.” However, the director fails to create a compelling scene for Katniss’ return to a scorched district 12 - then her revolutionary drive falls back on dear Peeta - who is still as exciting as a wet mop on a tile floor. On the bittersweet upside, we get a few more minutes of Philip Seymour Hoffman who like every great actor will never die. Experienced at Regal College Station Stadium 14 in auditorium 8 with Terry Miller Barakat, Kurtis Foster & Susie Kekec.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3PkkHsuMrho

2014 @ the movies take 115 “Citizen four” When I first saw the trailer for this documentary, I thought it was fiction. I love the way Swnoden’s turns his head to the side as he is saying his name in the trailer. It rings like top-notch method acting. Unfortunately, it is not fiction at all. In other words: PGh0bWw+CiAgPGhlYWQ+CiAgPC9oZWFk%$%43wcPgogIDxib2R5PTeL&gogICAgPHA+VGhpcyPHA+‪#‎THeY‬+VGhpcyBpcyB0aGUg+PgogICAgPHA+‪#‎areLisTenINg‬+VGhpcyCiAgPC9oZWFkP*2R5PgogICAgR5PgogICAg#PHA+VGhpcygPGhlYWQ+CiAgPC9oZWHuGFtyfYt%54TFVY8obYe$wd^tUgHiBYFeNJHIBF^CRS$SXTUHPHA+VGhpcyPHA+
Encrypted at Moxie Cinema in theater One with Susie Six and Kurtis Seven. 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XiGwAvd5mvM

2014 @ the movies take 116 “Birdman” (Second viewing!) After the frenzy of the first viewing, I was able to appreciate the humor of the film more. The repeat experience doesn’t diminish the sharpness of the script constantly commenting on itself as it is unfolding. Still highly recommended if you like cinema that surprises and shows the art form is still on fertile grounds and doesn’t "smell like balls.” Experienced at Moxie Cinema in theater 2 with Susie Kekec & Kurtis Foster https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uJfLoE6hanc

2014 @ the movies take 117 “Toxic Avenger” (1984) My 12 year old self would have loved it! It’s a super-hero movie with naked ladies! As an adult, I can only "Marvel" at the depth of the environmentally conscious message and the devastatingly honest portrait of America during the Reagan era. Lloyd Kaufman & Michael Herz don’t shy away from the socio-economical realities of the time: the capitalistic re-appropriation of the body as commodity, corruption in law enforcement and the ruling class, bullying, obesity, exclusion of the underclass and the physically challenged - their approach is all-encompassing. A must-see at a very late show with burnt popcorn and acidic soda. Experienced at ‪#‎MONDO‬ Moxie Cinema in theater 2 with like-minded film enthusiasts. Thanks Mike Stevens & Friends!https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=27E4Qfj7iEY

2014 @ the movies take 118 “St. Vincent” In a “bold" move, this film casts Bill Murray as a recluse grumpy old man. Then spends the rest of the feature trying to prove to the viewer, through unlikely twists and turns, that he is just a sweet old timer with a heart of plated gold. To create a semblance of originality, they threw in a dialed-down Melissa McCarthy, a quirky priest and Naomi Watts as a pregnant Russian stripper slash “lady of the night.” Keep in trash for 30 minutes and progressively soak in sap for the last hour (keep stirring until completely dissolved). The only redeeming aspect of the piece is Melissa McCarthy in a pretty convincing low-key role. If only it were not in this faux-edgy fare. Experienced at Regal College Station Stadium 14 in auditorium 4 in a solitary manner. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9dP5lJnJHXg

2014 @ the movies take 119 “The Theory of Everything” On paper it looks like an Oscar-bait biopic. However, the film doesn’t dissolve into a sterile acting stunt. It is redeemed by the honest portrayal of an extraordinary couple going through ordinary ebbs and flows. Many biopics often lose sight of the human element in the great lives they romanticized. This one doesn’t and may or may not feature the big-screen debut of Shelley. Experienced at Moxie Cinema in theater 2.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t-v1_OttK4A