Mini-Reviews #3

Oh boy, it has been a long time since I have done a group of mini-reviews. When I finished the last set of reviews for this section of the blog, I watched a few movies and then stopped for a very long time. Nearly a month, in fact.

That was at the end of 2014. But when the new year began, I made a resolution to watch a hundred new movies before the end of 2015. This includes movies in theaters as well as ones on DVD, Netflix, TCM or any place online. So long as it is new to me, it counts as a new film.

I am happy to say that, as of this blog post on February 16, I am now at 26 new films. I have posted reviews of many of these films already, including "The Theory Of Everything," "Whiplash" and "Jupiter Ascending," but have not had a chance to do anything related to the non-theatrical films I watched.

It is time to fix that.

At my last count, there are 18 films that I need to do mini-reviews of, so these are going to be broken up into two separate blog posts. With that said, let's take a look at the first nine films I watched.



"Woman Of The Year" (1942)

An actor you will see popping up in these reviews is Spencer Tracy. Not by design, its just that TCM is showing lots of movies with him in it which I had never seen before.

This one was a nice time occupier. Nothing truly stood out about the relationship between Tracy and Katherine Hepburn in this one, since they felt like they belonged on opposite sides of the planet. One is a sportswriter set in his ways, and the other is a political advocate who at first wants to suspend baseball until the end of WWII. Eventually, these two fall in love but can't seem to find the time for one another. These two have very little in common, so their relationship is forced and comes off as unnecessary. It does lead to a great bit at the end when Hepburn attempts (and fails) to make Tracy breakfast, but even that goes a bit longer than it needs to.

Nothing necessarily wrong or off-putting about this one, but it doesn't do a great job at getting my attention in the first place.

Final Grade: C



"Good Morning, Vietnam" (1987)

I saw this one because I missed Robin Williams. It only made me miss him more.

The sole reason to watch "Good Morning, Vietnam" is to watch the great improve skills of Robin Williams, while he hones his talent at being the clown with a heart of gold. Robin Williams, more than almost any other actor, understood the strife and pain that people go through, especially in war, and that talking about it does not make the problem go away, building relationships and memories can. And what better way to do that than through comedy? To people like Williams, laughter is the best medicine. It can heal wounds that the eye cannot see, mend broken hearts and revitalize the soul.

A good movie to watch, just to remind us of the impact and scope of Robin Williams.

Final Grade: B



"Shadow Of The Vampire" (2000)

This one is a creepy and other worldly love letter to silent horror films.

While it is shot and acted like a documentary chronicling the story of how F.W. Murnau's classic "Nosferatu" was created, it does add possible fictional twist - What if the actor Murnau hired to play Nosferatu, Max Schreck, actually was a vampire?

I say possible twist, because the movie never directly says that he is a creäture of the night, but does imply it. It could just be that Schreck is one of the greatest method actors of all time, and saw the chance to play a vampire as a challenge to his acting abilities. This guy grows his fingernails to absurd lengths, only acts at night, feasts on blood and desires to make others see his way.

So is he a vampire or an actor dedicated to his role? I'm still not sure. That is the beauty of "Shadow Of The Vampire."

Final Grade: A-



"Beauty And The Beast" (1946)

No no. Not the Disney version. Believe it or not, Disney was not the first to adapt this story to the screen. In fact, some argue that Disney is not even the best adaptation. This black-and-white version was made in France, under Nazi occupation, and was done on a shoe-string budget.

You might be asking how they were able to make an actor into the beast and have everything in his castle come to life. Extensive makeup that took hours to put on, lots of extras, careful cinematography and expansive sets. That's how.

For that reason alone "Beauty And The Beast" immediately gets my respect. To be able to do so much, creating such a captivating fantasy with many other worldly scenarios like a wall of arms which hold the candles and the moving statues, all while being pursued by the Nazis and without the best equipment, this is a masterpiece.

Final Grade: A+



"Harvey" (1950)

In case you were not aware, one of my favorite actors of all time is James Stewart. So to have taken so long to see one of his best performances comes as a shock, even to me. But now I do see why I took so long - his performance and life philosophy is the only good part about the movie.

Everyone around Elwood P. Dowd (Stewart) is either insensitive, incompetent or both. They don't seem to understand that maybe the giant rabbit that Dowd talks about constantly is real, or that it is none of their business and Dowd is not hurting anyone so they should just let him think whatever he wants.

That being said, Stewart, as always, is the kindest soul imaginable and would give his right leg if it meant helping out a stranger. Like with "Shadow Of A Vampire," you're not too sure if he best friend the massive rabbit is imaginary or not, but by the end it doesn't really matter. The existence of Harvey makes Dowd a better man who would rather be pleasant than smart any day.

Final Grade: B+



"Election" (1999)

This one was a fun ride through its framing device alone. The way in which the story is told, as each important character in a scene will give a narration explaining their actions, gives insight into an event that would normally be dull and boring - a high school class president election.

From the perky yet snobby brat who always wants to get her way (Resse Witherspoon), to the sexually deprived teacher who just wants to do his job (Matthew Broderick), to the quarterback with the broken leg who just wants other people to be happy, "Election" gives some great insight into the minds of these characters, making each of their actions logical, relatable and hilarious.

Final Grade: A-



"Attack Of The 50-Foot Woman" (1958)

I could see this movie being featured on an episode of "Mystery Science Theater 3000." But the difference between this movie and others featured on that show is that "Attack Of The 50-Foot Woman" is a good movie.

Granted, it is an incredibly simple premise - A woman gets visited by aliens, she tries to explain what happened, no one can find any proof, her husband cheats on her, she gets attacked by the aliens, she grows to giant size and tries to kill her husband. But the film then spends the rest of the time making that story logical and serious. "Attack Of The 50-Foot Woman" never relies on camp or unnecessary comedy. In fact, the only comedy comes from the deputy sheriff that takes bribes and hits on women (even though he is married).

A very simple movie, yet an effective one. It does not try too hard, but it doesn't need to.

Final Grade: B+



"War Of The Worlds" (1953)

On the opposite end of "Attack Of The 50-Foot Woman," we have "War Of The Worlds" which tries way too hard to be sophisticated and intelligent.

While I do think the effects in this film are impressive, especially for their time, that is not enough to hold up the film. Especially when there are so few scenes of the aliens in the film. Much like the chase scene in "Bullitt," that is basically the only thing people talk about with this film.

My main problem with the 1953 version of "War Of The Worlds" is that it forces religion down our throats in nearly every scene. Religion that, by the way, is a human ideal. The humans in this film seem to think that the Martians would know all about Christianity and God, even though they've probably never seen a bible before, or would understand how to read it.

They are from another planet, they do not have the same ideals or thoughts as us. These are creatures that can smell color and are harmed by the simplest of bacteria. I don't think they know about Jesus, or care to learn about him.

It's like trying to teach a goldfish how to fix a car engine. Something just aren't going to happen.

Final Grade: C



"The Way We Were" (1973)

This one is built entirely around the growing relationship between Barbara Streisand and Robert Redford. From the time they meet in college and grow to respect one another, to needing some company in a time of loneliness, to always wanting to be around the other, these two go through a long and complicated romance.

It reminds me of "When Harry Met Sally..." but instead of letting the characters grow naturally and letting their surroundings make them realize that they do love each other, "The Way We Were" shows how their surroundings made them grow further apart from each other. The film moves quickly from one scene to the next and gives very little time to let their relationship reach its full potential, so the movie suffers for that.

Overall though, "The Way We Were" certainly wasn't bad, but like most romance movies, it does not do anything for me. Great acting from Streisand and Redford, but that's about it.

Final Grade: C+

Join me in the next few days, as I'll post another batch of mini-reviews of the other nine films I watched recently. With more Spencer Tracy, bad comedies and serial killers than you can shake a stick at.

Movie Review - "Jupiter Ascending" (2015) - This is how we start 2015?

I'm not sure whether it is a good or bad sign that the first film of 2015 that I watch falls into the category of "So bad, it's good."

On the one hand, "Jupiter Ascending" thinks that it is clever, original and has something intelligent to say, only for all that to get lost in a predictable romance, over the top performances and lots of explosions. However, the film also ends up being unintentionally hilarious due to the over the top and unpredictable nature, and tendency for actors to scream their lines unnecessarily or go off on strange tangents that no one can decipher.

Think of "Jupiter Ascending" as "The Matrix Revolutions" if all the actors were played by eight-year olds. Quite fitting, since both films are brought to us by The Wachowskis, Andy and Lana. Unfortunately, they also gave us "Cloud Atlas" which I just picked as the best film of the 2010s so far, so that makes "Jupiter Ascending" a bit disappointing.

Jupiter Jones (Mila Kunis) hates her life of scrubbing toilets and cleaning up after people. But when aliens start trying to kill her and a genetically engineered bounty hunter (Channing Tatum) becomes her bodyguard, Jupiter is more than willing to tag along and travel the vast reaches of space. Along the way, Jupiter learns that she is part of a much bigger plan, led by the Abrasax family, leaders of a planetary business over control of the universe, specifically the young Balem (Eddie Redmayne).



Let's start with the most uproarious part of this film - Eddie Redmayne. I do not know if he thought he was giving a good performance or if he did not take the role seriously and tried to pull a William Shatner, but Redmayne's character cannot be taken seriously. Either he mumbles and whispers every line, or is screaming them at the top of his lungs. There is no in-between. All the while, Redmayne chews up the scenery and does everything in his power to make me laugh.

For crying out loud, this guy is nominated for an Academy Award for Best Actor this year. Yet here he is, making John Travolta's role in "Battlefield Earth" look subtle and dignified.



The role of Jupiter Jones is severely mis-cast. While I do think Mila Kunis is a fine actress, and one of the most beautiful women in cinema, she does carry certain baggage with her that makes her unfit to play a role where she has control over part of the universe. As such, a role like this needs to be played by an unknown actress. Someone who has no major film appearances, but is still a competent actress.

Throughout most of Kunis' scenes, I keep having "That 70's Show" and "Family Guy" flashbacks and think that Meg could not be queen of the universe.

On top of that, the relationship between Jupiter and Channing Tatum's character is nothing special. Tatum growls and sneers at everything and seems to always know exactly where Jupiter is, ready to swoop in and save her. Also, very progressive to have this all-important queen constantly get saved and never actually do anything for herself.

Many plot points and story elements are brought up but never addressed. For example, there is a fight over the Chicago skyline and many buildings are destroyed and people killed. Yet the next day, the buildings are magically rebuilt in moments and Tatum says that people's minds will be wiped of what they saw. Does that include the minds of the people who died? Or their loved ones memories of how they died? How does one go about wiping the minds of everyone in the Chicago area? Do they have control of the media and made sure that no news reports were made about the destruction and the possibility of alien attacks? If they don't, how do they wipe the minds of everyone who watched the news? Are they wizards that can go back in time and wipe people's minds in the past?

It just raises too many questions. None of which will be answered.



I'll give "Jupiter Ascending" this much though It looks stunning. From the alien landscapes, to the ship designs, to the interior of the mining colony inside of the Jupiter's eye, to even the shots of Chicago and Earth, the cinematography is breath-taking. I feel like I went on a visual National Geographic tour of a few alien worlds.

But overall, that is pretty much all "Jupiter Ascending" is good for - eye candy and a few laughs that were not intentional. The poor writing, bad casting choices and lack of chemistry between the leads makes the film hard to watch at times, but when something is done incompetently but the film thinks it is brilliant, that is what leads to the most laughs, especially from Eddie Redmayne. This was a fun ride at times, but not for the reasons that the Wachowskis intended.

Final Grade: C-

Top Ten Films Of The 2010s (Thus Far)

It is strange to think about, but we are now halfway through this decade. It felt like just yesterday, we were still just in the beginning of the 2000s, yet here we are in 2015.

This has been an eventful five years in cinema, with some good film years with several noteworthy movies, some terrible ones with next to nothing, and even a few great ones like this last year.

As such, let's take a look back at the last half decade and see the best the movies had to offer. These are the top ten films of the 2010s (thus far). For this list, any film released between 2010 and 2014 qualifies. This will include some films that I've done extensive reviews on, but others that I have hardly even touched.



Ten: "Midnight In Paris" (2011)

This one snuck up on me. I did not expect much out of Woody Allen, who has been more of a filmmaker who lurks in the shadows and waits for others to discover his work. But, there is something so charming to his fantastic tale of a man who wants nothing more than to live in the past.

"Midnight In Paris" reminds me of a comedic episode of "The Twilight Zone," where reality and fantasy meet and the desires to make the past present and fulfilled, only to have them come crashing down and shattered in front of their eyes. With each trip into the past, there comes the realization that we romantize the past and only see what we wish to see, taking away our ability to enjoy the present to the fullest.

Clever story, tight writing and an unexpected moral that has remained relevant since we began to record history. A pleasant surprise from Woody Allen.



Nine: "Django Unchained" (2012)

Quentin Tarantino is a hit-and-miss director for me. Sometimes, he'll make a film that hits all the right notes that is stylish, eloquent and suspenseful, like "Reservoir Dogs" and "Pulp Fiction." Other times, Tarantino will make a film that meanders and does not seem to have much of a point, aside from showing off his own ego, like "Jackie Brown" and "Inglorious Basterds."

"Django Unchained" falls into the first category, and just might be Tarantino's best film since "Pulp Fiction." I attribute this to not writing dialogue for the sake of the dialogue, but creating the characters and writing the dialogue around them. I remember very few lines from "Django Unchained" but I certainly characters like Dr. Schultz and Calvin Candy, for their charisma, their passions, their generous hearts (or in Candy's case, a lack of one) and the performances behind them.

There is excellent character writing in "Django Unchained." In a harsh world that cares very little for the individual, we get a German bounty hunter that loves what he does and appreciates a man's contributions, as well as a slaver that loves this strange and unforgiving world and will use it to his advantage.

Aside from a few out-of-place scenes, like the KKK sequence and the artificially extended ending, "Django Unchained" is wonderful Western with some characters that will not be forgotten any time soon.



Eight: "Silver Linings Playbook" (2012)

When I initially saw "Silver Linings Playbook," I admired the performances by Bradley Cooper and Jennifer Lawrence, but got very little out of the film. After watching the film a couple more times though, I have gained a new respect for the movie by talking about issues that are so rarely discussed in cinema.

Perhaps when I first watched "Silver Linings Playbook," I saw the film trying to say something about mental illnesses. In a way the film is talking about that, but it is more about trauma than anything else, as well as learning how to deal with it. The people who have mental breakdowns and blame tragic life events on themselves, like their spouse cheating on them or a loved one dying in a car accident. That these tortured souls have to take life one day at a time and learn to appreciate what they have now, and not what they had.

"Silver Linings Playbook" is smart, funny, and one of the more touching films of the last five years. Good performances all around, including Robert De Niro and Jacki Weaver.



Seven: "Gravity" (2013)

For the first time, this film feels like it is set in space. Not only that, but it feels like we are right along side Sandra Bullock and George Clooney in their journey through space.

The fear, the majestic view, and the unknown of space are all on display in "Gravity." I did not like "Gravity" as much in my first viewing, mostly due to the story not being that impressive. But after thinking more about it, I've realized that "Gravity" is about the experience and not the story, like "2001: A Space Odyssey." You don't need much out of your main character, because you are your own main character. The extended long shots of space stations flying apart and debris fields zipping past you is more effective than any bit of character development in this film.

It is one of those oddities in cinema that puts you in a state of mind and lets you see an all new perspective, rather than watching a story unfold. Though it gets a bit cliché and predictable near the end, the cinematography and atmosphere more than make up for it. Overall, I respect "Gravity" more than most other films I have seen in the last five years.



Six: "Birdman" (2014)

Actors can be fickle people, who pursue their cause for nothing more than fame. But some people will do just about anything to achieve fame, even putting their souls on display for everyone to laugh and ridicule.

This is what makes "Birdman" such a strong piece. The intent of Riggin Thomson is so basic and desirable, yet so personal as he looks for redemption and a purpose in life. The demons of his past continue to haunt him, calling out to reclaim what belongs to him alone, but he continues to wish to make his acting career one worth fighting for. It makes the film even stronger because of Michael Keaton playing the role, who has had something like that happen to him.

On top of that, there is top-notch cinematography, emotional performances from Edward Norton and Emma Stone and snappy dialogue that just rolls off the tongue. "Birdman" is a film that I would not mind watching many times in the future.



Five: "The Artist" (2011)

2011 was a sad year for cinema. For the majority of that year, my favorite film was "Rango," which came out in February, and saw an endless string of bad and disappointing movies, like "Hugo" and "Drive."

Then along came "The Artist" to prove that cinema is a visual medium and that dialogue is just an added benefit.

I realize that sounds hypocritical, since I just praised "Django Unchained" and "Birdman" for their dialogue, but there are many different types of movies out there and what works for some may not work for others. "The Artist" goes back to the root of cinema - silent movies. To see a feature-length silent film being made in the 2010s, and to have it be so exciting, emotional and atmospheric is unbelievable.

"The Artist" could have gone the route of "Singin' In The Rain," and be a musical set during the transitional period in film history when talkies were taking off, but instead we get a "Sunset Boulevard"-esque story, of a silent actor who is being left in a rapidly evolving world. The quote, "I am big, it's the pictures that got small," comes to mind when I think of "The Artist."

Overall, "The Artist" is a love letter to many different eras of cinema, including the quirky 1910s and 1920s, the darker and more personal 1950s and the many films of Billy Wilder. A timeless film made at a time when we needed a reminder of the power of cinema.



Four: "Black Swan" (2010)

Much like "Birdman," "Black Swan" is a film that shows the darker side of being a performer and relies almost exclusively on one performance. But the reason "Black Swan" gets higher on this list is because of the atmosphere and inner battle of the main character.

In "Black Swan," there is always a foreboding atmosphere, that Nina is always trying her hardest but is one slip-up away from being cut from the lead role. Nina wants to be the best, but being the best comes with a tough mentality. This goes together with Nina's struggle within herself, to the point that she must become the black swan to perform in the ballet.

"Black Swan" has many subtle parts to it, where you're not exactly sure what is real and what is in Nina's mind, to the point where Mila Kunis' character might be a figment of Nina's imagination, to make Nina fight harder for her role.

Throw in a one-of-a-kind performance by Natalie Portman and the dark filmmaking style from the same director as "Requiem For A Dream," and "Black Swan" continues to impress me to this day.



Three: "Nightcrawler" (2014)

From one creepy and disturbing film to another. This time though, we get a film that is set in reality and not the mind.

The tale of Louis Bloom has been compared to someone attempting to obtain the "American Dream," only to realize that America has changed so much that the dream is dead. Louis sets out to prove that wrong, at whatever the cost. Louis does not care for other people, and only sees them as tools to achieve is own goals and can be disposed off once his need for them is finished. Yet all the while, Louis works harder, quicker and more deadly than the competition to make a name for himself.

Perhaps that is why filming horrific accidents and tragedies comes so naturally for Louis. He is so far removed from reality and lives in his own world that he does not see these as people, but his next paycheck. Sadly though, his news outlet seems to agree with his line of thinking and will pay Louis handsomely for their ratings boost.

"Nightcrawler" is a film that is relevant as it is creepy. A standout performance by Jake Gyllenhaal, poignant writing and an unrelenting atmosphere. This is a film that quickly grabs a hold of you and never lets go.



Two: "her" (2013)

Now that we've got all the terrifying films out-of-the-way, let's talk about the most heartwarming and imaginative film on this list.

I could not see "her" being directed by anyone other than Spike Jonez. The man who went inside John Malkovich's head, who cast Nicholas Cage as the two lead roles in the same film about adapting a book at was unadaptable, and the guy who dared to bring "Where The Wild Things Are" to the screen, now makes a movie about a man falling in love with an artificial intelligence. But the great thing about "her" is that he pulls it off spectacularly.

Part of this is because the world of "her" is not so different from our own, yet advanced enough where software and everything digital can be interacted with. We still use email and social media, but everything is streamlined and quicker. It is not surprising that A.I. would develop a personality that others can identify with, care for and fall in love with.

"her" is one of the few films about romance that I not only tolerate, but adore. When we have so many predictable stories of love, nothing makes me happier than to see a film that strains the boundaries of personalities and what these two can do together.

And the Best Film Of the 2010s (thus far) is...



"Cloud Atlas" (2012)

Possibly the most unconventional pick on this list, "Cloud Atlas" gets number one for being unlike any other film I have ever seen. Six different stories, all different genres and types of stories, combined into a timeline where each story affects the outcome of the next and reincarnations and past lives are a reoccurring trend.

What really sold me on "Cloud Atlas" was how each story fell into a particular genre, making it easier to follow. The events in present day London is a comedy, while the one in 1970s San Francisco is a mystery, and the 2100s Neo Seoul is (of course) a science fiction piece. Each section of the film stands on its own, but when you put them together it tells a tale over the course of thousands of years, and our understanding of the past, present and future collide.

There have been network narratives in the past, where there is no true main character and many types of people are followed, but never has there been a film like "Cloud Atlas" where each piece can work individually, and still contribute to a greater whole.

"Cloud Atlas" is ambitious, clever, knows no genre-boundaries and never gets boring or predictable. For being over three hours long, it moves a brisk pace and does not feel longer than an hour and a half. The editing is tight and focused, the cinematography ranges from breath-taking to other-worldly and it never fails to keep me entertained.

Now I'd like to know what are your favorite films of the last five years. Do you think there was a film that I missed? Or do you disagree with some of the films that I put on this list. Let me know in the comments.

Movie Review - "The Theory Of Everything" - Can Science And Romance Mix?

I want to say that "The Theory Of Everything" was about something relatable, tragic and sympathetic, serving as an inspiration to audiences to never give up hope even in the face of tremendous hurdles.

I wanted to say that, but then the movie pulls a 180 and goes with a message of love that has been told time and again in many other forgettable romantic comedies. Now I'm not so sure what to think of "The Theory Of Everything."

The story of Stephen Hawking is one that most people forget until they get to know the man. Everyone is at least aware of who Dr. Hawking is, or can remember his robotic voice and face. But people often forget how he got that way, and how he was still able to accomplish so much in the field of cosmology and black hole theory. The man tries to understand why the universe is the way it is and how it was created, even if he cannot utter a word ever again. Because his strength to discover the secret to all life is stronger than this disease consuming his body.

So naturally, when making a movie about that inspirational struggle, they decide to make it a romance. Because that makes sense.

In mid-1960s Cambridge University, a young Stephen Hawking (Eddie Redmayne) is working on his thesis about how the universe was formed, until he meets the beautiful Jane Wilde (Felicity Jones) and the two hit it off and start dating while Stephen goes off on his socially awkward tangents about the world. Things take a turn for the worst though when Stephen ends up in the hospital and is told he has motor neuron disease and his muscles will slowly deteriorate until he can no longer breathe, eat or swallow. He is given two years to live, and Stephen is going to make those years the most precious time of his life.



While there is plenty of discussion on how Stephen is changing the world with his theories on how the universe was created and going back to the creation of everything, once his first book is published, all of that is put on the back burner and we instead focus on the romance between Stephen and Jane.

The relationship between Redmayne and Jones is not necessarily bad, as both do a fine job, but it is uninspiring. We have seen this relationship before. The husband who is too focused on his work to get anything else. The wife who is supportive and kind, but wants more than to be a maid to her husband.

Outside of a few defining traits, Jane does not have a character. She goes with the flow and remains by her husbands' side no matter what happens, until controversy rises and suddenly she's willing to turn on her husband. This does not help build the relationship between Jane and Stephen.



That being said, the performances by Redmayne and Jones are the reason to go see this film, especially Eddie as Stephen Hawking. To watch this awkward kid turn into a confident, optimistic man with stellar ideas about how our existence works is nothing short of amazing. The fact that for the second half of the film he is confined to a wheelchair and he very little movement, yet is still able to carry this air of intellectual and unwithered says wonders about Redmayne's ability to carry a scene.

Felicity Jones acts with her eyes in this role, letting her emotions pour through. Her sadness, compassion, strength and love for Stephen all shine through in her eyes. Without hardly ever saying a word, she can understand Stephen and make his journey all worth it. It is not hard to see why she earned that Best Actress nominee.

These performances elevate the film and make you realize that Stephen Hawking is more than just a metallic voice and thoughts about the universe, but a man who wants nothing more to make is life matter.



Overall, there is a strong message in "The Theory Of Everything" about fighting for what you believe in and not letting anything else get in your way. The problem is that it gets bogged down in the tedious and lackluster romance between the two leads. There is potential to let the audience relate to and understand the inspiring story of Stephen Hawking, but it feels like it got lost along the way.

Final Grade: C+

Top Ten Films I Watched In 2014

I have mixed opinions on the volume of movies that I watched in 2014. About half way through the year, I set a goal to watch at least 100 new movies before the end of December. Film is my passion and there are many wonderful films out there that I have not seen, so I should make time for those movies. By the end of the year, I had watched about 85 new films, most of them in theaters.

Luckily, I've made the same goal for 2015 and by the end of January, I had already seen 20 new films. Off to a good start.

While I am proud that I watched nearly every new movie in 2014 that I wanted to (I still need to see "Inherent Vice" and "The Theory Of Everything" to complete my list), I still wish that I had seen more. I don't think that I watched as many new films in 2014 as I did in 2013, especially films that were already released, but I certainly made up for it with the quantity of my blog posts. In fact, every film that I watched in 2014 had at least a bit of writing about my opinion on it.

As such, it makes writing a top ten list of the films I watched this past year a bit difficult. There would be a lot of repetition and opinions that were better expressed in my earlier reviews. So, I'll be trying something a bit different for this wrap-up of 2014. For each film in this list, I'll be linking you to my extended reviews, and give a short write-up in this post.

With that said, let's take a look at the ten best films that I watched in 2014. These can be anything, from new theater releases to classics that I caught on TCM or Netflix. As long as I watched it for the first time in 2014, it qualifies.



Ten: "Life Itself" (2014)

http://gotengoxgodzilla.blogspot.com/2014/07/movie-review-life-itself-2014.html

This one feels tailor-made for me and any other current film critics - The tale of passion and cinema, through the eyes of the most personal critic, Roger Ebert. While I don't normally enjoy documentaries, this one was special because I felt like there was so much to learn about one of my biggest idols, even if I thought I already knew everything.

We got to meet the man, instead of the critic. And that is what made Roger so special - that he just wasn't some guy who used his opinion as a platform, but as a way to connect with people and make them care about the movies they watch.



Nine: "Stand By Me" (1986)

http://gotengoxgodzilla.blogspot.com/2014/05/movie-review-standy-by-me-1986.html

I was going to put "Boyhood" in this spot, but I watched that one in the beginning of 2015, so it does not count.

With that said, this is a classic coming-of-age story, told from the future by a man reflecting on his childhood and what he remembers and cherishes. Though the core characters do not change over the course of the film, the journey of being twelve and free is more than enough, especially when you're on your way to find a dead body. Combine this with the narration, and we see that these kids did learn, just not right away.

This is a grand adventure with suspense and danger around every corner, but without ever going over the top.



Eight: "Robot & Frank" (2012)

http://gotengoxgodzilla.blogspot.com/2014/10/mini-reviews-1.html

This one makes the list for stating the difference between man and robot, or in this case the similarities. A sentient creature with a soul is merely a collection of thoughts and experiences, and we become an individual by how we react and learn from those experiences.

Well that, and "Robot & Frank" has a plausible outlook on the future, where libraries no longer exist, robots serve retired and old people and there are people who refuse to live in this new world of technology and the lack of human interaction. A great modern science-fiction film that plays to both the heart and the mind.



Seven: "The Lego Movie" (2014)

http://gotengoxgodzilla.blogspot.com/2014/02/movie-review-lego-movie-2014.html

Everything is awesome. Everything is cool when you're part of the team.

'Nough said.



Six: "The Wind Rises" (2013)

http://gotengoxgodzilla.blogspot.com/2014/03/movie-review-wind-rises-2013.html

I think I have come to terms with the fact that my favorite genre of film is now animation, especially after having four animated films in my top ten list last year. Luckily, this year only has two.

This is the most down to earth Hayao Miyazaki's animated works, but it still manages to be visually stunning, full of wonder, imagination and creativity. It is fitting that the last movie Miyazaki would work on would be about a man who wanted nothing more than to soar in the sky and be remembered for his contributions to the world.



Five: "The Manchurian Candidate" (1962)

http://gotengoxgodzilla.blogspot.com/2014/02/the-manchurian-candidate-1962.html

I despise politics, but this is an unbelievably poignant political thriller.

What I love about this film, other than the intrigue, atmosphere and suspense, is that the film does not pick a political side and chooses to ridicule them all. Democracy, Communism, McCarthyism, Marxism, all political parties are terrible and just want one thing - power. They will achieve that goal by whatever means necessary, such as corrupting the minds of good people.



Four: "Birdman" (2014)

http://gotengoxgodzilla.blogspot.com/2014/11/movie-review-birdman-2014-fame-fortune.html

Fame is fleeting, but that does not stop some people from recapturing it. Or at least trying to.

There is so much to love about "Birdman." The story of an actor displaying himself in front of the world for everyone to see, the ingenious writing and dialogue to always feel fresh and crisp, the cinematography that makes it feel like a stage play while still having that filmic touch, and the pitch-perfect acting, especially from Michael Keaton and Edward Norton. What more can I say? "Birdman" is superb.



Three: "Judgment At Nuremberg" (1961)

http://gotengoxgodzilla.blogspot.com/2014/10/mini-reviews-1.html

Aside from the film that comes in at number one on this list, "Judgment At Nuremberg" was the smartest and most oddly convincing film I saw this year. I did not have much time to discuss this one, but here is the basics - It is the trail of several Nazis for this crimes against humanity, set in a torn and ravaged Germany following WWII.

You'd think that would be an open-and-shut case. But the movie is wonderful at making a point of why the Nazis did what they did, how America is hardly different from the Nazis and showing us that the Nazis are people just like everyone else. They had their reasons and did it to survive in a world that was rapidly leaving them behind.

To be able to take such an evil and despicable creation like the Nazis and make them all too relatable, "Judgment At Nuremberg" gets my respect and admiration.



Two: "Nightcrawler" (2014)

http://gotengoxgodzilla.blogspot.com/2014/11/movie-review-nightcrawler-2014.html

A creepy and other-worldly look at a man who wants nothing more than to make it big in the world. This is not someone who wants money, but respect and admiration. In his eyes, that is quite difficult to obtain in this world without hard work, determination and a willingness to let other people take the shots for you. Combine this with Jake Gyllenhaal's captivating yet off-putting performance, and you get a relevant thriller that does not fail to please.

"Nightcrawler" along with "Gone Girl," worked at showing the brutal reality of the media who is more focused on getting good ratings and viewers than letting the world know what is happening, making the film relevant and topical.



One: "Giant" (1956)

http://gotengoxgodzilla.blogspot.com/2014/10/movie-review-giant-1956.html

Like "Amadeus" last year, "Giant" is the only film that I gave an A+ to in 2014.

It is difficult to discuss what makes "Giant" one of the greatest epics in such a short space, but here it goes. The film does not try anything complicated, and tells a story that anyone can relate and understand - Falling in love, raising a family and watching them grow. But along the way, we learn of the personal sacrifices that must be made, but ultimately realizing that you cannot live your child's life for them.

It is also a tale of man against woman, old views versus modern ones, and need to treat everyone as a person, instead of by the color of their skin or their gender. The need to let go of those old world views if you want the world to change. The challenge comes from people who don't want the world to change, because they don't see anything wrong with it.

"Giant" might be well over three hours, but it moves at a brisk pace and never overstays its welcome. Tight writing, wonderful performances by Rock Hudson, Elizabeth Taylor and James Dean and a story that will never age. A timeless classic with themes of pride, family, love and sacrifice. What more could you need?

Was 2014 A Good Year For Film?

At the end of every year, I like to look back and ask myself whether the last twelve months were a good year for cinema? Did the art form advance further than it had in recent memory? What will people remember about this past year and what are the films that will stick with us for a long time?

As such, I'd like to take a quick look and see if 2014 was a good or bad year for cinema. My qualifications for how good a particular year of film may differ from other people, as I'm not sure if anyone else looks at something like that.

When it comes to determining how effective a year in film can be, I normally look at how many great and/or outstanding films were released in that time.

If less than three great films came out that year, then it was a bad year for cinema. A great example of this would be 2011, which only saw the release of one worthwhile film, "The Artist." For the longest time, my favorite film of that year was "Rango," which was a fun tribute to Westerns and loaded with lots of movie references that even the most seasoned film veteran could miss. That film came out in February of that year, and nothing topped it until December.

If three or four wonderful films were released, then it was a good year for film. For instance, 2013 saw four films that I look back upon and remember just how awe-inspiring they were, like "her" and "The Wolf Of Wall Street." There is a good amount of film in there that almost anyone would be satisfied, but nothing too extra-ordinary.

But if in the span of a year, there happens to be five or more outstanding films, then that is a great year for movies and a true testament to power of creative filmmaking. This does not happen often, but when it does, it makes going to the movies so exciting. Years like 1939 and 1994 are classic examples of this, as 1939 saw the release of "Gone With The Wind," "The Wizard Of Oz," "Mr. Smith Goes To Washington," "The Rules Of The Game," and many others, while 1994 had "Pulp Fiction," "The Shawshank Redemption," "Forrest Gump," "Ed Wood" and "Hoop Dreams."

So what class does 2014 fall into?



For me, 2014 had several memorable and thought-provoking movies. These would include the creative and funny "The Lego Movie," the mysterious and thrilling "Gone Girl," the ambitous and respectable "Boyhood," the character piece that relies solely on Resse Witherspoon in "Wild," the biopic that tells us just as much about the director as its main character with "Big Eyes," and the two biggest achievements, "Birdman" and "Nightcrawler" for their character studies on fame and how the world cares very little about the single man.

This is one of the few years in recent cinema were I felt making a top ten list was appropriate.
If there is one thread that connects some of the better films in 2014, it would be having a similar type of character - one who is set in their ways, knows exactly what they want, will do whatever it takes to get it, and thinks very little of other people besides how to use them to achieve their goals. Louis Bloom from "Nightcrawler," Amy from "Gone Girl," Terence Fletcher from "Whiplash," and even Walter Keane from "Big Eyes." Yet, the thing about these terrible and disrespectful people, is that you cannot look away from them. They are so mischievous, clever and cynical that you want to know what they'll do next.

Let it be known that 2014 was the year that made the asshole character so fascinating.



On top of that, even the big summer blockbusters got a bit better (well, some any way, I'm looking at you "Maleficent"). We have certainly left the awkwardness of the 2000s, when CGI was in almost every big movie, but the people behind the computer had not quite perfected that skill. As the many Marvel movies and "Dawn Of The Planet Of The Apes" showed us, massive scale computer effects may not look realistic, but that does not make them any less impressive and captivating.

Films like "Captain America: The Winter Soldier" and "Guardians Of The Galaxy" came as a big surprise for me, as I did not expect these sequels and unknown hero stories to keep me interesting.

And of course, any year with a new Godzilla movie will be a great year in my book.

Overall, 2014 was a great year for cinema, and quite possibly one of the best in a while. At least six movies that I would not mind adding to my film collection, advancement of computer effects, dark yet compelling storytelling with characters that you want to follow and consistent reasons to keep going back to the theaters. I'd call that a victory for cinema.

Movie Review - "Whiplash" (2014) - Does He Want Jazz Music Or Spider-Man?

One of the most unappreciated factor of filmmaking is editing. The process of putting two different shots of film together sounds like a simple enough process, but editing requires you to piece the movie so that it is competent, logical and maintain continuity, tone and atmosphere.

If you mess up on editing, then the film falls apart.

The worst part about being the editor is that, even if you do a great job, no one will notice how great you really are. People may talk about how stunning a movie is or how well it was shot, but rarely is editing brought up. Because great editing is seamless and does not draw attention to itself.

Perhaps this is why I enjoyed "Whiplash" as much as I did. Throughout the film, there is a constant tone of unease, cynicism and hate. But then there are moments where the music is the only point of a scene, or preparing to play music, and suddenly the film looks and feels like a grand opera, accomplished through the cinematography and editing.

Andrew Neyman (Miles Teller) is a nineteen-year old who has enrolled in one of the greatest musical colleges in the country, Shaffer Conservatory, and intends to become the most accomplished drummer of the 21st Century. It seems like Neyman will get his chance, when the foreboding head teacher of the school, Terence Fletcher (J.K. Simmons), approaches him about joining his jazz band class and compete in their competitions. But Fletcher works Neyman to point of throwing chairs at him and drumming until his hands bleed.



The atmosphere of "Whiplash" seems to say that people are terrible, but the music they can produce is wonderful. Neyman is a cynic, who only enjoys playing the drums and will fight anyone who says that his pursuit is not worth while. He only sees the bad in other people, like a college quarterback who brags about his accomplishments, only for Neyman to point out that he is only in Division III. This might explain why he has no friends.

Fletcher is an angry man who will berate his own students in front of the entire class. He will make them scream that they are upset, call them school-yard bully names and make everyone stay five hours after class until one drummer gets his pitch and timing just right.

But, in both of their eyes, this attitude and view on the world is all worth it, because of the music that it leads to. Neyman consistently impresses his colleagues and at competitions, leading him to earn the respect of his teacher. Fletcher believes that by insulting his students, he is pushing them to their absolute best and do the things that even they didn't think were possible. As a result, we get some of the greatest musicians that the world has ever seen.

The question though becomes just how far can a teacher push his students? Is there a limit to that?



To amplify the power of music in "Whiplash," we get several quiet and laid back scenes of the jazz band preparing to go on stage. Their instruments and properly tuned, their large cases stored away, the sheet music is propped up, and very little conversing is done. In these scenes, little to no dialogue is spoken, but so much is accomplished.

We see the inner workings of a jazz band, how each instrument plays its part, like a finely tuned machine. If just one hair is out-of-place, or in this case drum, then the audience will never forget how awful the piece was. But when everything works out perfectly and the tune is a joy to the ear buds, then it is just as powerful as any book or painting.

I know very little about music, so much of the terminology and basic lingo of that culture was lost on me. That was a surprising amount of dialogue in "Whiplash" so it is strange that I was able to understand so much. The music is not explained, but rather shown to us in all of its glory.

When I was not being entertained by the rivalry between Neyman and Fletcher, the cinematography and editing of the jazz bands performances was certainly a good substitute.



Overall, "Whiplash" was a strange look at how far one is willing to go to achieve their dreams, and the people who push them to get there. It is not always a pleasant route, but for some, the praise and admiration is worth it. The film runs a bit long near the end, but it is worth it to see that final band performance and watch the teacher-student relationship reach its climax.

Final Grade: B+