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In The Imitation Game, Benedict Cumberbatch stars as Alan Turing, the genius British mathematician, logician, cryptologist and computer scientist who led the charge to crack the German Enigma Code that helped the Allies win WWII. Turing went on to assist with the development of computers at the University of Manchester after the war, but was prosecuted by the UK government in 1952 for homosexual acts which the country deemed illegal.
I've said it a million times before. I'm not really a history buff so movies like this one have to be really good to keep my attention and what not. This movie was really good because I was totally into it throughout. The performances were great. The story and character development was great and they did a good job of mixing the two major plot points together that you were equally intrigued about the creation/use of the machine and the lingering punishment of the lead due to the absurd prosecution of homosexuality in that time period. I am pretty sure that this movie will be up for several awards when the 2014 announcements are made.
I would absolutely recommend people checking this movie out. It is a well done and very enjoyable telling of historical events.
Directed and produced by Tim Burton, Big Eyes is based on the true story of Walter Keane (Christoph Waltz), who was one of the most successful painters 1950s and early 1960s. The artist earned staggering notoriety by revolutionizing the commercialization and accessibility of popular art with his enigmatic paintings of waifs with big eyes. The truth would eventually be discovered though: Keane's were actually not created by him at all, but by his wife, Margaret (Amy Adams). The Keanes, it seemed, had been living a lie that had grown to gigantic proportions. "Big Eyes" centers on Margaret's awakening as an artist, the phenomenal success of her paintings, and her tumultuous relationship with her husband, who was catapulted to international fame while taking credit for her work.
This was a very well told movie featuring great performances by the two leads. There really isn't much else to say about the movie though. It wasn't really a story that "needed" to be told. The movie is what it is. True story that is told well. The weird thing was that this was probably the most normal Tim Burton movie ever.
I would kind of recommend people checking this movie out. It's got great acting but isn't a must see by any means. It's a decent watch but ultimately is just kind of there.
Angelina Jolie directs and produces Unbroken, an epic drama that follows the incredible life of Olympian and war hero Louis "Louie" Zamperini (Jack O'Connell) who, along with two other crewmen, survived in a raft for 47 days after a near-fatal plane crash in WWII—only to be caught by the Japanese Navy and sent to a prisoner-of-war camp. Unbroken brings to the big screen Zamperini's unbelievable and inspiring true story about the resilient power of the human spirit. Starring alongside O'Connell are Domhnall Gleeson and Finn Wittrock as Phil and Mac—the airmen with whom Zamperini endured perilous weeks adrift in the open Pacific—Garrett Hedlund and John Magaro as fellow POWs who find an unexpected camaraderie during their internment, Alex Russell as Zamperini's brother, Pete, and in his English-language feature debut, Japanese actor Miyavi as the brutal camp guard known only to the men as "The Bird."
Wow! This is easily one of the best movies of the year. I expected it to be well done but it actually exceeded my expectations. When they were in flight, you felt like you were in the tight confines of the plane. It just felt so real. And it continued through the rest of the movie with you feeling like you are with the main character on this brutal and incredible journey. And there is simply no way that you can't be amazed by the characters strength and fortitude.
I would absolutely recommend people checking this movie out. It's a lock to make my top ten for the year list.
Jim Bennett (Mark Wahlberg) is a risk taker. Both an English professor and a high-stakes gambler, Bennett bets it all when he borrows from a gangster (Michael Kenneth Williams) and offers his own life as collateral. Always one step ahead, Bennett pits his creditor against the operator of a gambling ring (Alvin Ing) and leaves his dysfunctional relationship with his wealthy mother (Jessica Lange) in his wake. He plays both sides, immersing himself in an illicit, underground world while garnering the attention of Frank (John Goodman), a loan shark with a paternal interest in Bennett's future. As his relationship with a student (Brie Larson) deepens, Bennett must take the ultimate risk for a second chance...
This was a fun watch. Wahlberg's acting was great enough to keep you hooked and wanting to see how it all plays out. The best part of the movie was his interaction with the multiple casino bosses and bookies. John Goodman stood out the most and every time his character spoke with Wahlberg was the best scenes in the movie.
I'd recommend people checking this out. There is no rush. It's not a must see or anything, but it's an enjoyable watch.
In the The Interview, Dave Skylark (James Franco) and his producer Aaron Rapoport (Seth Rogen) run the popular celebrity tabloid TV show 'Skylark Tonight.' When they discover that North Korean leader Kim Jong-un is a fan of the show, they land an interview with him in an attempt to legitimize themselves as journalists. As Dave and Aaron prepare to travel to Pyongyang, their plans change when the CIA recruits them, perhaps the most unlikely candidates, to 'take out' Kim Jong-un.
I'm going to leave my political thoughts about the making of this movie and all the chaos that has ensued over the last month out of the review. The only thing I will say is that it is things like this movie and the marketing of it that make the rest of the world hate the U.S. Moving on - the movie in itself was actually pretty funny. James Franco was great as the over the top personality and I usually don't like him all that much. The banter between him and all other characters made the movie.
I am torn on recommending the movie. On one hand it was very funny. But on the other hand this is a movie that has contributed to all sorts of controversy, propaganda and self-righteousness that I find frustrating and annoying as hell. Why couldn't they have just used a made up world leader with a similar name and appearance? Foolish.
Into the Woods is a modern twist on the beloved Brothers Grimm fairy tales, intertwining the plots of a few choice stories and exploring the consequences of the characters' wishes and quests. This humorous and heartfelt musical follows the classic tales of Cinderella, Little Red Riding Hood, Jack and the Beanstalk, and Rapunzel—all tied together by an original story involving a baker and his wife, their wish to begin a family and their interaction with the witch who has put a curse on them.
This was a great movie. The music was great throughout and they took some breaks from constantly singing but we're able to switch right back to it. These are the kinds of musicals I like the most. The interlocking of the four stories was done so well and it was entertaining as hell seeing all these characters you are familiar with interacting with ones from other stories.
I would definitely recommend people checking this out. It really is a very fun trip to the movies.
Six years after the violent death of her husband, Amelia (Essie Davis) is at a loss. She struggles to discipline her 'out of control' 6-year-old, Samuel (Noah Wiseman), a son she finds impossible to love. Samuel's dreams are plagued by a sinister monster he believes is coming to kill them both. When a disturbing storybook called 'The Babadook' turns up at their house, Samuel is convinced that the Babadook is the creature he's been dreaming about. His hallucinations spiral out of control and as he becomes more unpredictable and violent, Amelia is genuinely frightened by her son's behavior. But when Amelia begins to see glimpses of a sinister presence all around her, it slowly dawns on her that the thing Samuel has been warning her about may be real.
This was a creepy ass movie. The kid was creepy. The mom freaking out was creepy. The scenes with the creature were simple as opposed to other movies and that in turn made it creepy. I liked this movie a lot. It was similar to the first Grudge and Ring movies and was very well written/developed.
I would definitely recommend people, especially horror fans, checking this movie out. It was much better than I expected it to be.
Get ready for the wildest and most adventure-filled Night At the Museum ever as Larry (Ben Stiller) spans the globe, uniting favorite and new characters while embarking on an epic quest to save the magic before it is gone forever.
Is this really a franchise with three installments? Was there really a need for another Night At The Museum? What more can be done with these movies. Based on watching this . . . . Nothing. This is pretty much a retread of the two previous installments and more of the same shennanigans. Sure there are parts that make you laugh a bit - especially if you found the first two funny. But there really is nothing more of value than that. It was also very sad seeing Robin Williams on the big screen for the last time.
I wouldn't really recommend anyone wasting their time with this. There are much better options out there right now than this blatant retread.
From Peter Jackson comes The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies, the third in a trilogy of films adapting the enduringly popular masterpiece The Hobbit, by J.R.R. Tolkien. The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies brings to an epic conclusion the adventures of Bilbo Baggins, Thorin Oakenshield and the Company of Dwarves. Having reclaimed their homeland from the Dragon Smaug, the Company has unwittingly unleashed a deadly force into the world. Enraged, Smaug rains his fiery wrath down upon the defenseless men, women and children of Lake-town. Obsessed above all else with his reclaimed treasure, Thorin sacrifices friendship and honor to hoard it as Bilbo's frantic attempts to make him see reason drive the Hobbit towards a desperate and dangerous choice. But there are even greater dangers ahead. Unseen by any but the Wizard Gandalf, the great enemy Sauron has sent forth legions of Orcs in a stealth attack upon the Lonely Mountain. As darkness converges on their escalating conflict, the races of Dwarves, Elves and Men must decide – unite or be destroyed. Bilbo finds himself fighting for his life and the lives of his friends in the epic Battle of the Five Armies, as the future of Middle-earth hangs in the balance.
This movie was just as good as the other Hobbit movies. In fact, I think that this one was actually paced a lot better than the previous two chapters. I still have to say that both this movie and all three parts of The Hobbit while great and completely entertaining are not close to the same level of the Lord Of The Rings trilogy. I don't know if it was just that it was one book that was stretched out to three segments or what, but it was just missing that LOTR level of awesomeness. Still great. Just not as great. We're not talking Star Wars prequels from the original differences. I would watch the Hobbit movies again unlike the Star Wars prequels (except for certain parts). It's just not as good as LOTR. I laugh every time I review one of these because I just say the same thing for all three.
I would still recommend people checking this out. It was very entertaining and paced much better. Plus it's not 3 hours long like most of the other entries.
In Wild, director Jean-Marc Vallee ("Dallas Buyers Club"), Academy Award winner Reese Witherspoon ("Walk the Line") and Academy Award nominated screenwriter Nick Hornby ("An Education") bring bestselling author Cheryl Strayed's extraordinary adventure to the screen. After years of reckless behavior, a heroin addiction and the destruction of her marriage, Strayed makes a rash decision. Haunted by memories of her mother Bobbi (Laura Dern) and with absolutely no experience, she sets out to hike more than a thousand miles on the Pacific Crest Trail all on her own. Wild powerfully reveals her terrors and pleasures - as she forges ahead on a journey that maddens, strengthens, and ultimately heals her.
This was one of those movies that get graded based on the performance of its lead since they are going to be the only thing on the screen for huge chunks of time. Like Tom Hanks in Cast Away or Will Smith in I Am Legend. Reese Witherspoon's performance was definitely as good as those and that made this movie and her journey an excellent watch. You felt like you were there with her and felt all the same emotions and pain. The way that they told her backstory in flashback form depending on what was going on during her escapade kept you very interested and wanting to know more.
I would definitely recommend people checking this movie out. It was a great work of storytelling with an incredibly wide range of emotions. Reese Witherspoon will surely get nominated for several awards because of this performance - and rightfully so.
From Ridley Scott ("Gladiator," "Prometheus") comes the epic adventure Exodus: Gods and Kings,,the story of one man's daring courage to take on the might of an empire. Scott brings new life to the story of the defiant leader Moses (Christian Bale) as he rises up against the Egyptian Pharaoh Ramses (Joel Edgerton), setting 600,000 slaves on a monumental journey of escape from Egypt and its terrifying cycle of deadly plagues.
I had pretty high hopes for this movie based on the great visuals in the trailer and the quality of talent Involved. I figured with the PG-13 rating it would be more watered down and there could only be so much of that "epic" feel to it. It was even less so though. There were really only two major battles. The opener was decent and the ending was great but most of the stuff between - and there was A LOT of time inbetween - was lots of dialogue and deep thought close ups. The pacing was very off and it made this movie drag and feel even longer than it actually was.
I wouldn't really recommend people rushing to check this out. I was hoping for something maybe like Troy in terms of an "epic" movie and got something much more like Kingdom Of Heaven.
Alice Howland, happily married with three grown children, is a renowned linguistics professor who starts to forget words. When she receives a diagnosis of Early-Onset Alzheimer's Disease, Alice and her family find their bonds thoroughly tested. Her struggle to stay connected to who she once was is frightening, heartbreaking, and inspiring.
This was a clear reminder of how good of an actress Julianne Moore can actually be. She used to be amazing but then pretty much decided to mail it in for years. She was great in this and so was the rest of the cast. The family members different reactions to her disease and the progression of it felt so genuine. And watching her deteriorate was very tough and terrifying to imagine going through.
I would absolutely recommend people checking this out. It's a great movie with great acting across the board that should end up getting considered for end of year awards.
Mr. Turner explores the last quarter century of the great if eccentric British painter J.M.W. Turner (1775-1851). Profoundly affected by the death of his father, loved by a housekeeper he takes for granted and occasionally exploits sexually, he forms a close relationship with a seaside landlady with whom he eventually lives incognito in Chelsea, where he dies. Throughout this, he travels, paints, stays with the country aristocracy, visits brothels, is a popular if anarchic member of the Royal Academy of Arts, has himself strapped to the mast of a ship so that he can paint a snowstorm, and is both celebrated and reviled by the public and by royalty.
Not even going to waste too much time here. If there is one kind of movie that it would have to be incredibly amazing it is these old English type of movies. They just bore the hell out of me. I tried to pay attention but I just couldn't care enough.
I'm sure that the acting was good and that the story was interesting to people that like these kinds of movies but I am not one of them.
A Broadway classic that has delighted audiences for generations comes to the big screen with a new, contemporary vision in Annie. Academy Award nominee Quvenzhan̩ Wallis ("Beasts of the Southern Wild") stars as Annie, a young, happy foster kid who's also tough enough to make her way on the streets of New York in 2014. Originally left by her parents as a baby with the promise that they'd be back for her someday, it's been a hard knock life ever since with her mean foster mom Miss Hannigan (Cameron Diaz). But everything's about to change when the hard-nosed tycoon and New York mayoral candidate Will Stacks (Jamie Foxx) Рadvised by his brilliant VP, Grace (Rose Byrne) and his shrewd and scheming campaign advisor, Guy (Bobby Cannavale) Рmakes a thinly-veiled campaign move and takes her in. Stacks believes he's her guardian angel, but Annie's self-assured nature and bright, sun-will-come-out-tomorrow outlook on life just might mean it's the other way around.
I had the lowest of expectations for this movie. I hate the remakes of movies like this. Rarely are they any good and are usually huge insults to fans of the original. I'm not sure if it was the low expectations or just the lightness of the movie and it's acknowledgement at times orpf they original it was remaking but I shockingly ended up liking this movie. The singing was better than expected - especially the kid. The overacting of Cameron Diaz was nowhere near Carol Burnett in the original but was still entertaining. And the bottom line is that they hook you and you care how it will all play out even though you already know.
I would actually recommend people checking this out. It's a great family movie and is actually a decent version of the movie for a new generation even if it's not nearly as good as the original.
