All posts by scottmet99

2014 Films, Coming-of-Age, Drama, Independent, Independent Drama

Boyhood-2014

January 19, 2015 scottmet99 Leave a comment

Boyhood-2014

Director Richard Linklater

Starring Ellar Coltrane

Scott’s Review #217

Reviewed January 19, 2015

Grade: A

Boyhood (2014) is a family drama directed by Richard Linklater that follows a family’s trials and tribulations over twelve years, from about 2002 to 2013.

The film uses the same actors throughout, allowing viewers to see the characters change.

What a novel idea! In this day and age of special effects, superheroes, and animated animals, how refreshing to see a simple tale of a family told over a while.

The film’s main character is Mason Evans, Jr., played by Ellar Coltrane.

We meet Mason at age six, in first grade. He lives with his older sister Samantha, played by the director’s daughter Lorelei Linklater, and his mother Olivia, played by Patricia Arquette, in Texas.

Ethan Hawke, divorced from Olivia, plays Mason’s father (Mason Sr.).

As the years go by, we see situations arise, and the characters grow and develop like in real life.

After the film, Mason Jr. heads off to college after years of life experience, including his first relationship. The other characters develop, and we see Olivia and Mason Sr. enter relationships with partners, some successful, others less so.

Boyhood succeeds because it is a film about real life that feels like a slice of Americana.

It’s a wonderful film.

The audience invests in the characters because we grow to love and care about their lives. It’s like seeing cousins or friends once a year and watching what becomes of their lives over time.

This film fascinates me because it is so basic and real that it does not need contrived dramatic situations to warrant attention. It is simply authentic, and that is what makes a great film.

The film is left-leaning politically, and I love that family members bring up current events throughout the years.

As the film progresses, we see Mason Sr. comment on his distaste for the Iraq War, the children’s anticipation of the new Harry Potter film, Mason Sr. take the kids to a Houston Astros game, and mentions of The Beatles and Star Wars.

Another scene sadly focuses on a returning soldier from Iraq who has Post-traumatic stress disorder.

These nuances make the film seem so authentic and rich.

As wonderful a job as Patricia Arquette and Ethan Hawke did, neither of them had a huge, bombastic, emotional scene that would have been splendid given their talents, but this is a small criticism.

Both are superb as struggling parents trying to do the right thing for their children and carve out a life for themselves.

Boyhood redefines realism in film as we watch a family unit hope, struggle, and dream play out before our eyes.

The film doesn’t need overwrought drama; it is simply a slice of life for a group of people we come to know and love.

Everyone can relate to Boyhood (2014).

Oscar Nominations: 1 win-Best Picture, Best Director-Richard Linklater, Best Supporting Actor-Ethan Hawke, Best Supporting Actress-Patricia Arquette (won), Best Original Screenplay, Best Film Editing

Independent Spirit Award Nominations: 2 wins-Best Feature, Best Director-Richard Linklater (won), Best Supporting Male-Ethan Hawke, Best Supporting Female-Patricia Arquette (won), Best Editing

2014 Films, Biography, Drama

Big Eyes-2014

January 18, 2015 scottmet99 Leave a comment

Big Eyes-2014

Director Tim Burton

Starring Amy Adams, Christoph Waltz

Scott’s Review #216

Reviewed January 18, 2015

Grade: B

Big Eyes (2014) tells the true story of Margaret Keane, a talented artist famous for the “big eyes” waif collection, whose husband manipulated her and took credit for her works during the 1950s and 1960s.

A con artist, he passed himself off as a talented artist, but in truth, he scammed other artists and had no artistic talent of his own.

He was also mentally unstable.

Thanks to his charisma, ability to wine and dine influential people, and marketing skills, he made millions from his wife’s art.

Amy Adams and Christoph Waltz portray Margaret and Walter Keane.

Tim Burton directs the film.

Adams and Waltz are the film’s main appeal. They share tremendous chemistry as they court one another, then despise each other as they fight a bitter divorce battle over the rights to Margaret’s paintings.

I love Christoph Waltz in whatever he appears in, as his charisma and acting ability astound me.

Adams is quite effective and believable as the passive, loyal, and talented Margaret Keane.

As compelling as Adams’s performance is, one issue with the film is that I didn’t feel as sympathetic toward Margaret Keane as the film probably intended.

I liked the character very much and rooted for her in the courthouse scenes to win the rights to her paintings, and I cheered when she escaped to Hawaii with her daughter to start a new life.

But she willingly went along with her husband’s plot, as they both decided a female artist wouldn’t sell as well as a man could (it was the 1950s), and they made millions from her art.

They lived in a gorgeous house, had wonderful dinners, and maintained an extravagant lifestyle, not so bad.

It was not as if Walter stole all of her money and left her homeless. She enjoyed a nice lifestyle.

So, my sympathy for her was affected.

A positive of Big Eyes is how Margaret continues to uncover Walter’s deceptions. She first learns he took credit for her work, then finds out he isn’t even an artist and conned another painter into giving him credit for their work.

The buildup to these reveals is excellent.

The film is a change of pace for Tim Burton. Big Eyes is not a dark film and is quite bright and colorful. Some interesting sets and art direction echo his other works, Edward Scissorhands (1990) and Beetlejuice (1988).

Big Eyes (2014) is an enjoyable film largely made successful by the talents and appeal of its two stars.

Independent Spirit Award Nominations: Best Screenplay

2014 Films, British, Comedy, Drama, Historical Drama, LGBTQ+ Drama, LGBTQ+ Films

Pride-2014

January 17, 2015 scottmet99 Leave a comment

Pride-2014

Director Matthew Warchus

Starring Dominic West, Ben Schnetzer

Scott’s Review #215

Reviewed January 17, 2015

Grade: B-

Pride (2014), based on a true story, deserves props for delivering a nice message about inclusion and groups of vastly different people coming together as human beings.

While it’s a nice film, the filmmakers play it a bit too safe, and it has a definite formulaic feel to it.

Surely the real story of Pride wasn’t as simplistic as this film felt at times.

The setting is 1984 England. A group of British miners goes on strike over wages.

A group called Lesbians and Gays Support the Miners, made up of gay men and women, became interested in the strike and decided to help the miners and their families.

Why they decided to take on this cause is not fully explained. The National Union of Mineworkers hesitates to accept funds because it fears the publicity a group thought to be perverts would bring.

The film is riddled with clichés- the macho miners resist the help from the gays, many of whom are portrayed as effeminate. The characters who are lesbians look as though the filmmakers wanted to “butch them up”, thereby overdoing the stereotype.

There is a subplot of one gay young man who has not come out to his parents, a well-to-do, pretentious couple. When the truth inevitably comes out, the parents are angry and turn their backs on the teen.

He leaves home to join the gays and lesbians who accept him into their lives with open arms.

The female head of the committee is homophobic and vows to do everything in her power to make sure the gay and lesbian group does not succeed in aligning with the miners.

These clichés seemed way too overdone to make the film more dramatic. As a result, some characters come across as one-dimensional.

Even the story revolving around a character with AIDS seems watered down and soft.

On the plus side, casting the brilliant Imelda Staunton as the sympathetic, maternal Hefina is a strong point.

A huge supporter of gays and lesbians, she comically befriends all of them and is curious about their lifestyles. Bill Nighy is also excellent as Cliff, the older miner who turns out to be gay.

Margaret Thatcher, the Prime Minister at the time, is presented as greedy and selfish, with little regard for the miners or labor unions.

Pride (2014) is an earnest, sentimental, feel-good film that deserves adoration for bringing different communities together.

I would have liked to see the film take more risks.

2014 Films, Biography, Drama, Thriller, World War II

The Imitation Game-2014

January 15, 2015 scottmet99 Leave a comment

The Imitation Game-2014

Director Morten Tyldum

Starring Benedict Cumberbatch

Scott’s Review #213

Reviewed January 15, 2015

Grade: A

The Imitation Game (2014) follows Alan Turing, a confident, brilliant British mathematician who cracked Nazi Germany’s Enigma code and helped the Allies win World War II.

The film also delves into Turing’s complex, sad personal life, and the audience learns about his upbringing, largely through flashbacks a his childhood at boarding school.

The film is tragic yet wonderfully made, and it’s a powerful human story.

The film has two storylines.

The first is the hiring of Turing by the Government Code and Cipher School at Bletchley Park to crack the code and the numerous struggles faced in accomplishing this feat.

Turing is not easy-going. He is arrogant, quick-witted, and even smug. However, through his friendship with Joan (Keira Knightley), an intelligent woman on the team of scholars, we see a human side to him as they forge a lifelong bond.

The other is his personal life, which is a bit more mysterious and comes into play during the second half. Keeping a secret about his personal life, he is homosexual, which, in the time the film is set (1940’s England), is illegal.

Alan and Joan agree to marry, largely to appease her parents, but circumstances change their plans.

Benedict Cumberbatch, who portrays Turning, deserves praise for his impressive portrayal. He gives the character depth and a wide range of emotions.

He begins as a self-centered man but becomes layered, guarded, and protective because of his private life, which he is forced to hide a great deal.

Keira Knightley’s character supports Cumberbatch’s Alan as she becomes engaged to him and, later in life, becomes his biggest champion. Besides being quite intelligent, her character is also kind and giving.

The ending will bring many tears and make viewers reflect on the enormity of World War II and its vast number of casualties. The facts listed just before the credits roll are awe-inspiring and gut-wrenching.

The Imitation Game is not a war movie per se because it doesn’t show battle scenes. It is more of a drama dealing with the effects of war. It presents many figures, and some characters are affected.

For instance, in one scene, the group (led by Turing) must make a heartbreaking decision not to stop an impending attack, which will cause many deaths- including a character’s brother- instead of choosing to keep mum to save thousands more.

It is a powerful scene.

The Imitation Game (2014) successfully and heartbreakingly tells the story of a heroic figure who received no accolades in life, was ostracized, and only posthumously received his due.

Sadly, this was too little too late.

Oscar Nominations: 1 win-Best Picture, Best Director-Morten Tyldum, Best Actor-Benedict Cumberbatch, Best Supporting Actress-Keira Knightley, Best Adapted Screenplay (won), Best Original Score, Best Production Design, Best Film Editing

2014 Films, Biography, Drama, Independent, Independent Drama, Psychological Thriller, Sports, Thriller

Foxcatcher-2014

January 2, 2015 scottmet99 Leave a comment

Foxcatcher-2014

Director Bennett Miller

Starring Steve Carell

Scott’s Review #210

Reviewed January 2, 2015

Grade: A

Foxcatcher (2014) is a dark, disturbing psychological thriller that succeeds through its bleak look and strong performances.

It is a superb, character-driven story based on true events, led by Steve Carell, Channing Tatum, and Mark Ruffalo, all of whom are excellent.

It is a sports film, but hardly as predictable as many in the genre.

The film is set in 1987. Brothers Mark and Dave Schultz (Tatum and Ruffalo, respectively) are former Olympic gold-medal-winning wrestlers preparing to compete in the 1988 Olympics.

Despite winning a gold medal, Mark (Tatum) lives in squalor and is reduced to giving pep rallies at elementary schools, jobs meant for Dave (Ruffalo), for very little money.

Dave is the more successful brother, a family man living a happy existence. He is more talented and more driven than Mark.

One day, wealthy philanthropist John du Pont (Carell) contacts Mark and invites him to live with him at his expansive estate in Pennsylvania and train with other aspiring Olympic wrestlers.

John’s initial attempts to woo Dave also fail.

From this point in the story, the film delves into psychologically dark territory, mainly the controlling, disturbing behavior of John, as he attempts to control Mark and woo Dave.

John has a damaged relationship with his mother, Jean, wonderfully played by Vanessa Redgrave. Jean feels that John’s obsession with the wrestling world is far beneath him, and their relationship is tense and unloving.

The three principal actors in the film are worth discussing, as the film wouldn’t be as complex or compelling without them.

Let’s begin with Channing Tatum- known primarily as a hunky movie star with questionable acting ability- he proves the naysayers wrong.

I cannot help but compare him to a younger Brad Pitt. It took years and many films for him to be recognized as more than a pretty face and abs to die for.

His performance is understated and calm, but his laid-back demeanor is nuanced. Sometimes anger bubbles under the surface.

Carell is downright creepy as the affluent yet insecure Du Pont.

Throughout the film, the character seems off. Known mostly for silly comedies, he delivers a breakout performance that, I hope, leads to similar meaty roles. Carell shows he has what it takes to appear in quality films.

Lastly, Mark Ruffalo, who always plays interesting, everyman-type characters, again brings strong emotion to Dave Schultz, a successful, driven athlete who is also a dedicated husband and father.

With a different cast, Foxcatcher wouldn’t have been as interesting.

Questions will arise at the end of the film. What were John du Pont’s motivations? What effect did his mother have on his actions? How could a man with all his power and wealth end up this sad? Did John make inappropriate sexual overtures toward the wrestlers?

Foxcatcher (2014) excels at portraying a dark, layered, moody true story and shows that wealth does not equal happiness; in many cases, the opposite occurs.

The film is an immense success.

Oscar Nominations: Best Director-Bennett Miller, Best Actor-Steve Carell, Best Supporting Actor-Mark Ruffalo, Best Original Screenplay, Best Makeup and Hairstyling

Independent Spirit Award Nominations: 1 win-Special Distinction Award (won)

1989 Films, Comedy, Dark Comedy, Independent, Independent Comedy, Satire

Heathers-1989

December 25, 2014 scottmet99 Leave a comment

Heathers-1989

Director Michael Lehman

Starring Winona Ryder, Christian Slater

Scott’s Review #207

Reviewed December 25, 2014

Grade: B

My gut tells me that Heathers was quite controversial and influential upon release in 1989 and has sustained a cult following that continues to this day, 2014.

Having seen the film only once in 2014, I found it good, but it now suffers from a slightly dated look and feel. Still, it is a brave and unique expression of creativity.

It is a film that sends the message that the popular kids are bad and that the meek shall inherit the earth.

The uncool kids will rise.

To summarize the plot, Heathers is told from the perspective of high school student Veronica Sawyer, played by a young Winona Ryder. She is a second-tier popular girl- she is lieutenant to the generals, if you will.

The school is run by three popular girls named Heather. As popular as they are, they are also despised and feared by the other students, but carry great influence.

They enjoy playing cruel jokes on other students and ridiculing anyone beneath them.

A rebellious male student, J.D., played by Christian Slater, befriends Veronica, and they hatch a plan to destroy the popular clique, including another pair of popular jocks.

Shannon Doherty plays the second-in-command, Heather.

The tone of Heather’s is surreal and dream-like. For example, in the opening scene, all three Heathers- along with Veronica- are on a perfectly manicured lawn in the suburbs playing croquet.

The hierarchy is established when Veronica is buried up to her neck and becomes the target of the croquet balls, making her, without question, the lowest of the four girls.

Whether or not this is a dream or real is unclear.

The film is well-written and edgy. It reminds me, at times, of The Ice Storm (1997) and American Beauty (1999), which Heathers preceded and are, in my opinion, superior.

Heathers is a teen angst film and quite dark at times- the various deaths are committed viciously (drain cleaner poisoning, concocting a setup for the jocks to appear to be having a love affair with each other, and then passionately shooting each other), but with sly wit and humor.

Veronica is, at heart, a good girl, albeit misguided and heavily influenced by J.D., but her intentions of having a fair, just school society are noble. The character is likable.

All the parents are hilariously portrayed as buffoons and have no idea of the darkness that exists in their kids’ lives- Veronica’s parents in particular.

Fearing that Veronica has committed or soon will attempt suicide, they fret that it is their fault stemming from childhood negligence; however, their concern has more to do with themselves than with Veronica’s well-being.

Small gripes about the film are the 1980s-style outfits and hairstyles, which, since they were made in the 1980s, are not a particular fault of the film, though it does contain a slightly dated feel while watching in the present.

Also, Christian Slater mimicking Jack Nicholson’s voice is odd- was this a decision by the film or by the actor himself? Either way, the imitation is both distracting and confusing. What is the point?

The ending of the film is a happy and satisfying conclusion- however, different from the dark tone of the rest of the movie- rumor has it that the studio had some influence in toning down the original ending.

1989 was not a stellar year for film, so Heathers deserves major props for thinking outside the box and doing something dark and creative.

Brave, inventive, and unique, Heathers is a cult classic worth a look.

Independent Spirit Award Nominees: 1 win-Best Female Lead-Winona Ryder, Best Screenplay, Best First Feature (won)

1952 Films, Best Picture Oscar Winners, Best Picture-Drama Golden Globe Winners, Circus, Drama, Epic

The Greatest Show on Earth-1952

December 14, 2014 scottmet99 Leave a comment

The Greatest Show on Earth-1952

Director Cecil B. DeMille

Starring Charlton Heston, Betty Hutton, James Stewart

Scott’s Review #204

Reviewed December 14, 2014

Grade: B+

Considered by some critics to be one of the worst Best Picture winners of all time, The Greatest Show on Earth (1952) is quite an impressive Hollywood spectacle.

It tells the story of the world’s largest railroad circus as it launches a tour across the United States, with plenty of drama throughout.

The film stars Charlton Heston, Betty Hutton, and James Stewart as the general manager, acrobat, and clown of the show, respectively.

The film used over 1,400 real Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey employees and hundreds of animals in its production, giving it an authentic circus feel.

Unfortunately, the film also has a schmaltzy quality and lacks strong acting, which, surprisingly, does not bother me and, strangely enough, works in a way.

Various characters have affairs with each other or fall in and out of love rather quickly- it makes for good drama, anyway.

Of course, the main appeal is the extravagant show. While the drama sometimes takes center stage, the lavish production and actual circus events shine through.

My favorite character, and arguably the only interesting character with any depth, in The Greatest Show on Earth is Buttons the Clown, played by James Stewart.

Buttons wears his clown costume, complete with full makeup, at all times. He is kind and mysterious. We learn that he “mercy killed” his dying wife and has joined the circus for protection from the police.

A wonderful human being, he was once a Doctor and tends to anyone in the circus troupe who needs assistance. Later in the film, he plays a vital role after a tragic accident.

His heartbreaking, tender conversation with his elderly mother, whom he only sees in secret once a year for a few seconds as she tearfully and discreetly visits him in the audience, is painfully sad to watch and such a sweet scene.

The Greatest Show on Earth’s best scene by far, still impressing today, is the massive train wreck near the conclusion.

The special effects and direction in Cecil B. DeMille’s 1952 film are brilliant. The train perfectly derails one night—it collides with an oncoming train and derails, highly effective in its enormity.

The scene does not look silly.

The way all the drama comes together in this scene—Harry, the crooked midway concessionaire and vicious elephant trainer; Klaus, who is responsible for the accident; Button’s true identity being revealed; and a significant character in peril—makes it top-notch and a satisfying conclusion to the film.

The stories involving Brad, Holly, Sebastian, and Angel are soapy and melodramatic, making them the film’s weakest point.

As a viewer, I couldn’t care less which character lusted after which or who wound up in bed together, but the movie itself is a spectacle, which is my main enjoyment.

The brightness, the revelry, and the circus performances are all wonderful.

Oscar Nominations: 2 wins-Best Motion Picture (won), Best Director-Cecil B. DeMille, Best Story (won), Best Costume Design, Color, Best Film Editing

Golden Globe Nominations: 3 wins-Best Motion Picture-Drama (won), Best Director-Motion Picture-Cecil B. DeMille (won), Cinematography-Color (won)

2014 Films, Biography, Drama, Romantic Drama

The Theory of Everything-2014

December 2, 2014 scottmet99 Leave a comment

The Theory of Everything-2014

Director James Marsh

Starring Eddie Redmayne, Felicity Jones

Scott’s Review #199

Reviewed December 2, 2014

Grade: A-

The Theory of Everything (2014) tells the uplifting true story of renowned theoretical physicist Stephen Hawking (played by Eddie Redmayne) and his lifelong battle with a debilitating illness- motor neuron disease, which he was diagnosed with in college.

He and his future wife, literature student Jane Wilde (played by Felicity Jones), meet in 1963 at the prestigious Cambridge University in England and fall madly in love.

From there, the film follows their lifelong love affair and Stephen’s subsequent health battles.

Redmayne is wonderful in the lead role.

Portraying a character with both speech and mobility deterioration is not an easy task, especially as the problems become worse and worse over time, forcing the actor to express varying levels of disability.

Redmayne rises to the occasion with both believability and conviction, making his portrayal as real as possible.

The performance fondly reminded me of another great physical performance, Daniel Day-Lewis in My Left Foot from 1989.

Redmayne is a rising star in Hollywood.

Felicity Jones is also good, though I feel many actresses could have handled the role, and her part has less meat than Redmayne’s.

The rest of the cast is British, which makes the film feel authentic. Emily Watson, who plays Jane’s mother, shamefully receives only one scene. Was this talented actress’s role cut?

I get the sense the filmmakers had Oscar in mind, as the film is geared toward mainstream audiences with a wholesome slant.

The film skims past the complex theories and mathematical aspects and focuses more on the inspirational tale of a person overcoming an immense challenge.

Furthermore, the subsequent quadrangle between Hawking, Jane, Jane’s choir leader (Jonathan), and Hawking’s nurse (Elaine) is toned down and sanitized.

Hawking’s family accused his nurse of abusing him, which is never mentioned in the film.

The film presents their relationship as wonderful, so some facts have clearly been softened or omitted altogether, for a more moral feel.

The situation involving the four real-life characters is messy, but the film makes it seem sweet. Presumably, this is because all the characters are still alive.

This is an interesting aspect of the film and is less a criticism than a perception. Many films embellish reality for entertainment value.

The pairing of Jane and Jonathan seemed inevitable from the moment they met. They had much in common (religion), whereas Stephen and Jane were complete opposites- she was catholic, he was an atheist.

The sexual chemistry between Stephen and Elaine was evident from the moment they met. Elaine’s energetic sexiness contrasts sharply with Jane’s haggard, weary look at that point in the film.

The film isn’t designed to be a downer, as it could have been. The focus might have been sadder. Rather, it is sentimental and empowering.

The Theory of Everything (2014) is a heartwarming, conventional human story about a man rising above adversity, and at its center is a dynamic performance by Eddie Redmayne.

Oscar Nominations: 1 win-Best Picture, Best Actor-Eddie Redmayne (won), Best Actress-Felicity Jones, Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Original Score

2014 Films, Drama, HBO, LGBTQ+ Drama, LGBTQ+ Films, Social Issues

The Normal Heart-2014

December 1, 2014 scottmet99 Leave a comment

The Normal Heart-2014

Director Ryan Murphy

Starring Mark Ruffalo, Matt Bomer

Scott’s Review #198

Reviewed December 1, 2014

Grade: B+

The Normal Heart is a 2014 HBO television movie based on the true story of Ned Weeks, an openly gay AIDS activist/writer, played by Mark Ruffalo.

The film is set during the period when the epidemic first surfaced, from 1981-1984, and the challenges and frustrations faced, mostly within the gay community, to bring exposure and assistance to the disease.

Weeks was famous for building a group of passionate members who banded together to overcome these struggles.

Brad Pitt produced the film.

This is wonderful to know, as films with this content (AIDS) are often tough to produce. It’s wonderful that Pitt’s wealth and influence were used effectively.

At a vastly different time in the country to be gay, the government did very little to assist with financing for treatment or researching a cure for it, which is the main point of the story.

The talented cast makes this film what it is.

Matt Bomer plays Ned’s closeted gay lover, Felix Turner, one of the many casualties of the deadly disease. Bomer lost 40 pounds to prepare for the role.

Julia Roberts plays polio-stricken doctor Emma Brookner, who helped the sick when few others in the medical community would.

Other supporting actors include Alfred Molina, who plays Ned’s supportive, powerful attorney and brother, and Joe Mantello, who delivers a terrific meltdown scene as his anger and anguish over the government not taking the disease seriously finally bubble to the surface.

Finally, Mark Ruffalo plays Ned competently, but why the slight feminization? The real Ned Weeks was masculine. A needless stereotype the film (or Ruffalo) chose to pursue.

The film shows the discrimination faced by people living with AIDS, from an airline pilot refusing to fly a plane carrying a sick patient, to an electrician refusing to enter a patient’s hospital room to fix a television set.

It is sad to realize how ridiculous these unfounded fears proved to be.

According to the film’s statistics, a major point of the film is how the United States Government, specifically President Ronald Reagan, did very little in the way of funding or even wanting to discuss the issue for years following the initial outbreak, resulting in thousands of lost lives.

And why exactly is Reagan considered a great President?

It makes one ponder. It was only due to beloved Hollywood star Rock Hudson contracting and dying from the disease. Elizabeth Taylor used her star power to get people involved, which finally led to the topic being discussed and action taken on a federal level.

My slight criticism of the film is that it looks and feels like a television movie, similar in texture to HBO’s Behind the Candelabra (2013).

The colors are bright and vivid, and it looks television-like. It could have used darker lighting and perhaps a gloomier, more dour feel, especially given the subject matter.

Otherwise, thumbs up, and respect for bringing this story to millions of viewers and hopefully educating those who weren’t there.

2014 Films, Drama, Independent, Musical, Musical Drama

Whiplash-2014

November 13, 2014 scottmet99 Leave a comment

Whiplash-2014

Director Damien Chazelle

Starring Miles Teller

Scott’s Review #192

Reviewed November 13, 2014

Grade: A

Whiplash (2014) is a film about an aspiring nineteen-year-old Jazz drummer, Andrew Neyman, played by rising star Miles Teller (known for 2013’s indie teen drama The Spectacular Now).

He attends one of the country’s most revered music schools, the Schaffer Conservatory in New York.

He is both mentored and terrorized by his intense, sometimes sadistic conductor, Terence Fletcher, played by J.K. Simmons.

Andrew aspires to be the best drummer and worships Buddy Rich, a famous Jazz drummer from the 1930s and 1940s, whom he constantly listens to and emulates.

While Andrew aspires to make the school orchestra that desperately needs a new drummer, he meets a cute girl, Nicole, at the concession stand of his favorite movie theater, and they bond.

Also in the mix is Andrew’s father, played by Paul Reiser. Once an aspiring writer who never made it big, he struggles as a high school teacher.

Andrew’s mother left the family when Andrew was just a toddler, leaving just father and son.

The film centers on the tumultuous relationship between Andrew and Terence, and Andrew’s determination to become the best drummer in the world.

J.K. Simmons is mesmerizing as Terence and wonderful to see, as he has struggled as a character actor for years.

He delivers a powerhouse performance, plowing full steam ahead in his viciousness and extreme brutality toward the students, and on more than one occasion reducing a student to tears.

If the tempo is not to his liking, he shakes his clenched fist in disapproval.

The audience wonders if Terence is mean and sadistic or is tough on the students to make them work harder and achieve great things.

Throughout the film, I wondered whether to hate this character or sympathize with him for wanting the students to excel.

The sexuality of Fletcher is ambiguous.

He belittles and ridicules the students with fat jokes. He hatefully taunts an overweight student about Mars bars and Happy Meals, uses Irish digs, and inevitably uses gay slurs on other students, but is he hiding something in his personal life? Is he a closet case? His private life remains a mystery.

As brutal as Terence can be, there are moments of sensitivity that the character exhibits. He tearfully tells the orchestra a heartbreaking story of a former student, whom he admired, who recently died in a car accident.

In another scene, he warmly bonds with a friend’s young daughter.

As brilliant as Simmons is, we must not forget Teller’s immense talent. The young actor does a fantastic job of portraying determination, drive, anger, and vengeance.

Andrew has a wonderful relationship with his dedicated father, a love/hate relationship with Terence (are they bitter enemies or do they have the respect of a mentor/student?), and a sweet yet uneven relationship with Nicole.

He successfully portrays a myriad of different emotions throughout the film.

Paul Reiser is wonderful in an overlooked, thankless role as Andrew’s unsuccessful yet forever faithful father.

Thankfully, the film centers on the conductor/student dynamic. The romantic relationship with Nicole did not take center stage or usurp the main story, as I felt the dynamic between the two was less important to the whole.

The finale, an intense concert performance scene focusing on the intensity between Terence and Andrew, is superbly done. Close-up shots of the two add much to the climax.

Throughout Whiplash, extreme close-ups of sweat, blood, and intensity during performances and practices add to the film’s overall rawness.

Whiplash (2014) is an intense, sometimes brutal, assaulting experience, but an amazing film.

Oscar Nominations: 3 wins-Best Picture, Best Supporting Actor-J.K. Simmons (won), Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Sound Mixing (won), Best Film Editing (won)

Independent Spirit Award Nominations: 2 wins-Best Feature, Best Director-Damien Chazelle, Best Supporting Male-J.K. Simmons (won), Best Editing (won)

1983 Films, Crime Drama, Drama, Mob

Scarface-1983

November 13, 2014 scottmet99 Leave a comment

Scarface-1983

Director Brian De Palma

Starring Al Pacino

Scott’s Review #191

Reviewed November 13, 2014

Grade: B

Scarface is a 1983 mob film directed by Brian De Palma and is an atypical film for the acclaimed director of several stylistic thrillers, including Dressed to Kill (1980), Sisters (1973), and Carrie (1976).

The subject matter centers on the mob and the world of drug trafficking, in this case, cocaine, a very popular, powerful drug that ran rampant throughout the 1980s.

Jealousy, greed, and deceit are common themes in Scarface, and the story focuses on a temperamental, cocky, and arrogant Cuban refugee sent to Miami by Fidel Castro a banish criminals from Cuba and ship them to the United States to survive on their own.

Tony Montana, played by Al Pacino, goes from dishwasher to crime lord by selling drugs and building an empire.

He manipulates, tricks, and makes enemies left and right, including stealing his boss’s girlfriend (Michelle Pfeiffer) and eventually falling into a troubled marriage with her.

He loves his financially struggling mother and sister, giving them money and opening a salon for his sister. Still, he also controls them, especially his sister, and is filled with rage whenever she attracts the affection of a potential suitor.

In his mind, nobody is good enough for her, and he is filled with machismo and over-protectiveness. Tony eventually self-destructs due to jealousy, rage, and heavy drug use.

I found the film quite compelling overall, but I kept thinking about how much it resembles a lighter version of The Godfather (1972), Part II (1974), and Goodfellas (1990).

I am fully aware that Scarface preceded Goodfellas, but when I first saw it in 2014, I had this initial reaction.

I also knew it must have influenced the creation of the popular NBC television series Miami Vice, which debuted a year or two after Scarface was released.

Elements such as crime lords, Miami Beach, and drugs mirrored the slick feel of the hit television drama, including its look, style, and fashion.

The performance of Al Pacino is problematic- in my view, this is not at all his best work.

For starters, his accent keeps going in and out, and I found him slightly unbelievable in the role. A phenomenal actor, but something about his performance didn’t sit well.

The musical score to the film is cheesy- almost shockingly so. Granted, this was 1983, but the silly dance beats that now seem to appear throughout seem completely dated sporadically.

Parts of Scarface dragged a bit; however, a sudden dramatic scene (the dismembering of Tony’s friend by mobsters and Tony’s meltdown in a fancy restaurant) more than makes up for the occasional lulls in drama.

Scarface (1983) is not on the level of other contemporary violent mob films, but fans of the genre will still enjoy it.

Golden Globe Nominations: Best Actor- Drama- Al Pacino, Best Supporting Actor-Steven Bauer, Best Original Score

2014 Films, Art, Best Feature- Independent Spirit Award Winners, Best Picture Oscar Winners, Comedy, Dark Comedy, Drama, Favorite Film of the Year, Independent, Independent Drama, New York City, Satire

Birdman-2014

November 6, 2014 scottmet99 Leave a comment

Birdman-2014

Director Alejandro G. Iñárritu

Starring Michael Keaton

Scott’s Review #190

Reviewed November 6, 2014

Grade: A

Birdman (2014) is a unique art film that, happily, has garnered major exposure and publicity because a movie like this risks receiving praise and notice only from the art-house crowd.

The film’s star, Michael Keaton, portrays Riggan Thomson, a former action-hero superstar from the 1990s, made famous for the “Birdman” character he created.

Having made sequels to the film, his career has since dried up, and he hopes to establish credibility and prove himself a real actor by writing, directing, and starring in his play.

The film is set in and around the Broadway theater in New York City.

As opening night approaches, he struggles to pull everything together and mount a successful production while dealing with an injured, terrible actor; a difficult actor; his insecurities; and a miserable theatre critic destined to ruin his big chance.

To make matters worse, his daughter Sam, played by Emma Stone, is a recovering drug addict who hangs around the theatre distracting actors with her charm and good looks.

Naomi Watts and Edward Norton play Leslie and Mike, other cast members in the production. Watts is sympathetic as the emotional actress with a heart of gold who finally realizes her dream of performing on Broadway.

Norton, outstanding as Mike, is blunt yet socially awkward and can only perform truthfully on stage.

Keaton is a marvel as he plays a dark, vulnerable man. He hates and wants to shed his ridiculous movie persona of yesteryear and secretly cringes when fans recognize him.

He uses a voice in his head when he played “Birdman” years earlier.

The film’s uniqueness lies in what seems like one long take, as the action rarely stops.

The film belongs to Keaton, who wonderfully relays vulnerability, pain, and fear within an outward persona of bravery and masculinity.

Throughout the film I wondered, is Riggan suicidal? What is real and what is imagined? Are certain scenes foreshadowing later events?

The film has much depth.

One marvels at how art imitates life: is Keaton portraying himself? He was the original Batman in the successful superhero franchise beginning in 1989, and his career tanked shortly after.

Birdman is a comeback film for him, and he is devastatingly good.

Norton’s character Mike impressed me. He is blunt, flawed, scared, and addicted to the stage.

Stone has one particularly brilliant scene where she lambasts her father and later, with regret, tells him the world has moved on without him and that he is irrelevant, like everyone else. It is a powerful scene.

In another, Riggan is locked outside the theater during the performance, clad only in his underwear. How on earth will he get back on stage and finish the show?

The quick jabs at current Hollywood superhero stars, especially Robert Downey Jr., are deliciously naughty.

It is impossible to predict what comes next, and the film feels very New York theater-style.

Keaton’s run-in with a theater critic in a cocktail bar is the best scene in the film, as the critic’s vicious critique of “You’re a celebrity, not an actor” resonates with both pain and tremendous anger for Riggan.

Riggan is a sensitive, struggling man, and Keaton shows his vulnerability beautifully in every scene.

Oscar Nominations: 4 wins-Best Picture (won), Best Director-Alejandro G. Iñárritu (won), Best Actor-Michael Keaton, Best Supporting Actor-Edward Norton, Best Supporting Actress-Emma Stone, Best Original Screenplay (won), Best Sound Editing, Best Sound Mixing, Best Cinematography (won)

Independent Spirit Award Nominations: 3 wins-Best Feature (won), Best Director-Alejandro G. Inarritu, Best Male Lead-Michael Keaton (won), Best Supporting Male-Edward Norton, Best Supporting Female-Emma Stone, Best Cinematography (won)

1985 Films, Drama, LGBTQ+ Drama, LGBTQ+ Films, Portuguese

Kiss of the Spider Woman-1985

October 24, 2014 scottmet99 Leave a comment

Kiss of the Spider Woman-1985

Director Hector Babenco

Starring William Hurt, Raul Julia

Scott’s Review #187

Reviewed October 24, 2014

Grade: B+

1985 wasn’t the best year for film, nor was much of the 1980s, but there are unique standouts, and Kiss of the Spider Woman is an unusual, artistic film.

Set in present-day South America (Brazil), two men are imprisoned for very different reasons and become cellmates.

Complete opposites, they form an unlikely bond rooted in friendship but also flirting with romance and, at times, love.

Luis Molina is outwardly homosexual and extremely flamboyant and perhaps out of touch with reality as he fantasizes and describes romantic Nazi films.

He is imprisoned not only for being homosexual but also for having sex with an underage male.

The other man, Valentin Arregui, is a liberal political activist who has been beaten, tortured, and interrogated due to his revolutionary-leaning politics. He has a rough, macho edge.

On the surface, the two men have nothing in common, but their proximity leads them to forge a close bond and mutual respect as they explain their pre-imprisonment lives to each other and to the audience.

The film’s true strength is William Hurt’s performance, very much against type, the best of his career by a mile. He fully embodies Luis’s effeminacy, yearning, pain, and obsession with escaping reality through film.

Raul Julia has the same effect, though in a completely different way, in his portrayal of Valentin.

Luis tenderly comforts Valentin, who is poisoned by prison officials who incorporate his stories of films into Valentin’s real life, as he yearns for his separated lover, Marta.

As Luis falls in love with Valentin, and one seems to double-cross the other, they face a test of courage and dedication to each other.

The ending of the film is a sad one, dark, yet thought-provoking, and shows love, tenderness, and bravery.

My only negative about Kiss of the Spider Woman (1985) is that, at times, the flashback structure and Luis’s narration make it hard to follow exactly what is going on.

Still, Hurt and Julia’s performances, and the chemistry between them, are the film’s major strengths.

Oscar Nominations: 1 win-Best Picture, Best Director-Hector Babenco, Best Actor-William Hurt (won), Best Screenplay Based on Material from Another Medium

Golden Globe Nominations: Best Picture-Drama, Best Actor-Drama-William Hurt, Raul Julia, Best Supporting Actress-Sônia Braga

Independent Spirit Award Nominations: 1 win-Best International Film (won)

2014 Films, Ghost Story, Horror, Supernatural Horror

Annabelle-2014

October 17, 2014 scottmet99 Leave a comment

Annabelle-2014

Director John R. Leonetti

Starring Annabelle Wallis

Scott’s Review #186

Reviewed October 17, 2014

Grade: B+

Annabelle (2014) is a classic, edge-of-your-seat ghost story that delivers on creepiness and surprise.

Set in California circa 1969, John (Ward Horton) and Mia Gordon (Annabelle Wallis) are a happy, all-American young couple.

He is a doctor, and she is beautiful and pregnant with their first child. They attend church each Sunday, are friendly with the neighbors, and have a strong sense of community.

As a surprise, John gives Mia a life-sized doll as a gift, adding to her existing collection of interesting dolls.

Soon, strange events begin to occur: a home invasion, a fire, a bizarre elevator experience, and creepy drawings by the neighbor’s children.

The film eventually dives into murkier territory when a strange, religious woman, played by Alfre Woodard, is introduced, and the focus shifts to spirits, soul-taking, and the occult.

What sets Annabelle apart from similar horror contemporaries is its suspense.

As the audience, we know something bad will happen, but we don’t know when.

Unlike many horror films that slice and dice for shock value, Annabelle does not. Instead, the film relies on foreshadowing and anticipation, making the eventual jumps scarier!

Mia’s constant use of an electric sewing machine and Mia’s attentive watching of news coverage of the Manson murders are clues as to what will come next.

A scene set in the middle of the night as a home invasion takes place next door is shot exceptionally well, like Alfred Hitchcock’s Rear Window (1955), with no dialogue.

What the audience sees inside the house from across the yard as violence occurs is frightening.

In the same scene, we know the home invasion will target Gordon’s house, but when will it strike?

Another effective scene shows a seemingly innocent little girl running toward another character in a separate bedroom. Still, she turns into a maniacal fiend, and the thudding footsteps make it terrifying.

I genuinely got scared during a few scenes!

Wisely avoiding the all-too-frequent CGI effects, Annabelle instead takes the traditional route, using genuine scares drawn from the unknown and the anticipation and dread of what’s to come.

The fantastic musical score composed by Joseph Bishara adds to the anticipation.

Annabelle is a prequel to the equally scary The Conjuring (2013). The first scene is the same as that from the earlier film, where two nurses explain how they obtained the doll, Annabelle, and cannot get away from her.

The final act delves into the spiritual world of evil- a soul (presumably Mia’s or her babies’) must be sacrificed to relinquish the curse put upon her by Annabelle’s original owner.

A surprising figure helps bring this film to a close.

Annabelle (2014) is an old-school horror film done very well.

2013 Films, Horror, Independent, Independent Horror, LGBTQ+ Films, LGBTQ+ Horror, Zombie

Contracted-2013

October 12, 2014 scottmet99 Leave a comment

Contracted-2013

Director Eric England

Starring Najarra Townsend

Scott’s Review #184

Reviewed October 12, 2014

Grade: B-

It seems that many reviewers of Contracted (2013) are looking for a deeper meaning to the film or debating whether a particular scene was a rape or a consensual sexual act.

I looked for neither and just took the 2013 independent horror film at face value.

I don’t view the film as worth overanalyzing or digging too deep beneath the surface.

The plot is rather basic.

Samantha is a young woman on the outs with her girlfriend Nikki. She goes to a party where her friend Alice gets her drunk, and Samantha winds up talking to a handsome stranger named BJ.

Samantha agrees to have sex with him in his car, but at one point begs him to stop. It is unclear what transpires.

The next morning, Samantha wakes up feeling strange- she assumes she is hungover, but gradually her hair, teeth, and fingernails begin to fall out, and her eyes are hideously bloodshot.

Her symptoms slowly worsen as she transforms into a strange monster.

In the mix are supporting characters, Riley, who is in love with Samantha even though she is a lesbian and rebuffs all of his advances, and Samantha’s Mom, who is convinced that Samantha is using drugs again (which she is).

I did not find the film to be a metaphor for punishing women or lesbians for a one-night stand. I viewed it as a fun, Saturday late-night horror flick.

If I were to dissect the film critically, the premise is rather absurd- a young woman turning into a zombie/monster after having sexual relations with a stranger.

Silly, but I am not expecting highbrow art from this type of film. The acting, especially of the actress portraying Samantha, is below average at best, and horrid at worst.

The three central female characters (Samantha, Nikki, and Alice) are presumably all lesbians or bisexual; especially Nikki is irritated when a man dares to hit on her, as if they should magically already know she is a lesbian.

Nikki is very unlikeable. She seldom returns Samantha’s calls and keeps pushing her away.

I did not buy any of the three as lesbians- not to be stereotypical, but they each had feminine-only qualities.

The way Samantha’s mother kept insisting that Samantha was on drugs became irritating by the fifth time she brought it up.

Why did Riley pursue Samantha ad nauseam when he was aware that she was a lesbian? What is BJ’s motivation for presumably giving Samantha a drug? She was already drunk enough to have sex with him- why did he want to turn her into a monster?

This plot point is unclear.

The film is not character-driven; it is strictly plot-driven, and like most horror films, is meant to be that way. The finale is quite satisfying, as Samantha’s fate, along with her mother’s, is left up in the air.

The same cannot be said for Nikki or Alice, as both receive their just desserts.

Contracted (2013) isn’t a masterpiece, but it’s a fun little horror film to enjoy. Just don’t ask too many questions.

2014 Films, Psychological Thriller, Thriller

Gone Girl-2014

October 6, 2014 scottmet99 Leave a comment

Gone Girl-2014

Director David Fincher

Starring Ben Affleck, Rosamund Pike

Scott’s Review #181

Reviewed October 6, 2014

Grade: A-

Gone Girl (2014), directed by dark-yet-mainstream filmmaker David Fincher, offers a simple premise.

An affluent woman disappears without warning and a loved one is suspected of the crime.

This type of story has been done many times before in film; think Prisoners (2013) as a recent example, but Gone Girl stands out for its storytelling, pacing, and plenty of twists and turns.

The film is based on the best-selling novel, written by popular novelist Gillian Flynn, who also wrote the screenplay.

Ben Affleck plays Nick Dunne, a man in his 30s whose wife, Amy, magnificently played by Rosamund Pike, mysteriously disappears, sparking a media frenzy.

After clues are revealed, Nick is thought to be a sociopath and responsible for Amy’s disappearance.

Nick and Amy have the perfect marriage… or so it appears. Until fairly recently, Nick and Amy have lived an idyllic, well-to-do lifestyle in New York City.

Amy’s family is wealthy and writes as successful children’s authors.

After the 2010 recession, which causes Nick and Amy to lose their jobs and all their money, and with Nick’s parents’ health problems, they find themselves in a state of peril, and their marriage is severely tested.

They are forced to move to a small town in Missouri where Nick grew up, and their lifestyle completely changes.

The film reveals these facts as it progresses through flashbacks, mostly from Amy’s perspective, as she chronicles events in her diary.

The story is so smart and layered that the audience continually asks questions throughout the film.

Is Amy dead? Did she fake her death? Is Nick involved or innocent? Could Amy’s parents be involved in her disappearance? Can we trust Nick’s sister Margo? What involvement does Amy’s wealthy college sweetheart Desi Collings (Neil Patrick Harris) have?

As more of the plot unfolds, new questions arise.

Intelligently written, with twists and turns galore, after a slow start, the film is a thrill ride. The slow start is necessary to lay the film’s groundwork, and it wisely keeps the audience guessing throughout.

The film feels like a puzzle (literally and figuratively), as each layer unravels and raises new questions and theories.

Trent Reznor (Nine Inch Nails) composes the film’s score, adding a dark, techno-gloomy feel that heightens the mood.

The acting in Gone Girl is exceptional.

Affleck is capable in the lead male role, though I didn’t find the part as meaty as one might expect. Affleck is handsome and charismatic, though unlikeable too, and I think that is all the part requires.

The standout and breakout performance belongs to Rosamund Pike. After years of struggling in support roles as someone’s wife or friend, Pike finally has a complex role that lets her sink her teeth in.

Pike displays almost every emotion- kindness, anger, rage, deception, humor.

Amy is nuanced and resourceful, and more than one moviegoer’s mouth dropped open at her actions in a couple of scenes, think wine bottle and hammer.

Neil Patrick Harris is dynamic as Desi and brings a healthy dose of creepiness mixed with childlike sweetness.

Gone Girl features one of the most shocking scenes involving a bedroom, a box cutter, and lots of blood.

Fincher’s setting of North Carthage, Missouri, is interesting. Hardly the Manhattan intelligentsia Nick and Amy are accustomed to, the film effectively portrays the perfect mix of homespun kindness that turns into a lynch mob of townspeople.

The sweet neighbors, who happily offer Nick casseroles and hugs one minute, suddenly turn into sharks when the details are revealed.

The media is, almost ironically, portrayed as menacing and ready to pounce. Sela Ward and Missy Pyle play female reporters who are, deliciously and comically, menacing and ready to pounce.

More than a handful of female characters are written as borderline man-hating and eager to either castrate, figuratively speaking, or bed (or both!), Nick Dunne.

Gone Girl contains a few plot holes. How could there be no recorded tapes of the goings-on at Desi’s lake house? The entire plot is so far-fetched when one decides to ponder it.

Gone Girl (2014) is a mainstream yet dark Hollywood thrill ride with a theme of dishonesty, and a film exceptionally well-written and layered.

Oscar Nominations: Best Actress-Rosamund Pike

2014 Films, Comedy, Dark Comedy, Drama, Independent, Independent Comedy, Independent Drama

The Skeleton Twins-2014

October 2, 2014 scottmet99 Leave a comment

The Skeleton Twins-2014

Director Craig Johnson

Starring Bill Hader, Kristen Wiig

Scott’s Review #179

Reviewed October 2, 2014

Grade: A-

The Skeleton Twins (2014) is a tremendous, character-driven, family drama that focuses on character development rather than standard plot devices.

The film stars Bill Hader and Kristen Wiig from Saturday Night Live, but don’t be fooled into thinking The Skeleton Twins is a light comedy; it is not.

There are laugh-out-loud scenes throughout, but this is a serious story about depression, suicide, and anger, and at times, very dark.

Wiig plays Maggie, a woman in her thirties who seemingly has it all.

Lance, her handsome, loyal husband, played by Luke Wilson, adores her. She has a stable job as a dental hygienist and lives a quiet, quaint life in upstate New York- seemingly enjoying a happy middle-class existence.

Hader plays Milo, Maggie’s estranged twin brother, who lives in Los Angeles and is a struggling actor with no agent, reduced to waiting tables in a lousy restaurant.

Presumably, just out of a relationship, Milo attempts suicide by slitting his wrists.

Maggie flies to Los Angeles to visit Milo in the hospital and invites him to recuperate with Maggie and Lance in New York.

Having grown up as best friends, they reconnect once Milo moves in.

The Skeleton Twins is so jam-packed with interesting stories, both current and backstory, that it becomes effortless to fall in love with Maggie and Milo.

When the twins were fourteen, their father committed suicide by jumping off a bridge, a father they were very connected to.

Their mother, played by Joanna Gleason, was a horrible mother growing up and, in present times, is a hippie involved in an interracial marriage. She awkwardly visits Maggie and Milo and attempts to heal them through meditation.

Other character history is revealed.

Milo, who is gay, was molested by his teacher when he was fifteen years old, a teacher he is still in love with, and is wonderfully played against type by Ty Burrell.

Maggie has carried on affairs with various men throughout her marriage to Lance and is secretly using birth control pills to avoid becoming pregnant. Lance happily thinks they are trying to conceive.

Milo and Maggie are incredibly layered and well-written. They are both damaged from a difficult childhood, suffer from depression, and now only have each other.

Scenes in The Skeleton Twins range from hysterical- a scene in a dentist’s office with laughing gas rolling on the floor and a lip-syncing scene to the hit “Nothing’s Gonna Stop Us Now”- to wonderful.

Dramatic and shocking scenes where Milo and Maggie go at each other with gusto, dredging up childhood wounds, are brilliantly acted by Wiig and Hader.

The chemistry between Wiig and Hader is incredible, and both actors successfully balance hysterical comedy with dark drama, which impressed me.

Luke Wilson is great in support as the straight-laced, nice guy married to Maggie.

A slight criticism: the character of Milo is written as stereotypically gay- man-hungry and hardly a man’s man. He has trouble clearing brush because, presumably, he is too girly to handle the task.

I wish more films would avoid these stereotypes.

Ty Burrell’s character, Rich, is so complex that I wish they’d explored him more: as a gay man, how can he work with his girlfriend while harboring so many secrets? Is he still in love with Milo despite repeatedly pushing him away?

I would have loved more depth to this complex character.

After the film, I felt the filmmakers didn’t go as dark as they could have, and audiences will know what I mean after the final scene.

There is no fairy tale ending either.

Milo and Maggie are damaged goods who only have each other, making for a dynamic, character-rich film.

2013 Films, Crime Drama, Drama, Independent, Independent Drama

Go for Sisters-2013

September 27, 2014 scottmet99 Leave a comment

Go for Sisters-2013

Director John Sayles

Starring LisaGay Hamilton, Yolonda Ross

Scott’s Review #177

Reviewed September 27, 2014

Grade: B-

Go for Sisters is a 2013 independent feature film about a female parole officer (Lisa Gay Hamilton) with a troubled, missing son named Rodney, feared to be mixed up with the murder of a drug dealer.

The film takes place in California and Mexico.

Hamilton plays Bernice, a middle-aged black woman, who has always done the right thing.

Widowed and recently dumped by a new boyfriend, she runs into ex-convict Fontayne, played by Yolonda Ross, at her parole office.

Initially wanting nothing to do with her former high school friend, Bernice decides to use Fontayne’s criminal connections to locate Rodney.

From this point, they hire retired Mexican police officer Freddy Suarez, played by Edward James Olmos, and the trio embarks on an adventure across the border of Mexico.

I love the story involving the two female leads (Hamilton and Ross) who share a Thelma and Louise-type bond.

The characters reconnect and develop independently. Straight-laced Bernice toughens up and breaks a few rules, while Fontayne, determined to go straight, struggles to keep her head above water, resisting drugs and attempting to hold down a job.

The two forge a bond based on trust, respect, and loyalty, and their friendship grows throughout the film.

One gripe about Fontayne’s character: she admits to being a lesbian but then mentions she is not sure if she is or if she is not. This sexual identity crisis seems strange- why couldn’t the film make her a lesbian? Why the hedging?

The rest of the film is mediocre to weak.

Adding Freddy to the mix is unnecessary. He adds little to the plot beyond helping the women get into Mexico and serving as male comic relief.

Either way, I didn’t find the character very interesting or care about him, and the film would have been better off without Freddy.

What was the reasoning behind making him have poor eyesight? What was the point of Freddy taking a young woman and her daughter to breakfast and realizing they were crossing the border to find her estranged husband?

Who cares? It had nothing to do with the plot.

All the audience knows about Freddy is that he is retired due to a misunderstanding, accepts money to help Bernice and Fontayne, and tags along with them for the rest of the film.

The stereotypes should have been eliminated. The Chinese dragon lady and the corrupt Mexican police officers have been played to death in films and are rather insulting to smart and serious movie-goers.

I found the plot a bit tough to follow, and I still don’t understand how or why Rodney was involved with the Chinese mob in the first place, other than to help Chinese immigrants cross the border.

Was he involved with the money, or did he just want to help immigrants cross to the United States?

The film mentions countless times how Rodney is a decent person, so what’s his motivation? The film never wholly explains why he is kidnapped and a suspect in a murder case.

Also, countless characters are introduced to help the women on their journey with some connection to the kidnap victim but are written haphazardly with no character development.

The ending of Go for Sisters (2013) is too predictable and leaves the audience not caring about the outcome.

Despite numerous negatives, the film’s heart belongs to Hamilton and Ross and the interesting, warm friendship that develops between their characters throughout the film.

Independent Spirit Award Nominations: Best Supporting Female- Yolonda Ross

1954 Films, Drama, Musical, Musical Drama

A Star is Born-1954

September 25, 2014 scottmet99 Leave a comment

A Star is Born-1954

Director George Cukor

Starring Judy Garland, James Mason

Scott’s Review #175

Reviewed September 25, 2014

Grade: B+

A Star Is Born (1954) was considered Judy Garland’s much-touted comeback film and was very expensive for Warner Bros. to produce.

Garland delivers her finest career performance, even better than her portrayal of Dorothy in The Wizard of Oz (1939). The performance is multi-faceted, complex, comical, silly, poised, emotional, dramatic, and heartfelt.

Playing Esther Blodgett- later changed to Vicki Lester for more Hollywood potential- she is a struggling lounge singer who meets a successful actor named Norman Maine, played wonderfully by James Mason.

Esther saves Norman from public humiliation at a function where he attempts to take the stage while inebriated. They strike up a friendship, and he convinces her to pursue a film career. However, through a series of misunderstandings, she assumes he has ditched her.

Determined to become a star anyway, Esther forges her path to success. They reconnect, and Norman recognizes her talent and pursues her professionally and romantically. They marry, and she becomes a star while his career hits the skids, mainly due to his alcoholism.

The talented Mason and Garland are at the forefront of the film and are the reasons for its success.

A few key scenes stand out to me as powerful or essential: the scene involving a musical number over a dinner of sandwiches in their posh living room is wonderfully merry and light; a delivery boy who does not know who Norman is ruins the mood and causes jealousy to come to a head in his marriage to Esther.

Garland’s emotional scenes are excellent, especially in her dressing room, where she crumbles when she realizes Mason has hit rock bottom.

The best scene is the Academy Awards scene, where a drunken Norman causes a public spectacle as Esther receives her top honor, spoiling her night and accidentally hitting her in the face in front of millions.

What a forgiving woman Esther is for staying with him and ultimately choosing him at the risk of ruining her career.

An interesting aspect of the story is that Garland’s character is not some ugly duckling transformed into Hollywood royalty—she already has the talent.

She needs a break, but is not down on her luck or starving. She makes a decent living with a touring band and is torn about leaving them.

The musical numbers are inspiring, and one is reminded why Garland is such a star as she belts them out of the park like nobody’s business; however, they do little to further the plot.

The film sometimes drags a bit, as is often the case in the first half, but the second half (post-intermission) is brilliant, and the ending is tragic yet heartwarming.

Will Esther’s career continue to flourish?

A major flaw with the film is the use of still frames with overlapping dialogue due to lost footage.

This makes it very tough to follow the story, and the continuity is affected. It also comes across as ridiculous, and it’s disappointing that the story captures the viewer only to see a discolored still shot with audio.

Indeed, this can be corrected.

A Star Is Born (1954) is the perfect vehicle for Garland to return to her grand position among the Hollywood treasures.

Oscar Nominations: Best Actor-James Mason, Best Actress-Judy Garland, Best Scoring of a Musical Picture, Best Song-“The Man That Got Away,” Best Art Direction, Color, Best Costume Design, Color

Golden Globe Nominations: 2 wins-Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role-Musical or Comedy-Judy Garland (won), Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture-Musical or Comedy-James Mason (won)

2014 Films, Drama, Independent, Independent Drama, LGBTQ+ Drama, LGBTQ+ Films, New York City, Romantic Drama

Love Is Strange-2014

September 24, 2014 scottmet99 Leave a comment

Love Is Strange-2014

Director Ira Sachs

Starring John Lithgow, Alfred Molina

Scott’s Review #174

Reviewed September 24, 2014

Grade: B

Love Is Strange (2014) is sweet, though not nauseatingly sentimental, and explores many different types of relationships; at the forefront is the same-sex couple Ben and George, played by John Lithgow and Alfred Molina, respectively.

They are a successful New York City couple of a certain age, together for nearly thirty years, and finally legally wed in a low-key ceremony surrounded by friends and family.

George teaches music at a strict Catholic high school where the students and staff know and love him and his new husband.

The bishop doesn’t support his marriage, and he’s fired unceremoniously.

This causes Ben and George to become homeless and rely on family and friends for a roof over their heads.

The film features several secondary character relationships.

Ben’s nephew and wife balance busy careers with a temperamental, rebellious, confused son; Ben’s niece from Poughkeepsie seems neurotic.

Neighbors who are gay police couples have loud parties seemingly every night.

Marisa Tomei, who plays Ben’s niece by marriage, Kate, and Charlie Tahan, who plays Joey, Ben’s great-nephew, are probably the most prominent in the supporting cast.

While well-meaning and accommodating, Kate bottles up her anger and comforts herself with nightly red wine.

Joey lashes out at his great-uncle in frustration, criticizing his artwork and scolding him for using his teen friend in a portrait, a friend whose sexuality is unclear.

Most other characters are not fleshed out well and are there to move the plot along. This is slightly disappointing. I would have preferred a bit more backstory regarding the rest of the cast.

Throughout the film, a few clues about Joey and his friend’s sexuality surface, but they don’t go beyond the surface.

I was curious about the cop’s backstory. How long have they been together? Do they face conflict at work?

Numerous scenes show both cops in uniform running errands or visiting the hospital, which seems to emphasize that cops can be masculine and gay, a fact I love, yet the characters are one-dimensional.

Why is Ben’s niece neurotic? The film doesn’t pursue this at all.

The film belongs to Lithgow and Molina.

The two have such effortless, natural chemistry that the audience instantly believes they have been together for decades. The fact that Lithgow and Molina are lifelong friends in real life surely adds to the realism and naturalness.

Ben is the yin to George’s yang. Lithgow and Molina’s performances are so understated and calming that you might overlook how excellent they are, since they are both low-key characters.

Love Is Strange (2014) is a film about strength, courage, loyalty, and perseverance through life’s challenges.

It is a sensitive and lovely film.

Independent Spirit Award Nominations: Best Feature, Best Male Lead-John Lithgow, Best Supporting Male-Alfred Molina, Best Screenplay

2013 Films, Drama, French, Independent, Independent Drama, International, International Drama, Persian

The Past-2013

September 16, 2014 scottmet99 Leave a comment

The Past-2013

Director Asghar Farhadi

Starring Bérénice Bejo, Tahar Rahim, Ali Mosaffa

Scott’s Review #171

Reviewed September 16, 2014

Grade: B+

The Past (2013) is an international film directed by acclaimed Iranian director Asghar Farhadi, who directed the brilliant A Separation in 2012.

Despite being directed by an Iranian director, the film is written in French and set in France.

While not quite on the level of A Separation, The Past is still a good, layered, and compelling film, though admittedly slow-paced in spots, like real life.

The film centers on a couple, Marie (Bérénice Bejo) and Ahmad (Ali Mosaffa), amid a divorce.

Marie lives in France with her two daughters from a relationship before Ahmad, so they have no children together. He lives in Iran and comes to visit and finalize the divorce proceedings.

Further complicating the situation is that Marie is in a relationship with another man, Samir (Tahar Rahim), who has a son with his current wife, who is a vegetable in a coma after a suicide attempt.

What were the events that led her to attempt suicide? Did someone reveal something of importance to her? If so, who?

Questions such as these compel viewers to invest in the characters.

The Past is an excellent family drama done right; it has no needless stereotypes, and the children serve a purpose beyond being cute or attractive wallpaper, as in many family dramas.

Each child involved- there are 3- has real feelings and realistically expresses themselves. All three principal adult characters are mature, complicated, and have depth.

Nobody is the villain, and the intent is not to make the audience root for one couple over the other. The film is more mysterious than that.

Instead, the audience spends the film trying to uncover the secrets the characters keep.

Is Marie ready to divorce Ahmad or does she still love him? Does Samir blame Marie for his wife’s condition? Why does the oldest daughter hate Samir so much?

These are questions that arise more and more as The Past unfolds.

Another interesting facet of the film is that it introduces no red herrings to manipulate the viewer. The film is simply a detailed, complex drama.

All three leads give wonderful performances, though I’m not sure why Bejo’s stands out.

After watching and reflecting, I noticed many similarities to A Separation.

The Past (2013) is a good, solid family drama, with rich writing and honest, compelling situations.

1956 Films, Drama, Fantasy, French, International, International Fantasy, Shorts

The Red Balloon-1956

September 15, 2014 scottmet99 Leave a comment

The Red Balloon-1956

Director Albert Lamorisse

Starring Pascal Lamorisse

Scott’s Review #170

Reviewed September 15, 2014

Grade: A

The Red Balloon (1956) is a poignant short film (thirty-four-minute running time) in its innocence and creativity.

Directed by acclaimed French filmmaker Albert Lamorisse, it tells the story of a young Parisian boy named Pascal who befriends a special red balloon that arrives and greets him one day.

Amazingly, the balloon follows him everywhere, and they become inseparable friends. The balloon has a mind of its own and protects Pascal from schoolyard bullies and others who do not understand or care about his bond with it.

The balloon does not leave his side, and he waits outside during school hours and sleeping hours.

Director Lamorisse’s children play Pascal and a little girl with a similar blue balloon.

The film is shot in Paris and features many beautiful city glimpses. Unfortunately, the neighborhood (Belleville) where most of the adventure takes place, where little Pascal and his balloon meander through the streets to and from school, no longer exists and was destroyed in the 1960s due to decay.

It is a bleak, melancholy neighborhood that perfectly contrasts the extreme brightness of the balloon.

The Red Balloon is a thought-provoking short film and contains almost no dialogue. None is needed as a powerful message of friendship, heartbreak, and loyalty is portrayed.

The climax of the film is heartbreaking yet uplifting.

The Red Balloon is a film that people of all ages can enjoy and fall in love with. In fact, for many years, educators have shown it to children.

The Red Balloon is the only short film to win the Academy Award for Best Writing (Original Screenplay).

Oscar Nominations: 1 win-Best Screenplay-Original (won)

2013 Films, Biography, Drama, Political Drama

Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom-2013

September 13, 2014 scottmet99 Leave a comment

Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom-2013

Director Justin Chadwick

Starring Idris Elba

Scott’s Review #169

Reviewed September 13, 2014

Grade: B

Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom (2013) recounts the true story of South African leader Nelson Mandela, chronicling fifty-plus years of his life from 1942 to 1994.

It shows his passion for freedom and dedication to anti-apartheid; his battles with the government; and his struggles to survive in prison.

The film is shot beautifully; the cinematography is gorgeous, and the South African landscape is breathtaking.

I enjoyed the chemistry between Idris Elba and Naomie Harris, who plays Nelson Mandela and his second wife, Winnie, respectively, and Elba, in particular, is very well cast.

He is charismatic, handsome, calm, and perfectly encompasses the famous leader’s mannerisms.

It was interesting to watch a biopic that spanned such a long period and, in a way, served as a history lesson, especially for viewers young enough not to remember the details of Mandela’s life.

I was too young to know of all of Mandela’s trials and tribulations.

For example, I knew he was imprisoned and released, but I did not know how long he had spent in prison and away from his wife and family.

I got the sense that factually, some details were either embellished or skipped over entirely.

I’ve heard this criticism from moviegoers regarding Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom.

A few drawbacks- this film is VERY Hollywood. It has a glossy feel. I would have preferred a bit more grit.

Was there any sexual abuse while Mandela was imprisoned? Was Winnie abused while she was in prison? Why was the lack of sexuality in Mandela’s and Winnie’s marriage in later years alluded to, but never explored?

This is a negative for the film.

Since the film is rated PG-13, it tones down aspects a feels very safe.

Also, for such a perfect shot and well-designed film, the makeup is dreadful! It was apparent that Idris Elba was wearing a glued-on, unflattering grey wig.

Furthermore, the woman playing Mandela’s mother was clearly the same age as, if not younger than, Elba, with dyed grey hair. This aspect feels poorly produced.

Overall, Mandela: A Long Walk to Freedom (2013) is a good film, largely because of its acting and look, but it is not a great one.

Oscar Nominations: Best Original Song-“Ordinary Love”

2013 Films, Drama, Independent, Independent Drama, LGBTQ+ Drama, LGBTQ+ Films

Pit Stop-2013

September 10, 2014 scottmet99 Leave a comment

Pit Stop-2013

Director Yen Tan

Starring Bill Heck, Marcus DeAnda

Scott’s Review #168

Reviewed September 10, 2014

Grade: B

Pit Stop is a small independent film from 2013 that centers on a group of gay men living in rural Texas, outside of Houston or San Antonio.

The plot focuses on two men, Gabe and Ernesto, who don’t know each other. They recount their ups and downs, mostly about dating and relationships.

Gabe lives with his ex-wife Shannon, and they share a child they raise together as a family. They have a warm relationship and live together as friends. Gabe was recently dumped by a married man who wants him to stop calling.

Ernesto lives with a younger man whom he used to date and is trying to convince him to move out and get his life together.

Ernesto also has a former partner who is comatose and whom he continues to visit in the hospital.

A subplot is Shannon’s struggles to date. She arranges a date with a co-worker and, after drinking too much, embarrasses herself by coming on too strong to him.

The point of the film is that all the characters are struggling to find love and companionship, and most are lonely, yet not unbalanced or neurotic.

They reside in the middle of nowhere, which dims their chances of finding love.

There are no villains, and all the characters are quite likable. There is a reason to root for each of them, especially Gabe and Ernesto, and I kept hoping they would be brought together, since they seem like a wonderful pair with real chemistry.

Both are caregivers in their current situations, so what transpires after the film is interesting.

Pit Stop (2013) is a feel-good, happily-ever-after type film, mostly screened at independent film festivals and the gay festival circuit.

The film is small and steady, but a nice, uplifting experience and worth checking out.

Independent Spirit Award Nominations: John Cassavetes Award

2012 Films, Chilean, Drama, International, International Drama

Gloria-2012

September 10, 2014 scottmet99 Leave a comment

Gloria-2012

Director Sebastián Lelio

Starring Paulina García

Scott’s Review #167

Reviewed September 10, 2014

Grade: B+

The subject matter of Gloria (2012) is so unusual in this day-and-age, clichéd, youth-obsessed world of Hollywood that it is incredibly refreshing and pleasing to watch.

Gloria tells the story of the title character, a middle-aged (50s) divorced woman living in Chile, who lives life to the fullest.

She loves and embraces new experiences. She tries smoking pot, sings along to disco songs, and dances the nights away.

Gloria is looking for love, but she is not a depressed or dowdy woman. She is stable, attractive, intelligent, and funny.

She lives!!

Gloria meets and begins a relationship with Rodolfo, a similar-aged divorced man with a family full of baggage, whom she meets in a nightclub. His ex-wife and two daughters live with him and depend on him.

The film wisely doesn’t feature Rodolfo’s family until the very end, which adds to the character’s mystique. Gloria and Rodolfo begin a series of trials and tribulations involving both of their families.

Gloria introduces Rodolfo to her family at a birthday party, where her ex-husband and his current wife are in attendance.

Her family is very close, including her relationship with her ex-husband and his new wife. They take a wine-induced trip down memory lane.

This is too much for Rodolfo, and he bails. He is constantly barraged with phone calls from his family during alone time with Gloria.

They continue to have ups and downs.

The audience wonders: will they find their way to a happily ever after? Is Rodolfo really a cad? Does Gloria want to settle down? An event ruins a moment of bliss at an expensive hotel, and the audience’s heart breaks for Gloria.

How wonderful that this film dares to feature more than one explicit nude scene between these two middle-aged people in a classy, tender style.

This is not common in American films, so happily, foreign-language films are not as rigid or prudish in their sexuality.

Unfortunately, Paulina Garcia received little recognition for this role. She deserved an Oscar nomination as she relays an enormous level of complex emotions- she feels the loss, she is betrayed, she is giddy, she is silly, and the list goes on and on.

Gloria (2012) is admittedly slow-paced at times, but the film and story are a breath of fresh air.

The film is a character-driven, tender tale centering on mature, intelligent people.

Independent Spirit Award Nominations: Best International Film

Welcome to my blog!1,555 reviews posted so far! I'm Scott Segrell and I reside in Stamford, CT. My site features hundreds of film reviews I have written since I launched the site in 2014. I hope you enjoy reading my latest reviews or searching for your own favorites to see if we agree. Please see my Recent Posts section, and don't forget to utilize the tags and category links.