Movie Night- Suicide Squad

8/10/2016

Suicide Squad 

Between Suicide Squad, Batman v Superman, and Ghostbusters; It seems like having an opinion about films has become really controversial this year. The disconnect between movie critics and standard film audiences seems to be growing larger every year, and having an opinion either way has become a cause for massive backlash. People need to understand that giving your opinion on a piece of art is just their perspective and what they got out of it. You might have a completely different feeling of a film and that's a good thing. Always rely on your own opinion regardless of mass consensus or differing views. While I will be giving you my opinion about this film like I do with every film, you should still see it for yourself before you give an opinion either way. In my opinion, this movie was a flat out mess. 

There are a few positives about the film that do deserve some recognition. Will Smith did a fairly good job in this film, even though he did just feel like a standard Will Smith character. He never really went for it and there were no scenes I thought he really shined in, but he did do a good job. Margot Robbie also did a really good job as Harley Quinn. She instantly connected with audiences and made the character likable but never too sympathetic. I also really liked the character of Diablo played by Jay Hernandez. Diablo had an interesting pathos that made for a fairly well handled character arc. Overall with a few exceptions the film was well casted but that's all I can really say positively. 

Now I have to talk about the things I did not like, because there are a lot of them. The editing of this was all over the place and the film never had a cohesive flow to it. Scenes came and went never feeling important or having a sense of urgency to them. They mashed in so many random pop songs in the first act that felt so out of place you can tell they weren't added until much later. The songs never fit the film, or even the scene for that matter, feeling sloppy and gimmicky. The film was shot so indifferently it never once contained a cool or interesting shot. The writing of the film was cringe-worthy and awkward. I have no idea how this screenplay was approved. When the film you praise to be the more fun and entertaining entry in your universe fails at humor, then you have failed. The directing seems to be completely missing from the final product, and I believe that is because DC and Warner Bros cannot help but interfere with a completely natural process like directing. There never seems to be a clear voice or a single directorial touch. It feels like a movie directed by a committee of board members.

Everyone has been giving their opinion on the new Joker portrayed by Jared Leto, and mine is pretty indecisive. I have to give him credit for trying to be different from Ledger, Nicholson, and Hamill; but he seems to be going too far off the mark. While he isn't in the film long and the lines he was given were not the best, I can't completely fault him for this movie. But by far the worst performance in the movie was that of Cara Delevingne as Enchantress. Her performance was completely laughable and didn't work in the slightest way. Considering she was the main villain of the film and not only was she not menacing, she was down-right ridiculous. When your main villain inspires more fear, immediacy, or clear motivation your movie loses any and all tension.

This movie was all over the place. The editing was amateur. The acting was all over the place, either good or terrible. The writing was embarrassing, which is shocking considering David Ayer wrote Training Day as well. I do not personally see the appeal that fans of this movie are raving about. I was not expecting much from this movie, but it surprised  me how bad it ended up being. 

3/10

Movie Night- Cafe Society

8/3/2016

Cafe Society 

Going into this screening today I couldn't necessarily say that I was very excited. I saw the trailer for this film a few months prior and thought it would be your standard yearly submission from Woody Allen. While I have a lot of respect for Woody Allen and I would not even say he's made a bad film, most of his films are good yet forgettable. Annie Hall, Manhattan, and Midnight In Paris are really good films, but those are the only ones I really like from his filmography. Well I now have to add Cafe Society to that list. 

I was genuinely surprised on how much I ended up enjoying this film. From the opening shot until the final credits I was thoroughly entertained. First let's discuss the cast of the film because everyone completely nailed their performances. Jesse Eisenberg returned to what he does best after the disastrous Lex Luther we received earlier this year, playing the awkward yet endearing main character. Steve Carell, Kristen Stewart, and Blake Lively all did great work as well. While I can't say that any performance was outstanding or all that spectacular, every actor and actress fit their role like a glove and helped make the film more investing. The cinematography was also very well handled by the excellent cinematographer Vittorio Storaro. The two cities of New York and Los Angeles feel very different due to lighting and setting. The film overall looks great, helping lend to the comforting feeling Woody Allen is known for. Obviously the stand out component of the film is Woody Allen, who delivers a film that felt familiar but fresh. His writing is entertaining and snappy as it always is but he also wrote some fairly engaging characters. I found the characters relatable but not overly realistic and serious, which would've totally conflicted with the story. Woody Allen excels at directing as well having a great sense of pacing and overall direction. He knows when to have funny dialogue to entertain the audience and he knows when to insert a slightly more serious scene. The film is never melodramatic but it does allow for relatability.

There are a couple flaws with the film however, but never enough to weigh down the film completely. While I did praise the film for the cast filling their roles well, it felt sort of predictable and safe. The story never really surprises you and doesn't take many risks. The film also meandered a bit in the third act and slowed the film down a tad. 

Cafe Society is a very competent film, but don't let it's subtleties fool you. It's an entertaining film that has great dialogue and really good characters. While it very much feels like a Woody Allen film, it wasn't the goal to try something experimental or daring. It was enjoyable and is now one of my favorites by Allen. 

7/10

Movie Night- Lights Out

7/25/2016

Lights Out

A few months ago while watching YouTube videos an advertisement for an upcoming horror film came on. While watching this trailer I had a feeling I'd seen this before and then the title of the film came on and I realized it was based on a short film I'd seen on YouTube a few years ago. I thought that it was really awesome that someones short film that was uploaded to the internet garnered enough attention to be able to make a full length feature. I thought the short film was fairly well-made and did stick with me for a while. I have to say though, this might be one of the most forgettable films I've seen all year.

First let's start out with some of the positives because there are a few. The concept of how this ghost works is kinda creative and does produce a couple of awesome horror moments. The performances in the movie were all very serviceable as well; not great or terrible but very moderate. The film, while short, also had good pacing to it. It never dragged and the film never really lost focus. The last thing I want to mention is the ending was actually surprising. I was not blown away by the end but I did respect the guts it had to go there. 

Now let's discuss the flaws this film had that really pulled me out of the experience. The concept of the ghost, while imaginative and cool, was wasted numerous times in the movie. Instead of using it correctly and delivering genuine scares it opts out and chooses to be very generic horror.  Also some of the logic and the rules of the ghost were unclear as well. It seemed the script really bended some of the rules a lot to further the story. The characters were also very bland as well and you never really felt attached to any of them. The screenplay really limited the audiences ability to care about anyone and due to this, the ending didn't carry as much weight as it could have.

By far my biggest flaws with the film were how predictable and generic it was. It was very frustrating to watch at times because the film had so much potential to be way more terrifying than it turned out. The concept of this film was so cool and the way the ghost worked could've made for a much more gratifying experience. There were times when the movie set up a scare that might have been much more effective but it chose to cheapen the film by just going for standard boring jump scare that did not scare me at all. Even some of the sound design in the movie was very well done but it was in service of such a mediocre movie. 

While I do respect this film for some of it's elements, I ultimately left the theater very disappointed. I also understand that this is this directors first feature, but his short films are crafted pretty well that I wonder were the talent went for this movie. It's a horror film that had potential but never scared me once and is honestly quite forgettable. 

4/10

Movie Night- Aliens

7/18/2016

Aliens

Welcome to Movie Night with Brandon, which is basically my excuse to discuss and review any film I feel like. Whether it's a brand new film or an older one, it's whatever I feel like doing.  With all that out of the way, let's talk about some movies.

So this is a fairly strange coincidence I found myself in last night. After I got home from work I told my mom I was in the mood to watch Aliens. We watched it and then I looked up the film on IMDb to see when the film came out. Turns out the film came out exactly 30 years later to the day today. So I figured it's been a while since I last wrote a retro review and what better time to talk about one of the best sequels of all time. 

In case you're one of the poor souls who hasn't seen this movie, it is a sequel to the amazing Ridley Scott film Alien. While watching this film again last night, I was in awe of how well it still holds up. This film came out 30 years ago and it's paced, shot, and executed with much more skill than most action films out today. I cannot stress this enough, this films sets, costuming, and creature design were all incredible. Granted a lot of that is due to H.R. Giger's masterful work on the first film, but it does a lot of great things on it's own as a sequel. 

If you have never seen Alien before it is a science-fiction horror film with great characters and amazing atmosphere. It is very slow paced and builds tension at a more steady rate. So James Cameron directing a sequel to that film and it being and action film could've turned out horribly. Aliens could've been a schlocky revisiting of this world with amazing story potential. The thing that elevates this film however is actors who really invest into their characters, and a writer/director who respects the material and genuinely knows what he is doing. James Cameron shows how well he can build tension here, and not in the same style as Alien did. Putting his characters in situations that increasingly put them at more and more of a disadvantage. Using music only when necessary and leaving silence at the right moments. The practical effects and incredible action sequences are so well-helmed that it still blows my mind that this film was released 30 years ago.

As I previously mentioned the cast all do some of their best if not their best work in Aliens. Bill Paxton is perfect as the whiny Marine Hudson, delivering the humor of the movie but never feeling like a cartoon. Michael Biehn and Carrie Henn also do very good work in the film as Hicks and Newt. But the film completely belongs to Sigourney Weaver who during this film became in my opinion one of the most bad ass characters in film history. She is an amazing female lead who goes from random commercial flight officer to the fiercest character in a film of soldiers. 

While I do love the film, there are flaws. The films story follows a bit too closely to the original, especially in the third act. It would be fine if it did different things t the end, but it was way too similar. Also, while I admire the films slower pacing in the beginning, it does take a while for the real story to start. There are also a couple of things that bothered me that were missing from the story in the theatrical version, but they're cleared up in the director's cut. So if you have the opportunity to watch the director's cut, watch that one. 

Overall, this is not only one of my favorite action movies of all time, it's one of my favorite films of all time. While I personally do prefer the first Alien when comparing the two, I give this film a massive amount of respect for what it accomplished. The film holds up very well and if you have never seen it before I highly recommend you watch this one. 

9/10

Movie Night- Ghostbusters (2016)

7/16/2016

Ghostbusters (2016)

Welcome to Movie Night with Brandon, which is basically my excuse to discuss and review any film I feel like. Whether it's a brand new film or an older one, it's whatever I feel like doing.  With all that out of the way, let's talk about some movies. 

Where do I even begin with a review like this? The most disliked movie trailer in YouTube history and a reboot of one of my favorite comedies ever made. While I try to go into every movie as objective as possible, there is an obvious amount of subjectivity when going in to see this film. Is it the worst film ever? No. Is it a comedy that is worthy of the Ghostbusters name? Not really. I have to state right now that I didn't hate this film and it's not the worst film ever. People who state that this film is the worst ever haven't seen many bad films. I wouldn't necessarily say I even liked this film, I feel fairly indifferent about Ghostbusters.

Let's talk about some of the things that worked or I respected about the film. The cast, while starting out sort of choppy, had fairly good chemistry with one another. You can feel the cast and crew having a genuine fun time filming. While I wasn't a fan of the ghosts appearance, I did respect their efforts to make them look different from the original films ghosts. While I wasn't a huge fan of the film, I do have some respect for what they tried to do. 

Now, let's talk about some of the negatives with this movie, and I'll try to remain as fair as possible. So many of the jokes for me did not land, and some of the jokes were pretty cringe-worthy to me. While I recognize that humor is fairly subjective, this review is my opinion. The original film had very dry humor and was delivered by some of the best comedic performers of the time. Another thing that seriously bothered me is some of the forced cameos and references to the original film. While I won't spoil them in this review, you'll know exactly what I'm talking about when you see the film. I found myself rolling my eyes at a few points at how unnatural it felt. Some of the performances also fell very flat as well, particularly that of Chris Hemsworth. Whether it was his performance or the writing of his character, he felt so outlandish that the suspension of disbelief went right out the window. I did mention earlier that the ghosts look was very courageous but it looked really, really ridiculous. And the third act of this film was just very over the top. While visually impressive, it felt hallow and lacked any dramatic tension. I wasn't emotionally invested in the third act at all and that was due to the lack of tension. 

While I wanted to go into more specifics about what bothered me, I want to keep my reviews spoiler free. This film didn't work for me all that well but I can see the appeal this film had. I don't even want to say this film is bad because I don't see it as a bad film. The budget and the respect was present but the executed film was not to my liking. I recommend you check out the film yourself and judge it on it's merits. I don't see the point of remaking this film in the first place. The point of a reboot is to make a better film than the original and they didn't come close.

4/10

Movie Night- Anomalisa

7/9/2016

Anomalisa 

Welcome to Movie Night with Brandon, which is basically my excuse to discuss and review any film I feel like. Whether it's a brand new film or an older one, it's whatever I feel like doing.  With all that out of the way, let's talk about some movies. 

Anomalisa is a film I heard a lot of things about last year but never had the opportunity to see. By the time 2016 rolled around the film slipped my mind and I sort of forgot about it until I saw the Blu-Ray at Best Buy and knew I had to finally check it out. The film is written by arguably the best screenwriter working today; Charlie Kaufman. His films are very complexly written and I wanted to write my review after I had seen it twice rather than just after one viewing. I watched the film about two weeks ago and today I finally re-watched it. 

First thing I have to say is this film is brilliant, sincerely brilliant. After my first viewing I noticed I had seen something very special but after my second watch I picked up a lot more subtext and subtleties that make me want to watch it a third time and many more subsequent times. It wasn't to my surprise how brilliant this films screenplay was because it was written by Kaufman who's works include Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, Being John Malkovich, and Synecdoche, New York. His films are all genuine masterpieces and this one absolutely lived up to the hype. 

As the IMDb description reads; A man crippled by the mundanity of his life experiences something out of the ordinary. That's all I really want to say about the plot because while the film isn't necessarily spoil-able, it is better going in not knowing too much. Some of the choices made in the story are very unique and will make for a better experience if you go in as blind as I did. 

The film is created using stop-motion animation and boy did the visuals blow me away. The cinematography here is excellent and you can really feel the films care for this genre. Long takes with stop motion would takes months to create and the slightest mis-step could've taken even longer to fix. Although CG animation is very beautiful and does take a lot of hard work, seeing a movie created in this fashion is very refreshing. The voice acting is also striking as well. David Thewlis and Jennifer Jason Leigh both do remarkable jobs in the film and make their characters feel so real you at times forget it's only a puppet on screen. Duke Johnson was brought in to co-direct due to his experience in stop-motion animation. Johnson and Kaufman direct this film with precision that is genuinely Oscar worthy which is amazing since this is Johnson's first full length feature film. 

Not to sound like a broken record, but the main thing that makes me love this film so much is the screenplay. The script of this film and really the film itself manages to convey a lot of authentic character emotion as well as make statements about humanity itself. Many critics have stated that this is one of the most human movies ever made and I cannot agree more. The substance in the screenplay leaves me in awe as I sit here thinking about it's contents. It has so much to say about love, relationships, actual connections with people, and the overall human experience. Anomalisa manages to hit all these notes while still feeling very cohesive and straight-forward enough to keep a general audience on board. While this isn't his most outlandish film, it is still a bit strange at first. 

This has been occupying my thoughts for weeks now and after my second viewing it created more thoughts that will stick with me for even longer. Anomalisa is so breath-taking while also remaining quite subtle, thanks to it's figurative and sub-textual storytelling. Had I seen this last year, it would've easily made my number one spot on my top ten list. This film is a masterpiece and you should seek it out as soon as possible. 

10/10

Movie Night- The Neon Demon

6/24/2016

The Neon Demon 

Welcome to Movie Night with Brandon, which is basically my excuse to discuss and review any film I feel like. Whether it's a brand new film or an older one, it's whatever I feel like doing.  With all that out of the way, let's talk about some movies. 

Going into this movie I knew only three things; It was booed at Cannes, it has a 47% on Rotten Tomatoes, and it's written and directed by Nicolas Winding Refn. Needless to say, I was very excited while walking into the theater. Drive is one of my favorite films of all time and I also really liked Bronson. When Only God Forgives came out, people seemed to resent it while I thoroughly enjoyed. It's not by any means flawless, but it's very misunderstood and in my opinion overly hated. It's seems that once again, I possess the same un-popular opinion with The Neon Demon because I really liked this movie. 

The Neon Demon stars Elle Fanning as a girl named Jesse, who is trying to make it in Los Angeles as a model. She instantly rises to the tops and the competition feels very threatened by her. I have to stress this now like I do frequently in my reviews but this is absolutely not a film for everyone. Without getting into spoilers I have to say that this film goes places a standard audience wouldn't like in my opinion. Thats one thing I loved about the movie is the guts it has to go there. Nicolas Winding Refn makes films he wants to make. He doesn't cater to standard expectations as a film-maker and I admire him for that. I was also in a theater where the audience completely ate it up and also seemed to like it as well.  

This film boasts the most dazzling cinematography I've seen all year. The shots and general lighting in this film are masterful and deserve Oscar recognition. Another plus to the film is the exceptional soundtrack. I loved the score so much, first thing I did when I got home was searched for it on iTunes. The acting in the film is also really well handled. Elle Fanning and Abbey Lee both do exceptional work. While they're never performances that demand your attention through flashy caricatures, they instead subtly entice you through their genuine talent. But by far the best actress of the film is Jena Malone who steals every scene her character occupies. Another thing I want to discuss which is a major positive for me while it can be a negative for others is Nicolas Winding Refn's direction. While this is mostly a style over substance movie, I love his style and it's what made me love him as a director in the first place. His style is so unique that it's hard not to become transfixed on every shot and scene he directs. While I hate comparing directors in reviews, the third act of this film felt very much like a David Lynch movie, and it was damn awesome. 

I have a few issues with the film, one of them being the ending. Not the actual ending itself but the pacing of the third act felt a little bit unfocused. It could've been stream-lined much better to make for a more powerful ending. I also wish some other characters had more to do and other sub-plots had more of a conclusion. One character in particular had been completely forgotten in the last half hour and I wish there would've been some conclusion to where that part was going.

Overall, The Neon Demon is a polarizing movie that some will love and some will hate, I happen to be a part of the former. This movie is still lingering in my brain and I really desire to see it again as soon as possible. It is definitely a film that needs to be watched a few times to comprehend some of it's metaphorical elements. It is visually brilliant, contains one of the best soundtracks all year, and has great staying power though excessive yet mature depravity.

8/10

Movie Night- Finding Dory

6/20/2016

Finding Dory 

Welcome to Movie Night with Brandon, which is basically my excuse to discuss and review any film I feel like. Whether it's a brand new film or an older one, it's whatever I feel like doing.  With all that out of the way, let's talk about some movies. 

For those of you who are un-aware, I consider myself a fairly big Pixar fan. I don't love all of their works but they have made not only some of the best animated films of all time, they've also made some of the best films of all time in general. I don't let nostalgia glasses get to me too much, but of their films that I love, I love dearly. Finding Nemo was one of the films that I loved, especially as a kid. When I re-watched it as an adult I seemed to have appreciated some of it's moments a little more. It at times was very emotional, but not overly emotional. The best Pixar films have the perfect balance of fun and excitement, while also delivering emotional moments where it's hard not to cry. Unfortunately in my opinion, Finding Dory doesn't leave what I think will be a lasting impression. I did very much like the film and it is without a doubt an enjoyable story, but it feels almost mediocre in the crowd of Pixar films. 

The story of Finding Dory is a simple premise; Dory starts to remember her past as well as her parents. She then barks on an adventure to find her parents to reconnect with them. I have no problem with the plot of the movie, in fact it could be a very involving story if handled right. The film never feels as if it's taking risks or trying to tell a interesting story however. It feels like it was playing it very safe which makes it suffer a bit in my opinion. The film also felt very short as well, clocking in at only one hour and forty-five minutes. It only needed an extra fifteen to twenty minutes to help flesh out other characters or help the story flow better. While there are emotional moments in the film, the rushed run time doesn't make you feel very invested in the story too much. Everything in the movie feels like it was hurried and never fully reaches it's intended emotional impact. While I wish to get into specifics, I don't want to spoil the film for those who haven't seen it yet. 

On a positive note, the voice cast was great being led by Ellen DeGeneres once again nailing it as Dory. Her character absolutely has the caliber to carry her own film even though I thought the execution of the story was not as great. The rest of the voice cast also does an incredible job from Albert Brooks, Ty Burrell and Ed O'Neill who's character I wanted to know more about. The animation is of course beautiful and ground-breaking like all of Pixar's other work. I also thought the film had some very funny moments. While it was never side-splitting funny, I did find myself chuckling a lot throughout the film. 

Overall I did like Finding Dory, but it never made me fall in love with it. Just because I say I didn't love the film doesn't mean it's a bad picture, because it's definitely not bad. Not even close. I think majority of the problems I have with the film is in the screenplay and a few directorial choices. While it's not necessarily a film that will make my top ten of the year, you should definitely check it out for yourself.  

7/10

Movie Night- Love & Friendship

6/13/2016

Love & Friendship

Welcome to Movie Night with Brandon, which is basically my excuse to discuss and review any film I feel like. Whether it's a brand new film or an older one, it's whatever I feel like doing.  With all that out of the way, let's talk about some movies. 

I have to eat some crow here, I was completely wrong in my judgment of this movie. I thought that based on the trailer that this film was your standard Jane Austen adaptation. I don't dislike Jane Austen's writing but they have just never been stories I liked very much. I thought this film was going to be mediocre and forgettable. But as I walked out of the theater, I realized how wrong my judgments were. This movie was flat-out great.

This film genuinely surprised my with how much I enjoyed it. The story follows a recently widowed Lady Vernon, played excellently by Kate Beckinsale, as she tries to find a new suitor for herself. While it's not a story that can be spoiled necessarily, I don't like getting too far into details. The entire cast completely nailed their roles. Kate Beckinsale has never wowed me since the work I've seen from her is usually very mundane, but she is superb in this movie. Her screen presence is incredible and she delivers her lines with the perfect amount of charisma needed for the part. All the other cast is very good as well, but none stand out as much as Tom Bennett. He was the most enjoyable part from the film and left me in tears I laughed so hard. While this film focuses on Beckinsale and she does an amazing job, Tom Bennett absolutely steals every scene he's in. His comedic timing and delivery is genuinely masterful. 

The cinematography is very plain in the film, but it works because that's not what the film is going for. It completely stands on the strength of the directing and the screenplay. While I've never seen work from director Whit Stillman prior to this, he directs his actors and actresses very well in this film and has a great hold on the film. His adaptation of the Jane Austen story is where his talents are mostly present though boasting an Oscar-worthy screenplay. The film constantly feels fresh and never has a dull moment. If I had but one complaint is that the film wraps up very abruptly, leaving me desiring more. 

Love & Friendship is the biggest surprise of the year so far, as it blew me away with it's presentation. This film made me laugh harder than any movie has in years and it was a very fun film to watch. Although I wish the film was a bit longer, the run-time is very accessible and contributes to the films fantastic pacing. 

8/10

Movie Night- The Lobster

6/7/2016

The Lobster

Welcome to Movie Night with Brandon, which is basically my excuse to discuss and review any film I feel like. Whether it's a brand new film or an older one, it's whatever I feel like doing.  With all that out of the way, let's talk about some movies. 

I am so glad I finally got a chance to check this movie out. For those of you who don't know, this film is just now getting it's release in the US, thanks to the acquisition of the distribution rights by A24. While it was released in seemingly every other country last year, I finally had the pleasure of checking this film out.

The Lobster is a film set in a near, dystopian future where being single has been outlawed. When you become single, you are taken to a place called "The Hotel", where you are given 45 days to find a suitable mate. If you fail to do so, you are then transformed into an animal of your choosing. I don't want to give anything else away because the twists and turns this film takes are genuinely interesting and takes you to some cool places. Once again I have to declare in this review that this is not a film for anyone. It is a very different film and it did receive a walk-out in my screening. While I think films like this deserve your attention and you should always remain open-minded while watching a movie, don't say I didn't warn you.

I have to say, while this isn't the film I was expecting based on the trailer, I liked a lot more than I had anticipated. This movie felt so original and unique that it was hard not to admire it. The entire cast of the film was spectacular in their performances and everyone felt very unique in their own way. Colin Farrell giving some of the best work I've ever seen from him in years, he gained 40 pounds just for the role. While I don't think gaining weight is impressive by itself, but that coupled with his performance makes for a very commendable achievement. Rachael Weisz, Léa Seydoux, and John C. Reilley all give excellent performances as well. 

This film also manages to blend very drastic tonal shifts seamlessly. Going from funny to uncomfortable without feeling tone deaf is a very challenging thing to accomplish and this film does it very maturely. The deadpan delivery creates for an authentic feeling of this strange world this film creates, while also contributing to some very funny moments. Yorgos Lanthimos directs this film with absolute precision, taking a concept that can be very ridiculous and turning it into a very interesting satire on the current state of dating and how 21st century has interpretation love. The cinematography in this film is also immaculate, showcasing beautiful scenery which is a stark contrast to the dark story the film is telling. Another thing I want to mention is the score of the film which is truly fantastic, coinciding with the film. It contributes to the film, but is never emotionally manipulating its audience. 

This is only the second film so far this year that I have loved this much. It's very original story alongside is unmistakably dazzling craftsmanship creates on of the best films I've seen so far this year. It will grip you into it's world and characters and the ending of the film will stick with you for days afterword. 

9/10

Movie Night- The Nice Guys

5/23/2016

The Nice Guys 

Welcome to Movie Night with Brandon, which is basically my excuse to discuss and review any film I feel like. Whether it's a brand new film or an older one, it's whatever I feel like doing.  With all that out of the way, let's talk about some movies. 

The Nice Guys is a film I had been anticipating since it was announced later last year. I'm a huge fan of the cast, Ryan Gosling in particular. While I have not yet seen Kiss Kiss Bang Bang, Shane Black wrote the first three Lethal Weapon films which I adore. I also love the setting of this film, taking place in 1970's Los Angles. So going into this screening I had pretty high expectations. 

I was surprised with how much I ended up enjoying this film. It had a lot of expectation to deliver on, and it surpassed all of it. The film is about a tough-guy for hire played by Russell Crowe and a Private Investigator played by Ryan Gosling. When their paths cross while investigating a case, they find themselves working together to find out how a dead porn-star and a girl named Amelia are connected. 

The first thing I have to praise in this film is the screenplay. The dialogue and set-pieces these characters are given are written with such precision that it kept me laughing through the entirety of the run-time. There are moments where I found myself laughing myself to tears, which films rarely do since I'm such a stickler when it comes to the comedy genre. Another thing I have to mention is the amazing chemistry between Crowe and Gosling. They work so well on screen together and Gosling in particular nails comedic timing as well as psychical comedy. Russel Crowe's character is more of a straight forward character which he executes perfectly, even adding his own element of humor. The two characters as well as Gosling's daughter in the film all play off of each others performances so well it really lends to the realistic feeling of the characters. Even the action sequences were handled very well, which I did not expect from this film. 

While the story isn't very groundbreaking or original, the film still manages to feel very fresh. The setting of the film feels very authentic as well, which is crucial for a film set in the 1970's. I can't tell you how important it is for a film to feel seamless in this way. It never breaks immersion due to awesome costume and set design. The tone of the film can be a little choppy at times but it's never enough to hinder the film completely. Certain scenes in the second act felt a little too serious out of nowhere and it felt a bit rushed.

Overall, The Nice Guys feels like a refreshing piece of cinema that felt very authentic with a lot of laughs to offer. It is one of the funniest movies I've seen in the last couple of years and it manages to do this while also telling a fun story with great and realized characters. I can very easily see this film spawning a franchise of "buddy-cop" movies with a lot to offer to the genre. While the film's tone does suffer at times, The Nice Guys is still one of the best films I've seen so far in 2016. 

8/10

Movie Night- Captain America: Civil War

5/9/2016

Captain America: Civil War

Welcome to Movie Night with Brandon, which is basically my excuse to discuss and review any film I feel like. Whether it's a brand new film or an older one, it's whatever I feel like doing. With all that out of the way, let's talk about some movies. 

I know you think this review is a little late, but I wanted to see the film twice before I gave my full thoughts about it. Although seeing a film like this opening weekend is fun, I like seeing them again with a quiet, less enthusiastic theater so I can think about as a film, not an event. Don't get me wrong, I liked this movie a lot and I'm on the verge of loving it, but there are a few things that keep me from completely falling in love with it. After I give my review and final grade I will discuss some spoilers, so read after the review so we can go into some specifics. 

First lets discuss the things I liked about Civil War. Once again, Marvel nails the casting of it's heroes. I'm assuming you want to know what I think of the new Spider-Man and our first on screen look of Black Panther right out of the gate. Chadwick Boseman did a great job with the role of Black Panther and really sold me on his character. I didn't know much about the character beforehand because I never read one of his comic books, but now I am interested to read some and I'm really excited for his solo film. If anyone knows me they know I love the character of Spider-Man and he is my favorite comic book hero. So I'm delighted to say that Tom Holland's interpretation of the character is my favorite live-action version to date. He's quippy, funny, and has excellent line delivery which is crucial for the part. While he isn't in the film for long, he's one of my favorite aspects about it. All of the returning cast once again knocks theirs respective roles out of the park. The entire reason the Marvel Cinematic Universe has became the phenomenon that it is, is because of the stellar cast. 

Another huge plus to the film is it's incredibly gritty direction from the Russo brothers. Coming off the highly successful Captain America: The Winter Solider, they once again do a great job of realizing the characters and give us awesome action complete with incredible stunt work. The Russo brothers know how to craft and action film that not only has good action, but gives you a story where you care about the characters outside of the action. All of the special effects in the film are also great, which is no surprise considering it is a Marvel film. Considering this film is also just under two and a half hours long, the film never seems to drag. I also really enjoyed a lot of the themes of this movie and the questions it presents. It gives the audience some genuine reasons why you'd pick one side over the other in the beginning of the movie. 

Now it's time to discuss things I didn't like or had flaws with in Civil War. Some character motivations at times feel forced and out of character. I will go into greater detail in the spoiler section but the movie has too many moments of conveniences that felt a bit too much. Another small problem I had was the character of Zemo. While his motivations are very understandable and Daniel Bruhl was amazing in the role, he felt almost rushed in. I feel like the film could've played out almost in the same way without his character. There is also a decision made at the end of the film that I wished they had done differently. The film also suffers from a few pacing issues and tonal shifts that sometimes feel jarring. Once again, I'll get specific in the spoiler section. 

I really liked Captain America: Civil War but it fell just short of perfection for me. It is still currently one of my favorite movies in the MCU and I'll thoroughly enjoy watching it many more times. It boasts some of the coolest segments of any comic book film ever, but it's few flaws make me hesitant to give it my highest grades. While I do highly recommend you check it out, which you probably have already, I cannot say it is perfect for the genre. 

7/10

SPOILERS!

Okay, now to discuss some things in greater detail. 

-The character motivations of Iron Man and Black Widow felt at times very unlike their character. While I do like and agree with how Iron Man first came to the decision to sign the Accords, I felt like a five minute conversation with Captain America would've helped change his perspective and his mind. 

-The films pacing also suffers because of strange tonal shifts. The first half felt very straight-forward and realistic, but the middle section felt too fantastical and happy. Especially since the final act of the film was so dramatic, the pacing suffered because of it's middle section.

-I found there to be a few too many coincidences in the film as well. How did Zemo get out of Germany so fast after his interrogation with Bucky? How did Zemo know Iron Man would be at the Winter Solider headquarters in order to show him the video of his parents being killed? Basically I felt like Zemo was a little bit omnipotent because the script required him to be. 

-By far my biggest disappointment of the film is that no one died. I know that sounds like I am blood thirsty or something but these films lack tension. If Rhodes would've died instead of just being paralyzed, that would've made for a more emotional moment. Instead it's just an excuse for him to get some Tony Stark Robo-Legs. And personally, if the last fight in the film had a death at the end, I would've loved this movie even more. There was no dramatic payoff at the end of the fight since the characters walk away with hardly a scratch on them. If Steve Rodgers would have died, it would've made for this huge scene that would've left such an impact on the franchise and given it some dramatic tension for future films. Instead they play it safe and even end the film with Tony and Steve on almost speak able terms. 

Movie Night- When Marnie Was There

5/2/2016

When Marnie Was There

Welcome to Movie Night with Brandon, which is basically my excuse to discuss and review any film I feel like. Whether it's a brand new film or an older one, it's whatever I feel like doing. In this series, I won't be giving grades because I don't feel that they're necessary for this particular series. With all that out of the way, let's talk about some movies. 

I first heard about this film a few months ago and I was interested to check it out. I had not previously seen a Studio Ghibli film before and I was curious to check this one out. So when I saw the Blu-Ray was on sale at Best Buy I decided to buy it and check this film out, and I am extremely glad that I did. This movie genuinely left me entranced and it captivated my thoughts for days afterword. I once again have to strongly, strongly recommend this film immediately even before the rest of the review because this film desperately deserves your attention.  Even if you are not a person who likes Anime films, please give it a shot. I made my mother give it a shot and she seemed to really like it as well and she doesn't find Anime all that appealing. 

At the start of the film we get introduced to Anna. A shy girl with asthma who doesn't seem very happy. She doesn't have many friends and she is emotionally distant from her adopted mother. When she has an asthma attack at school, Anna's doctor recommends that she stay with her guardians relatives. They live in a more rural area where the air is cleaner which they believe will be beneficial to her. While she is staying there she discovers a house on the edge of a marsh that she becomes obsessed with. I will the the synopsis there because it is a film better experienced with no more knowledge than that. 

I have completely fallen in love with this film. I have seen it three times now and I desire to watch it again soon. The animation in the film is always stunning with beautiful landscapes that completely engage the audience. Hand drawn animation seems to be becoming less and less prevalent in today's films, but that also helps this film feel a little more timeless in turn. The music is also always fitting with the story with very alluring instrumentals. The voice casting is also very good, the only flaw being John C. Reilly not blending well with the film. Hiromasa Yonebayashi's direction of the story is always spot on, exploring mature themes that children can relate to and crafting an ending that packs a formidable emotional punch. 

Where the film is strongest for me is in it's characters, particularly that of Anna. I relate to her character immensely in the film. I am a fairly introverted person and I have trouble with connecting with people at times. So as the film goes on and you go on this journey with Anna, you become emotionally invested in where she is as a person. You become so attached to her character because of how real and grounded she feels. This made for one of the most emotional film finales for me as I cried like a child. With the exception of a few Pixar films like last years incredible Inside Out, children's films don't really explore these deeper and more serious emotions. While a fun kids movie is enjoyable now and then, these films are imperative to see as well because they are so much more profound and send a much greater message. 

When Marnie Was There was a magnificent animation film with believable characters and beautiful visuals. Like all films in this series of Movie Night reviews, this should absolutely be on your watch list especially if you have kids. It is a film that will leave you breathless and make you fall in love with it's astounding story. 

Movie Night- The Guest

4/25/2016

The Guest 

Welcome to Movie Night with Brandon, which is basically my excuse to discuss and review any film I feel like. Whether it's a brand new film or an older one, it's whatever I feel like doing. In this series, I won't be giving grades because I don't feel that they're necessary for this particular series. With all that out of the way, let's talk about some movies. 

The Guest is easily one of the most genuinely fun movies I've seen in the last few years. This film just simply oozes cool and is always a good time to watch. I'll go further into detail about this movie without giving any spoilers but if you have not seen it yet, please go watch it as soon as possible. It's currently on Netflix so please watch it. 

The movie starts with the family grieving over the loss of their son who died in combat. And one random day a guest shows up at their front door claiming to be a friend of their recently dead son. The mother invites him in and they talk about how they knew each other from the Army and how he was asked to tell the family he loved them. All seems well and good when David (the guest) first comes to town. He is an extremely well-mannered guy and extremely like able. But then strange things start happening around town and you start to wonder who David really is. 

The first thing I really have to commend is Dan Stevens for his portrayal of David. He displays so much charisma through his performance but you can also sense that there is something else going on with him as well. He had the presence that the role required as well as very good comedic timing when the scene called for it. Maika Monroe also did an excellent job as the sister in the film. She was always very believable and she never felt non-authentic to me. Between her performance in this and It Follows, I think she has a bright future ahead of her. The rest of the cast also feels very believe-able as well, but the younger brother sometimes faltered in some of the earlier scenes, but he does get better as the film progresses. 

The direction of The Guest is also spot-on. Other people have made the connection to John Carpenter and I really agree with the comparison. This film hits so many different genres and it always feels effortless. The director of the film Adam Wingard also directed films like You're Next and a few segments of the the V/H/S franchise. I enjoy both those works but this is obviously his best film as of yet. While the cinematography never blows you away, it is well done and there are some clever shots in the movie. The Guest also takes place during Halloween and it really adds to the atmosphere that it's trying to create, especially during the ending segment of the film. 

If you know me, you know I love a good soundtrack/score, and this movie has one of my favorite soundtracks in the last ten years. The soundtrack really adds the style the film is going for and helps it feel even more unique than anything recently released.  I own the soundtrack and I listen to it almost on a weekly basis. 

This film is so infinatley re-watchable because of it's fun story, awesome soundtrack, and memorable characters. I can see this movie becoming a classic in years to come and being considered when it starts to receive the recognition it deserves. 

Movie Night- Under the Skin

4/18/2016

Under the Skin 

Welcome to Movie Night with Brandon, which is basically my excuse to discuss and review any film I feel like. Whether it's a brand new film or an older one, it's whatever I feel like doing. In this series, I won't be giving grades because I don't feel that they're necessary for this particular series. With all that out of the way, let's talk about some movies. 

Where do I even begin with a film like Under the Skin? I should probably start off by saying this is an art house film. For all you general audience members out there you may not have the best experience watching this film. You will be left with a lot of un answered questions and you might be a little confused by the end. Although I think you all should give it a shot and try the film out for yourself, go in knowing this is about as art house as it gets.It is hard to talk about this film  without going into spoilers, and there will be very basic spoilers in this review but I will stay away from many plot points for .

 Under the Skin is about Scarlett Johansson's character, billed only as "The Female", hunting for lonely men in the night. Not much is known at the offset about her character but all we can understand is that she is not human. This is one of the interesting notes about the film is they had hidden cameras in the van that Johansson drives in the film and a lot of the men she encounters are not paid actors. This is one of the many way that Johansson delves deep into her character. She has become a very successful and recognizable actress over the years, mainly for her work as Black Widow in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. But whenever I watch this film I don't see any of her other characters she is more well known for, I see simply "The Female". She is completely flawless in this film and genuinely Oscar worthy. The rest of the cast is composed of mostly unknown actors or Scotland locals. All the other actors felt like real people. While they aren't technically stealing the show, they absolutely do the job well.  

The story this film tells is one of variation. On one hand you watch this film as a straight up thriller with tons of creepiness, but there also a great deal going on under the surface. It is a very convincing horror movie with the genius of art house cinema. This is because of the brilliant direction from Jonathan Glazer. He crafts a emotionally gripping story that takes you from fear, empathy, and wonderment. Another thing I have to mention is the films score, because it's one of the most inventive and fitting scores I've ever heard. The music of the film alone is enough to give you an insurmountable amount of chills. The cinematography is also spot on, showing off either beautiful landscape, or eerie close ups. The overall camera work shows off amazing visual story telling while not over blowing the screen. The special effects of the film work wonders as well lending to the films other worldly story. The opening of the film leaves my jaw on the floor, pondering how they could've managed the shots. 

The first time I saw this film was about four months ago and I've now seen it five times, once today for the purposes for this review. Every time I watch this film I feel a greater appreciation for art of cinema and the impact that pictures can leave. The films pacing is very slow moving and some people can find that a very negative aspect of the film. I find the pace very enthralling as an audience member. It takes it's time and builds the film to a haunting finale that left me speechless. 

If you have made it to the end of this review and you have not seen Under the Skin, I implore you to seek it out. While I do understand how off-putting this film can be to impatient audiences, film lovers will in pure ecstasy through the entirety of the run time. It's a once in a lifetime picture that will be studied, analyzed, and admired for many years. 

Movie Night- Drive

4/11/2016

Drive 

Welcome to Movie Night with Brandon, which is basically my excuse to discuss and review any film I feel like. Whether it's a brand new film or an older one, it's whatever I feel like doing. In this series, I won't be giving grades because I don't feel that they're necessary for this particular series. With all that out of the way, let's talk about some movies. 

I first saw Drive when it came out in 2011, I was at first sort of disappointed. At the time I wasn't a fan of art house cinema and the advertising this film created sold an entirely different film. I didn't know who Nicolas Winding Refn was or had much interest in films that won awards at the Cannes Film Festival. In the last couple years however I became obsessed with art house film making and I rediscovered the film Drive. I saw it through completely different eyes and I fell in love with a film I had previously shrugged off as a bore fest. 

The film Drive is exceptional from every angle of film making. The cast of the film is flawless and everyone handles their roles with reverence and extreme precision. Ryan Gosling, billed only as The Driver, gives in my opinion the best performance of his career as a stunt driver with a bit of a dark side who also does driving jobs for criminals. The way he conveys emotion and character motivations with very minimal dialogue perfectly encapsulates the character while subtly presenting his acting skills. Everyone else in the cast is excellent as well from Bryan Cranston of Breaking Bad fame, the understated Albert Brooks, the always impressive Ron Perlman, and a pre-Star-Wars Oscar Issac. 

While all the acting is exceptional in the film, the biggest proponent is Nicolas Winding Refn's direction. The visual story telling in this movie is on full blast and is constantly leaving the audience in awe. The film has a very sleek look with gorgeous cinematography and brilliant choices of shots/camera angles. Another amazing aspect to this film is the soundtrack. It introduced me to an entirely new genre of music that superbly fits into the world this movie creates. I have seen very few films with this much style and substance perfectly culminating to a beautiful picture in my lifetime. 

I could talk about this film for hours, but I want to keep these reviews condensed. Overall this film is a genuine masterpiece and I recommend you seek it out immediately if you have yet to see it. Keep in mind that it's an art house film, not an action thriller with plenty of Hollywood stereotypes. It is a film that deserves your attention.