Changeling

On a Scale of 1 to 10, with 10 Being the Best

4

Courtesy of Buzzfeed

Plot: A woman's child goes missing and when she reports the incident and the police can't find the child, the mother is blamed. Christine Collins is threatened, given a fake child, and even institutionalized by the LAPD and that isn't even the whole story. The movie is based on true events (I recommend looking up the whole story) but is very long and the end is unsatisfying. I was disappointed that there were added scenes to make the story more intriguing because I thought the real story was enough on its own. The real parts of the story is powerful and so shocking that I had to pause the movie at one point to collect my thoughts. The idea and acting were there but the execution was not. 

Characters/Actors of Note:

Angelina Jolie playing Christine Collins: I have seen my fair share of Ms. Jolie in drama films before and once again she hits it out of the park. Jolie knows what emotions should be in which scenes and how to handle the awkwardness of having a fake child. The truthfulness in the acting is what is needed the most for this film and I thought it was well done. *Spoiler* The only issue I had with Jolie wasn't her fault but did affect her acting. The director and writers of the film decided to add that Christine Collins went to the execution of a kidnapper/murderer and confronted the man in jail. It seemed out of place because it was...it didn't happen in reality. I wish that the creators of the story would have stuck to the facts instead of adding "intrigue." The fictional scenes made the acting less powerful because it took me from being, "Oh, that's awful what happened to them," to "Why would she do that?" 

Jeffery Donovan playing Captain J. J. Jones: Who wouldn't go finding a child, institutionalize an innocent woman, and tell other officers not to work on a missing person's case so they wouldn't look stupid? That would be Captain J. J. Jones, world class jerk of stupidity. Mr. Donovan plays his character as high strung, impatient, and above all ego driven person who is not used to be challenged. I thought the amount of cruelty and injustice that Mr. Donovan shows was well balanced and believable. Often villain characters go way too big and drastic but Jones' behavior was on point. 

Music: The music is an earmark for an Eastwood film with its jazz-like sound. It's often slow with not many instruments, usually just a piano and a guitar. Also, every single song sounds just like the next song. It was rather boring and I feel that the movie would have been the same if it was not included at all. Thumbs down here. 

Camera Work/Cinematography: The film has sharp lines and contrast which is a signature mark for an Eastwood film. I was surprised to see how much bright white light was used on the actors in the film. Often that can wash them out but it mostly made them look pale but was able to bring out contrast. It also created many shadows on the faces and the rest of the set. This could have been done to represent the mystery of what happened to the son or the darkness that Christine Collins felt. I was not impressed with the choices and wish that there was more creativity done here. 

RECAP: 

The story is interesting and the acting was on point, however the extra scenes made the actors appear fake. The music was done poorly and the cinematography could have been more creative. I would stress that most of the story is accurate and that makes it fascinating and a bit disturbing to watch. I would say watch it if you are interested in the Christine Collins case but don't watch it for entertainment reasons. 

Courtesy of Behance

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Hot Fuzz

On a Scale of 1 to 10, with 10 Being the Best

8

Courtesy of Buzzfeed

Plot: An expert police officer from London is good, in fact he's too good. The police agency thinks that Nicholas Angel is showing everyone up so he is transferred from crime filled London to the quiet town of Sandford. The town is voted "Village of the Year" but there are numerous accidents that keep occurring in the town. Are they accidents or is Nicholas Angel paranoid? This is a brilliant comedy and detective movie if I ever saw one. Buddy Cop movie to the max!

Characters/Actors of Note:

Simon Pegg playing Nicholas Angel: The thing that I love the most about the "Cornetto Trilogy" is that each character is vastly different from one another. In this film, Mr. Pegg is a put together cop that has awkward interactions with the Sandford townies. He hands out tickets and arrests like there is no tomorrow. That is not the only characteristic that defines him as he has to learn how to have fun and make friends. I loved watching Nicholas Angel go from strict to a more fun loving person. It was adorable!

Nick Frost playing PC Danny Butterman: To every yin there is yang and Danny Butterman is that yang to Nick Angel's yin. Even though he is a great person, Danny Butterman is not a good cop but wants to be very badly. Danny loves cop movies and wants to do all the crazy action sequences he's seen. When first meeting Angel he bombards him with questions like, "Have you ever fired two guns whilst jumping through the air?" Eventually, we get to have all the satisfaction of a cop movie and some fuzzy feelings thanks to Mr. Frost. 

Music: The music is fun. The music comes off with some dance-y beats.The other instruments include a rock and roll guitar, keyboard, and vocals that sound like a British 60s band. I love the lyrics to the songs and how the lines in the movie are put into the music. It pushes the cutesy buddy cop movie theme again and again. Lovely!

Camera Work/Cinematography: The movie has well used cut and slow motion scenes. For whatever reason, I particularly liked the scene where they bought ice cream over and over. The slow motion made the film so funny and at the same time created tension. Even though blue ice cream was bought in the film, I don't feel like the color blue was that prominent. The colors were well used for mood however. There were bright colors for the town, and then dark colors for the realization of what was happening, and sort of a mix at the end. 

RECAP:

The plot to the film was fun and I actually did not see the end coming (for the most part). I loved how Nicholas Angel and Danny Butterman got to be good cops and have fun while doing it. The acting was good, the music was fun, and the camera work was well done. If you are looking for an excellent buddy cop movie, please watch this!

Courtesy of gamesrader.com

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Sucker Punch

On a Scale of 1 to 10, 10 Being the Best

10

Courtesy of Buzzfeed

Plot: A teenage girl, nicknamed Baby Doll, tries to protect her sibling from her abusive step-father but it goes horribly wrong. She is sent to a mental institution where she fantasizes of a two part world. The first is that she is not in a mental institution but a dance hall/brothel and the other world is where she and the other inmates fight all sorts of characters to free themselves of the mental institution. The movie is brilliantly made and well written. Two thumbs up!

Characters/Actors of Note:

Emily Browning playing Baby Doll: This character appears soft and delicate which of course makes her the most talented killer. All of the characters had intense weapon and body training to prepare themselves for their roles. Ms. Browning had most of the action sequences and was the leader of the girls. Even though she was quiet, she did not come off as shy. The watchers also are told that she is feisty and daring. I did not get this vibe but got the feeling that she was serious. These duel feelings may have been the angle that the director was after. 

Carla Gugino playing Dr. Vera Gorski: It is fun to see how Baby Doll's imagination changed some of the characters around. Gorski is the head psychiatrist in the mental institution who helps the inmates by having them act and sing. In the imagination of Baby Doll however, she is the dancing coach of the brothel and is second in command. This is to reflect that some shady nurses are going over her head and taking control of the inmates. Ms. Gugino has to switch personalities from reality to the imaginative. It was great to see the differences of personalities and the realization that occurred with this character. 

Oscar Issac playing Blue Jones: Blue Jones is a nurse that works in the institution but to the girls, is the pimp of the brothel. As a nurse he is a conniving and sniveling jerk who takes advantage of the defenseless. As head of the brothel he is a controlling and murderous psychopath. Once again we see a character that switches personalities. Mr. Isaac's performance makes the viewers automatically wary and afraid of him. At the end, we discover just exactly why he is portrayed as a pimp which makes the viewers sick. 

Music: The music is rock and roll to the max. There is screamo, slow rock songs, and an orchestra that uses guitars and brass. I love how they incorporate the dancing music to the battles. The songs can be listened to by themselves and are often really cool rock covers of famous songs. On top of that, you can listen to Pink Floyd's Dark Side of the Moon to the film and it would fit perfectly. It is not often that the soundtrack of a movie can be that edgy and listenable. 

Camera Work/Cinematography: The movie was striking in many ways. First, the lines and blurriness worked very well together. To give a saddened look to the film, the film looked streaky as if it from water but at the same time the lines are clear enough to give it a sharpness. The colors being mostly grey and blue were well used to show the depression of the girls and the gravity of war. There was the added benefit of a steam punk aesthetic. The bad guys could be robots, people, or a combination of both. The clothes were also a cool combination of steam punk and battle clothes. It was an interesting choice and very much the right choice. It's not often that steam punk is put in films and on top of that, make so much sense. Even though the clothes are revealing it makes sense in that they reflect that the girls are vulnerable, especially to Blue Jones. 

RECAP: 

The acting was well done and the action scenes were amazing! The look of the film was new and edgy and awesome. The music makes the listener feel like they are at a rock concert. This movie is so different from the norm and it was done so well that it deserves applause. 

Courtesy of MoviePoster.com

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The Aviator

On a Scale of 1 to 10, with 10 Being the Best

5

Plot: The movie is based off of Howard Hughes' life beginning with his first directed film and ending with his court date with US government.  The film shows how Howard Hughes went from being a ambitious perfectionist to a paranoid and perverted man. The story is fascinating but I wished that there was more. The ending had me curious and had to look up more information.  

Characters/Actors of Note:

Leonardo DiCaprio playing Howard Hughes: It was amazing to see how Mr. DiCaprio could change from a young ambitious character to an old and extremely paranoid character. The body shapes and moods are so different from one another but it is understood that this is still Howard Hughes. Mr. DiCaprio was even nominated for an Oscar...but we all know how that ended up. Has DiCaprio ever let me down before? Great acting per usual. 

Cate Blanchett playing Katharine Hepburn: I first thought that Ms. Blanchett was being over the top but then I realized that Katharine Hepburn was really like that. Ms. Blanchett did extensive research into this part watching at least 10 of her films, taking cold showers, and playing sports as Hepburn did. She seemed odd but fun, just as Hepburn was. Ms. Blanchett was spot-on in this performance and won an Oscar for her work. 

Music: The movie takes place in the 30s and 40s and enjoyed how the music sounded like it came from that era. The jazz music in the beginning and even the orchestra for Hughes' actions were well done. The music had lots of brass which created as much tension as there was excitement. 

Camera Work/Cinematography: The movie was bright and the lines were done well. After reading some trivia about the film, I learned that Scorsese tried to make the film seem like it was in the 30s and 40s by using the same color format. He wanted to make the film seem as blurry as those films as well. I am glad that the blurriness was not added and personally did not notice the coloring until it was pointed out. The issue I had with the film is one of Scorsese's trademarks, which is rapid cut shots. If the point was to make the film seem 30s and 40s, how about using the same types of cuts and fading techniques used during that era? Did I like the way the film was done...for the most part yes. Did I think Scorsese achieved his 30s/40s look....no. 

RECAP:

The acting was spot-on and impressive. The music was perfect. The camera work was not done well but the cinematography was. The script could have used a better ending but the rest of the writing was good. It made me squirm, it made me think, and it made me sad. I thought about this film often afterwards just because it was so as disturbingly interesting. I recommend it. 

Courtesy of 411 Posters

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Mad Max: Fury Road

On a Scale of 1 to 10, with 10 Being the Best

7

Courtesy of Metapicture

Plot: In the future everyone is fighting for survival. The only things that are left are cars, water, and other people which are scarce and often abused. This film focuses on Furiosa who is trying to smuggle out the warlords wives and get to "the green place." On their way they meet Max who was kidnapped and used as a blood donor by the warlord party. Max is haunted by his past which causes him to hallucinate. It is an interesting story-line but I wish that the annunciation in the film was more clear so we could understand the story-line better. I have not watched the other Mad Max films but did not need to, to understand this film. 

Characters/Actors of Note: 

Tom Hardy playing Mad Max: Mr. Hardy had few lines in this film and despite the movie being named after him, isn't the main character. Max does come to save the day in the end and is a huge help but is forced to come along with the crew. He was more of a reluctant hero. I would say that Mr. Hardy did a nice job of being the silent tough guy but how hard could that be to do? 

Hugh Keays-Byrne playing Immortan Joe: This villain was perfect. Immortan Joe is the warlord that has been abusing his power of the people by taking away their water, having multiple wives, and kidnapping strangers to be blood donors to his suicidal army. Immortan Joe tracks his missing wives and risks many of his soldiers lives to do so. Mr. Keays-Byrne does an excellent job of keeping his control while also being desperate; it could be compared to his own costume which makes him appear powerful but is hiding the fact that it is keeping him alive. Nice balance was given to this character.

Charlize Theron playing Imperator Furiosa: As stated before, Furiosa is more of the main character of this film. She is the one that smuggled out the wives, got Max to help her, and kicks many butts. Ms. Theron did a fine job being tough. The language she uses with the wives is in the same tone she uses with the riders. The wives seem intimidated by her but Furiosa obviously cares for all the characters and what she is doing. Ms. Theron balances out her roughness with her empathy well in this film. 

*I was happy to find out that Eve Ensler helped write many of the female roles. I commend the writing of these characters as they weren't just the normal damsels in distress.

Music: The music involves a lot of drums and brass which surprised me as I felt that there was a lot of guitar while watching the film. The movie sounds like rock and roll with a mixture of horror. Junkie XL or Tom Holkenborg was in charge of this music and has done a lot with horror films. Despite me hating horror films I thought that this score was well done. 

Camera Work/Cinematography: Wow, wow, wow was this done so beautifully. Many apocalypse films often use dusty or grey colors but this was not that kind of film. The director stated he was tired of dystopian films done in this matter and remarked that desert people often find beauty in their land. There were tons of colors and wonderful effects in this film. Most of the scenes were not made from CGI which will help the film keep it's beauty longer. My favorite scene was the desert storm scene which used lively blues, reds, and oranges along with bright lightning strikes. I also loved the camera angles as it still gave the effect of fast and crazy without straying from the characters. Often action movies are so involved with fist fights and sprawling that they take away the focus from the faces but this film stayed with the characters.  The costumes and make-up were fantastic for this film as they used representational colors and incorporated the level everyone was at from the "well-treated" wives to the dirty car riders. The use of chrome was clever as it added cult-like beliefs along with some brightness to the film. The pull way from the greatness is the speediness looked very similar to a Baz Luhrmann film, which gave it a sort of cartoonish vibe. The vibrant hallucinations and even the credits seemed a bit over the top as well. 

RECAP:

The plot was well done but the words were so mangled in the film that I lost parts of the story. Since there was hardly any dialogue I will take that every line in this film was important, if only I could hear it. The acting was well done. The music was fine and the cinematography was great. It is a good action film but thanks to it's cinematography, is a great one despite it being a bit over-the-top. 

Courtesy of IndieWire

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Snowpiercer

On a Scale of 1 to 10, with 10 Being the Best

8

Plot: Due to the fear of global warming, it is decided to put a chemical in the atmosphere that will cool down the Earth. The problem is that the plan worked too well and the entire globe is now a winter wasteland. To survive, people buy tickets onto a train or others beg to be let on to live. A class system is soon implemented and the poorest of travelers are tired of being treated so horribly; after 17 years of bad treatment they decide to fight their way to the front of the train. This is based off of a graphic novel Le Transperceneige by Jean-Marc Rochette and Jacques Lob. It strays significantly from the graphic novel so keep that in mind. 

Characters/Actors of Note:

Chris Evans playing Curtis: It took me a second to realize Chris Evans was in this film, as in The Avengers and Fantastic Four, Chris Evans. I have to admit that I thought Mr. Evans was a superficial actor but this movie completely changed my mind. The character of Curtis is the leader of the charge to get to the front of the train but often states he does not want to be the leader. I thought this character was going to be flat but the last monologue that Mr. Evans performed could make anyone stomach churn and jaw drop. The performance that Mr. Evans gave was stunning and I apologize for ever thinking that he was just acting for the money. Excellent, excellent acting. 

Ah-sung Ko playing Yona: Ms. Ko plays a teenager, Yona, who is intelligent and telepathic. Due to her foresight she can help the team of lower-class citizens get to the front of the train. Yona is a bit bizarre but not over the top. Ms. Ko did a great job with this character as she was innocent, curious, and determined. I thought this was by far one of the most interesting characters I have watched in a long time. I applaud both the writing and the acting for this character. 

Octavia Spencer playing Tanya: It can't be denied that the passion that was put into this character was powerful. Tanya is a mother who is looking for her son and even though she wasn't the only one doing this, her performance was the most gripping. Ms. Spencer may have had more of a "minimal" character but she gave it her all. Ms. Spencer adds so much heart in her characters that it is impossible to look away. Amazing performance. 

Tilda Swinton playing Mason: Mason is supposed to maintain order among the lower-class and often gives out harsh punishments. She also has a cult-like love for the train conductor and believes that all the orders given by the conductor are like sacred law. Ms. Swinton has been known to play villains that are rather frightening but this character was bizarre and also naive. It was interesting to see this character accept everything she was told and would be so harsh to others because of that. Ms. Swinton gave the film a different vibe and also caused tension. Nice job. 

Music: Not a big fan of this aspect. The sound of the film is brash and techno-like. There were violins, bells, and cellos that made a deep and menacing tone. I suppose that the film is supposed dark and perhaps introspective but when I listen to the music, it sounds like it is trying to be sarcastic or ironic. I didn't like the mood that the music was trying to portray. Overall, I thought the music was done rather poorly. 

Camera Work/Cinematography: I wish that this movie could have been done in high-definition but the work done in this film was really good. The effects of snow, bullets, and frostbite were excellent. I loved the transition from orange and black in the back of the train, to white and colorful in the middle of the train, back to the darkness in the front of the train. The colors in the film were representational, which is hardly used in film, and I love it that they director chose to do that. Some annoyances were the translators, a cool idea but the captions were inconsistent. The camera angles were also odd. The shots varied from fast cuts, to slow motion, to a strange zooming feature. It wasn't distracting from the film but I felt that it was out of place. 

RECAP:

The acting was GREAT for this film along with the writing. The camera work could have been improved but the colors were well-used. The music was not fitting of the film and the biggest downfall of the film. This movie would appeal to those that love watching relationships, apocalypse films, or psychological thrillers. 

Courtesy of ChickFlix

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Chef

On a Scale of 1 to 10, with 10 Being the Best

5

Courtesy of Buzzfeed

Plot: A short tempered chef loses his job at a restaurant when he refuses to cook the same boring meal. Chef Carl Casper then tries to reconnect with his son and reclaim his original cooking creativity. The movie has a heavy focus on social media and how it can help and hurt a person. I wished that the script would move straight into him getting his food truck as it took almost half the movie to get there. I also thought the ending of the film was a bit hokey. Overall, the film is not bad. 

Characters/Actors of Note:

Jon Favreau playing Chef Carl Casper: This character is short tempered and selfish but in the end becomes more involved with his family. It was fun to see him cook and how he related to others. I also loved how the character knew he was good at cooking and saw it as an outlet to reach others. I was disappointed in that the character of Carl Casper still couldn't handle criticism at the end of the film. I think being an artist in any field means you get both good and bad reviews and you accept it and move on, but this character broods on the bad criticism clear to the end. The character would have been more of a hero if he was humble. Not to mention that Carl Casper knew the food wasn't good and was still mad about the review. It is interesting to note that Mr. Favreau also directed and wrote this film, which takes a lot of talent. 

Emjay Anthony playing Percy: Percy is the son of Carl Casper who teaches him about social media. The son was well portrayed, as most teenage boys bottle up their feelings. Percy doesn't tell his father how he feels about being pushed aside or how he feels about the divorce. I thought that Mr. Anthony did an excellent job portraying such a shy character that was also in awe of his father and being in new places. He showed genuine surprise and happiness which was fun to watch. 

Sofia Vergara playing Inez: Inez is the ex-wife of Carl who pushes him to better himself. She was the one that really connected Percy and Carl, not to mention got Carl a new job, and a new food truck. Ms. Vergara is like the guardian angel who is looking out for everyone in the film. Ms. Vergara plays a lovable and clever person and is the thread that kept this movie together. 

Music: The music was fun to listen to and even sing-a-long with. The music reflected the part of the country they were in at that moment and the silliness of the characters. It was fun and even cheerful. Well done. 

Camera Work/Cinematography: The film looks a bit like a made-for-TV-movie which isn't bad but it isn't IMAX quality either. The movie probably had a low budget but the film still looked nice. The camera angles were well used and the colors were vibrant. The food looked delectable as well. I liked the inclusion of the tweets on screen but I couldn't read them. I was even watching it on a big screen TV and the print was far too small. The point could have been that Twitter was helping them and not to read them...but I would have enjoyed reading what everyone said, especially the son's tweets. 

RECAP:

The acting was not bad, the music was fun, and the camera angles were well used. The print on screen was far too small and the plot was weakened by the pride of Carl Casper and also by the ending. The end was like a fairy tale in that "everyone lived happily ever after" but I would have preferred if they ended the film at the last food truck scene. It also took a long time for Carl to actually get the food truck and admit he needed help. However, the film is fun to watch so I would recommend watching it at least once. 

Courtesy of Joblo

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