Forrest goes to sea in Saving Maersk’s Cargo where he
resists hijacking by disgruntled Somali limousine pirates with characterization
as deep and tempers as turbulent as the film’s oceanic setting. Greengrass’ blue sea thriller soars with the
tension of United 93, and is expertly captained by subtle but poignant Hanks.
Friday, January 31, 2014
Thursday, January 30, 2014
Gravity
Visually spectacular rollercoaster captures audience while
cutting them loose in space. Adherence
to physics drifts away with less famous actors and Apollo Ed’s voice leaving
only Bullocks’ (and the FX team’s) brilliant performance. Condescending dream shrapnel drags audience
commitment down, but otherwise delivers a thrilling albeit not quite airtight
story.
Wednesday, January 29, 2014
The Wolf of Wall Street
Leo plays Gekko Gone Wild in the Goodfellas of the gadget
age. Epic over-long catalog of various
debaucheries available to anyone good at greed.
Nails comedic beats with help from shirt clad McConaughey and Hill’s
blinding teeth. Pushes limits for runtime,
T&A,and Fs while promoting the redemptive qualities of cocaine.
Actors & Director:
Ethan Suplee,
Jean Dujardin,
Jon Favreau,
Jonah Hill,
Kyle Chandler,
Leonardo Dicaprio,
Martin Scorsese,
Matthew McConaughey,
Shea Whigham
Saturday, January 18, 2014
Her
Reborn Phoenix proves he can still play an empathetic
everyman. Jonze delivers another soft
sci-fi with cinematic brilliance and deep philosophical conjecture. Adams, Wilde and Rooney are brilliantly
quirky/real, but the added sound of Scarlett gives the movie color, leaving
Joaquin and us wondering what Her would be without her.
Actors & Director:
Amy Adams,
Bill Hader,
Brian Cox,
Chris Pratt,
Joaquin Phoenix,
Kristen Wiig,
Olivia Wilde,
Rooney Mara,
Scarlett Johansson,
Spike Jonze
Friday, January 17, 2014
12 Years a Slave
McQueen incorporates themes and realities of Hunger and
Shame into masterful epic that chains his cinematic genius to a more
conventionally narrative true story.
Ejiofor’s nuanced lead is perfectly served by empowered innocence of
newcomer Nyong’o and impressively humanized inhumanity of Fassbender and
Paulson, while producer Pitt plays weakest link.
Actors & Director:
Benedict Cumberbatch,
Brad Pitt,
Chiwetel Ejiofor,
Michael Fassbender,
Paul Dano,
Paul Giamatti,
Sarah Paulson,
Steve McQueen (II)
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