Film: Mockingjay - Part 1

GENRE: Adventure

RATING: PG-13 for violence and thematic material
RUNTIME: 2 hours and 3 minutes

STARRING: Jennifer Lawrence (American Hustle, Silver Linings Playbook)

Liam Hemsworth (Expendables 2), Julianne Moore (Children of Men)

DIRECTOR: Francis Lawrence (There’s Something About Mary)

WRITERS: Peter Craig (The Town) & Danny Strong (The Butler, Recount)

PLOT: Katniss is underground as she helps prepare propaganda films to unite the districts against the Capitol.

FIVE OBSERVATIONS:

1 I’m pleased to say that the film is better than the book. I was surprised that they were able to fill two hours with the first half of the final novel. It did allow for a lot more dramatic acting on Jennifer Lawrence’s part. She was awesome again.

2 I appreciated the set design, especially District 13. It looked a lot cooler than I pictured in my head while reading it.

3 They chose a free Effie instead of tortured stylists to help Katniss. A smart choice. The comic relief of Elizabeth Banks and Woody Harrelson’s Haymitch are wonderfully inserted into this intense film.

4 I miss Philip Seymour Hoffman. He was wonderful.

5 They ended on a great looking scene. It sucks that I have to wait another year for part two, but oh well.  

RECOMMENDATION: See it in the theatres
UPCOMING REVIEWS: Horrible Bosses 2; Foxcatcher

Film: Dumb and Dumber To

GENRE: Comedy

RATING: PG-13 for crude & sexual humour
RUNTIME: 1 hour and 50 minutes

STARRING: Jim Carrey (Ace Ventura; Liar, Liar, Yes Man)

Jeff Daniels (Newsroom, Speed), Rob Riggle (21 Jump Street)

DIRECTOR: Bobby & Peter Farrelly (There’s Something About Mary)

WRITERS: Sean Anders & John Morris (We’re the Millers)

Mike Cerrone (Me, Myself & Irene), Farrellys (Shallow Hal)

Bennett Yellin (Dumb & Dumber)

PLOT: Lloyd and Harry go on a road trip to find Harry’s daughter that was given up for adoption.

FIVE OBSERVATIONS:

1 While there are some definite laugh-out-loud moments throughout, this film is not as funny as the original. But it gets kind of close at time.

2 Speaking of the original, there are plenty of callbacks with lines, actions and characters. Petey is all grown up and even SeaBass makes an appearance after the credits. Even the basic storyline is pretty similar. But all are welcome.

3 I found it interesting that one of the villains, Adele, is played by Laurie Holden (The Walking Dead) who also played Jim Carrey’s love interest in a sweet film called The Majestic, and was also names Adele.

4 I liked the soundtrack. A few tracks from the first film and great use of Franz Ferdinand’s “Right Action”. 

5 What’s up with the Canadian stereotypes?  

RECOMMENDATION: Wait for DVD
UPCOMING REVIEWS: Hunger Games: Mockingjay, Part I

Film: Interstellar

GENRE: Adventure/Sci-Fi

RATING: PG-13 for language and action
RUNTIME: 2 hours and 49 minutes

STARRING: Matthew McConaughey (Dallas Buyers Club, True Detective)

Anne Hathaway (Dark Knight Rises), Jessica Chastain (Tree of Life)

DIRECTOR: Christopher Nolan (Batman Begins, Inception, Insomnia)

WRITERS: Jonathan & Christopher Nolan (Memento, The Dark Knight)

PLOT: A father leaves his children behind to go on an interstellar voyage through a wormhole in order to help save humanity.

FIVE OBSERVATIONS:

1 This movie seems like an amalgamation of 2001: A Space Odyssey, Gravity and Sunshine. Some pretty good company to be in. This film is long, interesting, unpredictable and well-made. It does drag a little, but it was still pretty cool.

2 At first, the robots look pretty useless but they grow on you, especially when you hear some of their dialogue and see them in action during the mission.

3 I tried to avoid spoilers for this film, so I was honestly surprised at some of the actors involved with this production. I didn’t know Topher Grace (That 70’s Show), Casey Affleck (Ocean’s 11) and John Lithgow (Third Rock from the Sun) were in this film. Also an A-list actor I won’t spoil for you here.  

4 The music was pretty hypnotic and Inception-ish at times. But there were also moments when the music drowned out key dialogue. Of course, that was probably done on purpose. 

5 There are many beautiful shots throughout the film. Probably looks awesome on Imax.  

RECOMMENDATION: Visually great in theatres
UPCOMING REVIEWS: Dumb & Dumber To; Mockingjay, Part I

Film: Birdman

GENRE: Comedy/Drama

RATING: R for language, sexual content and violence
RUNTIME: 2 hours

STARRING: Michael Keaton (Batman, Beetlejuice, The Other Guys)

Zach Galifianakis (The Hangovers), Edward Norton (Fight Club)

DIRECTOR: Alejando Gonzalez Inarritu (Babel, 21 Grams)

WRITERS: Inarritu, Nicolas Giacobone & Armando Bo (Biutiful)

Alexander Dinelaris (newcomer)

PLOT: A washed up actor must overcome his ego as he tries to troubleshoot problems surrounding the his Broadway play to reclaim his former glory.

FIVE OBSERVATIONS:

1 One of the coolest things about this film (among many other cool things) is that it seems like the entire movie was done in one shot. The camera brilliantly follows and pans through the winding backstage corridors of the theatre.  No surprise that this is the work of cinematographer Emmanuel Lubezki, the man behind Gravity, Children of Men and Tree of Life. I am in awe of this guy. Give this man another Oscar.

2 Like the camerawork, the music is relentless in this film. The score is almost constant percussion from Antonio Sanchez. This film is not recommended for those suffering from a hangover.

3 I loved that the story exposed the inner workings of backstage during previews of a Broadway play. I’m sure there were plenty of inside jokes I didn’t get but it sure was a fun ride. I really enjoyed Keaton’s interchange with a critic at a bar.

4 The acting is incredible. Keaton will get a nomination for his tour-de-force performance but so should Norton and Galifiankis. In fact, I believe Zach steals the show. He is awesome in every scene he is in.    

5 The film will make you think. There are some weird moments throughout but that’s the joy of cinema. It’s not for everyone but there are many who will love what they see, and I’m not talking about all the tighty-whitey underwear scenes.

RECOMMENDATION: See in theatre for its Oscar potential
UPCOMING REVIEWS: Interstellar