Film: Whiplash

GENRE: Drama

RATING: R for strong language
RUNTIME: 1 hour and 47 minutes

STARRING: Miles Teller (Divergent, The Spectacular Now)

JK Simmons (Juno, Spiderman), Paul Reiser (Mad About You)

DIRECTOR: Damien Chazelle (newcomer)

WRITER: Damien Chazelle (The Last Exorcism Part II)

PLOT: A young drummer is pushed to the limit by an emotionally abusive instructor who will stop at nothing to achieve the student’s potential.  

FIVE OBSERVATIONS:

1 It is so awesome that JK Simmons is finally getting the credit he deserves. He is fantastic in this film. He is so intimidating. I would not want him to instruct me. Give him the Oscar.

2 One has to ask if the instructor’s abusive nature is effective or does the student have lots of self-determination. Something to think about.

3 I respect drummers a lot more now. I can barely hold a beat.

4 There’s a great dinner conversation where the musician puts the football player in his place. As an artist, it made me smile.

5 Raisnettes in popcorn? Gross.

RECOMMENDATION: Try and watch before the Oscars
UPCOMING REVIEWS: Kingsman: The Secret Service

Film: The Theory of Everything

GENRE: Bio/Drama/Romance

RATING: PG13 for thematic elements
RUNTIME: 2 hours and 3 minutes

STARRING: Eddie Redmayne (My Week with Marilyn, Les Mis)

Felicity Jones (Amazing Spiderman 2), Charlie Cox (Boardwalk Empire)

DIRECTOR: James Marsh (Man on Wire; Project Nim)

WRITER: Anthony McCarten (newcomer)

PLOT: A biography on the relationship of renowned physicist Stephen Hawking and his wife starting just before he is diagnosed with ALS.  

FIVE OBSERVATIONS:

1 Eddie Redmayne should win the Oscar for this role. Sure Michael Keaton is good in Birdman, but Redmayne is phenomenal. The concentration to contort the body and face and still convey such depth is truly amazing. I am in awe.

2 While Redmayne gets all the credit, Jones does a pretty awesome job as Hawking’s wife. You feel for her the entire time.  

3 At the Golden Globes I thought Birdman would win best score because of all the drumming but again, Theory wins out, and deservedly so. Johann Johannsson;s score is simply beautiful. So moving and rich.

4 I often forget how funny Hawking can be. I always think back to his Simpsons cameo. In this film, he rolls on his wheelchair acting like a Dalek for Dr. Who. I laughed out loud.

5 The story is pretty moving. There’s also some science-y stuff that I knew nothing about. Didn’t bother me that much.

RECOMMENDATION: Good rental, unless watching for Oscar
UPCOMING REVIEWS: Whiplash; Selma

Film: American Sniper

GENRE: Action/Drama

RATING: R for war violence and language
RUNTIME: 2 hours and 12 minutes

STARRING: Bradley Cooper (Silver Linings Playbook; Limitless)

Sienna Miller (Foxcatcher, Stardust), Kyle Gallner (Veronica Mars)

DIRECTOR: Clint Eastwood (Flags of Our Fathers; Million Dollar Baby)

WRITER: Jason Hall (Paranoia)

PLOT: A biography of Chris Kyle, a Navy SEAL sniper who made countless kills and saved many lives.

FIVE OBSERVATIONS:

1 While watching this film, I was reminded of The Hurt Locker and Zero Dark Thirty. This one is kind of a mash-up of those. Not bad company but we’ve also seen it all before; nothing really new has been brought to the table. It also contains some of the same war film cliches.

2 Cooper does a great job, even when he is at home being despondent and trying to deny his PTSD.  

3 There are some very well done, intense scenes throughout the movie. They will definitely keep your attention.

4 They are trying to hunt down an awesome sniper named Mustafa. Even though it sounds a bit different, I kept thinking of Mufasa from The Lion King. Especially when the hyenas are trying to scare each other with the name.

5 There’s a really cool aerial zoom of Iraq near the end of the film. Drones used for filming are awesome.

RECOMMENDATION: Just wait to rent it
UPCOMING REVIEWS: The Theory of Everything

Golden Globes Recap

As usual, it was a fun show. I liked Tina and Amy’s opening comments but wished we could see them more throughout the broadcast.  I only got 54% correct this year. There are a couple that I should have known better, some way out there winners and some pleasant surprises. I was very happy to see The Grand Budapest Hotel win Best Comedy. I was annoyed that The Lego Movie lost to How to Train Your Dragon 2. I was surprised at the love for The Affair but was happy that Boyhood and Birdman and JK Simmons got their due. Anyway, here are the winners.

Best Motion Picture – Drama

Boyhood (predicted)

Best Actress in a Motion Picture – Drama

Julianne Moore (Still Alice) (predicted)

Best Actor in a Motion Picture – Drama

Eddie Redmayne (The Theory of Everything) (predicted)

Best Motion Picture – Comedy Or Musical

The Grand Budapest Hotel

Best Actress in a Motion Picture – Comedy Or Musical

Amy Adams (Big Eyes)

Best Actor in a Motion Picture – Comedy Or Musical

Michael Keaton (Birdman) (predicted & wanted)

Best Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture

Patricia Arquette (Boyhood) (predicted)

Best Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture

JK Simmons (Whiplash) (predicted & wanted)

Best Animated Feature Film

How to Train Your Dragon 2

Best Foreign Language Film

Leviathan (Russia)

Best Director – Motion Picture

Richard Linklater (Boyhood) (predicted & wanted)

Best Screenplay – Motion Picture

Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu (Birdman) (predicted)

Best Original Score – Motion Picture

The Theory of Everything

Best Original Song – Motion Picture

“Glory” (Selma – John Legend, Common) (predicted)

Best Television Series – Drama

The Affair

Best Actress In A Television Series – Drama

Ruth Wilson (The Affair)

Best Actor In A Television Series – Drama

Kevin Spacey (House of Cards) (predicted & wanted)

Best Television Series – Comedy

Transparent

Best Actress In A Television Series – Comedy

Gina Rodriguez (Jane the Virgin)

Best Actor In A Television Series – Comedy

Jeffrey Tambor (Transparent) (predicted)

Best Mini-Series or TV Movie

Fargo (wanted)

Best Actress In A Mini-series or TV Movie

Maggie Gyllenhaal (The Honorable Woman)

Best Actor in a Mini-Series or TV Movie

Billy Bob Thorton (Fargo) (wanted)

Best Supporting Actress in a Series, Mini-Series or TV Movie

Joanne Froggatt (Downton Abbey)

Best Supporting Actor in a Series, Mini-Series or TV Movie

Matt Bomer (The Normal Heart) 

Golden Globes 2015 Predictions

It’s time for the Golden Globes guessing game. With less than 100 members voting, it’s pretty much a crapshoot. But at least they honour comedies, the winners are pretty tipsy, and the hosts are amazing in Tina Fey and Amy Poehler. Here’s who I think will win and want to win.

BEST MOTION PICTURE – DRAMA

Boyhood | Foxcatcher | The Imitation Game | Selma | The Theory of Everything

Will Win: Boyhood

Want to Win: The Imitation Game

BEST ACTOR – DRAMA

Steve Carell [Foxcatcher] | Benedict Cumberbatch [The Imitation Game] | Jake Gyllenhaal [Nightcrawler] | David Oyelowo [Selma] | Eddie Redmayne [The Theory of Everything]

Will Win: Eddie Redmayne [The Theory of Everything]

Want to Win: Benedict Cumberbatch [The Imitation Game]

BEST ACTRESS – DRAMA

Jennifer Aniston [Cake] | Felicity Jones [The Theory of Everything] | Julianne Moore [Still Alice] | Rosamund Pike [Gone Girl] | Reese Witherspoon [Wild]

Will Win: Julianne Moore [Still Alice]

Want to Win: Rosamund Pike [Gone Girl]

BEST MOTION PICTURE – COMEDY

Birdman | The Grand Budapest Hotel | Into the Woods | Pride | St. Vincent

Will Win: Birdman

Want to Win: Birdman

BEST ACTOR – COMEDY

Ralph Fiennes [The Grand Budapest Hotel] | Michael Keaton [Birdman] | Bill Murray [St. Vincent] | Joaquin Phoenix [Inherent Vice] | Christoph Waltz [Big Eyes]

Will Win: Michael Keaton [Birdman]

Want to Win: Michael Keaton [Birdman]

BEST ACTRESS – COMEDY

Amy Adams [Big Eyes] | Emily Blunt [Into the Woods] | Helen Mirren [The Hundred Foot Journey] | Julianne Moore [Map to the Stars] | Quvenzhane Walls [Annie]

Will Win: Emily Blunt [Into the Woods]

Want to Win: Emily Blunt [Into the Woods]

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR - FILM

Robert Duvall [The Judge] | Ethan Hawke [Boyhood] | Edward Norton [Birdman] | Mark Ruffalo [Foxcatcher] | JK Simmons [Whiplash]

Will Win: JK Simmons [Whiplash]

Want to Win: JK Simmons [Whiplash]

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS - FILM

Patricia Arquette [Boyhood] | Jessica Chastain [A Most Violent Year] | Kiera Knightley [The Imitation Game] | Emma Stone [Birdman] | Meryl Streep [Into the Woods]

Will Win: Patricia Arquette [Boyhood]

Want to Win: Emma Stone [Birdman]

BEST DIRECTOR

Wes Anderson [The Grand Budapest Hotel] | Ava Duvernay [Selma] | David Fincher [Gone Girl] | Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu [Birdman] | Richard Linklater [Boyhood]

Will Win: Richard Linklater [Boyhood]

Want to Win: Richard Linklater [Boyhood]

BEST ANIMATED FEATURE FILM

Big Hero 6 | The Book of Life | The Boxtrolls | How to Train Your Dragon 2 | The Lego Movie

Will Win: The Lego Movie

Want to Win: The Lego Movie

BEST FOREGIN LANGUAGE FILM

Force Majeure [Sweden] | Gett: The Trial of Viviane Amsalem [Israel] | Ida  [Poland] | Leviathan  [Russia] | Tangerines [Estonia]

Will Win: Ida [Poland]

Want to Win: Ida [Poland]

BEST SCREENPLAY

Wes Anderson [The Grand Budapest Hotel] | Gillian Flynn [Gone Girl] | Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu [Birdman] | Richard Linlater [Boyhood] | Graham Moore [The Imitation Game]

Will Win: Alejandro Gonzalex Inarritu [Birdman]

Want to Win: Wes Anderson [The Grand Budapest Hotel]

BEST ORIGINAL SCORE

Alexandre Desplat [The Imitation Game] | Johann Johannsson [The Theory of Everything] | Trent Reznor & Atticus Ross [Gone Girl] | Antonio Sanchez [Birdman] | Hans Zimmer [Interstellar]

Will Win: Antonio Sanchez [Birdman]

Want to Win: Antonio Sanchez [Birdman]

BEST ORIGINAL SONG

“Big Eyes” – Lana del Rey [Big Eyes] | “Glory” – John Legend & Common [Selma] | “Mercy Is” – Patti Smith [Noah] | “Opportunity” – Sia [Annie] | “Yellow Flicker Beat” – Lorde [Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 1]

Will Win: “Glory” – John Legend & Common [Selma]

Want to Win: “Yellow Flicker Beat” – Lorde [Mockingjay, Part 1]

BEST TV SERIES – DRAMA

The Affair | Downton Abbey | Game of Thrones | The Good Wife | House of Cards

Will Win: House of Cards

Want to Win: Game of Thrones

BEST ACTOR – DRAMA

Clive Owen [The Knick] | Live Schreiber [Ray Donovan] | Kevin Spacey [House of Cards] | James Spader [The Blacklist] | Dominic West [The Affair]

Will Win: Kevin Spacey [House of Cards]

Want to Win: Kevin Spacey [House of Cards]

BEST ACTRESS – DRAMA

Claire Danes [Homeland] | Viola Davis [How to Get Away with Murder] | Julianna Margulies [The Good Wife] | Ruth Wilson [The Affair] | Robin Wright [House of Cards]

Will Win: Viola Davis [How to Get Away with Murder]

Want to Win: Robin Wright [House of Cards]

BEST TV SERIES – COMEDY

Girls | Jane the Virgin | Orange is the New Black | Silicon Valley | Transparent

Will Win: Orange is the New Black

Want to Win: Silicon Valley

BEST ACTOR – COMEDY

Louis CK [Louie] | Don Cheadle [House of Lies] | Ricky Gervais [Derek] | William H Macy [Shameless] | Jeffery Tambor [Transparent]

Will Win: Jeffrey Tambor [Transparent]

Want to Win: Louis CK [Louie]

BEST ACTRESS – COMEDY

Lena Dunham [Girls] | Edie Falco [Nurse Jackie] | Julia Louis-Dreyfus [Veep] | Gina Rodriguez [Jane the Virgin] | Taylor Schilling [Orange is the New Black]

Will Win: Julia Louis-Dreyfus [Veep]

Want to Win: Taylor Schilling [Orange is the New Black]

BEST TV MINISERIES/MOVIE

Fargo | The Missing | The Normal Heart | Olive Kitteridge | True Detective

Will Win: True Detective

Want to Win: Fargo

BEST ACTOR – MINISERIES/MOVIE

Martin Freeman [Fargo] | Woody Harrelson [True Detective] | Matthew McConaughey [True Detective] | Mark Ruffalo [The Normal Heart] | Billy Bob Thorton [Fargo]

Will Win: Matthew McConaughey [True Detective]

Want to Win: Billy Bob Thorton [Fargo]

BEST ACTRESS – MINISERIES/MOVIE

Maggie Gyllenhaal [The Honorable Woman] | Jessica Lange [American Horror Story: Freak Show] | Frances McDormand [Olive Kitteridge] | Frances O’Connor [The Missing] | Allison Tolman [Fargo]

Will Win: Frances McDormand [Olive Kitteridge]

Want to Win: Allison Tolman [Fargo]

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR - TELEVISION

Matt Bomer [The Normal Heart] | Alan Cumming [The Good Wife] | Colin Hanks [Fargo] | Bill Murray [Olive Kitteridge] | Jon Voight [Ray Donovan]

Will Win: Bill Murray [Olive Kitteridge]

Want to Win: Bill Murray [Olive Kitteridge]

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS – TELEVISION

Uzo Aduba [Orange is the New Black] | Kathy Bates [American Horror Story: Freak Show] | Joanne Froggatt [Downton Abbey] | Allison Janney [Mom] | Michelle Monaghan [True Detective]

Will Win: Uzo Aduba [Orange is the New Black]

Want to Win: Uzo Aduba [Orange is the New Black]

Let’s see how I do this year. 

2015 Film Preview

 Here’s what looks interesting at a glance for the new year. Again, I am basing a lot of my picks on the people involved, familiarity, or an interesting plot description. Keep in mind that most these dates are flexible (some might get pushed into 2016).Here they are, in release date order:

1. Kingsman: The Secret Service (Feb.13) 
Director: Matthew Vaughn [X-Men: First Class]

Colin Firth as a cool spy who recruits a street kid into an exclusive agency.

2. Divergent Series: Insurgent (Mar.20) 
Director: Robert Schwentke [RED]

Tris and Four are on the run from the Erudite. This first one was pretty good.

3. Avengers: Age of Ultron (May.1) 
Director: Joss Whedon [Avengers]

Extremely excited to see what Whedon does this time around.

4. Tomorrowland (May.22) 
Director: Brad Bird [The Incredibles]

Hope Bird and George Clooney don’t make a Disneyland promo film.

5. Entourage (Jun.5) 
Director: Doug Ellin [newcomer]

I watched the television series, so let’s see where this goes.

6. Jurassic World (Jun.12) 
Director: Colin Tevorrow [Safety Not Guaranteed]

Scientists stupidly make a dino-hybrid that goes wild. Sounds like fun.

7. Inside Out (Jun.19) 
Director: Pete Docter [Up]

It’s Pixar. It has Amy Poehler, Lewis Black and Mindy Kaling. I’m there.

8. Minions (Jul.10) 
Director: Pierre Coffin [Despicable Me]

A Despicable Me prequel where minions look for evil bosses. Sooo cute.

9. Ant-Man (Jul.17) 
Director: Peyton Reed [Yes Man]

Paul Rudd shrinks in the newest Marvel offering. They haven’t missed yet.

10. Masterminds (Aug.14) 
Director: Jared Hess [Napoleon Dynamite]

Owen Wilson and Zach Galifianakis steal 17 million and spend it. Okay.

11. Black Mass (Sep.18) 
Director: Scott Cooper [Crazy Heart]

Historical Irish mob film about the Bulgers with Depp and Cumberbatch.

12. The Walk (Oct.2) Director: Robert Zemeckis [Captain Phillips]

Joseph Gordon-Levitt tightropes between the Twin Towers. True story.

13. St. James Place (Oct.16) 
Director: Steven Spielberg [Saving Private Ryan]

A Tom Hanks spy film and look who’s involved. I’m definitely there.

14. Spectre (Nov.6) 
Director: Sam Mendes [Skyfall]

Daniel Craig’s James Bond takes on Spectre. Loved Craig’s stuff so far.

15. Mockingjay, Part II (Nov.20) 
Director: Francis Lawrence [Catching Fire]

Excited to see how they end this series. Hopefully better than the book.

16. Star Wars: The Force Awakens (Dec.18) 
Director: JJ Abrams [Star Trek]

Some obscure film about space and religion and robots. Sure,why not?

17. Inferno (Dec.18) 
Director: Ron Howard [The Da Vinci Code]

Tom Hanks is back as Robert Langdon. I enjoyed the first two.

18. The Nest (Dec.18) 
Director: Jason Moore [Pitch Perfect]

Amy Poehler and Tina Fey as sisters. Better be better than Baby Mama.

19. Mission: Impossible V (Dec.25) 
Director: Chris McQuarrie [Jack Reacher]

Tom Cruise is back as Ethan Hunt. I love this series (well except for #2).

20. Joy (Dec.25) 
Director: David O Russell [American Hustle]

Jennifer Lawrence and Russell are awesome together. Sign me up.

For those who like to plan ahead (way ahead)

Upcoming in 2016: Batman vs Superman; Captain America: Civil War; X-Man: Apocalypse; Finding Dory; Independence Day 2; Sinister Six; Avatar 2; Assassin’s Creed; Star Trek 3

Upcoming in 2017: Star Wars VIII; Guardians of the Galaxy 2; Toy Story 4; Justice League: Part 1; Despicable Me 3; Pirates of the Caribbean 5; Thor 3; Avatar 3

Upcoming in 2018: Amazing Spiderman 3; Lego Movie 2; Avengers: Infinity War, Part I; Lego Batman; Captain Marvel; Inhumans; Avatar 4

2015 Television Preview

 Wondering when your shows are returning? Here’s when my shows are returning, as well as a few new shows to check out this winter. Enjoy.

Galavant premieres Jan.4 on ABC

A kind of Monty Python Holy Grail-ish musical. Interesting concept. (8 eps)

The Simpsons (Jan.4)

Brooklyn Nine-Nine (Jan.4)

Downton Abbey: Season 5 begins (Jan.4)

Gotham (Jan.5)

Sleepy Hollow (Jan.5)

MasterChef Junior: Season 3 begins (Jan.6)

Agent Carter premieres Jan.6 on ABC

The Marvel Universe goes back to the beginning of SHIELD (8 eps)

Marry Me (Jan.6)

About a Boy (Jan.6)

New Girl (Jan.6)

The Mindy Project (Jan.6)

Modern Family (Jan.7)

American Horror Story: Freak Show (Jan.7)

The Big Bang Theory (Jan.8)

Parenthood (Jan.8)

Togetherness premieres Jan.11 on HBO

Comedy about mid-life crisis. Pretty good cast. (8 eps)

House of Lies: Season 4 begins (Jan.11)

Episodes: Season 4 begins (Jan.11)

Parks and Recreation: Final Season 7 begins (Jan.13)

Saturday Night Live (Jan.17)

The Americans: Season 3 begins (Jan.28)

The Blacklist (Feb.1)

Broadchurch: Season 2 begins (Feb.4)

The Walking Dead (Feb.8)

Last Week Tonight with John Oliver: Season 2 begins (Feb.8)

Better Call Saul premieres Feb.8 on AMC

A Breaking Bad prequel with everyone’s favourite sleazy lawyer (10 eps)

The Slap premieres Feb.12 on NBC

A slap at a party has bigger consequences. Great cast. (8 eps)

The Odd Couple premieres Feb.19 on CBS

Matthew Perry is the slob in this remake of the play/film/TV show (13 eps)

The Amazing Race: Season 26 begins (Feb.25)

House of Cards: Season 3 begins (Feb.27)

Once Upon a Time (Mar.1)

The Last Man on Earth premieres Mar.1 on FOX

The Lego Movie guys direct Will Forte as  the title character (10 eps)

Battle Creek premieres Mar.1 on CBS

A detective show by Vince Gilligan (Breaking Bad). I’m in. (13 eps)

Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. (Mar.3)

CSI: Cyber premieres Mar.4 on CBS

I would usually ignore this, but the cast looks mighty fun. (14 eps)

The Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt premieres Mar.6 on Netflix

The 30 Rock folks' comedy about a cult survivor with a new life (13 eps)

Bates Motel: Season 3 begins (Mar.9)
Community: Season 6 begins on Yahoo (Mar.17)
Bloodline premieres Mar.20 on Netflix

It's from the guys who gave us Damages and has Kyle Chandler (13 eps)
Mad Men: Final Season 7, part 2 begins Apr.5

Comedians premieres Apr.9 on FX

Billy Crystal and Josh Gad (Frozen’s Olaf) in a  meta-comedy (13 eps)

Louie: Season 5 begins (Apr.9)
Game of Thrones: Season 5 begins (Apr.12)
Silicon Valley: Season 2 begins (Apr.12)
Veep: Season 4 begins (Apr.12)
Orphan Black: Season 3 begins (Apr.18)

Wayward Pines premieres May.19 on FOX

M Night Shyamalan brings his twists to television (10 eps)

Hannibal: Season 3 begins Late Spring 2015

Spoils of Babylon: Season 2 begins Summer 2015

True Detective: Season 2 begins Summer 2015

The Knick: Season 2 begins Summer 2015

Orange is the New Black: Season 3 begins Summer 2015

Amazing Race Canada: Season 3 begins Summer 2015

Inside Comedy: Season 4 begins (?)

UPCOMING REVIEWS: 2015 Film Preview