Film: The Monuments Men

GENRE: Drama, History

RATING: PG for some violence
RUNTIME: 1 hour and 58 minutes

STARRING: George Clooney (Gravity, Ocean’s Eleven)

Matt Damon (Bourne series), Bill Murray (Moonrise Kingdom)

DIRECTOR: George Clooney (Ides of March)

WRITERS: Clooney & Grant Heslov (Good Night & Good Luck)

PLOT: A group of artists join the war to rescue art masterpieces that have been stolen by Nazi thieves.

FIVE OBSERVATIONS:

1 I like the fact that this was based on a true story. I appreciate that people were working hard and sacrificing themselves for priceless art works.  

2 This film was just good but not great. I wish there was more tension and action but I did enjoy some of the light-hearted tone.

3 Bill Murray is great as usual. He’s always fun to watch.

4 I usually enjoy Cate Blanchett but found that she didn’t add that much to this film. Her scenes with Matt Damon didn’t work for me.  

5 Some of the soundtrack sounded too Pixar-ish.  

RECOMMENDATION: Wait for TBS

UPCOMING REVIEWS: The Lego Movie

Superbowl Commercials

Being in Canada, we didn't get to watch the American commericals in between the Seahawks crushing Denver. So after the game, I scoured the internet and watched all the ads that were shown. Not a lot of funny ones this year. Too many 'America is great' stuff. The "What the ....?" award goes to Axe for it's Axe Peace Bodyspray. I appreciate that it wasn't just women hanging on men who use Axe but the dictator idea was just too wierd. Anyway, here are my favourites:

1. Doritos - Time Machine

Everything just works in this ad. I love the kid kicking the machine.

2. Hyundai Genesis - Dad's Sixth Sense

Very clever and very true. Some amazing saves.

3. Radio Shack - The 80's Called

Loved seeing all those eighties icons again. Fun stuff.

4. Dannon Oikos Greek Yogurt - The Spill

More 80's fun with the Full House gang. (Stamos doesn't age)

5. Audi - Doberhuahua

I'm glad Sarah McLachlan can laugh at herself.

Honoarble Mention: 

Wonderful Pistachios - Stephen Colbert

It's Stephen Colbert. He's awesome.
Until next year...

Golden Globe Results

It was a fun show. Tina and Amy were funny as usual. I only got 60% correct again thanks to some left-field supporting television actors and music categories. It was all worth it though to have Andy Samberg and Amy Poehler win their categories. Michael Shur, the producer of Brooklyn Nine-Nine and Parks & Rec, had a good night. Jacqueline Bisset had the worst speech ever and the Brooklyn Nine-Nine people had the best. Anyway, here are the winners.

Best Motion Picture – Drama

12 Years a Slave (predicted & wanted)

Best Actress in a Motion Picture – Drama

Cate Blanchett (Blue Jasmine) (predicted)

Best Actor in a Motion Picture – Drama

Matthew McConaughey (Dallas Buyers Club)

Best Motion Picture – Comedy Or Musical

American Hustle (predicted & wanted)

Best Actress in a Motion Picture – Comedy Or Musical

Amy Adams (American Hustle) (predicted & wanted)

Best Actor in a Motion Picture – Comedy Or Musical

Leonardo DiCaprio (The Wolf of Wall Street) (predicted)

Best Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture

Jennifer Lawrence (American Hustle) (predicted & wanted)

Best Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture

Jared Leto (Dallas Buyers Club) (predicted)

Best Animated Feature Film

Frozen (predicted)

Best Foreign Language Film

The Great Beauty (Italy)

Best Director – Motion Picture

Alfonso Cuaron (Gravity) (predicted & wanted)

Best Screenplay – Motion Picture

Spike Jonze (Her)

Best Original Score – Motion Picture

All Is Lost

Best Original Song – Motion Picture

“Ordinary Love” (Mandela – U2)

Best Television Series – Drama

Breaking Bad (predicted & wanted)

Best Actress In A Television Series – Drama

Robin Wright (House of Cards)

Best Actor In A Television Series – Drama

Bryan Cranston (Breaking Bad) (predicted)

Best Television Series – Comedy

Brooklyn Nine-Nine

Best Actress In A Television Series – Comedy

Amy Poehler (Parks & Recreation) (wanted)

Best Actor In A Television Series – Comedy

Andy Samberg (Brooklyn Nine-Nine) (wanted)

Best Mini-Series or TV Movie

Behind the Candelabra (predicted & wanted)

Best Actress In A Mini-series or TV Movie

Elisabeth Moss (Top of the Lake)

Best Actor in a Mini-Series or TV Movie

Michael Douglas (Behind the Candelabra) (predicted & wanted)

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

Jacqueline Bisset (Dancing on the Edge)

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

Jon Voight (Ray Donovan)

Film: Her

GENRE: Drama, Romance

RATING: 14A for language and sexual content
RUNTIME: 2 hour and 6 minutes

STARRING: Joaquin Phoenix (Walk the Line, Gladiator, Signs)

Scarlett Johansson (The Avengers), Amy Adams (American Hustle)

DIRECTOR: Spike Jonze (Being John Malkovich, Adaptation)

WRITER: Spike Jonze (Where The Wild Things Are)

PLOT: A recently separated man starts a relationship and falls in love with his newly purchased operating system.

FIVE OBSERVATIONS:

1 Well, that was interesting. Jonze explores love and relationships in a very unique way that is sometimes beautiful, sometimes misplaced and sometimes creepy. If you’ve seen his other stuff, you probably won’t be too surprised.

2 There are a couple phone sex scenes that are incredibly awkward to watch. Sure, you might not see much but the audio is plenty. Don’t watch this with your mother.

3 The acting is quite strong in this film. Phoenix does an impressive job emoting to just a voice. And Johansson is pretty captivating as the voice of the operating system. She definitely puts Siri to shame.

4 The fashion in the near future is horrendous. Lots of stripes, basic earth tones and high-waisted pants. Why the throwback to the forties?  

5 While the concept is original, the story plays out a little long. I like my slow dramatic movies to be 90 minutes thank you.

RECOMMENDATION: Watch by yourself if curious

UPCOMING REVIEWS: Labor Day