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Wednesday, January 30, 2013

Upcoming Movies: February 2013

February 1
"Bullet to the Head" (http://bullettothehead.warnerbros.com/) - After watching their respective partners die, a cop and a hitman form an alliance in order to bring down their common enemy.

February 8
"Side Effects" - A woman turns to prescription medication as a way of handling her anxiety concerning her husband's upcoming release from prison.

February 15
"A Good Day to Die Hard" (http://www.diehardmovie.com/) - John McClane travels to Russia to help out his seemingly wayward son, Jack, only to discover that Jack is a CIA operative working to prevent a nuclear-weapons heist, causing the father and son to team up against underworld forces.

"Safe Haven" - A young woman with a mysterious past lands in Southport, North Carolina where her bond with a widower forces her to confront the dark secret that haunts her.

February 22
"Snitch" (http://www.snitch-movie.com/) - A father goes undercover for the DEA in order to free his son who was imprisoned after being set up in drug deal.

Sunday, January 27, 2013

"Gangster Squad"

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Nonstop gung-ho gun-blazing gangster actions.  Loosely based from real events, it goes for gloss than grit.  The stylized violence in Hollywood's golden era is done with glam and humor.  You'll easily root for the squad to rid of the mobsters' ops from the City of Angels.  Far more entertaining than it probably should be!

Saturday, January 19, 2013

"Zero Dark Thirty"

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Fresh off her win at the Academy Awards a few years ago, Kathryn Bigelow teamed up again with Mark Boal to produce "Zero Dark Thirty," chronicling a decade worth of intelligence efforts that ended with the death of Osama bin Laden on May 6, 2011.

The film shows the controversial "enhanced interrogations" that involve degradation, humiliation and waterboarding, but also analytical research and mundane briefings, meeting up with foreign sources and following up on leads, as well as bribery when the situation calls for it. It also shows frustrations and failures that result in costly lives, as can be seen from actual news footage on TV.

"Maya" (Jessica Chastain) is a CIA analyst with a single-minded focus and relentless determination in zeroing on bin Laden. Her life is her work and her work is finding bin Laden. As far as acting goes, she's got better performances in "The Debt." There are moments here where she overemotes and her outburst feels like staged. Chastain is the center of the movie, with numerous interactions with Jason Clarke, Jennifer Ehle ("The King's Speech"), Mark Strong ("Green Lantern"), Kyle Chandler ("Argo").

The film does a good job in showing how risky it is to come up with the decision to storm the fortress. They evaluate options to obtain visual or audio confirmation first, such as using satellite pictures, taking photos from behind the trees, obtaining samples from the trash, sending a doctor in as part of a ruse. But in the end, none of the options would work, at least not without getting suspected and discovered. Aside from Maya's unflinching confidence about the exact whereabout of bin Laden, there is really no certainty; only a relatively strong probability.

"Zero Dark Thirty" is well-crafted, but it's very clinical. There's no character or plot development, background on the characters or side stories. Aside from rare fragments of tension, the first two-thirds of the film is, bluntly put, pretty boring. The last third picks up pace, starting with the discovery of the courier that leads to the compound that harbors bin Laden in the middle of the city in Pakistan.

While the film feels cold, it has a real sense of unpredictability and danger, without any glorification or glamorization. It's especially apparent in the stealth raid in the darkness of the night. From preparing themselves in the air and on the ground, these soldiers courageously risk their lives. They don't know what to expect when they walk into the compound. With no blaring music and actions seen through night goggle vision, the eerily quiet scenes look a lot less "Hollywood."

The final moment of bin Laden's life might have been met with a shot by a member of the SEAL Team Six, but a lot of blood, sweat and tears had been shed prior to the mission. "Zero Dark Thirty" doesn't offer anything extraordinary. But it's a reminder of and insight into the extraordinary efforts that went into capturing and killing the world's number one terrorist. The greatest manhunt in history was no single shot. It also brings a somber sense of closure to 9/11, even when the war on terror never ends.

Sunday, January 13, 2013

Golden Globes 2013

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The 70th Golden Globes aired and it's a great one filled with surprises. Compared to last year, the caliber of films competing for the awards certainly helped.

Tina Fey and Amy Poehler certainly weren't shy as hosts and darted off one arrow after another, picking on select nominees, as well as the Hollywood Foreign Press Association. At one point, they were holding glasses of liquor. I thought they struck the right balance by being entertaining but without being offensive.

"Ricky Gervais could not be here tonight because he is no longer technically in show business."

"When left untreated, HFPA (Hollywood Foreign Press Association) can lead to cervical cancer."

"When it comes to torture, I trust the lady (Kathryn Bigelow for "Zero Dark Thirty") who spent three years married to James Cameron."

"His (Ben Affleck) first two movies took place in Boston, but they moved this one to Iran because they wanted to film somewhere that was friendlier to outsiders."

"I have not seen someone so totally alone and abandoned like that since you (Anne Hathaway in "Les Miserables") were on stage with James Franco at the Oscars."

President Clinton, hilariously referred to as "Hilary Clinton's husband," made a special appearance and was an appropriate special guest presenting the "Lincoln" clip to the audience. Tony Mendez, real-life CIA operative that "Argo" was based on, introduced "Argo." Arnold Schwarzenegger read the winner of Best Foreign Language Film, "Amour," both from Austria.

Daniel Day-Lewis, as the incomparable Lincoln, took home Best Actor award as predicted. But Christoph Waltz was a surprise win as Best Supporting Actor and Quentin Tarantino for screenplay for "Django Unchained," bucking predictions that favored "Lincoln."

I was overjoyed that "Argo" reeled in the big catch of the night.  Ben Affleck, unfairly snubbed by the Academy for Best Director nomination, was anointed Best Director, and his "Argo" as Best Picture. He looked genuinely taken back by the victory and was very humble in his acceptance speech. It's simply wonderful to see that he got the recognition he so deserved. After seeing and reviewing many movies, and even though "Lincoln" may get the gold at the Oscars, I honestly still think "Argo" was the best film of 2012.

Adele was the inevitable winner for Best Original Song in "Skyfall." I was hoping for "Cloud Atlas" to get Best Score nod, but it went to "Life of Pi." With Scottish and scenery elements, Best Animated Feature fell on "Brave."

"Les Miserables" was the theater event of the year and a shoe-in for Best Picture under musical/comedy. Hugh Jackman and Anne Hathaway, the most talked about stars of the musical, claimed Best Actor and Best Supporting Actress, respectively.

Naomi Watts was robbed for Best Actress with her impossibly impressive performance in "The Impossible." The prize went to Jessica Chastain for "Zero Dark Thirty"; she was sincerely appreciative in her speech, tipping her hat off to Kathryn Bigelow (director of "Zero Dark Thirty"), an expert filmmaker who goes against conventional wisdom and inspires women. Jennifer Lawrence as a grown-up in the "Silver Linings Playbook" not surprisingly was selected as Best Actress in the musical/comedy category, giddily mentioned that she beat Meryl Streep.

Jodie Foster received the Cecil B. DeMille Lifetime Achievement Award. She had a lengthy rambling with some touching and funny moments, having been in the movie business since she was a toddler, proudly being 50 years old and "coming out."

And the winners are...

Best Motion Picture - Drama
Winner: Argo

Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture - Drama
Winner: Daniel Day-Lewis for Lincoln

Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture - Drama
Winner: Jessica Chastain for Zero Dark Thirty

Best Motion Picture - Musical or Comedy
Winner: Les Misérables

Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture - Musical or Comedy
Winner: Hugh Jackman for Les Misérables

Best Director - Motion Picture
Winner: Ben Affleck for Argo

Best Animated Film
Winner: Brave

Best Screenplay - Motion Picture
Winner: Django Unchained - Quentin Tarantino

Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in a Motion Picture
Winner: Anne Hathaway for Les Misérables

Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture - Musical or Comedy
Winner: Jennifer Lawrence for Silver Linings Playbook

Best Original Song - Motion Picture
Winner: Skyfall - Adele, Paul Epworth (Skyfall)

Best Original Score - Motion Picture
Winner: Life of Pi - Mychael Danna

Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Motion Picture
Winner: Christoph Waltz for Django Unchained

For a complete list of the winners, please check out the official website.

Stay tuned for the Oscars!

http://www.sdentertainer.com/arts/reviews-arts/golden-globes-2013-recap-and-winners/

Golden Globes 2013 Predictions

Best Picture (Drama) - "Argo" should win, but "Lincoln" may likely win
Best Picture (Comedy/Musical) - "Les Miserables"
Best Animated Feature - "Wreck-It Ralph" should win, but "Brave" may likely win
Best Director - Ben Affleck ("Argo") should win, but Steven Spielberg ("Lincoln") may likely win

Best Actor (Drama) - Daniel Day-Lewis, "Lincoln"
Best Actress (Drama) - Naomi Watts, "The Impossible"
Best Actor (Comedy/Musical) - Hugh Jackman, Les Miserables
Best Actress (Comedy/Musical) - Jennifer Lawrence, Silver Linings Playbook
Best Supporting Actor - Tommy Lee-Jones, "Lincoln"
Best Supporting Actress - Anne Hathaway, "Les Miserables"

Best Screenplay - "Argo" should win, but "Lincoln" may likely win


Best Score - "Cloud Atlas" should win, but "Anna Karenina" may likely win
Best Original Score - Adelle ("Skyfall")

The 2013 Golden Globes is tonight, January 13!

Thursday, January 10, 2013

"The Impossible"

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Over 230,000 lives lost in 14 countries.  This is a survival story of one family during the 2004 tsunami. 

Based on a true story, "The Impossible" recounts an unbelievable tale of survival of Enrique Alvarez (Ewan McGregor, "Haywire," "PerfectSense"), Maria Belon (Naomi Watts), and their three young sons, Lucas (Tom Holland), Thomas (Samuel Joslin), Simon (Oaklee Pendergast).  Only Enrique's name is changed to Henry; everyone in the family uses the real names. 

The film will grab you from the start.  Even as the family's vacation in Thailand begins on a relaxing note, seeing them and all those happy people in a tropical paradise, I couldn't help feeling knots in my stomach.  Nobody could have predicted the horror and suffering that would await them.  It makes the little family quibbles poignant and lantern release on the beach even more ethereal.

Within moments of impact, the monstrous tidal waves engulf and steamroll everything and everyone in its path.  And the aftermath, unimaginable.  The wounded and the dead, and miles and miles of destruction and desolation.  The wrath of nature is re-created so masterfully by filmmaker Juan Antonio Bayona that it feels like a documentary. 

Maria and Lucas quickly find each other, and cling to a tree until getting dragged to safety, but not until they have to figure out what to do when they hear cries of a trapped toddler.  It's visceral filmmaking at its finest.  It's excruciating to witness human beings drowning, getting tossed, turned, hit, poked and punctured.  The aftermath really shows how dangerous and frightening to get swept away among downed trees, power lines, cars, boats, sharp debris and anything in between could be.  With his mom sustaining life-threatening injuries, Lucas is forced to be the grown-up one.  Not knowing that his father and younger brothers survive, feeling overwhelmingly scared and alone, he proves himself to be such an incredibly strong and brave boy.  The rest of the story tells about the rest of the family's survival and their finding their way back to one another.  

Watts deserves every praise that comes her way for her acting.  I really feel her utter terror, pain, agony, sadness and hopelessness.  Physically and emotionally, she reeks death and despair, but still exhibits strength and spirit.  McGregor's performance, with less screentime than Watts, is heartfelt, as a wrecked husband and father.  The child actors are adorable, but Holland is exceptional.  Mature beyond his years, he equally carries the film with Watts.  He and Watts have a genuine mother-son connection.   

"The Impossible" is a real tear-jerker.  It's impossibly gut-wrenching, and often times, difficult to watch.  At the same time, it's also uplifting and healing to see resilience, kindness and love of families and community coming together and helping one another.  Miracles do happen and "The Impossible" is an example of that.




Saturday, January 5, 2013

Upcoming Movies: January 2013

January 4
"A Dark Truth" - A former CIA operative turned political talk show host is hired by a corporate whistle blower to expose her company's cover-up of a massacre in a South American village.

January 11
"Gangster Squad" (http://gangstersquad.warnerbros.com/) - A chronicle of the LAPD's fight to keep East Coast Mafia types out of Los Angeles in the 1940s and 50s.

January 18
"Broken City" (http://www.brokencitymovie.com/) - An ex-cop trailing the wife of New York City's mayor finds himself immersed in a larger scandal.

January 25
"Hansel and Gretel with Witch Hunters" (http://www.hanselandgretelmovie.com/) - In this dark spin on the fairy tale, siblings Hansel and Gretel are a formidable team of bounty hunters who track and kill witches all over the world.