Academy Awards 2016

[For reviews of some of the nominated films, click here].

#OscarsSoWhite.  The Oscars have seen its share of controversies, but this year kicks it up a notch.  2016 marks the second year in a row where no one in color has been nominated for acting, spurring boycotts, racial talks, diversity discussions, and call for institutional change.

For his part, Chris Rock, the host of the 88th Academy Awards, tweeted a cryptic message, #Blackout, ahead of the show, fueling speculations that the comedian would not be deterred from digging into the highly charged topic.

Rock rocked the room from the start, calling the Oscars the “White People’s Choice Awards.”   Had hosts been nominated, he quipped he would not have got the job. He said that while he was encouraged to back out, he would not quit because only unemployed people would do it.  He plainly remarked that decades ago when there were no black nominations, they were not protesting… because they had real issues to protest about (than fussing about an award show).  If we would like to guarantee blacks getting nominated, we should have a black nominees category every year.  In all seriousness, he concluded that black people would just like to receive the same opportunities.  

On sexism in Hollywood, it’s simply common sense. Rock pointed out that actors did not get asked about what they’re wearing because they all essentially wore the same clothing, unlike actresses with varied (and sometimes outlandish) styles.   

Following the black vs. white theme, a black actor was inserted in clips of several nominated movies, eliciting hilarious reactions from fellow actors in those movies.  Also celebrating Black History Month (February), there were mocking snippets, such as showcasing Jack Black (with “Black” being his real last name).

Writers received the first honors of the night, with “Spotlight” winning Best Original Screenplay and “The Big Short” Best Adapted Screenplay. 

Best Supporting Actress award went to rising newcomer Alicia Vikander for “The Danish Girl,” who also gave a terrific performance in “Ex Machina.” “Ex Machina” pulled an upset win (although well-deserved) by winning Best Visual Effects.  Brie Larson, frontrunner for Best Actress, nabbed the statue for her emotional performance in “Room.”  Another first-time nominee, Mark Rylance, won Best Supporting Actor for “Bridge of Spies,” besting nostalgic-favorite Sylvester Stallone.

Something new this year, some of the costumes and set decors from nominated films were displayed on stage, which is a nice touch.  Sci-fi “Mad Max: Fury Road” cleaned up with a half dozen awards, Best Costume Design, Production Design, Film Editing, Sound Editing, Sound Mixing, and Makeup and Hairstyling. 

Best Original Score award went to "The Hateful Eight" and Best Original Song to "Spectre."

Emmanuel Lubezki became the first cinematographer to have won Best Cinematography award three consecutive years; for “The Revenant” this year, “Birdman” last year and “Gravity” two years ago.  Its director, Alejandro G. Innaritu, also earned a win for the film.  He won last year for “Birdman.”  And it’s finally Leo DiCaprio’s year.  Having been nominated several times and lost each time, he was locked in this time for Best Actor and scored the prize for his extreme role in “The Revenant.”  He gave an eloquent speech and took the time to vocalize environmental concerns, a cause close to his heart.

To mix thing up a bit, Star Wars and Toy Story characters, and Despicable Me minions took part on stage for animated skits and awards announcement.  Like clockwork, Pixar’s “Inside Out” took home Best Animated Feature.

Vice President Joe Biden made an appearance to put a spotlight on sexual abuse awareness and asked everyone to pledge intervention.  He introduced Lady Gaga, who then performed a piano piece and song, "Til It Happens to You."  The performance was capped with dozens of sexual abuse survivors joining her on stage and held hands together, a moving sight received with a standing ovation.

Best Picture award was a three-pronged wild card (“The Revenant,” “Spotlight,” “The Big Short”) and it came down to “Spotlight," an important story that needs to be seen.  

For a complete list of winners, check out the official site here.

http://www.sdentertainer.com/movies/academy-awards-2016-recap/

And the Oscar goes to...

Best Picture
"Spotlight"

Best Leading Actor
Leonardo DiCaprio, "The Revenant"

Best Leading Actress
Brie Larson, "Room"

Best Director
Alejandro González Iñárritu, "The Revenant"

Best Original Score
"The Hateful Eight," Ennio Morricone

Best Original Song
'Writings on the Wall,' "Spectre," Jimmy Napes and Sam Smith

Best Supporting Actor
Mark Rylance, "Bridge of Spies"

Best Animated Feature Film
"Inside Out," Pete Docter and Jonas Rivera

Best Visual Effects
"Ex Machina," Andrew Whitehurst, Paul Norris, Mark Ardington and Sara Bennett

Best Sound Mixing
"Mad Max: Fury Road," Chris Jenkins, Gregg Rudloff and Ben Osmo

Best Sound Editing
"Mad Max: Fury Road," Mark Mangini and David White

Best Film Editing
"Mad Max: Fury Road," Margaret Sixel

Best Cinematography
"The Revenant," Emmanuel Lubezki

Best Makeup and Hairstyling
"Mad Max: Fury Road," Lesley Vanderwalt, Elka Wardega and Damian Martin

Best Production Design
"Mad Max: Fury Road," Colin Gibson and Lisa Thompson

Best Costume Design
"Mad Max: Fury Road," Jenny Beavan

Best Supporting Actress
Alicia Vikander, "The Danish Girl"

Best Adapted Screenplay
"The Big Short," Charles Randolph and Adam McKay

Best Original Screenplay
"Spotlight," Josh Singer and Tom McCarthy

2016 Awards Season: Feature Film Highlights

The 2016 Academy Awards will be held on February 28, 2016.  Take some time out to catch up on some of the nominated films up for awards! (best picture, directing, acting, editing, writing, music, visual effects, sound editing and mixing, production and/or costume design).  A number of these movies are still playing on extended run at your local theaters. 

http://www.sdentertainer.com/movies/2016-awards-season-feature-film-highlights/

Here are some of the highlights:

"The Big Short"

Mortgage-backed securities.  Subprime loans.  Adjustable rate mortgage.  Credit default swaps.  Collateralized debt obligation.  How do you think a movie tackling such dry and difficult topics fare?  Dull?  Cumbersome?  Incomprehensible?  Not even close.  The filmmakers craftily executes the film.  To avoid monotone exposition, concepts and occasions are illustrated in a variety of ways.  Songs and news and characters facing and speaking directly to viewers.  And most ingeniously, comically utilizing actress Margot Robbie, chef Anthony Bourdain and singer Selena Gomez, who all make cameos as themselves.  With such serious subject, surprisingly, "The Big Short" is not short on jocularity.  The madcap pace, akin to the award-nominated "The Wolf of Wall Street" (albeit without the gratuitous shots or glamorous sheen), helps make it entertaining.  The film is an enlightening companion piece to the award-winning documentary, "Inside Job."   The ending will make you think about whether the whole economic apocalypse could happen all over again.  Ingloriously funny, fiery and frightening, "The Big Short" is no small feat.  Check out the full review and trailer here. 

***

"Bridge of Spies"

In 1957, a New York insurance lawyer, James Donovan (Tom Hanks, "Saving Mr. Banks"), gets pulled back into criminal law, called to represent an accused Soviet spy, Rudolf Abel (Mark Rylance).  James, an honest, principled man finds that justice can be relative, even as America showing to the world that we provide due process and capable defense for everyone.  A skilled negotiator, James intuitively understands his opponents and pushes the right buttons to make things happen in tricky political waters and hostile climate.  This is a story about doing the right thing even when it doesn't suit your purpose and having respect for people for doing their job honorably for their country even when you don't agree with what they do.  Not as tension-filled as one might think, it's a serious slow-burn, surprisingly sprinkled with mordant humor. Based on real events and helmed by Steven Spielberg ("Lincoln"), "Bridge of Spies" is classily crafted, directed and acted.  Steady, measured and assured historical Cold War drama.  Check out the full review and trailer here.

***

"Cinderella"

It's every little girl's fantasy. Being a princess. And among all the princesses, Cinderella is arguably the fairest of them all.  Unlike the reinvention of the last several adaptations, which edges on the darker side or leans towards modern feminism, "Cinderella” is a straightforward retelling of the classic, although it's not without surprising gems.  The fairy magic does wonders. It's magical to see Cinderella transform, twirl and glow in the shimmery ball gown and sparkling glass slippers. And the rest is a delightful treat because of the gradual transmutations where you can still see partial semblance to the original forms. From pumpkin turning carriage, mice into horses, goose into coachman, lizards into footmen, and back to their origins.  For an old-fashioned story, it ends with an empowering message to speak your mind, stay true to yourself and have the courage to do the right thing.  Lushly gorgeous and opulently vibrant, “Cinderella” is so earnest and charming that you'll be swept away in the dreamy fairy-tale romance and magic of happily ever-after.  Check out the full review and trailer here. 

***

"The Danish Girl"

Einar Wegener/Lili Elbe (Eddie Redmayne, "The Theory of Everything," "Les Miserables," "My Week with Marilyn") is documented as one of the first persons to receive a sex reassignment surgery.  In 1920, Copenhagen, Einar and Gerda Wegener (Alicia Vikander, "Ex-Machina," "The Man from U.N.C.L.E") are like any other young, married couple.  Einar is a successful landscape artist and Gerda a portrait painter.  When a model fails to show up for painting, Gerda jovially persuades her husband to stand in with a women's clothing.  It is at this moment that Einar feels... something.  Something indescribable that makes him feel closer to his true self, which he believes that he's woman.  The film has a soft-focus feel with colorful palette, postcard-perfect scenery, impeccable interior and luxurious costume design.  While Redmayne bravely steps into a unique role, it is Gerda's perpective and Vikander's acting that stand out.   Perchance "The Danish Girl" is not about Einar Wegener/Lili Elbe, but a story about the 'other' Danish girl, Gerda Wegener.  Check out the full review and trailer here. 

***

"Ex-Machina"

A young coder, Caleb (Domhnall Gleeson), wins an office prize for a weeklong retreat with Nathan (Oscar Isaac), the company's reclusive CEO and inventor of the world's most popular search engine. Nathan has been working on a secret project, artificial intelligence in the form of humanoid-robot named Ava (Alicia Vikander).  You'd feel things are not what they seem and something sinister is going to surface, but you don't know what, when or how. It's tantalizingly thrilling. Vikander is a wonder, walking a fine line between human and machine. Her Ava, partially translucent with wires and circuits and partially covered in human skin, is both mechanically perfect and surrealistically human. The reveals come in pieces and they boggle the mind. Ethical quandaries of identity, humanity, freedom, life and mortality. If you could create a machine with human consciousness, would you... just because you could? What if artificial intelligence goes beyond artificial? Does it have the right to exist? How would it be integrated to society? What are the implications? What will become of mankind?  Strikingly compelling, cerebrally cool and eerily suspenseful, “Ex Machina” delivers on the futuristic visual and philosophical level and ceases with an ending that lingers in your mind.  Check out the full review and trailer here.  

***

"The Martian"

During an exploration in Mars, a fierce sandstorm forces a team of astronauts, led by commander Melissa Lewis (Jessica Chastain, "Zero Dark Thirty," "The Debt") to abort their mission and evacuate the base.  Astronaut Mark Watney (Matt Damon, "Elysium," "The Adjustment Bureau") is impaled by a satellite antenna, left stranded and presumed dead.  In a hostile, arid planet and encased in solitude, Mark uses his expertise as a botanist and resourcefulness to generate oxygen, create heat, produce water, grow crops and ration his limited food.  And perhaps just as important, not losing his sense of optimism and wry humor to keep his sanity and spirit alive.  On Earth, a lively group of really smart, passionate people working together tirelessly to develop solutions to rescue Mark.  Drawing upon science, intelligence, collaboration and imagination, it shows how the brightest minds can accomplish great things together.  "The Martian" is a crowdpleaser, hopefully one that may inspire the next generation of space explorations.  Check out the full review and trailer here.

***

"Spotlight"

The film takes us back to 2001 for a behind-the-scene look at "Spotlight, " a team of professional journalists working tirelessly to uncover the truth, unravel and assemble information piece by piece, yielding chilling revelations that rock one of the oldest and most esteemed institutions, the Catholic Church.  Their year-long investigative work and news story won them a Pulitzer award.  This is more than chasing a story,  making a mark or generating money for the publication.  While it's an explosive expose, it is not sensationalized.  This is a hard-hitting storytelling, conducted with sensibility and acted with remarkable realism.  The film also shows the power of the press.  That when a focus of a story is carefully selected, thoroughly investigated, responsibly corroborated, persistently followed through and timed well for publishing can make a far-reaching and lasting difference.  "Spotlight" not only demonstrates investigative journalism at its finest, but perhaps more importantly, it shines a spotlight on a previously untouchable story.  Check out the full review and trailer here. 

***

"Steve Jobs"

"Musicians play the instruments.  I play the orchestra," said Steve Jobs (Michael Fassbender, "X-Men" series, "Prometheus") in response to a question why he gets all the glory since he's not an engineer or designer, and that he takes all the credit for the brilliant and tireless work from the people who devote themselves to him.  The Danny Boyle-directed "Steve Jobs" is uniquely structured like a play, a three-act play before three key product launches; Macintosh, NeXT and iMac.  A paradox, Steve Jobs is out-of-the-box thinker, yet out-of-touch with human connection.  The backstage drama is a cacophony filled with farcical facades about product features, room preparations, and intense confrontations about relationships where each act ends with a phenomenal, cult-like mania when the man of the hour seizes the stage.  The rapid-fire dialogue, razor-sharp script, deft direction and fast-paced editing will keep you fixated onto the screen.  The stakes are elevated and emotions are running at a fever pitch.  "Steve Jobs" is masterfully orchestrated like a spectacular theatrical play in a grand opera house, complete with orchestral music.  Check out the full review and trailer here. 

***

"Trumbo"

"Trumbo" chronicles the life of Dalton Trumbo (Bryan Cranston), one of Tinseltown's most successful and highest paid screenwriters in the 1940s and 1950s.  It's a dark time in Hollywood and American history; the Red Scare period post-World War II where thousands and thousands of people suspected for or believed in communism are targeted unjustly.  Even branded as a traitor, Dalton never lets darkness dims his survivor spirit.  Dalton starts ghostwriting for other writers, working for a fraction of his fees for B-rated producers producing movies starring A-list stars.  Even more fascinating, he establishes a homebased screenwriting business, working with other unemployed screenwriters and cranking out script after script.  The shenanigan eventually pays off, with films like "The Roman Holiday," "The Brave One," "The Exodus" and "Spartacus" grace the silver screen, furtively netting Dalton two Oscars.  "Trumbo" is oddly delightful.   If you're into the movies scene, politics and civil liberties, you'll enjoy the film's history lesson, old-fashioned Hollywood feel, witty wordsmithery and joie de vivre spirit.  Check out the full review and trailer here. 

Upcoming Movies: May 2016

[Originally posted on 4/28/16]

May 6

"Captain America: Civil War" (http://marvel.com/captainamerica) - Political interference in the Avengers' activities causes a rift between former allies Captain America and Iron Man.

"A Bigger Splash" - The vacation of a famous rock star and a filmmaker is disrupted by the unexpected visit of an old friend and his daughter.

May 13

"Money Monster" - In the real-time, high stakes thriller Money Monster, financial TV host Lee Gates (George Clooney) and his producer Patty (Julia Roberts) are put in an explosive situation when an irate investor (Jack O'Connell) takes over their studio.

"The Lobster" (http://www.lobsterfilm.co.uk) - In a dystopian near future, single people, according to the laws of The City, are taken to The Hotel, where they are obliged to find a romantic partner in forty-five days or are transformed into beasts and sent off into The Woods.

May 20

"The Angry Birds Movie" (http://www.angrybirds-movie.com/en/) - Find out why the birds are so angry. When an island populated by happy, flightless birds is visited by mysterious green piggies, it's up to three unlikely outcasts - Red, Chuck and Bomb - to figure out what the pigs are up to.

"The Nice Guys" - A private eye investigates the apparent suicide of a fading porn star in 1970s Los Angeles and uncovers a conspiracy.

May 27

"X-Men: Apocalypse" (http://www.foxmovies.com/movies/x-men-apocalypse) - With the emergence of the world's first mutant, Apocalypse, the X-Men must unite to defeat his extinction level plan.

"Alice Through the Looking Glass" (http://movies.disney.com/alice-through-the-looking-glass) - Alice returns to the whimsical world of Wonderland and travels back in time to save the Mad Hatter.

Win a Trip to San Diego Comic-Con 2016!

[Originally posted on 5/04/16]

In partnership with the Her Universe Fashion Show, Comic-Con HQ wants to send you to the 2016 San Diego Comic-Con!

Sweepstakes will begin Saturday, May 7 at 12:01 a.m. PT and end Friday, May 13 at 11:59 p.m. PT. Each person who signs up for Comic-Con HQ Beta during this time period will receive one (1) entry into the Sweepstakes.  There will be one (1) winner + 3 guest.

The trip will include flights, hotel accommodations, SDCC badges, and VIP seats at the Her Universe Fashion Show for up to four (4) people.

Sign up at http://tinyurl.com/comicconhqheruniverse

Free Comic Book Day: May 7, 2016

[Originally posted on 5/01/16]

If you love comics, don't forget to grab your FREE comics at a participating store near you next Saturday, May 7, 2016 on Free Comic Book Day!

http://www.freecomicbookday.com

"Hail, Caesar!"

It's more like Hail, Hollywood.

The title of the movie puts an emphasis on the star of a biblical ancient Rome epic (a movie within the movie), "Hail, Caesar!," Baird Whitlock (George Clooney, "The Monuments Men," "The Ides of March," "The Descendant").  Clooney plays a buffoon of a leading man.

But the film is actually centered around Eddie Mannix (Josh Brolin, "Oldboy"), Capitol Pictures Studio's head of production and all-around Hollywood fixer in the 1950s.  It's a ludicrous lens into a day in his shoes.

Like holding an animated focus group of religious leaders to gain their opinions to ensure that a movie script would not offend reasonable Americans with varied faith and creed.

Or cooking up unorthodox methods to protect the reputation of a rising starlet (Scarlett Johansson, the "Avengers" series, "Captain America: Winter Soldier," "Her").  The icon of innocence, seen here playing a beloved mermaid, finds herself pregnant out of wedlock.  Something that would create a scandal back then.

And dealing with a perturbed director (Ralph Fiennes, "Skyfall") when the studio makes a decision to take a befuddled cowboy actor (Alden Ehrenreich) and suddenly drops him in a high-society drama film.  The actor, whose sole experience is starring in Western movies, is also urged to make fast friends with the lead actress in public for image purposes.

Not to mention fending off twin-columnist, hungry gossipmongers (both portrayed by Tilda Swinton, "Michael Clayton"), sniffing for salacious exclusives.

As if Eddie's fires couldn't grow any bigger, Baird, in his drunken stupor, is kidnapped by a group of communist film writers.  They demand a $100K ransom in exchange of the release.  They find it a justified sum, as the studio makes the big bucks and none of them received any shares of the profit.  It gets more bizarre from there, as the money may be intended for another end goal.  It is up to Eddie to gather the cash and get his star back in time to resume the big-budget production.

Channing Tatum ("White House Down," "Side Effects," "Haywire") makes a surprisingly amusing appearance as a forlorn sailor, leading a song-and-tap dance number.

All in a day's work.  The work is trying and hours long.  It's not that Eddie doesn't have any other choice, however.  As a matter of fact, Lockheed Martin, an aviation giant, is wooing him with an attractive proposal to work for them and be in the 'serious' business of the future.

There is really no plot or character arc (see "Trumbo" instead), but by golly, it's chock-full of chuckles and the cinematography is sumptuous.

Parodying the rich and famous in the Golden Age, "Hail, Caesar!" is an entertaining satire and love note to Hollywood.

http://www.sdentertainer.com/movies/movie-review-hail-caesar/

DVD: http://tinyurl.com/hailcaesardvd

"London Has Fallen"

[Originally posted on 3/05/16]

"Olympus Has Fallen" takes full advantage of the R-rating by having the highest body count and headshots ever seen in an action movie. The stabbings are brutal and gunfire roars almost nonstop. "London Has Fallen" follows in the similar, no-brainer footsteps.

This time in London, where world leaders on their way to the funeral of the British prime minister are assassinated in mass-coordinated attacks. While the first movie focuses the action inside confinement of the White House, it ups the scale here with dogged chopper and car pursuits.  It is up to the head of the presidential security detail to know who to trust, protect, find escape routes, and eventually extract and rescue the leader of the free world from being publicly executed in front of the world.

In addition to a typical inside job, there's a surprise element here (implausible as it may be) with the Pakistan-based terrorists having embedded themselves in a network of police, military and emergency personnel.

Not much of a story, it's lean, violent and filled with explosions, enough to satisfy action fans.

DVD: http://tinyurl.com/londonhasfallendvd

Upcoming Movies: April 2016

[Originally posted on 3/30/16]

April 8
"Hardcore Henry" - A first-person action film from the eyes of Henry, who's resurrected from death with no memory. He must discover his identity and save his wife from a warlord with a plan to bio-engineer soldiers.

"Demolition" (http://www.foxsearchlight.com/demolition/) - A successful investment banker struggles after losing his wife in a tragic car crash.

April 15
"The Jungle Book" (http://movies.disney.com/the-jungle-book-2016) - An orphan boy is raised in the jungle with the help of a pack of wolves, a bear, and a black panther.

"Criminal" (http://www.criminal.movie/) - The memories & skills of a deceased CIA agent are implanted into an unpredictable and dangerous convict.

April 22
"The Huntsman's: Winter's War"(http://www.thehuntsmanmovie.com) - As two evil sisters prepare to conquer the land; two renegades - Eric the Huntsman - who previously aided Snow White in defeating Ravenna, and his forbidden lover, Sara set out to stop them.

"A Hologram for the King" - A failed American businessman looks to recoup his losses by traveling to Saudi Arabia and selling his idea to a wealthy monarch.

April 29
"Mother's Day" - Intersecting stories with different moms collide on Mother's Day.

"A Beautiful Planet" - An exploration of Earth and beyond as seen from outer space.