Summer Blockbusters Montage 2015

[Originally posted on 4/21/15]

Get ready for an explosive summer!  Summer blockbusters montage in under 5 minutes:

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Upcoming Movies: May 2015

[Originally posted on 4/28/15]

May 1
"Avengers: Age of Ultron" (http://marvel.com/avengers) - When Tony Stark tries to jumpstart a dormant peacekeeping program, things go awry and it is up to the Avengers to stop the villainous Ultron from enacting his terrible plans.

"Far from the Madding Crowd" - In Victorian England, the independent and headstrong Bathsheba Everdene attracts three very different suitors: Gabriel Oak, a sheep farmer; Frank Troy, a reckless Sergeant; and William Boldwood, a prosperous and mature bachelor.

May 8
"Hot Pursuit" - An inept police officer must protect the widow of a drug dealer from criminals and dirty policemen.

May 15
"Mad Max: Fury Road" (http://www.madmaxmovie.com/) - In a post-apocalyptic world, in which people fight to the death, Max teams up with a mysterious woman, Furiousa, to try and survive.

"Pitch Perfect 2" (http://www.pitchperfectmovie.com/) - After a humiliating command performance at Lincoln Center, the Barden Bellas enter an international competition that no American group has never won in order to regain their status and right to perform.

May 22
"Tomorrowland" (http://movies.disney.com/tomorrowland/) - Bound by a shared destiny, a teen bursting with scientific curiosity and a former boy-genius inventor embark on a mission to unearth the secrets of a place somewhere in time and space that exists in their collective memory.

May 29 
"San Andreas" (http://sanandreasmovie.com/) - In the aftermath of a massive earthquake in California, a rescue-chopper pilot makes a dangerous journey across the state in order to rescue his estranged daughter.

"Aloha" - A celebrated military contractor returns to the site of his greatest career triumphs and re-connects with a long-ago love while unexpectedly falling for the hard-charging Air Force watchdog assigned to him.

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Free Comic Book Day - May 2, 2015

[Originally posted on 4/30/15]

For those of you comic book fans, don't forget this Saturday is the Free Comic Book Day!  Grab your free copies at your nearest store: http://www.freecomicbookday.com

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The Marvel Experience

In recent years, the name 'Marvel' inspires trust and draws fans everywhere, for it being synonymous with high-quality blockbusters. It has raised the bar were high for superheroes, year after year, as proven again last year with “Captain America: The Winter Soldier," and even catapulted obscured characters in the “Guardians of the Galaxy” to worldwide recognition. And ask anyone who attends Comic-Con; it's consistently one of the most popular and packed panels.

The Marvel Experience took place in colossal domes. The first entry point was a memorable takeaway of the experience, where each visitor was asked to create a custom S.H.I.E.L.D “recruit” ID badge, complete with an individual photo. The badge was sent via e-mail as a souvenir. Anyone who felt uneasy and thought that this as a marketing ploy to get demographic information could simply put in random information (there's even a 'species' line where we're given options like human, superhuman, android, etc.). It's harmless. I was impressed with how authentic the badge looked! (I would have posted it here had I not used my personal information)  Enthusiastic staff, dressed in black S.H.I.E.L.D t-shirts, addressed every guest as “recruit” and handed individual Marvel bracelets as we went in. We were told that we would need it later.

Visitors were grouped in batches and let in as the first dome was filled to capacity. We watched some Marvel TV clips before moving on to the main domes. The next two domes had displays, such as weapons used by the Marvel superheroes (shield, sword, hammer, stingers, headband, and many more). Granted, they're more like toys than real movie props exhibited at Comic-Con, but still interesting to view. There were also origin stories and information about those characters, including familiar characters in the Avengers (Iron Man, Captain America, Black Widow, Thor, Hulk, Spider- Man) and other lesser known ones (She-Hulk, Iron Fist, Panther).

Interactive games were the bulk of the attractions, most notably, “training sessions” by our favorite superheroes. Iron Man's flight. Black Widow's laser maze course. Spider-Man's moving rock walls (mainly for kids). Thor's holoblaster (shooting). Hulk's drone blasting. And Avenger's holographic encounter. Other than Black Widow 's and Spider Man's, the majority involves interacting with video screens to mimic those characters' movements, targeting and obliterating their respective obstacles or enemies. Scores were tallied.

What I found most interesting was the Avengers one, where a distinct movement style would “summon” a certain Avenger and I'd see myself on the screen with said Avenger standing next to me or in a fighting mode. A salute gesture would bring forth Captain America, standing tall and ready to soar Iron Man, clasp arms Nick Fury, hulking out Hulk, fighting position Black Widow. The way the projection appeared truly looked like these superheroes were present among us. It's quite neat.

Leaving this dome (no return privilege) and entering a replica model of Quinjet, the Avengers' jet, took us to the “advanced” training session, a 360 degree, stereoscopic 3-D show in a simularium. We looked up and followed the superheroes breaking into Hydra headquarters and battling its army. There's no sitting, but I found it fortunate to be standing at the back corner of the room where I was able to view the projection almost all around and get the most benefit. Like anything in an amusement park, it lasted only minutes and was just too short, unfortunately.

The last session was a simulation ride, with chairs that tilted, lifted, rocked and rumbled. During certain scenes, there was air blowing as an added effect. Each guest was asked to use the Marvel bracelet, an interactive part of the scenes, where we're assisting the superheroes to defeat the enemy. The ride was very gentle that no seat belt was needed.

When I first heard of the Marvel Experience, the inner superhero kid in me was so excited and couldn't wait until it arrived in San Diego. However, there were a lot of doubt with unfavorable reviews from a couple other cities where it was previously held. I tempered my expectations and decided to go anyway. As a Marvel fan, there's no way that I would have missed it. In the end, it's nothing compared to Universal Studios or Disneyland, but it was never meant to compete with either in the first place. And the absence of costumed characters or images of the stars from the movies didn't dampen the experience.

Some activities may be what you'd consider cheesy, but they're all in good fun. I spent a solid three hours, and if not because of the lines, I probably would have tried every activity. The verdict? I really enjoyed it for what it was!

http://www.sdentertainer.com/arts/the-marvel-experience/

[Click to enlarge pictures]

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Academy Awards 2015

[Originally posted on 2/22/15]

Hosted by multi-talented performer Neil Patrick Harris, the 87^th Academy Awards opened with the stage awash in glittery splendor of reds and golds. Harris started off with a biting opening line, “Tonight, we honor Hollywood's best and whitest – sorry, brightest.” He broke into songs with satirical lyrics and appeared to perform magic tricks against the backdrop of moving pictures, interrupted with cameos from Anna Kendrick looking for a lost Cinderella's slipper and Jack Black mocking superhero movies.

Harris made fun of rich stars receiving swag bags worth of $165K each, claiming that an armored car was part of the gifts, which would be needed should there be a revolution. There was a hilarious enactment of Michael Keaton's hallway-walking-in-underwear scene from “Birdman,” in which Harris stripped down and braved the stage dressed in his skivvies.

The first award of the night went to J.K. Simmons as Best Actor for “Whiplash.” The movie grabbed two more awards later in the show, Best Sound Mixing and Best Film Editing. “American Sniper,” where sound played a huge role in enhancing the tension-filled story, earned a win with Best Sound Editing.

Visuals, dominated by sci-fi and superheroes, awarded “Interstellar” with Best Visual Effects award, a film that sweeps the eyes with expansive and imaginative imageries.

The outlandishly delightful “The Grand Budapest Hotel” scored one win after another, with Best Costume Design, Best Makeup and Hair Styling, Best Production Design, and Best Original Score.

The Academy Award voters went with “Big Hero 6” for Best Animated Feature, in contrast with Golden Globes' "How to Train Your Dragon 2."  

Patricia Arquette, who dominated the awards circuit, won Best Supporting Actress. She used part of her speech to advocate for equal wages and rights for women, to the cheers of the star-studded audience. Julianne Moore, bestowed with Best Actress award, graciously mentioned that there was really no 'best actress,' as she was there with them every step of the way. She's glad that the movie brought more awareness to Alzheimer, which could be a very isolating disease. On a lighter note, she joked that she heard winning an Oscar would add one's life expectancy by five years, and if that was the case, she'd thank the Academy because her husband was younger than her.

Eddie Redmayne giddily brought home the gold as Best Actor. There was a spontaneous awe and joy in his acceptance. He dedicated the statue to those around the world with ALS and the Hawking family. He recognized his fortune and zealously said that he would take care and polish the statue. While it had been said that Best Actor race was a strong one, there was never a doubt in my mind as soon as I finished seeing “The Theory of Everything” that Redmayne would go all the way to the Oscars and take it. It's such a life-changing performance.

Best Adapted Screenplay prize went to “The Imitation Game," enthusiastically and humbly accepted by Graham Moore, who made a personal confession about a suicide attempt at age 16 and dedicated the honor to the kid(s) who might feel alone or didn't belong. Moore assured that they did and asked them to stay weird, stay different, and to pass along the message to the next person they reached this stage someday.

“Birdman” nabbed Best Original Screenplay, Best Cinematography and Best Director trophies. Director Alejandro Inarritu gave a grateful, all-encompassing speech, and apologized in case he forgot anyone. The film also took top honor as Best Picture. Inarittu later took the stage again and dedicated the triumph for fellow Mexicans, for those in Mexico with the hope of building a government they deserved, and those in this country, who helped build this immigrant nation, and to be treated with dignity and respect. Last year, another Mexican-born filmmaker, Alfonso Cuaron, won Best Director for “Gravity.” 

In a night with no clear frontrunner, it's good to see many first-timers won and those with deeply personal messages were able to speak from the heart and used the platform to reach out to the masses.

Meryl Streep presented the in memoriam piece, remembering those in the business who have passed in the last year, concluded by Jennifer Hudson's stirring tribute, “I Can't Let Go.”

For entertainment, Adam Levine performed a solo with a nominated song “Lost Stars,” Rita Ora with”Grateful,” and John Legend and Common with “Glory.” “Glory,” which earned a standing ovation and teary eyes from the audience, also took home Best Original Song award. Lady Gaga performed classics of “The Sound of Music” with a live orchestra, simply and classily (no outrageous costumes or antics). Julie Andrews made a surprise appearance, embracing Gaga after her lovely performance. “The Lego Movie” took part with a multitude of characters singing and dancing to its catchy tune, “Everything is Awesome.”

http://www.sdentertainer.com/arts/academy-awards-2015/

And the Oscar goes to...

Best Supporting Actor

JK Simmons - Whiplash

Best Costume Design

Milena Canonero - The Grand Budapest Hotel

Best Makeup and Hairstyling

Frances Hannon, Mark Coulier - The Grand Budapest Hotel

Best Sound Mixing

Craig Mann, Ben Wilkins, Thomas Curley - Whiplash

Best Sound Editing

Alan Robert Murray, Bub Asman - American Sniper

Best Supporting Actress

Patricia Arquette - Boyhood

Best Visual Effects

Paul J Franklin, Andrew Lockley, Ian Hunter, Scott R Fisher - Interstellar

Best Animated Feature

Don Hall, Chris Williams - Big Hero 6 

Best Production Design

Adam Stockhausen, Anna Pinnock - The Grand Budapest Hotel

Best Cinematography

Emmanuel Lubezki - Birdman

Best Film Editing

Tom Cross - Whiplash

Best Original Song

Lonnie Lynn (Common), John Stephens (John Legend) - "Glory," Selma

Best Original Score

Alexandre Desplat – The Grand Budapest Hotel

Best Original Screenplay

Alejandro González Iñárritu, Nicolás Giacobone, Alexander Dinelaris, Armando Bo – Birdman

Best Adapted Screenplay

Graham Moore – The Imitation Game

Best Director

Alejandro González Iñárritu - Birdman

Best Actor

Eddie Redmayne - The Theory of Everything

Best Actress

Julianne Moore - Still Alice

Best Picture

Alejandro González Iñárritu, John Lesher, James W. Skotchdopole - Birdman

For a full list of winners, visit the official website.

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Upcoming Movies: April 2015

[Originally posted on 3/31/15]

April 3
"Furious 7" (http://www.furious7.com) - Deckard Shaw seeks revenge against Dominic Toretto and his family for the death of his brother.

"Woman in Gold" - Maria Altmann, an octogenarian Jewish refugee, takes on the government to recover artwork she believes rightfully belongs to her family.

April 10
"Ex Machina" (http://exmachina-movie.com) - A young programmer is selected to participate in a breakthrough experiment in artificial intelligence by evaluating the human qualities of a breathtaking female A.I.

"The Longest Ride" (http://www.foxmovies.com/movies/the-longest-ride) - The lives of a young couple intertwine with a much older man as he reflects back on a lost love while he's trapped in an automobile crash.

April 17
"True Story" - The relationship between journalist Michael Finkel and Christian Longo, an FBI Most Wanted List murderer who for years lived outside the U.S. under Finkel's name.

"Child 44" (http://www.child44film.com) - A disgraced member of the military police investigates a series of nasty child murders during the Stalin-era Soviet Union.

April 24
"The Age of Adaline" - A young woman, born at the turn of 20th century, is rendered ageless after an accident. After years of a solitary life, she meets a man who might be worth losing her immortality.

"The Water Diviner" - An Australian man travels to Turkey after the Battle of Gallipoli to try and locate his three missing sons.

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"American Sniper"

“There's a war out there. And people are dying.”

Uttered by Chris Kyle (Bradley Cooper, “American Hustle,” “Silver Linings Playbook”), driving along the freeway in Texas with his pregnant wife, Taya (Sienna Miller, “ G.I. Joe: Rise of the Cobra”), sitting next to him. Back from his first tour of duty, Chris is restless and finds it an annoyance when he's asked how he's doing. He insists he's fine – the weather is sunny and clear, and he's driving to the mall. He wonders that people go about their lives, blissfully oblivious to the other side of his world, where every waking minute could be your last or the person whom you're chatting with may drop dead in an instant.

The opening scene, with Chris' rifle lens zooming into a child and is primed to shoot, is in the trailer, but it doesn't lessen the tension. It strikes terror in your heart and the firing sound will make your heart feel like it stop beating for a minute. Throughout Chris' four tours, there are moments like this, where he is forced to make split-second decisions with supreme precision, every single time. One missed, late or wrong move could mean the death of his comrades or loss of lives of innocent civilians. And the enemy comes in different forms, not just armed men, but women or children as well, or termed as “savages,” so one could carry on his duty, purposely taking human lives to save the lives of many others.

Known as the “legend” with his many kills, troops feel invisible by having Chris positioned on rooftops watching over them. But Chris has said that he can't always protect them because he can't shoot what he can't see. From time to time he joins the ground troops, standing shoulder-to-shoulder with them, knocking on doors and hunting for targets.

The film glimpses back to Chris' childhood in Texas, growing up with a stern father who taught him hunting in the woods and standing up for himself. Chris grows up protective of his little brother, and at 30, he signs up with the SEALs. An aspiring cowboy, he feels that he's meant for something more. Flashbacks also show a spirited meet-cute with his future wife over shots in a bar, with chemistry apparent between Cooper and Miller. Even with Taya's hesitation over the life ahead, they end up married and have kids. Private moments stateside or by telephone are interspersed with combat scenes a world away.

Each time Chris returns from his tour, he's not the same man that left. He becomes acutely aware of his surroundings and ultra-sensitive to certain sounds and sights. He looks disconnected, discomfort, sometimes subtly, eyes distant and avoidant. He feels guilty, but not for the reason you may think. This man has such conviction and courage to act on his belief as a consummate professional doing his job, but not without conscience. Fragments of touching personal moments are shown in pieces, pleadings from his wife for him to be 'human' again and come back to her, an encounter and chat in an auto shop with a soldier he saved from the battlefield, close bonds with his brothers in the armed forces in the war zones and at the VA center.

Cooper packed 40 lbs. of muscles and appears physically imposing, but his embodiment of the legendary sniper is also much in spirit. You'll see him simply as Chris Kyle, whether fighting in action or his inner battle. Never missing a beat, it's a performance that throws him into the best actor awards spotlight, joining fellow actors such as Eddie Redmayne in “The Theory of Everything” and Benedict Cumberbatch in “The Imitation Game.” Miller turns in a strong performance as well as a conflicted wife, torn between understanding her husband's need to serve the country and protect others, and her need for him to be home and be there for her and their kids.

Most of us would never experience first-hand the horrors of the battleground, let alone make the life-or-death choices that Chris Kyle did, where he's credited to be the most lethal sniper in U.S. military history with 160 confirmed kills. Directed by Clint Eastwood (“Hereafter”), the story of “American Sniper” is brought to the screen just right. And realistic.

The film does not shy away from the brutal reality of war, but it also feels close to heart (edging “Zero Dark Thirty”). You'll hold your breath and feel every trigger pulled, every shot fired or blood splattered. It demonstrates costly personal ramifications, without glorifying the decorated war hero. An accomplished filmmaking and one of the finest, real and personal, harrowing and absorbing. An “as is” story, that tells the life of Chris Kyle.

There's a collective applause and then reverent silence filled the theater as closing images concluded the film. “American Sniper” honors the memory of Chris Kyle, an exemplary life of service and sacrifice.

http://www.sdentertainer.com/arts/movie-review-american-sniper/

DVD: http://tinyurl.com/americansnipereastwood

DVD (blu-ray): http://tinyurl.com/americansnipercooper

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Upcoming Movies: March 2015

[Originally posted on 3/01/15]

March 6
"Chappie" (http://www.sonypictures.com/movies/chappie/) - In the near future, crime is patrolled by an oppressive mechanized police force. When one police droid is stolen and given new programming, he becomes the first robot with the ability to think and feel for himself.

"Still Alice" (http://sonyclassics.com/stillalice/) - A happily married with three grown children, is a renowned linguistics professor who starts to forget words. When she receives a devastating diagnosis, she and her family find their bonds tested.

March 13
"Cinderella" (http://movies.disney.com/cinderella/) - A live-action retelling of the classic fairy tale about a servant step-daughter who wins the heart of a prince.

"Run All Night" - An aging hitman is forced to take on his brutal former boss to protect his estranged son and his family.

March 20
"Insurgent" (http://www.thedivergentseries.com) - Beatrice Prior must confront her inner demons and continue her fight against a powerful alliance which threatens to tear her society apart with the help from others on her side.

"The Gunman" - A former Special Forces soldier and military contractor suffering from PTSD tries to reconnect with his long time love, but first must go on the run from London to Barcelona and across Europe in order to clear his name.

March 27
"Home" (http://www.meettheboov.com) - When a loveable misfit from another planet, he lands on Earth and finds himself on the run from his own people.  He forms an unlikely friendship with an adventurous girl on a quest of her own. Through a series of comic adventures, he comes to understand that being different and making mistakes is all part of being human. And while he changes her planet and she changes his world, they discover the true meaning of the word "home."

"Serena" (http://www.magpictures.com/serena/) - During the depression-era North Carolina, the future of one man's timber empire becomes complicated when he marries.

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"Big Eyes"

A strange true story, “Big Eyes” documents the story of Margaret Keane (Amy Adams, “American Hustle,” “Man of Steel”), a successful, closet painter in the golden era of the ‘50s and ‘60s. 

Leaving her husband with her daughter in tow, Margaret starts a new life in San Francisco and struggles to get by, displaying her paintings for sale and underpricing them at local fairs.  Margaret, as many women during that period, has never had her own life and feels backed into a corner with her ex-husband wants to get custody of their daughter.  A smarmy real estate salesman and Sunday painter, Walter Keane (Christoph Waltz), charms his way into her life fast and the two soon marry. 

Initially the Keanes tries to sell their paintings individually.  Hers, inspired by her daughter, are paintings of children with waif figures and big, hollow eyes.  His are street-and-building scenes based on his time in Paris – or so he says.  An encounter with a patron of a club where their paintings are displayed leads to a misunderstanding as to who paints those big-eyed children pictures.  And when an incident lands one of the paintings on the front page of a newspaper, Walter, an aggressive self-promoter and aspiring artist, proclaims that he is the painter, not his wife. 

Fame and fortune follow.  That one recognition opens the door to a ton of other opportunities.  The Keanes are now able to open their own gallery and lead a cushy lifestyle.  Walter is the driver behind all the promotion, from connecting to public figures and media, and eventually gets Margaret’s paintings mass-produced and sold all over the world – all the while taking full credit for his wife’s work. 

Margaret is reluctantly supportive of their charade, grows resentful and miserable, and becomes estranged from her daughter, who knows the truth.  Lies that enormous could only last for so long.  While Margaret knows she marries a huckster, she’s forced to leave everything behind when Walter reveals his violent tempers, following an altercation with a top art critic (Terrence Stamp,"The Adjustment Bureau").  Surprisingly chilling. 

Starting like a blank canvas in an another state, living away from Walter and getting close to her daughter again, subservient Margaret at last musters up the courage to tell the truth to the world and brings Walter to court.  The courtroom scene, feels preposterously staged, is admittedly amusing.

Waltz performs his con-artist role with over-exaggerated gestures, like a caricature in parts.  Adams is the real artist here, making her a contender to Rosamund Pike's performance in “Gone Girl” and Felicity Jones in “The Theory of Everything.” Margaret’s repressed, conflicted emotions are subtly shown through her delicate features and vocal tones, beginning with a single look when Margaret first realizes her husband’s deception.  To her, art is personal and touches lives, not simply a commodity that is sold at the right place and price. 

“Big Eyes” is a curiously conventional picture from director Tim Burton, known for his fantasy-based films.  The opening scenery appears almost like a painting and the rest sun-dappled and candy-colored polished.  A melodrama with a comic touch, “Big Eyes,” is not meant to be a masterpiece, rather, an entertaining piece of art.  

http://www.sdentertainer.com/arts/movie-review-big-eyes/

DVD: http://tinyurl.com/bigeyeskeane

DVD (blu-ray): http://tinyurl.com/bigeyeskeanes

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The 25 Most Anticipated Movies of 2015

The Wrap posted a list of the 25 most anticipated movies of 2015, covering a broad spectrum of genres... action, adventure, drama, romance, thriller, sci-fi, superheroes, comedy, musical.  You can expect guaranteed blockbusters, such as ("Jupiter Ascending" and "Insurgent" missing from the list) "Avengers: Age of Ultron" "Furious 7," "Jurassic World," "Ant-Man," "Spectre" (Bond), "The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part II," Star Wars: The Force Awakens," and also a number of smaller or indie films.

Check this out for titles, dates, images and trailers:
http://tinyurl.com/2015anticipatedmovies

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Golden Globes 2015

[Originally posted on 1/11/15]

The funny ladies are back! Tina Fey and Amy Poehler didn't need a charm for the third time, hosting the 72^nd Golden Globes, as they already hit it out of the park in the last two years. The two had said that 2015 would be the last year for them hosting, which some interpreted that they could dish out anything without accountability.

Fey and Poehler didn’t hold back.

Fey and Poehler opened the show with an embarrassing e-mail leak from the Sony hack (“The Interview”), welcoming the stars as minimally talented spoiled brats. They exclaimed that they’re just there to honor all the movies that North Korea was okay with. Margaret Cho, dressed up in a North Korean general garb, was in the audience holding up a pop-culture magazine with leader Kim Jong-un on the cover, and later came on stage joining Fey and Poehler.

To prove that nothing was off-limit, Bill Cosby became a target as well. Poehler said that Sleeping Beauty thought she was just getting coffee with Cosby (in the context of “Into the Woods”).

Fey rattled off Amal Clooney’s impressive achievements an international human rights lawyer with high-profile cases, and ribbed Hollywood for giving her husband, George Clooney, Cecil B. DeMille lifetime achievement award instead.

Emma Stone, with naturally big eyes, was made an example as a living painting from “Big Eyes.” Joaquin Phoenix received the jab with Fey conveying a public statement on his behalf that awards show were utter B.S.

Ladies typically take an inordinate amount of time getting ready for red carpet events compared to men. Fey said that it took her three hours to get ready to be a ‘human woman,’ compared with Steve Carell, who sat for two hours in the makeup chair for his role in “Foxcatcher.”

J.K. Simmons took the first award as Best Supporting Actor in “Whiplash.” Patricia Arquette nabbed Best Supporting Actress for her grounded role as a single mother in “Boyhood.” “Boyhood” also earned Best Director award for its director, Richard Linklater, and the grand prize for the night, Best Motion Picture in the drama category.

Amy Adams was honored as Best Actress in a musical/comedy category for her subtle excellence in “Big Eyes.” She looked authentically surprised, uttering how ill-prepared she was for the win.

Julianne Moore was jubilant for winning Best Actress in the motion picture, drama category, noting the validity of a story about (the mental decline of) a middle-aged woman. So happy to see Eddie Redmayne bestowed with Best Actor award for his most amazing acting in “The Theory of Everything.”

Best Original Score award went to Johann Johannsson for his heartfelt music in “The Theory of Everything,” whereas “Glory” in “Selma had the glory as Best Original Song.

The “Birdman” team scored a win for Best Screenplay. Michael Keaton, favorite to win Best Actor in the musical/comedy category, won and gave an emotional speech about his humble upbringing and family. He praised the movie as an unapologetic look about human nature and gave a shout to its director.

“How to Train Your Dragon 2” bested other popular animations, such as “Big Hero 6” and “The Lego Movie,” and won Best Animated Feature.

“The Grand Budapest Hotel” was an upset win as Best Motion Picture in the comedy or musical category, trumping frontrunners "Birdman" and “Into the Woods.” I didn't get to review “The Grand Budapest Hotel” - it was outlandishly delightful.

Julianna Marguiles and Jon Cheadle, presenter for the Cecil B. DeMille lifetime achievement award, tried to outdo each other (Marguiles' facial expression was priceless!) as to who's a greater friend to George Clooney based on their history co-starring in TV and films. 

Clooney facetiously acknowledged the lukewarm reception for his movie last year, “The Monuments Men,” one of the leaks that came out of the Sony hack. But he impressed upon the stars there that there were no losers even as the majority didn't win since they all had made it there and were celebrated for their work. He also took the opportunity to mention about the unity march in Paris today (in light of the terrorist attack) to show that we would not walk in fear. Lastly, he expressed his pride for being married to Amal.

http://www.sdentertainer.com/arts/golden-globes-2015/

And the Golden Globe goes to...

Motion Picture, Drama

Boyhood

Actor, Motion Picture, Drama

Eddie Redmayne - The Theory of Everything

Actress, Motion Picture, Drama

Julianne Moore - Still Alice

Motion Picture, Musical/Comedy

The Grand Budapest Hotel

Actor, Motion Picture, Musical/Comedy

Michael Keaton - Birdman

Director, Motion Picture

Richard Linklater - Boyhood

Screenplay, Motion Picture

Alejandro González Iñárritu, Armando Bo, Alexander Dinelaris, Nicolás Giacobone - Birdman

Actress, Supporting Role, Motion Picture

Patricia Arquette - Boyhood

Animated Film

How to Train Your Dragon 2

Actress, Motion Picture, Musical/Comedy

Amy Adams - Big Eyes

Original Song, Motion Picture

John Legend, Common - “Glory,” Selma

Original Score, Motion Picture

Jóhann Jóhannsson - The Theory of Everything

Actor, Supporting Role, Motion Picture

J.K. Simmons – Whiplash

For a full list of winners, visit the official website.

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"Paddington"

[Originally posted on 2/01/15]

I'm not a fan of slapstick or gags, but there's so much charm and heart in "Paddington" that it's hard not to feel warm and fuzzy or laugh outloud.  It's a story about finding a home, overcoming xenophobia, accepting differences, and being a part of the family.  And it's wildly fun! There's a killer plot, tied to Paddington's history, with a roller coaster of misadventures and spy actions (the "Mission Impossible" bits had me in stitches!).  Paddington is distinctively British, yet universally entertaining, sweet and wholesome for the whole family.

DVD: http://tinyurl.com/paddingtondvd
DVD: http://tinyurl.com/paddingtonbluray

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Upcoming Movies: February 2015

[Originally posted on 2/03/15]

February 6
"Jupiter Ascending" (http://www.jupiterascending.com/index.php) - In a bright and colorful future, a young destitute caretaker gets targeted by a ruthless son of a powerful family that live on a planet in need of a new heir, so she travels with a genetically engineered warrior to the planet in order to stop his tyrant reign.

"Seventh Son" (http://seventhson.legendary.com/) - Young Thomas is apprenticed to the local Spook to learn to fight evil spirits. His first great challenge comes when the powerful Mother Malkin escapes her confinement while the Spook is away.

February 13
"Kingsman: The Secret Service" (http://www.kingsmanmovie.com/) - A veteran secret agent takes a young upstart under his wing.

"Fifty Shades of Grey" (http://www.fiftyshadesofgreymovie.com/) - Literature student Anastasia Steele's life changes forever when she meets handsome, yet tormented, billionaire Christian Grey.

February 20
"Hot Tub Machine 2" (http://hottubmovie.tumblr.com/) - When Lou, who has become the "father of the Internet," is shot by an unknown assailant, Jacob and Nick fire up the time machine again to save their friend.

"McFarland, USA" - A cross country coach in a small California town transforms a team of athletes into championship contenders.

February 27
"Focus" - A veteran grifter takes a young, attractive woman under his wing, but things get complicated when they become romantically involved.

"Everly" - An action/thriller centered on a woman who faces down assassins sent by her ex, a mob boss, while holed up in her apartment.

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"The Imitation Game"

[Note: Back in the country and catching up on films with awards buzz]

In 1939, Alan Turing (Benedict Cumberbatch, "Penguins of Madagascar") marches into Britain's top-secret Government Code and Cypher School, applying for a job as a cryptographer. He spars with the commander in charge of the program, Commander Alexander Denniston (Charles Dance), astutely stating that the government is working on a stealth project, deciphering Enigma, a major communication device captured from the Germans. A device that, if successfully decoded, would reveal military strategies and surprised attack plans deployed by the Nazis.

But Enigma is truly, well, an enigma. It is enigmatically more complicated than it looks because the device resets itself every midnight, rendering the day's efforts fruitless the next day. There are 159 million combinations and it would take 29 million years for humans to crack every possibility.

Alan convinces the commander that he's up to the task and gets the job, although he starts on an uneasy footing. He's introduced to Stewart Menzies (Mark Strong, “Zero Dark Thirty,” “Sherlock Holmes”), the head of the newly formed MI:6, and a team of cryptographers and linguists. Arrogant and antisocial, he butt heads with the team leader immediately, Hugh Alexander (Matthew Goode, “Leap Year”) and doesn't earn brownie points from the team. Alan makes it known that he works best alone and wants his own team. He surreptitiously finds a way to make it happen, gets promoted to be the lead, and reshapes the team.

Alan knows that the odds are against them, so he aspires for something bigger. With significant government funding on the line, he focuses all his efforts into creating a machine, named Christopher, that could instantly decode those millions of complicated codes and thus defeat Enigma. From flashbacks, we learn about Alan's childhood, bullied and alone, and also his close connection to another boy, Christopher. Alan envisions the machine to be universal, something that would understand all things. That machine is a precursor to modern-day computers.

A new cryptographer, Joan Clarke, (Keira Knightly, “Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit”) joins the team, having solved an advertised crossword puzzle and finished the required test faster than all her male counterparts. Initially mistaken as a secretary, a common profession at that time for women, she proves to be instrumental in softening up Alan and improving his relationships.  He subsequently earns respect and loyalty from his team, and the two also grow close in the process.

During trial and error with the machine, top brasses are growing impatient with Alan and funding runs out. To top it off, the commander is breathing down his neck since he is also suspected for being a Soviet spy. The team sticks together and Alan eventually has his “Eureka” moment.  The machine finally works.

A defining moment in the film happens where the team, now knowing the Germans' plans of attack, decides on the next course of action, and in essence, decides who lives and dies. Such power.  Such moral dilemma.  It painfully remains a secret that they have decoded Enigma so that the Germans would never suspect and adjust their strategies accordingly.  Historians have contributed this achievement to shortening World War II by more than a couple of years and saving millions of lives.

If one were to conjure up a heroic character, on the surface, it would be hard pressed to imagine someone like Alan Turing.  Yet he is, in unimaginable ways.  And knowing how he lives towards the end of his life, where he's forced to reveal everything to a detective (Rory Kinnear) during an interrogation – after all he's contributed to humanity – makes it the more tragic.

Fear for the unknown, intolerance for a lifestyle that doesn't conform to society's standard, homosexuality, treated as a a crime at that time, destroys this tremendous man's life.  There's a deeply personal scene towards the end between Cumberbatch and Knightly. Powerfully performed, especially by Cumberbatch, who will be a contender to Eddie Redmayne's performance in “The Theory of Everything” come awards time.

“Sometimes it is the people no one imagines anything of that do the things no one can imagine.”  There are those people who achieve unimaginable things behind the scene, make lasting impacts and change history. Alan Turing is undoubtedly one of those.

Paced like a ticking clock and suspensefully unfolded, “The Imitation Game” purposefully hits the mark in shining the light on one the most heroic figures of the 20th century.

http://www.sdentertainer.com/arts/movie-review-the-imitation-game/

DVD: http://tinyurl.com/imitationgamecumberbatch

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"The Theory of Everything"

“When there’s life, there is hope.”

Directed by James Marsh, “The Theory of Everything” tells a life story of the world-renowned astrophysicist, Stephen Hawking (Eddie Redmayne, “Les Miserables,” “My Week with Marilyn”).  More of a love story than intellectual discoveries, it’s told from his first wife’s perspective, Jane Hawking (Felicity Jones, “The Amazing Spider-Man 2”), based on her memoir, “Traveling to Infinity: My Life with Stephen.”

Cambridge University, 1963.  Stephen Hawking is first introduced as a vibrant young man with a brilliant scientific mind and quirky humor, quickly charming an arts and literature student, Jane Wilde.  Not long after they meet and fall in love, Stephen receives a devastating diagnosis, degenerative motor neuron disease (ALS or Lou Gehrig’s disease), with an estimated life expectancy of two years.

It’s chillingly heartbreaking to see Stephen falls and hits the ground hard and Jane witnessing the first signs of his physical deterioration during a croquet game.  Even as he pushes her and his friends away, and cautioned by his parents for an uphill battle of a life she could never prepare for, Jane earnestly chooses to stay by his side and marry him regardless.

Then comes the children and domestic life is far more challenging than anyone could ever imagine.  As the deadly disease progresses, Stephen is gradually losing his abilities to do routine things; breathing, bathing, eating, drinking, dressing, speaking, writing, sitting, standing, walking.  It is painful to watch and serves as a powerful reminder of how much we take everyday living for granted.

His mind, his brilliant mind remains, however.  It’s the singular thing that Stephen has control over and continues to put to great use.  He finishes his doctorate study, discovers and theorizes, contributes to breakthroughs, speaks at engagements, writes books, gains recognition and rises to fame.

Life eventually does take a toll on Jane as a primary caretaker as her husband’s life stretches for many years.  She ends up befriending a church choirmaster and kind widower, Jonathan Hellyer Jones (Charlie Cox).  Jonathan becomes a close family friend, supportive and integrated to day-to-day struggle of the family’s life.  Jane’s relationship with him comes across naturally and is handled with class, as well as glimpses of Hawking’s later connection with his new nurse, Elaine Mason (Maxine Peake).  Through it all, Jane and Stephen’s bond is lifelong.  They’re shown as very human and fully realized.

The film is softly shot, hazy and rich in saturated colors, with an authentic feel of sets design and costume of the period.  It tugs at your heartstrings with a stunning score, a harmony of piano and violin.

Redmayne will be up for awards for his true-to-life portrayal.  He didn’t dramatically lose weight or put on prosthetic makeup, but his transformation from an able body to severely debilitated, functioning through a computerized voice and motorized wheelchair, while still conveying the essence of Stephen Hawking is extraordinary.  From struggling to walk, trembling hands, resting of his head, slurring of his speech, to facial tics, including expressive eyes, playful smile and arching eyebrows to communicate and convey his personality.  Jones is not to be overshadowed.  Jane’s incredible inner strength, quiet determination, endless compassion and loving devotion profoundly shine through.

Filled with much life, love and tears, and sprinkled with laughter, “The Theory of Everything” is a beautiful film.

http://www.sdentertainer.com/arts/movie-review-the-theory-of-everything/

http://tinyurl.com/theoryeverything

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"Into the Woods"

[Originally posted on 12/25/14]

A twisted tale on the classics - Cinderella, Rapunzel, Little Red Riding Hood, Jack and the Beanstalk - tied together by the central characters' narrative, a baker and his wife, cursed to be childless by a witch. In order to reverse the spell, the couple must collect a cow as white as milk (Jack), cape as red as blood (Red Riding Hood), slipper as pure as gold (Cinderella), and hair as yellow as corn (Rapunzel) by midnight of the blue moon. Their lives all intersect in the woods.

The actors belt out dialogue in songs like champions, particularly Meryl Streep ("The Iron Lady"), power-singing through the movie and casting spells with her presence. Anna Kendrick ("Up in the Air") and Emily Blunt ("Edge of Tomorrow," "The Adjustment Bureau") enchant in a number of moments.

The movie has an eerie aura throughout its storybook-like settings and is surprisingly violent at times. But it's also self-aware and bleakly funny. It could have done away with the last third act, unnecessarily prolonged and muddled.

Plays like a Broadway show, “Into the Woods” is an entertainingly dark mix of musical and parody.

http://tinyurl.com/intothewoodsmusic

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