Academy Awards 2013

If the last couple of months of excitement and unpredictability was any indication, Hollywood's biggest night might be less predictable than in years past.  Aside from the predictable parade of stars coming out in glamorous gowns and finest tuxes, it certainly was.  It's already season of extremes in the first place with youngest (Quvenzhane Wallis, 9) and oldest (Emanuelle Riva, 86) nominated performers, while leaving out champion directors (Ben Affleck, Kathryn Bigelow and Tom Hooper) whose movies are up for best picture. 

The 2013 Academy Awards carries a theme, music in films.  Instead of mocked-up movie montages, lengthy musical numbers opened the show shortly after Seth MacFarlane took the stage as host.  Less seasoned than veteran host Billy Crystal, MacFarlane jokingly said that hosting the Oscars this year was an honor bestowed on him as everybody else refused. William Shatner made an onscreen cameo as Captain Kirk, displaying fake Twitter posts from the next day on how MacFarlane fared as host. I must say that I missed the inventive montages, which typically have been far more fun. 

MacFarlane quickly took a jab at the Academy Award voters for snubbing directing nomination for Ben Affleck, stating that even though “Argo” was a great film, its director was unknown to the Academy.  Later in the show he remarked that the Oscars was just like a church, with people dressing up, only with more praying (for winning).  He poked fun at Tommy Lee-Jones, Jennifer Lawrence, Daniel Day-Lewis, George Clooney, among others.  I didn't care for him in general; he came off as awkward and some of his jokes hit below the belt.

Halle Berry, a former Bond girl, introduced James Bond footage from different generations as a tribute for the 50^th anniversary.  Dame Shirley Bassey belted out the theme song from “Gold Finger.”  Adele sang “Skyfall” against a screen backdrop of colorful liquid and grabbed Best Original Song award. 

John Travolta, famous for his musical role in “Grease,” presented selected clips from some of the biggest musicals, capped with standing ovation-worthy singing performances from Jennifer Hudson and the cast of “Les Miserables.” “Les Miserables” claimed Best Sound Mixing award, while Best Sound Editing allowed a surprising tie between “Zero Dark Thirty” and “Skyfall.”

Barbra Streisand made a comeback with "The Way We Were" song, following in memoriam segment, flashbacks of those in the industry who passed away in the last year.

Behind-the-scene artists who dress and make up the stars split the awards between “Anna Karenina” (Best Costume Design) and “Les Miserables” (Best Makeup and Hairstyling).

"The Avengers” team, Robert Downey Jr., Samuel Jackson, Chris Evans, Jeremy Renner, Mark Ruffalo, assembled and presented Best Cinematography and Best Visual Effects awards to luminously imaginative “Life of Pi.”  No surprise here. The film also scored Best Original Score. And more significantly, Ang Lee surprisingly took home Best Director gold, beating frontrunner Steven Spielberg (Lincoln). 

On the writing side, Quentin Tarantino took home Best Original Screenplay for “Django Unchained" and made a rousing speech.  Amazing screenplay adaptation and excellent editing net Best Adapted Screenplay and Best Film Editing for "Argo."

Christoph Waltz (“Django Unchained”) bested Tommy Lee-Jones (“Lincoln”) as Best Supporting Actor.  He bowed and saluted the other nominated actors in the category.  Anne Hathaway predictably won Best Supporting Actress for her heartwrenching performance in “Les Miserables.” She singled out Hugh Jackman early in her speech and thanked him.  It's a long way for the former princess in “Princess Diary.”

Daniel Day-Lewis as a living, breathing Lincoln, virtually a lock-in for the top acting honor, easily nabbed Best Actor.  He became the first actor in history to have won the award three times in the leading actor category.  His victory speech was humble and hilarious, showing respect for the other actors nominated in the category and humor about wanting to see Meryl Streep, who presented him with the statue, play Lincoln.  The film also earned Best Production Design for its authentic 18th century production.  

Jennifer Lawrence took a tumble down on the way up to the stage accepting Best Actress award.  She recovered quickly and modestly said that people were rising to their feet simply because they took pity on her falling.  Her dramatically grown-up role in “Silver Lining Playbook” was a standout, a more deserving winner than the initially leading actress, Jessica Chastain (“Zero Dark Thirty”).

Michelle Obama made a surprise appearance via live feed.  Introduced by Jack Nicholson, the first lady took the spotlight with her commentaries on the nominated films and announced Best Motion Picture award.  Crowd-favorite “Argo” ultimately won the hearts of the Academy and claimed Best Motion Picture victory, a very fitting crown.  After being snubbed for directing nomination, Ben Affleck and his "Argo" continued racking up every major award during the awards circuit.  The tidal wave of accolades proved to be unstoppable.  Affleck made a spirited (bordering breathless) and gracious speech, acknowledging the other films nominated for the prestigious prize, everyone and everything associated with the film. 

And the winners are...

Best Motion Picture of the Year

Winner: Argo - Grant Heslov, Ben Affleck, George Clooney

Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role

Winner: Daniel Day-Lewis for Lincoln 

Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role

Winner: Jennifer Lawrence for Silver Linings Playbook 

Best Achievement in Directing

Winner: Ang Lee for Life of Pi 

Best Writing, Screenplay Written Directly for the Screen

Winner: Django Unchained - Quentin Tarantino

Best Writing, Screenplay Based on Material Previously Produced or Published

Winner: Argo - Chris Terrio

Best Achievement in Music Written for Motion Pictures, Original Song

Winner: Skyfall - Adele, Paul Epworth("Skyfall")

Best Achievement in Music Written for Motion Pictures, Original Score

Winner: Life of Pi - Mychael Danna

Best Achievement in Production Design

Winner: Lincoln - Rick Carter, Jim Erickson

Best Achievement in Editing

Winner: Argo - William Goldenberg

Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role

Winner: Anne Hathaway for Les Misérables 

Best Achievement in Sound Editing

Winner: Skyfall - Per Hallberg, Karen M. Baker and Zero Dark Thirty - Paul N.J. Ottosson

Best Achievement in Sound Mixing

Winner: Les Misérables - Andy Nelson, Mark Paterson, Simon Hayes

Best Foreign Language Film of the Year

Winner: Amour (Austria)

Best Achievement in Makeup and Hairstyling

Winner: Les Misérables - Lisa Westcott, Julie Dartnell

Best Achievement in Costume Design

Winner: Anna Karenina - Jacqueline Durran

Best Achievement in Visual Effects

Winner: Life of Pi - Bill Westenhofer, Guillaume Rocheron, Erik De Boer, Donald Elliott

Best Achievement in Cinematography

Winner: Life of Pi - Claudio Miranda

Best Animated Feature Film of the Year

Winner: Brave - Mark Andrews, Brenda Chapman

Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role

Winner: Christoph Waltz for Django Unchained

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

http://www.sdentertainer.com/arts/academy-awards-2013/

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"A Good Day to Die Hard"

Out.of.this.world stunts.  Driving, diving, chasing, crashing, exploding like there's no tomorrow.  It doesn't live up to its predecessor with a non-existent story and weak bad guy, but it's fun.  John McClane (Bruce Willis, "Red") and his estranged son, Jack (Jai Courtney, "Jack Reacher") really try to die hard in so many ways.  Fortunately for us, they continue to live and entertain.  They did a good job in casting Courtney. He's got the build and actually bears resemblance to Willis (much more so than Joseph Gordon-Levitt in "Looper.") And watching him play off Willis, he really could pass as his son. Tons of fun! 

DVD: http://tinyurl.com/abuozge

DVD (blu-ray): http://tinyurl.com/a34gr7o

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"Side Effects"

I must admit I wasn't thrilled with Steven Soderberg's recent work, “Contagion” and “Haywire.” I preferred “Perfect Sense” as a story dealing with worldwide epidemic. And the sum of the actions in “Haywire” doesn't make up for the flat story. “Side Effects,” however, is different story. This medical mystery thriller has lingering effects, in a good way.

Emily (Rooney Mara, “The Social Network”) and Martin Taylor (Channing Tatum, “Haywire”) are just beginning to put their married lives back together. Martin has finally been released from four years in prison for insider trading. But Emily cannot seem to shake off the blues and continues to be depressed. She turns to Dr. Jonathan Banks (Jude Law, “Sherlock Holmes”) and receives a prescription for her depression. Dr. Banks, whose wife lost a high-powered Wall Street job, takes on extra workload, including being a “consultant” for pharmaceutical firm. He offers his patients to participate in experimental studies in exchange for free meds.

At first the story appears to focus on Emily and her struggle in managing her depression on a daily basis, including suicidal tendencies. While the new pill she's popping appears to be working and makes her feel better, it also has adverse side effects, which includes sleepwalking. Her drug-induced sleepwalking proves to be dangerous and results in an unthinkable tragedy. Or is it? Mara is subtly brilliant in her portrayal of Emily. There's an eerie sense of innocence in her fragile frame and vulnerability. 

As the film progresses, it becomes clear that this is more of a story about Dr. Banks, who has to swallow a bitter pill when Emily is arrested, brought to trial, and sent to a psychiatric ward on court order. He tracks down her previous psychiatrist, Dr. Victoria Siebert, icily played by Catherine Zeta-Jones. He gets in touch with the people that Emily has been in contact with recently in order to understand what really happened. 

When Dr. Banks begins noticing signs and connects the dots, the fun starts. You may think you know what's going on, but you don't. It's twists-and-double crosses galore. But don't worry, everything will be answered and wrapped neatly in the end. Instead of a whodunit mystery, “Side Effects” is 'who's playing who.' Expect the unexpected and you'll enjoy this chilling ride.

http://www.sdentertainer.com/arts/movie-review-side-effects/

DVD: http://tinyurl.com/ah3j9wy

DVD (blu-ray): http://tinyurl.com/bel99ut

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2013 Awards Season: Feature Film Highlights

Awards season is in full swing!  If you're behind, there's still time to catch up.  These are some of the films up for best picture or whose actors/actresses are nominated for their acting.  They're likely still playing at select theaters near you.

http://www.sdentertainer.com/arts/reviews-arts/movie-highlights-2013-awards-season/

***

"Argo"
On November 4, 1979, an angry crowd storms the U.S. Embassy in Tehran, demanding return of its deposed leader.  Unbeknownst to the Iranians, six Americans are able to escape and end up holing up in the abode of the Canadian's ambassador.  An expert in "exfiltration" is brought in and leads the covert operation with an outlandish plan, pose the six Americans as Canadian film crew scouting an exotic location for a fake sci-fi movie and then depart from the airport.  Not only that the film is both intelligent and entertaining, it's riveting from start to finish.  Supremely-crafted script and storytelling.  Brisk pace, witty dialogue and suspenseful actions, with tonal balance between lighter humor and dour reality.  Authenticity with period costume and design, newsreels and footage from the era weaved into the story.  Human approach provides connection to the characters and care about their fate.  Solid, ensemble acting.  Based on a true historical story, "Argo" is stranger than fiction and it's an absolute feat.  Best film of 2012!  Check out the full review here.

"Lincoln"
Long, laborious... yet fascinating.  Irish-born and British actor Daniel Day-Lewis disappears and becomes a real, living, breathing Lincoln.  He truly captures the most beloved and storied American political figure, down  to the hunched posture, slight limp of gait, war-weary eyes, high-pitched voice, sunken cheeks and chin-strap beard. A skilled statesman and good man, Lincoln leads the country, divided by years of civil war and dark period of slavery.  He does what's necessary for the greater good - negotiating, persuading, cajoling, compromising, convincing, biding time, trading favors, bribing.  "Lincoln" is not a biography, but a window into the most historic time in the life of  the 16th President of the United States.  It's a revealing window of the backroom political deals that go into the process of the abolition of slavery and uniting of the nation, as well as Lincoln's own personal relationships with his family.  When it boils down to it, this is Day-Lewis' picture; he's perfection.  Check out the full review here.

"Life of Pi"
“You don't know the strength of your faith until it has been tested."  And tested it has.  One teen's survival, while sharing a lifeboat space with a bengal tiger in the vast emptiness of the sea, depends on his faith, belief, hope, spirit to go on, endurance, and at some point, acceptance of what is and letting go  The visuals and special effects are imaginatively exquisite.  Dreamlike imageries will linger in your mind. “Life of Pi,” filled by magical visuals, is an artistic achievement.  It's a fantasy fable, at the same time, somehow the story feels real and plausible.  It's a testament of its captivating storytelling and convincing acting.  When another story is revealed toward the end, the ending will let you choose which journey you'd like to believe.  Spiritual or realistic, or both - what you believe may possibly reveal more about yourself and your own belief.  Check out the full review here.

"Les Miserables"
The film tells a story about a man imprisoned for stealing a loaf of bread to feed his sister's child, gets freed after 19 years, but breaks parole and continues to be on the run from a relentless inspector. He makes an honest and respectable life for himself after a kind gesture from a priest gives him a chance to turn his life around.  The man's run-in with a poor factory worker turned dying prostitute affects her life considerably, and he eventually becomes a protector of her daughter. The story extends through the years with the grown-up daughter experiencing her first love with a young man during the turbulent post-revolutionary times in France.  There are solitary, haunting scenes that will stay in your mind. A spectacular musical adaptation, one could only imagine the herculean efforts that go into this kind of undertaking.  With over 2.5 hours, it's overlong and may test one's patience, especially those who are not into Broadway shows or musicals, but it's definitely worth seeing.  Check out the full review here.

"The Impossible"
Over 230,000 lives lost in 14 countries.  Based on a true story, this is a survival story of one family during the 2004 tsunami.  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 that it feels like a documentary.  It shows how dangerous and frightening to get swept away among downed trees, power lines, cars, boats, sharp debris and anything in between could be.  "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 this is an example of that.  Check out the full review here.

"Zero Dark Thirty"
A chronicle of a decade worth of intelligence efforts that ended with the death of Osama bin Laden on May 6, 2011. The film shows the controversial waterboarding, degradation and humiliation, but also analytical research and mundane briefings, meeting up with foreign sources and following up on leads, as well as bribery. "Zero Dark Thirty" is well-crafted, but it's very clinical.  It feels cold, but it has a real sense of unpredictability and danger, without any glorification or glamorization.  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. 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.  Check out the full review here.

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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.

See the full gallery on Posterous

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"Gangster Squad"

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!

DVD: http://tinyurl.com/bb2fohr

DVD (blu-ray): http://tinyurl.com/bxk8g6e

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"Zero Dark Thirty"

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.

http://www.sdentertainer.com/arts/movie-review-zero-dark-thirty/

DVD: http://tinyurl.com/byn68w2

DVD (blu-ray): http://tinyurl.com/ajv7cw4

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Golden Globes 2013

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/

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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!

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"The Impossible"

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.

http://www.sdentertainer.com/arts/reviews-arts/movie-review-the-impossible/

DVD: http://tinyurl.com/ap3gsu3
DVD (blu-ray): http://tinyurl.com/afvoxy2

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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.

See the full gallery on Posterous

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"Les Miserables"

Directed by Tom Hooper ("The King's Speech"), "Les Miserables" tells a story about a man, Jean Valjean (Hugh Jackman, "X-Men Origins: Wolverine"), who is imprisoned for stealing a loaf of bread to feed his sister's child, gets freed after 19 years, but breaks parole and continues to be on the run from a relentless inspector, Javert (Russell Crowe, "The Next Three Days"). He makes an honest and respectable life for himself after a kind gesture from a priest gives him a chance to turn his life around.

Jean's run-in with a poor factory worker turned dying prostitute, Fantine (Anna Hathaway, "The Dark Knight Rises"), affects her life considerably, and he eventually becomes a protector of her daughter, Cosette (Isabelle Allen). The story extends through the years with Cosette (Amanda Seyfried, "Letters to Juliet"), now grown-up, and is experiencing her first love with a young man, Marius (Eddie Redmayne, "My Week with Marilyn"), during the turbulent post-revolutionary times in France.

It feels awkward at first when the first song is sung when it's supposed to be a dialogue, but soon it becomes almost organic. There are solitary, haunting scenes that will stay in your mind. Jackman is a seasoned stage actor and it shows, but Crowe is surprisingly impressive. Hathaway's performance is all-encompassingly heartrending. Redmayne and Seyfried give a fine performance, but Samantha Barks as impassioned Eponine, the third wheel between the star-crossed lovers, is a revealation. She emerges as the breakout performer. Aaron Tveit memorably takes on the task of being a co-leader of the rebellion, and along with a brave child, (Daniel Huttlestone), become the face of the failed uprising. Sacha Baron Cohen ("Hugo") and Helena Bonham Carter ("The King's Speech"), as a couple owning a brothel, provide a welcome respite in the grim tale. All the actors sing their hearts out (live!) and pour their souls into their performance, including all the supporting players and extras.

A spectacular musical adaptation, "Les Miserables" is a mind-boggling production. One could only imagine the herculean efforts that go into this kind of undertaking. Hooper struck gold with "The King's Speech" two years ago. Not surprisingly, this is also one of those period films that gets mentioned by the awards circuit. With over 2.5 hours, it's overlong and may test one's patience, especially those who are not into Broadway shows or musicals, but it's definitely worth seeing on the big screen.

http://www.sdentertainer.com/arts/movie-review-les-miserables/

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"Jack Reacher"

Adapted from Lee Child's best-selling books, Jack Reacher (Tom Cruise, "Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol") is a former military investigator who has disappeared without a trace.  He only comes back to society only when he feels he's needed, to right wrongs or makes sure that justice is served.

Directed by Christopher McQuarrie, the film opens with an incredibly chilling sequence of sniper attack, even more disturbing in light of the recent tragedy in Newton.  The sequence is effectively shot, using the sniper's vantage point, with the rifle moving back and forth, randomly selecting its victims.  The police (David Oyelowo), predictably catches the wrong guy, James Barr (Joseph Sikora), and Reacher shows up.

Working with a defense lawyer, Helen (Rosamund Pike) with a frayed relationship with her District Attorney father (Richard Jenkins), Reacher reviews evidences, questions misinterpreted conclusions or overlooked connections.  Aside from learning the background of the suspected shooter and victims, a parking meter quarter, bar fight, auto parts store, house trap become the keys in uncovering a conspiracy.  

In Child's books, Reacher is supposed to be this hulking, 6'5" physically imposing guy.  While Cruise certainly doesn't fit the physical description, he surprisingly nails the role. On the brawn side, he fights convincingly.  On the brain aspect, he brings out the character's cool confidence (or smugness, depending on how you see it), competence, intellect, not to mention charismatic presence.  Cruise and Pike have great chemistry, although romance is kept at bay here. Robert Duvall makes quite an impression as a gun range owner.  Werner Herzog and Jai Courtney complete the supporting cast as creepy and cold-blooded bad guys.

Judging from the trailer, "Jack Reacher" may be mistaken for an action flick.  It's more like a crime thriller with a few action sequences.  While the story loses steam towards the end and the conspiracy may not be as big as one might have conjured up, it is one engaging movie.  A story-driven one with a strong and interesting protagonist, it's actually most enthralling during the investigative process in which Reacher piecing together clues.  Not only that, it is unexpectedly funny, with a lot of situational, perfectly timed comical one-liners.

The holiday season has no shortage of movie selections, including those accumulating accolades and gearing up for the primary award shows come January and February 2013.  If you're looking for an alternative flick over the holidays other than vampires, hobbits, musical or history lessons, "Jack Reacher" is a solid, whodunit mystery that will keep you entertained.

http://www.sdentertainer.com/arts/movie-review-jack-reacher/

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2012 Movies: Year in Review

182 movies, under 7 minutes.  Happy Holidays and Happy New Year!

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"Lincoln"

Long, laborious... yet fascinating. 

Irish-born and British actor Daniel Day-Lewis disappears and becomes a real, living, breathing Lincoln.  He truly captures the most beloved and storied American political figure, down  to the hunched posture, slight limp of gait, war-weary eyes, high-pitched voice, sunken cheeks and chin-strap beard. 

A skilled statesman and good man, Lincoln leads the country, divided by years of civil war and dark period of slavery.  He does what's necessary for the greater good - negotiating, persuading, cajoling, compromising, convincing, biding time, trading favors, bribing. 

It's one thing to read books, it's another to see history unfold onscreen.  It's almost unfathomable that there was a time in the history of this great nation where people believed that not all was created equal, that equality was merely in the eyes of the law, and progression, such as the rights to vote for certain segments of the population and women's rights, was feared and opposed. 

Day-Lewis is supported by heavy-hitters; David Strathrairn, James Spader, Tommy Lee Jones, Jackie Earle Haley, Hal Holbrook, among others.  His most powerful, emotional scenes, however, appear in individual moments with his patriotic son, Robert (Joseph Gordon-Levitt, "The Dark Knight Rises") and unstable wife, Mary (Sally Field, "The Amazing Spider Man"), over Robert's wish to join the army and the loss of their first-born son in the war. 

Authentic look into life in the late 18th century is accurately depicted through cinematography, set design, lighting, costume and makeup.  From dimly-lit and smoke-filled rooms, horse-drawn carriages and dirt-covered roads, to the stovepipe hats, boots, gloves and hoop skirts.  Two striking scenes come to mind.  One when Lincoln quietly stands by the window with his younger son, knowing that the 13th Amendment has been passed, in contrast with the cacophony on the voting floor.  And when a shell-shocked Robert Lincoln sees what war really does to soldiers; the ghastly find actually compels him even more to enlist.

Weighed by heavy dialogue, "Lincoln" may not be easy to digest, but with sustained attention, you'll get the essence.  Director Steven Spielberg picks the right moments to tell.  "Lincoln" is not a biography, but a window into the most historic time in the life of  the 16th President of the United States. 

"Lincoln" is a revealing window of the backroom political deals that go into the process of the abolition of slavery and uniting of the nation, as well as Lincoln's own personal relationships with his family.  When it boils down to it, this is Day-Lewis' picture; he's perfection.  Like Colin Firth before him in 2010's historical drama "The King's Speech," it wouldn't be a surprise if he nabs an acting nod for his presidential performance comes awards time.

http://www.sdentertainer.com/arts/reviews-arts/movie-review-lincoln/

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"Life of Pi"

Based on a novel written by Yann Martel and directed by Ang Lee, “Life of Pi” tells an unlikely, simple tale of an Indian boy stranded in the middle of the Pacific Ocean with a tiger.

As told by an older Pi Patel (Irrfan Khan) to a writer (Rafe Spall), the parable begins with Pi's lively childhood (Gautam Belur as a young child, Ayush Tandon as an early teen) in the French part of India, his relationship with his family who owns a zoo, and his growing interest in different kinds of religions.  One day Pi learns an honest lesson about the nature of animals in an encounter set by his father (Adil Hussain), which might just save his life later on.

Facing hard times, the family decides to sell the zoo, cross the Pacific ocean, and start a new life in Canada.  On one stormy night, raging seas sinks the ship, and as fate would have it, pushes teenage Pi (Suraj Sharma) into a lifeboat, along with several animals – zebra, orang utan, hynea, bengal tiger.  With a hungry tiger onboard, one could guess what would happen next. In order to survive, vegetarian Pi must find ways not only to feed himself, but also co-exist with a wild beast, and maintain his sanity.

Considering how the majority of the film is spent in the vast emptiness of the ocean, it's remarkable to see how natural the scenes flow and time flies.  Sharma is the heart and soul of  Pi, conveying the many facets of emotions, with no other human in sight.  “You don't know the strength of your faith until it has been tested."  And tested it has.  His survival depends on his faith, belief, hope, spirit to go on, endurance, and at some point, acceptance of what is and letting go.

The visuals and special effects are imaginatively exquisite.  Dreamlike imageries will linger in your mind.  The rough storms that wreck the ship and makeshift raft. A floating, stunned Pi underwater witnessing the capsized ship and all lives lost.  The glassy surface of the seas mirroring the sunset skies and clouds.  The crystal clear water giving glimpses of the rich marine life, aglow at nighttime against the backdrop of millions of shining stars. A glowing, jumping humpback whale and flying fishes.  The lush, mysterious meerkat-flooded islands.  A digitally rendered bengal tiger that is vividly real.

“Life of Pi,” filled by magical visuals, is an artistic achievement.  It's a fantasy fable, at the same time, somehow the story feels real and plausible.  It's a testament of its captivating storytelling and convincing acting.  When another story is revealed toward the end, the ending will let you choose which journey you'd like to believe.  Spiritual or realistic, or both - what you believe may possibly reveal more about yourself and your own belief. 

http://www.sdentertainer.com/arts/reviews-arts/movie-review-life-of-pi/

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