Academy Awards 2017

The 89th Academy Awards show opened with a rousing entrance from Justin Timberlake, walking through the aisles, dancing and singing “Can’t Stop This Feeling.”

By the time Jimmy Kimmel showed up on the black-and-gold stage as host, he had got a captive audience, on their feet and having a good time, in which he humorously took credit for.  Despite hosting the Oscars for the first time, Kimmel looked like he was right at home, as if the comedian was there for his late night show, “Jimmy Kimmel Live.”

Diving right into politics, Kimmel commented that the Oscars would be watched by 225 countries who hate us.  He pointed out that we could almost guarantee we would see some of the speeches from tonight appear on the 5 a.m. tweets by President Trump.  He also asked if there was anyone in the room working for CNN, L.A. Times, New York Times or any publication ending with the word ‘Times’ (such as Medieval Times) to leave the building, as we would not tolerate “fake news.”

Kimmel went on to invite Meryl Streep, whose political-laden speech at the recent Golden Globe Awards was both praised and lambasted by different parties, to stand up and for everyone to give her an “undeserved applause.”  Mimicking Trump, he called her “overrated.”  He even went further by taunting Trump with a tweet, #Merylsayhi.

Referring to last year’s controversies #OscarSoWhite, Kimmel noted that things had changed this year.  “Black people saved NASA, white people saved jazz” (in reference to “Hidden Figures” and “La La Land”).  On a serious note, it was great to see Katherine Johnson (age 98), one of the pioneers from the NASA Space Program in 1960s brought onto the stage on a wheelchair as the guest of honor.  Her historic accomplishments can be seen in “Hidden Figures,” one of the best films of the year.

With Kimmel as host, the sarcastic jab about long-time frenemy Matt Damon was to be expected and quite funny.  Among the jabs, he remarked that Damon, who was typically selfish, did an unselfish thing with “Manchester by the Sea.”  He remained as producer and let the brother of his childhood friend, Casey Affleck, did the acting.

The first award of the night, Best Supporting Actor, went to Mahershala Ali (“Moonlight”).  “Moonlight” also scored Best Original Screenplay.  Viola Davis won Best Supporting Actress (“Fences.”).  Davis gave a tearful speech and a nod to the profession as one that celebrates what it means to have a life.  Casey Affleck’s heartbreaking performance in “Manchester by the Sea” earned him BestActor award.  Emma Stone, who tapped and twirled through “La La Land” and was fittingly dressed in gold here, brought home the gold statue as Best Actress.

The Academy spread the love across the board, awarding awards in various categories to multiple films; Best Original Screenplay to “Manchester by the Sea,” Best Makeup and Hairstyling to “Suicide Squad,” Best Costume Design to “Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them,” Best Sound Editing to “Arrival,” and Best Sound Mixing and Best Film Editing to “Hackshaw Ridge.”  The winners looked incredibly surprised, as most expected Hollywood favorite “La La Land” to sweep the awards.  Best Visual Effects was given to “The Jungle Book,” besting sci-fi and superhero movies vying for the award.

“La La Land” did win a number of awards; Best Production Design, Best Cinematography, Best Original Score and Best Original Song, including the prestigious Best Directing award for its director, Damien Chazelle.  Chazelle, at age 32, became the youngest director winning the award in Oscars history.

The brilliant “Zootopia” deservingly won Best Animated Feature.  The acceptance speech mentioned it being a story of tolerance, which is more powerful than fear of the other.  The other animation, “Moana,” had its song, “How Far I’ll Go,” beautifully sung by Auli’I Cravlho, the voice behind the brave teenage girl in the movie.

Stunts on the show involved candies, cookies and donuts, as well as tourists.  Candies, cookies and donuts wrapped inside tiny parachute packages were dropped gently from the ceilings.  Lucky, thrilled tourists from a tour bus, thinking they were walking into an exhibit, were ushered into the front of the room, coming face to face with the stars. The show also had a bunch of stars hilariously read a series of “mean tweets” sent to them.

A dreamlike segment on the show was performed by John Legend, playing the piano and singing, “City of Stars,” against the backdrop of starry skies and surrounded by graceful dancers.

The show ended with a shocker, never-before-happened in the history of the Oscars. “La La Land” was mistakenly announced as winner of Best Picture, by presenters Warren Betty and Faye Dunaway. The whole cast of the romantic musical already gathered onstage when the error had to be corrected. Not fake news or alternative fact, folks, “Moonlight” was the real winner.

Kimmel lightheartedly concluded the show by blurting out that he knew he would screw up the show and that he promised never to come back. What a night!

For a full list of the winners, check out the Academy Awards website here.

http://www.sdentertainer.com/movies/academy-awards-2017/

And the Oscar goes to...

Best Film - Moonlight

Best Animated Film - Byron Howard, Rich Moore and Clark Spencer (Zootopia)

Best Director - Damien Chazelle (La La Land)

Best Actor - Casey Affleck (Manchester By The Sea)

Best Supporting Actor - Mahershala Ali (Moonlight)

Best Actress - Emma Stone (La La Land)

Best Supporting Actress - Viola Davis (Fences)

Best Original Screenplay - Kenneth Lonergan (Manchester By The Sea)

Best Adapted Screenplay - Barry Jenkins and Tarell Alvin McCraney (Moonlight)

Best Original Score - Justin Hurwitz (La La Land)

Best Original Song - Justin Hurwitz, Benj Pasek and Justin Paul (La La Land)

Best Sound Editing - Sylvain Bellemare (Arrival)

Best Sound Mixing - Kevin O'Connell, Andy Wright, Robert Mackenzie and Peter Grace (Hacksaw Ridge)

Best Cinematography - Linus Sandgren (La La Land)

Best Film Editing - John Gilbert (Hacksaw Ridge)

Best Production Design - David Wasco and Sandy Reynolds Wasco (La La Land)

Best Visual Effects - Robert Legato, Adam Valdez, Andrew R. Jones and Dan Lemmon (The Jungle Book)

Best Makeup and Hairstyling - Alessandro Bertolazzi, Giorgio Gregorini and Christopher Nelson (Suicide Squad)

Best Costume Design - Colleen Atwood (Fantastic Beast and Where To Find Them)

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Upcoming Movies: September 2017

[Originally posted on 8/28/17]

September 8
"It" (http://itthemovie.com/) - A group of bullied kids band together when a monster, taking the appearance of a clown, begins hunting children.

"Home Again" (http://homeagain-movie.com/) - Life for a single mom in Los Angeles takes an unexpected turn when she allows three young guys to move in with her.

September 15
"Mother" - A couple's relationship is tested when uninvited guests arrive at their home, disrupting their tranquil existence.

"American Assassin" - A story centered on a counterterrorism agent.

September 22
"Kingsman: The Golden Circle" (http://www.foxmovies.com/movies/kingsman-the-golden-circle) - When their headquarters are destroyed and the world is held hostage, the Kingsman's journey leads them to the discovery of an allied spy organization in the U.S. These two elite secret organizations must band together to defeat a common enemy.

"The Lego Ninjago Movie" (http://www.legoninjagomovie.com/) - Six young ninjas are tasked with defending their island home, called Ninjago. By night, they're gifted warriors, using their skills and awesome fleet of vehicles to fight villains and monsters. By day, ordinary teens struggling against their greatest enemy, high school.

September 29
"American Made" (http://www.americanmademovie.net/) - A pilot lands work for the CIA and as a drug runner in the south during the 1980s.

"Flatliners" - Five medical students, obsessed by what lies beyond the confines of life, embark on a daring experiment: by stopping their hearts for short periods, each triggers a near-death experience - giving them a firsthand account of the afterlife.

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2017 Awards Season: Feature Film Highlights

Get ready for the Oscars! (February 26, 2017)  Check your local theaters to see if they run a viewing package for films that are nominated for best picture. 

Here are some of the films nominated in various categories: (best picture, leading actor, leading actress, supporting actor, supporting actress,  directing, writing, cinematography, costume design, film editing, production design, sound design/editing/mixing, music and visual effects)

http://www.sdentertainer.com/movies/2017-awards-season-feature-film-highlights/

Below are some of the highlights:

"Allied"

Old-fashioned espionage, romance and Casablanca.  In 1942, Canadian intelligence officer Max Vatan (Brad Pitt, "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button") locks eyes and lips with a  French resistance fighter, Marianne Beausejour (Marion Cotillard; "The Dark Knight Rises," "Inception").  Their mission is to attain an invitation to an event where a Nazi ambassador will be attending.  A ticking clock counts down to a diversion, the duo executes the assassination with precision and make their exit.  Max and Marianne move to London, get married and have a baby daughter.   It's domestic bliss until Max is notified by his superiors that Marianne might be a German spy.  Max refuses to believe that Marianne is not who she says she is and goes to great length outside of the official channel to prove her innocence.  It's a conflict between duty to his country and love for his family.  "Allied" plays like a beautiful montage with sumptuous sets, luxe lighting, impeccable costumes and glamorous stars.  It's a glossy spies-in-love war drama, old-Hollywood style.  Check out the full review and trailer here. 

***

"Arrival"

A dozen alien spaceships have descended on various locations around the world.  Dr. Louise Banks (Amy Adams, "Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice," "American Hustle," "Leap Year") is an expert linguist recruited to help decode the language of aliens.  Language is the basis of civilization.  It's how we understand and communicate with the world around us.  And therefore, our brain is wired to comprehend certain elements of life in definite ways, such as the notion of time.  However, since we may not be alone in this universe, our understanding may not necessarily be-all and end-all.  It would behoove us to keep an open mind, observe, listen, learn to seek meaning and understanding, including a principle or practice that may differ from our normal perception, and do our best to communicate with one another.  The ingenuity of the film lies in the overarching premise, pieces that come in the form of the past, present and future that connect a life story to the overall theme.  An enlightening tale about the human mind, communication and perception, "Arrival" is thoughtful and thought-provoking.  Check out the full review and trailer here. 

***

"Doctor Strange"

Superhero meets sorcery.  Dr.  Stephen Strange (Benedict Cumberbatch, "The Imitation Game") is a brilliant neurosurgeon, who is also self-centered and an all-around jerk.  His glorious career ends when he suffers nerve damage from a car wreck.  He discovers the existence of the Ancient One (Tilda Swinton, "Hail, Caesar!"), the guru of mystical and martial arts.  Dr. Strange magically transforms into a master sorcerer; from forming a glowing weapon with his disfigured hands to floating from one dimension portal to another, casting spells and manipulating energy, space and time.  He violates the natural law of time in order to gain the upper hand and preserve humanity.  Everything is not in the clear, however. There's an inherent order of things, including life and death, and they balance humanity.  It's a visually impressive spectacle.  Skyscrapers, walls and floors are twisting, turning, shifting, shaping, folding and collapsing.  Ruins rebuilt.  The parallel realms are a kaleidoscope of colors, fire, light and darkness.  Blending fantasy and magic with superhero action and humor, "Doctor Strange" is a fresh, entrancing entrance into the ever-expanding Marvel Universe.  Check out the full review and trailer here. 

***

"Hidden Figures"

“Hidden Figures” is a remarkable story about three African-American women who worked at NASA in the age of space race as the 'human computers.'  While it tells a weighty story, it is filmed with a lighthearted tone and has a breezy pace.  Katherine Johnson (Taraji P. Henson), Dorothy Vaughn (Octavia Spencer) and Mary Jackson (Janelle Monae) work at a segregated research center.  Racism and sexism permeate every fabric of the severely prejudiced society.  Not only relegated to the back of the bus, there are 'colored' sections for everything - work area, restroom, cafetaria.  Memorable scenes pack emotional and inspirational punch, powered by great acting.   These women march on every day with dedication, diligence, persistence, resilience and determination.  It's a fine balance between knowing their place, stepping back and showing deference to their peers and supervisors, and at the same time, being resourceful, assertive and confident in themselves in seizing opportunities, moving towards achieving their dreams, and being a part of history.  And if history has taught us anything, there's always a first in everything.  "Hidden Figures" is phenomenally uplifting and life-affirming.  Check out the full review and trailer here. 

***

"La La Land"

An aspiring actress (Emma Stone, "The Amazing Spider-Man") and an idealist jazz pianist (Ryan Gosling; "The Big Short," "The Ides of March," "Drive") fall in love and work through their ambitions to make it in the city of dreamers and movie stars.  The charming leads sing, tap and twirl through their meet-cutes and rocky relationship.  The road to achieve one's dreams is not without crushed hopes and personal sacrifice.  Los Angeles is aesthetically filmed, awash with a pastel palette and accentuated with pops of bright colors.  Dreamlike cityscapes and streets in daylight, twilight and illuminated night.  Flared dresses in blood red, royal blue, emerald green and canary yellow.  Melodious song-and-dance numbers include memorable sequences such as a real freeway traffic jam, whimsical tap-dancing on the hill in the dusk, magical floating among the stars in the planetarium, among others.  There's also a melancholic duet on the original song for the movie, "City of Stars."  A romantic musical that blends Old Hollywood fantasy with modern reality, it's a lovely movie to end or start the year.  Check out the full review and trailer here. 

***

"Manchester by the Sea"

A mournful loner, handyman named Lee Chandler (Casey Affleck; "The Finest Hours," "Gone Baby Gone") rushes to his hometown upon hearing the news about his brother's condition in the hospital.  After his brother, Joe (Kyle Chandler; "The Wolf of Wall Street," "Argo"), dies, he is appointed guardian of Joe's teenage son, Patrick (Lucas Hedges).  Returning home is one of the hardest things for Lee, who faces reminders of his painful past, including his ex-wife, Randi (Michelle Williams; "My Week with Marilyn," "Shutter Island"), and the working class community that whispers behind his back.  Lee was a happy-go-lucky guy with a loving family and friends.  An unfathomable tragedy broke him and drove him out of town.  "Manchester by the Sea" is exquisitely shot, with the winter seaside town as an integral part of the film.  Snowy streets, gray skies, cold seas and fishing trips.  It pulls you in gently and it's soberly absorbing.  It feels like real life, with messiness and setbacks.  Not everything broken can be made whole again.  A simple slice of life story, yet a complicated one.  Check out the full review and trailer here. 

***

"Passangers"

Jim Preston (Chris Pratt, "Jurassic World," "Guardians of the Galaxy"), is aboard a spaceship transporting over 5,000 passengers to a new planet.  All passengers are in cyrosleep during the planned 120-year interstellar trip.  Jim's pod has malfunctioned, awakening him 90 years too soon.  A second passenger, Aurora Lane (Jennifer Lawrence; "The Hunger Games" series, "X-Men" series, "American Hustle"), is also awakened later.  Eventually Jim and Aurora realize they are onboard of a sinking spaceship.  The movie's got very cool visual effects.  A super sleek spacecraft with expansive exterior and interior design that looks futuristically real.  A viewing deck for a luminous cosmic show.  An infinity pool at the edge of deep space.  While it's easy to judge Jim's morally questionable actions, none of us will likely never know what it truly feels like being the last person alive.  The movie touches on an existential and morality issues.  It may be easy to dismiss "Passengers" as a Titanic in space with a Hollywood ending, but it's more than that.  "Passengers" offers a sci-fi romance with a thought-provoking twist.  Check out the full review and trailer here. 

***

"Sully"

On January 15, 2009, a flight took off to the clear winter skies under the command of Captain Chesley 'Sully' Sullenberger (Tom Hanks; "Bridge of Spies," "Saving Mr. Banks," "Captain Phillips," "Cloud Atlas").  Shortly after, bird strikes damaged both engines and disabled the aircraft.  After a distressed exchange with the air traffic controller and rapidly evaluating his options, the veteran captain made a split-second decision to glide his plane onto the Hudson River.  That decision proved to be crucial in saving the lives of all 155 people onboard.  Sully is heralded as a hero by the press and public, yet facing intense investigations from NTSB.  Clint Eastwood successfully stages realistic-looking crash and rescue scenes. Chills fill the air when passengers shiver out in the open, sliding down the rafts, lining up the wings or plunging into the frigid river.  Flying may be a routine experience these days.  Until it isn't.  You'll come out with a greater respect and appreciation for the fine men and women that help keep our skies friendly.  "Sully" is an unassumingly riveting docudrama with a heart and a touch of miracle.  Check out the full review and trailer here. 

***

"Zootopia"

It's not another animation.  "Zootopia" zestily deals with complex issues, such as racism, sexism, discrimination, segregation, bullying, stereotyping, nature vs. nurture.  It cleverly camouflages them behind cute animation mirrors, making them are surprisingly engaging and entertaining. Not to mention shrewdly humorous.  An ambitious little bunny grows up a in farm, becomes a cop, and moves to Zootopia.  In this vibrantly rendered, diverse utopia, preys and predators exist harmoniously.  But reality is complicated.  Through a series of unfortunate incidents, the bunny reluctantly teams up with a sly fox with a traumatic past.  They work on an intricate investigation, uncovering the whereabouts of missing mammals. City hall politics are involved, fear campaigns and peace rallies.  Blame game and misdirection abound.   In the end, there is no perfect world.  We all make mistakes.  We don't always get along.  But we also can try to do our best to make a difference, and in the process, we can make the world a better place.  Imaginatively fresh and very grown-up, "Zootopia" is quite possibly the most brilliant, best animation of all time!  Check out the full review and trailer here. 

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Upcoming Movies: May 2017

[Originally posted on 4/29/17]

May 5
"Guardian of the Galaxy Vol. 2" (https://marvel.com/guardians) - The team of space misfits continues with their adventures as they unravel the mystery of Peter Quill's true parentage.

"The Dinner" (https://thedinner.film/) - A look from the dinner table at how far parents will go to protect their children.

May 12
"King Arthur: Legend of the Sword" - Robbed of his birthright, Arthur comes up the hard way in the back alleys of the city. But once he pulls the sword from the stone, he is forced to acknowledge his true legacy, whether he likes it or not.

"Paris Can Wait" (http://sonyclassics.com/pariscanwait/) - Anne is at a crossroads in her life. Long married to a successful, driven but inattentive movie producer, she unexpectedly finds herself taking a car trip from Cannes to Paris with a business associate of her husband. What should be a seven-hour drive turns into a carefree two-day adventure replete with diversions involving picturesque sights, fine food and wine, humor, wisdom and romance, reawakening Anne's senses.

May 19
"Alien: Covenant" (http://www.foxmovies.com/movies/alien-covenant) - The crew of the colony ship Covenant, bound for a remote planet on the far side of the galaxy, discovers what they think is an uncharted paradise. When they uncover a threat beyond their imagination, they must attempt a harrowing escape.

"Everything, Everything" (http://everythingeverythingmovie.com/) - A teenager who's lived a sheltered life because she's allergic to everything, falls for the boy who moves in next door.

May 26
"Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales" (http://pirates.disney.com/pirates-of-the-caribbean-dead-men-tell-no-tales) - Captain Jack Sparrow searches for the trident of Poseidon.

"Baywatch" (http://www.thebaywatchmovie.com/) - Devoted lifeguard butts heads with a brash new recruit. Together they uncover a local criminal plot that threatens the future of the Bay.

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Free Comic Book Day: May 6, 2017

[Originally published on 4/29/17]

For those of you comic fans, Free Comic Book Day is this Saturday, May 6, 2017.  Check this out for participating stores near you: http://www.freecomicbookday.com/

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Upcoming Movies: June 2017

[Originally posted on 5/21/17]

June 2
"Wonder Woman" (http://wonderwomanfilm.com/) - Before she was Wonder Woman she was Diana, princess of the Amazons, trained warrior. When a pilot crashes and tells of conflict in the outside world, she leaves home to fight a war to end all wars, discovering her full powers and true destiny.

"Captain Underpants: The First Epic Movie" (http://www.foxmovies.com/movies/captain-underpants-the-first-epic-movie) - Two overly imaginative pranksters hypnotize their principal into thinking he's a ridiculously enthusiastic, incredibly dimwitted superhero.

June 9
"The Mummy" (http://www.themummy.com/) - An ancient princess is awakened from her crypt beneath the desert, bringing with her malevolence grown over millennia, and terrors that defy human comprehension.

"Megan Leavey" (http://www.bleeckerstreetmedia.com/meganleavey) - Based on the true life story of a young Marine Corporal whose unique discipline and bond with her military combat dog saved many lives during their deployment in Iraq.

June 16
"Cars 3" (http://movies.disney.com/cars-3) - Lightning McQueen sets out to prove to a new generation of racers that he's still the best race car in the world.

"47 Meters Down" - Two sisters vacationing in Mexico are trapped in a shark cage at the bottom of the ocean. With less than an hour of oxygen left and great white sharks circling nearby, they must fight to survive.

June 23
"Transformers: The Last Knight" (http://www.transformersmovie.com/) - Humans and Transformers are at war, Optimus Prime is gone. The key to saving our future lies buried in the secrets of the past, in the hidden history of Transformers on Earth.

June 30
"Despicable Me 3" (http://www.despicable.me/) - Gru meets his twin brother Dru he never knew about.

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Upcoming Movies: April 2017

[Originally posted on 3/26/17]

April 7
"Smurfs: The Lost Village (http://www.smurfsmovie.com/) - A mysterious map sets Smurfette and her friends Brainy, Clumsy and Hefty on an exciting race through the Forbidden Forest, leading to the discovery of the biggest secret in Smurf history.

"Colossal" (http://www.voltagepictures.com/default.aspx) - A woman discovers that severe catastrophic events are somehow connected to the mental breakdown from which she's suffering.

April 14
"The Fate of the Furious" (http://www.fastandfurious.com/) - When a mysterious woman seduces Dom into the world of crime and a betrayal of those closest to him, the crew face trials that will test them as never before.

"The Lost City of Z" (http://thelostcityofzfilm.com/) - A true-life drama, centering on British explorer Col. Percival Fawcett, who disappeared while searching for a mysterious city in the Amazon in the 1920s.

April 21
"The Promise" (http://www.survivalpictures.org/the-promise/) - Set during the last days of the Ottoman Empire, The Promise follows a love triangle between a brilliant medical student, a beautiful and sophisticated woman, and a renowned American journalist based in Paris.

"Leap!" (http://www.ballerinafilm.co.uk/) - An orphan girl dreams of becoming a ballerina and flees her rural town for Paris, where she passes for someone else and accedes to the position of pupil at the Grand Opera house.

April 28 
"The Circle" (http://thecircle.movie/) - A young woman lands a dream job at a powerful tech company called, only to uncover a nefarious agenda that will affect the lives of her friends, family and that of humanity.

"Sleight" - A young street magician is left to care for his sister after their parents passing and turns to illegal activities to keep a roof over their heads. When he gets in too deep, his sister is kidnapped and he is forced to use his magic to save her.

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Upcoming Movies: March 2017

[Originally posted on 2/25/17]

March 3
"Logan" (http://www.foxmovies.com/movies/logan) - In the near future, a weary Logan cares for an ailing Professor X in a hide out on the Mexican border. But Logan's attempts to hide from the world and his legacy are up-ended when a young mutant arrives, being pursued by dark forces.

"Before I Fall" - February 12 is just another day in a girl's charmed life until it turns out to be her last. Stuck reliving her last day over one inexplicable week, she untangles the mystery around her death and discovers everything she's in danger of losing.

"Table 19" - An ex-maid of honor, having been relieved of her duties after being unceremoniously dumped by the best man via text, decides to attend the wedding anyway only to find herself seated with 5 "random" guests at the dreaded Table 19.

March 10
"Kong: Skull Island" (http://kongskullislandmovie.com/) - A team of explorers and soldiers travel to an uncharted island in the Pacific, unaware that they are crossing into the domain of monsters, including the mythic Kong.

March 17
"Beauty and the Beast" (http://movies.disney.com/beauty-and-the-beast-2017) - An adaptation of the Disney fairy tale about a monstrous-looking prince and a young woman who fall in love.

March 24
"Power Rangers" (http://www.powerrangers.movie/) - A group of high-school kids, who are infused with unique superpowers, harness their abilities in order to save the world.

"Life" (http://www.lifemovie.com/) - An international space crew discovers life on Mars.

March 31
"Ghost in Shell" (https://www.facebook.com/GhostInTheShellMovie) - A cyborg policewoman attempts to bring down a nefarious computer hacker.

"The Boss Baby (http://www.dreamworksanimation.com/the-boss-baby/) - A suit-wearing briefcase-carrying baby pairs up with his seven-year old brother to stop the dastardly plot of the CEO of Puppy Co.

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Upcoming Movies: February 2017

February 3
"The Space Between Us" - The first human born on Mars travels to Earth for the first time, experiencing the wonders of the planet through fresh eyes. He embarks on an adventure with a street- smart girl to discover how he came to be.

February 10
"The Lego Batman Movie" (http://www.legobatman.com/) - Bruce Wayne must not only deal with the criminals of Gotham City, but also the responsibility of raising a boy he adopted.

"Fifty Shades Darker" (http://www.fiftyshadesmovie.com/) - While Christian wrestles with his inner demons, Anastasia must confront the anger and envy of the women who came before her.

"John Wick 2" (http://www.johnwick.movie/) - After returning to the criminal underworld to repay a debt, John Wick discovers that a large bounty has been put on his life.

February 17
"The Great Wall" (http://www.thegreatwallmovie.com/) - European mercenaries searching for black powder become embroiled in the defense of the Great Wall of China against a horde of monstrous creatures.

"A Cure for Wellness" (http://www.acureforwellness.com/) - An ambitious young executive is sent to retrieve his company's CEO from an idyllic but mysterious "wellness center" at a remote location in the Swiss Alps but soon suspects that the spa's miraculous treatments are not what they seem.

February 24
"Tulip Fever" - An artist falls for a young married woman while he's commissioned to paint her portrait during the Tulip mania of 17th century Amsterdam.

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"The Founder"

'Crass commercialism' is what the true founders of McDonald's, Mac (John Carroll Lynch) and Dick (Nick Offerman), rejected in the 1950s.  But if it's all up to them, we would never see the famed golden arches conquering the fast food world as it is today.

Directed by John Lee Hancock, "The Founder" tells the story about how a traveling milkshake machine salesman, Ray Kroc (Michael Keaton, "Spotlight"), gets into the business with the McDonald brothers and turns a single burger joint into a worldwide empire.

Initially the McDonald brothers wanted to move west to Hollywood and make it in the movie business.  As luck would have it, their movie theater opened at the start of the Great Depression. One thing was clear, however.  Even as businesses were failing, people still needed to eat.  When  a hot dog stand could thrive in such dire economic climate, they pivoted to the restaurant industry.  The original McDonald's was born.

Riding the drive-in popularity, the McDonald brothers had customers drive in to the parking lot and waiters come to them.  They soon noticed that the majority of sales came from three items - burger, fries and soft drink.  The duo switched their business model and invented an automated system of food preparation, ordering and serving, as cleverly demonstrated in the 'burger ballet' practice sequence.

Fast food was a brand new concept at the time.  Ray experiences first-hand how impressive it was to have his order ready in 30 seconds, in disposable wrapper, bag and cup.  He sees an opportunity with massive potentials and wanted a slice of the pie.  Ray envisions golden arches in every town as places of gathering for community, family and food.

While reluctant at first, the McDonald brothers allow Ray to join them.  They decide to expand on the franchising element and put him in charge as the head of franchisees.  Their main concern is quality control - how to maintain consistency in the standards as far as speed and quality across all locations.

The concern is valid.  Facing challenges of rogue franchisees, Ray focuses his recruitment on the right type of people - those  with desire, drive and fire to succeed, at the same time, are order-abiders.

The growth of the business has impacted Ray's family life and financials. A fortuitous encounter with a finance executive, Harry Sonneborn (B.J. Novak), at the bank gives him a new lease on life. Instead of being beholden to the McDonald brothers for a tiny percentage of profit, Ray dives into a new kind of business with Harry - land holdings.  They tie the franchises into those lands through leases and gain complete control.

Emboldened by success and motivated by bigger profit, Ray goes a step further by violating his original contract with the McDonald brothers.  At the suggestion of the wife of one of his franchisees, Joan Smith (Linda Cardellini), he uses a much cheaper raw material for a key item on the menu.

The McDonald brothers don't know what hits them until it's too late.  Ray Kroc is the founder of the McDonald Corporation.  He may not have the name or  invent the system, but he's the one revolutionizing the industry and known to the public.

"The Founder" is fast-paced, crisply packaged with a retro look and comedic touch.  Keaton plays the role with folksy charisma and hustler smarm, selling all his pitches.  On one side, the movie portrays the ideals of having a vision, ambition, persistence and determination to achieve your dreams.  On the other side, ruthlessness to exploit opportunities and win at all costs in the land of the free.

"The Founder" may not be as wholesome as the global brand markets itself to be, but it is an engaging story about the great idealism and darker reality of American capitalism.

http://www.sdentertainer.com/movies/movie-review-the-founder/

Video: http://tinyurl.com/thefoundervideo

Book: http://tinyurl.com/thefounderbook

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Golden Globes 2017

Jimmy Fallon came swinging as the host of the 74^th Golden Globe Awards.  The opening act was fantastic, mirroring the Los Angeles jammed freeway song-and-dance number from “La La Land,” only with celebrities in their cars lining up on the red carpet to get to the awards show.  It transitioned seamlessly to a modified “City of Stars” piano-playing and gliding-into-the stars dancing scene with Justin Timberlake. 

Unlike previous hosts – Ricky Gervais, Tina Fey and Amy Poehler –  Fallon didn’t make much of an impression.  He did get one political zinger out.  Golden Globes show is the one place where Americans still honor the popular vote.

The first award of the evening, Best Supporting Actor in the motion picture drama category, went to Aaron Taylor-Johnson (“Nocturnal Animals”).  Best Supporting Actress went to Viola Davis (“Fences”).  Frontrunner Casey Affleck scored Best Actor (“Manchesterby the Sea”).  French actress Isabelle Huppert surprisingly earned Best Actress award (“Elle”), besting Hollywood A-listers Amy Adams, Natalie Portman and Jessica Chastain. 

“Zootopia,” quite possibly the most brilliant animation of all time, won Best Animation. 

As expected, “La La Land” racked up the most wins in the musical/comedy category, including Best Original Score and Best Original Song to begin with.  Ryan Gosling was awarded Best Actor.  He quipped that it wasn’t the first time he was mistaken for Ryan Reynolds.  Singing and dancing his way through the movie was one of the best filming experiences he had.  Emma Stone, Gosling’s co-star, predictably won Best Actress.  Stone cited hope and creativity as the two most important things and that she shared the statue with other working artists. She moved 13 years ago to Los Angeles this week as an aspiring actress.  

Damien Chazelle took home two awards for Best Screenplay and Best Director.   He thanked the producers for taking on a gamble on his proposition for the modern, Los Angeles-set musical, which was not easy to put together.  The movie capped it all by winning Best Picture in the same category. 

Viola Davis presented Cecil B. DeMille lifetime achievement award to arguably the most revered actress in Hollywood today, Meryl Streep.  She stated that Streep made her feel proud for being an artist and that what she had in her – her body, her face, her age – was enough. 

Streep took the stage and made a political joke about Hollywood Foreign Press being the most vilified party, Hollywood – Foreigners – Press.  She went on to reveal which foreign countries where some actors and actresses were born or raised in and sarcastically noted, "Hollywood is crawling with outsiders and foreigners, and if you kick us all out, you’ll have nothing to watch except for football and mixed martial arts, which are not arts." 

Streep asked the press to stand up to President-elect Donald Trump, “We need the principled press to hold power to account, to call them on the carpet for every outrage,” after she called out Trump for mocking a disabled reporter during his campaign.  "Disrespect invites disrespect, violence incites violence.  When the powerful use their position to bully others we all lose."  

Streep stirringly ended her speech by quoting the belated Carrie Fisher, "Take your broken heart, make it into art."  

And the Golden Globe goes to…

Best Picture, Drama: “Moonlight”

Best Picture, Comedy or Musical: “La La Land”

Actress, Drama: Isabelle Huppert, “Elle”

Actor, Drama: Casey Affleck, “Manchester by the Sea”

Supporting Actress: Viola Davis, “Fences”

Supporting Actor: Aaron Taylor-Johnson, “Nocturnal Animals”

Actress, Comedy or Musical: Emma Stone, “La La Land”

Actor, Comedy or Musical: Ryan Gosling, “La La Land”

Director: Damien Chazelle, “La La Land”

Screenplay: Damien Chazelle, “La La Land”

Original Score: Justin Hurwitz, “La La Land”

Original Song: “City of Stars,” “La La Land”

Animated Film: “Zootopia”

For a complete list of winners, check out the Golden Globes website here. 

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"Hidden Figures"

"Every time we get a chance to get ahead, they move the finish line. Every time."

Directed by Theodore Melfi and based on the book by Margot Lee Shetterly, “Hidden Figures” is a remarkable story about three African-American women who worked at NASA in the age of space race as the 'human computers' and their significant contributions to the program.  While it tells a weighty story, it is filmed with a lighthearted tone and has a breezy pace.

Katherine Goble Johnson (Taraji P. Henson), Dorothy Vaughn (Octavia Spencer) and Mary Jackson (Janelle Monae) are colleagues and friends at a segregated research center.  They ride to work together, socialize and bond over the reality of life in the 60s as women of color.

Denied promotion, Dorothy performs the work of a supervisor without the title or the pay.  Mary has the brain of an engineer and prerequisite education but isn't able to enroll in an engineering program at the university.  Katherine, a genius mathematician assigned to the Space Task Group is placed as the bottom of the totem pole.  Simply because of their color and gender.  No matter how brilliant their minds are, they are required to be subservient and are undermined at every turn.

Racism and sexism permeate every fabric of the severely prejudiced society.  Not only relegated to the back of the bus, there are 'colored' sections for everything - work area, restroom, cafetaria, even a separate coffee thermos.  It's an eye-opener for the younger generations who didn't live through that disturbing era.

Memorable scenes pack emotional and inspirational punch, powered by great acting. Dorothy has to sneak a programming book out of a white-only library because it's not available in her designated library.  Mary has to petition the court and summon the courage to speak to the judge for a chance to be able to take the requisite engineering classes held in a white-only high school.  Katherine's outburst from being questioned in the open about her work ethic because she disappears for a long period of time during work hours (she has to walk a half mile each time and back to go to the colored ladies room in another building).

Katherine in particular directly helps calculate trajectories of space launch and landing.  Some portions of the film deal with number crunching, mathematical equations and later on the dawn of mainframe computers.  Even though the end result is widely known, Colonel John Glenn's (Glenn Powell) historical orbit trip, both pre-launch and post-flight efforts to bring him back to Earth safely, bring suspenseful moments.  Too soon of an entry point, he would burn upon re-entry.  Too late, he will be further away from the Earth gravity and would never be able to return home.

These empowered women march on every day with dedication, diligence, persistence, resilience and determination.  It's a fine balance between knowing their place, stepping further back and showing clear deference to their peers and supervisors (Kevin Costner, Jim Parsons, Kirsten Dunst), and at the same time, being resourceful, assertive and confident in themselves in seizing opportunities, moving towards achieving their dreams, and being a part of history.

And if history has taught us anything, there's always a first in everything.  It's wonderful to see that these pioneers are no longer hidden.  One of the best films of the year, "Hidden Figures" is phenomenally uplifting and life-affirming.

http://www.sdentertainer.com/movies/movie-review-hidden-figures/

DVD: http://tinyurl.com/hiddenfiguresdvd
Blu-ray: http://tinyurl.com/hiddenfiguresbluray
Video: http://tinyurl.com/hiddenfiguresvideo
Book: http://tinyurl.com/hiddenfiguresnovel

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"La La Land"

An aspiring actress (Emma Stone, "The Amazing Spider-Man") and an idealist jazz pianist (Ryan Gosling; "The Big Short," "The Ides of March," "Drive") fall in love and work through their ambitions to make it in the city of dreamers and movie stars.  The charming leads sing, tap and twirl through their meet-cutes and rocky relationship.

Story-wise, not much happens for a long while, but it kicks in the later part of the movie.  It's about the pursuit of  one's life passion, versus going with the practical route of settling for a regular job and steady income.

For all the A-listers, there are far more working artists.  Countless audition rejections, taking on a second job as a studio barista or a safe one in a local band to make ends meet.  The road to achieve one's dreams is not without crushed hopes and personal sacrifice.

Los Angeles is aesthetically filmed, awash with a pastel palette and accentuated with pops of bright colors.  Dreamlike cityscapes and streets in daylight, twilight and illuminated night.  Flared dresses in blood red, royal blue, emerald green and canary yellow.

Melodious song-and-dance numbers include memorable sequences such as a real freeway traffic jam, whimsical tap-dancing on the hill in the dusk, magical floating among the stars in the planetarium, among others.  There's also a melancholic duet on the original song for the movie, "City of Stars."

A romantic musical that blends Old Hollywood fantasy with modern reality, it's a lovely movie to end or start the year.

http://www.sdentertainer.com/movies/movie-review-la-la-land/

Video: http://tinyurl.com/lalalandvideo

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"Passengers"

A mechanical engineer, Jim Preston (Chris Pratt, "Jurassic World," "Guardians of the Galaxy"), is aboard the Starship Avalon, a spaceship transporting over 5,000 passengers to a newly colonized planet, Homestead Colony.

All passengers and crews are in cyrosleep during the planned 120-year interstellar trip.  30 years en route, the spaceship passes through a meteor shower, leading to a cascade of system failures, which results in the malfunction of one of hibernation pods, Jim's.  He is awakened 90 years earlier.

Pratt is solid here, in portraying Jim's mental state.  From amusing himself with top-flight amenities of the luxury starliner, interacting with the solo android bartender (Michael Sheen, "Tron: Legacy"), to internalizing the terrifying realization of being absolutely alone and will be for the rest of his life.  He continues to maintain some level of likeability throughout.  

When a second passenger, journalist Aurora Lane (Jennifer Lawrence; "The Hunger Games" series, "X-Men" series, "American Hustle"), is also awakened from slumber, Jim and Aurora naturally form a relationship.  They get to know each other, dance with hologram partners, play basketball, watch movies, have drinks, dine in opulence, take heady space walks.  But it's a relationship built on a major secret.  Jim has done something that irrevocably crosses the line.

Eventually Jim and Aurora realizes that they are onboard of a sinking spaceship and everyone's lives is in mortal danger.  The movie rushes toward resolution with a lightning speed, moving from a romantic drama to action.

The movie's got very cool visual effects.  A super sleek spacecraft with expansive exterior and interior design that looks futuristically real.  A viewing deck for a luminous cosmic show.   An infinity pool at the edge of deep space.

Those spoiled by the great sci-fi flicks in the last few years, "Gravity," "Interstellar," "The Martian," and most recently, "Arrival," have undoubtedly looked forward to hopping on the "Passengers" galactic train.

Compared to those critically praised pictures, "Passengers" has garnered less than stellar reactions.  It has a lot to do with an early plot twist (which may or may not be a spoiler, depending on which synopsis you've read) and the ending.

While it's easy to judge Jim's morally questionable actions in the beginning, even those who love solitude will likely never know what it truly feels like being the last person alive.  Humans are social beings.  And Aurora's subsequent actions, she chooses to make those decisions on her own.  The movie touches on an existential ("what would you do?") and morality issues.

It may be easy to dismiss "Passengers" as a Titanic in space with a Hollywood ending.  Ironically, it would have been just that if it's two passengers stranded in a spaceship and making the best of what they have.  But it's more than that.  "Passengers" offers a sci-fi romance with a thought-provoking twist.

http://www.sdentertainer.com/movies/movie-review-passengers/

DVD: http://tinyurl.com/passengersdvd
Blu-ray: http://tinyurl.com/passengersbluray

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Upcoming Movies: January 2017

[Originally posted on 12/29/16]

January 6
"Underworld: Blood Wars" (http://www.underworldbloodwars-movie.com/site/) - Vampire death dealer, Selene, fights to end the eternal war between the Lycan clan and the Vampire faction that betrayed her.

"Hidden Figures" (http://www.foxmovies.com/movies/hidden-figures) - A team of African-American women provide NASA with important mathematical data needed to launch the program's first successful space missions.

January 13
"Live by Night" (http://www.livebynight.movie/) - A story set in the Prohibition Era and centered around a group of individuals and their dealings in the world of organized crime.

January 20
"xXx: The Return of Xander Cage" (http://www.returnofxandercage.com/) - Xander Cage is left for dead after an incident, though he secretly returns to action for a new, tough assignment with his handler.

"Split" (http://www.splitmovie.com/) - After three girls are kidnapped by a man with 24 duel personalities they must find some of the different personalities that can help them while running away and staying alive from the others.

"The Founder" (http://thefounderfilm.com/) - The story of McDonald's founder Ray Kroc.

January 27
"Resident Evil: The Final Chapter" - (http://www.sonypictures.com/movies/residentevilthefinalchapter/) - Alice is the only survivor of what was meant to be humanity's final stand against the undead. The Umbrella Corporation is gathering its forces for a final strike against the only remaining survivors of the apocalypse.

"Gold" - An unlikely pair venture to the Indonesian jungle in search of gold.

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2016: Year in Movies

A look back  to 2016... hundreds of movies in 6:23 minutes.

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