Justin, Dad, and I saw Birdman on November 15, 2014!! This was easily one of my favorite movies of 2014!! The movie follows an actor named Riggan Thomas trying to recreate his image by distancing himself from a persona known as Birdman he made famous about 20 years ago. He constantly has the voice of his character in his head telling him to hang on to the past. Riggan wants to move on from the past, but at the same time it's really what he'll be remembered for. The backstage pass into the theater setting combined with some magnetic personalities really made this an intriguing film. It's a great look at the world of a celebrity not being able to capture the same amount of success they were previously known for.
Michael Keaton delivered his best performance in this movie. He did so well in the role of Riggan struggling to exist in the real world, while also trying to rectify his stage presence. He is such a charismatic individual. He created a character trying to overcome ego, but you realize how difficult this is for him to do. On top of this, he has so many issues with his family, namely his daughter Sam. When he goes into tirades, it's such an amazing thing to watch. He created so many memorable scenes in this whether he was on the stage, yelling at theater critics in a bar, or tussling with his cast mate Mike. Everybody is challenged both personally or professionally in this movie. It's tough for Riggan to exist in either the real world or when he's pretending to be somebody else. Keaton's performance deserves to be nominated for both the Golden Globe and Oscar for Best Actor. He really was that good. Keaton has always been somebody I've liked. He's responsible for two of my favorite movies from childhood: Batman & Beetlejuice.
Two other performances that should be noted are Edward Norton's Mike character. He was great presenting this over the top, tough to deal with actor. Everything is method with Mike. He bothers everybody around him. The second he walks on stage chaos ensues. The thing about Mike is that he can only function when he's being a fraud (portraying somebody else), but when he steps out of the theater doors he just can't function. Norton did so well. He commanded the screen whenever he was on. There was a tremendous scene where he and Keaton have an argument leading to a backstage brawl. The whole theater was into it that I saw. It reminded me of that scene from Batman where Keaton goes: "YOU WANNA GET NUTS? COME ON!!!" Norton's Mike kept taunting Keaton's Riggan throughout the movie. Norton is one of the best actors ever in my opinion, and this was just another case of him showing it. He created an over the top dramatic character that fit so well into this crazy look at celebrity. Norton deserves a Best Supporting Actor nomination for his work.
I was also very impressed with Emma Stone as Sam. Stone has become a pretty good actress over the last few years. I think this was easily her best role since The Help. There's a scene when Sam tells Riggan that he doesn't matter that just captivated me. She was just so great here. I also thought she had tremendous chemistry with Norton. Stone really is becoming one of the premiere actresses in entertainment. Her work in this movie deserves a Best Supporting Actress nomination because she put her all into every scene she was in. She's such an important part of the movie, because she is the rock for both Riggan and Mike.
I thought the scenes on the stage, in the street, backstage, and at the bar were all unique in their own ways. I felt each setting represented a different side of the characters. You really see how personalities change wherever that person is. When the personalities from two different settings merge, it creates a chaotic environment. The scene where Keaton trashes the movie critic was my favorite scene. He was so on fire in this scene and showed just how great of an actor he is. That critic bothered me so much. She deserved that tirade. The cinematography was really great as well. I liked the extended takes and I think it gave a more realistic atmosphere to the movie. The actors get into the roles even more, and for a movie exploring the inner psyches of an actor, that really makes this movie work on a whole new level.
Phenomenal acting, incredible cinematography, the basic plot, and memorable scenes make this movie a definite 5/5 for me. It was a really good artistic movie filled with so many magnetic charisma and intriguing performances.
Welcome to the Two Geeks Go To The Movies! This is a project of two college friends who watch way too many movies and have decided to tell the world. Enjoy the ramblings.
Sunday, November 16, 2014
Tuesday, November 11, 2014
Interstellar Review
Justin, Mike, and I saw Interstellar on November 9, 2014!! I can honestly say this is in my Top 5 movies of 2014. The others are: Guardians of the Galaxy, Divergent, X-Men; Days of Future Past, and Gone Girl. Christopher Nolan has created some of my favorite movies of all time. Inception is actually my second favorite movie ever, and I consider this to be one a true masterpiece of cinema. This was a highly complex movie that really made me enjoy it even more. It tackles the mysteries of space & time as well as giving audiences a deep study into the core of humanity-emotions, what makes us who we are, why we do what we do, etc. The plot revolves around Earth becoming a planet that will not be able to sustain future generations within the next 25 years or so. The mission is to find a sustainable planet for future generations to survive. What evolves from this is one of the most intricate, intriguing, and impressive movies you'll ever find. It's truly a modern epic. We are explorers by nature. This movie shows us how we do that physically and emotionally. The cast is physically exploring the vastness of space, while at the same time the characters are exploring the unpredictable and intricate nature of their humanity. It's really a great parallel throughout.
This is one of the best ensemble casts a movie has assembled since Inception in my opinion. Matthew McConaughey was the perfect casting for the man that has to make the sacrifices not only for himself, but for the good of his family. He showed the deep flaws of man, as well as displaying what I've always said: Matthew McConaughey CAN act. I've been impressed with his work the last few years showing how good he is. I think this was his best work to date, even eclipsing Dallas Buyers Club. He really filled the role of what Cooper was all about. He deserves a nomination at both the Golden Globes and the Oscars. He really had a great understanding of what this movie was about, and he showed it with his performance. It was also great seeing Anne Hathaway involved with such a huge project. Hathaway is by far one of my all time favorite actresses: She's gorgeous (with long or short hair), intelligent, and she knows how to act. I've been a fan since she was the Princess of Genovia. She did well in her role as somebody devoted to her father & the vast mission that they're embarking on. I think the cameo appearance by Matt Damon was excellent. He did really well displaying the effects of space dementia, as well as how much his humanity was affected as a result of being in space for an elongated period of time. It's great seeing that both Ben Affleck and Matt Damon are involved with huge projects this year. These to me were the standouts of the principal cast.
I do want to devote a paragraph to the most important character in the movie: Murph. While Jessica Chastain was obviously excellent, I think Mackenzie Foy stole the show in her scenes. I like when younger actresses show potential, and she really did well laying the groundwork that would build into the epic journey we embark on as an audience. Her facial expressions and selling of the momentary decisions was perfect. Her bond with McConaughey was established early on and we'd see that evolve. Nobody quite knows the limitations of space travel, just like we don't know our own limitations. As I said, there are constant parallels and Nolan never keeps the two entities separate. You could see how both themes were intertwined at each stage of the movie.
The huge twist that tied so many things together had me going from enjoying this movie to absolutely loving it. I literally was sitting on the edge of my seat during the whole twist. I really liked the complexity of it and how both humanity, space, and time seemed to converge into one point. It was brilliant. The score is incredible. Sitting back just listening to this as I type makes me appreciate just how perfectly this accompanied the feature. The music crescendos at the perfect time, and every note is meaningful. Not only are you witnessing amazing acting performances, but you're witnessing an incredible story just exploding in front of you as this wave of sound hits you. While I knew there had to be a connection to certain events in the movie, the journey and initial moment were just so well done. I cannot wait to get this movie on DVD, and I intend to see this again in IMAX. I think it's worth it.
I'd highly recommend this for the brilliant performances, highly interesting & complex story involving space, time, and humanity, the beautiful score, and an all around great movie. As if you couldn't guess, this movie gets a 5/5. I didn't think I'd like it as much as I did when I saw it. I love when a movie surprises me. It's so epic!!
This is one of the best ensemble casts a movie has assembled since Inception in my opinion. Matthew McConaughey was the perfect casting for the man that has to make the sacrifices not only for himself, but for the good of his family. He showed the deep flaws of man, as well as displaying what I've always said: Matthew McConaughey CAN act. I've been impressed with his work the last few years showing how good he is. I think this was his best work to date, even eclipsing Dallas Buyers Club. He really filled the role of what Cooper was all about. He deserves a nomination at both the Golden Globes and the Oscars. He really had a great understanding of what this movie was about, and he showed it with his performance. It was also great seeing Anne Hathaway involved with such a huge project. Hathaway is by far one of my all time favorite actresses: She's gorgeous (with long or short hair), intelligent, and she knows how to act. I've been a fan since she was the Princess of Genovia. She did well in her role as somebody devoted to her father & the vast mission that they're embarking on. I think the cameo appearance by Matt Damon was excellent. He did really well displaying the effects of space dementia, as well as how much his humanity was affected as a result of being in space for an elongated period of time. It's great seeing that both Ben Affleck and Matt Damon are involved with huge projects this year. These to me were the standouts of the principal cast.
I do want to devote a paragraph to the most important character in the movie: Murph. While Jessica Chastain was obviously excellent, I think Mackenzie Foy stole the show in her scenes. I like when younger actresses show potential, and she really did well laying the groundwork that would build into the epic journey we embark on as an audience. Her facial expressions and selling of the momentary decisions was perfect. Her bond with McConaughey was established early on and we'd see that evolve. Nobody quite knows the limitations of space travel, just like we don't know our own limitations. As I said, there are constant parallels and Nolan never keeps the two entities separate. You could see how both themes were intertwined at each stage of the movie.
The huge twist that tied so many things together had me going from enjoying this movie to absolutely loving it. I literally was sitting on the edge of my seat during the whole twist. I really liked the complexity of it and how both humanity, space, and time seemed to converge into one point. It was brilliant. The score is incredible. Sitting back just listening to this as I type makes me appreciate just how perfectly this accompanied the feature. The music crescendos at the perfect time, and every note is meaningful. Not only are you witnessing amazing acting performances, but you're witnessing an incredible story just exploding in front of you as this wave of sound hits you. While I knew there had to be a connection to certain events in the movie, the journey and initial moment were just so well done. I cannot wait to get this movie on DVD, and I intend to see this again in IMAX. I think it's worth it.
I'd highly recommend this for the brilliant performances, highly interesting & complex story involving space, time, and humanity, the beautiful score, and an all around great movie. As if you couldn't guess, this movie gets a 5/5. I didn't think I'd like it as much as I did when I saw it. I love when a movie surprises me. It's so epic!!
Monday, November 10, 2014
Big Hero 6 Review
Justin and I saw Big Hero 6 on November 7, 2014!! This is easily in my Top 5 favorite computer animated movies with the other four being Wreck-It Ralph, Mega-Mind, Frozen, and Toy Story. I would say this movie has something for everyone. It's definitely a more emotional animated movie, and I honestly really enjoy that aspect of these movies. It makes the movie seem more realistic. Everybody can feel a connection to a character in that way.
Big Hero 6 focuses primarily on innovation and never giving up. The big theme centers around the importance of family (especially seen in the amazing bond between young Hero & his older brother Tadashi Hamada). They've had an interesting life being raised by their aunt, but they both are successful in many ways. They're both extremely intelligent. The movie also exemplifies the importance of friends. You always need a good group of people in your corner, especially when things get tough. This movie exhibits how tough things can get, but there's always somebody there to cheer you up, or help you out. Another great look at friendship is seen through Tadashi's creation: Baymax. Baymax is one of the most entertaining characters ever created. It's innocence is so amazing. Even though Baymax is technically a robot, it exhibits core human emotions, so watching him bond with Hero is a really special experience. The creators did really well displaying the different interactions between Hero, Tadashi, Tadashi's friends, and Baymax.
This movie also exhibits great action & drama. The drama that we see in the first part of the movie really crescendos into the amazing action sequences we see towards the middle & end of the movie. The huge event that takes place at the beginning opens up Hero's creativity & motivates him to keep on pushing. Through the bonds he forms with those around him, Hero is able to create an exciting group of superheroes. Watching the different character designs and super powers was very intriguing. This movie just had a constant flow to it. Everything is a building block in this movie to show Hero's true potential, as well as sending a message it's okay to need help sometimes.
This movie truly deserves a 5/5 for it's amazing animation, well created characters, incredibly emotional story, and intricate action sequences. It's a winding staircase leading to a fun adventure for both children and adults. All ages will appreciate this movie. What I like about this and recent animated movies is creators appealing to wider audiences. They're not just speaking to one demographic anymore, and it's created much more intricate and exciting animated movies. This movie is extremely good and certainly deserves to be on the nominees list for Best Animated Movie at both the Golden Globes and the Oscars. It most likely will be on the list considering Disney usually garners nominations (and rightfully so).
Big Hero 6 focuses primarily on innovation and never giving up. The big theme centers around the importance of family (especially seen in the amazing bond between young Hero & his older brother Tadashi Hamada). They've had an interesting life being raised by their aunt, but they both are successful in many ways. They're both extremely intelligent. The movie also exemplifies the importance of friends. You always need a good group of people in your corner, especially when things get tough. This movie exhibits how tough things can get, but there's always somebody there to cheer you up, or help you out. Another great look at friendship is seen through Tadashi's creation: Baymax. Baymax is one of the most entertaining characters ever created. It's innocence is so amazing. Even though Baymax is technically a robot, it exhibits core human emotions, so watching him bond with Hero is a really special experience. The creators did really well displaying the different interactions between Hero, Tadashi, Tadashi's friends, and Baymax.
This movie also exhibits great action & drama. The drama that we see in the first part of the movie really crescendos into the amazing action sequences we see towards the middle & end of the movie. The huge event that takes place at the beginning opens up Hero's creativity & motivates him to keep on pushing. Through the bonds he forms with those around him, Hero is able to create an exciting group of superheroes. Watching the different character designs and super powers was very intriguing. This movie just had a constant flow to it. Everything is a building block in this movie to show Hero's true potential, as well as sending a message it's okay to need help sometimes.
This movie truly deserves a 5/5 for it's amazing animation, well created characters, incredibly emotional story, and intricate action sequences. It's a winding staircase leading to a fun adventure for both children and adults. All ages will appreciate this movie. What I like about this and recent animated movies is creators appealing to wider audiences. They're not just speaking to one demographic anymore, and it's created much more intricate and exciting animated movies. This movie is extremely good and certainly deserves to be on the nominees list for Best Animated Movie at both the Golden Globes and the Oscars. It most likely will be on the list considering Disney usually garners nominations (and rightfully so).
Saturday, November 1, 2014
Nightcrawler Review
Justin and I saw Nightcrawler on November 1, 2014!! I had been interested in this movie since I saw the first trailer. I found this movie to be quite interesting. It gives us a unique look into the world of the media, particularly news stories, specifically Los Angeles crime journalism. I liked looking at the inner workings of a news station, and the way the production team tells the announcers how to spin a piece, frame their sentences, and basically what to really focus on primarily for that particular broadcast.
In this movie, we watch a man named Louis Bloom, who is the embodiment of attaining goals through any means necessary. From the outset you get the idea, that this guy is eccentric & plays by his own rules. He's a man desperate for work. He finds a way into the world of crime journalism by weasling his way into crime scenes, while also showing how intelligent he is. It's actually quite scary how meticulous his planning is at every stage of the movie.
Jake Gyllenhaal was absolutely incredible in this movie. It honestly was my favorite performance of his since Donnie Darko, and I've seen pretty much all of his movies. He perfectly created this character that has a unique view of humanity and spins it for his own maniacal pleasure. He plays everybody he meets. He doesn't stop negotiating until he gets what he wants. Gyllenhaal was perfect in this role. His charisma throughout this movie mixed with the creepiness of the character's tone worked so well. He's always one step ahead of everybody, and I personally loved watching that. Obstacles keep getting placed in front of him, but he navigates his way though them. While Bloom plays an observer, his methods are designed to make him the star.
While there are great performances by other actors, namely Rene Russo who did a great job as the news manager Nina, and a great cameo by Bill Paxton as a fellow Nightcrawler named Joe Loder (I thought Paxton was the best casting for the veteran Nightcrawler), Gyllenhaal is clearly the star of this movie. Some of the scenes kept you on the edge of your seat. The best part of watching these scenes is that you're watching Bloom shape the story in his own way. I think the main story at the end that shows crime filtering into affluent Los Angeles was handled in such an interesting manner. You see Bloom's thinking through every stage of this. His dialogue scenes with Nina, his employee Rick, and police detectives are so mesmerizing. Instances of scenes where I thought the dialogue was great: a Mexican restaurant with Nina, a discussion about a raise with Rick, and basic interrogation questions with the detectives.
I give this movie a 4/5 for a memorable awards worthy performance by Jake Gyllenhaal, memorable scenes, and a great look into the inner workings of a television news network. I encourage people to see this movie simply to watch how cerebral & hauntingly charismatic Gyllenhaal's Louis Bloom character is.
In this movie, we watch a man named Louis Bloom, who is the embodiment of attaining goals through any means necessary. From the outset you get the idea, that this guy is eccentric & plays by his own rules. He's a man desperate for work. He finds a way into the world of crime journalism by weasling his way into crime scenes, while also showing how intelligent he is. It's actually quite scary how meticulous his planning is at every stage of the movie.
Jake Gyllenhaal was absolutely incredible in this movie. It honestly was my favorite performance of his since Donnie Darko, and I've seen pretty much all of his movies. He perfectly created this character that has a unique view of humanity and spins it for his own maniacal pleasure. He plays everybody he meets. He doesn't stop negotiating until he gets what he wants. Gyllenhaal was perfect in this role. His charisma throughout this movie mixed with the creepiness of the character's tone worked so well. He's always one step ahead of everybody, and I personally loved watching that. Obstacles keep getting placed in front of him, but he navigates his way though them. While Bloom plays an observer, his methods are designed to make him the star.
While there are great performances by other actors, namely Rene Russo who did a great job as the news manager Nina, and a great cameo by Bill Paxton as a fellow Nightcrawler named Joe Loder (I thought Paxton was the best casting for the veteran Nightcrawler), Gyllenhaal is clearly the star of this movie. Some of the scenes kept you on the edge of your seat. The best part of watching these scenes is that you're watching Bloom shape the story in his own way. I think the main story at the end that shows crime filtering into affluent Los Angeles was handled in such an interesting manner. You see Bloom's thinking through every stage of this. His dialogue scenes with Nina, his employee Rick, and police detectives are so mesmerizing. Instances of scenes where I thought the dialogue was great: a Mexican restaurant with Nina, a discussion about a raise with Rick, and basic interrogation questions with the detectives.
I give this movie a 4/5 for a memorable awards worthy performance by Jake Gyllenhaal, memorable scenes, and a great look into the inner workings of a television news network. I encourage people to see this movie simply to watch how cerebral & hauntingly charismatic Gyllenhaal's Louis Bloom character is.