Crimson Peak Review

I saw Crimson Peak on October 19, 2015!! Guillermo Del Toro created an incredible gothic romance. I think Del Toro is an underrated director: His creativity has always been on display in each project. It was no exception here. While the underlying theme of ghosts looms, the mystery, intrigue, and secrets buried deep within are the main focus. The use of color was brilliant-the dark tones, blended with the overlying theme of red created a menacing & soothing vibe in the same instance.

I thought the story was intriguing, and created a story you would find straight out of Mary Shelley, Bram Stoker, and other gothic horror authors. The main character Edith Cushing actually being an aspiring author was genius, as it easily reflects the era of the movie. Her story & the theme of the movie reflects the popularity of the gothic horror genre of the era. The movie had a thrill that stayed with you through the end. The costumes, colors, and music were all elements of the movie that kept me invested in the story. The usage of CGI blended with the realistic sets, as well as the dark nature of Allerdale Hall really showed the creative genius of Del Toro's mind.

Mia Wasikowska & Tom Hiddleston displayed excellent chemistry. I thought Hiddleston did really well as a mysterious character, similar to how Count Dracula is when we are first introduced to him. It was great seeing him in a role that showed how good he is as an actor. He definitely worked well in the role of Thomas Sharpe. Wasikowska was perfect for this movie. I feel she immediately undestood what her role was as Edith & ran with it. I've been a fan of her work since Alice In Wonderland, and I think she is one of the most underrated actors in Hollywood. She was incredible throughout the movie-displaying the proper curiosity when it was necessary, while displaying moments of joy, sadness, and fear at every turn of this movie. I also liked the addition of Charlie Hunnam as Dr. Alan McMichael. To me, he was great as that Jonathan Harker type role that is in love with a woman getting involved with somebody she doesn't really know.

I think the show stealer of this movie was Jessica Chastain in the role of Lucille Sharpe. The moment the audience is introduced to her, we can sense there's something off about her. The cold, emotionless look in her eyes was just chilling. The menacing nature of her character reminds me of Jack Torrance in The Shining, Dracula when he reveals his vampiric nature, and simply a woman that is fueled with anger & envy. She was able to balance a gentle demeanor with a sadistic core that perfectly blended into the heart of the movie. Lucille & Thomas's story is dark, and this is reflected in Lucille's personality throughout the movie.

In a movie called Crimson Peak, blood flows deep from the walls, in the ground, and all around. The gothic romance & thrilling nature of the movie blended with natural chemistry between actors, as well as a grisly finale present one of my Top 10 movies of 2015. It definitely gets a 5/5 for me. Beware Crimson Peak!!

Pan Review

I saw Pan on October 12, 2015!! While the critics have been tearing this apart left and right, I found it to be one of the most exciting & intriguing movies of 2015!! It was somewhat of an origin story of Neverland. The visual effects blended with the story created a unique movie experience.

Pan was certainly a movie using magic & prophecies at its core. Each character was animated & in a movie such as this I believe it's necessary. Levi Miller has a bright future-he did very well in the role of Peter. I really enjoyed Garrett Hedlund as Hook. I'm a Captain Hook guy to begin with-Dustin Hoffman's Hook is one of my favorite male performances of all time. Hedlund brought light-heartedness to the role, while at the same time it shows that Hook is a good man. He basically is helping Peter to realize his destiny. He creates some great comedic lines. He has always been the most important character in Neverland to me, and I feel that you see glimpses of that through the course of this movie. I thoroughly enjoyed Rooney Mara as Tiger Lily. She played the warrior role well. We also find out how she became such a great warrior. Hugh Jackman created such a great over the top character which is apropos considering the legend of Blackbeard is over the top to begin with.

I liked the importance of fairy dust & the Fairy Kingdom in general as it relates to Neverland & the Pan Prophecy. If you're aware of Blackbeard's legend, then you know a big part of it was the search for the Fountain of Youth. This also ties into why mining is a major staple of Neverland.  The battle sequences were shot in a way that created a real life dream come to life. The flying pirate ships, the brilliant use of color, and the choreographed fighting worked really well for the atmosphere of this movie. The fight between Tiger Lilly & Blackbeard was amazing to watch. The fast paced action & visual effects in the Fairy Kingdom were incredible.

I give this movie a 5/5 for an intriguing origin story, fun characters, brilliant use of colors, and an overall fun movie experience. Don't buy into the critic's bs!!

The Martian Review

I saw The Martian on October 5, 2015!! I guess it's time for me to review the fecal matter out of this thing (to paraphrase Mark Watney). I believe this is a surefire nomination for Best Picture at both the Golden Globes and the Oscars. It certainly should be considered for the list. Ridley Scott is one of the best directors ever in my opinion. He directed Gladiator & Alien. He directed my brother Justin's favorite movie-Legend. This movie follows one man's journey of survival against the most intense circumstances. Left for dead on Mars during a mission, Mark Watney has to figure out ways to produce food, water, air, etc in order to survive.

Matt Damon did an excellent job in the role playing the botanist devising ways to produce sustainable life on Mars. It was really interesting to watch him create an environment where a human being could inhabit Mars for a certain amount of time with the potato plants, as well as creating water. Even with so many obstacles against him, he finds a way to solve problems. Damon reminded me of his character in Interstellar blended with Will Hunting. It worked really well. With his knowledge of botany & his role as an astronaut, he is able to keep going. He gave a great performance that shows why Matt Damon is one of the best actors going.

While you had Damon's Watney devising ways to keep himself alive, we also get a look at NASA & the crew that believes he is dead. NASA officials devise different ways to rescue Watney, while also thinking of ways to protect NASA's image. The two different view points are interesting. I think watching Watney's crew putting aside certain death to rescue the man they left behind was inspirational. The moments with Watney & his crew created raw emotion. The level of intensity in the characters & the visual effects created hell in space. What was amazing to watch was the idea of team work with Watney & his crew, as well as the direction of NASA to ensure ultimate survival.

The ensemble cast is one of the best I've seen for a movie with Damon, Jessica Chastain, Michael Pena, Jeff Daniels, Sean Bean, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Kate Mara, Sebastian Stan, Kristen Wiig, etc. creating one of the best movies of 2015. Damon was definitely the star of this movie, but each member of this cast brought something to it.

I give this movie a 5/5 for an intriguing plot, a phenomenal cast, and the intense emotion you feel as an audience member watching all of it unfold. I highly recommend seeing it. While I enjoyed Interstellar more, this definitely is must see & deserving of nominations for awards season.

Black Mass Review

I saw Black Mass on September 19, 2015!! This was a brilliant biopic on one of South Boston's most notorious criminals. It explored the deal between James "Whitey" Bulger and his childhood friend, who worked in Boston's FBI offices, John Connolly. Both realized they need the deal: Connolly wants it to take down the Italian Mafia, while at the same time Bulger wants to get rid of the Italian Mafia simply to further his own criminal agenda. While many Hollywood movies can over-dramatize events, I feel this took a great look at the events of the movie without overdoing everything. A major aspect of the movie was performances, and since acting is the basis of what movies should be, that's great to see.

I definitely believe that Johnny Depp should be on the list for the Golden Globe and the Oscars for Best Actor. He gave such a chilling performance. What I really enjoyed about it was how calm Bulger always seemed to be, while conveying his message. He had a cold stare in his eyes, and a menacing tone to his voice that keeps you drawn to Depp's performance. He made Bulger a cold, calculating mastermind. Depp is one of the very best actors in my opinion, and I think this showed that he still has it. It's probably one of his best performances, and he has so many great ones. His work as John Dillinger in Public Enemies was phenomenal as well. While many directors would resort to the gory aspects of Bulger's actions, Scott Cooper focused on the character/personality. One of the best scenes in the movie revolves around a dinner scene where he tests Connolly's partner John Morris about how he marinates his steaks. Morris gives up the "family secret" without much interrogation. Depp's work following this was calm, but intense. It was acting at it's finest. There was so much tension in the calm, but menacing tone.  Cooper presented scenes where criminal activity was in effect, but the action still focused on the personality overall. Incredible work by Johnny Depp here!!

Many are discussing Joel Edgerton's work as John Connolly in this movie, and I think they should. He gave a tremendous supporting performance that showed loyalty to Bulger, but at the same time showed how conflicted he was with the violent acts getting out of hand. Bulger used Connolly to further his criminal empire. Connolly never sells out Bulger. While he protected a criminal, you have to still respect the fact that he never sold out his friend. Edgerton usually turns out pretty solid work, and it was no exception here. It was also great to see Jesse Plemons, who you may know from his work on Friday Night Lights or Breaking Bad. He did well as an informant as well as muscle for Bulger. Plemons looks hauntingly like Matt Damon in this, and in many ways, Plemons reminds me of Damon, so that worked really well. He's a really underrated actor who can pull off some incredible scenes-I've seen him do it so many times. It was great to see him involved with such a big project. Benedict Cumberbatch, Corey Stoll, and Peter Sarsgaard were also brilliant in their performances. These three added so much depth to the movie-Cumberbatch's family relationships, Stoll is the law trying to crack down on Bulger & Connolly's relationship, and Sarsgaard selling intimidation and sheer terror of Bulger was excellent. Every cast member was integral to creating the big picture of how infamous James "Whitey" Bulger is.

This movie gets a 5/5 from me for excellent performances, especially from Johnny Depp-one of his best performances, a great look at the clash between the criminal world and the world of law enforcement, and a realistic approach to a real life crime drama. It's a great mix of Donnie Brasco meets The Departed with a splash of Goodfellas.  Depp, Edgerton, Cumberbatch, Stoll, and Sarsgaard are all reasons to see this. It's definitely an awards season worthy film!!

American Ultra Review

I saw American Ultra on August 21, 2015!! All I have to say is I thought this movie was the personification of awesome!! This movie has something happening at every moment. It was exciting-a perfect mix of intense action, comedy, and drama. It delivered on all levels. I really loved how over the top it was, and I definitely think it's something that shows how entertaining movies can be.

If you put Adventureland, Pineapple Express, and the Weapon X program into a blender, you would get American Ultra. The plot revolves around government operations, relationships, and crazy antics from frame to frame. The chemistry between Kristen Stewart and Jesse Eisenberg is so natural to me. They worked so well together in Adventureland, and did an excellent job re-creating that here. Eisenberg's Mike Howell role was great for his real life personality. His switch from freaked out stoner to intense spy was amazing to watch. Stewart is one of my favorite actresses. She did well showing how emotionally attached Phoebe Larson is to Mike, while also displaying her own deep rooted intensity and secrets that keep the plot rolling. There's never a moment where the movie slows down. These two made each scene they were in believable even through the zaniness of the antics going on around them.

Two other elements that were well done here were Connie Britton's Victoria Lasseter and Topher Grace's Adrian Yates characters. Britton is also one of my favorite actresses for her incredible roles as Tami Taylor in Friday Night Lights and Rayna James in Nashville. She fit the role of the CIA operative leader well, and fit the mold of a tough as nails woman trying to get to the bottom of Yate's mission. Britton created two of the best female characters in television history, and she tapped into that mindset to shape this character. Even in a movie where comedic elements appear, she still represented a deep emotional aspect that was apropos for her. Topher was such a douche that you loved to hate him. I feel like he made the entitled bratty villain role natural and entertaining. His mission was similar to one that leads to Eisenberg becoming an agent, but a more twisted version. Walton Goggin's Laugher character represented part of Yate's vision and Goggins just hit the nail on the head as he is known for over the top characters-*Insert Sons of Anarchy reference here!! Britton represented the light, while Grace represented the dark of the CIA. As I mentioned, they both played their parts well and it helped to fuel Stewart and Eisenberg's roles even more.

The action sequences were excellent. The plot of this movie calls for over the top violence, and I think it was handled well. The gore didn't bother me as it made sense of Howell's character in those moments. The shootout at the sargeant's station, as well as the epic showdown at the convenient store are excellent. I think everything that happens in that convenient store showdown is one of the better movie scenes in a while. The different methods and innovation of each part of the fights was shot well and presented an incredible movie experience. Max Landis did well with this.

This ultraviolent, stoner love story is getting a 5/5 for me. I loved the cast, characters, a plot that just keeps building upon itself, action sequences that provide audiences with intense crimson laden action, and a natural relationship that viewers can actually buy. You'll have fun watching this. It's definitely one of my favorite movies this year. It's been a rough year finding movies I liked this year, but this one definitely was awesome.

Irrational Man Review

I saw Irrational Man on August 11, 2015!! Woody Allen has produced so many movies over the years, but in the last few years I've really enjoyed his work, particularly Blue Jasmine & Magic In The Moonlight. Irrational Man was one of my favorite movies of 2015 thus far. It was a movie filled with dark humor and great dialogue. It had incredible performances and an interesting plot. Complicated personalities, relationships, the difference between right and wrong, and irrational decisions/actions all converge into the central plot creating a unique movie that I thoroughly enjoyed.

Set amidst the backdrop of philosophical debtaes & revelations clashing with reality, Irrational Man looks at the depression of philosophy professor Abe who has encountered many negative situations in his life. He is a complicated man that people keep trying to figure out. The only way he is able to feel whole or happy is when he commits irrational acts as you see from a conversation he overhears in a diner. In some ways, you can see both sides of the issue that are discussed.  Joaquin Phoenix was the perfect actor for Abe. Joaquin was able to portray the deeply depressed Abe, while also presenting a macabre side to his personality that Phoenix has done several times in the past. His facial expressions have always been such a strong suit for him as they just make his performances better. He's a great actor in general in my opinion.

The best part of this movie for me was Emma Stone's Jill. I firmly believe she is the best actress at the moment. She commands the screen dealing with her own issues of commitment with her boyfriend Roy, as well as being drawn to the alluring mystery of the complicated Abe. Her energy and delivery of dialogue is always on point. Her chemistry with Joaquin was really well done. One example was the dinner table scene discussing circumstances about what happened to a prominent member of the community. Their chemistry here felt natural and it showed how intellectual Jill was in her reasoning.The maturity of Emma's role shows how great of an actress she is. It takes a great actress to be able to shape Jill into a well rounded character and Stone does this in her dealings with Abe & Roy, as well as her approach to dealing with issues that rise from Abe's actions whether physically, verbally, or emotionally.

This is a very thought provoking movie with intelligent dialogue set with great acting from Emma Stone and Joaquin Phoenix that I'm giving a 5/5. The dark humor blended with the complicated issues of the characters created such an intriguing movie that brings substance to the screen that so many movies lack these days.

3 Reasons You Should Watch Bloodline

Over the last week, I was reading the Emmy nominations, and saw several nominations for an original series on Netflix called Bloodline.I normally don't review television that much, but when something really impresses me, I definitely take the time to discuss it. I also don't really enjoy many of Netflix's original shows, but when I saw the cast and the overview, I figured I would give it a chance. I'm glad I did, because Bloodline is one of the most incredible first seasons of dramatic television I've honestly ever seen. Let's delve in and take a look at the Rayburn family. What I will do is list three reasons why I think people should watch this show.

REASON 1:
ELITE ENSEMBLE CAST

Bloodline's ensemble cast is one of the most talented group of actors and actresses you will find on a television show. The cast includes Kyle Chandler (Friday Night Lights), Ben Mendelsohm (The Dark Knight Rises), Linda Cardellini (Freaks and Geeks), Norbert Leo Butz (Dan In Real Life), Jacinda Barrett (Ladder 49), Sam Shepard (The Right Stuff), and Sissy Spacek (Coal Miner's Daughter). This is the principal Rayburn family. The acting is top notch and really helps to sell the story even better. When you have people that know what they're doing on screen, it makes for a better viewing experience, and the work of this cast just hit it out of the park. There's also great supporting roles from people like Chloe Sevigny (American Psycho) that add depth to characters. The chemistry this cast has is phenomenal. Their emotions, dialogue, and actions really sell the story. If you're looking for a show just based on solid acting alone, Bloodline succeeds in every way. You definitely want to make sure you watch this show for Ben Mendelsohm's Danny Rayburn. He's the star of the first season. His ability to shape Danny's persona to the character he is interacting with shows how talented he is. Danny is a dark character, but there are so many family secrets why he became the man he is. The interaction with him and Kyle Chandler's John Rayburn is excellent. Where Danny is more of a rebel, John is the golden boy, and the yin and yang of their characters creates many memorable moments, especially the biggest events surrounding the first season. Chandler is one of my favorite actors and it's amazing watching him change during the first season. Chandler is so good at making you understand deeper meanings to characters. Linda Cardellini is such a talented actress and never really gets enough credit. Her work here as Megan Rayburn shows her in situations that ultimately cause many of the events we see unfold. Norbert Leo Butz's Kevin Rayburn was so great as the guy that acts first and thinks later. Sissy Spacek is excellent as the matriarch and provided some of the most emotional moments next to the situations involving Mendelsohm & Chandler. The casting choices were brilliant and everybody worked together to create something special. Both Ben Mendelsohm and Kyle Chandler are nominated for Emmy awards. The beach scene in Episode 12 should secure a win for both men. I honestly don't think anybody else in their categories deserve it as much as them.

REASON 2:
COMPELLING STORYLINES
An element of television or movies that should always be there is the presence of great storylines, and Bloodline has them in spades. I won't spoil the storylines, but each one is important to the bigger picture. Each story will somehow connect to the major storyline of the season. Each arc revolves around Danny in some way. The pace of the show is brilliant as it starts at a slower speed and then picks up with each twist and turn of the character's decisions. The emotion of the decision and the actions involving the decision hook you right away. You know you watched something good when you rewind it to look at the scene again. I did that so many times during this 13 part season. Scenes are memorable. You question who you should support. I absolutely love that. It's a show that makes you think. It gives you both sides of the issue. The viewer takes it from there. Characters cross the line. Characters make you see their side of the story. Characters make you root for them even if you shouldn't. Characters make you guess where they're going next. The writing is brilliant as the dialogue serves the purpose of reflecting on the past, while fueling events of the present. The family secrets are dark. The dark secrets lead to even more intriguing situations. I think "The Water Lets You In" is an incredible theme for the show. It captures the dark history of the Rayburn family, the present situation of the black sheep against the entire family, and the actions & consequences you see unfold during the season.

REASON 3:
DAMAGES FORMAT

The show was created by Glenn Kessler, Todd Keslar, and Daniel Zelman. These three created one of my personal favorite shows: Damages. They created a format that shows you a big event and then go back and show you what led to that. They follow that format with Bloodline. I really like the format. The pilot immediately hooks you with a major event that will send ripples throughout the Rayburn family. After we see what happens, we go to the moment where everything starts when Danny Rayburn returns home. From there, we get a look at the family history, intense dialogue, amazing scenes, and different actions from all family members that lead to the major event. You think you know what happens from the narration, but much like Damages, Bloodline will take you down a different path. Twists will shock you. I think it is an intelligent way to approach this show.The Kesslers and Zelman are such great storytellers. They plan out their conclusion first and then work back. Every television show should do that. You have to know what your end game is before you start. When you know how you want an arc to end, you can take different twists and turns to get there. If you start off before you know where you want to go, that leads to show creators dropping storylines or taking the show to a conclusion that just doesn't make sense. The format of the show is excellent. It's always great to be reminded of Damages while watching it as well. I miss seeing Ellen Parsons and Patty Hewes battling it out with intellectual wit and definite times where their characters crossed the line.

CONCLUSION:
The combination of an elite cast with impeccable acting, brilliant storytelling, and an intelligent show format makes Bloodline the best original content on Netflix. I think it's one of the best first seasons of television I've seen. Ben Mendelsohm's performance as Danny Rayburn is one of the best acting performances you'll find on any current programming. Kyle Chandler is one of the most solid actors today, and his work as John Rayburn will show you why he's so good. I'm rooting for them to win their respective Emmys as much as I am rooting for Tatiana Maslany to win Best Lead Actress in a Drama at the Emmys. The family secrets, the interactions with the characters, and the twists and turns the story takes you keeps you on the edge of your seat. It's a show where protagonist and antagonist is not a black and white thing. There's more than 14 shades of gray with these characters and that's a good thing. You want to create characters with layers to keep the show moving, and Bloodline delivers. Bloodline is quality programming that will keep you invested.