I saw Jem & The Holograms on October 31, 2015!! In my opinion, this could end up being the most underrated movie of the year. This is a live action adaptation of a cartoon from the 80s. The look of the characters mixed with a deeper underlying message and upbeat pop music created a fun movie that I recommend to everybody.
The movie has so much lying underneath the surface. While the story of the Internet sensation (Jem) is the big story in the backdrop, there are themes of the importance of family, protecting that family, discovering your inner talents, expressing yourself and being proud of it, and basically being who you are at all times. Jerrica is a shy, timid girl early on living with her sister Kimber, and foster sisters Aja & Shanna. The bond with these four shows how close they are. These four, led by Jerrica, go on a mission to piece together her father's creation Synergy. While they are physically searching for the parts to put it back together, they are also searching within themselves to find a creative output to express themselves. Their music, attitude, and look inspire the world, and it was great seeing this through multiple forms of social media. There's even a video by The Rock which was pretty cool.
I felt Aubrey Peebles did an incredible job as Jerrica/Jem. She brought the emotional aspect of the character out, as well as showing the importance of what she means to her family unit. She is taking the ultimate risks to save her Aunt Bailey's (Molly Ringwald's) house and keep the family together. Through obstacles like Erica Raymond (played perfectly by Juliette Lewis) she is able to create an even stronger bond with her four sisters. The Young Blood performance was so much fun, and I thought it was a perfect song to capture the tone of the movie. Following the physical journey to piece Synergy together as well as the musical performances was so much fun. I liked the emotional videos posted by Jerrica as well to show how important this cause is not only to her, but her family. It shows that one person can make a difference and inspire people. It doesn't have to be somebody famous. Anybody can do it. That's a big theme that was tackled here.
I believe this is a fantastic movie to show students in schools. It's an incredible message for students who are afraid to express themselves. Everybody deserves the chance to show who they are without being ridiculed for it. That is the core of Jem & The Holograms. Sit back and enjoy the story, music, and powerful message which gets a 4/5 from me. As I said, I think this is the most underrated movie of the year so far. Stay tuned for the credits scene. We have a war brewing between Jem & The Holograms & the Misfits-which is an element of the cartoon that would be fun to see in the sequel.
Saturday, October 31, 2015
Monday, October 19, 2015
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!!
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!!
Monday, October 12, 2015
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!!
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!!
Monday, October 5, 2015
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.
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.
Saturday, September 19, 2015
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!!
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!!
Friday, August 21, 2015
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.
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.
Tuesday, August 11, 2015
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.
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.
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