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.
Friday, August 21, 2015
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.
Tuesday, July 21, 2015
3 Reasons You Should Watch Bloodline
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.
Thursday, June 25, 2015
Inside Out Review
Justin and I saw Inside Out on June 25, 2015!! This was such an excellent animated movie. Inside Out looks at the emotions and memories inside of us. It was an interesting concept that worked really well. I consider this to be one of the best animated movies ever made. Each year I seem to find an animated movie that enters my all time favorites. This joins Wreck It Ralph and Big Hero 6 as one of my personal favorites.
The movie primarily focuses on the memories of a young girl named Riley. Like all of us she experiences emotions such as joy, sadness, anger, fear, and disgust. The voice actors of Amy Poehler (Joy), Phyllis Smith (Sadness), Lewis Black (Anger), Bill Hader (Fear), and Mindy Kaling (Disgust) all felt natural in their roles. The animation for each character makes the audience imagine what we think an emotion might physically look like if we could see it. I think the animation perfectly captured that. The looks of the characters mixed with the voice overs from the actors and actresses gave a great personality to the core of the movie.
Following Riley's journey from Minnesota to San Francisco through the eyes of the emotions inside our heads was amazing to watch. The memory balls, personality islands, imagination land, abstract zone, etc all were entertaining pieces of the movie that kept the movie interesting and moving at a fast pace. While we see Riley and her parents experience emotions, we also witness how the emotions deal with them. Each of the emotions also embarks on their own journeys.
My favorite part of the movie was watching Joy and Sadness's story arc. We see how important each emotion is. It stresses the importance of family, friendship, and teamwork throughout the movie. I love the interaction between Poehler's Joy and Smith's Sadness. While Anger, Fear, and Disgust are part of the emotional spectrum, Joy and Sadness are core pieces of the puzzle. The realization of how important Sadness is through the eyes of Joy was a really emotional part. You can't experience one emotion all the time. It's not natural. That's one of the major things explored here. Everyone will experience a mix of emotions. We see this through physical manifestations of the emotion characters and the human characters.
The amazing use of color, the intriguing plot, the different parts of the world created inside Riley's head, the voice actors, allowing yourself to experience certain emotions, and core values of family, friendship, and teamwork make this one of the best animated movies I've ever seen as well as one of the very best movies of 2015. I encourage everybody to see this movie. Audiences both young and old will enjoy this. I feel it has more themes for adults to enjoy. Younger audiences will love the look of the characters and the awesome pieces of Riley's mind. Adults will enjoy the journey of the characters, the intriguing story, and the emotional elements of the movie. I am in the middle as I loved the journey & plot as well as the amazing personality islands and little twists and turns characters experience inside Riley's head. If you couldn't figure it out, this movie definitely gets a 5/5 Amazing work Pixar!! This definitely should win Best Animated Movie at the Golden Globes and the Oscars this year. It truly deserves it!!
The movie primarily focuses on the memories of a young girl named Riley. Like all of us she experiences emotions such as joy, sadness, anger, fear, and disgust. The voice actors of Amy Poehler (Joy), Phyllis Smith (Sadness), Lewis Black (Anger), Bill Hader (Fear), and Mindy Kaling (Disgust) all felt natural in their roles. The animation for each character makes the audience imagine what we think an emotion might physically look like if we could see it. I think the animation perfectly captured that. The looks of the characters mixed with the voice overs from the actors and actresses gave a great personality to the core of the movie.
Following Riley's journey from Minnesota to San Francisco through the eyes of the emotions inside our heads was amazing to watch. The memory balls, personality islands, imagination land, abstract zone, etc all were entertaining pieces of the movie that kept the movie interesting and moving at a fast pace. While we see Riley and her parents experience emotions, we also witness how the emotions deal with them. Each of the emotions also embarks on their own journeys.
My favorite part of the movie was watching Joy and Sadness's story arc. We see how important each emotion is. It stresses the importance of family, friendship, and teamwork throughout the movie. I love the interaction between Poehler's Joy and Smith's Sadness. While Anger, Fear, and Disgust are part of the emotional spectrum, Joy and Sadness are core pieces of the puzzle. The realization of how important Sadness is through the eyes of Joy was a really emotional part. You can't experience one emotion all the time. It's not natural. That's one of the major things explored here. Everyone will experience a mix of emotions. We see this through physical manifestations of the emotion characters and the human characters.
The amazing use of color, the intriguing plot, the different parts of the world created inside Riley's head, the voice actors, allowing yourself to experience certain emotions, and core values of family, friendship, and teamwork make this one of the best animated movies I've ever seen as well as one of the very best movies of 2015. I encourage everybody to see this movie. Audiences both young and old will enjoy this. I feel it has more themes for adults to enjoy. Younger audiences will love the look of the characters and the awesome pieces of Riley's mind. Adults will enjoy the journey of the characters, the intriguing story, and the emotional elements of the movie. I am in the middle as I loved the journey & plot as well as the amazing personality islands and little twists and turns characters experience inside Riley's head. If you couldn't figure it out, this movie definitely gets a 5/5 Amazing work Pixar!! This definitely should win Best Animated Movie at the Golden Globes and the Oscars this year. It truly deserves it!!
Sunday, June 7, 2015
Entourage Review
Justin and I saw Entourage on June 7, 2015!! Entourage follows "it" actor Vincent Chase, his half-brother Johnny "Drama" Chase, & his friends Eric "E" Murphy & Sal "Turtle" Assante and their life in Los Angeles. The show & movie give you a unique look into the world of Hollywood & how movies/television shows work through the actor's eyes and the eyes of agents like Ari Gold & studio heads like Dana Gordon. Entourage also focuses on the close knit friendship all four principal characters have going back to their roots in Queens, New York, as well as navigating the tumultuous road that relationships can take you on. The show is in my Top 3 shows of all time. I thoroughly enjoyed the movie as it was a huge homage to the show even with the opening credits. Much like the show, the movie showed incredible writing giving each character an intriguing story.
Kevin Connolly, Adrian Grenier, Kevin Dillon, & Jerry Ferrara were all excellent reprising their roles. Besides Christian Troy & Sean McNamara in Nip/Tuck (interestingly enough produced & created by a name that comes up in E's storyline), E, Vinny, Drama, & Turtle, along with Ari are five of my favorite male characters of all time. Eric Murphy is my favorite character in Entourage, but at the same time everybody is awesome & truthfully it's one of the only shows where you actually like all the main characters. They have so many dimensions to their characters. Also, I just have to point out that Jeremy Piven deserves his Emmy awards-what an incredible performance as always by him. Throughout the movie, we follow the characters through Vincent Chase's new movie Hyde (looked really interesting & something I'd see in real life), E's relationship with Sloan (always some of my favorite moments in the show), Drama's constant struggle with finding success in Hollywood over the years (his story is a rollercoaster of emotion that ends in true VICTORY for him-well deserved & something long time fans of the show will definitely shed a tear or two for), Turtle (dealing with his new money & trying to woo Ronda Rousey), & Ari (juggling his personal life with his wife & kids & his role as head of Time Warner).
Every obstacle, wrong turn, & crushing moment whether it's Texas co-financier's especially Haley Joel Osment's Travis McCredle's vendetta towards Vincent & dislike of Drama's performance or Ari's head-butting with the studio, everything ends up working out. I like seeing that. When it looks like the Four Horsemen of Hollywood are going to be taken down, they rise above & right the wrongs. Doug Ellin did an awesome job presenting a movie that stays true to one of the best television shows ever created. The cast was phenomenal reprising their iconic roles. The storylines were well written & created a unique blend of drama & comedy lacking in so many modern movies. I definitely give this movie a 5/5. It's easily one of the best movies of the year for me. If you haven't seen the show, I highly recommend it. The movie does stand on it's own, but if you've seen the show you'll appreciate the movie even more. Looking forward to more adventure from Vinny, E, Drama, Turtle, & Ari.
Kevin Connolly, Adrian Grenier, Kevin Dillon, & Jerry Ferrara were all excellent reprising their roles. Besides Christian Troy & Sean McNamara in Nip/Tuck (interestingly enough produced & created by a name that comes up in E's storyline), E, Vinny, Drama, & Turtle, along with Ari are five of my favorite male characters of all time. Eric Murphy is my favorite character in Entourage, but at the same time everybody is awesome & truthfully it's one of the only shows where you actually like all the main characters. They have so many dimensions to their characters. Also, I just have to point out that Jeremy Piven deserves his Emmy awards-what an incredible performance as always by him. Throughout the movie, we follow the characters through Vincent Chase's new movie Hyde (looked really interesting & something I'd see in real life), E's relationship with Sloan (always some of my favorite moments in the show), Drama's constant struggle with finding success in Hollywood over the years (his story is a rollercoaster of emotion that ends in true VICTORY for him-well deserved & something long time fans of the show will definitely shed a tear or two for), Turtle (dealing with his new money & trying to woo Ronda Rousey), & Ari (juggling his personal life with his wife & kids & his role as head of Time Warner).
Every obstacle, wrong turn, & crushing moment whether it's Texas co-financier's especially Haley Joel Osment's Travis McCredle's vendetta towards Vincent & dislike of Drama's performance or Ari's head-butting with the studio, everything ends up working out. I like seeing that. When it looks like the Four Horsemen of Hollywood are going to be taken down, they rise above & right the wrongs. Doug Ellin did an awesome job presenting a movie that stays true to one of the best television shows ever created. The cast was phenomenal reprising their iconic roles. The storylines were well written & created a unique blend of drama & comedy lacking in so many modern movies. I definitely give this movie a 5/5. It's easily one of the best movies of the year for me. If you haven't seen the show, I highly recommend it. The movie does stand on it's own, but if you've seen the show you'll appreciate the movie even more. Looking forward to more adventure from Vinny, E, Drama, Turtle, & Ari.
Friday, May 15, 2015
Operation Mongoose-Television Perfection
Once Upon A Time is in my Top 10 shows of all time. I've enjoyed watching Edward Kitsis & Adam Horowitz create a world centered around fairy tale characters and other stories that we grew up with. Personally, OUAT has one of the best ensemble casts you'll find in television. It originally started in 2011 with alot of buzz. I can remember being extremely excited from the previews before it aired. With great performances by Lana Parrilla, Jennifer Morrison, Robert Carlyle, Ginnifer Goodwin, etc. the show has created storylines with a twist that have been compelling. They lead viewers on a magical journey that leaves me excited for what's next.
OPERATION MONGOOSE
I have enjoyed several episodes of the show, but I honestly believe that the two part Season 4 finale: Operation Mongoose was the best episode of the show. It really was television perfection. I think the exploration of the light & dark in heroes and villains in Season 4 was such a strong story arc. Operation Mongoose looked at the Author's alternate reality where heroes became the villains and vice versa. What was great about this was it showed the ability of the cast to flip the coin and show how talented they are. Lana Parrilla's work as Regina Mills has always been by favorite part of the show. Whether she's ruling a kingdom, running a small town in Maine, or running through the woods as an outlaw, she is the heart of the show. Watching Ginnifer Goodwin in the role of Snow Dark so to speak was intriguing. She did well speaking softly which added an extra element of menace to the Evil Queen. I thought the red dress worked well against Regina's white ensemble. I thought it was great that Rumpelstiltskin still isn't able to shake his dark nature even while being a hero. Nobody wants their destiny or story changed. Regina is the one constantly searching for a happy ending. I thought her portrayal of an outlaw was entertaining. I always root for her whether she represents the light or the dark. She's been my favorite character since Day 1.
HEROES & VILLAINS
It was great to see how Isaac Heller initially gained the power of the pen. Personally, I thought that Patrick Fischler did so well with this role. Isaac was supposed to be unlikeable. His mannerisms & voice make Fischler a perfect antagonist to shape the chaotic environment. Jared S. Gilmore's Henry was at his best here trying to change Heroes & Villains & stop certain events from happening. It reminded me so much of Bastien in the Neverending Story. If you remember, in that particular story, Bastien shapes the world's characters & events. His interactions with Regina were fun, especially considering how we first saw them interact in Season 1. It shows how much the Regina character has changed. It shows how much Henry has accepted Regina as a maternal figure. His interactions with Colin O'Donoghue's Hook were excellent, particularly when Henry uses the ship steering lessons that Hook taught him in Storybrooke. Little things like that are always cool to see. O'Donoghue's take on Hook has always been great. The only thing I would change is give him Blackbeard's attire on this show, since that is the traditional Hook look. In OUAT, it's all about changing image and twisting things around, so I get it. I think with his accent & attitude, his look works for him. I always liked the bond between him and Emma as well. Their romance is done in a way that calls to their personalities.
DARK SAVIOR
I liked how Snow Dark (Emma Swan's mother) locked her in chains in a high tower, very similar to Azkaban prison. Emma still being able to recognize the real world from the story was a great idea. Emma wouldn't have been in the story, because of Isaac's anti-savior credo. However, in some ways OUAT brilliantly incorporated that Regina knew about the savior, much like the pilot episode that introduced us to Storybrooke. I think for fans like me that have seen every episode it's great to see when episodes connect to events from the beginning in some way. The whole idea of Emma is what changed the course of the story since Day 1. It was the same type of situation here...however, what I loved the person who turns out to be the true savior is what fans wanted to see.
BLOOD SACRIFICE/REDEMPTION
Regina's interactions with Robin Hood were presented in a way that further proves they should be together in any universe. I thought it was great how they incorporated Zelena into the pages. They twisted Regina & Zelena's stories, which works really well. Parrilla really did well creating this heroic side to her character. I thought the scenes with Robin Hood & Zelena continued the arc from the past few episodes that could have destroyed Regina. I like that it actually made Regina stronger for Robin, Henry, and her search for the happy ending. Regina is the most important part of the finale. I mentioned that Rumpelstiltskin still wasn't able to change his ways completely. I feel the reason for this was because Isaac worked his poisonous words in more ways than one into his ears encouraging him to shed the light and embrace the dark in order to preserve the light. While Emma stressed that love is a big part of happiness, ultimately Regina feels it isn't everything. The church scene was brilliant as we saw a loving gaze between Regina & Robin with Zelena looking on (almost green) with envy. However, Regina choosing to sacrifice herself to save Henry from Rumpelstiltskin's sword was the ultimate heroic act. Regina would do anything to protect Henry in Storybrooke, so it was apropos that she did that here even if her prior existence had been changed. While Emma is perceived as the one to stop the chaos that is Heroes & Villains, it's the blood of a light savior (perfectly counter-balancing Emma's dark savior here) that is able to destroy the alternate universe creating a huge happy ending for Regina. She saves Henry and is able to destory a true force of dark magic. Henry taking possession of the pen was similar to Harry Potter and the Elder Wand. It was a very cool moment that many people might not have noticed.
THE ULTIMATE SACRIFICE
The last parts of the episode showed the power of the old sorcerer sucking the darkness out of Rumpelstiltskin's heart, which definitely is a happy ending for him. The darkness has consumed him for so long. It's what hinders his relationship with Belle & makes his heart ache with pain. Watching his heart drain of darkness was great to see. The ending scene had me tearing up. As the darknes escapes from the sorcerer's hat, we see it surround Regina trying to suck her white light out of her. Regina tries to halt Emma from coming towards her telling Emma let it take her. Emma will not let her because Regina has come to far for her to descend into darkness. Emma lets the darkness take her as an ultimate sacrifice turning into the Dark One/the Black Swan. While she ultimately will become consumed by the darkness, it was done for a good reason. That scene was beautiful in many ways as well, because you see how close Regina & Emma have become over the course of the show. Regina is able to remain in the light & be with Robin. Emma gave into the dark to preserve her happy ending. I've always been a big fan of the Emma Swan character, but that moment cemented her as a savior in my eyes. She became a savior, but in an interesting scenario she became the Dark Savior from Heroes and Villains, which I thought was extremely interesting. Even in a bizarre way, Rumpelstiltskin ultimately wanted to see Emma become dark, so this adds to his happy ending as well. It was just a brilliant ending all around. It had to be done. It was the right way to go. I would have written it the same way.
FINAL THOUGHTS
Looking through this recap/review, I think it's fair to say Operation Mongoose is my favorite epsiode of Once Upon A Time. It focused on the meaning of love, sacrifice, light, dark, evolution of characters, and created a new scenario that opens up new, intriguing doors. I think the idea of giving into the dark in order to preserve the light was such a huge motif for this Season 4 finale. Throughout the episode, it successfully wrapped up the second half of the season and ultimately had us smiling for characters like Regina & Rumpelstiltskin, while also worrying for characters like Emma. I can't be overly upset with Emma going to the dark. She totally redeemed herself for bringing Marian back with her in the Season 3 finale. The first half of Season 5 will focus on Regina, Henry, Snow White, & Charming trying to find Merlin and figuring out a way to get Emma back from the darkness. Regina is going to be conflicted as well, because she knows Emma turned dark only to help her. She'll grapple with guilt, however, in the end she'll find a way to balance it out. I am looking forward to Seaosn 5 to see how this story turns up. I honestly feel if you haven't seen Once Upon A Time, you're missing out on one of the greatest television shows. It's truly amazing from the awesome cast to the intriguing storylines to the constant evolution of the characters. LONG LIVE REGINA!! THANK YOU EMMA SWAN!! WATCH ONCE UPON A TIME!!
OPERATION MONGOOSE
I have enjoyed several episodes of the show, but I honestly believe that the two part Season 4 finale: Operation Mongoose was the best episode of the show. It really was television perfection. I think the exploration of the light & dark in heroes and villains in Season 4 was such a strong story arc. Operation Mongoose looked at the Author's alternate reality where heroes became the villains and vice versa. What was great about this was it showed the ability of the cast to flip the coin and show how talented they are. Lana Parrilla's work as Regina Mills has always been by favorite part of the show. Whether she's ruling a kingdom, running a small town in Maine, or running through the woods as an outlaw, she is the heart of the show. Watching Ginnifer Goodwin in the role of Snow Dark so to speak was intriguing. She did well speaking softly which added an extra element of menace to the Evil Queen. I thought the red dress worked well against Regina's white ensemble. I thought it was great that Rumpelstiltskin still isn't able to shake his dark nature even while being a hero. Nobody wants their destiny or story changed. Regina is the one constantly searching for a happy ending. I thought her portrayal of an outlaw was entertaining. I always root for her whether she represents the light or the dark. She's been my favorite character since Day 1.
HEROES & VILLAINS
It was great to see how Isaac Heller initially gained the power of the pen. Personally, I thought that Patrick Fischler did so well with this role. Isaac was supposed to be unlikeable. His mannerisms & voice make Fischler a perfect antagonist to shape the chaotic environment. Jared S. Gilmore's Henry was at his best here trying to change Heroes & Villains & stop certain events from happening. It reminded me so much of Bastien in the Neverending Story. If you remember, in that particular story, Bastien shapes the world's characters & events. His interactions with Regina were fun, especially considering how we first saw them interact in Season 1. It shows how much the Regina character has changed. It shows how much Henry has accepted Regina as a maternal figure. His interactions with Colin O'Donoghue's Hook were excellent, particularly when Henry uses the ship steering lessons that Hook taught him in Storybrooke. Little things like that are always cool to see. O'Donoghue's take on Hook has always been great. The only thing I would change is give him Blackbeard's attire on this show, since that is the traditional Hook look. In OUAT, it's all about changing image and twisting things around, so I get it. I think with his accent & attitude, his look works for him. I always liked the bond between him and Emma as well. Their romance is done in a way that calls to their personalities.
DARK SAVIOR
I liked how Snow Dark (Emma Swan's mother) locked her in chains in a high tower, very similar to Azkaban prison. Emma still being able to recognize the real world from the story was a great idea. Emma wouldn't have been in the story, because of Isaac's anti-savior credo. However, in some ways OUAT brilliantly incorporated that Regina knew about the savior, much like the pilot episode that introduced us to Storybrooke. I think for fans like me that have seen every episode it's great to see when episodes connect to events from the beginning in some way. The whole idea of Emma is what changed the course of the story since Day 1. It was the same type of situation here...however, what I loved the person who turns out to be the true savior is what fans wanted to see.
BLOOD SACRIFICE/REDEMPTION
Regina's interactions with Robin Hood were presented in a way that further proves they should be together in any universe. I thought it was great how they incorporated Zelena into the pages. They twisted Regina & Zelena's stories, which works really well. Parrilla really did well creating this heroic side to her character. I thought the scenes with Robin Hood & Zelena continued the arc from the past few episodes that could have destroyed Regina. I like that it actually made Regina stronger for Robin, Henry, and her search for the happy ending. Regina is the most important part of the finale. I mentioned that Rumpelstiltskin still wasn't able to change his ways completely. I feel the reason for this was because Isaac worked his poisonous words in more ways than one into his ears encouraging him to shed the light and embrace the dark in order to preserve the light. While Emma stressed that love is a big part of happiness, ultimately Regina feels it isn't everything. The church scene was brilliant as we saw a loving gaze between Regina & Robin with Zelena looking on (almost green) with envy. However, Regina choosing to sacrifice herself to save Henry from Rumpelstiltskin's sword was the ultimate heroic act. Regina would do anything to protect Henry in Storybrooke, so it was apropos that she did that here even if her prior existence had been changed. While Emma is perceived as the one to stop the chaos that is Heroes & Villains, it's the blood of a light savior (perfectly counter-balancing Emma's dark savior here) that is able to destroy the alternate universe creating a huge happy ending for Regina. She saves Henry and is able to destory a true force of dark magic. Henry taking possession of the pen was similar to Harry Potter and the Elder Wand. It was a very cool moment that many people might not have noticed.
THE ULTIMATE SACRIFICE
The last parts of the episode showed the power of the old sorcerer sucking the darkness out of Rumpelstiltskin's heart, which definitely is a happy ending for him. The darkness has consumed him for so long. It's what hinders his relationship with Belle & makes his heart ache with pain. Watching his heart drain of darkness was great to see. The ending scene had me tearing up. As the darknes escapes from the sorcerer's hat, we see it surround Regina trying to suck her white light out of her. Regina tries to halt Emma from coming towards her telling Emma let it take her. Emma will not let her because Regina has come to far for her to descend into darkness. Emma lets the darkness take her as an ultimate sacrifice turning into the Dark One/the Black Swan. While she ultimately will become consumed by the darkness, it was done for a good reason. That scene was beautiful in many ways as well, because you see how close Regina & Emma have become over the course of the show. Regina is able to remain in the light & be with Robin. Emma gave into the dark to preserve her happy ending. I've always been a big fan of the Emma Swan character, but that moment cemented her as a savior in my eyes. She became a savior, but in an interesting scenario she became the Dark Savior from Heroes and Villains, which I thought was extremely interesting. Even in a bizarre way, Rumpelstiltskin ultimately wanted to see Emma become dark, so this adds to his happy ending as well. It was just a brilliant ending all around. It had to be done. It was the right way to go. I would have written it the same way.
FINAL THOUGHTS
Looking through this recap/review, I think it's fair to say Operation Mongoose is my favorite epsiode of Once Upon A Time. It focused on the meaning of love, sacrifice, light, dark, evolution of characters, and created a new scenario that opens up new, intriguing doors. I think the idea of giving into the dark in order to preserve the light was such a huge motif for this Season 4 finale. Throughout the episode, it successfully wrapped up the second half of the season and ultimately had us smiling for characters like Regina & Rumpelstiltskin, while also worrying for characters like Emma. I can't be overly upset with Emma going to the dark. She totally redeemed herself for bringing Marian back with her in the Season 3 finale. The first half of Season 5 will focus on Regina, Henry, Snow White, & Charming trying to find Merlin and figuring out a way to get Emma back from the darkness. Regina is going to be conflicted as well, because she knows Emma turned dark only to help her. She'll grapple with guilt, however, in the end she'll find a way to balance it out. I am looking forward to Seaosn 5 to see how this story turns up. I honestly feel if you haven't seen Once Upon A Time, you're missing out on one of the greatest television shows. It's truly amazing from the awesome cast to the intriguing storylines to the constant evolution of the characters. LONG LIVE REGINA!! THANK YOU EMMA SWAN!! WATCH ONCE UPON A TIME!!
Thursday, May 14, 2015
The Clouds of Sils Maria Review
I saw the Clouds of Sils Maria on May 14, 2015!! This was a really interesting movie focusing on theater reflecting real life. The performances were strong. I liked watching how real life mirrored the characters and events of the play. The themes of age, maturity, celebrity, and combating obsolescence were evident throughout the movie.
In some ways, this could be considered a female version of Birdman. However, Clouds of Sils Maria stands on its own and presents a great movie laden with strong dialogue & impressive female performances. While in Birdman, you saw Michael Keaton's character trying to distance himself from the character that made him famous, you see Juliette Binoche's character, Maria Enders, returning to the play that made her famous. The only difference is she will now be playing the older character, as opposed to the younger character that launched her to fame 20 years ago.
This movie looks at the older actress: Maria Enders, her assistant, Valentine, and the young, rising actress with the paparazzi constantly looming around her: Joann Ellis. Binoche did a wonderful job showing her frustrations with playing Helena, the older character, which is really her frustrations as getting older. She shared many scenes with Kristen Stewart. I've always been a big fan of Stewart, and in my opinion, this could be her best performance. She deserves praise for the work she did here. She's received the Cesar Award (France's version of the Oscars) for her work in this movie. I've enjoyed her work over the years, but the last two years have resulted in some of her best performances. Stewart had remarkable chemistry with Binoche. She displayed a great deal of maturity in the Valentine role. I thought it was interesting seeing how Binoche's Maria Enders character actually was more immature than the younger Valentine. I also thought her praise of Joann Ellis mirrored Stewart's early career work with the Twilight series. She discussed how there's more to Ellis than you think, much like we're seeing with Stewart. As great as Binoche is in this, Stewart is right there with her performing at a high level. Great work from these two who created the life and vitality of the movie. The movie showed a deep friendship/relationship that easily mirrored the characters in Majora Snake between Maria & Valentine. I thought it was really well done.
Chloe Grace Moretz's performance as the young rising actress was excellent. In this role, she showed how some of the younger Hollywood starlets can be rebellious & make tabloids for the wrong reason. I also thought at the same time it was taking a shot at the paparazzi who pine for the moment when the young "it" performer falls. Moretz's montage of negative headlines was intriguing. I also enjoyed her Forbidden Planet movie scenes that Maria & Valentine bickered over in detail. Moretz did a wonderful job playing that young actress that is eager to work with the veteran actress to present a special play. At the same time, you get the entitled attitude, and fake personality that some of the younger actors/actresses have. Moretz did well shaping Joann Ellis. She hit all the caricatures of a young Hollywood actress so well. The triple threat of Binoche, Stewart, and Moretz was truly special. The scene at the round table in Sils Maria was one of my personal favorites. You get interaction with all three as well as a great look into each of their personalities.
I give this a movie a 4/5 for excellent performances by Juliette Binoche, Kristen Stewart, and Chloe Grace Moretz, a great story of life imitating art, and excellent dialogue.
In some ways, this could be considered a female version of Birdman. However, Clouds of Sils Maria stands on its own and presents a great movie laden with strong dialogue & impressive female performances. While in Birdman, you saw Michael Keaton's character trying to distance himself from the character that made him famous, you see Juliette Binoche's character, Maria Enders, returning to the play that made her famous. The only difference is she will now be playing the older character, as opposed to the younger character that launched her to fame 20 years ago.
This movie looks at the older actress: Maria Enders, her assistant, Valentine, and the young, rising actress with the paparazzi constantly looming around her: Joann Ellis. Binoche did a wonderful job showing her frustrations with playing Helena, the older character, which is really her frustrations as getting older. She shared many scenes with Kristen Stewart. I've always been a big fan of Stewart, and in my opinion, this could be her best performance. She deserves praise for the work she did here. She's received the Cesar Award (France's version of the Oscars) for her work in this movie. I've enjoyed her work over the years, but the last two years have resulted in some of her best performances. Stewart had remarkable chemistry with Binoche. She displayed a great deal of maturity in the Valentine role. I thought it was interesting seeing how Binoche's Maria Enders character actually was more immature than the younger Valentine. I also thought her praise of Joann Ellis mirrored Stewart's early career work with the Twilight series. She discussed how there's more to Ellis than you think, much like we're seeing with Stewart. As great as Binoche is in this, Stewart is right there with her performing at a high level. Great work from these two who created the life and vitality of the movie. The movie showed a deep friendship/relationship that easily mirrored the characters in Majora Snake between Maria & Valentine. I thought it was really well done.
Chloe Grace Moretz's performance as the young rising actress was excellent. In this role, she showed how some of the younger Hollywood starlets can be rebellious & make tabloids for the wrong reason. I also thought at the same time it was taking a shot at the paparazzi who pine for the moment when the young "it" performer falls. Moretz's montage of negative headlines was intriguing. I also enjoyed her Forbidden Planet movie scenes that Maria & Valentine bickered over in detail. Moretz did a wonderful job playing that young actress that is eager to work with the veteran actress to present a special play. At the same time, you get the entitled attitude, and fake personality that some of the younger actors/actresses have. Moretz did well shaping Joann Ellis. She hit all the caricatures of a young Hollywood actress so well. The triple threat of Binoche, Stewart, and Moretz was truly special. The scene at the round table in Sils Maria was one of my personal favorites. You get interaction with all three as well as a great look into each of their personalities.
I give this a movie a 4/5 for excellent performances by Juliette Binoche, Kristen Stewart, and Chloe Grace Moretz, a great story of life imitating art, and excellent dialogue.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)