At the Movies – January 2015 – Part 3: Most Anticipated Films

Must-See of the Month:

Blackhat – Mystery Thriller – Jan 16

Plot Summary: Hacker Nicholas Hathaway is released from prison to help American and Chinese officials track down a dangerous and mysterious cybercriminal. Key Filmmakers Involved: Writer-director Michael Mann, composer Atticus Ross and cinematographer Stuart Dryburgh. Actors Involved: Chris Hemsworth, Viola Davis, Wei Tang, William Mapother, John Ortiz, Ritchie Coster, and Yorick van Wageningen. Quality Potential: Medium. Michael Mann is one of our great working auteurs, specializing in grand crime dramas and intense, realistic action with films like: Thief, Heat, Collateral, Miami Vice, and Public Enemies (his French-Indian War film The Last of the Mohicans and his drama The Insider are also both very good). Blackhat looks to be yet another good thriller from him; however, the mere fact that it is coming out in January makes me a little concerned. Generally, nothing good comes out in January (outside of prestige films expanding wider). Also, Mann’s last two films Miami Vice and Public Enemies were not as well received critically as most of his past work (though, I think there are both very good films). Blackhat does look good; but based on its release date, it may not be among Mann’s best – although, it will likely be the best of the month. Trailer: Here.

At the Movies – January 2015 – Part 2: Hollywood Films

Action/Adventure:

Taken 3 – Action Thriller – Jan 9

Plot Summary: Bryan Mills, finally reunited with his family, has his world shattered when his wife is murdered – even worse, he is being set up for the crime. Now, on the run, he evades the police while searching for the true killer to exact revenge and clear his name. Key Filmmakers Involved: Director Olivier Megaton and writer-producer Luc Besson. Actors Involved: Liam Neeson, Maggie Grace, Famke Janssen, Forest Whitaker, and Dougray Scott. Quality Potential: Low. Indeed, this third film in the Taken series features Mills’s daughter again being taken (because original ideas are hard). That aside, Taken 2 director Olivier Megaton returns (he is a frequent collaborator with French action guru Luc Besson), meaning that Taken 3 will probably be no better than Taken 2 (which was far worse than Taken). This is a throwaway, pointless action sequel. Fans of the series can check it out, but otherwise it is probably not a worthwhile theater-going experience. Trailer: Here.

Black Sea – Thriller – Jan 23

Plot Summary: Down on his luck, Captain Robinson takes a shady job to pilot a submarine in search of a submarine rumored to be loaded with gold. To do this, he must work with an unscrupulous backer and crew of ruffians in the depths of the Black Sea. Key Filmmakers Involved: Director Kevin Macdonald. Actors Involved: Jude Law, Jodie Whittaker, Ben Mendelsohn, Scoot McNairy, and Tobias Menzies. Quality Potential: Medium. Kevin Macdonald made his feature debut with the well-received The Last King of Scotland after proving to be a talented documentary filmmaker; however, since then, he has struggled with underwhelming dramas (State of Play, The Eagle and How I Live Now). Black Sea looks like a decent thriller, but what makes it interesting is its great cast. Black Sea is probably not a great film (being that it is being released in January), but it may make for an entertaining rental with good performances. Trailer: Here.

Comedy:

The Wedding Ringer – Comedy – Jan 16

Plot Summary: Doug Harris is about to get married. The problem is that he does not have any groomsmen. So, he hires wedding specialist Jimmy Callahan to help. Jimmy puts together a makeshift band of oddballs, but it just might work. Key Filmmakers Involved: Writer-director Jeremy Garelick. Actors Involved: Kevin Hart, Josh Gad, Kaley Cuoco-Sweeting, Olivia Thirlby, and Cloris Leachman. Quality Potential: Low. Kevin Hart had a big 2014 with Ride Along, About Last Night, Think Like a Man Too, and Top Five. He wants to keep the momentum going with two comedies in 2015: this and Get Hard. Writer-director Jeremy Garelick makes his feature debut with The Wedding Ringer. He also wrote The Break-Up. The Wedding Ringer looks kind of funny (a bit like a lower-end version of The Hangover or other wedding comedies like Wedding Crashers), but also like a typical January film (generic and unremarkable). This probably only for Kevin Hart fans. Trailer: Here.

Paddington – Family Comedy – Jan 16

Plot Summary: Paddington Bear comes to London only to find himself lost in the city. Then, he is befriended by a young boy and his family, who take Paddington into their home – hoping that having a bear in the house will not cause too much trouble (but of course he will). Key Filmmakers Involved: Writer-director Paul King and producer David Heyman. Actors Involved: Ben Whishaw (voicing Paddington), Nicole Kidman, Michael Gambon, Imelda Staunton (also both voicing characters), Sally Hawkins, Julie Walters, Hugh Bonneville, Peter Capaldi, and Jim Broadbent. Quality Potential: Medium. Paddington is Paul King’s second feature (following up Bunny and the Bull, a film that is likely completely unknown outside the U.K.); however, many will know him for his directorial work on the very funny British comedy series The Mighty Boosh (that features Old Gregg). The cast is quite fantastic and the film has been very well received in Britain, where it opened last November. I am curious if Americans who did not necessarily grow up with Paddington Bear will enjoy the film as much, but it is a very good and funny family film. Trailer: Here.

Mortdecai – Action/Mystery Comedy – Jan 23

Plot Summary: Charles Mortdecai is a famed art dealer. When a famous painting is stolen, he is brought in to find it; however, he has other plans, as the painting may be his link to finding a lost bank account filled with Nazi gold. Key Filmmakers Involved: Director David Koepp, producer Johnny Depp and composer Mark Ronson. Actors Involved: Johnny Depp, Olivia Munn, Aubrey Plaza, Ewan McGregor, Gwyneth Paltrow, Paul Bettany, and Jeff Goldblum. Quality Potential: Low. David Koepp is better known for writing Hollywood blockbusters (like Jurassic Park, Mission: Impossible, Spider-Man, War of the Worlds, and Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull) than his directorial work. As a director, he has made five generic films of varying quality but nothing great. Mortdecai looks very silly, filled with pratfalls and buffoonery (it looks like a poor attempt to recapture the magic of a character like Inspector Clouseau from the Pink Panther series). Koepp does have a great cast, however, and this role seems to suggest that Depp (who created the project for himself) is looking to find a new character to build a franchise on. The solid cast makes this film a potential rental, but probably not worthwhile for the theater (given that it looks mediocre). Trailer: Here.

At the Movies – January 2015 – Part 1: Independent Films

Art-House Dramas:

Still Alice – Drama – Jan 16

Plot Summary: Alice Howland is a successful linguistics professor, happily married with three grown children. Suddenly, she begins to forget words and places. She is diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease. Now, this devastating diagnoses will test the strength of her marriage and relationships with her children. Key Filmmakers Involved: Writer-directors Richard Glatzer and Wash Westmoreland. Actors Involved: Julianne Moore, Kristen Stewart, Kate Bosworth, Alec Baldwin, and Hunter Parrish. Quality Potential: Medium/High. Richard Glatzer and Wash Westmoreland have their breakout project with Still Alice (thanks mostly to its higher profile cast). This film is a good character drama, showcasing the skill for extracting fine performances the filmmakers promised with their Sundance favorite Quinceanera in 2006. Julianne Moore is excellent in the film; she is the frontrunner to win Best Actress at the 2015 Academy Awards. This is a worthwhile film to catch for fans of intense emotional dramas and great performances. Trailer: Here.

Red Army – Sports Documentary – Jan 23

Plot Summary: Remember the unbeatable USSR Red Army hockey team that a group of college kids miraculously beat in the 1980 Olympics at Lake Placid? This is their story, told from the perspective of their captain Slava Fetisov portraying his transformation from national hero to political enemy, mirroring the cultural change within the country (the Soviet Union becoming Russia). Key Filmmakers Involved: Director-producer Gabe Polsky and composer Christophe Beck. Quality Potential: Medium/High. This tells the story behind the unbeatable Red Army team, maybe the greatest dynasty in sports history. It is a must-see for hockey fans and USSR history buffs. It is also one of the best documentaries to debut in 2014. Trailer: Here.

At the Movies – December 2014 – Part 3: Most Anticipated Films

Must-See of the Month:

The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies – Adventure Fantasy – Dec 19

Plot Summary: The Battle of the Five Armies is the final chapter of The Hobbit Trilogy. It finds Bilbo and company on the brink of war, as they are descended upon by the mighty dragon Smaug and an army of orcs. The war will determine the fate of Middle-Earth. Key Filmmakers Involved: Writer-director-producer Peter Jackson, composer Howard Shore, cinematographer Andrew Lesnie, and production designer Dan Hennah. Actors Involved: Martin Freeman, Ian McKellen, Benedict Cumberbatch, Luke Evans, Evangeline Lilly, Richard Armitage, Lee Pace, Manu Bennett, Cate Blanchett, Orlando Bloom, Christopher Lee, Hugo Weaving, Aidan Turner, James Nesbitt, Stephen Fry, Billy Connolly, and Ian Holm. Quality Potential: High/Medium. While I am not so sure that The Battle of Five Armies will be as good a film as Inherent Vice or Unbroken, I am certainly the most excited to see it of the films set for release in December. An Unexpected Journey set up the series well, but it also left many fans with the feeling that these Hobbit films would not quite match the excellence of The Lord of the Rings Trilogy. The Desolation of Smaug is a much more exciting and entertaining film overall, but it is clear that The Hobbit Trilogy is not quite on the same level – but nor is the J.R.R. Tolkien novel. That said, The Battle of Five Armies looks great and should feature the biggest scale and scope of this new trilogy. It will be sad to again say goodbye to Middle-Earth. Trailer: Here.

Worth Checking Out:

Inherent Vice – Crime/Mystery Drama – Dec 12

Plot Summary: Detective Larry “Doc” Sportello is wrapped up in a world of drugs and sex in 1970s Los Angeles. When a former girlfriend goes missing, he decides to investigate, leading him down a road of bizarre characters and situations. Key Filmmakers Involved: Writer-director-producer Paul Thomas Anderson, composer Jonny Greenwood, cinematographer Robert Elswit, and production designer David Crank. Actors Involved: Joaquin Phoenix, Jena Malone, Reese Witherspoon, Josh Brolin, Sasha Pieterse, Benicio Del Toro, Owen Wilson, Michael Kenneth Williams, Eric Roberts, Maya Rudolph, Jillian Bell, and Martin Short. Quality Potential: High. There is a lot to be excited for with Inherent Vice. For one, it is written and directed by one of our best working auteurs Paul Thomas Anderson. Jonny Greenwood is composing some of the most interesting musical scores right now (his score for There Will Be Blood is utterly brilliant). And, Anderson has a fantastic cast – it will be especially great to see Joaquin Phoenix and Anderson working together again after their standout collaboration in The Master (possibly my favorite performance of 2012). The film looks really fun and weird. At face value, it reminds me of the Coen Brothers’ The Big Lebowski (which is probably a very good thing). Trailer: Here.

Unbroken – War Drama – Dec 25
Plot Summary: Louis Zamperini is an Olympic runner who joined the Air Force during WWII. Serving in the Pacific Theatre, his plane is shot down and he and other members of the crew are taken prisoner and tortured by the Japanese. This is based on his true story. Key Filmmakers Involved: Director Angelina Jolie, writers the Coen Brothers, composer Alexandre Desplat, and cinematographer Roger Deakins. Actors Involved: Jack O’Connell, Jai Courtney, Domhnall Gleeson, Garrett Hedlund, and Alex Russell. Quality Potential: High/Medium. Unbroken looks like it is going to be a brilliant WWII character drama. It has a ton of Oscar buzz and some of the best people involved in its production, namely the Coen Brothers, Alexandre Desplat and Roger Deakins. The cast is also made of up very good young actors (Jack O’Connell is having a breakthrough year, at least in his native U.K., with Starred Up and ’71 playing to acclaim – most, however, will recognize his as Cook from Skins). Angelina Jolie quietly directed the war/romance drama In the Land of Blood and Honey in 2011. It was little seen and not very well received by critics. Unbroken is her second feature film. Hopefully, she has honed her skills and will take advantage of her excellent collaborators and deliver something special. Again, the film looks very good. Trailer: Here.

At the Movies – December 2014 – Part 2: Hollywood Films

Drama:

The Gambler – Crime Drama/Thriller – Dec 19

Plot Summary: Jim Bennett is a literature professor with a gambling problem. He gets very down and finds himself in debt to some dangerous gangsters. This is the remake of 1974’s The Gambler. Key Filmmakers Involved: Director Rupert Wyatt, writer William Monahan, producer Mark Wahlberg, and cinematographer Greig Fraser. Actors Involved: Mark Wahlberg, Brie Larson, Jessica Lange, John Goodman, and Michael Kenneth Williams. Quality Potential: High/Medium. This film has me pretty interested for a number of reasons. Chiefly, it looks great. I am curious to see how director Rupert Wyatt will follow-up all the acclaim he received for his work directing Rise of the Planet of the Apes. I am also curious to see how good the writing is – William Monahan was on top of his game, beginning his career with Kingdom of Heaven, The Departed and Body of Lies. But, his last two projects have not been nearly as good (Edge of Darkness and London Boulevard, which he also directed). I hope The Gambler sees a return to form. Lastly, the cast is strong, but I am looking forward to seeing Brie Larson’s follow-up performance to Short Term 12 (one of my favorite performances of 2013) the most. I am definitely going to see this. It looks like a blast. Trailer: Here.

Big Eyes – Biographical Drama – Dec 25

Plot Summary: Margaret Keane famously painted pictures of people with big eyes in the 1950s; however, her husband took all the credit for her work. She took him to court trying to regain ownership of her work, which proved to be a long and arduous legal battle. Key Filmmakers Involved: Director Tim Burton, writers Scott Alexander and Larry Karaszewski, composer Danny Elfman, cinematographer Bruno Delbonnel, and production designer Rick Heinrichs. Actors Involved: Amy Adams, Christoph Waltz, Krysten Ritter, Jason Schwartzman, Danny Huston, Terence Stamp, and Jon Polito. Quality Potential: Medium. Tim Burton used to make cool, interesting and stylish films (things like Beetlejuice, Batman, Edward Scissorhands, and Ed Wood). Now, he makes mediocre (if not just straight bad) films (things like Planet of the Apes, Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street, Alice in Wonderland, and Dark Shadows). Maybe Big Eyes is finally a return to form? It is sort of the same story with screenwriters Scott Alexander and Larry Karaszewski. They were rising stars after writing Ed Wood, The People vs. Larry Flynt and Man on the Moon, but have only churned out rather forgettable stuff since. This could be big for them as well. It is really hard to gage this film. It could be great. It has fantastic people behind and in front of the camera (Bruno Delbonnel, for example, is my favorite working cinematographer), but Burton has not made anything good since 2006’s Big Fish (although, I am not as charmed by it as most seem to be – leading me to argue that the date is really 1999 with Sleepy Hollow). It looks like it is going to be a good drama, built on the strong performances from Amy Adams and Christoph Waltz, with a mix of Burton’s eccentric style thrown in, but who is to say; I have been wrong before. Trailer: Here.

Action/Adventure:

Exodus: Gods and Kings – Action/Drama – Dec 12

Plot Summary: Moses and Ramses grew up together as brothers, lavished with all the spoils afforded to gods on Earth; but as Moses comes into his own, he begins to realize that the Egyptians’ treatment of their slaves is unjust under God’s law. Moses defies his brother, leading a rebellion, claiming that the slaves must be set free. Ramses fights back, set on teaching all the slaves a lesson by taking their lives; and thus, Moses must lead his people out of Egypt. Key Filmmakers Involved: Director Ridley Scott, writer Steven Zaillian, composer Alberto Iglesias, cinematographer Dariusz Wolski, and production designer Arthur Max. Actors Involved: Christian Bale, Joel Edgerton, Aaron Paul, Sigourney Weaver, Ben Kingsley, Indira Varma, John Turturro, and Ben Mendelsohn. Quality Potential: High/Medium. Ridley Scott is a brilliant visual director, who often makes fantastic epics. He has made many great films, like: Alien, Blade Runner, Gladiator, Black Hawk Down, Kingdom of Heaven (the director’s cut), American Gangster, and Body of Lies. His two most recent films are both good as well, but each have their own exceptions. Prometheus is a phenomenal sci-fi film from a visual standpoint, but the story is just ridiculous to the point where the film suffers overall. This brings up a key point to Scott’s work. He must work with a good script, as while he always presents things splendidly visually and gets strong performances, his weaker films always are the result of a poorly plotted script. With The Counselor, a brilliant film that is sure to one day find its cult audience, Scott made something too specific for general audiences. It is visually dynamic and features great performances, but it is too intricate, complex and maybe a little slow (or so many have said – I think it is a great film). Exodus: Gods and Kings looks like a massive epic, something Scott thrives on; and with Steve Zaillian scripting, the story should hopefully be strong. Scott has also assembled a wonderful cast lead by Christian Bale (one of our best working actors). I am very excited to see the film as it looks to have all the ingredients of a great epic (a genre that is just not done that much anymore, and one that I miss): scale and scope, action, adventure, drama, and at the center a very compelling dynamic between two brothers, Moses and Ramses. Trailer: Here.

Into the Woods – Musical Fantasy – Dec 25

Plot Summary: This is a musical modern twist of the Brothers Gimm fairy tales. All the beloved characters inhabit a world in which they dream of a better life. One day, a witch tells them that they will find their dreams in the woods; however, as with any fairy tale, the characters realize that getting what they want is not exactly what they were expecting. It is based on the Stephen Sondheim/James Lapine musical of the same name. Key Filmmakers Involved: Director Rob Marshall, cinematographer Dion Beebe and production designer Dennis Gassner. Actors Involved: Emily Blunt, Johnny Depp, Anna Kendrick, Chris Pine, Meryl Streep, Lucy Punch, and James Corden. Quality Potential: Medium. Walt Disney Studio Pictures seems like a perfect studio to take on this adaptation; although, some are worried that Disney will not uphold the musical’s darker elements (like the ending). We shall see. Director Rob Marshall too seems like an excellent choice. Let us just forget about his poor musical Nine and forgettable Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides and just remember how much we love his adaptation of the musical Chicago (it even won Best Picture). He has a great, fun cast and strong technicians around him. The film certainly looks very fun and who does not love a good musical (another genre we are lacking in today). Trailer: Here.

American Sniper – Biographical Action/Drama – Dec 25 (limited – wide Jan 16)

Plot Summary: Chris Kyle tells the story of his military career. As a Navy S.E.A.L. sniper, he had over one-hundred and fifty confirmed kills – the most in US history. Key Filmmakers Involved: Producer-director Clint Eastwood, producer Bradley Cooper, cinematographer Tom Stern, and production designer James J. Murakami. Actors Involved: Bradley Cooper and Sienna Miller. Quality Potential: High/Medium. Director Clint Eastwood was on a roll between 2003 and 2008 with Mystic River, Million Dollar Baby (which won Best Picture), Flags of Our Fathers, Letter from Iwo Jima, Changeling, and Gran Torino (all very good films); but since then, he has struggled with forgettable and mediocre films – maybe none more so than his last: this year’s Jersey Boys (which was lambasted by critics). American Sniper looks like it is going to be fantastic – a probable Best Picture contender – built on gripping tension and a strong Bradley Cooper performance. Yet, with Eastwood’s last four films being disappointing, who is really to say if this will come together. Eastwood has been very streaky as a director in his career, having gone on long stretches of consecutive good or bad films in the past. Thus, American Sniper could be another on this bad streak or the beginning of a new good streak. Trailer: Here.

Comedy:

Top Five – Comedy – Dec 5

Plot Summary: Comedian Andre is at the top of his game, but has grown a bit bored with it all. He wants to make a change in his life and pursue roles as a serious dramatic actor. Meanwhile, his reality-TV star fiancé wants him to agree to broadcast their wedding on her show. While all this is happening, Andre decides to agree to give a rare interview to put his choice to change career paths into perspective for his fans; however, he might be falling for his interviewer only complicating his life more. Key Filmmakers Involved: Writer-director Chris Rock, producer Scott Rudin, cinematographer Manuel Alberto Claro, and co-producers Jay Z and Kanye West. Actors Involved: Chris Rock, Rosario Dawson, Adam Sandler, Kevin Hart, Gabrielle Union, Whoopi Goldberg, Jerry Seinfeld, Tracy Morgan, Romany Malco, Cedric the Entertainer, J.B. Smoove. Quality Potential: Medium/Low. Top Five has been giving off a mixed signals. Critics seem to think it is quite good, while test audiences are much more mixed if not negative. It looks very funny and features a great cast of comedians; but, Chris Rock’s first two outings writing and directing his own work amounted to two mediocre films (Head of State and I Think I Love My Wife). It is hard to ignore the clamorously positive critical buzz however. Trailer: Here.

Annie – Family Musical Comedy – Dec 19

Plot Summary: Annie is a foster kid who is streetwise enough to make it in New York City. She lives with a bunch of other kids under the supervision of her mean foster mother Miss Hannigan. Things are about to change for Annie, however, when she meets Will Stacks, a local tycoon who is running for mayor. His campaign teams thinks that it will be a great political move for him to take Annie in. Now it is up to her to win his love so that he does not send her back to Miss Hannigan when the campaign is over. This is based on the Thomas Meehan stage musical (many of us remember or grew up with the 1982 film version). Key Filmmakers Involved: Writer-director Will Gluck and producers Will Smith and Jay Z. Actors Involved: Quvenzhane Wallis, Jamie Foxx, Rose Byrne, Bobby Cannavale, and Cameron Diaz. Quality Potential: Low. Annie does have some stuff going for it. Jay Z should provide it with a good soundtrack and the songs will likely have an updated appeal as well. It also has a great cast (Foxx, Byrne, Cannavale, and Diaz are all very funny). Will Gluck is a serviceable director. He has made three comedies to date (Fired Up!, Easy A and Friends with Benefits). All three are entertaining, but nothing that special. I think Annie will be entertaining, but there is a lot of better stuff to see in December, unless you have young children. Trailer: Here.

Night at the Museum: Secret of the Tomb – Adventure Comedy – Dec 19

Plot Summary: Larry Daley still works at the night patrolman at New York’s Natural History Museum; however, something terrible is threatening the magic of the museum (it is the magic that allows its exhibits to come alive at night). Now, Larry and friends must embark on the global mission to save the magic. Key Filmmakers Involved: Director-producer Shawn Levy, producer Chris Columbus, composer Alan Silvestri, cinematographer Guillermo Navarro, and production designer Martin Whist. Actors Involved: Ben Stiller, Robin Williams, Dan Stevens, Owen Wilson, Ben Kingsley, Rebel Wilson, Steve Coogan, Dick Van Dyke, Rami Malek, Ricky Gervais, and Mickey Rooney. Quality Potential: Very Low. The Night at the Museum series is reasonably funny and entertaining, but the cynical side of me sort of believes that this second sequel exists only to play on the name value of the series void of all creative ambition, with some of the actors returning for easy paydays. Maybe this will turn out to be fun and entertaining, probably not though. Shawn Levy generally makes forgettable broad comedies. His best film to date is, by IMDb user ratings, Real Steel (which is not a good movie – I would pick Night at the Museum as his best). Trailer: Here.

The Interview – Action Comedy – Dec 25
Plot Summary: Dave Skylark is the host of a very popular celebrity tabloid TV show. Skylark’s producer Aaron Rapoport is always on the hunt for bigger guests to book on the show. Somehow, Rapoport is able to book North Korean dictator Kim Jong-un. It will be his first interview with any member of the press outside North Korea. Wanting to seize this opportunity, the CIA recruits Skylark and Rapoport to assassinate Kim Jong-un when they meet him in Pyongyang. What could possibly go wrong? Key Filmmakers Involved: Director-producers Evan Goldberg and Seth Rogen and composer Henry Jackman. Actors Involved: James Franco, Seth Rogen, Lizzy Caplan, Randall Park, Timothy Simons, and Diana Bang. Quality Potential: Medium. Writing, producing and directing partners Evan Goldberg and Seth Rogen began putting together their own films in 2011, starting with 50/50 and following it up with This Is the End and Neighbors. The Interview is their latest project and their second directorial effort. 50/50 and This Is the End are both great films – 50/50 is funny and resonates dramatically while This Is the End is a very fun crude action comedy. The Interview looks to be along the same lines as This Is the End – a crude action comedy that just gets more and more ridiculous as things spin out of control. It worked for them before, it probably will work for them again. If nothing else, The Interview makes for good counterprograming to everything else coming out on Christmas (though, it is too bad that this got delayed from its original early Fall release date where it probably would have performed better at the box office; now it has to contend against The Hobbit 3, Unbroken, Night at the Museum 3, Annie, Into the Woods, The Gambler, and Big Eyes). Trailer: Here.

At the Movies – December 2014 – Part 1: Independent Films

Art-House Dramas:

Wild – Biographical Drama – Dec 5

Plot Summary: Cheryl Strayed has struggled to keep things together in her life. After a recent catastrophe, she sets out on a 1,100-mile solo hike on the Pacific Crest Trail to try and recover and get her mind right. This is based on a true story. Key Filmmakers Involved: Director Jean-Marc Vallee, writer Nick Hornby and producer Reese Witherspoon. Actors Involved: Reese Witherspoon, Gaby Hoffman, Laura Dern, Michiel Huisman, Kevin Rankin, and Thomas Sadoski. Quality Potential: High/Medium. Director Jean-Marc Vallee seems to have found a good niche for himself, making character/performance oriented films (I really enjoyed The Young Victoria and Dallas Buyers Club won Matthew McConaughey an Oscar). Writer Nick Hornby’s stuff is usually good too (highlighted by An Education; he also wrote the novels High Fidelity and About a Boy). Reese Witherspoon has quietly been putting together a comeback, taking roles in smaller, but good, films like Mud and Inherent Vice (she has a small supporting role in each), as well as producing Gone Girl and Wild this year. Wild is her first substantial leading role in a while, one that very well could see her nominated for another Oscar. It is good to have her back making good movies. This is worth checking out for fans of character dramas as it looks to be a good one. Trailer: Here.

Mr. Turner – Biographical Drama – Dec 19 (LA/NYC)

Plot Summary: J.M.W. Turner was a great British romantic landscape painter (the painter of light) during the 19^th century. This drama looks at the last twenty-five years of his eccentric life. Key Filmmakers Involved: Writer-director Mike Leigh and cinematographer Dick Pope. Actors Involved: Timothy Spall, Paul Jesson, and Lesley Manville. Quality Potential: High/Medium. Mike Leigh is regarded as one of the great English auteurs working today. He makes little reserved films that have appeal for indie audiences, usually ripe with strong performances and writing (films like Naked, Secrets & Lies and Vera Drake). Mr. Turner looks no different and should appeal to fans of Leigh. It is certainly in the hunt for nominations in the Best Picture and Best Actor (for Timothy Spall) categories. This should be a very good character drama. Trailer: Here.

Two Days, One Night – Drama – Dec 24

Plot Summary: Sandra is a young Belgian mother faced with a difficult task. Her co-workers have opted for a significant pay bonus, but it means her dismissal. Now she has only one weekend to convince them to give up their bonuses so that she can keep her job. Key Filmmakers Involved: Writer-directors Jean-Pierre Dardenne and Luc Dardenne. Actors Involved: Marion Cotillard, Fabrizio Rongione and Catherine Salee. Quality Potential: High. The Dardenne Brothers are Belgium’s greatest working auteurs. Their films have garnered critical acclaim in Europe for years but they are relatively unknown in the States. Actress Marion Cotillard’s profile in America gives their new film a perceived bigger audience and thus distribution in America. Two of their recent better known, critically acclaimed films are L’enfant and The Kid with a Bike. Speaking of Cotillard, she has been producing excellent work since winning an Oscar. She is fantastic in the recent films Public Enemies, Inception, Little White Lies, Midnight in Paris, Contagion, Rust and Bone, The Dark Knight Rises, and The Immigrant. Two Days, One Night will be a great character drama (it competed for the Palme d’Or at this year’s Cannes Film Festival) and I would not be surprised to see Cotillard with a nomination or two. Trailer: Here.

Selma – Biographical Drama – Dec 25 (limited – wide Jan 9)

Plot Summary: Selma, Alabama, the early 1960s, civil rights tensions have come to a boil. This drama focuses on Martin Luther King, President Lyndon B. Johnson and the marches that changed America. Key Filmmakers Involved: Director Ava DuVernay and producer Oprah Winfrey. Actors Involved: David Oyelowo, Tom Wilkinson, Giovanni Ribisi, Tim Roth, Cuba Gooding Jr., Common, Oprah Winfrey, and Dylan Baker. Quality Potential: Medium. Selma is likely to be a powerful social drama, much like last year’s 12 Years a Slave and (to a much lesser extent) The Butler. This is a story that needs to be remembered and told for many in America. Relative newcomer Ava DuVernay has put together a solid cast lead by David Oyelowo and Tom Wilkinson. Oyelowo is looking to have a breakthrough year in 2014 with the lead in this, which very well could see him garner some awards season nominations, and supporting roles in Interstellar and A Most Violent Year. I have not seen anything DuVernay has directed, but her first two features played to mixed reviews. Hopefully she will do this drama its due justice. The film does have strong buzz. Trailer: Here.

Leviathan – Drama – Dec 31

Plot Summary: Nikolai lives with his family in a small house in a Russian coastal town. The corrupt mayor, one day, informs Nikolai that his house is to be demolished to make way for a new project the mayor is working on. Nikolai is forced to fight or lose his home. He calls in a lawyer friend to help, but the mayor escalates things to a dangerous level. Key Filmmakers Involved: Writer-director Andrey Zvyagintsev. Actors Involved: Aleksey Serebryakov, Elena Lyadova, Vladimir Vdovichenkov, and Roman Madyanov. Quality Potential: High. Leviathan looks to be a very good drama. It competed for the Palme d’Or at this year’s Cannes Film Festival and won the Best Screenplay award. It is likely to be nominated as one of the five Best Foreign Language Films at the 2015 Oscars. Trailer: Here.

A Most Violent Year – Crime Drama – Dec 31

Plot Summary: Set during the 1981 winter in New York City, this crime drama tells the story of statistically one of the city’s most violent years. It is centered on the lives of Abel Morales and his wife Anna, an immigrant businessman looking to expand in a city rampant with violence, decay and corruption. Key Filmmakers Involved: Writer-director J.C. Chandor. Actors Involved: Oscar Isaac, Jessica Chastain, David Oyelowo, Albert Brooks, and Catalina Sandino Moreno. Quality Potential: High/Medium. J.C. Chandor is a much buzzed about filmmaker after the critical success of his first two features (Margin Call and All Is Lost, although I did not find either particularly enthralling). Many are predicting A Most Violent Year to be his best yet and it is in many Oscar conversations. But to be fair, so was All Is Lost, and that received zero nominations in major categories. The film does look like a good crime drama and Oscar Isaac and Jessica Chastain are both excellent actors. Trailer: Here.

At the Movies – November 2014 – Part 3: Most Anticipated Films

Must-See of the Month:

Interstellar – Adventure/Sci-Fi – Nov 7 (Nov 5, projected on 70mm IMAX film only)

Plot Summary: The Earth is dying. Humanity’s only hope lies beyond our universe. A group of explorers/astronauts set out on a mission of discovery through a newly found wormhole, allowing them to surpass the limitations of human space travel. They must find Earth’s salvation and make it back in time to save those they left behind. Key Filmmakers Involved: Writer-director-producer Christopher Nolan, writer Jonathan Nolan, producer Emma Thomas, theoretical physicist and executive producer Kip Thorne, cinematographer Hoyte Van Hoytema, editor Lee Smith, composer Hans Zimmer, and production designer Nathan Crowley. Actors Involved: Matthew McConaughey, Anne Hathaway, Jessica Chastain, Michael Caine, Wes Bentley, Casey Affleck, Mackenzie Foy, Topher Grace, Ellen Burstyn, John Lithgow, and David Oyelowo. Quality Potential: Very High. Christopher Nolan is our greatest current blockbuster filmmaker. His films (like: The Prestige, The Dark Knight Trilogy and Inception) are incredible. Interstellar might be his best yet. He is again working with his frequent collaborators, only Hoyte Van Hoytema is new to the team, replacing Wally Pfister who is off directing features now. He has also again put together a brilliant cast. Interstellar will likely be 2014’s best film and a strong Oscar contender. Nolan’s use of IMAX’s 70mm film stock gives the film such a grand visual scale. It is stunning. Theoretical physicist Kip Thorne also working on the film’s story and serving as the science advisor gives everything an extra level of credibility (something somewhat lacking in Alfonso Cuaron’s wonderful space thriller Gravity). I think Interstellar has the potential to be 2014’s best film. Go see it November 5^th-6^th projected on IMAX film and then go again when it opens wide on the 7^th projected digitally. Trailer: Here.

Worth Checking Out:

Foxcatcher – Biographical Drama/Thriller – Nov 14

Plot Summary: Mark Schultz and his older brother Dave were both Olympic wrestlers. Millionaire John du Pont took a special interest in Mark, sponsoring his training and coaching him; however, his relationship with the Schultz brothers would lead to dark places. This is based on the true story. Key Filmmakers Involved: Director-producer Bennett Miller, producer Megan Ellison, cinematographer Greig Fraser, and production designer Jess Gonchor. Actors Involved: Channing Tatum, Steve Carell, Sienna Miller, Mark Ruffalo, Anthony Michael Hall, and Vanessa Redgrave. Quality Potential: High. Brilliant director Bennett Miller makes his third feature film with Foxcatcher (his first two are Capote and Moneyball). He is known for garnering wonderful performances, and Foxcatcher seems no different. Channing Tatum, Steve Carell and Mark Ruffalo are all getting lots of Oscar buzz for their work in the film (especially Carell). It looks like it will be a fantastic character drama, built on very strong performances. Trailer: Here.

The Imitation Game – Biographical Drama/War Thriller – Nov 21

Plot Summary: English mathematician and logician Alan Turing proved to be one of the most important minds of the last century. He and his team broke the Nazi Enigma code, allowing the allies to finally decrypt their communication messages – paramount to the allies turning the tide and winning the war. Yet, Turing was also persecuted for his sexual orientation and chemically castrated. He committed suicide. He was a hero, destroyed by an intolerant government. His story is just as important today as ever. We still face intolerance, ignorance and worse. This is based on the true story of Turing’s life. Key Filmmakers Involved: Director Morten Tyldum, composer Alexandre Desplat, cinematographer Oscar Faura, and production designer Maria Djurkovic. Actors Involved: Benedict Cumberbatch, Keira Knightley, Charles Dance, Matthew Goode, Mark Strong, and Allen Leech. Quality Potential: High. Director Morten Tyldum’s name might sound familiar to some; he directed the excellent crime thriller Headhunters, a breakout Norwegian export to the States. He has a wonderful cast and crew around him for The Imitation Game. It has performed very well on the festival circuit, winning the People’s Choice Award at this year’s Toronto International Film Festival. Benedict Cumberbatch and Keira Knightley are also getting a ton of Oscar buzz for their performances. The Imitation Game will likely be among this year’s nominees for Best Picture at the 2015 Academy Awards. Trailer: Here.