American Hustle

American Hustle is a 2013 film starring Christian Bale, Bradley Cooper, Amy Adams, Jeremy Renner, and Jennifer Lawrence. An A-list cast sets the bar pretty high for this film and it delivers and exceeds expectations. A fantastic film with heavy award potential.

***Spoilers Alert***

The movie begins with us meeting Irving (Bale) and his partner in crime, Edith (Adams). They are con artists who convince desperate people to hand over $5,000 in the hopes it will get them $50,000 in return. They seem to be quite successful, and even shocked, at how much people are willing to hand over money in the hopes it will make them profit. However, one con turns south pretty quick as they get caught by an FBI agent (Cooper). Edith is the one that accepts the check from the agent (major foreshadowing here), and is ultimately arrested for fraud. The FBI agent convinces Irving and Edith to work with him in taking down corrupt politicians in exchange for immunity.

Carmine Polito (Renner) is the mayor of Camden, NJ. He is hoping to rebuild Atlantic City after successfully legalizing casino operations in the state. He is known to be a very good person with great intentions, but has done some shady dealings to get genuine results. The FBI agent wants to ultimately pinch Polito, despite his wholesomeness. Irving and Edith are morally conflicted with taking down a good man and are even more upset when they realize the mob is now involved. The agent wants to use a fake beneficiary to lure in Congressmen and dangerous mob bosses from Miami who are all willing to get a piece of the Atlantic City pie. The main mob boss (Deniro) does not trust Irving and the group, but goes along with the agreement. Irving knows that once the mob gets conned and realizes this, him and his family are in life-threatening danger. Irving's wife (Lawrence) is a complete wild card in the film and almost ruins the entire operation when she reveals the plan to one of the mobsters she begins dating.

Irving and Edith are forced to make up a new plan and this time, they con the FBI agent to save themselves. They reveal the plan to Carmine and stop the flow of money before the mob dips in. They hire a friend to be the mob's "lawyer" and the agent is the one to give the account number to him (not Irving and Edith - remember from earlier). Since the money has gone missing now that the lawyer has been recognized as a fake, the FBI wants to know who has it. The agent quickly finds himself in hot water, because it was him who gave the account number. Irving and Edith ultimately have the money and offer to give it back so the FBI's image is preserved in exchange for immunity. They walk away from the situation, and the mob actually thanks them for stopping the exchange before they got pinched.

The acting in this film is incredible. Amy Adams, in my opinion, gives the performance of her career. Her British accent was very convincing, and I felt she was the most diverse out of the entire cast when it came to performance. The costuming in this film is brilliant, especially for the women. Amy Adams looks as if she was really in the 1970s as well as Christian Bale and Jeremy Renner. Some of the acting, on the other hand, was forced by supporting roles such as Jennifer Lawrence and Carmine's wife. Their impersonation of New Jersey residents did not impress me and at times I cringed.

The directing and filming in this film is extraordinary. The way the movie was shot was brilliantly executed. Some scenes that stick out for me are Amy Adams and Bradley Cooper walking towards the screen right before the party begins, Jeremy Renner and Christian Bale walking towards the car (the angle was superb), and Jennifer Lawrence walking down the hallway to the bathroom. These shots alongside so many others were done so well, I am confident David O Russell will be nominated for his directing.

Another aspect of the film that was brilliant yet comedic relief was the Ice Fishing Story. Throughout the whole film, we are trying to hear the FBI agent's boss finish his story about the time him and his brother went ice fishing. It is so unrelated to the movie, yet we become so intrigued by it's plot. The FBI agent constantly interrupts him, assuming he knows the ending only to find out he's wrong. It was beautifully executed and left us wondering, "What the hell happens to his brother?!"

This is a film to watch out for when Oscars get close. I believe we will see nominations for Best Picture, Best Actor (Bale), and Best Actress (Adams). Definitely go see it.

My Rating: A  

Gravity

Gravity is a 2013 drama that stars Sandra Bullock and George Clooney. This film dives into the deep outskirts of space and showcases just how dangerously beautiful it is. While the film does not offer much of a story, it focuses much of it's energy on visual effects and edge-of-seat scenarios.

**Spoilers Alert**

The film begins with us meeting Rhian (Bullock) and Matt (Clooney) working on a project in space. Rhian is doing most of the work while Matt circles around the shuttle, making light of their mission. Matt is a very suave, confident man who's no newbie when it comes to space travel. It's revealed that this is his last mission before retirement. Rhian, on the other hand, is a new traveller who's on her first mission in space. We can quickly tell that she is nervous and feeling queezy trying to get used to the whole no-gravity environment. Within minutes, they are ordered to get back to the shuttle as debris from an exploding satellite is heading straight towards them. They don't make it in time and the debris destroys their shuttle. Rhian is tossed into space and is spinning continuously away from the shuttle. She cannot get a visual of anything and is all alone.

The point of view shifts immediately to Rhian, and there are points throughout the film when we see what she is seeing out of her helmet. Matt goes to rescue Rhian and together, they make their way to a nearby international space station using his jet pack. Unfortunately, they cannot grab a hold of the space station when they arrive, and are being pulled away. The jet pack is out of fuel and they have no source of power to control their movements. Rhian gets caught in the strings of a parachute, and attempts to hold onto Matt as he is being pulled away into space. Matt realizes she will go with him if they stay like this and as a result, he detaches himself and floats away from Rhian and the station. This inadvertently leads to his death. Rhian from this point on, is truly alone. 

The film did a great job capturing the scare and the anxiety that goes into this kind of situation. Sandra Bullock was fantastic in going through the emotions of someone completely trapped with no way out. You can definitely feel her panic, and are able to relate with it as she keeps pushing and pushing for way back to Earth. George Clooney, on the other hand, lacked depth and character development. He was in the film for a very short period of time and I was not able to connect with his character. I don't feel he did enough from an emotional standpoint to capture the audience's sympathy. This was very much all about Sandra Bullock. We learn a lot about her history and throughout the film, she shifts from  being this scared, depressed woman to a strong, ambitious survivor.

The storyline, for me, was a little far-fetched. At one point, I asked "Does Rhian just have a giant black cloud over her head?" Everything that could go wrong, went wrong. As soon as we thought she has a way out, something else happens (a fire in the station, no fuel, more debris, rocket is attached to the parachute and can't move, etc). It got to a point where you couldn't help but wonder if the director was just trying to drag this out as much as possible. Rhian finally manages to survive and get back to Earth (even that goes wrong when she lands in the water, but she ends up ok). The film ends with her standing up on land and walking towards a field.

The visual effects of this film are stunning. To be honest, that is going to be the biggest highlight of this production. When the action sequences took place and you followed the characters in space, the camera did a fantastic job in capturing the beauty of Earth and space, but also the danger that went into the situation. It was definitely made for 3D (similar to Avatar) once you saw all the debris come in. 

I don't think it's enough to win some of the bigger categories in next year's Oscars, but I am confident we will see Gravity on the nominations list for several of them. I definitely recommend seeing it regardless. It was an experience because you very much feel like you are in space with Rhian. However, that goes hand in hand with the visuals. The visuals definitely make this film.

My Rating: B+

Prisoners

Prisoners is a 2013 film starring Hugh Jackman and Jake Gyllenhaal. It is a crime drama that dives into the controversial question: How far would you go to protect your children? While I can appreciate and respect the message of parents doing anything for their family, I can't help but feel disappointed at how  much potential was lost in this film. I was even bothered by the film's progress emotionally and morally.

**Spoilers Alert***

The film begins with us meeting Hugh Jackman and his family. They live in the woods (poconos/upstate Pennsylvania), and are preparing to visit a friend's house for Thanksgiving. The two young girls of these families go outside to play while the parents laugh and share memories in the living room. Not that much time passes by before the parents wonder where their children are. They begin to search, and anxiety quickly settles in when all areas of the community are covered.

I will admit, I appreciated the film going right into the disappearance of these kids. Most films take a while to build up and they lose the audience's attention rather quickly. But that wasn't the issue. The issue was how long it took for the twist to come in and for the children to be found. Two hours and thirty minutes could have definitely been shortened.

The primary suspect, Alex Jones, is a mentally unstable young adult who is found alone in his RV the night the children go missing. It was noted that the same RV was parked on the street the girls were playing on. We are led to believe Alex is the kidnapper but his inability to comprehend any question that comes his way causes us to doubt the accusation. Most of the film is seen through the point of view of Detective Loki (Gyllenhaal) who also cannot hold any further evidence on Alex. He completely checks out and is clean. He is let go and Dover (Jackman) is not pleased. He confronts Alex in front of the police station and violently shakes him to demand where his children are. Alex makes a comment "They cried when I left them" which makes Dover go completely over the top. The police grab a hold of him and Alex continues on his way.

Dover does not approve of the way Loki is handling this case and so he takes matters into his own hands and kidnaps Alex. He beats Alex throughout two thirds of the film to the point we cannot recognize the character anymore. He even locks him in a shower and shoots scolding hot water at him in order to make him speak. Now we know from the beginning Alex is mentally challenged , and cannot speak and/or comprehend. As a result, this torture is just continuing and continuing and continuing because Dover is convinced he knows where the children are. The other Father (Terrence Howard) helps him in this torture, but is morally conflicted at how horrible this is.

I was morally and emotionally bothered by how much attention to detail went to the torturing of Alex. While I understand parents will do anything to get their children back, this was not the answer. The film took a turn to us hating Dover and feeling terrible for Alex instead of focusing on the children and the case at hand. By the time the children are found and it is revealed that Alex's Aunt is the true kidnapper, I was so disgusted that I didn't care about the ending at all. Because now I say to myself, "All that torture for nothing." It is also revealed that the Aunt kidnapped many children years ago alongside her husband and Alex was ONE OF THOSE KIDS. She did so much damage when he was a boy that he grew up to be challenged. The same thing happened to another suspect we met later in the film. He ends up committing suicide when the police question him since they are convinced he's the kidnapper at the end (complete waste of a storyline). It turns out he was a victim of the Aunt as well. My question is, How did the Aunt get away with all this for so long? No one put two and two together? And when Alex went missing, no one thought to question Dover - the insane "I hate Alex Jones" person?

While the cinematography and filming was perfect in this film (shots were done very well), the acting was pitiful. I'm sorry but Hugh Jackman screaming every five seconds does not convince me that he is a parent fighting for his daughter's safekeeping. And Jake Gyllenhaal was as monotone as they come. No emotion. No passion (except for a brief "let's smash every office supply on our desk moment" cliche). I was very disappointed by these actors as they are Academy Award nominees. I expected so much better from two of my favorite actors.

It was quite a shame and honestly, I was so bothered by this film that I do not recommend it to anyone. Sorry but this one failed to meet the expectations of a dramatic crime thriller.

My Rating: C-

jOBS

jOBS is a 2013 biopic film based on the life and success of Steven Jobs - founder of Apple. Steve Jobs was and still is one of the greatest visionaries of our time. He revolutionized the way we live thanks to his creations of the Apple Computer, Mac, iPod, iPad, etc. This film does a great job in letting the audience see exactly what kind of man and businessman Steve was.

***Spoilers Alert***

The film opens with Steve Jobs in 2001 speaking to his staff. He is talking about the future and what it's like to change the world. He claims he's been working on something so big...it will change everything. He soon reveals the first of it's kind - the iPod. This is the one we all remember being so bulky and so big, but could hold 1000 songs. 

The film immediately goes back in time to the 1970s where we see a young Steve. He is very arrogant and just goes with the flow in life. He travels the world (mainly India) with his good friend Daniel, and just lives a carefree life. He soon works for Atari but quickly realizes he cannot work well with bosses. He needs to be his own boss. One night, after visiting his good friend, Steve notices a work-in-progress. His friend is working on a home style computer and Steve wants in. Together, they finish the product and sell it to a buyer of a local computer parts store. Upon receiving initial success, Steve knows they have something big and so they call for investors. After many failed attempts, Steve finally gets a bite and with that....Apple is born.

The film does a great job showing us how low Apple began. That it all began in a garage. Steve truly had to work his way from the bottom up. Him and his friend hire employees to assist in the making of Apple II. This product brings Apple Inc to incredible success, and we see that Steve is now running a large building with many more employees.

However, Steve begins to get lost in his own world and the company starts to fall. Not by much but enough to worry the shareholders. Steve must step aside and allow a new CEO take over. This CEO, while close to Steve Jobs in the beginning proves to not share the same interest as Steve and their partnership fails. With this failure, Apple begins to lose even more as competitors are starting to step over them.

My challenge with the film is how much time they spent on showing Apple's failure and the build up to Steve's eventual take over and reunion with his own company. While this is very important to the film, I felt more could have been done in showcasing Steve as a human being. What made him tick? Why did he do the things he did? Steve drops his first employees and friends like hot potatoes. He refuses to acknowledge his daughter and kicks his girlfriend out of the house. But then we see them together later on with a new child and the daughter from earlier in the film. How did that happen? I felt so much attention went into Steve's relationship with John Sculley that they didn't dive more into his personal relationships.

However, I enjoyed the film and felt it was very entertaining. I do enjoy how it ended with Steve taking over and it ending right at that point. We know from that moment on...Apple became one of the greatest companies around. They didn't need to show us that part. Ashton did a great job and I was very pleased with his performance. I could tell in some scenes, Ashton was trying VERY hard to be serious. But overall, I felt Ashton had the look and overall posture down. 

I would recommend this film to anyone who appreciates the Apple products today. It's a very good film to see. 

My Rating: A-

The Butler

The Butler is a 2013 drama based on a true story. It stars Forest Whitaker as Cecil, the butler who served several presidents during the civil rights movement. This film delivers a high-performing A-list cast and an incredible story. I would not be surprised should this make at least a few Oscar ballots.

***Spoiler Alert***

The film opens up with Cecil as a young boy. He is picking cotton in the fields alongside his dad. It is mid 1920s and we are still in the age of slavery. His mom is also a slave and is soon whisked away by the plantation owner for a rendezvous in the shed. Cecil pushes his dad to do something about this occurrence, and when the father acts, the owner shoots him dead. The old woman who is also an owner of the plantation, takes Cecil and trains him to become her butler. When Cecil grows older and slavery truly becomes obsolete, he leaves the plantation and strives to become his own man.

Since serving is all he knows, Cecil gets a job at a local restaurant/hotel, and is mentored by the senior butler. He grows into a great butler and eventually gets a job at the luxurious Excelsior in D.C. A White House representative is at the hotel one night and spots Cecil. Impressed with Cecil's work ethics, he recruits him to become one of the White House's distinguished butlers. And so it begins...

The film brings us into the world of civil rights through the perspective of one man. Even though he did not have any direct say in the movement, his service and relationship with all the presidents paved the way in how African American people were treated. In the beginning, we see Cecil and his family struggle with prejudice and segregation. However, as the years progress, his family seems to find it easier to live life to the fullest. Cecil's relationship with the president seems to grow more in depth as time goes on. We only see a few interactions that are more professional between him and the first president, Dwight Eisenhower. On the other hand, Cecil has almost a solid friendship with the last president he serves, Ronald Reagan.

Each actor delivers a stunning performance and never once does one outshine the other. With an all-star cast, you sometimes fall into the trap of them trying to take the scene. Forest Whitaker did an amazing job since he had the most emotional role to play. He is trying to protect his family and provide for them all while keeping his nose clean as the White House butler. He can't control his son's actions as a member of the Black Panther Party, but does all that he can to preserve the innocent foundation he built on his family's name. You can see that this character wants to take action and deep down strives to rebel like his son. However, he remembers that fateful day when his dad took action and died for it. As the film progresses, you watch this character go through several emotions and can't help but understand his conflict.

Opera Winfrey does an amazing job playing Cecil's wife. I don't think it's enough to get the oscar, but she certainly knew how to own a scene. Major kudos to the make up team for making each actor look like their respective presidents. I must say that Alan Rickman made a great Reagan. He was by far my favorite with James Marsden just second by a margin as JFK.

Overall, I thought the film was great. It flowed very well and never did I get bored. It is a film you have to concentrate since the timeline is very long and there is so much to cover in 2 hours. But I appreciate the intensity and authenticity of the events that are portrayed throughout the film. It really gave you a fond understanding and appreciation for the history and milestone that was civil rights.

I definitely suggest seeing this film. I feel you would enjoy it as much as I did.

My Rating: A

Grown Ups 2

Grown Ups 2 is a 2013 comedy starring Adam Sandler, Kevin James, Chris Rock, and David Spade. The movie is a follow-up to the first Grown Ups film, starring the same actors/actresses. They each reprise their roles to deliver a comedic performance in this sequel. While it is not a blockbuster of the summer kind of film, it still delivers some good laughs throughout.

**Spoilers Ahead**

The film opens with us seeing Adam Sandler and his wife asleep in bed. Adam wakes up to find a giant moose watching him from the side of the bed. Without panicking, he tries to wake up his wife but fails miserably. She wakes up frustrated and spots the moose. Instantly, she screams and the moose yells simultaneously. As a result, the moose urinates all over Adam Sandler and makes a run for it. The rest of the family is in shock and they all work together to get rid of the moose.

By the end of this scene, we learn the group of grown ups has moved back to their hometown, the same setting of the first film. We are re-introduced to each main character via some funny moments. Kevin James' child cannot add simple math and has no common sense whatsoever (quite cute and funny when you see it), Chris Rock's wife forgets their anniversary and he is now using this as a "get out of jail free card", and David Spade is introduced to his long-lost son who is bi-polar. After we meet the entire group again, we are introduced to some new characters such as the K-Mart employee, Adam's old high school bully, the group's friend who is now a crazy cop, etc.

As the film continues, we quickly learn this plot has no purpose. This is nothing more than the group's way of reliving some young adulthood memories all in one day. After running into some old friends and bullies, they convince each other to jump off the tall rock Kevin James could never bring himself to do. When they arrive, they are interrupted by some stereotypical frat boys. When I say stererotypical, I mean the guys are all model material, they act really dumb and chant their frat name, and they have secret handshakes while drinking. They force the adults to jump off the cliff naked (a funny moment in the film, I will admit).

By the end of this fiasco, they agree to have an 80's theme party that night with most of their old friends. The film ends with everyone getting along (even the bullies), and Adam's house being trashed. I can't help but wonder, what was the point of this film? If you're looking for a good, solid, heartwarming message - you're not going to get it with Grown Ups 2. Be prepared to witness only the events of four grown men within a single day and the funny moments that occur in between. I will admit the car wash scene, the cliff, David Spade rolling downhill in a tire, and the overall party scene are the funniest moments of the film. However, it's nothing that will make you roll on the floor laughing.

I honestly feel this was Adam Sandler's attempt to get EVERY SINGLE actor he worked with thus far together on one set to have some fun. It was like Mr. Deeds meets Big Daddy meets Billy Madison. While I could not capture the message he was trying to achieve, I can appreciate the humor and easy flow of acting these gentlemen provided. Everyone interacted with one another quite naturally as if they knew each other for many years already (which they probably did since Big Daddy is over a decade old).

My recommendation is to go see the film. You'll laugh a few times and leave the theatre chuckling. It is overall, a feel good film.

My rating: B-


 

The Wolverine

The Wolverine is a 2013 action thriller starring Hugh Jackman as Wolverine, one of the leading X-Men. While this film had promising potential, it unfortunately failed to meet the expectations of a summer blockbuster.

**Spoilers Ahead**

The film opens with us in Japan. We see a military camp of some sort, and many people are frantically searching for safety. Soldiers are guiding the people, and we are following the perspective of one particular soldier. We quickly learn it is WWII, and the nuclear bombs are on their way. Wolverine watches this event from a nearby metal bunker. As the bomb drawers near, each soldier decides to commit suicide in an effort to avoid the inevitable doom that is coming. The soldier we were following not too long ago, cannot bring himself to accept this fate and waits while the bomb goes off. Still debating what to do as the blast comes closer and closer, Wolverine takes the soldier to the bunker and protects him from the oncoming aftermath. The soldier sustains minimal injuries while Wolverine is nearly gone. However, knowing his power, we unsurprisingly watch him revive and get back to normal. The soldier is shocked yet grateful for what just happened. And then the film moves on to present day.

Wolverine is struggling with inner demons all throughout the film. These demons mainly involve the events of X-Men: The Last Stand when Jean died. He consistently dreams of her and while some of them are nice dreams, some of them turn into nightmares. The film captures this grief quite well and I thoroughly enjoyed Hugh's performance in this light. However, I couldn't help but think, "Inception spin-off much?"

A young Japanese girl visits Wolverine and convinces him to travel to Japan. The soldier he saved many years ago is dying and wants to say goodbye. This is not the case. The soldier wants Wolverine to transfer his power over to him in an effort to keep him from dying. Wolverine deems this impossible, but the soldier's doctor believes otherwise with the technology they have been using (thanks to the soldier's company). Should this be successful, Wolverine would become non-mutant and above all....mortal.

The doctor makes Wolverine mortal in the middle of the night after he declines the offer. We learn that this doctor is no good and is the villain of the film. However, my challenge with her is that her motives were never explained. Who is she? Where did she come from? What is her purpose? And I couldn't help but think of her as a twisted version of Poison Ivy from Batman with all the green outfits and toxins she uses in her seductive ways in killing people.

Another challenge I have is with the other side story that develops after the soldier dies. The son of the soldier is losing his mind because he cannot accept the fact that his daughter is the one that will inherit her grandfather's company. He even tries to have her killed at some point, which is the same plan the doctor has as well. So my question is...is this a side story? Are they working together? Do they have different reasons for wanting her dead?

Just when I think my questions might be answered, I meet another young man who was once close to the granddaughter Wolverine is so desperately trying to protect now. Is he bad? Is he good? Whose side is he on? We see this man fight Wolverine, then the granddaughter, than the doctor, than save the granddaughter. I had no idea whose side he was on at all. Very confusing.

The main plot twist is that the soldier never died and faked his death with the doctor's aid. Ok...so they're working together. The soldier fights Wolverine in a metallic suit he made that will help him stay immortal and strong. Obviously, he loses that fight as does the doctor.

My main concern with the film was that there was so much happening at once. The actors spoke with thick Japanese accents, making it hard to understand what they were trying to say. I felt as if I might have missed key plot details due to this annunciation challenge. I could sense the director was trying to capture an emotional connection between Wolverine and the surrounding characters. This did not work for me. The middle portion of the film went quite slow and I felt the objective was not achieved. I did not feel that connection with any of the characters, except Wolverine with what he was dealing with on his own.

My honest opinion is that this was a half-fast produced film and it lacked major attention to detail with plot and human chemistry. I don't recommend seeing this movie unless it's on TV someday and you just happen to come across it.

My rating: C

My Early Oscar Predictions - July 2013

I am an extreme fan of the Oscars and truly appreciate the majestic atmosphere they bring each year. With that said, I have been staying in tune with this year's list of films and I think I have an idea on who will take home the prized statue in 2014. While its still very early and of course, things can change - I'm confident I'll get some of these right:

Best Actor: this is a toss up between Leonardo DiCaprio and Tom Hanks. Leo has been nominated 3 times and never won. He was also the only actor to not get nominated for Titanic. The press is recognizing this fact and since Gatsby, Leo has been getting a lot of attention. Now he has a new movie coming out - Wolf on Wall Street. Gatsby may not get him nominated but it got him the attention he needs for his upcoming film in his back to back 2013 movie year. This film screams Oscar - Scorsese, controversial plot, true story, comes out during Oscar season. This may just be the kick Leo needs and plus....the academy would show us all that see????? we recognized Leo for his talents. 

Tom Hanks has been quiet and while he already won 2 times, he may just have a shot at a 3rd win. He will be playing Captain Phillips and Walt Disney back to back. Again, he screams Oscar - playing two real life persons in 2 very controversial story lines.

Best Supporting Actor: as much as I love Gatsby, I don't think it came out at an appropriate time for the academy to give much consideration. However, Joel Edgerton surprised us all with his performance as Tom Buchanan. The man gave us chills in his depiction of the literary antagonist (hotel scene...need I say more)? In the meantime, Matthew McCanaughey is getting a lot of recognition for his upcoming role in Wolf on Wall Street. In the trailer, you can just see him having the potential to steal the scenes. I think we might be seeing his name on the nominee listing as well. I say it's between these two gentlemen.

Best Director: either George Clooney or Alfonso Cuaron. Alfonso is directing a very bold movie and is getting acclaimed critically for taking such major risks in the upcoming film, Gravity. In the meantime, the academy loves George Clooney and nominates him for almost anything. Now that he's directing, the academy may just say - well....we didn't give you the recognition for actor, but that's because we feel you're a director!!

Best Actress: Naomi Watts for her performance in Diana. Naomi will be playing Princess Diana this year and the academy has certainly taken a liking to anyone who can pull off British royalty (Helen Mirren as the Queen, Meryl Streep as Margaret Thatcher, Colin Firth in King's Speech). Sandra Bullock however may come in for a second win as she plays an astronaut lost in space, fighting to survive. Should she pull that off, she may just be the one to beat. However, I'm confident it's going to Naomi Watts since she was already considered the dark horse last year for her performance in The Impossible.

Best Picture: too early to tell but I think these films will be nominated

Saving Mr. Banks

Gravity

Captain Phillips

The Butler

jOBS

Diana

Wolf on Wall Street

The Great Gatsby

White House Down

White House Down is a 2013 action-thriller starring Channing Tatum and Jamie Foxx. It is a film that brings out controversy considering it involves our current relations with the Middle East, and terrorism striking Washington DC. Overall, this film delivers an edge of seat presentation and is done quite well. Kudos to Tatum and Foxx for making a strong team.

***Spoilers Ahead***

The beginning of the film is quite slow moving as we are learning about the characters and what the storyline is. We are introduced to Tatum's character, an aspiring Secret Service Agent who is trying to make amends with his daughter while also trying to get his life back in order after his divorce. Foxx's character is the President of the United States and he is trying very hard to have a peace treaty signed by multiple nations. This would indirectly end the war on terror and bring home the troops immediately. Not a lot of people are a fan of this treaty due to the very well know ingredient that is...money. 

On the day that the President is supposed to make his announcement, Tatum takes his daughter to the White House for an exclusive tour. She is very excited and you can see that her rocky relationship with her dad is not looking so bad right now. Unfortunately, terror strikes as a group of American citizens blow up the Capital. This event is nothing more than a diversion to what lies ahead....The White House.

The tour is held hostage by the terrorists, but Tatum manages to escape. He is looking for his daughter who went to the restroom (impeccable timing) but comes across more terrorists. He uses his skills to defend himself and ends up coming across the President. He shoots at the main leader of this terroist group, and is able to save the President. 

The main terrorist is a bit of a plot twist. He is the head of Secret Service. He is personally holding the President, and the United States accountable for the death of his son. His son was on a military mission and unfortunately got sent to the wolves. The leader gets himself a group of military trained men who are not too thrilled with the President as well - for their own reasons. The group is able to put their skills together to execute a very well orchestrated plan in beginning World War III. So we quickly learn this is more than just wanting money.

Foxx and Tatum do a great job keeping the action alive and holding the moviegoers at the edge of their seats. There a lot of moments when you think, "what's going to happen next?" While yes there were some far-fetched scenes (as one would expect in an action film), the movie was very well done and quite realistic. For Roland Emmerich, I was pleasantly surprised to see him focus on the acting and character development, and not just have every building blow up. It made the movie that much more raw. 

The President is assumed dead, and so the VP is sworn in while flying Air Force One. Not soon after, the terrorist group hack into the military's main network, and fire a rocket straight to the aircraft. Everyone on board unfortunately dies. The Speaker of the House is now sworn in while in a military command center. He learns that the terrorists have gotten a hold of launch codes, and will be using them to fire nuclear missiles to every Middle Eastern country. They want to basically annihilate that part of the world. This will obviously begin a frenzy and China, Russia, and France are all ready to attack us should this take place. The new President wants to destroy the White House (even though the tour is still inside) in the hopes that this will wipe out the terrorists immediately. Tatum receives this notification from a colleague and does his best to stop the group on his own and rescue the hostages. He succeeds with the help of Foxx and his daughter....great scene in how she was able to get the military's attention and convince them to abort.

Big plot twist: just when we think it's over, we learn the true terrorist leader is the new President. He was going to have the White House destroyed after the launch codes were initiated (he killed the VP so he could be sworn in and get the launch codes to give to his terrorist team). This was so all evidence linking him to the project would be destroyed. He gets arrested and is obviously taken to prison leaving Foxx as President once more. 

Overall the film was great. It was long but worth it. I thoroughly enjoyed every minute of this film and recommend it to everyone. While it brought out some very controversial points, you can't help but dismiss that since we all know a terrorist movie is asking for controversy. 

My rating: A-

The Heat

The Heat is a 2013 comedy film starring Sandra Bullock and Melissa McCarthy. These two actresses deliver a phenomenal performance and make a great team. As a result, this film will have you roll on the floor laughing. It truly serves it purpose as a comedy presentation while allowing us to appreciate other great things about the film too. 

***Spoilers Ahead***

The movie opens up with us meeting Sandra Bullock's character. We immediately see that she is great at her job, but that's about it. She has no social skills and is not well liked by anyone within her workplace. She is vying for a promotion, but the boss is hesitant knowing how unpopular she is at work. He gives her a major assignment and basically says to her that the promotion would still be in the talks should she pull this one off well. We then meet Melissa McCarthy's character who is the polar opposite to Bullock's personality, but still shares the same attributes as her (not liked at work but great at what she does). Now put the two women together and you have a hilarious movie.

The two must work together to solve a major crime spree in Boston relating to drugs, murder, and mafia. You soon learn Melissa McCarthy is a little more involved than she'd like to be. Her brother is in deep with the people she is after and so she tries her best throughout the film to protect him. We also learn that she arrested her own brother when he was involved in drugs and wrong crowds. Her family disowned her for doing that, and did not understand that all she was doing was her job and helping him. So even with the film being hilarious, it still had a serious note to it which made you appreciate it more.

Sandra Bullock doesn't have it easy either. She is alone and has a lot riding on this assignment. While the two are working the case for selfish reasons, they realize they're not getting too far. They have to put their selfish reasons aside and help each other in growing and developing as human beings. As they begin to do that, they create a strong foundation for what will become a lasting friendship. Needless to say, they solve the crime and the film ends with them being "sisters." In fact, that scene made me tear up personally. Bullock had no positive comments in her yearbook and was also a foster child. The ending scene shows that McCarthy signed the yearbook - "Now you have a sister."

So while the film had some hilarious moments, it also pulled on my heart strings a bit too. As a result, it made me appreciate the film that much more. The film was able to deliver a balance of comedy (without getting too stupid), drama, and heartwarming moments. And for that, this film makes my top 5 in comedy favorites. 

My recommendation is to go see the film. You will definitely laugh a lot!

My rating: A

The Lone Ranger

The Lone Ranger is a 2013 Disney film that features the iconic television characters, Tonto and the Lone Ranger. Starring Johnny Depp and Armie Hammer, these two work well together to deliver a comical performance of 2 individuals coming together for one common reason. While the film had some great moments, it failed to meet the expectations of an amazing live action film. The comments featured in this blog are my own personal thoughts and do not affiliate with Disney.

***Spoilers Ahead***

The "how" in the story being told is extremely confusing. It is 1933 and a young boy dressed as the Lone Ranger is visiting a circus. He walks into a tent that has wax figures on display depicting the Wild West. One wax figure is Tonto. He comes alive just as the boy approaches him and is very old. It is then when Tonto tells the young boy of his journey with the Lone Ranger. I don't understand the point of this. How did Tonto end up in a museum pretending to be a wax figure? Where is the Lone Ranger? Who is the child and why is it important for Tonto to tell him everything? These questions never get answered by the time the film concludes. Very strange. 

The movie itself is very long - 2 hours and 29 minutes. It was not necessary. The action scenes we saw in the trailer are sadly the final 20 minutes of the movie. At points, the storyline got confusing and introduced characters and subplots that didn't belong. For instance, the beginning of the film revolves around local rangers capturing a wanted murderer and bringing him into town for trial. The woman who is our main female protagonist is very concerned about a particular man's well being while this ordeal takes place. Who? Husband? Father? She also hints that he is evil but then hints that he is good. Which is it? Turns out to be the Lone Ranger's brother who is this woman's husband. Ok that makes sense. But what I don't get is when Armie Hammer returns to town, him and the girl embrace as if they're the ones married. The brother notices how strongly Armie's character feels for his wife and just shakes his head and rides off with the other rangers. So wait....you're ok with this? I'm confused.

The storyline also revolves around the growing conflict between Native Americans and new townspeople. This gives Tonto a higher purpose as opposed to just the Lone Ranger wanting to find the man who killed his brother. The overall build up is slow moving. It takes a while to finally get to the point and understand what the villains are looking for. I will say the ending was fantastic. The final scene was very well done and brought out the authenticity of depicting Wild West action.

I was impressed with how authentic the film was. The actors spoke like 1800 Westerners and the style of acting/scenery was very ol' country. So for that part, I say well done. 

I feel the film lacked a steady flow. Should the film have been shorter, I believe the plot would have flowed better and not force the audience to watch scenes that didn't need to be there. For instance, why did I have to see bunnies attack another dead bunny? Was that really necessary to show me?

I was quite disappointed but in the end, I did enjoy the film. I guess you can say I'm on the fence. So with that, I would recommend you go see it. It's worth seeing on the big screen.

My Rating: B-

The Hunchback of Notre Dame

The Hunchback of Notre Dame is a 1996 Disney animated film that is now perceived to be one of the classics. The following review is a reflection of my own personal thoughts and comments and is in no way affiliated with Disney.

***Spoilers Ahead***

Well my first question is this....WHY IS THIS NOT ON BROADWAY?!? The music to this film is stunning and immediately captures you in the first 10 minutes. It's funny how you watch an animated film from the 90s and forget how times have changed since then. Boy do I miss the animated films from my childhood days.

This film was fantastic and I'm shocked I've never seen it before. It must have just slipped by me. Well thanks to Netflix, I was able to watch the film and enjoy the fabulous tale of Quasimodo. The story was kid-friendly but I will admit, there were numerous parts that made me think, "wow this is dark." The story begins with a group of Gypsies running away from Frolo, the evil minister who vows to kill every gypsy that steps foot in Paris. He chases after a woman and her baby and as he grabs hold of the baby, he causes her to trip and fall. She unfortunately dies and Frolo is marked with sin. He is obligated to care for the boy (Quasimodo) in order to cleanse his soul.

The movie brings up several controversial points, but that is what makes this film amazing. The first point is being accepted for your differences. Quasimodo suffers from deformity and is convinced by Frolo he will never be taken in by the people. When Quasimodo is revealed to the public, some people embrace him while others torment him for being different. A clear representation of our current society and what's it like to feel different from everyone else.

The other point revolves around Frolo. This villain is very conflicted and I could not help but see a little Javert resemblance in this character. Frolo cannot see the good, no matter what, in Gypsies. He thinks they are disgusting and a menace to society. He specifically targets the Gypsy Esmerelda and wants to destroy her. But why? It is soon revealed that her beauty and charm is causing Frolo to get some...well....lets just say urges. He cannot accept this evil within him and blames the girl for it. As a result, he either wants her all to himself or just have her die. Definitely a point I don't think most kids will get.

Overall the film was great and visually stunning. Great animation and I loved the Topsy Turvy number. It was probably my favorite scene of the movie. While I don't understand the point of having real life gargoyles (sort of took away from the reality of the film), I get that they were the comic relief and Quasimodo's only friends. That was probably my only ehhh moment when watching the film.

Should this be a Disney film you have yet to see...See It! It is amazing and I'm glad I took the time to watch the movie.

My rating: A+

My Top 10 Movie Plot Twists - the remaining 7

So I decided to make my top 10 lists in one shot. I will quickly announce all of them with a brief description so it makes for an easy read.

My top 10 movie plot twists:

10 - The Mist

09- The Village

08 - The Departed

07 - Seven

   Twist: the killer who kills based on the seven deadly sins, reveals himself and the detective chasing him the final two sins (wrath and envy).

06 - UP

    Twist: Carl goes deeper into the adventure book him and his wife made while they were married and she was alive only to see she wrote him one final message. Talk about crying your eyes out!

05 - The Sixth Sense

    Twist: The therapist treating the young boy who sees dead people is dead the entire time.

04 - Identity

    Twist: all the characters are made up personalities by a deranged death row inmate who is "killing them off" in his mind to prove to the officials that the killer within him is gone.

03 - Now You See Me

    Twist: the detective assigned to the robbery case and bringing down the magicians was the one behind everything the whole time. He secretly helped the magicians and they didn't even know it.

02 - Psycho II

    Twist: the old lady that befriends Norman Bates is actually his biological mother. He kills her with a shovel at the end.

01 - The Others

    Twist: the characters being haunted by spirits throughout the whole film are actually dead. The spirits are really living people who have moved into the abandoned home in which our main character lived in.

Enjoy!!!

World War Z

World War Z is a 2013 film starring Brad Pitt. The film takes place in modern day society and revolves around a very popular topic within our pop culture at the moment....zombie apocalypse. I was quite hesitant in seeing this film, but to be honest I'm glad I did. It was extremely well done and I was thoroughly impressed with Brad Pitt's performance. He carried the film very well.

***Spoilers Alert****

The film begins with us meeting Gerry (Pitt) and his family. It is clearly recognized from the start that this family is very happy and very loving. Gerry is now the stay at home Dad, but enjoys taking care of his two daughters. The family of 4 are driving in NYC when they quickly realize something is happening within city limits. Gerry steps out of the car to investigate but a nearby explosion takes place. The family begins to panic with the rest of the citizens and make a run for it. Did we just get attacked? Gerry continues to look behind him only to see what no one would have expected to see...people eating each other and acting ferociously.

The film quickly develops into a zombie apocalypse. Gerry and his family travel to nearby buildings in order to escape the increasing threat. He gets a call from a friend he used to work with in the United Nations - "we're sending help your way!" Gerry and his family barely escape but are rescued and taken to a military carrier in the Atlantic Ocean. It is then when we learn about the situation and about Gerry. Gerry used to be an international spy for the UN and did a lot of work for them. In order for his family to stay protected onboard the carrier, Gerry must get back to his original job and join forces with the military. They want him to travel the world and find out more about this tragedy.

As Gerry continues his journey with the officers, he realizes none of the zombies target terminally ill people. He comes to the conclusion that they do not want anyone who is marked for death. As a result, he makes his way to a world health research facility, and works with the scientists in gathering diseases. In the final scene, Gerry is face to face with a zombie. He injects himself with the disease and well....hopes for the best. Sure enough the zombie shows no interest in him and the scientists realize his theory worked. They save him with an antidote and he is once again reunited with his family. The scientists quickly develop a vaccine using the deadliest diseases (not enough to kill anyone) so people can receive "camouflage" shots. Now as they remain invisible to the zombies, officials can figure out a way to save Earth and recover from this event.

Zombie movies have always been known to turn corny and far fetched. This one however takes a unique twist and captures the very element of surprise. How would you react should one day you saw this take place? We hear about it. Heck there's a tv show about it - but should one day zombies arrive, how would you respond!? I think Brad Pitt captures that moment very well in comprehending the reality of an impossible situation. I also enjoyed how scientists were trying to justify it as a major flu and refused to accept the word zombie as a mature, logical justification. Meanwhile, other officials are saying we must accept the fact that something we always deemed fictional is now actually happening. I felt it made the film more realistic in the approach they took.

I also dislike movies that solve a world crisis in two hours. This event is still happening as the film ends. They just found something that would help them remain uninflected. The real job is still taking place.

Overall a good film with some great action packed scenes. Go see it - you'll be pleasantly surprised.

My Rating: B+

Monster's University

Monster's University is a 2013 prequel to the beloved original, Monster's INC. While I will admit, I had reservations in seeing this film and wasn't sure how I would react to it, this is once again a job well done by Disney and Pixar. I write this as a personal moviegoer fan and these are solely my personal comments on the Disney film.

***Spoilers Alert***

The film dives into the stereotypical world of college living. We first meet Mike W. as a preschooler in the beginning scene of the film. Him and his class visit Monster's INC to learn all about scaring (remember, laughing hasn't been introduced yet). This is when Mike develops his life long dream of becoming a scarer.

The film immediately jumps to young adult Mike as he enrolls into Monster's University- a prestigious school for scaring majors. Sulley is soon introduced to us as your typical college frat boy. He's been fed by a silver spoon all his life and hides behind his family name. As a result, he doesn't take school seriously and expects to just have a fun time joining fraternities. Mike and Sulley are polar opposites. Mike is the nerdy must-study student and Sulley is the fun loving party animal. These two immediately become antagonists to one another and as an audience member, you wonder how these two will go from enemies to best friends.

As they both quickly realize their individual approach to college will not be tolerated by the dean (whole movie you're convinced she's the villain- she's actually really sweet at the end), they must work together with some of the school's biggest rejects in proving their skill sets and remaining enrolled in Monster's University. Needless to say they win the Scare Games but not before they learn some key life lessons first. By the end of the film, Mike and Sulley have grown to be best friends. While they still manage to get kicked out of school, they learn to use their skills in the workplace, and work their way up from the bottom in Monster's INC.

This film is a fabulous heart warming film. I can certainly appreciate some of the adult themed college references that many kids probably won't get - but that's what makes Pixar films so great. The film also made a great point that you can't expect to get far in the real world just by partying, but also just by studying. There's need to be a balance of maturity. I really enjoyed the concept behind college isn't everything. You can certainly get far by working hard and starting in the front line of any business. I can appreciate that message considering the journey I personally have had in my career thus far. A very heartwarming film that connects with the original story in such a natural way. I really enjoyed how they showed Randall beginning as Mike's only friend only to turn into his enemy when Sulley humiliates him at the competition. It sets great motive for the original villain of the story. 

Definitely a must see - you won't be disappointed.

My Rating: A

Man of Steel

Man of Steel is a 2013 superhero film featuring one of the most iconic superheroes of our time....Superman. While we have seen our fair share of Superman reboots beyond Christopher Reeve, this particular one takes a unique twist. We cannot help but have high expectations of the film considering the names attached to it....Christopher Nolan, Zach Snyder, etc. Sadly, Man of Steel fails to deliver a superhero movie that will be talked about for years!! Sorry Christopher Nolan, but stick with  Batman.

Visually, the film is fantastic. The cinematography is superb as the camera captures incredible angles throughout the entire film. One notable scene is when Superman walks out for the first time. The angle in which his cape is shown blowing in the wind is well done. It were scenes like the one I just mentioned that captured those intense moments and made you appreciate what was happening in the scene.

Unfortunately, I cannot say the same for character development. Not one character is emotionally connected with the audience. I could not get myself to "feel" what the characters were feeling. Their story lines intertwined way too quickly and even prematurely. Amy Adams as Lois Lane was perhaps the most disappointing. We learn nothing of her and the relationship between Lois and Superman is never truly defined. Superman is another character I was disappointed in. The filmmakers tried too hard to get his origin storyline all in one movie. The flashbacks showing his time as a child was well done, but the transition from Clark to Superman is poorly developed. There is no excitement, no anticipation. All of a sudden he walks out of a cave wearing the uniform. Wait! What?!?

The build up to the final showdown between hero and villain is poorly executed. By the time the ending is about to be revealed, the movie lost my interest. And I couldn't help but feel disappointed in how the showdown took place. Could we put in any more superhero movie cliches? While I understand the reality of a superhero movie is hard to display, this movie gave far-fetch a new meaning. Superman and the villain are flying through every and I mean every skyscraper in New York. All at the same time, alien space ships are flying above the city and destroying the buildings Superman missed. It was Star Trek meets War of the Worlds meets District 9. And at the very end all it takes is for Superman to snap the villain's neck! What?!?!? 

My personal theory is this...Christopher Nolan got cocky. His success in Batman made him think he could come up with anything and we would all just fall to our knees. Sorry not this time. Christopher Reeve would still be rolling in his grave.

My recommendation: see it but don't make it your priority must see summer movie. It's ok if you miss this one.

Rating: B-

Top 10 Movie Plot Twists #8

THE DEPARTED

****Spoilers Ahead****

While there may be some amazing movies out in the world, many of them failed to do the unspeakable: kill off the main character in an unpredictable way. 

The Departed hits my top 10 list, because you would never expect this scene to take place. Protagonists who die mainly do so at the very end when they have fulfilled their mission. Otherwise, they seem to survive every possible threat thrown at them. 

Leo Dicaprio plays Billy Costigan, the main protagonist of the movie. With about 45 minutes left, Billy captures the antagonist played by Matt Damon. While we believe the protagonist has finally won and there is no hope for Matt Damon, we are given an ultimate element of surprise. Leo is escorting a severely beaten Matt via elevator. As soon as the elevator doors open, Billy is shot and killed by one of Matt's allies. We can't help but jump, and feel shocked that our main character, who was in the lead this whole time, just died with one bullet. How did that happen?

The Departed took some major risks but also exposed the reality of what it's like to be in organized crime: expect the unexpected and that no one is safe. Great film and powerful scene makes this one of the best plot twists for me.

I did not post the clip because it is extremely bloody and violent.

Top 10 Movie Plot Twists: #9

THE VILLAGE

****Spoilers Alert****

This 2004 film was criticized for its lack of suspense and horror. Many people did not enjoy the film, including critics. I, however, loved this movie. Why? Cause of the plot twist.

There are so many movies out there with one common issue: they're predictable. The twist they present has been done several movies back. There's nothing new. But this one was. This twist genuinely surprised me and made its way onto my top 10.

The Village is about a group of people living in a town set in the 1800s. They all suffer from some inner demon, but we do not know what it is. As the story progresses, we learn from the village's leaders that there are monsters in the woods and no one should ever cross into their territory. We meet these creatures halfway through the film and believe the leaders are telling the truth. But something drastic happens that will cause the leaders to rethink their policy.

The protagonist is severely injured and requires lots of medication. This medication is not within the village's reach and it can only be found pass the woods. The leaders send a woman who is blind out into the woods to retrieve the medicine. Aren't they concerned about her safety? Why are they not thinking about the monsters? Well that's because the monsters are the leaders.

The leaders dress up in these costumes to scare off the people and keep them from satisfying their curiosity. But why?  Cause it's the not the 1800s, it's 2004. The leader of the village bought out the land and used it to make his own town set in the 1800s. Each of the leaders experienced a major tragedy in their lives - murder, theft, rape, lost. They felt the modern world was too painful to live in, and decided to "go back" in time to a period they felt was peaceful and tranquil. They believed it was the only way to shield their children and grandchildren from the horrors that is our modern day society. 

I honestly did not see the twist coming. With the setting and detail so strong in that time period, I was left with no clues as to the twist being the year is 2004.

Excellent build up and incredible story development. Once revealed, the twist made this movie one of the most interesting concepts in my movie watching experience.

Top 10 Movie Plot Twists: #10

THE MIST:

****Spoilers ahead****

For me, a great story involves a twist - something we weren't expecting to happen. It's what draws us in and captures our surprise instantly. While The Mist is a seriously flawed film, it has landed a spot in my top 10 movie plot twists.

The film focuses on a random town where people are living their everyday lives. They are soon cloaked in an unknown mist where terror awaits anyone who investigates the outside world. It turns out Earth is under a severe alien attack and the aliens are using the mist as a shielding tool. As many of the people die, they begin to lose all hope of surviving this brutal event.  

A group of people decide to take one final chance as they enter the mist, get in a car, and drive off. They soon realize they cannot escape the mist/aliens and agree that they gave it a good try. As all hope is lost for them, they realize they will not survive this attack. They are stuck in the middle of the road, awaiting the inevitable doom.

They decide to take matters into their own hands with one gun, 4 bullets, and 5 people. The leading man decides to kill his son and his allies to spare them the agony everyone else has been going through in this attack. As he grieves the lost of his son, he is forced to find his own way of death. As soon as he exits the car, the army arrives and is literally saving the day. He cannot believe this and the film ends with him screaming in agonizing surprise.

I will admit, my mouth opened when I saw this scene. This scene is an extremely controversial yet powerful moment. What do you do when you are convinced you're not going to survive? Do you wait? Or do you just get it over with? This also brings up an incredible point that sometimes, patience truly is a virtue. I would never have guessed the movie would end with this man killing four people including his son only to be rescued seconds later. 

A twist I genuinely did not see coming. I have attached the 7 minute scene for your enjoyment but note that this scene contains blood, violence, and controversial topics.

http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=BqI45jjthpA

The Internship

The Internship is a 2013 comedy film featuring Vince Vaughn and Owen Wilson. Immediately you think of 2005's Wedding Crashers when these two names get paired together. While this movie is certainly no Wedding Crashers, it delivers a heart-warming life lesson to all us who rely too much on technology and social media.

******Spoilers ahead******

The story revolves around two middle aged men who are too old for the new technological world, but still too young to retire and not look back. When they get laid off from their company due to a heavy demand in electronic sales, they are forced to adapt to change. They apply for an internship with Google, a search engine that has literally changed the way we look for information.

While it is comedic when the two men interview with Google via video conferencing, it goes to show how out of date they really are. Obviously they get the job and make their to Google. 

The film is your average comedy where a protagonist hits rock bottom in the beginning, goes off to do the impossible, hits rock bottom again and decides to give up, gets an epiphany to carry on, and complete the task resulting in a landslide victory. We've seen this movie before right? While I am disappointed this story failed to deliver something fresh, something original, I applaud the messages it delivered.

Today, we rely way too much on Facebook, cell phones, Instagram, hash tags, and even Google. We live in a world where, myself included, can fall in the trap of looking down at your phones and not seeing what's around you. While Vince and Owen's characters need the young interns to help them adapt to the technology, the kids need them to help them enjoy life the way it was meant to be enjoyed. After some comedic moments, the two groups become close and each them learn a valuable life lesson.

The movie features your stereotypical technology nerds who are extremely book smart but have no social skills. There's even a scene where they play Quidditch (quite funny) and the kids have to help the two men understand Harry Potter.

I enjoyed this story because it focuses on what it's like to work hard, but to also have fun at the same time. It also shows how scary change can be for people which in my opinion is a critical thing we deal with and can relate with. While the film did not have me roll on the floor laughing, I was moved by the thematic elements and appreciate the points they made. While we might be so well connected thanks to technology, we are so far apart at the same time. It takes people from different generations to fill those gaps.

My recommendation: Go see it. You'll laugh but mostly you'll appreciate the heartwarming story.

Rating: B

The Purge

The Purge is a 2013 film based on the future of America. In this future, our government has allowed the people to commit any crime within a twelve hour window once a year. This purge includes murder and the suspension of all emergency personnel.

*****Spoilers Ahead*****

The concept is very interesting and while we accept the fact that this is indeed fictional, we cannot help but wonder the what ifs behind this purge should it become a reality. The movie focuses on the pros of the purge claiming unemployment is at it's lowest, crime is at it's lowest, and the overall economy is flourishing. Morally, I have an issue with the film's strong aggression in supporting the purge. While I understand the need of an explanation and foundation, I felt it was unnecessary to shove it in our faces on how great it would be to legally kill those who drag the country down. It was if they were campaigning for such a cause in real life.

The film itself lacked originality. It was a cross between The Strangers and The Hunger Games and was very predictable. There is no character development whatsoever. We follow a family of 4 who is very wealthy (of course you need a big mansion to set in so the characters have plenty of room to run and hide - total cliche in horror movies). The family is morally tested as the youngest child allows a hurt man to take refuge inside their home. The people chasing him approach the house and now threaten the entire family should they not cooperate. We learn nothing about these antagonists except they are clearly psychotic. They wear freaky "smile" masks (again another cliche) and find a way to break in the house. At this moment, the film picks up in suspense and action as the family fights for their lives. This was rather good but again, very predictable that all the bad guys would be defeated. The main character being killed, however, was a nice touch and I did not see that coming. I like when movies show the reality behind no one being immune to death - even the protagonist.

While the film might have had strong moments of suspense and fear, it lacked character development,  storyline, and emotion. Not enough time passed for us to truly connect with the family. I could not emotionally grasp their situation as the build up was just too quick.

My recommendation: wait for the video and "purge" yourself the cost of an admission ticket.

Rating: C-