Rise of the Planet of the Apes: Evolution Becomes Revolution (2011)

Working for a medical research company, Gen Sys, Will Rodman has been working for years on a cure for Alzheimer’s. The drug ALZ 112 is supposed to be the big break and gets used on one of the chimps, Bright Eyes. With some successful testing, Will brings the news forward to Steven Jacobs and sets up a meeting with investors. When a mishap leads to the restart of the program, Will and his partner, Robert Franklin, have to put down all of the test subjects but find a baby chimp in Bright Eyes’s pen. After some convincing, Will takes the baby chimp home and quickly becomes attached. After seeing the interactions between the little Caesar and his father, Will decides to continue to raise the chimp and track his intellectual progress, as it seems that Caesar has genetically received the effects of the ALZ 112. Over the years, Caesar grows into a full-size chimpanzee and begins to struggle with his identity as an animal with increased intelligence.

Starring: James Franco (Will Rodman), Andy Serkis (Caesar), John Lithgow (Charles Rodman), Karin Konoval (Maurice), Terry Notary (Rocket/Bright Eyes), Christopher Gordon (Koba), Jay Caputo (Alpha), Freida Pinto (Caroline Aranha), Brian Cox (John Landon), Tom Felton (Dodge Landon), David Oyelowo (Steven Jacobs), Tyler Labine (Robert Franklin)

There are two significant casts in this film: the human cast and the primate cast. Leading the humans is James Franco as the medical researcher. He projects a combination of restraint and excitement toward the beginning but also has moments of strong passion for his father and for Caesar. His character, at times, actually feels a little overly restrained but the focus is a little less on him and more so on Caesar. David Oyelowo represents that strong-willed businessman who has moments of cautiousness and periods of gusto. Freida Pinto serves more as a supporting character than a leading lady, but she has a few points of challenge for Franco’s decision-making. John Lithgow plays Franco’s father, who serves as the catalyst for the medical research. Playing a character with Alzheimer’s, Lithgow is able to show some dynamic change between moments of dementia and clarity. On the animal side, the characters are computer-animated but the expressions are provided by human actors. Included within the significant primates are Terry Notary (Rocket & Bright Eyes), Christopher Gordon (Koba), Jay Caputo (Alpha) and Andy Serkis (Caesar).

In an attempt to give life to the beginnings of a story made famous by Charlton Heston, Rupert Wyatt takes focus on how the world went from humans being the dominant species to the apes taking over. Gen Sys (aka Genesis) is focused on trying to cure disease but creates a new set of problems in the process. Will’s focus on Alzheimer’s brings forth a viral-based treatment focused on fighting the disease. With all medical testing focused on chimpanzees, Will’s success is short lived and Bright Eyes’s outburst is misunderstood. Unknowingly, their testing brings forth part of the potential downfall of man in the form of Caesar, who adopts the intelligence traits of his mother. The other side of the equation directly relates to the medical testing. When they move forward with a new variation of the formula in gaseous form, exposure causes unexpected consequences that have the potential for catastrophic implications different from the previous ALZ 112 in injection form. The indication of an epidemic that could spread throughout the human population (similar to that in Contagion) sets up a very interesting concept if there is a continuation of the series.

The presentation of the film mixes together CGI and human acting. The primates are fairly well done with the integration of the motion-capture of the corresponding actors and the CGI motions, which are fairly smooth and realistic. While some of the acting at times is a little flat (Franco after the loss of his father) or a little overdone (the caretakers at the primate reserve), the environments are fairly well designed to help move the story through its progression. The overall feel of the film is quick when the focus is on Caesar but slow when considering the other elements (i.e. medical research and beginnings of the pandemic effects of the virus). The banding together of the chimpanzees is a very entertaining element as it mixes primal moment of animal dominance and more civil elements of charity and shared human-like goals. One of the interesting elements in the medically-induced evolution was the ability to speak, which only included two lines by Caesar but added to the science fiction feel of the shifting power between man and ape.

As a reboot of the classic series, the film took the beginnings of the evolution of apes and the distress of humans and helped to create a believable context on an intriguing story.

Dan’s Rating: 3.5/5

Midnight Cowboy: One Helluva Stud (1969)

As a Texas native, Joe Buck contemplates and chooses to leave his hometown to head to New York City. With dreams of becoming a hustler of rich New York women, Joe is eager to get to the Big Apple. After getting his apartment and hitting the streets, he soon learns that his plans may not be as easy to accomplish. When he gets invited up to his first apartment, he gets entangled with a rich, married woman but finds it more difficult to ask for money. Feeling a little defeated after his first attempt, he heads to a local bar and meets another man of the streets, Ratso Rizzo. Claiming that he can help him, Rizzo sends Joe to one of his contacts and pockets the finder’s fee he charges. Frustrated by the result, Joe tracks down Rizzo and demands his money back. Instead, Rizzo brings Joe back to his secret apartment and the two begin to develop their partnership to help Joe find the success for which he is searching.

Starring: Dustin Hoffman (Ratso), Jon Voight (Joe Buck), Sylvia Miles (Cass), John McGiver (Mr. O’Daniel), Brenda Vaccaro (Shirley), Barnard Hughes (Towny)

Dominated by two talented actors, this film focuses on the development of a friendship of unlikely individuals. Jon Voight serves as the gung-ho, Texas hustler. While he maintains his eager nature, Voight gives the character a mixture of boisterousness and southern charm. This particularly is apparent at the beginning of his character’s arrival in New York as he tries to navigate the personalities on the city streets. Opposite of Voight is Dustin Hoffman. Truly a hustler, Hoffman is able to represent the sleaze of the street life while also showing a determination to survive. Clearly challenged by a bum leg, his character represents what someone will do to get the necessary money or supplies. The only other character of significance is Cass, played by Sylvia Miles. She served as Joe’s first true welcome to city and its surprisingly distrusting people.

John Schlesinger’s portrait of a hustler takes a walk on the seedy side of the city. Joe Buck’s expectations of his opportunity in New York are quickly dashed after he believes he has hooked his first target. Her deception takes away his steam but he becomes more discouraged after meeting Rizzo and getting sent to a crazy, religious zealot. When the two men meet back up, Rizzo agrees to take care of Joe, who has lost everything in the process of trying to start his hustler career. Joe learns to live off of the street but does not let go of his hope to earn money through sex. After a chance meeting to go to a party, he finds his first real opportunity to have a successful client relationship. After the evening turns out successful for him but a downturn for Rizzo, his friendship rises to the foreground as he has to make a touch decision about getting Rizzo to where he wants to go (Florida) or take advantage of his newfound success and clientele.

Scattered throughout the film are moments that bring to light the past of Joe that led to his desire to seek out such a profession. Though not fully explained, the images range from his childhood to young adulthood. As a child, Joe remembers his baptism but in an extremely frightful way. Though he had such a dreadful recollection that moment, his love for his grandmother was apparent. Trauma is usually linked to people who choose into professions like prostitution and Joe’s past contains a few of those moments. His mother’s abandonment and his grandmother’s passing were particularly difficult. On top of those experiences, there was a moment when him and his one-time girlfriend, Crazy Annie, were attacked and raped by a gang. This left Joe damaged an seeking a way to take advantage and control from others.

While this is certainly an interesting film and more complicated than it appears, the production appears a bit underdeveloped and the acting is a bit over the top, particularly in the relationship between Voight and Hoffman. Though a best picture winner, it was not a strong and complete as many other classic films. What does set this film apart are the several memorable moments and lines that have been used in many other films and shows.

Dan’s Rating: 3.0/5

Kramer vs Kramer: There Are Three Sides to This Love Story (1979)

Fresh off of an accomplishment at his work, Ted Kramer returns to his New York apartment to find that his wife has packed her things and is planning to leave him. Seemingly unaware of her unhappiness, Ted is confused with Joanna and pleads for her to stay. In her haste, she chooses not to explain herself but gives Ted instructions on taking care of the errands and caring for their young son. The next morning, Ted struggles to explain what happened to Joanna to little Billy and tries to simply support their regular routine. As he initially struggles to keep it together balancing work and caring for his son, Ted eventually gets into a groove, just in time for Joanna to return and demand that Ted needs to give him back. Flustered by her return and demands, the former couple choose to go to court and fight for the custody of Billy.

Starring: Dustin Hoffman (Ted Kramer), Meryl Streep (Joanna Kramer), Jame Alexander (Margaret Phelps), Justin Henry (Billy Kramer), Howard Duff (John Shaunessy), George Coe (Jim O’Connor), JoBeth Williams (Phyllis Bernard)

This film served as an opportunity for some early success for both Meryl Streep’s and Dustin Hoffman’s long-running careers as a truly dramatic presentation. Streep initially plays the role of the distraught and broken housewife. Though she never makes it completely clear as to her attempts to keep the family connected, her return and battle during the court proceedings serves as an excellent representation of the intensity of her character. For Hoffman, the role allows him to take a character who is wrapped up in his work and force him to open up to an entirely different aspect of life and family. His anger issues definitely create a rift between him and his son, but eventually he is able to develop the the rapport necessary to gain Billy’s trust. Though a little difficult to discern at the beginning, Jane Alexander’s role as Margaret Phelps highlights the necessary friendship needed to make it through such a rough experience. Although she does not seem to need a more intimate relationship with Ted, Alexander is able to project a lighter side their friendship.

In this example of the challenges of divorce and custody, Robert Benton takes the tradition roles of men and women and turns them on their heads. When Joanna leaves Ted to take care of their son, he struggles immensely with the challenge. Never having had to think about what goes into taking care of a child, he continually tries to psych himself out to pretend he has the confidence to be successful. When their first breakfast goes poorly and all Billy can do is ask about his mom, Ted believes he is in trouble. It does not help when Billy is unable to move beyond the loss of his mother. Ted is eventually able to get through to Billy in a way that has his son craving Ted’s attention. Even after an incident at the playground, it is the love and support Ted is able to show him that continues to build on that foundation. Hoffman is able to show that even a detached father can make a difference if given the opportunity to rise to the occasion.

When Joanna returns, she shakes up Ted’s world. Just when he felt that he was running like a well-oiled machine, Joanna returns to demand and sue for the custody of her son. Ted’s lawyer does not give a lot of confidence regarding his chances of winning the trial but is still able to press on for a rather hefty fee. Ted tries to protect Billy from the trial, but a request from Joanna to see her son drops some of the barriers. During the trial, the issue of character becomes the major focus. For Joanna, her abandonment of Billy for 15 months serves as the most significant barrier to her success. For Ted, he is already at a disadvantage because the mother maintains more right to a child, but the loss of his higher-paying job leaves him making less than Joanna and seemingly less able to support Billy at as high a level. With the lawyers on the attack, both Ted and Joanna experience the harshness of the legal setting and end up understanding each other a little more as they witness the stress take over during each of their times on the stand.

While the speed of the film is a little inconsistent, the story highlights a different perspective on a father learning how to care for and show his dedication for his son.

Dan’s Rating: 4.0/5

50/50: It Takes a Pair to Beat the Odds (2011)

An average guy who writes for radio programs, Adam begins to experience some pain in his back. After getting checked out by a doctor, he learns that he has Schwannoma neurofibrosarcoma, an extremely rare and aggressive form of spinal cancer. While initially depressed and avoidant of the diagnosis, he begins to tell his friends and family about his plight and begin to seek treatment. Though he gives his girlfriend, Rachael, an out of their relationship, she decides to stay with him and take care of him. His best friend, Kyle, seems to see the diagnosis as an opportunity to get pity sex from women who are sympathetic to his plight. His mother’s worrying continues to create a rift between the pair, though she continues to struggle with the Alzheimer’s of Adam’s father. Trying to support him through the treatment are a couple of other cancer patients and a young psychologist, Katherine, who has only worked with two other patients and is continuing to hone her skills.

Starring: Joseph Gordon-Levitt (Adam), Seth Rogen (Kyle), Anna Kendrick (Katherine), Bryce Dallas Howard (Rachael), Anjelica Huston (Diane), Serge Houde (Richard), Andrew Airlie (Dr. Ross), Matt Frewer (Mitch), Philip Baker Hall (Alan)

To present a movie about cancer in a somewhat comical way is no easy task. Joseph Gordon-Levitt does not necessarily highlight the comedic side of the film, but, as the main character, he portrays both the concepts of the stages of grief and the complications with illness in a rather phenomenal and realistic way. Though he has a few moments of levity, most of his scenes deal with elements of fighting and accepting his fate. As the best friend, Seth Rogen is the main source of comedy. While his scenes are dominated by what seems to be negligence for his friend’s condition, Rogen has one of his most meaningful performances to date. Anna Kendrick’s role as the psychologist is fairly timid at first but she has a playfulness that plays better to the romance side of the film more so than the realism of a mental health professional. Bryce Dallas Howard seems innocent enough in the beginning but becomes a bit more complex throughout the film. As the grieving mother, Anjelica Huston plays her role with a great overbearing and fretful nature.

Taking inspiration from a true story, Jonathan Levine attempts to bring a realism to the story of a young man with cancer. Adam’s life is turned upside with a single moment with his doctor, who very nonchalantly tells him his diagnosis. While he is able to tell Rachael and Kyle soon after he learns about the cancer, he struggles to tell his mother, for fear that she will smother him. When he does, her first concern becomes why he waited so long to tell her and then she becomes flustered by the poor news. The process of telling loved ones may be done fairly quickly in the context of portraying it on screen, but the challenge of opening up and the reactions are fairly well portrayed. Adam must then go through a number of experiences that continue to alter his perception of his situation. Though he has a good friend who stays by his side, he learns about Rachael’s lack of commitment and struggles to accept the help of his mother. An illness of this type can take an unpredictable toll on loved ones, either pushing them away or pulling them closer.

The realism is actually something that is fairly heralded about this film. In multiple interviews with cancer patients and survivors, they discussed how true to life Gordon-Levitt played his character. While many other films play out the stages of grief in their specific progression, Adam’s struggles are mixed in with periods of acceptance. While going through chemotherapy, he makes friends with the other patients and still pushes toward having a fairly normal life. Even during therapy with Katherine, he maintains a sense of himself. When the cancer becomes too aggressive and he has to have surgery, his world gets turned upside down. He finally is able to understand the plight of his mother and recognize how invested Kyle has been all along. In the moments before getting taken back for the surgery, several of the interviewees identified with the moment of weakness. Adam breaks down and simply wants to stay in the safety of his mother’s love.

Though the comedic side of developing a cancer movie may have been criticized, it is well integrated into a story that gives a natural look at how cancer can alter a person’s life and those close him.

Dan’s Rating: 4.0/5

Forrest Gump: The Story of a Lifetime (1994)

As a young boy in Alabama, Forrest Gump had a rough start to his life. Diagnosed with a decreased IQ, fitted with braces on his legs and growing up without a father, Forrest meets a young girl named Jenny who changes his life forever. While his story starts during some rough times, good fortune and opportunity seem to follow him. While getting taunted one day after school and chased by the local bullies, his attempt to run with the braces shatters them into a thousand pieces. From then on, he continues to explore the world in ways that few got to experience. Forrest becomes a football star, army soldier, ping-pong champion, shrimp boat captain, transnational runner and eventually a family man.

Starring: Tom Hanks/Michael Connor Humphreys (Forrest Gump), Robin Wright/Hanna Hall (Jenny Curran), Sally Field (Mrs. Gump), Margo Moorer (Lousie), Mykelti Williamson (Bubba Blue), Gary Sinise (Lt. Dan Taylor), Aaron Izbicki (Dallas), Michael Burgess (Cleveland), Steven Griffith (Tex), Richard D’Alessandro (Abbie Hoffman), Geoffrey Blake (Wesley), Haley Joel Osment (Forrest Junior)

As one of the most iconic films of the 1990s, Forrest Gump heralded two extremely successful actors and made the careers of a handful of others. Tom Hanks has performed in a number of memorable roles but none of them equate to the performance as Forrest Gump. Giving the character a sense of simplicity, Hanks is able to not only make Forrest stand out but show a slow progression through his emotional development. His earlier years certainly lacked an understanding of the depth of emotions, but his love for Jenny and the arrival of his son propel him to levels thought unreachable based on his experiences. Just as compelling was Sally Field as Mrs. Gump. She has a true motherly personality and strength of character to support her young son through his tough childhood. She also served as a perfect foundation for Forrest to return to at various stages of his life. Jenny Curran, played by Robin Wright, was the seemingly unattainable love of Forrest’s life. She grew up in her own difficult ways different from Forrest, which leads to the unstable set of experiences during her intersections with Forrest.  Gary Sinise is certainly memorable as Lieutenant Dan, particularly with his rough demeanor and quirky recklessness. Just as memorable was Mykelti Williamson as Bubba Blue, the inspiration who supported Forrest during the war and his shrimp boat captain periods. Rounding out the significant characters in the film was young Forrest, played by Haley Joel Osment.

Robert Zemeckis put together one of the most significant movies in film history with his exploration of significant events through the eyes and experiences of a simple man from Alabama. Forrest’s troubles as a child may not have had the same significance for him due to his inability to recognize the amazing nature of impact, but the one thing that stuck with him was his care for his childhood friend, Jenny. When she was abused as a child by her father, Forrest was the only one she trusted to take care of her. Even though they parted ways during college, his visit to school continued his love for her but did not appear as significant to Jenny’s story at the time. It was not until they were much older and after Jenny was able to experience a number of rebellious moments that she finally appreciated the devotion he maintained for her throughout his life. Though she denied his first request to marry him, their moment of passion eventually led to their son, who Forrest did not meet for several more years. Jenny eventually falls ill and sees no one better than Forrest to take care of her in her last moments and be the one to take care of their son. The love story aspect of this film truly is woven throughout the film to take the numerous, disconnected experiences and make meaning of Forrest’s journey through life.

While the love story is fairly easy to follow and a truly significant element of the film (she loves him, she wants something else, she realizes what’s important), the experiences throughout Forrest’s life are what makes the film special. No one ordinary man can ever say that he has experienced as many significant moments as Forrest and had as significant a role on American history. While the football and war elements were important moments for Forrest and those he played/served with, he left a mark on so many people with his random generosity. When Forrest wipes his face on the t-shirt, he creates the smiley face symbol. Forrest gives his earnings from the shrimping business to Lt. Dan to invest, which he places into Apple Computers, both supporting the company and creating financial security for Forrest for the rest of his life. When Forrest was staying in the Watergate Hotel, he inadvertently blows the lid off the illegal activities. The actions of Forrest are very cleverly portrayed in a way that makes them seamless in comparison to the true history.

Truly one of the greatest films of all time, Forrest Gump can also be considered one of the most complete films with its combination of action, comedy and drama depicting the seemingly unnatural but amazing moments of a simple man’s life.

Dan’s Rating: 5.0/5

Casablanca: A Date with Fate (1942)

In the city of Casablanca, Rick Blaine has been exiled as a former American freedom fighter during World War II. As the owner of a popular nightclub, his hotspot attracts a number of transient people coming out of Nazi-occupied Europe. Rick, a celebrity among the populous, is a man who is out only for himself. With the arrival of some Nazi officers, Captain Louis Renault is attempting to give the best impression possible and gain some credit with his guests. At the same time as the arrival of the Nazis, Victor Laszlo and Ilsa Lund walk into Rick’s and create a challenge for the owner. With a tryst in Paris connecting Ilsa and Rick, old memories are stirred and create a challenge for the seemingly nonchalant owner. After falling into possession of two blank letters of transit, Rick has the tough decision to make regarding who gets to receive the opportunity to get out of Casablanca and what he will do about the reappearance of his former love.

Starring: Humphrey Bogart (Rick Blaine), Ingrid Bergman (Ilsa Lund), Paul Henreid (Victor Laszlo), Claude Rains (Capt. Louis Renault), Conrad Veidt (Major Heinrich Strasser), Sydney Greenstreet (Signor Ferrari), Peter Lorre (Ugrate), Dooley Wilson (Sam), Joy Page (Annina Brandel), Madeleine Lebeau (Yvonne), SZ Sakall (Carl)

Nominated for the best actor award of the 1944, Humphrey Bogart leads the way as the stalwart club owner. His strong personality helps hides so much of his history and his discomfort with the Nazi presence. In the flashback to Paris, he shows a slightly different side of himself, one that includes his open love for Ilsa and compassion of others. Ingrid Bergman played Ilsa and gave her character a great femininity with an edge. Though she mostly follows the direction of her husband and her heart, she also has a moment of strength and desperation that serves to challenge Bogart’s character’s stoic nature. Paul Henreid is a mostly one-dimensional actor in this film but his character is not as important to the character development other than to serve as a catalyst for Ilsa and Rick’s reunion. Also nominated for his performance, Claude Rains plays his character to the tune of the tides. With the Nazi presence, he searches for people attempting to flee for America. When around Rick, he serves as a friend and protector. Dooley Wilson plays the important role of adding significant musical interludes to express the emotion of the film.

Michael Curtiz’s classic film represents the challenges of living within the Nazi range during World War II. Casablanca was a city that served as a transition point for people trying to escape the growing threats in Europe and travel to America. While the opportunity was there, it was not easy to get papers to approve one’s transport. When a courier’s letters are stolen and find their way to Rick, he became a man with more power than he initially realized. While suspicion existed for Rick’s past, he maintained a consistent neutrality that took away most of the attention for his activities. Ilsa served as an instant shakeup of his world. Even though he seemingly had no intentions of using the papers for anything, the stirred-up emotions created a new challenge for his future. Regardless of his decision of whether to reestablish his relationship with Ilsa, a spark was rekindled in his heart for combating the oppressive and abusive powers plaguing the world.

There is a lot of controversy about the value of this film. While many of the major critics and organizations actually rate this as one of the best films of all time (the American Film Institute listed it as #2 and the Writers Guild of America rated the screenplay as the #1 of film history), the average viewer has struggled with choosing the same ratings. Many of the concerns include the acting styles of both Bogart and Bergman as over-emoted, the slow start to the storyline and the extra scene after the plane takes off. In reality, many of these reviews ignore the disconnect of time between the original release of the film and the evolution of film over the past 100 years. Casablanca was a fantastic film for its time and has influenced American culture more than people realize. Significant quotes (like “here’s looking at you, kid” and “of all the gin joints, in all the towns, in all the world, she walks into mine”) have weaved their way into other films’ and media’s scripts. Scenes like the airport and the songs like When Time Goes By have inspired other writers in the developing their stories.

Casablanca is truly one of the greats and should be on everyone’s must watch list for greatest films of all time.

Dan’s Rating: 5.0/5

The Hurt Locker: War is a Drug (2008)

In 2004, an elite bomb squad in Baghdad travels throughout the city where everyone appears to be dangerous. Using protective suits and disarming robots, the squad is well protected but loses its leader when a mission turns awry. To replace the lost soldier, Sergeant First Class William James becomes the new leader of a squad. Sergeants JT Sanborn and Owen Eldridge are surprised to learn of their leader’s apparent recklessness as they experience the leadership of a man obsessed with the experience of war. The squad enters into several missions to scout out and disarm possible IEDs and enemy combatants. With each mission, there seems to be greater danger awaiting them, drawing out their fear, anger and true characters of each of the soldiers.

Starring: Jeremy Renner (Sergeant First Class William James), Anthony Mackie (Sergeant JT Sanborn), Brian Geraghty (Specialist Owen Eldridge), Guy Pearce (Staff Sergeant Matt Thompson), Ralph Fiennes (Contractor Team Leader), David Morse (Col. Reed), Evangeline Lilly (Connie James), Christian Camargo (Col. John Cambridge)

In this representation of the wartime experience, each of the actors brings an intensity and development of their military personas. Jeremy Renner solidified himself for a much larger career through this role. As the Sergeant First Class, Renner shows what the experience of war can do to a man, enhancing one’s obsession with the completion of the mission and engrossing themselves with the violence and combat. He shows little remorse for the actions he takes and the decisions that put his men in harm’s way. Anthony Mackie as Sanborn shows a little more temperament in his instructive manner during the missions and shows an immediate clash with Renner’s character. While he is certainly willing to serve his country, he is also a bit more level-headed. Brian Geraghty as Eldridge is initially okay with his character’s involvement in the war effort but is shaken up by the death of his former squad leader. Guy Pearce serves as the initial squad leader and has a combination of bravery and confidence in his one major scene.

Kathryn Bigelow put together a film that would try to capture the intensity and experience of going through a war zone. Throughout the film, the Army’s Bravo Company finds themselves called on for multiple bomb threats which do not just represent the challenge of defusing the devices but managing the drama of the team. Staff Sergeant Matt Thompson’s death leaves both Sanborn and Eldridge at a lost. For Sanborn, he feels remorse for his lost comrade, but Eldridge is challenged at his core after feeling at fault for the accident. Eldridge’s visit with the staff psychologist highlights the stress and distress many of America’s soldiers experience during and after the horrors of war. William James poses a different problem. Showing a complete lack of respect for the lost soldier, he takes over the squad with little regard for the experience and intelligence of the two men. This creates a rift for power that also exists in the competitive environment of the military. While they are supposed to be working together as a squad, James fails to recognize his own obsession and negligence.

This film put up a fight with Avatar and won in the overall battle for Oscar gold. Snagging the sound categories, film editing, directing and best picture, The Hurt Locker did more than simply show a human war drama, but it presented the harshness of the terrain and the deafening silence of a bomb disarmament and standoff. As the different soldiers made their way toward the several bombs in the film, the wind, rustling of the bomb suit and occasional discussion of the soldiers provided the soundtrack of each intense moment. Bigelow provides significant detail in every scene that even heightened the attention to the films visual effects and cinematography. She also helped to direct the acting performances of Renner, Mackie and Geraghty in a way that helped to maintain the sense of humanity in what could have appeared to be an emotionless environment.

While the film may not be the best war film in cinema history, The Hurt Locker took a very real, current experience of war in Iraq and brought the experience back to the American public. Some may be challenged by the amount of action or variability in one’s ability to connect with the characters, but the challenges that Renner’s character experiences toward the end of the film serves as an excellent discussion point regarding one’s feelings about war.

Dan’s Rating: 4.0/5

Slumdog Millionaire: What Does It Take to Find a Lost Love (2008)

In the game of his life, Jamal Malik has an opportunity to win big on the Indian version of Who Wants to Be a Millionaire. Unfortunately, Jamal is been suspected of cheating as he went on a run through the questions without needing much help at all. Taken in by the police, he is tortured to confess to cheating during the game only one question away from winning it all. As he sits there with the police, Jamal walks through the questions and is able to recount the events in his life that gave him the knowledge to answer all of the questions up to this point. Discussing the tough life of a boy without a home, Jamal highlights the adventures with his brother and the encounters with the love of his life, Latika. Still on a search to find his lost love, he had hoped the game would give him one more shot to reconnect and start a new life together.

Starring: Dev Patel/Ayush Mahesh Khedekar/Tanay Chheda (Jamal), Freida Pinto/Rubina Ali/Tanvi Ganesh Lonkar (Lakita), Madhur Mittal/Azharuddin Mohammed Ismail/Ashutosh Lobo Gajiwala (Salim), Anil Kapoor (Prem the gameshow host), Irrfan Khan (police inspector), Mahesh Manjrekar (Javed the crime boss), Ankur Vikal (Maman), Rajendranath Zutshi (Jamal’s mother)

For an American audience, the actors of this film are hardly known, but they perform so intensely that they draw the viewer into the story. The film starts with the torture of Jamal, played by Dev Patel, and continues to provide him a chance to truly shine as an honest, good-natured young man who never loses faith in his pursuit of a better life. Lakita, played by Freida Pinto, is brilliant in her innocence and subjection to a life she never wanted. Forced into prostitution and arm candy for a mob boss, Pinto is able to maintain her connection with her love for Jamal while fully aware of her situation. More stunning than these two performances is Madhur Mittal as Salim. While his younger selves show his progression through moral development, his young adult character truly struggles with the corruption of the mob and is swept up by the benefits. The kids who play each of these main characters are simply wonderful as well. Jamal is played by Ayush Mahesh Khedekar (young) and Tanay Chheda (middle). Lakita is played by Rubina Ali (young) and Tanvi Ganesh Lonkar (middle). Salim is played by Azharuddin Mohammed Ismail (young) and Ashutosh Lobo Gajiwala (middle).

As the big winner of the 2009 Oscars, Slumdog Millionaire was a complete film that captures viewers with its beauty and reality regarding Indian culture. The direction of this film was under the genius of Danny Boyle and Loveleen Tandan. There was actually a lot of controversy regarding the film as groups of people in Indian struggled with the film’s representation of the culture. While the film starts with Jamal’s interrogation for cheating on the game show, his story  starts as a child during his opportunity to meet a famous film star and get his autograph. After rebels attack the village, Jamal and Salim escape the violence and become homeless. Along their path, they are swept up by an abusive thief, travel to the Taj Mahal and find themselves in the big city. Lakita joins them early in their journey but gets separated for some time, only to reconnect at different times during the story. As the children travel from place to place, the film focuses mostly on the working class and slums of India, which adds to the illusion that all of India is in dire straits. Many of the comments against the film were with the violence and thievery rampant throughout the country. While this may not be indicative of the whole country, the problems exist just like they do in parts of other countries like the United States.

Regardless of the Indian concerns with the film, American audiences either loved it or hated it. Much of the criticism seemed to result from a lack of global perspectives from the audiences or a lack of appreciation for international stories. In the end, this film won awards for cinematography, directing, film editing, original score, original song, sound mixing, adapted screenplay and, of course, best picture. The soundtrack for the film includes a great mixture of intense melodies, charming tunes and celebratory choruses. The landscape was breathtaking and the direction provided a great look into the hidden areas of India. While the dialogue may not have been revolutionary, its combination with the elements displayed in each scene made the film that much more engaging.

This film of the year for 2008 was an intense tale of love, adventure and devotion. Oscar-worthy all the way.

Dan’s Rating: 5.0/5

A Work of Art: Recapping the 84th Academy Awards

Billy Crystal hosted for his 9th time. The Artist and Hugo split for the most awards of the night. Meryl Strep won her 3rd Oscar. And Cirque du Soleil performed a special segment dedicated to the movies. It was a wonderful night.

Though I did not pay attention to the Red Carpet this year, I caught a couple of highlights right before the start of the awards ceremony. The obsession with George Clooney started before the night even began, though he was nominated for two different films (The Descendants and The Ides of March). There were a number of very well-dressed celebrities, but beauty is in the eye of the beholder and I choose to not comment on which ones I liked. That choice is up to you.

The night started with the traditional video inserts and song & dance number by Billy Crystal. He had his numerous segues and clever jokes, but he tended to pause quite a bit to let the jokes sink in a bit. Still, he had a number of great moments during the video intro, including his kiss scene with Clooney for The Descendants, eating the pie with Octavia Spencer for The Help, getting a little face time with Justin Bieber for Midnight in Paris, talking with the guys from Moneyball and driving a motorcycle straight out of The Adventures of Tin Tin. The musical number was solid but felt a little too quick with 9 films to get through. All in all, Crystal was a good, safe choice for a host.

One of the interesting controversial elements talked about during and after the show online was that Chris Rock should have been the host. While Crystal had a number of solid jokes (most about the economy), Rock clearly appeared to have written his own material. He talked about how animation lets anyone become anyone, including a donkey and a zebra (find the video online to understand the reference). His actually felt like it was straight out of one of his standup specials.

Starting with the biggest losers…War Horse was Spielberg’s attempt to for another emotional war drama and it failed to win awards at any of the big ceremonies, including the Oscars. I will put Hugo into the winners category as well, but the best picture nominee failed to win any awards for substance-related categories. The musical categories were good nominees, but the best song category was lacking with only two nominees.

There were a few items that were definitely challenging, particularly with the competition in certain categories. I will definitely agree that Meryl Streep deserved her best actress award, but she was up against some phenomenal talent. It was the most competitive category where clearly every nominee deserved the award. Michelle Williams brought life to the iconic Marilyn Monroe. Glenn Close played a woman who poses as a man to find opportunity in a sexist world. Rooney Mara took the character of Lisbeth to a darker place than even the Swedish version of The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo did. And Viola Davis was remarkable as the woman who led the maids in their opportunity to speak out against discrimination in The Help. The men were nearly as competitive, but it was clear that the race was between George Clooney and Jean Dujardin, even though Demain Bichir was phenomenal in A Better Life.

The winners were definitely deserving of their achievements. I may be a bit conflicted about the merit of Hugo’s wins, but all of the film’s wins were deserved for the beautiful presentation of the film. Meryl Streep came away with her 3rd win after 17 nominations, solidifying her as the most winningest and nominated actress in history. Octavia Spencer has quite the emotional moment with her disbelief in her achievement in acting. Jean Dujardin picked up the best actor award and gave a little dance in celebration of his recognition. Christopher Plummer finally was awarded his first Oscar for his work in Beginners. The Artist was definitely the truly biggest winner of the night, snagging best original music score, costume design, best director, best actor and best picture. Michel Hazanavicius definitely deserved attention for putting together a classic style film so strong that an old film style would steal the show for 2011.

With another year before the next Academy Awards, there is an opportunity for the next set of films to come in and bring a whole new set of stories to life on the silver screen. In honor of the achievements of 2011, I will dedicate the next couple weeks to focusing mostly on Oscar winners for best picture.

Do not forget to check out the great upcoming films of 2012 in the theaters starting NOW!

Oscar Night 2012: Predictions and Winners

It is that time of year again. It is officially the night of glitz and glamour and, most importantly, a celebration of the past year in film. There are a number of great pictures that took place since the last awards, though many of them only appeared over the past couple months. While there is no party for me this year, I am still feeling the Oscar buzz and have my predictions below. I will update this post throughout the night to represent the winners as they are announced and follow up on the results in the next day or two. Enjoy the night (and thank you that Billy Crystal is taking the lead this year).

Actor in a Leading Role

• My Prediction: George Clooney in The Descendants
• My Spoiler: Jean Dujardin in The Artist
• Winner: Jean Dujardin

Actor in a Supporting Role

• My Prediction: Christopher Plummer in Beginners
• My Spoiler: Kenneth Branagh in My Week with Marilyn
• Winner: Christopher Plummer

Actress in a Leading Role

• My Prediction: Viola Davis in The Help
• My Spoiler: Meryl Streep in The Iron Lady
• Winner: Meryl Streep

Actress in a Supporting Role

• My Prediction: Octavia Spencer in The Help
• My Spoiler: Berenice Bejo in The Artist
• Winner: Octavia Spencer

Animated Feature Film

• My Prediction: Rango
• My Spoiler: Kung Fu Panda 2
• Winner: Rango

Art Direction

• My Prediction: The Artist
• My Spoiler: Hugo
• Winner: Hugo

Cinematography

• My Prediction: The Artist
• My Spoiler: War Horse
• Winner: Hugo

Costume Design

• My Prediction: Jane Eyre
• My Spoiler: The Artist
• Winner: The Artist

Directing

• My Prediction: Michel Hazanavicius for The Artist
• My Spoiler: Woody Allen for Midnight in Paris
• Winner: Michel Hazanavicius

Documentary (Feature)

• My Prediction: Undefeated
• My Spoiler: Hell and Back Again
• Winner: Undefeated

Documentary (Short Subject)

• My Prediction: Saving Face
• My Spoiler: Incident in New Baghdad
• Winner: Saving Face

Film Editing

• My Prediction: The Artist
• My Spoiler: Hugo
• Winner: The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo

Foreign Language

• My Prediction: A Separation (Iran)
• My Spoiler: In Darkness (Poland)
• Winner: A Separation

Makeup

• My Prediction: The Iron Lady
• My Spoiler: Albert Nobbs
• Winner: The Iron Lady

Music (Original Score)

• My Prediction: The Artist
• My Spoiler: War Horse
• Winner: The Artist

Music (Original Song)

• My Prediction: Man or Muppet by Bret McKenzie
• My Spoiler: Real in Rio by Sergio Mendes and Carlinhos Brown
• Winner: Man or Muppet

Best Picture

• My Prediction: The Artist
• My Spoilers: The Descendants or The Help
• Winner: The Artist

Short Film (Animated)

• My Prediction: The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr. Morris Lessmore
• My Spoiler: La Luna
• Winner: The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr. Morris Lessmore

Short Film (Live Action)

• My Prediction: Raju
• My Spoiler: The Shore
• Winner: The Shore

Sound Editing

• My Prediction: Hugo
• My Spoiler: War Horse
• Winner: Hugo

Sound Mixing

• My Prediction: The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo
• My Spoiler: Hugo
• Winner: Hugo

Visual Effects

• My Prediction: Rise of the Planet of the Apes
• My Spoiler: Transformers: Dark of the Moon
• Winner: Hugo

Writing (Adapted Screenplay)

• The Descendants by Alexandre Payne, Nat Faxon and Jim Rash
• Moneyball by Steven Zaillian and Aaron Sorkin
• Winner: The Descendants

Writing (Original Screenplay)

• My Prediction: Midnight in Paris by Woody Allen
• My Spoiler: The Artist by Michel Hazanavicius
• Winner: Midnight in Paris

Percentage Correct: 15/24 – 62.5%

Biggest Winners: The Artist (5) & Hugo (5)

Other Winners:

• A Separation
• Beginners
• Midnight in Paris
• Rango
• Saving Face
• The Descendants
• The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr. Morris Lessmore
• The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo
• The Help
• The Iron Lady (2)
• The Muppets
• The Shore
• Undefeated