12 Years a Slave

Movie: 12 Years a Slave

Major Actors: Chiwetel Ejiofor, Taran Killam, Paul Giamatti, Benedict Cumberbatch, Paul Dano, Michael Fassbender, Sarah Paulson, Lupita Nyong'o, Brad Pitt

Rating: R

Best Audience: Adults only

Review:

The film "12 Years a Slave" is obviously a huge Oscar contender this year, and for good reason. It depicts the true story of a free man living in New York who gets abducted and sold into slavery. Historically, what happened to Solomon Northup happened to many others. The difference is that Solomon was able to escape and write a book about his journey.

One thing I liked about this movie was that it showed an accurate depiction of slavery void of sensationalism. As a matter of fact, director Steve Mcqueen did not even skim the surface of the horrors done to enslaved humans in that time period. The film shows beatings/whippings, rape, division of families, murder/lynching, and humiliation. It does not show the more sadistic forms of torture, which I won't even begin to list, due to my own inability to stomach those things.

The reason that I think Steve McQueen overlooked the more sadistic side: That was not the point of the film. The film focused more on the psychological struggle humans experience during slavery. If McQueen added a scene where a slave gets boiled alive (which happened), that would have taken the focus away from Solomon's internal struggle. Solomon had to constantly decide whether to keep his head down and do what he was told or fight for what he wanted. He was faced with that decision every day of his enslaved life, and he did not always make the same decision. Sometimes he fought; sometimes he knuckled down. One of the best quotes in this film was "I don't want to survive, I want to live." I felt like that line summed up the whole film.

I also appreciate the fact that this film does not perpetuate division between "whites" and "blacks." It emphasizes the oneness of humanity. Steve McQueen is certainly a directorial artist. The casting was excellent. So many good actors! Chiwetel Ejiofor carried the film. Michael Fassbender and Sarah Paulson were excellent villains. Paul Dano's character will absolutely make your skin crawl, and Lupita Nyong'o will break your heart.

You may want to emotionally prepare yourself before going to see this film, due to the intensity of the subject matter.

American Hustle

Movie: American Hustle

Major Actors: Christian Bale, Bradley Cooper, Amy Adams, Jennifer Lawrence, Jeremy Renner, Louis C.K., Robert Deniro

Rating: R

Best Audience: Adults only

Review:

American Hustle is loosely based on a true story. The story focuses on a con man and his mistress, who are blackmailed by an FBI agent to assist in an operation to bring down politicians and congressmen.

The thing I like about this story is how morally ambiguous it is. The FBI is trying to entrap congressmen into accepting bribes in order to make some high profile arrests. The congressmen are doing what they have to do in order to bring opportunity to their communities. The FBI is using con-men in order to trick them into committing crimes.

At many times throughout this movie, you will be confused about who is conning whom...and that is one of the great things about this film. No one in this film is really "likeable." You may like the characters at one point, then absolutely can't stand them at another point. But that is reality. No one is all good or all bad. We are all capable of both. This movie truly does capture the truth about humanity. Of course, Jennifer Lawrence possesses the power to steal the scene and she does, despite having a smaller role. David O. Russell, who gave us "Silver Linings Playbook" directed this movie as well.

But even a casual movie-goer can still enjoy this film. There is plenty of fighting, sex, and drama to entertain while the story provides some interesting observations about humanity.

The Hunger Games: Catching Fire

Movie: Gravity

Major Actors: Jennifer Lawrence, Liam Hemsworth, Elizabeth Banks, Woody Harrelson, Josh Hutcherson, Lenny Kravitz, Stanley Tucci, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Jena Malone

Rating: PG-13

Best Audience: Older children, teens, and young adults

Review:

I saw this movie late on a Friday night. I was quite tired after getting off work. I fully expected to "accidentally" fall asleep. However, "Catching Fire" had other plans for me. Instead, it captured my attention all throughout the two and a half hours. I absolutely loved the Hunger Games series when I read through all three of them in less than a week in April 2012. The movie was almost exactly like the book, which is rare for film adaptions.

One thing I love about the books and the movies is just how human this story is. This story is not far-fetched or original...it has happened over and over in many civilizations. A government oppresses its citizens. Whenever those citizens show signs of malcontent, the government tightens its grasp. The tighter the government bears down, the more convinced the people become that they need to do something to change the situation.

And even though I sat through two and a half hours of this film, I STILL did not want it to end. Can't wait for the third! You do not have to read the books to see the movie...but you should see the first movie before you see this sequel.

Gravity

Movie: Gravity

Major Actors: Sandra Bullock, George Clooney, Ed Harris

Rating: PG-13

Best Audience: Older children and adults

Review

I found the movie "Gravity" to be quite excellent. I know a lot of critics of the movie did not appreciate the aspects of the movie that were unrealistic. However, I do not for a second believe the intent of this film was to show the audience what the experience of floating freely through space would be like. This movie is more like "Life of Pi;" it has a philosophical message. "Gravity" certainly moved me to think about things like basic survival vs. really living. So many times in this film, Sandra Bullock's character is faced with situations in which giving up would be much easier than even trying to survive. She doesn't have anyone left on the planet to even try to live for. It's just her...and her question of life or death. I definitely loved this movie.

The World's End

Movie: The World's End
Major Actors:  Simon Pegg, Nick Frost, Martin Freeman, Rosamund Pike, Pierce Brosnan, Bill Nighy
Rating: R
Best Audience: Older teenagers and adults

Review

As a huge fan of "Hot Fuzz" and "Shaun of the Dead," I had high expectations for this movie.  I love Simon Pegg and Nick Frost as a comedic duo.  I truly am a fan...

...which is why I'm quite sorry to say I was highly disappointed in this movie. 

1.)  It was not that funny.

2.)  The plot was not interesting.  Five former high school friends reunite to attempt to have a pint at twelve different bars in one night...but soon realize something strange is happening in their former town.  It was like "Invasion of the Body-Snatchers," only parodied in the most boring way possible.  There was absolutely no subtlety.  There was no believability.  I know what fiction is, yes, but there still has to be believability within the fictional world, and there just wasn't. 

3.)  The "message" of the film was all over the place.  I feel like this movie was written within the span of a day.  At first, it seemed like an honest message about the struggles of alcoholism.  I thought I was going to like this movie when it seemed to be going in that direction.  THEN, they started throwing in other issues like environmentalism and human nature.  My goodness--they even brought up apartheid! I kept thinking, "Okay, this has turned into a PSA about everything." 

So to Simon Pegg and Nick Frost:

At least you got a good two out of three. 

Love,

A Huge Fan

We're the Millers

Movie: We're the Millers
Major Actors: Jennifer Aniston, Jason Sudeikis, Emma Roberts, Will Poulter, Ed Helms, Nick Offerman, Kathryn Hahn
Rating: R
Best Audience: Older teenagers and adults

Review

"We're the Millers" follows a drug-dealer's attempt to carry a great deal of marijuana over the Mexican border while using people from his neighborhood to forge a fake family.  This movie had some pretty good laugh-out-loud moments.  However, as a whole, it is not one of the funniest movies I've ever seen (i.e. Tropic Thunder). 

Jason Sudeikis was perfect for the role as a drug-dealer turned head-of-household.  His look and demeanor could really pull off the duality of this character pretty well.  I love Jennifer Aniston...and thought she had a smoking hot body in "The Break-Up," but she is no stripper.  I say that solely for the complete lack of good "stripper moves."  Yes, she can move her hips in a circle, but beyond that, I was highly disappointed in her performance as a stripper.

Will Poulter, who plays the son in the film (Kenny), definitely carried some of the most hilarious moments of the film, and for that, his career will probably pick up a lot due to this movie.

See this film for a few laughs, but don't expect anything side-splitting.

Lovelace

Movie:   Lovelace
Major Actors: Amanda Seyfried, Peter Sarsgaard, Sharon Stone, Chris Noth, Hank Azaria, Adam Brody, James Franco, Wes Bentley
Rating: R
Best Audience: Adults only

Review

This film tells the backstory of one of the most famous porn stars of all time:  Linda Lovelace, the star of the 1972 adult film, Deep Throat.  It was already widely known before "Lovelace" came out that Linda was forced into porn by her abusive husband, Chuck Traynor.  However, unless you have read her book, you probably didn't realize how awful this story is.

This film was real--and quite grim.  It definitely does not leave you feeling good.  "Lovelace" is like a Lifetime movie on steroids.  I do believe it will help women who are in abusive situations to think about their options and seek help.  If you are interested in true stories, you would probably like this film. 

The casting is excellent.  My one issue with the casting is that it took many great actors and put them into fairly small roles (except the main two: Seyfried and Sarsgaard).  Peter Sarsgaard did a good job at portraying the abusive husband.  You know how I could tell he did a good job?  Because I hated him and thought he was a terrible, evil man!  In all seriousness, though, Sarsgaard is a brilliant actor who has no issue taking unusual roles, frequently playing unlikable characters. 

I honestly had no idea Sharon Stone was even in this movie until the ending credits.  She apparently played Linda Lovelace's mother.  The make-up crew must have done a great job because I did not recognize her.  Of course, the lead actress, Amanda Seyfried, did some great acting in this movie.  My only issue with her was her appearance.  She made her hair darker and bigger, but she did not remotely look a thing like Linda Lovelace. 

I will say the movie was well done with good writing and good acting, but it's not a movie I would see again.