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Guardians of the Galaxy (2014)
Magnificent!
Despite my rating, I thoroughly enjoyed this film. The first film since 'The Dark Knight' to receive a 4-Star rating on average by critics. I honestly did not expect things to go so well for this movie, but here we are. All things considered, the only drawback I have is Batista's acting skills. He's an awesome WWE personality, but that's where he truly belongs. While his portrayal of Drax the Destroyer left something to be desired, it doesn't take away from the rest what makes this film so great. The stand-out is Rocket Raccoon (voiced perfectly by Bradley Cooper), who always managed to steal the show. Gamora is probably the sexiest alien woman I've ever seen, lol. The visual effects and sound are phenomenal. The soundtrack is amazing and the first great shot of Thanos does not disappoint. I am eagerly awaiting the next Marvel installment in it's seemingly-endless array of fantastic films - being, of course, 'The Avengers: Age of Ultron.' This film, as far as I'm concerned, is worthy of nominations for Best Production Design, Best Makeup & Hairstyling, Best Sound Mixing, Best Sound Editing, and Best Visual Effects. Possibly Best Original Score is there isn't anything else to use as a space-filler.
Gravity (2013)
'Gravity' pulls its weight well
Despite a mere 91-minute running time, director Alfonso Cauron makes every minute count with a gripping story of survival against impossible odds. The visuals in this film are so beautiful, it's almost as if it should be part of the National Air & Space Museum's archival footage. The action sequences are heart-pounding and relentless. Sandra Bullock pulls out all the stops with her picture-perfect performance. If you've seen this movie, you could probably imagine Ryan Stone being you in that situation. I walked away from this movie wondering what might happen if I were forced to confront such a predicament. This small, yet masterfully made film has it all. Emotion, action, suspense, comedy, drama, horror, you name it. Maybe not as broad of a scope in its plot as we've come to expect in recent years, but most certainly a movie that is a true testament to the human spirit.
With the Oscar nominations just around the corner, here are my choices to nominate this film for:
BEST PICTURE BEST ACTRESS BEST DIRECTOR (potential front-runner) BEST FILM EDITING BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY (potential front-runner) BEST ORIGINAL SCORE BEST SOUND EDITING (potential front-runner) BEST SOUND MIXING BEST VISUAL EFFECTS (potential front-runner)
The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug (2013)
A Turn-around with 'Smaug'
Much to my dismay, 'The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey' did not fair too well; though, I found it to be a great introductory film, even if it was a tad slow. Now with 'The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug', things are looking up for Peter Jackson and company once again. They have crafted yet another masterpiece with this second installment of 'The Hobbit.' Some would say that the introduction to a new character that doesn't appear in the books (I'll let you see for yourself) would be an unnecessary addition to the story. But in spite of all the changes the filmmakers have made, they actually serve the story well and don't seem to be as intrusive as one might think. The highlights of this film are the breathtaking production design, and the flawless special effects. The character development continues with each cast member in more depth, along with the new characters not seen in the first film. 'Smaug' is highly entertaining, supremely crafted, and keeps you on the edge of your seat from start to finish. So much so, that it leaves the viewer hungry for more!
Oscar Nomination Possibilities:
Best Production Design Best Film Editing Best Sound Mixing Best Sound Effects Editing Best Visual Effects Best Makeup Best Cinematography
Beasts of the Southern Wild (2012)
Tender, sweeping, and full of heart.
Although Benh Zehltin has crafted a unique and imaginative piece depicting a young girl from the Bayou who is forced to learn how to survive, due to her father's ailing and the unfamiliarity with the world around her, the story, and its directing, are not as coherent as one would expect. The story is not hard to follow, but it does seem a little off-key at times. Yet, viewing this story through the eyes of the six-year-old protagonist makes for a rugged and charming look at the will to survive in a harsh environment. Upon seeing this film, I personally couldn't help but wonder if that's how most of us will end up in the future, in an economy where there are the Haves, and the Have-Nots.
The Dark Knight Rises (2012)
A Conclusion For The Ages
Out of each and every superhero film ever made, 'The Dark Knight' trilogy truly stands as arguably the greatest of all time. With it's moderately-paced story, to its well-developed character adaptations...from its realistic flesh tone cinematography, to its phenomenal editing and special effects, TDK has earned its place among cinema's modern classics. With the conclusive 'The Dark Knight Rises', we see Batman/Bruce Wayne as he confronts his biggest (literally) challenge yet: An idealistic, and something of an intellectual, terrorist named Bane (played to perfection by Tom Hardy).
This film deals with purely modern themes, paramount of which is the growing income gap between the rich and the poor, and the animosity that is erupting among the middle-class. On a technical scale, I rate this movie about a 7 because the effects - while they were impressive and superbly executed - did not stand out from the tremendous acting and storytelling in the film. The film was masterfully shot and edited, as you might expect with Christopher Nolan at the helm. Having said all that, here are my predictions for this film's chances at some Oscar nominations:
Best Picture, Best Director, Best Supporting Actor (Tom Hardy), Best Supporting Actress (Marion Cotillard), Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Cinematography, Best Film Editing, Best Sound Mixing, Best Sound Editing.
Lincoln (2012)
My Oscar Assessment of this film.
After viewing this film, I can honestly say we have a major Oscar contender on our hands. This is, I believe, a career-best for Day-Lewis. David Straithairn is equally impressive as Secretary of State Seward. The pace and formula of the film is very similar to that of Spielberg's earlier 19th century drama, 'Amistad.' However, the premise of 'Lincoln' is more significant, in that it deals with one of the most (if not THE most) pivotal figures in American history. Here is my outlook for this latest masterpiece from one of the world's most masterful filmmakers:
Oscar NOMINATION PREDICTIONS:
Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actor (Daniel Day-Lewis, Predicted Winner), Best Supporting Actor (David Straithairn), Best Supporting Actress (Sally Field), Best Cinematography, Best Costume Design, and Best Original Score.