Cinderella

Who could have seen this one coming? After not even including it on my (admittedly jam-packed) top 10 most anticipated list of the year, I wasn't expecting a lot going in to Cinderella. If you've read my review of last year's Maleficent, you know that I was somewhat lukewarm on Disney's last attempt to retell an animated classic in live-action form. Even with the well-known cast of this film, not to mention a director who's made a few films lately that I've really enjoyed, I just couldn't allow myself to get very excited. The trailers showed some promise, but even then my skepticism couldn't be shaken. How many times can they retell this story and expect us to show up in the theaters? It couldn't possibly be anything but a blatant Disney cash grab... right? While the House of Mouse will certainly make bank on Cinderella, I was surprised to discover just how wrong my assumptions were.

Ella had a simple, yet blissful childhood, growing up in a cottage house with her loving parents and carrying an innate optimism that her mother urges her never to lose. But Ella's bliss cannot last forever, as her mother is stricken with a serious illness that will soon claim her life. In some of her last words to her daughter, she admonishes Ella to "be kind, and have courage", which becomes her mantra throughout the trying years ahead. When her father decides to marry a widow with whom he's become acquainted during his travels, Ella agrees to make the best of her new stepmother and two stepsisters' agitating company. However, she must face tragedy once again, as her father falls ill while travelling and passes away before he can return home, leaving Ella in the clutches of her greedy, cruel stepmother.

Hopefully that didn't give too much of the plot away, as anybody even remotely familiar with this story should already know that Cinderella is constantly under the tyrannical thumb of her stepmother. If this movie does nothing else, it gives this character an extra dimension that I never really understood from other tellings of the story - though she endures extremely harsh treatment, she never lets go of her kindness. I feel like this is an undervalued trait in today's society, but it's such an important one. It shows great strength for Ella to not only withstand the torment suffered by her stepmother and stepsisters, but to maintain her humanity even in the darkest of times. The depth with which the story explores the character's background makes her not just more relatable, but that much more admirable in her actions (even if the point is driven home a little too blatantly at times).

Not only does Ella get a fully fleshed-out character, but so does the primary antagonist in this story. Indeed, many may actually find themselves sympathizing somewhat with the stepmother, given her financial woes and the extreme lengths to which she'll go in order to get ahead in life. She's the antithesis to Ella in many ways, but primarily in her lack of compassion for those she doesn't deem worthy of her time. It can be easy for us to find ourselves in that cynical state from time-to-time, but in reality the world is a better place when we react like Ella, with kindness and bravery in any situation.

See, I didn't expect to go into a sociological argument about the merits of kindness during a review of a Disney princess story! But this film actually has some depth to it that many may not be anticipating. Much of that I actually attribute to director Kenneth Branagh, who had done this very thing in Marvel's Thor, not to mention in the many adaptations of William Shakespeare he's directed over the years. Though this film does keep the meat of the story intact, it also enriches the familiar tale with subtle throughlines of character development that weren't even implied in the source material. This isn't just a fantasy about a girl getting everything she ever dreamed of, but she actually brings something to the table that makes her an ideal ruler in the kingdom she inherits. There's a lot of discussion about whom the prince should marry that would benefit their kingdom in terms of wealth or political affiliation, but ultimately it's the positive influence the future queen can have on the people that is of the utmost importance to Prince Kit. This is an expansion that not only fits with the material on which it's based, but it actually propels the story beyond expectations, which I really appreciated.

The cast of this film was terrific, and each of them brought a unique element to the story. Cate Blanchett is great as the malevolent, yet inwardly broken stepmother, who is more of a ruthless opportunist than an actual villain in the traditional sense. She has moments where she bares morsels of her humanity that make her motivations a little more understandable, and that wouldn't work if there wasn't such an accomplished actress in the role. Background characters played by the likes of Stellan Skarsgard and Nonso Anozie do their jobs well, but ultimately it's the charisma of both Lily James and Richard Madden, as Ella and Price Kit respectively, that really bring the story together. Their chemistry is actually believable, and regardless of how little they know of each other we actually want them to be together in the end. 

Surprisingly one of the weak links for me was Helena Bonham Carter, who just kind of seemed to be in a slightly different movie than everyone else. In a way I guess that's appropriate, since she's the one element of magic that's introduced into the story, but her over-the-top line readings were a little jarring compared to the dramatic story we'd seen unfold up to that point. Still, she works for the part she's given, and her character actually solves one of the plot holes that may come to mind regarding the original 1950 cartoon.

The last thing I want to talk about is also the thing I loved most about Cinderella - the score. Written by one of my favorite composers, Patrick Doyle created an absolutely gorgeous piece of music that will surely get a lump in your throat. I found myself welling up within the first ten minutes, and at one point I was compelled to lean over to my wife and whisper "this music is amazing!" Particularly the theme that comes to prominence right before the ball absolutely gives me chills, and I had to buy the soundtrack as soon as we got home. Go and see this film if for no other reason than to hear this beautiful music... but it helps that it's combined with great visuals and an interesting story.

As you can clearly tell, I really enjoyed this film! Believe me, it comes as much of a shock to me as it might to you, considering this isn't typically my genre of choice. I might even go so far as to say that while this didn't make my list of most anticipated films of the year, I wouldn't be surprised if it made my list of top ten films at the end of the year. There are so many more elements to talk about that I just don't have enough space to mention (How cute were those mice!), but suffice it to say that it's a great story for kids and a really interesting retelling of an old favorite for adults. Cinderella may not be perfect, but it does what it set out to do to near perfection. I give Cinderella a solid three and a half stars.

CINDERELLA is rated PG for mild thematic elements

Boyhood

The Oscars are just around the corner, so I knew I had to talk about one of the front runners for most of the major categories, Boyhood. Critically, this film has been one of the most unanimously praised of the year, with 98% approval on Rotten Tomatoes and numerous Academy Award nominations. On the other hand, quite a few fans and YouTube personalities have had divergent reactions, dinging the film for its languid pacing and disjointed story structure. Truly, this is a movie that's production background is more interesting than the actual film. It's almost redundant to say, as it's been the focus of its entire promotional campaign, but Boyhood was shot across a twelve year period, tracking the growth of a fictional family using the same actors throughout the shoot. For that reason alone this film is worth checking out, but if you're a little impatient I think there are some things to be aware of.

There's no way I can really do a plot summary of this film... as that would require this film to have a plot. What's truly unique and memorable about Boyhood is that, like its main character who becomes an aspiring photographer, it's all a series of snapshots that give the audience glimpses into a boy's life. As such, it all comes down to the collection of moments that director Richard Linklater decided to include in order to give us the overall impression of growing up. Like many have already observed, this film does a fantastic job of portraying the mundane normality of life as we recognize it. Some would actually say that it does so to a fault, as it portrays things that aren't necessarily theatrical in nature. While I certainly see their point, I found most of the scenes pretty compelling despite their lack of intensity or dramatic weight.

Not all of this can be credited to the director, even taking into account his revolutionary and gutsy approach to filming Boyhood. None of this would work if he didn't get such a charismatic and natural actor as Ethan Hawke to play Mason Sr., the titular boy's father. He does a great job of evolving his performance to reflect the different stages of life his character finds himself, providing ironic and slightly tragic insights into his relationship with his ex-wife, played by Patricia Arquette. While I definitely think Hawke's performance was worthy of the nomination he received, I was actually underwhelmed by Patrica Arquette in this film. She's easily the front-runner for Best Supporting Actress, but I can't think of a moment where I was genuinely impressed by what she was doing on screen. Mostly I found her character to be kind of bland, without much personality or relatability until the very last scene. I'm sure many will be impressed with what she brought to the part, but I thought another actress could have made her character a more meaty, and interesting part of the film.

Technically this film is well made, but nothing called my attention more than the editing. It would have been easy for the movie to call attention to the times that it switches from one year to the next with subtitles, but instead it lets the audience piece these fragments together and work out where Mason Jr. is in his development. Linklater recreates the major events of each year depicted with uncanny precision, even if some moments are a bit heavy-handed. He uses these moments to not only capture a period of time, but also to allow the viewer to put themselves in the situations these characters find themselves. I think your enjoyment of this film will directly correlate to the strength of your memory over the past twelve years, as it uses the cultural milestones to not only set the stage, but occasionally to develop character as well.

Despite some of the criticism, I don't think I was ever bored during this film - even if it was a little longer than I would have liked. In fact, I honestly don't feel passionately about this film one way or the other. There were parts that were a little pretentious, as well as moments that I found just plain ridiculous, but overall it was a very enjoyable film that was well-acted and brilliantly conceived. It's definitely a landmark for its ambition more so than what it actually says about boyhood, and the final lines of dialogue are so clunky and obvious that it almost turned me against the film entirely. Having said that, it probably deserves most of the Oscar nominations it received, and after reflecting on this film and remembering all of the things I liked about it, I've decided to give this a solid three stars.

BOYHOOD is rated R for language including sexual references, and for teen drug and alcohol use

** What did you think of Boyhood? Was it an overrated snoozefest, or an "epic masterpiece"? Let me know in the comments below, and don't forget to like us on Facebook! **

The Grand Budapest Hotel

I figured I better review this film now that it's been nominated for 9 Academy Awards, including Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Original Screenplay. It's actually been a few months since I've seen this film, and I always intended to finish my review for it by the year's end. However, life intervened and I never had time to get it written. As you'll see in the paragraphs to follow, I enjoyed this movie quite a bit... but I was floored when I saw all the recognition that was showered on Wes Anderson's latest picture. My overall opinion for the film is still generally positive, but consider this a somewhat skeptical reaction to the insane amount of praise The Grand Budapest Hotel is receiving, which will hopefully fall on open ears and minds.

The film is told in multiple flashbacks as an elderly hotel owner named Zero Moustafa shares the history of his tenure with the Grand Budapest to a young author who is spending the night. He tells of the eccentric but devoted hotel concierge, Gustave H., who was well known for the exquisite service he would provide to all guests, though particularly to elderly women. One such woman had died under mysterious circumstances, and her descendants are in uproar when a priceless painting has been left to Gustave instead of them. Things get a bit messy when a lawyer gets involved, noting the suspicious manner of his client's death and eliciting a homicidal reaction from one sinister family member. However, Gustave won't let his inheritance slip away, and he steals the painting after the controversial will is read. This puts a target on his head for not only the police as they try to apprehend the thief, but also the old woman's violently jealous family members.

I missed this film when it was released in theaters (as I think most people did, given its lackluster box-office receipts), but with favorable reviews and a general taste for Wes Anderson's aesthetic, I thought I would give it a try on Blu-ray. For the most part, this film is highly enjoyable to watch, save for a few uncomfortable innuendos between Gustave and the elderly women he serves. There are also a few jarring moments of violence that might shock some viewers, as it comes completely out of left field. While that can enhance the element of surprise for these moments, it can also color the rest of the film a bit darker than I think it should have gone.

This movie is flowing with energetic performances from everyone in this star-studded cast, but no one is as revelatory as Ralph Fiennes. Known by most for his villainous performances in the Harry Potter films and Schindler's List, Fiennes is not only whimsically polite as the hotel concierge, but he also brings an unexpected humor to the part that I've never seen from him before. He's easily one of the five best performances I've seen this year, and I'm sure in any other year he would have garnered at least a nomination from the Academy.

Along with the performances, some of the best elements of The Grand Budapest Hotel are the technical achievements, namely the cinematography. Wes Anderson has a very distinct style when it comes to his camera work (see my review of Moonrise Kingdom for more on that), and Budapest might be his best visual work yet. However, with such a recognizable fingerprint, it becomes difficult to distinguish one Wes Anderson film from another at times. Even the posters for this and Moonrise Kingdom have very similar layouts, and if you've seen that or any other of his films I doubt you'll find anything truly original here. The quirky sense of humor, the fast-paced editing and clever camera angles are staples in an Anderson movie, and though I found myself laughing a lot here, aesthetically it wound up being exactly what I expected it to be.

Probably the main reason I'm surprised by the overwhelming praise The Grand Budapest Hotel is receiving is that it really ends up being about nothing. I feel like the artsyness of the story structure was meant to bring a deeper meaning of some kind, but it ultimately gets away from Anderson by the time the film comes to a conclusion. Whatever point there was to telling Gustave's story becomes fuzzy once credits roll, but the most critical thing I can say about this film is that the message is either under-developed or just unmemorable. I think technically this is a beautiful film, and if you like other Wes Anderson movies then you'll know exactly what you're getting, but this is hardly Best Picture material in my mind. I can think of a handful of un-nominated films that are more deserving of the honor, but perhaps this is one of those instances where the Academy recognizes an artist for a body of work rather than the movie on its own (like Martin Scorsese with The Departed).

I actually enjoyed this film quite a bit, but for me it wasn't Wes Anderson's strongest work. This may be Ralph Fienne's strongest work, and were it not for him I don't know if I would have liked this movie nearly as much. The rest of the cast also put out impressive performances, but it was more enjoyable to see all the movie stars making cameos than it was to try to follow the story. Overall it's a pretty solid effort, and I give The Grand Budapest Hotel a slightly generous three stars.

THE GRAND BUDAPEST HOTEL is rated R for language, some sexual content, and violence

** What did you think of The Grand Budapest Hotel? Did you miss it entirely? Did you like it? Did you hate it? Let me know in the comments, and don't forget to like the Facebook page! **

American Sniper

In the teaser trailer for American Sniper, Chris Kyle is shown peering through his scope at a street somewhere in Iraq, looking for potential threats. When a woman and a young boy emerge from the bottom floor carrying what appears to be a pipe bomb, however, Kyle is faced with a terribly difficult decision. That scene alone was enough to get me into the theaters to see this movie, and apparently everybody else in the country as well. It was one of the highest opening weekends at the box office of the last year with $89.5 million, and blew away the previous record for the month of January ($41.5 million). However, there has been a lot of controversy over this film in recent weeks, particularly over the subject of this biopic, Chris Kyle. I'm not really going to touch on that in my review - partially because I think most of the complaints are bogus - but also because I'm a movie reviewer, not a political debater. All of my thoughts regarding American Sniper are relating to the film itself, and are unrelated to my personal feelings on the late U.S. war hero.

This review is going to deviate slightly from the structure of my former posts, as I think will be the case for a lot of my Oscar series where I review all the films that were nominated for Best Picture (and Best Director, if I ever get around to seeing Foxcatcher). Films like American Sniper are difficult to summarize, in that they aren't necessarily plot-motivated, but rather tend to focus on a particular character. Besides, most people probably already know the major points of what this movie will cover, though it's the details that make it truly worthwhile. It's really an excellent window into what most service men and women must feel, both on the battle field and when trying to adjust to normal life once their tour is complete. Director Clint Eastwood really balances the themes of the films with a subtle touch, even when the scenarios played out on screen are horrifying to witness.

Even with the most skilled auteur in the director's chair, the film would utterly fail if we didn't connect with the title character. That's why a ton of credit given to Bradley Cooper for this film's success, as not only did he do an uncanny job of portraying Chris Kyle, but as a producer he was also instrumental in bringing this film to life behind the scenes. For all of you Bradley Cooper fans out there, yes, he did put on about 50 lbs or muscle for this role. What you may be disappointed by, however, is that he isn't really Bradley Cooper in this movie. He's become Chris Kyle, from the flawless Texan accent to the bushy beard and somewhat awkward interpersonal encounters.

Eastwood is also at the top of his directorial game, bringing so much emotion to moments that would be plenty intense on their own that it elevates it to another level entirely. Not only are you worried that someone will attack Kyle's platoon at any moment, but you're also horrified at the thought of him potentially having to pull the trigger on a boy who picks up a grenade launcher from the attacker he'd just shot. Add to that the struggle of leaving behind the villainous people responsible for the deaths of many of his friends, and it actually gives me a glimpse into the struggle that many veterans must face when returning home.

There is one disclaimer that I'd like to throw out there. Unlike some of the films I review where the rating is undeserved or ambiguous, there is a definite reason that American Sniper is rated R. To those who are uncomfortable with foul language, this movie is not for you. The script is written to show what is probably very authentic dialogue between soldiers in the heat of battle, and the harsh language certainly is evidence of that. I was able to get past the language for the most part, as my older brother has confirmed that life in the military (at least in regards to language) is very similar to what is portrayed on screen. Those who aren't offended by F-bombs probably won't blink an eye, but all others should either approach with caution or skip this one entirely.

What sticks with you most after seeing this film is the realistic portrayal of the horrors of war juxtaposed with the simple, relatively care-free life that most of us enjoy here in the U.S. I know I definitely found my gratitude for this country renewed after seeing an Al Qaeda war lord using an electric drill to torture and kill those who talked to the American soldiers. There are things going on overseas that most of us can't even imagine, and it really brings the price of the freedoms we enjoy (and take for granted) into greater perspective. Not only that, but the film does a great job showing the trials that military men and women go through to serve their country, often to the detriment of their own physical and mental health. Some of the moral quandaries in which Chris Kyle finds himself are almost impossible to fathom, and regardless of your personal view of his actions, it takes a unique person to be able to make those decisions and live with them afterwords.

When it comes down to it, this isn't a perfect film. There are some pacing problems here and there, and even on a technical level it seems that a few scenes actually went without sound editing. But regardless of its flaws, this is a haunting look at one of the most well-known soldiers in U.S. history, and the tragic ending makes it even more so. The performances across the board are terrific, the action scenes are gripping, and the emotion is subtle yet omnipresent throughout the film. It definitely would have made my top ten films of the year had I seen it before 2014 expired, and I'm going to give it a solid three and a half stars.

AMERICAN SNIPER is rated R for strong and disturbing war violence, and language throughout including some sexual references

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Coming Soon: Project Almanac

Release Date: January 30, 2015
Rating: PG-13

Directed by: Dean Israelite

Produced by: Michael Bay

Written by: Jason Harry Pagan, Andrew Deutschman

Starring: Jonny Weston, Sophia Black D'Elia, Amy Landecker

Running time: 106 minutes

A young group of disgruntled high school students are shocked to discover that one of them appears to have visited their seventh birthday party as his teenage self. They do a little digging and realize that the technology allowing time travel is not only possible, but that it's being developed in one of their parents' basements. Being impulsive teenagers, they immediately decide to use the device to improve each of their lives. However, the game is taken too far when world-changing paradoxes and ripples begin to emerge from their tampering, and they must determine a way to set things right before everything is changed forever.

Seeing that this film was produced by Michael Bay will either be a turn-off or a sign of credibility, depending on the person. However, his involvement in a project like this (which seems to be fairly hands-off) appears to be just enough to guarantee a decent production budget from the studio heads who are still rolling in Transformers money from last year. There's no doubt that this film's premise is intriguing, combining the found-footage style of Chronicle and Cloverfield and combining it with a slightly more serious take on Back to the Future.

Not a lot of people may have heard of this film, but it's sure to make a decent amount of box office dollars in the barron wasteland that is the cinemas during January. Having a cast made up of relative unknowns is also a smart way to go for the studio, as the lower budget can be focused more on the special effects that are crucial in a story such as this.

However, this production wasn't without it's hiccups, as the release date for Project Almanac kept being pushed further and further back, filming in 2013 and moving from early 2014 now to January of 2015. During a recent interview, I asked the cast members how they were impacted by the constant uncertainty that accompanies such a fluid release schedule for a film they all worked so hard to produce. "(After the delay) we went back and we did reshoots," Jonny Weston explained, "and the movie became a lot better and a lot more complex than they had originally thought." Sofia Black D'Elia added, "I think we're all just so excited that this movie is coming out at all. We're really proud of it, and we can't wait for people to see it."

When asked about the comparisons to Chronicle that will inevitably come, Sofia responded, "I think it's quite different than Chronicle. Obviously they're both found-footage, so you could just say that they're similar in that way. But Chronicle is a much darker film than ours." She went on to say, "Project Almanac is kind of a fun ride for the most part. And it's a great group of friends... I think we all wanted to make a very realistic look at teenage love... and friendship."  

The trailers have already swayed many of the skeptical (myself included) into giving this film a try, and many are predicting this to be a surprise hit of the early year. With interesting ideas being presented and a more entertaining and fun application for the technology involved, it's easy to see why this film has garnered the excitement that it has. Project Almanac is coming to theatres everywhere on January 30th, so make sure to click one of the theatre links on the left to reserve your tickets!

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