Beast Of No Nation And My Preliminary Top 10 of 2015

Do you know that feeling when you first wake up and you're half asleep and half awake?  The feeling where everything works a half step too slow.  That's the exact feeling I had while watching the remarkable Netflix original film, Beasts Of No Nation.  This film seems to exist in a state of euphoric delusion.  Perhaps this is because we see the brutality of war through the eyes of a child and his slow descent from child to killer.  It's something that I can't even begin to imagine happening to me or my family.  This haziness, combined with the immaculate cinematography makes this film feel like a moving, talking piece of art.  It took me a long time to get around to viewing this film, but it was definitely worth the wait.

Set in a civil war torn African nation, this film is perhaps the best looking film about war and death that I have ever seen.  It reminds a lot of Apocalypse Now with the combination of stark brutality and gorgeous scenery.   Like Coppola's masterpiece, as the violence becomes more graphic, the set pieces become immaculate.  The cinematography should definitely be up for an Academy Award.

The star of this film is really Idris Elba, and he's rightly getting the attention he deserves.  As the brutal Colonel of the rebel army, he methodically indoctrinates boys into killers by being equal parts mad man and father figure.  There's an allegory to be made with the rise of modern terrorist groups and how they get their next soldiers at such a young age.  It is through his character that the film's overall message is addressed.  Do we gain anything through victory?  And if so, are any of the victories worth it if you lose your humanity in the process?  There's a remarkable scene towards the end of the film where Elba's soldiers ask these exact questions.  At what point is any of it worth it.

This film was the first Netflix exclusive.  It was released in a small number of theaters to qualify for awards, but most people have experienced this film at home.  This leads to the obvious question of whether or not Netflix is the future for independent filmmakers.  On one hand, as a father of two young children, my theater days are dwindling.  On the other hand, I will always be a believer that the best way to experience a film is on the big screen.  Only time will tell, but we will probably look back to Beasts Of No Nation as the potential tipping point for home vs. theater viewing.

Definitely check it out.  It's a brutal beautiful film that any film buff will enjoy.

And now my (preliminary) top 10 of 2015.  I should note that I still haven't seen a lot of the so-called awards season movies, so take this list with a grain of salt.  I hope to see a few more after they come out on home video.

10)  Spy

Melissa McCarthy and director Paul Feig hilariously spoof the spy genre.  It was a welcome return to form for McCarthy after a series of hit or miss typecast movies. As funny as it was, it still won't get me to watch the Ghostbusters reboot.

9)  Dope

This hilarious tale of a group of South Central LA hipsters who get caught up in a drug ring reminds me a lot of some of my favorite 90's comedies.  It's also a very timely movie with an important message to say about today's racial climate in America.  I hope this film will find a bigger audience on home video.

8)  Beasts Of No Nation

As I said above, this one is equal parts beauty and brutality.  Check it out on Netflix today.

7)  Mission Impossible:  Rogue Nation

The wildly entertainin 5th movie in this 20 year old franchise shows that Ethan Hunt still has a lot of gas left in his tank.

6)  Ex Machina

This underrated sci-fi gem proves that you can have big budget suspense on a indy film budget.  I hope more people come to appreciate this film.

5)  Sicario

A haunting portrayal of the moral questions facing America's longest war (The War On Drugs).  Benicio Del Toro is dynamite as a father and husband who will stop at nothing to avenge his family's death.  The opening sequence is brutally stunning.

4)  The Martian

Matt Damon shines in this fantastic return to form for director Ridley Scott.

3)  Mad Max:  Fury Road

Director George Miller returns to the franchise that made him famous.  Non-stop thrills from start to finish.  It may be the most feminist movie of 2015, too.  With rumors of him not returning as director of the sequels disappointing me, we may have to view this as Miller's swan song.

2)  Inside Out

The most human movie of the year and Pixar's best movie in years.  I dare you to not tear up during the Bing Bong scene.

1) Star Wars:  The Force Awakens

Was there any doubt?  The best Star Wars film in 30 years is an epic masterpiece.  I can't wait to see where the saga goes next.

Here's a couple bonus categories for me.

Most disappointing movie:  Jurassic World

I still don't see what drove people to the theaters in (pre-Star Wars) record numbers this summer.  Nostalgia only goes a short distance.  The rest of this film was OK at best.

Movie that I thought I would hate, but thought was OK:  Terminator Genisys

Don't get me wrong.  This pointless reboot of (perhaps) the best sci-fi movie ever was total crap.  I just didn't hate it as much as I thought I would.  Arnold still has something left to offer.

Movie that I thought I would love, but actually hated:  The Man From U.N.C.L.E.

On paper, this movie should have worked.  Guy Ritchie doing a spy movie should be easy money.  However, Guy Ritchie's style only goes so far to mask the turd of a script and even worse acting.  I shut it off halfway through.  When are we going to stop trying to make Armie Hammer happen?

The Martian Is Everything I Wanted Interstellar To Be

Few directors in Hollywood are as synonymous with the sci-fi genre as Ridley Scott.  He has created two Mt. Rushmore level sci-fi films (Alien and Blade Runner), and his recent return to the genre has been both compelling and refreshing.  Even the critically divided Prometheus is both a visual masterpiece and highly entertaining (to me, at least), and his most recent stab at the genre is his best film in years.  The Martian is a stunning (though rather safe) Hollywood blockbuster... and it's everything I wanted Christopher Nolan's Interstellar to be.

The Martian is fun, witty, charming, and downright thrilling... all while being completely aware of its limits and capabilities.  In contrast, Interstellar aimed to be a visual masterpiece (it was) and a smart sci-fi film.  And that is precisely why it failed.  Between repeated extended sequences on quantum theory and Matthew McConaughey somehow going back in time to deliver a monologue to his daughter so that she'll save the future, Interstellar become too smart for its own good.  The Martian delivers top notch thrills, while keeping the space science dialogue at a manageable level.  That's not to say it's a dumb film.  It just doesn't get crushed under its own self-importance.  The script is very well-written, and this film deserves all the accolades that are being showered on it.

The Martian stars Matt Damon (giving perhaps his best performance) as Mark Watney, a NASA botanist stranded on Mars after his team is forced to abandon their mission and he is presumed dead.  He ends up surviving a deadly sandstorm and now must learn to survive on the red planet with limited supplies.  As Watney says, he's "going to have to science the shit" out of his situation.  And boy does he!  The middle third of this movie is essentially Cast Away in space.  Watney does a series of trial and error sequences in order to survive.  Damon's star power really carries this movie.  Very few characters in Hollywood could carry this movie the way Damon does.  He is both charming and smart, and he truly shines.  Damon deserves all the accolades he is getting for this role.

Definitely check out this film.  It's a return to force for Ridley Scott and the best role of Matt Damon's illustrious career.

Sicario Haunts My Dreams

Sicario, the latest release from up and coming director Dennis Villenueve (Prisoners) has stayed with me ever since I saw it about a week ago.  From the harrowing opening sequence to its open-ended finish, Sicario stands out as a powerful representation of how futile America's longest war (The war on drugs) really is.  This is required viewing as awards season kicks into high gear.

At first viewing, this film could frustrate viewers since it seems to leave the audience slightly out of the loop.  We see the story through Emily Blunt's no-nonsense FBI Agent as she tries to track down the people responsible for the devastating death toll that opens the movie.  She joins an off the books strike team led by the impeccable Josh Brolin.  He plays the leader of a shadow government agency and possesses a rather loose sense of morals when it comes to taking down the cartels.  She often asks, quite literally, what the F is going on.

This is where the film shines.  It perfectly encapsulates the futility and brutality of the war on drugs.  It asks whether the fight is worth fighting, and ultimately questions whether our approach is even working or worth fighting.  This film doesn't sugarcoat it.  In fact, it very subtly suggests that a more nuanced (and yes, morally loose) approach is the way to go.

I think the real highlights of this film are the action sequences.  There's a breathtaking prisoner exchange sequence that leads to an incredibly tense shoot out at the Mexican/American border.  Blunt's character is almost breathless as the world seems to move in double time around her.  She (Or the US Government) is almost always a step behind the cartels.  Her group is surrounded by would-be attackers seemingly everywhere she looks.  After the shootout, both Blunt and the audience are finally able to breathe.  There are multiple sequences in this film that will leave you gasping for air.  Villenueve can stage a shootout with he best of them, and I'm excited to see where he takes us next.

The other highlight of this film is the brilliance of Benicio Del Toro.  As my friend Adam said, Del Toro shines as a broken man, who will do what it takes to avenge his family's death.  I don't want to ruin it, but there is a scene at a dinner table that I can't get out of my head.

Sicario is available for purchase and rental.  I hope it finds the audience it deserves.  It definitely will make my top 10 of 2015 (coming soon).  Check it out today!

Turkey Trot 2015 Video

 My goal for the turkey trot video was to finish in less than 30 minutes.  How did I do?  Check out the video and find out.
Enjoy!

My Spoiler Free Star Wars The Force Awakens Review

Star Wars: The Force Awakens

Movie Review by Brian Wezowicz

 George Lucas created perhaps the single most recognized piece of pop culture in Star Wars (Now subtitled Episode IV: A New Hope) in 1977.  For almost 40 years it (and its subsequent sequels and prequels) has shaped the lives of millions of fan boys and fan girls across the globe.  With that being said, George Lucas has spent the past 40 years taking a Jabba sized dump on his most prized (and lucrative) creation with his endless tinkering of the original trilogy, and his widely panned prequel trilogy.  Even the most loyal prequel supporters (I'm including myself) can fully admit that they were a huge disappointment filled with already dated CGI and wooden dialogue and acting.

We all breathed a sigh of relief when he handed the reigns over to Disney and their chosen director JJ Abrams.  BUT I think a lot of us were concerned because we didn't know what to expect.  I, personally, shied away from any spoilers and reviews before I saw this film.  I wanted to experience it with fresh eyes and ears.  I can tell you that my already sky high expectations were blown away.  RejoiceStar Wars fans! The Force Awakens is an epic masterpiece.

Now Disney and Lucasfilm have spent considerable time and energy into keeping the plot to this film under wraps, and I know there are a large amount of people who will kill me if I ruin anything for them.  So I'll list what I loved about this film.

 - It feels like a Star Wars movie.

The prequels suffered because they were dragged down by unnecessary plots featuring trade negotiations and Senate procedures.  In its simplest form, a Star Wars film is about good vs. evil... set in space.  This film feels right.  There's a new Empire (now dubbed The First Order), and its up to our band of rebels to take them down.

- It sounds like a Star Wars movie.

John Williams' score is omnipresent throughout this movie and it adds a layer of excitement, wonder, humor and realism to every scene.

 - It looks like a Star Wars movie.

JJ Abrams insistence on focusing on practical effects is extremely effective.  This movie looks GORGEOUS.  Whereas the prequels felt like you were watching a video game, this film looks real because it IS real.  Actual sets, makeup and costumes go a long way in painting the picture of this Galaxy far far away.

- Our old friends are back and better than ever.

Han, Chewie, Leia are other favorites all back and these famous actors infuse their characters with life, humor, and wisdom that only 35+ years of experience playing them can do.  I was worried that JJ was going to focus too much on nostalgia, but that's far from the case.  Harrison Ford, in particular, knocks it out the park in his most famous role.

- The familiar plot feels fresh.

No spoilers, but this movie is basically an updated version of A New Hope.  However, at the same time, the script sets up an entire new battle between good and evil, while not boring us with the details.  The First Order is set up without spending an hour explaining us how they rose to power.  We'll get to that in good time, so just sit back and enjoy this ride.

- The Lightsaber battles are out of this world, yet totally plausible.

The thing I most disliked about the prequels (besides Jar Jar) was how crazy the Lightsaber battles were.  There were too many flips and flops that didn't seem organic within this movie franchise.  The saber battles in this film seem to have been grounded (quite literally... there aren't any flips) in reality.  They seem more like the samurai battles were were originally mimicking.

- It leaves me thirsty for more.

I'm REALLY excited to see where this franchise goes.  The Force Awakens has a nice self contained story, while opening the window to a wider world that we'll get a better look at down the line when Episode VIII comes out.

Rejoice fans and non fans alike.  The Force Awakens is the movie event of the decade.  It's an epic masterpiece that will truly stand the test of time.  4 out of 4 stars.

See it now, see it often, and bring friends.  Congratulations JJ Abrams.  This is your finest work yet.  You even managed to keep the lens flares to a minimum.

Mockingjay Part 2 - A dark, fitting conclusion to the Hunger Games saga

The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 2 Movie Review

by Brian Wezowicz

The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 2, besides being a mouthful of a title, is an incomplete movie.  By the very nature of its title, it is a continuation.  I will fully admit that the final book of Suzanne Collins' epic young adult trilogy is nothing but a blatant cash grab.  These movies both dragged at times because they needed to pad the script to make two movies out of one book.  With that being said, I am a fan of both movies, and Part 2 is certainly a fitting conclusion to the series.

Mockingjay Part 2 picks up right where Part 1 left off.  The rebels of District 13, led by Katniss Everdeen (an always entertaining Jennifer Lawrence), are prepping to strike the nefarious Capitol and strike the critical blow in the reign of President Snow (played with a slithering callousness by the great Donald Sutherland).  The only issue remains is whether to trust Peeta, who has been corrupted by the candidate like a Panem version of The Manchurian Candidate.

Whereas Part 1 drags and crawls at a snails pace, Part 2 moves along with full steam ahead.  It rarely lets its foot off the gas pedal, as our heroes storm the walls of the Capitol.  There are some genuinely horrifying, almost horror movie-esque moments as Katniss & Co. have to snake their way through the Capitols series of terrifying boobie traps (the river of boiling oil is especially impressive), barely escaping by the skin of their teeth.  By the time they reach the final battle, you as an audience are as exhausted thanks to some impressive camera work that fully immerses you in the battles.

The complaint I have about this series, and this film in particular, is that it really struggled to flesh out the love story (or that it felt necessary to inject one in the first place). It feels forced, particularly when there's a break from the action and the script tries (and fails) to inject some romance into an otherwise bleak dystopian future.  It doesn't help that the superb Jennifer Lawrence is surrounded by rather wooden actors seem incapable of showing any other emotion than terror.  I don't get a sense that there is a romantic connection between any of them.

Sadly, Mockingjay Part 2 also stalls in the sequences in between the action.  The producers very easily could have trimmed the fat from both films and made a truly spectacular Mockingjay movie.  I understand the economics of splitting up the final book, but in a creative sense, it left both movies feeling incomplete.

I'm giving this movie 2.5 stars out of 4.  There's a lot of good, but I can't rate it any higher since you need to see the first one to fully enjoy this one.

Spectre - James Bond Plays The Hits - And That's OK With Me

Spectre

Movie Review by Brian Wezowicz

 

Daniel Craig is my favorite James Bond.  I know it's blasphemous to even consider any one other than Sean Connery, but I don't care.  In fact, Connery is my 3rd favorite Double O (I'm partial to George Lazenby, the one and done star of my second favorite Bond, On Her Majesty's Secret Service).  Coming off the series high (both commercially and critically), Skyfall, the expectations were sky high for this one, and I think it's these high expectations that are ultimately leaving critics feeling disappointed.  With Craig as Bond, we are constantly expecting home run efforts every time he steps out.  Spectre is not a home run... but it's a solid triple that had me howling with delight.

This film picks up where Skyfall left off.  MI-6 is in ruins and the future of the "Double O" program is very much in doubt.  It's viewed as a relic of the past that can be replaced by a new Big Brother type computer program.  Drones are the future, and sadly, James Bond is the past.  Soon enough, things go haywire, and it's up to Bond to once again save the world.  There is an evil organization known as Spectre that is secretly controlling the world.  Bond, naturally, is the only one to pick up on this, proving that the there might be some life left in the relics of the past.

I don't want to delve too deeply into the plot.  The producers clearly have surprises and twists up their sleeves that they do not want to be spoiled (even if they are a little obvious).  I am not one for exposing spoilers like someone on Facebook ruining The Walking Dead for me (Sidenote: please stop with the Walking Dead spoilers!!!  Not everyone watches live television anymore!).  I want to focus on what I liked about this film.  To me, this felt like James Bond's greatest hits.  It was like going to a Rolling Stones concert.  You know what they're going to play.  They've played every song a million times.  And yet, you leave knowing  you've gotten your money's worth.  Let me run down some of Bond's greatest hits for you:

- Exhilarating opening sequence?  Check.

- Opening credits that look great, but don't really make sense?  Definitely.

- Exotic locals and thrilling chase sequences through snowy mountains and trains?  Yes and Yes.  I particularly enjoyed the opening sequence in Mexico.

- Bond theme sung by a popular current singer?  Yes, but I didn't particularly enjoy Sam Smith's "Writing's On The Wall".

- Silent yet seemingly indestrutible henchman?  Yup!  (Jaws and Odd Job would be proud of Mr. Hinx).

- Thick sexual tension between Bond and Moneypenny?  Absolutely.

- Bond being a wiseass to Q?  You know it!  I really enjoy the chemistry between Bond and the new Quartermaster.

- Bond girls?  Monica Bellucci has a brief, but incredibly sexy performance.

I could go on and on and on.  At 2.5 hours long, I was worried that Spectre would drag, but I was way wrong.  This film moves from scene to scene the way James Bond changes women?  Fast, furious and with wreckless abandon.  I think that's what I enjoyed most about this film.  Director Sam Mendes (back for his second stint in the director's chair) keeps the movie chugging along at a highly enjoyable pace.  He never lets the film sit and get stale.  He takes all of those cliches I mentioned above and makes them feel like we're seeing them for the first time.  That's what a greatest hits show should do.  Even when I could guess what was coming, I still howled with amusement as I watched it.  I think that's what I enjoyed most about Spectre.  It's the first "fun" Bond movie of the Daniel Craig era.  It was the closest thing to a traditional James Bond movie that we'll see these days.  It actually felt refreshing to see this movie eschew the "gritty/realistic" nature that had become common place with Craig.  Don't get me wrong... I love how they've successfully restarted a once thought for dead franchise.  Craig's portrayal of Bond is the closest thing to the way the character is portrayed in the Ian Fleming novels.  We are finally getting the James Bond backstory that had been missing for 45 years.  However, after Skyfall, I don't think they could have gone any darker.  It needed to bring some levity back.  It was great to see Daniel Craig (despite what he's saying on the press tour) finally having fun with the character.  If this is his last go round as 007, at least he's going out with a smile on his face.

I'm giving this movie 3 out of 4 stars.  The only thing I was disappointed with in this film was the main Bond villain.  Christoph Waltz is already in the hall of fame of movie villains for his portrayal of Hans Landa in my favorite Quentin Tarantino movie, Inglourious Basterds.  When he was cast as the myserious Oberhauser, I was practically giddy with delight.  I think my expectations may have been too high for this movie.  He gives a solid, yet forgettable performance in this one.  I expected more.