Captain America: Civil War Review

Starring: Chris Evans, Robert Downey Jr, Scarlett Johansson, Sebastian Stan, Anthony Mackie, Don Cheadle, Jeremy Renner, Chadwick Boseman, Paul Bettany, Elizabeth Olsen, Paul Rudd, Emily VanCamp, Tom Holland, Frank Grillo, William Hurt, Daniel Brühl

As you can tell, this movie has a pretty humongous cast. It really serves as an "Avengers 2.5", where Marvel's best superheros have joined either Iron Man or Captain America, and are engaged in a "civil war". The title comes from the popular definitive Marvel comic, so this should be the definitive movie, right? I mean, it's Captain America, Winter Soldier, Falcon, Hawkeye, Scarlet Witch, and Ant-Man VS Iron Man, Black Widow, War Machine, Black Panther, Vision, and Spider-Man. While the movie is certainly epic, and it's every fanboy's dream, I much preferred Captain America: The Winter Soldier. Civil War is still a fantastic movie and I loved it, but it's bogged down by a few problems.

Of course, the cast is amazing. For many of these actors, it's their third or fourth outing as the iconic superheroes. I'll get to Cap and Iron Man later, and address the returning supporting actors first. Scarlett Johansson is always great as Black Widow. I thought she came off a little misplaced in this movie. It's obvious Joss Whedon has the best ideas for the character, and she suffers when he doesn't direct. She undoubtedly has the best action scenes in the film, and her close combat style probably helps this. Next is Scarlet Witch. Her powers have upgraded, and I truly believe she is the Superman of the MCU. Her abilities are unlimited. However, the crime she commits at the beginning is never really addressed. I'd have loved to see Olsen emit more regret and pain over what happened, but they really brush it off quickly. I thought this was the best for Falcon and War Machine. Don Cheadle is a great actor, but Rhodey's never really made a big impact on me. This was the first time I actually felt an impact. The same goes for Anthony Mackie and Falcon, though he's had much less screen outings. My personal favorite was Ant-Man. Paul Rudd is so funny, and he just seems like the guy so surprised he's an Avenger. Plus, his powers get a HUGE upgrade, and it's done so well. Hawkeye also is always great. I think they really figured out how to portray Hawkeye in Age of Ultron (he was the most exciting part in a lackluster film) and Renner is just loving it. He doesn't appear as much as the others, but he doesn't need to. Hawkeye is perfect in his little appearance. I did not like The Vision. I wish he did more! He's so powerful and was so good in the last one, and they greatly lessened his role. I thought his sweaters were weird, and I still don't buy Paul Bettany as a superhero. Finally, Bucky aka Winter Solider. A lot of people hate Bucky. I did too, but I really understood him in this movie. I think Stan did a great job, and I finally was able to understand why Cap fights so hard for him. His helplessness is really endearing, and even though he does terrible things, it's not his fault.

Now onto Cap, Iron Man, and the new characters. First I'd like to salute Marvel for the return of General Thunderbolt Ross, now Sec. Ross. The Incredible Hulk with Ed Norton is probably something Marvel wants to forget, but William Hurt's portrayal of the Avengers legal archenemy was outstanding, and definitely the best part of the film. Marvel's ability to recognize this and have him return is really commendable. And Hurt does an amazing job here intimidating Captain America. I'm Team Cap, so I really sympathized with him for most of the movie. I will admit, I switched to Iron Man halfway though, then went back. I understood both sides, and that's because Evans and Downey Jr did such great jobs as their characters. I felt Cap's fierce independence, and his need to have all superheroes be free, but I also understood Tony's pain, and why he needed them to have limits. I think Tony is a volatile and self-destructive character, so I can't really be on his side. But I do think that Cap's big reveal at the end totally changes the Avengers forever. I understand why he did it, but it's so horrible I don't think Tony will ever be able to forgive anyone on his side. Now to the new characters. Black Panther is amazing. Chadwick Boseman captures your attention whenever he's onscreen, and the suit is incredible. His movements resemble a cat and the whole thing is completely awesome. Black Panther is coming next year, and there's a tease in the credits that excited the theater. The post-credits scene belongs to Peter Parker, and I have to say, Spider-Man was very well done. He was used in the perfect amount, and his naive quips and jokes really helped the airport battle. I'm looking forward to Tom Holland's Spider-Man, and I think it's clear Marvel handles this character best.

By far, the biggest problem is the pacing. The movie is way too long. Dreadfully long. I guess they had to give every character 15 minutes, which benefits the acting, but takes a toll on the moviegoer. I was getting really fed up and just wanted it to wrap up. I think that a good movie knows when to end, and this film just kept going on and on and on. I also did not particularly like the Vision. He's just too awkward, and I didn't realize why he wasn't utilized more. He's SO powerful so why doesn't he just annihilate everyone? It's also a superhero staple to have an opening battle scene with a B-level villain. Crossbones, an amazing Captain America villain, was really ripped off. Plus the whole scene was too long. Basically, what I'm trying to say is this: It's a good movie, but it's way too long. I much prefer The Winter Soldier to Civil War. I like that all the characters are here, but I don't like it when a good movie starts to bore me.

Rating:

The Jungle Book Review

Starring: Bill Murray, Ben Kingsley, Idris Elba, Lupita Nyong'o, Scarlett Johansson, Giancarlo Esposito, Chrsitopher Walken, Neel Sethi

 I'm going to start with a confession. The Jungle Book is one of the last Disney films I would expect to be adapted into their live action fairytales series. Not because the 1960s original isn't a good film, but simply because it's not one that stands out as an immediate classic. Sure, "The Bare Necessities" and "I Wanna Be Like You" have become staples of Disney music, but the film itself is largely underrated. It has iconic characters like Baloo and Kaa, and here we see famous actors interpreting these classic roles. Bill Murray embodies the hilarious bear Baloo. Ben Kingsley's stern voice makes him the perfect mentor for Mowgli. And Scarlett Johansson's seductive tones make her perfect for the hypnotizing python. It's not just the voice actors that captivate. The visuals are magical. Almost everything is digital aside from Mowgli. So while Neel Sethi needs to be lauded for acting with nothing, the visual effects team really creates the Indian jungle and every animal within. This is undoubtedly the best Disney live-action adaptation I've seen. It perfectly captures the whimsy of the original, while making it accessible for today's audience. The 1960s movie is full of clichés. Director Jon Favreau recognized that modern audiences aren't satisfied with that. With higher stakes and more poignant action and interaction, The Jungle Book succeeds across levels.

First I will address the actors. Now, they didn't really act. They just lent their voices to the roles. In some cases, the motion capture of their faces are used, as is the case with Murray and Walken. Obviously Bill Murray is the heart of this movie, just as Baloo is the heart of the story. The character has always been easygoing and fun, but Murray brought a kind of protectiveness I'd never seen in Baloo before. He's scared of losing Mowgli, and of being alone. While he covers this up with humor, he thinks of Mowgli as his son. Murray's version of "The Bare Necessities" was a nice surprise in a movie I didn't expect to be a musical. Ben Kingsley was also great as the panther Bagheera. Bagheera is the moral compass, and Kingsley is perfect for the role. His voice is guiding and soft, and an absolutely amazing casting choice. Then there's Idris Elba as Shere Khan the tiger. Shere Khan isn't very menacing in the animated film, but he's terrifying here. Elba's deep scratchy voice brings evil to the tiger, and he captivates the audience in every scene he's in. Small children be warned: Shere Khan is very scary and has some very jumpy scenes. Elba has many monologues as the tiger, and he executes each one like a Shakespearean actor. One about a cuckoo bird particularly gave me chills in the theater. Lupita Nyong'o also does a great job as Raksha, the mother wolf. Her emotional depth nearly brought me to tears in one scene, and you never doubt she is Mowgli's mother.

The best scene of the movie is Mowgli's encounter with Kaa the python, voiced by Scarlett Johansson. Mowgli's discovery of the enormous snakeskin was such a cool and inventive way to introduce that character. Johansson's seductive tones hypnotize the audience as she's doing the same to her prey. She provides the backstory to Mowgli, with her eyes telling the story, literally! The story fits the shape of her eye as she tells of Mowgli's father and the fire that all the animals fear. What's great is that the fire is called the "Red Flower". This is in reference to the classic line from "I Wanna Be Like You", which says "Give me the power of man's red flower so I can be like you." It's a great nod to the original, and amazing world-building. It gives the film a little fantasy feeling that this visually captivating, talking animal film benefits from. Now, onto the worst. Sadly, I would have to give this to King Louie and the monkeys. I thought Walken did great with his lines. I enjoyed that King Louie was a Gigantopithecus (an extinct ape) instead of an orangutan, seeing as orangutans don't live in India and the prehistoric ape once did. I thought the use of "I Wanna Be Like You", one of the film's signature songs was misused, and the scene was incredibly slow until the fight started. Baloo really brought life to the dull scenery. Plus, let's face it. Those monkeys are a little too creepy. I think it's great that Baloo sings his song, King Louie's seemed out of place. However, it plays in its entirety over the fantastic end credits, and it was redeemed for me.

It's clear that The Jungle Book is a visual masterpiece. The attention to detail that Jon Favreau has exhibited is stunning. Not only do the classic characters come to life, the whole jungle moves and breathes as a character. Every leaf, every bird and every rock is animated with such depth and attention, it's incredible to imagine that the movie in front of you is completely animated aside from Mowgli. A heaping amount of praise needs to go to Neel Sethi. The amount of skill for him to be able to react so well to nothing, but still stay a "stupid jungle boy" for lack of a better word, is well beyond his years. Every scene is like a fantasy dream, and it's so well written. I really recommend everybody see this. It's easily for all ages. Small children may be scared by Shere Khan (my mother certainly was), but I think it will prove a great moviegoing experience for all.

Rating:

Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice Review

Starring: Ben Affleck, Henry Cavill, Amy Adams, Jesse Eisenberg, Diane Lane, Laurence Fishburne, Jeremy Irons, Holly Hunter, Gal Gadot, Scoot McNairy, Ray Fisher, Ezra Miller, Jason Momoa

It's only March, and what may as well be the most hotly anticipated film of 2016 has been released. Yes, for years DC and Warner Bros have been dominating Comic-Cons and headlines with slow reveals. First, it was that the movie was even being made, as "Batman vs Superman" was never something fans anticipated. Then it was Ben Affleck as the Caped Crusader, Gal Gadot as Wonder Woman, and it kept our interest. Until in the last month or two they decided to dump everything on the internet and dominate TV commercials. I knew every plot twist going into Batman v Superman and the surprises simply weren't surprising. From the opening scene, to the closing credits, the basic gist of the film was revealed. If you haven't heard, this movie has received terrible reviews. It seems like every critic has something scathing to say about Batman v Superman. After seeing the movie, I understand why. It's not a bad movie. It's actually pretty good, even though it has major flaws. All around, most of the cast turns in great performances. The problem is the script. There is no plot, and six different stories fighting each other with no clear connection. The movie utterly smothers itself while playing catch-up to Marvel, who has great movies, two Avengers films, and a loyal fanbase. Nonetheless, this is not as horrible as the reviews would have you believe. Here is what works, and what doesn't work.

First, Ben Affleck is a very good Batman. If you were worried about that, he does fine. He's no Christian Bale, but his version of Batman, a grizzled and unhinged hero, is very convincing. I have my own problems with the treatment of the character, because he carries guns and shoots and kills people, but for what was written for him Ben Affleck does a great job. Superman is a problem. I've never liked Superman that much, and I had a pretty horrible experience watching Man of Steel. I think the character has not aged well or evolved, and when director Zack Snyder tries to make him serious and dark, it just doesn't work. In Batman v Superman, he mopes around a lot. When Batman is beating the snot out of him, he could end the fight so easily by telling him his alibi, yet he doesn't. There's no reason Superman has to be this cryptic and moody and it needs to be fixed. The last member of DC's Trinity, Wonder Woman, is easily the most consistent character. Gal Gadot makes a huge impression as the Amazonian hero in all of her scenes. As a viewer, you are anxiously awaiting when she arrives in battle with her shield and lasso of truth, and it's probably the most epic moments the film has to offer. I'm incredibly excited to see what Gadot has to offer in the solo Wonder Woman film next year. What surprised me the most was Jesse Eisenberg's Lex Luthor. He looked campy and ridiculous in the trailers and ads, but he gave a pretty menacing performance as Superman's archenemy. He played more of a Joker than a Lex Luthor, with his psychotic and anarchist behavior, but it worked. This proved to me that DC is better at developing villains than Marvel is. Marvel has given us only one memorable villain (Loki) out of a dozen films. If DC can pull off it's huge reveal with the Justice League, and they keep casting great actors, they will always hold this over Marvel.

Here's the huge problem. There are six stories. Plot 1: Batman's origin. This is very rushed, and I felt it was unneeded if Snyder was re-inventing the character. While his origin is iconic, it was too much in a crowded film. Big failure. Plot 2: Superman answers for his crimes. I wish the movie had the guts to blame Superman for the carnage and destruction at the end of Man of Steel, but it makes up another incident to blame him for. While it's a cop out, it was fascinating to watch Holly Hunter's intense performance as a Senator out to nail Superman. There's one scene in the Capitol with Hunter and Superman that is one of the best superhero movie scenes I've ever seen. She sells it so well, and it's sad the movie falters after such a great scene. Plot 3: Batman v Superman. The fight is amazing, but the reason is confusing. Lex Luthor wants Superman to kill Batman to free his mother, but Luthor's own motivations are never revealed. Plot 4: Lex Luthor's shenanigans. Eisenberg is great, but the side quest of building Doomsday to fight the Trinity is so forced. Doomsday is literally in the movie for 10 minutes, and it feels tacked on. The selling point was Batman v Superman, so the switch in enemies was eye-rolling bad. Plot 5: Lois Lane's side-quests. Amy Adams is so horrible in this movie it's depressing. Lois Lane was not needed. They tried to give her something to do, but it's so stupid and ridiculous. Plot 6: The Justice League teases. This could have been cool. It's a little exciting, but the method and placement is so strange. They're forcing the Justice League down out throats and it doesn't even look like it will work.

There is so much potential in this film, so that's why I feel it's a letdown. But even if it doesn't live up to expectations, it still has great moments. Like I stated earlier, the Senate hearing is impeccably filmed. It's the kind of quality that stands out in a movie filled with explosions. It's little moments that made me wish the entire film had that kind of quality. In Man of Steel, Superman has no regard for human life when he fights Zod. They destroy buildings and wreak havoc, causing more harm than good. This film opens with Bruce Wayne on the ground, looking up to see Superman in his battle. This view is unlike anything Man of Steel had to offer. It really puts into perspective the dangers of Superman's abilities. That storyline is great. Even though I loved what Eisenberg brought to the character of Lex Luthor, I think his storyline of bringing Superman against Batman, and then creating a monster for no particular reason was confusing. Doomsday had no place in this film. He looked amazing, and the Trinity's fight against him was great, but in a film that's 2 hours and 30 minutes long, they could have cut the running time down. It could just as easily been a Batman v Superman fight, but they cut that short to make room for Doomsday! It just doesn't make sense.

I apologize for this being a little long, but there was a lot to talk about. I actually enjoyed Batman v Superman. It's flawed, but it's a fun popcorn movie. And there's no doubt it will make back its budget and from what I've heard, people are enjoying it. There's a lot of stuff shoehorned into one movie where it's unnecessary. Playing catch-up to Marvel doesn't always pay off.

Rating:

2016 Academy Awards Predictions

Every year, the Oscars are a big deal for myself and my family. We bet on winners and cast ballots while we watch the show. We make an effort to see every movie that is nominated. I've seen every film nominated in major categories this year, aside from a few obscure nominees in the acting categories. There's been a lot of controversy this year with the lack of diversity. I think it's unfortunate, and attention needs to be brought to it. However, I am glad that there is a year where I haven't the slightest idea what movie will win Best Picture. Here are all my Oscar picks for every category (except the two sound and editing categories).

Best Picture:

And the nominees are...
The Big Short- Four groups of people in the world of Wall Street and high finance predict the credit and housing bubble collapse of 2008, and decide to take down the banks for their greed and lack of foresight. Starring: Christian Bale, Steve Carell, Ryan Gosling, Brad Pitt
Bridge of Spies- At the height of the Cold War, a lawyer is hired to defend a suspected Soviet spy in court, and attempts to give him a fair trial and exchange him for an American spy captured in the USSR. Starring: Tom Hanks, Mark Rylance
Brooklyn- An Irish immigrant in 1950s Brooklyn struggles with her life back home with her family and her new life with a suitor in America, and in a crisis, she must choose between two countries and the lives within. Starring Saoirse Ronan, Emory Cohen, Domhnall Gleeson
Mad Max: Fury Road- In a post-apocalyptic Australia without water, a drifter stumbles upon a woman rebelling against a tyrant in search for her oasis homeland and seeking freedom for a group of women prisoners. Starring Tom Hardy, Charlize Theron
The Martian- After his team has left him for dead on a manned mission to Mars, astronaut Mark Watney must use his limited to resources to try to survive alone until NASA can return for him. Starring: Matt Damon, Jessica Chastain, Kristen Wiig, Jeff Daniels, Sean Bean
The Revenant- A frontiersman on a fur expedition in the 1820s fights for survival after being mauled by a grizzly bear and left for dead by his team, and travels across the country to get revenge on the man who wronged him. Starring: Leonardo DiCaprio, Tom Hardy, Domhnall Gleeson
Room- After five-year-old Jack and his mother escape from their captor and enclosed surroundings, he is captivated by the outside world he is introduced to, while his mother struggles to be re-introduced after their horrifying ordeal. Starring: Brie Larson, Jacob Tremblay, Joan Allen
Spotlight- When four investigative journalists at the Boston Globe discover a local Catholic church covered up child molestation scandals, they dig deeper and find a dark and twisted story that goes much deeper than just one church. Starring: Mark Ruffalo, Michael Keaton, Rachel McAdams

This is a confusing race. Spotlight has been the lock for months, but lately it looks like its "anti-Catholic" message might be hurting its chances. If it won, it's not really nominated in a lot of the technical categories, so it wouldn't have the "sweep" that the Academy sometimes likes to award. The Big Short is coming fast on its heels with a win from the Producer's Guild of America and strong box-office numbers. It's funny because Spotlight and The Big Short are polar opposites. Both tackle a group discovering something wrong and capitalizing on it, only one is dark and serious, and the other light and humorous. Both are excellent films, but both are only nominated in the major categories, which doesn't signify universal support. The real dark horse is The Revenant. I personally do not find it as deserving as the former two, but I think that it has a lot of things going for it. It's the audience favorite. It has Leonardo DiCaprio who has all of the attention right now for his possible win. It also has the most nominations, and will likely win in a lot of technical categories. If it wins, it could be that sweep I mentioned earlier. As for the other nominees, Mad Max is just lucky it got in, even if it deserves to win, and Room and Brooklyn will do better in other categories. Bridge of Spies is just Spielberg getting a deserved nomination for the excellent work he continues to produce, and The Martian has no steam. At the end of the day, I think the Academy will go with its gut and choose Spotlight.

Will Win: Spotlight
Could Win: The Big Short or The Revenant
Should Win: Mad Max: Fury Road
Should've Been Here: Inside Out

Best Director:

Lenny Abrahamson- Room
Alejandro González Iñárritu- The Revenant
Tom McCarthy- Spotlight
Adam McKay- The Big Short
George Miller- Mad Max: Fury Road 

There is only two people who could possibly win, and it's blockbuster vs blockbuster. If George Miller wins a major award for Mad Max: Fury Road,  that will satisfy all of the film's very vocal fans. But Alejandro Iñárritu, winner of the Director's Guild of America award, could win his second Best Director Oscar in a row. He won last year for Birdman, and he might win again, which would be a new achievement. I think Miller will win so they can avoid this repetition. If Ridley Scott was included, this would be interesting. Shockingly, he is absent. 

Will Win: George Miller
Could Win: Alejandro G. Iñárritu
Should Win: George Miller
Should've Been Here: Ridley Scott- The Martian

Best Lead Actor:

Bryan Cranston- Trumbo
Matt Damon- The Martian
Leonardo DiCaprio- The Revenant 
Michael Fassbender- Steve Jobs 
Eddie Redmayne- The Danish Girl

It's Leo's year. I'd give him a 90% chance of walking away with his first Oscar, and those are probably conservative odds. If anything else happens I will be utterly shocked. This is his year. None of the other nominees sacrificed what he did for his demanding role as Hugh Glass. I think if anyone is taking his statue away, it's Matt Damon, but that's a very small chance. The Academy like to keep people happy, so they'll reward Leo for The Revenant. It's interesting that in a year where Eddie Redmayne looked likely to win back-to-back Oscars for his performance as a transgender in The Danish Girl, those early odds have evaporated. Fassbender and Cranston are recognized for stellar work, but their chances are pretty nonexistent.

Will Win: Leonardo DiCaprio
Could Win: Matt Damon
Should Win: Leonardo DiCaprio
Should've Been Here: Ian McKellen- Mr. Holmes

Best Lead Actress:

Cate Blanchett- Carol
Brie Larson- Room
Jennifer Lawrence- Joy
Charlotte Rampling- 45 Years
Saoirse Ronan- Brooklyn

It's Brie Larson's year. Personally, I don't think it should be. Her performance is definitely deserving, but I believe it is Saoirse Ronan who should win for her delicately layered performance in Brooklyn. Larson is seeing that roles of abuse generally get a lot of attention from awards guilds. There is a lot of press surrounding Larson and her new "it-girl" status, and she's likely to repeat Jennifer Lawrence's ascent to stardom. She's already been cast in Kong: Skull Island, which is practically guaranteed to be a blockbuster. Speaking of Lawrence, all of the internet sources who say she can pull off a second win are so far from the truth. There is no chance she will win for a movie that has attracted so little attention. It's good to see Rampling nominated after a great and underappreciated career, and Blanchett also recently won. This will be Brie Larson's night, so don't bet against it.

Will Win: Brie Larson
Could Win: Saoirse Ronan
Should Win: Saoirse Ronan
Should've Been Here: Charlize Theron- Mad Max: Fury Road

Best Supporting Actor:

Christian Bale- The Big Short
Tom Hardy- The Revenant
Mark Ruffalo- Spotlight
Mark Rylance- Bridge of Spies
Sylvester Stallone- Creed 

This is one of the toughest categories to predict. Mark Rylance gives a truly "supporting" performance as Rudolf Abel, a convicted Soviet spy in Bridge of Spies. His performance is so subtle yet he commands attention in every scene. It's simple and elegant. The opposite is true of Sylvester Stallone in Creed. His performance is not quiet, it is very emotional and poignant. I think he deserves to win, and it would be a wonderful return to form for Stallone. This is a success story I think the Academy will like. Tom Hardy could even win just because of The Revenant's hype. But I think Rylance is the safest choice, and the smartest choice, seeing as he is a veteran stage actor just transitioning to film, with some good years obviously ahead of him if they capitalize on it. The Big Short and Spotlight are both ensemble movies so I cannot see them awarding any acting from those films.

Will Win: Mark Rylance
Could Win: Sylvester Stallone
Should Win: Sylvester Stallone
Should've Been Here: Jacob Tremblay- Room

Best Supporting Actress:

Jennifer Jason Leigh- The Hateful Eight
Rooney Mara- Carol
Rachel McAdams- Spotlight
Alicia Vikander- The Danish Girl
Kate Winslet- Steve Jobs

This is probably the most stacked category, but there are still some clear front-runners. I wish Jennifer Jason Leigh would win because she seemed to work the hardest. Her role in The Hateful Eight was so vile and disgusting, and she was immensely committed to becoming that horrible and dark character. Kate Winslet looks like she could win her second Oscar for her role as Joanna Hoffman, the manager of Apple who assisted and often fought with Steve Jobs. Her performance really makes the movie, and she definitely had more of an effect on me than Fassbender did. If Winslet is the veteran, Alicia Vikander is the rookie of the year. Her role as the wife of a man who chooses to become a woman is incredibly poignant and so heartbreaking. She also had an amazing performance in Ex Machina as a female android, and an Oscar would likely be rewarding both performances, but choosing the more dramatic film to recognize her. In a movie that should have been about transgender rights, it ended up being about how they sometimes hurt the ones they love. It's gotten some criticism for this risky move, but this choice has made Vikander shine with one of the best breakout performances in recent memory.

Will Win: Alicia Vikander
Could Win: Kate Winslet
Should Win: Jennifer Jason Leigh
Should've Been Here: Jane Fonda- Youth

Best Original Screenplay:

Bridge of Spies- Joel & Ethan Coen, Matt Charman
Ex Machina- Alex Garland
Inside Out- Pete Docter, Meg LeFauve, Josh Cooley, Ronnie del Carmen
Spotlight- Tom McCarthy, Josh Singer
Straight Outta Compton- Jonathan Herman, Andrea Berloff, S. Leigh Savidge, Alan Wenkus

Bridge of Spies has one thing going for it and that's the Coen brothers. Unfortunately, they've won too many times (Fargo, No Country for Old Men) that they have no chance. I'd like to see Ex Machina get it because it's a fascinating script with a very complicated story of man vs machine that really blurs the line between humans and robots. Inside Out is also deserving, as its script was so complex and complicated for a children's film. However Spotlight is the clear winner. It's nominated for Best Picture, where it's a front-runner, and it's a script about writing. That is the kind of story the Academy likes to reward.

Also, Straight Outta Compton has no chance, because the Academy hates black people this year.

Will Win: Spotlight
Could Win: Inside Out
Should Win: Ex Machina
Should've Been Here: The Hateful Eight- Quentin Tarantino

Best Adapted Screenplay:

The Big Short- Adam McKay, Charles Randolph (The Big Short by Michael Lewis)
Brooklyn- Nick Hornby (Brooklyn by Colm Tóibín)
Carol- Phyllis Nagy (The Price of Salt by Patricia Highsmith)
The Martian- Drew Goddard (The Martian by Andy Weir)
Room- Emma Donaghue- (Room by Emma Donaghue)

I'm taking a shot in the dark. I have no idea who will, would, or should win this. I'm guessing The Big Short because it handles a dark subject with humor, but I honestly have no idea. All of these movies have awards-worthy scripts, characters, and dialogues. This is probably the category that best reflects the best talent of the year. Pick a random one, because it will be hard to figure out who gets the trophy.

Will Win: The Big Short
Could Win: Brooklyn
Should Win: The Big Short
Should've Been Here: Steve Jobs- Aaron Sorkin (Steve Jobs by Walter Isaacson)

Best Animated Feature:

Anomalisa
Boy & the World
Inside Out
Shaun the Sheep Movie
When Marnie Was There

As the larger image for Inside Out suggests, there is no way it is losing this award.
1.) It's Pixar and Pixar always wins.
2.) The movie was a massive box office and critical success.
3.) It just missed a Best Picture nomination. So Inside Out has been a lock since June.

Will Win: Inside Out
Could Win: N/A
Should Win: Inside Out
Should've Been Here: The Peanuts Movie

Best Documentary Feature:

Amy
Cartel Land
The Look of Silence
What Happened, Miss Simone?
Winter on Fire: Ukraine's Fight for Freedom
  
I cannot speak for any of the other nominees, but I can attest to Amy's greatness. Amy is an interesting story and a fantastically made film. The documentary is well paced with musical breaks of Winehouse's own songs, and it tells the story as true as it could ever be told after her death. It almost feels like you're watching a dramatic version of her life. I've head good things about The Look of Silence, but I'm betting on the one I saw.

Will Win: Amy
Could Win: The Look of Silence
Should Win: Amy

Best Original Score:

Bridge of Spies- Thomas Newman
Carol- Carter Burwell
The Hateful Eight- Ennio Morricone
Sicario- Jóhann Jóhannsson
Star Wars: The Force Awakens- John Williams

There really are only two contenders here. While I love the intense booms in Sicario, and the subtle tone shifts of Bridge of Spies' score, it's down to John Williams or Ennio Morricone, both veteran composers. Williams takes his iconic score from the original Star Wars, and modifies the key changes and passages to create music that sounds brand new, yet also nostalgic. His score makes the experience of Star Wars: The Force Awakens that much more exciting. Ennio Morricone also has some odes to the Westerns he used to compose like The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly, and The Hateful Eight's score is so complex with so many moving parts, it's amazing to listen to. I'd say Morricone's score made my experience in The Hateful Eight much more enjoyable than it would have been with any other composer, so I'm picking his work to be rewarded. The overture for that film is just a ridiculously impressive feat that I do not believe will go unnoticed.

Will Win: The Hateful Eight
Could Win: Star Wars: The Force Awakens
Should Win: The Hateful Eight or Star Wars: The Force Awakens
Should've Been Here: Inside Out

Best Original Song:

"Earned It" by The Weeknd- Fifty Shades of Grey
"Manta Ray" by J. Ralph- Racing Extinction
"Simple Song #3" by Sumi Jo- Youth
"Til It Happens to You" by Lady Gaga- The Hunting Ground
"Writing's on the Wall" by Sam Smith- Spectre

This category is really hard to predict as well. If you've heard Lady Gaga's "Til It Happens to You", from the documentary The Hunting Ground about campus rape, you know how immensely powerful it is. It's the kind of ballad she will nail at the live performance. She will probably get an Oscar since she's Lady Gaga, and she's transitioning into a more serious musician. But don't underestimate The Weeknd. He's coming up fast as a hot commodity, and even if it's for a terrible film like Fifty Shades of Grey, "Earned It" is still a great song.

Will Win: "Til It Happens to You"
Could Win: "Earned It"
Should Win: "Til It Happens to You"
Should've Been Here: "See You Again"

Best Costume Design:

Carol
Cinderella
The Danish Girl
Mad Max: Fury Road
The Revenant

I'm confused as to why is The Revenant is here. The costumes are good, but certainly not something that ever caught my eye. The clothes in Carol are fantastic, but that same costume designer is nominated for her work in Cinderella, which is far more impressive. All anyone was talking about in March was how beautiful that blue dress was. The only competition is Mad Max: Fury Road, whose white gowns and "period-appropriate" clothing truly made the movie feel authentic. It's a tight race, but I'd give the edge to Cinderella.


Will Win: Cinderella
Could Win: Mad Max: Fury Road
Should Win: Cinderella

Best Set Design:

Bridge of Spies
The Danish Girl
Mad Max: Fury Road
The Martian
The Revenant

Mad Max: Fury Road is the only picture you need to see. While all the sets are good, there's just nothing like Mad Max's fast cars, sweeping desert landscapes, spiky trucks, and cave monuments. The setting is truly incredible. If it were anything else, I'd say The Revenant, but it did not really utilize designed sets.

Will Win: Mad Max: Fury Road
Could Win: The Revenant
Should Win: Mad Max: Fury Road

Best Makeup/Hairstyling:

Mad Max: Fury Road
The 100-Year-Old Man Who Climbed Out of a Window and Disappeared
The Revenant

Another category Mad Max has in the bag.

Will Win: Mad Max: Fury Road

Best Cinematography

Carol
The Hateful Eight
Mad Max: Fury Road
The Revenant
Sicario

Easiest category of the night besides Inside Out for Best Animated Film. The camera angles and amazing cinematography from Emmanuel Lubezki, the winner of this category for the past two years for his work on Gravity and Birdman. It's stunning, sweeping, and so impressive. A lock.

Will, Could, Should Win: The Revenant

Best Visual Effects:

Ex Machina
Mad Max: Fury Road
The Martian
The Revenant
Star Wars: The Force Awakens

There is a lot of great talent here. The only one that can't win is The Martian. As good as it is, it really uses traditional CGI effects and no new ground is broken. Ex Machina has amazing effects, but they're only on Ava's body to make her look like a robot. They're small and understated, so I don't think it has a good chance. Mad Max's visuals are fantastic, and its use of solely practical effects is a a narrative I think the Academy would like to reward. However, Star Wars combines both CGI and practical effects, and they have to give something to the biggest movie of the year, right? I predict that it will be The Revenant that will win for its incredible CGI bear attack scene. That bear was so realistic and so terrifying, that it will be rewarded.

Will Win: The Revenant
Could Win: Star Wars: The Force Awakens
Should Win: The Revenant

Best Foreign Language Film:

Embrace of the Serpent (Colombia)
Mustang (France)
Son of Saul (Hungary)
Theeb (Jordan)
A War (Denmark)


Son of Saul is a lock. The film was a Cannes sensation and depicts the lives of the Hungarian POWs that the Nazis forced to work in their concentration camps. There's really nothing else that holds a candle to its amazing premise and supposed excellent execution.

Will and Should Win: Son of Saul

So here's my tally for the night

Mad Max: Fury Road- 4 (Director, Set Design, Makeup, Sound Editing)
Spotlight- 3 (Picture, O. Screenplay, Editing)
The Revenant- 3 (Actor, Cinematography, Visual Effects)
Amy- 1 (Documentary)
The Big Short- 1 (A. Screenplay)
Bridge of Spies- 1 (S. Actor) 
Cinderella- 1 (Costume Design)
The Danish Girl- 1 (S. Actress) 
The Hateful Eight- 1 (Score)
The Hunting Ground- 1 (Song)
Inside Out- 1 (Animated Feature) 
Room- 1 (Actress)
Son of Saul- 1 (Foreign Language Film) 
Star Wars: The Force Awakens- 1 (Sound Mixing)

Deadpool Review

Starring: Ryan Reynolds, Morena Baccarin, T.J. Miller, Ed Skrein, Gina Carano, Leslie Uggams

Deadpool was one of my most-anticipated movies of the year. If you're a fan of superhero movies, Deadpool is kind of a superhero film. It's essential for any X-Men fans, which I myself am. But much like the Marvel comics featuring Deadpool, this is a very different type of superhero film. It's actually a very unique movie. If you've seen the clean trailers, you can probably tell there is some risqué material, and if you've seen the red band trailers, or the movie itself, you know what's inside. Deadpool is violent, crass, rude, and incredibly inappropriate for children. It earned its R rating. But I found myself really enjoying my moviegoing experience. I had a blast watching Deadpool, and I've seen it twice. I think many people will just fall in love with the vulgar Deadpool and not notice the flaws. It definitely has some issues, but overall Deadpool is a wonderful venture into stylish filmmaking, and a change of pace for superhero movies.

I waited to see Deadpool twice to accurately review it. I was afraid that the hype of the first viewing would change my opinion. It's true, the first time I saw Deadpool was glorious. It's a very mature movie, but I laughed so hard. Upon the second viewing, it obviously was not as funny, as I saw the jokes coming. But I noticed something. The movie is actually surprisingly good when it's dramatic. The story goes like this: Wade Wilson gets terminal cancer and is given little time before he dies. He learns of a program that could save his life so he could go back to his fiancée (Baccarin), only they turn him into a mutant. He becomes a vigilante searching for the man (Skrein) who did this to him. There are a lot of sad scenes with a pretty high level of seriousness between Reynolds and Baccarin. For a movie that probably just cracked a masturbation joke, it surprisingly does well changing the tone. The two of them have an incredible chemistry. It's dirty and sloppy at times, but the viewer can see they really love each other, and are willing to forgive their flaws and move on by the film's end.

 The opening of Deadpool is nothing short of brilliance. An opening credits scene is set to Juice Newton's "Angel of the Morning", as generic credits like "A hot chick", and "The comic relief" are situated around a location only identifiable as the camera slowly zooms around and pans out. The opening action scene is pure artistry. It's full of fourth-wall breaks, inside jokes and meta-humor, hilariously gory violence, and camera angles that should belong in an indie film. The acting is also so good, across the board. Ryan Reynolds is absolutely perfect as Deadpool. I'm willing to forgive his horrible first outing as the character in X-Men Origins: Wolverine, and his atrocious Green Lantern. What I think he lacks in seriousness he makes up for with perfect comedic timing. And he sells the drama pretty well too, though it's nothing amazing. Morena Baccarin also grounds the film with her very free performance. She's not a damsel in distress, and she's as foulmouthed as Deadpool. She gives her scenes such grace and elegance that I'd love to see her in this role again. A shout-out is deserved to up-and-coming comedian T.J. Miller as the aforementioned "Comic Relief". His performance isn't serious at all, but it's so funny you will look forward to every appearance he makes.

So where do my problems with Deadpool lie? It's the pacing. Deadpool starts with its best scene, and while the finished product is really great, it always feels like the film is trying to live up to that opening scene. It never reaches that height, and the climax doesn't feel as exciting as the beginning. I also didn't really see Leslie Uggams' role as Blind Al as necessary. I understand she's important to the comic, but I didn't particularly like her humor nor did I think she was really needed. Ed Skrein was also a very good villain, but he just couldn't live up to Magneto or Mystique, or even Phoenix and Juggernaut from the previous X-Men films. I spent the whole opening scene of my second viewing trying to remember what his name was, he made that little of an impact on me. If you haven't seen Deadpool, you probably should if superheroes are your favorite. The inappropriate humor might not sit well with you, but it's a very good movie in my opinion. I'm looking forward to a sequel, and with all the records it's breaking, I think we're bound to get one, as well as see Deadpool joining the X-Men. Also, you'll see the funniest Stan Lee (fans will understand this) cameo to ever exist.

Rating:

Best Male Performances of 2015

In this double feature, I will be counting down the best acting performances given by both male and female actors. They are separated by gender, because I really struggled to put a great male performance up against a great female performance and make a call. So I have split them, and below you will find the top ten performances given by male actors, with one honorable mention.

This is all leading up to my Top Movies of 2015, which will be published in the days to come.

HONORABLE MENTION: Steve Carell- Mark Baum- The Big Short

The Big Short is one of my favorite movies of the year. The whole ensemble is fantastic, but it's really Steve Carell and Christian Bale that excel. Carell plays Mark Baum, a pessimistic Wall Street man angry at the world after his brother was taken away from him too young. He has the backstory, and is the most human out of all the characters. I'm so excited that since Foxcatcher, Carell is still giving fantastic dramatic performances. It's slightly overshadowed by Bale, but worthy of an honorable mention.

Quote: "Eventually you get caught, things go south. When the hell did we forget all that? I thought we were better than this, I really did."

#10. Samuel L. Jackson- Major Marquis Warren- The Hateful Eight

Samuel L. Jackson is the heart and soul of Quentin Tarantino's The Hateful Eight. While Jennifer Jason Leigh may have the Oscar recognition, it just wouldn't be a great movie without Jackson at rge center. I've never seen him have so much fun in a movie, and I've seen some pretty ridiculous Samuel L. Jackson performances. He's witty, crass, and rude, but he's also serious when the script calls for him to be which grounds his performance. It's a very complicated performance in a complex movie.

Quote: "Move a little strange, you're gonna get a bullet. Not a warning, not a question...a bullet."

#9. Christian Bale- Dr. Michael Burry- The Big Short

NOMINEE: ACADEMY AWARD FOR BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR
Christian Bale is one of the best actors of our generation. In The Big Short he continues this legacy. He plays Dr. Michael Burry, the first man to discover the housing market bubble is about to burst. Burry is an unconventional Wall Street investor. He wears no shoes and plays drums in his office. He sees this problem, but he cannot communicate it with anyone because of his awkwardness. So he invests and profits off of the scandal, proving everyone wrong and himself right. It's a supporting role, but Bale's charisma makes it seem like the lead, and you eagerly wait for the scenes with this wild and quirky doctor.

Quote: "This business kills the part of life that is essential: the part that has nothing to do with business."

#8. Matt Damon- Mark Watney- The Martian

NOMINEE: ACADEMY AWARD FOR BEST ACTOR
The Martian is one of my favorite movies of the year, and it would not be possible without Matt Damon's performance. Damon is one of my favorite actors, and this movie is basically all him. Mark Watney is a hilariously funny character. In a movie that is so long, Matt Damon's inspired acting keeps the audience's attention. I mean, there are some actors that I would not prefer to follow around alone for three hours, and actually walk away invested in their character. Matt Damon is not one of those actors. The Martian is his movie, and he shines in the role with a combination of both comedy and drama.

Quote: "You just begin. You solve one problem, and you solve the next one, and then the next. And if you solve enough problems, you get to come home."

#7. Jacob Tremblay- Jack Newsome- Room

Jacob Tremblay is only 9 years old, 7 when he starred in indie sensation Room. Despite being that young, Tremblay is able to keep up with Brie Larson, whose acting talent will likely earn her the Oscar this year. Tremblay even outshines Larson sometimes. He brings such charisma to the role of Jack, a curious child who has never seen the outside world. He acts with the skill of someone much older, and I hope we get to see Jacob Tremblay act in the future. I really wanted him to get an Academy Award nomination, but I guess they have something against kids.

Quote: "When I was small, I only knew small things. But now that I'm five, I know everything!"

#6. Ian McKellen- Sherlock Holmes- Mr. Holmes

The fact that Ian McKellen isn't nominated for an Oscar is a huge shame. Mr. Holmes showcased a fantastic performance by him. While I praise Jacob Tremblay for acting so well for his age, McKellen is on the opposite side of the spectrum. McKellen is 76, and I'm surprised he can still act as well as he does. He takes a character that everyone knows, and one that everyone has a preconceived idea of. This is so far from the Sherlock Holmes we're all associated with. McKellen plays Holmes on his deathbed, as he tries to change the way people think of him to get it right. It's a powerful performance, and one that should have been rewarded.

Quote: "A man abandoned his family and wrote his son a story. He wouldn't be the first to cloak his cowardice in a flag of sacrifice."

#5. Tom Hardy- John Fitzgerald- The Revenant

NOMINEE: ACADEMY AWARD FOR BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR
Tom Hardy is the kind of actor I've liked for a long time, but he had never really let himself go. He's good in Warrior, Inception, Mad Max: Fury Road, and The Dark Knight Rises, but he never really "completely became" his character. In The Revenant, he becomes John Fitzgerald and all of his fierce temperaments. Fitzgerald, while hard to hear at times, is a ruthless and greedy killer, and Hardy represents this with his wild acting style. The kinds of choices this man makes are horrifying, and Hardy plays the moustache-twirling villain with ease. Let's just say that in a movie where he is opposite probable Oscar winner Leonardo DiCaprio, Tom Hardy does more than just hold his own. 

Quote: "You came all this way just for your revenge, huh? Did you enjoy it, Glass? 'Cause there ain't nothin' gon' bring your boy back."

#4. Michael Fassbender- Steve Jobs- Steve Jobs

NOMINEE: ACADEMY AWARD FOR BEST ACTOR
Nobody became his real-life character more than Michael Fassbender. The underrated actor (one of my personal favorites) is unrecognizable, simply because he fits so well into Steve Jobs' shoes. In a movie that many thought was a simple Jobs biopic, Fassbender, along with Kate Winslet, turned viewers on their heads with this study into Steve Jobs' psyche. It really brought to light some of the horrible personal things he did, and some of his personality traits that would make him hard to work with. Fassbender plays a tremendously unlikeable character from minute one, yet he commands attention. He's as deserving of the Oscar as anyone, were it any other year.

Quote: "Musicians play their instruments. I play the whole orchestra."

#3. Mark Rylance- Rudolf Abel- Bridge of Spies

NOMINEE: ACADEMY AWARD FOR BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR 
There's probably nobody I want to win this year more than Mark Rylance. In Steven Spielberg's Bridge of Spies, he plays convicted spy Rudolf Abel. Abel is labelled from Day 1 by everybody around him, and judged based on what people assume. In this inspiring movie, Tom Hanks plays the lawyer defending him from the electric chair, and giving him the fair trial he deserves. If you can steal every single scene from Tom Hanks, you've truly accomplished something. Rylance is a veteran of the stage with no starring film roles before this. He knows how to work with subtleties, and Rudolf Abel is a subtle character. It's a completely supporting role that is so deep. He's the secret heart of Bridge of Spies, and a large part of why it's such a great movie.

Quote: "The death sentence is not a foregone conclusion. But I am not afraid to die, Mr. Donovan. Although it wouldn't be my first choice."

#2. Leonardo DiCaprio- Hugh Glass- The Revenant

NOMINEE: ACADEMY AWARD FOR BEST ACTOR
Give the poor man his Oscar already. While some see DiCaprio's likely win as a consolation prize, it's simply not the case. If you've seen The Revenant, you know that this is his best work since What's Eating Gilbert Grape, and the first time I've really seen him sink into a role since that film. He completely deserves the awards. As Hugh Glass, he says very few words. His performance is mostly physical as he fights bears, the wilderness, vengeful Native Americans, and the will to live. It's one of the most bare performances I've ever seen, and one that only a committed actor like DiCaprio would ever take on. He's a six-time nominee, and I think he will finally win, and we can all stop with the jokes.

Quote: "I ain't afraid to die anymore. I done it already."
  
#1. Sylvester Stallone- Rocky Balboa- Creed

NOMINEE: ACADEMY AWARD FOR BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR
While Leo might be spectacular to watch, and Mark Rylance is inspirational, nobody made me feel more emotion that Sylvester Stallone in Creed. Keep in mind that this is the seventh time Stallone has played Rocky Balboa, and he gives as good a performance as in the first outing, albeit a completely different one. The man that was once a powerful fighter has been reduced to an emotional mess, even more tragic with his wife and best friend's deaths haunting him and his own diagnosis with cancer–the same disease that took Adrien's life. Rocky Balboa is such a "larger than life" character, it emotionally moves you to see him suffer so much. What is even more impressive is that Stallone took a character everyone knew and did a complete 180. Rocky isn't the fighter anymore, he has to overcome his past demons to train the new fighter. Is it a symbol for Stallone giving up the franchise and handing the reigns to a new Creed franchise? Whatever it is, Stallone's excellent acting (which has lately been called into question with his silly action films over the past decades) made Creed one of the most affecting movies I saw in 2015. That is why he is undoubtedly the best male performance I saw this year.

Quote: "Time takes everybody out. Time is undefeated."