Fifty Shades of Grey (2015)

Lets start this review off properly. I am a 29 year old male. I read all three of the Fifty Shades books. I liked the story and some of the plot lines. The writing was not that good. I ended up skipping through most of the sex scenes during the end of the second book and most of the third book as well. Yes, I know this is not a true depiction of BDSM. No, I don't think this is about an abusive relationship without love. OK...are we ready.

The movie follows the book fairly closely. We saw this happen recently with 2014's Gone Girl where the movie is following very closely with the prose. The casting was a long and drawn out process with fans getting too involved and too upset about something they know nothing about. REMINDER: just because someone looks like a character in your head, doesn't mean they are qualified to play them in a movie. People make a lot of money to make this decision, if you were good at it, you would be in that select group.

The plot is very basic and very overdone in cinema, but we have to rehash it anyways. College senior Anastasia Steele, played by Don Johnson and Melanie Griffiths daughter Dakota Johnson, has to step in and interview twenty-something millionaire Christian Grey, played by Jamie Dornan. She is in awe of him and he seems to change his demeanor around her as well. The interview is a disaster on the surface, but it opens the door for the rest of the plot to unravel. Ana runs into Christian again while working at the hardware store. Again, there are looks and glances that are meant to make the audience swoon. The main joke during this time is Ana's fumbling over her words, but don't expect anything different from these moments than any other movie. Christian takes an interest in Ana and Ana is more than interested in him. She ends up in his hotel room under less than desirable circumstances and from here on they are together most of their days and nights. He needs her to sign a non-disclosure agreement before the relationship and officially begin and he also wants to show her his "playroom". This is the moment where the audience gets to see the fully-realized Red Room of Pain and it is basically what we all thought it was going to be, unless you are terrible clueless and then maybe you connect with Ana more than most of us do since not only is she new to being a submissive to a dominant, she is also new to sex in general. Thus begins her steep decline into the lifestyle of a Christian Grey submissive...except not quite. She isn't sure about this dynamic. She wants more and he doesn't do more. How will this twisted love affair end?!

The most glaring issue with this movie is Jamie Dornan. He isn't Christian Grey. I'm not sure if this is his acting ability, the bad dialogue he was given, or a combination. This is frustrating because Dakota Johnson is Anastasia Steele. She is perfect for this role and I don't see anybody else in the role now that she has owned it so well. The series needs to move forward with Jamie in the the role and we all have to accept that because switching actors is not an option. We can only hope he improves on his next opportunity. I'm sure most of you have already heard that there are certain scenes and "toys" that were not featured in the movie and I don't agree with all of them. The movie hardly gets to show the darker side, and sometimes more fun side, of this life and it is very light on the BDSM. I understand that more of this comes in the next film, but it really seemed like they shied away from the reality of the Red Room.

Since I have given a lot of things that didn't work, here is what does work: the soundtrack. The music is so well done that some of the issues can be forgiven. The music for the ride in Charlie Tango to the music during the gliding sequence and every other song is just so well done. I've always been a believer that the right music can elevate a movie and this is a perfect example.

In closing, I will say that this: if you read the books, you know what to expect, but pull that back a little. There are scenes missing and there is nothing you can do about it. When this movie was in rating limbo at the hands of the MPAA, I was one of the people hoping for a NC-17 rating. Why not? You might has well go for broke and show everything you can. The revenue won't change. Fans were going to see it regardless.

Now, remember how the book ended. You do? Good. The movie ends the same way and if I hadn't read the books, I'd be pissed. The viewers will feel like they sat through a two hour movie for nothing. Maybe they did. I didn't. I really needed to see how this movie poured out onto a screen and I'm glad I did. It isn't perfect, but I have hope for what comes next. It won't be the worst movie of 2015 and it will be far from the best, but fans will hang on every frame and why not? It is always fun to see the book you have read play out in front of you and whips and chains won't hurt you in the theater.

This Is Where I Leave You (2014)

I'm not entirely sure that 4/5 stars for this movie is fair. It might be closer to 4.5/5. There very little that doesn't work in this movie. The plot is simple and the cast is rather star-studded for the basic plot line. My favorites of this cast include Jason Bateman, Tina Fey, Dax Shepard, and Adam Driver. I might be biased, but Adam Driver stole the show for me. He plays the youngest of the siblings that have been thrown together. The story revolves around the death of a father. His kids are played by Corey Stoll, Bateman, Fey, and Driver and they all work in this movie. His widow is played by Jane Fonda who is serviceable as the "suspiciously" keeping it together Mom. Jane Fonda tells her children that their Father's last wish was for them to participate in Shiva, the Jewish mourning and remembrance period. No one really wants to take part in this, but they are given no choice since this was the Father's last wish and their Mother is not letting them off the hook. Each day that goes by brings more drama and more story to go along with it. The world is full of dysfunctional families, and some maybe even have this group beat, but you can't deny that you can relate to one of these characters. There are cliched moments, so be ready for those, but in the end this film works for me.

I'm well aware that this film does have some hatred, but it worked for me and some others so maybe you will get something out of it. If nothing else, you will know what Shiva is and how it works.

Her (2013) Review

If you think the idea if falling in love with a computer, or more specifically, an Operating System (OS) is ridiculous then Her might change your mind. I love how realistic this situation feels in the film. Presented with the same scenario, can we all be so sure that it couldn't happen to us?

If you are reading this blog, then I am assuming that you know the plot of Her. Joaquin Phoenix plays Theodore Twombly, a separated (nearly divorced) man whose job is to "write" handwritten letters for people around the world. After seeing advertisements for a new operating system, OS1, Theodore decides to purchase it and install OS1 on his computer. This install will stretch to his phone as well. Yes...the future must be nice! After the install, he is introduced to Samantha, the new OS. It is worth noting that Samantha is voiced by Scarlett Johansson who almost deserves a Best Supporting Actress nomination. She gives an amazing performance and never appears on-screen. The connection Theodore and Samantha share is instant. Theodore's social life, or lack of, lends itself perfectly to an empty space for someone or something to fill. Her personality is very fun and Theodore immediately views her as a friend. It isn't long that this relationship turns into a romantic relationship and it seems only natural. This OS reads his e-mails, manages his calendars and knows his list of friends and contacts. She is fully submersed in his life by way of the camera on his phone. He walks around and keeps the phone in his shirt pocket and sticking out the top so she can see everything he sees. I think this is the real reason why this relationship seems so real. For all intents and purpose she is there with him. Together they commentate on these day to day happenings and these moments cause them to grow close to each other. From here the relationship has its common problems such as the end of the honeymoon phase and jealousy issues from both sides. When these instances happen, you feel like Theodore isn't crazy. You feel the jealousy just as he or Samantha does.

Don't expect me to tell you how this ends, but there some people who will read into the final shot and say "well, obviously the next thing that will happen is..." I am one of the people who will just say "it would be nice if 'this' happened next." Amy Adams has a small role, but the movie needs her to work. Her presence is just enough to give the movie another view to look in from. Like I stated above, watch this film and ask yourself if you were in Theodore's shoes, could you keep Samantha at a distance?

12 Years a Slave (2013) Review

Slavery is a "hot button" topic in our society and this film punishes people in a good way, especially those who are naive to the truth of slavery. By now you have probably heard about 12 Years a Slave and how it is based off the memoir of a great man who documented his account, or maybe about Chiwetel Ejiofor's ability to become this great strong, and very real, character. Perhaps you saw something on TV talking about Lupita Nyong'o and her astounding performance. These are all great things to read about or see an advertisement for, but it all boils down to the fact that people need to see this movie. I don't care if you have hatred in your heart or fear of visual torture. This movie demands to be watched and I dare you to disagree.

The story is so simple: a black man, Solomon Northup, is living free in 1840's New York and is kidnapped and sold into slavery. The movie is about his choices on his way back to his family and the souls of the people he encounters. Just from looking at the cast you see that it is packed with transforming actors like Paul Dano, Benedict Cumberbatch, and Michael Fassbender. There are more and they all captivate you. Solomon suffers much on his journey through southern plantation life, but does he suffer more than others he meets? That is a big opinion seeing as you see his sufferings and you can compare them to others, especially a young girl named Patsey, played by Lupita Nyong'o. Personally, the scene involving Patsey and the whipping post was the biggest moment of the movie and really defines slavery and it's worst potentials.

This my second Steve McQueen film and I have not been disappointed with his work. He is a director that is on the rise and he seems to make nothing but great films. This seems to be his most passionate project to date. He pours everything he has into this film and it shows in every frame and every performance. After the film was over, there was nothing I wanted to see added or taken away from this movie. That is the sign of a five star movie and 12 Years a Slave earns every star and deserves a right many Oscar's this season.

Spring Breakers (2013) Review

Spring Breakers has been making it's waves since the release in March of this year. I finally got my hands on it and I can honestly say that it gave me more than I expected. This is my first Harmony Korine film. As much as I like this movie, I have never had any desire to watch Gummo or Trash Humpers. After seeing Spring Breakers, I will continue to watch his films from now on. This is not a perfect film, but what it does, it does well.

I am not one for spilling the entire plot because you can read a summary anywhere. In a nutshell, this film is about four girls who want to go on spring break and once arriving they get arrested at a party. After the judge sentences them with fines and two days in lock-up, they get their bail paid early by Jame's Franco's Alien. When I watched the many previews for this film, I was ready to dislike Alien, but the film gives him plenty of room to show his various sides. He might be a drug dealer. He might be an avid collector of weapons. He might be a show-off...but he actually has a heart. Alien's life revolves around having fun and he is his own boss. He doesn't make waves for himself in the city and he lives in a quiet house on the water that seems to be his own paradise. In the end, I liked Alien more than the four girls that he takes under his wing. He is the product of the beach town that lives and dies by the spring breakers.

Korine never lets you forget that it is spring break. The many many montages and flashes of naked women on the beach, constant flow of alcohol and the presence of narcotics will keep your mind on the fact that St. Pete's Beach is the location and spring break is in full swing night and day. The four girls are seen in every sleazy, run down place the beach has to offer. For the all the reasons that Alien has to be the way he is, the four female leads seem to have no reason for being the way that they are. Throughout the movie they call home and speak of how their lives have changed and how the trip has been so amazing. Some of these phone calls are the truth and some of them are boldface lies. Selena Gomez, Vanessa Hudgens, Ashley Benson, and Harmony's wife Rachel Korine play their roles in great fashion. If you know of Selena and Vanessa outside of acting and you role your eyes at their film career, then I would push you even more to see this movie. They all have different characteristics to set them apart, and the actresses become these characters very well.

Make no mistake. This movie is not for everybody. There is genuine dark moments within this film that do show the dangerous side of the spring break lifestyle and then there are other moments of plain strange scenarios. The scene in the bed with Franco and two of the girls comes to mind. If anything is working for this film it has to be the soundtrack. The opening with Skrillex sets the tone perfectly for what is about to take place. It is mostly hip-hop and electronic driven, but the Black Keys and Britney Spears make appearances. The entire sequence with the Britney Spears song "Everytime" is my favorite moment in the film. Cliff Martinez's name is also in this soundtrack and he is becoming a huge part of Nicolas Winding Refn's films for good reason.

The shots Korine got in this film and way he decided to film some of the scenes will keep me coming back to this movie and to his future films. Come for Alien, come for bikini clad women, come for an original film, come for the music, or come just to hear Franco keep repeating "Look at my shit".

Elysium (2013) Review

I am very confused about my feelings for Elysium. It really seemed to give me everything I expected to get out of it. The action was reserved and not overdone. The emotional edge was a little weak. We still care about these people, but not to the point that we are going into tears over them. We hope things work out. The villain(s) are good enough. I gave this film a 4/5. If it deserves anything else, it deserves to go half a point higher.

Visually, the film is top notch. Nothing looked fake or CGI'd, though a lot of it was. Elysium itself looked great and Los Angeles looked bombed out, but still good. There was nothing there we haven't seen before in these type of film. Sand, dust, graffiti, and partial structures. Maybe I like Elysium more than others because I can see a version of this happening. The most far-fetched idea is the healing chambers. We don't possess that technology and I don't think it is from lack of funding; this is something the wealthy have no say about. The trailer does a great job of laying groundwork for this film. Matt Damon gets exposed to radiation and has days to live. His childhood sweetheart has a child this is dieing of leukemia. The hospitals are completely overrun with the sick and the even sicker. The only option for anybody with terminal illness is the healing chambers on Elysium. That is the main plot in simple sentences.

Elysium is the name of the structure that was built out in space by the wealthy to house them separately from the rest of the less fortunate. If these times did exist, Elysium is the place you would want to go, but most of us would not make it there. It is a very controlled population and it is built with defenses to keep anything away from it. Jodie Foster plays Elysium's Secretary of Homeland Security and it is her that seems to decide what comes into Elysium.
The whole plot of how and why I will leave out of this review. Everything makes basic science fiction sense. The weapons are spectacular. There is almost a new weapon every action sequence. As far as action junkies are concerned, there are 2 main sequences. The action is fast and it is well done, but outside of those two scenes you will little else for you action fix. This is not Pacific Rim. It takes a good approach to its pacing. You never bore of what his happening, but you might not care as much as the rest of the theater. I loved all the scenes and all the characters. I had more fun at Pacific Rim, but this film has more going on and a more plausible situation.

Most of us can identify with the issues it brings: the separation of classes. We truly feel for the sick people on Earth because we are those sick people. So many of us are those people that can't afford to get sick because we will lose our job. We are those people that need to stay strong for our children. We are the parents who look out for kids until the end. We are the desperate citizens looking for the money and take dangerous jobs. We are the people who would fight to get to Elysium.