100 Movie Challenge 2014 - # 130: A Fighting Man

Director: Damian Lee

Genre: Drama

Runtime: 85 minutes

Year: 2014

Starring: Dominic Purcell, Louis Gossett Jr., Famke Janssen, James Caan, Adam Beach, Freddie Roach, Kim Coats, Michael Ironside

 

Description: An aging fighter (Dominic Purcell) is in search of redemption. He steps into the ring with a hungry young pugilist (Izaak Smith) with something to prove.

 

Review: The boxing veteran Sailor O’Connor has never been knocked out in over sixty matches he has fought. Still he’s a broken man, haunted by a tragic past. When Sailor gets one more chance in the ring, he takes the opportunity. His opponent is young and much faster. With the help of his old coach, Sailor prepares for what is probably going to be his last fight.

Boxing is a source of inspiration for Hollywood and many great movies about boxing have been made already. The heroic feel and the controversy are perfect for a movie.

The constant factor in the film is the fight between Sailor O’Conner and King Solomon. In between we see flashbacks, from both perspectives. Everything that happened before the fight. This way of storytelling works pretty good. Most questions you have as a viewer, are answered at the end of the movie. For instance the story of Diane Schuler. “A Fighting Man” isn’t just a boxing movie, but also a film filled with symbolic. The punches Sailor receives in the ring symbolize the rough life he has lived.

Visually the shaky shots and quick montage fit the character and the feel of the film. And the story isn’t told chronologically, which really works and doesn’t make it a standard boxing movie with the big fight at the end of it. The movie does have some clichés and some storylines that have loose ends.

All in all “A Fighting Man” is a pretty good film, definitely worth your time.

Rating: 3/ 5

100 Movie Challenge 2014 - # 129: Dallas Buyers Club

Director: Jean-Marc Vallée

Genre: Drama

Runtime: 117 minutes

Year: 2013

Starring: Matthew McConaughey, Jared Leto, Jennifer Garner, Steve Zahn, Denis O’Hare, Dallas Roberts, Kevin Rankin, Steffie Grote, Griffin Dune, Jeanine Hill, Jane McNeill, Juliet Reeves, Michael O’Neill, James DuMont, J.D. Evermore, Heather Ashley Boyd, Douglas M. Griffin, Deneen Tyler

Description: In 1985 Dallas, electrician and hustler Ron Woodroof (Matthew McConaughey) works around the system to help AIDS patients get the medication they need after he is himself diagnosed with the disease.

Review: Matthew McConaughey in a biopic about a Texan electrician with HIV; the end result is just as astounding as the concept. It took director Jean-Marc Valée 20 years before he could start filming. He did it in 25 days.

The American Ron Woodroof fought against a medical system in the eighties. The pharmaceutical industry had control and produced medication to fight the aids crisis. It turned out to be harmful medication. Woodroof, diagnosed with HIV, took matters into his own hands. He started an illegal ‘Buyers Club’, where people could get life extending medication.

In 1992 Craig Borten wrote the first script with the help from interviews. Woodroof died that same year. After twenty years Jean-Marc Vallée got a budget of 3 million and gave Matthew McConaughey the lead role. A daring choice? Indeed. The wrong choice? Definitely not. His famous charmes are gone and he lost around 40 pound fort his role. McConaughey, born in Texas, gives his all. It’s his attitude that make his role so moving. You get a lot of sympathy for his character.

The second performance that really impressed was by Jared Leto. Transformed into transsexual Rayon, he starved himself, waxed his legs, shaved his eyebrows and in thedays of shooting never stepped out of character.

The result is a beautiful montage, with pace. The ending could be a bit more powerful, because that never really sticks. “Dallas Buyers Club” is an energetic film, with a great cast. A definite must-see.

Rating: 4/ 5

Movie Trailer Sunday (163)

Here are this weeks trailers.

MacFarland, USA

Description: A cross country coach (Kevin Costner) in a small California town transforms a team of athletes into championship contenders.

Director: Niki Caro

Starring: Kevin Costner, Maria Bello, Morgan Saylor, Martha Higareda, Michael Aguero, Sergio Avelar, Hector Duran, Rafael Martinez, Johnny Ortiz, Carlos Pratts, Ramiro Rodriguez, Danny Mora, Valente Rodriguez, Vanessa Martinez and Chris Ellis

Trailer: Trailer "MacFarland, USA"

Comment: Niki Caro also directed "Whale Rider".

Minions

Description: Gru is recruited by an organization to stop Scarlet Overkill, a super-villain who, alongside her inventor husband Herb, hatches a plot to take over the world.

Director: Pierre Coffin, Kyle Balda

Starring: Sandra Bullock, Michael Keaton, Pierre Coffin, Chris Renaud, John Hamm

Trailer: Trailer "Minions"

Comment: I just love the Minions!!

Chappie

Description: Every child comes into the world full of promise, and none more so than Chappie (Sharlto Copley): he is gifted, special, a prodigy. Like any child, Chappie will come under the influence of his surroundings - some good, some bad - and he will rely on his heart and soul to find his way in the world and become his own man. But there's one thing that makes Chappie different from anyone else: he is a robot. The first robot with the ability to think and feel for himself. His life, his story, will change the way the world looks at robots and humans forever.

Director: Neil Blomkamp

Starring: Sharlto Copley, Dev Patel, Ninja and Yo-Landi Vi$$er, Jose Pablo Cantillo, Sigourney Weaver, Hugh Jackman

Trailer: Trailer "Chappie"

Comment: Blomkamp has delivered some awesome movies already, looking forward to this one.

Selma

Description: Martin Luther King (David Oyelowo), Lyndon Baines Johnson (Tom Wilkinson) and the civil rights marches that changed America.

Director: Ava DuVernay

Starring: David Oyelowo, Tom Wilkinson, Cuba Gooding Jr., Alessandro Nivola, Giovanni Ribisi Common, Carmen Ejogo, Lorraine Toussaint, Tim Roth, Oprah Winfrey

Trailer: Trailer "Selma"

Comment: It's about time his story was translated to the big screen.

Elsa & Fred

Description: "Elsa and Fred" is the story of two people who at the end of the road, discover that it's never too late to love and make dreams come true. Elsa (Shirley Maclaine) has lived for the past 60 years dreaming of a moment that Fellini had already envisaged: the scene in 'La Dolce Vita' at the Fontana di Trevi. The same scene without Anita Ekberg in it, but with Elsa instead. Without Marcello Mastroiani but with that love that took so long to arrive. Fred (Christopher Plummer) has always been a good man who did everything he was supposed to do. After losing his wife, he feels disturbed and confused and his daughter decides that it would be best if he moves into a smaller apartment where he ends meeting Elsa. From that moment on, everything changes. Elsa bursts into his life like a whirlwind, determined to teach him that the time he has left to live -- be it more or less -- is precious and that he should enjoy it as he pleases. Fred surrenders to Elsa's frenzy, to her youth, to her boldness, to her beautiful madness. And this is how Fred learns how to live. When he learns about Elsa's terminal illness, he decides to make her dream come true and takes Elsa to Rome to reenact with her the famous scene at the Fontana di Trevi.

Director:

Starring: Shirley Maclaine, Christopher Plummer, Marcia Gay Harden, Chris Noth, Scott Bakula, James Brolin

Trailer: Trailer "Elsa & Fred"

Comment: Two golden odlies.

Top 5 Thursday: Products to Cook with

This is a complete different top 5 then you’re used to from me. It’s about food and cooking, something I’ve started to love ever since I live on my own. I choose to share with you my favourite products to cook with.

5. Onions

The shallot is my favourite onion, because of the sweet flavour. But I have all sorts of onions in my pantry, always. They bring so much flavour to you dish and for some reason, I never cry when chopping them.

 

4. Garlic

I think, of all the days in the week I cook a meal, I use it in five dishes. I love garlic!! Cooked and raw. A bit of garlic can change the entire dish for the better.

 

 

3. Cheese

Parmesan is fantastic, but I also love mascarpone, cream cheese, mozzarella, goats cheese. You might say I’m a cheese fanatic! And it’s so versatile, you can use it in so many different ways.

 

 

2. Lemon

I use lemon a lot. With pasta, fish, pastry, salads. It’s always great to give your dish an extra kick.

 

 

1. Pasta

All sorts of pasta, I just love them all. I’ve come to love the Italian cuisine and I cook pasta at least twice a week. I’ve also made it myself a couple of times, which I would do more often if I had the time.

 

 

They Almost Made the Top 5: Chocolate, zucchini, chilli, capsicum, mushrooms

100 Movie Challenge 2014 - # 128: Fruitvale Station

Director: Ryan Coogler

Genre: Drama

Runtime: 85 minutes

Year: 2014

Starring: Michael B. Jordan, Melonie Diaz, Octavia Spencer, Kevin Durand, Chad Michael Murray, Ahna O’Reilly, Ariana Neal, Keenan Coogler, Trestin George, Joey Oglesby, Michael James, Marjorie Shears, Destiny Ekwueme, Bianca Rodriguez III, Julian Keyes

Description: The purportedly true story of Oscar Grant III (Michael B. Jordan), a 22-year-old Bay Area resident, who crosses paths with friends, enemies, family, and strangers on the last day of 2008.

Review: Every once in a while there is this movie that, sometimes unintentional, is released at the right moment. “Fruitvale Station”, that’s set around a tragic shooting where the black Oscar Grant dies, is one of those movies. When the movie was released, there was the Trayvon Martin/ George Zimmerman case in the US, another incident where a black guy was needlessly shot.

It’s the 31st of December 2008 and this will be the last day of Oscar Grant’s life. After spending some time in jail, he now lives a life with his girlfriend and their four year old daughter. Oscar is trying to change his life. He doesn’t want to sell drugs anymore and tries to get a job at the local supermarket. Without him knowing it, some of his actions lead to his final destination.

The opening scene of the film tells us that we are dealing with a true story. Shaky shots from a phone show us the arrest with deadly ending. It immediately feels realistic. The camera work and the absence of music only amplify this feeling. Leading actor Michael B. Jordan shows us what he’s made of. What a wonderful performance. And all the other actors are very natural too. And also kudos for the director Ryan Coogler. Although you already know the ending, it doesn’t take away the tension and the shock.

For a film with a budget under a million dollars “Fruitvale Station” proofs that bigger isn’t always better. This engrossing last day of Oscar Grant is something you won’t easily forget.

Rating: 4/ 5

100 Movie Challenge 2014 - # 127: The Secret Life of Walter Mitty

Director: Ben Stiller

Genre: Drama/ Comedy/ Fantasy/ Adventure

Runtime: 115 minutes

Year: 2014

Starring: Ben Stiller, Kristen Wiig, Adam Scott, Sean Penn, Patton Oswalt, Katherine Hahn, Shirley Maclaine

Description: When his job along with that of his co-worker are threatened, Walter Mitty (Ben Stiller) takes action in the real world embarking on a global journey that turns into an adventure more extraordinary than anything he could have ever imagined.

Review: It started as a short story in The New Yorker in 1939 and this is the second movie based on this story. The first adaptation dates from 1947, so it’s not strange to see “The Secret Life of Walter Mitty” with a more modern touch.

Ben Stiller plays the leading role, but also directed the film. Walter Mitty leads an unremarkable life. He has been working for LIFE magazine as a photo developer. He is a daydreamer, where he sees himself as a mountain climber and a hero. Collegue Cheryl is often the leading lady in his day dreams. Walter’s secure life is about to collapse when the magazine decides to only publish digitally. With that he also has to find the negative of the photo that’s supposed to go on the last issue of LIFE. From that moment on Walter is determined to find its photographer Sean O’Connell.

“The Secret Life of Walter Mitty” has some good dry humor. Here you see that Ben Stiller has a comedic background, but not of the silly category. The film often has a melancholic feel to it. The desire for the seemingly unattainable, lamenting missed opportunities, craving the past; all feelings that many people recognize. The visuals are stunning and that in combination with the music make “The Secret Life of Walter Mitty” a true cinematic adventure. The film has a clean style, seamless transitions and beautiful graphics.

Ben Stiller is really good in this film both as Walter and as a director. Kristen Wiig was the perfect choice to play the natural charming Cheryl. Sean Penn is cool as ever and Adam Scott is a very convincing douchebag.

Even the biggest cynic would have trouble to keep that smile of his face while watching “The Secret Life of Walter Mitty”.

Rating: 4,5/ 5

Movie Trailer Sunday (162)

Here are this weeks trailers.

Furious 7

Description: Ian Shaw (Jason Statham) seeks revenge against Dominic Toretto (Vin Diesel) and his crew for the death of his brother.

Director: James Wan

Starring: Vin Diesel, Paul Walker, Vin Diesel, Jordana Brewster, Michelle Rodriguez, Kurt Russell, Djimon Hounsou, Tyrese Gibson, Dwayne Johnson

Trailer: Trailer "Furious 7"

Comment: Seriously, cars with parachutes? Come on! When is this series going to end?

Ex Machina

Description: A young programmer is selected to participate in a breakthrough experiment in artificial intelligence by evaluating the human qualities of a breathtaking female A.I.

Director: Alex Garland

Starring: Domhnall Gleeson, Oscar Isaac, Alicia Vikander

Trailer: Trailer "Ex Machina"

Comment: A pretty creepy trailer...

Before I Disappear

Description: At the lowest point of his life, Richie gets a call from his estranged sister, asking him to look after his eleven-year old niece, Sophia, for a few hours.

Director: Shwan Christensen

Starring: Shwan Christensen, Emmy Rossum, Ron Perlman, Paul Wesley, Fatima Ptacek

Trailer: Trailer "Before I Disappear"

Comment: Looks good.

Dying of the Light

Description: Veteran CIA agent Evan Lake (Nicolas Cage) has been ordered to retire. But when his protégé uncovers evidence that Lake's nemesis, the terrorist Banir, has resurfaced, Lake goes rogue, embarking on a perilous, intercontinental mission to eliminate his sworn enemy.

Director: Paul Schrader

Starring: Nicolas Cage, Anton Yelchin

Trailer: Trailer "Dying of the Light"

Comment: Does Nicolas Cage take just any job now?

Comet

Description: Set in a parallel universe, Comet bounces back and forth over the course of an unlikely but perfectly paired couple's six-year relationship.

Director: Sam Esmail

Starring: Emmy Rossum, Justin Long

Trailer: Trailer "Comet"

Comment: I will probably love this film, but many people won't even see it.