100 Movie Challenge 2017 - # 31: Empire Records

Director: Allan Moyle
Genre: Comedy
Runtime: 90 minutes
Year: 1995
Starring: Anthony LaPaglia, Liv Tyler, Renee Zellweger, Robin Tunney, Ethan Embry, Debi Mazar

Description: The employees of an independent music store learn about each other as they try anything to stop the store being absorbed by a large chain.

Review: I was really looking forward to seeing this. A group of teens working in a record store, trying to save the store before it’s been taken over by a big company. Well, it wasn’t all that great.
For a store that is suffering from financial problems, they sure have a lot of employees working at the same time. And they aren’t actually working. It’s just a bunch of self-absorbed caricatures with no character development. It all happens in one day and things happen really fast. Moods, situations, relationships, feelings. So fast, it’s no longer believable.
While watching “Empire Records”, I really didn’t know how serious I had to take this film. There is really no character that I really like and some things that happen are so ridiculous. I don’t know, but I really didn’t like this film very much. I did enjoy the soundtrack, some good music is in this film.
“Empire Records” is not as fun as I hoped.

Rating: 2/ 5

Oscar Predictions 2017

A bit late to the party, by here are my 2017 Oscar predictions.

Best Motion Picture of the Year
Should Win: "La La Land"
Will Win: "La La Land"

Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role
Should Win: Ryan Gosling for "La La Land"
Will Win: Denzel Washington for "Fences"

Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role
Should Win: Emma Stone for "La La Land"
Will Win: Emma Stone for "La La Land"

Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role
Should Win: Michael Shannon for "Nocturnal Animals"
Will Win: Mahershala Ali for "Moonlight"

Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role
Should Win: Viola Davis for "Fences"
Will Win: Viola Davis for "Fences"

Best Achievement in Directing
Should Win: Damien Chazelle for "La La Land"
Will Win: Damien Chazelle for "La La Land"

Movie Trailer Sunday (281)

Here are this week's trailers.

Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Long Haul
Director: David Bowers
Description: Greg convinces his family to take a road trip to attend his great grandmother's 90th birthday as a cover for what he really wants: to attend a nearby gamer convention. Unsurprisingly, things do not go according to plan and Heffley family antics ensue.
Starring: Alicia Silerverstone, Tom Everett Scott, Jason Drucker, Beth Keener, Charlie Wright
Trailer: Trailer "Diary of ta Wimpy Kid: The Long Haul"
Comment: Never saw the first or read any of the books.

Maudie
Director: Aisling Walsh
Description: An arthritic Nova Scotia woman (Sally Hawkins) works as a housekeeper while she hones her skills as an artist and eventually becomes a beloved figure in the community.
Starring: Sally Hawkins, Ethan Hawke
Trailer: Trailer "Maudie"
Comment: I really want to see this film. Sally Hawkins looks so amazing.

Colossal
Director: Nacho Vigalondo
Description: A woman (Anne Hathaway) discovers that severe catastrophic events are somehow connected to the mental breakdown from which she's suffering.
Starring: Anne Hatheway, Dan Stevens, Jason Sudeikis, Tim Blake Nelson
Trailer: Trailer "Colossal"
Comment: No Anne fan, but I think this film is going to be funny as hell.

Goon: Last of the Enforcers
Director: Jay Baruchel
Description: A hockey player (Seann William Scott) plagued by injuries is confronted with the possibility of retirement when a tough new player challenges his status as the league's top enforcer.
Starring: Seann William Scott, Liev Schreiber, Alison Pill, Elisha Cuthbert, Kim Coates, Jay Baruchel, T.J. Miller
Trailer: Trailer "Goon: Last of the Enforcers"
Comment: I really liked the first film, which was a surprisingly fun film.

Unlocked
Director: Michael Apted
Description: A CIA interrogator (Noomi Rapace) is lured into a ruse that puts London at risk of a biological attack.
Starring: Noomi Rapace, Orlando Bloom, Michael Douglas, John Malkovich, Toni Collette
Trailer: Trailer "Unlocked"
Comment: Good cast, meh vibe. For now at least.

100 Movie Challenge 2017 - # 30: Anatomy of a Murder

Director: Otto Preminger
Genre: Drama/ Thriller
Runtime: 160 minutes
Year: 1959
Starring: James Stewart, Lee Remick, Ben Gazzara, Arthur O’Connell, Eve Arden, Kathryn Grant, George C. Scott, Orson Bean, Russ Brown, Murray Hamilton, Brooks West, Ken Lynch, John Qualen, Howard McNear, Alexander Campbell, Ned Wever, Jimmy Conlin, Royal Beal, Joseph Kearns, Don Ross, Lloyd Le Vasseur, James Waters, Joseph N. Welch, Duke Ellington, Irv Kupcinet

Description: In a murder trial, the defendant says he suffered temporary insanity after the victim raped his wife. What is the truth, and will he win his case?

Review: I wanted to know why “Anatomy of a Murder” is such a high listed courtroom drama. It takes a while before the story takes us into the courtroom. First info is gathered and lawyers are preparing their case.
We meet Paul Biegler, a defense attorney. He is asked to defend Frederick Manion. Manion killed a man after he raped his wife Laura. Biegler has to proof that the defendant suffered from temporary insanity when he committed this act.
We know from the start that Manion did commit the crime, there is no question of wheter he did it or not. And we also see that Manion has a reputation. And people are also questioning whether the black I his wife has, came from him.
“Anatomy of a Murder” is a little different than other classic courtroom dramas. It’s all about how to use the information you got and how to get the answers you want, in order to form a good defense. How to give a good story to the jury.
James Stewart is fantastic. He manages to keep our attention, while in constant dialogue. In “Rear Window” he already showed that he could easily do that, while being in one room the entire film. In “Anatomy of a Murder” we spend most time in the courtroom and yet we are constantly with him.
I think you might say that “Anatomy of a Murder” is the ultimate courtroom film.

Rating: 5/ 5

100 Movie Challenge 2017 - # 29: Manchester By the Sea

Director: Kenneth Lonergan
Genre: Drama
Runtime: 138 minutes
Year: 2016
Starring: Casey Affleck, Lucas Hedges, Kyle Chandler, Michelle Williams, Gretchen Mol

Description: An uncle is (Casey Affleck) asked to take care of his teenage nephew(Lucas Hedges) after the boy's father dies.

Review: One moment of thoughtlessness is all Lee Chandler needs for his life to fall apart. It took everything from him and made him into the sad man he is now.
Lee works as a janitor and lives a lonely life in Boston. He has a temper and doesn’t mind offending people. But we later see what Lee carries with him and why he became so bitter. When Lee’s bother Joe dies, he has to take care of his teenage nephew Patrick. The film isn’t chronologic, it often jumps back in time. Although there is no visual different between the past and the present, it’s really easy to follow. We see Lee’s demons in both the past and the present.
This film has real people in it, they don’t feel like characters. The acting is very strong. This proofs why, in my opinion, Casey Affleck is the better actor of the Affleck brothers. The film hits you, grabs you. It’s a very sad and somewhat depressing story. The script is very good and anything but predictable.
“Manchester By the Sea” is a film you have to see, it’s really good.

Rating: 4,5/ 5

Movie Trailer Sunday (280)

Here are this week's trailers.

Everything, Everything
Director: Stella Meghie
Description: A teenager who's lived a sheltered life because she's allergic to everything, falls for the boy who moves in next door.
Starring: Amandia Stenberg, Nick Robinson, Anika Noni Rose
Trailer: Trailer "Everything, Everything"
Comment: Doubts here, it looks okay. But this can easily go wrong.

Their Finest
Director: Lone Scherfig
Description: A British film crew attempts to boost morale during World War II by making a propaganda film after the Blitzkrieg.
Starring: Gemma Arterton, Sam Claflin, Bill Nighy, Jack Huston, Paul RitterJeremy Irons, Eddie Marsan, Richard E. Grant
Trailer: Trailer "Their Finest"
Comment: Good cast.

The Ticket
Director: Ido Fluk
Description: A blind man (Dan Stevens) who regains his vision finds himself becoming metaphorically blinded by his obsession for the superficial.
Starring: Dan Stevens, Malin Akerman, Oliver Platt
Trailer: Trailer "The Ticket"
Comment: Ooooh.... Dan Stevens.... (*sigh)

The House
Director: Andre Jay Cohen
Description: A dad (Will Ferrell) convinces his friends to start an illegal casino in his basement after he and his wife (Amy Poehler) spend their daughter's college fund.
Starring: Will Ferrell, Amy Poehler, Alisson Tolman, Michaela Watkins
Trailer: Trailer "The House"
Comment: Will Ferrell and Amy Poehler, definitely a great combo.

Song to Song
Director: Terrence Malick
Description:
Starring: Ryan Gosling, Michael Fassbender, Rooney Mara, Natalie Portman, Haley Bennett, Christian Bale, Cate Blanchett, Boyd Holbrook, Holly Hunter, Val Kilmer, Benicio Del Toro, Clifton Collins Jr.
Trailer: Trailer "Song to Song"
Comment: A great cast, but I've never been a fan of Terrence Malick.

100 Movie Challenge 2017 - # 28: Freeheld

Director: Peter Sollett
Genre: Drama
Runtime: 103 minutes
Year: 2015
Starring: Julianne Moore, Ellen Page, Michael Shannon, Steve Carell, Luke Grimes, Skipp Sudduth, William Sadler

Description: New Jersey police lieutenant, Laurel Hester (Julianne Moore), and her registered domestic partner, Stacie Andree (Ellen Page), both battle to secure Hester's pension benefits when she is diagnosed with terminal cancer.

Review: “Freeheld” is based on the true story of a police officer fighting for equality. After Laurel Hester is diagnosed with terminal cancer, it appears that her life partner has not right to receiving her pension when she passes, while her heterosexual collegues do get to leave their pension to their partner. It’s an interesting theme, especially for the more conservative parts of America: equal rights for everyone, no matter the sexual orientation.
Julianne Moore is very convincing cop as cop Laurel Hester and her relationship with Stacie Andree is very believable. Moore can easily carry this film.
The so-called freeholders, who decline Laurel and Stacie’s request, are somewhat one-dimensional. The antagonists don’t convince as much as the protagonists do.
Julianne Moore’s performance is very strong and Ellen Page also does a fine job. Steve Carrell’s characters is very loud, but he is in it just enough to not make him annoying. For me Michael Shannon has the most memorable performance. I love him as an actor, he is very solid in all his films. Although his character Dane is very uncomfortable with the homosexual theme at first, he fights for Laurel and stand by her until the end. The emotional load is much bigger because of this character and the fantastic performance by Shannon.
The message is clear, but the story is a bit one-sided because of the weak antagonists.

Rating: 3,5/ 5