Hey guys. Miss me much? If everybody’s asking, still pregnant here. Week 23. Everything’s great and I’m hungry all the time.
Watching Golden Globes Winners and Oscar nominations, I am happy to see Rooney Mara, Brie Larson and Saoirse Ronan. If Brie Larson wins, it’s great to see new faces. #OscarsSoWhite is happening again, but I don’t watch all the films. What if the great films, performances and directors just so happens not included the other race?
Anyway, here’s the first watched films on January :
Star Wars : Force Awakens (2015)
At last, I can see the movie though I can’t say I’m as excited as the loyal Star Wars fan. Star Wars : Force Awakens successfully provide enough ingredients for the people who miss seeing the legendary film series. It does seem like it rely so much on the previous premise and its favorite characters. Did it blew me away? Well, not like the great Episodes were. I did love Rei (Daisy Ridley), Poe Dameron (Oscar Isaac) and Kylo Ren (Adam Driver). Certainly, nothing can beat the ultimate antagonist, Darth Vader though. I loved how the set and atmosphere stayed close to the series and didn’t try to be better from the visuals or props. It is just a great ‘nostalgic’ movie but didn’t felt original. Score : 7
Steve Jobs (2015)
Remember when you’re in the very crucial moment in your life? Usually you’re quite nervous and tense during those moments, like graduation, interview for your dream job, or like Steve Jobs, launching his products. This Steve Jobs adaptation is about brief moments before he launched his three products. You can guess the tension and expectation, and his idealism and perfectionist personality is a demand for his workers. But in between he must face another drama, like his daughter and her mother, his partner’s request to acknowledge his work and his CEO. But I can see why this movie did not sell on box office, because while it was loyal to its true story (perhaps), it was too heavy on the technology product and its development. Steve Jobs also portrayed quite cold and no sentimental feelings, Michael Fassbender as always perfect conquering his roles like before. The movie felt intense from the start and always until the end, especially during some more crucial moments. I didn’t hate or like the movie, but I can tell you I won’t watch it again. Score : 7
Joy (2015)
I am glad that David O. Russell didn’t make another American Hustle-like movie again, because that movie showed more style rather than the goodness of a story. Joy is about accomplish your dream, even when it looks impossible. Though I think Jennifer Lawrence being a mother of one daughter and the ‘man’ in the big family, lacked motherly nature and more of a fearless soldier, Joy is an okay movie for me. I felt that Bradley Cooper didn’t necessarily need to play the character in this movie, might be just for a buzz or David O. Russell’s loyal actor. I think the movie has a good knowledge for entrepreneur or anyone who wants to build a product without any money. It is probably predictable and a bit of Oscar bait movie. Score : 7
Man Up (2015)
Man Up was one of my anticipated 2015 movies, because it is starred by two favorite comedians, Simon Pegg and Lake Bell. Like predicted, the two have interesting combination but the script should have more bite in it including the humor. The story is set during one day from early day until night. Frankly, I wasn’t impressed with how the story goes, it was a little bit too much of fantasy during the end. Maybe as a comedian, both are unique but as a couple I’ve seen better chemistry. I feel as if the script didn’t take advantage much of the two talents. It wasn’t as witty as I hoped for. Score : 6
Mortdecai (2015)
I never heard this movie until it was played on cable. Apparently here it is again Johnny Depp playing his character a bit gay-ish (like I heard, almost all of his characters are nowadays). Accompanied by the darling Gwyneth Paltrow and the police chief who fall in love with her played by Ewan McGregor, also supported by Paul Bettany as Depp’s loyal assistent, Mortdecai is hilarious at times but not the best detective movie. You mustn’t be too logic to watch this movie, since it is purely just for fun. Score : 6
Get On Up (2014)
This biography of James Brown surely an almost perfect package handled to The Help director, Tate Taylor. I loved how the script was honest to James Brown’s self-centered and selfish character. Chadwick Boseman was perfect as James Brown, playing him since his young adulthood. He also got his charm and rock star aura. All of the cast really supported the story well, including Viola Davis and Octavia Spencer. The style and costume was great and quite concrete. Maybe the ending was a bit too vague or a shortcut to make certain image. Score : 7,5
Song One (2014)
Before Anne Hathaway won Oscar, she often starred in indie films. After Interstellar or other big major movies, perhaps she miss being in one again. Now she’s being a tomboy journalist suddenly have to go home because her brother is in a coma. During the coma, she tries all efforts to make her brother conscience, including with music, which is his passion. She then have a contact with his brother’s favorite musician and accomplish a somewhat romantic friendship with the man. I didn’t find Hathaway’s acting quite an amazing or bad, just maybe she looked a bit too protagonist, or too aware that she’s a gem on the screen. They didn’t have the best chemistry, but perhaps the imperfection is alright for this story. Song One tries to be sympathetic and deep indie film or accomplish a sweet relationship between two people with music in common, but it didn’t get all the right ingredients. Something is missing. It is a forgettable movie. Score : 6
Burying The Ex (2014)
I don’t know why Ashley Greene seem to never have a ‘normal’ role, while before she’s a vampire in Twilight. Now she’s being a zombie come alive after she was buried, Evelyn, clinging to his boyfriend who is ready to move on with another girl he seem to have more common with. But she seem to be perfect being a possessive pretty zombie here. And starred with Anton Yelchin being Max, Burying The Ex is quite hilarious aside from being a bit creepy. I think to make the story better, Max should’ve been the man who chickened out to break up with Evelyn longer than in the film. Then the moral story should be : life’s too short, you have to end bad relationship and stand up for yourself. Ashley Greene managed to be a great pretty-but-later-creepy zombie. Score : 7
No Good Deed (2014)
After seeing her being fierce and fearless in Empire, Taraji Henson looked more fragile and vulnerable as the lonely housewife visited by a stranger (Idris Elba) during night and rain. The tension and thrill were there, and Idris Elba was quite a mixture of threat and potentially ‘friend’. With such a big lovely house and rain, the atmosphere itself gave chills. But I admire how this movie didn’t make a housewife allegedly weak and hopeless. It’s okay but not enough thrills to be remember for long. Score : 6
The Disappearance of Eleanor Rigby : Her (2013) & The Disappearance of Eleanor Rigby : Him (2013)
When you are in a relationship, there’s three sides of a story; each of the person’s side and both combined. Maybe that’s why this movie was made with three angles. I didn’t watch the Them one since I don’t feel the need to. But it is interesting how they dig on the two people’s mind with different characters and take on tragedy. It might be boring at times, but grief can be a dark path to walk and these people struggled with it and try to find themselves again before they are a couple again. Score : 7
The Last of Robin Hood (2013)
I didn’t watch this movie from the start, but it was an interesting character for Dakota Fanning to play. As Beverly, the 15 year old girl who had an affair with actor Errol Flynn (Kevin Kline) with Susan Sarandon as her mother. I didn’t realize it at first viewing, but she’s probably the most grown up 15-year-old I’ve ever seen. Not by the looks, but by her personality. Errol Flynn was portrayed more of a playful one rather than her. It is not a happy story but I find Beverly quite classy to stay silent about her relationship with Flynn, though her own mother signed for a book about them. I loved the make up, costume and property too. Score : 6,5
Cheaper By The Dozen (2003)
Cheaper By The Dozen is a chaotic but fun movie to watch, though I don’t know if there’s ever a parent who can have 12 kids at once like them. But the combination of the character works well and the kids were hilarious. The young teens like Hillary Duff, Tom Welling and Piper Perabo could have more story to tell, but it would take another new story. Steve Martin still be a great fatherly figure while Bonnie Hunt is a motherly mother. Actually, you can guess how the story goes but the ride was hilarious. Score : 7
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Have a great award season! Comments are always welcome
