2020 Golden Globes Winners

It’s the first weekend of the new year and that means its time for the Golden Globes, the first awards show of the year. Ricky Gervais hosts for the fifth time and delivers as always. Of course, he doesn’t care about the celebrities he is insulting. But comedy aside, the awards show delivered some surprises and some winners we all saw coming.

The biggest surprise is that Eddie Murphy did not win for “Dolemite Is My Name”. Considering he was snubbed at the SAG Awards for a nomination, the chances of Murphy of getting the Oscar nomination, but I can only hope. Also, “Once Upon a Time in Hollywood” did better than I expected with three wins. In addition, “Rocketman” came out with two wins, something I did not expect as well. Finally, “1917” won the top prize with two awards. This has certainly divided the internet as no one saw it coming. I will see “1917” soon and we shall see if it was worthy of Best Motion Picture-Drama. But here are the winners of the 2020 Golden Globes Awards:

Best motion picture — Drama
Winner – “1917”
“The Irishman”
“Joker”
“Marriage Story”
“The Two Popes”

Best motion picture — Musical or comedy
Winner– “Once Upon a Time in Hollywood”
“Dolemite is My Name”
“Jojo Rabbit”
“Knives Out”
“Rocketman”

Best performance by an actress in a motion picture — Drama
Winner- Renee Zellweger, “Judy”
Cynthio Erivo, “Harriet”
Scarlett Johansson, “Marriage Story”
Saoirse Ronan, “Little Women”
Charlize Theron, “Bombshell”

Best performance by an actor in a motion picture — Drama
Winner- Joaquin Phoenix, “Joker”
Christian Bale, “Ford v. Ferrari”
Antonio Banderas, “Pain and Glory”
Adam Driver, “Marriage Story”
Jonathan Pryce, “The Two Popes”

Best performance by an actress in a motion picture — Musical or comedy
Winner- Awkwafina, “The Farewell”
Ana de Armas, “Knives Out”
Beanie Feldstein, “Booksmart”
Emma Thompson, “Late Night”
Cate Blanchett, “Where’d You Go Bernadette”

Best performance by an actor in a motion picture — Musical or comedy
Winner- Taron Egerton, “Rocketman”
Daniel Craig, “Knives Out”
Roman Griffin Davis, “Jojo Rabbit”
Leonardo DiCaprio, “Once Upon a Time in Hollywood”
Eddie Murphy, “Dolemite Is My Name”

Best performance by a supporting actor in any motion picture
Winner- Brad Pitt, “Once Upon A Time In Hollywood”
Tom Hanks, “A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood”
Al Pacino, “The Irishman”
Joe Pesci, “The Irishman”
Anthony Hopkins, “The Two Popes”

Best performance by an actress in a supporting role in any motion picture
Winner- Laura Dern, “Marriage Story”
Annette Benning, “The Report”
Margot Robbie, “Bombshell”
Jennifer Lopez, “Hustlers”
Kathy Bates, “Richard Jewell”

Best director — Motion picture
Winner- Sam Mendes, “1917”
Bong Joon Ho, “Parasite”
Quentin Tarantino, “Once Upon A Time In Hollywood”
Martin Scorsese, “The Irishman”
Todd Phillips, “Joker”

Best screenplay — Motion picture
Winner- Quentin Tarantino, “Once Upon A Time In Hollywood”
Noah Baumbach, “Marriage Story”
Bong Joon Ho and Han Jin Won, “Parasite”
Anthony McCarten, “The Two Popes”
Steven Zaillian, “The Irishman”

Best motion picture — Animated
Winner- “Missing Link”
“Frozen II”
“The Lion King”
“Toy Story 4”
“How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World”

Best original song — Motion picture
Winner- “I’m Gonna Love Me Again” Elton John, Bernie Taupin – Rocketman
“Beautiful Ghosts” Andrew Lloyd Webber, Taylor Swift – Cats
“Into the Unknown” Kristen Anderson Lopez, Robert Lopez – Frozen II
“Spirit” Timothy McKenzie, Ilya Salmanzadeh, Beyoncé – The Lion King
“Stand Up” Joshuah Brian Campbell, Cynthia Erivo – Harriet

Best original score — Motion picture
Winner- Hildur Guðnadóttir, “Joker”
Daniel Pemberton, “Motherless Brooklyn”
Alexandre Desplat, “Little Women”
Thomas Newman, “1917”
Randy Newman, “Marriage Story”

Next Monday the Oscar nominations will be announced and on January 19 will be the SAG Awards. We shall see which films will get big nominations at the Oscars and which actors will win the SAG award. Of course, the Critic’s Choice Movie Awards are next Sunday, so we will shall see the winners of those awards as well.

The Top 10 Best Films of 2019

2019 was surprisingly a great year for films. There were so many films that weren’t on my radar at the start of the year but surprised me when I did view them. And when I was writing down the best films of the year, it went past ten but I did have to narrow it down to ten. As this is the 5oth and the last post of 2019 , this is the perfect time to look back on the past twelve months and see which films stood out as the best films of 2019.

10. Avengers: Endgame

“Avengers: Endgame” is a film that has been building up for years and audiences finally get their pay off. Sure, “Endgame” is a very long film, but it certainly deserves to be a three hour long film. The film doesn’t feel long nor does it get boring, it takes it time establishing the story and the action that the audience will certainly enjoy.

9. The Peanut Butter Falcon

“The Peanut Butter Falcon” is one of those films I didn’t know much about going in and was surprised how great of a film it is when I did view it. Stars Shia LaBeouf and Zack Gottsagen have incredible chemistry as two young men who are trying to escape their lives in search of something better. Gottsagen does a phenomenal job not only showcasing his acting range but his comedic chops as well. His character is very likable and its all due to Gottsagen portrayal of the character. “The Peanut Butter Falcon” is a film that cannot be missed.

8. Us

“Us” is a film I saw earlier in the year and had so many thoughts about the film that I decided to discuss the film in my first post. Jordan Peele cleverly writes a screenplay that explores the idea of how people would react to their doppelgangers. Only someone like Peele could make a film that makes audiences terrified and laugh at the same time. If “Get Out” didn’t cement Peele as one of the directors to look out for, then “Us” certainly does the job. 

7. The Irishman

A gangster film directed by Martin Scorsese starring Robert de Niro, Al Pacino, and Joe Pesci is bound to get critical praise. “The Irishman” showcases why Scorsese and de Niro work perfectly off each other. It shows why these two are the greatest director and actor parings as they always make something incredible. “The Irishman” slowly, but steady, takes it time establishing the characters, setting, and story. Yes, the film is a very long one but it certainly deserves to be a long film and is best viewed in two parts.

6. Marriage Story

“Marriage Story” is a film that certainly showcases the powerhouse acting of stars Scarlett Johansson and Adam Driver. The moment the film begins, the audience knows the conflict that is expected to come. The film realistically portrays how ugly a divorce can get how it can impact the individuals involved. The scene that best shows the conflict is when the separate couple argue in an apartment and the argument brings out the worst in each other. “Marriage Story” is a realistic heartbreaking film that is exceptionally made with the best actors working today.

5. The Farewell

“The Farewell” is a beautifully written film that shows how one family deals with the decision to not tell their grandmother she has months to live. The film shows the beauty of another culture, all thanks to writer and director Lulu Wang. Wang writes family drama that is also somewhat comedic as well and shows us how the drama the family goes through can certainly apply to our family as well. Awkwafina and Zhao Shuzhen both shine as a granddaughter and grandmother who share a connection and only want whats best for each other. These two have a great connection on screen and are one of the reasons why “The Farewell” is a must see.

4. Dolemite Is My Name

On the surface “Dolemite Is My Name” may seem like a comeback vehicle for star Eddie Murphy. And yes, Murphy does deliver one his strongest performances in years and returns back to his comedic roots that made him famous decades ago. But the film is oddly inspirational in a way no one may have expected. “Dolemite Is My Name” is based off real life comedian and actor Rudy Ray Moore who did everything and anything to make it big. Despite the many no’s he received, Rudy Ray Moore did not take this as a rejection, but instead a step forward in his career. “Dolemite Is My Name” certainly has a message we can all relate to.

3. Booksmart

“Booksmart” is certainly the funniest film of the year that showcases how the current generation thinks and acts. Sure, it does have the typical “we need to go to a party” storyline that we have seen so many times in previous teen comedies, but never does the film get tiresome or dull. From the first frame, the film is an acceleration forward and does not slow down for anyone.  I can guarantee years from now, “Booksmart” will be viewed upon as the perfect representation of the 2010’s.

2. Parasite

Nothing could have prepared me for what I was going to view with “Parasite”. “Parasite” is a film that takes the audience down one road and leads them down another. Words cannot describe the film and it needs to be viewed to be believed. Director Bong Joon Ho crafts a film that has a hidden meaning and makes a film that makes the viewers ponder on what they had just witnessed.  A film that was certainly not on my radar earlier in the year, but I am glad that “Parasite” is getting the praise it is getting as it is clearly one of the best films of the year. 

1.Joker

“Joker” may be adapted from a comic book, but it doesn’t feel as such. We are so used to comic book films having action and adventure, but “Joker” takes that notion out the window and does whatever it wants, and rightfully so. “Joker” takes it time in establishing the mood and characters. It slowly builds up the tension in the film to a very climactic ending. Joaquin Phoenix masterfully puts a spin on a character that has been done numerous times in previous film and makes the role refreshing. “Joker” proves that does not need exciting action to make itself stand out from the bunch and succeeded in being the best film of the year.


That’s a wrap for 2019. Thank you for all who took the time to read my posts in the past months. Here’s to 2020 being another great year!

Uncut Gems Film Review

Directors: Benny Safdie and Josh Safdie

Stars: Adam Sandler, Julia Fox, Kevin Garnett

Rated R for pervasive strong language, violence, some sexual content and brief drug use

“Uncut Gems” is a crime drama directed by the Safdie Brothers and starring Adam Sandler, as Howard, as a New York jeweler who is trying to sell off a precious gem in order to pay off his outstanding debts. The film showcase how things can spiral out of control of a man who is way over his head and does his best to keep order of the situation at hand.

With that in mind, “Uncut Gems” is a character study on Howard and how he tried to maintain his debts. He pawns off items that are not his and uses that money to pay off one debt. He also gambles away money he doesn’t own and we feel a bit sympathetic for the character. Howard is clearly over his head and will do anything to clear off one debt and somehow collect another. It can be compared to someone using a credit card to pay off another credit.

The reason why we sympathize with this character is because somehow Adam Sandler plays the character as a likable idiot. Sandler gives a strong performance in which the likes we haven’t seen before. Adam Sandler has been in so many duds over the years, its refreshing to see Sandler in a serious role as he has done have years ago. Sandler is great when given the right material and this is a role that fits Sandler perfectly.

“Uncut Gems” also features a rather bizarre, yet fitting score. Daniel Lopatin incorporates synths into his score to give the film an as 80’s feel to it. In any other other film, it would not have worked, but it works perfectly in multiple scenes to create tension and awe for the opening and closing of the film.

Overall, “Uncut Gems” is an enjoyable time due to the acting, score, and tension that is in the film.Yeah, the film is a bit too long and there are some things I didn’t like as much, but there is still enjoyment to be had.

3/4

The Top 5 Worst Films of 2019

2019 was surprisingly a great year for films. For every great film, there are also terrible films that were released as well. There weren’t as much bad films as I thought there would be, but there were some films that yielded mixed results. As the year comes to a close, we reflect back on the previous year on the duds that were on the big screen. Here are the top 5 worst films of the year.

5. Fast and Furious Presents: Hobbes & Shaw

Originally in my review for “Hobbes & Shaw”, I called the film stupid and fun. And yes, it is fun as it has mindless action and the film doesn’t have anything harmful. The film doesn’t terrible direction, acting, or action sequences. So why is this film on the list? Well, this film is simply a cash cow. Don’t get me wrong, films are made to sell tickets and to collect money. But when I usually watch films, I don’t get the impression that these films are made to make money. But “Hobbes & Shaw” was clearly made to make fast money. Nothing in the film advances the film series nor is the film intelligent. The film panders to the lowest common denominator, it goes for the cheap laughs and the cheap action. Did I originally enjoy the film? Yes, it is a film that doesn’t require much thinking and I’m sure everyone will like this film but after further reflection of “Hobbes & Shaw”, this is a cash cow that should have never been made.

4. The Lion King (2019)

“The Lion King” is on the list for the same reason “Hobbes & Shaw” is on this list. It is simply a cash cow made by Disney. But where “Hobbes & Shaw” was at least fun and had a somewhat enjoyable time, “The Lion King” is a lifeless remake that adds nothing to the film. It seems like the “The Lion King” is a shot by shot remake of the original film with not much added to the film. Remakes should be made when the filmmakers want to add more to the story or can improve upon on the visuals. Does the 2019 version of “The Lion King” add more to the original story that was told 25 years ago? No, not really. Does it improve on the visuals of the original film? Well, the 2019 version is beautiful to look at, but all of the film is CGI, hence being another animated film. Add to this an A list cast who deliver lines without any life and are quite annoying. Sadly “The Lion King” has grossed over a billion dollars at the box office, it doesn’t seem like Disney will be stopping these “live action remakes” anytime soon.

3. Hellboy (2019)

It’s a shame that Hellboy wasn’t as good as it predecessors. It certainly had an opportunity to be as great as the Guillermo Del Toro directed films, but it fails miserably to live up to those films. The plot is a cliche plot that we have seen so many times, it feels tiring and recycling and the CGI looks awful as well. I was surprised someone didn’t try to clean up the visual as they look like they’re from a video game 20 years ago. To add to this, the first half of the film felt very unnecessary and the last half was cliche filled. I certainly enjoyed David Harbour as the titular character, but his role as Hellboy unfortunately could not save this film.

2. 47 Meters Down: Uncaged

I almost forgot this film’s name, I had to Google the name of the film, this is how awful “47 Meters Down: Uncaged” is. Speaking of the title, why is it called “47 Meters Down”? It has no connection to the first film at all and the film does not take place 47 meters below the ocean or sea. It takes place in an ancient lake that is filled with blind sharks. Yes, a lake with sharks and I am sure the film explained the reasoning for this but I do not care to recall the film. The film doesn’t make me root for any other characters, no one in this has a redeemable quality to them and the film doesn’t make me care for any of them. I am not sure what else to say but “47 Meters Down: Uncaged” would have been best as a direct to DVD or streaming sequel. It had no reason to be on the big screen.

1. Dark Phoenix

There is a method to my rankings and I decided to place “Dark Phoenix” over “47 Meters Down” because of its potential it had. No one saw the trailer to “47 Meters Down” and expected a film that was going to be exceptionally great, we all knew it was going to be mediocre. But “Dark Phoenix” could have been an excellent film. Sure, the “X-Men series” has had its duds, but there have also been well crafted films. So why is “Dark Phoenix” the worst film of the year? Well, I have a sense that no one behind the scenes cared about the film. They certainly knew that this was going to be the last Fox “X-Men” film and knew Disney would just bury the film in favor to whatever the MCU was making. There was no care or effort placed into this film. How do I know this is the case? Well the filmmakers were too lazy to place makeup on certain characters to make themselves look older. It may sound like a nitpick, but if your film take place in multiple decades, you would think the characters would start to age just a bit. There is no way that Jennifer Lawrence’s character in the early 1960’s looks the same as she did in the early 1990’s. 30 years goes by and I guess the characters are supposed to be young forever. I can forgive all the amateurish errors if the film wasn’t such a bore. I felt like I needed a nap after a viewing of “Dark Phoenix”. The worst thing to make your film is boring because then no one is interested in your story. It’s very disappointing to say that a film series that was once beloved has crashed to oblivion.

Now that that the worst of list is done and over with, the best of the year will be coming out shortly.

The Two Popes Film Review

Directed by Fernando Meirelles

Starring: Jonathan Pryce, Anthony Hopkins, Juan Minujín

Rated PG-13 for thematic content and some disturbing violent images

“The Two Popes” is a Netflix film inspired on true events detailing the relationship of then current Pope Benedict XVI (played by Anthony Hopkins) and then current Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio(played by Jonathan Pryce) , who would later become Pope Francis. The film largely follows Pope Benedict XVI’s final weeks as the Pope before his retirement and Cardinal Bergoglio’s ascension into the papacy in 2013.

“The Two Popes” is quite an enjoyable film with excellent acting from film legends Jonathan Pryce and Anthony Hopkins. The two actors are almost identical to their respective counterparts. Pryce does an impeccable impersonation of future Pope Francis and so does Hopkins with the then Pope. The story of “The Two Popes” also has a simple message of how forgiveness is the key to living a life. Both men in the story are not perfect and need to seek forgiveness to redeem themselves. I appreciate the message in the film and the message is not forced nor is it religious in any way. Anyone who has a different faith can certainly watch the film and have an appreciation of the theme of the film, without the film having to push any agenda.

The film has the tag “inspired by true events”, meaning almost none of this actually happened. It is possible that the the two men were actually friendly and aggressive towards each other in private, but it is almost certain that a good chunk of the film is made up. The flash backs in the film could be certainly real and it was nice to see how Francis was not a perfect person. I think viewers should be aware that a good portion of the film is fiction and based on assumption.

Overall, “The Two Popes” is an enjoyable film that presents a message we can all relate that is told by two great actors. Should audiences rush to see the film? Probably not and I wouldn’t say this is a must see film, but more of a film that should be seen if there is nothing to view on Netflix. This is not a dig against the film as if one were to watch “The Two Popes” audiences will certainly be delighted.

3/4

Parasite Film Review

Directed by Bong Joon Ho

Starring: Kang-ho Song, Sun-kyun Lee, Yeo-jeong Jo

Rated R for language, some violence and sexual content

Wow, I am in genuine shock how great of a film “Parasite” is. For starters, “Parasite” is a film that says so much without having to say anything. What do I mean? Well, take the plot of the film. “Parasite” is about a poor family that slowly infiltrates and gains the trust of a wealthy, upper middle class family in South Korea by misleading the wealthy family. But soon enough, things turn awry for the poor family and do their best to keep their secrets.

That description, at best, does not give out any plot detail because “Parasite” has so many twists and turns. In the first act of the film, I expected the film to go a certain way. Without giving any plot points, I thought the film would be a comedy heist, just because of the light mood the film started with. I can assure you that this film is certainly from light and is not a comedy heist. But halfway into the film, the film takes a dark turn and I thought the film would be a horror film, due to director Bong Joon Ho’s excellent camera work. There are so much in store for anyone who watches the film and will certainly enjoy those twists.

But as mentioned before, the halfway point of the film has a horror element to it. Never have I been so tensed in a scene. Director Bong Joon Ho does an excellent job for terrifying the audience, even though this is not a horror film. There were so many scenes where I was on the edge of my seat. And not all tense moments are scary, some are just everyday regular things. Adding to these scenes, the score truly does elevate other moments as well. There is one scene in particular where the rich father (played by Sun-kyun Lee) is just walking up the steps to talk to his wife, (played by Yeo-jeong Jo) after finding something out about a worker. That scene sounds just a normal scene, but the music in the scene somehow makes it more interesting than it is. I loved moments like this because the score compliments the film very well.

All the actors in the film also do a terrific job. But the characters the actors played made me very sympathetic. On one hand, we have a family struggling to make ends meet and have to rely on lies to do so. On the other, we have a wealthy family who want what is best for themselves and have servants to protect themselves. But a part of me also realizes that both families were guilty of being unsympathetic as well. The poor family has to lie and cheat to gain the trust of wealthy family, who are just so out of touch from the people who are struggling. The best scene that perfectly shows the class division is when one wealthy character, who is doing her makeup in a luxurious closet with beautiful clothes, is calling another character on the phone, who is in a gym with hundreds of other people and worn out clothes and trying to find some new clothes to wear in a pile of used clothes. As I alluded earlier, “Parasite” says so much about wealth and how class division is occurring all around the world, without having to say a word about it at all. Writers Bong Joon Ho and Han Jin-won perfectly use the phrase “show, don’t tell” into their screenplay.

I applaud “Parasite” for being a smart and tense film that takes the audience along for a ride. I did not expect “Parasite” to be as good as a film as it is. I highly recommend to view “Parasite”, it is certainly a treat for all audiences they will enjoy.

4/4

The Top 10 Best Films of the 2010’s

It’s hard to believe the decade has finally come to an end. It seems like yesterday it was 2010 and we were just beginning the decade. But with the decade coming to an end, this is a perfect opportunity to reflect on the past decade and see what we loved in the past ten years. And what better way to reflect on the past decade by making a best of list. Here are the top ten films of the 2010’s

10. “The King’s Speech” (2010)

To start off the list, we have the King’s Speech. A film that almost feels forgotten throughout the years, mostly because on the surface the film feels like an Oscar bait film. But “The King’s Speech’ is a film with Colin Firth’s finest acting that shows us that personal’s triumph can be had when working hard. I can certainly understand why one may not want to watch the film, but this is a film that certainly deserves to be viewed. 

9. “Spider-Man: Into the Spider-verse” (2018)

It’s almost impossible to make a decade end list without mentioning the two genres that ruled the box office, superhero and animation. “Into the Spider-verse” is a film that successfully combines these two genres and the result is a fun filled animated film that stands out from the rest of the group. Quite honestly, I had little faith in the film doing well, but my expectations were blown away when watching this film.

8. “Get Out” (2017)

When we first heard Jordan Peele was writing and directing a horror film, most of us thought “the guy from the comedy show ‘Key and Peele’”? But sure enough Jordan Peele put all our doubts with his directorial debut, “Get Out”. “Get Out” is not your typical horror film, it does not have a serial killer or supernatural being hunting people down. It does not rely on cheap jump scares to get the audience terrified. “Get Out” is a horror film that is surprisingly filled with numerous humorous moments and is more terrifying than any other film released this decade.

7. “Django Unchained” (2012)

Quentin Tarantino is one of those directors who has yet to make a bad film. Released in 2012, “Django Unchained” is one of Tarantino’s finest film in which a former slave, Django, is set to free his wife who is still a slave. I recently rewatched “Django Unchained” and it’s a film that goes by so quickly because of all the fun the film has in store. Upon rewatching the film, it takes about 40 minutes into the film to actually get into the main plot. If it was any other director making this film, those 40 minutes would feel slow. But Tarantino’s sharp and witty dialogue keeps the film moving fast and humorous. Plus it does help to have acting greats such as Christoph Waltz, Jamie Foxx, Leonardo DiCaprio, and so many others in this film.

6. “La La Land” (2016)

A musical set in Los Angeles about an aspiring actress and a struggling musician. Sure, this premise may sound like a typical Hollywood film, but somehow it works and makes the audience feel for the characters. “La La Land” works best because of the soundtrack that comes with the film. Yes, there is great acting and choreography in the film is also great, but the music is what stands out. I am not the biggest fan of musicals, but this is the rare exception.

5. “Skyfall” (2012)

Here’s a fun story. Back in 2011-2012, singer-songwriter Adele was on top of the world. She had numerous number one hits off her record breaking album “21”. She was coming fresh off her Grammys win when she was announced as the artist who would do the next James Bond theme, “Skyfall”. I was actually a very big fan of her work, and still am, when this was all happening. When the theme “Skyfall”was released, I instantly fell in love with the record. This actually encouraged me to see “Skyfall” in theaters and I instantly fell in love with the film, but with the Bond franchise as well. “Skyfall” is not only one of the best films of the decade, but one of the best in the Bond series.

4. “Roma” (2018)

“Roma” is a black and white foriegn language film that is set in 1970’s Mexico. It is safe to say that “Roma” was not the biggest box office hit, even though it was released by Netflix, but it certainly deserves to be watched. I certainly understand the criticism that the film is too slow at times, as the opening credits is about five minutes long. But “Roma”  is a film that is filled with heartbreak, comedy, and anger. Director Alfonso Cuaron beautifully presents his childhood on screen, as serving as director, producer, writer, editor, and cinematographer of the film, and was rewarded with a Best Director Oscar for his effort.

3. “Booksmart” (2019)

“Booksmart” may not be the best film of 2019, but it sure feels right in the 2010’s, a decade filled with technological changes and social media. I think this is a film will be remembered for the decade it came out in, such as “The Breakfast Club” is remembered for an 80’s teen comedy or “American Pie” is remembered a 90’s teen comedy. “Booksmart” perfectly writes how a teen would behave and think in this era, I was a teenager earlier in this decade as well and I felt a connection to the film.  “Booksmart” will certainly hit a mark with current teenagers of this decade. 

2. “Moonlight” (2016)

“Moonlight” is the type of film that evokes certain emotions, as it can evoke sadness, anger, and optimism. “Moonlight” is a film that shows a young man’s life by showing three stages of his life, as a child, teenager, and young adult. It is a film that is well crafted, with stellar acting, terrific camera work, and a beautiful score. Everyone from Trevante Rhodes to Janelle Monae does a terrific job, but the standout is Mahershala Ali as the drug dealer, Juan. Juan is a tragic character who we want to see do good but is unfortunately dead by the second act of the film, possibly due to his role of being a drug dealer. All of the things mentioned before makes “Moonlight” a film that certainly deserves to be viewed.

1. “Birdman, or the Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance” (2014)

“Birdman,or the Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance” is a near perfect film. First, the film is shot to be a single shot, with a few exceptions. The film was obviously not a single take, but the editing and camera work cleverly edits the takes as it were all done in one. Second, the performances of the cast is top notched. Michael Keaton does a stellar job as an actor who is trying to move to Broadway and move on from his comic book movie past. In addition, the screenplay is quite witty and the film can be quoted for days. “Birdman” is the best film of the 2010’s, it’s hilarious, meaningful, and clever,  it is everything one could ask for in a film.

Golden Globes Nominations: Thoughts and Predictions

It’s the most wonderful time of the year! We are in full swing into award season and we have the Golden Globes nominations. The Golden Globes are known to be the precursor to the Oscars, as the winners of the Golden Globes are more than likely to win an Oscar. Netflix has big nominations as “Marriage Story” leads the nominations with 6 nods, with “The Irishman” and “Once Upon a Time in Hollywood” following suit with 5 nods. “Marriage Story” and “The Irishman” getting the most nominations are no surprise, but “Once Upon a Time in Hollywood” getting 5 nominations is a shock. I certainly expected a couple nominations, but not 5. Films that are released in the summer are almost forgotten in awards seasons.

“Joker” also did very well with 4 nominations, which is more than I expected. Unfortunately, “The Peanut Butter Falcon” received 0 nominations, and “Booksmart” has only 1 nomination. Also, only 1 nominations for “Cats”. I have yet to see that film, but considering the HFPA loves to nominate any film that comes their way, (e.g. “The Tourist”), that certainly does not look good for the upcoming film. And “The Lion King” got a nomination for Best Animated Feature, which is just appalling. “The Lion King” is probably one of the worst films of 2019, but more of that on a different day. To a But without further ado, here are the nominations and my predictions.

BEST MOTION PICTURE – DRAMA
“1917”
“The Irishman”
“Joker”
“Marriage Story”
“The Two Popes”

Predicted winner: “Marriage Story”. It’s hard to ignore a film with powerhouse acting that tackles a difficult subject matter. “Marriage Story” pulls enough emotion from the viewers and it is certainly a contender to win the top prize.

Upsets: Although “Joker” and “The Irishman” certainly are trailing behind “Marriage Story”, but “Joker” has already earned a billion dollars at the box office, giving itself a prize already, and “The Irishman” is a three and a half hour crime drama epic that will bore most voters. Also Robert de Niro was snubbed for “The Irishman”, so that’s not a good sign.

BEST MOTION PICTURE – MUSICAL OR COMEDY
“Dolemite is My Name”
“Jojo Rabbit”
“Knives Out”
“Once Upon a Time in Hollywood”
“Rocketman”

Predicted winner: “Jojo Rabbit”. If only “Booksmart” was nominated. Nonetheless, this is an excellent set of nominees. But of course only one film can win and “Jojo Rabbit” is the film that did have the momentum for a while. Although the humorous tone of the Nazis has turned people off from the film, I can certainly understand why “Jojo Rabbit” may not get a win.

Upsets: “Dolemite is My Name” and “Once Upon a Time in Hollywood” are both films that show the behind the scenes of how a film is made. The HFPA love these types of films and a case could certainly be made for both films winning the top prize.

BEST DIRECTOR
Bong Joon Ho, “Parasite”
Sam Mendes, “1917”
Quentin Tarantino, “Once Upon A Time In Hollywood”
Martin Scorsese, “The Irishman”
Todd Phillips, “Joker

Predicted winner: Martin Scorsese for “The Irishman”. Scorsese is a legendary filmmaker who has been honored by the HFPA three times. Although his direction is excellent, having three awards can possibly go against him.

Upsets: Todd Philips went from directing fun comedies to a dark origin of a villain. It’s hard to ignore the director who successfully made a villain’s origin story that had the whole nation talking. Also, although Quentin Tarantino has won two Golden Globes for writing, he has yet to win one for directing. It is possible the HFPA could finally reward Tarantino for his directing.

BEST ACTOR – DRAMA
Christian Bale, “Ford v. Ferrari”
Antonio Banderas, “Pain and Glory”
Adam Driver, “Marriage Story”
Joaquin Phoenix, “Joker”
Jonathan Pryce, “The Two Popes”

Predicted winner: Joaquin Phoenix for “Joker”. Fans and audiences certainly want Phoenix to win an award for his role as Arthur Fleck. We can only hope that the HFPA would listen to what the audiences think.

Upsets: Adam Driver in “Marriage Story” is the definition of acting. I can certainly see Driver pulling an upset for his strong performance in the emotional filled film.

BEST ACTRESS – DRAMA
Cynthio Erivo, “Harriet”
Scarlett Johansson, “Marriage Story”
Saoirse Ronan, “Little Women”
Charlize Theron, “Bombshell”
Renee Zellweger, “Judy”

Predicted winner: Scarlett Johansson for “Marriage Story”. Not only does Johansson make a case for why she should win for her work in “Marriage Story”, but she has yet to actually win a Golden Globe. It’s about time she gets recognized for her strong acting.

Upset: Biopics are certainly beloved by the HFPA and having a biopic about legendary actress Judy Garland can certainly help Renee Zellweger win the award.

BEST ACTOR – MUSICAL OR COMEDY
Daniel Craig, “Knives Out”
Roman Griffin Davis, “Jojo Rabbit”
Leonardo DiCaprio, “Once Upon a Time in Hollywood”
Taron Egerton, “Rocketman”
Eddie Murphy, “Dolemite Is My Name”

Predicted winner: Eddie Murphy in “Dolemite is My Name”. Who doesn’t like a good comeback? Murphy steals the show as real life Rudy Ray Moore who tries to make it big on the big screen, the HFPA should reward Murphy for his stellar acting.

Upsets: I can certainly see Leonardo DiCaprio taking a win in this category, as the role of actor Rick Dalton. DiCaprio certainly does an excellent job in “Once Upon a Time in Hollywood”, but he is already three Golden Globes, the HFPA would want to reward someone who has yet to win.

BEST ACTRESS – MUSICAL OR COMEDY
Awkwafina, “The Farewell”
Ana de Armas, “Knives Out”
Beanie Feldstein, “Booksmart”
Emma Thompson, “Late Night”
Cate Blanchett, “Where’d You Go Bernadette”

Predicted winner: Awkwafina in “The Farewell”. As much as I would love Beanie Feldstein win for “Booksmart”, I have to give the win to Awkwafina. This role doesn’t feel as a comedic role since it does tackle a serious topic. Nonetheless, Awkwafina does stand out in “The Farewell”.

Upsets: The only possible upset I could see here is Ana de Armas in “Knives Out”. She makes the film her own and is certainly an upcoming talent that will stick out for years to come.

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A MOTON PICTURE
Tom Hanks, “A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood”
Al Pacino, “The Irishman”
Joe Pesci, “The Irishman”
Brad Pitt, “Once Upon A Time In Hollywood”
Anthony Hopkins, “The Two Popes”

Predicted winner: Tom Hanks in “A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood”. Hanks beautifully gets into the role of Fred Rogers and almost feels like Mr. Rogers is actually on the screen.

Upsets: It has been years since Joe Pesci has been in a feature film and “The Irishman” serves as a comeback for the the actor. There is a chance that the HFPA could feel nostalgic for “The Irishman” and give it any award it can. Also, Brad Pitt steals the show in the last act of “Once Upon a Time in Hollywood”, so a case could certainly be made for the actor winning the award.

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A MOTON PICTURE
Annette Benning, “The Report”
Margot Robbie, “Bombshell”
Jennifer Lopez, “Hustlers”
Kathy Bates, “Richard Jewell”
Laura Dern, “Marriage Story”

Predicted winner: Laura Dern in “Marriage Story”. It is possible that the HFPA could go full “La La Land” and give every award to “Marriage Story”. Laura Dern does an excellent as a lawyer who uses dirty tactics to win a case.

Upsets: Jennifer Lopez in “Hustlers” gives Dern a run for her money and I would not be shocked if she came out as a winner. Lopez certainly has buzz going for her and could keep up the momentum going in awards season.

BEST SCREENPLAY
“Marriage Story”
“Parasite”
“The Two Popes”
“Once Upon A Time In Hollywood”
“The Irishman”

Predicted winner: Quentin Tarantino for “Once Upon a Time in Hollywood”. Hollywood loves films about itself and Tarantino’s smart screenplay feels tailor made for Hollywood insiders.

Upsets: “The Irishman” can make the voters feel nostalgic for past Scorsese films, I can see the screenplay having a win in this category. Plus since “Parasite” has been getting so much traction lately, I could see this film pulling an upset in this category.

BEST FOREIGN LANGUAGE FILM
“The Farewell”
“Les Misérables”
“Pain and Glory”
“Parasite”
“Portrait of a Lady on Fire”

Predicted winner: It’s a tie between “The Farewell” and “Parasite”. Both films certainly have a 50/50 chance of winning this category, both films have critics falling in love with each film. This category has no clear winner, in my honest opinion, it is a toss up.

Upset: Any film that is not “The Farewell” and “Parasite” sadly have a little chance of winning this award.

BEST ANIMATED FEATURE
“Frozen 2”
“The Lion King”
“Missing Link”
“Toy Story 4”
“How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World”

Predicted winner: “Frozen 2”. Frozen 2 is a box office hit and its previous film proves that they have this award in the bag.

Upset: Pixar used to be on a winning streak, but slowly they began to lose awards in their respective category. But this year “Toy Story 4” could win for its beautiful animated, even if the film feels unnecessary.

Marriage Story Film Review

Directed by Noah Baumbach

Starring: Adam Driver, Scarlett Johansson, Laura Dern

Rated R for language throughout and sexual references

Divorce is a tough topic that isn’t explored often in film too often. The only film that seriously explores divorce, to my memory, is “Kramer vs Kramer”. The film explores the life of a single father and shows how a messy divorce can have an effect on children. 40 years later, writer and director brings us “Marriage Story”, a film that shows how a divorce has an effect on a family and how messy it can get. Charlie (played by Adam Driver) is a successful New York director whose marriage to Nicole ( played by Scarlett Johansson), who is a actress, is crumbling. But when Nicole goes to Los Angeles for an acting role, she asks for a divorce from Charlie. The divorce shows how emotions can run high and cause a rift within the family.

“Marriage Story” has a stellar cast who give strong performances. Adam Driver and Scarlett Johansson possibly give their best performances of their careers. There are multiple scenes where each respective actors give it their all in conveying the emotions the characters are feeling. There is one particular scene where Driver and Johansson go at it in a screaming match. These two actors go back in forth only for the both of them to end the argument in tears. Not only do the actors beautifully put the words on the screenplay onto the screen, but they display the character’s emotions on the screen and made the audience feel sympathetic for them.

In addition to Driver and Johansson, Laura Dern and Ray Liotta also give strong performances. They both play lawyers who represent Nicole and Charlie, respectively, in the ensuing divorce. Dern’s character in particular evoked a mixed reaction from me because she seems to care at first about the situation, but she ends up being a typical lawyer that we often see in films. This is due to Dern’s strong acting as the lawyer who just wants to win and doesn’t seem to care how this is tearing people apart. On the other hand, Alan Alda is the lawyer for Driver’s character at first and is sweet but doesn’t seem to fight dirty. I certainly enjoyed Alda’s time on the screen and wished he would have been in the film much longer.

Noah Baumbach’s writing and directing also shine in the film. Baumbach brings out the best in each actor, not only through his direction, but from his screenwriting as well. Never have I felt so much compassion for two people as I did for Charlie and Nicole. It is saddening to see their marriage just crumble in front of our eyes and seeing how nothing, not even therapy, could save it. The screenplay is not only heartfelt, but it knows what to say at the right moment. There was never a dull moment in the film, the dialogue in the film keep everything on track and interesting.

“Marriage Story” is a film that perfectly shows the heartbreak and anger that comes with a divorce. The acting, directing, and writing are all top notch, as Adam Driver and Scarlett Johansson give one of the best performances of the year. “Marriage Story” is a heart wrenching film that cannot be missed.

4/4

Knives Out Film Review

Directed by Rian Johnson

Starring Daniel Craig, Chris Evans, Ana de Armas

Rated PG-13 for thematic elements including brief violence, some strong language, sexual references, and drug material

Writer and director Rian Johnson is back to form after his divisive Star Wars film, “The Last Jedi”, with “Knives Out”. “Knives Out” is a whodunit film starring Daniel Craig as a private detective, Benoit Blanc, who is tasked with solving the mystery of what or who really killed novelist Harlan Thrombey (played by Christopher Plummer). Along the way, Detective Blanc’s investigation, along with Harlan’s nurse, Marta (played by Ana de Armas), goes through wild twists and turns.

I am a sucker for classic whodunits, even if they can be predictable at times. But “Knives Out” is a mystery film for the first act of the film, but soon enough the truth is revealed. The rest of the film is the mystery for the characters, but some it is a cover-up. Not that this direction that is taken is bad, but a classic whodunit should be having the audiences guessing on who did the crime. But I can certainly appreciate Johnson’s direction on the film and his screenplay as well. The film in the second and third act goes through so many twists and turns that is almost unexpected.

In addition to Johnson’s writing and directing, the A list cast that is displayed on the screen are great for the lines they are given. This film features such actors such as Jamie Lee Curtis, Michael Shannon, and Don Johnson and are quite well, unfortunately their role is very limited. I certainly enjoyed their presence on screen and the despicable characters they played. I also had fun watching Daniel Craig a private detective who is determined to get to the bottom of the case. His southern drawl was part amusing and part distracting, only because we all know he has his English accent. But his southern accent was excellent and proves Craig knows how to put on a good performance when given the right script.

Other highlights of the film include the production design. A good majority of the film takes place in the Thrombey mansion. Each room that is featured in the house looks amazing and is well designed. But one disadvantage of the film is how long it feels. The film is about two hours, which is average for a film run time, but the film feels dragged at times. But thinking back on the film, which scene would be best left on the cutting room floor? There is no scene in particular, but there could have been multiple scenes that could have been shortened.

Overall, “Knives Out” is an enjoyable mystery that takes the audience through twists and turns. The A list cast in the film give great performance, in particular Daniel Craig who does his best Francis Underwood impersonation. “Knives Out” is a fun film that audiences will enjoy and not expect the surprises it has in store.

3/4