Screeners and Movie Reviews, Part 2 (More Nominees and others…)

This post is a continuation of my last post, which included all 7 nominated films in the Oscar Best Picture category. If you are interested in those, click here.

Best Adapted Screenplay~

Before Midnight is the last in a trilogy. I would definitely recommend renting the first two films, before you see this one. I think it makes it all more meaningful.

The first of the films, Before Sunrise, was made in the mid 1990s and it's fun to see the characters and the actors, age and change, throughout the years. The three movies were made 9 years apart. I really enjoyed them, and hadn't watched them all, until recently. Thank you Netflix. 

The script, of the most recent film, was written by the two actors and the director. It was so natural and yet has a poetry in its reality. The three of them also collaborated on the second film. I also love that the movies are set in Vienna (Before Sunrise) Paris (Before Sunset) and Greece (Before Midnight.) 

Here's the trailer for the first film, Before Sunrise.

If you like movies that are character driven, as opposed to plot driven, I think you will enjoy them.

And, I love Julie Delpy! On top of being an actor and screenwriter, she is a director and writes music for her films. Here's the sweet song she sings in the second film, (directed by Richard Linklater) which she wrote for her character.

I went to film school to make films
just because you're in control of the story.
~Julie Delpy
Actor, writer, director

Best Actress, Best Supporting Actress 
August Osage County- I watched a screener and kind of wanted to shoot my TV. 

I know people, whose opinion I very much respect, who really liked it. I think I would have loved to have seen the play, from which it was adapted, but somehow seeing this at home … I was glad when it was over and I could get these horrible, unlikable, personalities out of my bedroom!  

There was also a bit of the "chewing up of the scenery," as we like to say, in the acting world. I liked Chris Cooper a lot though, and some of the smaller roles, I guess. I won't say don't see it, because a lot of people really like it, but I would never watch it again. 

Best Actress, Best Supporting Actress
Blue Jasmine- Let's take a moment to discuss the goddess that is Cate Blanchett. She is amazing, and was robbed out of the best actress Oscar, for her role as Queen Elizabeth. 

Yes, she won a best supporting Oscar for The Aviator, but really … for her generation, I don't think that there is anyone better. I shouldn't say "better" since everyone has a different acting instrument that they bring to the table, and each actor brings their own "toolbox," but really … she was incredible in Blue Jasmine. 

Here're a clip, from the film.

Now, I want to see her do Streetcar on stage. (In case you are unfamiliar, Blue Jasmine is a pretty much a modern version of Streetcar Named Desire.) And, whatever your feelings about Woody Allen, the script was great.

I think that's what I love about my life.

There's no maniacal master plan.

It's just unfolding before me.

~Cate Blanchett

Best Cinematography, Sound Mixing

Inside Llewyn Davis- (Winner of  Grand Prix at the Cannes Film Festival.) 
First of all, it has great music. In fact, I ordered the LP before I even saw the movie. (Yes, by LP, I mean vinyl.) Been listening to it ever since!  On top of that, they created such an interesting visual world, where you feel like you are stepping back in time. Not far back, but back to the early 60s.

It's a quiet film, and a slice of life. I'm glad I saw it on the big screen, at a good theater. In part for sound system, and also the beautiful, desaturated cinematography, in mostly cool tones … I also love coming out of a film feeling I was transported and when the lights come up it feels like .. Oh yeah, this is the real world, as if you have somehow forgotten.

If you are looking for a plot movie, this wouldn't be it. If you enjoy the Coen Brothers, you should definitely see it.

The amazing actor, Oscar Isaak, singing as his character Llewyn Davis ...

We tend to do period stuff 

because it helps make it one step

from boring everyday reality.

~Ethan Coen

more movies ...

The Butler- Oprah was great, as was Forest Whitiker, which is not surprising. I think I always love Forest, but especially in The Last King of Scotland!

Anyway, were scenes that were beautifully done, in The Butler. Then, there were a few that I felt were … a little like I was watching a movie of the week. Basically, some of it worked well, and some of it didn't. It was a bit uneven.

 …Cuddos to Danny Strong for some great dialog. I had acting class with him years ago. Nice guy and very talented.

Saving Mr. Banks- I went to a screening of this at the Director Guild, and cried through the last probably 20 minutes of the movie. Actually, I got choked up, several times during the movie. It was a very shiny Hollywood Movie, with great production value, but was much more serious in tone than I had thought it would be. I also liked the movie more than I expected to, and found it very moving. 

Emma Thompson was wonderful. She is one of my all time favorite actresses. (Her big scene toward the end of Sense and Sensibility is one of my all time favorite acting scenes, on film.) Emma is Brilliant, and I feel that she always brings the best of herself to whatever she is doing. She's fearless and funny and raw. Love that and I loved her in this film. 
I was a little bummed she wasn't nominated. 

Having professed my acting love for Emma, I must say that I have always loved the movie Mary Poppins, so the music and all the references to the "making of" the movie stuff, within Mr. Banks, were very entertaining and enjoyable. I would say, you should definitely rent this. 

Here is a featurette about the music, in the film.

I love hearing what filmmakers have to say, about the process. Below, is a press conference, with the cast and filmmakers, of Saving Mr. Banks. As aways, Emma is a hoot.

We don't make movies to make money,

we make money to make movies.

~Walt Disney

I've seen a few of the nominated documentaries, as well, but I will post those later. 

For a full list of Oscar nominations, click here.

Have a great week!

Blessings and light!

Pain is temporary,

film is forever!

~John Milius

Screeners and Movie Reviews! Part 1! (Best Picture Nominees)

Most of these movies, as you can see below, I watched at home on DVD screeners. I got 7 in the mail, for SAG/AFTRA voting (Yes, I am still a member of the Screen Actors Guild.) And, my friend, in the Directors Guild, got a bunch more. (The DGA is higher on the pecking order, so they get twice screeners that the actors get. 

Often seeing something on your television does the film a disservice, and usually makes a huge difference in your response to the film. I will let you know the ones I saw in the theatre, but most were at home on my bed, watching the tube.

Here are my thoughts on the films nominated for best picture. Everyone has different taste so you can take them with a grain of salt.

Oscar Nominated Films
Best Picture

Philomena - Judy Dench rules. Just give her the Oscar already! That's what I said 10 minutes into the movie, although I hadn't seen Cate Blanchett, yet, in Blue Jasmine. One of my favorite movies so far, along with Dallas Buyers Club. And, it's another true story, which I didn't know until the end of the film. It's quiet, with a subtle wit and charm, and very very touching. Beautiful, really. Judy Dench, as always, gives an incredible performance. Yes, the story is heartbreaking but they found a way to put humor in the script, and a sort of resolution, in the end. Great screenplay. Huge recommendation.

Dallas Buyers Club- My other favorite. Best McConaughey movie, by far. Beautifully acted. Energetic, yet touching- great story and wonderful character arc. It was inspiring and had a great message, about  challenges that make us become the best version of ourselves. McConaughey will probably win best actor and supporting will likely go to Jered Leto. Well deserved.  

American Hustle- Great characters, Jen Lawrence was hilarious but still vulnerable and Christian Bale created a unique and interesting character. Of course, Bale is nearly always great, but the movie felt sort of frenetic and all over the place, somewhere in the middle. That might have been intentional, and might have worked better on the big screen ... and not after two glasses of sangria. I would still recommend it, if you like David O'Russell films, which I do. It's very entertaining. I also loved the costume design, which it was nominated for, as well.

Nebraska- It grew on me. See it on the big screen, if you can. Or if you have a big flat screen, it's OK, but I do think the vastness of the landscape would have been amazing, in the theater. (Even though I do like my TV, it's not the same.) 

It was nominated for cinematography and it's easy to see why. There was also some really funny stuff in it, and it reminded me a little of when I used to visit my grandparents. My favorite scene is when the parents and kids are all together in the car. That's all I'll say, because I don't want to ruin it. Bruce Dern has definitely deserved all the accolades he's gotten during the award season, including the Oscar Nom. Really good film.

Wolf of Wall Street- Holy crap! Do not see this with your parents. I was sitting next to my dad and I thought I'd crawl under the coffee table. It was WILD. Wild, I tell you! And, completely over the top, satire. It could have been a half hour shorter, but having said that it still moves and is rather entertaining. 

DO NOT see this if you are easily offended, or appalled, because you will be. 

Leo was great. Everyone was, but it's definitely not for everyone. In anyone other than Scorsese's hands, it could have been a disaster, but it wasn't. I was just happy knowing the guy (in real life) went to jail.


12 Years a Slave- Brutal and beautiful. I cheated and fast forwarded parts of the torturous scenes. Have to cop to that. I would watch a bit of the acting in those scenes, so I could vote for the SAG Awards, then went past some of that. 

Having said that, I think it's an important film and definitely worth seeing. Deep and transcendent acting by Chiwetel Ejiofor and Lupita Nyong'o. Amazing. They both deserve any awards they get for their incredible work. A beautifully done film, a true story ... but rough. 

Here's a scene from the film. (It's not a violent scene, in case you're worried.)

Gravity- Definitely an on the edge of your seat film. I must confess, that I have always been completely freaked out by the idea of floating off into space, so I planned not to see it. Then, I figured that if I was ever going to see it, I should see it in 3D, at the theaters. And since I was voting for the SAG awards … I sort of guilted myself into it.

So, here's what I did to take the edge off. I found out from my aunt who would live and die, in the film, before seeing it  (my uncle was appalled by this!) and then I put wine in my coffee thermos and shared it with my friend Karen during the previews. I'm quite sure these things kept me from getting PTSD. Anyway, you can keep that in that in mind with this review. 

It was entertaining and obviously the effects were incredible. I don't even think you can call them effects. Everything you see visually, was pretty much created in post production except the actors. And, they were solid. 

There is a message, in the film, about these two people, that live their lives in completely different ways. One, lives in the moment, taking it all in, and conversely, the other character is just going forward and not really being present for life … and how one teaches the other how to really live. Interesting character arc for her … It becomes a rebirth. I know I'm being vague but I don't want to give it away.

Here is a behind the scenes Featurette. It explains some of the overall themes of the film as well as some of the special effects. It really makes you appreciate the actors imaginations! If you don't want to have a sense of what happens, in the film, end the video at 5:30.

Captain Philips- Really solid film. Tom Hanks truly disappears into the role, and gives a very moving performance, especially toward the end of the film. 

It's not a subject matter that I connect with in a huge way, but it's a really well directed, written and produced film. A friend of mine dated a guy for years who used to ship out, to all kinds of crazy places on those cargo ships, and she loved this film. She is also a picky movie person, and she highly recommends this movie.

Her- Wow, I'm not even sure how to review this. I think it will stay with me for a long time. I watched it last night, and it's going to take some time to digest. 

It is completely unique and touching … and strange … but in a good way. It's set in the not so distant future, in Los Angeles, but you can go with the premise, based on how people are with technology now. 

I don't know that it's for everyone, but I really liked it, a lot. Spike Jonze makes such cool, interesting films. This one has a lot of heart and is sweet and tender, even though Joaquin Pheonix's character falls in love with his computer operating system. And, I have to say, with how the film is done, it's believable. Anyway, I was worried about being horribly bummed out, after watching it, but I wasn't. And, Joaquin Phoenix was really great and completely believable, in a very challenging role.

Here is a Youtube video I found with some of the great voiceover between Samantha (Scarlett Johansson/his operating system) and Joaquin Phoenix. It's set over  "making of the movie" shots.

I will be watching the second Hobbit film tonight. So, Part 2 of the reviews with include that, along with Before Midnight, August Osage County, Blue Jasmine, Inside Llewyn Davis, The Butler and Saving Mr. Banks. Yes, I've been on a movie seeing mission!

Every great film should seem new

every time you see it.

~Roger Ebert