The Real Deal

"Dream as if you'll Live Forever. Live as if you'll Die Today."

Some guys look cool while riding a motorcycle with a leather jacket on. Other guys look cool playing a guitar and wearing sunglasses. Only one man could look cool doing pretty much anything: James Dean. Today would have been his 83rd birthday.

The reason I have decided to write about James apart from it being his birthday is because when I made a reference to him around a few friends they all had no idea who he was. Besides the quoted dorm room posters and present-day girls loving him for his mysterious looks, the real James Dean is not well known by this generation. He was not only one of the best actors of his time but also the reason everybody loves a personality who "sticks it to the man."

During his short amount of time in the spotlight, he was nominated for two Academy Awards, both of which were posthumous and consecutive. First, East of Eden (1956), then, Giant (1957). Even though he was not nominated for it, his role as Jim Stark in the 1955 hit Rebel Without A Cause has gone down as his most memorable film and one of the best of all time. What's great about that movie in particular is that he was playing a character very similar to how he actually was in real life. Jim Stark is a complicated young man with parental issues and isn't afraid of getting in with the wrong crowd while wearing his iconic red jacket. His troubles throughout the film reflect those that teenagers still face today. If you haven't seen the film, you absolutely have to, but please don't blame me when your parents get mad that you yelled, "You're tearing me apart!" at them. Let's just say it work for James. He stars alongside Natalie Wood and Sal Mineo who are also just high school kids trying to figure out their place in life. James Dean was a person who wanted to be himself as well as a public figure. Lucky for him, he got both.

Toward the evening on September 30th 1955, James was driving one of his beloved race cars down a highway near Bakersfield, California along with a friend. Seeing a man up ahead coming toward them left-of-center Dean attempted to maneuver out of the way using his racing skills but both cars hit head on killing James almost instantly and throwing his passenger from the car. He was 24.

In this new world of media frenzies and constant diving into celebrities' lives, a lot of people have lost touch with the most important thing: staying true to yourself. James Dean has proven he was the real deal. What you saw was what you got and he became an icon because of it.

Lone Survivor

Blood, Brotherhood, and Based on a True Story

            Left. Left. Left Right. Right Left....is usually what comes to mind when you think of training for the military. Marching in a perfectly straight line, wearing perfectly shined shoes, and being yelled at by a perfectly relentless drill sergeant. All this stuff is great to use in teaching discipline but it is only the very basic part of what goes into that kind of preparation. Every branch of the United States military has its own way of pushing its future best and brightest. This time, we're dealing with the Navy. Navy SEALS to be exact.

            Based off of the real life accounts in the book Lone Survivor: The Eyewitness Account of Operation Redwing and the Lost Heroes of SEAL Team 10, we are now given a grand tribute and intensely realistic film about those who put themselves second to others.

L to R: Kitsch, Wahlberg, Foster, Hirsch

            June 2005, Afghan mountainside. "Frog Men" of the United States Navy have pointed out a probably location of a highly dangerous and wanted Taliban leader. Waiting for orders to go ahead with the next step in Operation Redwing, the men encounter a speed bump in the form of random shepherds wandering the same mountainside. If you've read the book then you know what comes next but, if you have not, just brace yourselves.

            They are unshaven, dirty, thirsty, and strong. They have loved ones waiting for their return home, they have fellow SEALS back at the base hoping everything goes to plan, and above all else, they have each other. They are: Marcus Luttrell (Mark Wahlberg), Michael Murphy (Taylor Kitsch, John Carter), Danny Dietz (Emile Hirsch, Into The Wild), and Matt "Axe" Axelson (Ben Foster, Alpha Dogs). Luttrell is the head of this pack and the author of the book previously mentioned. In the film's opening scene, there is a first-hand look into the early mornings, all-nighters, and freezing salt water that went into SEAL training. This is a great way to keep the audience's attention and it does so effectively.

            The situation these brave men find themselves in will have you asking, "how could this get any worse?" It's hard to fathom, but, it can. Who is there to trust?

            The action and combat portrayal is so gripping and extreme that it is hard not to feel the anguish and frustration that is being dealt with. Lone Survivor may jump around a lot at certain points but the profound love that these men hold for each other is expressed in every second and leaves no doubt in my mind how dedicated they were to their country. When there are shots flying in every direction and the end seems like it's a second away, it is very easy to forget that these men are just actors. The authenticity is through the roof and for that I commend director Peter Berg and his own team in a well-researched and heartbreaking story of conflict and remembrance. With all-around compelling performances from the four focal men as well as supporting actors Eric Bana (Black Hawk Down) and Alexander Ludwig (The Hunger Games), a new age Saving Private Ryan is the result. This is the blood, sweat, and tears of true American heroes. GRADE: 8.1/10

Her

A Rude Awakening to Modern Society

DISCLAIMER: This review has been written in its entirety while eating my leftover Sour Patch Kids from the theater and also without the use of comparing Scarlett Johansson's character to "Siri." Let's be different, shall we?

           Her is strange, Her is futuristic, Her is a work of art, Her is a great achievement in filmmaking. That sentence sounds really grammatically terrible if you are unaware that the name of the film at hand is a pronoun. Spike Jonze, director of Where The Wild Things Are, dives very deep into the element of technology and creates this movie (written by himself as well) that intertwines the impact and changing social norms our society has recently gone through. There is free-spirited laughter, fun walks down the street, a brightly transparent and hipster-ish color scheme, and, of course, some awkward moments. 

Nothing to be afraid of, though... unless you live in a world where there's a plethora of smart phones and people constantly taking them out to check their emails or listen to music. 

I have not heard of such a thing happening. Have you?

            Joaquin Phoenix has sure made is mark in the spotlight as a weird outsider that is trying to be normal but comes off as even weirder because of this effort to seem normal. He stars in movies that provoke the mind and cover all five senses in a unique way that not many other actors of his generation can pull off. He does not change this trend while playing Theodore. A simple man, Theo works for a company that writes and sends letters between loved ones who want a more heartfelt word choice in their messages. Kind of like a very customized Hallmark. He is a lonely guy going through a divorce with his wife Catherine (Rooney Mara, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo) and, along with many others, wears an ear piece and talks to a "personal" voice reading him his messages for the day. 

            In the past decade alone, "smart" technology has shaped the way the world turns and it has gotten to a point where there are four or five messages to turn off your cell phone before a movie starts and even signs in Subway restaurants that discourage the use of phones while ordering in line. Now imagine being on planet Earth when you don't have to worry whether the guy behind you in the grocery line is talking to you or the person in his bluetooth headset. The reason you won't have to worry is because you won't even know he's there. You won't know he's there because you will already be laughing at an inside joke between you and the person in your own headset. 

Sounds kinda crazy, right? So crazy that it just might work. That is why no one stares while Theodore wanders throughout his day with his new Operating System (OS) girlfriend, Samantha. 

           Scarlett Johansson was recently named Esquire's Sexiest Woman Alive of 2013. She has a reputation in Hollywood of being trim, curvy, and just all around beautiful. Now you have the privilege  of falling in love with her voice. They way she whispers to Theodore while trying to get him to make decisions. Her laugh makes her voice crack in a way that puts her in the room right in front of you. You can't see her, you can't touch her, you can only hear her. Her might be some of her finest work. 

            The chemistry between Phoenix and Johansson that is conjured up out of thin air in Her is out of the ordinary and mesmerizing. There is a flow to this movie that Spike Jonze completely knocks out of the park. Amy Adams is not one to ignore as well, playing a long time friend of Theodore who is in need of her own companionship also. 

            You can take this movie with a grain of salt and see it as an abstract and fetishized technological world, or, you can look at it as a PSA to what people may be missing out on while downloading new apps. Either way, there is always more than what meets the eye. GRADE: 9/10

Saving Mr. Banks

The Most Magical Place on Earth

            Like many others of this generation, I was very young when I first saw the movie Mary Poppins. Besides the catchy tunes that are now iconic to American culture, I did not really take much away from the movie being only four or five years old but it doesn't take a professional film critic to know that, regardless, Mary Poppins will reside forever in the heart of every child, however old he or she may be.

            A mysteriously magical lady with charm and sternness that radiates from the second she enters the Banks' residence. That's what everyone knows and loves. The great thing about Saving Mr. Banks is that it goes beyond what's on page or even on the screen and looks at the reflection of this timeless tale in all of us.

            Keeping your chin up, a smile on your face, a little pixy dust on your shoulders, and you've got Mr. Walt Disney standing in front of you. Much like Mary Poppins herself, the man behind all the magic, fun, endless smiles, and pure joy that can be found in Disneyland, has a few tricks up his sleeve. He soon finds that he needs to pull a little more than a show-stopping number to impress his latest [reluctant] business partner and author of Mary Poppins, P.L. Travers (Mrs. Travers, to you).

            Saving Mr. Banks is everything more than the chronicled events of a film production. Not only was there magic in the book and movie at hand, there was also magic behind the scenes as well as in the lives of those involved. I cannot imagine meeting Walt Disney in the flesh (or even Tom Hanks for that matter) and not having the time of my life. Mrs. Travers sure can, though. Emma Thompson (Nanny McPhee) lives the life of a successful writer running into some troubles financially. Reluctant does not even begin to describe her manner as she journeys from London to Los Angeles in 1961 to discuss the possible production of her most famous book. Deep loathing is a more appropriate adjective for this situation. Memories of her painful childhood are relived as she simultaneously battles the composers and script supervisors of Disney Studios who are just trying to adapt her novel the best way they can.

            Tom Hanks. What good things can't be said about him? He is a King Midas in the flesh and sheds a personality only Walt Disney can dream up. His presence onscreen is happy, upbeat, and magnetic. He draws you in as if he is leaning over and speaking directly to you.

            Delightfully British with a fiercely wonderful snarl that will not sugar-coat whatever is on her mind (not even a spoonful), Emma Thompson is P.L. Travers as she butts heads with the brilliance at Disneyland and does so with charm and poise that could only be embodied by an actress fit to do so. Standing next to Hanks with pursed lips and squinted eyes must be a hard thing to do but she nails it and then some.

           I guarantee Mr. Disney and Mrs. Travers are smiling from above at Saving Mr. Banks. Jason Schwartzman, B.J. Novak, Paul Giamatti, Bradley Whitford, and Colin Farrell add to the magic as well making up a supporting cast that is as entertaining as ever. This is a movie made by Disney Pictures about the making of a Disney movie and it stars Walt Disney, sounds like a dream come true, huh? Grade: 8.2/10
           

The Wolf of Wall Street

There's Never Too Much of A Good Thing

            Jordan Belfort is a douche bag, and you're going to love every minute of him. Wall Street never forgives and only accepts those willing enough to do whatever they possibly can to make money. Getting rich and doing so as soon as humanly possible is the only thing these drones that can be seen walking in and out of broker firms are programmed to do. What sets Mr. Belfort apart is that he has raised it to an art form. He has the drugs, the sex, the power, the profanity, and, most of all, the drive that attracts in everyone in his path. Leonardo DiCaprio teams up once again with director Martin Scorsese in his latest masterpiece and delivers what could possibly be the performance of his career.

          These past few months have given the world an unusual amount of quality movies and The Wolf of Wall Street has just been added to this list. Based off the book The Wolf of Wall Street written by none other than Jordan Belfort himself, there are never-ending turns taken as he makes his way up to the top of the stock broker tier. The drugs and cursing flow like milk and honey which reflects the incomparably lavish lifestyle Belfort and his associates partake. The trailers for this film give a decent representation of what it's all about but, as an avid moviegoer, even I was surprised at the heights Scorsese climbs to give the audience a thorough exposure into Belfort's affairs.

            It is not lightly said that there is vulgarity in this movie, in all shapes, sizes, and awesomeness. Apparently brokers make sailors look like charming princes when it comes to dialogue and they also buy drugs like they buy stocks--ferociously. Belfort was greatly involved in popping pills called "ludes"in the late-80s and Leonardo DiCaprio's intense portrayal of being under the influence even passes on the experience to the viewer. Note: a specific scene where he attempts walking to his car while on an unexpected amount of ludes is an example of acting of the highest caliber.

           With a name like "Leonardo DiCaprio" heads will turn regardless just because it sounds cool. But when his diverse range of acting is paired with a figure that even "out-Gatsbys" Jay Gatsby, not only will heads turn but they will be locked in. DiCaprio is in RARE FORM here and so is Jonah Hill (Superbad). Hill plays Donny Azoff, Belfort's right-hand man and number one confidant. Both of these gentleman have an onscreen chemistry that comes with a level of talent perfect for a movie as extravagant, provocative, corrupt, in-your-face, and down right ridiculous as this one.

            DiCaprio might have secured my pick for the Best Actor Oscar this year and would also give him an honor long overdue. Martin Scorsese has established this sex-crazed maniac of a businessman's rise and demise as screen-worthy material and outdoes even his own wildest dreams. Grade: 8.9/10 

American Hustle

From The Feet Up

            There are silk shirts, crushed-velvet coats, hair styles with no shame at all, and low cut shirts that do not quit. David O'Russell is at it again as he holds the reins of this year's best ensemble cast. The Sting (1973) has found its rival of corruption but is met with the comedy and period-fun of 1978. American Hustle is chock full of glamor and con-artistry that is only completed by acting at a top notch level. The complexity of a scandal such as this requires an attention to detail that truly delivers and then goes down smooth leaving the buzz that lingers.

            Irving (Christian Bale +50 lbs.) is a con man at the top of his craft. He keeps a dry cleaning business in his back pocket and has a comb-over that takes just as much managing as his thriving affairs; somehow, he still makes it all look so easy. His main squeeze (Amy Adams) switches back and forth from an elegant British accent to a fast, conniving New Jersey emphasis that is the only thing breaking the concentration of her "cleavaged" dresses. This duo pretty much steals the show with their passionate dialogue and they seem to get lost in each other's drive for "success," however it may come. They serve as the main focus until they have a run in with FBI agent Richie DiMaso (Bradley Cooper) who figures out he can use their talents for the betterment of more than just themselves. Also, his hairdo cannot be ignored and Bradley Cooper is probably the only person who can make hair curlers cool. Then, in comes the mayor of Camden, New Jersey, the crowd-pleasing Carmine Polito (Jeremy Renner) sporting his pompadour that would make Roy Orbison croon. His love for his city gets him involved in the scam of the year. When heads are turned certain ways, anything can happen and different players can slip in and out of the picture.

            With a lesser role but equal impact is Jennifer Lawrence as Irving's wife (that's right, I said it--wife). She brings in the same intensity as she did alongside Bradley Cooper in David O'Russell's Silver Linings Playbook (2012). She is nothing short of electrifying and takes a hold of every scene she is in, per usual. She adds a spiteful snarl behind her lovely eyes and does what she wants when she wants. A consecutive Oscar nod may be in her near future.

            David O'Russell can add charm and elegance to any serious moment and continues to do so this time around. His cast never lets up in complimenting each other giving you the desire of what could happen next. When the name of the game is Hustle, there are only an infinity of options you can have. J-Law may not be the only one looking at an Academy nomination this March: Mr. Bale, thank you for setting the bar high once again. Grade: 8.5/10
         

         

Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues

The Story of the Year: Misfire

            The mustache. The platform shoes. The leisure suits. The wavy hairdos. All this and more can be found in the first Anchorman and all of the hopes and dreams of John Q. Moviegoer can be left in the 70s along with the greatness of the first movie. Families on sofas erupted at the first leak of trailers for Anchorman 2. Will Ferrell made the first announcement on late night television and life could not get any better for fans of Ron Burgundy and his beautifully awkward one-liners. Once there was a date set for the end of December 2013, the countdown began and could not end soon enough. I was one of these people. There was nothing more that I was looking forward to seeing than the sequel to the 2004 movie that everyone still quotes endlessly. It physically hurts and I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but, Anchorman 2 is the disappointment of 2013. 

          It is now the 1980s. News networks are coming up with broader and stranger ways to deliver the news. Ron Burgundy (Ferrell, as usual) is fired from his job as the co-anchor for the global news network. His wife, the majestically aging Veronica Corningstone (Christina Applegate), has been given the top slot that Ron should be sharing with her, and as you can imagine, Ron has a famous meltdown that involves screaming and emotional speech-giving. He teams up with his old news team that leads unnecessarily random new lives and embarks on a journey to give headlines at a 24-hour network. 

            Ron Burgundy, Brick Tamland, Champ Kind, and Brian Fantana are the Fab Four of the news industry and make up a team comparable to the Fab Four from Liverpool. This sequel is a disservice to what classic image they have been given by a generation of comedy lovers. People love the simple stupidity of Brick (Steve Carell, who else?), now he's been made out to have been dumber than ever and his witty unneeded observations that make him so funny contradict the character that is popular in the first place. Champ and Brian (David Koechner and Paul Rudd) have lost the luster of playboy goofs they once were, 9 years ago. There can be no over statement that Anchorman 2 is done and then flipped over and burned some more. 

             The laughs are there, briefly. Pushing the envelope is what I think director/writer Adam McKay was going for but ended up with a teleprompter full of inappropriate dialogue even Mr. Burgundy himself would be ashamed to read. It's one thing to try to live up to the reputation (or Legend, in this case) of a movie that sky rocketed the fame of someone like Will Ferrell, but it's another thing to over-do a good joke. This movie tanks the anticipation that the Durango commercials and Burgundy cameos of the past few months. This is the top story as the biggest flop of the year. Milk was a bad choice, and so was a sequel. Grade: 5/10