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In: 2015, Hot Take

Hot Take: Trumbo has a spectacular cast. The film is smart, witty and funny but also dull, pedestrian and pretentious. This isn’t much more compelling than a 5th grade history lesson even though it pretends to be.

There’s a scene in Trumbo where Arlen Herd (Louis C.K.) challenges Dalton Trumbo’s (Bryan Cranston) Communist beliefs as they look around Trumbo’s lavish ranch. Herd voices a lack of trust in Trumbo because while his beliefs are those of a Communist, his lifestyle fails to match his beliefs. Trumbo responds emphatically, “It’s the perfect combination! The radical may fight with the purity of Jesus, but the rich guy wins with the cunning of Satan.”Read More →

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In: 2015, Hot Take

Hot Take: When you’ve set the bar as high as Pixar has, it’s easy to be unfairly critical of an average effort such as The Good Dinosaur. It’s total kid’s fare (except for the whole uncomfortable death that seems to happen in every third Disney movie) and the animation may be the best the studio has ever produced but it’s lacking something. Kids will love it, though.

Two things I expect from every Pixar movie I see: (1) to be amazed by how well they manage to satisfy both the kids audience and adults along for the ride and (2) to be emotionally distraught at some point during the film. Unfortunately, The Good Dinosaur missed the boat on the first expectation and managed to only scrape the surface with the second one. That’s not to say it’s not something the kids will love (they will) but it’s a kids movie, through and through.Read More →

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In: 2015, Hot Take

Hot Take: Brooklyn could contend for a Best Picture nomination as it is a wonderfully told albeit melancholy and frequently dreary film about an Irish girl who comes to Brooklyn to make something of herself.

What’s unique about Brooklyn is that it isn’t. We’ve seen period pieces before. And coming of age films. And tales of immigrants struggling to make it in America. And movies set in Brooklyn. And love stories. What’s unique about the film is the way it tells the story, the mood the film captures and the captivating nature of it’s lead character Eilis Lacey (Saoirse Ronan) whose emotional state drives the film as much as the fitting classical score.Read More →

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In: 2015, Hot Take

Hot Take: There are a lot of positives about the drama/thriller Secret in Their Eyes but it never quite makes it over the hump of mediocrity due to it’s predictable twists and turns.

Have you been longing for a big screen version of all of the different versions of Law & Order crammed together only they don’t call it Law & Order and load it up with a powerful cast? Secret in Their Eyes, actually a remake of a 2009 Argentine crime thriller with the same name, was made for you.Read More →

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In: 2015, Hot Take

Hot Take: The Rocky franchise lives on with Creed. Pound for pound, the best franchise in the history of cinema always delivers at least a jab at the theater but with Creed delivers a staggering blow that’s almost a knock out but should be destined for a rematch. Yo, Rocky! Adonis is coming to join you!

I’m not going to hide my absolute adoration for the Rocky franchise. It’s one of the best, if not the best movie franchises ever developed. Consider Creed. A meager $35 million budget partners one of the hottest actors and directors (Michael B. Jordan and Ryan Coogler) with Sylvester Stallone in the part he plays so perfectly, it’s hard to imagine why he’d play any other part.

Creed is an homage to the Rocky franchise. There are so many elements re-imagined in Creed from the original. However, Coogler introduces some new wrinkles to the film, particularly, the way it is shot. While it’s hard to escape the mood of the Rocky franchise, the feel is fresh and different and helps Creed stand on it’s own. The fusion of old and new is remarkably done to the point where nothing feels corny. See the last Die Hard film and you’ll realize how impossible a task that seems to be.Read More →

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In: 2016, Hot Take, Trailers

Anticipation (Before Trailer): 50/100

Anticipation (After Trailer): 55/100

I don’t know. Maybe it’s just me. The whole Avengers/Iron Man/Captain America/Marvel Universe thing is getting a little stale. To me.

We know the U.S. Treasury is printing extra money now to insure there’s enough to go into the pockets of Marvel Studios. You’ll see Captain America: Civil War. I’ll see Captain America: Civil War. Probably even if we don’t want to see it. Coming May 6, 2016.

Side note: While Anthony Mackie was only in 70% of the movies released in 2015, it looks like he’s going to go for a perfect 100% in 2016.

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In: 2015, Hot Take

Hot Take: A riveting, clinical telling of the true story of the Boston Globe investigation of sexual abuse in the Catholic Church that uncovered a horrible cover up. The effortless and professional way the film handles the facts without an attempt to sensationalize the subject matter or manipulate the audience yet still packs a powerful emotional punch.

If Spotlight isn’t nominated for Best Picture, I’ll be shocked. That doesn’t mean it’s the best film of 2015. It isn’t. However, it has all of the elements of your typical Best Picture nominee. The subject is gripping and emotional. The ensemble cast (led by Michael Keaton) is phenomenal. Director Tom McCarthy has a pedigree. The film is primed for Oscar season.Read More →

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In: 2016, Hot Take, Trailers

Anticipation (Before Trailer): 55/100

Anticipation (After Trailer): 65/100

It’s hard to get a read on Midnight Special as so many movies could be referenced here. The film features Jaeden Lieberher who was great in St. Vincent and Michael Shannon who is on a run of being great in everything he’s in.

Oddly enough, I’ve seen plenty to intrigue me and want to see more. I also feel like the less I see before the viewing, the better that will be for the experience as this looks like one you don’t want to put the pieces together in advance. Due March 18, 2016.

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In: 2016, Hot Take, Trailers

Anticipation (Before Trailer): 40/100

Anticipation (After Trailer): 40/100

The new trailer for The Forest doesn’t really cover much new ground. It feels like the previous trailer with nothing captivating to bring added interest to seeing the movie. This is a classic “dump” month movie as The Forest drops January 8, 2016.