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In: 2015, Hot Take, Trailers

Anticipation (Before Trailer): 85/100

Anticipation (After Trailer): 95/100

Growing up, Rocky was one of the best movie franchises of all time. The first two movies are cinematic masterpieces. Rocky III, Rocky IV and Rocky V are great popcorn flicks. Then, the series returned to its roots with Rocky Balboa. Everyone has their favorite. Everyone has their least favorite. Personally, I’m not a big fan of III or V. I’m torn between I and II as they are very different in structure and feel.

Plucking Creed from the Rocky universe and marrying it with Fruitvale Station (one of the best films of 2013) director Ryan Coogler and star Michael B. Jordan had me before the first trailer, sealed the deal with trailer one and now has me completely salivating after the second trailer. Jordan is going to be huge and my gut tells me this delivers.

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In: 2013, Hot Take

Hot Take: Technically, Gravity is nearly flawless. Great! Once you strip away the stunning, beautiful visuals you have a good (not great) movie with respected actors playing themselves as astronauts. In summary: Great experience, good movie.

My first experience with Gravity was on a 20″ screen. Even on a 20″ tube television, the Alfonso Cuaron helmed film is spectacular to look at. The beautiful visuals and tight, meticulous camera work were both mesmerizing and frustrating but only the latter because I somehow missed this at theaters and will not be happy until I experience it.Read More →

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In: 2015, Hot Take, Trailers

Anticipation (Before Trailer): 50/100

Anticipation (After Trailer): 90/100

Some great dramatic performances have been turned in by comedians in dramatic roles. Sarah Silverman in a drama where she’s the focal point is especially intriguing. Coming in October, maybe this is the great under 90 minute movie I’ve been waiting for.

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In: 2015, Hot Take

Hot Take: A Swiss cheese thriller with a microwave plot. It melts away your give a shit for characters who are initially charismatic (except for Michael Ealy’s Carter Duncan who is a batshit lunatic) but seriously lack fundamental impulse control.

With the speed of an Indy racer, a two year relationship dissolves when Leah (Sanaa Lathan) sees boyfriend Dave (Morris Chestnut) showing the ability to goof around with a child (which means he’s going to be a great father) but Dave talks crass about the possibility of fatherhood and, well, done with that guy!

Two months later (skipping those two months, of course, because this movie has to move like the zombies in 28 Days Later), Leah runs into Carter (Michael Ealy) in a restaurant bar while waiting for her friend. (She previously ran into Carter in a coffee shop on the morning of her McBreakup with Dave.) Carter swoops in, saves Leah from some annoying drunk white guy (credited as Mr. Inebriated) trying to pick her up and, after resisting her advances for about a half second, agrees to an on-the-spot date.Read More →

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In: 2015, Hot Take

Hot Take: The Visit is funny, creepy and toys with you throughout. It’s still not The Sixth Sense but it’s a well-told scary movie.

David Copperfield never made the mistake of making the Statue of Liberty disappear as his first trick. Unfortunately, the same can’t be said for M. Night Shyamalan who set the bar ridiculously high with The Sixth Sense and we’ve never cut him a break since.

Maybe The Visit will be the break he’s been looking for. First, it’s not perfect. It’s basically the world’s most annoying children have a sleepover at the house of the world’s creepiest grandparents. If you want to understand the level of annoying the children are at, imagine if the creepy documentary teens from The Blair Witch Project survived and spawned. As for the creepiness of the grandparents, their about as creepy as the old people in The Skeleton Key.Read More →

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In: 2015, Hot Take

Hot Take: This isn’t as simple as if you’re Christian, you’ll love it and if you’re not, you’ll hate it. It is as simple as it’s not a good movie, though.

Warning: There are spoilers throughout this “hot take” as this is more likely being read by someone who has seen the film rather than on the fence in their decision to see it.

While there are plenty of debatable topics in War Room, there’s a troubling one that really isn’t debatable: The importance of communication in a relationship.

Tony and Elizabeth Jordan, on the surface, have an enviable life. Tony is the best salesman at his pharmaceutical company and, in his late 30s, still an incredible athlete (see the physique, the back flips and dunks). Elizabeth has a successful real estate sales hobby and a perfect house with nary an ounce of dust or anything out of place. Their daughter is a well adjusted pre-teen with the best manners you’ll ever see.Read More →

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In: 2015, Hot Take, Trailers

Anticipation (Before Trailer): 30/100

Anticipation (After Trailer): 40/100

Apparently, Santa’s shadow gets really pissed if you shit on Christmas (or litter).

Whenever a horror film gives you the full monty on the creature, I worry. This trailer doesn’t seem to care if you get a decent look at Krampus. Maybe that’s nitpicky but that’s a bad sign in my book.

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In: 2015, Hot Take, Trailers

Anticipation (Before Trailer): 55/100

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H4z7Px68ywk

Anticipation (After Trailer): 60/100

Carol is based on an adaption of The Price of Salt, a novel by Patricia Highsmith. In limited release in November, it should go wide in December and likely gain some Oscar buzz, all things considered.

What’s interesting to me is the choice of the title Carol over The Price of Salt. The book sometimes goes by the title Carol as well but the timing of the release (near Christmas) tied to the choice of Carol feels like it’s trying to grab some cheap holiday cash because people will see Carol and assume Christmas movie. OK, maybe I’m giving people too little credit.

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In: 2016, Hot Take, Trailers

Anticipation (Before Trailer): 50/100

Anticipation (After Trailer): 75/100

After Southpaw, Jake Gyllenhaal is forever changed for me. Southpaw might be the most underrated movie of 2015. Honestly, I wasn’t a big fan before it and I’m not sure I’m a fan after BUT he was phenomenal in it.

Fast forward to next April when Demolition comes out. This won’t be Gyllenhaal’s follow-up to Southpaw (that will be Everest which will be welcomed critically and I will most likely hate it because I have an odd aversion to films with a lot of snow in them) but it’s so different than his Southpaw role, I think the next preview will put me over the top.

Also of note is director Jean-Marc Valle who is on fire following Dallas Buyers Club and Wild. Plus, Chris Cooper is the ultimate movie condiment. The only caveat is the April release date.

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In: 2015, Hot Take, Trailers

Anticipation (Before Trailer): 50/100

Anticipation (After Trailer): 65/100

Our Brand Is Crisis looks a little bit Wag the Dog, a little bit Primary Colors, a little bit straight laced Billy Bob Thornton and the rest Sandra Bullock as herself (but with a different name than herself to make you think she’s playing a part).

That being said, I still want to see it and I’ll probably enjoy it because I enjoy most everything Sandra Bullock does even when it isn’t all that good. And this looks better than her not good work.