With the second season of this hit HBO anthology series well underway, it is time to pay nod to one of the best TV series to come around in a while. True Detective has become a groundbreaking detective drama that has continued to captivate audiences week after week. Originally planned to just be a mini-series, the show became so popular that HBO asked writer/creator Nic Pizzolatto to adapt it into an anthology series where each season is a different story with different characters. The series has been able to obtain some of the more popular actors today, like Woody Harrelson, Matthew McConaughey, Michelle Monaghan, Colin Farrell, Rachel McAdams, Vince Vaughn, and Taylor Kitsch.
The first season (which stared McConaughey, Harrelson, and Monaghan) took place over a 17 year span in New Orleans. McConaughey and Harrelson played detectives in a serial murder which took them on almost a two decade case that had both both of the characters lives tested. The new season (which stars Farrell, Vaughn, McAdams, and Kitsch) takes place in California, where the lives of three police offers and a career criminal are also tested when the murder of a city manager is uncovered. As the second season slowly starts to unfold, it will be interesting to see how Pizzolatto creates an entirely new environment with new characters and be able to keep the audience guessing. In my opinion, it is hard to compare this to the first season because it is an entirely different piece of material with different characters and a new story. The first season was a masterpiece, so it will be hard for Pizzolatto to return back to that. With that being said, it would be a crime (no pun intended) not to watch this series because it is cutting-edge television.
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***GREAT FILM***
After seeing this film, it is safe to say that this is one of the best films Pixar has ever made. Not only does it establish each emotion perfectly, but it shows how most of us feel on a daily basis. To me this film is not a kids film (and honestly I don't think that most Pixar films are) because it tackles themes that can be relatable to all ages. Those themes are maturity and depression. Yes, depression. To me this is really the main message that this film is trying to portray. The idea that it is easy for people to not notice someone who is depressed and how easy it is for them to lose their feelings and emotions in an instant; just as Riley's parents don't notice how she is changing throughout the film.
Maturity also plays a big part in the film. The idea of Riley having to adapt to a completely new life, move away from her friends and what she knew as "home", forces her to try to become a mature adult at such a young age. The emotional roller coaster of trying to be an adult can cause some to feel overwhelmed and they can fall into some sort of a depressed state. They tend to lose their emotions which make up who they are (and this is where the the film draws most of the plot on but I don't want to give anything away). It is easy to connect emotionally with Riley because her story and her emotions are some that we all feel everyday and can relate to strongly. It is hard to try and hold back tears (as most Pixar films tug at the heart strings) because Inside Out provides many emotional moments throughout. Those moments involve of course Joy, Sadness, Anger, Fear, and Disgust, which in a way make up our "five identities" of who we are. They help identify our ups and downs, as well as how we interact with the world around us. I am not going to lie, I did have some emotional moments throughout the course of the film (especially in the second half). I felt a strong connection with Riley because it can be heartbreaking to see someone lose their identity. It truly can hit you hard. Inside Out is not only one of the best films of 2015, but it might be one of the best animated films of all time. It draws on themes that can be relatable to most and depicts emotions in a way that we have not seen before. It will lead the audience on an emotional roller coaster that will have them laughing and crying as the story unfolds. In the end, Inside Out is telling the audience that it is OK to be who you are because you are beautiful on both the inside and out. ***GREAT FILM***
This film has certainly changed the dynamics of film-making when it comes to action and stunt work. Miller has most certainly created an entirely new approach to creating action sequences by using as little CGI as possible. The entire film feels so real and authentic that it is hard to believe that this was not CGI heavy. Granted there are some effects that have been enhanced to create the post-apocalyptic world, but it just looks absolutely amazing. It is evident that Miller spent a lot of time trying to figure out all of the steps needed to create these epic and beautiful car chases with insane stunt work. Boy did it pay off in the end.
Tom Hardy is great as Max, in the role that was originally played by Mel Gibson. Although he has minimal lines in the film, which is expected of his character, he portrays the perfect persona that makes up who Max is. Max is a survivor. A lone road warrior that is on the run from both good and evil. It is hard not to root for him and become attached to him as a character because he is the guy you want fighting for you when all goes to hell. He knows how to survive and be his own man in a society where sanity is no longer in existent. For me however, the true centralized character that this film was about was Charlize Theron's, Furiosa. The story to me seemed very much a feminist story in the fact that the women in the film were often seen as "things" and not human beings. In order for them to be seen as humans, they must break away from the control of men and return to a land where hope and humanity once existed. Furiosa embodies the hope and warrior qualities that the women in the film are searching for and see her as a leader; a strong one at that. I thought this was an excellent film to have at this moment in cinema because there aren't many films where women are depicted as the centralized character. It is sad to see women still not getting their recognition for leading roles in film today, so it was nice to see a story where a bad-ass female centralized character, can make a stand and have a voice. Mad Max: Fury Road is an epic adventure that has truly changed the way of making a film. Beautifully shot by cinematographer John Seale, Fury Road is able to go back to the world that Miller has previously created and escalate the action to a whole new level. This film will continue to be studied by students and critics for many decades to come for not only the action and striking visuals, but for the entire film-making process in itself. This is truly a cinematic masterpiece.
create a "new attraction" to help spike attendance. This attraction is not a new ride nor an exhibit, but an entirely new dinosaur. This dinosaur ends up breaking free from its enclosure and wreaks havoc throughout the park. With the scientists trying to play the role of "god", in creating an entirely new creature, it was almost inevitable that this new attraction was going to backfire horribly.
Chris Pratt has now become a major box office star with this film and continues to show why he is the most sought after actor in the game right now. He reminds me of a young Harrison Ford and breaths a new vibe of entertainment that makes almost anybody want to see more of him. He does a solid job in his role of Owen, a trainer who works closely with the Raptors. By inserting himself in these blockbuster franchises (and maybe soon the Indiana Jones franchise), he has become a hit overnight. It is great to see a rising star continue to shine. Along with Pratt, the film provides solid performances all around from Bryce Dallas Howard to Vincent D'Onofrio. BD Wong, who was in Jurassic Park, even makes his return as the scientist who is helping to create the dinosaurs throughout the park. The film also centers around Claire's nephews, Zach (Robinson) and Gray (Simpkins), who end up becoming a huge part of the story's arc. Jake Johnson also provides excellent comedic relief in the film and it is a nice thing to see that his comedic ability is allowing him to be a part of a huge blockbuster franchise. Although the film is definitely the best sequel that they have produced, I did have some problems with it. The script is a little weak, which comes mostly from the dialogue. I try to avoid using the term "cheesy" when referring to dialogue but there are moments in the film were this is certainly present. That does not take away from the overall tone that Trevorrow is going for though. This film is made for entertainment and action. I mean, it is about genetically modified dinosaurs so how realistic can the script be? I think what makes the dialogue work is the fact that this film seems to never take itself too seriously. There are things we have seen done here time and time again, but in the end it works. There is no tricking the audience into seeing something that seems out of place. You know what you are going to get with the story and along with that are some incredible action sequences. The last twenty minutes or so will definitely have you on the edge of your seat. With having smashed box office records in its' first weekend alone, Jurassic World has become the biggest movie of the year (and probably will be until Star Wars in December). There is a solid story here that keeps the audience glued to what is going on, while allowing them to be immersed within the park and with these characters. The CGI is fantastic and makes the situations feel as real as possible. With a great cast, strong directing and a decent script, Jurassic World has definitely become one of the more enjoyable films this year. It seems like almost everyone has gone to see this film and if you haven't I don't know what you are waiting for. Here are a few other films that I have seen and rated. For some of the films I will write a brief sentence or so on what I thought. Reviewer: Pat Brennan Non-Stop (2014) Rating: 3/4 Director: Jaume Collet-Serra Writers: John W. Richardson, Christopher Roach & Ryan Engle Cast: Liam Neeson, Julianne Moore, Scott McNairy, Michelle Dockery, Nate Parker, Corey Stoll, Lupita Nyong'o ——————————————– The Lost World: Jurassic Park (1997) Rating: 3/4 Director: Steven Spielberg Writer: David Koepp Cast: Jeff Goldblum, Julianne Moore, Pete Postlethwaite, Arliss Howard, Vince Vaughn, Vanessa Lee Chester, Richard Schiff, Peter Stormare, Richard Attenborough - This is a solid sequel to the blockbuster film Jurassic Park. Steven Spielberg and Jeff Goldblum make their return to the franchise to take the audience on a whole new prehistoric adventure. This time around Dr. Ian Malcolm (Goldblum) is told by John Hammon (Attenborough) of a "Site B", where the dinosaurs of the failed park where bred before they were eventually transported over to the park. Malcolm goes to Isla Sorna in hopes to retrieve his girlfriend (Moore) and her team of scientists before the dinosaurs wreak havoc throughout the island. Spielberg is able to take us back to the "Jurassic" world and further show us how nature always finds a way to survive and evolve. The only problem I have with this movie is the whole situation that takes place in San Diego at the end. How does a T-Rex kill everybody on board a ship, proceed to steer the ship into the San Diego bay harbor perfectly and then lock itself back up in the cargo hold? Really does not make any sense or seem logical. But other than that point, this is a strong follow up to the 1993 blockbuster film. The dinosaurs look as great as they did in the first film and it allows us to escape our lives for pure entertainment. With Jurassic World making its debut today, I could not be more excited to see the next installment in this beloved franchise. ——————————————– Jurassic Park III (2001) Rating: 3/4 Director: Joe Johnston Writers: Peter Buchman, Alexander Payne & Jim Taylor Cast: Sam Neill, William H. Macy, Tea Leoni, Alessandro Nivola, Trevor Morgan, Michael Jeter, Laura Dern ——————————————– ***GREAT FILM*** Captain America: The Winter Soldier (2014)
Rating: 4/4 Directors: Anthony Russo & Joe Russo Writers: Christopher Markus & Stephen McFeely Cast: Chris Evans, Samuel L. Jackson, Scarlett Johansson, Robert Redford, Sebastian Stan, Anthony Mackie, Cobie Smulders, Frank Grillo, Emily VanCamp, Hayley Atwall, Toby Jones - Captain America: The Winter Soldier is another massive hit for the Marvel franchise. This time around Captain America (Evans) and Black Widow (Johnasson) must battle a new threat in the Winter Soldier, as S.H.I.E.L.D. starts to unravel. The Russo brothers are able to establishes themselves as intense action directors that spare no expense when trying to make everything as realistic as possible. I think what makes this film stand out amongst the other Marvel films is the tone and feel of it is just something we haven't seen with this franchise. There was a lot of grit and heart within the story which furthered developed the characters we have already known, into becoming the true leaders that we have come to love. The acting was top notch (especially Redford as Pierce) which allowed the film to flow smoothly and draw the audience in. Like Guardians of the Galaxy, Captain America: The Winter Soldier shines as one of the best and boldest entries in the Marvel universe. ——————————————– Here are a few other films that I have seen and rated. For some of the films I will write a brief sentence or so on what I thought. Reviewer: Pat Brennan ***GREAT FILM*** Jurassic Park (1993) Rating: 4/4 Director: Steven Spielberg Writers: Michael Crichton & David Koepp Cast: Sam Neill, Laura Dern, Jeff Goldblum, Richard Attenborough, Bob Peck, Martin Ferrero, Joseph Mazzello, Ariana Richards, Samuel L. Jackson, Wayne Knight - Steven Spielberg's Sci-fi/Adventure, Jurassic Park, is highly regarded as one of the defining films over the last 25 years. The story centers around a tour of a futuristic theme park, created by John Hammond (Attenborough), that inhabits cloned dinosaurs as the main attraction. When a major power outage causes the dinosaurs to escape their enclosures, everyone on the island must find a way off before they are killed. The film tackles the theme of "Man vs. Nature vs. Technology" with the idea that Man cannot just create things, or species in this case, just because they have the ability to. They cannot be too quick to judge and control those creations because Nature always finds a way, which in this case it turns around to literally bit them in the ass. Spielberg has created a world that is very realistic and allows the audience to also take a tour of the park to see how dangerous these dinosaurs can be. This is truly a film that has influenced many young filmmakers in the world today and it is a landmark of an achievement. Spielberg is a master filmmaker. ——————————————– Neighbors (2014) Rating: 3/4 Director: Nicolas Stoller Writers: Andrew J. Cohen & Brenden O"Brien Cast: Seth Rogen, Rose Byrne, Zac Efron, Dave Franco, Ike Barenholtz, Christopher Mintz-Plasse, Halston Sage, Carla Gallo ——————————————– Transformers (2007) Rating: 3.5/4 Director: Michael Bay Writers: Roberto Orci & Alex Kutzman Cast: Shia LaBeouf, Megan Fox, Josh Duhamel, Tyrese Gibson, Rachael Taylor, Anthony Anderson, Jon Voight, John Turturro, Michael O'Neill - This is probably the only Transformers film that is worth watching. Bay is able to generate a world where the audience is thrown right into action sequences that blend Sci-Fi with reality. I am not the biggest fan of Bay, but I have to admit that I did enjoy this film quite a bit. I think that every actor plays their role perfectly and of course robots fighting one another is enough entertainment to draw just about anyone. Like I said, this is the only Transformers film to really give a chance because it was just an entirely fascinating idea; to create a toy that has been enjoyed by so many children and turn it into a billion dollar franchise. Truly a remarkable feat. ——————————————– 22 Jump Street (2014)
Rating: 3/4 Directors: Phil Lord & Christopher Miller Writers: Michael Becall, Oren Uziel & Rodney Rothman Cast: Jonah Hill, Channing Tatum, Peter Stormare, Wyatt Russell, Amber Stevens West, Ice Cube, Jillian Bell, The Lucas Brothers, Nick Offerman ——————————————–
With already having dominated at the box office both domestically and internationally, Pitch Perfect 2 has established itself as one of the most successful films of the year. Even though it falls just short of what made the first film a standout and an original, it certainly shows how the comedic tone can remain within the story and blend together with the first film. Anna Kendrick shines once again as Becca, the leader of the Bellas, and continues to be one of the most sought after actresses in Hollywood today. Alongside her, Rebel Wilson, stands out with the most memorable scenes and lines throughout the film; especially a scene with the Bellas around a campfire. Newcomer to the group Hailee Steinfeld (an Oscar nominee; along with Kendrick as well), also stands out as one of the best actresses in the film. She delivers a memorable performance of her rendition of "Flashlight" by Jessie J, which in my opinion, escalates her into being one of the leaders if the group because she took a risk. That seems to be the overall message of this film. Taking risks and putting yourself out there, no matter what the odds are.
The music is top notch again and gives the audience a new memorable soundtrack to listen to. The choreography is excellent as well; which shows how a capella is not only entertaining, but also how skilled everyone is in the production of these song arrangements. Although the movie can be predictable at times, it does not take away from the fact that there are hilarious moments between these characters and a further development of the Bellas; showing how they are truly one unit that works exceptionally well together. It is hard not to love the Bellas and cheer for them. As I write this, word just broke on Pitch Perfect 3 being green-lit with Kay Cannon providing the screenplay, as well. With the amount of money the film has already made it was almost certain that a third installment would be on the way. It will be interesting to see if the entire cast comes back again, or if some of them decide to hang up their Bella uniforms and move on to other projects. But with both the first and second films being a hit with audiences worldwide, it is safe to say that the planned third installment in the series will also be a monster hit. Here are a few other films that I have seen and rated. For some of the films I will write a brief sentence or so on what I thought. Reviewer: Pat Brennan Into the Storm (2014) Rating: 1/4 Director: Steven Quale Writer: John Swetnam Cast: Richard Armitage, Sarah Wayne Callies, Matt Walsh, Max Deacon, Nathan Kress, Alycia Debnam Carey, Arlen Escarpeta ——————————————– Nightingale (2014) Rating: 3/4 Director: Elliot Lester Writer: Frederick Mensch Cast: David Oyelowo - David Oyelowo gives a masterful performance as a war veteran whose mind starts to unravel and shatter as he awaits a friend (who fought alongside him in the war) to visit him. Oyelowo is essentially the only actor in this HBO film, which can be extremely tough to pull off. Everything an actor has to do when acting alone has to feel extremely believable because they carry the film. Oyelowo goes above and beyond that and shows just why has the potential to be one of the best actors in Hollywood. There are moments throughout that make you question if what you are watching is real, or if it is all in the mind of his character. Right off the bat the audience is shown the violence that he has the potential to bring out in himself, which in itself contributes to the different personalities that make up his character. I highly recommend checking the film out because Oyelowo's performance is one that is not too miss. ——————————————– Locke (2013) Rating: 3/4 Director: Steven Knight Writer: Steven Knight Cast: Tom Hardy, Olivia Colman (voice), Ruth Wilson (voice), Andrew Scott (voice), Ben Daniels (voice), Tom Holland (voice) ——————————————– ***GREAT FILM*** X-Men: Days of Future Past (2014)
Rating: 4/4 Director: Bryan Singer Writer: Simon Kinberg Cast: Hugh Jackman, James McAvoy, Michael Fassbender, Jennifer Lawrence, Nicholas Hoult, Ellen Page, Peter Dinklage, Halle Berry, Ian McKellen, Patrick Stewart, Evan Peters, Josh Helman - Bryan Singer is able to create what is probably the best X-Men film to date. X-Men: Days of Future Past brings essentially all of the X-Men characters that we have seen in the films and creates an environment that blends the future within the past. We get to see McAvoy and Fassbender reprise their roles as a young Professor X and Magneto, as well as see their future selves, played by the superb Sir Patrick Stewart and Sir Ian McKellen. The story is well crafted and thought-out, which allows the audience to feel placed in the world of the characters and brings us along for a ride that does not let up. Singer does have his own "Rogue-Cut" of the film coming out soon that will provide 20 more minutes, which will bring the character of Rogue into the film. It will be interesting to see if that cut changes the feel of this film or not. For now though, X-Men: Days of Furture past lives up to the hype and provides a rich story, blended with excellent action. Bring on X-Men: Apocalypse. ——————————————–
money; as well as his son (Osment) who seemingly is trying to sabotage the film at all costs. The plot seems to be well known in the Entourage series, with some of the stuff having been seen in the past (financial and relationship difficulties) and the unknown of where these careers are going to land down the road. What this film caters to well is the fans of the show. It is safe to say that if you have not seen the show at all, you really won't have any interest in the movie or even really know what is going on. That is what I think the main problem with the critical reviews are is that most of the critics did not care for the show in general and did not understand who these characters are. The plot is pretty straight forward so it is not like they were confused at all, but from their general consensus, they just did not seem to really care. That is a shame because there is a good movie here with great characters.
However, if you have seen the show then this film will easily fit right into your liking. The humor and tone that made it so memorable continues to reside within the characters and shows just how they really have become a family. The two standouts, like in the show, are Johnny Drama (Dillion) and Ari Gold (Piven). They really drive most of the scenes and humor within the film, as well as continue to develop even more as the film progresses. There are also plenty of celebrity cameos, which allows Entourage to feel like a real life depiction of the lifestyle that most celebrities live. Those cameos include Mark Wahlberg, Emily Ratajkowski (who actually plays a bigger role than the trailers lead on), Piers Morgan, Bob Saget, Liam Neeson, Kelsey Grammar, Jessica Alba, Rob Gronkowski, as well as a countless number of others. The bottom line is, if you have seen the show and love the characters, then you will enjoy this film. If you have not seen the show, you won't have much interest in what this movie has to offer. I love the series (probably one of my favorites of all time) so I enjoyed the film quite a bit. If you do decide to give Entourage a shot, I would recommend watching the show beforehand so you can get the flow and tone of what is happening, as well as an understanding of each of the characters. With the end of the fifth season quickly approaching, it is about time to recognize the best show on television and easily one of the greatest shows of all time. Actually, it might be THE greatest show of all time, given that every episode keeps you engaged throughout and places you deep in the world of Westeros. Every single character is developed so well that it allows the audience to either fall in love them, or absolutely hate them. There is a saying that if you hate a certain character when watching something, whether it being in TV or film, then the actor is doing their job extremely well. This saying rings true to Game of Thrones. The "villains" of the show have slowly become some of the most hated characters of all time and make you want to completely destroy your television with the actions that they take. It is just one aspect that separates Game of Thrones from anything else on TV.
It is tough to delve deep into the plot of the show because in doing that, major spoilers would be revealed and ruined for the audience. Without ruining anything, the basic premise of the show is that everyone is vying for the throne in King's Landing which would secure them as the king, or queen, of Westeros and rule over all of the lands. Throughout the world of Westeros there are families that make up each of the lands and together those families each have their own "houses" (which gives them their name and where they are from). As the show progresses, many family houses believe that they have the right to the throne; so war is almost inevitable and death could completely destroy some of the families. The main tagline in the show is "Winter is coming". This is very important because the real battle for everyone in Westeros is coming from the North and everyone must band together to stop it. This is about as much of the plot that I can reveal without giving too much away and I already feel like I have said too much. Just take it from me and please go and watch this show. The action sequences are on par with most of the films that we see today and the character development in itself stands alone as one of the best aspects that make up the show. Game of Thrones has changed the dynamic of television and it will be hard to create another show like this for a long, long time.
The plot is centered around how Tony Stark (Downey, Jr.) and Bruce Banner (Ruffalo) attempt to create a peacekeeping program by the name of Ultron (Spader), but things don't end up going according to plan. Ultron realizes the strength that he posses and uses that strength to inflict evil and try to take over the world. The Avengers must band together to stop Ultron before he ultimately destroys the world. It tends at times to follow the same story arc as the first film, but the action is most certainly escalated with this installment.
However, there were some flaws that made the film not as marvelous as the first one. The first being when the film opens, the Avengers are already together and are fighting as if they had been for a while. From looking back at the past films of "Phase 2" it seemed a little rushed to me how all of a sudden they were all back together again, considering some of the characters were in different parts of the world. One other problem was there at times seemed to be too many characters to put on the screen (Scarlett Witch and Quicksilver for instance), which made their characters feel rushed; but to me this was only a small problem. This film was about the action and bringing these characters together again to ultimately get ready for the climactic fight against Thanos in Avengers Infinity War. I did enjoy the further character development of Hawkeye (Renner) in that we get to see that he has a family and has something that makes him essential to the group. He knows what it is like to be a part of a family and work together as a unit, which makes him in my eyes, become one of the leaders of the Avengers. It is great to see Whedon exploring the characters of the Avengers that are often overlooked for the bigger characters, like Iron Man and Captain America, and show why they are important in maintaining the chemistry of the group. That is not to say that I am getting tired of Iron Man or Captain America (they have the best solo films in my opinion), it is just great to see the other characters develop and see new ones added into the franchise like Scarlett Witch or the Vision. By looking back at the other films in Marvel's "Phase 2", it is easy to put Avengers: Age of Ultron as one of the best of the current phase (behind Guardians of the Galaxy and Captain America: The Winter Soldier). Although it falls just short of what made the first Avengers so fantastic, it most certainly escalates the action to a whole new level. Whedon, and the rest of the cast and team, show just how they have the ability to make this great franchise the best to ever grace the screen. They continue to provide us with a universe that does not to let up or stop phasing. I am highly looking forward to the conclusion of "Phase 2" with Ant-Man and am excited to see what Marvel does with the future epic films of "Phase 3". This is another AMC shows that has gone unnoticed over the past year and it should not have been. With having just premiered its' second season, Halt and Catch Fire continues to slowly rise and become one of the best shows on TV. The show itself takes place in Texas, during the 1980's, at the height of the computer race when everyone was trying to create the best machine possible. A small group of people, with a strong vision of the future, set out to redefine the computer industry and create something that would change the world. AMC can do no wrong when creating quality television and this show is another reason why they continue to be one of the best networks, alongside HBO, Showtime and FX.
With an excellent cast the consists of Lee Pace (Guardians of the Galaxy, The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies), Scott McNairy (Argo, Frank), Mackenzie Davis (That Awkward Moment), Kerry Bishe (Argo), and Toby Huss ("King of the Hill") it is hard to not be drawn to this show. Everyone is able to become a part of their character and escalate their acting, making it top notch. The story keeps you intrigued throughout and brings you back to a time where people were creating the future. "A lot of people are going to want us to fail, but that's because we're the future and there's nothing scarier than that". This is simply what this show is trying to say. No matter what the decade, everyone is looking to the future and if you are a step ahead of everyone when it comes, you will be changing the world. I highly recommend checking this show out. The first season is available on Netflix (or Blu Ray and DVD) so it is easily accessible. With only having ten episodes in the first season, it is easy to binge on this in a day and be all caught up. If you give it a shot you most certainly will not be disappointed. |
Authors:Pat Brennan: Recent Film grad from Temple University with a love for all aspects of film. David Fincher for life. Archives:
November 2016
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