The Best Science Fiction Films

It’s always been difficult to answer the “what’s your favorite movie” question. Being a ‘Sherlock’ of sorts with cinema, I simply have too much to factor in. A better response to the question should be, “which genre?” With this edition, I wanted to focus on the Sci-Fi genre. If I’m being honest with myself, I gravitate towards ‘types’ of films based upon mood just like anyone else but I also do a lot of my viewings in phases. Perhaps that’s why I’m writing this – lately I feel like I want to escape. What better genre of movie than science fiction?

Factors considered: Thought provocation, performances, writing, direction, and overall production (set pieces, cinematography, music, editing, etc.)

*This countdown starts with 16, because why not?

16. Her (2013)

This one is unfairly overlooked but it is likely due to the offbeat genres that director Spike Jonze (“Adaptation”, “Being John Malkovich”) continues to be known for. In this, we follow Theodore (Joaquin Phoenix), a depressed man who works as a writer of personal letters (for those that cannot write something personal themselves) and is dealing with the impending divorce of his childhood sweetheart (Rooney Mara). Still reeling and unhappy, Theodore ends up buying an operation system that is capable of learning on its own and has a personable voice. Theodore ends up selecting a female voice and naming the OS Samantha (voiced by Scarlett Johannson). Strangely, Theodore ends up developing a meaningful relationship with Samantha as she (the operating system) forces him to grow as a person. Theodore comes to terms with a lot in his life through Samantha. The two develop a relationship where the very nature of ‘love’ is questioned.  

The film is insightful and makes you question how we relate to each other and how the concept of ‘love’ is subjective. We all feel alone and wish to ‘truly connect’ with another. Never has a film captured this so well.
 

15. The Last Starfighter (1984)

Doesn’t everyone remember this film fondly? This, along with “Tron”, was one of the first films to use a lot of CGI. Looking back at the effects, you’d likely shake your head but you have to admire what they were trying to accomplish. The premise is neat in that it follows how a teenager (Alex), living in a trailer park, is obsessed with the arcade game, Starfighter, in which he must protect “the Frontier” from Xur and the Ko-Dan Armada. After becoming the highest scoring player, he is approached by an alien named Centauri who explains that the arcade game was a test to find those ‘gifted’ so that they may help in the fight against well, Xur and the Ko-Dan Armada. There’s a lot of 1980s cheese here too, including a subplot that finds a cloned android of Alex trying to pass as the real Alex.

This story is inspiring and fun to think about. What if that video game you’ve spent hundreds of hours playing was actually meant for something? Furthermore, the filmmakers are trying to figure out how to make a sequel but the last rumblings have this in the form of a virtual reality video game. It’s ‘mission: stay tuned’ for anything further from ‘The Last Starfighter’.
 

14. Planet of the Apes (1968)

“Take you stinking paws off me, you damn dirty ape!” – George Taylor (Charlton Heston)

I’d be a fool not to include this. The story on which the film is based was conceived due to author Pierre Boulle’s fascination with the humanlike expressions of apes. This led Boulle to begin questioning the relationship between man and ape. The plot of the book, “La Planete des Singes”, focused more on human overreliance with technology (and our complacency) which led to our overruling by the apes.

Anyways, the film follows how an astronaut, George Taylor (played by Charlton Heston), crash lands on a planet run by (you guessed it) apes. The apes are captivated by Taylor as he can actually speak, unlike the rest of the humans they have enslaved. Taylor tries to use his intelligence to outsmart the apes but it really only leads him to the most shocking truth by the film’s end – the planet that he is actually on is a futuristic earth – where the fall of man led to the rise of apes. I would say spoiler alert but it’s been 40 plus years.
 

13. Dark City (1998)

A man, Robert Murdoch (Rufus Sewell), wakes up in a bathtub without any memory as to who he is. He receives a phone call warning him that people are after him and that he must leave. During the call, he also realizes that there is a brutalized corpse on the floor which suggests he is a serial killer. This puts him on the run for answers that leads him to venture out the only memory he seems to have – of a place called ‘Shell Beach’. Soon, Murdoch comes to find out there are seemingly ‘alien like’ creatures (referred to as ‘strangers’) after him, especially after exhibits the ability to ‘tune’, which are ‘mind powers’.

I do not wish to spoil the ending of such a great film but would mention that if you have even the slightest sway to the sci-fi realm, then I highly recommend this. This also blends sci-fi with the noir genre of the 1940s/1950s – not just with story but also aesthetics. The film is one of the first of its kind – this came out before “The Matrix” mind you.
 
 

12. Donnie Darko (2001)

This was an indie film that had a huge cult following and helped give Jake Gyllenhaal his big break. The story is set in 1988 when a troubled teenager, Donnie Darko, is told by a man named Frank (in a giant rabbit costume) that the world is going to end in 28 days. After sleep walking, Donnie comes home to a jet engine having fallen on his room in his family’s house (no one knows where the jet engine came from). We then begin to learn more about Donnie via his sessions with his psychotherapist and how his actions are perpetrated by his visits with Frank (whom his therapist believes are hallucinations). Donnie even starts acting oddly and begins to understand how time travel could theoretically work. We are then thrust in a series of events that leads to the mysterious jet engine in the beginning of the film. Many heralded the film for its deeply emotional themes, scientific explorations, and open ended conclusion that left many in great discussion.
 

 
11. Predator (1984)

An alien with cornrows hunts down people one by one until there’s one left – Dutch (Arnie Schwarzenegger). Okay, it’s slightly more complicated than that. A group of mercenaries are recruited to rescue an official in the jungles of Val Verde (which is a fictional South/Central American country or city used by Hollywood to avoid getting into legal or diplomatic disputes). They soon come to find out that they are actually there to help the CIA gather further intelligence after a US Armed Special Forces unit was brutally murdered. Shortly thereafter, the ‘predator’ gets to work and starts picking off the mercenaries one by one. It’s up to Ah-nold to take down the bada$$ predator. The cast is rounded out by some greats – Carl Weathers, Jesse Ventura, and Sonny Landham.

Fun Fact: Jean Claude Van Damme was the initial actor chosen to play the Predator.
 

10. Alien (1979)

The ultimate sci fi/horror film not only made us crawl outside our own skin, but introduced a wonderfully directed movie from the visionary Ridley Scott. It may be best described as venereal horror in that many of the alien designs were symbolic of sexual organs attacking their hosts. Certainly creepy and a visual masterpiece, the story focuses on a space crew that answers a supposed distress signal on an alien planet but discover that it was actually a warning. Of course, all goes to hell when a contaminated member is allowed access to the ship causing all sorts of problems. This is a must watch.
 

 
9. Total Recall (1990)

I wish I could shut up about this movie. I constantly think about it. Society is getting closer and closer to the short story by Philip K. Dick – “We Can Remember for You Wholesale”, on which this movie is based. The story finds a man who decides to get a memory implant of an adventure on the planet Mars. He begins to awake in mid-implant and escapes realizing that it has been a set up and that he isn’t who he thinks he is. His entire life has been implanted with what he thinks is his real life. This is the strongest notion of the film – the idea that memories can be implanted when in fact they never happened. By the film’s end, we are unsure if what Arnie accomplished was real or was just an implanted memory he was recalling.

“Consider that a divorce” – Douglas McQuaid (Arnie Schwarzenegger)

Even if you don’t like the genre, the film boasts plenty of one-liners and action sequences to please any Schwarzenegger fan. Also, this is the same director behind other great movies – “Robocop” and “Basic Instinct”.
 

8. Minority Report (2002)

Based upon “The Minority Report” short story by (you guessed it) Philip K. Dick, this loose adaptation stars a classic Tom Cruise as John Anderton, a Pre-Crime agent in 2054 Washington, D.C. The agency is essentially run by three pre-cogs and their recorded visions. While on assignment, Anderton sees a recording of himself murdering someone (in the future…duh) and in utter shock (and with the intent to prove his innocence), he goes on the run. Tom Cruise loves to run. Anyways, the film explores the implications of what a ‘pre-cog’ program would have on society and ethics. Can someone really be guilty of a crime they haven’t (yet) committed? If such a program existed, would you be able to manipulate the results?

The film was directed by Steven Spielberg and includes an excellent musical score by John Williams and cinematography by Janusz Kaminski (“Schindler’s List”, “Saving Private Ryan”).
 

7. Back to the Future (1985)

“1.21 gigawatts?!!” – Dr. Emmett Brown (Christopher Lloyd)

One of the most fun time travel movies out there. Marty McFly (Michael J. Fox) and scientist pal, Dr. Brown (Christopher Lloyd) (not sure how they ever met), take on an adventure when Marty McFly (from 1985) time travels to 1955. Once there, he must recruit Dr. Emmett Brown (who has yet to invent time travel) to get him back to 1985 and also prevent some other ‘events’ from occurring – the fate of Marty’s parents (and his own existence) and Dr. Brown’s at the hands of terrorists.  

This movie is a staple of cinema not only because of the cool premise but also of the chemistry between Fox and Lloyd. The film can put anyone in a good mood (even if it doesn’t make logical sense). You can also add to the fact that almost everything about the film is iconic – the Delorean car, Marty’s ‘life preserver’, and the action set pieces – the lightning hitting the clock tower, Marty versus Biff and his goons, etc.

Fun Fact: Eric Stoltz was initially cast in the Marty McFly role and after a month into production was replaced with Michael J. Fox. This was supposedly due to the lack of on screen chemistry that was had between Lloyd and Stoltz.

 
 
6. Children of Men (2006)

The year is 2027 where two decades of human infertility has led to a chaotic world. The story follows a man, Theo (Clive Owen), who reluctantly helps a refugee to safety after he witnesses that she is actually pregnant. The film remains dynamic not just because of its premise but also the examinations of the fallout due to such a crisis. Political and social upheaval surrounds a group that is trying to help bring a child into the world. Themes of hope and faith are also explored.

The film features an excellent cast: Clive Owen, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Julianne Moore, Michael Caine, Charlie Hunnam and Danny Huston. The film was directed by Alfonso Cuaron (“Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban”, “A Little Princess” and “Gravity”). The story is based upon the book, “The Children of Men” by P.D. James.
 

5. The Matrix (1999)

“You think that’s air you’re breathing? Hmm…” – Morpheus (Laurence Fishburne)

No surprise to see this on here. This movie was a game changer and not just because of the revolutionary special effects but the philosophical notions embedded in the story. Would you want to live a lie (in the Matrix) or live in a post-apocalyptic world where a fight wages to destroy the machines’ hold on our consciousness? Also, is the very idea of ‘the Matrix’ plausible? This idea invokes emotions that liken to that of ‘Allegory of the Cave’ by Plato.

Even outside of this, we also get exceptional martial arts sequences that look like a plausible high flying/kicking kung fu movie from the 1970s. Oh and let us not forget about ‘bullet time’ and the advent of 360 degrees camera capturing technology. It is obvious many films copied this technique – “Swordfish”, “The One”, etc.

The film stars Keanu Reeves (who has a knack for picking excellent movies to be in), Laurence Fishburne, Carrie Anne Moss, and Hugo Weaving (always welcome in any movie).

 
4. Inception (2010)

You cannot simply sum up this film. It’s filled with ideas that range from how we conceptualize our dreams and reality to what we’d be faced with should we have the option to ‘share dreamspaces’. Christopher Nolan initially pitched a script to Warner Brothers Studios around 2002, and he would later be able to complete his film about dream stealers after he proved himself with movies like “The Prestige” and “The Dark Knight”. This remains a highly controversial film as to the many interpretations – which most revolved around which scene took place in reality and which was simply a dream. It seemed as though every viewer had a different interpretation of the story and this ignites discussion.

The special effects were top notch as were the performances from a stellar cast that includes: Leonardo DiCaprio, Tom Hardy, Ellen Page, Michael Caine, Joseph Gordon Levitt and Cillian Murphy. This is close to a masterpiece.

 
3. 2001: A Space Odyssey (1969)

Can you imagine seeing this in the year it came out? I would be floored and not just with the visuals towards the end of the film. This Stanley Kubrick directed masterpiece is based upon the short story “The Sentinel” by Arthur C. Clarke. It follows a space crew, along with a sentient computer, Hal, on a voyage to Jupiter after they discover a black monolith affecting human evolution. The film is pivotal for examining many large ideas like existentialism, artificial intelligence, human evolution and extra-terrestrial life. The narrative heavily relies upon visuals and there is not much need for dialogue. You add in the moving classical music with pioneering, revolutionary visual effects, and you have a film that is at the top of any sci-fi movie lovers list.

You can’t call yourself a sci-fi aficionado and not see this film.
 
 
 
2. Blade Runner (1982)

This is a truly transcendent film and one of the first in cinema history to tackle themes such as existentialism and what it means to be ‘human’. The story follows a special police operative, Rick Deckard, who agrees to one last mission to hunt down a replicant, an android based clone of a human. These replicants are made to work on dangerous assignments off world but some of them return to Earth to extend their lives (as their life span is only a few years). The problem is that replicants are banned from Earth. As Deckard investigates, he encounters a replicant (Rachael) who believes she is human (thanks to the Tyrell Corporation that manufactured her). Rachael is given false memories to provide an emotional layer to her programming. This programming helps blur the line between human and replicant, thereby making Deckard’s job more difficult. The rogue replicants that Deckard are hunting wish to ask their creator, Tyrell, to extend their lives and are willing to do ‘questionable’ things in order to do so.

The film is also based on a Philip K. Dick book, “Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep” and was directed by the master, Ridley Scott. One of the best sci-fi movies ever and you’d be hard pressed to find someone that disagrees with me.

 
1. Gattaca (1997)

The setting is ‘the not too distant future’ where humans are genetically altered to possess the best hereditary traits of their parents (can be viewed as a form of eugenics). The film brings about the potential problems of such a technology existing, which includes genetic discrimination. There are those labeled ‘valids’ and ‘in-valids’. We follow Vincent Freeman (Ethan Hawke), who was conceived naturally. Freeman tries everything to pass as a ‘valid’ so that he may accomplish his dream of becoming an astronaut. Along the way, he meets a tragic swimmer, Jerome Morrow (Jude Law), who was meant to be the best swimmer in the world but only received 2nd place and, as a result, placed himself in front of a car – leaving himself paralyzed.  

Highly possible and thought provoking, this film examines how our genes could be the only factor in determining our life long dreams. Moreover, this touches upon how hard work and determination juxtaposes that with simply having the ‘tools’ in order to succeed. Just like the tagline for the film, ‘there is no gene for the human spirit’.
 

Well, there you have it. This is the ‘quintessential’ sci-fi movie list. A lot of factors went into these decisions but I did leave out a couple that I didn’t quite feel like ‘made the cut’.

Honorable Mentions:

“The Thirteenth Floor” (1999) – Thought provoking for sure but everything else about the film could have been better. This examines the concept of virtual reality.

“Solaris” (2002) – Beautiful sci/fi love story set in space and based upon the Russian original under the same title. Human emotion is explored via sci-fi elements. The concept of love is used as a means to help us better understand who we are.

“Ex-Machina” (2015) – A programmer is invited to the estate of his company’s CEO to run Turing tests on his latest creation – Ava.

“The Thing” (1982) – At a research facility in the Antarctic is turned upside down when a crew come into contact with an extraterrestrial life form that imitates other organisms. Paranoia sets in as many do not know who is or is not infected.

“Interstellar” (2014) – In the near future, the ability to harvest crops at a global level continue to wane. A secret NASA facility is set up to send astronauts via a wormhole to potentially hospital planets. The other ‘rub’ is that these are likely one way trips. Controversial and intriguing. This doesn’t get on the list due to its weak ‘family’ and ‘love’ sub plots that undermine the plausibility of the story. The film would be way more gratifying if they fixed these problems. 

The Revenant is a Meditation in Primal Savagery

You know when you go into a theater with a certain expectation only to be let down afterwards? Well, The Revenant exceeded my wildest expectations. This is filmmaking at a whole other level. Never has a film used so many elements effectively in order to tell a gruesome, yet satisfying revenge thriller.

The story immediately begins on a tumultuous fur trading expedition in the 1820s. Things go from bad to worse as Hugh Glass (Leonardo DiCaprio) is mauled by a giant bear. As the group weighs what to do next, Fitzgerald (Tom Hardy) decides that carrying around a body in the bitter winter would put them all at risk. So, he decides to leave Glass for dead, while also killing his son, Hawk (as Glass watches helplessly). This sets up a quest not only for revenge but survival as Glass is fighting the harsh landscape while also trying to elude Pawnee and Sioux Indians.

Best Beer Pairing with The Revenant? Try Moose Drool Brown Ale by Big Sky Brewing (in Montana). As you immerse yourself in the movie’s wintry setting, there’s really nothing else like it.

If Leonardo DiCaprio doesn’t get an Oscar for his intense performance, I’ll likely stop watching the pretentious awards show altogether (that’s an empty threat). He has been nominated so many times and has yet to win. This should put him over the top. Then there’s Tom Hardy, who plays the cowardly Fitzgerald. Hardy’s voice is almost unintelligible in this, like most of his other films (see: The Dark Knight Rises, Mad Max: Fury Road) but provides a great villain with his ‘weaseling’ ways. The other notable actor in this is Domhnall Gleeson, who has been everywhere lately (see: Ex Machina, Star Wars: The Force Awakens) and doesn’t seem to be slowing down.

The script is written by Mark L. Smith and Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu based upon the 2002 novel by Michael Punke (titled The Revenant: A Novel of Revenge). Side note: you should check out Punke’s career thus far – pretty impressive.  So, just as the previews you saw, the film is based on a true story which only adds to its allure.  Strangely, there wasn’t that much dialogue but rather action. When dialogue occurs, it progresses the story. To put another way, there aren’t any unnecessary scenes.

Much credit must be given to the director, Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu, as his filmography is shaping up to be among the most diverse. Previously, he directed Birdman, Babel, 21 Grams, and Amores Perros. If you don’t remember last year’s Oscars, Birdman won for Best Picture along with Best Director. I wouldn’t be that surprised if he wins again for 2015. I read an article last year when Inarritu was in the middle of filming The Revenant and mentioned that he always likes to experiment with his movies. That notion seems to really be paying off. I haven’t been as engrossed in a film in a long time.

The settings of the film (Montana, Canada and Argentina) are among the most beautiful, barren landscapes ever caught on film. The settings are a character unto themselves. I know I’ve said this about other films but this should be doubly true when considering this. From the majestic mountains and unpredictable rivers to the wild animals that pervade the land, The Revenant is almost paying homage to a National Geographic film.

I almost forgot. The score of this film is intense. It was done by Ryuichi Sakamoto, who you probably aren’t familiar with. Sakamoto actually won an Oscar for Best Musical Score for The Last Emperor (1987), with his last work in Western cinema dating back to the film Snake Eyes (pre-“Not the Bees!” Nicolas Cage film) in 1998. The music perfectly lends itself the film and the physical and emotional struggle that Glass must endure.

There’s a lot of great symbology in the film as well. For instance, after the bear mauling, Glass ends up wearing the bear’s skin to continue to survive. This can be signifying how he has died and come back to life, reincarnated. After all, the film’s title is The Revenant where ‘revenant’ means ‘one that returns after death or a long absence’ (thanks Merriam Webster).

This brings me to the, ‘should I see it?’ segment of my review. A resounding YES is my answer (if you just skipped to this section!). Now, is it a date night movie? No. Is it geared more to men? Maybe. Will women hate this film? No, in fact there was a group of women that were literally on the edge of their seats throughout much of the film.

Be wary of the amount of violence (duh) in this. According to IMdB, the film has been “rated R for strong frontier combat and violence including gory images, a sexual assault, language and brief nudity”. I love me some strong frontier combat!

I want to see the movie again even though the run time is 2 hours and 36 minutes. The upside is that I will be able to conveniently take bathroom breaks!

Grade: A+

September 2015 Movie DvD/Blu-Ray Releases

September 1st

Mad Max: Fury Road – One of the most action packed movies to come out this summer and a real game changer. Sure, people may call out the thin plot but they are missing the point. In a film like this (an all out action/car chase spectacle), the plot does not need to necessarily be drawn out or complex. In fact, in some of the character developing scenes, you felt as if the film came to a crashing halt. Characters speak through their actions gawd dammit!

If you love action and appreciate large spectacle (and a cool looking dystopia future), I highly recommend this movie. Review here.

Also, check out the Honest Trailer for Mad Max: Fury Road by the folks at Screen Junkies. Pretty funny stuff.

 

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I’ll See You in My Dreams – Gwyneth Paltrow’s mom, Blythe Danner, stars in this movie as an aging widow trying to make sense of her life and love as she takes on dating again.

The D Train – A helpless guy named Dan (Jack Black) is the head of the High School Reunion Committee. Upon the 20 year reunion, Dan is having trouble conjuring up any interest in going. After seeing an old classmate in a commercial, he ventures out to see if he’ll attend the reunion — in the hopes that everyone else will too. You can see why you likely never heard of this. It’s been prepped for Direct to Video.

Good Kill – A fighter pilot turned drone pilot fights Taliban terrorists during the day via remote control and begins to question the ethics of his job. Starring Ethan Hawke (Boyhood, Gattaca, Before Sunrise), January Jones (Mad Men), and Bruce Greenwood (Star Trek). Directed by Andrew Niccol (Gattaca, writer of The Truman Show).

Boulevard – This is one of Robin Williams’ last performances as he stars as an older man going through a mid to mid/late life crisis. A man tries to come to grips with how he really feels about his wife. Couldn’t anyone else tell how Robin Williams was feeling by looking at his filmography during the later years of his life? This is another darker film for Williams. Bob Odenkirk (Better Call Saul, Mr. Show) and Kathy Baker co-star.

7 Minutes – Two brothers and a friend attempt to pay back a debt in order to save their lives. They believe they only need 7 minutes to attempt a robbery. Luke Mitchell, Jason Ritter (John Ritter’s son) and Kris Kristofferson (Blade) star.

Face of an Angel – This is supposed to be a fictional re-imagining of the Amanda Knox murder trial. You know, that one girl (and her boyfriend at the time) that was accused of murdering her roommate while in Italy.  Kate Beckinsale (Serendipity, Underworld), Daniel Bruhl (Rush) and Cara Delevingne (Paper Towns, upcoming Suicide Squad) star.

 

September 8th

The Age of Adaline – A lady finds herself in a car accident and comes to the realization that she can no longer age. Man, even romantic dramas are copying off the notion of Highlander. For some reason, Blake Lively’s character believes she must not tell anyone about her secret. That is, until she falls in love. Pass!

American Heist – The post Star Wars career of Hayden Christensen is down right embarrassing (you could also say the same for Oscar Winner Adrien Brody). He recently starred in a forgotten movie with Nicolas Cage called Outcast (at least I remember it!) that was soon in the Video on Demand section. The generic title of this movie matches the generic story. Two brothers with a troubled past try to go ‘legit’ but they have to pull off a seemingly impossible bank heist. Adrien Brody (The Pianist)  and Jordana Brewster (Fast and Furious) co-star.

 

September 15th

Furious 7 – You better get ‘revved’ up for this high octane sequel. Insane amounts of action and a bevy of stars kick this summer blockbuster into high gear. Race car puns!

“You almost had me? You never had me! Ya never had ya car!” – Dom Toretto in The Fast and the Furious

Cinderella – Lily James stars as the titular character in this go around from director Kenneth Branagh (Thor, Sleuth). The film co-stars Cate Blanchett (The Lord of the Rings trilogy), Richard Madden (Game of Thrones) and Helena Bonham Carter (most every Tim Burton movie as of late, Harry Potter films).

Monkey Kingdom – This documentary chronicles a family of monkeys as they yearn to climb up the social ranks of their group just as an invasion of other monkeys changes things. Starring monkeys.

Love & Mercy – This drama follows the events in the life of Brian Wilson (Paul Dano), front man of the Beach Boys. More specifically, it chronicles how fame influenced Wilson and the manipulative relationship he had with his therapist. The film also stars John Cusack (Say Anything, Gross Pointe Blank), Paul Giamatti (Sideways, The Illusionist, Straight Outta Compton) and Elizabeth Banks (The Hunger Games, The Lego Movie).

The Overnight – This comedy is about how a couple and their child, who after moving to L.A., is invited to an overnight play date. Adam Scott (Parks and Recreation, A.C.O.D., Party Down), Taylor Schilling (Orange is the New Black), and Jason Schwartzman (Rushmore, Bored to Death, The Grand Budapest Hotel) star.

Heaven Knows What –This is a drama about a young heroin addict as she roams the streets for her next fix. It doesn’t make thing better when her unstable boyfriend shows up. Although the synopsis doesn’t do anything for me, the critics that have seen this have high praise. Not sure why. They called it a ‘junkie drama’. I just love those!

 

September 22nd

Pitch Perfect 2 – The acappella group, Barden Bellas, are at it again. This time they are competing against real acappella groups (they weren’t last time?) while also dealing with the eventual end to college and entering the adult world. I don’t do musicals but I have to admit that I enjoyed the first installment and may just give this a chance too. Anna Kendrick, Rebel Wilson, Adam DeVine and Brittany Snow return to star.

Saint Laurent – This follows French fashion designer, Yves Saint Laurent, as he took the fashion industry by storm in 1967 (at just 30 years old). He was known to ignore social issues at the time and brought more people of color as models. He is responsible for a lot of the clothing still available at stores today. The drama features Gaspard Ulliel (Hannibal Rising), Jeremie Renier, and Lea Seydoux (Blue is the Warmest Color, upcoming Spectre, upcoming Gambit movie).

Results – A recently divorced rich dude decides to become a gym rat. Comedy ensues (supposedly). Guy Pearce (mostly good movies – Prometheus, Memento), Cobie Smulders (How I Met Your Mother, Avengers), Kevin Corrigan (Pineapple Express), and even Anthony Michael Hall (The Breakfast Club) star in this direct to video movie.

 

September 29th

Spy – Melissa McCarthy is definitely throwing her weight around in this movie! I’m not sure what I meant by that. Look, at first I wasn’t interested in seeing this movie but I just love Jude Law and Jason Statham so you can be sure I’ll at least be renting this. The film revolves around how a CIA agent (McCarthy), that is integral to top missions, is never actually in the field. When an agent’s identity is compromised, she is recruited to get dirty and do some field work.

Poltergeist – Another needless remake. You may know the story already — A family move into a house that was built on a burial ground. The spirits are angry and kidnap the family’s daughter so they can use her as a portal to this world. Just see the original. This remake stars the amazingly talented Sam Rockwell (Moon, Confessions of a Dangerous Mind –why Sam? why!?), Rosemarie DeWitt, and Jared Harris (Sherlock Holmes: Game of Shadows, Mr. Deeds).

Entourage – This was a fun, little movie but would’ve been better as a TV movie on HBO (review here). It’s the same formula as the 25 minute episode show but drawn out to an hour and a half or so. Some funny moments but the story seemed to drag at parts. I will say that it was fun to see with a group of friends. Ya know? There’s a lot to identify with. Adrien Grenier, Jeremy Piven, Kevin Connolly, Kevin Dillon and Billy Bob Thornton star in this which includes a lot of celebrity cameos.

Cop Car – This is more of an independent film that has an interesting premise. Two boys come across an empty police car and decide to take it for a joy ride. This ends up pissing off a corrupt sheriff (Kevin Bacon) and turns the story into a cat and mouse game. The film has received a good amount of praise — Rotten Tomatoes: 77%.

Aloft – A mother and son are separated after an accident. The mother becomes a famous artist and the son masters the art of falconry. They are brought together by a journalist and end up realizing what it means to be alive. The film stars the beautiful Jennifer Connolly (Requiem for a Dream, Labyrinth, A Beautiful Mind), Melanie Laurent (Inglorious Basterds), and Cillian Murphy (Sunshine, 28 Days Later, Batman Begins). Looks a little pretentious but I’m slightly interested.

An American in Hollywood – The story here follows a guy and a group of his friends that move to Hollywood to become ‘real artists’ (instead of fake ones).  A young actress ends up complicating things. Starring no one you’ve likely heard of — J.D. Williams, Hassan Johnson and Anil Raman.

Return to Sender – A nurse named Miranda (Rosamund Pike) is living a pleasant life until she has a date with a man named Kevin that leads to her being raped.  Eventually, Kevin is captured although Miranda would still like to know why she was attacked. Miranda tries to maintain contact with her assailant to know why he did what he did. *Sounds like a Lifetime Movie. The movie co-stars Rumer Willis (Bruce Willis’ daughter) and crazy Nick Nolte.

The Slap – At a birthday party, a kid kicks one of the guests (Peter Sarsgaard) in the leg which results in him slapping the kid. This causes a whirlwind of problems, including a police investigation. This is another drama that I wouldn’t be surprised if it lands on the Lifetime Network (I’d slap myself for seeing this).  The all star cast includes Melissa George, Brian Cox, Zachary Quinto, Uma Thurman and Thandie Newton.

Unexpected – Cobie Smulders stars as a teacher who gets pregnant who must consider exchanging her career for motherhood. Yawn!

 

August 2015 Movie Releases (DvD & Blu-Ray)

August 4^th

Insurgent – The movie cousin to The Hunger Games has a sequel. Based upon the YA(young adult) novel, this sequel focuses on the war between four factions (Amity, Abnegation, Erudite, and Dauntless). Tris is one of the divergents (having all 4 characteristics) as she helps lead the way in a fight for peace or something like that. Starring: Shailene Woodley, Theo James, Kate Winslet and the god awful Jai Courtney.

Do You Believe? – A religious movie about how a pastor influences another pastor to be more pastorly. Starring: Mira Sorvino, Sean Astin (Rudy), and Cybill Shepherd.

True Story – This is that James Franco and Jonah Hill movie that was based on a true story. It focuses on the relationship between a writer, Finkel (Hill) and a murderer, Longo (Franco), taking upon Finkel’s identity. Finkel was a writer for the New York Times Magazine and was actually fired for fabricating parts of a news story in 2002.

Child 44 – Tom Hardy plays a Russian Intelligence agent (in the Joseph Stalin era) who takes on a case involving multiple murders of children. Leo Demidov’s (Hardy) case leads to high authorities in the Russian government. Based upon the first in a trilogy of novels by Tom Rob Smith, the story follows Demidov’s exploits. Starring: Tom Hardy, Noomi Rapace (Prometheus), Gary Oldman (The Dark Knight, The Professional), Joel Kinnaman (The Killing, upcoming Suicide Squad), Jason Clarke (Dawn of the Planet of the Apes), Vincent Cassel (Trance), and Charles Dance (Game of Thrones, The Golden Child).An incredible cast doesn’t always spell box office success. Still, I am likely to rent this.

A Little Chaos – A movie about competitive garden designers that are tasked to create a one of a kind water fountain on the grounds of le chateau de Versailles. I’m not making this up. Starring: Kate Winslet (The Reader), Alan Rickman (Harry Potter), Stanley Tucci(Transformers 4: Age of Extinction), and Matthias Schoenaerts (Bullhead).

Adult Beginners – A drama about a businessman (Nick Kroll) that loses it all but while staying with his sister (Rose Byrne) learns valuable life lessons. Starring: Nick Kroll (The League), Rose Byrne (X-Men: First Class), Bobby Cannavale (Ant-Man), Joel McHale (Ted) and Jason Mantzoukas (The Dictator, The League).

The Salvation – Mads Mikkelsen stars as a vengeful settler in the American West circa 1870s after the murder of his family. After killing the man responsible, the leader of their gang also seeks revenge. Looks like a decent flick. Starring: Mads Mikkelsen (Casino Royale, Hannibal), Eva Green (Casino Royale), and Jeffrey Dean Morgan (Watchmen).

Barely Lethal – This movie follows a 16 year old teenager assassin after she fakes her own death and enrolls in a suburban high school. She quickly learns that school clicks and popularity come at a price. Starring: Jessica Alba (Sin City), Sophie Turner (Game of Thrones), and Samuel L. Jackson (every movie). Yawn!

Madame Bovary – A drama focusing on an adulterous wife as she tries to escape her boring lifestyle. Starring: Mia Wasikowska (In Treatment, Alice in Wonderland), Ezra Miller (Trainwreck, upcoming Flash), Paul Giamatti (Sideways) and Rhys Ifans (The Amazing Spider-Man).

Jackie & Ryan – Katherine Heigl still manages to headline movies, although this one looks straight to video. The story involves two musicians as they find themselves in love. Starring Katherine Heigl, Ben Barnes and Clea DuVall.

 

August 11^th

Hot Pursuit – All of the previews for this mess looked like a rip off of The Heat with Sandra Bullock and Melissa McCarthy. This is a ‘female buddy’ film that has a conservative cop (Reese Witherspoon) and the wife of a drug dealer (Sofia Vergara) that must team up against a drug cartel. If Sofia’s blabbering accent on Modern Family isn’t enough for you, then check this out!

Unfriended – A high school girl that killed herself due to a cruel prank now communicates via Skype in video group chats! Okay, it sounds lame but at least it’s a different way for the genre of horror to reach another generation of kids.

Robot Overlords – Humans are slaves to a race of robots that conquered the world. People are confined to their homes and must wear implants. I’m not sure how this escaped me as it stars Ben Kingsley (Ghandi, Tut) and Gillian Anderson (X-Files). I may watch if the SyFy Channel picks it up.

 

August 18^th

Little Boy – A seven year old boy ventures off to bring his father back home from the World War II. The boy’s innocence incites those embedded in the war. Starring Emily Watson, Kevin James (you read that right), Michael Rapaport, Tom Wilkinson and Ali Landry (that hot Dorito’s commercial girl).

Lambert & Stamp – This documentary chronicles the journey of aspiring filmmakers, Christopher Stamp and Kit Lambert, as they try to produce a movie during the 1960’s underground music scene. The doc also features footage with famous people related to The Who, Richard Barnes, Roger Daltry, and Pete Townshend.

5 to 7 – This is a romantic comedy that follows a woman who writes about falling in love. Things get crazy when the person she is in love with is the French diplomat’s wife! Gasp! Caged Heat sounds better.

Strangerland – A family moves to the Australian outback when a dust storm results in the loss of their children. A search party forms to find the missing children amidst rumors and suspicion. Spooky! Starring: Nicole Kidman (Fur), Joseph Fiennes (Voldemort’s brother) and Hugo Weaving (The Matrix, Lord of the Rings).

The Riot Club – In this thriller, two freshman join an infamous club at Oxford. One day, all of the spoiled, rich students get in over their heads. Based upon the play, Posh.  The movie,Skulls, is probably much better than this but that ain’t saying much!

Vendetta – Remember Dean Cain? Well, if you haven’t went out of your way to research where he’s been, you’d still only remember him for playing Superman in the TV series, Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman. Mr. Cain has been playing in direct to video movies for quite some time. In this movie, he plays a cop who must get revenge after his wife is murdered by The Big Show (Paul Wight or WWE fame). This looks like hung-over viewing.

 

August 25^th

Aloha – An all-star cast surrounds this box office disappointment. Brian Gilcrest is a US weapons consultant that becomes disgraced, then later talks to a robot and then eventually heads to Hawaii to oversee the launch of a spy satellite. He must also get permission for the launch from the Hawaiian council as part of his assignment. Directed by fan-favorite Cameron Crowe (Almost Famous, Jerry Maguire) and starring: Bradley Cooper, Emma, Stone, Rachel McAdams, John Krasinski, Danny McBride, Alec Baldwin, and Bill Murray.

Citizenfour – This riveting looking documentary showcases how filmmaker, Laura Poitras (who focuses on gov’t surveillance of private citizens post 9/11) receives an encrypted email by “citizenfour” who claims to have inside knowledge of covert surveillance by intelligence agencies. “Citizenfour” ends up being Edward Snowden. The documentary focuses on key interviews with Snowden and Julian Assange. Looks very interesting.

Where Hope Grows – Holy 1980s! This movie stars Danica McKellar (The Wonder Years) and William Zabka (bad guy from The Karate Kid). The story focuses on a former professional baseball player who retires because of panic attacks. He eventually develops a relationship with a store clerk who has Downs Syndrome. His perspective on life changes and hope is learned…blah…blah…blah….I’ll pass.

Two Days, One Night – Marion Cotillard (Inception, La Vie en Rose) stars in this drama about how working class people who may have been disenfranchised from society. Sandra (Cotillard) tries to return to her job after an episode of depression only to find that her employer no longer needs her. She learns her fate is to be decided by her fellow employees in a vote.

Big Game – A teenager finds the President of the United States in a pod while hunting. Together they must make it through the woods alive as terrorists close in. Starring: Samuel L. Jackson (every movie) and Onni Tommila.

Skin Trade – Dolph Lundgren stars as a detective out for revenge after his family was slain by the mob. The mob is eventually connected to a human trafficking ring and Dolph must work with Tony Jaa (Ong Bak, The Defender), a Thai detective, to destroy them once and for all. Hung-over viewing.

Justice League: Gods and Monsters – Set in an alternate universe, DC’s trinity (Wonder Woman, Batman and Superman) find themselves framed for a bombing. DC’s main guns all have different origin stories and must decide whether they want to save the world or conquer it. Voice actors: Benjamin Bratt, Michael C. Hall, Tamara Taylor, Jason Isaacs and C. Thomas Howell. It’s a comic book animated movie! Count me in.

Lila & Eve – A drama/thriller surrounding a mother, Lila, who loses her son in a drive by shooting.  Lila eventually meets Eve, another mother who lost her daughter the same night. Together they go after the criminals responsible. Starring: Viola Davis and Jennifer Lopez. Lifetime should starting making theatrical releases.

October Gale – This follows a doctor who tries to assist an injured man on an island from a man that is hunting him. Starring Patricia Clarkson, Scott Speedman, and Tim Roth.

The Runner – Nicolas Cage is back again as a once idealistic politician that must re-examine his life after a sex scandal destroys his career. Not to be confused with a good movie, this stars Nicolas Cage, Sarah Paulson (12 Years a Slave), Peter Fonda (Easy Rider) and Connie Nielsen (Gladiator). Will Nic Cage ever make a comeback from box office obscurity?

Mad Max: Fury Road – Review

It’s crazy that this movie took so long to come out but this is mostly because of production issues that came as a result of 9/11, Mel Gibson’s public meltdown, and unexpected rainfall in Australia. The film finally began production in 2012 with a new Max Rockatansky and a new story following our hero after his wife and daughter were slain in the original Mad Max (1979).

Max is first seen wandering the deserted wastelands and eventually captured to become a blood bank for the warlord, Immortan Joe (Hugh Keys Byrne – actor from original – ‘Toecutter’). Things go from crazy to crazier as Furiosa (Charlize Theron) and a group of Joe’s breeders plan an escape. Max comes to their aid by happenstance and then takes a backseat to Furiosa for the rest of the film.

Performances were strong but were felt most by Furiosa. You could tell this was a woman who has seen a lot of sh*t. Her face says it all really. Her desire for the ‘green place’ gives her and others hope. The idea of a better tomorrow is touched upon when the movie felt like it came to a holt but this is because the entire movie is action.

Dialogue was kept to a minimum like the previous films. Tom Hardy only has a few lines (which is to be expected) but it hindered ‘his story’ to focus on Furiosa’s. We get very quick glimpses of Max’s past but I couldn’t help but think of how audiences that haven’t seen the original trilogy interpreted this. It doesn’t make much sense to bring up a character’s backstory without fully explaining it outright, especially when it doesn’t do anything for the story.

The look of the film is gorgeous as you might have already guessed. Sprawling open, desert landscapes offer the perfect setting for action infused chase sequences. Vibrant orange hues give a sense of urgency and dark blue hues give way to the ominous locale. The very setting and ‘look’ of the film are characters in themselves and lend to the brutality of the action before your eyes.

Let us not forget the musical score by Junkie XL. His music was overlaid heavily with the action (which was most all of the movie). His take on the adventure is exciting and keeps me wondering how his music will sound in Batman V Superman: Dawn of Justice (he’s composing alongside Hans Zimmer).

All in all, even though there were a couple things that can be seen as flaws, this movie is an action masterpiece. The amount of coordination that went into the movie must have been absolutely crazy. This took about two years to film.

I hope that the sequels (Hardy already signed up for three more) focus more on Max and his ever changing adventures. Hell, I’d love a Furiosa spin off as well!

Grade: A

Mad Max Fury Road trailer !

I would’ve paid money to watch this trailer!!!

As if the teasers were not enough, we get more footage and info about the story of this much anticipated movie which opens May 15, 2015. Also, a very strong rumor is going around that the “Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice” movie trailer will drop that day as well.

George Miller returns to direct, in which looks like the opposite of his more recent films — “Happy Feet”, as Tom Hardy stars as Mad Max and Charlize Theron as Furiosa. The plot looks to follow Max as he helps Furiosa escape a warlord. Sorry if I’m a day late to this! Been busy! The film looks so gorgeous!