Samstag, 28. Januar 2017

HELL OR HIGH WATER - Movie Review

Title: Hell or High Water
Running Time: 102 min
Director: David Mackenzie
Writer: Taylor Sheridan
Starring: Chris Pine, Ben Foster, Dale Dickey, Jeff Bridges, Gil Birmingham

Review: 
If you say you will do something come hell or high water, you mean you are determined to do it whatever difficulties might occur. Take this phrase as the title of a heist film, give it a dusty Texas setting and add a mumbling Jeff Bridges in the role of a ranger and you have yourself a promising neo-western crime drama. The script with the working title "Comancheria" landed on 2012 Blacklist (a list of the most promising, unfilmed screenplays) and four years later the finished product received a total of four Oscar-Nominations including its writer Taylor Sheridan.
"Hell or High Water" is the story of two men, Toby (played by Chris Pine) and Tanner Howard (played by Ben Foster), who are not only brothers by blood, but also brothers in arms when in comes to robbing banks. While Tanner has always been a troublemaker and even spent time in jail, Toby has so far lived an ordinary man's life. It is the death of their mother that puts Toby on the path of a criminal. As she was left broke and in debt due to a reverse mortgage of the Texas Midland Bank, the brothers seek revenge by robbing banks of that exact branch, planning to pay them back with their own money.
Whereas the premise of the film might not be the newest thing under the sun, the movie stands out through its characters, dialogue and specific atmosphere. For one, even though this movie takes place in modern times, you really get the old western vibes. There are deserted small towns, outlaws, cowboy hats, shoot-outs and even something resembling the old-school horse-ride-pursuit sequences. Its style sucks you right into the film. In addition, the characters are written in such a way that you understand and care about all of them, even when they are on opposing sides. Toby is a man who does wrong things for the right reasons. Tanner is quick-tempered (think Joe Pesci in "Goodfellas") and gets into trouble. But every now and then you can see that he loves his family very much, he just feels like his path is set and he can't escape it. Jeff Bridge's Hartigan has very hard shell, but you get more and more glimpses at the soft core underneath it as the movie progresses. His colleague Alberto (portrayed by Gil Birmingham) is an all around good guy, so much so, that he even expresses sympathy for the brothers they chase.
In fact, there is no bad guy in this film. At least not one of flesh and blood. The real villainous force in this film is the banks and a reprobate system that works at the expense of the common people. It is a phenomenon that strongly shapes the area the movie is set in, including all of its inhabitants, and the film really captures that very specific zeitgeist. As a result, the movie feels completely authentic and you can quickly empathize even with the smallest secondary characters.
The actors are all giving a hundred per cent across the board and especially Jeff Bridges gives a multi-layered performance that is simply excellent. Director David Mackenzie tops it all off with some marvelously composed shots, cleverly constructed sequences and a distinct dusty look. It is an atmospheric piece of cinema that finds a good balance between character exploration and action. Worth the ticket. Worth your time.

For Fans Of:
The Town (2010)
True Grit (2010)
Killing Them Softly (2014)
No Country For Old Men (2007)
The Place Beyond The Pines (2012)
Public Enemies (2009)
Money Monster (2016)

Click Here To Watch Trailer!

Dienstag, 24. Januar 2017

MANCHESTER BY THE SEA - Movie Review

Title: Manchester by the Sea
Running Time: 137 min
Director: Kenneth Lonergan
Writer: Kenneth Lonergan
Starring: Casey Affleck, Lucas Hedges, Michelle Williams, Kyle Chandler

Review:
Matt Damon had big plans for "Manchester by the Sea". After pitching writer Kenneth Lonergan the idea for a script and immediately falling in love with its first draft, he decided he did not only want to produce, but also direct and star in this film. But Damon is a busy man and the production of "The Martian" and his fourth "Bourne" outing brought production of this movie to a halt. To make sure the film got made, he handed the director's chair to Lonergan, but said he would only give up the leading role for one actor: Casey Affleck. Well, Affleck took the role and Damon was left "just" producing the film. And as good of an actor as Matt Damon, it seems like it was the right decision.
"Manchester by the Sea" is an emotional drama that stands and falls with the leading man's performance, and Casey Affleck absolutely kills it in this role. The story revolves around a lonesome man, Lee, from Boston who unexpectedly becomes the guardian of his nephew when his brother dies of a heart disease. On top of all the struggle that usually comes with such a situation, the boy lives in Lee's old hometown, a place that he deliberately moved away from to escape his most painful memories.
Kenneth Lonergan's screenplay is beautiful, unpolished and real. Not one scene is romanticized or overly dramatized. People in real-life just don't go out and have outbursts all the time, and thus, a lot of moments in this film play out less pompous than you think. Sometimes they are somewhat awkward and at multiple points even unexpectedly funny. It is a script that doesn't cry for your attention, it earns it. Lonergan creates tension by having his characters share very little about their feelings through the dialogue, having their repressed emotions build up over timeThrough a pointedly use of flashbacks he then withholds or reveals information in a way that maximizes their effectiveness.
This also means, of course, that the script calls for great actors that can display all those hidden emotions non-verbally, and Affleck is absolutely perfect for that. It just takes one look in his eyes to see all the pain that lies behind them. His portrayal of Lee is subtle, nuanced and yet endlessly expressive. The character is a hugely withdrawn person, but Affleck evokes so much empathy for him, that when he finally opens up, even just a little bit, it hits you. And it hits you hard. It is an absolutely masterful and heartbreaking performance. His Academy Award nomination is more then deserved, and so would be a win. All of the members of his supporting cast however are on the top of their game as well (Hedges and Williams also with Oscar nominations), and so when the characters interact, it feels like you are watching actual people.
"Manchester by the Sea" is an incredibly effective drama that is as genuine as it gets. Although it is a very sad film, it takes time to give you enough light moments in between so that the sadness you are left with is one that makes you appreciate the good things in your life. Come for Affleck's performance. Stay for the wonderful story. You will not regret it.


For Fans Of:
Locke (2013)
Wild (2014)
We Need to Talk About Kevin (2011)
Up In The Air (2009)

Click Here To Watch Trailer!

Donnerstag, 19. Januar 2017

LA LA LAND - Movie Review

Title: La La Land
Running Time: 128 min
Director: Damien Chazelle
Writer: Damien Chazelle
Starring: Emma Stone, Ryan Gosling,  Rosemarie Dewitt, John Legend, J.K. Simmons

Review: 
"And the Golden Globe goes to... La La Land.“ Yes, this film broke records by winning a total of 7 Golden Globes including awards for its actors, director and music. As a result, in countries where the film is still playing in theaters, the lines for this movie are huge. But what does this romantic musical have that makes it earn so much praise? Can you believe the critical hype?
Well, once you have watched „La La Land“, it becomes clear why the Hollywood Foreign Press Association celebrates it that much: The whole film is a love letter to Hollywood. It is also, so it seems, director Damien Chazelles' apology to all those who felt he misrepresented the spirit of Jazz in „Whiplash“. Our two protagonists are just two lonely souls trying to make it big in the City of Angels (or the City of Stars as Gosling sings of it). One as an actress, the other as a pianist. Both of them dwell on the past, admiring the classic stars of their craft and the glamour of it all.
For the third time, Gosling and Stone are pairing up to play an amorous couple, and their familiarity with each other becomes apparent on screen. They have great chemistry together and since their both playing very much within their wheelhouse (Emma Stone even gets to do a short lip sync performance as she did on the Tonight Show), they play their parts with such an ease that their characters and their relationship seem incredibly natural. On top of that, of course, they had to manage the singing, the dancing and in Gosling's case the piano playing. They pass on all three of those. Sure, there might be better singers than Stone and better dancers than Gosling, but its their comprehensive package that totally sells the film. And Ryan Gosling's skills on the ivories are impressive, especially when you consider he had to learn it from scratch for this film.
But our two actors are not the only players that do their job more than well. Damien Chazelle's direction is incredibly beautiful. Through a pointed use of long takes and conspicuous lighting, he manages to accentuate the musical performances in a way that they feel almost detached from the actual story line. Paradoxically, this makes the musical aspect of the film more believable as you don't have the impression that the characters randomly break out into a song, but rather that (like a dream sequence) the act is just an artistic representation of the characters' innermost thoughts and emotions. You will notice that he usually refrains from doing so, when the characters actually play music for others within the story. In addition, Chazelle also avails himself of the L.A. setting of the film. On every occasion, he stages his scenes around the city in a way that underlines their tone or visually expresses what the characters are going through. It's a treat for the eyes.
The story itself is not only a cute love-story but a tale of dreams, hopes and wishes and how we go about them as our life progresses. The afore mentioned magnificent work of the talents involved manages to save the film from becoming too cheesy, and just when you think you a schmaltzy Hollywood ending is coming up, the film turns it around and delivers a strong conclusion.
So does "La La Land" deserve the hype? Is it even worthy of a Best Picture Oscar? I can't say for sure. It doesn't have the relevance of a "12 Years a Slave", the philosophy of a "Birdman" or the big emotional punch of  a "Spotlight", but then again the conversation whether only heavy-hearted dramas are worthy of prestigious Awards is long overdue. What I can say however, is that this is not a chick-flick, but rather a carefully crafted, charmingly acted and delightfully told romantic musical that will enchant and entertain you for its entire run time. Is there more you could ask for?

For Fans Of:
The Artist (2011)
Singin' in the Rain (1952)
West Side Story (1961)
Crazy Stupid Love (2011)

Click Here To Watch Trailer!

Dienstag, 17. Januar 2017

TOP 10 FILMS OF 2016

 Hello there puny humans,
2016 was an weird year. Politically, for me personally and even movie wise. There were so many highly anticipated blockbusters. Star Wars was back, Independence Day, Marvel Studios, DC, Star Trek, The X-Men and even Harry Potter. Some of these even with two new entries to their franchise. Quite a few of them were huge hits, others were destroyed by critics and audiences alike, and in between we even got indie flicks about blood drinking models or corpses with a thirst for adventure. And while, having a life and all that, I was not able to watch every single movie that came out this year (I've missed gems like Sing Street, The Lobster or the afore mentioned The Neon Demon), I think I've covered all the big ones and a few more. So much so, that for the first time, I acquired a "Most Disappointing Films of 2016"-list this year (coming soon). Further more, this list is based on German release dates, meaning that some films from late 2015 could still make it, while other more recent films couldn't. It was tough to put this list together, but for this year I decided to look at what movie personally stuck with me the most. But now without further ado, here are my 10 favorite films of 2016:

10. "DEADPOOL"
The number ten spot on my list was hard-fought, but in the end, the Merc with a Mouth came out on top (his healing factor might have something to do with that). I initially missed this film in theaters and only caught up on it recently on DVD. Till then, the movie had already been hyped up so much that it annoyed me, and I went into full "I read Deadpool Comics before he was mainstream"-huffy-Hipster-Mode. But exactly that statement is one of the reasons I ended up enjoying this film so much. Deadpool is a spot-on adaptation of the comic-book character. It's bloody, it's vulgar, it's childish and just a whole lot of fun. Additionally, it was refreshing to see a small-scale superhero film for once. To all who couldn't get enough of Wade Wilson, I recommend to read Deadpool: Dracula's Gauntlet and Deadpool/Spider-Man Vol. 1 - Isn't it bromantic.

9. "ZOOTOPIA"
I usually don't watch a lot of animated movies. Even though they entertain me well enough, they usually fail to make a big impression. Zootopia however was different. On the one hand, it took heavy inspiration from the classic film-noir. Its story-line played out less like a kids movies and more like the mystery crime dramas I love so dearly. With the addition of the comedic buddy cop element, the whole thing felt like a film that Shane Black would write if someone forced him to go PG. And there were pop-culture references galore. It was fantastic. On the other hand, the film very openly dealt with the topic of discrimination, which I feel quite strongly about. While some accused the movie of being unfocused on that regard, I think it just holistically depicted the complexity of the topic. My future children will have to watch this!

8. "NOCTURNAL ANIMALS"
When I first saw the trailer for this December release, I wasn't quite sure what to make of the film. I decided to skip this one for now, and catch it some time later. After a recommendation of a trusted friend however, I bought the ticket anyways, and I am so very glad that I did. Nocturnal Animals was a cunning thriller that was suspenseful through and through. It is a tale of love and revenge, two things we can all relate to, and it completely engages you. You can tell that writer-director Tom Ford is first and foremost a visual artist, as this is an incredible visually driven film. The way he weaves the two stories into each other is brilliant, and as the film progresses he even begins toying with the audience's expectations. With its recurring themes and images, the film is so carefully crafted that I felt I immediately had to watch it again to analyze it.

7. "THE NICE GUYS"
I mentioned earlier that I liked Zootopia because it felt a little bit like a Shane Black movie. Well, this one actually is a Shane Black movie. And a damn good one. The creator of Kiss Kiss Bang Bang has done it again. This film is a neo-noir buddy cop movie that is absolutely hilarious. Russell Crowe and Ryan Gosling get to show off their great comedic chops, and as usual the dialogue, no, the whole film is written with a very special kind of humor. Wrapped inside of it, is a fun mystery that demands to be solved. Black has the gift to make his characters seem like everyday-people by letting them make mistakes and have their stupid moments. It is so beautifully random that it is almost impossible to foresee when a scene will be told straight or end in a goofy way. Therefore, it becomes incredibly unpredictable. The Nice Guys is one of those films where you quote your favorite scenes back and forth with your friends with whom you just left the theater. Absolutely Golden.

6. "ARRIVAL"
If the name Denis Villeneuve doesn't ring a bell by now, it should after this article! The french-canadian director has one hell of a resumé, with psychological thrillers like Prisoners, Enemy and Sicario under his belt. Arrival marks his first venture into sci-fi and shows that the guy can apperently do anything. The film is an incredibly intelligent science-fiction piece, that takes a more realistic approach than some others: The aliens do not land only in America (nor on its landmarks), they are not immediately aggressive and the first action of the government is not to draw weapons, but to find a way to comunicate with them. It is in a way a film about language and how it affects our way of thinking. Might sound boring to some, but I assure you it is the exact opposite. Villeneuve is a master of suspense and even catches you off guard with an unexpected plot twist. On top of that, the design and concept of the heptapods, their space-ships, and they're language is so imaginative that you want to explore it just as much as our main characters do. This film is smart. I love smart films.

5. "10 CLOVERFIELD LANE"
Kicking off the Top Five is a film that I knew I would enjoy, but didn't know I would enjoy this much. 10 Cloverfield Lane sucked me in from minute one and gave me an absolute thrill ride. In its core, the premise is simple: After a car accident, a young women finds herself in a locked shelter/bunker with two men who claim the outside world was contaminated by a chemical attack. But as you read this you are already asking yourselves some intriguing questions, that the film attempts to answer. Sure, there are a lot of claustrophobic thrillers where a person doesn't quite know what's going on, but this film stands out because of a few simple things. Firstly, there is John Goodman's performance as Howard, the man in charge. He proves once and for all that he is one of the best character actors working today. He creeps you out and simultaneously evokes empathy. Few actors can do that. Secondly, Mary Elizabeth Winstead's Michelle is not your typical helpless protagonist you often see in such films. On the contrary, she is smart and inventive and thinks of possible solution before the audience does, rather than afterwards. Lastly, the whole film refrains from jump scares or cheap tricks, and instead masterfully combines the actors, the plot, the camera work and the music to create an atmosphere with a huge tension. And then at the very end, the film goes wild and almost enters a new genre, but viewer's who actually read the title of the film will know what's going on.

4. "CAPTAIN AMERICA: CIVIL WAR"
So many big budget blockbusters came out this year, but only Captain America: Civil War managed to make this list. Why? Because it is just f**king entertaining. The Russo brothers completely nailed this film. They properly adapted the themes of the original comic book story-line (incidentally being one of my favorites) for the Marvel Cinematic Universe. They managed the difficult task of handling so many different iconic characters. They introduced a brand-new and spot-on Spider-Man. They crafted amazing action-pieces that just make you jump with joy. They even managed to put in a little plot twist in and create an unexpected third act. They were the perfect directing duo to make this film. My initial review had nothing but love for this film, and eight month later I still stand by every word. It is a dream-come-true for Marvel fans, and a nightmare for the Warner Bros.-executives in charge of the DC cinematic universe. I want to watch that airport scene again right now. Man, what a blast it was!

3. "CAPTAIN FANTASTIC"
Just above Captain America, on the third spot on my list, sits yet another Captain. But the film at hand is not about caped vigilantes or spandex wearing super-humans. It is in fact an independent comedy-drama about a man who is forced to travel to the "outside world" with his kids, who he has so far raised in the woods under intensive physical and intellectual education. This movie is as funny as it is thought-provoking, as charming as it is surprising. It has a message, something to say about our society, but it doesn't paint things black and white. While other indie-flicks are just all about a bunch of hipsters and/or misfits sticking it to "The Man", this film dares to question its protagonist. Its big themes are obviously parenting and the down-sides of modern society, but what gets overlooked by many viewers and reviewers is the beautifully realistic, respectful and subtle way the film portrays manic-depression and how such a mental disorder affects a whole family. This film is wonderfully sweet and endlessly charming. I've said it before in my review. This film is, indeed, fantastic.

2. "SWISS ARMY MAN"
Yes. That "farting corpse movie" you heard about is my second favorite film of 2016. It is almost frustrating to try to talk to people about how good this film is. Most people are already put-off when I explain the plot to them. "A guy walks around with a dead body and uses it as a multi-functional tool? That can't be a proper movie. That is just too damn weird!" Of course that is weird. But it is glamorously weird! Swiss Army Man is unlike anything you have ever seen before, and while original doesn't always mean good, this film will certainly surprise you if you give it a chance. It is a heartfelt story about friendship, love, loneliness, social etiquette and life itself. In all its oddness, it is a very sincere movie. Radcliffe and Dano have great chemistry and sell every single scene their in, no matter if it is emotional or outrageous. Further more the two directors, the Daniels, have a unique visual voice and their film is highly stylized. Coming from a music-video background, they are quite experienced in saying things through images rather than words. Speaking of music, the Soundtrack of this movie is something quite special as well. It is used as an additional canal to bring the thoughts and feelings of the characters across. I praised it in my initial review and gave it a Cinemartian Movie Award. So when you put it all together, Swiss Army Man is truly one of a kind. I really wish more people would have checked it out.

...

1. "ROOM"
There was never any doubt! No movie was able to top the emotional response this film evoked in me when I watched it early this year. Having premiered as early as September 2015 in the US, this film deservingly took home an Academy Award for Best Actress at last years ceremony (and if you asked me, it could have gotten even a few more).
Its pre-Oscar buzz had intrigued me, and yet I had no idea what the move was about when I sat down and watched it. From then on, it made me curios, thrilled me, scared me, made me laugh, made me incredibly sad, and filled me with joy. It broke my heart and patched it up again all in the course of 118 Minutes. I was blown away. Completely. And after buying the DVD and having re-watched it multiple times, it still has that same effect. While the movie convinces on so many different levels, its greatest strength is that it feels very real and very honest. A brilliantly written, beautifully acted and perfectly executed roller coaster, this is the best film I've seen in 2016. As well as one of the best films I have seen, period.

There you have it. My Top Ten of 2016. As you might have noticed, not many big budget films made the cut and my Top Three solely consists of independent films. Maybe I am suffering from a little bit of blockbuster fatigue, or this was just an especially strong year for smaller films, who knows. But what do you think? Do you agree or disagree with my choices? Are you a hardcore Potterhead that now hates me for not including Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them? Or a Star Wars geek that would prefer Rogue One over any of these films?* Feel free to comment below and don't forget to spread the word by liking and sharing. And if you wonder what movies could end up on next year's list, you might want to check out my "Top 10 Most Anticipated Films of 2017".

Sincerely,
Your Cinemartian

*FYI: I did enjoy those two films quite a lot, just like Doctor Strange, but the competition was too strong this year.

Donnerstag, 12. Januar 2017

1st CINEMARTIAN MOVIE AWARDS

 Hello there puny humans,
and welcome to the first annual "Cinemartian Movie Awards". It is an idea that I (shamelessly) straight up stole from my good friend B.A., so please take the time to take a look at his Screentest Awards. So, now where my conscience is a little lighter, let's proceed. 2016 was a big cinematic year, and I had the feeling I wasn't able to write about everything I wanted to write about. Thus, I thought of the following Awards to honor the best and worst of last year's movies:

BIGGEST POSITIVE SURPRISE:
Winner: Warcraft
Let's start with a film I absolutely had no high expectation for, but really really enjoyed: "Warcraft". While the critics score on Rotten Tomatoes puts it as low as 28%, the fan voting puts it at 72%. Sure, this is not a masterpiece, but you could most certainly have a lot of fun with this fantasy world. The story was something new, fights looked damn cool, and especially the character of the orc Durotan was very relatable. Toby Kebbell seems to be getting quite good at that motion capture thing (having last appeared as Koba in "Dawn of the Planet of The Apes") and looking at his most recent live-action choices (*cough* Fantfourstic *cough*) he should maybe stick with that. For my part, I would go and watch a Warcraft sequel.

BEST SOUNDTRACK:
Winner: Swiss Army Man
I've never hidden my love for this film, but my love for the soundtrack might be even bigger. It is amazing on so many levels. The way it was woven into the movie was something I had never seen in a film before, the use of mostly acapella sounds gave it something otherworldly, and even though the lyrics seem so random, the whole soundtrack is able to evoke a wide range of emotions, from incredibly uplifting to purely melancholic. Its song "Montage" became one of my favorites, and has been running through my headphones over and over again.

BEST VISUALS:
Winner: Doctor Strange
Even though I did have a few minor problems with the story structure and tone of "Doctor Strange", there is no way I could criticize its artistic value on a visual level. And there is a good reason this award isn't called best visual effects: There is no doubt that this movie has astonishing special effects, with its kaleidoscopic look and the way it twists and turns space and time. Its action sequences are epic. But even beyond that "Doctor Strange" has an impressive visual language with symbolism and recurring images that explain the characters journey without words. Hats off to Scott Derrickson for chosing his shots so carefully and precisely.


WORST VISUALS:
Winner: Gods of Egypt
I have no words for this... See for yourselves: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Szk38YiyHBg

BEST 3D:
Winner: Fantastic Beasts And Where To Find Them
Some might wonder how this is different from Best Visual Effects. But while I thought the visuals of "Doctor Strange" would work perfectly fine in 2D as well, I felt like the third dimension really added a lot to the movie going experience of "Fantastic Beasts". David Yates really tried to use the depth in his shots, and especially when creatures in different sizes are involved, it gives you a better feel for that.

MOVIE THAT MOST AFFECTED MY EVERYDAY LIFE:
Winner: Snowden
I never was completely oblivious of the danger concerning the internet in relation to the NSA and other intelligence agencies. Nonetheless, "Snowden" creeped me out. Apart from giving me a whole new respect for the whistleblower himself, it answered the popular question: "What would the NSA do with information on me? I have nothing to hide!"  It made me more aware and careful, and although I feel like intelligence agencies still have an immense power over me, I might be able to reduce it at least a tiny little bit in the future.

BEST ON-SCREEN COUPLE:
Winner: Brie Larson & Jacob Tremblay in Room
The chemistry between these two was off the charts in this film. Their characters' relationship is the heart and soul of the story, and so the success of the film laid heavily on the shoulders of these two actors. But their performance was simply perfect and is one of the reasons this movie is so special. You simply believe every exchange they have, be it verbal or non-verbal. It earned Brie Larson a well-deserved Oscar, and should have brought Jacob Tremblay at least a nomination (but well, you know, the Academy works in mysterious ways). To me, these two people will be forever linked in my head.

WORST ON-SCREEN COUPLE:
Winner: Batman Superman
Now, I want to make a clear distinction here. I am not talking about Clark Kent and Bruce Wayne. Their short sly conversation at Lex's party was actually one of the best parts of this movie mess. Once the two put on their capes however, they turned into bruting, testosterone-driven knuckleheads, who are very bad at properly communicating with each other. Talking for example would have been a good starting point. Sure, they eventually found out that their moms have the same name, but even when they decided to be on the same team, they didn't really act that teamy. I don't know, I just felt like a little consultation with one another could have avoided that whole death of Superman thing...

BEST MOVIE VILLAIN:
Winner: Howard Stambler (as performed by John Goodman in 10 Cloverfield Lane)
Despite all the big flashy sci-fi and superhero blockbusters that came out, my favorite bad guy of 2016 is not a supernatural or extraterrestrial being, but a man of flesh and blood. John Goodman's portrayal of Howard Stampler in the claustrophobic thriller "10 Cloverfield Lane" is simply outstanding. You never know what exactly is going on in his head, and in the beginning, you even question whether he really is the villain of the story. He is incredibly menacing, but yet has a vulnerability to him that sometimes makes you feel uncomfortably sorry for the guy. It is a premium performance by a premium actor.

WORST MOVIE VILLAIN:
Winner: Enchantress (as performed by Cara Delevingne in Suicide Squad)
It was a close call between the other nominees, Doomsday and Apocalypse, and this weird witch. But Doomsday, as shoehorned in as he was, still went berserk and managed to kill the Man of Steel. Apocalypse looked like a villain from a 90s TV Show (anyone remember the "Mystic Knights"?), and his choice to pick Angel as one of his four horsemen (just before giving him an outfit Gene Simmons would have been proud of) was questionable. And yet, he too, vaporized people left and right, and even managed to slow Quicksilver down. Thus, their shittiness was no match for the Enchantress: After her soul breaks out of its vessel, she is immediately captured by the government. When she (kind of) breaks free, she gets all pouty, because she is jealous of cell phones and printers. The hurt girl then runs to her older brother for help. As villains do, they cast a light beam in the sky, which she then protects for the rest of the film through the power of experimental dancing. It's incredibly stupid. Oh, and did I mention she is the only villain in movie history who looks less bad-ass the more powerful she gets...

BEST LANDING OF AN AIRCRAFT:
Winner: Chesley Sullenberger (as performed by Tom Hanks in Sully)
Clint Eastwood's "Sully" played out more like a documentary than a motion picture. Therefore, it was more interesting than it was thrilling. You couldn't deny however that the sequences during the emergency landing were pretty great. Seeing Tom Hanks land a plummeting airplane safely in the Hudson River is pretty impressive. Knowing that someone actually did this even more! The fact that this person then got given hell by insurance companies for not attempting to land at the nearest airport on the other hand is even sadder.

WORST LANDING OF AN AIRCRAFT:
Winner: Every Helicopter Pilot in Suicide Squad
Three helicopters are in this film. All of them crash. I mean, I get that they are in a combat zone and all, but aren't army pilots trained exactly for that? And they don't even crash in a way that minimizes the passengers harm or something, they flip across the ground and shit. The only reason people survive these crashes is that they were main characters and the script demanded it. Otherwise there was no reason to believe anyone could have survived.

BEST TRAILER:
Winner: 10 Cloverfield Lane
"10 Cloverfield Lane" had by far, the best trailer I saw in 2016. Why? It didn't give away anything about the exact story and just delivered the atmosphere and overall feel of the movie. Odd and uncomfortable. It is build up in a way that confuses but simultaneously intrigues you, starting in a completely different way it ends. And then the creepy looking title appears. First just one word of it: "Cloverfield" and you are like "Wait. I know that title. Isn't that that monster movie?". Then it turns into "10 Cloverfield Lane" and you're like "Wait, what? What exactly is this?". I loved it.

BEST OUTBURST:
Winner: Bryan Cranston playing Robert Mazur pretending to be "Bob Musella" in The Infiltrator
There were a lot of emotional outburst in films this year, but none of them were as sudden and memorable as Bryan Cranston's restaurant scene in "The Infiltrator". The movie is an incredibly well-acted crime drama about real-life special agent Robert Mazur who goes undercover to infiltrate Pablo Escobar's money-laundring organisation. Although the movie doesn't quite know if it wants to be a character study or focus on the story, it had enough thrilling moments to be absolutely enjoyable. In the scene at hand, Robert Mazur takes his wife out for dinner to celebrate their anniversary, when suddenly one of Escobar's men recognizes him and comes to their table. Robert (now switching into his undercover persona Bob Musella) tries to get a hold of the situation by explaining the woman next to him is merely his secretary whose birthday they are celebrating. All seems fine, until the waiter comes by with a cake saying "Happy Anniversary" that Robert had ordered beforehand. To protect his identity, Bob goes nuts on the poor waiter, completely destroying him for allegedly bringing the wrong cake. He yells at him, insults him, punches him and tops the whole thing off by shoving his face into the cake. He acts absolutely despicable. All in front of the eyes of his beloved wife that is shocked to the bones

MOVIE CHARACTERS I MOST WANT TO HANG OUT WITH:
Winner: The Cherokees College Baseball Team from Everybody Wants Some!!
Richard Linklater's films are never really about anything. He kind of just tells life like is. Just a bunch of people doing a bunch of stuff. The same applies to "Everybody Wants Some!!". But the boys of the Cherokees College Baseball Team are an incredibly funny bunch of people doing a whole lot of funny stuff. You see them play Ping Pong, hit on girls, get high, go to a whole lot of different parties, or play pranks on each other in the locker room. The group surrounding Jake, Finn, Dale, Plummer, McReynolds and Willoughby is so diverse and yet they still get along great (most of the time). When watching this film I just wanted to jump into that screen and be part of the gang.

MOVIE CHARACTERS I DO NOT WANT TO HANG OUT WITH:
Winner: The Neo-Nazis from Green Room
A punk band gets trapped backstage in the green room of a Neo-Nazi Club. Unfortunately, they just witnessed a murder and the people responsible for it are outside trying to get in. The premise of "Green Room" is simple but effective. The band members are a bunch of deadbeats making poor decisions throughout the entire movies. The Neo Nazi (led by Professor X himself, Patrick Stewart) are brutal and ruthless. There is violence in this film. A lot of it. And while the film was a thrilling ride to watch, I was incredibly happy to be sitting in the comfortable chair of a theater and not in that Nazi Club.

BEST FILM TO BE PART OF A MARATHON:
Winner: Rogue One - A Star Wars Story
"Rogue One" didn't fully engage me when I watched it the first time. The second time that I saw it however was right in between Episodes III and IV of the Star Wars saga. Yes, a few weeks back I marathoned all eight movies with my two most loyal film nerd friends (a shout-out to B.A. and Lena at this point). And I gotta say, seeing exactly how seamlessly "Rogue One" ties into the overall story (and of course Episode IV in particular) definitely enhanced the movie going experience for me. The film makers certainly knew what they were doing.

BEST MOVIE I DIDN'T SEE:
Winner: Sing Street
Per Definition, I can't really say a lot about this. But of all the films I missed, I feel like Sing Street is the one people praise the most. Set in the 80s, it is a story about a boy who tries to impress a girl by telling her that he has a band. But he doesn't, so now he has to go and form one. It sounds sweet and apparently it really is a feel-good movie. Director John Carney has impressed with films like "Once" or "Begin Again" in the past, both revolving around characters that bond through their love of music. He has a knack for weaving songs into a film and the simplicity of his stories make them just all the more relatable. I definitely have to catch up on this one.

Now that all the Awards are (symbolically) handed out, I want to thank you all for reading what might be my longest article yet. I hope you had fun with my made up categories. I certainly had fun writing them. What Awards would you have given out? Which ones did you think I gave to the wrong person or movie? Feel free to comment below and stay tuned for my "TOP 10 FILMS OF 2016"-List where I finally honor the best of the best. You might even find a film from this article on there!

Sincerely,
Your Cinemartian

Mittwoch, 4. Januar 2017

TOP 10 ANTICIPATED FILMS OF 2017

 Hello there puny humans,
the year 2016 was a big cinematic year. Batman and Superman faced off on the big screen for the first time, the Harry Potter saga continued, and we got to fill-in the gap between the Star Wars Episodes III and IV. This year, however, will not be one bit less interesting, and looking back at how a lot of 2016's blockbusters turned out, 2017 might even be the better year for movie goers. It was hard to put together this list and I kept moving films up and down as I wrote it. Ultimately it came down to which movies I want to catch in theaters rather than later on DVD. Thus, before I get to my Top Ten of my most anticipated movies, I will give you spots 15 to 11 as quick honorable mentions:

15. MANCHESTER BY THE SEA: This drama staring Casey Affleck has already been released in the States. Affleck's nuanced performance and the genuineness of the film got a lot of praise. Looks like my kind of drama.

14. EDGE OF SEVENTEEN: This R-rated high-school comedy had an intriguing trailer and stars the likes of Woody Harrelson and the twenty year-old (already Oscar nominated), incredibly talented Hailee Steinfeld. Surely a good time!

13. GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY VOL.2: The crew is back! And while the first trailer didn't completely blow me away, I still have a great enough memory of the first installment to get me excited for this one.

12. THOR: RAGNAROK: If Thor: The Dark World had been a better film and I wasn't suffering from a little superhero movie fatigue, this movie would be higher on my list. Especially because the involvement of Kiwi director Taika Waititi and the inclusion of The Hulk and Doctor Strange promise a fun action-packed ride.

11. LOGAN: This film moved from spot ten to spot seven on my list and then back down to eleven. I just couldn't make up my mind about it. The X-Men have often disappointed in the past, including their Wolverine solo movies, but oh boy, did that trailer look good!

10. KING ARTHUR
Some might be surprised that this film beat out the other five for a spot in the top ten. Yes, maybe I might be guilty of being a fanboy of director Guy Ritchie, but I simply love his trademark style and comedy. Against the opinions of all of my friends, I declared The Man from U.N.C.L.E. the best spy film of 2015, above Spectre, Mission: Impossible 5 and the cult-hit Kingsman. I don't know why, but somehow Ritchie always finds a way to charm me. When the trailer for King Arthur: Legend of the Sword dropped, you could see his fingerprints all over it. I was swayed!

9. GHOST IN THE SHELL
I still have reservations about this movie due to its casting. Firstly, I am not a big fan of Scarlett Johansson in action movies as I think dramas and smaller scale films suit her much better. Secondly, I am annoyed by the obvious whitewashing of this Asian character. I can't deny however that I really really want to see what the live action adaptation of the 1989 anime classic will look like. As a fan of the original, I am equally excited as I am nervous. It is an intellectual science fiction thriller that does not only offer great action sequences, but is also composed of many beautiful shots. This adaption could be great or it could suck. Either way, I will buy a ticket for this film. And so far, the first full trailer did look pretty cool.

8. WAR FOR THE PLANET OF THE APES
When Dawn of the Planet of the Apes landed on my number eight spot of my favorite movies of 2014, I started by saying: "Apes on horsebacks with machine-guns! Is there anything more I need to tell you?" And that argument still stands. This franchise already delivered two very different but equally awesome films. And while War looks similar to Dawn, I can't wait to see how they are going to put the spectacle on yet another level. These movies have always been worth watching just for breaking new technological ground alone. But seeing Andy Serkis' character Caeser evolve with every film is also reason enough to get your butt into a movie theater. The master of motion capture is back, and I expect no less than yet another amazing performance. Watch the trailer here!

7. DUNKIRK
Christopher Nolan has never made a bad movie. Seriously, if your worst film is The Dark Knight Rises (a film that didn't only earn millions of dollars, but created a continuously quoted movie villain with Tom Hardy's Bane) you are doing pretty damn good. Yes, Nolan's body of work is damn impressive. Next to masterpieces like The Dark KnightInception and Memento, even his low-budget student film Following manages to stun you. While not everyone loved Interstellar, I actually did, and so the name of this director is all I need to hear to get me on board. Additionally, the topic of World War II is new territory for him, which makes it even more interesting to see what he will do with this material. I am sure he will put me in awe once more.

6. SPIDER-MAN: HOMECOMING
I have been reading Spider-Man comic books since I was ten years old, and he has been my favorite superhero ever since. But while the comics managed to keep that character interesting, the movies struggled after Sam Raimi's first two great incarnations. Spiderman 3 was a total disaster, and the franchise reboot staring Andrew Garfield as the wall-crawler didn't do the character justice either. When Marvel Studios finally struck a deal with Sony to re-reboot Spidey into their cinematic universe, I was hoping that they could get it right this time. Then Captain America: Civil War came along and Tom Holland's portrayal of the web-slinger even exceeded my expectations. For the first time I felt that they perfectly translated my biggest childhood hero onto the big screen. No surprise that I will most definitely stand in line to see this solo film!

5. BLADE RUNNER 2049
After Indiana Jones 4, A Good Day to Die Hard, the latest Terminator abomination and a long list of horrible late sequels, I was not particularly pleased with the fact that they were going to make a second Blade Runner film. The iconic movie that seems to have an endless amount of alternate cuts, was one of the last few sci-fi classics that stayed untouched. After getting caught up on director Denis Villeneuve's work however (including Enemy, Sicario and Arrival), I was confident that this continuation was in the best hands it could be. Villeneuve is a master of smart, dark suspense-films, which is exactly what Blade Runner is all about. Even though the first teaser didn't really show much at all, it sure demonstrated that he totally nailed the atmosphere this world needs. By now, I am totally hooked.

4. THE DARK TOWER
Little has been revealed about the movie adaptation of Stephen King's famous book series. I didn't even have an official poster to put here. Except for one short story, I haven't even read any of the books that take place in that universe. So why does this project end up so high on my list? Well, first of all, having no preexisting knowledge of something that seems to be an epic story is refreshingly intriguing. Stephen King is a master of creating worlds with a unique atmosphere and even that little short story already engaged me deeply. Second of all, I am a humongous fan of Idris Elba, who I feel is not as appreciated in Hollywood as he should be. Everyone who has seen the TV show Luther knows that Elba can combine vulnerability and strength in a character as if it was the easiest acting task. Giving him the long overdue leading role in a franchise and pitting him against an equally strong actor such as Matthew McConaughey will with certainty be a blast to watch.

3. JOHN WICK: CHAPTER 2
When a buddy of mine and I went to the theaters on a nice February evening two years ago, we expected nothing more than to be mildly entertained by yet another action-heavy one-man-show. What we got however was John Wick, an exhilarating ride with amazingly choreographed fight scenes, great camera work and an unexpectedly fun world that was somehow one of a kind. Even though the substantial framework was familiar, the film felt incredibly new and fresh. I left the theater wanting more and this year my wish will come true. The trailer to John Wick: Chapter 2 (as the movie is simply but fittingly named) promises to bring us the same slick stylistic feel of the first movie, only with twice the action. This franchise knows exactly what it is and what it isn't, and therefore you can just sit back and enjoy a spectacular show. One of the few movies this year where I am 99.99% positive that I will absolutely love it.

2. KONG: SKULL ISLAND
Anyone who knows me long enough (or reads this blog) has at some point realized that I am a sucker for creature features. The Gremlins is my favorite Christmas movies, I will defend Pacific Rim until my dying day, I renamed my phone Godzilla and I wouldn't cut a single minute of Peter Jackson's three hour version of King Kong. This year, the first original movie monster gets a new interpretation with Warner Bros' Kong: Skull Island. Starring the brilliant actress Brie Larson, as well as the likes of Tom Hiddleston, John Goodman and Samuel L. Jackson, this movie lays the groundwork for an even bigger motion picture event: Godzilla vs. Kong scheduled to come out in 2020 (and referring to the very same Godzilla of the 2014 film). This set-up combined with everything I saw in the trailer makes me jump of joy. I got so excited just writing about this that I immediately moved the film up on this list from fourth place to the number two spot. My inner eight year-old just couldn't resist.

...

1. STAR WARS: EPISODE VIII
I had never been a Star Wars fanboy. Just a regular fan, who really enjoyed those six films (well, at leas three-and-a-half of them). Some of that probably had to do with the fact that I didn't watch the movies until I was a teenager and so never connected the films with any form of childhood nostalgia. I never played the video games, watched the Clone Wars series or read a tie-in novel. 
I had also never seen a Star Wars film in theaters. Until December 17th, 2015 one minute past midnight. As soon as John Williams' score boomed out of the sound system and I saw the opening crawl appear on the big screen, it was as if I finally wholly got it. The Force Awakens awoke my love for this franchise in a new way. Despite a few issues, the film left me wanting more. Wanting to find out the answers to the mysteries it put out there: Who are Rey's parents? Who is Supreme Leader Snoke? What was Luke doing that whole time? How will Kylo Ren strike back?
And while Rogue One didn't sweep me of my feet, it might have partially been due to the fact that I liked Episode VII so much that I was still preoccupied with that story-line. There is no way that I am going to miss the chance to get all the answers I want by standing in line for this movie! My ticket is basically already sold.

There you go. Those are my 15 picks for films to look forward to in 2017. The fact that I felt the need to expand my regular top ten list and still had to let a few movies go, should be a pretty good sign. Even if half of these films end up being disappointments, there are still enough movies to enjoy this year. But what are your picks? Which movie would you have liked to see higher up? Are there movies you are excited about that aren't even on this list? Feel free to comment below!

I wish you all a happy cinematic 2017,
Your Cinemartian