ACADEMY AWARDS 2016 - Oscar Review

Hello there puny humans,
the most glamorous night in Hollywood took place on sunday and of course I couldn't help but write-up my thoughts on the event. This year I got 16 of the 24 categories right, so I was quite happy, but of course the night wasn't without a few surprises. But let's begin:


What I liked

Alicia Vikander for the win:

Everyone who has watched the nominated performances must not have been surprised that this swedish enchantress took home the gold. But still, it was pleasant to actually see her receive the statue. My personal crush on her aside, she seems to be as talented as she is beautiful and has made an amazing Hollywood debut last year:

Next to her award-winning performance in The Danish Girl, she also starred in cult-director Guy Ritchie's fun spy flick The Man from U.N.C.L.E., and the fellow Oscar-winning picture Ex Machina. The fact that she could easily have been nominated for her performance in the latter film as well, shows that she is more than a one-hit-wonder, and hopefully this win will give her the opportunity to show even more of her acting prowess.

Awards for Room and Ex Machina:

The two films above showed, that less than a handful of characters interacting in a small space are enough to be just as compelling as big ensemble casts, pompous set pieces or scandalous "based on a true story" scripts. Eventhough both movies weren't able to turn their nominated screenplays into winners, each film managed to suceed in another category. Brie Larson was a revelation in Room and her performance was deservingly honored by an Oscar for "Best Actress in a Leading Role". While I am not a hundred per cent on board with Ex Machina's win (see further below), I am still happy that one of my favourite films of last year can now call itself an Academy Award-winner. In general it is great to see when indie movies get that kind of recognition. To me, they are as much part of what makes cinema great as major studio pictures. 

Nothing for The Martian:

This one sounds a little mean (and I guess a Sound Mixing Award would still have been okay), but when I read that The Martian had a total of 7 nominatons, I was scratching my head. Don't get me wrong, I had a lot of fun with this film, but never had I had the feeling that it was as outstanding as the Academy seemed to believe it to be. I love Science-Fiction, as well as a good survival story, but The Martian was less captivating than many other films of that type this year. I've always felt it was overhyped, so now I feel that it is quite alright that the film has "only" the nominations to show off.

No awkward presenters:

Technically, this shouldn't be something you'd have to point out. In the past however there have been more than a few presenters that missed their mark, resulting in an unsettling silence from the audience's side. Some of them were even cringeworthy (especially when Mr Glom Gazingo was involved), and so it was nice to be spared from these moments. In fact, there was a lot of good stuff: Tina Fey and Steve Carell were pretty funny, just as Russel Crowe and Ryan Gosling (making me even more excited for their collaboration in The Nice Guys). Abraham Attah and Jacob Tremblay were super cute, and Louis CK's take on short documentary filmmakers as well as Andy Serkis' jab at Donald Trump were absolutely hilarious.

What I loved:

Chris Rock's opening monologue:

It must not have been easy to prepare the opening of the 88th Academy Awards. Especially as an afro-american host in a show that was criticized for only nominating white candidates. Musician/Actor Tyrese Gibson even asked Rock to step down from the gig, claiming there was "no joke he can crack" that will properly adress the problem. Chris Rock however proved him wrong by delivering one of the best and most relevant opening mologues of the past decade. Welcoming the audience to the "White People's Choice Awards" and immediately giving out a huge blow to the boycotting Jada Pinkett-Smith, he quickly came to the root of the problem: It's not the Oscars, it's Hollywood. His take on the issue hit the nail on its head, and not only did he find the perfect balance, but also managed to address other issues like women's rights as well. In my opinion, this dead on handling of the controversy was surprisingly powerful.

Mad Max is the big winner of the night:
This was great!  It felt like suddenly the world finally realized that an action movie can be as much a piece of art as a heavy drama. Mad Max: Fury Road is one of these rare films that could overwhelm the majority of critics and mainstream audiences alike. To me it was an extravagant spectacle that has yet to find its equal. That a specific genre film like this one is able to take a quater of all the awards given out that night is simply awesome. What a lovely day!

Leo finally did it:
Naturally, I have to adress the elephant in the room: Leonardo DiCaprio finally (!) won an Oscar. And it was about god damn time. There is no doubt that by now, he has established himself as one of the most talented actors of this century, but the 41 year-old actor has already been giving Oscar-worthy performances 23 years ago. His body of work is astonishing and he has collaborated with most of the big directors in Hollywood. Spielberg, Nolan, Scott, Tarantino, Luhrmann, Eastwood, Cameron, Inárritu and of course Martin Scorsese, who seems to have found a personal muse in DiCaprio. In his acceptance speech he even sweetly thanked the 73 year-old director for everything he taught him. But this cute moment wasn't what made his acceptance speech so great: Actually he used his time to smoothly spread awareness for the ongoing climate change. "Let us not take this planet for granted. I do not take tonight for granted." Leo, you are amazing. We adore watching you work, and we do not take YOU for granted! Thank you.

What I found odd:

Restricting the host's time ...again:

People who've been watching the Oscars for a few years now, might have realized big differences in the amount of comedic numbers by the host. In 2012 for example, Billy Crystal opened wit a long video montage, followed by a monologue, followed by a 8 minute musical performance. Each year since then however, the producers have been trying to shorten the event, but mostly taken away from the host's time. Quite frankly, I find this decision kind of dumb, because that should be the funniest part. You could already see it last year, when everyone said Neil Patrick Harris only had a few good moments, but if you recap the show one will realize that he had only a few moments in general. And if you look at the numbers, Billy Crystal's show was even the shortest of the past 5 years. In my opinion, appearances of politicians or the presented clips of the Best Picture Nominees could much rather be cut. Otherwise they could just hold the ceremony the way it was held in 1929... it lasted 15 minutes.

Visual Effects Award for Ex Machina:
As I said before, I loved this movie, but with special effects juggernauts Star Wars and Mad Max in the same category I just couldn't understand how Ex Machina's effects were supposed to be superior. The design of the artificial intelligence Ava was beautiful, but The Force Awakens was offering droids like BB-8, cool new lightsabers, spaceship battles and Star-destroying weapon-planets. Additionally, visual effects are not limited to computer effects (in fact using computer effects was considered "cheating" in 1982). George Miller used tons of practical effects and stuntwork. Everything you think could be real, was real. Including massive explosions, car backflips and people on giant sticks being lifted from a car onto a truck. The only thing CG was the massive sandstorm sequence, of which each frame could have been sold as a painting. When watching Ex Machina on the other hand, I felt that a few of the effects could even have been rendered a little better. Thus, I really have no idea what the Academy was thinking here...

Mark Rylance as the supposed Best Supporting actor:

When Patricia Arquette read the name "Mark ..." I was just about to start cheering, because I had really rooted for Mark Ruffalo. My excitement was especially great, because I was sure he would lose to Sylvester Stallone (I even bet against him). So when Arquette continued with "Rylance", I was pretty confused. Mark Rylance is a fantastic actor and his subtle performance in Bridge of Spies was perfect for the film. However, he did not show a lot of range in that film, and basically (because the character demanded it) stayed in one mood the entire time. Critics called Stallone's latest take on Rocky the best performance of his career, and Ruffalo poured his heart out with power in the finale of Spotlight. Even Christian Bale showed us a completely new side of him in the biographical comedy drama The Big Short.

What I hated:

Sam Smith winning for Writings On The Wall:
Okay, now this was just horrible. Sam Smith's composition was one of the most unfitting and dull Bond Songs we've ever had. In Interviews he had proudly stated that he wrote it in 20 minutes, and I thought it showed. The lyrics were shallow, the melody was cheesy and yet the ballad was missing a catchy part. Compared to Adele's intense but classy Skyfall, Smith's Writings On The Wall sounds like the practice session of an eight year-old choir boy. Lady Gaga's nominated Till It Happens To You, a captivating song about the consequences of sexual abuse, is as relevant as it is powerful and her touching live performance with a large number of actual rape victims earned a standing ovation that was more than deserved. It was the real winner! I have no idea how the Academy could hand out the statue to such an inferior piece of music.
But if that wasn't enough, Sam Smith put a rotten cherry on top of that melted pile of ice-cream by falsely claiming he was the first openly gay artist to win an Academy Award. It is more than great to dedicate your award to the LGTB comunity, but he recklessly overlooked seven openly gay Oscar winners that came before him, including Sir Elton John and John Gielgud who won 11 years before little Samy was even born. Such a lack of knowledge about the very community you dedicate your Award to is pretty embarassing, and retroactively blaming Ian McKellen for your misinformation is just sad.

Quick Side Notes and Thoughts:

Chivo is crazy good

This year was the third time in a row that Emmanuel Lubezki (aka. Chivo) took home the gold for Best Cinematography. The mexican cameraman (who's holding a total of six ASC Awards) is not only a master of the long-take, but also manages to get camera angles and perspectives that leave you in awe. Aside from his technical achievements, his distinctive ability to make you dive right into the film, adds so much to the movie going experience. Thus, you might want to look out for his name rather than the actors' or directors', to determine wether you would want to buy your ticket or not.

Rooney Mara as "supporting" actress

This year once again this weird thing happened where a leading actress was nominated as a supporting character. Apparently there is no rules to this in the Academy's nomination system, but to me it always feels like diminishing an actor's effort when he or she plays the major part of a film. And albeit not being the titular character, Rooney Mara definitely was the main character. I don't know if there really is a solution to this, or if a solution is even necessary, but it still startles me every time.

Domhnall Gleeson - remember the name

If you have managed to catch every movie nominated for a major award this year, a certain face might have popped up more than once. The young man you might have only recognized as Bill Weasley from the final Harry Potter installment is Domhnall Gleeson*. As it happens, all of the films the Irish actor starred in this year managed to be nominated for an Oscar. And he managed to show some range in them too: He was a determined Captain in The Revenant, a suave countryboy in Brooklyn, a flat out evil General in Star Wars: The Force Awakens, and a relatable, everyday-guy-type computer-programmer in Ex Machina (see picture from left to right). All of these amazing films are completely different and their only common denominator is a top-notch performance by Gleeson. He seems to have a knack for great and interesting projects (did you know he had also been in the Oscar nominated Unbroken, Anna Karenina, True Grit and the cult-comicbook-film Dredd?), and so people should pay close attention to whatever he will pick next. This guy is going places.

The Best Picture paradox

This is merely an observation: Before the final award of the night was given out, Mad Max: Fury Road had already received six trophies, The Revenant three trophies and Spotlight only one. The name of this very category suggests that the winner should be a film, that suceeded in all aspects. However, Spotlight had lost most big categories (except Best Screenplay) to the two films mentioned above and was still named Best Picture. The same happened in 2014 when 12 Years a Slave won the prestigeous award over Gravity, a film that took home a total seven statues including Best Director that night. The Best Picture Winner Argo wasn't even nominated for Best Director in 2013. As a matter of fact, all of these three winners had only won Best Adapted Screenplay and maybe one other award before. It seems like the Academy likes to give the Best Picture Oscar to movies that have the most relevant or important content, but couldn't win big in the artistic or technical categories.

Ennio Morricone, the DiCaprio of Composers

Everyone was talking about Leo, but nobody paid attention to another life-long Oscar snub: The Italian composer Ennio Morricone has been working in the movie business for more than 50 years, wrote scores for some of the most iconic films ever made (including The Good, the Bad and the Ugly, The Untouchables and Inglorious Basterds), had been peviouly nominated five times and was named as a big influence by musicians from Muse over Metallica to Hans Zimmer. Eventhough he received an Honorary Academy Award for his life's work, he had still been missing out on the real deal until Sunday night. That no one even mentioned his name in the DiCaprio discussion just shows once again how much more actors are focused on, when it comes to the moviebusiness.

So these are my thought on the 88th Academy Awards. Comparably, it was actually a really good show (I'm still a big fan of McFarlane's hosting though) that despite the preceeding controversy, managed to adress the issue and still be fun. What are your thoughts on the night? What did you hate, love or find odd? Feel free to leave your comments below. And let's see what next years Oscar season will bring.

Sincerely,
Your Cinemartian

*fun fact: Domhnall is the son of actor Brendan Gleeson, who portrayed "Mad-Eye" Moody in the Harry Potter films.

TOP 10 FILMS OF 2015

 Hello there puny humans,
yet another year has passed and it is time to look back at the incredible cinematic year that was 2015. As always, this top ten list is based on German release dates, which are slightly shifted from the initial dates. As a result, films like Taratino's The Hateful Eight and Inarritu's The Revenant weren't able to make it here, but films like Whiplash still could. Furthermore, it is important to note, that I am still a human being and it is not possible for me to watch every movie ever (especially in a year where I conducted my bachelor thesis, and planned a 4 month stay in India), so I've missed some little jems like Straight Outta Compton, Sicario and Creed. When putting together this list, I was suprised by myself that eventhough a lot of releases this year were big blockbusters of a franchise (Marvel, Star Wars, Hunger Games, Bond, Mission Impossible, etc.) most of the films on this list are not. It was not easy, but to me, a fresh and original idea can compensate minor flaws in execution. Ultimately it came down to the question of: "Which film would I watch again right now?". Now without further ado, I present to you my (maybe a little suprising) personal top ten films of 2015:

10. INSIDE OUT
Opening this list is Pixar's newest hit. While the animation studio has always produced great movies, Inside Out is something very special. Not only charming, funny, and cute, but also with a nice message that even some adults can still learn from, it is a wonderful family film. As a psychology student, I could also appreciate that some scientific theories were woven into the film (for example the headquater team resembling five of Ekman's six basic emotions). If the cleverness wasn't enough, the passionate voicework of the cast makes this film very sympathic as well. Joy is the role Amy Poehler was born to voice. Overall, this movie is a heartwarming, fun time and a film I will definitively watch with my future kids. 

9. KRAMPUS

Yes, this horror comedy beat out a couple of big blockbusters for me this year. Why? Because this film's got style. The creature design of Krampus alone makes this movie totally rewatchable. The film is bubbling over with cool new ideas and yet the use of practical effects over CGI gives this movie a nice old-school vibe. Throw in a great score by Douglas Pipes and I am sold. And then of course, I have a sweet spot for fun creature features a la Gremlins. Sure, there was room for improvment, but Krampus still felt incredibly fresh. It made me laugh AND gave me the chills. No jump scares needed. And technically it also has a nice message, that it just puts forward aggressively. Some people might not be able to get on board with the idea of an Anti-Santa, but I totally loved this film. And as I already said in my initial review: The ending felt perfect. 

8. THE MAN FROM U.N.C.L.E.

Once more, Guy Ritchie reminded me why he is one of my favorite filmmakers. If you want witty dialogue, an ensemble cast, gangsters, crime and bad boys with guns, you either go to him or Tarantino. But while the latter will give you a haunted house version, Ritchie's is kind of a bouncy castle: Flashy, colorful, a little goofy, but over all tons of fun. The cast is not only beautiful but has great chemistry as well. Henry Cavill is more suave than he ever was and Armie Hammer makes clear that he is very much underrated. Together they have such entertaining and charming quips, that some critics interpreted it as a secret romantic relationship between the characters. But also Alicia Vikander (who has decided to make her Hollywood debut in not one, but three movies this year) manages to hold her own against these two using her naturally given combination of sexy and cute. Other than that, the film offers the typical stylistic direction, music and weird humor of Guy Ritchy, resulting in sequences that sometimes are a little bonkers. But in a good way. Despite strong competition, this was the slickest spy movie of the year to me.

7. EX MACHINA
Being mostly overlooked before its release, Ex Machina quickly gained a lot of praise by fans of the science-fiction genre. Rather focussing on characters and dialogue, this film is more of an intellectual thriller than a big action spectacle. The limitations in actors and settings give it a claustrophobic vibe and suck you right into the film. As such an (almost philosophical) take on artificial intelligence should, it poses a lot of questions about our own existence as well. Since its release last summer, I've re-watched it multiple times, because it is one of those movies you want to show to your friends so that you can talk with them about it. Additionally, it stars three of the best upcoming talents at the moment, who bring in the acting prowess to prove it. Domnhall Gleeson nails the role of the every-day guy the audience can relate to, and while Alicia Vikanda's graceful depiction of the robot Ava is superb, it is Oscar Isaacs endlessly charismatic performance of the douchy, alcoholic genius, Nathan, that totally steals the show. Most definitely worth your time. 

6. JOHN WICK
„People keep asking me if I'm back. Yeah, I'm thinking I'm back!“ Hardly ever has Keanu Reeves spoken truer words. After a long break from acting and only two mediocre films, he redeemed himself with a bang. Or rather multiple bangs, because John Wick is a gun-wielding menace with no intention of saving ammunition. Admittedly, there have been more than plenty tales of a one-man army driven by revenge, but John Wick gives this concept two little twists that make it stand out. On the one hand, he is neither avenging his wife nor his daughter, but a cute little puppy called "Daisy", which might be a first in the action genre. On the other hand, this movie builds a hilariously strange underground world where being a hitman seems to be the most casual thing ever. All of that is topped with a perfect match of excellent stunt- and camera work. Needless to say, John Wick is one hell of a ride! Click here to read my full review. 

5. AVENGERS: AGE OF ULTRON

Putting the top five in an order was a really tough task, and I didn't expect that the number one spot of my most anticipated films of 2015 only got fifth place. But don't be fooled, I was completely ecstatic after leaving the theatre! Avengers: Age of Ultron perfectly captures what it is like to read a Marvel comic: All your favourite heroes (and more) coming together, big huge action pieces, tons of quips, grand visual effects and camera work that strongly resembles the panels of a comic-book. This film is like an unstoppable juggernaut that at the same time manages the balancing act of standing on its own and setting up multiple sequels. Yes it moves fast, maybe too fast for some, and there is a lot going on, but as a Marvel fanboy I enjoyed the heck out of it. This film is stuffed with "Hell yeah!" moments and the 'Hulk vs Hulkbuster' fight alone had me cheering in excitement. My inner 8 year-old has hardly ever been so satisfied.
 
4. WHIPLASH

Who knew a film about jazz music could be this haunting? Whiplash is an absolutely fantastic film that brilliantly depicts the interesting relationship between a student and his mentor. Both characters are pretty messed up on their own, but it is their interaction that constantly puts you on the edge of your seat. Outstanding performances, absolutely quotable dialogue and then of course the way music is woven into all this. The ambiguos ending still comes to my mind sometimes and it is a film that thrilled me through and through. To me the final jazz concert of this film had higher stakes than Matt Damon's rescue in this year's The Martian. My review had nothing but praise for the film, and months later I still stand by that statement: Whiplash is intense from start to finish!

3. STAR WARS - EPISODE VII: THE FORCE AWAKENS

The force is not only awake, it went out for an early morning run. Yes, Star Wars is back! How great is that? As the release date came closer, the whole planet seemed to get more and more pumped. When I sat in the theatre for the midnight premiere and the opening crawl appeared, I already said to myself "Holy shit, this is awesome, I am watching a new Star Wars movie!", and then the rest on the film didn't allow me to calm down either. The Force Awakens is a fantastic new entry for this absolute popculture phenomenon. While the film is very reminissent of the original trilogy, there are enough of new elements to the saga to get me incredibly excited for what's coming next. The new characters are anything but uninteresting, and Daisy Ridley, John Boyga, Adam Driver and (once again) Oscar Isaac give splendid performances. Even Harrison Ford seemed to be enjoying himself. Episode VII had everything I wanted from a new Star Wars movie: Action, nostalgia, mystery, lightsaber duels, space battles, a little philosophy and a constant sense of wonder. The legend continues, and easily takes my number three spot.

2. MAD MAX: FURY ROAD

While some spots on this list were changed around during the writing process, my top two choices were undisputed. Landing on second place for my favorite movies of last year, is a film that completely took me by storm. Mad Max: Fury Road is exactly what the title suggests: A crazy, furious ride. So much so, that it let's the other well-known car driven franchise with a 'furious' title look like an elementary school play. Basically the whole movie is one giant car chase that hardly gives you any time to take a breath. George Miller has unleashed all his creativity it seems, resulting in a bizarre and wicked world that is unparalleled. It gives us wonderfully strange characters, and eventhough the title reads 'Mad Max', Charlize Theron's Furiosa is the secret star of the film. Furthermore, the stuntwork in this movie is out of this world. You won't believe it, but everything that seems like it could have been done with practical effects, was done so. It looks real, because it is real. Every single frame of this movie could be sold as painting. It is a visual masterpiece. A true action extravaganza through and through. I can say nothing more than: "Oh, what a film! What a lovely film!"

... 

1. BIRDMAN 
OR (THE UNEXPECTED VIRTUE OF IGNORANCE)

"People, they love blood. They love action. Not this talky, depressing, philosophical bullshit."
Alejandro G. Iñárritu's Birdman gets, without a doubt, the number one spot on this list. I fell in love with this movie on an artistic as well as on a personal level. It is so multilayered that I had the feeling no review (including my own) really captured what the film was like. On the one hand, it is a film about showbusiness itself. Cheeky but respectfully addressing the merits and flaws of big action blockbusters as well as intellectual, "sophisticated" art, it concedes both of them to a right to exist. On the other hand it is also a story about people, about their hopes, dreams, fears, disappointments, and views of where they belong in this world, but more importantly about the fact that everyone of us, no matter how we appear on the outside, has his own hidden baggage to carry around. I personally saw a lot of myself in Riggan Thomson and found my own thoughts in his dialogue including a little nagging Birdman on my shoulder. Additionally, the movie resonated with me emotionally, because of its theater/backstage setting. As someone who has acted in plays as well (though on a much tinier scale), I could totally dig the atmosphere connected to such a place and event. Of course I would be a fool not to mention the artistic value of the film. The actors are on the top of their game across-the-board, and the impressive choice to compress the whole movie (including multiple time jumps) into one single take does not only showcase Emmanuel Lubezki's camera skills, but also makes the viewer an additional character in the film. With tons of great sequences, that leave room for interpretation, a few seemingly supernatural elements thrown in and an ending that gets discussions going, you can find new things in Birdman with every view. To me, it is not only my favorite film of 2015, but also one of my favourite films of all time.

So these are my Top 10 films of 2015. Do you agree? Disagree? Are you wondering why I didn't put The Martian on here? (an extra article on that might come in the future). Feel free to share your opinion by commenting below. Other than that I just hope you are excited for 2016, because just as last year, there are a bunch of big and interesting films to come out: Captain America: Civil War, Batman V. Superman, Star Wars: Rogue One, Deadpool, Fantastic Beasts, The Nice Guys and many more... Let's see which movies make it on next year's list!

Sincerely,

Your Cinemartian

KRAMPUS - Movie Review

 Title: Krampus
Running Time: 98 min
Director: Michael Dougherty
Starring: Adam Scott, Toni Collette, David Koechner, Emjay Anthony, Allison Tolman, Conchata Ferrel, Stefania LaVie Owen, Krista Stadler

Review:
European culture is full of beautifully dark tales. From the "Struwwelpeter" (an 'educational' German children's book, where kids get their thumbs cut off and  are burned alive) to "Baba Yaga" (a deformed witch in slavic mythology), there seems to be a gruesome story for every occasion. So in a season where we are flooded with Christmas-themed romance movies, cheesy comedies and reruns of old family films, it is about time that one of these ancient legends gets a major motion picture to stirr things up a little.
With "Krampus" the creature from alpine folklore of the same name gets brought to life on the big screen. Seen as the counterpart of Saint Nicholas, the Krampus comes during Christmas season to punish those who misbehaved. Accordingly, the plot of this film is pretty straight-forward: During a big holiday get together, a little boy makes one wrong move and soon, the title-giving dread pays a visit to his house, haunting the whole family.
Now, such a premise might not be everyone's cup of tea, but if you are abel to roll with it, "Krampus" is a special little something for the holidays! Blending together ingredients of the horror and comedy genre topped with a Christmas theme, this film is unconventional and yet satisfyingly fresh, like a rare foreign dish. The looks of this movie are certainly its strongest parts. Michael Dougherty makes some nice creative choices throughout the film like an animated flashback sequence that is enchantingly dark, similar to the 'The Tale of the Three Brothers'  from "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1". Also, the creature design is more than impressive and Krampus' mischievous „little helpers“ gave the costume and effects department a chance to let lose. With mainly oldschool practical puppetry and only a hint of CGI to enhance it, the film gains a hell lot of grid, and even manages to put creepy clowns on to the next level. The big boss himself looks simply stunning, and has a far greater and menacing presence than any other visual incarnation of this mystical figure. While his minions are wild and unruly, his movements are the ones of true predator: Slow, calm, and only quick when the time is right. Paired with a beautiful score (well worthy of a monster movie) the film doesn't lack atmosphere at all. Especially when "Anti Saint Nicholas" and company are on screen.

On the other side is the human component of the film, which works quite well, but certainly has some room for improvement. The cast is doing a pretty good job: Child actor, Emjay Anthony, manages to helm the film suprisingy well, and Adam Scott shows once more that Hollywood shouldn't continue to overlook him for bigger parts. Krista Stadler's portrayal of Omi carries the film through its more dramatic moments and gives it an unexpected form of gravitas. However, most of the other characters, especially the annoying relatives, aren't really fleshed out. The movie fails to dig deeper into the few redeeming moments they have, leaving them as one-note characters you don't really care about, and thus hindering the viewer of getting more emotionally invested.

Furthermore, there are a few expectations that might have to be adjusted: Eventhough the film's title is Krampus, he is more like an "end-boss" of the movie, only fully engaging at the climax of the film. For the first hour, the dirty work is left to his tiny henchmen, and though they are a lot of fun to watch, you'll get less than you hoped for, if Krampus was the big pull for you. Additionally (and in contrast to what the trailer might suggest) the movie refrains from jump scares and splatter elements when presenting the horror. Technically, this speaks for its quality in filmmaking, but it will certainly disappoint people who were in for a bloodbath.
Overall however, "Krampus" is a hell lot of fun, once you can get into it. A movie that missed the chance of becoming a cult hit only by a little bit. If a sequel could smooth out its shortcomings, it could probably receive that status. On top of all that, the film earns another few plus points for actually conveying a nice message. "Love thy neighbor" might have been told a gazillion times during the holidays, but it has rarely been told so violently playful. Oh, and personally, I thought the ending was a perfect fit!

For Fans Of:
Gremlins (1992)
The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993)
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (2005)
The Babadook (2014)

Click Here To Watch Trailer!

TOP 3 FILMS FOR HALLOWEEN ...from a Horrorfilm-Sceptic

 Hello there puny humans,
if you have followed this blog you might have noticed that I haven't really reviewed any horror films. If you know me personally you might even know that I am not really a fan of the genre. Not only do I think that most horror films often have sloppy scripts and fall back to cheap tricks rather than good filmmaking, but I am also a person who doesn't really get scared. Basements, darkness, ghost stories or being alone at home have never frightened me all that much, even as a kid. Thus, the selling point of horror films has basically always been lost on me from the get-go.* But I guess you have kind of an obligation to do something like a Halloween special as a film reviewer, so I decided to come up with three of my favourite scary movies you can watch tonight (in no particulare order):

1. TRIANGLE
Released in 2009, this australien-british horror film is unknown to many people, eventhough it really shouldn't be. Starting off very cliché'd, you think this will be a cookie cutter horror flick, but after about half an hour it catches you off guard and you start asking yourself what's actually going on. It is one of those films you should watch without really knowing much about it, because there are a few possible spoilers. So if you decide to watch this flick I recommend not watching any trailers. Unfortunately that also leaves me in the position of not being able to tell you much more. But what I can tell you is that Triangle is a mystery psycho-thriller disguised as a cheap horror flick, and more complex than most of the scary movies you'll watch this weekend. It has a high rewatchability factor, because you will notice new things even the third time you're watching it. There are quite a few parts where it gets bloody, but they are mostly in the first half of the film. It got 4 out of 5 stars from Empire Magazine, holds 82% at Rotten Tomatoes and it certainly gets my approval.

2. THE CABIN IN THE WOODS

Screenwriters Joss Whedon and Drew Goddard got together on a weekend with the intention to write a film about everything they love and everthing they hate about horror films. The result is this unique horror comedy (?) that turned the rules of the genre on their own heads. Once again this is a film you should know as little as possible about (I know, I'm horrible), so that you can allow it to surprise you. Just know, that you will be surprised, because if you eagerly expect a very classic teens-go-to-the-woods-and-get-murdered story you might be startled at what you are actually getting. House of Cards' Kristen Connoly and Thor himself, Chris Hemsworth, star in the film, but the real show-stealer is highly underappreciated actor and Joss Whedon regulare Fran Kranz. Once you've seen his performance as the constantly stoned character of Marty, you'll wonder why he doesn't get cast more often. Another thing cinema fans might enjoy is that the film isn't only an homage to horror films, but to the making of movies as well. There is literally tons of blood during the showdown, but the clever and over-the-top script manages to mitigate these images quite a bit. The Cabin in the Woods was definitely one of my favorite films of 2012.

3. PAN'S LABYRINTH

My last recommendation is far less trashy than your standard Halloween movie. On the contrary: Guillermo del Toro's dark fairy tale Pan's Labyrinth is a critically acclaimed masterpiece, and the best proof that thorough, classic filmmaking is usually much more terrifying than simply going for the fast and easy shock value. The reason this film is so great is that it perfectly matches a fantastical world full of creatures and wonder, with a real-life story set during true historic events. This brilliant concept allows the film to send shivers down your spine on multiple levels. The children-eating "Pale Man" (see poster) is creepy enough on his own, and yet the truely terrifying monster is Captain Vidal. A human being with nothing supernatural to him. The film makes reality the most sinister thing and so hardly ever does horror feel more legit than here. I left the movie more haunted than after any ghost, possession or slasher film, but still enchanted by its magic. It is an elaborate piece of cinema with a lot of love for detail. A great story completed with beautiful visuals and del Toros best work yet. A film for the ages.

There you go. These are my personal picks for Halloween. Do you agree or disagree? What are your favorite horror films? Feel free to comment below and share your opinion. I've already been told that The Babadook would have made this list if I had already seen it. So I guess that is another movie watching experience I've got to look forward to. Enjoy your Halloween and have a spooky night!

Sincerely,
Your Cinemartian

*Don't get me wrong. I am not fearless. I am extremely afraid of heights and terrified by the concept of death itself, but these fears are usually discussed in other genres like dramas or thrillers.

BACK TO THE FUTURE - A Celebration

 Hello there puny humans,
it is October 22nd, 01:59 a.m. in Germany at the moment, which means that it's 04:59 p.m., October 21st in California. Half an hour ago Marty McFly arrived in the futuristic Hill Valley and is probably on his way to "Cafe 80's" right now. Needless to say, I have just finished a Back To The Future-marathon (a shout-out to my Middle earth marathon buddies for reuniting for this event). It had been a long time since I had last seen this trilogy and while rewatching it tonight I couldn't help but noticing what a great kind of filmmaking it is. So here is a quick laudatio to these three adventure films, and an attempt to explain why they've managed to stay so popular:

1. The Cast
In our heads Michael J. Fox will forever be Marty McFly and it is hard to imagine anyone else in the role. However, the role originally went to upcoming actor Eric Stoltz, because Fox couldn't get out of his schedule for Family Ties. Stoltz, who was known for his method acting, had already been shooting for 4 weeks, when the filmmakers decided that he just couldn't get the humor across and decided to replace him. Michael J. Fox (still involved in shooting the TV Show) was approached once more, and the actor decided to film Back To The Future and Family Ties at the same time, resulting in him being at a movie set for almost 18 hours a day. It ended up being the right decision. Michael J. Fox showed great comedic timing and yet managed to be the everyday guy we could all relate to. The commitment he put into the production translates to the screen 100%, and there are only few actors who can do whitty and charming as good as he does.
And then of course there is Christopher Lloyd as Doc Brown.This oldschool stage actor really shows off his experience. He knows exactly when to overact, when to play it down, and when to let Fox take the lead. His body language and facial expressions are priceless, and yet he totally pulls the emotional parts of this film off as well. The chemistry between those two is incredible, and the fact that they (and the rest of the cast) reprised their roles quite often after finishing the trilogy just shows how much they loved the material. The skills of Thomas F. Wilson need to be mentioned at this point too, because he improvised most of Biffs most populare catchphrases.

2. The Crew
One thing people should know however, is that the films creators, Robert Zemeckis and Bob Gale, are just as much the stars of the movie as its leading actors. This film really was a passion project for them and firing Eric Stoltz (which ultimately cost them about 3.000.000 dollars) wasn't the only tough task they had to fullfill. When Zemeckis and Gale pitched the movie to major studios, they were rejected about 40 times. Columbia said the movie was to quirky and childish. Disney called them insane for thinking that they'd produce a movie featuring a somewhat incestuous relationship. After Zemeckis had gained more respect in the industry for making Romancing the Stone and his friend Stephen Spielberg got involved in the project, Universal Studios finally picked up the script. But still, the filmmakers had to face some obstacles every now and then. One of the producer told them to change the name of the film since he believed no kid would want to see a film with "future" in the title. The team basically ignored it and later when another executive told Zemeckis that they would get an extra 75.000 dollars if they changed the DeLorean into a Mustang, Zemeckis supposedly just said: "Doc Brown doesn't drive a f**king Mustang!" ... Now that is a great answer.

3. The Characters
But how exactly do we know that Doc Brown doesn't drive a Mustang? Well, probably because he is such a fleshed out character that it feels easy to guess what his opinion on such a car would be. And that is exactly the point. Doctor Emmet Brown and Marty McFly are such well written characters that it is easy to relate to them. Marty is just a boy who would love to be successful in his hobby and who wished his family was a little cooler. The complete and utter regulare kid. Doc Brown seems a little crazier and over-the-top, but is ulitmately just someone who is overly enthusiastic and passionate about a particular subject (in his case science). He represents the nerd in all of us. Both characters however aren't perfect. They are flawed individuals. Marty has selfish intentions every now and then (remember the "Sports Almanac" scam was his idea) and doesn't even have a real character arc in the first film. Doc Brown on the other hand is in a constant conflict between his morals and his love for exploration and innovation. At multiple points he says that the time machine must be destroyed, and yet he keeps building new ones. There are points in this movie where both of these guys are at the height of their power (e.g. Marty on a skate-/hoverboard), but also sequences where they are completly down on their luck. It is something that late 80s films did very well (just watch the first Die Hard or the third Indiana Jones for further examples) and it makes the characters incredibly genuine and relatable.

4. The Humor
When I was sitting in the theatre, it was not only packed but people were laughing. A lot. So the question is: How can a 30 year old movie still get a hundreds of people to crack up? What kind of humor can do that? The answer is simple: Not a single kind, but multiple kinds. The thing about Back to the Future is that its funny in multiple ways:
There is situational comedy when Marty meets his parents in 1955 and encounters a lot of awkward moments. Raunchy humor, when Marty's mom explains that she has "parked before". Great physical comedy simply provided by Christopher Lloyds face, or by Michael J. Fox and Crispin Glover (George McFly) who also know how to get laughs out of their body language. There are tons of pop culture references including Marty disguising as "Darth Vader" from planet "Vulcan" or citations of films like Taxi Driver and Midnight Cowboy. Inside jokes that only work if you've seen all the films (like Doc and Marty switching catchphrases in Back to the Future Part III). Random humor is scattered throughout the movie too ("You got a back door in this place?" - "Yeah, it's in the back."), and of course the mandatory poop jokes make an appearance as well ("I hate manure!"). It's uber-awesome. Everybody gets someting to laugh about!

5. The Story
As multidimensional as Back to the Future's humor is though, so is it's story. Just putting it in a specific genre seems difficult enough as most movie encyclopaedias refer to it as a "adventure science-fiction comedy", and the third installment even throws "western" in the mix as well. Over all, it is a great rollercoaster ride. The first film is a classic straightforward story: It is about the hopes, dreams and wishes one has, and about the realization that your parents had them just the same. It is a light-hearted, personal film. The second one goes bigger, and introduces a more complex story. The dystopian 1985 and Marty's unsatisfying future teach you about responsibility and that there are always consequences to your action. With the murder of George McFly, it is much darker than its predecessor. Then the third installment comes along and turns everything on his head with its wild west setting. This story is more about Doc Brown, the legacy he wants to leave and of course his new found love, but it also carrys over the themes from part II.
As a whole, this trilogy hits the perfect balance between introducing new elements to the story and throw-backs to the previous films. The sequels are not exact copies from the original like Hangover Part II was, but are also not completely ignoring the tone and feeling of it (like Die Hard 5). And when they do copy themselves it it is so ridiculously obvious that you are actually waiting for it.
Furthermore, the whole thing is elaborately interconnected, and it is an incredible achievement to have a film in which its characters travel from 1985 to 1955 back to a better 1985, from there to 2015 and back again to a bad version of 1985, then to the very same 1955 as before, accidentally to 1885 and finally to the good 1985. And it all still makes sense (the only big flaw in the timeline is actually resolved in a deleted scene from Back to the Future Part II)! It just shows how much better it works if you film and script sequels together rather than working on one at a time. If all that wasn't enough, Zemeckis and Gale hid plenty of jokes within the films which you might only notice after repeated watching (for example 1985s "Twin Pine Mall" becoming "Lone Pine Mall" after Marty drives over one of the the pines in 1955). Back to the Future has an immensly cleverly constructed script, that has yet to find its equal. To me, it is a cinematic milestone. A masterpiece.

Now, where I have finished the article, the marathon is one week in the past. And it seems only appropriate that I start and end it at two different points in time. If you haven't rewatched Back to the Future last week (or if you have never seen it at all), you should do so, because I was blown away all over again. Also, if you are planning to have kids someday I urge you to show it to them too, because there is much they can learn from it: That some things are worth taking a risk for, that every choice you make has an impact on the world, and (most importantly) that your future hasn't been written yet. No one's has. Your future is whatever you make it. So make it a good one!

Sincerely,

Your Cinemartian!

PS.: For all BTTF geeks: the documentary about the trilogy, "Back In Time", is now available on Netflix!

6 REASONS WHY YOU MIGHT NOT ENJOY CLASSIC MOVIES

 Hello there puny humans,
a few nights ago I rewatched Stanley Kubrick's 2001: A Space Odyssey. As a huge cinephile I obviously enjoyed it, but I couldn't help but think about the way films have changed, and about the way new mainstream audiences look back at the big movies that came out even before they were born. So, after a lot of thought I brought it down to six reasons for why our generation might not be able to enjoy classic films as much as the generation before us did:

1. Inflamed with stage

Although it is hard to imagine, movies have only existed for a little more than a hundred years, with "talking pictures" wholly replacing silent film as late as the 1930s. Naturally this young form of art drew heavily from its parent discipline - the theater - before finding its own unique voice.
So the further we go back in cinema history the more similar movies become to a stage play. This is most notable in two aspects: acting and cinematography.

A "Stand-Off"  - in modern film vs. oldschool theater

Unlike today, where directors like David Fincher are using the camera almost like an additional character, the recording device initially just replaced the theater audience's viewpoint. Hardly moving and using mostly the same angles. It took a little time until filmmakers realized how much you can add to a story through the way you place or move the camera.

Actors on the other hand did much too much rather than too little. When playing in a packed theater with no amplification whatsoever, movements, expressions and speech need to be exaggerated. This way every single person in the room can get what's going on regardless of the seating. Oldschool actors were still used to playing "to the back row", especially because you usually watched a movie in a theater rather than alone on your laptop at that time. For today's audiences however this kind of performance seems less natural. Add the uninventive camera movement and you are already much less invested in a film.

2. The effects of SFX
Most people believe this to be the strongest argument, but actually it is more of a weaker one. Yes, computer technology advanced at such a high rate, that filmmakers are now able to create situations, creatures and even whole worlds that could have never been realized just 30 years ago. However, due to the lack of computer technology back in those days, most movies did it practical: miniatures, robotics, and extensive make up. These effects usualy stand the test of time and are the reason why 80's films like Jurassic Park hold up better than those from the early 2000's with an overused CGI that was still in its baby shoes.

Still, when the complete climax of a story relies mostly on the visuals but these visuals are outdated, it will most definitely lose its impact. In very unfortunate cases the scenes even become laughable. The crescendo of Alfred Hitchcock's cunning thriller Rear Window for example used to put viewers on the edge of their seats. Nowadays, it evokes a chuckle at best:

3. The world is dark, and full of spoilers
Classics are classics for a reason. A whole bunch of people have seen them and even more people talk about them. Usually about their great and iconic moments. Every now and then however, these moments contain great twists, unexpected character developments or even the entire ending. Just like the great revelation of the original Planet of the Apes film was spoiled for, well, EVERYONE with the 2011 reboot at the very latest, most other cinematic milestones don't have any surprises left either. As a result, you will never be able to experience the same astonishment the original audience did. After all, hardly ever does someone leave a 50 year old movie thinking: "Wow, I never saw that coming!" Bruce Willis is really a ghost and Darth Vader is Luke's dad. Surprised? Probably not... 

4. It's raining copy-cats and dogs
Even if (somehow) you have been able to shield yourself from any information regarding the content of the film, you still won't be save from a little "been-there-done-that" feeling while watching. Why? Well, the great films that went down in cinema history have all had an impact on the industry for many years to come. Inspired by the awe they were left in, filmmakers would borrow from, pay homage to, or straight up copy elements from these movies just to recreate that same sense of wonder. Sometimes even trying to one-up the original. In three of the best science-fiction movies of this century, Sunshine, Moon and Interstellar, you can find concepts, ideas and even entire scences that resemble the ones from 2001: A Space Odyssey. A docking scene, a spaceship repairing scene, or just a lonely dude talking to a robot. These films haven't invented it, but updated it at the very least. And they are the movies young people see first! Something that was innovative back in the day has often become the standard for that particular genre, and so when they watch these classic films it just feels like the same old thing rather than groundbreaking. It's quite unfair to these pioneers, but hardly avoidable.

5. Less Fast, Less Furious
Maybe the most important argument is influenced by the change in our culture in general. Due to the invention of the internet and other technological achievements, we now have access to a much larger amount of information. Our generation has adapted to this very quickly and we are now able to proccess multiple things at the same time. We are checking our e-mails while texting a friend and simultaneously watching a tv show.
Filmmakers have realized this as well, and so directors don't hesitate to fill their films with just as much action as dialogue, and many other audiovisual information on the side. Events come blow by blow, scenes are more dense and characters have many different issues to face at once. As a result we get a much longer (or at least bigger) story in the same amount of time. By implication, we therefore perceive older movies as moving incredibly slow. So much so, that they tend to get boring. Even modern day films like Drive and Nightcrawler initially struggled to connect with mainstream audiences mainly because of their slow pacing similar to films like 1976's Taxi Driver. We are not used to long periods of silence  anymore and so when we are exposed to them it can go as far as making us uncomfortable. 

6. Superlatives! Superlatives everywhere!
Imagine the last time someone told you about a classic movie. It probably went down like this: "Have you ever seen Blade Runner? It's one of the best sci-fi films of all time!" or "You've got to watch The Shining. It's the scariest film I have ever seen!" and maybe even things like "What? You haven't seen The Godfather Part II?! It's the perfect movie!"

Not only has nostalgia wiped away all memory of flaws these movies might have had, but they are also always praised as 'absolute must-sees', 'brilliant masterpieces' or 'the best of the best'. Landing on Top 10 lists all around the internet and so very often mentioned as the biggest influences for the latest blockuster, it is hard to escape all the tales of their greatness. Obviously you think of your own personal favorites when hearing all this and your expectation skyrockets as your imagination crafts the most perfect of films from all the bits and pieces of movies you love. The bar is already set too high for any modern movie to reach, and on top of that an old film probably suffers from at least one of the points I mentioned above. The hype hurts.

Sure, it is fun to be excited about something, and word-of-mouth can be very helpful to the success of a film, but when people won't shut up about a particular thing it usually goes one of two ways: Either you are disappointed because it's different from what you expected, or you are so annoyed that you don't even want to watch it anymore. Nothing is better than seeing an awesome movie without any precognition, which is often what made these films classics in the first place.

If you are late to the party however, you don't get that luxury. Especially when you are half a century late...

So this was my explanation for why you might not be able to enjoy classic films. Did you recognize your own experiences in there? Or are you able to ignore all of this and enjoy them just as much as any other movie? Which old film did or didn't you enjoy? Feel free to comment below! And next time someone pops in Citizen Kane or One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, try to remember this list and cut it some slack. Because one day you might find yourself telling your grandchildren about these 50 year-old mastepieces like Inception or The Lord Of The Rings that weren't even in 3D. And you wouldn't want them to think their lame, would you?

Sincerely,
Your Cinemartian

FURIOUS 7 - Movie Review

 Title: Furious 7
Running Time: 137 min
Directors: James Wan
Starring: Vin Diesel, Paul Walker (†), Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson, Michelle Rodriguez, Tyrese Gibson, Ludacris, Jordana Brewster, Nathalie Emmanuel, Kurt Russel, Tony Jaa, Jason Statham

Review:
It was a very bitter irony when "Fast & Furious" star Paul Walker died in a car crash in November 2013. The actor known for his generosity and charity work was in the middle of shooting this very film when he passed and so production was stopped to allow Universal Studios to discuss the future of the project with his family. They decided to simulate Walker's appearance with the help of his brothers Caleb and Cody as well as the famous visual effects team of Weta Digital, and finish the now slightly rewritten film in honor of his memory.
"Furious 7" gives you exactly what you expect from a film of the franchise: Fast cars, ludicrous action, cheesy one-liners and a sea of testosterone. No more, and certainly no less. Of course once again you have to accept that skin is steel, cars are magic and the laws of physics are more of a loose concept, but if you are able to do that you are in for some ridiculous action and grand scale visuals.
Story-wise however the movie is a little convoluted. It feels like there are two different storylines going on that don't really mix together. As a result, Jason Statham is kind of wasted as a villain. The plot just randomly gets our heroes from A to B, and instead of being the main focus Statham just pops up here and there trying to kill them, until he fails and disappears for another 20minutes.
Furthermore, you can tell that this is James Wan's first action film, as the way he films fist fights is a little to quick and with some unusual artistic choices. Especially Statham and Tony Jaa are actually able to do all the crazy fighting themselves, but due to the editing it looks like it could also have been a stunt double.
Nonetheless, they also do a lot of car stunts in this movie... and they are pretty damn awesome. Cars flying through building or skydiving out of a plane just make you laugh in excitement and are most likely the reason you bought your movie ticket in the first place.
Also the ending really gets you as the film pays great tribute to Walker and does such a fantastic job at honoring him that you can't help but get chocked up just before the end credits roll.
All in all, "Furious 7" is a worthy entry in one of the most lovable dumb action franchises. If you're a fan of the previous films you will most certainly not be disappointed, if you were on the fence though, this will not be the film to win you over. Turn your brain off and get ready for pure and simple entertainment!

For Fans Of:
Fast & Furious 6 (2013)
Fast Five (2011)
Need for Speed (2014)
Death Race (2008)

Click Here To Watch Trailer!