"Room" stars Brie Larson, Jacob Tremblay, Joan Allen, and William H. Macy. Released on October 16, 2015, the film is about a woman who allows her son to experience the outside world for the first time after being trapped in an enclosed room for years. The film is directed by Lenny Abrahamson, who also directed films such as Adam & Paul and Frank. It is based on the novel of the same name by Emma Donoghue, who also wrote the screenplay for the film. I've been hearing a lot of good things about this film, especially Larson's performance. It has been nominated for four Academy Awards, including Best Picture, so it would make sense for me to see it for myself. Before I saw this film, one question came to my head: Just how can a film about a woman and a child in a small room together be so…inspiring? I'll tell you how, it's how they portray its themes, and this film succeeds in doing that. Brie Larson plays a woman named Ma, who is held captive inside a small room with her son Jack, played by Jacob Tremblay. After successfully escaping from their captor, she tries to help Jack adjust to the world outside of the room for the very first time. Larson did a beautiful job portraying that character. She felt more like an actual mother rather than an actor. She definitely deserves that Oscar nomination for her breathtaking performance. I would also give props to Tremblay's performance as Jack. He was nothing shy of brilliant from beginning to end. Funny story, by the way, my mom and I were watching the Critics' Choice Awards yesterday and when we saw a clip of the film with Tremblay, my mom questioned whether the child actor is a boy or a girl because of his long hair. Yeah, my mom is weird, but I love her. What's really inspiring about this film is the concept and the direction. The film is more than about the relationship between the mother and her son, but about adjusting to the new world for the first time. I believe we have some experiences of learning how to adapt to the world around us as we grow older or trying to teach our kids to adapt to the world around them. This film expresses that theme in a fresh new way for me and it never felt dried out. Abrahamson showcases "Room" like it was a poem; a poem that expresses the feelings and the changes of these characters with their actions, not just through dialogue. The pacing in this film can be a bit slow for some people, but I was engaged to it until the credits started rolling. There's also some emotional depth that really works for a film like this. I got all teary-eyed a couple of times, but it's enough to make the film just as engaging as the characters themselves. Overall, with its brilliant performances, smart direction, strong themes and screenplay, and masterful storytelling, "Room" is a must-see for indie fans everywhere. It's the kind of film that not only left me inspired, but also made me think about how I adjusted to the world around me. I can assure you, guys, this film did not disappoint me and I'm sure it will not disappoint you too. A
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"The Revenant" stars Leonardo DiCaprio, Tom Hardy, Domhnall Gleeson, and Will Poulter. Released in limited theaters on December 25, 2015, followed by a wide release on January 8, 2016, the film is about a frontiersman who seeks revenge against his own men who left him for dead. The film is directed by Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu, who also directed the Oscar-winning film Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance). It is inspired by the real life experiences of frontiersman and fur trapper Hugh Glass, and is based in part on the novel by Michael Punke. Inarritu really impressed me with Birdman back in 2014 and I was curious to see how he was going to handle this follow-up. When I first saw the trailer for this film, I figured that it may be possible that this could be DiCaprio's year where he can finally claim his first Oscar win. But the real question is: is it any good? The film takes place in the 1820s, where modern technology wasn't even invented yet and people have to rely on sticks, guns, and knives in order to survive the harsh wintery weather. DiCaprio portrays Hugh Glass, a man who goes on a revenge-seeking quest after one of his own men, John Fitzgerald (played by Tom Hardy), killed his son (Forrest Goodluck) and left him for dead. DiCaprio has shown some great talent in his film career. This film proves that he's not slowing down anytime soon. His performance was not only based on his dialogue, but also his actions on how he survives the pain from being mauled by a huge bear and the harsh weather. My guess is that he's providing some strong competition in the Oscar race this year. Tom Hardy also did a great job playing Fitzgerald, although sometimes he sounds like he's trying to imitate Jeff Bridges. The direction was also grand in terms of how realistic the violence is and how believable the characters were. One of the biggest highlights of the film was the Oscar-worthy cinematography. This film offered some breath-taking long shots that made me feel I was a part of the experience myself. From the bear attack sequence to the final 20 minutes that caught my eye, this is the best use of cinematography I've seen since Sicario. One of the things that prevented me from loving this film was the length. There were a couple of dialogue-driven scenes that could've been a bit shorter in order to keep the audience's attention. I also believe that the relationship between Glass and his son could've been a bit stronger. It's very sad to see the son die, but it would've been more emotional if we explored more of that relationship. Another flaw I would like to point out (although I wouldn't consider it a flaw, more like an observation) was that the entire film was depressing. The fact that it seems depressing was because of the execution of its concept, the realistic violence, its settings and lightings, and the musical score. I'm not saying it's a bad thing, it's more like a warning to those who are planning on seeing it. Overall, "The Revenant" doesn't have that many qualities to gain 'best movie' status, but thanks to DiCaprio's strong performance, its brilliant cinematography, and its unique, yet brutal and depressing, direction, it is still a worthy addition to Inarritu's filmography. It's worth recommending to those who are fans of DiCaprio or Inarritu's filmography. B+"Joy" stars Jennifer Lawrence, Robert De Niro, Bradley Cooper, and Edgar Ramirez. Released on December 25, 2015, the film is about a young woman who faces many obstacles while building her own business empire. The film is directed by David O. Russell, who also directed films such as The Fighter, Silver Linings Playbook, and American Hustle. It is loosely based on Joy Mangano, a divorced mother who invented the Miracle Mop in the early 1990s and became an overnight success. The last film I've seen from director David O. Russell was Silver Linings Playbook back in 2012, which I thought was pretty good in my opinion. This recent film reunites Russell with Lawrence, De Niro, and Cooper after their success with Silver Linings, but is it enough to capture the essence of Joy Mangano? Pros: Some very good performances, including Lawrence as Joy and De Niro as Rudy. Nice cinematography. Good screenplay. Cons: Some slow pacing. Not enough depth in the emotions and the characters. The direction was OK. Final thoughts: There are a lot of films where you can't judge them based on the titles alone. "Joy" is one of them. This film isn't full of sunshine, rainbows, or cute little puppies (or if you want to be nonsensical, a spin-off to Inside Out), but it is an average biopic of the woman who rose to fame thanks to the Miracle Mop. It's not as great as I wanted it to be, but it's suitable for what it's supposed to be. If you're a fan of Russell's filmography, you might like this film. C+"Concussion" stars Will Smith, Gugu Mbatha-Raw, Alec Baldwin, and Albert Brooks. Released on December 25, 2015, the film is about a forensic pathologist who discovers a football-related brain trauma known as CTE. The film is directed by Peter Landesman, who also directed and wrote Parkland, and it is based on a true story about Dr. Bennet Omalu, who fought to get the NFL to know about his research on the brain damage suffered by professional football players. I was really speculating on whether or not this film would be great based on the trailers alone. It had a great concept on football-related brain injury, but I felt the main challenge would be its execution. I was expecting it to be good, but after watching this film, I didn't realize it would be this good. Pros: Some strong performances from the cast. Will Smith was brilliant as Bennet Omalu and Alec Baldwin shines as Julian Bailes. Solid screenplay that explores the dangers of CTE. Good direction from Landesman. Solid uses of emotional depth in the second and third acts. Strong characterization of Omalu. Cons: Pacing can be a bit slow at times. Its concept can be a bit frightening for younger viewers. Final thoughts: Lead by Will Smith's powerful performance and an engaging screenplay that explores the man behind the shocking discovery, "Concussion" hits hard and doesn't hold back until the very end. I'm expecting this film to be a learning tool for parents who are planning on letting their kids play football. That way, they'll easily find a way to protect them from suffering the same fates as the other deceased football players. This is a high recommendation for football fans, parents, and neurologists everywhere. A-"Daddy's Home" stars Will Ferrell, Mark Wahlberg, Linda Cardellini, and Thomas Haden Church. Released on December 25, 2015, the film is about a radio executive who strives to become the best stepfather to his kids, but soon faces some tough competition when their real father arrives in town. The film is directed by Sean Anders, who also directed Sex Drive, That's My Boy, and Horrible Bosses 2. It also marks the second collaboration between Ferrell and Wahlberg following The Other Guys. I really like these two main actors for different reasons. Ferrell has had some ups and downs with his recent films and Wahlberg has been quite successful in his comedic roles, especially with Ted. So it would make sense to have these two in the same film together. Their chemistry worked well with The Other Guys back in 2010, but will it work again with this film? Pros: Some decent performances. Ferrell and Wahlberg delivered some good chemistry together. The humor was good, yet some of them were quite questionable. Cons: Started off rough in the first act in terms of humor, but got better later on. Predictable storyline. Some of the moments felt a little mean-spirited. The narrative was rushed at some points. Final thoughts: "Daddy's Home" has its issues and some idiocy, but when it comes to two well-known actors playing two different dads fighting for the affection of their kids, I found myself having a good time with this film despite its predictability and its rocky first act. It's not the best comedy I've seen throughout the holiday season, but if you're in the mood for some laughs or if you like seeing Wahlberg's big muscles, then it's worth watching. C |
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