Film Review -- Spotlight

Directed by Tom McCarthy, the film stars Michael Keaton, Mark Ruffalo, Rachel McAdams, Liev Schreiber, John Slattery, Brian d'Arcy James, and Stanley Tucci. It centers around the Pulitzer Prize-winning investigation, conducted by the "Spotlight" team of investigative reporters for the Boston Globe, of the massive cover-up of the rampant child molestation within the Catholic Archdiocese of Boston. Walter Robinson (Keaton) leads the team of reporters - Mike Rezendes (Ruffalo), Sacha Pfeiffer (McAdams) and Matt Carroll (James) - on a perilous mission to expose one of the most perverse scandals in the history of the Catholic Church. One great strength of this film is that it doesn't attempt, on account of its obviously revolting subject matter, to be melodramatic or to mold itself into a conventional 'good vs. evil' narrative. It treats its subject matter in a sensitive way, but it also doesn't try to sugarcoat it (of course, the Church's atrocities speak for themselves). The reporters aren't portrayed as heroes; rather, they're simply a group of people who found a story that needed to be told, and pursued it - sometimes reluctantly, but mostly resolutely - while experiencing a wide range of responses, including horror. The film's screenplay is perhaps the best of the year. The plot moves so seamlessly that I hardly noticed the time go by, and the dialogue seems so natural that it feels like you're listening to a conversation among real people. A necessary film is one that is so much more than entertainment, one that is an indispensable viewing to those who consider themselves decent human beings - this is one of those films. The sickening nature of organized religion is too often and inexplicably ignored by society at large, so one can't help but feel grateful to the original Spotlight team for their unflinching exposé as well as to the filmmakers who wished to bring this story to a wide audience for their small contributions in bringing this cancer to the forefront of mainstream culture. Spotlight is easily the best film of the year.

Should you see it: Absolutely
Grade: A+

Film Review -- The Big Short

Directed by Adam McKay, the comedy stars Christian Bale, Steve Carell, Ryan Gosling, and Brad Pitt. The film tells the story of three groups of people - eccentric hedge fund manager Michael Burry (Bale); investor Jared Vennett, who works with trader Mark Baum (Carell) and his team; and young investors Charlie (John Magaro) and Jamie (Finn Wittrock), who work with retired trader Ben Rickert (Pitt) - who accurately predicted the collapse of the housing market that led to the 2008 financial crisis and profited greatly from it. Although the true story that inspired it is ultimately horrifying, the film manages to take this shocking story and tell it in a comical and wholly original way. Beyond that, it makes the complex financial and economic practices that led to the crisis much easier to understand; in fact, McKay's strategy for explaining certain complicated financial terms is absolutely hilarious and one of the best aspects of the film. Because of the superb actors, the witty and intelligent screenplay, and pertinent subject matter, The Big Short is a winner. I was thoroughly entertained and loved its originality; creating a laugh-out-loud film about a global economic crisis is certainly a great accomplishment. It is one of my favorite films of the year.

Should you see it: Yes
Grade: A

FIlm Review -- Star Wars: The Force Awakens

Directed by J.J. Abrams, Episode VII of the epic series stars Harrison Ford, Carrie Fisher, Daisy Ridley, John Boyega, Adam Driver, and Oscar Isaac. Set thirty years after Episode VI and the defeat of the Empire, a new regime, the First Order, threatens the galaxy. The small but mighty Resistance, led by General Leia (Fisher), must find a way to keep the First Order - led by the Vader-esque Kylo Ren (Driver) - from finding a map to fugitive Jedi Luke Sywalker (Mark Hamill) contained in a droid called BB-8. Han Solo (Ford), runaway stormtrooper Finn (Boyega) and orphaned scavenger Rey (Ridley) are enlisted to defeat the First Order and find the elusive Skywalker, perhaps the only hope of ensuring an enduring peace in the galaxy. The film, in general, plays it very safe. The plot is quite unoriginal, and mirrors the plots of Episodes I and IV in many ways. However, I can probably understand why Disney, having just acquired the rights to the franchise and in the position to shape the aftermath of the original trilogy, decided not to veer too far away from the original trilogy's tone or premise. I loved the mix of familiar and new characters, with the new characters being very solid additions. There is especially much to like about Ridley's strong female character, as well as the actress's fantastic debut performance. The special effects were outstanding, as was the score by the returning John Williams, a legend. However, because it felt so safe, the film wasn't particularly innovative or exciting, either. Without a doubt, it was thoroughly enjoyable, and inspired much more confidence than the beginning of the other recent trilogy, but The Force Awakens also wasn't the spectacularly original tour de force it could have been. The question, then, becomes: which would have been better? An undoubtedly faithful addition to the series that surely didn't alienate any fans or a more daring, but perhaps more divisive, story?

Should you see it: Yes
Grade: A-

2016 SAG Awards Nominations

Awards season is officially upon us again! Here are the nominations for the 22nd Screen Actors Guild Awards, which take place on January 30.

Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture 
Beasts of No Nation
The Big Short
Spotlight
Straight Outta Compton
Trumbo

Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Leading Role 
Bryan Cranston, Trumbo
Johnny Depp, Black Mass
Leonardo DiCaprio, The Revenant
Michael Fassbender, Steve Jobs
Eddie Redmayne, The Danish Girl

Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Leading Role 
Cate Blanchett, Carol
Brie Larson, Room
Helen Mirren, Woman in Gold
Saoirse Ronan, Brooklyn
Sarah Silverman, I Smile Back

Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Supporting Role 
Christian Bale, The Big Short
Idris Elba, Beasts of No Nation
Mark Rylance, Bridge of Spies
Michael Shannon, 99 Homes
Jacob Tremblay, Room

Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Supporting Role 
Rooney Mara, Carol
Rachel McAdams, Spotlight
Helen Mirren, Trumbo
Alicia Vikander, The Danish Girl
Kate Winslet, Steve Jobs

Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series 
Downton Abbey
Game of Thrones
Homeland
House of Cards
Mad Men

Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series 
The Big Bang Theory
Key & Peele
Modern Family
Orange is the New Black
Transparent
Veep

Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Drama Series 
Peter Dinklage, Game of Thrones
Jon Hamm, Mad Men
Rami Malek, Mr. Robot
Bob Odenkirk, Better Call Saul
Kevin Spacey, House of Cards

Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Drama Series 
Claire Danes, Homeland
Viola Davis, How to Get Away With Murder
Julianna Marguiles, The Good Wife
Maggie Smith, Downton Abbey
Robin Wright, House of Cards

Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Comedy Series 
Ty Burrell, Modern Family
Louis CK., Louie
William H. Macy, Shameless
Jim Parsons, The Big Bang Theory
Jeffrey Tambor, Transparent

Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Comedy Series 
Uzo Aduba, Orange is the New Black
Edie Falco, Nurse Jackie
Ellie Kemper, Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt
Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Veep
Amy Poehler, Parks and Recreation

Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a TV Movie or Miniseries
Idris Elba, Luther 
Ben Kingsley, Tut
Ray Liotta, Texas Rising
Bill Murray, A Very Murray Christmas
Mark Rylance, Wolf Hall

Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a TV Movie or Miniseries
Nicole Kidman, Grace of Monaco
Queen Latifah, Bessie
Christina Ricci, The Lizzie Borden Chronicles
Susan Sarandon, The Secret Life of Marilyn Monroe Kristen Wiig, The Spoils Before Dying