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

Emmy 2015 Preditctions!

Here are my predictions, in red, in the main categories for the 67th Primetime Emmy Awards, which air tonight!

Outstanding Drama Series

"Downton Abbey" (PBS)
"Game of Thrones" (HBO)
"Mad Men" (AMC)
"House of Cards" (Netflix)
"Orange is the New Black" (Netflix)
"Homeland" (Showtime)
"Better Call Saul" (AMC)

Outstanding Comedy Series

"Louie" (FX)
"Modern Family" (ABC)
"Parks and Recreation" (NBC)
"Veep" (HBO)
"Silicon Valley" (HBO)
"Transparent" (Amazon)
"Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt" (Netflix)

Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series

Kevin Spacey "House of Cards" (Netflix)
Jon Hamm "Mad Men" (AMC)
Jeff Daniels "The Newsroom" (HBO)
Bob Odenkirk "Better Call Saul" (AMC)
Kyle Chandler "Bloodline" (Netflix)
Liev Schreiber "Ray Donovan" (Showtime)

Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series

Claire Danes "Homeland" (Showtime)
Viola Davis "How to Get Away with Murder" (ABC)
Taraji P. Henson "Empire" (Fox)
Tatiana Maslany "Orphan Black" (BBC America)
Elisabeth Moss "Mad Men" (AMC)
Robin Wright "House of Cards" (Netflix)

Outstanding Lead Actor in a Limited Series or a Movie

Richard Jenkins "Olive Kitteridge" (HBO)
Adrien Brody "Houdini" (History)
Mark Rylance "Wolf Hall" (PBS)
Timothy Hutton "American Crime" (ABC)
Ricky Gervais "Derek: The Final Chapter" (Netflix)
David Oyewelo "Nightingale" (HBO)

Outstanding Lead Actress in a Limited Series or a Movie

Frances McDormand "Olive Kitteridge" (HBO)
Maggie Gyllenhaal "The Honorable Woman" (SundanceTV)
Queen Latifah "Bessie" (HBO)
Emma Thompson "Sweeney Todd: Live From Lincoln Center" (PBS)
Jessica Lange "American Horror Story: Freak Show" (FX)
Felicity Huffman "American Crime" (ABC)

Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series

Matt LeBlanc "Episodes" (Showtime)
Don Cheadle "House of Lies" (Showtime)
Louis C.K. "Louie" (FX)
William H. Macy "Shameless" (Showtime)
Jeffrey Tambor "Transparent" (Amazon)
Anthony Anderson "Black-ish" (ABC)
Will Forte "Last Man on Earth" (Fox)

Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series

Lisa Kudrow "The Comeback" (HBO)
Edie Falco "Nurse Jackie" (Showtime)
Amy Poehler "Parks and Recreation" (NBC)
Julia Louis-Dreyfus "Veep" (HBO)
Amy Schumer "Inside Amy Schumer" (Comedy Central)
Lily Tomlin "Grace and Frankie" (Netflix)

Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series

Jonathan Banks "Better Call Saul" (AMC)
Ben Mendelsohn "Bloodline" (Netflix)
Jim Carter "Downton Abbey" (PBS)
Peter Dinklage "Game Of Thrones" (HBO)
Alan Cumming "The Good Wife" (CBS)
Michael Kelly "House Of Cards" Netflix

Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series

Joanne Froggatt "Downton Abbey" (PBS)
Lena Headey "Game Of Thrones" (HBO)
Emilia Clarke "Game Of Thrones" (HBO)
Christine Baranski "The Good Wife" (CBS)
Christina Hendricks "Mad Men" (AMC)
Uzo Aduba "Orange Is The New Black" (Netflix)

Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series

Andre Braugher "Brooklyn Nine-Nine" Fox
Adam Driver "Girls" (HBO)
Keegan-Michael Key "Key & Peele" (Comedy Central)
Ty Burrell "Modern Family" (ABC)
Tituss Burgess "Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt" (Netflix)
Tony Hale "Veep" (HBO)

Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series

Mayim Bialik "The Big Bang Theory" (CBS)
Niecy Nash "Getting On" (HBO)
Julie Bowen "Modern Family" (ABC)
Allison Janney "Mom" (CBS)
Kate McKinnon "Saturday Night Live" (NBC)
Gaby Hoffmann "Transparent" (Amazon Instant Video)
Jane Krakowski "Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt" (Netflix)
Anna Chlumsky "Veep" (HBO)

Outstanding Variety Talk Series

"The Colbert Report" (Comedy Central)
"The Daily Show With Jon Stewart" (Comedy Central)
"Last Week Tonight With John Oliver" (HBO)
"Jimmy Kimmel Live" (ABC)
"The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon" (NBC)
"Late Show With David Letterman" (CBS)

Outstanding Limited Series

"Olive Kitteridge" (HBO)
"American Crime" (ABC)
"The Honorable Woman" (SundanceTV)
"American Horror Story: Freak Show" (FX)
"Wolf Hall" (PBS)

Outstanding Variety Sketch Series

"Drunk History" (Comedy Central)
"Inside Amy Schumer" (Comedy Central)
"Key & Peele" (Comedy Central)
"Portlandia" (IFC)
"Saturday Night Live" (NBC)

Outstanding Television Movie

"Agatha Christie's Poirot: Curtain, Poirot's Last Case" (Acorn TV)
"Bessie" (HBO)
"Grace Of Monaco" (Lifetime)
"Hello Ladies: The Movie" (HBO)
"Killing Jesus" (National Geographic Channel)
"Nightingale" (HBO)

Outstanding Reality-Competition Program

"The Amazing Race" (CBS)
"Dancing With the Stars" (ABC)
"Project Runway" (Lifetime)
"So You Think You Can Dance" (Fox)
"Top Chef" (Bravo)
"The Voice" (NBC)

Film Review -- Jurassic World

Directed by Colin Trevorrow, the highly-anticipated sequel/continuation of the Jurassic Park series stars Bryce Dallas Howard and Chris Pratt. Built on the site of the original park, Jurassic World is a highly popular theme park and luxury resort that attracts visitors from around the world to gaze at many different species of dinosaurs brought back from extinction. The park's administration, however, is under constant pressure to innovate to continue attracting crowds, who grow increasingly unaffected by the sight of dinosaurs. The operations manager, Claire Dearing (Howard) spearheads the creation of a genetically modified dinosaur, the Indominus rex, more stealthy and powerful than any other dinosaur before it. When the animal escapes its enclosure and goes on a killing spree, it threatens not only the existence of the park, but the lives of every living creature and person on the island. Claire summons the help of trainer Owen (Pratt) to somehow stop the beast, all while trying to protect her two nephews, Zach and Gray (Nick Robinson and Ty Simpkins, respectively), who came to the park to visit her. I had high expectations for this film in terms of the quality of its science fiction, seeing that it has had one of the most successful box office runs ever. While the CGI is indeed dazzling, the film fails on too many other levels. In addition to some outrageously deep plot holes, some glaring details almost insult one's intelligence (without trying to be too specific: you mean to tell me that, after spending the entire day navigating through the jungle and engaging in a life-or-death race with a T-Rex, Claire NEVER takes off her heels?!). To me, the impressive dinosaurs could not redeem this film, which I found lacking in creative storytelling effort.   

Should you see it: If you like CGI
Grade: C

Film Review -- Spy

Written and directed by Paul Feig, this comedy stars Melissa McCarthy, Jude Law, Rose Byrne, and Jason Statham. Susan Cooper (McCarthy) is a lowly CIA agent working behind the scenes as the eyes and ears of Agent Bradley Fine (Law), the quintessential James Bond-esque spy. When the CIA's next target, Rayna Boyanov (Byrne), reveals that she knows the identities of all of the CIA's top agents, Susan finally gets her chance to go on a field mission in order to stop Rayna from selling a nuclear weapon that would be used to detonate New York City. Of course, mishaps and hilarities ensue. Paul Feig, the mastermind behind Bridesmaids and The Heat, delivers his third Melissa McCarthy-led comedy, and I'd say this one is perhaps the superior of the three. The film was very consistent with its comedy, and I laughed out loud constantly throughout the film. Although the plot is obviously silly and far-reaching, there were many enjoyable parts. The actors worked very well in their roles, especially Jason Statham and his character, a caricature of an overly macho, egotistical agent. Keeping in mind that the film isn't meant to be anything other than a lightweight crowd-pleaser, Spy is an above-average, thoroughly entertaining comedy.

Should you see it: Yes
Grade: B+

Film Review -- The Age of Adaline

Directed by Lee Toland Krieger, the film stars Blake Lively, Harrison Ford, Michiel Huisman, and Ellen Burstyn. Adaline Bowman (Lively) was born in 1908, but after a car accident in 1929, she inexplicably stops aging. By 2014, Adaline has settled into a reclusive routine where she changes her identity every decade to avoid detection. Pressured by her elderly daughter, Flemming (Burstyn), to find some companionship, Adaline agrees to go out with self-made billionaire Ellis Jones (Huisman), who sweeps her off her feet. One weekend, they travel to Ellis's parents' house for their fortieth anniversary celebration, Adaline comes face-to-face with someone important from her past, which threatens to reveal the secret she's desperately been trying to keep for decades. I went into the theatre with minimal expectations, and the film was exactly what I thought it would be: a rather silly entry into the time-bending genre that did not deliver the emotional depth it thought it did.  For me, the worst part was that the filmmakers completely copped out of trying to explain why Adaline stopped aging - the excuse in the film was that the reason "would only be discovered in 2035." I thought that was incredibly lazy and sloppy of them to take the easy way out. And if one made the argument that the science behind it wasn't the point of the film - that the point was the romance - well, the love story wasn't very captivating, either, because it was difficult to become invested in either of the leads (an incestuous element also makes it a little creepy). The film, while lackluster, is entertaining as a popcorn flick, but you have to be willing to ignore all of its faults to not be frustrated by it.  

Should you see it: This one is up to you

Grade: C