Film Review -- Flight

This thriller/drama stars Denzel Washington, John Goodman, Don Cheadle, Kelly Reilly, and Bruce Greenwood, and is directed by Robert Zemeckis. Captain Whip Whitaker (Washington) is an extremely talented pilot who struggles with drug and alcohol addiction. When a commercial airplane that he is flying suddenly malfunctions, Whip is able to unbelievably land it safely by flying it completely upside down -- and ends up saving all but six of the hundred-plus lives on board. He is hailed a hero, as he and most others believe that had anyone else been flying that plane, it would have crashed an all would have perished. However, as details of his troubled personal life begin to emerge, people start to question whether Whip was high or drunk during the flight. If Whip is found to have been under the influence, he faces six counts of manslaughter and up to life in prison, even though he undoubtedly saved scores of lives. The film retells Whip's ordeal between the ill-fated flight and his trial, and the influence that several people -- including his friend/drug dealer Harling Mays (Goodman), the airline pilot's union representative Charlie Anderson (Greenwood), former addict Nicole Maggen (Reilly), and attorney Hugh Lang (Cheadle) -- have upon his life. Though the premise was promising, the film falls flat after the absolutely thrilling disaster scene. What should have been a very interesting, suspenseful film instead ended up boring and over-long, its main problem being that there are no characters to care about. Although Denzel Washington's performance is nuanced, it cannot save this disappointing dud. 

Should you see it: Only if you're one of those (like me) who like to see all of the Awards Season films. If not, there's no need to; you're not missing anything.

Grade: C

Film Review -- The Impossible

This based-on-a-true-story disaster film stars Naomi Watts, Ewan McGregor, and Tom Holland, and is directed by Juan Antonio Bayona. When British (although the real family is Spanish) couple Maria and Henry (Watts and McGregor) and their three sons Lucas (Holland), Thomas (Samuel Joslin) and Simon (Oaklee Pendergast) escape their busy life in Japan for some holiday relaxation in Thailand, they cannot imagine that on the day after Christmas, one of the most devastating natural disasters in recent history would hit the Southeast-Asia coast. As the family is separated by the tsunami, they must fight not only to survive, but to be reunited. The special effects are impressive -- the colossal waves are terrifyingly real -- as is the makeup, which makes the wounds, especially Maria's, appear shockingly gruesome. The film, however, is less spectacular than I imagined that it would be. Although the family's story is certainly heartwarming, it was surprisingly anti-climactic. Naomi Watts delivers a strong performance, though, and Geraldine Chaplin makes a nice cameo as well. In all, the film is well-made and well-acted, but the underwhelming screenplay and the actual story itself prevent it from being the epic, unbelievable film that it could have been.

Should you see it: Yes
Grade: B+

Film Review -- Life of Pi

This adaptation of Yann Martel's bestseller was directed by Ang Lee and stars Suraj Sharma, Rafe Spall, and Irfan Khan. Pi Patel (Sharma, Khan at different ages) spends his childhood in Pondicherry, India, tending to his parents' zoo and discovering faith through the practice of three different religions: Hinduism, Islam, and Christianity. When Pi is sixteen, his father announces that he has accepted work in Canada and that they will be making their journey -- along with their animals, which are to be sold in Canada -- on a Japanese cargo ship. Early in the voyage, however, the ship experiences unknown problems and quickly sinks. Pi manages to jump onto a lifeboat, but passes out due to the rough waters. When he awakens, he discovers that the other inhabitants of the lifeboat are a hyena, an injured zebra, an orangutan, and the majestic tiger Richard Parker. Eventually, only Pi and Richard Parker remain, and most of the film, like the book, is devoted to the two-hundred and twenty-seven days that the human and the tiger fought for survival. When he is rescued, Pi learns that no one believes his incredible story, so he tells another, more "believable" one. Since one or the other can never be proven true, which to believe, Pi says, is up to the listener. The book, although beautifully written, subtly extolls religion and spirituality; for example, Pi says that his story will "make you believe in God." Although I am pretty certain that the book will not convert any non-believers, it does make me, as a non-believer, admire it less. The film is very true to the book -- which is rare with film adaptations -- I just wish it wasn't so "preachy." It is hard to fully appreciate a great novel or a great film -- which both are -- when you disagree with the fundamental principles that guide it. 

Should you see it: Yes
Grade: B

Film Review -- The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey

The highly-anticipated first film in a three-part LOTR prequel stars Martin Freeman, Ian McKellen, Richard Armitage, and Andy Serkis, and is directed once again by Peter Jackson. Bilbo Baggins (Freeman) leads a quiet and uneventful life in the Shire, until one day, adventure comes knocking on his door -- literally. When a group of dwarves seeks to reclaim its homeland, Erebor, which was conquered by the dragon Smaug, they enlist Bilbo as the "burglar" of their expedition. Led by Thorin Oakenshield, grandson of the last king of Erebor, and the wizard Gandalf (McKellen), Bilbo embarks on an immense journey unlike anything he's ever dreamed of experiencing, and comes face-to-face with trolls, elves, orcs, and, of course, the legendary Gollum (an always terrific Serkis). The film overal feels a bit strained. Ever since the Hobbit films were announced, I've wondered why Jackson is going to adapt a single novel into the same number of films as the much larger, three-volume sequel. The film's incomprehensible three-hour running time seems to validate my doubt. It would have been much more enjoyable if it had been an hour shorter. The film, like the LOTR trilogy, is very grand, as in it contains really impressive visual effects, but what this film lacks that the other three didn't is a substantial plot; again, this is probably because of the money-oriented decision to stretch the one book into three three-hour films. Although I did not particularly enjoy any of the LOTR films (I am among probably a handful of people willing to admit this), I do recognize their superiority over this film. That being said, there is still plenty to enjoy: The Bilbo-Gollum scene, for instance, is undoubtedly the picture's best, as it's funny, suspenseful, and terrifying all at once, and Freeman and Serkis were the standout performances. I wish I could have seen it in HFR, and would encourage anyone who hasn't seen it yet to try it out -- and then share thoughts!

Should you see it: Yes
Grade: B

2013 Golden Globe Nominations

The Golden Globes, one of the season's most anticipated awards, announced its nominations today. The winners will be revealed on Sunday, January 13 (guess what I'll be doing on my birthday? :P ). The ceremony will be hosted by Tina Fey and Amy Poehler (!). Below is a complete list of the nominees:

MOVIES

BEST MOTION PICTURE, DRAMA
Argo
Django Unchained
Life of Pi
Lincoln
Zero Dark Thirty

BEST MOTION PICTURE, MUSICAL OR COMEDY
The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel
Les Miserables
Moonrise Kingdom
Salmon Fishing in the Yemen
Silver Linings Playbook

BEST DIRECTOR
Ben Affleck, Argo
Kathryn Bigelow, Zero Dark Thirty
Ang Lee, Life of Pi
Steven Spielberg, Lincoln
Quentin Tarantino, Django Unchained

BEST ACTOR, DRAMA
Daniel Day-Lewis, Lincoln
Richard Gere, Arbitrage
John Hawkes, The Sessions
Joaquin Phoenix, The Master
Denzel Washington, Flight

BEST ACTRESS, DRAMA
Jessica Chastain, Zero Dark Thirty
Marion Cotillard, Rust & Bone
Helen Mirren, Hitchcock
Naomi Watts, The Impossible
Rachel Weisz, Deep Blue Sea

BEST ACTOR, MUSICAL OR COMEDY
Jack Black, Bernie
Bradley Cooper, Silver Linings Playbook
Hugh Jackman, Les Miserables
Ewan McGregor, Salmon Fishing in the Yemen
Bill Murray, Hyde Park on Hudson

BEST ACTRESS, MUSICAL OR COMEDY
Emily Blunt, Salmon Fishing in the Yemen
Judy Dench, Best Exotic Marigold Hotel
Jennifer Law, Silver Linings Playbook
Maggie Smith, Quartet
Meryl Streep, Hope Springs

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR
Alan Arkin, Argo
Leonardo DiCaprio, Django Unchained
Philip Seymour Hoffman, The Master
Tommy Lee Jones, Lincoln
Christoph Waltz, Django Unchained

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS
Amy Adams, The Master 
Sally Field, Lincoln
Anne Hathaway, Les Miserables
Helen Hunt, The Sessions
Nicole Kidman, The Paperboy

BEST SCREENPLAY
Mark Boal, Zero Dark Thirty
Lincoln
Silver Linings
Django Unchained
Argo

BEST ANIMATED FILM
Brave
Frankenweenie
Rise of the Guardians
Wreck-It Ralph

BEST FOREIGN LANGUAGE PICTURE
Amour
A Royal Affair
The Untouchables
Con Tiki
Rust and Bone

BEST ORIGINAL SCORE
Michael Dano, Life of Pi
Argo
Anna Karenina
Cloud Atlas
Lincoln

ORIGINAL SONG
For You, Act of Valor
Not Running Anymore
Safe and Sound, The Hunger Games
Skyfall, Skyfall
Suddenly, Les Miserables

TV

BEST TV SERIES, DRAMA
Breaking Bad
Boardwalk
Downton Abbey
Homeland
Newsroom

BEST TV SERIES, COMEDY
The Big Bang Theory
Episodes
Girls
Modern Family
Smash

BEST ACTOR, TV DRAMA
Steve Buschemi
Bryan Cranston
Jeff Daniels
Jon Hamm
Damian Lewis

BEST ACTRESS, TV DRAMA
Connie Britton, Nashville
Glenn Close, Damages
Claire Danes, Homeland
Michelle Dockery, Downton Abbey
Julianna Marguiles, The Good Wife

BEST ACTOR, TV COMEDY
Don Cheadle, House of Lies
Alec Baldwin, 30 Rock
Louis CK, Louis
Matt LeBlanc, Episodes
Jim Parsons, The Big Bang Theory

BEST ACTRESS, TV COMEDY
Zooey Deschanel, New Girl
Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Veep
Lena Dunham, Girls
Tina Fey, 30 Rock
Amy Poehler, Parks and Recreation

BEST MINISERIES OR MOTION PICTURE MADE FOR TELEVISION
Game Change
The Girl
Hatfields & McCoys
The Hour
Political Animals

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A MINISERIES OR A MOTION PICTURE MADE FOR TELEVISION
Kevin Costner
Benedict Cumberbatch
Woody Harrelson
Toby Jones
Clive Owen

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A MINISERIES OR A MOTION PICTURE MADE FOR TELEVISION
Nicole Kid
Jessica Lange
Sienna Miller
Julianne Moore
Sigourney Weaver

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE IN A SERIES, MINISERIES, OR MOTION PICTURE MADE FOR TELEVISION
Max Greenfield, New Girl
Ed Harris, Game Change
Danny Houston, Magic City
Mandy Patinkin, Homeland
Eric Stonestreet, Modern Family

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A SUPPORTING ROLE IN A SERIES, MINISERIES, OR MOTION PICTURE MADE FOR TELEVISION
Hayden Panetierre, Nashville
Archie Panjabi, The Good Wife
Sarah Paulson, Game Change
Maggie Smith, Downton Abbey
Sofia Vergara, Modern Family

2013 Screen Actors Guild Awards Nominees

The Screen Actors Guild Awards, one of the "Top Three" of Awards Season, announced the nominees today. The winners will be revealed on Jan. 27.

FILM

Male Actor, Lead
Bradley Cooper, Silver Linings Playbook
Daniel Day-Lewis, Lincoln
John Hawkes, The Sessions
Hugh Jackman, Les Misérables
Denzel Washington, Flight

Male Actor, Supporting
Alan Arkin, Argo
Javier Bardem, Skyfall
Robert De Niro, Silver Linings Playbook
Philip Seymour Hoffman, The Master
Tommy Lee Jones, Lincoln

Female Actor, LeadJessica Chastain, Zero Dark Thirty
Marion Cotillard, Rust and Bone
Jennifer Lawrence, Silver Linings Playbook
Helen Mirren, Hitchcock
Naomi Watts, The Impossible

Female Actor, Supporting
Sally Field, Lincoln
Anne Hathaway, Les Misérables
Helen Hunt, The Sessions
Nicole Kidman, The Paperboy
Maggie Smith, The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel

Cast in a Motion Picture
Argo
The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel
Les Misérables
Lincoln 
Silver Linings Playbook

TV

Male Actor, TV Movie or Miniseries
Kevin Costner, Hatfields & McCoys
Woody Harrelson, Game Change
Ed Harris, Game Change
Clive Owen, Hemingway & Gellhorn
Bill Paxton, Hatfields & McCoys

Female Actor, TV Movie or Miniseries
Nicole Kidman, Hemingway & Gellhorn
Julianne Moore, Game Change
Charlotte Rampling, Restless
Sigourney Weaver, Political Animals
Alfre Woodard, Steel Magnolias

Male Actor, Drama Series
Steve Buscemi, Boardwalk Empire
Bryan Cranston, Breaking Bad
Jeff Daniels, The Newsroom
Jon Hamm, Mad Men
Damian Lewis, Homeland

Female Actor, Drama Series
Claire Danes, Homeland
Michelle Dockery, Downton Abbey
Jessica Lange, American Horror Story: Asylum
Julianna Margulies, The Good Wife
Maggie Smith, Downton Abbey

Male Actor, Comedy Series
Alec Baldwin, 30 Rock
Ty Burrell, Modern Family
Louis CK, Louis
Jim Parsons, The Big Bang Theory
Eric Stonestreet, Modern Family

Female Actor, Comedy Series
Edie Falco, Nurse Jackie
Tina Fey, 30 Rock
Amy Poehler, Parks and Recreation
Sofia Vergara, Modern Family
Betty White, Hot in Cleveland

Ensemble, Comedy

30 Rock
The Big Bang Theory
Glee
Modern Family
Nurse Jackie
The Office

Ensemble, Drama
Boardwalk Empire
Breaking Bad
Downton Abbey
Homeland
Mad Men

Life Achievement Award
Dick Van Dyke

2013 Crtitcs' Choice Awards Nominees

Of the top awards of the season -- and considered to be a good indicator to the Oscars -- the Critics' Choice Awards announced their nominations today, and will reveal the winners in their ceremony on Jan. 10. 

BEST PICTURE
Argo
Beasts of the Southern Wild
Django Unchained
Les Misérables
Life of Pi
Lincoln
The Master
Moonrise Kingdom
Silver Linings Playbook
Zero Dark Thirty

BEST ACTOR
Bradley Cooper, Silver Linings Playbook
Daniel Day-Lewis, Lincoln
John Hawkes, The Sessions
Hugh Jackman, Les Misérables
Joaquin Phoenix, The Master
Denzel Washington, Flight

BEST ACTRESS
Jessica Chastain, Zero Dark Thirty
Marion Cotillard, Rust and Bone
Jennifer Lawrence, Silver Linings Playbook
Emmanuelle Riva, Amour
Quvenzhané Wallis, Beasts of the Southern Wild
Naomi Watts, The Impossible

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR
Alan Arkin, Argo
Javier Bardem, Skyfall
Robert De Niro, Silver Linings Playbook
Philip Seymour Hoffman, The Master
Tommy Lee Jones, Lincoln
Matthew McConaughey, Magic Mike

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS
Amy Adams, The Master
Judi Dench, Skyfall
Ann Dowd, Compliance
Sally Field, Lincoln
Anne Hathaway, Les Misérables
Helen Hunt, The Sessions

BEST YOUNG ACTOR/ACTRESS
Elle Fanning, Ginger & Rosa
Kara Hayward, Moonrise Kingdom
Tom Holland, The Impossible
Logan Lerman, The Perks of Being a Wallflower
Suraj Sharma, Life of Pi
Quvenzhané Wallis, Beasts of the Southern Wild

BEST ACTING ENSEMBLE
Argo
The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel
Les Misérables
Lincoln
Moonrise Kingdom
Silver Linings Playbook

BEST DIRECTOR
Ben Affleck, Argo
Kathryn Bigelow, Zero Dark Thirty
Tom Hooper, Les Misérables
Ang Lee, Life of Pi
David O. Russell, Silver Linings Playbook
Steven Spielberg, Lincoln

BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY
Quentin Tarantino, Django Unchained
John Gatins, Flight
Rian Johnson, Looper
Paul Thomas Anderson, The Master
Wes Anderson & Roman Coppola, Moonrise Kingdom
Mark Boal, Zero Dark Thirty

BEST ADAPTED SCREENPLAY
Chris Terrio, Argo
David Magee, Life of Pi
Tony Kushner, Lincoln
Stephen Chbosky, The Perks of Being a Wallflower
David O. Russell, Silver Linings Playbook

BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY
Les Misérables, Danny Cohen
Life of Pi, Claudio Miranda
Lincoln, Janusz Kaminski
The Master, Mihai Malaimare Jr.
Skyfall, Roger Deakins

BEST ART DIRECTION
Anna Karenina
The Hobbit
Les Misérables
Life of Pi
Lincoln

BEST EDITING
Argo
Les Misérables
Life of Pi
Lincoln
Zero Dark Thirty

BEST COSTUME DESIGN
Anna Karenina
Cloud Atlas
The Hobbit
Les Misérables
Lincoln

BEST MAKEUP
Cloud Atlas
The Hobbit
Les Misérables
Lincoln

BEST VISUAL EFFECTS
The Avengers
Cloud Atlas
The Dark Knight Rises
The Hobbit
Life of Pi

BEST ANIMATED FEATUREBrave
Frankenweenie
Madagascar 3
ParaNorman
Rise of the Guardians
Wreck-It Ralph

BEST ACTION MOVIE
The Avengers
The Dark Knight Rises
Looper
Skyfall

BEST ACTOR IN AN ACTION MOVIE
Christian Bale, The Dark Knight Rises
Daniel Craig, Skyfall
Robert Downey Jr., The Avengers
Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Looper
Jake Gyllenhaal, End of Watch

BEST ACTRESS IN AN ACTION MOVIE
Emily Blunt, Looper
Gina Carano, Haywire
Judi Dench, Skyfall
Anne Hathaway, The Dark Knight Rises
Jennifer Lawrence, The Hunger Games

BEST COMEDY
Bernie
Silver Linings Playbook
Ted
This Is 40
21 Jump Street

BEST ACTOR IN A COMEDY
Jack Black, Bernie
Bradley Cooper, Silver Linings Playbook
Paul Rudd, This Is 40
Channing Tatum, 21 Jump Street
Mark Wahlberg, Ted

BEST ACTRESS IN A COMEDY
Mila Kunis, Ted
Jennifer Lawrence, Silver Linings Playbook
Shirley MacLaine, Bernie
Lesliel Mann, This Is 40
Rebel Wilson, Pitch Perfect

BEST SCI-FI/HORROR MOVIE
The Cabin in the Woods
LooperPrometheus

BEST FOREIGN LANGUAGE FILM
Amour
The Intouchables
A Royal Affair
Rust and Bone

BEST DOCUMENTARY FEATURE
Bully
The Central Park Five
The Imposter
The Queen of Versailles
Searching for Sugar Man
West of Memphis

BEST SONG
"For You," Keith Urban, Act of Valor
"Learn Me Right," Mumford & Sons, Brave
"Skyfall," Adele, Skyfall
"Still Alive," Paul Williams, Paul Williams Still Alive
"Suddenly," Hugh Jackman, Les Misérables

BEST SCORE
Argo, Alexandre Desplat
Life of Pi, Mychael Danna
Lincoln, John Williams
The Master, Jonny Greenwood
Moonrise Kingdom, Alexandre Desplat