Gone Girl (2014)

Director - David Fincher

Rated - R

Length - 149 min.

In one of the most anticipated films of the year, David Fincher delivers. Rivaling his classic thrillers like "Se7en" and "The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo", "Gone Girl" is yet another masterpiece in Fincher's  collection of truly eerie and disturbing films.

Now anyone's whose seen the trailer for this film has a general idea of what's going to happen. But what actually takes place onscreen is a wild ride that you better buckle up for before you're thrown from this unmanned vehicle. 

As the story goes, Nick Dunne (Ben Affleck) is an aspiring writer who seems to have hit a rough patch in both his marriage, and his life. His wife Amy (Rosamund Pike) is also a writer, but neither one can seem to find a job. Needless to say, their marriage is headed nowhere fast and before you can say "boo," Amy has left the building. In what seems like hours, the whole community is in a frenzy about what happened to Amy, and how they can help find her (in seemingly unrealistic circumstances I might add; i.e. they had a search party out on Day 2. Come on, really?). 

As the audience begins to learn more and more about the troubled marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Dunne, Nick begins to look more and more like the culprit behind Amy's disappearance. Luckily for him, his sarcastic, loving, reasonable sister (Carrie Coon) is there to guide him out of the shadows. And as the plot further develops, we begin to realize there's something fishy about Amy's disappearance.

Pike's impeccable acting leads the way for Fincher's unmatched directing in this instant classic. Two of comedy's most well-respected names used this suspenseful thriller to breakout of their type cast roles and show the critics that they can juggle more than one emotion. Tyler Perry ("Madea's Family Reunion") and Neil Patrick Harris ("How I Met Your Mother") play their roles in convincing fashion. Not to mention a small role for Emily Ratajkowski, who some may recognize as the beautiful brunette from Robin Thicke's "Blurred Lines" video. And for all you young men wondering, yes, Ratajkowski is seen sans clothes in this film as well.

This is a film that will have you on the edge of your seat until they roll the final credits. There are so many twists and turns throughout that sometimes you wonder if this rollercoaster is ever going to end. Go see this film right away, but make sure to leave the little ones at home. And also see if you can figure out where "Gone Girl" decided to go...

The Grand Budapest Hotel (2014)

 

Director-Wes Anderson

Length-100 min.

Rated-R

In a way that only director Wes Anderson could, he demonstrates the fast-paced, quirky and awesomely-weird history of how The Grand Budapest Hotel came under its current ownership in this mystery-adventure-comedy.

From start to finish, this swiftly-moving film of highly intellectual characters with extraordinary vocabularies takes you on a wild goose chase across fictitious lands in order to solve a mystery, keeping your interest throughout.

The film begins with the introduction of the late author (Tom Wilkinson) of The Grand Budapest Hotel novel reflecting upon his prior endeavors as a young man and how he made the acquaintance of Mr. Zero Moustafa (F. Murray Abraham), the current owner of the hotel. Mr. Moustafa, being an admirer of the author's work himself, invites the young man (Jude Law) to join him for dinner so that he can relay to him the long and storied tale of how he came into possession of the hotel.

The story that unfolds onscreen includes a variety of very comical sequences that all Anderson's films thrive on, standing on the impeccable performance of M. Gustave (Ralph Fiennes), who carries the film as its main character. Gustave, being the previous owner of the hotel, teaches Zero everything he knows about running a hotel, and in turn allows him to become him his sole predecessor upon his demise. 

Unlike other Anderson classics like Moonrise Kingdom and The Darjeeling Limited, this film included a decent amount of nudity, vulgarity and violence. Very un-Anderson like, but also showing his truest fans that he can be edgy and dark, as well as quirky and cool. It also had all the vibrant, extravagant costumes and set designs that one could expect from any and all Anderson films.

The cast truly spoke for itself. With the usual suspects including Jason Schwartzman, Bill Murray, Edward Norton, Tilda Swinton and Owen Wilson, while also comprising the incredible acting talents of Adrien Brody, Willem Dafoe, Jeff Goldblum and Harvey Keitel; this film has something to offer all moviegoers.

Hold on for a wild ride and make sure you pay attention, because if you don't, you might just miss this instant classic.

Blue Jasmine (2013)

Director-Woody Allen

Length-98 min.

Rated-R

Some people just wake up and they're rich. As was the case for Jasmine (Cate Blanchett), until she found out her husband Hal (Alec Baldwin) was a fraud. This is the story of how Jasmine had it all, lost it, got it back, and lost it again.

Jasmine lived a relatively charmed life with her extremely wealthy husband Hal, who seemingly gave her everything that money could buy. But as the cliche often goes, money can't buy happiness. And in this case, her husband's illegitimate deals and unfaithfulness eventually caught up with him, in which Jasmine made him pay.

Newly single and almost completely broke, Jasmine is forced to move in with her adopted sister Ginger (Sally Hawkins). Although Jasmine and Ginger share the same last name, that's just about where their similarities end. While Ginger works hard to take care of her two boys and support herself, Jasmine struggles to adapt to her new lifestyle, as she spent most her life as a "trophy wife."

The story that develops onscreen is that of Jasmine attempting to find her niche and figure out what she wants to do with her life after her financial and marital failures. Jasmine's anxiety over her social collapse and money troubles continue to worsen, as does her obvious alcohol/drug problem as she strives to regain her previous life of luxury and leisure.

When Jasmine finally finds a man that can replicate her previous lifestyle, she pursues him at all costs with little regard for her previous endeavors or the necessity to be honest with her new lover.

With a colorful cast that includes the likes of Andrew Dice Clay, Louis C.K., Bobby Cannavale and Peter Saarsgard; there is never a dry moment in this quirky, yet dramatic comedy. Cate Blanchett steals the show with her magnificent depiction of the stereotypical rich housewife, obsessed with the opinions of others and struggling to overcome her life of misfortune; fully deserving of her Academy Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role. Her performance was reminiscent of Ellen Burstyn's depiction of Sara Goldfarb in Requiem for a Dream, as an older woman struggling with drug addiction that eventually gets the best of her. A somewhat depressing, but realistic ending to a very well done picture.

Although this film wasn't as enchanting as Woody Allen's Midnight in Paris, it still depicted the lifestyle of the wealthy and their obsession with social status to a tee. Very well done, but left a little too much unsaid at film's conclusion. Still a fantastic film and most definitely worth a second look. Blue Jasmine.

Nebraska (2013)

Director-Alexander Payne

Length-115 min.

Rated-R

On the great open landscape of Billings, Montana lives a man by the name of Woody Grant (Bruce Dern). And although life took advantage of this generous fella, his generosity was finally reciprocated in the form of $1,000,000.

Even though everyone he knew seemed to doubt the validity of his "golden ticket," he was determined to make the trek down to Nebraska to collect his winnings. After some failed attempts to walk there himself, his son David (Will Forte) decided to give in to his father's delusions and take him to the Cornhusker state. 

At film's opening, the audience is introduced to Woody as a dim-witted old fool who has let his life pass him by. But as the story develops, we get some incite as to how Woody has become the man he is today. Especially when David and Woody make a stop in Woody's hometown of Hawthorne, Nebraska; helping us piece together the corners of this oddly shaped puzzle. The truth is that Woody had a tough upbringing and after he returned from the Korean War, he turned to drinking as his vice. We further learn of Woody's fair-weather friends and early marriage troubles. Which is no surprise, for his wife Kate (June Squibb) is brutally honest and continually antagonizes her husband, but provides a nice sense of comedic relief throughout. 

Director Alexander Payne did a phenomenal job in capturing the mundane life of a farmer from a small-knit community, while also displaying how uneventful life can truly be. What I love most about Payne's films is his ability to be severely realistic, but conclude with a happy ending in that very same fashion. Much like his Academy Award-winning film, The Descendants, this film will warm your heart.

This isn't a film about cashing in on your prize, but about self-discovery and recognizing where you came from. 

12 Years A Slave (2013)

Director-Steve McQueen

Length-134 min.

Rated-R

It's been quite some since I've agreed with the Academy's choice for Best Picture. But there is no doubt in my mind that this year's selection was the perfect choice. 12 Years A Slave follows the inspiring true story of the once free man Solomon Northup (Chiwetel Ejiofor), who was kidnapped, enslaved, and forced into years of suffering for a life he tried to escape.

This film begins in Saratoga, New York where Solomon lives with his wife and three children. They seem to carry on a life full of joy and prosperity. Until one day Solomon is approached by two white men from the South who proposition him to join their "merry band" in Washington D.C. for a circus-like show in which he could bring home trunks full of money. Solomon accepts the men's offer and accompanies them to a celebratory dinner to seal the deal. However, Solomon becomes very sick (because the men poisoned his wine) and is seen being carried up to his bedroom. The next thing you know, he wakes up in a very dark cell with chains around his hands and feet. Two new men enter the cell and tell him he is not a free man, but a runaway slave. The men then beat Solomon savagely with a paddle and whip. Unfortunately this is just the beginning of the 12 year battle Solomon is forced to endure.

As the rest of the film plays out we are introduced to slave owners, both cruel and kind. But in the end they all turn out to be morally corrupt Southern racists who treat each and every slave as their own "property." The clear cut enemy in the film is Edwin Epps (Michael Fassbender), who's cruelty towards his slaves is well known throughout the land. Solomon must overcome his tyranny on multiple occasions and is brought to the verge of abandoning all sense of hope.

The brutality of this film was hard to take at times, but I feel as though director Steve McQueen felt it was needed to depict the story in the manner in which the audience could truly feel the pain that Solomon felt. McQueen has become somewhat well known for the explicit nature of his films like Shame, depicting a sex-crazed man who can't seem to overcome his obsession. It garnered an NC-17 rating for being so sexually explicit.

But it seemed as though all the pieces of this intricate, and yet deeply disturbing puzzle are told with such realism and beauty that this film is a must-see for anyone who can handle it. The story of this film is something that needs to be shared with the world. There have been tales of slavery before, but never shown quite like this. 

Go see this year's Best Picture, you won't regret that you did. 

Dallas Buyers Club (2013)

 

 Director-Jean-Marc Vallée

Length-117 min.

Rated-R

This is a truly inspiring tale of a man who tested HIV positive and his long road to recovery. Including all the hoops he had to jump through in order to get the medication he needed to survive. But it's also about overcoming homophobia and realizing who your true friends are.

This film begins with the introduction of our main character, Ron Woodroof (Matthew McConaughey); the shit talkin', hooker lovin', whiskey shootin', bull ridin' fool. Woodroof carries on a life of ill-repute, full of excessive drug use and drinking, which would be detrimental to any one's health, but especially for someone fighting the AIDS virus. Eventually Woodroof's lifestyle catches up with him and he ends up in a hospital bed. On that very bed, he learns of his inevitable fate. Told he only has a month to live, he promises his two doctors that he will overcome such obstacles.

As the film continues, Woodroof comes into contact with Rayon (Jared Leto), the cross-dressing beauty that he eventually partners with in his attempt to bring affordable health care to those also battling with AIDS.

Woodroof's bigotry is extremely apparent at film's beginning, but lessens immensely as he befriends so many of these struggling young men. This film is an eye opening experience for anyone unaware of the AIDS epidemic and how it effected the homosexual community.

There is no happy ending to this incredible film, just a reality check to those unaccepting of homosexuality and a nice middle finger to the FDA.

But this was by far the best film I've seen in quite some time and although the sexuality and drug use/drinking may be a bit too much for some, it was necessary to tell this true story with full discretion. I loved this film and I think everyone should check it out, for it's not only a fantastic film, but a historical tale of love and compassion when there was very little to be found. Dallas Buyers Club.



The Wolf of Wall Street (2013)

Director-Martin Scorcese

Rated-R

Length-180 min.



 

In another epic chapter in the Martin Scorcese collection, The Wolf of Wall Street swallows you whole and sufficates you with greed, whores and excessive drug abuse until you can't take it anymore. At least that's the lifestyle portrayed by Jordan Belfort (Leonardo DiCaprio).

 

However, this multi-millionaire didn't start out as the power hungry madman that he's remembered for. Mr. Belfort started out as the rest did as a small-time stock broker, or "the bitch" of the company. But Belfort was far too intelligent and ambitious to be restricted by the constraints of his firm. So after taking the advice of his mentor, Mark Hanna (Matthew McConaughey), he broke away from his firm and decided to go out on his own. And after getting the brilliant, but totally illegal, idea to doop small-time investors into investing their money in bogus companies and retaining over 50 percent of their investment in his commission; it was all downhill from there.

 

Once Belfort brought together his own team of handpicked salesmen, his firm grew and grew and grew, until it exploded. At this point he was making more money than he knew what to do with. Oh, but he found a ways to spend it (hookers, blow and million dollar bachelor parties). He was a god amongst men and there was truly no stopping him until he made the acquantaince of FBI agent Patrick Denham (Kyle Chandler). This really threw Belfort for a spin, as he was forced to change his entire way of life in order to cover his tracks. Not to mention, start going straight edge as far as his business ventures were concerned. But once you've had a taste, there's really no way you can satisfy that hunger for more. 

 

This is one of the best films I've seen all year, which is refreshing because most films of this magnitude fail to live up to their expectations. Something that definitely surprised me was the amount of drug abuse, vulgarity and explicit sexuality throughout the film. But Scorcese does whatever he wants and gets away with it. And you know what, I love him for it. He made the film seem more realistic. My only issue with the film was that it was a little drawn out. It could've been cut by 30 minutes and it would've been the film of the year. I understand Scorcese was trying to create another film on par with that of The Departed, Casino and Goodfellas; but what he needs to realize is that most people can't pay attention for more than two and a half hours.

 

This is the must see film of the year. I would suggest it to any and all moviegoers. Except it may be a bit too much for the youngsters. But hey, that's why we have a rating system, isn't it? So leave the little ones with a sitter and head down to your local theater to see how the rich got richer and then lost it all, because they're all a bunch of greedy bastards. The Wolf of Wall Street.