Interstellar

Tali: I don't know if I can sum this up in one sentence like I normally do, but here we go: Interstellar is, in essence, about how space travel is just as mind expanding, powerful and important as deep, eternal love (there, I said it). What can I say? This fim was JAM PACKED - from start to finish I barely exhaled. A truly thrilling and exhillerating ride, Interstellar tells many stories and has many different philosophies and and ideas. Though it certainly has its faults, Interstellar is a movie that is hard to forget. With all that being said, there is just something about it that it misses, and for that reason (and without giving you any spoilers), I can sense that it won't be a huge award season contender. 85/100.

Leo: After finally getting out to see this movie, all I can say is that I'm glad. Christopher Nolan has this way with movies that he almost always makes you think in a spectacularly entertaining way. This movie had so many, almost too many, interesting-but-dangerous topics to delve into. The one obviously crazy topic is the science. I appreciate that Nolan did the best he could to make it plausible and when he couldn't make it plausible, he at least made it cool. I also thought it was smart of him to sort of "glaze over" those details of the science that made you suspend disbelief (no spoilers required - you know what I'm talking about). There was no dwelling on those scenes. The real science on the other hand is really cool. If you're unfamiliar with dimensions and shit, here's a cool video on imagining 10 dimensions (no spoilers or anything to the film). The time-relativity and age-gaps are always going to make heart wrenching scenes between family and friends who aged differently due to space. I will say, I do understand how some people would not totally love this movie because it's intellectual reach is immensely high and it sort of cops out before it gets there. That being said, if you're interested in the science, that thought probably won't even be on your mind. Not quite as good as Inception, but still one of Nolan's great movies. Leometer: 87/100.

P.S. I stopped reading that list of faults at #1 since it implies the only way to have beer is with wheat. What kind of sad life does the person who wrote that list live if they've only heard of wheat beer??
P.S.S. I lied, #20 is legit.

Birdman

Tali: Birdman tells the story of Riggan Thomson, a washed up Hollywood actor who tries to reinvent himself as a serious Broadway artist. Though the film is about 'fame' and 'reinvention/reincarnation', there is something much more universal at stake here. In addition to being an incredible feat of cinematography genius, Birdman somehow manages to be a movie about the peoples deepest insecurities and fears. There is something about this movie that just makes you say YES, even though I can't quite put my finger on it. Emma Stone and even Edward Norton are great in this. An overall delight to watch and definately a contender at this upcoming awards season. 89/100

Leo: This was one of the best movies I've seen in a long time. I knew I was going to like it when the first line of the movie had the word "balls" in it (spoiler alert?). The stylistic direction of Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu (yea I googled how to spell that) acted as a canvas for Michael Keaton as the brush. Keaton showed his ability to become one of many characters, such as a superhero, struggling manager, actor, and depressed father / husband. However, when considering his experience as an actor so far, it's not so surprising that he was able to pull it off so well. Maybe he was going through a struggle represented by this movie as wanting to shake the image of Batman? Probably not, but whatever.  When actors act as actors in a film, there may be certain imperfections required and that was definitely shown in this movie by Keaton as well Ed Norton. And spoiler alert, but Keaton does whip out his Batman voice and I appreciated that. Emma Stone played a convincing character that was definitely far-removed from her comfort zone of "generic likeable girl" to somewhat of a fuck-up. I am definitely rooting for this movie so far, and at the very least Michael Keaton deserves some recognition for it. Leometer: 96/100.

The Hunger Games: Mockingjay-Part 1

Tali: Mockingjay Pt.1 is the beginning of the end of this young adult love-triangle dystopian narrative. Taking place only a short while after the 2nd movie (and the 75th annual Hunger Games), this movie follows Katniss as she struggles with immense PTSD while she rises to prominence within the impending revolutionary movement. While this film at times certainly felt like a "part 1," there were so many scenes and images (Peeta's final interview with Ceasar, for instance) that elevate this film way beyond its intended audience and purpose. I still cannot believe that this was intended for a younger audience - the themes and the stories are truly superb and JLaw is as flawless as always. The most important question to ask yourself at the end of this film is why the fuck do we have to wait so long for Part 2??? 87/100.

Leo: After the last movie, I was sufficiently sold on this (book) "trilogy". While this movie had some hiccups getting started, once it approached the mid-point, it was every bit a complicated high-tech, high-stakes sci-fi spy movie that had me on the edge of my seat. My few complaints are kind of annoying, but whatever. SPOILERS: I did not understand why Peeta had his wits about him when he saw Katniss on the screen if he had supposedly been brainwashed unless it takes a very very short time. I also did not get why they didn't do it to the other victors they captured. In any event, the performances by Josh Hutcherson (or whatever the hell his name is) and Jennifer Lawrence were beyond what you would expect in a blockbuster like this. Philip Seymour Hoffman was his usual brilliant self. He brought the perfect amount gross sleaziness of politics into what we thought were the "good guys" and made them, at times, morally indefensible which is why I liked the complicated storyline so much in this movie. While the last movie reached an insane peak, at least in my opinion, this one still comes close. It is a must see movie, if only to see what happens next. Leometer: 84/100.

Frank

Tali: Leo and I have been waiting to see Frank for a very long time, and I was super excited that we finally found it last weekend. Frank tells the story of a tortured, weird yet brilliant musical genius named Frank (played by Michael Fassbender). As you can tell from the poster, Frank wears a giant paper-mache head all of the time. While exploring the bands creative process and rise to notoriety, this film is one of the most refreshing and original I've seen in a long time. I was totally captivated throughout and completely fell for Frank. I think if you can get your hands on this movie, you will too. And pretty soon, everyone is going to be walking around, trying to figure out how to make their very own head. 90/100.

Leo: I was definitely expecting Frank to be similar to what it was except for the music, which I realized during the movie that the music wasn't the point. At it roots, Frank is about coping and it was a very original take on that subject. My only critique is the narrative. The main character was not likable. He was annoying and there was never a point in the movie where I wanted him to succeed. All of the character's music was pretty bad too. Despite that, Frank had great performances by Michael Fassbender (who had to speak german and it was very very Inglourious Basterds) and Maggie Gyllenhaal as well as the supporting cast. It seems pretty warm in one of those things, I don't think I could pull it off. Leometer: 85/100.

The Book of Life

Tali: The Book of Life tells the story of a Mexican town, its quirky and loveable inhabitants, and the Mexican folklore and spirits who keep everything moving. I was hesitant to see this movie at first--I don't even really know why--but I'm glad I did. The team behind this movie is so incredible passionate about not just filmmaking, but also Mexican culture and history; even though there were moments of mainstream sensibilities in it (such as the use of pop songs), it still stay true to its roots. And, aside from that, it was just a cute kids movie, with little piggies and funny little quips and great one-liners. Monolo forever! 81/100.

Leo: Guillermo del Toro is one of my all time favourite directors, so this movie was instantly on my radar. He is known for his weird (like, very very weird) stylized characters and fantastical creatures, without slacking on the plot. This movie did not disappoint. While the story was fairly simple in relation to his other movies, it was after all, a kids movie. There were enough one-liners and "intentionally" cheesy moments that gave enough to laugh about and the characters were archetypes but usually with a twist. All in all, if you're a fan of Mexican culture and music and want it to be delivered in an action-packed visually spectacular way, you should see this movie. JOAQIIIIIIN! Leometer: 85/100.

The Hundred-Foot Journey

Tali: The Hundred-Foot Journey tells the story of two competing restaurants - one French classic, the other classic Indian - with a love story sub-plot. Leo and I went to see this with his family--we had never anticipated seeing a film that appeared so bland, despite the potential for some seriously good visuals. In fact, the film can be best summed up by The Wrap's Alonso Duralde: “The Hundred-Foot Journey” is a surprisingly bland slumgullion of food porn and emotional manipulation, filtered through the middlebrow sensibilities.. [...] It delivers the kind of sentimental sledgehammering I found myself willing to forgive — the presence of Helen Mirren goes a long way in that regard — but once the story goes off on a pointless tangent, the whole soufflé collapses. So, if you're not taking your 80 year old baba, stay at home. 50/100.

Leo: I immediately compared this movie to Chef and in that regard it severely lacked the necessary spice (or insert any other cooking pun) to keep it entertaining enough or to get me invested in the characters. The food looked good, but it wasn't focused on the food or what went into the preparation of the food or even what went into the training before the preparation of the food. While cheese was often lacking in the cooking, it was emphasized in the dialogue. That being said, Helen Mirren is always great and the father was also a well-developed and interesting character. It was definitely a feel-good movie and made you want to follow your dreams, and possibly eat some pigeon. Leometer: 55/100.

PS - It's our 100th entry! Woohoo!

Gone Girl

Tali: Gone Girl is a psychodrama based off of the novel of the same name, which looks at the disappearance of Ben Affleck's (Nick Dunne's) wife Amy. This film was totally not at all what I was expecting. I don't want to give away the punchline for you, but let's just say I spent a good chunk of the movie with my jaw dropped to the floor. Leo and I just looked at each other completely stunned at the end, unable to speak. Rosamund Pike has stepped up her game since An Education and The World's End, and her performance as Amy gave me chills for days. If you're looking for a deeper analysis (that comes with some spoilers), there have been some pretty good critiques so far, that I will only discuss with you if you have seen the film. All in all, 90/100.

Leo: When I walked into Gone Girl, I thought I could say with some certainty what was going to happen. Just basing the plot off of the ads, it was bound to be a story of "whodunnit" but this was far more complex. Ben Affleck and his shlong were quite well-placed in the movie. He plays the sometimes smart/sometimes a blithering idiot husband with perfection, and I actually mean this in a nice way. His star power did not overshadow the movies plot or the performance of Rosamund Pike. Speaking of Rosamund Pike, well, her performance made it hard to speak at all. She was absolutely perfect. I had no idea she had that talent in her and hopefully we see much more of those sometimes psychopathic/sometimes lovable and smart aspects she brought out so well. As for critiques, I think Fincher should shrugg them off. The main topics and narratives of the movie stood out for me - and it seems it would be really hard to ignore them. That being said, this is not a great date movie (I'm scared). Leometer 89/100.

Boyhood

Tali: Boyhood, as you likely know already, is the story of a boy growing up over the (true) span of 12 years. All kinds of typical things happen: divorce(s), drugs and alcohol, sex, and just wanting to fit in. I really enjoyed watching a boy that wasn't typically masculine. There are aspects of the boys life where he doesn't fall into macho patterns and he isn't made to feel bad for it (mostly). Obviously, when the last decade+ of your life involves making this film, the emotional attachment to its characters and their development comes through immensely. It's hard to explain, but the methodology becomes the story as well. I get this. Though the running time was long (and I felt that), it was certainly very enjoyable. And, the soundtrack was pretty great. 87/100.

Leo: It was crazy to me that the boy in this story was in the most different possible circumstances as me had so many similar experiences, especially in terms of interests and progression. And from the people I have talked to, they also had these experiences. One of my favourite parts of the movie was picking out the songs, TV shows, movies, and video games that I recognize from when I was a kid such as: Halo 2 with the swords (not Halo 3 because no parrying), the Buu saga from Dragon Ball Z, Star Wars, Harry Potter, and the very quiet and subtle use of "Let it die" by Foo Fighters. This was especially cool for me because I know exactly what I was doing during the time that album was released (not talking to a girl, that's for sure) and it sort of showed me the difference of my life and his at that point. As you can tell, I took a lot out of this movie and it was not only enjoyable but it was rewarding. 92/100.

Tali's Summer Movie Round Up 2014

While Leo was away this summer, Tali took to the screen and watched some films. Here they are, ranked:

1. Winter's Bone
2. Hairspray (1988)
3. About Alex
4. The Handmaid's Tale
5. Inside Llewyn Davis
6. Man on the Moon
7. Blue is the Warmest Colour
8. Fried Green Tomatoes
9. The Fifth Estate
10. Enough Said
11. Beloved
12. Roman Holiday
13. Trainspotting
14. Manhattan
15. Harold and Maude
16. St. Elmo's Fire
17. Chasing Amy
18. Pink Flamingos
19. Adore
20. There's Something About Mary

Guardians of the Galaxy

Tali: Guardians of the Galaxy is the latest of from the Marvel movie house. It tells the story of Bert Macklin, FBI Peter Quill, a man who was once abducted by aliens, only to live as an outlaw amongst them some 20 years later. He meets a series of other misfit outlaw types, and they reluctantly band together to save.. you guessed it.. the galaxy. I found that this film had a great balance of being totally schlocky and ridiculous, to being very serious and aligning itself with the tones of the previous Marvel films. I saw that some guy from the LA Times referred to the film as being, "Blessed with a loose, anarchic B-picture soul that encourages you to enjoy yourself even when you're not quite sure what's going on." I would say that describes it to a T. Also, btw, I am Groot. 88/100.

Leo: It is hard to describe this movie besides saying, it's the funniest while still being the smartest sci-fi movie in a long time. It's like Star Trek but with more relatable lore (ie. marvel universe) and wit. Chris Pratt was a perfect cast as Peter Quill (who is his father o m l) and his dynamic with Walking Dead's Rooker (I think) playing Yondu was perfect. Groot is the most likeable character, especially since I've been a Vin Diesel fan (probably since it was cool to be one). Bautista really impressed me with his under acting in a very deliberate and excellent way. His delivery was awesome. Bradley Cooper gave Rocket the perfect cocky but still likeable personality he needed. Zoe Saldana was even convincing! The plot was awesome, the script was awesome, and the action scenes were spectacular. Only a few marvel movies rank up to this one. Leometer: 94/100.

Yentl

Tali: THIS MOVIE. In case you don't already know, Yentl is the movie where Barbara Streisand sings "Papa can you hear me?" the story of a young Jewish woman who, in order to study the Torah in  early 20th century Poland, passes as a man named Anshel. This film is just so great and has lots of things I enjoy: musical numbers, Jewish themes and places, Mandy Patinkin (and his butt!) and hilarious gender bending and twisting. With songs guaranteed to make your mother cry (even at just the thought, I swear), this film is a must see for fans of any of the previously mentioned topics. 89/100.

Leo: Yentl is a famous movie among us Jewish people. Mandy Patinkin is always the most likeable guy and his characters always sound like they are just really smart (in some way). The story is well-thought out and still relevant to this day. My only criticism is that the songs, while they were great in their own right, seemed inconsistent and forced in some parts. Either way, it is a great movie, funny, great music, and very entertaining. Leometer: 85/100.

Spirited Away

Tali: Spirited Away tells the story of a young girl named Chihiro who gets transported into the spirit world when she moves into a new neighbourhood, and is kidnapped by a witch and forced to work for her freedom.  It took Leo a long time to convince me to see this film. Honestly, though they say that this film is amazing ("highest grossing film in the history of Japanese cinema), I just didn't get anything amazing from it. Maybe it's a cultural misunderstanding, maybe it's something else, but I just didn't fall in love with this Alice-in-Wonderland like-tale the same way the rest of the world did. While the story and its characters made sense to me, the wonder and mysticism did not. 68/100.

Leo: I first saw this movie in English class and I was one of the few people who (fcking) hated English class but really loved this movie. As a person with a crazy imagination to the point of mostly thinking about things that aren't even real, Chihiro was actually very relateable. The story is extremely creative and fulfilling. That feeling you get after you watch this movie is hard to describe. It was further amplified when you see the hair band is still in her hair. 89/100.

Pretty in Pink

Tali: Pretty in Pink, one of John Hughes's films, tells the story of Andie, a girl from a lower-class background who falls for and starts a relationship with a wealthy classmate named Blaine (blech). This film has John Waters written all over it - and it's delightful. Every word in the script and every rhinestone and knick knack on Molly Ringwald's outfit is carefully calculated and exhibits the feeling of youth culture at the time to a T. Plus, this film gave me a glimpse of John Cryer that I was totally not expecting (and was totally great). The one thing that I did not like was the ending, which I was not expecting, and not how I wanted the movie to end. 83/100.

Leo: This movie was nice break from the more serious movies we've been watching. It was funny and the script was incredibly well-done. The only problem I have was with the storyline which was simply anti-climactic. You could only feel bad for John Cryer's character because Andie (Molly Ringwald) ends up going back to the uninteresting classmate named Blaine and there's little-to-no closure for John Cryer. The highlight of the movie was seeing a very young James Spader who has grown up to be quite a terrifying but likeable villain in The Blacklist.

The Godfather Part II

Tali: The Godfather II picks up several years after the first one - Michael is now the Don of the Corleone family and is wildly successful at controlling casinos in Nevada and elsewhere. This film has all of the same bloodlust, rivalries and thirst for power that the first one has, only for some reason I found it to be more interesting and worthwhile. Perhaps it is also the splicing with the origin story of Michael's father, Vito (played by an almost unrecognizable Robert De Niro) which gave the story some depth for me. Don't get me wrong, this was a good movie and I liked it more than the first one.. but I still don't get it. This movie is ranked #32 on AFI's best films of all time (the first one is #3) but I am just not getting it. Perhaps my attention cannot be held for 3+ hours. Who knows. 77/100.

Leo: It's hard to top, or even come close to the critical success of a movie that's rated 1-3 on most top all-time movies, but this one usually manages to grab a seat right behind it. I personally enjoy this movie a bit more because it adds a bit more politics (she says abortion, bro) and depth to the story, even if I think the first movie is slightly more well-done. Robert DeNiro and the old Italian-American storyline is definitely my favorite part of the movie and it makes you appreciate the first one much more. There's too much to say about this 3 hour movie to go into too much detail, but the nuanced story-telling, pacing, and script only add to the incredible storyline and atmosphere put into play from Coppola's directing. Again, I hope this number doesn't insult the family. Leometer: 95/100.

Good Night, and Good Luck

Tali: Good Night, and Good Luck follows the true events surrounding Edward Murrow, who in the 1950's, became the first journalist to publicly stand up to the McCarthyism of the day (despite corporate and sponsorship pressure to do otherwise). I have always had a soft spot for stories wherein reporters uncover the great and sometimes uncomfortable truth about our governments (or corporations, etc) and Murrow is the OG in this regard. His words are incredibly powerful (and they are true to real life) and so effective in create change and disrupting the status quo. Though the film keeps up a slow and steady pace, they do eventually win the race by bringing us directly into this story, so much so that once the curtain falls, we do not want to leave. 88/100.

Leo: This film had lots of great elements which aided it in being a very worthwhile film. George Clooney has this very particular style with directing in that he chooses incredible stories to tell and tampers very little. Sometimes that's not good enough, which was a common criticism of his latest film, Monuments Men. This time, however; it was good enough. This story has a clear message and sells it quite well with aid from the words of Edward Murrow which are put together by Murrow himself extremely well and presented equally well by David Strathairn. I'll admit, the supporting cast would not add much if I wasn't such a big fan of Robert Downey Jr. or recognize the occasional "news worker #2" in the cast from more recent TV shows but all in all, this movie is definitely worth seeing, especially if you are into journalism and like hate governments and stuff. Leometer: 85/100.

How to Train Your Dragon 2

Tali: HTTYD2 picks up 5 years where the last one left off-the viking village of Berk is now a thriving, dragon-filled community, only now they face the threat of someone wanting to take Berk's dragons to fight in some mysterious super-army. Both films had a lot of the same elements, which made them both enjoyable: fantastic one-liners, Toothless's personality (like a large, fire-breathing puppy) and just enough magic that it didn't seemed forced. However, this film was missing something-I can't place my finger on it-that made it not as special as the first. One cool thing in this film is the introduction of a character we have heard of before (I'm not gonna spoil it for you), though initially I thought they were cool and interesting, eventually the character totally fell flat. Though, apparently someone else also felt this way. 85/100.

Leo: This series, as many do, has an awesome original film but sequels are usually a little harder to keep the magic from the first. This is an exception. HTTYD2 keeps the same magical animated chemistry between Hiccup and Toothless that made the original movie one of my all-time favourites (if not my all-time favourite) - just look at his face in this clip. It was awesome to see two friends growing up together, taking similar steps together, and in the end growing into the potential their loved ones always thought, or at least hoped, they had. I don't know what the big deal about Valka (his long-lost mother) was for all those confused; she decided to stay away for clear reasons then decided to return because those reasons were gone and actually made into a positive aspect of Berk. I don't find it that crazy that Hiccup and Toothless overtake her in terms of power and awesomeness but I can see why some people do. The one thing the movie did not cover is why Drago did not attack Valka's home earlier, but in the end, it doesn't really matter and it could have been a number of reasons. I mean, all of these little things do nothing to top the hearstring-pulling tear jerking scenes that happen. Let's just say I'm happy that the 3-D glasses are tinted :). The SCORE. HTTYD probably has the best score in recent memory and I could play it on repeat for my entire life and not get bored, in fact I'm pretty sure I would be happy for my entire life. John Powell should do more stuff. If I were to give HTTYD 1 a Leometer it would probably be 99/100. This one is not as good but that has more to do with the original being impossible to top and the magic is still there. Look at this and this and this. I dare you to not enjoy this movie (and if you don't, you have no soul). Go see it. Leometer: 91/100.

The Normal Heart

Tali: The Normal Heart is based off of the recently revised Broadway play, about the growing HIV/AIDS crisis in 1980's New York. It's hard to say that movie was "good." Though incredibly sad and deeply moving, Mark Ruffalo's anger, persistence and passion keep this movie going and take it past any ill-faired cliche's it may have been set up for. Though slow to start, once you get into it, you get in deep. This story is extremely important, and must be told carefully, and it works. It's a painful reminder of the homophobic past/unconsciousness, the pharmaceutical industry and the power of community and love. Also, who know Jim Parsons could be so good when he is not being Sheldon? 88/100.

Leo: This is probably the saddest movie I've seen in a long time (if not ever). The quality of the movie is unquestionably high, though (as Tali said) it's hard to say the movie was "good". The acting, Mark Bomer (of White Collar) was the best of them all. I can't believe he's doing a damn Bravo TV series when he's capable of this type of acting. The only parts of the story I thought were a little fuzzy and not explained well was what the other characters (besides Mark Ruffalo) were doing. It seemed as if they were sitting on their asses doing nothing but I'm not sure if that's actually true. Either way, it was a small nitpick in an otherwise very well-done movie. Leometer: 84/100.

Hellboy II: The Golden Army

Tali: Hellboy II: The Golden Army, is the sequel to the original which we recently reviewed. Picking up where we left Hellboy and co. last, the team find themselves in the middle of a war between the humans and the 'underworld' (though that may not be the correct word), and they must stop the mighty Prince Nuada before he awakens the Golden Army (who are indestructible). Leo assured me that I would like this one much better than the first, and I most certainly did. The Hellboy series continues to be TOTALLY WEIRD, only now it's in a way that makes much more sense than the first film and is quite enjoyable at times (for example, this bizarre line at the end of this scene). Despite Liz being a total wet blanket, and the end fight scene being a little clunky, it was still a pretty entertaining movie. And the underwater C3P0 character gets a love interest, which I will always root for. 81/100.

Leo: This movie is one of my favorite repeat movies to watch because of the sheer craziness of Guillermo Del Toro's creations. There's always some weird creature that you miss and don't see until you've watched it twice or three times. Not to mention, Ron Perlman's Hellboy is so well-done. He's the type of hero who you know has his flaws and he knows has his flaws, but you like him anyway. He's the lesser of two evils and relies on Liz keeping him that way. Abe Sapien gets a bigger role this movie and the new characters of Nuada and Dr. Krauss bring more lore and comedic relief respectively. Either way, this movie is more linear and makes more sense than the first movie while also bringing in important questions about the character and identity of Hellboy. In addition to everything, it's also very entertaining.  Leometer: 88/100.

Chef

Tali: Chef tells the story of, well, a chef (played by Jon Favreau), who after a very public meltdown, buys a food truck and travels across America with his young son and trusty Latin-American sidekick to find himself. This was a fairly typical, feel-good Friday night movie. Nothing controversial, no explosions, no ridiculous love-story… just a ton of food porn. I felt that Favreau's character was a little self-ritcheous (and at times a huge baby), but the little boy was adorable and the whole thing was "feel good" enough that it got a pass. 78/100.

Leo: This movie really really played to my interests in terms of style, casting, and subject matter. Jon Favreau sometimes seems as if he's making movies just for me. It made me want to just drop what I'm doing and travel the world in a food truck making just "good food". There was no curve-balls or anything in the plot, I mean it was simply a feel-good rough beginning happy ending type of comedy, but honestly I haven't seen a good one of these types of movies in a while so it was sort of refreshing. The scene with Robert Downey Jr. was perfectly hilarious; they obviously have their Iron Man chemistry still intact and it really showed. Scarlett Johansson is really showing herself to be a versatile actress and has hopefully shaken off the "too pretty to be a good actress" stigma that somehow was somehow attached to her. The scenes in the truck were also a lot of fun, particularly the sexual healing sing-a-long and the corn starch balls. Very funny, made me hungry, and got the message through. I need to find a good Cuban sandwich place in Winnipeg...Leometer: 85/100.

Hellboy

Tali: Hellboy is a "supernatural superhero film" (that's what Wikipedia says) about, essentially, a demon spawn, brought to earth via a portal to hell created by… you guessed it, Nazis, raised by humans to fight supernatural crimes! I had no idea what to expect from this movie and I can literally say that my expectations were exceeded, but I still don't know what in the hell I watched! Hellboy himself is so uninterested in anything, so anti-hero that it is confusing. Also what was up with the underwater C3PO knockoff character (he was great is what's up). A total genre-busting movie, with some cool and interesting things that made it enjoyable….. but also it was totally weird. This review may sound confusing because this movie was totally off the wall! 77/100.

Leo: To be honest, I didn't really like this movie the first time I saw it, but I genuinely loved it the next 20 times (not even an exaggeration bro, it's always on TV). Perlman is a perfect fit for the witty-cheesy (in a good way) dialogue as well as the intense and evil parts. He brings one of the most complicated and characters that can't be related to down to being a simple loving/mistake-making/wisecracking hero we all know and expect. Again, in a good way. The interesting thing is that this movie's side plot (the complicated Liz-Hellboy relationship) is actually not in the comic but the movie would almost be too one-dimensional without that aspect of motivation. It also adds another weakness / strength to the hero. All in all, this is an awesome movie and everyone should see it at least twice. If you love Gillermo Del Toro (Pan's Labyrinth) then you will also enjoy this movie in all of its disturbing and weird glory. Leometer: 87/100. 

X-Men: Days of Future Past

Tali: X-Men: DOFP is a hard movie to describe. It focuses on two different though linked time periods, which a type of time travel is possible and both have their own apocalyptic structures. With that being said, the movie tried to pick up on what Marvel has made their movies successful - flawed characters. Professor Xavier, Magneto and Mystique are all so intriguing because they are not perfect. It is certainly the best of the X-Men movies to date--which, although it doesn't say much, reflects the type of movie fans want to see and that fans deserve. Big and better yes, but real and plausible, too, especially when fantastical. While I loved this movie, it disappointed me to learn that the plot changed significantly from the original comic storyline. 85/100.

Leo: When dealing with time travel, especially when being scrutinized by masses of comic-book nerds, it has to be done perfectly without any paradoxes. This was done perfectly. The entire cast was excellent, the plot carefully thought out and adapted for the mass audiences (I think Wolverine is a better link between timezones than Shadow Cat). Jennifer Lawrence, as usual, shined since she was actually playing a much more mature and angry mystique than in the previous movie. Hugh Jackman's Wolverine was actually, for once, not one-dimensional and really helped carry the movie and helped the audience relate. If there is one thing this movie did, it's restore the X-Men franchise to where it should be. It fixed most of the mistakes (Rogue is a very obvious one that hasn't been fixed) of the previous films and built on the most recent one. Quicksilver's scenes were also some of the most enjoyable scenes to watch from any movie in recent memory. The after-credits scene set the stage for the next movie, a classic favorite of mine from the cartoons: Apocalypse. Leometer: 91/100.

Only Lovers Left Alive

Tali: Only Lovers Left Alive tells the story of two vampires, Adam and Eve, as they deal with the melancholy of being alive for hundreds of years and living amongst the "zombies" (humans). I had high hopes for this movie, as other folks LOVED it. While there were no better casting choices than Tom and Tilda, I was quite disappointed with how slow the movie went. I love a good art film, but this was too much. I just wish more, happened. With that being said, abandoned Detroit served as the PERFECT background to this movie, and the humour was subtle and perfect. 70/100.

Leo: I actually enjoyed this movie a surprising amount despite its painfully slow pacing. I saw a quote from a critic that was something like: "It finds horror not in the extreme, but in the mundane" and that perfectly explains the film. It shows how these powerful immortal creatures lives sort of boil down to the very basics in terms of finding food and hiding from the dangers of the world. The amount the vampires sleep, while necessary to make the point of how mundane their lives are, made the movie even slower. The cast's delivery of the subtle humour was also perfect but I think we were the only ones laughing in the theater. Whatever they didn't get it. Leometer: 73/100.

The Amazing Spider-Man 2

Tali: The Amazing Spider-Man 2 is the latest instalment in the most recent (and much better) reboot of the classic and iconic superhero. The film takes place sometime after the last, with Peter/Spidey's relationship with Gwen moving along. Two different yet related threats plague Peter/Spidey's life in this film. Now, this is both for better and for worse. The action sequences are incredible well done and very captivating (and that surprise ending - OMG!). However, though the two plot lines were linked, they seemed somewhat disjointing and clunky. Whereas the last Spider-man movie was quite spectacular (Garfield trumps McGuire), this one did now have the flow necessary to make it as good as it could have been. 68/100.

Leo: This movie was.....entertaining. Basically, the cast carried the story (stories?) and it was not as I expected. All of the characters were perfectly cast. Harry/Green Goblin, was a great character and actor. Jamie Fox was great as Electro, but that was probably one of the least thought-out characters I've seen in a movie in a long time. The science seemed weird. The character developed a very random hatred of Spider-Man. Harry actually did have a reason to hate Spider-Man but I would probably too if he didn't give me the blood for no apparent reason and didn't even bother testing it or anything. It was just a hard "no". They sort of just forced hatred upon Spider-Man in this movie instead of building it up logically like the last movie. As sad as it is, the only thing that saved the plot of the movie was the ending. Paul Giamatti was also good comedic relief. Overall, this movie lacked the flow and foundation of the actual Marvel Studios movies, and while the cast was strong enough to make the movie entertaining, it was not enough. Still see it though. 59/100.

The Darjeeling Limited

Tali: The Darjeeling Limited centres around three brothers who travel through India in search of their often-disappearing mother a year after their fathers death. The Darjeeling Limited is perhaps one of Wes Anderson's most Wes-Andersony movies. The music, the cinematography, the regular cast and familiar scenes of fucked up yet incredible intimate families all all here. However, none of these things feel repetitive or forced - everything fits exactly into its place and everything feels just so right and natural. Jason Schwartz, Owen Wilson and Adrien Brody all work incredibly well together. A wonderful film--including the introductory short film, Hotel Chevalier. 88/100

Leo: This was a classic Wes Anderon movie. I do feel like I wouldn't get it if I hadn't seen most of his movies already, but fortunately I did, and I enjoyed it very much. It has all of the usual Wes Anderson stuff, the zooms and panning as well as the methodological movements and dialogue. The actors were great, and had lots of clever little tidbits that made their stories interesting. It was a well-done enjoyable, clever-funny movie that we come to expect from Wes Anderson, and definitely a worthwhile watch. Leometer: 80/100.

The Godfather

Tali: The Godfather, the American gangster-crime drama that catapulted Francis Ford Coppola's career, is a movie that Leo had been bugging me to watch for a long time. I think everyone on the planet had seen it before I finally did. And what can I say - the movie is so much more than a typical shoot-em-up movie wrought with ethnic stereotypes. The story of family, of power and resilience, sets this film apart and puts it at the top of the heap. The Godfather is considered to be one of the greatest films in the history of motion pictures. I don't know if I would go that far--but, I would certainly say that it was very, very good. However, maybe it was the fact that we watched it so late in the evening, or maybe I remember it more fondly than when I was watching it, but I also felt that I didn't quite get the appeal (which resonates with me now all of this time later). 75/100

Leo: I first saw this movie when I was around the age of 10. It has been one of my favourites ever since. Everything is so subtly done except the things that aren't - namely the deaths. Everything is just so mind blowing, the plot twists, the dialogue, its just so carefully sculpted into one of the best movies (if not the best) of all time. The acting makes this movie what it is. The plot and of are certainly of the highest quality, but Al Pacino and co. make this movie nuts. The transformation from an army-type to becoming a mob-boss was carefully portrayed. The iconic Godfather voice is referenced in so many things and I fear if I don't give this the highest Leometer I have ever given, it would be "disrespecting the family". Leometer: 98/100.

Captain America: The Winter Soldier

Tali: Captain America TWS is the second installment of the Captain America series in the Marvel Universe. Taking place in sequence with the other character movies (in the aftermath of the Avengers film), Cap/Steve Rogers (hubba hubba) is trying to find his place in the modern world--when something goes wrong with S.H.I.E.L.D. and all bets are completely off. I can honestly say that I have never been more blind-sided by a film (and I won't be spoiling it for you here), and it left me absolutely speechless in the best way possible. Coupled with the tie-in of the Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. TV series, this is perhaps the most unbelievable and exciting Marvel movie yet. Leo and I haven't stopped talking about it even a week later! 90/100.

Leo: Marvel constantly breaks down any ceilings put in place for the "superhero" genre and it's really exciting to be part of the "age of the super hero movie" when they turn out like this. This movie not only blows your mind with plot twists that make your head want to explode, but it has incredible action sequences and great performances by the supporting cast (Samuel L. and Scarlett Johansson ("hubba hubba")). The movie was not only good in its own right but it created one of the most craziest weeks in terms of TV/Movie I have ever seen and it is still not over. The sky is the limit and I just cannot wait for the next movies to build on this. Marvel is selling a story to me and I am completely invested in it. 95/100.

The Grand Budapest Hotel

Tali: The Grand Budapest Hotel is the latest Wes Anderson flick, featuring some old casting favorites and some brilliant new choices. The story follows a hotel concierge and his lobby boy, as they try to plan a brilliant escape and redemption for the concierge (who is falsely accused of murder). This is perhaps Anderson's darkest, or most adult film, but don't let that deter you in any way. It is just as visually stunning, excruciatingly, meticulously detailed and incredibly enjoyable as all of his other films - and than some. Every character is likeable, the one-liners are memorable. One of the best films in a long time. 90/100.

Leo: In an interview, Saoirse Ronan (plays Agatha in the movie) said "It was amazing. It was literally like stepping into a world that you know can only be created by one man". And that really expresses what it's like to watch all of Wes Anderson's movies. I would say this movie is a Wes Anderson movie for Wes Anderson fans. Some people will not get it (those poor fools), but if you do, you will love it. I would actually say this story itself was more interesting than his other movies because there was a bit of a nostalgic element and incredible cast (usual cast plus all stars like Ralph Fiennes). It was also a bit more graphic than usual which is always exciting. 93/100.

Frozen

Tali: We were a little late to the Frozen party - nearly everyone we spoke to had already seen this latest Disney flick about two sisters, loosely based off The Snow Queen. I definitely enjoyed this film. It has a pretty simple premise and the hero and complicated characters are both girls, which is a rarity in Disney movies so that was refreshing to see. While this movie is certainly charming, it has almost entirely been reduced to John Travolta's notorious fuck-up and it's title song (which is simply too annoying for words). Looking back on this film (we watched it weeks ago), it was certainly good but no where near as amazing and memorable as lots of other people think it was. Brave was better. 70/100.

Leo: Frozen was a typical Disney movie in that it had a very clear plot for all ages to understand and appreciate. It was filled with lots of Disney magic and was a spectacle to watch. While I generally prefer all Dreamworks movies to (recent) Disney movies, this movie definitely stuck to its strengths, which is the musical element. In addition, there was a very positive part of this movie that could often be overlooked because the end result is the same, but I thought it was very important when Kristoff is running to save Anna, and Anna decides to save Elsa. The concept of not being saved by a love interest (specifically a dude) is very new for Disney and hopefully more things change in this regard so that we are not watching the same movies over and over again. With this theme, obviously the movie is going to be compared to Brave. I think both movies definitely stuck to their guns, Brave had a stronger story with more laughs (ie. the brothers) but as much as I hate it for being stuck in my head for over two weeks, "Let it go" is basically an instant classic Disney song and elevated the movie to a higher ground. Leometer: 82/100.

Oscar Nominations 2014

Best picture:
Nominees -American Hustle, Captain Phillips, Dallas Buyers Club, Gravity, Her, Nebraska, Philomena, 12 Years a Slave, The Wolf of Wall Street
Tali -My heart says Her but my money is on American Hustle.
Leo - I would love for American Hustle to win, but Twelve Years a Slave just has that vibe.

Best actor:
Nominees - Christian Bale, Bruce Dern, Leonardo DiCaprio, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Matthew McConaughey
Tali- Matthew McConaughey
Leo - Matthew McConaughey, I'm almost certain.

Best supporting actor:
Nominees -Barkhad Abdi, Bradley Cooper, Michael Fassbender, Jonah Hill, Jared Leto
Tali -Can I vote for Jonah Hill's teeth? No? Ok.. then Michael Fassbender.
Leo - Michael Fassbender is my personal pick but it's going to Jared Leto.

Best actress:
Nominees -Amy Adams, Cate Blanchett, Sandra Bullock, Judi Dench, Meryl Streep
Tali -My heart is with Amy but my money is on Cate Blanchett.
Leo - I really think this should go to Amy Adams. Cate Blachett might get it and also deserve it, but Amy Adams' performance in American Hustle was one of the best I've seen in any movie, not just this year.

Best supporting actress: 
Nominees -Sally Hawkins, Jennifer Lawrence, Lupita Nyong'o, Julie Roberts, June Squibb
Tali -LUPITA FOREVER.
Leo -Lupita Nyong'o

Best director: 
Nominees -Alfonso Curaron, Steve McQueen, Alexander Payne, David O. Russell, Martin Scorsese
Tali - Alfonso Curaron.
Leo -Alfonso Curaron

Best animated film:
Nominees -The Croods, Despicable Me 2, Ernest and Celestine, Frozen, The Wind Rises
Tali - I haven't even seen it yet but I bet it's gonna be Frozen.
Leo -Frozen

Best original song:
Nominees - Happy (Despicable Me 2), Let It Go (Frozen), The Moon Song (Her), Ordinary Love (Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom)
Tali - I am going to out on a limb here and say Ordinary Love.
Leo - Let It Go

Other calls we'd like to make:
Tali - Gravity for Best Cinematography; Her for Best Original Screenplay; 20 Feet From Stardom for Best Documentary
Leo - iono. Gravity is probably going to get all of the sound mixing, editing, and etc. awards.

Gravity

Tali: You all know this movie. I know this because I was one of the last people to see this movie. I get terribly squeamish to the point of onset nausea whenever people are free form falling - superheroes flying with intent are fine, but I knew this movie would be problematic for me. With that being said, I finally got around to watching this on the safety of my laptop screen. Here's the thing: obviously the achievement of cinematography in this film is is the best cinema has to offer. The exquisite imagery coupled with unbelievable suspense has me yelling at the screen more so than I had in a long time. However, didn't anyone else find the script lacking? The dialogue cliche? SPOILER: And what's with Sandra Bullock's obviously whip-smart character needing George Clooney to come back from the dead and "save her?" Those things kind of brought this movie down for me. One helluva ride though. 78/100.

Leo: I saw this movie as soon as it came out because I was a huge fan of his installment of Harry Potter as well as Children of Men. This movie lived up to those standards. He has a way of not only raising the logical stakes but the way the audience views them and feels about the characters. It's safe to say Sandra Bullock was not my ideal choice for this part but she really surprised me and kept me believing. I do agree, George Clooney was acting as his usual self for most of the movie, but there were times when he sort of moves out of his comfort zone and it was very interesting. Unlike with Tali, the dialogue didn't really bother me but that's possibly because I was busy feeling sick and uneasy along with the characters. The cinematography was just incredible that any small plot or dialogue cliches were lost in space along with any other reservations. 91/100.

The Lego Movie

Tali: The Lego Movie is more than a kids movie. It is the silly, wacky, and at times touching story of Emmet, your average, work-a-day construction worker (who is a Lego piece) and his surprise journey saving Lego Land. I did not play with Lego as a kid, so for me this movie was less nostalgic than it would be for others. But, this movie just makes fun of itself so much, that the parodied nature of it makes it so much fun. OF COURSE Morgan Freeman is the prophet character, OF COURSE Chris Pratt is the loveable goof, Allison Brie as the "uni-kitty", Nick Offerman as the pirate, etc etc. The puns are so good and the graphics even better. Bring a kid or bring your significant other! 85/100.

Leo: This movie was literally made for me and I love it as I do with most well-done animation movies. One of the things I respect most about movie-making is to have an equal effect on all audiences of all ages / opinions / etc. and this was a very good example of that. The jokes were funny to everyone, some of them more because I understood everything (the fire pieces, the jumping jacks, etc) but they were more or less all ages all maturity levels fun. It did not take itself too seriously, and the twist at the end really grounded the movie and made it about something rather than just entertainment for entertainment's sake. The casting was perfect. If you haven't seen the "bloopers", you should also watch those. I know there are some people who would dismiss this movie just because its animated but that's just an insecure cop-out. If you are secure enough about your maturity (or immaturity) to enjoy animated films, you will enjoy this one. 93/100.

Nebraska

Tali: Nebraska tells the story of Woody, an elderly and somewhat absent mined drunk who believes he has won a million dollars in a sweepstakes, and sets off to Lincoln, Nebraska to obtain his prize. I knew from the first time that I saw this trailer, that this movie was going to be worth seeing. The story is so rich yet realistic and the humorous bits fit in just right. Bruce Dern and June Squib are incredibly perfect together - the bickering and unpleasantly aging couple are so real they just leap out of the screen. A wonderful movie!! 88/100.

Leo: Another movie I did not want to see, but another movie I enjoyed very much (I guess the Oscars aren't as bullshit as I thought???). Bruce Dern, June Squib, and Will Forte were a perfect combination of serious and funny - none of the jokes were forced and they were all so real. The scene where all of the old men were sitting in silence without reacting (or subtly reacting) watching the TV was one of the funniest things I have ever seen and I can't even understand why. They started talking about the Chevy and the Buick and I was laughing the whole time. It was a very well done movie and it wasn't too sad at the end. 84/100.

Philomena

Tali: Philomena is based upon the true story (sensing a theme here with these Oscar nominations this year) about an Irish lady, who with the help of a disgraced English journalist, set out to once and for all find her long lost son, which she has been attempting to do unsuccessfully for 50 years.I had my reservations about this movie at first, but honestly I cannot even remember why. Judi Dench, as always, is outstanding. The story itself is very touching and captivating and sweet. The central (and true) backstory of the Irish nuns is also very interesting, and Philomena's unwavering commitment to his Catholicism bares attention as well. I would say Judi is a contender, for sure. 87/100.

Leo: I'll admit that I did not want to see this movie until the Oscars came out but I was pleasantly surprised. This movie was funny and witty while also being sad and powerful. There is not much else to say about this film. Judi Dench is amazing (did you know she's blind?) and carries the film. Steve Coogan was also great. I really think his character was one of the most important parts of the film for the story because it acted as a sort of link between the audience and Philomena. Audience sympathized with him - when he got mad, we got mad. It was really well-done and was a very easy movie to watch. 89/100.

Dallas Buyers Club

Tali: Dallas Buyers Club is the true-life story of Ron Woodroof, a drunken cowboy who gets diagnosed with AIDs at the height of the crisis on the 1980's. He eventually starts a drug smuggling ring in an attempt to have alternative HIV/AIDs treatment medications reach a wider audience. It is important to note, that Ron was not a champion of the LGBT community - throughout the movie (and in real life, allegedly), Ron remained fairly homophobic and transphobic, and it's clear that he only went into the drug smuggling business for selfish reasons. However, this movie tugs on your heart strings and is truly inspiring. It also reminds us just how important finding a cure for this disease is for our and future generations. Matthew McConaughey is at his absolute best. Jared Leto was also great, though I believe that reputation should be given where reputation is due, and his role most certainly should have gone to a real trans actor. Definitely a must-see and definitely a contender this awards season. 86/100.

Leo: This is one of the Oscar movies that I actually did want to see, namely because I'm a huge fan of this "new" Matthew McConaughey who all of the sudden decided that he's not a surfer dude anymore and is an incredible actor. He does not disappoint. He sells this role incredibly well and makes you actually like the character, even though he's homophobic. Jared Leto was also incredible. I would not be surprised for Dallas Buyers Club to sweep the Best Actor and Best Supporting Actor categories. The movie itself is very good, but not in the sense that I'd want to see it again or consider it a top contender. The story was....predictable but not really strong enough to have me care too much. The cause and the actors made this movie what it is. 81/100.

Captain Phillips

Tali: Captian Phillips explores the real-life tale of a cargo ship travelling through the Horn of Africa, at which point it becomes hijacked by Somali Pirates. Admittedly, I was initially weary of this film - I am not a Tom Hanks fan (in his later years) and there was something about this film that I was not excited about. How can I sit through a movie when I know full well what it going to happen the whole time? The first portion of the movie was quite slow.. but eventually, once the crew of amazing Somali actors hopped onto the ship, the pace picked up and the stakes were raised. It definitely exceeded my expectations, but it was certainly not the best (or top 5.. or top 10) movie of the year. 65/100.

Leo: If you see this movie because you like Paul Greengrass films, namely the Bourne series, you will be.....satisfied? I liked this movie and as much as I think Tom Hanks is great, he was basically being Tom Hanks for the first 85% of the movie. I found myself saying "ok Tom Hanks" a lot during the film. However, I do think the direction of the movie was good enough to earn this movie a nomination. Knowing what happens to the Captain doesn't really detract from the insane suspense at the end of the movie. That last 30 minutes of the movie alone really makes this movie worth seeing. However, not enough to be considered a top contender for best picture. Make another Bourne movie though plz. 67/100.

Her

Tali: Her is a science fiction-romantic dramedy hybrid about a man named Theodore - who, as you likely already know, falls in love with his (highly advanced) operating system named Samantha. I have to say - there was something about this film that made me feel feels I haven't felt in cinema in a very long time. The story is wildly captivating, enjoyable, and freakishly relatable. Despite some peoples squeamishness regarding the subject matter, please do not be fooled - Her is the best love story of the year, and Spike Jonze hit it out of the park in a way I can only hope Leo will describe better than I can. Joaquin Phoenix, Scarlett Johasson and even Amy Adams are all exceptional in their roles - and it's a huge shame that Scarlett was recently snubbed her for performance. 90/100.

Leo: This movie really unites the aspects of Sci-Fi and romance such that fans of each genre won't feel out of place. This movie reintroduced me to some concepts and ideas from the Hyperion books and that added a level of nostalgia to the film as well. The acting was some of the best I have seen. Everyone was amazing, particularly Joaquin Phoenix who is one of the most underrated actors of all time and deserves much more recognition (didn't win for The Master....how?). Scarlett Johansson was the PERFECT cast for this role. She has an incredible voice and personality  that you can't help but be both physically and emotionally attracted to...even if she's just a voice. That very fact is what keeps this movie grounded and relatable and is something that no one really talks about (ie. award shows can suck an operating system dick). I recommend this movie to everyone, it's really an excellent film for (almost) all audiences - as long as you have a soul. Leometer: 95/100.

Mud

Tali: Mud is a Southern drama about two young boys who befriend a fugitive in an attempt to connect him with his lost lover and regain his freedom. I had heard (from Leo) that this was THE BEST movie of all time (or something to that effect) and finally got around to watching it. And while I was certainly impressed by Matthew McConaughey not being cast in his typical 'dude' roles, there was something about this movie that just made me feel... meh. The pacing was slow (even for me), and I just felt no sense of urgency or a connection to the characters in the way that others had. Mud certainly is an anti-hero, but I didn't feel that the story was exciting or intriguing enough to make the film as a whole likeable. 65/100.

Leo: This movie was like a more conventional version of Beast of the Southern Wild. It had the sense of wonder but the story was more plot oriented and the twists were very good. The theme of the movie was showcasing how "love" progressed, disappeared, and returned to each character. It had its moments, too, when it was funny. I see how Tali would dislike this move a bit - it portrays all of the women as, well, not the nicest individuals, though I think that those roles are realistic in this film. The kid actors were incredible, the main character is going to be a big deal within the next decade, calling it right now. It wasn't the "best" movie I have seen, but definitely in the top 5 I've seen this year. Leometer: 88/100.