Movie Review: Million Dollar Arm

Million Dollar Arm is a "must see," and here's why



Disney + an exotic country + baseball = One fun ride

This is a feel-good film that won't disappoint.  Of course, it's not an Oscar contender.  But, oh boy, is it worth your time!

Jon Hamm is great in this film.  He plays a sports agent low on prospects, that travels to India to find the first Indian Major League pitcher.  Jon Hamm is probably most well-known for playing Don Draper on AMC's Mad Men, but he is much more than a serious professional in this film.  You'll get to see him play a fault-filled, yet caring human being that learns from his mistakes and realizes what is really important in life.  Plus, being a Saint Louis Cardinals fan in real life, Jon Hamm is very believable in this role.  He knows his baseball!

Whether you're a fan of baseball or not, this is a thrilling film about passion, love, dreams, and taking chances.



The greatest thing about this movie?  It's a true story.
A true story about two talented young men who tackle their dreams with hard work and determination.  Two young men who desire to "make it" in America, and don't stop trying until they make their families proud.
This movie has quite the exceptional message.

Suraj Sharma (Life of Pi), and Madhur Mittal (Slumdog Millionaire) play Rinku and Dinesh with incredible genuineness (it's a word!).  You will truly root for these two to make it and quickly become invested in the film.




I'd be remiss if I didn't mention one of my favorite actors, Bill Paxton's performance.  He plays a coach at USC that helps teach the boys the skills they need in order to try out for the Major Leagues.  He's the first honest character we see in the film, apart from Rinku and Dinesh.

And, of course, Alan Arkin is just great...as usual! He brings so much cleverness, and humor to the film as a scout who has a bit of a lazy, yet brilliant work ethic.



So, if you are seeking a good family film that teaches people to be determined and strong when it comes to their dreams, this is the film to see.  It has comedy, sports, heart, and great acting.  What more could you want?  Oh, and culture! 



Rating: ***1/2 / 5 stars

Movie Review: Divergent

Divergent is a "must see" and here's why:



Don't you hate it when you go to a movie that's based on a book you haven't read, and then have no idea what is going on?  Don't worry, that's not the case with this movie.  You do not have to read the book to know what's going on or understand it fully. Although, I do recommend the book, because it's VERY good.

I was a bit worried that this series would turn into another "Twilight fiasco," where viewers hated the casting, directing, music, and well...basically everything else.  But I am happy to say that this movie turned out to be even better than I was expecting!



The casting is near perfect in this movie. I was really impressed with the choices they made.  Shailene Woodley does an excellent job playing Tris, the heroin of the film.  She plays this character with grace, and strength.  You can relate to her, which is so important in a film like this.



Now let's talk about Theo James, who plays Four. Besides the fact that he's the most attractive man on the planet, he is the perfect Four.  He's distant at first, hard, and serious.  But as time goes on, you start to realize that he cares far more about the initiates than anyone else in Dauntless.  He does a wonderful job with this character, and those who have read the book will not be disappointed.



Jai Courtney plays Eric, a vicious Dauntless leader that puts quite a few initiates at risk multiple times in the story.  I have to say, I was pleasantly surprised by this casting, and I was very impressed with his portrayal of Eric.  I love Jai Courtney, and have enjoyed his other films, so I was excited to see that he was in the film! 



Ashley Judd and Tony Goldwyn play Tris' parents. I was incredibly happy to see Tony Goldwyn in this movie, I love him and think he is so talented.  He's Hollywood royalty, you know!



And I can't forget the amazing Kate Winslet.  She plays the "villain" of the film, Jeanine, an erudite leader trying to take control of the factions.  She does a great job of seeming good but having a secret agenda. 



Neil Burger's directing is great and the screenplay is perfect. Evan Daugherty and Vanessa Taylor did a fabulous job sticking to the book and keeping things mostly in order.  The set design is impressive, and so is the costume design.  Carlo Poggioli did a wonderful job designing each factions clothing and style.  It's like the costume details popped right out of the book and onto the screen.



The fighting sequences were shot well and came across as very real.  I was impressed by the training scenes and how intense they were.



I definitely need to mention the chemistry between Leo and Shailene.  At first I thought, "that's an odd coupling," but these two do a great job of creating the sexual tension and attraction that is so evident in the book.  You can actually see these two being an item in real life, because they play their parts so well.  There's nothing worse than two actors pretending to have chemistry and not conveying it well enough (i.e. Reese Witherspoon and Rob Pattinson in Water for Elephants).




I was impressed by absolutely everything in this movie, and I really don't have a bad thing to say about it.  Not a single thing.  I LOVED it. And you will too.  I promise.



This movie is a ride, and you won't lose interest.  It's not an Oscar-winner, but it's still a very good film.
Go out and see it now!

Rating: ****1/2 / 5 stars

Movie Review: Winter's Tale

Winter's Tale is a "see this if you want to" and here's why:



Let me begin by saying that I was really excited for this movie to come out.  After I first watched the trailer, I was counting down the days until I could buy my ticket.

Was it what I thought it was going to be? Definitely not.

Was it still good? I think so.

Winter's Tale was much more sci-fi / fantasy than I was expecting it to be.  I am usually not a huge fan of these types of films, but this time I was intrigued.  What I enjoyed about this movie was that it meshed together history and fantasy.  The story itself is incredibly interesting and actually made me want to read the book by Mark Helprin.  It is an interesting love story with elements of danger, risk, and the supernatural.




Overall, I thought the acting was fairly well done.  Colin Farrell is one of my favorites, and he rarely disappoints me.  His portrayal of Peter Lake is just beautiful.  I was really impressed by how deep he went with this character.  And I grew to love Peter Lake wholeheartedly by the end of the film.  What a beautiful character Mark Helprin and Colin Farrell have created together.



I have loved Jessica Brown Findlay ever since I began watching Downton Abbey.  She is magnificent as Beverly and I found her character to be incredibly inspiring.  The way she plays Beverly is courageous and moving.



Now let's talk about the imperfections.  There are quite a few.  But the movie is still very enjoyable if you can over look them.  I am usually a big Russell Crowe fan, but he did not impress me in this movie.  I actually expected much more from him.

As for Jennifer Connelly, well, she's so-so.  Nothing to rave about. I felt that the second half of the film was rushed and that Jennifer Connelly's character didn't ask nearly enough questions when she was put on a flying horse.

The mix of history and the present is odd at times, but I wouldn't call this an imperfection, just a stylistic choice that some will find interesting, and some won't.  You will understand what I mean once you watch the film and see how the devil is portrayed.  Also, the actor that portrays him is quite the surprise!  Talk about a sneaky cameo!



This movie is far from perfect.  The acting is not perfect, the screenplay is not perfect, and many other things are not perfect. But this is a beautiful story.  And it is worth viewing.  Take a few hours out of your day to see this film once it comes out on DVD (it's out of theaters), you won't regret it.  If you can tell yourself to stick it out through the odd parts, you won't be disappointed by the ending.  It is one of the most clever and moving I have seen in a while.

Rating: ***/5 stars

Movie Review: Non-Stop

Non-Stop is a "see this if you want to" and here's why:



I love Liam Neeson.  I'm just going to put that out there to begin with.  I like his grit and his tenacity in this movie, and although it may not be the greatest script or the greatest directing you've ever seen, it is FUN.  The second you see him get on the plane, you know something dangerous is going to happen, and you will wait on the edge of your seat to find out what it is.



It all takes place in the span of a trans-atlantic flight, and you know that the clock is ticking from the start.  Julianne Moore remains suspicious throughout a good amount of the film and she does a great job making you guess what type of person she is.  In fact, everyone on the plane is suspicious until near the end, which makes it an amusing guessing game.  As the viewer, you get to enjoy and watch everything that is happening, and make predictions about who you think is the culprit of the hijacking.

 

Though some of it may seem like it's a bit "out there" and unrealistic (like downloading something on your phone in a minutes time while on an airplane), it is still enjoyable.  Technologically speaking, I am certain it's not accurate, but as someone who really doesn't care about that, I found it easy to overlook!



What I liked most about this movie was it's incredible suspense and it's ability to maintain that suspense until the very end.

If you are a Liam Neeson fan or a fan of "Taken," you will enjoy this movie.  It's not the greatest movie I have seen this year, but it is still a fun ride and worth your time.

Rating: **1/2/ 5 stars

Movie Review: Draft Day

Draft Day is a "see this if you want to" and here's why:



If you are a sports fan of any kind, you will like this movie.  It all takes place in the span of one long day: draft day.  It has suspense, intrigue, and heart.  I learned quite a bit about what an actual draft day is like for GM's (although, I'm sure this is a tad more dramatic), and I found it incredibly interesting!  Kevin Costner's character, Sonny, has to decide between taking the top prospect, Bo Callahan, or making a few other risky deals and choosing other players.  What I really liked about this film was it's focus on honesty.  I don't want to give anything away, but Sonny Weaver Jr makes quite a few big moves based on a certain person's character versus his playing ability.



In this film we get to see the "war rooms" of other football organizations such as the Buffalo Bills, Seattle Seahawks, Jacksonville Jaguars, and plenty more.  Many actual players make a cameo in this film as well as some actors that I had no clue were still trying their hand at acting (aka P. Diddy, Sean Combs, Puff Daddy, or whatever the heck he goes by now).  Plus, Peyton Manning was shown on screen twice.  Double points for who ever made that happen.  Not to mention John Elway was talked about as well. It's a lot of fun to watch if you are a Broncos fan!  But the point is, it actually weaves in real players and real situations from the NFL's past.




The acting in this movie is so-so.  But don't worry, the story is so interesting, that it will keep you invested.  Kevin Costner is Kevin Costner, either you like him or you don't.  I happen to like him, so I enjoyed his portrayal of  the Cleveland Browns General Manager.  It's the same way with Jennifer Garner, you're either a fan of her acting style, or you're not.  I tend to not be impressed with her, but I enjoyed her in this movie.  Her character was interesting to me, and I felt like I could relate to her in some way.  Dennis Leary does a great job playing a control-freak coach who wants everything to go his way.  And Patrick St. Esprit does a wonderful job making the audience loathe him.  Now, I can't leave out Chadwick Boseman's portrayal of Vontae Mack, a college player about to be drafted by the Cleveland Browns, or so he hopes.



I would mark this movie as a "must see" but it's just not at that level.  I should say, it is a "must see" for sports fans who don't really care about Oscar-worthy acting or directing.  It is a lot of fun and it is a movie that I'm glad I spent my money on.


Rating: *** (3/5) stars

Movie Review: Noah

Noah is a "see this if you want to" and here's why: 

Let me start off by saying that this movie is about as biblically accurate as Evan Almighty.  If you go into the theater with the expectation of watching the miraculous and heroic story of Noah and his ark, then you will be sorely disappointed.

I had been waiting impatiently for several months for this film to come out and was extremely excited about it.  Needless to say, I had very high hopes for this film. I desperately wanted it to be this great and successful film about one of my favorite stories from the bible. 

It wasn't.

That being said, I didn't hate it. I actually enjoyed a good amount of it. 

Here's what I liked:

-The cinematography. It's absolutely beautiful.

-The scenes where the animals make their way to the ark are very cool and well-designed.

- The score. It's gorgeous.

- It was thrilling and kept me interested.

- As much as she bothers me, Jennifer Connelly's performance was skillfully done and very emotional.

What I didn't like: 

- The rock men (this fabricated element of the film is so "out there" that it's laughable).

- The fact that God is never mentioned. They refer to him as "The Creator." But he feels more like a crazy scientist, rather than an almighty being who created all things with love. 

- There is absolutely zero religious feeling within this film. ZERO.

- The twist they took on Noah's character, making him seem mentally unstable and some-what evil in the second half of the film.

- It feels more like a dystopian/sci-fi flick rather than a biblical telling of the beginning of the world.

- Anthony Hopkins' character of Methuselah. He is extremely bizarre. His role in this film may be the weirdest thing of all. 

If you don't like Darren Aranofsky's directing style then you are bound to find this film odd and not enjoy it very much. But if you find his style interesting (which I do about 75% of the time) you might take a chance on this film.

 I was disappointed in this film, but I still enjoyed it...which I didn't think was possible.  I don't regret seeing it, but it was not what I wanted it to be. 

Rating: *** (3/5 stars)

Movie Review: Captain Phillips

Captain Phillips is a must-see, and here's why:
 


Captain Phillips is the true story of the Maersk Alabama, a container ship that was distressingly hijacked by Somali pirates in 2009.  Directed by Paul Greengrass (The Bourne Supremacy, The Bourne Ultimatum, United 93), this film expresses such urgency and desperation that it wasn't until the end of the film that I could finally breathe again.  But the breathlessness is good.  It's really good.  The entire film is thrilling and keeps you on the edge of your seat. Not once did I feel there was a boring part or a lull of any kind.  The pace of the film is what helps provide that feeling of constant continuation, along with the superb acting carried by the cast of the film.

Tom Hanks plays Captain Richard Phillips and does so amazingly (when doesn't he?).  He is incredibly believable in this role: a normal man, going to work like it is any other day.  He reaches such depth with this character that I felt like I was watching it happen in real time and with the actual captain of the ship.  Hanks is truly one of the best actors of our time, if not the best, and this film proves it.  (Just wait for the ending scene with the doctors).  There's really nothing more I can say about him.  I love the guy.



The rest of the actors in the cast are virtually unknown compared to Hanks.  They are actors that you may have seen "here and there," but none that have as much professional "stature" as Hanks.  Which, if you ask me, was ideal for this film.  Hanks had to be seen as the one in charge and the primary person in the story.  But, just because they aren't necessarily recognizable, does not make them any less remarkable.  The supporting cast was tremendous.  They played "average joe's" who were suddenly thrust into an unbelievable tragedy with such authenticity that I saw them not as actors who were acting, but real people who were experiencing a devastation.



  Barkhad Abdi plays Muse, the Somali man heading the hijacking.  We see not only a man who is trying to prove himself, but a man who is desperate as well.  Desperate for money, recognition, and accomplishment.  Abdi does a fine job making us dislike him and feel sorry for him at the same time.



This film reminded me that nothing in life is certain, nothing in life is predictable, and nothing in life is perfect.  But, that we have the opportunity to stand up and be brave.  We have the opportunity to be the bigger person and to choose which side of the tracks we want to represent.

Number of stars I give it: ***** (5/5)