"The Revenant" Review

Leonardo DiCaprio. Not a man I've ever hated, yet not one I've pushed for his long overdue Academy Award. There's no denying the man has spades of talent, but I've never rooted for him. Now he comes to us with The Revenant. An encompassed performance yearning for an Oscar, and in my opinion the one which may finally grasp it. 

Set in the harsh tundra of the Louisiana Purchase in 1823, Hugh Glass leads a group of trappers and hunters on an expedition for pelts. When Hugh is attacked by a bear and seemingly near death, he is left behind with his son and two trappers, Bridger and Fitzgerald, to see that he passes peacefully and buried properly. Yet Fitzgerald betrays Glass, murders his son, and leaves him buried alive. Miraculously clinging to life, Glass sets out on revenge. 

From the get-go let's talk about it's biggest positive. It's visually breathtaking. It's strikingly shot and creates a spectacle with every frame. It contributes to the narrative to have such a masterfully constructed backdrop rich with authenticity and a visceral world for the characters to thrive in. That's Oscar number one for The Revenant: Best Cinematography. I expect nothing less from the director of Birdman, who has quickly established his distinct style. 

With that authenticity comes more aspects. Magnificent production value, costume design begging for challengers, and a graphic realism to compliment the formalist values. It's difficult to watch at moments given some of the events that transpire, but it's necessary. The music directly attunes to the moments that occur. It won't sweep, but you'll hear the name being called for a number of technical awards on Oscar night. 

Except the bear attack. In a grippingly real world, it takes you out of the moment. Not the attack, but how it looks. One is nearly reminded of the Hulk's comical assault on Loki in The Avengers. The bear attack looks simply too cartoonish. 

Now we come to the story. It's told extremely well with strong dialogue, and powerful acting to compliment the screenplay. But it's nothing groundbreaking. It's more or less a tale of a revenge journey with a few new moments here or there, but it doesn't take Sherlock Holmes to figure out what will happen next. There is also a subplot involving French traders and Native Americans that it's stretched far too thin and takes painstakingly long to payoff in the principal narrative. And even then you have to look for why it does. The story is fine, but it's just not up to the level of the rest of the film. 

It's much like Avatar. It's not a brilliant story, but you're willing to forgive that given the rest of the film.

Now we come to Mr. DiCaprio. He truly does put it all on the table. His actions are true, he's fully immersed in the role, and he's drawn you into his world. He's not given the freshest storyline to work with, but that's to his strength. He makes the most out of the weaker moments and keeps your attention when it starts to wane, and states his case for why he was the best choice for this role. Everything DiCaprio does, even in silence, shows how hard he is pushing himself and his character. If DiCaprio wins an Oscar in his life, this is his best chance. 

On a different level not needing the amount of painstaking effort, but still undeniable strong is Tom Hardy. This is a man who also immerses himself in his characters and embraces their motivations, and this is why he is one of my favorite working actors. You hate his character as you're expected to, but Hardy shows you his cards as to why he does what he does. He won't be nominated for any Oscars for this, but in the same film as Leo's knockout performance, Hardy isn't one to be written off. 

The Revenant is wonderfully rich, slightly flawed, and a bit graphic. But it's worth it all to see the artful design and the role that may finally get Leo the gold. 

A-

Search Your Feelings...My Star Wars Destiny.

I've had a numerous amount of hobbies and interests over the course of my life, but none of them came completely naturally. Raiders of the Lost Ark is my favorite movie of all time, yet it wasn't until 2006 I discovered it after seeing the stunt spectacular in Walt Disney World. I started wearing a red vest and jean jacket after the first time I saw Back to the Future Part II on RTE ONE in Ireland on vacation. I was 14. Just recently I've become an avid fan of the WWE at the age of 23, the first live event of which I attend in 2 weeks at Madison Square Garden.

My point is that almost everything in my life that i've been a fan of has been something I discovered or was introduced to. All except for three things. Three things that i've been a fan of since I was born (or at least so long that it's pointless to try and remember when I first saw them.) 

1. Spider-Man
2. Thomas the Tank Engine
3. Star Wars

The Spider-Man side of me has been placated by numerous films since 2002. The Thomas the Tank Engine side isn't something I've embraced since Thomas and the Magic Railroad in 2000 seeing as though I've grown out of the target demographic (though I still have my train collection in the attic and I'll be damned if I ever give it up.)

But let's not talk about Thomas or Spidey. They don't have the biggest movie of all time coming out on Thursday night. Let's talk about Star Wars. 

I mentioned that it was pointless to try and put a number on it, but for the sake of argument lets try. The special editions of the original trilogy were first released in 1997 when I was 4 years old. It was a little before then. I still own the original tapes which I first viewed the series on. They're a little worn out, and I mainly utilize the DVDs and Blu-Rays nowadays, but they still work. Sometimes nothing compares to the excitement of putting the tape in a rewinder and waiting to hear it pop out, knowing that it's time to start the show. 

I don't know exactly why I fell in love with the series, it just happened. I have vivid memories of going into all the stores, all the Kmarts and Caldors, and being in awe of all the toys. It was always a feeling of unreplacable joy when I would leave with a new action figure or playset to show off to my friends.

Out of all them, i think my favorite was either the 12 inch C3PO or the TIE Advanced Fighter with Darth Vader action figure. That year, I went as the Sith Lord for Halloween, albeit with a flashlight instead of a lightsaber. I didn't want to break my lightsaber because it was reserved for exhibition battles on my back deck with my brother Kevin. He had the green Luke Skywalker version, and I the red Darth Vader. I don't remember who exactly won the most, but that's beside the point. 

So what is my point? It's that I can prattle on all day about how much of my childhood involved Star Wars until The Force Awakens is on iTunes, but I can do the same for my adulthood. There's no age recommendation for Star Wars. It's for everyone. You can watch it when you're an impressionable 4 year old boy, you can watch it when you're a 23 year old soon to be college graduate with movie critic aspirations, you can watch in the retirement home at the age of 80 on what I can only assume will be hologram projection. 

It holds up. It never gets old. It's a classic story of embracing a destiny, confronting your past, and forging the future. Everyone has their favorite character. Mine happens to be a scruffy looking nerf herder who made the Kessel Run in less than 12 parsecs. And also the protocol droid who is an ace at human cyborg relations.

I don't mention the prequels much, because like most I recognize the fault in most of them. At least now I do. I will painfully admit that I happened to be fond of Jar Jar Binks at the time of The Phantom Menace's release. I even had the collectible cup from Pizza Hut. Now I can see him as the toy hocking, annoying gimmick that he really is, but it was invisible to me at the age of 6. 

That goes back to further my point. Star Wars reaches a wide range. Even if it seems a bit painful. The childlike goofiness of a character such as Jar Jar in a film that also involves senate meetings about Trade Federations goes to show that Star Wars looks to include everyone. Neither aspect of either one is what anyone looks for in a Star Wars movie, and it creates for a bit of a snooze. But again, no one is excluded from Star Wars. It's for everyone. 

From the first time I finished Return of the Jedi, there's one question I've always asked. What happens next? As big of a Star Wars fan as I was, I never really got into the comics or the novels. Not for any particular reason other than I never really sought them out as a child, and as an adult I knew that reading just wouldn't be the same as seeing it unfold on the screen the way the series originally did for me. 

When the Wikipedia age came about and I would mindlessly browse, I learned that George Lucas had in fact planned on continuing the story, but eventually decided against it. I occasionally looked for updates, yet I hadn't held much hope. 

Then came that fateful day. October 30th, 2012. 19 years old. I was with my mom and dad heading into a T.G.I. Friday's in Albany to meet up with Kevin who was attending UAlbany. I had refreshed my Facebook and there it was. "Disney buys Lucasfilm. Episode VII in Planning Stages."  I stopped in my tracks. I couldn't believe it. My mind started to race. What could it mean? Are Luke, Leia and Han back? Would Lucas be involved?

Here we are. 23 years old. 4 days from seeing the movie I've wanted more than any other movie in my entire life. And sure, we know a lot more about it then we did on that 2012 day, but how much do we really know? That's a both a testament to JJ Abrams bank vault secrecy policies, and the fact I've deliberately avoided spoilers in a way I never have before. I don't want to know what happens until i'm sitting in the Poughkeepsie Galleria with my best friends watching the opening crawl and hearing that goose bumping opening John Williams theme. 

Because I feel like that 4 year old boy again.

"Steve Jobs" Review

As a matter of personal taste, I have not seen the 2013 film Jobs starring Ashton Kutcher. Because I do not care for Ashton Kutcher. Therefore, I went into this film with a blank slate of what to expect of the Steve Jobs story. And all the better for it. 

The film catches up with Mr Jobs during the launch of three separate products and their respective press events. But what we really see is the behind the scenes tension that goes into each event. 

The narrative structure of this film is absolutely brilliant. Aaron Sorkin has crafted a magnificent script. Much like a three act play. As opposed to a cut and dried biopic, this film focuses on three events of his career and the emotions that surround them. So rather than a plot based narrative, we have a character based narrative. It's ingeniously clever to spotlight who these characters are as people instead of what happens to them. 

The script is remarkably clever. It doesn't kneel at the altar of Steve Jobs. It sheds light on the fact that this was a deeply flawed human being, surrounded by deeply flawed human beings. I can't attest to whether or not the film is accurate to actual events, but I can attest to that it's at least truthful with what it's conveying. There's manipulation and deceit, and whether you choose to believe it's real, it's real enough for the film. 

The cinematography as well is used as tool. You'll notice that the scenes in 1984 have a grainer look than the scenes in 1999. It's an aesthetic choice to use different camera lenses as a reflection of the time periods. It's a small decision, but appreciated by those who can tell the difference. 

And the broader structure of the film allows for so many strong performances to take shape.  

Michael Fassbender creates a Steve Jobs unencumbered by expectations. It's a character unto it's own with his motivations and traits. It's hard to root for him or against him at any given time. There is no sinister intentions, but the Steve Jobs that Michael Fassbender is more human than what the generations of loyal Apple users hype him to be with flaws and ulterior motives. This is truly a transformative performance, the likes of which Fassbender hasn't done before. 

There is nothing wrong with Kate Winslet's performance. She's immersed herself. But something that took me out was the wild unevenness of her Polish accent. It's non-existent in the first sequence, emerges in the second, and comes and goes as she pleases. It's really distracting. 

The performance that stands out the most to me, especially considering the amount of screen time he gets, is that of Seth Rogen as Steve Wozniak. This is not a Seth Rogen anyone has seen before, but it's the Seth Rogen I always knew he could be. It's a wrenching, heartbroken performance, one that shows a man betrayed for no reason other than personal gain. When Rogen's Wozniak lets loose his frustrations, he is a man who is completely justified for doing so. It's so honest and raw. And for years, i've wanted to see Judd Apatow's stoner-in-residence show us he was capable of doing this kind of acting. And he finally has. 

Steve Jobs is a near perfect movie. One that doesn't conform to what is expected of a biopic, and one that you anguish for having to ever end. I thoroughly recommend it. 

A

"Straight Outta Compton" Review

The world's most dangerous group makes for the summers most interesting story. Just after the worst film of the year came out to give me something to critically eviscerate, Ice Cube and Dr Dre have told their story in the most engaging and emotional film of the year, and showed the power that a movie can have when the story is told with a thorough narrative. 

In the late 1980's, Dr Dre, Ice Cube, Eazy-E, MC Ren, Arabian Prince and DJ Yella came together to give a voice to the people of Compton, combining brutally honest lyrics with strongly produced tracks. Straight Outta Compton chronicles their rise to fame as they contend with opposition such as law enforcement, protest groups, and their own vanity. 

The portrait painted of these mens lives is full of depth and heart. We first find them in an environment where they are judged by their appearance and struggle to make ends meet. The hard truth makes for compelling storytelling as they create their own way out. The tight bond between the members of the group and the truthfulness with it's portrayal makes it all the more heartbreaking when egos get in the way. There are devastating moments, points of pride, and everything in between, and the gripping power of the cast really sell this film. It never lets you go. 

Corey Hawkins plays Dr. Dre with a sense of self discovery that allows him to convincingly journey from the young dreamer with a turntable into the millionaire entrepreneur that we all know today. He strongly encapsulates the most grounded member of the group and takes him to his lows and highs which allows for a raw performance. 

Jason Mitchell as Eazy-E has the big personality and the tension that powers the story. He is not one to admit fault, and it creates a rift through the group. He also goes through a full transformation in which we see his full emotional spectrum. 

I was worried about the casting of O'Shea Jackson, Jr as his father Ice Cube. I've seen nepotism in casting before, and it was just plain After Earth awful. But after seeing this movie, i'm convinced that no one else could possibly have done this part justice. He has the attitude we've come to know, and the spirit of the lyrical poet that won't censor himself. He's nailed it. And I would love to see him work with his father in the future. 

Straight Outta Compton is the 2nd best film of the year. (After Mad Max: Fury Road). It's powerful, strongly acted, incredibly shot, and tells a heartfelt story. Check it out. 

A

"Fantastic Four" Review

No one ever wants a movie to fail. I've always wanted a great Fantastic Four movie. There had been 2...well, technically 3 attempts to make a movie based on the character (If you count the Roger Corman unreleased movie). Yet, there was a small part of me that was hoping that this movie would be garbage. Only so that the movie rights could go back to Marvel Studios. There's no guarantee that would happen if the movie tanks, but it's obviously more likely than if it succeeded. So if this movie had been good, i'd have been pleased but somewhat disappointed. In reality, this movie was more of a travesty than i could have possibly imagined. And I couldn't be happier. 

I'm not even going to bother with a plot synopsis. Let's get right to it. 

The film does not contain any semblance of energy or fun. The tone is so downtrodden and monotonous that you'll swear that no one was awake during production of the film. It's tedious, boring and it just makes you sigh loudly within the first half hour. They have great actors in the film, but none of them are putting in any kind of effort with the notable exception of Michael B. Jordan who is at least trying to bring some excitement to his role. It feels like poor direction was given to the cast. 

The story does not inspire any sort of confidence, being full of old, trodden cliches and predictable dialogue. It's watered down, uninspired, straight up boring. No logical development of the characters, no strong villain, nothing. I've only left a theater once in my life (The Last Airbender) but I was packing up to leave before Michael B. Jordan came onscreen. Quite literally. I grabbed my soda and popcorn and was about to ask my friend if he wanted to leave and go see something better. 

What makes it even worse is that there are things that could be interesting or fun, but they've been omitted! And the real crime is that they hint at them! It's frustrating! They leave out what could have been the best part of the movie! You'll hear this from a lot of people, but that's because it's true: The film is missing about half an hour. Considering how slow the film starts pacing wise, it doesn't feel possible that it could be longer, but that's symbolic of the worst pacing problem in a movie i've ever seen. It's frustrating. 

As you may know by now, the film had some production problems with the director and the studio. I don't know what exactly happened behind the scenes, but it's clear that this movie was not any one person's fault. It does not feel like anyone was in control, and a lot of elements were thrown in that just do not go together. The film is one large mess and it's apparent that no one wanted to clean it up. It was made to meet a deadline. Which it did. But like the student who is rushing to turn in his exam when he's struggling with the multiple choice, it didn't answer the essay questions. 

It's awful. And i'm hopeful that it might help get the rights to the characters to Kevin Feige who will give them the movie that they deserve.

F

"Mission Impossible: Rogue Nation" ADVANCED Review

Yesterday, thanks to my good friend Spencer Cohen, I had the enormous honor of attending the Mission Impossible: Rogue Nation red carpet premiere in New York City. It was a surreal experience lining up in the middle of Times Square, receiving free movie memorabilia such as shirts, sunglasses, hats and a poster. I actually had the opportunity to talk to Jeremy Renner and JJ Abrams very briefly and get autographs from Christopher McQuarrie and Abrams. After the red carpet event where we were able to get up close with the cast of the movie, we were sent to the AMC Empire on 42nd street where we were all treated to popcorn, soda, and a free screening of the film in IMAX. This was a magnificent and memorable experience which I will not soon forget. And thankfully, that applies to the movie too.

Picking up a few years after the events of the last film in the franchise, we find Ethan Hunt and the IMF team going up against the mysterious Syndicate. They must also contend with the opposition they are receiving from the CIA. With few resources, and not many they trust, Ethan and his team must take on forces which they do not fully understand. 

What I love most about the Mission Impossible series is that it doesn't oversaturate itself. There is only a movie released every 4 to 5 years, and when the films do come out, they aren't hastily assembled. They're well written, magnificently choreographed, relevant to the technology and fears that surround society at the time. They're all great films, and they don't come around often enough for you to grow tired of them. 

Rogue Nation is a classic spy versus its own resources tale where the protagonist must contend with multiple forces attempting to bring it down, and it thrusts our cast into a whirlwind adventure where the edge of the seat is the only place you want to find yourself. The story never lets you drift away. There are moments when you are positive you know it will happen one way, and soon a wrench is thrown in to the mix. You never know where it's headed, and all for the better. 

The stunt work in this film is absolutely incredible. The imaginative crafting of such unbelievable fights and feats is only made much more enthralling by the knowledge that they were accomplished in real life with out the aid of CGI. When you see Tom Cruise holding on to the side of an airplane as it takes off, you will feel as though you are on it with him, because it's so authentically majestic. 

Cruise gives yet another focused and stellar turn as our hero Ethan Hunt. What makes this role so uniquely his is how his character has aura about him in which all and nothing are revealed at the same time. You don't know whether he is crazy or brilliant, and that speaks to the duplicity with which Cruise sets off on his course. 

While it's obviously Cruise's film, it would be nothing without it's magnificent supporting cast. Simon Pegg's charming comic relief mixed with his never ending loyalty make him a joy to see brought to life. Jeremy Renner's cavalier attitude which makes him integral to the Avengers carries over to this film. Ving Rhames doesn't have a large part, but he also plays an essential role. Alec Baldwin is a new addition, believable in his quasi-antagonism but devoted to his intentions. And finally, Rebecca Ferguson is a new face, but one which I hope to see more of as she is an enigma unto herself. You never know where she lies. And that's all part of the fun. 

See this movie. See it in IMAX for the plane scene alone. But see it. It's classic action filmmaking and it's a never ending dose of adrenaline. 

A

"Yeah, I'm thinking I'm Back"

Yes, it's been a while. As some of you may know, I'm currently interning with a creative media outlet alongside working my two regular jobs and (if you can believe it) spending a good deal of time in the gym. Suffice to say, I've been pretty tied up with things and unable to write many reviews, let alone tape an episode of Flick Check. But growing up is about balancing life, and now I believe I am in a place where I can throw reviewing back into the mix. So as much as I can, I will be posting written reviews again. However, for the time being, Flick Check is on hiatus. I promise it will be back in the next month with new episodes, but for the time being, this is the place to look for my movie reviews. In any case.....

In order to kick off my return, let's start with six brief reviews of what I've seen since my last review in May. 

I've never really cared much for Melissa McCarthy. She's never seemed deep to me. But then I saw Spy and discovered a level of emotion in her I didn't know about. It's a roaringly hilarious secret agent film which plays amongst the tropes (even if some seem Austin Powers-y) but also discovers heart in the main protagonist. McCarthy is ready for stronger roles, and the fact that she was able to make me feel something in the middle of what I assumed would be just another blockbuster has made me see her in a whole new light. But the real joy of this film and the biggest surprise in years is Jason Statham. Like McCarthy, he's only ever seemed to be one person. Just your average tough British man who uses his fists as weapons and talks a big game. Never in the summers that i've watched him beat the crap out of random henchmen could I have ever imagined that the man was actually funny! Sure he's just playing a parody of his normal characters, but he does it so brilliantly. The absolute absurdity and timing of his comedy works to his advantage. His back and forth with McCarthy sold this film. I sincerely hope that this does for him what 21 Jump Street did for Channing Tatum. 

A-

In the new season of Trailer Park Boys, the writers decided to shake things up by adding a new twist: Sunnyvale is now a retirement community. Why bring that up? Because it kept the show from growing stale. The only way that a new Jurassic Park film could have worked was if they did something different. They did: this time the park is open. While the dinos done wild is still here, it's fresher. In many ways, Jurassic World works. Chris Pratt's trademark charm is undeniably a pro. His animal trainer carries the film while showing that he can play the role straighter than he usually has while also letting him be quirky. And the nostalgia that the film has for the original is certainly appealing to the mass audience, if not a little cheating. Yet where it falters is the children. The young protagonists are just not convincing and feel out of place. The kids in the first movie didn't feel like they were shoehorned, but this time they feel like they were added to try and replicate a formula. Their plot is just way too unfocused. Also, Ty Simpkins still seems very hollow as an actor. I know he's young, and hopefully he'll get more of a range, but he doesn't seem any better than he did in Iron Man 3. But it's still a fun movie, and the 2nd best in the series.

B+

Dope is one of those films that look great in the trailers, yet you go into the theater not knowing what it's really about. When it's over, you realize it's not going to be one of your favorite movies, but damn was it good. The raw, tense story of growing up in Inglewood, CA where the schools have metal detectors and the drug dealers run amok. It's a brutally real story of Malcolm whose only wish is to have a normal life and make it into Harvard while staying out of trouble. Life has other plans for him. The brilliance of this film is that it's comprised of a relatively unknown cast with the exception of Blake Anderson of Workaholics. What this does is make you feel the story through a unique perspective without a preconceived notion of who the characters are. Shameik Moore gives a wonderfully troubled performance which showcases how much of a change he grows through and how real it feels. He just wants to be a kid, but life won't let him. The film gets a little heavy handed with it's message in the third act, but it's a brilliant story.

A-

It's been two years since the last Pixar movie, and five since the last great one. Inside Out is a real return to form for the company. It's a touching story inside the head of a young girl named Riley navigating life in a new city, and putting her emotions on display as they guide her. The story of Riley herself is nothing particularly new, but her emotions and their adventures make it all worth the journey. It's a unique perspective on what would be an otherwise mundane tale, and the way it's told will grab your heart and not let go. It's profound, funny, sweet, and endearing all at once. The cast bring warmth and perspective into these characters and it absolutely pops. I'll admit, by the end, I was crying. And I say that proudly. 

A

Ted 2 is pretty much what you would expect. It's hilarious if you enjoy Seth McFarlane's sense of humor, and appallingly offensive if you don't. But what it boils down to is more of the same. It's always fun to see Mark Wahlberg play it loosely, and he manages some great one liners, but it's not enough to save Ted 2 from being a retread. There are funny cameos, one in particular that will never get old, but I wouldn't advise you seeing Ted 2 on that basis. It's funny, just not ticket price funny. 

C+

If a movie is awful but I still like it, odds are it has Arnold Schwarzenegger in it. He's always been my kryptonite. Most likely due to the fact that I grew up on his films. When he left office as Governor, I was all too thrilled to have him acting again. When I heard he was returning to the fading Terminator franchise, I looked forward to having the spark back after Christian Bale extinguished it. But Terminator: Genisys takes a franchise already known for it's confusing paradoxes and flimsy continuity and smacks it with a sledgehammer. It's a long, twisted mess of a movie that features way too much going on and can't keep itself in check. It's certainly more interesting than the last two films, but that doesn't say much at all. Emilia Clarke does her best, but she can't replace Linda Hamilton. Jason Clarke is satisfactory, but the movie feels beneath him. And try as they might, Hollywood just can't seem to figure out what to do with Jai Courtney. Whereas Arnold Schwarzenegger is usually just an excuse to see a bad movie, in this one, he's the only thing saving it. The same mono-tonal, yet heartfelt work that he did in T2 is here. He's as alive as a cyborg can be. He doesn't need the movie to focus on him, yet he steals the show with his committed and purposefully dry performance. He always said he would be back, and for the first time since leaving office, he truly is. 

C-