22 years ago, Jurassic Park forever changed the way audiences saw movies. It was a monumental film and a crowning achievement due mostly to its groundbreaking visual effects and universal sense of wonder and fun. It was a sci-fi adventure film through and through and was one of visual effects powerhouse Industrial Light and Magic’s (ILM) absolute best films. Jurassic Park broke box office records and spawned three sequels, the most recent of which is Jurassic World and its soundtrack, the focus of this review. Michael Giacchino took John Williams’ original formula and added his own style to the proceedings, making for not only a fitting tribute to Mr. Williams’ sound but introduced a new style which combined both old and new. The results are a fresh score that balances action and childlike wonder, something Williams did and continues to do time and time again, especially with his many collaborations with director Steven Spielberg.
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Patch Town
In European folklore, it is a widely known myth that babies are born into cabbage patches. The soft leaves act as comforting blankets as the baby is held and eventually delivered. This myth is bizarre, to say the least, and serves as the foundation of the offbeat fantasy adventure Patch Town, a film which combines the styles of Tim Burton and Terry Gilliam and meshes them into a dark, quirky and imaginative fairy little. Few films are as original as this and that’s a real shame because this movie is certainly one for the books.
Soundtrack Review: Poltergeist
In 1982, the horror film genre was given a fresh and original entry in its then already impressive list of pictures. Under the production of Steven Spielberg and the direction of horror genre pioneer Tobe Hooper (The Texas Chainsaw Massacre), a new film and type of fright was created. That film of course is Poltergeist, the insanely creepy and heart-pumping horror/thriller that inspired many an audience to watch scary movies with the lights turned on. The film was a huge success at the time, spawning two sequels, a TV series spinoff and for purposes of this review, a lackluster reboot and subsequent soundtrack album. Both the film and score aren’t exactly works of art but they accomplish the goals they were originally made to do: to entertain.
The Aftermath
When someone hits absolute rockbottom, it can be a truly unfortunate and heartbreaking thing to watch. The rise and fall from grace can happen to anyone and when the fall eventually comes, be prepared to get a little emotional. The new independent drama The Aftermath is a fine example of showcasing the low points and troubling times of an individual and his desperate attempts to fix his own life. It is film that, while bleak in many parts, is a delightfully gritty tale with some powerful performances, most notably from the film’s star Sam Trammell (True Blood, The Fault in Our Stars).
Soundtrack Review: Pitch Perfect 2
Prior to 2012, the art form known as “a cappella” wasn’t featured in movies too often. Singing without the aid of instrumental accompaniment is tough and in many instances, quite beautiful. The offbeat comedy Pitch Perfect took a cappella and shone a bright light on it, making it really quite popular. The film was a smash hit, catapulting young actresses Anna Kendrick, Rebel Wilson and Brittany Snow into superstardom. A sequel was inevitable and more songs were covered and audiences were in for not only a musical treat but a humorous adventure as well.
Spy
When it comes to comedy this day and age, movie executives don’t look very far. There are only a handful of reliable actors who can tickle an audience’s funny bone. One such person has been making waves in recent years, making a name for herself and cementing her presence in the realm of filmed entertainment. That individual is Melissa McCarthy and ever since 2011’s Bridesmaids and her work in the popular sitcom Mike & Molly, she has been making viewers laugh pretty consistently. Her latest film Spy is a fun big budget action comedy that continues to showcase the actress’ talent in the comedy arena while offering some pretty decent action sequences courtesy of the strong cast and filmmaker Paul Feig.
Soundtrack Review: Mad Max: Fury Road
Nostalgia is alive and well in the year 2015. There are numerous film franchises from yesteryear getting the reboot/sequel treatment and this year is seeing this “phenomenon” more than ever before. One such franchise that has recently had new life injected into it is the Australian dystopian adventure film Mad Max. The series began in 1979 with a young Mel Gibson in the lead role and there were two sequels (1981 and 1985). These films saw some very gritty and some very raw action storytelling. Director George Miller has now returned 30 years later to continue the story with Mad Max: Fury Road, a high octane, no holds barred thrill ride that not only has great action and direction but a killer musical score courtesy of Mr. Tom Holkenborg (a.k.a.. Junkie XL).
Cannes Film Festival: Spotlight Pictures Acquires ‘7 Chinese Brothers’
Spotlight Pictures is known the world over for its wide range of quality independent cinema. The company specializes in the selling and distribution of films to the masses. They are truly on top of their game and their latest acquisition is that of the offbeat dramedy 7 Chinese Brothers starring Mr. Jason Schwartzman (Rushmore, I Heart Huckabees), Eleanore Pienta (See You Next Tuesday, Bad at Dancing), Stephen Root (Office Space, NewsRadio) and Academy Award-winning actress Olympia Dukakis (Moonstruck, Look Who’s Talking. The film is written and directed by Bob Byington (Somebody Up There Likes Me, Harmony and Me) and is proving to be pretty spectacular. 7 Chinese Brothers follows Larry (Schwartzman), a young man who bounces from job to job only to fall head over heels for his current supervisor (Pienta). The film is produced by Faliro of House Productions.
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Tribeca Film Festival 2015 Review: The Survivalist
The most basic instinct of man is to survive, to persevere and overcome obstacles to extend life. Many films explore this theme and it usually provides for some rather riveting storytelling. The new indie Irish export The Survivalist is one such film and it is a tale that, while told in a bleak and harsh manner, is a film definitely worth checking out. The performances are all quite good and the filmmaking style is of the utmost quality. Fans of taut premises and sobering scenarios should take in this special film because it is among the finest, not only of Irish cinema but recent indie cinema in general.
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Tribeca Film Festival 2015 Review: Tenured
Breakups can be hard, there’s no doubt about that. They can leave a person feeling vulnerable and utterly alone. They can also provide for some very interesting cinema. The dissolution of a relationship can either be heartbreakingly sad or pretty darn hilarious. The new independent dramedy Tenured is a little bit of both, leaning more on the side of comedy and the results are really rather good. With a cast full of gifted comedic actors and a sharp script, this is a movie that everyone should see. Not only are the leading actors solid but so is the supporting cast, which consists of talented young 10-year-olds. All in all, Tenured is a winner.
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