The road to starting a new life can be a long, hard and tiring one. Sacrifices must be made and challenges must be met. These are exactly the type of obstacles the main character in West faces and the film, while shot decently and featuring some very strong performances, it lags and doesn’t really go in any direction that is worthwhile or interesting. A German export, the film is a perfect example of realism caught on celluloid but fictional and lackluster at best.
Fury
The travesty of war has been captured on film time and time again. From Apocalypse Now to Saving Private Ryan, some war films are better than others but the fact remains that war is hell and film serves as an excellent way to depict the horror and sometimes, adventure. The latest war drama Fury is a welcome addition to the genre and it not only features exhilarating action sequences but a powerful cast full of seasoned actors who fully submerge themselves in their respective roles. Brad Pitt headlines the strong cast and David Ayer pulls triple duty as writer/director/producer.
Foxcatcher
Movies based on true stories often provide for some of the more riveting and though-provoking cinematic experiences. The drama and grittiness is palpable and it is the one of most literal examples of “art imitating life”. The searing drama Foxcatcher is a dark and psychological exploration of three men who each have their own individual problems and eventually clash with a truly unfortunate outcome. The film stars Channing Tatum, Mark Ruffalo and an intense and almost barely recognizable Steve Carell. It is a movie that will suck you in and basically leave you breathless. Released just in time for award season, this is one drama/thriller that is not to be missed.
Interview with Haley Joel Osment (Sex Ed)
You all know him from Forrest Gump and The Sixth Sense. He was that cute little kid who “saw dead people”. Well, now he’s all grown up and he stars in the raunchy new comedy Sex Ed, a film with sharp wit and pretty decent performances especially from Osment. I spoke with the actor regarding the film and it was pretty enlightening to say the least. Here’s the interview:
Sex Ed
Haley Joel Osment made a name for himself in the 1990s as a child actor. He was Forrest Gump’s son in 1994 and he “saw dead people” in 1999’s The Sixth Sense. Since then, he’s dabbled in film and television, most recently in the dark Tusk. This year has also seen the young actor in a bit of departure from “normal” roles. That film in question is Sex Ed and it is a raunchy but surprisingly sweet comedy that features Osment in the lead role. It’s smart, sexy and downright cute. It also showcases Osment in a new and very welcome way: charming leading man.
Soul of a Banquet
Believe it or not but “food porn” is one of culture’s greatest forms of entertainment. Since what we eat is so important, film and television companies have made a fortune off of photographing and accentuating the very nature of food. It has become an art form and a major source of discussion and appreciation for audiences worldwide. The new documentary Soul of a Banquet continues to glorify food and focuses on someone who is pretty legendary when it comes to the subject: Cecilia Chiang, a central figure in the evolution of Chinese cuisine in the United States.
The One I Love (Blu-ray)
Romantic comedies that contain supernatural elements aren’t exactly the norm this day and age. It is an interesting hybrid but it just isn’t seen very often. The charming indie The One I Love does manage to strike this offbeat balance and the results are actually pretty decent. Producer and star Mark Duplass (Safety Not Guaranteed, The Puffy Chair) and Elisabeth Moss (Mad Men, Listen Up Philip) form a cute pair in this film and the on-screen adventure they share is definitely worth checking out.
The Way He Looks
Love stories these days are rarely done right. Obnoxious pop songs and syrupy performances seem to be all the rage and that’s very unfortunate. Heartfelt stories seem to have been replaced by juvenile antics and empty scripts. Luckily, however, there is the occasional romantic film that scores big and hits all the right notes. The new Brazilian gem The Way He Looks is one such film and it is a sweet, tender and genuine coming-of-age tale about three friends and the natural awkwardness that comes with teenhood.
The Better Angels
Abraham Lincoln’s life has been depicted on screen many, many times. He is one history’s most noble individuals and one of America’s greatest leaders. His time as President is marked as one of the nation’s most pivotal eras and he will be forever engraved in the collective consciousness of mankind. The new film The Better Angels doesn’t examine Lincoln’s life as a gifted lawyer and politician but as a young boy, struggling to survive in a humble beginning and finding acceptance and love from a stern father, who wants the best for his family but shows it in a harsh way.
Gut
Independent films are quickly becoming the new mainstream. Movies that feature amateur actors, relatively unknown filmmakers and low budgets are so commonplace that there are almost as much of them as there are standard Hollywood big budget productions. The indie psychological thriller Gut is a good example of this and while the film is full of indie-esque qualities, it could have very well been an expensive star-studded affair. The actors in it aren’t of the highest caliber and the direction is a bit underwhelming at times but the story is solid and the emotions the film elicits are pretty decent.
Unger the Radar 