Crimson Peak (2015)

Guillermo del Toro is a director and artist whose films fall into two distinct categories: big budget English language blockbusters like "Hellboy" and "Pacific Rim" and lesser known, low budget Spanish language horror films like "Devil's Backbone" and "Pan's Labyrinth". His latest film, "Crimson Peak" is what happens when these two worlds collide, in other words, a big budget English language horror film.

"Crimson Peak" is set in the late 19th century, first in New York, then in rural England. Edith Cushing (Mia Wasikowska) is a young budding writer who is intelligent, beautiful, and strong willed, refusing to allow Victorian sensibilities dictate what she can and cannot do, and as a result butts heads with those around her. Thomas Sharpe (Tom Hiddleston) is an English aristocrat and inventor who is in New York seeking financial backing for his mechanized clay mining business back home. When tragedy strikes, Thomas marries Edith and brings her to his home, Allerdale Hall in Cumberland, where his sister Lucille Sharpe (Jessica Chastain) is waiting. As Edith tries to fit into her new surroundings, she discovers that secrets abound and nothing is as it seems.

The Martian (2015)

Sir Ridley Scott is finally back on track. There's no argument that his last couple films have not been up to his standard. However, now he has gone back to his roots to bring us an adaptation of the sci-fi novel by Andy Weir The Martian.

The story itself is pretty straightforward. Mark Watney (Matt Damon) is presumed dead when stuck with debris during a storm on Mars. When the rest of his crew decides to abort and he turns out to be alive, Watney must ration his remaining resources in an attempt to same himself and make contact with NASA. Despite the familiar storyline (can you say Cast Away meets Apollo 13?), only a true mastermind behind the camera can give the story so much depth and make it so enthralling.

The cast is definitely one of the best ensembles of the year. Everyone does fantastic with the roles given to them, namely Chiwetel Ejiofor and Jeff Daniels. And while everyone does a great job in the movie, the man whose shoulders the film truly rests on is Matt Damon, and he excels in every scene he is in. The audience is always eager to follow Damon's successes and failures on Mars. Damon is so good at playing a wise- cracking scientist and showing us what it might actually be like to get left on Mars alone. With Damon's character, the movie is allowed to delve into themes about what makes us human and our drive to help one another.

A Most Violent Year (2014)

This is going to be one of those films that a lot of people aren't going to like. Not because it's a bad movie, but because the title and the trailer make it sound like it's going to be violent and action filled, that its not. J.C. Chandor (All Is Lost) directs a movie that would be better suited to the decade that the film takes place, as I fear it will be lost in the instant gratification era that we live.

J.C. Chandor seems to be evolving into a filmmaker to be reckoned with now that he has three fantastic movies under his belt that are all very different from each other. Chandor now tackles the gangster crime genre with this tale about the pursuit of the American Dream and the sacrifices we have to make to make it become a reality that concludes in churning out a fantastic crime thriller that echoes classic films like Casino and Goodfellas, but with a very grounded touch.

The acting in this film is excellent all around. Oscar Isaac plays a likable lead as he tries to remain legitimate in the heating oil industry. His plight is fascinating so I rooted for him to see him succeed. Jessica Chastain is amazing as well as Isaac's mob connected wife as she delivers a powerful performance while not going into stereotype. Albert Brooks is great as well as the dare I say it intimidating lawyer and David Oyelowo as the DEA trying to take Isaac down and thankfully does not fall into a stereotype.

The Disappearance of Eleanor Rigby: Them (2014)

I have been waiting for this movie since 2013 TIFF. The plot looks good, I love angsty love story. and They have Queen Chastain and McAvoy in one film. Written and directed by Benson, "Them" crafts an emotional and passionate tale of love lost, regained, and ultimately doomed to exist. Almost taking cues from films like Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, Benson offers up an honest and raw interpretation of love in the shadow of tragedy. Likely not his first choice in which to tell his story, he takes a meticulous paintbrush and strokes through every part of the film with intricate detail, choosing what and what not to tell the audience.

The negative aspect of the film, the audience never acquires an understanding of how this event created two very unhappy people. The only glimpse I receive of their suffering is at the beginning when Eleanor tries to kill herself by jumping off the Brooklyn Bridge. The movie transitions from utter happiness in the opening scene to a suicide attempt hence the sudden mood change. From there on it is downhill with the occasional hope of a happy ending unfortunately never fulfilling though.

Interstellar - review (2014)

Wow, just wow. Nolan did it again. confusing science movie with big stars. Right off i should say I love Nolan. I adore most of his movies, and Interstellar is no exception. It is a marvelous piece of work whose visuals will be hard to forget. Even thought it's not in my top 3 Nolan's best film list (Momento, The Dark Knight and Inception still the best). But it's Nolan's movie, we will probably understand his mind after 123 years later

I was madly waiting for Interstellar's release. And finally I have watched it, twice. It was incredibly exciting. It was a delight. It was unforgettable. he once again, amazes us with work. The fiction is on point, i mean we can really understand it's fiction, without being smart. But's it's really amazing. Some critics don't like it. but me as movie goer, really like. i watched it for entertainment purpose. but BAm he confused me and forced to watch this movie again.

The plot is original. and it was really good. i love how the characters are growing.the movie is about that time when earth is dying.  it was thought-provoking. Many questions were raised. What would life on earth be like if our climate runs amok? What happens to government when we all have to live hand-to-mouth? Are "they" out there communicating with us? An yeah this movie makes Gravity looks a like a vegetable on sale.

And when people say Nolan can't do emotional scene, you are wrong dude. This movie had so many emotional scene, and the best relationship in this movie was the relationship between Copper and his daughter Murph.And once again Miss Chastain never fails us with his dramatic scene. And tell me something that McConaughey can;t do. Because he can do everything from comic to very serious man. That scene when He received a message from his son and how his son told him about everything and then he was being 23 years old was heartbreaking. the way he cried, Oh my god.

And I love how the didn't show us the take off scene, it's unnecessary, but tbh i really wanted to see that scene on this amazing camera. But lets be honest, It was not hat important. instead of doing the dramatic take off Nolan did a heartbreaking scene when Cooper left his family and his daughter cried so hard. This was very heart breaking scene. But i felt like he rushed it, like how Coop and Murph found NASA and then NASA told him a very heavy decision and how he rejected but then the next scene he was doing it and left his family behind.

AFI Fest 2014 Lineup

Adding to its previously announced Gala presentations of "A Most Violent Year," "The Gambler," "Inherent Vice" and "Foxcatcher," AFI Fest will present writer/director Tommy Lee Jones' feminist Western "The Homesman" starring Hilary Swank.

AFI Fest's special screenings are "Clouds of Sils Maria," "Merchants of Doubt," Mike Leigh's Cannes favorite "Mr. Turner," Julianne Moore Oscar vehicle "Still Alice," "Tales of the Grim Sleeper" and Foreign Language Oscar contenders "Mommy," "Saint Laurent" and "Two Days, One Night."

AFI Fest runs November 6 through 13 in Hollywood, CA. Here's more information on the added lineups:

GALAS

Opening Night:

A MOST VIOLENT YEAR – Set in 1981, during one of the most crime-ridden winters in New York City’s history, A MOST VIOLENT YEAR follows the lives of Abel and Anna Morales (Isaac and Chastain) as they attempt to capitalize on the American Dream, while the rampant violence, decay, and corruption of the day drag them in and threaten to destroy all they have built. World Premiere. Thursday, November 6, 2014.

Centerpiece Galas

INHERENT VICE – INHERENT VICE is the seventh feature from Academy Award® nominee Paul Thomas Anderson and the first ever film adaptation of a Thomas Pynchon novel. When private eye Doc Sportello's ex-old lady suddenly out of nowhere shows up with a story about her current billionaire land developer boyfriend whom she just happens to be in love with, and a plot by his wife and her boyfriend to kidnap that billionaire and throw him a loony bin...well, easy for her to say. It's the tail end of the psychedelic '60s and paranoia is running the day and Doc knows that "love" is another of those going around at the moment, like "trip" or "groovy," that's being way too overused—except that this one usually leads to trouble. With a cast of characters that includes surfers, hustlers, dopers and rockers, a murderous loan shark, LAPD Detectives, a tenor sax player working undercover, and a mysterious entity knows as the Golden Fang, which may only be a tax dodge set up by some dentist...Part surf noir, part psychedelic romp – all Thomas Pynchon.
Saturday, November 8, 2014

The Disappearance of Eleanor Rigby TRAILER

I will love this movie, the wait I do for this movie. the concept is amazing the actors and the story sound good to me. And I can watch two of my favorite actors and the best actor right fall in love in movie. Chastain and McAvoy should get Oscar nomination for this movie. I have ghost bump every time I watch this trailer, and seeing Jessica Chastain's smile and movies always make me happy. SO I really want this movie in my eyes. Beside Weinsten is behind this movie. So finger cross for Jessica Chasatain