Academy Award Predictions

Hey All, with the Annual Academy Awards coming up shortly Mike and I thought we would have a guess as to what we think will come out trumps. We have highlighted below both what we think deserves to win and what we think will, in reality, win. Sometimes this is both and we will make note of it by colouring the row in both colours.

And so, for the sheer fun of it, here are our thoughts:

Yellow is for what we think will win
Green is for what we would like to win

Best Picture
American Hustle - Guys Prediticion is a little different to Mike's on this one
Captain Phillips
Dallas Buyers Club
Gravity
Her- Mike's prediction
Nebraska
Philomena
12 Years a Slave
The Wolf of Wall Street

Best Actor
Christian Bale, American Hustle
Bruce Dern, Nebraska
Leonardo DiCaprio, The Wolf of Wall Street
Chiwetel Ejiofor, 12 Years a Slave
Matthew McConaughey, Dallas Buyers Club

Best Actress
Amy Adams, American Hustle
Cate Blanchett, Blue Jasmine
Sandra Bullock, Gravity
Judi Dench, Philomena
Meryl Streep, August: Osage County

Best Supporting Actor
Barkhad Abdi, Captain Phillips
Bradley Cooper, American Hustle - With Guy's prediciton of best picture I think this will win
Michael Fassbender, 12 Years a Slave - Mike is pretty sure Fassbender will win too, and I hope he does
Jonah Hill, The Wolf of Wall Street
Jared Leto, Dallas Buyers Club

Best Supporting Actress
Sally Hawkins, Blue Jasmine
Jennifer Lawrence, American Hustle
Lupita Nyong'o, 12 Years a Slave
Julia Roberts, August: Osage County
June Squibb, Nebraska

Best Director
David O. Russell, American Hustle
Alfonso Cuaron, Gravity - Mike's wish here for best director
Alexander Payne, Nebraska
Steve McQueen, 12 Years a Slave - Guy's wish here for Steve to finally get one
Martin Scorsese, The Wolf of Wall Street

Best Adapted Screenplay
Before Midnight - Richard Linklater, Julie Delpy, Ethan Hawke
Captain Phillips - Billy Ray
Philomena - Steve Coogan and Jeff Pope
12 Years a Slave - John Ridley
The Wolf of Wall Street - Terence Winter

Best Original Screenplay
American Hustle - Eric Warren Singer and David O. Russell
Blue Jasmine - Woody Allen
Dallas Buyers Club - Craig Borten & Melisa Wallack
Her - Spike Jonze
Nebraska - Bob Nelson

Best Production Design
American Hustle
Gravity
The Great Gatsby
Her
12 Years a Slave

Best Cinematography
The Grandmaster
Gravity
Inside Llewyn Davis
Nebraska
Prisoners

Best Visual Effects
Gravity
The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug
Iron Man 3
The Lone Ranger
Star Trek Into Darkness

So lets see how it plays out on March the 2nd. Please note we have only tried to guess those categories we know enough about, and have in fact not seen all the movies in them either, which makes it a bit hard. But with knowledge of how these awards have been given out in the past we feel we can make a pretty sure bet given what we know about them.

How about you? Do you agree or disagree?

Captain Phillips

"Maybe in America Irish, maybe in America"



A given with all my reviews - potential *spoilers alert*

Just managed to sneak seeing this before our top 10 posts... to be honest I thought I would have to re-adjust my list but in the end it wasn't quite worthy so no harm posting after.

If you're not up to speed on this one it's basically a 'true' story about an American ship & captain taken hostage by Somali pirates.  It can be easy sitting in my comfy lounge chair in front of my flat screen T.V to be swept up in the usual American propaganda however it becomes more difficult these days as we are made more aware of the cost of our decadent lives.  To be fair though I think this movie did give a small effort to show the 'other side of the story' however I couldn't help but feel like the pirates were the true victims as these four men with rifles on a lifeboat were chased down by multiple battleships, seal teams, helicopters and the navies finest.

All that aside though it's a pretty damn good movie.  Thank Christ I was watching this at home and not in the cinema.  Mr Greengrass has the tendency to hire camera men with Parkinson disease and at the cinema I may have thrown up all over my pop corn.   But with this style comes an absolute realism and .... what's that word that means completely immersed and feels like you're there?  Damn..

With all the U.S bravado and big action music I had flash backs in a couple of moments to Michael Bay - mainly the Rock... maybe Armageddon.  Quick cuts of military dudes yelling out status updates and orders around the place - definitely the right formulae.

There's not much point going into Tom Hanks performance.  We have come to expect nothing but perfection and once again he doesn't disappoint.   As the story progresses so does his character and emotional depth and he carries the movie along on his giant shoulders like so many before.   The fellas playing the pirates were damn good as well - especially the captain 'muse' played by Barkhad Abdi.   Is it just me or does this guy look a hell of a lot like Omar from 'The Wire'??

Overall a very decent and intense action/drama with solid acting and good (albeit shaky) production.  Definitely worth checking out.

One last thing to add - I hope Hans Zimmer got some royalties for the last track played, massive 'time' rip off.  However I did watch the credits and saw his name in the thank you list so maybe he was feeling generous?

7/10

IMDB Info

Some recent watches

Back at work now, but whilst on holidays I was watching a fair few flicks.  I feel a lot of them don't really need a full review so I've consolidated a few quick summaries below.



Riddick

This is a hard one because I absolutely love Pitch Black.  I thought Chronicles of Riddick was a piece of crap and now this 3rd installment I find somewhere in the middle.  The story feels a lot closer to the first however still keeps ties with the second.  The movie is absolute cheese on toast with horrible corny dialogue delivered very poorly throughout.  I think my favourite was...

"I dont fuck guys...  but sometimes I fuck them up"

*sigh*  And to make that line worse it was delivered by Katee Sackhoff of Battlestar Galatica fame who I held in high regard after that series.  This was definitely not her role but after reading that script I could imagine her motivation waned.

What keeps me going though is the character of Riddick.  He's awesome!  Vin Diesel just slips into the role so perfectly.  A lot of the story involved Riddick himself surviving on an unknown world and there were some good scene's with him vs the wildlife.   If you're a fan of the franchise I recommend grabbing some scotch or a wine and chucking this one on whilst turning off the brain for a couple of hours.  It was enjoyable enough.

6/10

IMDB Info



Don Jon

J.G.L (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) has become a first rate actor.  It has been great watching his career push forward from 3rd Rock to a plethora of indy films until finally making it big with massive films like Inception, Dark Knight Rises and Looper.   Once again he gives a great performance and plays the lead role of Jon perfectly.

For me though the stand out was Scarlett Johansson.  This would have to be one of, if not the best performances of her career.  She transforms into the Jersey girl - accent, attitude, everything.  Compare her in this role to say We Bought a Zoo - just an incredible contrast.

To summarise in a sentence - Don Jon follows the porn addicted Jon through failed relationship attempts and his journey of true sexual awakedness with an older lover Esther (played by Julianne Moore).   It's a good watch - honest and real.

7/10

IMDB Info



The Kings of Summer

This probably deserved it's own review.  A very unique film with terrific quirky characters and an atmosphere of adventure we all crave.   The story follows a couple of friends dealing with different home life issues who befriend a very odd young fellow and run away into the forest near their town.  They build themselves quite an impressive cabin and enjoy the freedom of living with their own rules and braving the wild.

The movie nearly has it all - comedy, drama, love and adventure.   It is beautifully shot with scene's spliced with spectacular nature shots the crew must have caught while filming out there.   There was a great scene with the boys drumming and dancing on a large pipe running through the forest - absolutely loved how they then used this drumming music in a tense scene later in the film.

All characters were great but Nick Offerman was sensational as one of the fathers. The more I see of this guy the more I like. Loved the Wonton's!

I'm stuck between giving it a 7 or an 8.  I think for me personally rating on overall enjoyment I would give a 7 but I can easily see others giving it an 8 or even a 9.   This would be right up Macca's alley I reckon.  Definitely give it a go though.

7/10

IMDB Info



The Wolverine

Getting so sick of comic book movies.  The Wolverine is not a bad movie, in fact it would have to be one of the better comic movies.  I like Jackman as the Wolverine character and there is something about being super strong, having protracting blades in your hands and the power of regeneration that appeals to every male.   The story was 'ok' and I liked the setting of Japan.

But with all that said I still found it quite boring.  Why do they makes these movies so damn long?  Why not make it 90-120 minutes and keep it exciting, quick and interesting instead of padding it out!! zzzzzz

5/10

IMDB Info




Clear History

Comedy starring Larry David (he Co-made Seinfeld!!) about a man who forfeits his shareholding in the company he works after a disagreement with the boss.  Big mistake as those shares end up being worth billions.    Many years later in a new life he runs into his boss again and begins to plan revenge.  An so the hilarity ensues.

Or so it should have...

I just don't find Larry David that funny on screen.  He is a quirky character and can generate a smile here and there but nothing laugh out loud funny.  This movie needed to be hilarious as it really had nothing else going for it.

If you love Larry David then definitely give this a go, else I wouldn't waste your time.

5/10

IMDB Info



Alan Partridge: Alpha Papa

I've only recently become a fan of Steve Coogan after Guy introduced me to 'The Trip'.  I was not familiar with the Alan Partridge character going into this movie but quite enjoyed it regardless.  Good British humor with a side of fun.

Not too much to say here except that it has enough laughs to keep you watching.

7/10

IMDB Info

Guys Most Anticipated of 2014

So the year of 2013 is done and dusted and we already half way through January 2014! It’s time to look ahead at the year that is to come and see what is on offer. The following 10 movies are the ones that already have my attention and I am eagerly awaiting their release date to get my ticket, grab some popcorn (or for some of these movies: Ritalin) and line up to see them.

1. 12 Years a Slave
Though this film has already been out in the U.S. it’s only set to come out this year in Australia. From everything I've seen and read about I’m pretty sure it will be making my Number 1 spot for 2014. Directed by Steve McQueen and starring Chiwetel Ejiofor it looks to be a harrowing account of what slavery was like.

Released on January 30.

2. Interstellar
Christopher Nolan's next film. 'Nuff said. Oh, and it’s about: A group of explorers make use of a newly discovered wormhole to surpass the limitations on human space travel and conquer the vast distances involved in an interstellar voyage. Boom!


Released on November 6

3. Transcendence
Christopher Nolan has always used Wally Pfister as his cinematographer and I think a large portion of his success in film can be directed towards the style and look, derived from the skill of Wally. I therefore cannot wait to see the directorial debut of Mr Pfister with his movie Transcendence.


Released on April 24

4. Gone Girl
Directed by David Fincher, starring Ben Affleck, and Rosamund Pie and based on the bestselling book. It centres around the mystery of a woman disappearing on her wedding anniversary, and I am hoping like mad Mr Fincher will call back to his Zodiac making skills for this one.

(No trailer available yet) Released on October 2

5. The Monuments Men
Clooney, Damon, Murray, Goodman and Blanchett as art dealers convinced to head into the middle of the Second World War to recover the art stolen by Nazi's. It looks to be a wonderful conglomeration of comedy, tragedy and war action.


Released on March 13

6. Tracks
A story about Robyn Davidson who walked from Alice Springs to the Indian Ocean on her own through the desert! It stars Mia Wasikowska and is a South Australian film production that looks simply epic. The cinematography is gorgeous and this will definitely be one to see at the cinema.


Released on March 6

7. Nymphomaniac
I really don’t like Lars Von Trier movies, in fact I don’t think I’ve ever made it through to the end of one, but how he has the likes of Shia Lebouf, Charlotte Gainsburg, Uma Thurman, Willem Dafoe & Christian Slater to be involved in a movie with unstimulated sex scenes just calls out to be seen.


Released March sometime

8. The Wolf of Wall Street
Again, it’s already out in the U.S. but another good ol Scorcese film starring Leo has got to be amazing. Also, I'm hearing that it goes pretty explicit in showing the excess that Jordan Belfont went through so it’ll be interesting to see Scorsese take it to the extreme.


Released on January 23

9. Wolf Creek 2
I've only seen Wolf Creek once, but once was enough to have it seared into my brain for ever. I’ll be curious to see if they can replicate even half of what was good about the first. And I like to support Aussie horror flicks.


Released on February 20

10. The Hobbit: There and Back Again
Readers of this site should know that I have a soft spot for this stuff, and so yes, I am already eagerly awaiting the release of the trailer sometime in June/July! And, for Boxing Day when I can get in line to see Smaug again!!
(No trailer for this one .... yet)
Released on December 26

Also, it appears that Aussie cinema will be having a bit of a boost in 2014 with a few major deals being successfully landed. I read a good piece at the IF website here about it if you are interested: http://if.com.au/2013/09/19/article/2014-A-banner-year-for-Oz-cinema/YTYEYIMNZJ.html

Maccas Top 10 of 2013

2013 has been a fairly decent, consistent year for film.  Out of 66 movies ive watched classified as released in 2013, 29 of them ive rated as a 7 or better, but only 5 that Ive rated as an 8 or better.  This shows there has been plenty of watchable, decent, fun, enjoyable films but not many that reached any real epic heights.  The real disappointment of the year was with the big budget or big name flicks.  Whilst some lived up to expectation (Mud, Prisoners, Gravity), there were many that missed the mark.  Movies like Elysium, World War Z & Pacific Rim were poor.  Others that I was looking forward to in Only God Forgives, Trance and Now You See Me had promise but failed to deliver on that potential.  It was left up to the lower budget indie flicks to get the job done in 2013 and there was plenty of gold there.  Movies such as Drinking Buddies, Europa Report, Kings of Summer, I Give It A Year were all good lower budget flicks to check out.

MACCAS TOP 10 OF 2013

10: We Are What We Are - Horror

A dark, moody horror/thriller about a family with many skeletons in the closet.  Low budget but this is very well acted, excellent at creating suspense and the director of photography did a brilliant job.  An excellent score as well.  Its a very attractive movie and one that put some bigger name thrillers such as Conjuring & Insidious 2 to shame.  One of the hidden gems of 2013.

9. Mud - Drama 

One of the best dramas of the year.  Matthew McConaughey puts in an outstanding performance as Mud, a fugitive who befriends a couple of young lads who attempt to help him out.  Its complex and hits the right notes.  Excellent acting by the two younger lads.  A lovely film and unlucky to not be higher in the list.

8. The Way, Way Back - Drama

This is a quirky comedy-drama in the same mould as Juno, Little Miss Sunshine and Adventureland.  Theres been a number of coming of age dramedies come out in 2013 and this is the king of them all.  A quiet, awkward teen with a dysfunctional family befriends a waterpark owner and comes of age, growing in confidence as the movie wears on.  Its quirky, its funny, it makes you laugh and makes you sad.  Steve Carrell is excellent, but the real star (as expected) is Sam Rockwell.  You can never go wrong when Sam Rockwell is around.

7. Blue Is The Warmest Color - Romance

This is French.  About Lesbians.  Whats not to love?  Its a controversial romantic drama about a young girl who falls in love and deals with the issues of being in a same sex relationship.  The controversy comes from the multiple sex scenes, one a 10 minute long very graphic lesbian scene which can only be described as an inch away from hardcore porn.  But take away the graphic scene and what is left is a brilliant film that is perfect at making you feel empathy for its characters.  It builds character development like no other film this year.  Its length at 3 hours is the only thing holding this back.  A bit tighter and this would be well up there for film of the year.

6. American Hustle - Drama

Bale, Cooper, Adams, Lawrence, CK and a neat little cameo by De Niro.  A big name cast and it delivers in spades.  Its a crime/heist drama with plenty of comedy thrown in for good measure.  Many have thought it to be too slow through the first half of the movie but I thought its pacing was spot on.  Plenty of exposition and its a complex storyline.  Must.  Pay.  Attention.  Outstanding acting performances.  For me, its the best performances Cooper, Adams & Lawrence have done in their careers. 

5. Byzantium - Fantasy

This is how a vampire flick should be made!  Im not hugely into vampire flicks, but this is so spot on its hard not to fall in love with it.  The cinematography, colour palate and restraint in the acting is perfect.  This leaves big name vampire brands like Twilight & True Blood for dead. 

4. Gravity - Sci-Fi

The best of the big budget, big name movies in 2013.  It really is an incredible film.  How they managed to shoot this and have it look so realistic, I have no idea.  As a general rule I steer clear of Sandra Bullock movies as I cant stand her acting, but this is by far the best thing shes ever done, and the best acting performance she has ever done.  The CG is beyond belief.  Get yourself a big arse tv, a blu ray player, sit back and lose yourself in this.  It not only lives up to the hype, it smashes it out of the park.   

3. The Place Beyond The Pines - Drama

A complex drama with a perfect performance by Ryan Gosling, and an incredibly mature performance by Bradley Cooper.  In fact Cooper is the real star of this and with 2 movies well inside the top 10, you could say he would be my actor of 2013.  Its a long but fulfilling movie and grips you at times like few others did in 2013.

2. Maniac - Horror

This one will polarise people.  Many will hate this, many will like it.  I found it mesmerising.  A thriller/horror about a sociopath who finds, murders and scalps girls.  The real difference in this is that its shot in first person mode.  Elijah Wood is the star and lead actor and is believable as the creepy maniac.  Like Byzantium, I lost myself in the way this was shot.  Perfect film score that really draws you in, similar to Drive.  Great cinematography.  As I said, not for everyone, and is fairly graphic in its violence, but its one I kept coming back to as one of the most interesting and enjoyable movies ive seen this year.

1. Disconnect - Drama

A complex, multi-layered drama in a similar vein to Crash, that brings 4-5 storylines together in a huge crescendo in the finish.  It shows the cause and effect of social media and being responsible for the decisions you make.  You know a movie has really touched you to your core when you're still thinking about this days after watching.  Jason Bateman was the real star as the lead character.  No other film has had this effect on me in 2013 than Disconnect.  It may not be in many other top 10 lists you'll see but its well worth a watch. 

Honourable Mentions: Prisoners, Rush & We're The Millers.  Just missed out on the top 10.

Mikes top 10 movies of 2013

My name is Mike and I'm an addict.  It has been 12 hours since my last movie hit.

2013 was a fairly average year overall however there were some terrific standouts.  For me, the top 10 list below makes it all worthwhile.   Looking over the top 10 lists for Guy and Macca I'm pleased there is about a half half ratio of same choices and different ones.  The variances can obviously come from different taste but I also think mood and experience come a lot into play as well.  Quite often watching a great movie in the wrong mood can result in a skewed opinion.  Personally this is why I love trawling through other people's top movie lists - just on the off chance of finding a movie I may have missed (heaven forbid, lol) or maybe misjudging one the first time so I give it another shot.

For movies that were initially reviewed on the site I have included a link in case you missed it.
Enjoy :)


 10. The Purge - Thriller - This one just snuck in.  I was divided between a few for this spot but in the end I think The Purge is worthy.  The movie is good but I think it was the core idea of the story that I really liked.  One night a year - the rules are off...  Brilliant.

9. World War Z - Horror - Some people will think I'm crazy putting this one in here.  I'm not going to call it one of the best movies of all time but it was a really great ride.  With so many zombie flicks bombarding the screen it's hard to find ones that stand-out and push the bar forward.  I think this one manages to stand out.  Review

8. Prisoners - Thriller/Drama - Just a great, super-intense thriller with very dark undertones.  Just how far would desperate fathers go to get back their kidnapped daughters? Not for the faint hearted :)  Review

7. The Impossible - Thriller/Drama - I don't understand how some of these tsunami shots were done.  So realistic and intense.  Combine these with incredible shots in post tsunami landscapes showing the panic, the fear and desperation.  Such a horrific event captured incredibly.  Review

6. Europa Report - Sci-Fi - A low budget gem.  The first 5 minutes may make you want to turn it off, but persevere and enjoy a great Sci-Fi flick.  A must see for all Sci-Fi fans and a must have in my blu-ray collection.   Review

5. The Conjuring - Horror/Thriller - Macca is one of the few people I know with the same thirst for horror as me.  I know he won't agree with me having this one in the top 10 but for some reason I just completely loved it.  Not sure if it was just the right night, the right mood, the right red... whatever it was I thought it was great from start to finish. Review

4. The Place Beyond The Pines - Drama - I still remember this as being one of those few exceptions where you watch a trailer and get all hyped up and then not be disappointed when you watch the film.  Brilliant story, brilliant acting and very clever transition of story and character which I had not seen before.  Review

3. Rush - Action/Sports - Just a great exciting movie to watch, even without being a fan of the sport.  Loved how they captured the 70's/80's perfectly.  Review

2. Byzantium - Fantasy/Horror - Guy may be a sucker for Peter Jackson, but I'm a sucker for vampires.  This movie was so refreshing after the years of teenage vampire shit that has been destroying the genre  *grumpy old man waves fist in the air*.   Review

1. Gravity - Thriller/Drama - Wow.  Just Wow.  I was a late comer to this one and after reading Guy's initial review it was on the list to see, just couldn't get around to it.  Last week I was pleased it was still showing in 3D so managed to catch a session.  Forget story and realism, this movie is just an incredible experience.  You are actually out there floating in space with these guys.  It is technically perfect.  Review



Bring on 2014!


Unfortunately I did not have a chance to watch the movies below - all of which I believe may have been top 10 candidates.   Also, "12 years a Slave" which may have gone number 1, Guy and I are treating as 2014 and it is not being released until March in Australia, even though was out in the states in 2013.

Philomena
Filth
All is Lost
Short Term 12
Before Midnight
Out of the Furnace
Wolf of Wall Street

If you have seen any of the above, drop a comment in and let us know what you thought.

Guys Top 10 Movies of 2013

This is interesting ... I've just gone back over the website to see what I rated each movie throughout the year and put them down in the order of top to bottom. I quickly saw that once compared to one another the original rating now appears to be inaccurate given my current view. I guess this means that things change, which is quite obvious, and having a point of perspective for comparison also changes your opinion. As does time. Re-watching Django Unchained I have found it to be not as good as that amazing day in the cinema. I think having a crowd around and being so excited to be seeing a new QT flick added to how much I loved it the first time, but subsequent viewings have shown me problems with the movie and so its dropped a few places. For now, however, here is the completely subjective list of my top 2013 films:

My top 10 films released in 2013

10. We're The Millers - Comedy - I’ve been struggling with many of the mainstream American comedies of late but somehow the creators just nailed this one. I was laughing my ass off and appreciating Jennifer Anniston's at the same time. Amazingly sexy and brave playing a stripper at 44!

9. Mud - Drama - A wonderful little Indie movie about love set on the Mississippi river in the deep south with a great cast of teenage kids, Matthew McConaughey & Reese Witherspoon. Definitely worth checking out, probably McConaughey's best acting role to date.

8. American Hustle - Thriller - A film with the biggest cast you can have in 2013 directed by a guy at the peak of his career. It’s a little Oscar baiting at times, a little confusing over all, but its characters are rich and deep and multi-dimensional and for that its worthy of a top 10 place.

7. The Impossible - Drama/Thriller - Wow. This movie is intense to the extreme. I don’t know what it is with Naomi Watts putting her characters through the wringer but few get punished as much as she does in this tale. Showing the effects of the tsunami in Thailand on a single family with a backdrop of the effects on the country, it’s emotionally charged and near horrific in impact.

6. This Is The End - Comedy - What is going on here? Two American comedies in the Top 10 and no British ones?!?! I love this movie for the simple reason it was made by a bunch of funny actors who have some pull in Hollywood, and it feels just like that. As I watch it, all I can think of is how much fun they must be having off camera and in between the scenes.

5. Django Unchained - Tarantino - As usual the Tarantino film defies being characterized as anything other than a Tarantino film. A western about a German with a black slave in a revenge exploitation flick starring Leo DiCaprio as an evil master and Samuel L Jackson as an abhorrent slave with Jonah Hill in the Klu Klux Klan? Funny, different, action packed and utterly entertaining.

4. Rush - Sports Drama - A brilliant movie about the rivalry of James Hunt and Nikki Lauda that surprised the hell out of me with how much I loved it. The driving scenes were great, the set design and car construction was spot on but the interaction between the two leads was mesmerising.

3. The Hobbit: Desolation of Smaug - Fantasy - Way too high up on the list for how badly put together this movie is, but I’m a sucker and I love this kind of thing. Just seeing Mirkwood and Smaug was enough to be a Top 10 but the 3D HFR experience, the barrel scene, Tauriel and the comedy placed it higher. The bad editing and useless padding stopped it going to the top.

2. The Place Beyond The Pines - Drama- Such a good movie with major focal shifting phases done better than any other film, except maybe A Beautiful Mind, that I can think of. It’s the first movie I’ve really understood the hype around Ryan Gosling and the one where Bradley Cooper really started coming into his own as an actor.

1. Gravity - Sci Fi - This movie is the reason I watch so many movies. I’m always hanging out for an experience that just blows your mind, lets you forget you are on planet Earth, and takes you to another place. For almost 2 hours I was in space. I was alone. I was fighting for my life and I was enthralled. This is movie making at its absolute best, even if the script is a little weak, the movie itself is an experience unlike anything else I’ve ever had. Alfonso Cuarón is amazing.

(Yet to see Byzantium, 12 Years a Slave, Captain Phillips, Before Midnight, World War Z, Short Term 12 or The Spectacular Now)

Heads Up - The best movies of 2013

Hello there dear blog readers,

Guy and I have been working hard on our separate rankings for the top 10 movies of 2013.  We also have our mate Macca giving us his own top 10 to post as well!   We are scrambling in to see a couple more movies and they will be ready to go.

We will be posting each list separately on Thurs, Fri and Sat nights so keep a look out.  Hopefully you can spot a great movie or two you might have missed during the year.

I notice we are getting up near the 5000 hits mark as well!  Thanks to everyone who takes the time to have a read and we look forward to keeping the reviews coming this year.

Cheers,
Mike & Guy

The East

The East is a very deep and slowly paced film following the journey of a private intelligence agent who has her beliefs challenged by her latest assignment of infiltrating an anarchist group known as "The East".   The group launch attacks on large corporations to expose the lies and cover-ups surrounding the true destruction of their greed.  Their simple way of life and belief structure is quite appealing and it easy to see how the main character Sarah becomes more open to the truth of the modern world.

Written and directed by Zal Batmanglij this film definitely carries his style.  I was not aware he was the director while watching but found myself drawing many connections to another of his films - The Sound of My Voice.   If Zal is Batman then Brit Marling is definitely his Robin.  Brit co-wrote this one also and like all of their movies takes the main role in front of the camera while Zal directs.  I was interested to read after that a lot of the content of this film was taken from real experiences when Zal and Brit were without any money, hitching on trains with real anarchist groups.

Also thrown into the mix was Alexander Skarsgard (best known for True Blood series) and the lovely Ellen Page.  Skarsgard was probably the stand out for me, Page was decent as usual as well.  The role of Sarah has been tailored once again for Brit's acting strength which is definitely in the deep and dark.  She acts a lot with her eyes which for a movie like this is perfect but I would like to see a completely different role for her and see if she has more range.

On a personal note I enjoyed watching justice be served to these tyrants.  In this new information age we do have a lot of truth coming out about the real consequences of our decadent life style and 'progress' of the human race.  However I can't help but feel we are only scratching the surface and it will be a long time yet before people wake up and demand real change.

As you can see this is a movie that keeps you thinking long after it's over.  While slow paced I found it quite engrossing but I recommend watching when you're in the right mood.  If you're craving a bit of action or something lighthearted I would save this for another night.

8/10

IMDB Info

Jobs

I've always enjoyed films about real life success stories - they are motivating and inspiring.  Even better when people come from nothing to reach the highest levels of success - such was the case for Steve Jobs and Apple computers.

Obviously a lot has changed since but I remember back in school the I.T types like myself were divided into two groups - Microsoft and Mac.   Oh how we mocked the 'Mac' crowd yet how proudly  and stubbornly they defended their beloved Macintosh.  If I remember correctly there was also a strong connection with the Apple lovers and Star Trek compared to the Microsoft crowd and Star Wars.  We waged nerd war!

Anyway, that's enough down memory lane. Back to the movie...

Jobs was a really enjoyable film.  Reading up after watching it there is a lot of hate out there for it.  "Terrible casting!" , "Terrible Acting" , "Glorifying a man made rich by exploiting his employees and their ideas".

I don't agree.

I thought Kutcher was decent as Steve Jobs.  Definitely one of the most in depth roles in his career.  And as for the man himself I think they showed well his darker sides and did not glorify him at all.  He was portrayed as an extremely dedicated and obsessive visionary who would use whoever and whatever to achieve his goals.   As with all entrepreneurs he relied on the technical genius of colleagues to create his products but he was the man with the grand vision.  This tends to be how our world works as the technically minded lack the ability to think on the large scale.  It is a symbiotic relationship.

I really enjoyed watching how the company was built,  starting with manually building boards in his parents garage to creating a global empire.  Would have been an exciting time in those early days.  The first keyboard, the first mouse, the first PC.   An incredible journey.

Jobs may have been an obsessive and cruel prick, so much so he even left behind the original apple founders who started it all with him. However I don't think Apple would exist today if he was not.  He never gave up on his vision. Never lowered his expectations on what they could achieve and always ensured his products were driving the next level of innovation. Anyone who thinks he was not a huge factor in Apple's success is crazy.  The company nearly went to ruin when he was kicked off the board and upon his return he brought it back to an absolute super power again.

Overall, an enjoyable movie about a very interesting guy!

7/10

IMDB Info