Mad Men (2007-2015)

Genre: TV / Drama

Starring: Jon Hamm, Elisabeth Moss, Christina Hendricks, Vincent Kartheiser

Number of seasons: 7

Set in 1960’s, the story of Mad Men revolves around Don Draper, a charming ad man in a fictional Madison Avenue advertising agency first called Sterling Cooper. Draper holds a big and dark secret buried inside him as he tries to balance work, family and his taste for seducing strangers, mostly women. The world evolves around him; sometimes he is on top of his game, other times he falls behind.

The greatness of Mad Men resides in large part in how truly real it feels. Clothing, hairdos, facial hair, attitudes, cars and sets; the viewer really feels like he has been transported back to a time of deep and major changes. The seven seasons of this show cover the whole decade of the 60’s and we see the impact of deaths, assassinations, elections, a moon landing and many other events have had on humanity through the various characters. Things are in a constant evolution, no stagnation. We also have a look how the role of women is society changed over a short period of time. Some of those things would not fly today, not even close. And drinking in the workplace…forget about it.

Jon Hamm is really solid here, as Don Draper. Hamm plays a character that people will love and hate all at once. He has deep flaws, but you cannot help root for him. Other good performances are offered here by Elisabeth Moss, Christina Hendricks, Vincent Kartheiser and Johm Slattery. Whether you love or hate their characters, you care, and that is a definite sign that the acting chops are very good. I had a harder time enjoying January Jones’ Betty Draper, though I started to appreciate her more by the end of the series.

I devoured the first few seasons of Mad Men. Then, midway through, it felt lackluster to me. Business picked up later, but the show ultimately ended on a flat note for me. By the end of the last group of seven episodes, I just did not feel it anymore. Nonetheless, for the acting performances and the efforts put into transporting us back in time, I give this show a positive grade overall.

Rating: ««««

La guerre des tuques 3D

Genre: Franco / Animated

Réalisateur: François Brisson et Jean-François Pouliot

Distribution: Mariloup Wolfe, Nicholas Savard-L’Herbier, Sophie Cadieux

Running time: 90 minutes

Durant le congé scolaire des Fêtes, un groupe de jeunes enfants décident de former deux clans qui combattront l’un contre l’autre pour le contrôle d’un fort construit dans la neige. Malheureusement, lorsqu’on se fait la guerre, il est fort probable qu’on se fasse mal.

Cette version animée du classique des Contes pour tous réalisé en 1984 par André Melançon ne réinvente pas l’histoire originale. À part quelques petites omissions, nous y retrouvons pas mal le même déroulement, mais avec de l’animation maintenant au lieu de vraies personnes.

Le résultat en est fort charmant. Au début, j’ai eu un peu de mal à me faire à la qualité de l’animation et à l’aspect visuel des personnages, mais mon œil à tôt fait de s’y habituer. J’ai embarqué dans l’histoire, même si je la connaissais déjà; nous pouvons reconnaître les voix de certains comédiens connus dans les personnages, ce qui est toujours un peu drôle.

Mon seul petit bémol est dans la musique du film. De nombreux artistes bien réputés ont été mis à contribution, mais aucune pièce tirée de ce film d’animation n’est venue me chercher. Un peu dommage. Somme toute, La guerre des tuques 3D est une nouvelle version bien cute de quelque chose qui existait déjà. Cela n’apportera rien à la version originale, à part peut-être la faire découvrir aux plus jeunes. Un bon moment en famille.

Note: «««

Dave Attell: Road Work (2014)

Genre: Comedy

Directed by: Scott Gawlik

Starring: Dave Attell

Running time: 60 minutes

In this stand-up comedy TV special from 2014, we see Dave Attell at work on the road, in various comedy clubs across the Unites States. Going from Louisiana to Minnesota, the American comic shares his own brand of filthy and dirty humor, to the delight of the small crowds on hand in each spot.

Being a fan of stand-up comedy and having been in a few comedy clubs over the years, I could really feel the energy of those crowds watching Attell at work in intimate settings. The editing was really well done and the movement from one place to another was seamless. That kind of quick pace fitted nicely with the edgy content.

Dave Attell’s comedy stylings will not be everyone’s cup of tea. It is politically incorrect to the max. Personally, I love it. The content is made of dark humor and the delivery is deliberate. Attell does not waste time on long stories, he keeps the punches coming at a fast pace. In the end, he left me wanting more. That was the only issue I found with Road Work: Too short. Still definitely worth watching.

Rating: ««««

Misery (1990)

Genre: Thriller

Directed by: Rob Reiner

Starring: James Caan, Kathy Bates, Lauren Bacall

Running time: 107 minutes

Based on the Stephen King novel of the same name, this psychological thriller tells the story of novelist Paul Sheldon, who gained success writing novels featuring a character named Misery. After writing his latest novel in a remote lodge in Colorado, he gets in his car to drive back to his home in New York. While driving, he gets caught in a blizzard and has a severe car accident that leaves him badly injured. He is rescued by former nurse, Annie Wilkes, who takes him to her home. Sheldon soon realizes that Wilkes is a fan obsessed with him and his books and that she has no intention of setting him free once he heals up.

Kathy Bates was truly frightening as Annie Wilkes. She made that character so believable; it will give you nightmares thinking about the possibility of falling into the hands of such a person while in a vulnerable position. Bates comes off the screen with utmost presence and intensity, it sure is quite something to take in. James Caan holds his own also, as Paul Sheldon, a man physically broken by a car accident who then has to fight off a psychotic fan set on getting her way.

The story of Misery is quite compelling, and the big screen adaptation was well done. This film grabs you and keeps you on the edge of your seat all the way through.

The only turn off for me was the cutsy ending; it made the ordeal of the main character come off as lighter than it was supposed to be. All the way through, the suspense is strong and the tension is high. Then: Aw shucks, it sure was a tough time, but let’s smile about it. Without that last part, it would have been a perfect movie. It came out 25 years ago and is still a very effective thrilling ride.

Rating: ««««

Eraserhead (1977)

Genre: Horror

Directed by: David Lynch

Starring: Jack Nance, Charlotte Stewart, Allen Joseph

Running time: 89 minutes

Eraserhead is the story of Henry Spencer, a man who is left to take care of his extremely deformed child after the mother walks out on them, because of the incessant crying of the newborn odd creature.

This is David Lynch’s first feature-length film, and to say that it is not my cup of tea is an understatement. I can recognize the artistic merit of a film that was clearly made with a small budget stretched over a long period of time. That being said, it was a complete and utter mess of nonsense to me. I simply could not get into it. Some might dig the creativity of it, but, personally, I cannot recommend this one.

Rating: «

The Night of the Hunter (1955)

Genre: Film Noir

Directed by: Charles Laughton

Starring: Robert Mitchum, Shelley Winters, Lillian Gish

Running time: 92 minutes

Reverend Harry Powell travels through small towns preaching and killing people. After he gets arrested for a small crime, he spends time in jail with a man about to be hanged. He comes to find out that his cellmate stashed quite a bit of money around his house, where his wife and two kids are still living. The man has instructed his young son to protect his younger sister and to never tell anyone where the money is, but, upon his release, Powell sets his sight on that man’s family, hoping to get the massive loot.

Robert Mitchum is absolutely spectacular as Reverend Powell, a despicable man who uses his charms to get his way and kill people. The scenes of him singing alone in the night, so as to let the people afraid of him know he’s coming, are truly frightening. Billy Chapin was also very good for his young age as the boy trying to protect his dead father’s money from Powell.

Originally, The Night of the Hunter did not gather much success for Charles Laughton, but this film has come to influence many a director with its expressionistic style. The use of shadows, sets, camera angles and such is a wonderful thing to see for movie-lovers out there.

I really enjoyed The Night of the Hunter. The pace is slow and deliberate, making the movie scarier in the process. Things fell apart a little and got corny in the end, but, overall, this classic film offers a compelling storyline directed by a talented moviemaker and delivered on screen by a solid cast.

Rating: ««««

Rosemary's Baby (1968)

Genre: Horror

Directed by: Roman Polanski

Starring: Mia Farrow, John Cassavetes, Ruth Gordon

Running time: 136 minutes

Rosemary Woodward and her husband Guy, an aspiring actor, move into a new apartment in this older building in New York City, hoping to start a family. The couple is quickly befriended by two older neighbors, the Castavets, who will quickly take an ever-growing place in their daily life. When Rosemary becomes pregnant, after a very unclear conception that happened during a night when she was passed out, her paranoia increases as she starts suspecting their older friends of being Satanists trying to take control over her and baby.

This 1968 film, adapted from Ira Levin’s bestselling novel of the same name, has become a true classic of the psychological horror genre. Polanski wrote the screenplay and directed the movie, and he did commendable work of it. As they say about Polanski in some circles: Good movie director, bad date. In Rosemary’s Baby, Polanski weaves a tale where the mood is set and then the action takes us slowly and surely to a strong climax.

Mia Farrow offers a solid performance as Rosemary, a young naïve wife whose paranoia increases slowly, and with good reason. Some would even say she should have caught on quicker, but, movies being what they are, good things take time to develop. Ruth Gordon is also very good as Minnie Castavets, an overbearing old lady who hides such darkness under these layers of niceness.

If you have yet to see Rosemary’s Baby and you like a good horror film, give it a chance; it is a movie that will keep you on the edge of your seat. I must admit I cringed a bit at the end, with the cliché of the Asian guy in a group of Satanists taking pictures, but it was an acceptable thing to convey back in the 60’s I guess. Beyond that, this Polanski classic still deserves to hold a very respectable rank on any cinephile’s list of best movies.

Rating: «««««

The Exorcist (1973)

Genre: Horror

Directed by: William Friedkin

Starring: Ellen Burstyn, Linda Blair, Max Von Sydow

Running time: 122 minutes

Adapted from William Peter Blatty’s novel of the same name, published in 1971, The Exorcist tells the story of Chris MacNeil, an actress living on location with her pre-teen daughter Regan. When the young girl starts exhibiting strange behavior, her mother brings her to a doctor, but no clear diagnosis can be made about what is ailing Regan. After a while, fearing that her daughter might be possessed by some evil spirits, Chris will consult a young priest/psychiatrist, who will seek approval from his superiors to conduct an exorcism on the girl.

Considered by many to be the scariest movie of all-time, this horror classic is really effective at setting a tone. At first, all seems fine in the MacNeil household, with lots of mother-daughter love to go around. But, we know something is looming, just around the corner. When young Regan starts showing signs of something being terribly wrong with her, it starts slow and builds to a crescendo where all hell breaks loose.

Visually-speaking, The Exorcist was really innovative for the genre in the 1970’s. The special effects were amazing, and that is somewhat surprising, considering the era in which the movie was made. The acting was also good.

Personally, I would not go as far as saying that this is the scariest film of all-time, but that is just me. I think that this hesitation on my part to give it that particular title is because I don’t believe in evil possessions and exorcisms. Movies that scare me have to be based on what I consider to be a little more realistic than supernatural.

That being said, The Exorcist is a really effective film that has become an ageless classic. All elements contribute to making this movie very entertaining. Whether it scares you profoundly or not, it will keep you on the edge of your seat, waiting to see what happens next. Most people have seen it already, but it endures the test of time and deserves multiple viewings through the years, if you like the genre.

Rating: «««««

On The Waterfront (1954)

Genre: Drama / Author’s Favorites

Directed by: Elia Kazan

Starring: Marlon Brando, Karl Malden, Eva Marie Saint

Running time: 108 minutes

Terry Malloy is a former boxer who had lots of potential, but he took a dive against an opponent he could have beaten after mob-connected union boss Johnny Friendly asked him to do so, so he could bet against him and cash in. Years later, Terry works on the dock and does various jobs for Friendly, who has Malloy’s brother Charley for right-hand man. When one of those jobs gets a man killed, Malloy starts to have doubts that will amplify greatly once he falls for the victim’s sister.  

Marlon Brando was in top form here. Young, thin, good-looking and motivated, the man bursts out of the screen as Terry Malloy. His character’s “I could have been a contender” speech directed at brother Charley is among the best set of lines in cinema history. Such intensity and believability; it is a great thing to witness.

Eva Marie Saint, who made her big screen debut in On The Waterfront, is very good as Edie, a young woman determined to find out what happened to her brother. The rest of the cast members, from top to bottom, held their own also; not a bad note acting-wise.

This 1954 black-and-white drama has been deemed culturally, historically or aesthetically significant by the Library of Congress, and deservedly so. This needs to be seen, more than once even. I highly recommend it.

Rating: «««««

Carrie (2013)

Genre: Horror

Directed by: Kimberly Peirce

Starring: Chloë Grace Moretz, Julianne Moore, Judy Greer

Running time: 99 minutes

This film is a remake of the 1976 original, still based on the Stephen King book of the same name. It is still the story of Carrie, a 17-year old girl with telekinetic powers who has to contend with an abusive overly religious mom at home and other kids who bully her at school. Feeling bad for Carrie, another girl asks her boyfriend to take the lonely girl to the senior prom instead of her. He does so, but some other students are waiting to sabotage what could have been such a beautiful moment for Carrie.

Coming in, I was expecting to be disappointed by this remake of Carrie. The original, while not perfect by any means, has this special aura about it. The compelling story and the great acting have made it a classic. Well, I was pleasantly surprised by the 2013 version.

Chloë Grace Moretz really shines as Carrie. The girl most known for her badass role in the Kick-Ass franchise shows some great vulnerability here as the main character. I would say kudos also to Julianne Moore, who did some great work taking over the role originally played by Piper Laurie.

As for the movie itself, some things needed to be changed. The main character was actually played by a teenager this time, so the exploitation aspect of the locker room scene at the beginning of the movie is no more. The filmmakers also did some solid work bringing this material up to this era. The use of Smart Phones and the Internet in bullying is a plague of these times and it was well used here.

While I expected this to be a pale copy, I found the remake of Carrie to be a very effective retelling. Some details were fleshed out a bit, and it made the whole thing so enjoyable to me as a cinephile. The acting was great, the special effects were improved and the original story was fine tuned. Overall, there is nothing to complain about on my part.

Rating: «««««

Carrie (1976)

Genre: Horror

Directed by: Brian De Palma

Starring: Sissy Spacek, Piper Laurie, Nancy Allen

Running time: 98 minutes

This film adaptation of the Stephen King book of the same name tells the story of Carrie, a 17-year old girl with telekinetic powers who has to contend with an abusive overly religious mom at home and other kids who bully her at school. Feeling bad for Carrie, another girl asks her boyfriend to take the lonely girl to the senior prom instead of her. He does so, but some other students are waiting to sabotage what could have been such a beautiful moment for Carrie.

Both Sissy Spacek and Piper Laurie were recognized for their roles in this movie and deservedly so. Both are absolutely brilliant as Carrie and Margaret White (daughter-mother). For Laurie, it was a return to the big screen after a long absence, and she sure did embrace the role. As for Spacek, she was in her mid to late twenties when this movie was made, but she truly looked like a teenage girl. Considering the locker room scene in the opening had so much nudity, it was a good thing it was really adults playing teenage girls. It was the 70’s, so it felt like American politics in the last few decades: Lots of Bush!

The movie itself feels a bit dated when you look at it with the eyes of today. Nonetheless, with a slow build and some solid acting, it creates some great tension and ends on a strong note. This film is truly a classic of the genre and it should be seen at least once in a lifetime.

Rating: ««««

Prison Break (2005-2017)

Genre: TV / Drama

Starring: Dominic Purcell, Wentworth Miller, Sarah Wayne Callies

Number of seasons: 5

Lincoln Burrows is sent to prison and sentenced to death for the killing of the brother of the Vice-President of the United States; a crime he never committed. His brother, Michael Scofield, a brilliant structural engineer, gets himself thrown into the same prison, the Fox River State Penitentiary, with the purpose of breaking him out of there before he gets executed. Whether it is inside the prison or outside of its walls, a major fight for freedom and truth is going on. Loyalties are being tested constantly.

The two main actors, Wentworth Miller and Dominic Purcell, have such great on-screen chemistry as brothers who have only had each other to depend on since childhood. Now, they will have each other’s back at all costs. Both brothers are polar opposites, but you can easily feel, through the acting and the storytelling, that link that will forever unite them. I particularly dug the Scofield character, a man who does not have the brawns so he uses his brains. He is always multiple moves ahead in his head, which makes him a threat to many people.

The supporting cast is also very solid. There are too many actors and actresses to name them all, but there are so many good performances here. Character development is a very important aspect in Prison Break; so many layers, with people switching sides in the war depending on their stake in the matter. In some cases, we go from hate to love and back and forth in regards to characters, but, come what may, we always care what happens to these fictional people.

As good as the character development is in Prison Break, some plot twists left me scratching my head a little bit. The story took a few turns for the weird, especially in the last season. But, by the end of it all, it was brought to a good conclusion, filled with emotion and intensity. 

 Rating: ««««

Spectre (2015)

Genre: Action

Directed by: Sam Mendes

Starring: Daniel Craig, Christopher Waltz, Léa Seydoux

Running time: 148 minutes

In this new installment of the James Bond franchise, Agent 007 goes on an unofficial mission requested by his former boss, the now deceased M. What starts out as the killing of one man becomes an encounter with a massive criminal organization called Spectre. This new adventure will once again take the infamous spy all around the globe.

From the start of his involvement in the series, I have never been a big supporter of Craig as Bond. I have always found him to be too dry, especially in comparison to Roger Moore and Sean Connery, the measuring sticks in my book when it comes to Bond. I will give credit where it is due, the English blond actor has gotten more comfortable in the role and he gives us his best performance to date as 007. While it is not as good as the best of the best were, he showed more passion and humor this time around, and it was greatly appreciated.

Spectre remains a James Bond film; the wheel does not get reinvented here. I never expected that anyways. Explosions, car chases, fights and the likes; all the same ingredients mixed up in the cinematic bowl. The result may not be totally fresh, but it was entertaining.

Christopher Waltz, that many of us discovered thanks to his work with Tarantino, is really good here. I would even dare to say that we see too little of him. He has that face and that voice that really makes you passionately hate a character. But, as far as underutilized actors, the worst crime of Spectre is the use of the beautiful Monica Bellucci. We only get to see her for less than 5 minutes. She barely has time to talk and have a sexual encounter with the hero before disappearing. I must admit though that French actress Léa Seydoux does a really good job as Dr. Madeleine Swann.

Former pro wrestler Dave Bautista was a great choice as the silent muscle of the criminal organization. He looked like a legitimate threat, though it is clear that the hero will always prevail in the end.

Overall, Spectre offers good entertainment. Fast-paced action and some good acting work for this particular genre.

Rating: «««

The Interview (2014)

Genre: Comedy

Directed by: Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg

Starring: Seth Rogen, James Franco, Lizzy Caplan

Running time: 112 minutes

The host and the producer of Skylark Tonight, a talk show mostly known for discussing personal matters in celebrities’ lives and gossip, score a major coup when they manage to book an interview with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, after finding out that he is a fan of their show. The next day, a CIA agent recruits the two men to assassinate the dictator during their trip overseas.

This political satire caused uproar because of its subject matter and the portrayal of Kim Jong-un. The announcement of its release was met with threats of terrorist attacks, which lead Sony to concentrate mostly on online release for rental or purchase. A limited release in select cinemas followed.

The controversy surrounding this movie created a huge buzz that overshadowed anything it could have delivered. In the end, the film offers an interesting look at the media and at Kim Jong-un. The Interview is done in great part to get laughs, and it does a very uneven job of it, at least for me. Franco and Rogen were good, and so was the supporting cast, but many jokes fell kind of flat. Maybe I was expecting too much, but I was hoping for something funnier. That being said, this movie had its moments and it deserves a passing grade in my book.

Rating: «««

The Proposal (2009)

Genre: Romantic Comedy

Directed by: Anne Fletcher

Starring: Sandra Bullock, Ryan Reynolds, Betty White, Mary Steenburgen

Running time: 108 minutes

An overbearing and mean executive editor in chief in a book publishing company finds out that she is about to be deported back to Canada because of a work visa problem. Not wanting to go back to her home country and end up unemployed, she convinces her assistant, who is afraid to lose his job too if she leaves, to marry her in a scam to avoid deportation. To sell this subterfuge, they will have to travel together to Alaska, for the groom-to-be’s family reunion.

This is your typical film where two people who cannot stand each other at first are forced to coexist. Inevitably, mutual feelings ensue and complications arise.

In spite of the run-of-the-mill storyline, this is a charming little romantic comedy, mostly thanks to the chemistry between Reynolds and Bullock and to the presence of Betty White and Mary Steenburgen. These last two experienced actresses bring a good dose of comedy as the grandma and mother of Ryan Reynolds’ character. Bullock is also very convincing as an uptight and domineering bitchy boss who needs to let go of the reigns a bit. The aspect of the father-son relationship between the characters of Ryan Reynolds and Craig T. Nelson was also compelling.

Overall, The Proposal proposes a very predictable flick, with very little in terms of surprises. That being said, the performance of the cast saves it from being forgettable and actually delivers a very charming piece of cinematic entertainment. Not extraordinary, but not bad either.

Rating: «««

Bridge of Spies (2015)

Genre: Historical / Drama

Directed by: Steven Spielberg

Starring: Tom Hanks, Mark Rylance, Amy Ryan

Running time: 141 minutes

This film is based on the 1960 U-2 incident. In the midst of the Cold War, lawyer James B. Donovan (Hanks) is asked to handle the defense of Rudolph Abel, a suspected Russian spy arrested in the US. The authorities want to give the impression that the accused is going to get a fair trial in the States, but they are clearly intent on railroading him. Despite the pressures and hatred he gets in his home country for doing it, Donovan takes his job seriously and manages to at the very least save Abel from the death penalty. When Francis Gary Powers, an American pilot on a spying mission, gets shot down and arrested in the Soviet Union, the American lawyer is then sent to negotiate his release in exchange for the imprisoned Russian spy.

What could have been a very dark and dry movie was made so much more pleasant by the use of small doses of humor throughout the film. The dialogue was full of those little humorous moments that would make you smile and laugh. Rudolph Abel countering the questions of why he’s not more nervous in light of the charges against him with the words “Would it help?” made me chuckle each time.

Tom Hanks’ dedication to movie roles needs to be commended. Once again, in Bridge of Spies, he delves right into his character and makes you care for that man who will do his job to the best of his ability no matter the pressures around him. All the other actors and actresses also carry their respective roles with great talent. No false note here.

Bridge of Spies gets a little sentimental towards the end. Once the music starts in that final scene, you can clearly envision a piano filled with heartstrings, in a ploy to make you cry. Nonetheless, this is a solid film about a major part of history that has not been overexploited in cinema. The story is compelling and told in a very efficient manner, keeping the viewers on the edge of their seats and leaving them satisfied in the end.

Rating: ««««

Patch Adams (1998)

Genre: Comedy / Drama / Biographical

Directed by: Tom Shadyac

Starring: Robin Williams, Monica Potter, Philip Seymour Hoffman

Running time: 115 minutes

This 1998 film is based on the life story and the beliefs of Hunter “Patch” Adams. Feeling suicidal, Adams commits himself to a mental hospital. Gaining back his will to live with a raising desire to help other people, Adams decides to go back to school to become a doctor. Patch’s approach to medicine goes against the grain of the establishment, but the aspiring doctor persists, because he believes that, by showing more compassion towards patients and making them laugh, we can better help them. Patch Adams goes on to build his own clinic, with the purpose of offering healthcare services that better reflect his personal views on the matter.

Patch Adams, the movie, was widely criticized in the various reviews. It is indeed sweet, almost to a fault. The purpose here is to jerk the tears out of you, and it is being done with force. Nonetheless, for some reason, while other similar movies would have gotten on my nerves, I found this one charming. Maybe it is Robin Williams, of whom I have always been a fan, who salvaged it for me. Though the late comedian playing a man who pulled himself out of his own depression by making others laugh is a tad creepy in retrospect. It was also always a treat to see Philip Seymour Hoffman on screen, even in a smaller role.

Even the real Hunter Adams spoke against this film, saying it simplified his life’s work and made him to be nothing more than a funny doctor. I can certainly understand why a man so passionate about what he has done would feel that way.

Patch Adams is a guilty pleasure of mine. It severely lacks subtlety in its delivery and the sweetness level is heavy, but I like it still. Might not be everyone’s cup of tea, but it is a very cute feel-good movie. As somewhat of a clown, I could see a bit of myself in that desire to help others through laughter.

Rating: ««««

Back to the Future Part III (1990)

Genre: Comedy / Science-Fiction / Western

Directed by: Robert Zemeckis

Starring: Michael J. Fox, Christopher Lloyd, Mary Steenburgen

Running time: 119 minutes

Like the previous sequel, Back to the Future Part III starts where the other ended. Stranded in 1955, Marty receives a letter from Doc, who is stuck in 1885 with a broken time machine. Unable to fix it due to the primitive technology in the time period he’s in, he hides it for Marty to find in 1955, along with instructions on how to fix it. The scientist tells his younger friend to do the needed repairs and then go back to his regular life in 1985 without coming for him. As he is about to do what he’s told, Marty finds out that Doc Brown was shot and killed a few days after writing the letter, so he decided to go back to 1885, in the Old West, to save his pal from doom.

In this third part of the trilogy, the franchise started to lose some of its magic and luster in my opinion.

Fox and Lloyd still do a very good job working opposite each other. Mary Steenburgen was also the right choice to play Doc Brown’s love interest. You can actually believe that these two off-beat characters could fall for each other.

I simply find that they tried to stretch things out a little too much with a third movie, diluting the sauce in the process. The western motif was cute, though the sets really looked fake, but the plot dragged on. By the end of it, it offered a nice closure to the series, but it came off as a little too bland for my taste. It certainly pales in comparison to the first two.

Rating: «««

Back to the Future Part II (1989)

Genre: Comedy / Science-Fiction

Directed by: Robert Zemeckis

Starring: Michael J. Fox, Christopher Lloyd, Lea Thompson

Running time: 108 minutes

The second movie starts where the first one ends. After repairing the damage he did to his personal history with the help of Doc. Brown and his DeLorean time machine, Marty McFly plans to resume his teenage life with his family and his girlfriend Jennifer. But, Doc comes back to get him, saying they have to go to the future to prevent Marty and Jennifer’s future son from ending up in jail and thus bringing doom upon the family. They travel to October 2015 (yes, I know). Unfortunately, in the process, they do some more life-changing damage to their history, which they will have to repair by going back to 1955 again.

While not as solid as the original, Back to the Future Part II is still a very entertaining flick. Now that we are actually in October 2015, it is quite interesting to see the vision the filmmakers had for these times over 25 years ago. Flying cars and hoverboards, everything automated and technology-galore; while much of it was outlandish, it is still fun to see it and notice that technology has indeed taken over our lives, even though not quite to that extent.

It was also a nice touch to go back to the events of the first film, in a time-travel back to 1955, and see it with a different point of view.

The chemistry between Fox and Lloyd is still solid in this sequel. They work well off each other. Some of the cast, namely Crispin Glover and Claudia Wells, needed to be replaced, but many of the originals were back at it too.

As for the plot, it got convoluted at times because they tried to squeeze a little too much in a film lasting only 108 minutes. Nonetheless, the charm of the characters and the basic storyline still operated. Years later, I am still entertained by it, and that’s really all you can ask from this type of movie. It is not meant to be an accurate account of the future we are in now. In that sense, Zemeckis and co. did a great creative job. They may have gone a tad overboard in terms of plot, but they still managed to deliver a very good movie.

Rating: ««««

Back to the Future (1985)

Genre: Comedy / Science-Fiction

Directed by: Robert Zemeckis

Starring: Michael J. Fox, Christopher Lloyd, Lea Thompson

Running time: 116 minutes

Marty McFly is a teenage aspiring musician who hangs out with an oddball scientist, Doc. Emmett Brown. One night, Doc. Brown summons him to the town’s shopping mall where he unveils a time machine he built from a modified DeLorean car. It is powered with plutonium the scientist stole from Libyan rebels. When these rebels arrive to seek out revenge and shoot his friend, Marty gets in the car to escape but he activates the time machine and is sent back to 1955. That’s when he will come in contact with his future parents, as high school students, and cause a breach in history. Before he finds a way to come back to 1985, with a time machine out of fuel, he will need to repair the damage done to his own history and make sure his parents do fall in love and end up with each other.

Back to the Future is a guilty pleasure of mine, as I’m sure it is the case for a lot of people from my generation and beyond. Yes, there is a certain dose of cheesiness to the whole deal, but it is still such a good movie. Even years later, I find so much to enjoy in this flick.

Michael J. Fox and Christopher Lloyd have such a great chemistry on screen as the two main characters. Fox was nearing his mid-twenties at that point, but he looked much younger. He was the perfect choice to play Marty McFly, bringing a boyish rebel charm to the role, with a nice touch of vulnerability. I’m sure he made skateboards more popular than ever after this came out.

Marty was a kid who did not necessarily fit in with the rest of high school students, other than his girlfriend, so it would be easy to believe that he would strike a friendship with Doc. Brown. Christopher Lloyd was such a great choice to play the scientist. He had already proven his ability for oddball comedy on Taxi, and, in Back to the Future, he brought to life the character he would be the most known for even 30 years later.

There is a little bit of everything in Back to the Future. It is a great mix of science-fiction, comedy and romantic comedy. The filmmakers did a great job illustrating the various time periods on screen. Whether it was 1955 or 1985, the transition was seamless and natural, and it all felt like a real voyage in time.

This is a film I have in my collection, and it will always be a pleasure to go back in time in the future to watch it again.

Rating: «««««

Bad Boys (1983)

Genre: Drama

Directed by: Rick Rosenthal

Starring: Sean Penn, Esai Morales, Clancy Brown, Ally Sheedy

Running time: 123 minutes

Mike O’Brien is 16-year old delinquent mostly known for petty crimes. One night, he decides to mess with a rival of his, Paco. It all goes awry, and, while fleeing from the cops, he accidently runs over and kills Paco’s little brother. He is sent to a juvenile detention center. While he is in there, Paco rapes Mike’s girlfriend as a way to seek revenge and then gets locked up in the same place.

Sean Penn was in his early twenties when this film was made, but he truly looks like a teenager. While he had not hit his peak yet, there was a lot of promise in that early performance of his and it would sure come to fruition later.

Bad Boys is a gritty crime drama movie where most of the action takes place in the rough section of a juvenile detention center. It is dirty and violent, not for the faint of heart.

Penn’s performance makes what could have easily become a generic exploitation film a good movie. Some of the other actors were not as good as the versatile and volatile Sean Penn, but, for the most part, they did their job well. The story of this movie is compelling enough to keep us hooked for the two hours it lasts. The lesson taught about rehabilitation and doing the right thing was nicely put in the end, not too thick as to be made totally obvious.

All things considered, this lesser-known movie is well worth a watch.

Rating: ««««

The Great Gatsby (2013)

Genre: Drama

Directed by: Baz Luhrmann

Starring: Leonardo DiCaprio, Tobey Maguire, Carey Mulligan

Running time: 142 minutes

This 2013 film is an adaptation of the famous novel of the same name written by F. Scott Fitzgerald in 1925. Nick Carraway is a WW1 vet being treated for alcoholism in a psychiatric hospital. He discusses with his doctor his interactions with Jay Gatsby, the only man he truly admires. Since Carraway finds it difficult to voice his thoughts properly, the doctor asks him to write them down, since writing is his passion.

In this film adaptation of Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby, it is quite easy to recognize Baz Luhrmann’s signature. The use of music, colours, textures, decors and visual theatrics; it is all very typical of the famous Australian movie director. The thing is, though, it is not my thing. I quickly became bored by this movie. I found the actors irritating in the portrayal of their characters and the way the source material was brought to the screen did not appeal to me. It was a constant battle not to turn it off.

I will give the movie some marks for its visual qualities, but, as for the rest of it, it might be some people’s cup of tea, but it is not mine.

Rating: ««

The Secret Life of Walter Mitty (2013)

Genre: Romantic Comedy / Drama

Directed by: Ben Stiller

Starring: Ben Stiller, Kristen Wiig, Shirley MacLaine

Running time: 114 minutes

This second film adaptation of James Thurber’s short story of the same name (the first dating back to 1947) tells the story of Walter Mitty, a negative assets manager at Life magazine who goes through life daydreaming adventures for himself instead of actually living them out. He is in love with a coworker, but he is too scared to act upon it. When it is announced that Life magazine will close down, a final cover picture is chosen. Unfortunately, Walter cannot find the negative for it. He might just have to snap out of his constant reverie to find the needed photo.

This remake was in talks for a very long time before it was actually made. Maybe the people involved were daydreaming. At one point, it was rumored that Jim Carrey would play the lead. In the end, Ben Stiller directed it and played the title role. Personally, I feel that was a good choice for Walter Mitty, as the American actor brought a good mixture of humor and sensibility to the character. Others may have done well too, but Stiller did an awesome job. He was funny, without ever going over the top with it. He could also show vulnerability, without too much cheesiness.

Visually-speaking, The Secret Life of Walter Mitty is a sight to behold. The daydreaming scenes are very well done. The film goes in overdrive at times in the motivation department, but it manages to deliver a very compelling story wrapped in a nice message. Dreams are indeed good, but actions are necessary to get anywhere.

Rating: ««««

Boyhood (2014)

Genre: Drama

Directed by: Richard Linklater

Starring: Patricia Arquette, Ellar Coltrane, Lorelei Linklater, Ethan Hawke

Running time: 165 minutes

Boyhood tells the story of Mason Evans Jr., who grows up with his older sister Samantha and his divorced mother Olivia. When the movie starts, the boy is six, and we get to see the world through his eyes, as his mom tries to rebuild her life after her divorce, moving from one place to the other and one bad relationship to another trying to find a better deal for herself and her family.

The production of this 2014 coming-of-age drama started back in 2002. Scenes were shot every year in between, so we can see the characters age before our eyes without there being a need for excessive transformation through makeup. That kind of approach, though not very practical for filmmakers in general, really does give the whole story a big dose of reality. We see these kids grow up, and the fact that it is the same people playing the roles at different times in their lives helps the viewer relate so much more to the characters.

Richard Linklater, who wrote and directed this movie, needs to be commended for his work. Boyhood truly was a major undertaking, and, as the process of filming went along, he adapted the script to what his actors and actresses were going through in their own lives.

Patricia Arquette, Ellar Coltrane, Lorelei Linklater and Ethan Hawke all offered solid performances in their respective roles. The filmmaker truly hit the jackpots with four actors and actresses that would age well and keep delivering on screen. When you are dealing with kids, it is not always easy. As a matter of facts, it can be tricky with artists in general.

I found that Boyhood ran a tad long and lost a bit of focus at certain points, but it was all brought to a solid closure in the end. This movie needs to be seen at least once in a lifetime, if not more.

Rating: ««««

The Who: Live in Hyde Park (2015)

Genre: Musical / Documentary

Directed by: Chris Rule

Starring: Roger Daltrey, Pete Townshend, Iggy Pop, Robert Plant

Running time: 120 minutes

To celebrate The Who’s 50 years of existence in the rock n’ roll world, the two surviving members, singer Roger Daltrey and guitarist Pete Townshend played a concert at Hyde Park, in London, England, accompanied by the musicians who join them on tour these days.

This celebratory event was recorded for posterity. Before the concert begins, we hear comments from such legends as Iggy Pop and Robert Plant, who both talk about the impact that The Who had on them and on music in general. Some younger musicians also give their thoughts, showing that the band has endured the test of time quite well and is still recognized as relevant today.

The two living original members of The Who also share their thoughts about their legacy, but the bigger emphasis here is put on the music. We see Daltrey and Townshend at work on stage, and, in spite of the fact that they are both over 70 years old, they can still go. Sure, the voices are used-up and tired a bit, but rock n’ roll was never made to be pure. The songs are still good today and all the biggest hits can be heard here. I was a tad disappointed to not hear Squeeze Box, though I was not really expecting to do so.

The Who: Live at Hyde Park is a very good rock n’ roll show that fans on the British band will truly appreciate.   

Rating: «««««

The Wolf of Wall Street (2013)

Genre: Biographical / Comedy

Directed by: Martin Scorsese

Starring: Leonardo DiCaprio, Jonah Hill, Margot Robbie

Running time: 180 minutes

The Wolf of Wall Street is an adaptation of the memoirs of Jordan Belfort, a New York City stockbroker who became a millionaire thanks to corruption and fraud within his own company. The film covers Belfort’s rise and his ultimate downfall that saw him end up in Federal prison.

I have never been the biggest Leonardo DiCaprio fan. I have always been annoyed by the mugging he does for the camera, always putting on that extreme tough guy face that never seems to look legit.

In this film, though, there is none of that. Maybe the guidance of a great director like Martin Scorsese has helped him become a better actor, with all the movies they have done together over the years. I have really loved Leo’s work in The Wolf of Wall Street. His performance brings the needed dose of irreverence to the role of Jordan Belfort. DiCaprio serves as actor and narrator, always being on the beat in both aspects.

I must admit I was extremely surprised by Jonah Hill. I did not know he had that kind of performance in him, but he has truly shown his depth as an actor.

The story of The Wolf of Wall Street is riveting and compelling, and the actors and director did some awesome work bringing it to the screen. I really appreciated the fact that the filmmakers did not work overtime trying to make the protagonist into a poor soul victim of his entourage. This is a film that does not take itself seriously; its irreverence absolutely refreshing. Some have criticized the fact that it does not paint a picture true enough to the real one, but hey, this is not a documentary. It is an entertaining movie, well written, directed and acted out. It drags a bit in some places, but, overall, a fun time of movie-watching.

Rating: ««««

Nightcrawler (2014)

Genre: Thriller

Directed by: Dan Gilroy

Starring: Jake Gyllenhal, Rene Russo, Riz Ahmed

Running time: 117 minutes

Louis Bloom is a thief and hustler, stealing things to sell them. In spite of his lack of ethics, he is determined to find something better for himself. When he sees two freelance cameramen filming a car crash to then sell the footage to news channels, he gets inspired and decides to get into the business of filming various accidents and crimes for money.

Jake Gyllenhal offers a mesmerizing performance in Nightcrawler. The way he walks, talks, looks and acts, he makes Louis Bloom come to life as an absolute sociopath, very smart but void of any notion of ethics and decency. It was also nice to see Rene Russo at work, which doesn’t happen enough these days. She is also very convincing as a news director willing to toss many principles aside for the sake of ratings.

Nightcrawler is a very effective neo-noir thriller. The story drags a bit at times, but the acting is as solid as it gets. This film also offers a very realistic look at some news channels out there.

Rating: ««««

Birdman Or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance) (2014)

Genre: Drama

Directed by: Alejandro G. Iñárritu

Starring: Michael Keaton, Edward Norton, Emma Stone

Running time: 119 minutes

Riggan Thomson is an aging Hollywood actor who had gained stardom playing the role of superhero Birdman in a franchise of films. Decades later, way past his prime, he is haunted by the inner voice of his old character as he tries to revive his career by mounting a play on Broadway.

As one would imagine by reading the title or the premise of this movie, this is a weird one. In fact, it is so weird that it could easily have been off-putting if it were not for the wonderful acting by everybody involved.

Michael Keaton, who we have not seen enough in the last few years, is absolutely brilliant here as the fading star trying to capture success again all the while battling his inner demons. Edward Norton is also very solid in the role of a method actor known for his volatility on and off the stage. Norton is so good you often want to punch his character in the nose. As for Emma Stone, what can I say? I have always been very fond of her for some reason.

The ending of this film left me quite perplexed, like it probably did for so many others. I will definitely be seeing this one again, mostly for the quality acting work done by the whole cast.

Rating: ««««

Keith Richards: Under the Influence (2015)

Genre: Documentary / Musical

Directed by: Morgan Neville

Starring: Keith Richards, Steve Jordan, Tom Waits

Running time: 80 minutes

There is Keith Richards the mythical character, the stuff of legends and of many rock n’ roll stories. There is Keith Richards the man. While there are many similarities between the two, there are also quite a few differences. Yes, his head if constantly surrounded by a cloud of cigarette smoke and he often has a glass of liquor in his hand. But, you will not find him shooting up smack anymore, or, as he puts it, smoking a joint and drinking a bottle while cursing the fact that the liquor store is closed.

In Under the Influence, we see Keef at work, in the studio, recording his first solo album in over a decade. He discusses his life, his family and his love for music. He shares the songs and artists that influenced him since he was a kid and we get to listen to bits and pieces of many of these awesome tracks.

This Morgan Neville documentary gives us a front row seat into the creative process and into the mind of a man that, despite looking old and ragged, is still going strong musically at age 71. Keith Richards is a wonder of nature, and this film gives us a deeper look at the man, the myth, the legend.

Rating: «««««

Lovelace (2013)

Genre: Biographical / Drama

Directed by: Rob Epstein and Jeffrey Friedman

Starring: Amanda Seyfried, Peter Sarsgaard, Sharon Stone

Running time: 93 minutes

Lovelace is the story of Linda Boreman, who was pushed into the porn industry by her abusive husband, Chuck Traynor, and became known as Linda Lovelace and the infamous movie called Deep Throat. After being abused mentally and physically and robbed of her earnings for the film she made, she decided to get away, build a new life for herself and start a family with another man. She wrote a book and became a crusader against the porn business.

When I first saw the name of Amanda Seyfried for the title role, I was a bit apprehensive. In my mind, it did not feel like she was cut out for such a heavy role. Boy, was I wrong. She is solid as the title character. Peter Sarsgaard is also very good as the a-hole husband. You forget these are actors at work and you start believing it.

I would like to give a special mention to Sharon Stone, who is unrecognizable as Linda Boreman’s mother. There is one scene where she has that disgusted look on her face as she slaps her daughter in the face; it sent chills down my spine.

The main issue with Lovelace is the storytelling. As the movie goes along, the filmmakers start rushing things, and, by the end of it, it feels like some important stuff was left out. They could have stretched out Linda Boreman’s escape from the clutches of Traynor a little more, in my opinion. I must say I appreciate the way they showed parts of the beginning of their relationship twice, once the way she saw it as an innocent young woman and then the way she saw it after losing her innocence.

Lovelace is still worth seeing for the acting performances, but the storytelling could have been so much better.

Rating: «««

Whiplash (2014)

Genre: Drama

Directed by: Damien Chazelle

Starring: Miles Teller, J.K. Simmons, Paul Reiser

Running time: 106 minutes

Andrew Neiman is a first-year jazz student at the Shaffer Conservatory, in New York, who aspires to follow in the footsteps of the great drummers, like Buddy Rich. One night, famed conductor Terrence Fletcher hears Andrew practicing and he soon invites him to join the studio band as a substitute drummer. Fletcher’s methods are unorthodox, with use of fear, bullying and tyranny, and a love-hate relationship quickly develops between master and pupil.

J.K. Simmons is absolutely brilliant as the tyrant conductor. He brings such believability to Terrence Fletcher, he makes the character truly frightening. The conductor believes that his actions are the best way to get the best out of his musicians, which makes it all so much more intense. The guy is not acting out this way to be evil, he truly believes in his method.

Miles Teller is also very solid as Andrew Neiman, a young man determined to be one of the greats and willing to put it all on the line to please his teacher, until the breaking point comes.

The story of Whiplash is riveting. Its intensity resides not in the action but in the characters and in the interactions between them. Great story delivered by great actors and put together on-screen by a very talented young director, Damien Chazelle.  

Rating: «««««