REVIEW: The Danish Girl (2015)

Release Poster – Focus Features

The following is a review of The Danish Girl, a Tom Hooper film.

When I first heard about this film going into production I was fairly intrigued. The fact of the matter is that while I don’t know much about the story or the people it is depicting, I am a Dane, and I walk the streets of Copenhagen every week. I was excited to have this biopic feel authentic, but some things did leave me somewhat puzzled and annoyed after the end credits. Continue reading “REVIEW: The Danish Girl (2015)”

REVIEW: Blue Mountain State – The Rise of Thadland (2016)

Release Poster – Lionsgate

The following is a review of Blue Mountain State: The Rise of Thadland, available on iTunes now.

Give me a HELL! Give me a YEAH! – Spike’s cult comedy television show Blue Mountain State is back after having been brought back to life via crowd-funding. The BMS students are back to throw the biggest party in BMS history, in order to save the infamous Goat House. While the film, ultimately, is only mediocre, there is, however, a lot to love for loyal fans of the show.  Continue reading “REVIEW: Blue Mountain State – The Rise of Thadland (2016)”

REVIEW: Steve Jobs (2015)

Theatrical Release Poster – Universal Pictures

The following is a review of Steve Jobs, a Danny Boyle and Aaron Sorkin film.

A couple of years ago, I sat down in a movie theater to watch Joshua Michael Stern’s Jobs, starring Ashton Kutcher. At best, Jobs was an okay film, with a good performance from Ashton Kutcher. Jobs, however, wasn’t memorable at all, and I doubt that I’ll ever see that film again. Tonight I saw Steve Jobs, Aaron Sorkin and Danny Boyle’s take on the late Apple co-founder. I am happy to say that it is much better than Stern’s version. Continue reading “REVIEW: Steve Jobs (2015)”

REVIEW: The Revenant (2015)

Theatrical Release Poster – 20th Century Fox

The following is a review of The Revenant (2015).

The Revenant was my original pick for my most anticipated film of the 2015 Oscar-season. I was looking forward to the stylistic approach, DiCaprio’s performance, and to see Iñarritu and Lubezki work together again. Now that I have seen the film, I regret to inform you that while the stylistic approach is admirable, this is not a film that I will be recommending. Continue reading “REVIEW: The Revenant (2015)”

CLASSIC REVIEW: Lawrence of Arabia (1962)

Theatrical Release Poster – Columbia & Horizon Pictures

The following is a classic review of Lawrence of Arabia (1962), a David Lean film.

There are some classic films that you just have to have seen at some point if you consider yourself a cinephile. Gone with the WindCitizen Kane, The Godfather, Jaws, Taxi Driver, Star Wars, and so on, and so forth. Lawrence of Arabia is another one of these special films that you just have to sit down and watch. It is a film you need an opinion on. Lawrence of Arabia is very long, and I doubt that you can find a lot of young people today that are willing to sit down for close to four hours to watch a film from 1962. But outside of the film perhaps being a bit too long, I am of the opinion that Lawrence of Arabia definitely is a masterpiece. Continue reading “CLASSIC REVIEW: Lawrence of Arabia (1962)”

CLASSIC REVIEW: Quiz Show (1994)

Theatrical Release Poster – Hollywood Pictures.

The following is a classic review of Quiz Show (1994), a Robert Redford film.

Delbert Mann’s Marty – the Academy Awards Best Picture winner for 1955 – the answer that Herb Stempel wasn’t allowed to give on the quiz show ‘Twenty One’. That is what sets this adaptation of Richard Goodwin’s Remembering America: A Voice From the Sixties in motion. It took me a long time to finally sit down and watch Robert Redford’s Quiz Show, don’t make that same mistake. Quiz Show is a must-watch film, one of the best of the 90s, and arguably Redford’s best film as a director.   Continue reading “CLASSIC REVIEW: Quiz Show (1994)”

REVIEW: Star Wars: Episode VII – The Force Awakens

Theatrical Poster – The Force Awakens

The following is a spoiler-free review of Star Wars: Episode VII – The Force Awakens, directed by J. J. Abrams.

Set three decades after Return of the Jedi, Star Wars: The Force Awakens follows the scavenging Rey (played by Daisy Ridley); the best pilot in the Resistance, Poe Dameron (played by Oscar Isaac); and a troubled stormtrooper, Finn (played by John Boyega), as they are suddenly thrown into a galaxy-wide search for someone or something… That is all I’ll say about the general plot of the film, which does feature the original three characters that we know and love. Star Wars is back! Continue reading “REVIEW: Star Wars: Episode VII – The Force Awakens”

REVIEW: The Ridiculous Six (2015)

Netflix Release Poster

The following is a review of the Netflix Original Film “The Ridiculous Six”, a Frank Coraci & Adam Sandler film.

Netflix has been great at releasing binge- and stream-worthy content for years. House of Cards, Virunga, and Beasts of No Nation are examples of Netflix bringing excellent original content to screens around the world. Netflix has slipped up before, not every season, documentary or stand-up special works, but I believe that The Ridiculous Six might be the worst thing they’ve ever released as original content. Continue reading “REVIEW: The Ridiculous Six (2015)”

REVIEW: Creed (2015)

Release Poster – Warner Bros.

The following is a review of ‘Creed’, a Ryan Coogler film.

The boxing saga that is the story of Rocky Balboa is immensely popular, with it having been relevant and present since 1976. Interestingly, we’ve seen a Rocky-film in every decade since John G. Avildsen and Sylvester Stallone first gave the Italian Stallion an opportunity against Apollo Creed in the 1977 Academy Awards Best Picture winner. Creed is a soft reboot of the franchise set 39 years after the events of Rocky, and I was surprised to feel that it might be the best film in the Rocky Balboa-saga. Continue reading “REVIEW: Creed (2015)”

CLASSIC REVIEW: Star Wars: Episode VI – Return of the Jedi (1983)

Theatrical Release Poster – Art by Kazuhiko Sano

The following is a classic review of Star Wars: Episode VI – Return of the Jedi, a Richard Marquand film. Expect spoilers.

1983 – Return of the Jedi – the end of the original trilogy. While Empire Strikes Back is definitely the best film, Return of the Jedi was my favorite film when I was younger. And there is a simple reason why this film, though not the best of the three, is remembered so fondly by so many people. Return of the Jedi is the most satisfying Star Wars film. Continue reading “CLASSIC REVIEW: Star Wars: Episode VI – Return of the Jedi (1983)”