'The Great Gatsby' (2013)

Based on the classic novel by F. Scott Fitzgerald, told from the point of view by Nick Carraway (Tobey Maguire) while hospitalized in a mental facility Nick reflects on his experiences, past secrets and times of the 1920s Long-Island setting. Moving away from the Midwest author Carraway quickly becomes engulfed in the lifestyle which New York has to offer buying a small place next to a luxurious mansion, becoming a stock broker, and enjoying his gluttonous time with his cousin Daisy (Carey Mulligan), her brutish husband Tom Buchannan (Joel Edgerton), and love interest Jordan Baker (Elizabeth Debicki). Nick becomes more aware of Tom’s affair with Myrtle Wilson (Isla Fisher) and is held to an already well known secret. Nick is personally invited to his neighbor’s party learning more about the rumors of the legendary person next door, Jay Gatsby (Leonardo Dicaprio). An instant connection Jay attempts to sway Nick to involve in both of his businesses, prohibition sales and Daisy. Only successful with Nick’s help of Daisy, Nick attempts to keep secrets of everyone’s affairs; stay with the wealth of the times and the destitute morale of this modern adaptation of the 1920s tale.

Baz Lurman’s adaptation of The Great Gatsby has numerous problems, questions of morals within the making of the film, and adaptation skills. This film skimmed the surface of the plot of The Great Gatsby such that the role of Meyer Wolfsheim (Amitabh Bachchan), the prohibition mobster, is emphasized more in the movie than in the novel than that of George Wilson (Jason Clarke), Myrtle Wilson’s push over husband. This experimental version of a more modern The Great Gatsby as well was not a pleasing success because of the available resources of the setting, plot, and talent surrounded by Baz not used such as the substitute for rap music to jazz music of the roaring twenties. The music soundtrack, produced by rap artist Jay Z, message of money, power, and greed does correlate with the version of The Great Gatsby Lurman is attempting to portray however not the original version F. Scott Fitzgerald does convey about the American Dream. Even the romantic performances of Leonard Dicaprio and ditsy Carey Mulligan fail to save Tobey Macguire’s less than sub par performance and poorly “shot and chopped” Lurman production. The film a successful sell out to the target audience: couples, pre-teens/teens never had read The Great Gatsby and theater troop fans. The film alone emphasizes and promotes themes of greed, gluttony, and adultery in an over the top, theatrical, flamboyant, sluggish paced version of the novel. C-

'True Grit'

True Grit is about a fourteen year-old girl, Mattie Ross (Hailee Steinfeld), who is determined to get revenge on the man, Chaney (Josh Brolin), who killed her father. Within minutes she proves quickly her smarts, wit, and determination to find Chaney, bring him to justice, and see him hanged. She soon realizes she is not able to do this task alone and asks for help from a drunken, one-eyed reckless US Marshall Rooster Cogburn (Jeff Bridges). His strong personality is shown through a trial which he must suffer due to the charges on him shooting a few people in self defense. Being rejected by Mr. Cogburn ever so quickly on her proposal to pay him fifty dollars ($50.00) to go help catch Chaney, she goes to her room to ponder a new strategy as to how to catch Chaney. Waking up in the morning with Texas Ranger Laboeuf (Matt Damon) who has a warrant for Chaney’s arrest and intends to cash in on a wanted poster for a crime he committed in Arkansas. While the three of them battle controversies along the way they all have a sole mission, capturing Chaney. As they set on their course together overcoming their conflicts, differences, and putting together the puzzle whom is helping Chaney and his crew.

In this remake of the old 1969 western staring John Wayne is directed by the Coen Bros. In this high expected probable academy award nominee movie was unfortunately a disappointment. While this film held up to the typical western type movie it did not hold up to cinematic expectations or Coen bros. film making expectations. Everyone except Brolin will be getting a nomination, Bridges will get one for his accent, Damon for his assertiveness as a law enforcer, and Steinfeld will get one for showing her determination as a committed pioneer girl of the old west. Brolin will not get a nomination because his character, as the film later progresses, is not even the main antagonist. Do not expect a Coen Bros type movie, an extraordinary movie with deep thought left at the end, or anyone in this film to win. What saves this film from being a highly lower grade than thought was after a few days of pondering the film, as with most Coen Bros films, is it gets better the more thought about. B

'Black Swan'

“We all know the story of Swan Lake. An innocent virgin girl has a curse set upon her turning her into a White Swan, and only true love can break the curse. She lusts for freedom, and falls for a most handsome prince. The prince falls in love with her counterpart, the Black Swan, and the prince is seduced by the Black Swan. Heartbroken the White Swan kills herself to be free and break the curse.”

Nina Sayers (Natalie Portman) is an innocent, fragile, up and coming dancer who expects to be cast for the role of the Swan Queen. Thomas Leroy (Vincent Cassel, Eastern Promises) though has plans to cast the White Swan and the Black Swan as the same dancer, which immediately brings complications with Nina being naturally precise and gentled nature. “If I was only casting the White Swan you would get the part no question, but I am not.” Nina feeling she did not finish her audition, attempts to convince the director she is right for the role. Her attempt was in fact successful due to a physical interaction. As the story progresses Thomas announces the new face of the ballet company, as well as the old face retiring, Beth MacIntyre (Winona Ryder).
During the unsettling retirement of Beth and tragic events following her leaving the company, a new member from San Francisco has joined Lily, the Black Swan (Mila Kunis). As time goes on Nina is struggling to transform into the Black Swan, the motive of Lily attempting to replace Nina is quickly becoming apparent. Thomas has a homework assignment for Nina after introducing her as the change of the company. To touch herself, an assignment which is the start of Nina’s new irrational, rebellious, sexual, and even schizophrenic nature. This psychological thriller directed by Darren Aronofsky resembles that closely of the actual ballet Swan Lake.

Black Swan is easily one of the year’s best films. The acting of Natalie Portman is sublime because of her own transformation and work ethic as an actress. She not having been a ballet dancer and training for seven hard moths has obvious proven her well. Her acting ability is now up to elite because of her naturally innocent nature however her blossoming into a psychosexual schizophrenic role. Ms. Portman though is not the only one in this film doing substantially well. For a few years there has been a debate Natalie Portman will not receive a nomination but why? Is it her acting? No she has proven herself with movies such as Garden State and V for Vendetta. The reason for not being nominated or yet winning the award is she has not shown any sexuality and still acted innocennt, being childish until she has proven wrong to those nay sayers. She is a shoe-in for best actress.

Barbra Hershey, Erica Sayers, whom plays the mother, has a controlling nature which is hard to watch. Through her performance of only being in five scenes, she should instantly get a nomination if not being an Oscar winner. Her performance reveals most dancing protégés have mothers who were once successful dancers and their dreams are crushed due to giving birth to their own pride and joy. Their reason for pushing is simply the children will live the dream and achieve the opportunity they had. This film as well shows the intense pressures dancers face with their parents, crack their bones, and turning on their hind heels.

Mila Kunis as well deserves an award for being such a seductive and pivotal role in Black Swan. She, in fact, is a symbol itself of the unreleased side of Nina. Nina grows paranoid because the seduction Thomas continues to talk about that the Black Swan has. Mila Kunis is even brought in to unleash the loose and passionate side of Nina. Mila Kunis should however, may not get a nomination.
Even the disgraced almost uninsurable Winona Ryder should deserve a nomination for her determination and crazed role as a retiring ballet dancer. She has only a few scenes just as Barbra Hershey does and has a scene which is quite frankly unbearable to watch due to the vulgarity and gore of the scene.

In conclusion, Black Swan has incredible symbolism, such as the scars on Nina, her habit of cutting herself, feathers coming out of her body, her knees breaking into a swan, the tattoo of wings of a bird and many more. While beating one over the head with well done symbolism, Aronofsky’s interactive film-making has finally come to much use. With a camera that follows Portman and Kunis to capture their dancing prestige, show the director’s motive, Nina’s paranoid schizophrenic attitude, and the use of splitting images using mirrors. Finally the use of colors, in the beginning using childish colors such as white and as the progression of the white swan into the black the colors become red and black. Excellent acting, directing, writing, lighting and mental anguish cause this film to be the single best of the 2010 year. A

'The King's Speech'

The King’s Speech starts out with the Duke of York (Colin Firth) “Bertie”, who eventually becomes George IV, having to make a speech at intermission of a horse race, and unfortunately failing to let even three words of the speech leave his lips due to his stuttering. After the embarrassing speech he is recommended a speech therapist (Geoffrey Rush), Lionel Louge, has methods are quite unorthodox as described in the film. In desperation, the Duke agreed to see this man because a job status’ of his requires giving speeches as well as having to be social, which is not easy with an impediment such as this. Lionel is informal with the Duke by calling him “Bertie” which insults the Duke as well as increases his impatience. The Duke quits temporarily at his speech sessions however Lionel’s methods show progress thus Bertie’s wife (Helena Bonham Carter), Queen Elizabeth, forces him to continue weekly sessions with Mr. Louge.

During the sessions the Duke as well is dealing with the death of his father (Michael Gambon), King George V, and his brother (Guy Pearce), King Edward VIII having an affair with a previously divorced woman which would make King Edward VIII unable to rule due to violating the British Constitution. This is not even England’s worse problem, with Nazi Germany conquering Europe and bombing their cities daily. With Edward’s VIII inability to properly lead and ignoring the problems of his country, this puts the Duke of York in a position to gain the throne.

Lionel though enters very dangerous territory in the sense of suggesting that the Duke of York should become king, when the easy response is Lionel has forgotten his place with Bertie. Some scenes were shot excellently using the weather to set the mood. When Bertie becomes King George the VI he soon realizes the need to stop Adolf Hitler because Hitler has great speech prowess and lead to a heartening, touching and inspirational speech.


The King’s Speech, is easily an Oscar nominated movie for best picture best screenplay (David Seilder), best supporting actress (Helena Bonham Carter) as Queen Elizabeth and of course best actor (Colin Firth) for his role as King George VI. What made this movie such a highly regarded movie are the performances, the writing and after hiatus of almost ten years produced by the Weinstein Brothers, Bob and Harvey. Helena Bonham Carter deserves a nomination because as a wife her commitment to helping her husband is very realistic in the sense of her love for him as well. Even for best supporting actor (Geoffrey Rush) may get a nomination for his methods, determination, humor and his friendship with King George VI. The writing in the film is remarkable because the political issues, the friendship of an actual event in history, and the different methods for improving diction, pronunciation, and enunciation. One example is cursing because, swearing increases speed and flow of the tongue. Others include tongue twisters, loosening the jaw, and breathing. The only downside to the film was the casting of Wiston Churchill (Timothy Spall) because the perfromance however brief served as almost a mockery to the historic character, a better option who has played Winston Churchill in a previous role would have been Brendan Gleeson. A-

'Dinner for Sckmucks'

Dinner for Schmucks, based on the French film Le Diner de Cons, is about a young, ambitious, on the rise executive, named Tim (Paul Rudd) who is expecting a promotion with excellent recommendations. When one of his pieces of advice helps the company it catches the attention of his boss, Lance Fender (Bruce Greenwood). Thus his boss invites him to a dinner, actually a competition, where whoever brings the most eccentric person to mock will get a promotion. With every up and comer there is their arch nemesis, or in Tim’s case the failure of a marriage and just about everything else in his life Caldwell (Ron Livingston). Tim brings the dinner up to his girlfriend, Julie (Stephanie Szostak), an artist, and she says, as anyone else would, going to this dinner is cruel. Tim engaged to her agrees to not attend the dinner until he meets Barry (Steve Carell) by hitting this man who stands in front of Tim’s car to save an already dead mouse for his hobby, taxidermy. As soon as Tim invites Barry to the Dinner, as series of events starts occurring such as a crazed one night stand of Tim’s of over two years ago, Darla (Lucy Punch), finds Tim’s address and comes over, Julie is suspected of going to a former lover of hers, Kieran Vollard (Jemaine Clement) who is the central piece of Julie’s art exhibition, a business deal Tim is suppose to handle possibly a disaster, and all due to Barry having the best intentions for Tim. Will Tim be able to get a promotion and get Julie back? Find out.

This film being in no doubt slapstick, outrageous comedy does not live up to the original as a usual common trend in the movie making film industry. This is not the first film of the summer either when a young executive is handed an opportunity to show their worth to their bosses, example Get Him to the Greek. The most outrageous scenes are the brunch with the Swiss as well as the final dinner, and who wins the best comedian in this film? Well certainly not Paul Rudd because he played the typical character he is handed. Steve Carell deserves a silver medal because he truly did carry the movie however the big trophy goes to Zach Galifinakis, who played Barry’s arch enemy Therman, working at the same IRS agency as Barry but seems to top Barry in every category; being the biggest schmuck, taking Barry’s wife, and even being a better IRS employee. Throughout the film there is a certain sympathy shown for Barry because his intentions, while are the best, make a situation unimaginably worse. As the movie progresses the audience soon learns there are similar struggles with Barry and Tim. The down fall of the film though is the audience laughter comes at the expense of oddball people being themselves. B-