Gravity is one of the Most Awe Inspiring Film Experiences Ever

Gravity (5 out of 5 Stars)

Directed by Alfonso Cuaron (Y Tu Mama Tambien, Children of Men)

Written by Alfonso Cuaron (Y Tu Mama Tambien) and Jonas Cuaron (The Year of the Nail)

Starring: Sandra Bullock and George Clooney

After seeing the brief trailer for Gravity many times, I knew there was something special about this film.  I had heard the buzz from Venice, and Toronto, but still did not want to read a review, watch the second trailer, or even read a simple plot summary.  This was one of the films I was most excited to see this year, and I wanted to go without any context, the same way I viewed Pacific Rim, and this was a smart course of action on both accounts.

Without giving too much away, Gravity centers around two characters a medical engineer, Dr. Ryan Stone (Bullock) and an astronaut Matt Kowalski (Clooney) who are working on a project, but an accident causes things to go drastically wrong.  After the accident the two struggle to survive out in the middle of space.

One of the beautiful aspects of this film is the simplistic nature of the plot, but the magnitude with which the the story is told.  Most of the credit for the vision of this film belongs to esteemed director Alfonso Cuaron.  Cuaron's genius has brought many different films to life on the big screen, from the small character driven road trip Y Tu Mama Tambien, to what is widely regarded by Potter fans as the best film, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, and the post apocalyptic Children of Men which centers on the lack of fertility, and the potential for the first successful birth.  Cuaron creates a style all of his own; he is precise, and this film is proof that through this breathtaking experience there are still advances to be made in within film.

The film was shot in 3-D and while I hate this technology this is one of the most, if not the most powerful use of this technology.  The 3-D never felt like a gimmick nor did you feel as though Cuaron through both his direction and fantastic editing were trying to manipulate, but rather add to the sumptuous visual experience of this film.  Cuaron's work as both the director and editor on this film enhance the emotionally raw, and suspenseful nature of this film, which defies the odds.

The technical aspects of this film, make many other films out there look like child's play.  While Cuaron's vision, and direction are at the center, Emmanuel Lubezki's cinematography rivals the brilliant work he did with Terrence Malick's Tree of Life.  Lubezki has worked with Cuaron on all of his films, but Potter, and together this duo have combined to form some of the best visual experiences of the last 15 years.  Lubezki's work on Gravity should be studied, never duplicated, admired and be proof of the power cinematography has within a film.  The cinematography combined with the visual effects packs a punch in this film that will not be forgotten.

Along with the all of these elements the film's score by Steven Price sets the musical tone, fantastically creating moments where you sit on the edge of your seat as the intensity builds to a fevered frenzy.  Price recently did the score for the Simon Pegg/Edgar Wright film The World's End, but he is relatively new to the world of music composition within film, this will change.

While Gravity is mostly about the visual effects, there is something to be said about the performances, especially Bullock.  While I have never doubted Ms. Bullock's comedic timing, and she has proved her dramatic chops, in Crash, not in her Academy Award winning performance in The Blind Side, I did not expect this from her.  Bullock is great in this role and she helps sell the loneliness of the experience, the panic, the urgency, she makes you gasp for air as she does, because the film takes your breath away.

Gravity is a special film, and is one of the most awe inspiring film experiences I ever.  The film has both a visual and emotional impact that will have a lasting impact on audiences, and film auteurs for years to come.

Fall 2013 TV Preview: Most Anticipated Returning Shows

I would say that during this time, most people pay attention to the new shows coming out, and while there is an excitement/build up for returning shows its almost never the same.  Part of the reason for this is that networks know people are "coming back" to their favorite show, and now its time to build up the hype for all of these new shows, so commercials at movie theatres and at home are geared more for the new rather than the returning, but what returning shows left people with such massive cliff hangers or cast changes that people are even more pumped for them to come back after a summer drought?

Glee (FOX)

Glee sadly makes the list because of the passing of Cory Monteith, if you ever considered yourself a Gleek, you will probably tune into the tribute episode for the young man who played the love able Finn Hudson.  It's honestly a shame that his character had that story line where he kissed Will, his mentor's fiance, but this episode will not allow a dry eye.

The Good Wife (CBS)

Alicia and Cary having their own firm versus Will and Diane?  Does this mean the end for Alicia and Will?  Josh Charles has only signed on for one more season.    Peter is the governor,  and more Carrie Preston, sign me up. all That  sounds like Must-See Television.

How I Met Your Mother (CBS)

The mother of all reveals happened, we finally met the future Theodore Evelyn Mosby, and I am pumped.  Barney and Robin are getting, still not as pumped about this, but I think this could be a great last season for a little show that became something bigger.

New Girl  (FOX)

Nick and Jess are together, it will be exciting to see where the show takes this romance, and hopefully it will not implode the way some shows lose steam with their popular couples once they get together.  Make them a Monica and Chandler, not a Ross and Rachel. Who will Schmidt pick?

NCIS (CBS)

I do not watch NCIS, but Cote de Pablo who plays Ziva is a fan favorite, and she has decided to leave the show, big mistake.  While this does not affect me I know many fans who will be curious to see how the show handles the characters departure.

Revenge (ABC)

Emily reveals herself to Jack, Victoria's son shows up, Nolan is being held, their is a gunshot to open the show, and Charlotte gets even bitchier bangs than Melissa Fuermo from One Life to Live.  This show ended with all cylinders fired up, but with a new show runner I am nervous.

Scandal (ABC)

There was a massive reveal at the end of last season when Olivia was blind sided reporters, and end up in a car with her father.  Where will the excitement head next with Pope and Associates, Shonda Rhimes is always full of surprise?

A Tribute to Great Television: Freaks and Geeks (1999-2000)

With school back in session all over the United States I feel as though I must pay homage to the greatest show about high school, and no it's not Saved by the Bell, or 90210, that's Freaks and Geeks.  While Freaks and Geeks got the shaft from NBC, and only lasted one year, feign surprise if you must, the show is a classic, and if you have not got to experience Lindsey in her fatigue jacket breaking her good girl mold, or the early careers of James Franco, and Jason Segel then its time to make this show a priority on your Netflix.

The show centers around two different types of groups in the 1980s high school scene, the freaks, and the geeks, I wonder if that's where title comes from?  The show focused on two characters Linda Cardellinni's character Lindsey Weir, and her brother Sam Weir played by John Francis Daley. The show brought is both a hilarious and realistic look at those awkward and exploratory years of high school, and the different paths traveled.

Freaks and Geeks was created by Paul Feig, the main who has gone on to direct Bridemaids, The Heat episodes of The Office, Arrested Development, Nurse Jackie, Mad Men, this list could go on and on.  Feig is also an actor, and if you were a Sabrina the Teenage Witch fan you may recognize him as Mr. Pool.  Feig's knack for creating some of the best comedy in recent years is evident through his layered work, but Freaks and Geeks is one of his best creations.

While Feig was the creator Freaks and Geeks had some of the most famous names in film in television behind the scenes as producers, writers, and directors.  Judd Apatow (40 Year Old Virgin, Knocked Up) directed, wrote and was a producer on this show.  This was the birth  of Apatow's collaborations with Franco, Segel, and Seth Rogen.  Other famous television directors/writers who worked on this show were Mike White who created the television series Enlightened and has acted in films like School of Rock.  Ken Kwapis who has gone on to direct The Office, The Bernie Mac Show, and ER.  Lesli Linka Glatter has also gone on to direct Mad Men, True Blood, and The Newsroom.  The creative team behind this show was one of the best assembled.

As stated above this show not only brought about the careers of some great creative minds, but also launched the careers of Linda Cardellinni (ER, Scooby Doo, Mad Men), James Franco (127 Hours, Spider-Man, James Dean), Jason Segel (How I Met Your Mother, Forgetting Sarah Marshall, Knocked Up), Seth Rogen (This is the End, Knocked Up, 40 Year Old Virgin), four great careers.  Ironically most of the geeks have played in other things but mostly smaller roles.

Why and how did this show now deemed by many to be, "the best cancelled television series of all time" fail? Critics deemed this show to be "something special" and "out of the ordinary" this was not your traditional sitcom, but fit within the dramedy category with tons of nostalgia to set the background.  Freaks and Geeks was realistic, almost too realistic, capturing that awkward humor that spawned The Office, 30 Rock and many more. At this point in the 90s/early 2000s this type of show did not fit, but stood out as something different much like the freaks and geeks in the show.  One of the other problems was that the show was  not given the proper treatment by NBC, again never surprising.  The show did actually score three Emmy nominations during its run two for Best Writing, and one for Best Casting, the show won the Best Casting in Comedy Series Emmy.  Props to voters for understanding that this show created one of the best ensembles.  Even Emmy knew this show was special.

Freaks and Geeks was ahead of its time, and a great representation of a new age in television. While I did not go to high school during the 1980s, hell I was 6 when the 80s ended this show created a great time capsule for the era, and helped connect you with each friend group, and the families associated with people. Even though this show only had one season, it's a classic, which can't be forgotten.

September Movies to See and Skip!

For movies, August is like you unbuttoning your pants after  a big overstuffed Thanksgiving dinner.  The studios have crammed so much into May, June, and July, that August becomes the grave yard where massive films can't succeed.  With no block buster capitalizing on this month, two films have taken over the month, We're the Millers, and Lee Daniels' The Butler.  The funny thing about both of these movies succeeding is because they are being carried by a woman (Jennifer Anniston) and black actors in The Butler.

Anniston is probably one of the less interesting leading ladies working, but she is one of the more bankable in films like this because she has talent, sex appeal, and women love her.  Women can carry film do not be afraid Hollywood.

Hollywood also is letting more people than Tyler Perry frame stories about black/African Americans in film, and thank goodness.  Ryan Coogler, Steve McQueen, and of course Lee Daniels all have films this year, which tell such interesting stories.  This is a great market, and Hollywood has always avoided reaching out, they would rather white wash their films, but The Butlers' success is proof that films like this can succeed. On to September, and the build up to the more exciting October.

September 6th 

If you were thinking September would start strong, you were wrong, Riddick is one of those films that just couldnt make it into "summer block buster time."  Pitch Black was good they should have stopped there.  Diesel is not a star its the Fast and Furious movies that are the star.

I would have preferred Hollywood avoid a documentary about a man who wanted to remain private, J.D. Sallinger who wrote Catch in the Rye.  Sallinger feels too much like I am infringing on someone with whom I respect, No thank you!

September 13th 

The first Insidous was well done, and chilling, did there need a to be an Insidious Chapter 2?  Stop while your ahead.

Poor Michelle Pfeiffer stuck with dreck like this, run Diana Agron just because you get to work with two greats does not mean the film will will be good.  The Family is Robert DeNiro playing the cliche version of all his characters, once again no thank you.

September 20th 

 Prisoners has received mostly positive reviews from Telluride, and while there was some negative comments in the mix the film sounds fantastic. 

Ah another film about dancing, where have you been all my life? Battle of the Year is proof people are less and less creative, shouldn't this have gone straight to DVD or Itunes?

September 27th 

I did not realize that the first film made 125 million dollars, no wonder there is sequel to Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs.  Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs 2 is the only family friendly film and will make a good amount of money, will it be good, probably not.

I have shown disdain for most of Ron Howard's work post Apollo 13, Rush looks different from most of his other films, and I am kind of excited to see what he can do with this film.  I also think Hemsworth is so charismatic.

I love Paula Patton, and while Baggage Claim looks cliche, I may just have to go see it, because well this could be a guilty pleasure for me, at least I am able to admit that, but it doesn't look great.

I had the chance to see a screener of Don Jon with Jospeh Gordon Levitt as a a guest speaker, but damn work got in the way.  I am excited to see what he can do with this film!

What will the Venice and Telluride Film Festivals mean for this Years Oscar Hopefuls?

At this point numerous films are being shown, some for the first time, some as repeats from Cannes at both the Venice and Telluride Film Festivals.  How do both of these festivals shape the Oscar crystal ball?  One thing is for sure, both festivals now provide a huge boost for strong contenders to gain even more momentum.

Venice Film Festival

Here is a graph from Wikipedia on the winners from the 2000s:

2000	The Circle (Dayereh)	Jafar Panahi	* Iran
2001	Monsoon Wedding	Mira Nair	India/ United States/ Italy/ France/* Germany
2002	The Magdalene Sisters	Peter Mullan	Ireland
2003	The Return (Vozvrashcheniye)	Andrey Zvyagintsev	* Russia
2004	Vera Drake	Mike Leigh	United Kingdom
2005	Brokeback Mountain	Ang Lee	United States
2006	Still Life (Sanxia haoren)	Jia Zhangke	China
2007	Lust, Caution (Se, jie)	Ang Lee	United States/ China/ Taiwan
2008	The Wrestler	Darren Aronofsky	United States
2009	Lebanon	Samuel Maoz	* Israel
2010	Somewhere	Sofia Coppola	United States
2011	Faust	Alexander Sokurov	Russia
2012	Pietà	Kim Ki-duk	* South Korea

What this graph tells Oscarologists, and film lovers all over is that winning the Golden Lion (Best Picture) may mean nothing.  Only one film in the last 12 years went on to be nominated for Best Picture, it did not win, and that was Brokeback Mountain in 2005.  Vera Drake scored 3 big nominations, Director, Actress, and Screenplay in 2004, and in 2008 The Wrestler scored two nominations for Actor, and Supporting Actress.  The rest of the films made no impact.

Venice has always been a bit of a wild card, with films in and out of competition, The Master received a significant Oscar bump, but nothing else made the mark.  In 2011 films like Shame, Ides of March, and Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy all started their trek to Oscar at Venice, but most of them were regulated to smaller categories.

One thing about Venice, and its impact this year is that you can be sure the reviews for Gravity will help spark even more interest, and that the film is on a rocket to mass critical support, the film is also going to be screening at Telluride.

Telluride Film Festival

The beauty about this film festival, is that the line-up is announced mere days before the actual festival, which builds the anticipation.  After seeing this year's line-up I am certain that many of the films will be in contention for numerous Oscar categories, but how has this festival impacted Oscar? One word, Argo.

Last year's Best Picture winner received thunderous applause at Telluride, and it was then that many Oscar pundits predicted it would not only be a contender for Best Picture, but also the front runner to win the big prize, and they were right.  These festivals are becoming more and more important with regard to setting that strong original buzz, and making films stand out.  Amour was the other major film which continued the festival march here after Cannes.

This year's line-up has a lot of buzz attached, with Nebraska, Inside Llewyn Davis (both Cannes films), then there is All is Lost, Labor Day, Blue is the Warmest Color, The Past, The Invisible Woman, and once again Gravity.

This line-up is stacked with prestige from great directors, and will launch numerous, acting, screenplay, and technical nominations, but which of these films listed above will make Picture, and Director?  I am excited to hear the buzz, but together these festivals prove that you have to start fast to get your name out there otherwise you may never hit the ground running.

Blue Jasmine Proves the Power of Woody Allen still Exists, and this Darker Film (with some laughs) is One of his Best Films in Years

Blue Jasmine (4 1/2 out 5 Stars)

Directed and Written by Woody Allen (Annie Hall, Manhattan, Hannah and Her Sisters)

Starring: Cate Blanchett, Sally Hawkins, Bobby Cannavale, Andrew Dice Clay, and Alec Baldwin

Going to see a good Woody Allen film, is a cathartic experience.  Allen is one of longest, hardest working directors; he has been directing/writing for film since 1966, and prior to that he wrote for television in the 1950s and 60s.  Allen is one of those lasting directors from that time period who true to form creates a genuinely magical cinematic experience, and through his blend of the dramatic, and humorous he transports you into the minds of the neurotic. 

Jasmine is one Allen's darker films although I laughed loudest in the theatre.  The film centers around Jasmine (Blanchett), or Janette; she seems to have intentionally changed her name, from the one given to her by her adopted family.  Jasmine was whisked away by her husband Hal (Baldwin) in her junior year of college; she lives the life a socialite throwing parties for the elite, wrapped in only designer labels. Jasmine is used to the finer things in life, and has avoided her past to protect her status.

The film jumps between her time with her husband Hal, and the aftermath of Hal's Bernie Madoff ponzi schemes.  The film jumps back and forth between Jasmine's plush life in Manhattan (I love her line about being forced to live in Brooklyn) and living with her step sister Ginger (Sally Hawkins) in San Francisco in an apartment she loathes from first glance.  Ginger is searching for her own happiness, through different relationships, although the sisters had two different paths.

Allen's script is one of his best in years, although I was a huge fan of Midnight in Paris, this is stronger. Allen uses the template of Streetcar Named Desire to define Jasmine as a Blanche type who definitely depends on the kindness of strangers; she goes a little crazy without a set path, you feel as though this woman has lost, or maybe never had a grasp on reality, as she is constantly trying to avoid the past from her days of being adopted to her failed marriage.

Allen has set up Ginger and both the men in her life as "Stanleys" the working class schlub, with whom she must settle.  Both Augie (Dice Clay) and Chili (Cannavale) are these bravado macho men whose softer, less financially solvent sides are laughable to Jasmine.  Meanwhile Ginger finds love with both of these men because of their genuine nature, although there is an uncertainty if she is ever truly happy with either, especially since even after she divorces Augie and is dating Chili she goes after Al (Louis C.K.).

Together this ensemble is brilliantly woven together, and play off each other so nicely, but the stand out is clearly Blanchett, she is electric in this role, and goes off and on the rails with ease.  Watching Blanchett act is a true art forml she makes you laugh, cry, hate, scream, and feel every emotion all with one performance.  There is this vulnerability to her as she goes "a little mad" but this madness is brought together layered to be something more twisted within her, and the performance speaks volumes to making this film even more successful.

Hawkins and Dice Clay are the other stand outs.  Hawkins Ginger is weak, timid, vulnerable, but like her step sister there is something about her which allows you to see every facet to her personality.  The film never states the cause for her divorce, but you can pieces of Jasmine in her as she too is trying to continue to find a man who will give her more, and be more for her.  Who knew Andrew Dice Clay could provide such depth; he has only a few scenes in the film, but I blown away by his performance, and stark contrast he portrays to the rest of the characters, he is the most real, and you feel as though he tried to be the best man he could for his family, but got caught up in each sister's web.

In Allen's last successful film, Midnight in Paris the theme was clinging to the past, in this film its clearly about avoiding and forgetting the past at all costs.  Jasmine attempts to move past Hal with Dwight (Peter Sarsgaard) through lies, which she truly believes to be true as she tells him about herself. There are also moments when Jasmine forgets key details about her relationship with Hal; she talks about him so lovingly, but their marriage was flawed.  Jasmine has lost her grip on reality because her comfort and the life she believed she had was taken from her.  There is something beautiful in the writing about walking away from the past, or her case having a spotty memory of her past because of her psychosis, which makes this film impactful.

Performer to Watch: David Oyelowo

When you watch Lee Daniels' The Butler the two performances/actors who draw you in first are both Forrest Whitaker, and Oprah Winfrey.  There is a sheer magnetism to both of their performances, but one of the other stand outs is the lesser known David Oyelowo who plays the older version of their oldest son Louis Gaines.  In the The Butler Oyelowo's Louis takes the complete opposite path his father has taken; he is activist who throughout the years stands with Martin Luther King Jr., the Black Panthers, and for Nelson Mandella (in the States).

Oyelowo's performance in The Butler is memorable; he provides a framework with which you get to see two different generations vantage point of the continuing Civil Rights movement, and he is a fantastic actor. While Oyelowo was not in Lee Daniels' first film Precious; he was in The Paperboy, and while the film itself was more of a clunker his performance is one which stands out.  Oyelowo is a star on the the rise, who will be making an even bigger splash in the next couple years.

As stated above Oyelowo is not new to television/film; he has appeared in the British television series MI-5, the British mini-series Five Days, the CBS show The Good Wife, and the HBO series The No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency.  Oyelowo has done more work in film, and made a bigger impact in numerous supporting roles.  After seeing him in The Butler, I remembered him most from The Paperboy, and Rise of the Planet of the Apes.  In Apes he played the man who ran the lab and pushed James Franco's character to go forward with Alzheimer's drug.  Oyelowo has also had roles in Lincoln, Jack Reacher, and Red Tails.

While Oyelowo has been great in a lot of different roles, it's his terrific performance in Lee Daniels' The Butler, which has me the most excited. In the next few years Oyelowo has a lot of exciting projects including, a bio-pic about Nina Simone starring Zoe Saldana entitled Nina set for a 2013 release.  I think I am most excited for Oyelowo to be a part of the Christopher Nolan world; he is listed as one of the stars in Nolan's next film Interstellar, which is set to be released in 2014.  Oyelowo has a bright future ahead of him, and I am excited to see what comes next.