Tag: 2014

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Movie Review

A Most Violent Year (2014) Movie Review

A Most Violent Year – Movie Review 

A Most Violent Year

Director: J.C. Chandor

Writer: J.C. Chandor (Screenplay)

Cast

 

Plot: In New York City 1981, an ambitious immigrant fights to protect his business and family during the most dangerous year in the city’s history.  

Runtime: 2 Hours 4 Minutes  

There may be spoilers in the rest of the review 

Story: A Most Violent Year starts as we meet New York City businessman Abel Morales (Isaac). Along with his wife Anna (Chastain), they have been rising in the area, gaining the attention of others. D.A. Lawrence (Oyelowo) has been investigating their operation, while rivals are targeting them.

However, when Abel starts looking for a way for his men to defend themselves. The year starts to spiral out of control and the violence escalates. Abel sees his future plans come crashing down as he rushes to fix things before it is too late.  

Verdict on A Most Violent Year

A Most Violent Year is a drama following a businessman in the 1980s trying to get a deal done. It sees him already being successful in his plans, despite being investigated. However, his plan isn’t going to be an easy deal as his life starts to fall apart.

This is an interesting drama showing how one man is trying to put the deal together. It follows him trying to get a deal done while facing a host of obstacles along the way. There are some twists and turns along the way, however, it feels like it holds back on any sort of violence. Oscar Isaac does a wonderful job in the leading role of the movie, demanding the screen in every single scene. 

Final Thoughts – A Most Violent Year is an interesting drama.

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ABC Film Challenge

Hercules (2014) Movie Recommendation

Hercules – ABC Film Challenge – Comic Book/Graphic Novels – Hercules – Movie Recommendation  

Hercules – ABC Film Challenge – Comic Book/Graphic Novels – Hercules - Movie Recommendation  

Director: Brett Ratner

Writer: Ryan J Condal, Evan Spiliotopoulos (Screenplay)

Writer: Steve Moore (Comics)

Cast

 

Plot: Having endured his legendary twelve labors, Hercules, the Greek demigod, has his life as a sword-for-hire tested when the King of Thrace and his daughter seek his aid in defeating a tyrannical warlord.  

Runtime: 1 Hour 38 Minutes  

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Movie Review

Planes: Fire and Rescue (2014) Movie Review

ABC Film Challenge – Sequels – P – Planes: Fire and Rescue (2014) Movie Review

PLanes Fire and Rescue

Director: Bobs Gannaway

Writer: Bobs Gannaway, Jeffrey M Howard (Screenplay)

Starring: (Voice Talents) Dane Cook, Ed Harris, Julie Bowen, Curtis Armstrong, John Michael Higgins, Hal Holbrooke, Wes Studi

Plot: When Dusty learns that his engine is damaged and he may never race again, he joins a forest fire and rescue unit to be trained as a firefighter, or else his air strip will be shut down.

Runtime: 1 Hour 23 Minutes

There may be spoilers in the rest of the review

Story: Planes: Fire and Rescue starts as Dusty as become an international superstar in the flying world, until he learns his engine is damaged beyond repair, forcing him into retiring from his dream job, race pilot.

When his home town has a fire, the town is facing losing the biggest celebration it could have, this will lead Dusty to enter firefighting academy, where he must learn from the very best Blade Ranger, who puts Dusty through the ringer to prove he has what it takes.

Thoughts on Planes: Fire and Rescue

Planes: Fire and Rescue will pick up where the last movie finished. It shows that stardom will need to face causing a decision about what to do next in their life, seeing the idea of becoming a firefighter. As a chance to continue to save other planes and automobiles that are need.

This does have a lot of peril surrounding it, showing just how hard life can be when something unexpected happens. That leads people needing to find that new purpose. This does seem to be a little too serious for a friend animation movie. It is a harmless enough sequel, it doesn’t seem to have the same heart the first one had, which both films struggled to capture if they take place above the ‘Cars’ world.

Final Thoughts – Planes: Fire and Rescue is an easy to watch sequel.

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Movie Review

Testament of Youth (2014) Movie Review

Testament of Youth – ABC Film Challenge – Movies from the 2010s – V (Alicia Vikander) – Testament of Youth – Movie Review

Testament of Youth

Director: James Kent

Writer: Juliette Towhidi (Screenplay)

Writer: Vera Brittain (Autobiography)

Cast

  • Alicia Vikander (Tomb Raider)
  • Kit Harington (Game of Thrones)
  • Taron Egerton (Rocketman)
  • Dominic West (Chicago)
  • Colin Morgan (Belfast)

Plot: A British woman recalls coming of age during World War I – a story of young love, the futility of war, and how to make sense of the darkest times.

Runtime: 2 Hours 9 Minutes

There may be spoilers in the rest of the review

Story: Testament of Youth starts as we meet a young English woman Vera Brittain (Vikander). She dreams of breaking tradition and attending Oxford. After her brother Edward (Egerton) convinces their father Mr Brittain (West) to let her try, she gets accepted.

However, when World War I breaks out, Edward looks to join the military to fight, against their father’s wishes. With her love interest Roland (Harington) at war, Vera enlists to be a nurse helping the victims, giving up her chance at Oxford, and overcoming the odds thrown toward her.

Verdict on Testament of Youth

Testament of Youth is a drama that explores the true diaries of Vera Brittain. She saw her fiancée and brother go to World War I, while she looked to become a nurse helping the wounded. Seeing the heartache of the war first-hand and helping people understand the pain it caused.

This movie gets to focus on how many young men were killed during the war. It shows how some struggle with injuries and the people left behind struggle too. This is adapted from the best-selling biography, showing how personal the story is to Vera. Alicia Vikander is wonderful in the leading role, while the supporting cast all get their chance to shine.

Final Thoughts – Testament of Youth is a heart breaking drama following one woman’s story through the war.

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Movie Review

I, Frankenstein (2014) Movie Review

I, Frankenstein – ABC Film Challenge – 2010s Movies – I – I, Frankenstein – Movie Review

I, Frankenstein

Director: Stuart Beattie

Writer: Stuart Beattie (Screenplay)

Writer: Kevin Grevioux (Graphic Novel)

Cast

Plot: Frankenstein’s creature finds himself caught in an all-out, centuries-old war between two immortal clans.

Runtime: 1 Hour 32 Minutes

There may be spoilers in the rest of the review

Story: I, Frankenstein starts as Victor Frankenstein’s creature finds himself targeted in an immortal war. The Gargoyles run by Leanore (Otto) offer him safety and answers. Meanwhile, Naberius (Nighy) leads a demon clan to track him down.

After spending centuries in exile, Adam (Eckhart) returns to the modern day to end the battle once and for all. However, he learns of a bigger more threatening situation in the world.

Verdict on I, Frankenstein

I, Frankenstein is an action horror using the iconic story of Frankenstein and his creature. It follows a battle between different demons and gargoyles playing out behind humans’ backs. Adam comes to end the war between the two sides and stop an evil plan that he is the key for.

This movie looks to capture the same magic ‘Underworld’ got with the vampire Lycans war. It gives us the basic figures of the war between the two sides. However, nothing feels as potential real in this real world. I also know this is meant to be a fantasy movie, but it makes it pretty clear the humans have no idea what is going on. This does seem to want to start a bigger franchise, however, the fact this is pretty average and not on the level of other movies, means it won’t happen.

Final Thoughts – I, Frankenstein is a standard attempt at a franchise starter.

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Movie Review

Fort Bliss (2014) Movie Review

Fort Bliss – ABC Film Challenge – 2010s Movies – F – Fort Bliss – Movie Review

Fort Bliss

Director: Claudia Myers

Writer: Claudia Myers (Screenplay)

Cast

Plot: After returning home from an extended tour in Afghanistan, a decorated U.S. Army medic and single mother struggles to rebuild her relationship with her young son.

Runtime: 1 Hour 56 Minutes

There may be spoilers in the rest of the review

Story: Fort Bliss starts when Staff Sergeant Maggie Swann (Monaghan) returns from her latest deployment. She wants to get to know her son Paul (Fegley) more, however, he has become attached to his father Richard (Livingston) and his new partner Alma (Chriqui).

Maggie looks to rebuild the bridges with her son, while getting a chance to train the next line of military medics. This isn’t as easy as she planned to become one of the hardest tests of her life.

Verdict on Fort Bliss

Fort Bliss is a drama following the life of a military doctor whose life has been turned upside down during her time away. She has lost her connection to her son and must rebuild it until she gets told she is going to be redeployed.

This is a powerful drama showing the constant difficulties military personal face. It shows the problems a soldier goes through trying to keep a connection with her son and wanting to continue to support the military. This shows the struggles people go through in the aftermath of the events. It shows the feeling of not being wanted and the challenges they must face to get on with their lives.

Michelle Monaghan is brilliant in the leading role in the movie. She gives her career-best performances and the supporting cast is excellent too.

Final Thoughts – Fort Bliss is a brilliant portrayal of the difficulties military life can cause.

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Movie Review

Precinct Seven Five (2014) Movie Review

Precinct Seven Five – Movie Review

Precinct Seven Five

Director: Tiller Russell

Plot: Meet the dirtiest cop in NYC history. Michael Dowd stole money and dealt drugs while patrolling the streets of 80s Brooklyn.

Runtime: 1 Hour 44 Minutes

There may be spoilers in the rest of the review

Verdict on Precinct Seven Five

Precinct Seven Five is a documentary following the dirty cops that operated in 1980s New York. Michael Dowd was the ring leader working with the drug lords to make money for himself. This saw how the team came together to make this operation happen and how they didn’t see anything being wrong.

The interviews included the cops who took advantage of the situation. It also followed the drug dealers who were left helpless in the situation. This is a scary reality to see how the police had all the power and let things get out of control.

However, this seems to put a lot of focus on that they didn’t think they did anything wrong and that it was an honest way to do things. It doesn’t get enough focus on what should have changed or anything along those lines.

Final Thoughts – Precinct Seven Five is an ego heavy documentary.

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Movie Review

Magic in the Moonlight (2014) Movie Review

Magic in the Moonlight – Movie Review

Magic in the Moonlight

Director: Woody Allen

Writer: Woody Allen (Screenplay)

Cast

Plot: A romantic comedy about an Englishman brought in to help unmask a possible swindle. Personal and professional complications ensue.

Runtime: 1 Hour 37 Minutes

There may be spoilers in the rest of the review

Story: Magic in the Moonlight starts with English showman Stanley (Firth) being recruited to help expose a medium. He has worked with tricks and illusions his whole career. Stanely sees a wealthy family being seduced by her and Stanley must figure out what is true or not.

As Stanley starts investigating Sophie (Stone), he sees his own opportunity to make a big comeback. This sees Stanley’s life change as Sophie becomes the centre of attention and he starts questioning his own desire to feel love.

Verdict on Magic in the Moonlight

Magic in the Moonlight is a romantic comedy following an illusionist who looks to expose a medium. He looks for the tell-tell signs until he starts to struggle to see the signs he needs. However, the more time he spends with her, the more he starts to fall in love with her.

This is one of the typical Woody Allen movies, that tries to create an awkward figure struggling in his world. He gets something new to make him feel welcomed only for everything else to start unfolding around him. There isn’t too much to get behind here and by the end of the movie, you will feel like nothing much has happened. This is nothing against the performances that are strong from the cast, it is the story that holds everything back.

Final Thoughts – Magic in the Moonlight is a flat romantic comedy.

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Movie Review

In Order of Disappearance (2014) Movie Review

ABC Film Challenge – World Cinema – I – In Order of Disappearance (2014) Movie Review

In Order of Disappearance

Director: Hans Petter Moland

Writer: Kim Fupz Aakeson (Screenplay) Finn Gjerdrum (Story)

Starring: Stellan Skarsgard, Bruno Ganz, Pal Sverre Hagen, Jakob Oftebro, Jack Sodahl Moland

Plot: After his son is murdered by drug dealers, a snowplough driver starts seeking revenge.


Tagline – Vengeance is a dish served cold.

Runtime: 1 Hour 56 Minutes

There may be spoilers in the rest of the review

Story: In Order of Disappearance starts when the local snowplough driver Nils (Skarsgard) learns his son has been murdered by the local drug dealers. He will look to come after the people behind it.

As Nils starts hunting down the people behind it. He starts stirring the pot as the drug lord is starting to see his product go missing. This leads to a war between the two drug lords operating in the area.

Thoughts on In Order of Disappearance

In Order of Disappearance is a crime thriller that will see a popular everyday man getting put into a criminal world. He looks to get revenge on the people that killed his son, seeing him using his status within the community to get away with things. This lets him collect information, never letting him become a suspect.

This is a film that does fall into the story problems of taking the focus away from the lead, putting too much time on the rivalling drug gangs fighting over the problems they are facing. The performances in the film are great, playing into the over the top nature they characters are meant to be within this world too. This did get remade by the same director in ‘Cold Pursuit’ which plays everything out in the same way.

Final Thoughts – In Order of Disappearance works as the darkly comedic entry into the crime world.