Reesa's Movie List for 2013

It's been a tough year for me, so my movie list isn't quite as indulgent as it's been in the past. There's a few remarkable movies, but for the most part, and perhaps it's just my state of mind this year, I'm just finding it hard to be enthusiastic. Hoping 2014 will bring us better entertainment and stop dumbing down with straight to video. There's something magical about sitting in a dark theater and letting the story, performances, music and the filmmaker vision take us on a journey that will stay in our psyche for years to come.

This year my favorite films are (and not in any particular order):
12 Years a Slave
American Hustle
Gravity
Captain Phillips
All is Lost
Much Ado About Nothing
Star Trek: Into Darkness
Starbuck
World War Z
Wolf Children
7 Boxes
Twenty Feet From Stardom

Reesa's Movies for 2013
42
12 Years a Slave
2 Guns
21 & Over
7 Boxes
A Company Man (Hoi-sa-won)
A Good Day to Die Hard
A Hijacking
A Place Beyond the Pines
A.C.O.D.
About Time
Admission
After Earth
Ain't Them Bodies Saints
All is Lost
American Hustle
Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues
August Osage County
Austenland
Azooma
Back to 1942
Baggage Claim
Battle of the Year
Beautiful Creatures
Before Midnight
Big Ass Spider
Black Nativity
Blancanieves
Bless Me. Ultima
Blue Jasmine
Broken City
Bullet to the Head
Byzantium
C.O.G.
Captain Phillips
Champion
Charlie: A Toy Story
Chasing Shakespeare
Closed Circuit
Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs 2
Croods
Crystal Fairy
Dallas Buyers Club
Decoding Annie Parker
Delivery Man
Despicable Me 2
Disconnect
Don Jon
Drinking Buddies
Elysium
Emperor
Ender's Game
Enough Said
Epic
Escape From Planet Earth
Escape From Tomorrow
Evil Dead
Fast & Furious 6
Frances Ha
Free Birds
From Up on Poppy Hill
Frozen
Fruitville Station
G.I.Joe: Retalliation
Gangster Squad
Getaway
Gimme the Power
Ginger and Rosa
Girl Most Likely
God Loves Uganda
Good Ol'Freda
Grandmaster
Gravity
Great Expectations
Grown Ups 2
Grudge Match
Hangover 3
Hansel & Gretel Witch Hunter
Homefront
Hunger Games Catching Fire
I Am Not a Rock Star
Iceberg Slim: A Portrait of a Pimp
Identity Thief
In A World
Inside Llewyn Davis
Insidious Chapter 2
Instructions Not Included
Ip Man: The Final Fight
Iron Man 3
Jack the Giant Slayer
Java Heat
Jobs
Jurassic Park 3D
Kevin Hart: Let Me Explain
Kick Ass 2
Kilimanjaro
Kon-Tiki
Last Vegas
Laurence Anyways
Lee Daniels' The Butler
Lone Survivor
Lord Montagu
Machete Kills
Mama
Man of Steel
Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom
Metallica Through the Never
Midnight's Children
Monsters University
Mortal Instruments: City of Bones
Mr. Nobody
Much Ado About Nothing
Mud
Muscle Shoals
Nebraska
Not Fade Away
Now You See Me
Oblivion
Olympus Has Fallen
One Direction: This is Us
Only Good Forgives
Out of the Furnace
Oz the Great and Powerful
Pacific Rim
Pain & Gain
Paranoia
Parker
Parkland
Percy Jackson: Sea of Monsters
Philomena
Planes
Populaire
Punk Jews
Quartet
R.I.P.D.
Red 2
Riddick
Rising From Ashes
Romeo and Juliet
Room 237
Runner Runner
Rush
Safe Haven
Saving Mr. Banks
Scatter My Ashes at Bergdorfs
Short Term 12
Shrek the Musical
Side Effects
Smurfs 2
Snitch
Stacker
Stand Up Guys
Star Trek: Into Darkness
Starbuck
Still Mine
Stoker
Stories We Tell
Super Buddies
Tai Chi Hero
The Best Man Holiday
The Big Wedding
The Bling Ring
The Book Thief
The Brass Teapot
The Call
The Company You Keep
The Conjuring
The Crash Reel
The Discoverers
The East
The Escape Plan
The Family
The Fifth Estate
The Great Gatsby
The Heat
The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug
The Host
The Incredible Burt Wonderstone
The Internship
The Kings of Summer
The Last Days of Mars
The Last Stand
The Lone Ranger
The Man from the Future
The Purge
The Reluctant Fundamentalist
The Sapphires
The Secret Life of Walter Mitty
The Spectacular Now
The To Do List
The Way Way Back
The Wind Rises
The Wolf of Wall Street
The World's End
This is the End
Thor the Dark World
Tomlinson Hill
Trance
Turbo
Twenty Feet From Stardom
Unfinished Song
Upside Down
Walking With Dinosaurs
Warm Bodies
Warm is the Bluest Color
We Always Lie to Strangers
We Are the Miller
What Maisie Knew
White House Down
Wings of Life
Wolf Children
Wolverine
World War Z
You're Next
Zaytoun
Total = 215

Movies scheduled 12/29-1/4

I hope you had a great Christmas with family and friends.

So hard to believe it is almost 2014. Where did the year go? If you go out to celebrate the new year please be careful.

Not a lot on the movie front this week. Gives you time to catch up on the movies you didn't get passes for or to see some again that you really loved.

If you have any questions feel free to email at damitdaina@hotmail.com



Dec. 29th
Sunday

Dec. 30th
Monday

Dec. 31st
Tuesday

Jan. 1st
Wednesday

Jan. 2nd
Thursday

Paranormal Activity 7:00 pm AMC Valley View
Paranormal Activity 7:00 pm SMG Spring Valley

Jan. 3rd
Friday

Jan. 4th
Saturday

Commitment

Anyone familiar with K-pop will be thrilled to note that Big Bang rapper T.O.P, Choi Seun-hyun, is starring in the South Korean spy thriller directed by Park Hong-soo and written by Kim Soo-young. T.O.P has proved his acting chops having starred in other movies and winning best new actor for his work in 71:Into the Fire. In this dark grim story his natural charisma as a musical idol is damped down to a single stoic expression by the tragic storyline.

Choi who is 26 years old plays 18 year old Myung-hoo who with his sister Hye-in (Kim You-jung) live in a North Korean labor camp after his spy father is killed trying to return home to this kids. Colonel Moon Sang-chul recruits the boy to become an agent by dangling the offer of freedom for him and his sister. Myung-hoo is sent south after some training with some other defectors where he is taken in by some members of a sleeper cell Unit 8. They are long term spies having integrated into society by running a pharmacy. They also launder money which they send north. Since Myung-hoo has his own mission, they basically try and keep out of each other's way. Myung-hoo being 19 now has to attend high school and he's introduced as his cover name Dae-ho. His first friend there is his desk mate who happens to have the same name as his sister Hye-in (Han Ye-ri). She is often bullied in school, and so is Dae-ho being the new kid.

Dae-ho's mission is to track down the Section 35 spy who has been assassinating members of Unit 8. Apparently there's some upheaval in the Pyongyang regime as the old leader is soon to be replaced by his son and the power struggle fuels the war waging between Unit 8 and Section 35. For American audiences this is probably not necessary to understand the particulars to enjoy the film. It's just an interesting concept that normal looking neighbors who run the bakery, butcher, food stands and pharmacies are actually deep sleepers for another government supplying Dae-ho with weapons (a gun in a cake) and intel to complete his mission.

Dae-ho is a competent machine. When he finally lets loose on the school bullies after they harass Hye-in and almost takes down his teacher does he finally get interesting. The change in lifestyles from the North and the South begins to affect Dae-ho. He begins a friendship with Hye-in which as his handlers point out later is the chink in his armor. When he finally realizes there is no going home, he is forced to get his job done in other to free his sister and only thing that drives him to the ultimate decisions.

If this was an American movie, the choice given the Dae-ho would probably be more hopeful and the story would have contained a little bit of humor to lighten the load. Fortunately, it's a South Korean film that doesn't stoop to the easy happy ending. T.O.P still rocks out.
(Review by reesa)

August Osage County

Conjunction Junction What's your dysfunction?  Whatever it may be it is nothing compared to those possessed by the Weston family of August, Osage County. The film, adapted from the Pulitzer Prize winning play of 2007, written by Tracy Letts, explores the unspoken demons, generationally long held and deep- seated resentments of the members of a rural Oklahoma family that is disintegrating before our very eyes. Beverly (Sam Sheperd) and Violet (Meryl Streep, at her very best ever) are the stagnating older parents of three adult daughters who are all leading somewhat unfulfilled lives of their own. Ivy (Julianne Nicholson) is the dutiful, stay near home daughter who checks up on her pill addicted, cancer stricken mother  periodically. She is working towards asserting her independence soon through a secret relationship with a certain family member, mild mannered but maternally berated Charles, Jr. (Benedict Cumberbatch in a poignant portrayal). Daughter Barbara (Julia Roberts) is a strong, opinionated woman who couldn't get away from Oklahoma quickly enough only to find herself raising an independent and free thinking daughter of her own, while dealing with a cheating husband Bill (Ewan McGregor) and disintegrating marriage. Beverly, an alcoholic failed academic and poet, and wife have an "agreement" with their chosen vices of alcohol and pills. The impending course of the film is foreshadowed when Beverly hires a Native American care taker for his wife before a well thought out alcohol bender from which he will not return. The daughters and the weak men in their lives converge back on the plains to join mother as she discovers the circumstances of and begins to deal with the unwelcome change in her life's course. The dysfunctions consume and cling onto all of them like the August heat consumes and permeates the plains of their origins. But they are a family and this place is their home, as we are reminded. As a Midwesterner, where folks rarely air their dirty laundry even among other family members and they would rather die before revealing sordid family secrets, this family portrayal leaves the viewer feeling most unwelcome and uninvited in the voyeuristic viewing. The nuances of acting out such love hate familial relationships are simply stunning to watch unfold.                                      
When the family reunites, all hell breaks loose slowly but surely via a finely choreographed series of events that will leave you in awe at the turns and amazingly solid and impeccable female performances all the way around. There are very few weak performances in the chain. Other than Vi's brother in law Charles (Chris Cooper in a hit out of the park performance) who is the stunned lone voice of reason and stability) most of the male performances are of superficial one dimensional men. The final daughter Karen (Juliette Lewis) has brought her "flavor of the year" fiancée into the melee and all he can do is add his own shocking twist to the drama.    

Along for the wild ride are Vi's sister Mattie (source of a huge shocker) and the housekeeper/cook, Johnna, who watches from afar and spends her time feeding the members and cleaning up after their messes, with a nurturing and protective instinct. This black comedy, in my opinion is a must see, for the performances alone. it's bitingly caustic script shines and the ensemble cast is second to few. . It also is required viewing so we all can come to the realization that our own families will never be as broken and bleeding as the Westons. This viewer was thoroughly pulled in and left stunned in the OKLA red dust after 121 minutes of an F 5 tornado on the warpath. If you are uncomfortable with such a scenario, then this film may not be your cup of tea. No sweet tea served here at this dinner table. Dinner here is a very memorable affair. Fish lunches are too. 
(Review by Cheryl Wurtz)

The Secret Life of Walter Mitty

Ben Stiller is a visionary director but this seems to lack substance. Ben Stiller stars and directs this beautiful looking but average story. It's a feel good movie overall so the message is there but it seems like there could be more. Everyone in the film does a good job as their characters and Ben Stiller does great as Walter Mitty. The cinematography is beautiful to look at and all the locations they went to really look breathtaking. The editing is fine but what this movie feels like is a long travel commercial to these specific locations. I understand the theme and messages of the film in how you should live life and cease moments in your life. That's all fine and dandy but in that regard it felt average but really well shot and the music helps as well. 5/10
(Review by Chase Lee)

Mandela Long Walk to Freedom

Ben Stiller is a visionary director but this seems to lack substance. Ben Stiller stars and directs this beautiful looking but average story. It's a feel good movie overall so the message is there but it seems like there could be more. Everyone in the film does a good job as their characters and Ben Stiller does great as Walter Mitty. The cinematography is beautiful to look at and all the locations they went to really look breathtaking. The editing is fine but what this movie feels like is a long travel commercial to these specific locations. I understand the theme and messages of the film in how you should live life and cease moments in your life. That's all fine and dandy but in that regard it felt average but really well shot and the music helps as well. 5/10
(Review by Chase Lee)

Movies scheduled 12/22-12/28

I want to wish each and everyone a Merry Christmas. I hope you are unlike me and at least have all your shopping done. Hopefully by tomorrow I will be done.

There are no movies this week so I hope everyone has a great week.

ALAMO 100

Alamo Richardson Special Programming:
ALAMO 100:
Essential films chosen by Alamo programmers
start screening January 2014



Dallas – December 19, 2013—Alamo Drafthouse unveils its list of 100 favorite films, the "Alamo 100," as chosen by the theater's national film programmers based in Austin. Beginning in January 2014, Alamo – Richardson (100 S. Central Expressway #14, Richardson, TX 75080—http://drafthouse.com/dfw/richardson) will start screening films throughout the year from this non-ranked list of essentials—Alamo100.com.

And just what is the Alamo 100?
Our local programmer, James Wallace describes the list best: “There's the AFI 100, Sight & Sound Top 100, the IMDb 250; those are nothing like the Alamo 100! The thing I love about this list is it's one for movie lovers by movie lovers, very much our approach as a theater and our programming as a whole. It carries no pretension. It is and isn't a cult list, a classic list, an art snob, an indie list, a popcorn blockbuster list, a guilty pleasure list... it's really all of those things at the same time, comprised of the films that we would take with us if we had to live alone on an island and could only take 100 movies to watch over and over for the rest of our lives. Simply put, its movies we can't live without and can't live with not making sure you see them too!"

According to Alamo’s national programmers
A quick glance at the Alamo 100 reveals the incredible diversity of taste on the national programming team, which consists of Tim League, RJ LaForce, Greg MacLennan, Sarah Pitre, Tommy Swenson, and Joe Ziemba.

“In the end, it all boiled down to the fact that we just love the hell out of movies. And so this list is defined, not by filmmaking genius or cultural impact, but by the space reserved in our hearts,” says Sarah Pitre, national programmer based in Austin. “The Alamo 100 encompasses the movies that we wore out on VHS, the films our friends are sick of hearing us rave about, the cinematic gems that feel like living, breathing members of our family. This is a list that reminds us why we fell in love with cinema in the first place, and why the magic of that romance will never fade.”


In order to generate the Alamo 100, each programmer was given the Herculean task of paring down his or her own list to just 100 favorites. These titles were then compiled and ranked based on two factors: 1) their rank on each programmer's list, and 2) the number of times the title appeared on more than one list.


January’s entries
The Alamo 100 launches this January at Alamo in Richardson with eight titles that capture the spirit of this list:
—RAGING BULL (1980) – January 5
—MONTY PYTHON AND THE HOLY GRAIL (1975) – January 9
—BRAZIL (1985) – January 12
—CITY LIGHTS (1931) – January 19
—RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK (1981) – January 22
—THE GOONIES (1985) – January 23
—SIXTEEN CANDLES (1984) – January 28
—DR. STRANGELOVE OR: HOW I LEARNED TO STOP WORRYING AND LOVE THE BOMB (1964) – January 29

Explore the full list as well as view the programmers' individual lists:
Alamo100.com.


About the Alamo Drafthouse Cinema:
The Alamo Drafthouse is a lifestyle entertainment brand with an acclaimed cinema-eatery, the largest genre film festival in the United Sates and an online collectible art store. Named “the best theater in America” by Entertainment Weekly, the Alamo Drafthouse Cinema has built a reputation as a movie lover’s oasis not only by combining food and drink service with the movie-going experience but also introducing unique programming and high profile, star studded special events.

*Please note: Some dates subject to change. Always check http://drafthouse.com/dfw/richardson for up-to-date showtimes and tickets.

Anchorman 2 The Legend Continues

My face was hurting by the end of this. I haven't laughed this much since This is the End. Director Adam McKay (also of the first) knows how to let his actors and actress really explore with their characters and endorses improv. The jokes and the timing of them feel natural and, to be honest, that's what keeps the movie going on it's two hour run time. The four main characters are bumbling idiots but that why we love them. Steve Carrell as Brick was the best part of the first one and gets more screen time here and he makes the most of it. He was the funniest part especially when he had Kristen Wiig on his side. Will Ferrell and the rest do their thing and it feels like the gang got back together after almost ten years. That was the actual span between the first and second movie. With it's two hour runtime, it does drag in a few parts but immediately picks up with its charm and wit. There is also a message in the film about the news and I was shocked. I really didn't think a film like this would have some commentary to it but it and it worked. The first half was funny but the second half was even funnier. If you enjoy the first one you will like this one. If you like stupid, ridiculous, and childish humor you will like this. For me personally I enjoyed the first one a lot and I really like this one. The humor maybe weird and stupid but both Anchorman's pull it off well and I can't lie and say I didn't have a good time and wasn't entertained. My second favorite comedy this year behind This is the End. 8/10
(Review by Chase Lee)

American Hustle

Very loosely based on the FBI ABSCAM operation of the late 70's and early 80's, director's David O. Russell's new film which he wrote with Eric Warren Singer is probably one of the best films of the year. The credits proclaim that “Some of this actually happened”, although one wonders what parts are they talking about because it's so far out there and so much is going on and it's absolutely glorious.

Christian Bale is notorious for making physical choices of his characters that are extreme. As Irving Rosenfeld a fictionalized character of the real life con man Melvin Weinberg, he sports a huge gut with a scary comb over toupee held together by glue and hairspray. He may be a schlub, but he makes up for it in confidence and style. He's worked his way up in the world by grifts and scams while being a respectable business man who owns a glass store he inherited from his dad and a string of dry cleaners. He meets the love of life Sydney Prosser (Amy Adams) who used to be a stripper but has big dreams for herself and is not afraid of going after it. She sees a kindred spirit in Irving and is willing to work with him on his latest con which is collecting a fee for setting up loans that never pan out. She creates a character called Edith, a countess from England who has banking connections. They charge $5000 to people who they convince they can get them a 50K loan. They do so well that they get a bigger better office, nice clothes, cars and the attention of FBI agent Richie DiMaso (Bradley Cooper). Richie threatens to bust them unless Irving works for them showing them how to set up a con to catch some bigger fish.

The big fish involves the New Jersey mayor of Camden Carmine Polito (Jeremy Renner) who dreams of doing good for his community. He's baited with Arab Sheik who wants to invest in creating a casino gambling mecca. Carmine is reeled in by Irving who knows how to work a mark. Except he's somewhat confused with he begins to develop a real friendship with Carmine who naively believes in Irving. He invites Irving and his wife Rosalyn (Jennifer Lawrence) to dinner. Irving marred Ros and adopted her son who he truly loves. Irving can't seem to say no to the women in his life. That doesn't work well for Edith/Sydney who plays Richie as a plan B in case the job goes south. Richie is getting too involved with the job seeing it as a way to get the Mafia in the net when they come looking to maybe investing too.

There's a lot going on in this movie and it's dressed in bad fashion choices from the time period. The women are draped in polyester dresses that leave little to the imagination barely covering their assets. The men are sporting really bad hair with Carmines pompadour and Richie's perms. The east coast accents layer it on with everyone shouting and talking at the same time. Louis C.K. As Richie's FBI boss is notable in his moments trying to reign in his out of control agent by trying to tell him a fishing story anecdote that he never gets to finish. Alessandro Nivola is their big boss who lets Richie run with the con and Robert De Niro as a dangerous mafia leader have small but worthy parts. In fact all the performances are amazing and once more Jennifer Lawrence steals her screen time. It may be sloppy and overlong but you won't feel fleeced.
(Review by reesa)

Walking With Dinosaurs

BBC Earth had a 1999 television documentary miniseries that movie is named after, directed by Neil Nightingale and Barry Cook, with a script by John Collee. It's set in the Late Cretaceous period 70 million years ago. The computer animated dinosaurs were added to the live action backdrop that was filmed on location in Alaska and New Zealand.

Alex (John Leguizamo) is a Alexomis bird that narrates the story about a three Pachyrhinosaurus who are Patchi (Justin Long), his brother Scowler (Skyler Stone) and their love interest Juniper (Tiya Sircar). The brothers are hatched on the mating grounds and Patchi is the more adventurous of the nest. He gets into trouble and ends up putting a hole in his head shield. It also makes it easier to tell who he is amongst the identical siblings. His brother is tougher and believes he will follow his father as the leader of the herd. Every winter the herd moves south and it's a huge change for the young dinosaurs. They meet up with dangerous carnivores, natural disasters, and personal tragedies. The characters go from young to full size in the story until they have to eventually fulfill their destinies in a predictable plot that is guaranteed to offer life lessons on growing up.

This movie is just perfect for those 10 year old dinosaur nerds who know all the correct spelling and pronunciations. The film helpfully adds factoids to each of the creatures featured. The animation is quite detailed and natural lending to the experience of when giants roamed the earth. The filmmakers wisely didn't make the animated characters “cute and cuddly”. Although they did made the characters slightly anthropomorphized to attract the younger kids but still retained a realistic version by not having the creatures smile or be humanized. Their mouths don't move to the dialogue as if it's the thoughts of the animals which is still aimed at the younger audience. The original plan was to make a stand alone virtual silent movie where you can turn off the soundtrack and still know what's going on. Interesting that they used Fleetwood Mac's “Tusk” for the migration sequence.

This is the perfect movie to give to kids when you have a day to kill during the holidays. It would make and even better TV series and the merchandising tie-ins will be on your store shelves or fast food kids meals. It's a visual treat for the parents so you won't be totally bored.
(Review by reesa)

Inside Llewyn Davis

Directors Joel Coen and Ethan Coen are know for their quirky films like O Brother, Where Art Thou and The Big Lebowski and dark dramas like No Country for Old Men. So it's a wonder why their new project about a folk singers in the early 60's New York coffee houses should feel so disconnected. There's nothing likable about their main character and the excellent cast populated in this feature flit in and out of scenes never to be seen again.

Llewyn Davis (Oscar Isaac) is a sad sack of a folk singer. He's admittingly not a nice guy who taunts his friends, lies, heckles other performers, uses people and sings depressing songs. He once was part of a duo that had put out a record. But his partner threw himself off the George Washington Bridge. As once character says, why not the Brooklyn Bridge? Davis sleeps on one couch to another hauling his guitar from place to place, playing for the pass around baskets in Greenwich Village clubs. At one point he lets out the cat from one crash pad and has to carry it around until the people get home. Of course he loses it. His friends Jim (Justin Timberlake) and Jean (Carey Mulligan) are also performers who had tried to help him out. But Jean is livid at him because she things Davis got her pregnant and reads him the riot act. Davis offers to pay for an abortion. Apparently he's done this before.

Davis's record company which is a little old couple in a run down office building have not sold his last recording and don't have any money for him. He hears about this one promoter in Chicago and hitches a ride with Roland Turner (John Goodman), a drugged out jazz musician spouting odd stories from the back seat. The promoter Bud Grossman (F. Murray Abraham) was not encouraging telling him to get back with is old partner. He goes back to New York.

This is the week in the life of this one guy. The movie doesn't really go anywhere, just setting up odd situations for Davis as he stumbles through life being his own worst enemy. The best part of the film is the music. They don't cut away for dialogue during the performance and the music is played all the way through. Isaac's voice is powerful and emotional. It shows that although Davis is a loser in his personal life, he's a talented musician. And maybe his luck would change when Dylan hits the folk scene (as briefly hinted at the end) and he gets his life together. The movie has gained some attention by winning the Grand Prix at the Cannes Film Festival and is on may reviewers top 10 lists. Perhaps this reviewer is not as patient.
(Review by reesa)

Saving Mr. Banks

Who knew that the 1964 Disney classic childrens film Mary Poppins had such a difficult development? Most people only remember the catching tunes like a “Spoonful of Sugar” and “Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious". The movie was based on a popular book series by P. L. Travers about a magical nanny who helps a dysfunctional family in London almost was not made because the author was reticent about signing over the rights. Director John Lee Hancock (The Blindside) and writers Kelly Marcel and Sue Smith tells the story of Mrs. Travers meeting with Walt Disney as he tries to convince her of his vision.

Mrs. Travers (Emma Thompson) as she insists at being addressed as, has been refusing Walt Disney's attempts to make of movie of her film. Her literary manager encourages her to at least visit Disney as she is basically broke and needs the money to keep her beloved house in England. The fastidious Mrs. Travers arrives in LA complaining it smells like “chlorine and sweat”. Her assigned driver Ralph (Paul Giamatti) takes a whiff and doesn't get it. Meeting Disney (Tom Hanks) who tells everyone to call him Walt rubs Mrs. Travers the wrong way by calling her Pamela. He introduces him to his team, writer Don (Bradley Whitford) and composers Richard (Jason Schwartzman) and Robert (B.J. Novak) who are thrilled to have her on board. Mrs. Travers demands that they go over the script word by word with all their sessions being recorded. At the end of the movie a part of those sessions is played so y'all will realize that all this stuff actually happened.

In between the creating of the Mary Poppins the movie, there are flashbacks (a few too many) to Mrs. Travers difficult childhood in Queensland, Australia living with her alcoholic father, her ever suffering mom and her little sister. Her beloved father (Colin Farrell) encouraged her imagination that inspired Mr. Banks the patriarch in her story. It serves to explain why she wants to hold on to her story and not give in to Disneys interpretation that included animated penguins. Of course some of her demands are arbitrary and unreasonable like demanding no color red in the film.

Emma Thompson is as always spot on with her fidgety and cranky Travers. Her constant commentary fussing about everything from the donuts and snacks laid out for the writing sessions, to throwing the pears from the hotel gift basket into the swimming pool reveals a woman tightly wound. Hanks also vies for another Oscar nom with his Disney that sounds just like those moments on the TV show introductions with Mickey. Of course the music encourages one to go rent the original movie just revisit and see what all the fuss was about. And the magic of Disney slowly chipping away at the heart of Mrs Travers is what saves Mr. Banks.
(Review by reesa)

Movies scheduled 12/15-12/21

I may get boo'ed for this but please don't take small children to the movies. Sure your baby's voice is so cute but not during the whole movie. Yes if it is a kids movie we expect to hear the kids but this wasn't a kids movie.

If you are sick, please stay home. We don't want to get sick or gag from the noises you will make.

Lastly one person per seat. Your child over six doesn't need to be sitting in your lap.



Dec. 15th
Sunday

Dec. 16th
Monday

American Hustle 7:30 pm AMC Northpark

Dec. 17th
Tuesday

Inside Llewyn Davis 7:30 pm Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth
Grudge Match 7:30 pm Cinemark West Plano
August Osage County 7:30 pm Angelika Dallas
Anchorman 2 8:30 pm AMC Northpark

Dec. 18th
Wednesday

The Wolf of Wall Street 7:30pm Angelika Dallas
Grudge Match 7:30 pm AMC Northpark
Lone Survivor 7:30 pm Angelika Dallas

Dec. 19th
Thursday

The Secret Life of Walter Mitty 7:30 pm AMC Northpark
Yojimbo 7:30 pm Angelika Dallas

Dec. 20th
Friday

Dec. 21st
Saturday

71st Golden Globe Awards 2014: Nominees Announced

http://www.goldenglobes.com/


FILM


Best Motion Picture – Drama
"12 Years A Slave"
"Captain Phillips"
"Gravity"
"Philomena"
"Rush"

Best Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy
"American Hustle"
"Her"
"Inside Llewyn Davis"
"Nebraska"
"The Wolf Of Wall Street"


Best Actor – Motion Picture Drama
Chiwetel Ejiofor, "12 Years A Slave"
Idris Elba, "Mandela: Long Walk To Freedom"
Tom Hanks, "Captain Phillips"
Matthew McConaughey, "Dallas Buyers Club"
Robert Redford, "All Is Lost"

Best Actor – Motion Picture Musical or Comedy
Christian Bale, "American Hustle"
Bruce Dern, "Nebraska"
Leonardo DiCaprio, "The Wolf of Wall Street"
Oscar Isaac, "Inside Llewyn Davis"
Joaquin Phoenix, "Her"

Best Actress – Motion Picture Drama
Cate Blanchett, "Blue Jasmine"
Sandra Bullock, "Gravity"
Judi Dench, "Philomena"
Emma Thompson, "Saving Mr. Banks"
Kate Winslet, "Labor Day"

Best Actress – Motion Picture Musical or Comedy
Amy Adams, "American Hustle"
Julie Delpy, "Before Midnight"
Greta Gerwig, "Frances Ha"
Julia Louis-Dreyfus, "Enough Said"
Meryl Streep, "August: Osage County"

Best Supporting Actor
Barkhad Abdi, "Captain Phillips"
Daniel Bruhl, "Rush"
Bradley Cooper, "American Hustle"
Michael Fassbender, "12 Years A Slave"
Jared Leto, "Dallas Buyers Club"

Best Supporting Actress
Sally Hawkins, "Blue Jasmine"
Jennifer Lawrence, "American Hustle"
Lupita Nyong'o, "12 Years A Slave"
Julia Roberts, "August: Osage County"
June Squibb, "Nebraska"

Best Director
Alfonso Cuaron, "Gravity"
Paul Greengrass, "Captain Phillips"
Steve McQueen, "12 Years A Slave"
Alexander Payne, "Nebraska"
David O. Russell, "American Hustle"

Best Screenplay
Spike Jonze, "Her"
Bob Nelson, "Nebraska"
Jeff Pope and Steve Coogan, "Philomena"
John Ridley, "12 Years A Slave"
Eric Warren Singer and David O. Russell, "American Hustle"

Best Original Score
"All Is Lost"
"Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom"
"Gravity"
"The Book Thief"
"12 Years A Slave"

Best Original Song
"Atlas," Coldplay ("The Hunger Games: Catching Fire")
"Let It Go," Idina Menzel ("Frozen")
"Ordinary Love," U2 ("Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom")
"Please Mr. Kennedy," Oscar Isaac, Justin Timberlake and Adam Driver ("Inside Llewyn Davis")
"Sweeter Than Fiction," Taylor Swift ("One Chance")

Best Foreign Language Film
"Blue is the Warmest Color"
"The Great Beauty"
"The Hunt"
"The Past"
"The Wind Rises"

Best Animated Feature Film
"The Croods"
"Despicable Me 2"
"Frozen"


TELEVISION

Best Drama Series
"Breaking Bad"
"Downton Abbey"
"The Good Wife"
"House of Cards"
"Masters of Sex"

Best Actor in a Television Drama Series
Bryan Cranston, "Breaking Bad"
Liev Schreiber, "Ray Donovan"
Michael Sheen, "Masters of Sex"
Kevin Spacey, "House of Cards"
James Spader, "The Black List"

Best Actress in a Television Drama Series
Julianna Margulies, "The Good Wife"
Tatiana Maslany, "Orphan Black"
Taylor Schilling, "Orange is the New Black"
Kerry Washington, "Scandal"
Robin Wright, "House of Cards"

Best Comedy Series
"The Big Bang Theory"
"Brooklyn 99"
"Girls"
"Modern Family"
"Parks and Recreation"

Best Actor in a Television Comedy Series
Jason Bateman, "Arrested Development"
Don Cheadle, "House of Lies"
Michael J. Fox, "The Michael J. Fox Show"
Jim Parsons, "The Big Bang Theory"
Andy Samberg, "Brooklyn 99"

Best Actress in a Television Comedy Series
Zooey Deschanel, "New Girl"
Lena Dunham, "Girls"
Edie Falco, "Nurse Jackie"
Julia Louis-Dreyfus, "Veep"
Amy Poehler, "Parks and Recreation"

Best Mini-Series or Motion Picture made for Television
"American Horror Story: Coven"
"Behind the Candelabra"
"Dancing on the Edge"
"Top of the Lake"
"White Queen"

Best Actor in a Mini-Series or Motion Picture made for Television
Matt Damon, "Behind the Candelabra"
Michael Douglas, "Behind the Candelabra"
Chiwetel Ejiofor, "Dancing on the Edge"
Idris Elba, "Luther"
Al Pacino, "Phil Spector"

Best Actress in a Mini-Series or Motion Picture made for Television
Helena Bonham Carter, "Burton and Taylor"
Rebecca Ferguson, "The White Queen"
Jessica Lange, "American Horror Story: Coven"
Helen Mirren, "Phil Spector"
Elisabeth Moss, "Top of the Lake"

Best Supporting Actor in a Series, Mini-Series or Motion Picture made for Television
Josh Charles, "The Good Wife"
Rob Lowe, "Behind the Candelabra"
Aaron Paul, "Breaking Bad"
Corey Stoll, "House of Cards"
Jon Voight, "Ray Donovan"

Best Supporting Actress in a Series, Mini-Series or Motion Picture made for Television
Jacqueline Bisset, "Dancing on the Edge"
Janet McTeer, "White Queen"
Hayden Panettiere, "Nashville"
Monica Potter, "Parenthood"
Sofia Vergara, "Modern Family"

The Hobbit: Desolation of Smaug

This is the year of sequels. Desolation of Smaug is the follow up to last years Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey. I will keep this review short only because Peter Jackson has made five of these, with one more on the way, so he should know what he is doing by now. Peter Jackson directs another beautiful, rich story in the place of Middle Earth. Could have there been some parts cut out? Sure, it does seem a bit long but overall it's still intriguing to see where these characters are going. I was invested from the gorgeous cinematography, special effects and fantastic story. The acting is on point as I thought, as well as the first, Martin Freeman who plays Bilbo is better in this one and really hones in on the character. He is also more of a badass in this one than the first. I like the first one but I loved this one and as usual Peter Jackson left it on a cliffhanger and have to wait another year for the last one. I have never read the book but I love the movies. This one is an epic, beautiful and rich adventure that would really tickle any fantasy itch that anyone has. You like the first? Go see it. You were underwhemled by the first? Then I think you will like the second one better as I did. What a great grand blockbuster in the middle of this terrible winter. 8/10
(Review by Chase Lee)

20 Feet From Stardom at the 100th Rose Bowl Game

THE WOMEN from the hit film ‘20 feet from stardom’ to PERFORM national anthem at HISTORIC 100TH ROSE BOWL GAME ON JANUARY 1, 2014

PERFORMANCE MARKS ONLY TIME IN GAME’S HISTORY THAT NATIONAL ANTHEM WILL BE SUNG BY AN ARTIST(S) RATHER THAN
A PARTICIPATING TEAM’S BAND


New York, NY (December 8, 2013) – RADiUS announced today that Merry Clayton, Lisa Fischer, Judith Hill and Darlene Love who star in the company’s Oscar® shortlisted documentary 20 FEET FROM STARDOM, will kick off pre-game festivities at the 100th Rose Bowl Game with a special performance of the “Star-Spangled Banner” on January 1, 2014.

This marks the only known time in the game’s 100 year history that the national anthem will be performed by artist(s) rather than a Rose Bowl Game participating team’s band.

Directed by Morgan Neville, 20 FEET FROM STARDOM, spotlights the untold stories of backup singers behind some of the greatest musical legends of the 21st century such as Bruce Springsteen, Stevie Wonder, Mick Jagger and Sting. Having opened in June, 20 FEET FROM STARDOM is still on ten screens with a box office total to date of $4,777,016.

Clayton lent her voice to a number of major performing artists during the 1960s with her most notable performance being a duet with Mick Jagger on the Rolling Stones’ song, "Gimme Shelter." She began her career on Bobby Darin’s “Who Can I Count On,” which led to legendary Lou Adler signing her in 1970 and her debut solo album, Gimme Shelter. As an actress, Clayton appeared in the films BLAME IT ON THE NIGHT and MAID TO ORDER. Currently, she is putting the finishing touches on her long-anticipated new CD.

Fischer rose to fame in 1991 with her debut album, So Intense, which produced the Grammy Award–winning hit single, "How Can I Ease the Pain." Prior to her solo career, she began as a backup singer for a number of famous artists, including Luther Vandross for 22 years and Tina Turner on her Twenty Four Seven Tour, the top-grossing worldwide tour of 2000. Fischer has also toured with the Rolling Stones since 1989. In 2013, she joined the rock band Nine Inch Nails, as a backing vocalist for their Tension 2013 tour.

Hill, Sony Music recording artist, has been praised by Rolling Stone for her "stellar powerhouse vocals." In addition to penning and performing her own material, Hill has backed artists such as Stevie Wonder, Elton John and the late Michael Jackson. She was also a contestant on season four of “The Voice”. She contributed backing vocals to three tracks on Josh Groban’s latest chart topping album, All That Echoes, and opened for Groban on his Fall 2013 In The Round arena tour. Judith is currently in the studio working on her debut.

Since the early 1960s, Love has done it all - from major motion pictures like the highly successful LETHAL WEAPON series to Broadway hits like Hairspray and Grease and even appearing in numerous television shows. Her background vocals for The Blossoms, The Crystals, The Righteous Brothers, Dionne Warwick, Marvin Gaye and Elvis Presley, set the stage for her emergence as a star in her own right. In 2011, Love received the industry’s highest award when she was inducted in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.


ABOUT RADiUS-TWC
RADiUS-TWC is the boutique label from the Weinstein Company (TWC) and the first studio division dedicated to both multi-platform VOD and theatrical distribution. Utilizing both traditional and digital media, RADiUS-TWC brings the highest quality films and other specialty entertainment to a wider audience than ever before. Founded and led by Tom Quinn and Jason Janego, the label continues to develop innovative distribution strategies to make marquee content available to consumers where, when and how they want it. The label’s inaugural slate included such films as BACHELORETTE (the first multi-platform film to hit #1 on iTunes and the only multi-platform release to ever reach #4 for top Cable VOD performers) and Cannes competition entry ONLY GOD FORGIVES directed by Nicolas Winding Refn and starring Ryan Gosling and Kristen Scott Thomas. Recent releases include: Morgan Neville's audience favorite and the highest grossing documentary of 2013, 20 FEET FROM STARDOM; Rob Epstein and Jeffrey Friedman’s LOVELACE; Zachary Heinzerling’s CUTIE AND THE BOXER (Sundance U.S. Documentary Directing Award), Jacob Kornbluth’s INEQUALITY FOR ALL (Sundance U.S. Documentary Special Jury Award); Jonathan Levine's long awaited horror debut ALL THE BOYS LOVE MANDY LANE; Stacie Passon's CONCUSSION and Keanu Reeves’ directorial debut – MAN OF TAI CHI in which he also stars. In 2014, RADiUS’ slate features (among others): BLUE RUIN (winner of the FIPRESCI International Critics Prize at the Cannes Film Festival), Errol Morris’ THE UNKNOWN KNOWN, Mike Myers’ directorial debut – SUPERMENSCH: THE LEGEND OF SHEP GORDON and Alexandre Aja’s HORNS starring Daniel Radcliffe both of which premiered at this year’s Toronto.

Movies Scheduled for 12/8-12/14

Ok for all the newbies out there you need to go ahead a sign up for the Angelika and Studio Movie Grill newsletter. I know the Angelika puts theirs on facebook. If you don't want facebook that is your choice but some codes are only on facebook. We do post to our facebook group page before sending out emails.


Please remember I don't have a stock pile of movie passes. So emailing me and telling me what movies you want to see won't get you passes. Now if you post to the group someone with extra passes may offer them to you.


Now remember to always look at the location of the movie and know what you are willing to drive. Don't go grabbing passes to a city that is way to far from you.


Please use your best judgment if the roads are icy. We don't want anyone to get hurt.

I do make mistakes so if I say a movie is on one day and your ticket says another. I would go by what the ticket says.


See you at the movies



Sunday
Dec. 8th


Monday
Dec. 9th.

Saving Mr. Banks 7:30 pm AMC Northpark
White Christmas 7:30 pm Angelika Dallas


Tuesday
Dec. 10th

The Secret Life of Walter Mitty 7:30 pm TBA
The Hobbit: Desolation of Smaug 7:30 pm AMC Northpark
The Hobbit: Desolation of Smaug 7:30 pm Cinemark West Plano
Saving Mr. Banks 7:30 pm Cinemark Rave Ridgmar

Wednesday
Dec. 11th

Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom 7:30 pm Angelika Dallas
Grudge Match 7:30 pm TBA
The Secret Life of Walter Mitty 7:30 pm AMC Northpark
Saving Mr. Banks 7:30 pm Cinemark West Plano

Thursday
Dec. 12th

The Secret Life of Walter Mitty 7:30 pm TBA
Inside Llewyn Davis 7:30 pm Magnolia
Lone Survivor 7:30 pm Studio Movie Grill Spring Valley

Friday
Dec. 13th

Paranormal Activity: The Marked Ones 10 pm Studio Movie Grill Spring Valley

Saturday
Dec. 14th

Walking with Dinosaurs 10 am AMC northpark

Movies scheduled 12/1-12/7

I hope everyone had an awesome Thanksgiving and didn't over eat. :)

This week is kind of lite on movies. Maybe you can catch up on some that you missed out on.

Don't forget to check out our reviews on the homepage.





As always you can email me any questions you have damitdaina@hotmail.com.

See you at the movies

December 1st

Sunday



December 2nd
Monday



December 3rd
Tuesday

Grudge Match 7:30 pm Cinemark West Plano





December 4th
Wednesday

Lone Survivor 7:30 pm Angelika Dallas
47 Ronin 4:00pm Cinemark West Plano
Saving Mr. Banks 7:30 pm AMC Northpark







December 5th
Thursday

Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues 7:30 pm





December 6th
Friday



December 7th
Saturday