BREAKING: Spider Man to officially become a part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe!

The Spider has finally returned home: Sony Pictures and Marvel Studios have just announced a partnership that will allow Spider-Man to join tthe Marvel Cinematic Universe.

Under the conditions of the new partnership, Spider-Man will begin to appear in the Marvel Cinematic Universe at an unspecified time, but that it will be prior to 2017, so I would not be surprised in the slightest if he showed up starting with Captain America: Civil War, as he is an integral part of that story.

 In addition to the character appearing in films set in the MCU, Kevin Feige and Marvel Studios will co-produce the next installment in the Spider-Man franchise with Amy Pascal and Sony Pictures, which is due for release on July 28, 2017. However, Pascal and Sony Pictures will distribute, finance, own, and have final creative say over the Spider-Man franchise.

Sony and Marvel Studios are also exploring options that will allow characters from the MCU to appear in future Spider-Man films.

OK, so I think I'm going to be stating the obvious when I say that this deal is HUGE. For years, since the MCU began, many have been clamoring for Spidey to join Iron Man, Captain America, Hulk, Thor, etc. After the underperforming The Amazing Spider Man 2, this could not come at a better time.

While the idea of Sony and Marvel teaming up to produce Spider-Man films was leaked during the Sony scandal last year, many, including myself, thought it might have been rumors, part of a deal that fell through. I'm also amazed that while Marvel will co-produce the films and add the character into the universe, Sony retains final creative say. I don't know how Feige managed to pull this deal off, but it's going to pay off greatly.

My only concern is that Andrew Garfield will be out as Spidey. It would be a shame if this were to happen, as his performance as the web slinger is one of the best parts of the reboot series. I have a feeling that he will be replaced but I hope that this is not the case. This is perhaps the biggest worry I have out of this deal.

I will keep you guys updated as the story develops, but for now, I'll ask: What are your thoughts on Spidey joining the MCU? Are you happy? Or do you think he should be kept separate from that world? Sound off in the comments below! If you want to receive any updates on this story as it develops, follow me on Twitter @filmfan108!

For the official press release on this story from Marvel, click HERE.

UPDATE: After rereading the press release, I noticed the term, "new Spider-Man" used in the press release. This can only mean that Andrew Garfield is out as Spider-Man. An absolute shame really, as I thought he was much better at the role than Tobey Maguire did. Whoever the new Spider-Man will be however, I look upon hearing it with great interest!

Jupiter Ascending Review: A Spectacular Misfire from the Wachowskis

Oh Jupiter Ascending....I had such high hopes for you.

You had this really awesome idea for a an old story, a woman that faces her destiny, and gave it a new twist that stood out amongst so many sequels and reboots and adaptations. A concept that seemed like a perfect fit for The Wachowskis, who are known for such unique and admittedly interesting ideas (see: The Matrix, adapting Cloud Atlas AND Speed Racer, the latter of which, in the last few years, has become a guilty pleasure of mine.) Was I worried that the film might have an issue after being pushed back from July to February? Of course I did, yet I still held out hope, hope that this would be a major comeback for The Wachowskis and that I was going to be treated to a visually appealing, action packed story about a young woman who comes face to face with her destiny.

Well....only half of that happened but man was this a bad one.

Jupiter Ascending is the latest outing from brother-sister directing duo The Wachowskis. Jupiter Jones (Mila Kunis) is a young woman who immigrated from Russia with her family and now cleans toilets for a living. One night, a group of strange alien creatures begin to attack her until she is whisked away by Caine Wise (Channing Tatum), a soldier spliced with wolf DNA who takes her away to safety. As it turns out, Earth is nothing more than a farm for the House of Abrasax, a mighty alien dynasty who harvests humans to create a type of youth serum to keep them young forever. Jupiter is the reincarnation of the matriarch of the Abrasax family. The eldest member, Balem (Eddie Redmayne), soon puts a bounty on her head and will do whatever it takes in order to make sure she does not take Earth away from him.

So, if you've seen my 15 Anticipated Films of 2015 post, you'll know that this film was rather high on the list (it was in the Top 10). As mentioned previously, the film's premise stood out amongst a sea of sequels, reboots, adaptations and remakes. It also felt like the Wachowskis, after adapting Speed Racer and Cloud Atlas, were going to come back with the kind of original story that put them on the map in the first place.

Unfortunately, while some of the basic ideas are interesting and the visuals are flat out amazing, it can't be saved by really bad writing in the story as well as some terrible performances from the main cast.

While Mila Kunis is likeable in the role, she never feels of much substance in terms of character development. Sure, we get brief moments in which she wants money to buy a telescope her late scientist father owned as it reminds her of him and she slowly comes into her own as this reincarnated queen, but for most of the time, she's either looking in astonishment at the events around her or falling off things.....quite a few times actually. Channing Tatum does not fare much better, as he is also doing one of three things: taking his shirt off, growling at people (yes....growling), and taking part in the many, MANY action scenes. Honestly, Tatum HAS proven to be a very good actor in other films, it's just here he does not have the ability to display that. Sean Bean is probably the best actor in the film as Caine's charming rogue type comrade, but unfortunately, he's put off to the sidelines way too much.

But, by far, the worst performance I have seen in the film comes courtesy of Eddie Redmayne as Balem. Oh God, where do I start with this one? This performance is on the level of Mr. Freeze bad. Remember the knight in Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade who said, in a very hushed whisper, that Indy, "had chosen....wisely?" Yeah imagine that performances.....but stretched to a little over two hours. I don't understand why Redmayne decided to give his character a quiet, barely audible whisper only to have him occasionally start yelling for no other reason other than...dramatic tension. Will this hurt his Oscar chances? More than likely not, as he's still a major front runner next to Michael Keaton. But this certainly wasn't exactly a best choice after playing Stephen Hawking.

The only thing I can say about this film positively is that the film, visually, is VERY well done. The film was originally supposed to come out July of last year but the filmmakers pushed it to February, citing the need to want to polish and work on the visual effects and it definitely shows. The design of the worlds outside of Earth as well as the ships and costumes are most impressive. If there is anything the Wachowskis still know how to do, it's have an incredibly visual eye for design. And some of the fight scenes, particularly the ones that make use of Caine's hover shoes, are occasionally impressive....for the first few times then it becomes almost redundant.

However, some of these designs, do at times, look down right silly. There are example such as Redmayne's costumes, the soldier design, dinosaur people, and Jupiter's wedding dress (you've seen it in the trailer, it's the cherry tree come to life essentially). Half of the time I'm oohing in surprise at the design, but other times, I'm just chuckling at them as well.

Finally, there IS a great story in here somewhere, but the Wachowskis never reach that full potential. This is not the first time they have done this. It's just that the story presented in the world itself either a). is rather incomprehensible to follow (so Jupiter can claim Earth even though Balem claims it so now the other two siblings of Balem want her to also try to claim Earth and try to do that in various ways and then Caine himself was a former soldier who hates royalty....yeah you get the idea) or just downright ridiculous (*MINOR SPOILERS FOLLOW) such as when they realize she's royalty....because the bees around Sean Bean's house can sense royalty.....the story had so much potential, but ultimately, it feels wasted.

And that's what Jupiter Ascending feels like, to be honest: wasted potential. While the visuals are, for the most part, impressive, the film is bogged down by incredibly wooden characters, a goofy villain, and a story that either goes from silly to incomprehensible. A shame, because there is a good movie somewhere in here and this could have been a fun time. With this film, it feels as if The Wachowskis took a major step backwards rather than forwards.

GRADE: D
So what about you, fellow film lovers? Were you excited to see Jupiter Ascending? Or are you not surprised that it came off as bad as the trailers made it look? Sound off in the comments below! And for more film fun, follow me on Twitter @filmfan108!

Fantastic Four Trailer Review: Impressive first look, but some hesitation remains.

Since it was first announced, the Fantastic Four reboot has been getting quite the bit of negative press even before a single official still has been released. We've seen leaked behind the scenes photos, heard about reshoots and other production problems (, and heard of reveals about new character origins (Dr. Doom is an angry blogger....it feels weird typing that sentence). But we've never seen first look at any of the footage shown.....until now.

Today, Fox and Marvel finally dropped the first look at the new reboot, and it looks very different compared to what we have seen before from Marvel's First Family. Check it out below!

 

This trailer gives me a lot of mixed emotions to it. On the one hand, this already looks loads better than the two Tim Story directed films we received in 2005 and 2007. I appreciate that we are going in a much more serious tone compared to the last two films, and definitely focusing on more of the science and cosmic side rather than just straight up comedic elements. I'm also really interested in a lot of what the story will be, and just to see what variations will be made from their origins (already we seem to be going to other dimensions rather than just outright space).

Also, the film looks beautiful. The cinematography is drop dead gorgeous and just really pretty to look at. Director Josh Trank, who made the incredibly underrated found footage film Chronicle, directs this film beautifully and I'm greatly curious to see how the rest of the film plays out.

My one big gripe, however, while I appreciate the tone being darker compared to previous films, it almost feels a bit too serious. I understand this is only a teaser so far so I'm hoping the final product is a nice blend between dark and playful. Again, I understand this is only the first look and the film isn't out in a little under 6 months so I shouldn't judge yet, but I'm hoping for a bit more....lightheartedness is the right word will be shown.

But this teaser did exactly what it's supposed to do: it teased me. I like how we see glimpses of the team's powers, such as with the Human Torch and the Thing, but never the full reveal. No sign of Doctor Doom yet, except perhaps near the very end of the trailer we hear him talking to Mr. Fantastic (Miles Teller). I do not believe him to be the voiceover in the trailer, as I think it could be Dr. Storm (Reg E. Cathey), Sue and Johnny's father. Now that I've seen footage, consider my interest piqued for what will happen in the next six months.

 

Catch Fantastic 4 when it opens in theaters on August 8.

 

 

 



So what about you, fellow movie goers? Are you excited for the Fantastic 4 reboot now that the film finally has some footage to show? Or are you still hesitant? Sound off in the comments below. And if you're a fan of films like I am, follow me @filmfan108! (Ha, see what I did there?)

Paddington Review: A delightful and charming family adventure that stirs nostalgic feelings

I understand how strange this might be: I am a grown, 22 year old man who is sitting down to review a film involving an adorable bear wearing a red hat and a rain coat. But the thing is, I remember growing up reading Paddington. I live in America and Paddington obviously is much more of a literary icon in the UK. However, I remember reading or having the books read to me as a young child and I remember being charmed by the bear's personality and his tales. It's why I was rather looking forward to his first big screen adventure.

Paddington focuses on the bear's first arrival to London from the jungles of darkest Peru. After being sent to live there by his aunt and uncle (Imuelda Stanton and Michael Gambon), Paddington runs across the Brown family, headed by over worried and neurotic patriarch Henry (Hugh Bonneville). Seeing as how Paddington has no place to go, the Browns offer to let him stay with them until he can find the explorer who discovered his aunt and uncle many years ago. During this time, Paddington gets himself into quite a few hijinks along the way, including dealing with a crazed taxidermist (Nicole Kidman) who wishes to stuff Paddington as he is a rare breed. However, he also breathes life into the droll Brown family, giving them a new take on life (and a newfound obsession with marmalade).

Now, as most know, films involving talking animals you love or even based on beloved literary classics usually take the characters you know or love....and update them with a modern output (see: them using modern slang, rapping, etc). However, what director Paul King does with Paddington is still retain the book series' charm, but just have the setting be placed in modern times. The result is an old fashioned, charming, and absolutely enjoyable family adventure that brought back the feeling of how I felt watching family films in my youth.

The cast is absolutely pitch perfect. Hugh Bonneville, of Downton Abbey fame, is perfect as the flustered Mr. Brown. He perfectly captures the character from the books but also gives him his own moral conflict: should he let loose or should he still keep his calm sensibilities? The rest of Brown's family are excellent as well, especially Sally Hawkins as the wonderfully weird Mrs. Brown and Julie Walters as the kooky and hilarious Mrs. Bird, who, along with Peter Capaldi, delivers some of the best lines in the film.

As Mr. Brown's slightly crazy neighbor Mr. Curry, Peter Capaldi (yes, The Doctor) gives some of the best lines in the film. His character just lets loose and chews so much scenery in every take, as he has a strange hatred of bears in the city. He's not alone though, as Nicole Kidman steals every scene that she's in. Kidman hasn't been in a lot of great movies as of late so leave it to a film about an adorable bear to allow her to have one of the most fun performances I've seen in a while. Kidman's performances reminds me very much of Glenn Close in the live action remake of 101 Dalmatians. Both actresses play over the top evil people and they just let loose and look to be having a ton of fun, especially Kidman in this film.

But of course there's the real star of the film: Ben Whishaw as the voice of Paddington. Originally, Colin Firth was due to voice the titular bear, but dropped out of the performance months after the film was shot and after he had done the voiceover work. He cited the reasoning being that he felt that his deeper voice did not fit the innocence of the character. When you watch the final product and hear Whishaw instead of Firth, it's hard to imagine how Firth would have sounded. Whishaw brings a certain youthful innocence that fits the character's personality. Paddington genuinely is curious about the world around him, and Whishaw captures that perfectly. The voice feels pure, full of childlike curiosity.

(Also, look out for a special cameo from the creator of Paddington, Michael Bond).

One thing I must commend the film on is the production design as well the cinematography. The film has a design that looks straight out of a Wes Anderson film. Every single piece of background is created with intricate and exquisite detail. I spent most scenes of the film (particularly in moments where the Brown house looks like the inside of a dollhouse that detailed what the characters were doing), just trying to get a look at what details and objects were put within the film. It's truly remarkable how great the film looks, as you'll want to spend hours looking at the details.

Finally, what makes Paddington work so well besides the well rounded cast is the script, written by  director Paul King and Hamish McColl. The script elevates the film, as it feels an old fashioned family adventure. In fact, while I was sitting in the theater watching the film, I could not help but have old feelings stir inside me, feelings not felt since I was young. Watching Paddington, I was reminded of the great family films I watched in my youth. I felt excited, scared, happy, sad, and a whole bunch of emotions I had not felt in a children's film in quite a long time. It excites me that there are family films still out there that DON'T have to rely on modern slang, that DON'T need tasteless jokes in order to progress or pad the story. It puts a smile to my face as I see that the next generation of children will have films that may invoke that same feeling.

Paddington is a delightful family adventure that everyone old and young can enjoy. It's quirky, charming, exciting, sad, and thrilling all at once. Young children and their families will enjoy this film, and perhaps it means that there is hope for great children's films.

GRADE: A

So how about you? Have you seen Paddington? Were you a fan of the books when you were younger, if you read them at all? If so, sound off in the comments below! And, as always, follow me on Twitter @filmfan108!

87th Annual Academy Award Nominations! Reactions and Predictions!

The nominations for the 87th annual Academy Awards were just announced and to say that it was a surprise to watch is an understatement. Many surprise snubs were abound this year, and many surprise nominations happened as well. Birdman and The Grand Budapest Hotel tie for the most nominations, with nine each. I'll be putting the full list of the other nominees down below, but let's starting talking about the big nominees now, starting with Best Animated Feature.

(Note: All of my predictions on who will win will be highlighted in green.)

Best Animated Feature
Big Hero 6
The Boxtrolls
How to Train Your Dragon 2
Song of the Sea
The Tale of  the Princess Kayuga

Well that was quick. Already out the gate and we have our first major snub on our hands. How was The LEGO Movie not nominated for this category? The film was a thoughtful, heartwarming tale that involved LEGO Construction Toys and the animation was nothing short of amazing. Everyone I know who had made predictions put this not only as the favorite to get nominated, but to win as well. Now that this film got criminally snubbed, How to Train Your Dragon 2 seems like the surefire winner, as that film was a wonderful animated film that raised the stakes while also expanding its world built in the first one.

Best Original Screenplay
Boyhood
Birdman
Foxcatcher
The Grand Budapest Hotel
Nightcrawler

This category I was pleasantly surprised by, as all the nominees are strong contenders. Nightcrawler was the biggest surprise, as I thought it was one of last year's most criminally underrated films. The script is crackling with so much energy and wit, which is backed by a strong turn by Jake Gyllenhaall, that it deserves to be nominated. I was also sadly disappointed that Selma did not receive a nomination in this category, as it was an absolutely powerful script filled with emotion and inspiration.

However, my pick for this category has to be The Grand Budapest Hotel. The script for that film was so delightfully charming and quirky, and having such an original idea on a classic genre (screwball capers), that it must be praised for its unique and fresh take. The dialogue is so fast and witty that it garners some big laughs out of the crowd watching it. The film leaves you feeling rather happy and content, and leaves on a poignant note rather than a sad one. It's one of the more unique scripts in recent memory.

Best Adapted Screenplay
American Sniper
The Imitation Game
Inherent Vice
The Theory of Everything
Whiplash

As I am one person, I am not able to see every Oscar nominated movie. I try to, but prior commitments stand in my way (Theory of Everything and Imitation Game will be seen this week). I have seen American Sniper and while that was an rather amazing story with Chris Kyle's life. I also thought that Inherent Vice was not only a rather entertaining and hilarious script, but it was filled with a lot of good twists as well. While I would like Inherent Vice to win the award, I have a gut feeling that Whiplash will take home the top prize that night, as the film's script is said to be the odds on favorite due to its intensity and powerhouse performances.

Best Supporting Actress
Patricia Arquette-Boyhood
Laura Dern-Wild
Keira Knightley-The Imitation Game
Emma Stone-Birdman
Meryl Streep-Into The Woods

This is a tough category, as all of the actresses are equally fantastic in their performances. However, I believe that Patricia Arquette will go home with the Oscar. Her performance as Mason's mother felt so....natural. It didn't feel like you were watching an actor perform. You were watching a person take care of her children, which is an amazing feat. On the other nominees, I am pleasantly surprised to see Emma Stone up here for Birdman, as I thought her performance was rather excellent as Riggan's bitter daughter. If she won, I would have no qualms with it. Meryl Streep though....honestly, I'm surprised to see her on here. I would have thought that Carmen Ejogo would have scored the nomination.

Best Supporting Actor
Robert Duvall-The Judge
Ethan Hawke-Boyhood
Edward Norton-Birdman
Mark Ruffalo-Foxcatcher
J.K. Simmons-Whiplash

There's no doubt about this one: Simmons will walk home with the statue come Oscar night. His intense, supposedly almost downright scary performance as the perfectionist music teacher is earning him the best raves of his career. I'm ecstatic that Duvall got a nomination, as he was absolutely fantastic in what ended up being yet another criminally underrated film from 2014.  If he ends up being the dark horse in this race, I would have no qualms with it. I'm also glad to see Ruffalo and Norton get some love, as they were each great in their respective performances, especially Norton, who basically satirized every Method actor out there. But something tells me Simmons is going home with the Oscar.

Best Actress
Marion Cotillard-Two Days, One Night
Julianne Moore-Simply Alice
Felicity Jones-The Theory of Everything
Rosamund Pike-Gone Girl
Reese Witherspoon-Wild

I am genuinely pleased that Pike got a nomination for her turn in Gone Girl, as her performance was all kinds of creepy and terrifying. I hope she picks up the trophy on that Sunday, but Felicity Jones might come in and become the favorite to win the award. On the side of the other nominees, I'm happy that Marion Cotillard got an award. Even though I had currently never heard of the film she was in until yesterday, but she is a wonderful actress and I'm glad she was nominated. The dark horse of the race? Julianne Moore, who is earning raves for her performance in Still Alice as the titular character diagnosed with Alzheimer's. She may swoop in and win the Oscar.

Best Actor
Michael Keaton-Birdman
Steve Carell-Foxcatcher
Benedict Cumberbatch-The Imitation Game
Eddie Reymayne-The Theory of Everything
Bradley Cooper-American Sniper

Keaton has this one locked. As Riggan Thomson, he greatly pulls on his own life experience in the past to play this character and the result is one of the most honest and bitter performances I have ever seen. Keaton commands every second of the screen, making many parallels to when he was Batman. He's the sure fire favorite to win and my pick easily. I also would not be surprised if Eddie Reymayne came in and won for his accurate portrayal of Stephen Hawking, which has been getting raves and even nabbed him a Golden Globe. I am also VERY pleased to see Steve Carell on here, as his performance as John du Pont was creepy and rather reffective. I am massively disappointed in the noticeable and extreme lack of diversity within this race, however, as David Oyelowo was criminally snubbed for his amazing performance as Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. He deserved to be nominated and it's a shame that he was snubbed, as he deserved to join these actors.

Best Director
Wes Anderson-The Grand Budapest Hotel
Richard Linklater-Boyhood
Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu-Birdman
Bennett Miller-Foxcatcher
Morten Tyldum- The Imitation Game

This one comes down to one of three choices: Anderson, Linklater, and Inarritu. My choice is Linklater because it is an amazing feat to see a film with an ambitious scope go off without a single hitch. However, Inarritu and Anderson both created unique and interesting stories that are sure to be remembered: one is about the price of fame and what it takes to reclaim it, the other is a bizarre and rather quirky take on comedy capers from the 50s or 60s. All three of these directors could take home the prize come Oscar night. However, it saddens me that another name I was hoping to be nominated was snubbed: Ava DuVernay for Selma. She crafted a powerful story that is important as well as relevant to our world today. It's a shame that she was also snubbed, as she deserved a nomination.

Best Picture
American Sniper
Birdman
Boyhood
The Grand Budapest Hotel
The Imitation Game
Selma
The Theory of Everything
Whiplash

This is a great list of nominees for Best Picture this year, and it's extremely hard to choose which will be the one to go home with the big prize. Will it be the story about the hotel concierge and his lobby boy on a madcap caper? Perhaps it's the story about the drummer pushed to his limits? Or maybe it'll be a biopic, maybe about one of the most ingenious minds in our lifetime, or about the man who inspired millions of African-Americans to have the most basic American rights. For me, the choice for who I think will win Best Picture will be the film that took 12 years to complete. Boyhood is an astounding film not just for the gimmick that it took 12 years to make (though it certainly helps), not just because it's a heartwarming coming of age tale, but because there are moments which everyone can relate to and it defies traditional filmmaking. Some people, at various points in their life, have had to deal with an abusive stepfather. Others have dealt with getting a bad hair cut. Others will remember their first love and how they handled it. Whatever the reason, Boyhood features moments that everyone can relate to. In addition, the film defies conventional filmmaking, as Richard Linklater makes a film that has little narrative structure and displays originality in its presentation. It is for these reasons that Boyhood is my pick for Best Picture.


THE REST OF THE NOMINEES!
Best Foreign Language Film
Ida (Poland)
Leviathan (Russia)
Tangerines (Estonia)
Timbuktu (Mauritania)
Wild Tales (Argentina)

Best Documentary-Feature
Citizenfour
Finding Vivian Maier
Last Days in Vietnam
The Salt of the Earth
Virunga

Best Documentary -Short Subject
Crisis Hotline: Veterans Press 1
Joanna
Our Curse
The Reaper (La Parka)
White Earth

Best Live-Action Short Film
Aya
Boogaloo and Graham
Butter Lamp (La Lampe au beurre de yak)
Parvaneh
The Phone Call

Best Animated Short Film
The Bigger Picture
The Dam Keeper
FeastMe and My Moulton
A Single Life

Best Original Score
The Grand Budapest Hotel- Alexandre Desplat
The Imitation Game-Alexandre Desplat
Interstellar-Hans Zimmer
Mr. Turner-Gary Yershon
The Theory of Everything-Johann Johnsson

Best Original Song
"Everything is Awesome!!"- from The Lego Movie- Tegan and Sara ft. The Lonely Island
"Glory"- from Selma-John Legend ft. Common
"Grateful"- from Beyond the Lights-Rita Ora
"I'm Not Gonna Miss You- from Glen Campbell: I'll Be Me-Glen Campbell
"Lost Stars"-from Begin Again-Adam Levine

Best Sound Editing
American Sniper
Birdman
The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies
Interstellar
Unbroken
Best Sound Mixing
American Sniper
Birdman
Interstellar
Unbroken
Whiplash  

Best Production Design
The Grand Budapest Hotel
The Imitation Game
Interstellar
Into the Woods
Mr. Turner

Best Cinematography
Birdman-Emanuel Lubezki
The Grand Budapest Hotel-Robert Yeoman
Ida-Lukasz Zal and Ryzard Lenczewski
Mr. Turner- Dick Pope (or is it Dick Poop?)
Unbroken-Roger Deakins

Best Makeup and Hairstyling
Foxcatcher
The Grand Budapest Hotel
Guardians of the Galaxy

Best Costume Design
The Grand Budapest Hotel
Inherent Vice
Into the Woods
Maleficent
Mr. Turner

Best Film Editing
American Sniper
Boyhood
The Grand Budapest Hotel
The Imitation Game
Whiplash

Best Visual Effects
Captain America: The Winter Soldier
Dawn of the Planet of the Apes
Guardians of the Galaxy
Interstellar
X-Men: Days of Future Past

So what say you fellow film lovers? Any other snubs that you were disappointed by? Any films you were happy to see nominated? Sound off in the comments below! I'll be live tweeting reactions to some of the bigger awards shows on Twitter (the Razzies, the SAG Awards, and of course, the Oscars) so follow me @filmfan108! I, for one, can't wait to see what will happen when the Oscar Telecast airs February 22 on ABC!

Inherent Vice Review: A bonkers detective story that may polarize some, but leaves you with good vibes

Paul Thomas Anderson has had a extremely varied career. From a story about porn stars to making Adam Sandler actually act to a tale involving greed, corruption, and oil, and finally, to a thinly veiled allegory about Scientology, the stories that PTA tells are definitely unique and varied. Now comes his latest film, an adaptation of the Thomas Pynchon neo-noir detective caper Inherent Vice.

Inherent Vice takes place in 1970s Los Angeles, where drug fueled Larry "Doc" Sportello (Joaquin Phoenix) begins to investigate the disappearance of real estate mogul Michael Wolfmann (Eric Roberts) and Shasta Hepworth (Katherine Waterson), Wolfmann's mistress and Doc's former girlfriend. His mystery leads into running him with the LAPD, specifically Lt. Det. Christian "Bigfoot" Bjornsen (Josh Brolin), who clashes with Sportello at almost every turn, dentists, prostitutes, and a whole other host of problems, problems that I would rather not spoil so that you may see the movie.

Having never read the Thomas Pynchon novel, I was excited for this as this looked to be much more light hearted compared to PTA's previous features, plus he had assembled one amazing ensemble cast of actors. I also went into this film blind, having only seen the first trailer maybe once, but remembering it left a big impression on me.

 After seeing the film, Inherent Vice is a very enjoyable film, one that leaves good vibes with you throughout, although the film's structure will become polarizing to some.

The cast is absolutely spot on here. It's amazing how many people PTA assembles for his films, and this is no exception. As our protagonist Doc, Phoenix is perhaps at its most zaniest, as he stumbles around the film gleefully looking like he's having the time of his life. Doc is brilliant as a PI, but is always hazy about facts, due to being high almost all the time. Phoenix has always been a unique actor, going from stoic and serious in one film to zany at the brink of the hat. Phoenix is a joy to watch in this role.

Phoenix is backed by an incredibly strong supporting cast, particularly Owen Wilson, Katherine Waterson, Reese Witherspoon as the no nonsense DA, Benicio Del Toro, and a bunch of other surprises I do not dare to spoil. Finding out who is in the film is one of the more enjoyable parts, as the surprises come at every corner. The supporting cast is entertaining, there is no weak link in the bunch.

However, the big standout is Josh Brolin as "Bigfoot." Every time he comes on screen, Brolin had me rolling in my seat. He essentially plays the straight laced, comedically stoic detective that most would find in noir films. Bigfoot feels like a parody of those type of hard boiled, morally compromised protagonists seen within those type of films. Brolin plays this to great effect, taking normally serious moments and managing to elicit a strong laugh out of the audience (at least in mine and with the friends I saw the film with).

That's what PTA seems to have gone for in the film. It  feels like a parody of noir films from the 50s, 60s, and yes, even the 70s. The use of lighting, the shots of the camera, as well as the script all feel very tongue in cheek with the genre of film noir. The script itself is downright hilarious, as it does have its moments where you know you shouldn't be laughing or moments that are blatantly immature but you can't help but grin.

Another strong point that the film delivers on is the soundtrack. Jonny Greenwood, once again teaming up with PTA, that feels reminiscent of old scores from the olden days of Hollywood. In addition to the score, the film is peppered with some amazing tracks from artists such as Neil Young,  The Marketts, and Sam Cooke, among others. Next to the Guardians of the Galaxy soundtrack, this gets my vote for one of the best soundtracks from 2014.

However, the script is also where it might alienate a lot of filmgoers. The film features a very twisty and complicated narrative that may alienate some movie watchers, even becoming incoherent for some. If you are looking for a film with a simple structure, then this is not the film for you. Also, while the film does clock in at two and a half hours, it felt rather brisk, mainly due to the pace PTA sets throughout the film.

Inherent Vice is a film that definitely requires you to pay heavy attention and may seem incoherent to some, it's a very entertaining film to watch and one of PTA's best. Backed by a top notch cast, superb writing, and an excellent soundtrack, this film is sure to please any fans of PTA as well as those that are fans of watching a good detective story.

GRADE: A-

Have you see Inherent Vice? If so, what did you think or are you planning on seeing it? Sound off in the comments below! I'm also on Twitter, follow me @filmfan108!

Selma Review: A Powerful, Important Piece of Filmmaking

Today's world is actually rather terrifying to live in. We see so many acts of racial violence happening in America, specifically in Ferguson after the Michael Brown case as well as the death of Eric Garner, who was wrongly killed in a chokehold by NY police officers. With so much racial tension happening throughout the country, one can not help but think back on the teachings and lessons of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and how he fought to have equal rights for all African-American people during the Civil Rights movement.

It's also why the film Selma could not have come at a more important and relevant time.

Selma depicts the 1965 voting rights marches from Selma, Alabama to the state's capital, Montgomery. The marches acted as a means to protest African-Americans not having the most basic American right: the right to vote. These marches were organized by Dr. Martin Luther King (David Oyelowo), James Bevel (Common), Hosea Williams (Wendell Pierce), and John Lewis (Stephan James). During the preparation of these marches, King must contend with the interference of Alabama governor George Wallace (Tim Roth), members of the Selma Police Department, townspeople of Selma, as well as the hesitation of President Lyndon B. Johnson (Tom Wilkinson).

While it was exciting to finally see a Martin Luther King Jr. film become fully realized on screen, I appreciated more the approach that was taken: showing a key, crucial moment in the Civil Rights movement and depict how Dr. Martin Luther King was involved with that event, rather than show a film depicting his entire life. 

The result is one of the most powerful, moving, and inspiring films I have seen in quite a long time.

Everyone involved in this cast brings their absolute A-game in the film. David Oyelowo, in a career making performance, plays Dr. King not as this mythical, amazing figure that most of history seems to make him out to be, but as a man, one with weaknesses and flaws. Dr. King knows that the battle is uphill, and faces uncertainty about how events will proceed, especially with many innocent protesters getting beaten or lynched. His strained relationship with his wife Coretta due to his activities is also a bit of a highlight of the film. It brings Dr. King even more relatable as an individual. Oyelowo gives a powerful performance, capturing the mannerisms and quiet power that Dr. King radiates perfectly.

The supporting cast is excellent as well. Carmen Ejogo is great as Coretta King, portraying that doubt that her husband might be killed, but still faithful to him and his cause regardless. The rest of King's close followers, which includes actors such as Common, Pierce, Ruben Santiago-Hudson, and Oprah Winfrey, to name a few, are all excellent as well.

On the opposite side, the politicians, Tim Roth, as Wallace, is incredibly slimy, making you hate him the moment he walks onto the screen. Shame Roth isn't in as many movies any more, but when he is, he always manages to hold a great presence. Tom Wilkinson, as President Johnson, also does some fine work here, even if some of the facts presented about him may or may not not be entirely historically accurate. As a performance, Wilkinson is excellent, showing the doubt and conflict on whether he should help King or not and the pressure he faces. Whether or not the film is historically accurate or not, regardless, Wilkinson turned in an excellent performance

Director Ava DuVernay puts such great emotional tension into the film, especially in scenes that depict so much racial violence. The film pulls no punches whatsoever in terms of its content, and the result is startling. It's been a very long time since a film made me start to form tears in my eyes, but this one did it. DuVernay not only packs an emotional punch, but a tense one as well, as you are on the edge as to what will happen next. The film is incredibly well shot, as DuVernay makes some of the peaceful protest scenes look absolutely beautiful.

Many real-life parallels with current events will be evidently be made while watching the film, as the moments in protest, such as when all the protestors get down on the ground with their hands behind their head and only Dr. King and his companions are standing. Moments such as this not only raise many parallels with current events, but also raise a question: how would have Dr. King, had he still been alive, responded to the racial violence that is featured in the news today?

Overall, Selma is one of the most powerful, emotional, and important pieces of filmmaking that has come out in a long while. David Oyelowo and director Ava DuVernay give Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. the story that deserves to be told on screen while also coming at a not more relevant time. Every accolade upon the film is well justified and it'll be interesting to see what happens when the Oscar nominations are announced on Thursday.

GRADE: A+

Have you seen Selma? If not, are you looking forward to viewing it? Sound off in the comments below!