Despite The Fault in Our Stars having an extremely sensitive and emotional subject matter, I had a smile on my face for much of the film.The Fault in Our Stars is based on the best-selling novel by John Green. It’s the best book to movie adaptation I’ve seen in a long time. I say this because it avoids both book and movie clichés, nicely, while offering a fresh look at the teen’ romance genre.Director, Josh Boone tells the story of a sixteen-year-old cancer patient played flawlessly by Shailene Woodley. Woodley’s character is forced to attend a support group where she meets a boy. They quickly become friends and we watch as their relationship blossoms into something more. The boy-meets-girl plot may be old, but it’s far from stale.Gripping, realistic characters and down to earth stories helped ground the messages in this movie. Never once did the ideas brought up in the film feel forced. The creators did an excellent job at leaving the big questions about life up to the interpretation of the viewers. Yet enough of the simple plot points were answered to leave us satisfied.The acting was brilliant and made the whole film work. Each character was likable and had arcs; whether they were important to the story or not, they were still entertaining. The dialogue was realistic throughout the movie, creating an immersive experience that carried viewers into the world of the characters. Unfortunately, the film did suffer some off-beat moments and a few scenes felt slightly prolonged. There were also a handful of tear-jerking scenes toward the end, that came across as forced. The Fault in Our Stars offers great performances that are well worth the watch, and the heartfelt story is one that will make you stop and evaluate life. Put this film on your must-watch list of 2014.A-
Once in a while a film comes along that not only makes you step back and look at the way movies are made, but forces you to reflect on how your own life is unfolding; Boyhood is one such film. Boyhood took 12 years to create, and the unique storytelling style is a refreshing break from many recently released movies. Boyhood tells the story of a family going through a string of milestones. The film is easy to relate to because many of us are currently experiencing, or have already reached, each of these phases.As time goes on, the film grows with the characters, further captivating the audience. Scenes mature along with the cast, gradually becoming more intimate and open. The vision, dedication and follow-through it took to create such an epic project is clearly evident on screen. We’ve had some great films come out in 2014, but nothing even remotely close to Boyhood. The film-making technique that is showcased in this piece of art is truly something special. As for Boyhood’s near three hour runtime, I would change nothing. The few minor complaints I had during the movie were washed away after seeing the perfection in this touching story. Boyhood is easily the best film of the year, a masterpiece I wish every person could experience. It’s a life-impacting creation, and when people ask me, “What’s one of your favorite movies?” I will reply Boyhood, for years to come.A+
For a film that takes place in a car, during it’s entire runtime, Locke is surprisingly exciting. Of corse, the concept couldn’t have been pulled-off were it not completely thought-out and efficiently executed.Locke tells the story of one man, over the coarse of one night, while driving in his car. In order to avoid spoilers and get the most out of the unpredictable plot twists, I won’t reveal too many details. What Tom Hardy delivered to the screen was one of the best performances of the year. The way Hardy, as an actor, sucked me into his character was unlike anything I’ve seen in cinema. The brilliantly executed, single character aspect was the most exciting part of the movie. Much of the tension was built around how Tom Hardy sounded and his mind-grabbing voice inflection. When he got nervous I could put myself in his shoes...when he got angry I sank in my seat.The reason the emotion worked so well was because it felt like the viewer was in the car with Hardy. Many times in movies, certain situations that would be shocking in real life, come across as less intense. For example, the way death is portrayed in various films is not as uncomfortable for the viewer as it would be in reality. My point being, the level of emersion this film captured, felt so real, I would flinch when Hardy dropped the F-bomb. I felt like I was siting in the backseat of his car, watching his life crumble. Lighting, editing and the soundtrack all helped encompass the mysterious tone that raised uncertainty throughout the film’s entirety.My only complaint with the film is its abrupt ending; I would have liked to seen the plot carried over into a different setting as a closer. But, if you see Locke, which I highly recommend, you’ll understand where the creators were coming from when they ended the film the way they did. Sometimes, I just like seeing a visual close to what’s been eluded to.Locke is a great film, movie lovers can’t miss. Hardy's compelling solo roll is the most Oscar-worthy performance yet this year, one worth seeing.A
Not only did Marvel make one of their greatest films yet, but one of the funniest movies of the year. Guardians of The Galaxy was a perfect balance between Star Wars, Star Trek and Spaceballs. It took a lot of the things I liked about those franchises and put them together into a hilarious, action-adventure film.Guardians of The Galaxy’s plot wasn't the shining star; that was saved for the characters. The film follows five unique characters who come together to save the galaxy. The film utilized a plot devise, in the form of an orb, that had the ability to destroy planets. The Guardians fight across the galaxy, attempting to protect the orb and defeat villains who want it. At first the cookie-cutter plot had me worried, and it wasn't until the movie started fleshing out the whole cast, that I got immersed. Even though the plot never got me fully into the film, the characters created were so entertaining I forgot I was watching a movie with a weak format. This is one of my favorite Marvel movies for many reasons, first and foremost being the gut-busting humor that worked so well, it almost overshadowed the great action sequences. The film had unique characters with well developed personalities and backstories that made the far-fetched plot, believable in almost every scene. The acting was some of the best the Marvel franchise has ever seen. There was also an excellent soundtrack that was not overplayed and the fact it was wacky and dramatic at the same time, made for heartfelt, yet serious feelings that came with perfect timing. The film balanced humor and raw emotion, separating the two with precision. It was one of the most fun movie-going experiences I’ve had this year. Everyone in the audience was laughing, having a great time and thoroughly enjoying the movie for what it was. It was one of those movies that gets you thinking, “Why can’t more be like this...fun, humorous and clean entertainment appealing to a wide-range of viewers?” Despite truly enjoying Guardians of The Galaxy, a few things could have been improved upon, starting with the plot which was far from creative and didn’t come close to equalling the rest of the film’s greatness. There were also some scenes that could have been improved on, namely when the villain appeared on screen. The thug got the job done but was nowhere near as entertaining to watch as the Guardians. Lastly, one of the Guardian’s team members could have been fleshed out better which would have allowed viewers to connect with him, sooner. Guardians of The Galaxy was funny, entertaining and full of heart. If you’re a Marvel fan it’s a must-see, and for everyone else, it’s worth taking a chance on...just go in with an open mind and be ready to laugh! B+
