TRAILER: Avengers: Age of Ultron

Tuesday seemed so far away. 6 days ago to be exact. Thank god for the internet because the trailer for Avengers: Age of Ultron has surfaced six days early. Now we just need to wait until May 1, 2015 for the film to hit theaters. The trailer looks epic and seems as if Marvel Studios will have another billion dollar movie in their hands.

ap_tlr-1_int_360p by scotty2cky

NEWS: Images Leak Of Ultron & Hulkbuster Armor

We learned yesterday that Marvel plans on releasing the trailer to Avengers: Age of Ultron next Tuesday during Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D and now it seems images have leaked of a close up of Ultron and a first look at the Hulkbuster armor.

These images may or may not be from trailer but there is only 6 more days until we find out! Stay tuned.

NEWS: Brian Smrz Reveals Quicksilver Will Be In X-Men: Apocalypse - Solo Film Too?

My personal favorite scene from X-Men: Days of Future Past was by far the one with Quicksilver. For a while now I pondered if any of the mutants from the past will show up in future X-Men films. Well Brian Smrz, the second unit director of X-Men: Days of Future Past, has revealed that Quicksilver will be back for X-Men: Apocalypse and might even be getting his own solo film in an interview with Newsarama.

Nrama: I know you don’t want to spoil anything in the film, but can you tell us maybe things you hope to be able to do in this new film? 

Smrz: Well, there will be another Quicksilver scene, which I’m looking forward to; that’ll be fun.

But that is not all Smrz revealed in his interview as he mentions that a solo film might be possible for speedy mutant as well.

Nrama: What kinds of films are you looking for? 

Smrz: We talked about Quicksilver before, I’d love to do a Quicksilver as a solo film because there’s a lot to enjoy with that character

Time will only tell. Stay tuned!  

NEWS: First Look at Johnny Depp's Into The Woods

There are two musicals hitting the big screen before 2014 comes to an end. The first being the remake of Annie and the other being the adaptation of the Broadway musical Into The Woods which is slated a line of big stars: Johnny Depp, Anna Kendrick, Meryl Streep, Chris Prine and more. But when the teaser trailer was released earlier this year, Johnny Depp's new look was kept a secret. Well that has officially been changed with a set of new magazine covers from Entertainment Weekly. Check below for the teaser trailer and magazine covers for Into The Woods which is set to hit the big screen on Christmas Day 2014.

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TRAILER: The Woman in Black: Angel of Death

Daniel Radcliffe will be starring in a new film coming out later this month entitled Horns. If you haven't already make sure you check out our review for the film. Radcliffe was also in the 2012 film The Woman in Black and now the film will be getting a sequel set to hit the big screens on January 2, 2015. Unfortunately, Radcliffe will not be apart of the cast for the sequel.

Hammer Films goes in for a second round of fright with this follow-up to Woman in Black from a story idea by original author Susan Hill that finds the Eel Marsh House repurposed as a mental home for World War II soldiers forty years later. Tom Harper directs.

TRAILER: The Gambler

Set to hit theaters on December 19th, Paramount Pictures have released the red band trailer for Mark Wahlberg's latest film The Gambler.

Jim Bennett (Academy Award®-nominee Mark Wahlberg) is a risk taker. Both an English professor and a high-stakes gambler, Bennett bets it all when he borrows from a gangster (Michael Kenneth Williams) and offers his own life as collateral. Always one step ahead, Bennett pits his creditor against the operator of a gambling ring (Alvin Ing) and leaves his dysfunctional relationship with his wealthy mother (Academy Award®-winner Jessica Lange) in his wake. He plays both sides, immersing himself in an illicit, underground world while garnering the attention of Frank (John Goodman), a loan shark with a paternal interest in Bennett’s future. As his relationship with a student (Brie Larson) deepens, Bennett must take the ultimate risk for a second chance…

MOVIE REVIEW: White Bird in a Blizzard - 'Marriage Destined To End In Death'

Director: Gregg Araki
Stars: Shailene Woodley, Eva Green, Christopher Meloni

Release Date:  October 24, 2014

Our teen years are the happiest days of our lives, right? The parties, the thrills, the excitement, the adventures, the world is truly in our hands. We might believe that but in all actuality, our teen years can come with some pretty awful memories as well. But we refuse to remember those, I mean, who chooses to remember the bad memories over the good? That is exactly the case for Shailene Wodley's Kat Connor in her latest film White Bird in a Blizzard, whose mother goes missing quite randomly in the middle of January. Director Gregg Araki who specializes in subjecting young people is back at it again with his latest film. Unfortunately, the complete lack of mystery and suspense is the downfall of the film.

Kat Connors (Shailene Woodley) is 17 years old when her perfect homemaker mother, Eve (Eva Green), a beautiful, enigmatic, and haunted woman, disappears - just as Kat is discovering and relishing her newfound sexuality. Having lived for so long in a stifled, emotionally repressed household, she barely registers her mother's absence and certainly doesn't blame her doormat of a father, Brock (Christopher Meloni), for the loss. In fact, it's almost a relief. But as time passes, Kat begins to come to grips with how deeply Eve's disappearance has affected her. Returning home on a break from college, she finds herself confronted with the truth about her mother's departure, and her own denial about the events surrounding it...

White Bird in a Blizzard can easily be apart of a double feature with the other film being Gone Girl. Heck, if you have the spare time add Horns to it as well and you'll have yourself a nice triple feature. But the first two films have more in common than the latter as they both deal with the true story behind a "perfect" marriage and reveals this story through the mystery of a missing spouse. White Bird in a Blizzard on the other hand goes deeper than what director David Fincher and author Gillian Flynn had a chance to by looking through the viewpoint of an offspring. In this case, a hormonal teenage girl. This small difference plays a huge role in the film.

The difference between the two films is White Bird in a Blizzard does not care much about the mystery in the novel. After the first 15 minutes into the film you already know who did it. The why is more of a twist but you are never surprised or filled with suspense throughout the film. This is probably because Araki has always been one to subject young individuals and more specifically how they handle their identity and relationships. If you are a fan of the source material, Laura Kasischke's novel, than you will be upset that Araki never addresses the LGBT identity that is addressed in the novel.

This can easily be considered Woodley's Havoc as she drops the teenage girl image that she built through The Secret Life of the American Teenager with a couple of nude scenes throughout the film. She picked the right film to show Hollywood and her fans that she is ready for more mature roles as she completely nails the different emotions her character goes through. Despite her strong want for sex, she never comes out as a slut and rarely over dramatized other emotions as well. Christopher Meloni brings a strong performance as Kat's father but Eva Green just feels out of her element as Kat's mother. A pet peeve of mine has always been casting a big name actor for such a tiny role and that is the case for Thomas Jane's Detective Scieziesciez.

White Bird in a Blizzard is currently available on VOD with it set to have a limited release on October 24th.

NEWS: James Wan Set to Direct The Conjuring 2

The Conjuring was a HUGE hit back in 2013, I mean after all it did break several records. Due to its huge success I personally had huge expectations for Annabelle. Unfortunately for myself and other fans of The Conjuring, we were highly disappointed. It was clear that James Wan presence in the director's chair was missed but fear not because according to a report from Deadline, James Wan will be back as director for The Conjuring 2. Warner Bros. recently pushed back the release date from October 2015 to an unspecified date in 2016. Only two more years guys.

NEWS: Avengers: Age of Ultron Trailer Set to Debut Next Week

Fans got to see some footage of Marvel's upcoming film Avengers: Age of Ultron during San Diego Comic-Con which sucks for everyone who was not able to attend. Wait, there is good news! The trailer for Avengers: Age of Ultron is set to air next week during ABC's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. If you don't watch the show, that will be happening next Tuesday to be more exact. 

Tune in to #Marvel’s #AgentsofSHIELD, Tuesday, 10/28 at 9|8c on ABC to see the @Avengers #AgeofUltron trailer on TV! pic.twitter.com/ruKB5dgolo
— Marvel Entertainment (@Marvel) October 22, 2014

Avengers: Age of Ultron hits theaters on May 1st, 2015.

ADVANCE SCREENING: Win Two Tickets to An Advance Screening ofInterstellar: The IMAX Experience in 70mm Film

I Heard That Movie Was... is giving out a pair of tickets for Christopher Nolan's latest film Interstellar. The movie isn't set to hit theaters until November 7th but you and one guest will have the opportunity of seeing the film on November 4th. Not only do you see the film early but you get to see the film the right way, The IMAX Experience in 70mm Film way. Plus your seats will be RESERVED!

Time: 8:00 PM
When: Tuesday, November 4th

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TRAILER: Unbroken

Angelina Jolie is taking a second stab at directing with her second feature Unbroken which is based on Laura Hillenbrand's critically acclaimed novel. This film is poised to make a nice run during award season, a film we will definitely be checking out once it hit theaters on Christmas Day 2014. 

Academy Award winner Angelina Jolie directs and produces Unbroken, an epic drama that follows the incredible life of Olympian and war hero Louis "Louie" Zamperini (Jack O'Connell) who, along with two other crewmen, survived in a raft for 47 days after a near-fatal plane crash in WWII-only to be caught by the Japanese Navy and sent to a prisoner-of-war camp.

TRAILER: In The Heart of the Sea

In 2013, Director Ron Howard and Chris Hemsworth joined forces and brought us Rush. A film in which was a personally favorite of mink. The two will now join forces again on March 13, 2015 to bring us In The Heart of the Sea which will be an adaptation of Nathaniel Philbrick's novel of the same name.

Ron Howard reteams with FrostNixon screenwriter Peter Morgan to adapt Nathanial Philbrick's novel detailing the harrowing high-seas encounter that influenced Herman Melville's Moby Dick. Set in 1820, the plot centers on the struggle for survival waged by the crew of the Whaleship Essex after a sperm whale attack leaves them stranded at sea for 90 days.

MOVIE REVIEW: Fury - 'Best Job I Have Ever Had'

Director: David Ayer

Starring: Brad Pitt, Shia LaBeouf, Logan Lerman, Michael Peña, Jon Bernthal

Release Date: October 17, 2014

David Ayer's ability to write a script involving characters in law enforcement of any sort has always been his forte, being that he is responsible for the writing behind Training Day, End of Watch, U-571 and Sabotage. Ayer returns as not only the writer but as the director for his latest script, Fury. This time his script takes us far back to April 1945, the final stretch of World War II. Joining him is an all-star cast (on all levels) of Brad Pitt, Shia LaBeouf, Logan Lerman, Michael Peña, and Jon Bernthal, all Ayer's main subjects. Unfortunately, Fury is filled with plot holes and war cliches causing Ayer to take a step in the wrong direction in his script writing.

April, 1945. As the Allies make their final push in the European Theatre, a battle-hardened army sergeant named Wardaddy (Brad Pitt) commands a Sherman tank and his five-man crew on a deadly mission behind enemy lines. Outnumbered and outgunned, and with a rookie soldier thrust into their platoon, Wardaddy and his men face overwhelming odds in their heroic attempts to strike at the heart of Nazi Germany.

With the majority of the film focused on Don 'Wardaddy' Collier's crew, the first job Ayer should have addressed was developing all five of the characters. This isn't a police car like Ayer is used to dealing with in films such as Training Day and End of Watch in which you only had to worry about the people in the front of the car. No, this time we are in a tank and instead of a two man crew, we have a five man team. Instead, Ayer decides to focus on the Sergeant and the newcomer, Norman. To only purely focus on two of five characters that are in such a closed space as a tank is ludicrous. Besides, in the first fifteen minutes of the film you don't learn anything new about the other three members and they just end up being war-cliches like 'the Mexican', 'the bad guy' and 'the preacher'.

Not to take anything away from Wardaddy and Norman's story line as it does bring some depth and emotion to the film but Ayer never wraps up their relationship either. Their relationship begins with Wardaddy forcing Norman to kill a man for the first time in his life. Showing the viewers that innocence is the first to die in war. Midway into the film, the two spend a rare day off with two females which plays as a wonderful step in their relationship and leaves you with a feeling that something is coming that will not only change their relationship but the entire basis of the film. Those feelings never get satisfied as that scene plays as the last development in their relationship. What a let down.

Just in case you forgot by reading the review thus far, Fury is a war movie and you will see a lot of war aspects, maybe more than you thought. There is a lot of brutal imagery throughout the film and if you have a light stomach than you might be joining Norman for a puke or two. Fury provides a fresh point of view than other war films as the viewers are limited to seeing and hearing only what the tank crew can see and hear. From the confines of the tank to what is forthcoming in the battlefield, you will experience it all.

A war film is only as good as its action sequences and that is one part that Fury does not disappoint. Ayer might have not delivered in the script like we are accustomed to but he is still the man when it comes to assessing men under fire. Is this film the best war film? No. But will you enjoy yourself? Yes.

TRAILER: Focus

It has been a long time since we have seen Will Smith in a movie that we actually enjoyed. For us, it has been since 2008's Seven Pounds to be exact to remember a time we really enjoyed a Will Smith film. That looks like that will change with his latest film Focus which is set to hit theaters next year on February 27th.

A con artiist (Will Smith) takes on an inexperienced apprentice in this crime comedy from the filmmaking duo behind Crazy Stupid Love, Glenn Ficarra and John Requa.

MOVIE REVIEW: Horns - 'Love Turned Them Into The Devil'

Director: Alexandre Aja

Starring: Daniel Radcliffe, Juno Temple, Heather Graham

Release Date: October 31, 2014

When I think of successful horror directors from the 21st century, only a few names automatically come to mind: James Wan, Rob Zombie, and Eli Roth. That is an incredibly small amount compared to the number of horror films that come out in a year. But there's one director that has gone undetected and after watching Horns, that will no longer be the case for Alexandre Aja.

Based on the novel by Joe Hill, Horns is a supernatural thriller driven by fantasy, mystery and romance. The film follows Ig Perrish (Daniel Radcliffe), the number one suspect for the violent rape and murder of his girlfriend, Merrin (Juno Temple). Hungover from a night of hard drinking, Ig awakens one morning to find horns starting to grow from his own head and soon realizes their power drives people to confess their sins and give in to their most selfish and unspeakable impulses - an effective tool in his quest to discover the true circumstances of his late girlfriend's tragedy and for exacting revenge on her killer.

It's hard for any actor to leave the shadows of a character that made him a household name. Robert Downey Jr. will always be Tony Stark, Hugh Jackman will always be Wolverine and Daniel Radcliffe will always be Harry Potter. The difference? Robert Downey Jr. and Hugh Jackman love being known for those roles. Seeing how Radcliffe will be starring in three films in the Toronto International Film Festival including Horns, it's clear that Radcliffe is ready to be known for more than just Harry Potter and with his work in Horns,  he's taking steps in the right direction. Radcliffe was on the top of his game as Ig and this was his best performance by far since putting down his wand. Radcliffe was not the only one to put up a solid performance in the film. When Ig confronts his parents with his new set of horns, Derrick (James Remar) and Lydia Perrish (Kathleen Quinlan) bring some high emotion and seriousness that the film truly needed. Juno Temple, as Merrin, was very minor but shaky as it was hard to understand why everybody loved her. Her grieving father on the other hand, Dale Williams (David Morse), was brilliant.

It's hard to classify Horns as one specific genre. The love story between Ig and Merrin had scenes that were filled with emotion and heartbreak that you would want your favorite romance film to contain. But as soon as Ig grows his horns and people start spilling their sins and evil desires to Ig, the film will have you laughing. But that laughter will quickly disappear as the film becomes dark by the third act.

Horns does not have the gore that we are used to seeing from Alexandre Aja, but by the time the third act arrives the film turns into a full out horror film when Ig travels with a gang of serpents. But Horns for the most part is a blood-free affair which leads to some disappointment, especially if you are familiar with Aja's earlier works. That doesn't mean that the visuals disappoint, you just wish there were more. But with what Aja did with this script, that is a win in my books.

The biggest disappointment of the film is determined by whether or not you've read the book. This is not the best adaptation of a book in recent memory. There are a lot of story arcs from the book that did not make the film and if it did it would have made certain scenes better. For example, the final battle scene between Ig and Merrin's killer. The final showdown plays out a lot differently in the book compared to the film which made it short lived and rushed. Does not mean the film doesn't do the source material any justice, it just could have been done better.

Horns is currently available on VOD but will still hit theaters on Halloween. The film is not worth your money when it comes to seeing it in theaters but you will have fun with it while you watch it On Demand.

MOVIE REVIEW: Kill the Messenger - 'Dark Alliance'

Director: Michael Cuesta
Starring: Jeremy Renner, Robert Patrick, Jena Sims
Release Date: October 10, 2014

In 1996, Gary Webb published articles under his 'Dark Alliance' series that exposed the CIA's enrollment in the funding of the Nicaraguan contra's to smuggle cocaine into the United States. The articles faced heavy attacks as jealous bigger newspaper companies and of course the CIA scrutinized Webb's sources and ethics. Just like investigative journalism, Kill the Messenger isn't all what it is cracked to be.

Two-time Academy Award nominee Jeremy Renner leads an all-star cast in a dramatic thriller based on the remarkable true story of Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Gary Webb. Webb stumbles onto a story which leads to the shady origins of the men who started the crack epidemic on the nation's streets...and further alleges that the CIA was aware of major dealers who were smuggling cocaine into the U.S., and using the profits to arm rebels fighting in Nicaragua. Despite warnings from drug kingpins and CIA operatives to stop his investigation, Webb keeps digging to uncover a conspiracy with explosive implications. His journey takes him from the prisons of California to the villages of Nicaragua to the highest corridors of power in Washington, D.C. - and draws the kind of attention that threatens not just his career, but his family and his life

If this film was only first forty-five minutes in length then this review will read much differently. I will tell you to see this film opening weekend as it will receive a 'Full Movie Experience' rating. Wouldn't be surprise either since director Michael Cuesta has directed numerous television shows and even took home a Primetime Emmy for Homeland. Unfortunately, it is not that simple. The first forty-five minutes will have you on the edge of your seat as Webb travels the globe to find the truth behind this CIA conspiracy. As Webb learns new information, perhaps even yourself will learn some new history as well, the suspense only grows. 

After Webb publishes the articles and the tables get turned against him, the film loses all its intensity and suspense. You find yourself now slouching in your chair, just waiting for anything to happen to grab your attention again. Has Cuesta never directed a two-hour television special before? Even the ending leaves you waiting for more, literally. As the film ends with a run-on shot of an escalator, you are waiting and hoping something more happens. Perhaps giving the viewers a better understanding of the flaws behind Webb's article or extending the timeline that the film covers. 

Regardless, Kill the Messenger is a film you should check out at one point due to the facts that are covered within the film. You will learn something new about our government and the war on drugs.

MOVIE REVIEW: The Judge - 'You Can't Afford Me'

Director: David Dobkin
Starring: Robert Downey Jr., Robert Duvall, Vera Farmiga

Release Date: October 10, 2014

The Judge pairs two acting heavyweights together on the big screen for the first time. Robert Downey Jr. is a two-time Oscar nominee for his works in Chaplin and Tropic Thunder and a five-time Golden Globe nominee, taking home three of them for his work in Sherlock Holmes, Ally McBeal, and Short Cuts. Let's not forget that he is also an Avenger. Playing opposite to Robert Downey Jr. is Robert Duvall, a six-time Oscar nominee, winning only once for Best Actor in a Leading Role for Tender Mercies and has four Golden Globes in his trophy case as well. Put these two in a courtroom drama, a critic's favorite, and you're walking into award season feeling confident that The Judge will dominate the nominations. However, director David Dobkin's inexperience in this genre ends up being a major downfall for the film.

In The Judge, Robert Downey Jr. stars as big city lawyer Hank Palmer, who returns to his childhood home where his estranged father, the town's judge (Robert Duvall), is suspected of murder. He sets out to discover the truth and along the way reconnects with the family he walked away from years before.

The first thing one needs to realize is that The Judge is NOT a courtroom drama but instead a flat out drama. Yes, we have a hearing and we very much care about the outcome but the film never focuses on Dwight Dickham (Billy Bob Thornton) vs Hank Palmer. Instead, this film is purely about Hank Palmer vs Joseph Palmer. No matter what differences the father-son combination have, Hank is willing to put it towards the side to make sure his father does not end up behind bars. The Judge on the other hand, never lets go of his stubbornness throughout the trial, giving his son more problems than any attorney has ever done in his whole career, even Dickham. Due to this, throughout the film you want to learn more about the family dynamics and what caused the drift between Hank and his father instead of learning how Hank will win the case for his father.

Downey Jr. has been cruising on blockbuster stardom ever since he took the role of Tony Stark. So when Downey Jr. decided to take on The Judge as his next featured film, it was clear that he was chasing an Oscar. Unfortunately, he will have to wait at least another year to take home that award. RDJ brings the same Tony Stark mannerism to Hank Palmer, a mannerism that RDJ has perfected and shines throughout the film with. Match that with the amazing chemistry he has with Duvall and you'll think RDJ will be landing a nomination. Wrong.

But the problem with the film does not rely on RDJ or any other actor as they all deliver with the little wiggle room they are given. It's as if Dobkin has very little faith in his stellar cast to flourish and does not allow them to show off their acting chops. Instead, we have a film that changes tones quite unnaturally from comedic to dramatic. It could also be that throughout the huge trial that everybody is awaiting a verdict on, there is a love-story thrown in that never really goes anywhere between Hank and high school sweetheart Samantha (Vera Farmiga). Perhaps the biggest reason for the failure behind The Judge is all the cliches that the film contains. Any father-son cliche you can think of, is present within the film and none of them are presented in an intelligent or clever way. It is clear that Dobkins is out of his element and if it wasn't for the stellar cast, this film would not be looked at twice. After all, good acting can only take you so far.

MOVIE REVIEW: St. Vincent - 'It Is What It Is'

Director: Theodore Melfi

Starring: Bill Murray, Melissa McCarthy, Naomi Watts

Release Date: October 10, 2014

St. Vincent marks the directorial debut of Theodore Melfi. On the other hand, the film itself is not making much of a debut, as it has been told differently throughout the years. Despite this, St. Vincent is not like the rest. Melfi surrounded his film with an amazing cast which includes: Bill Murray, Naomi Watts, Terrence Howard and Melissa McCarthy. Not only was the cast amazing but Melfi was able to get the best out of Murray, who gives his best performance since Lost in Translation. St. Vincent might have a simple premise but this film is anything but simple and is a must watch.

Ted Melfi's comedy St. Vincent stars Bill Murray as a crusty old man who ends up caring for the son of his new neighbor (Melissa McCarthy). Although he's a cynic who gambles, drinks, and frequents prostitutes, the man turns out to be exactly the mentor the 12-year-old kid needs as the young one adjusts to his parents' divorce, and life at a new school.

The highlight of the film is the cast by far,  causing me to give Melfi two rounds of applause. The first, for being able to assemble such an amazing cast for his directorial debut. The second, for being able to bring so much out of each of their characters. Melissa McCarthy who plays Oliver's mother, Maggie, plays a serious role that we are accustom to. I mean, if my last film was Tammy, I would have a lot of things to get serious about. Regardless of her performance in her latest film, McCarthy definitely proved she has some solid dramatic acting skills. Naomi Watts on the other hand was the complete opposite of McCarthy. We are used to seeing Watts in serious roles being that she has been nominated for two Academy Awards and a Golden Globe. But Watts will have you laughing at her over the top Russian prostitute role, Daka, in this film. Who is not only Vincent's best friend but also his lady of the night.

The two big stars of this film are Jaeden Lieberher and Bill Murray. Jaeden Lieberher makes his debut onto the big screen as Oliver. It's not because he is eleven years old that makes Lieberher so impressive, but his comedic timing with Murray throughout the film that was just perfect. Lieberher could have easily been overwhelmed and found himself playing catch up but that was never the case. You fall in love with this character and every single act he makes just opens your heart more to the kid. However, this is Bill Murray's movie. Oliver's actions open your heart and hit your soft spot but Bill Murray's actions as Vincent will open your heart and hit your funny bone. Vincent has no filter when he talks to anyone, so half the things he says might come off as rude to the other characters but audiences will find it hilarious. It takes a special kind of actor to manage a chuckle out of the audience from just a simple act as walking through a line in a bank.

The film opens up with Vincent telling us a joke at a bar and the jokes just keep rolling from there. The film isn't meant to be a comedy and I don't believe Melfi originally sought the film to be as funny as it ended but when you have Murray as your lead, your game plan tends to change. But despite all the jokes and laughter, St. Vincent will cause your eyes to water here and there but never causing full water works due the good will tone carried throughout the film. St. Vincent will go down as one of Murray's most memorable works in a career that is already very decorated.

ADVANCE SCREENING: Win Tickets to an Advance Screening of Fury

I Heard That Movie Was... is giving out two pairs of tickets for Brad Pitt's latest film Fury. The movie isn't set to hit theaters until October 17th but you and one guest will have the opportunity of seeing the film on October 14th.

Time: 7:30 PM
When: Tuesday, October 14th

Make sure you come back each day for a chance to enter again!

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MOVIE REVIEW: Whiplash - 'Faster'

Director: Damien Chazelle
Starring: Miles Teller, J.K. Simmons, Melissa Benoist
Release Date: October 10, 2014

Everyone in attendance of the Sundance Film Festival this year all have one movie in common to praise, Whiplash. Winner of the U. S. Grand Jury Prize and Audience Award, Whiplash has been gaining early Oscar buzz already. Starring in the film is upcoming actor Miles Teller who is preparing for his first blockbuster film playing Reed Richards, also known as Mr. Fantastic in The Fantastic Four. Teller has done a lot of teen directed roles in his early career but when a high performance is demanded from Teller just like in The Spectacular Now, he delivers. But is Whiplash's Oscar buzz worth all the hype? In 2013 Fruitvale Station, the winner of the U.S. Grand Jury Prize and Audience Award, ended up not getting a single Academy Award nomination. Take that with a grain of salt as Chazelle's second feature is the best way to kick off the Oscar season.

A talented young jazz drummer experiences a trial by fire when he's recruited by a ferocious instructor whose unyielding search for perfection may lead to his undoing. For as far back as Andrew Neyman (Miles Teller) can remember, he's been watching his father fail. Determined to make a name for himself no matter what it takes, Andrew enrolls in a prestigious east coast music conservatory where his talent quickly catches the attention of Terence Fletcher (J.K. Simmons) an esteemed music teacher who's notorious for his caustic approach in the classroom. The leader of the school's top jazz ensemble, Fletcher promptly transfers Neyman into his band, giving the ambitious young drummer a shot at true greatness. He may achieve it, too, if Fletcher's methods don't drive him to madness first.

As soon as Simmons appears as Terrence Fletcher, his presence is not only dominant but terrifying. It's as if Simmons' refound his inner Schillinger and broke out of prison and became a jazz conductor to hide his identity. Instead of finding the best in his students and perfecting it, Fletcher hunts for their weaknesses just so he can make use of it by straining out the bad of his students. From Fletcher slapping Neyman around to help teach him the difference between rushing and dragging tempo to Fletcher's presence making another student cry while ONLY questioning him if he was out of tune or not, Fletcher's emotionally harmful teaching methods make this movie unforgettable. To Fletcher, nothing can be more damaging to a student than telling them "Good job."

Whiplash might not only be the birth of the next Hollywood superstar in Miles Teller, but the birth of the next hot director in Chazelle. Chazelle, who played the drums in a competitive big-band ensemble while in high school, used a lot of his own experiences to make the film. Like a true musician, Chazelle's film flows a beautiful melodic pace, rarely rushing or dragging; Fletcher would be proud. The film hits a mini speed bump towards the end but it all aids towards a crescendo that is the final act. With Teller playing majority of his scenes live, if he wanted to, could become a professional drummer if he ever decides to leave acting. The two will team up again in Chazelle's next feature La La Land which will also star Emma Watson.

What really makes Whiplash shine is the war between the two leads. Neyman and Fletcher share little dialogue but they battle each other with their respected skills: Neyman beating the drums as fast as he can while Fletcher tells him he is doing it wrong even faster. As if Neyman was attempting to build a house during a hurricane. You do not need to enjoy jazz or music in general to appreciate this film. If you have ever put yourself in the position where success is all you've ever wanted, than you will truly understand Neyman's journey.

MOVIE REVIEW: Annabelle - 'Crazy People Do Crazy Things'

Director: John R. Leonetti
Starring: Ward Horton, Annabelle Wallis, Alfre Woodard
Release Date: October 3, 2014

In 2013, director James Wan released one the best horror movies of the decade, The Conjuring. The film went on to set a record for the largest opening for an original horror film, making $41.9 million opening weekend at the domestic box office. So it's no surprise that a year later a spin-off is hitting theaters just in time for the Halloween season. Unfortunately for us, James Wan is not back to direct the film. Instead, his preferred cinematographer of choice since his 2007 film Dead Silence, John R. Leonetti, has taken on the challenge. Leonetti is no stranger in directing the next film in a franchise as he directed both Mortal Kombat: Annihilation and The Butterfly Effect 2. Just like the aforementioned films, Annabelle does not live up to the first film but is Leonetti's best piece of work while sitting in the director's chair.

She terrified you in The Conjuring, but this is where it all began for Annabelle. Capable of unspeakable evil, the actual doll exists locked up in an occult museum in Connecticut—visited only by a priest who blesses her twice a month. New Line Cinema’s supernatural thriller Annabelle begins before the evil was unleashed. John Form (Ward Horton) has found the perfect gift for his expectant wife, Mia (Annabelle Wallis)—a beautiful, rare vintage doll in a pure white wedding dress. But Mia’s delight with Annabelle doesn’t last long. On one horrific night, their home is invaded by members of a satanic cult, who violently attack the couple. Spilled blood and terror are not all they leave behind. The cultists have conjured an entity so malevolent that nothing they did will compare to the sinister conduit to the damned that is now...Annabelle.

I am a huge fan of James Wan's work, especially The Conjuring. So when word got out that a spin off was in the works I was immediately intrigued even though James Wan was not going to be directing it. But where The Conjuring shines, Annabelle fails. You know a film is facing an uphill battle when it is already being compared to another.

The Conjuring was not like most horror films. Wan did not attempt to scare you with explicitness or gore but with more of how the viewer feels personally. The horror scenes do not rely on shock value and cheesy gimmicks but they make the hairs on your arms stand up. You grow to care for the characters which causes their fears to become yours as well.

Annabelle on the other hand, you don't care for the characters at all and the scares are not only obvious for the most part but they all utilize the jump scare method a little too much. Let's focus more on the thoughtless decisions our characters make. When we first see the doll in The Conjuring it looks creepy as hell. It was safe to assume the doll looked the way it did due to it being possessed. WRONG! John Form decided to buy this doll as a gift for his wife. Would you buy a doll that looks creepy naturally? No. Then would you put said doll right above the carriage that belongs to the baby that you are expecting? Once again, nope! Then the night in which they were attacked by the two cultist, John and Mia had a chance to call the cops while the cultist were still in their neighbors house but decided not to. Why? They believed if their neighbors heard screams coming from their house in the middle of the night and all the lights were off, they would just come over and check it out first as well. Maybe that's how people did it back in the 60's but in 2014 you never go into a house in the middle of night in which you just heard screams coming from. This is all within the first twenty minutes of the film.

As for the scares, every time the film used a wide shot, you just knew something was about to come. A character would be on one side of the shot and the on the opposite there would be an open door leading to a dark hallway. The main problem with the scary scenes is that there was simply no suspense building in the construction of them. The score of the film attempts a build up but fails due to how obvious they were. Don't get me wrong, if you are an individual who gets scared easily, you are most likely going to be scared half to death because the film is filled with jump scare after jump scare. There is one scene in particular which starts off in the basement of the Form's apartment which was done perfectly and even I was trying my best not to close my eyes. 

If you were hoping that this film lived up to The Conjuring than you will be disappointed as it becomes clear that what is ultimately missing from this film is James Wan himself. Depending on your tolerance of horror films than Annabelle will either be a complete bore or a film that scares you ultimately just one time due to its jump scare tactics.

MOVIE REVIEW: Gone Girl - 'Amazing Amy'

Director: David Fincher

Starring: Ben Affleck, Rosamund Pike, Neil Patrick Harris

Release Date: October 3, 2014

Three years ago, director David Fincher adapted another best selling novel onto the big screen with Girl with the Dragon Tattoo and elevated the novel as much as the source material allowed him too. Perhaps if the novel focused less on the violence and more on the investigation, Fincher would of had more to work with. Gone Girl does not give those same limitations. Gillian Flynn's best selling novel Gone Girl carefully reveals the peeling of each layer of its mystery, as if you needed a scrap piece of paper while you read to keep track with each character's movements. Now for readers who have kept their scrap paper patiently and excitedly waiting for the adaptation of the film are going to be quite upset as the the adaptation will have a new third act that Flynn personally wrote just for the film. That alone can scare anticipated viewers but the only thing they should fear is their marriage turning out anything like Amy and Nick Dunne's. 

On the occasion of his fifth wedding anniversary, Nick Dunne (Ben Affleck) reports that his wife, Amy (Rosamund Pike), has gone missing. Under pressure from the police and a growing media frenzy, Nick's portrait of a blissful union begins to crumble. Soon his lies, deceits and strange behavior have everyone asking the same dark question: Did Nick Dunne kill his wife?

As I walked out the theater from seeing Gone Girl, I was asked from a stranger what the film was about. That my ladies and gentlemen, was the hardest question I was asked that night. Not because I had no idea what I just saw but it is almost impossible to describe the plot without spoiling it. Fincher keeps you guessing for the first hour of the film before it takes the sharpest u-turn that I have ever seen, pushing the film in a new direction. Even with a new direction almost half way into the lengthy 145 minutes length film, Fincher is still assembling a puzzle which image doesn't get completed until the final minutes.

Time is not relevant in Gone Girl as Flynn creates a fractured time scheme within her novel then Fincher and herself were able to translate perfectly for the big screen. The film starts off on Nick and Amy's fifth anniversary. As Nick arrives back home after a drive he finds his house looking like a crime scene and his wife is missing. As the police arrive and start investigating the house for any clues, the viewers are given the first of many flashbacks of different stages and points of Amy and Nick's relationship. The flashbacks begins with happy moments but slowly starts focusing on the fall out and their fall out was steep. In fact, we find out that Amy has kept a diary over the years which details her growing fear that husband might be planning to kill her. As the investigation continues, Nick goes from tragic husband to the number one suspect.

Affleck and Pike could have not been anymore perfect as Nick and Amy. Affleck was perfectly cast as a handsome, people-pleasing but mischievous husband. He is strong minded man but is not as equally as smart. As he is a man always batting as if he is down a run coming into the bottom of the ninth. Nick has made a lot of mistake within his marriage and has lied to everyone he has ever loved, not just his wife, but does Nick have what it takes to kill "the love of his life"? Pike on the other hand is a perplexed, extravagant, placid woman who was the inspiration of a popular children's book Amazing Amy written by her parents. But is Pike always at such ease due to her calmness or is because of her sharpness? The supporting cast is just as strong but don't be mistaken, this picture is all about Affleck and Pike.

Gone Girl is a treat no matter if you have read the source material or not. If you haven't read the book, you will be in store for quite a surprise. If you have, you will be pleased with how the movie was adapted onto the big screen. Either way, you will walk out the theater with an unsettled feeling about what marriage is really about as this film covers one of the most gruesome crimes of America; marriage.