The Place Beyond The Pines

The Place Beyond The Pines isn't a movie, its a journey. When you feel as if your apart of the film your watching you know somebody did something right, whether it was Gosling or Derek Cianfrance, someone did something right.

The story follows a biker named Luke, who after visiting a past one night stand discovers he has a child. He knows he must help provide for his child and hopes to be around to help raise his kid. But, without any money and only a dirt bike to his name, he and a newly found friend begin a new hobby, robbing banks to provide for his family.

The films director is known for his life sucking film Blue Valentine which some found dull and emotionless, and to some extent I agree. But he successfully reuses the mood set in Blue Valentine in The Place Beyond The Pines without making it dull and unwatchable. In Fact, I was sitting on the edge of my seat for most of the film. I applaud him for his action sequences, camera work, editing,  acting and choice of mood. I also credit the films success to actors like Eva Mendes, Bradley Cooper, Ray Liotta, Craig Von Hook and of coarse Ryan Gosling which I figured out I enjoy more in films where he isn't forced to look good for teenage girls. I give this film 4 out of 4 stars. Sit through the whole thing... its well worth it.

Elysium

Elysium was a wildly entertaining action sci-fi film that might very well be my favorite summer blockbuster. Neill Blomkamp directed a film I watched and loved called District 9 back in 2008, when I heard of this new project I knew it would be a win.

Elysium is about a future where the earth is in poverty due to over population and a number of economic downturns. The rich then fled to a man made planet like structure called Elysium. Elysium is run by a corrupt government headed by Delacourt(Jodie Foster).  Once we are informed about this, the story then focuses in on a character Max(Matt Damon), a poor thief with a profound background that separates him from the city scum that surrounds him. After an accident at a robot manufacturing company, he finds himself stuck with five days to live.

We now embark on a journey led by a very capable and fantastic Matt Damon to take down the corrupt Elysium and the government protecting it. the reason the film gets a 3 and 1/2 out of 4 stars is because it kept me entertained throughout its entirety and its story was truly unique like that of District 9. Backed by the wonderful performances by Matt Damon, Jodie Foster, Sharlto Copley I recommend this film as a perfect sci-fi thriller that is a 2013 summer hit.

Main Stream Film Vs. The Independent

 

Since the dawn of film, their has been independent films and the well known blockbusters. Most of us only pay attention to those which land at main stream movie houses like  Regal or Dipson, but their are movies out there that are not financed by big corporations like Paramount, DreamWorks or 20th Century Fox, but rather by smaller companies like  Bad Robot, Miramax and The Weinstein Company.

Now besides that of the budget for the films, much separates these two genres of film art. Large budget mainstream films are bigger, more dramatic, and filled with that of rich actors and directors that are capable of films that put us in awe. Movies like Inception, The Dark Knight Rises, The Matrix, Anchorman, Super Bad and Avatar. Films like these are loved by all and watched over and over again for our enjoyment but there are other films made for  reasons other than big explosions or ghosts making you jump in your seat.

Independent and Foreign films unfortunately don't receive the amount of attention that films like avatar got, mainly because most independent film can't spend the money mainstream films can. So, these films must focus on things other than giant transforming cars, they focus on things we can relate to. Many people who frown upon the chance to see a great independent film don't actually know that many of the most beloved films are independent ones. Movies like Black Swan, Half Nelson, Sideways, Lost in Translation, Paranormal Activity, The Evil Dead, Halloween, The Terminator and Pulp Fiction.

To say one is better than the other is wrong,  because films are meant to entertain all kinds of people. But I believe that independent films are all too overlooked by average movie gowers, they make the viewer experience pain, loss, love, excitement and it gives us a peep hole into our soul for just two short hours and it entertains and takes us on a journey much like mainstream films do. The following is a list of independent and foreign films I feel everyone should see before he/she dies.
1.Doubt
2.Girl, Interrupted
3.This is 40
4.Pulp Fiction
5.Lost in Translation
6.Sideways
7.Inglorious Basterds
8.Dancer In The Dark
9.Brides Head Revisited
10.Garden State
11.The Hours
12.Along Came Polly
13.Borat
14.W.E.
15.A Single Man
16.The Piano
17.Grey Gardens
18.The Pianist
19.The Reader
20.Capote

Wolverine

Despite my love of the wolverine and Hugh Jackman, "Wolverine" is an unnecessary installment for the X- Men story. "Wolverine" was way too long, so long I actually left the theatre for a beverage which I really hate doing, but I just needed a break from mumbling Huge Jacked Man.

The film starts with the wolverine in a cave in Alaska, why, I'm not quite sure. He soon realizes he has been followed by a small annoying Asian girl who was sent by her employer to fetch the wolverine. We find out her employer is a Japanese man who was saved by wolverine during a nuclear bomb that hit Nagasaki during the war.

We are then forced to watch wolverine/ the Alaskan cave man fly to a future Japan where he reunites with Yashida  who is now a big CEO of a technology company in Japan. His dying wish is to see the Wolverine one last time; to thank him for saving his life and to make him an offer he cant resist; mortality. At this point in the film we know Wolverine is deeply unhappy with his life and wishes it would end so he can end his suffering. He declines, but soon realizes he may not have a choice. With the help of his female sidekick Yukio, he must fight his way out of Japan while dealing with the emotions of falling for  Yashida's granddaughter.

The reason the film only gets a 2 out of 4 stars is because it was just too long and drawn out. Also, the film was really unnecessary and the plot really destroys our favorite character in ways that don't quite make sense. This films highlights why most superhero films suck, it forces you to believe the absolutely unbelievable for the sake of the plot. Marvel, just let us enjoy our 20 minutes of Wolverine in the next film and show us some more variety please.

2 Guns

I don't blame Mark Wahlberg or Denzel Washington for the faults in the film, I blame the director Baltasar Kormakur and the writer Blake Masters. The film is an action comedy that follows partners Bobby Trench and Stig Stigman who work together while working with a big drug lord in Mexico. The twist is that neither are aware of each others true motives. One works as an undercover cop for the DEA while the other works for the navy.

After a faulty bank robbery their identities are revealed and the two reunite to help each other take down the Government agencies which turned their backs on the men helping to take down a big player in the Mexican cartel.

The reason the movie only gets a 2 out of 4 stars isn't because it isn't thrilling or mildly funny. Its because of the over complicated character tree, cliché action sequences over use of gunfire and unrealistic story. I did kind of enjoy watching Wahlberg's character because
he brought a light, fun feeling to the film which lost my attention half way through.