PT: Judgment Day @ptjudgmentday - Tumblr Blog

Twitter Hiatus

I'm taking a break from Twitter until I realize what I want to get out of Twitter. In the past it was a great tool for making connections in the local community. Then I learned I can seek out friends with common interests (movies and hockey). Then I was fascinated by small exchanges with pro athletes and filmmakers/actors, etc. What a cool place to be! What a small world we live in. Unfortunately, Twitter can be a lonely place for a guy with opinions.

Due to many factors my social media time is designated to specific hours of the day. I am ok with this. Social media is a part of my life but I’m careful not to place it above things that matter more: my wife, my cat, my family and my friends. When I have time I enjoy jumping on, sharing thoughts on what’s going on in my life and holler at my friends with similar interests. I make an effort to share movie tweets shortly after I watch a movie. 1 time out of 20 a friend will comment on said tweet, 1 time out of 132 I’ll get a “favorite” and 1 time out of 157 I’ll get a retweet. The lack of response has weighed on my soul. Sometimes I’ll see friends/acquaintances post something like, “Omg Captain America 2!” That tweet gets 20 retweets instantly with double that number in favorites. Obviously I’m doing something wrong. I do my part to support friends and fellow writers, it's not a two-way street.

When I post full movie reviews or an interview I’m more likely to hear from a bitter filmmaker (It has happened twice) than from an actual friend/colleague. That stings a lot. It’s an internal struggle that I doubt will ever go away. I take pride in what I do. It feels like I’m presenting myself to an empty audience. Maybe this is on me. Maybe I need to learn techniques to receive any form of response. Maybe some clickbait inspired headlines would help. (I’ll never do that) It would be crazy for me to say I’m only in this for retweets, favorites and conversation. A little bit of that once in a while would be nice, though.

This isn’t just about movies. I share a bunch about my personal life and I might as well just talk to a wall in terms of sharing. Maybe my life is boring. Maybe it’s not a big deal that I just landed the best job of my life and only one friend responded (I <3 u Nikki!). I have lost friends on Twitter and I’m still confused as to why. I care about people. When I stop hearing from someone, I notice so I check their profile only to find out I have been blocked by that person. I cannot count the many fellow Canucks fans I have lost as followers. I probably lost them because I have strong, often blunt opinions on the team. It’s weird that people don’t like to have their expectations curbed. I still hold my stance that you’re delusional if you thought the Canucks had a good chance at the Cup after the Boston Cup run. This doesn’t make me less of a fan, this makes me a fan with a realistic outlook. I can still root for my team while keeping my expectations low. One time I lost a slew of female mutual followers because I told them to ignore a stupid, attention ***** who insults people to get a reaction. She got her reaction, I told them “Just ignore her.” Things escalated and I lost a handful of fellow fans I chatted with on a regular basis. More recently I lost a fellow Canucks fan who I followed from day 1. It hurts when I lose people I respect. I’ll take responsibility for it, doesn’t mean I have to like it when they peace out without saying a word.

Where does that leave me? Frustrated, annoyed, hurt and confused. Social media changes every day so I’m taking this time to re-think what I want out of Twitter. This likely means that I will follow fewer people. On the positive side it’s giving me more ideas for using Instagram and Facebook. Facebook has been the one constant for me. I post something there and it’s rare when I do not receive some form of engagement from someone. When I comment on someone’s status or photo I get a reply. IT IS SO WEIRD! The success rate of engagement is much higher for me on Facebook. For Twitter I feel like a Naggy Maggy sending people Tweets that I’m not sure they read at all. I don’t know how long I’ll be away. It may be 72 hours, could be a month but I’ll be back. Hell...I wonder how many people will never read this in the first place! lol It’s all good. Y’all don’t have to read it and THANK YOU if you are reading and talking to me on social media. If you want to keep in touch look me up on FB and Instagram (adriancharlie)

The Green Screen of Death on iTunes!

I'm thrilled to announce our movie podcast, "The Green Screen of Death" is now available via iTunes. Thanks to anyone for offering us your time and ears!!

iTunes link here:

https://itunes.apple.com/ca/podcast/the-green-screen-of-death/id835797899

The Green Screen of Death - Episodes 1-4

Hey y'all

Decided to start a podcast with my good buddy Bill. We talk about movies, upcoming movies, film festivals and everything in between. We'd love it if you gave us a shot and feel free to drop us a line if you have any feedback!

Cheers,

Adrian

Whistler Film Festival 2013

This was my first time attending Whistler Film Festival and I had an absolute blast! The scenery is breath-taking and the people are incredibly friendly. Walking through the village bundled up while eating poutine feels about as Canadian as it gets. I will elaborate on this in a future post. For now I'll share the news of my "Numb Bum" award for seeing 25 films at the festival. Huge thanks to Whistler Film Festival. I cannot wait for next year! I'll be taking my wife and as many friends as possible! :) My schedule posted below.

December 4

6:30pm Cas & Dylan

December 5

9:00am The Wait

11:00am Three Night Stand

12:45pm Louis Cyr (Watched in my room due to a cancelation)

3:30pm Dark Blood

6:30pm Afterparty

9:30pm Sex After Kids

December 6

8:30am Meth Head

10:30am Ice Soldiers

12:30pm Down Here

3:30pm Jimmy P: Psychotherapy of a Plans Indian

5:00pm Finding Mr. Right

9:30pm The Grand Seduction

11:30pm The Station

December 7

10:15am Le Demantlement

1:30pm The Husband

4:00pm Gabrielle

7:00pm Siddharth

9:00pm Patch Town

11:30pm Odd Thomas

December 8

11:00am The Ridge

12:15pm Cheap Thrills

2:15pm Cas & Dylan

7:00pm Devil's Knot

9:30pm The Crash Reel

For my effort I was awarded the "Numb Bum" award from Whistler Film Festival. Thank you so much!!

The Numb Bum award goes to @Adrian_Charlie for seeing 25 films during #WFF13. Your prize is two gold passes to #Wff14. Congratulations!

— Whistler Film Fest (@whisfilmfest)

December 13, 2013

My Take on Awards Season

It’s that time of year when critic circles and various organizations announce their nominees/year-end winners. Some hold awards season in high regard, the pinnacle of cinema. I used to be one of those people. I used to be fascinated by awards buzz and made an extra effort to see all “award-worthy” films.

There is something wrong when an award serves as the highest praise we can offer an artist. Awards season divides film lovers whether they’re all about awards season. Remember that time a (mostly) silent film won the Academy Award for Best Picture? How about the time Affleck won for a film that was (loosely) based on a true story? How many of you loved these films? I’m willing to bet a 50/50 split. How many of you can name these films? Probably a 50/50 split.

Awards season is the Valentine’s Day equivalent of expressing love for film. If you love film, talk about it year-round, not just between December-March each year. Make no mistake, this is not a blanket statement for everyone discussing awards. This is aimed at the folks who place far too much weight and time on awards talk. It’s a race for online film people to proudly claim, “First!” or “Toldja so!”

Art is subjective and that’s what bothers me about awards season. For every person that dismisses The Artist as nostalgic crap there are just as many people who believe The Artist is the best film they have ever seen. Does that mean The Artist is better than Hugo or Midnight in Paris? Not at all! At the end of the day it’s all about preference. If I prefer the color red and you prefer blue, who is “right?” (Me obviously!) It’s important to keep in mind that your favorite film will not win, that should not affect your love for said film. If your love is diminished maybe films aren’t for you.

Brace yourselves internet, we have another 2.5 months of “Top Ten Oscar Snubs” and “Oscar Predictions” articles. Heck, I plan on posting my list of guesses like I did last year. I’ll tune in to the Academy Awards and will probably talk about it most of the night. Just know that I love movies year-round. By talking about them and writing about them all year I show my appreciation for film.

Last year Keith Calder (Film Producer) posted the following tweet:

Instead of watching the Oscars this year, go make a short film with some friends. Celebrate movies by making one. It'll be more fun

https://twitter.com/keithcalder/status/295223967441121280

His tweet planted a seed in my mind. I’ve seen countless films but haven’t actually created films since my high school days when I shot short films/mock commercials with my friends and brothers. Ever since Keith's tweet I’ve had an idea in my head for a short film, likely under ten minutes. It’s a fun idea and something I will explore to fruition.

There are several ways we can express our love for film, awards should not be the height of that expression. Please don't interpret this as, "Awards are bad, mmmk?" Awards can serve many positives, especially for indie films. I'm just fed up with launching twitter and seeing countless awards predictions, snubs and analysis. This is just me ranting and wondering if anyone else feels the same.

P.S.

This is my favorite award acceptance speech

Fantastic Fest Firsts

This year marked my first trip to Austin, TX and my first Fantastic Fest! Below I list my Fantastic Fest firsts! I'm sure I will repeat many of these in the years to come!

First review: Septic Man

First screening at Alamo Drafthouse: Machete Kills

First person I sat next to: Kent

First beer ordered: Pale ale (forgot the brand)

First meal ordered: Royale with cheese+fries

First press screening: Afflicted

First interview: Clif Prowse and Derek Lee for Afflicted

First midnight movie: Almost Human

First volunteer I met: Michelle

First soda ordered: Dr. Pepper

First actor I met: Pat Healy

First director I met: Mark Hartley

First friend I met for the first time: Daniel Tucker

First review I wrote in between screenings: Escape from Tomorrow

First secret screening: Cannot be named! =( Second was Gravity.

First diva moment: When I was placed in boarding group B for Gravity and all boarding groups were announced at once. I was stuck in a fold-up chair and acted like a brat.

First film I disliked: Patrick

First time I was star-struck: When I stood next to Tom Savini and couldn’t say hello.

First stupid question overheard at a Q&A: I’m an aspiring musician. What advice do you have for me Kirk Hammett?

First film seen in 35mm: Timecrimes

First foreign film: LFO

First film that made me cry: Afflicted

First film that made cry uncontrollable, ugly face tears: Blue Ruin

First film that made me cry tears of joy: Why Don’t You Play in Hell?

First film that made me laugh til my sides hurt: Cheap Thrills

First film I walked out of: Commando (schedule/pee conflict, watched the rest later)

First non-Drafthouse meal: Smashburger

First breakfast at an early morning press screening: Banana and Mountain Dew

First Drafthouse Films Blu-Ray purchased: A Band Called Death

First person to bust my chops for excessive use of, “Eh?”: Daniel Tucker

First person I met who I wasn’t sure actually existed in real life: The Wolfman

First person to save my life: Tom Nix

First person to ask, “Are you Adrian Charlie?”: Rob Hunter

First person I had sex with: Sarah Charlie

First film I was asked to sign-off on pull-quotes: Machete Kills and unfortunately my quotes weren’t used.

First non-fiction film: The Unknown Known

First day I felt physically/mentally exhausted: Day Four

First day I got more than 3 hours of sleep: Day Six

First people I rolled with at Whataburger: JC De Leon, Scott Weinberg, Brad McHargue

First person I bought a beer for: Fred Topel

First celebrity spotting: Robert Rodriguez

First person I took my photo with: Larry Richman

First person I complimented while in the bathroom line-up: Devin Faraci

First person I hugged: Larry Richman

First person I interrupted while he was conducting an interview (I didn’t realize this at the time): Fred Topel. I’m such a bonehead!

First writer I approached and fan girl’d shamelessly: Matt Singer

First time I fell asleep in a screening: Day 6, Confession of Murder. I was exhausted!

First bad decision: Walking to Walmart from the hotel after traveling all day.

First film in which I drank the kool-aid while a cult committed suicide on-screen: The Sacrament

First time I realized I could not attend midnight films every night: Day 2

First review I wrote in the nude in my hotel room at 3am: Man of Tai Chi

Vancouver Int'l Film Festival

Hello friends,

To wrap-up my personal blog on the madness of September and October I thought I would talk about my experience at Vancouver International Film Festival (VIFF). First off, I do not recommend attending two film festivals in a row and attempting to cover both. One festival alone is physically and mentally draining. Traveling from Austin to Vancouver and attending films the following day is a BAD IDEA! The original plan: Fantastic Fest (September 19-26) and Vancouver Int'l Film Fest (September 28-October 11).

I booked an entire month from my regular 9-5 job. If you're unaware, I'm an IT guy working on the front lines on the service desk. Any time someone experiences an IT related issue, we take the initial call. Sometimes we can fix it, other times we need to escalate to another team. If you have a helpdesk/service desk guy/gal, give them a hug. While this job can be "easy" at times, it's a stressful one!

Back to the fun stuff! On the morning of September 27, 2013 I journeyed back to Vancouver with my wife. The following morning I attended these films at VIFF:

The Lunchbox (10:30am)

All the Wrong Reasons (1:10pm)

Wolf Children (4:20pm)

The Right Kind of Wrong (8:45pm)

This was a typical day for me at VIFF. I should also mention the room I booked for my stay was about the size of a walk-in closet. It had barely enough room for a couch/pull-out bed and a small desk. I did not take pictures. If you want an idea it was approximately the same size as this place.

Pretty small, eh? The first few days I felt pretty crammed. It did not help that the wifi in the place was barely usable. Unstable wifi was enough to stress me out. Much research is involved when reviewing films, even if it's as simple as looking up the IMDB page for the film. There were hours when I did not have internet at all. Call it a first world pain but it made writing a daunting task. Combine a miniature space with an uncomfortable chair+desk and no internet, you have a recipe for disaster. Oh I also found ways to entertain myself through Vine. Yeah I was losing my mind a little bit!

(You may have to place your mouse over the vine video and enable sound by clicking the X over the speaker. You're not missing a lot if you watch it muted!)

Vancouver was more cold and more wet than Austin. Big shocker right?! I was battling a cold/cough/runny nose through all of Fantastic Fest. I was popping dayquil and nyquil like they were candy. Each day in Vancouver I got rained on! Add to that my schedule was different from my friends: Bill, Marina and Zack because I arrived at the festival two days later. We had some run-ins and a few of our movies lined up, so that was nice!

Basically, VIFF felt cold in more ways than one. It's no fault of the programmers, organizers, filmmakers or even the attendees. Fantastic Fest spoiled me. Before and after each screening at Fantastic Fest there were several people to chat up. There were a couple of days at VIFF where the only people I spoke with were volunteers, "Has so and so film seated yet? No? Lineup over here? Ok thanks!" That's it! There were no power couples like Noah and Jenni hanging out. No familiar faces like Brad, Al, John, Lola, Jay R., Jenni or Larry (To name a few). A part of me kept looking for those wonderful people after VIFF screenings. When I looked around I saw sparse groups, couples, or friends all hurrying out of the venue and perhaps rushing off to the next venue. Perhaps I did not try hard enough. Who knows? It was a dark place for me. I had some strong supporters along the way, they know who they are. I was miserable.

I attended VIFF from September 28-October 4. I was supposed to stay through the bitter end on October 11 but I wasn't having fun. None of the films really blew me away, this includes highly anticipated films like: All is Lost, Ain't Them Bodies Saints and The Lunchbox. I was so done with watching movies that I left the day that Blue is The Warmest Color was playing. I could have caught a later ferry but I was fed up and mentally spent.

I packed my bags and spent the full day traveling home. My bags were heavy and uncomfortable to carry. I do not drive so it was transit all the way home. It was all worth it when I came home to my loving wife Sarah and our beautiful cat, Jojo. I missed both of them to bits. Sarah was with me the entire time I was at Fantastic Fest, she will attend again next year. :)

While I felt happy to come home, I couldn't help but feel like I let myself down. I felt so defeated. I felt like I let the team down (NextProjection.com). I cannot remember exactly what I said to my editor the day I decided to go home. That was a tough e-mail to write. =( There were several other factors that led to my decision to come home. Like the time I couldn't hear the person who announced passholders for a morning film. When I realized a group of people were being escorted to the theatre I quickly joined them only to be told that they reached the maximum number of passholders. I was in line for an hour, was approximately the 5th person in line and I was being told I cannot watch the movie. I had to beg to get into a screening. I could share some other stories but i do not want to sound like a whiny brat.

Overall it was a great learning experience. I learned how far I can push myself mentally. Watching four films a day followed by writing for a few hours into the late night was crazy! WHAT WAS I THINKING?

I'm going to better prepare myself next year. I am certainly attending Fantastic Fest. My wife and I decided we're going to arrive in Austin two days early so we can settle in, get the lay of the land and catch up with friends. As for VIFF? I will probably do what I did the previous year, attend during my days off from work. My festival coverage continues in December when I attend Whistler Film Festival (December 4-8). http://whistlerfilmfestival.com/ I cannot wait!

Film Writing - This is What I Do

Hi friends,

I'm writing this post because my recent participation at film festivals has caught some of you by surprise. I've been asked if I won a contest, asked if I paid my own way, and asked how I got into it. If you're reading this, you know how much I love watching movies. I grew up watching movies. Every single morning I would throw Star Wars into my parent's betamax player and watch the opening battle sequence. I'd get up extra early, eat my breakfast and marvel at the world created by George Lucas. These mornings were special to me because I often woke up well before anyone else in the house. It was just me, some storm troopers, some rebel scum and Darth motherfuckin Vader!

Star Wars has brought my family and friends together. It's so much more than a film, it's an experience with great joy and adventure. Yes it's unfortunate that George Lucas has butchered the film, turning it into a shadow of its former self. I remember the original films and remember the fond memories shared with the people I love.

Fast forward to 2006? My father encouraged me to write movie reviews. He told me I watch every new release and my reviews would help him choose what to see. Using my MSN email, I started up a blog using MSN's lame service. I cannot even remember the name. It was extremely amateur. As time went by more friends told me they read my blog and my family enjoyed it. The timeline is pretty hazy. I didn't write every week. Things slowed down and I stopped writing completely.

In 2010 I started writing movie reviews again. I used Google+ as well as the tumblr blog you're reading right now. I couldn't think of a name so I picked the first (and lamest) thing that came to mind, "PT: Judgment Day." Why PT? I went by the twitter alias @PatrickTussie which caused a lot of understandable confusion among online friends. I later changed my twitter handle to @Adrian_Charlie.

At the end of 2011 I received a life changing message from Chris Misch, founder of NextProjection.com Chris asked if I would be interested in writing for Next Projection. NP is a massive independant Toronto based film website. We write film reviews, attend festivals, conduct interviews and write about TV shows. It's an exciting time at Next Projection as the team continues to grow and receive notoriety. The team comes from all over the world so our coverage is exceptional!

My first assignments involved monthly movie previews (I've been slacking on those) as well as reviews and coverage for Victoria Int'l Film Festival. With a wider audience I developed a fear of submitting reviews. A wise high school English teacher once told the class there is nothing more naked, more revealing than honest writing. To this day I still feel scared of sharing my opinion. A recent discussion with a talented writer at Fantastic Fest revealed that I'm not alone. It was reassuring to hear that other writers of varying ability and experience feel (or felt) the same way.

Writing for Next Projection has been a pure joy. The entire team is so helpful. I've had the opportunity to screen movies that are unavailable in my city. For those unaware, it's common for film critics to receive access to online screeners so that we may watch the movie and write a review. This year I had the opportunity to screen Blackfish ahead of it's limited release. The opportunity took my experience to another level as I was also given the opportunity to review Blackfish filmmaker, Gabriela Cowperthwaite. I had nothing but great things to say about the film and Cowperthwaite is a filmmaker to place on your radar.

To take my film writing to another level I made the decision to attend film festivals this year. My first was Victoria Int'l Film Festival which gave me the opportunity to see great films from all over the world. I just finished my second film festival of the year, Fantastic Fest.

(Every festival attendee must take a shakey face picture. It's a part of the tradition and I'm proud to say my neck was sore for three days after I took the photo for my badge.)

Fantastic Fest is the world's best genre film festival that takes place in Austin, Texas. Film lovers, filmmakers, actors/actresses, and everyone in between attend this festival. There are varying degress of popularity among each person, each person is approachable. Every single person I spoke with was incredibly kind. It didn't matter if that person were a writer I admired, longtime twitter friend, filmmaker or actor, everyone was there to have a good time. If you attend Fantastic Fest, don't be shy about approaching people like so and so filmmaker or THE WOLFMAN (he is real). Pay that person a quick compliment then immediately get into nerd talk. Here's an example: Elijah Wood carries the most fame/notoriety among Fantastic Fest attendees. While sipping a beer outside I bumped into him and struck a quick conversation about his new film, "Grand Piano." He was fully receptive, appreciated my comments, we talked about other films then he introduced me to Eugenio Mira, the Director of "Grand Piano." Mira was totally cool, dug my comments and we nerded out over movies for a few minutes. That's the beautiful thing about this film festival.

(Pictured above is AJ Bowen. The guy is incredibly talented and friendly. This is the only photo I took with an actor/filmmaker. His friend asked if I wanted to take a photo, was I supposed to say no??)

Fantastic Fest was film writing school for me. I had the opportunity to network with gifted writers. Just listening to them talk about films taught me so much. Before I interviewed Keanu Reeves I sat in a room loaded with talented writers I've admired for years. To sit in the same room felt surreal. How the heck did I get there? I strive to reach their level of talent, professionalism and knowledge. One of my favorite moments was a pearl of wisdom passed down by Scott E. Weinberg (Yes I'm name-dropping, what's up?!). The man loves movies and I could listen to him talk about movies for hours. Ok, maybe just during lunch at Whataburger. ;)

Fantastic Fest is by far my favorite experience at the movies. The filmmakers/cast/crew frequently attend their films, intro the film and complete a Q&A after the film plays to a belligerent Fantastic Fest audience. The Alamo Drafthouse is without question the best place to see a movie. Strict no talking, no texting rules makes for an enjoyable time at the movies. Clips like the one below play before every movie. Sometimes the clips are directly from films, or stars like Michael Cera and Jonah Hill remind you not to talk or text.

As mentioned I had the opportunity to interview filmmakers/actors for the films they played at Fantastic Fest. I interviewed the following:

Clif Prowse and Derek Lee, "Afflicted." It was a fun interview because Prowse and Lee are from Vancouver, I'm from Victoria! Not from the same neighborhood but close enough! They're a couple of great guys whose film has been picked up by CBS Films. Their film is something special, remember the name AFFLICTED!

Randy Moore and Lucas Lee Graham, "Escape from Tomorrow." These crazy guys made a full length film inside Disney parks without Disney's knowledge or consent. They shared some hilarious stories, we laughed a lot and it would have been fun to listen to them talk all day. Their film is out in limited release as well as VOD (USA). I highly recommend it. Let's hope a DVD/Blu-Ray in the future includes a filmmaker commentary track.

Jeremy Saulnier and Macon Blair, "Blue Ruin." Remember this film! Blue Ruin enters cinema as a modern American masterpiece. It's a crime drama centered on an ordinary man placed in an extraordinary situation. Saulnier and Blair had much to share but we cannot post our interview until the film is released in April 2014. Seek out this film ad witness the arrival of Saulnier and Blair. This film receives my highest recommendation.

Keanu Reeves and Tiger Chen, "Man of Tai Chi." Man of Tai Chi is Reeves' directorial debut and the on-camera debut of Chen. The two worked together along with Chen's master, Woo-ping. The trio are well known for their work on The Matrix Trilogy. The interview was intense! Reeves has a presence to him. He's as tall as you would imagine (6'2?) The interview went extremely well and should be posted at NextProjection.com in time for the limited release of the film on November 1.

(Here I am doing what I can to "Keep Austin Weird." This took place during the closing party)

Leaving Alamo Drafthouse on the final night stung the soul. I was making my rounds, finding as many people as I could before leaving. It wasn't until I turned around and saw a group of friends having a blast that I broke down in tears. Fantastic Fest is a wonderful festival that feels like one large crazy family getting together to enjoy films.

(Pictured above is Daniel Tucker, my colleague from NextProjection.com This was the hardest goodbye by far.)

Everyone involved in Fantastic Fest made this one hell of an experience. The volunteers are something special! Special shout out to Michelle and Terry, the first two volunteers we met. I kept running into them so we became fast friends.

It's late and this is bursting at the seams! I will write more about my experience at Fantastic Fest and Vancouver Int'l Film Festival.

Festival Season

You have probably heard from me at least a few dozen times, I'm taking a full month off to attend two film festivals: Fantastic Fest and Vancouver International Film Festival.

If you haven't heard of Fantastic Fest before, check out the sizzle reel from 2012:

Needless to say I'm thrilled to attend Fantastic Fest. The Next Projection team (Myself and Daniel) were tasked with writing a list of our most anticipated films. Here is our list: http://nextprojection.com/2013/09/10/fantastic-fest-2013-anticipated-films/

We will be writing full reviews, capsule reviews along with photos of the madness and some interviews as well. All updates will be posted at NextProjection.com so please bookmark it!

Immediately after Fantastic Fest I'm attending Vancouver International Film Festival. The idea of attending two film festivals in a row excites me and terrorizes me. Between September 19 - October 11 I will see in the neighborhood of 100 films. That's a high estimation but yeah, it's going to be crazy!

Here are the websites for both festivals:

http://fantasticfest.com/

http://www.viff.org/

The easiest way to follow my adventure is via twitter - @Adrian_Charlie

Favorite Films of Summer 2013

While contemplating my favorite Summer films I’m surprised to see that indies dominated the list. I’m the target audience for ridiculous, big budget Summer action films, but nearly all of them fell flat. For a year that has been massively disappointing, I’m quite pleased with the list of films below. (Presented in alphabetical order)

Before Midnight - Director: Richard Linklater

The third chapter in the “Before” series, (Before Sunrise/Before Sunset) Before Midnight is arguably the best of the three. Jesse (Ethan Hawke) and Celine (Julie Delpy) return to the big screen with the best on-screen chemistry of our time. In the previous two films Jesse and Celine fell in love, this time around they must maintain their love, something that does not come natural to all couples.

Linklater, Hawke and Delpe have aged like fine wine, taking their writing and performances to new depths. At this point the trio is showing off. Will we see another chapter? We’ll find out in 8-9 years!

Blue Jasmine - Director: Woody Allen

Cate Blanchett’s performance is nothing short of spectacular. I’d be shocked if I saw an equal or better performance from any man/woman this year. Jasmine (Blanchett) is a socialite who quickly descended from the top of the world after her business savvy husband was busted for stealing money (sound familiar?). Jasmine seeks help from her sister Ginger, played wonderfully by Sally Hawkins. The film has a wide range of character actors and each is at the top of their game. Bobby Canavale is a scene-thief in this film; he plays Ginger’s love interest, Chili. The film seamlessly follows two parallel storylines, Jasmine’s past and present. Let’s also hope this marks the return of Andrew Dice Clay, a man who expressed deep-seated pain that can only come from within.

Woody Allen should be applauded for writing a bold script and going into dark places with respect to mental illness. Last year’s Silver Linings Playbook toyed with the idea of commenting on mental illness but abandoned that idea in the final act. Allen’s portrayal of mental illness is frighteningly realistic. It’s much easier to ignore the idea that someone is ill, even easier to pop a pill and sweep the issue under the rug. Blue Jasmine is a tough, but essential viewing.

Frances Ha - Director: Noah Baumbach

Noah Baumbach and Greta Gerwig captured lightning in a bottle with this film. Frances (Gerwig) is a quirky woman living in New York trying to make it as a dancer but she cannot dance. She’s outrageous, immature, “undateable” (a perfect catch-phrase for this film), charming and wonderful. There are moments when the audience will shift from laughter to melancholy in the next breath. Frances’ wild spirit shows a glimpse of frailty, it’s in these moments that Gerwig shines as a performer.

Fruitvale Station - Director: Ryan Coogler

Fruitvale Station gathered a ton of momentum after winning “Best First Film,” screening under the Un Certain Regard section at Cannes Film Festival. Fruitvale Station is Coogler’s first feature length film, featuring a career-best performance from Michael B. Jordan. Jordan honed his craft during HBO’s The Wire, Chronicle and various roles in TV. The film is anchored by a powerhouse supporting role played by Octavia Spencer.

Fruitvale Station is based on true events leading to the tragic shooting of a young man at the hands of transit police. The level of care, attention and craft resembles that of a well-seasoned, veteran filmmaker. Shot on 16mm film, Fruitvale Station has a documentary feel to it.

The film has a lot to offer: it’s funny, harrowing, personal, heartwarming and ultimately tragic. It’s among the toughest movies to watch so far this year. I have never seen a stronger reaction from my mother during a film. It took a long time for her to collect herself after the film was over.

In A World... - Director: Lake Bell

Lake Bell makes her writing/directing debut with a hysterical film based on a woman attempting to break through the male dominated voiceover industry. The film is also based on the pursuit of approval from an impossible father, something audiences can relate to on many levels. Bell’s script is taut, clever, and contains a slew of loveable characters. This is the kind of film where it looks like everyone had a blast making it. The ensemble cast includes: Rob Corddry, Ken Marino, Demetri Martin, Fred Melamed, Nick Offerman, Michaela Watkins and Geena Davis.

It’s evident this project is deeply personal to Lake Bell. I would definitely sign up to see anything crafted by Bell.

Mud - Director: Jeff Nichols

Jeff Nichols is an exciting filmmaker who has demonstrated great talent with his previous films: Shotgun Stories and Take Shelter. Mud could very well be the “Stand By Me” for today’s youth. It’s enjoyable for all ages. It’s about a pair of boys who meet a fugitive who goes by the name of Mud (Matthew McConaughey). Ellis (Tye Sheridan) and Neckbone (Jacob Lofland) are cautious at first, but their curiosity and kind nature causes them to extend a helping hand.

The premise is unsettling but Nichols brings it all together in a way that makes this one of the best films of the Summer. Sheridan and Lofland demonstrate great talent for such young actors, keep an eye out for these two. Let’s hope McConaughey continues to find great indie projects like this.

Pacific Rim - Director: Guillermo Del Toro

The only big budget Summer film to grace this list, Pacific Rim is a beautiful big action Summer blockbuster film. This film is light on narrative and acting, but huge on action and set pieces.This is the kind of film that births cinephiles, hopefully causing younger audiences to seek out Del Toro’s films and other sci-fi/action films. This film is the reason why large screens exist.

The Spectacular Now - Director: James Ponsoldt

If Miles Teller and Shailene Woodley weren’t on your radars by now, time to catch up with the rest of us! The Spectacular Now is a great film featuring wonderful performances from Teller and Woodley. Their onscreen chemistry is seamless making it easy to invest in the characters. With such a strong investment in characters, James Ponsoldt tugs the heartstrings.

Sutter (Teller) is a popular high school kid who hangs out with an unpopular girl, Aimee (Woodley). The two hit it off, but not without a few bumps in the road. Sutter struggles with alcoholism and an estranged father. Aimee has never been in a relationship before and Sutter’s carefree attitude is unnerving to witness. For those seeking a mature coming of age film with outstanding performances, give this a try and thank me later.

The Way, Way Back - Directos: Nat Faxon and Jim Rash

The Oscar-award winning (Best Adapted Screenplay, The Descendants) team of Nat Faxon and Jim Rash make their directorial debut with The Way, Way Back. The film follows a young boy named Duncan (Liam James) during his Summer at the beach house owned by his mother’s boyfriend, Trent (Steve Carell). Trent is a horrible man, a mould-breaking role for Carell. Duncan is a reserved boy who finds confidence through encouragement from Owen (Sam Rockwell). Owen hires Duncan to work at the waterpark, Duncan works there in secret.

The film gains big points from Rockwell’s magnetic charisma and perfect comedic timing. Faxon and Rash gave Rockwell a lot to work with. Every time Rockwell appears on-screen, great things happen. Rockwell’s performance is one of the year’s most enjoyable so far.

The Way Way Back is a terrific film with a lot of heart. Faxon and Rash are smoking hot at the moment, keep an eye out for future projects. It seems everyone rallied for their film and turned in a wonderful, heartwarming coming of age film.

You’re Next - Director: Adam Wingard

I’ve heard praise for this film for two years and it did not disappoint. Simon Barrett (Writer) and Adam Wingard (Director) did a fantastic job of re-hashing the home invasion formula. Led by a cast of friends and genre favorites, You’re Next is a bloody good time. You’re Next is much more funny than the trailers led on. Genre fans will feel right at home with fun, crazy kills. There is one kill that will top many lists for those sickos keeping track of “Best Kills 2013.” If it’s still available, round up some friends and see this movie! If not, be sure to rent/buy it On Demand/DVD/Blu-Ray and enjoy with your closest friends. P.S. Sharni Vinson is a bad ass!

Blackfish - Victoria Premiere

I am pleased to announce that Blackfish plays at Cinecenta from September 25-October 5. Blackfish is a powerful documentary film that has gained a lot of buzz out of it's premiere at Sundance Film Festival.

Blackfish is about Tilikum, the orca whale that has killed three people while in captivity. The film strikes close to home as Tilikum was first exposed to the world in Victoria's own, Sealand of the Pacific (Oak Bay Marina). Suffice to say there will be some heavy hearts in the audience at Cinecenta.

I had the priviledge of reviewing the film for NextProjection.com The full review can be found here - http://nextprojection.com/2013/07/08/review-blackfish-2013/

I also interviewed the Blackfish filmmaker, Gabriela Cowperthwaite. The full interview can be found here - http://nextprojection.com/2013/07/10/interview-gabriela-cowperthwaite-on-blackfish/

Blackfish is a must see. If you require convincing, please check out my review and interview. The content is upsetting, but there is no easy way to tell this story.

Official Blackfish Trailer

Showtimes via @Cinecenta cinecenta.com

September 25 - October 5

7:15pm & 9:00pm

3:00pm Matinees Sept. 27-28, 29 and Oct. 4-5

Star Trek Into Darkness - Film Review

Star Trek Into Darkness is an entertaining, yet heavily flawed follow up to J.J Abrams’ Star Trek. The crew returns for a storyline that’s fueled by terrorism and revenge. Unfortunately Abrams treks lightly, taking few risks.

Abrams opens with an obvious nod to Steven Spielberg. The look, feel and pacing of the opening sequence features indigenous people chasing Captain Kirk (Chris Pine) and Bones (Karl Urban) through a grassy, tropical planet. The audience is then introduced to: Spock (Zachary Quinto), Uhura (Zoe Saldana), and Sulu (John Cho). The trio flies into the middle of an erupting volcano that is threatening to destroy the same indigenous people who are trying to kill Kirk and Bones. There is an element of danger in both sequences and all actors and Abrams shine in a thrilling opening sequence.

The audience is introduced to John Harrison (Benedict Cumberbatch). He makes a deal with a desperate family man, triggering a chain of terrorist attacks against Starfleet. Cumberbatch’s screen presence is haunting, paving the path to becoming a classic Star Trek villain. He’s smart, clever, strong, fast and cool under pressure.

Admiral Marcus (Peter Weller) tasks Captain Kirk to hunt and kill John Harrison. Weller slides nicely into the role of Marcus, conveying the head of Starfleet bent on getting revenge for Harrison’s acts of terrorism.

The following two acts will divide audiences. Abrams toys with making his own Star Trek film, but he’s handcuffed to the source material. When Star Trek plays with the idea of coming up with something new, an old element is reintroduced. It’s a tug of war throughout the film and the former wins the battle. Younger audiences won’t know the difference. Seasoned Star Trek fans will either love it or hate it.

One thing is certain; sci-fi takes a backseat to the action/comedy on display. Abrams and his writing team treat Spock like he has Asperger’s syndrome. Spock is not socially inept; he has control of his feelings and chooses which feelings to convey. When Spock does not express emotion, it does not mean he does not feel those emotions. Kirk and Uhura get frustrated with Spock like they know absolutely nothing about Vulcans. Did Starfleet Academy include classes on diversity among cultures? Did they skip the class for Vulcans?

On the topic of writing, Roberto Orci, Alex Kurtzman and Damon Lindelof take several narrative shortcuts for the sake of pushing the action. The trio of writers crafted a soft, safe script. This leaves little room for a worthwhile ending, resorting to rushed exposition and a final act that doesn’t match the strong opening act. This team did nothing exciting with the alternate universe created in the 2009 reboot.

That being said, the action is top notch. John Harrison is a beast of a character and he’s given plenty of room to play. Much like The Phantom Menace vs. Star Wars, the action is cranked far higher than the earlier films. Harrison navigates a deadly aircraft, wields massively destructive weapons and uses his strength to decimate foes with his fists. Captain Kirk and the rest of his crew get a chance to shine with breath taking action.

Other positives include a strong score that pushes along the action. The cinematography is stunning! The 3D IMAX presentation is gorgeous with very little ghosting. This is a film that demands to be seen on the largest screen with the biggest sound.

The best elements by far come from Benedict Cumberbatch and Zachary Quinto. Both actors turn in superb performances. Cumberbatch and Quinto have previously played the villain or the hero, displaying incredible range.

Star Trek Into Darkness has a lot going for it: Summer blockbuster action, beautiful cinematography, great performances, and everyone involved seems to genuinely care. The film loses points due to a lazy script and a ridiculous final act. It’s a horribly unbalanced film that doesn’t need to be.

#star trek #film #movies #star trek into darkness

Evil Dead (2013) Two thumbs down!

Evil Dead (2013) I didn't like it! Spoilers!

Evil Dead is an ok horror film rescued by spectacular practical special effects, eerie cinematography and a beautiful score. The rest is a mess. I preface this by saying I’m a die-hard Evil Dead fan and absolutely love horror films. This is my attempt to place into words why I did not like the film. Agree/disagree this is how I felt and I’m not alone. SPOILER ALERT!! Lots of spoilers listed below so if you have not seen the film go ahead and close this window, re-visit after you have seen the film. Anyone left? Please proceed!

After watching the film I could not put a finger on why I did not enjoy this film. After a twitter discussion and further brainstorm here is my list:

The opening witch scene was bad ass! It set up the audience for what’s expected. The people are never referenced again in the film. A part of me expected them to return. The hanging rabbits would have been scary if the opening scene were cut out. People fear the unknown, but since the audience knows exactly what happened during the cellar reveal, our only remaining option is, “Oh cool that was from the opening scene.”

The opening act sets up characters with information we don’t need. Animosity between Eric and David? Why? It did not lead to conflict in the movie. The registered nurse, she gave Mia an injection to help her sleep, did we need that info for the medication and one line of dialogue? How about this instead? “I gave her some sleeping pills, she’ll sleep for three days!” David’s girlfriend is given nothing to do with no build-up and that’s fine. They should have done that with the rest of the characters.

Mia’s story is intriguing but they never do much with it. If Mia is a junkie, why let her grab a set of car keys and storm into her room? Why let her take a shower by herself? She’s acting deranged, whispering to herself and speaking about a woman in the woods. If that’s my friend I do not leave her side!

Why not check her into a hospital? Maybe this is my “socialist” Canadian side speaking, but I’m not sure a registered nurse and a teacher are qualified to help a junkie recover. “She’s getting the exact same treatment a hospital would give her!” That line served the exposition machine, a lazy plot device.

Violence against animals is a bold move. I’m alarmed there have not been activists out in full force regardless of whether an animal was harmed. Generally speaking, animals are taboo in the horror world.

The Book of the Dead cannot be burned, but people can scribble over markings and write their own English text in the book. Why does this make sense?

The book says, “DO NOT SPEAK THESE WORDS!!” The teacher clears his throat, decodes the book and immediately speaks the words out loud. Is Alvarez commenting on the teachers of America? Why not make this guy just a regular guy? Why talk about his profession at all if he isn’t smart?

The book is wrapped in a garbage bag and barbed wire. Is this designed to keep the book out of the wrong hands? The people in the beginning knew what they were doing. If they truly wanted to save that girl’s soul they would do everything in their power to prevent it from happening again. Dear in-breeders, your barbed wire and garbage bag didn’t work!

The deadites resembled zombies more than deadites. An attempt to tap The Walking Dead audience? Dear Mr. Alvarez, you didn’t need to do that, true fans bought in from the beginning. Let’s stick with the deadite template.

Whenever the deadites spoke it was out of place. “I can smell your filthy soul!” Wait, why didn’t you say that earlier? In the original franchise their dialogue and timing made sense. Whenever the deadites speak in the remake it’s as if Alvarez feels the need to throw in a nod to the original for the heck of it.

Remember the beginning of the film when the witch tells the man, “This is the only way to save her soul?” A teacher picking up the book for the first time discovers two additional ways to save Mia’s soul: dismemberment and live burial. Why include the “…only way to save her soul,” line at all? Sloppy.

Each infected person contracts the virus (zombie) by the following methods: rape by tree, ingesting blood from Mia and a bite from Mia. These methods follow behaviour of a traditional zombie with the exception of rape. Why did Eric re-animate after he died? When Eric came back a major rule was broken, he was not raped, bitten and wasn’t forced to swallow blood. This was the dumbest thing and took me out of the movie, pushing me further away from a sloppy mess.

On the topic, what a dick move by David, placing Eric face down in the water. Sure he’s dead but have the fucking decency to lean him against the wall. If you’re a friend and you place my lifeless corpse face down in the water you better believe I’m haunting you til the end of your days!

Alvarez spoon feeds the audience because we cannot possibly follow along. When the first girl turns into a zombie we get a flashback of a page in the book which also reveals exactly what she’s doing to her face, removing any hint of a surprise/shock. When Eric is thinking about the book we see the book and specific passages. Thanks for the reminder!

Advertised as “The most terrifying film you will ever experience!” The film is not scary at all. This is coming from a chicken shit that won’t make eye contact with the following blu-rays in my collection: Paranormal Activity, Sinister, Insidious and The Shining.

Gore for the sake of gore. The second/third acts are frantic, giving the audience zero chance to absorb what’s happening on-screen. When Bruce Campbell hacked off his hand there was a build-up which delivered big laughs and a successful gross-out moment. When the nameless girlfriend does it there is no build-up. “Holy shit my hand!” Boom hand is gone. Why not do something with the possessed hand? Why not have it slap her around? Why not give the possessed hand time to play? Something fun/interesting before hacking it off would have been effective.

When Mia loses her hand it’s the nail in the coffin. Alvarez is handcuffed by the original franchise, serving it’s cause in choppy fashion. It’s a cool moment but it felt off. Before she uses the chainsaw she must lose her hand, here is how she will lose it.

The stinger after the credits served no purpose other than a cute nod to fans of the original. I love Bruce Campbell as much as the next guy but that was silly.

There you have it folks. I believe all points made are valid. If you thought it was the "omg best thing since Cabin in the Woods" I applaud you. I will never fault someone for enjoying a film more than me. Going into this film I was super amped!! The trailer was great, Raimi and Campbell produced it. It had everything going for it and it fell flat and quite boring for me.

2013 Oscars - My Guesses

2013 Oscar Guesses

I won’t pretend to be an expert, but I happen to read a lot of coverage and tweets centered on the Oscars. Last year I guessed most of the main awards correctly, 9/10 not too bad! http://ptjudgementday.tumblr.com/post/18328115255/2012-oscars-my-guesses I will expand on my guesses including more categories.

Best Picture

Will win: Argo

Should win: Zero Dark Thirty

Best Director

Will win: Ang Lee, “Life of Pi”

Should win: Michael Haneke

Best Actress

Will win: Jennifer Lawrence, “Silver Linings Playbook”

Should win: Emmanuelle Riva, “Amour”

Best Actor

Will win: Joaquin Phoenix, “The Master”

Should win: Joaquin Phoenix, “The Master”

Best Supporting Actress

Will win: Anne Hathaway, “Les Miserables”

Should win: Anne Hathaway, “Les Miserables”

Best Supporting Actor

Will win: Robert DeNiro, “Silver Linings Playbook”

Should win: Philip Seymour Hoffman, “The Master”

Best Animated Feature

Will win: “Wreck-It Ralph”

Should win: “ParaNorman”

Best Cinematography

Will win: Roger Deakins, “Skyfall”

Should win: Roger Deakins

Costume Design

Colleen Atwood, “Snow White and the Huntsman”

Best Original Screenplay

Quentin Tarantino, “Django Unchained”

Best Adapted Screenplay

Tony Kushner, “Lincoln”

Best Foreign Feature

“Amour"

Original Score

John Williams, “Lincoln”

Original Song

“Skyfall” Adele Adkins and Paul Epworth

Production Design

“The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey"

Best Documentary Feature

“Searching for Sugar Man”

Film Editing

“Argo”

Makeup and Hairstyling

“The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey”

Best Animated Short Film

“Paperman”

Sound Editing

“Zero Dark Thirty”

Sound Mixing

“Les Miserables”

Visual Effects

“Life of Pi”

DIY - Shelf for Blu-Rays/DVDs

I've been collecting blu-rays since Sony won the format war back in 2008. I've gone through various shelving units (bookshelf, BD/DVD racks, old shelf unit from closed video store).

Searching catalogs was discouraging because large shelving units cost hundreds of dollars. I ran a search in youtube, "cheap blu ray shelf" and discovered my inspiration. Full credit to @DanielTGillette for the video I highly recommend.

The groundwork is there. I had to fill in the blanks. I've NEVER picked up a power drill in my life, have never used a handsaw and before this project never heard of a pilot hole. If you want a reasonable solution for storing your DVDs/Blu-Rays I'm here to help!

Here is what you need:

Safety glasses/goggles. This is NOT an option.

Power Drill with drill bits and screw bits

(2) 1x4 lumber (frame)

(x) 1x3 lumber (shelves)

1.5" wood screws (4 per shelf)

2 "L" brackets

Level tool

Tape measure

Sandpaper (to smooth edges/corners)

Measure your dimensions and consider your collection size and future expansion. My shelves are 50" in length and with a 4" support beam down the middle that holds approximately 90 blu-rays per shelf. Take into consideration slip covers, box sets and various case thickness.

Purchase your lumber at a place like Rona and have the staff cut the lumber to your dimensions. Pictured below is a basic outline of what you need. For my unit I used:

2 Six foot 1x4s (frame)

8 Fifty inch 1x3s (shelves)

Before jumping into it please watch the following video on how to drill a pilot hole. Pilot holes are essential if you want to build this unit.

You must drill pilot holes on the frame pieces and shelf pieces. Each shelf will have two screws per side for a total of four per shelf.

How do we make sure the pilot holes line up for the frame and the shelf? I placed the shelf in place and traced the outline on the frame. Directly down the center of the outline I placed a notch on the 1" mark and the 2" mark from the front edge. I drilled pilot holes on those marks on the frame. Next I drilled identical marks on each side of the shelves.

I completed measurements and drilling one shelf at a time. Measuring and drilling holes all at once should be reserved for experts. One shelf at a time leaves less room for error.

I placed my level on the shelf as I attached it to the frame with wood screws. Wood screws are easy to back out if you need to make adjustments. Measure 8 inches from the shelf to the bottom of the next shelf and repeat the process.

Here is the shelf nearly complete. Use the same basic method for the center support beam. The support beam adds sturdiness to my 50" shelves. Last step, attach "L" brackets to each side for support/balance.

Here are a couple shots of the final product. Not bad for a first timer, eh? Please hit me up on twitter if you have any questions! @Adrian_Charlie

#diy #shelf #blu-ray #dvd #storage

Top 20 Films of 2012

I am proud to present my Top 20 Films of 2012. How did I choose my list? There are many factors: performances, direction, editing, replay value, cinematography, score/soundtrack among others. I poured my heart and soul into this piece, huge thank you for checking it out. :)

#20. The Perks of Being A Wallflower - Director: Stephen Chbosky

Stephen Chbosky captured something special with Perks. Watching the relationships develop is pure magic between Charlie (Logan Lerman), Patrick (Ezra Miller), and Sam (Emma Watson). Perks is a warm hug on a cold Autumn day. Need a lift? Watch this film.

#19. Magic Mike - Director: Steven Soderbergh

Soderbergh films always look great, MM is no exception. I applaud Soderbergh on extracting fine performances from: Channing Tatum, Alex Pettyfer, Matthew McConaughey and Cody Horn. I was quite surprised by how much I enjoyed a peek inside the male stripper world. Crank the volume, sit back and enjoy a fun ride.

#18. Girl Walk // All Day - Director: Jacob Krupnick

This uplifting film can be viewed online for free! girlwalkallday.com The film features three talented dancers: The Girl, The Gentleman and The Creep. Each dancer has their own style, their own voice and charm as they dance their way through the boroughs of New York City to catchy mashups from Girl Talk. Take 70 minutes out of your day and share the joy.

#17. The Imposter - Director: Bart Layton

This documentary is about a Frenchman who stole the identity of a missing 16 year old boy from Texas. The story is shrouded in mystery and becomes more unsettling as the film unravels. The narrative is intense and will have you on the edge of your seat.

#16. Amour - Director: Michael Haneke

How far are you willing to go for a loved one? Jean-Louis Trintignant and Emmanuelle Riva deliver award-worthy performances. Haneke is a master of his craft. Watch with a loved one.

#15. ParaNorman - Directors: Chris Butler and Sam Fell

Considered by many as the Best Animated film of 2012, it’s a hard film to resist. Anchored by a heartfelt voice performance by Kodi Smit-McPhee this film is incredibly moving. ParaNorman is a crowd pleaser with appeal to audience members of all ages.

#14. Skyfall - Director: Sam Mendes

Skyfall is among the best and is by far the best looking of the Bond franchise. Shot by Roger Deakins, this should be his first Oscar win for Best Cinematography. The action is top-notch and Silva (Javier Bardem) is such a great Bond villain. The “Old school vs. New school” theme is a joy to watch and it’s fascinating to watch the franchise expand.

#13. Searching For Sugar Man - Director: Malik Bendjelloul

A pair of music enthusiasts seek to uncover the mystery behind their favorite rock artist, Rodriguez. It’s interesting to listen to their journey in a world before Wikipedia and Social Media existed. The story is fascinating and will make you wonder why Rodriguez wasn’t a huge star in the 70s.

#12. Goon - Director: Michael Dowse

A love letter to my favorite sport, hockey! Doug Glatt (Seann William Scott) is a big strong lovable guy. The dialogue is funny and among the most quotable comedies of the year. Liev Schreiber’s performance is the icing on the cake. This film is more than a hockey film, it’s quite moving. I applaud screenwriters: Jay Baruchel and Evan Goldberg.

#11. The Avengers - Director: Joss Whedon

This film delivers the goods: talent, special effects, and ACTION! I love how Marvel Studios handled the build-up to The Avengers with each individual Avengers film. Did I mention the ACTION? The final action scenes had my jaw on the floor.

#10. Moonrise Kingdom - Director: Wes Anderson

This film features exceptional breakout performances from both young leads: Jared Gilman and Kara Hayward. The ensemble cast delivers a lot of laughs: Ed Norton, Bruce Willis, Bill Murray, Frances McDormand, Tilda Swinton and Jason Schwartzman. Do yourself a favor and fall in love all over again by watching Moonrise Kingdom.

#9. Holy Motors - Director: Leos Carax

Holy Motors will go down as 2012’s most under appreciated film. Future generations will wonder, “Why didn’t this receive more recognition?” Denis Lavant plays a wide variety of roles, delivering one of the finest performances of the year. I love a film which initiates discussion, oozing subtext and hidden themes. This is the most challenging film of the year and I applaud the unorthodox style.

#8. Looper - Director: Rian Johnson

Looper is a fantastic action/sci-fi featuring Joseph Gordon-Levitt completely transforming into Bruce Willis Jr. This film is elevated by superb performances from: JGL, Willis, Noah Segan, Emily Blunt and a “stealth bomber” performance from Garret Dillahunt. This is the kind of film that will stand the test of time and hold up nicely through multiple viewings.

#7. The Grey - Director: Joe Carnahan

The Grey is the best horror film of the year, anchored by a gut-wrenching (some say award-worthy) performance from Liam Neeson. Carnahan throws the audience into the cold along with the survivors. The sheer terror and bleakness rocked me to the core.

#6. Silver Linings Playbook - Director: David O. Russell

Russell crafts a feel-good film that will warm your heart and place mist in your eyes. Some seem to forget they’re watching a film, elements of bi-polar are exaggerated but much of it is spot-on. This heart-felt, honest, charming film is a crowd pleaser. Jennifer Lawrence should be nominated for Best Actress, I’d love to see Bradley Cooper nominated too. Btw, welcome back Robert De Niro! We missed you!

#5. Argo - Director: Ben Affleck

Ben Affleck deserves at the very least a Best Director nomination for Argo. He crafted such a wonderful thrill ride in Argo. Out of all screenings of the year, this was the only film to receive multiple audience applause throughout. Look for Best Supporting nod(s) for John Goodman and Alan Arkin. The pacing of Argo is outstanding along with razor tight editing. This is a meaty film with zero fat.

#4. Zero Dark Thirty- Director: Kathryn Bigelow

“Can I be honest with you? I am bad news. I’m not your friend. I’m not going to help you. I’m going to break you. Any questions?” - Dan (Jason Clarke). The quote above can be viewed as Bigelow speaking directly to the audience. Bigelow is not your friend, she will break you and you will thank her for it. Advertised as the “greatest manhunt of all time,” Bigelow delivers one hell of an experience. Chastain’s performance is among the year’s best and Jason Clarke’s performance is haunting. It’s fascinating to watch the transition each character goes through. Hard to believe this actually happened. Whether it happened in this exact fashion will be a mystery, the story is captivating.

#3. The Master - Director: Paul Thomas Anderson

The Master features remarkable performances and flawless on-screen chemistry between Joaquin Phoenix and Phillip Seymour Hoffman. Freddy Quell’s (Phoenix) first processing with Lancaster Dodd (Hoffman) is a masterpiece in acting and direction. Peggy Dodd’s (Amy Adams) role is subtle, effective and crucial for this film to work.

#2. Django Unchained - Director: Quentin Tarantino

Tarantino is a man who loves films and his passion is felt in Django Unchained. Christoph Waltz’ performance is outstanding as he does a majority of the heavy lifting in the first half of the film. Jamie Foxx delivers the goods while the duo of Leonardo DiCaprio and Samuel L. Jackson steal the show once they appear. Tarantino takes an “all-or-nothin” approach resulting in one of the best, most satisfying films of 2012. Not for the faint of heart, this is a bloody good time.

#1. Cloud Atlas - Directors: Tom Tykwer, Andy Wachowski, Lana Wachowski

Cloud Atlas is the most ambitious most rewarding film of the year. The audience is treated to many of the best elements film has to offer: romance, action, sci-fi, slapstick comedy, and mystery all spanning multiple storylines and lifetimes. Each actor is at the top of their game. There is no wrong answer to this question, “Which character/actor was your favorite?” I’ve gone back and forth through all of them. I love them all. Such a wonderful adaptation, beautiful performances and grand scale storytelling at it’s finest.

#top 20 #film #2012 recap

Texas Chainsaw 3D - Review

If you need a horror fix this film is as satisfying as a partially microwaved pizza to a hungry college student. Why not place it back in the microwave until it's hot? With eight writing credits it appears the producers made that attempt and failed.

The groundwork is in place: A beautiful lead, attractive friends whose sole purpose is to die in gruesome fashion as well as a spooky set. Why did this remake fail like so many others? Let's explore, shall we?

Texas Chainsaw 3D's only attempt at scaring the audience comes from lazy jump scares. Jump scares should only be employed by skilled horror directors like James Wan. First time horror Director John Luessenhop is out of his element. A horror film without an element of fear? Surely there must be SOME redeeming factors?

The house is a spooky set and makes for a haunting backdrop while Leatherface chases beautiful young adults. It's a shame when a beautiful set goes to waste in an otherwise mediocre film. Kudos to William A. Elliott on the creepy production design. Unfortunately the set is the only redeeming factor.

The kill scenes are forgettable and overplayed. Leatherface saws off some limbs? We've seen that before. Leatherface uses meathooks to snag his victims? We've seen that before. The kill scenes lack originality and entertainment.

Anas N. Michos (Cinematographer) does a fine job capturing the eerie look of the film. There is a large emphasis on the 3D aspect, yet the film only contains a few 3D shots. Most will agree a timely close-up 3D shot of Tania Raymonde is the best, most shameless shot of the film.

Let's touch on the script for a moment. The film has eight writing credits: three screenplay, three story and two character writers. This results in a mess of a script with no rhythm, jagged pacing and exposition which practically places the script in front of your eyes during one scene.

Texas Chainsaw 3D does not satisfy. This film is plagued with: a poor script, forgettable characters, boring kill scenes and lack of fear factor. Save your $15 and rent a few superior horror films.

#texas chainsaw #texaschainsaw3d #horror #film #review

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