The Loft
Sirens
The Boy Next Door
Annie
Whitney
Lemme just say the Whitney movie on Lifetime gets a 4 out of 5. Here is my harsh yet honest opinion below. So Yaya Decosta ("America's Next Top Model" and Cassandra from "All My Children") did a bang up job as Whitney Houston! She talked, laughed, shook her head, and cried like LaHouston. The rest of the cast fell in line too especially Arlen Escarpeta as Bobby Brown. He played Bobby as empathetic and real. Under Angela Bassett's direction the movie did a great job explaining the Whitney/Bobby complex relationship.
HOWEVER do not call a movie "Whitney" then begin and end with the Whitney/Bobby relationship. This movie shoulda been called Whitney and Bobby. It didn't SHOW Whitney growing up, or SHOW Whitney dreaming, or SHOW Whitney modeling, or SHOW Whitney's family dynamic. It told us all those things. I wanna see the rags to riches. I wanna see her get movie parts. It did show her drug use and how it started before Bobby. And another thing it didn't show her friendships and rivalries in Hollywood. It didn't show her age. Just that ONE period. And for that it gets 4 stars. 5 if we saw her complete life though.
The Comeback
Back in 2005 Lisa Kudrow starred in an HBO comedy called "The Comeback" about former TV actress Valerie Cherish getting her own reality TV show called The Comeback while being back on NBC TV sitcom "Room & Board." Back in the 90s Valerie found fame with NBC office sitcom "I'm It." In the series alongside Kudrow at the time was a fairly new cast: Kellan Lutz (Chris), Jason Olive (Jesse), Malin Akerman (Juna), Robert Agnell (Tom), Damian Young (Mark), Dan Bucatinsky (Billy), Lance Barber (Paulie G), Laura Silverman (Jane), and Robert Michael Morris (Mickey). Read on...
Unbroken
I give this movie 5 stars out of 5. Keep reading to find out why...and why I think it's a travesty it was snubbed at this year's Academy Awards.Empire
I feel the need to blog about Empire aka the Black version of Nashville mixed with Glee and Dynasty. It's very good I won't lie to you but there are some MAJOR problems. Keep reading...
American Sniper
Originally when I saw the trailer I thought "Bradley Cooper just can't stop vying for that Oscar. UGH you didn't win it for Silver Linings Playbook or American Hustle. You ain't gonna win it for this, hunty!" And I'd have to eat my words. This movie was so awesome and his performance so inspiring I'm almost certain he WILL be nominated AND win the Best Actor in a Leading Role at the 2016 Academy Awards. 10 stars out of 5...keep reading.
This movie was perfect on so many levels. It showed a character that wasn't necessarily flawed but just a lil "off" slowly change. And everyone that acted in scenes with Bradley helped prop him by being just as amazing. ESPECIALLY scene stealer Jake McDorman. Before I get into a full-on review here are the supporting cast/cameos: Sienna Miller, Billy Miller (daytime actor), Melissa Hayden (from "Guiding Light" fame), Luke Grimes, Kyle Gallner, Cory Hardict, Keir O'Donnell, Eric Close (from ABC's "Nashville,"), Jonathan Groff (from "Glee" and HBO's "Looking), Sam Jaeger (from "Parenthood"), and so many more. I do have to take note.
There is an actor named James Ryen from social media. He's gorgeous and always posts positivity. Hmm I guess when I see someone on social media list that they're an actor I think "I wonder how good they are." James NAILED it as the guy who whips Bradley Cooper into shape as a sniper AND discovers his gift. I kept thinking to myself "Who is that guy yelling at Bradley Cooper?" It wasn't till I got home and tweeted about it one of James' followers mentioned him and it clicked whom he was. I was very impressed. James WILL be the next big thing guaranteed. Follow James on twitter @JamesRyen! Oh and did I mention the film is directed by THE multi-Oscar winning Clint Eastwood. I mean this movie HAS to work right? Well it does...and it works well.
An American sniper named Chris Kyle's true story of defending our country at the detriment of his family. I know this is based on the book American Sniper: The Autobiography of the Most Lethal Sniper in U.S. Military History ,and I sort of wanna read the book now; ps Kyle has 160 confirmed kills under his belt. CONFIRMED! And before you judge the film didn't portray him as a gun happy sniper. He didn't WANT to kill, he HAD to. BUT I will say there are two tiny details in the movie that bring me out of the movie:
1) when Sienna & Brad are interact with the baby. It's pretty obvious the baby is 100% fake. I laughed throughout the scene it was so jarring. Spending all this time and money on the movie and can't even get a real baby for the scene? OY
2) Kyle Gallner's character is introduced into this SMALL group, yet he disappears midway
through the movie and never mentioned again.
My only two faults but it's still amazing. I see Oscars and plenty of awards in 2016 for this movie. Clint is back, folks. And in a BIG way!
Storywise I'm so annoyed. I don't want to give away any spoilers but I HATE when ppl meet you and respect you as one way, but then when how you are inconveniences THEM later on they gotta whine. So basically his job in the Army comes between them ALOT. And she doesn't in ANY WAY seem to try to grasp it. I felt like saying "Hunty, you have no idea what he's seen or done. HAVE PATIENCE AND QUIT NAGGING HIM!" I was legit angry. And some things happened SHE KNEW about. Why harp on him.
I hate when the year begins and ppl say "Best of the year." IT JUST STARTED! But I will say this I might even see this movie in the theaters again and it's in my top 5 movies of 2015, and maybe all-time.
Update on 1/15/2015
Because the movie was released in LA & NYC it qualifies for the 2015 Academy Awards. Bradley Cooper was nominated for Best Lead Actor, the script was nominated for Adapted Screenplay, and the movie itself. IT WILL WIN BRADLEY COOPER HIS FIRST OSCAR! Sorry Michael Keaton. Bradley Cooper was amazing!!!! I'm sad none of the other cast nor Clint were nominated though.
The Drop
All of whom give inspiring performances especially Tom Hardy who carries this movie on his back. Hell even Morgan Spector and Michael Aronov are great in their very supporting roles. Also Matthias KILLS IT as the slightly off Eric, who was just released from prison. Talk about off-balance! Another thing I LOVED is how committed every actor was to their American accents. Some of the actors were Australian, Belgian, British, and Swedish but you wouldn't be able to tell.
The story is slightly predictable, but the performances are amazing. I give it 4 out of 5 stars. Something feels off about the movie even though it is almost great! It does keep up the creep factor well and has me on edge regarding what will happen next. Towards the end it gives a HUGE twist that makes it worth watching. Definitely worth a view or two.
Also worth noting this is the last film James Gandolfini did. There's hints of a retired Tony Soprano, but still very good performance.
The Interview
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