Released in 2014
The Imitation Game
The Imitation Game is a story of code breakers in World War II, led by Alan Turing who invented a machine to decipher the messages sent through the German’s impossible to break code machine Enigma. Alan Turing is played by Benedict Cumberbatch for which he has earned unending accolades. Much of the buzz around the film is caused by the injustices in Turing’s life. He was vitally important to the victory of the Allies in World War II and saved millions of lives through his work; however, he was convicted of public indecency (being a homosexual) and forced to undergo chemical treatments until he took his own life at age 41.
This is my second draft of this article because while writing my last one I felt like I wasn’t allowed to have such an adverse opinion since everyone else in the world is in love with this movie and its handling of Turing’s treatment as a homosexual by the British government. The harshness of White’s article was liberating for me. He accuses it of agenda pushing in the fervor of Oscar season where the top runners always have a political agenda. White felt their handling of his homosexuality was “whitewashing” and “making a hollow statue” out of Turing. And I think that pinpoints why I didn’t have a strong emotional reaction to the movie – it was too important to the creators that I feel bad for Turing. (Click on Picture for Full Review)
This is my second draft of this article because while writing my last one I felt like I wasn’t allowed to have such an adverse opinion since everyone else in the world is in love with this movie and its handling of Turing’s treatment as a homosexual by the British government. The harshness of White’s article was liberating for me. He accuses it of agenda pushing in the fervor of Oscar season where the top runners always have a political agenda. White felt their handling of his homosexuality was “whitewashing” and “making a hollow statue” out of Turing. And I think that pinpoints why I didn’t have a strong emotional reaction to the movie – it was too important to the creators that I feel bad for Turing. (Click on Picture for Full Review)
Mockingjay Part One
Once again, a story that doesn’t need the extra space to spread out has been divided into two films. I
can’t help but notice that what seems to be happening with the serializing of
the final installments in series is that they are becoming watered down. Which
is why I left Mockingjay kind of
baffled; they had remained faithful to the book, much of it was as I had
pictured it, and it seemed well done. But it felt kind of… blah. It doesn’t
stand alone as a film. And when I think back to my overall impression all I see
is gray and concrete. Splitting up a complete story that originally
had multiple levels of light and dark and a satisfying resolution results in,
well, a story that is half as good.
(Click on Picture for Full Review)
(Click on Picture for Full Review)
Meet the Mormons
This is a documentary featuring a number of Latter-day Saint members from around the world: Costa Rica, Maryland, Nepal, Georgia, and of course, Utah. One of the goals of this movie is to let people know that we’re not quite as weird as you think we are. In fact, we are very few of the things that you think we are. And we are also many of the things that you think we are. Because we are free to be a wide range of things despite our stereotypes of restriction and oppression. In this last General Conference one of the elders stated that “You wouldn’t go to Judas to learn about Christ.” The purpose was to let you know the truth from the disciples – you know, the actual people you’re thinking weird things about.
(Click on Picture for Full Review)
(Click on Picture for Full Review)
Guardians of the Galaxy
It’s true that this was definitely different from the usual science fiction/superhero/comic book movie because of the motley crue of weirdo compatriots who really don’t want to be working together which includes Chris Pratt’s character (an abductee from Earth), a giant reddish-purple man whose wife and daughter were killed by the group’s token female’s evil adopted father so he’s out for blood pretty much all the time, a raccoon with a foul mouth and a “come at me, bro” attitude, and the raccoon’s lovable and loving walking tree friend who can only say the words “I am Groot” but whose meaning is somehow always clear. They’re all very good at what they do, but they just hate that they have to do it together.
(Click on Picture for Full Review)
(Click on Picture for Full Review)
Maleficent
Maleficent premiered to lukewarm reviews which I think is a shame. I had been excited for this movie since I saw the final shot in the preview of Angelina Jolie with her proud, powerful, and gorgeously evil cackle. Visually it is comparable to The Great and Powerful Oz (Oz’s production designer is Maleficent’s director), but with an actually interesting story. While they both are the earlier adventures of our childhood icons, Maleficent provides explanation for the actions of previously flat characters. Nobody is evil for no reason. It doesn’t make a favorite childhood villain suddenly warm and cuddly. She is still a force to be reckoned with, but this story gives her a voice, because there are as many sides to a story as there are people in it and all the evil is rarely on only one side. And Jolie was perfect, being in possession of both great tenderness and a formidable presence. (Click on Picture for Full Review)
The Fault in Our Stars
I am so sick of rabid TFIOS fans crying that this isn’t a book about cancer. Could you please have the cojones to own that this is a book about cancer? Few people would give a crap about this love story if they weren’t dying.
That being said, it is a lovely story. I went into the theater pretty cynical. Then about halfway through the film when Augustus Waters is working his magic on both Hazel and me, I remembered how it was going to end. “Oh crap. This movie is going to rip me apart, isn’t it?” Then future me handed me a tissue and said while sniffling, “Uh huh.”
(Click on Picture for Full Review)
That being said, it is a lovely story. I went into the theater pretty cynical. Then about halfway through the film when Augustus Waters is working his magic on both Hazel and me, I remembered how it was going to end. “Oh crap. This movie is going to rip me apart, isn’t it?” Then future me handed me a tissue and said while sniffling, “Uh huh.”
(Click on Picture for Full Review)
Divergent
I liked the movie better than the book. *Duck as objects are thrown at me.* It’s possible that I judged the story harsher than usual because I’ve been up to my eyebrows in dystopian trilogies and as a result I’m starting to see the strings.The most interesting part of this movie is watching the
growth and conflict within the main character Tris as she grapples with her
fears and weaknesses, her love for her family – now spread across three
different factions since her brother chose erudite – the fascinating
transformation from abnegation sweetheart to dauntless badass, and her own deep
dark secret about her divergence. I struggle to cling to every other premise
just so I can keep watching Tris’ journey.
(Click on Picture for Full Review)
(Click on Picture for Full Review)
The Grand Budapest Hotel
Appreciating and understanding Wes Anderson’s movies is an ongoing pursuit. I’ve come a long way, but I have a ways yet to go. The Grand Budapest Hotel is his newest creation, and by far his most visual. The
story is narrated by Zero who was at the very bottom of the hotel’s hierarchy
as a junior lobby boy in training. And somehow the top and the bottom members
of the staff become each other’s trusted, bonded companions.
While the unnamed World War II breaks out all over the map
and Gustave and Zero and Zero’s girlfriend, a baker named Agatha, (Saorise
Ronan) begin a harrowing journey through prison, a monastery, and back to the
hotel.
As always, the acting and directing are quick and deliberate
and distinctively Wes Anderson. When the first shot opened on just the façade of The Grand
Budapest Hotel I was immediately oriented into his world and it felt good to be
somewhere so geniusly familiar.
(Click on Picture for Full Review)
(Click on Picture for Full Review)
Veronica Mars
Veronica Mars the TV show starred Kristen Bell who played a popular girl turned mouthy, loner super sleuth. I can not stress this enough, as silly as it sounds to say that this is a show about a teenager who solves crimes in the corrupt and wealthy city of Neptune, California, the acting is sharp and the writing is even sharper. It’s one of those smart shows. Veronica’s father is a private investigator and Veronica works in his office and borrows his gadgets, tricks of the trade, and overall inability to let injustice win.
(Click on Picture for Full Review)
(Click on Picture for Full Review)