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Geekscape Sundance Reviews: Blue Ruin

by MCDaveJanuary 18, 2014

Audiences and press have come to expect an abundance of slow-burning dramas playing throughout the Sundance Film Festival. Park City’s movie-mecca is rarely known for dishing out revenge thrillers, but this year they’ve got one worth flaunting.

Macon Blair stars as Dwight, a homeless man rummaging through the Delaware shore-line eating out of trash bins and sleeping in his car. His big bushy beard and out-stretched baggy clothes give off a downtrodden and dismal appearance. But when a friendly local officer informs Dwight that a man from his past is being released from prison, the homeless man seeks vengeance against the parolee.

Blue Ruin is a revenge-film done right. Its main character is flawed and perhaps unjust in his pursuit, but you still helplessly root for him. Macon Blair perfectly portrays the odd and few-of-words protagonist. Blair feels like an ideal fit for the role and his excellent performance should certainly pave the way for future roles, but we’ll just have to wait and see on the diversity of his skill set. Another welcoming turn comes from Devin Ratray, a 2013 familiar face. Ratray has most recently impressed with his fine work as one of Will Forte’s character’s twin-cousins in Alexander Payne’s Nebraska. Here he plays a war veteran who offers his services to Dwight, a close friend from their days in high school. Despite its collection of fine performances, Blue Ruin also benefits from a well-paced script that delivers on the gore and violence, an absolute must for any successful revenge-flick.

More than just a bunching of stellar aspects regarding movies of its breed, Blue Ruin has a strong story with a voice. The film’s message of vengeance being a never-ending cycle is brilliantly executed. Writer/director Jeremy Saulnier paints a bleak picture, but it’s one that resonates. This somber feature also transcends past the stereotypical bloody revenge-thriller by incorporating a darkly comedic undertone that plays well. Not only does Blue Ruin generate tension and suspense, it’s guaranteed to elicit a surprising amount of laughs. All of which play to its favor.

Although Jeremy Saulnier’s Blue Ruin is far from unblemished, it’s a highly entertaining and extremely engaging feature. Surely it has some weak dialogue and unrealistic situations, but they become easy to overlook in order to appreciate the essence of Blue Ruin.

GRADE: 4/5

OSCAR UPDATE 12/27: Sizing up the 6 Major Races!

by MCDaveDecember 27, 2013

There’s a bit of significance in today’s date. Oscar voting officially begins and for the second straight year they’re going with an electronic voting system. Members of the Academy will be eligible to make their selections in every race until Weds, January 8th. At that point, the votes will be collected and organized over the course of the next week, just in time to make the first official Oscar Nominations announcement on Thursday, January 16th. So now that we understand the process and some key dates along the way, let’s examine the 6 major races.

BEST PICTURE

Stone Cold Locks: It feels safe to say that 12 Years a Slave, American Hustle and Gravity are all destined to reach the final field of Best Picture combatants. This 3-headed monster could end up battling it out until the very end.

Safe Bets: At this point the next tiered group of films that you can expect to see in the Best Picture pool are comprised of some Oscar regulars from Alexander Payne’s Nebraska and the Coen brothers’ Inside Llewyn Davis. Another feature that won’t seem to fade away is Captain Phillips, which feels like a strong second rate contender that will definitely find its way into the field.

In the Mix: With at most 10 nominees allowed in the race, the remaining spots expect to be made up of newcomer wild cards Her and The Wolf of Wall Street, or other conventional possibilities such as Dallas Buyers Club and Saving Mr. Banks.

Long-Shots: Blue Jasmine, Philomena, late-year release Lone Survivor and Lee Daniels’ The Butler all have an outside chance of sneaking into the the big dance.

BEST DIRECTOR

Stone Cold Locks: There’s really only two directors you can count on making it into the final race, they are Steve McQueen (12 Years a Slave) and Alfonso Cuaron (Gravity). The rest are, as they say in politics, “too close to call”.

In the Mix: The Best Director field is awfully crowded this year and it wouldn’t feel like a shock to see any of Alexander Payne (Nebraska), David O. Russell (American Hustle), Paul Greengrass (Captain Phillips), Spike Jonze (Her), Martin Scorsese (The Wolf of Wall Street) and Joel and Ethan Coen (Inside Llewyn Davis) rounding out the top 5.

Long-Shots: Although they seem to be against all odds, there’s the slimmest of chances that any of Woody Allen (Blue Jasmine), John Lee Hancock (Saving Mr. Banks), Lee Daniels (Lee Daniels’ The Butler) and J.C. Chandor (All Is Lost) could weasel their way into the race.

BEST ACTOR

Stone Cold Locks: There appears to be a trio of lead acting performances that you can bet the farm on making it to the final five. Chiwetel Ejiofor (12 Years a Slave), Matthew McConaughey (Dallas Buyers Club) and Bruce Dern (Nebraska) all solidify a stranglehold atop the Best Actor competition.

In the Mix: The next tier of actors are made up of strong performances that have been acknowledged by all different types of precursors, and we still can’t get a handle on who has the inside track to sneak into the final five. Chances are it will be any of Tom Hanks (Captain Phillips), Robert Redford (All Is Lost) and Forest Whitaker (Lee Daniels’ The Butler)

Long-Shots: Joaquin Phoenix (Her), Leonardo DiCaprio (The Wolf of Wall Street), Christian Bale (American Hustle) and Oscar Isaac (Inside Llewyn Davis) feel a little less like long-shots and more so right on the heels of the Hanks, Redford and Whitaker class.

BEST ACTRESS

Stone Cold Locks: While there’s quite a bit of intrigue surrounding most of the Oscar races, Best Actress certainly isn’t one of them. The pool of 5 is seemingly set with Emma Thompson (Saving Mr. Banks), Cate Blanchett (Blue Jasmine), Sandra Bullock (Gravity), Meryl Streep (August: Osage County) and Judi Dench (Philomena).

Long-Shots: The only possible threats of dethroning the top 5 are a personal favorite of mine in Brie Larson (Short Term 12), Amy Adams (American Hustle), Adele Exarchopoulos (Blue is the Warmest Color) and Julie Delpy (Before Midnight).

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR

Stone Cold Locks: The Best Supporting Actor contest is shaping up as a slug-fest between Michael Fassbender (12 Years a Slave) and Jared Leto (Dallas Buyers Club).

In the Mix: With only 3 remaining spots, it’s still too early to count out supporting roles from Daniel Bruhl (Rush), Barkhad Abdi (Captain Phillips), Jonah Hill (The Wolf of Wall Street), Bradley Cooper (American Hustle) and an always difficult to overcome posthumous performance from James Gandolfini (Enough Said).

Long-Shots: As the darkest of horses with the tiniest outside chance of having their names called, I’ll still mention Tom Hanks (Saving Mr. Banks) and Will Forte (Nebraska).

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS

Stone Cold Locks: While I feel a little less secure calling them “locks” in the Best Supporting Actress race, the pool of 5 appears to be set. It’s fair to say that anything less than a competition between Jennifer Lawrence (American Hustle), Lupita Nyong’o (12 Years a Slave), June Squibb (Nebraska), Julia Roberts (August: Osage County) and an overrated turn from Oprah Winfrey (Lee Daniels’ The Butler) would be a surprise.

Long-Shots: The only possibilities of taking down one of the top 5 seem to come from Sally Hawkins (Blue Jasmine) and an even darker horse in Scarlett Johansson (Her).

*** Remember to keep checking back for regular Oscar updates and have a safe and Happy New Year!

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Geekscape Movie Reviews: Nebraska

by MCDaveOctober 25, 2013

In his still rather young career, acclaimed director Alexander Payne has almost become an “automatic” with voting Academy Members. Having earned a pair of Oscars, both in the Best Adapted Screenplay category for his two most recent works (The Descendants and Sideways), Payne’s often characterized deadpan humor always manages to glaze over a tender and dramatic story. Apparently it’s a recipe for success, and one that the filmmaker carries over with his newest addition, Nebraska.

Bruce Dern stars as Woody Grant, a confused and muddled old man (thanks to many years of aggressive drinking) who believes he’s the winner of a million-dollar sweepstakes. While Woody’s wife (played by June Squibb) and eldest son (Breaking Bad‘s Bob Odenkirk) continually tell him it’s nothing but a scam, his youngest son David (Will Forte) decides to humor his father. Together they embark on a sentimental road trip from Montana to Nebraska to redeem the prize money.

You can expect the norm from Alexander Payne’s latest feature as he sticks to a similar formula and crafts another worthy achievement. Nebraska offers top-notch performances and a healthy surplus of laughs. While Bruce Dern was the toast-of-the-town during his Best Actor win at the Cannes Festival as the binge-drinking patriarch of the Grant family, none shine brighter than his onscreen significant other, June Squibb. Her comedic ability and perfectly-timed humor fuse together and generate one of the year’s finest supporting roles. And in a surprisingly fresh turn, comedian and Saturday Night Live star, Will Forte, shows a spectacular amount of range. Forte’s transition from comedy to drama goes without a hitch, as it’s safe to assume he’s officially paved the way for a prolonged and expansive career. Alongside a compilation of satisfying performances, the beautifully shot black and white film echoes a modern-day Depression Era vibe that gives Nebraska the heart and soul it needs.

Although Payne’s career path has been an irrefutable success, the recognized filmmaker still hasn’t elevated his level of work. Payne’s resume is flooded with solid features that most directors could only dream of matching, yet Nebraska feels almost no better or no worse than the rest of his films. While the movie is intended to be a heartwarming and dainty tale, Nebraska flourishes more as a comedy than a drama. The laughs are plentiful and the charm is exquisite, but Payne’s examination of the Grant family dynamic is far less impressionable.

Nebraska is a pleasant viewing experience that succeeds in the moment, but whisks away from your memory soon after the credits role. June Squibb’s Oscar-bound performance is one of the film’s few long-lasting aspects. While Nebraska is a far cry from the Best Picture Winner that we all wish to see in Payne’s near future, it’s a gratifying expedition to say the least.

GRADE: 4/5

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2013 Philadelphia Film Festival Preview

by MCDaveOctober 17, 2013

There’s plenty of reasons why I always argue that October is my favorite month of the year. First, there’s the weather. The beautiful sunny days followed by chilly nights, I spend the Summer months just craving Fall’s immaculate forecast. Next, October boasts my favorite holiday, Halloween. With all the horror movies and delicious candy floating around to keep us occupied, there’s plenty to love about the tenth month of the year. But none of these irrefutable arguments can compare to my biggest reason why October is the best. It’s the host month of the annual Philadelphia Film Festival. In its 22nd year, I decided to examine this year’s 5 most anticipated film festival screenings. For east coast dwellers like myself who haven’t had a chance to get to Sundance, Cannes or Toronto, the Philadelphia Film Festival, which runs from October 17th to 27th, is the best way to get an early look at many of the biggest Oscar-contenders. But before I begin the countdown, here’s a look at some intriguing films that didn’t make the cut.

Honorable Mention: Cannes Film Festival Palme d’Or winner Blue is the Warmest Color, Judi Dench and Steve Coogan in Philomena, then there’s Marion Cotillard, Joaquin Phoenix and Jeremy Renner who star in The Immigrant, Le Week-End featuring Jeff Goldblum, Jim Broadbent and Lindsay Duncan and finally the thriller Grand Piano starring Elijah Wood and John Cusack.

#5. Labor Day

Director Jason Reitman has developed quite the fan base among voting members of the Academy with earlier works Juno and Up in the Air. While his previous release,Young Adult, failed to garner a nomination, the jury is still out on Reitman’s latest effort, Labor Day. Kate Winslet stars as a depressed single mother who won’t even venture outside of the house. But when she gathers up the courage to take a routine trip to the grocery store, she and her son end up helping out a fugitive on the run (Josh Brolin).

#4. August: Osage County

Whenever you mention Meryl Streep’s name, you have to assume that the Academy is listening. This year Streep stars as a recently widowed matriarch who takes center stage after a crisis brings her entire dysfunctional family back together. Co-starring Julia Roberts, Ewan McGregor, Chris Cooper, Benedict Cumberbatch and many more, August: Osage County undeniably has dreams of awards season glory.

#3. All Is Lost

Opening Night of the Philadelphia Film Festival marks the triumphant and talked about return of Robert Redford in the survival tale All Is Lost. In the twilight of his career, Redford is in the early Best Actor conversation with his turn as a sailor who faces mortality after his boat collides into a shipping container floating aimlessly in the sea.

#2. Nebraska

Believe it, anything director Alexander Payne touches turn to gold. He’s a modern-day “King Midas”. Payne returns in 2013 with his black & white comedy-drama Nebraska. Bruce Dern gives a highly buzzed-about performance as a befuddled old man who journeys with his estranged son (Will Forte) to Nebraska in order to claim his million-dollar sweepstakes prize. And not only does the Philadelphia Film Festival always offer a first look at Oscar-caliber features, they provide excellent insight with Hollywood insiders. Alexander Payne and Will Forte will be doing a brief Question & Answer session following the Monday screening of their film.

#1. 12 Years a Slave

Despite being a late addition (not even mentioned in the festival’s program), the film to be most-excited about is Steve McQueen’s festival darling that’s swept every competition it’s been nominated for, 12 Years a Slave. The reviews have been astounding and the cast is star-studded. Chiwetel Ejiofor plays Solomon Northup a free black man living in New York prior to the Civil War. However, Solomon is captured and transported to the south and sold into slavery where he suffers to stay alive and regain his freedom over the course of the next 12 years. Co-starring Michael Fassbender, Brad Pitt, Paul Giamatti and Paul Dano, 12 Years a Slave could be this year’s Best Picture Winner!

*** REMEMBER TO STAY TUNED FOR FREQUENT UPDATES FROM THIS YEAR’S PHILADELPHIA FILM FESTIVAL