Tuesday, December 10, 2013

Holiday Movie Guide 2013

I have been meaning to post this guide for some time now. It may be a few days late  but here is your exclusive guide to all the films being released over the Holiday season.

Now Playing
Inside Llewyn Davis

Out of the Furnace

December 13
Tyler Perry's A Madea Christmas
The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug

Saving Mr. Banks- Limited Release (Expands the following week)
American Hustle- Limited Release (Expands the following week)

December 18
Anchorman: The Legend Continues
Walking with Dinosaurs
Her- Limited Release

December 25
47 Ronin
Believe
Grudge Match
The Secret Life of Walter Mitty

The Wolf of Wall Street
August: Osage County
Lone Survivor

Friday, December 6, 2013

Catching Fire

Starring: Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson, Woody Harrelson, Phillip Seymour Hoffman, Liam Hemsworth, Sam Claflin, Elizabeth Banks, Jena Malone, Lenny Kravitz, Stanley Tucci, Jeffrey Wright, Amanda Plummer, Lynn Cohen and Donald Sutherland
Written by: Simon Beaufoy and Michael Arndt
Directed by: Francis Lawrence
Rating: 4.5/5 Unicorns

It is no secret that I am a huge Hunger Games fan. I still have not brought myself to read Mockingjay because I don't want this journey to be over. It is also no secret that I was not a huge fan of the popular movie adaption of my beloved Hunger Games. If I am being honest with you, I kind of hated it. I only gave it a passing grade because I felt it was well acted. I was a little nervous about Catching Fire because I loved the book and I did not want to be disappointed again. I am pleased to say this movie adaptation actually did the book justice. Thank the lord for Francis Lawrence.

Catching Fire picks up right where Hunger Games ended. Katniss (Jennifer Lawrence) and Peeta (Josh Hutcherson) have returned back to District 12 after being victorious in the 74th Annual Hunger Games. In order to protect their loved ones and themselves they must convince President Snow(Donald Sutherland) that their stunt at the games was out of love and not defiance. During their Victor's Tour they become aware of the increasing rebellion against The Capitol amongst the districts. Knowing the power that Katniss possess President Snow announces there will be a twist in the 3rd Quarter Quell (75th Annual Hunger Games), the tributes will be drawn from the winning districts. This act forces Katniss and Peeta to enter The Hunger Games for a second time.

The entire heartbeat of Catching Fire was absolutely spectacular. This film remained true to the book. For those complaining about the ending of the film, read the damn book. The film captured the ending of the film remarkably. I was beaming with joy because they brought that moment to life. If you want to know what happens next, read Mockingjay. Now that rant is out of the way, I must admit Sam Claflin was amazing as  Finnick. He was hot, sassy, strong and vulnerable all at once. One of my favorite elements about Finnick is his relationship with Mags (Lynn Cohen). Watching that relationship on the screen was truly bittersweet. Can we get an amen for Jena Malone's portrayal of  Johanna Mason. She was even more bad-ass than I had imagined.

In this film, we get to see more development in the love triangle between Katniss, Peeta and Gale (Liam Hemsworth). For someone who is a big fan of the pairing of Gale and Katniss, I was really thrilled to see all their scenes together. I admit that Peeta and Katniss relationship has really grown on me. I remember thinking about how sweet Peeta was. Damn you Josh for doing such a great job at playing Peeta. Even though shipping can be fun the love triangle really is not a huge factor in The Hunger Games series. These series are about what happens when you stand up for what you believe in. These books are about how one single person can inspire a revolution. It really is beautiful to see a strong and complex female character be a center of a groundbreaking franchise.

From the score to the costumes to the special effects Catching Fire was immaculate. Francis Lawrence has an eye for detail that I really appreciate. In the transition from book to the movie there were a few things that were changed for dramatic effect. I might not like it, but I understand they are catering to a movie audience. If you are the few people who have not seen Catching Fire, check it out. I promise you that you will be entertained. 

Friday, November 8, 2013

12 Years A Slave


Starring: Chiwetel Ejiofor, Michael Fassbender, Lupita Nyong'o, Sarah Paulson, Benedict Cumberbatch, Paul Dano and Brad Pitt
Written by: John Ridley
Directed by: Steve McQueen
Rating: 5/5 Unicorns

I can count the films that have left a lasting impression on me. Steve McQueens's 12 Years a Slave is the most powerful film I have ever experienced. I do not use those words lightly. You do not simply watch 12 Years a Slave, it is a film that you experience. It is brutal, intense, incredibly moving  and when it is all said and done an extraordinary achievement in film-making.

12 Years a Slave is the remarkable true story of Solomon Northup( Chiwetel Ejofor), a free man who is sold into slavery. You witness the monstrosities that occurred to men like Solomon. You see how slave owners made it their mission to break their slaves. How they had the audacity to justify their actions with the scripture. This film does not sugar- coat the horrors of slavery. It is not easy film to watch but it is essential for the human race to watch this film. You cannot watch 12 Years a Slave without leaving a changed man.

Besides the strong narrative the film is beautifully made. The cinematography is stunning and the score is haunting. Steve McQueen continues to prove himself as one of the strongest and unique voices in film-making. In terms of acting, there is no weak link in this film. All the actors give award winning performances. I will be shocked if Chiwetel Ejofor does not take home the golden statue after this career defining performance. I was incredibly impressed by Lupita Nyong'o performance of Patsey. Her story was one of the saddest tales ever told. There is one scene that involves her being whipped to the inch of death, I am not sure how I got through that scene. She is a talent that everyone will be talking about. I believe she will be nominated for Best Supporting Actress when the Award Season begins.

12 Years a Slave is not only the best film of the year but one of the best films ever made. You will be doing yourself a complete disservice by not watching this film.

Tuesday, October 29, 2013

Weekend

Starring: Chris New and Tom Cullen
Written and Directed by: Andrew Haigh
Rating: 5/5 Unicorns

What was suppose to be only a drunken one-night stand evolves into something more, something new and completely unexpected.  Weekend is the enchanting second feature by Andrew Haigh that follows two men fall slowly for one another over the course of a weekend.

When it comes to love stories, I am always a skeptic. The majority of love stories always follow the same formula. Boy- meets- girl, boy- loses- girl and then boy- gets- girl back. Boring!!! They are extremely predictable and the script is full of cheesy lines. I am always groaning and having a gag reflex. What I loved about Weekend was the authenticity of the film. It was extremely honest and intimate. Throughout the film I felt like I was a fly on the wall, a true intruder. I really loved the direction choices that Andrew Haigh made.There were several shots that are done through a mirror, as if you were watching the characters in the mirror. Those shots were my favorite because I felt like a nosy bystander. Then there were shots that followed the actors as if you were someone walking right behind them. It was just beautifully filmed. Weekend was also one of the best written films I have ever seen. I would give anything to read the actual script. There was a naturalness to the dialogue as if the film was completely improvised.

Another key to the magic of Weekend are the two leads, Tom Cullen and Chris New. Their chemistry was out of this world. You really believed that they were falling for each other. Their individual performances was nothing short of breathtaking. Tom Cullen was mesmerizing as Russell.You could not keep your eyes off him which is a true testament to Tom's talent. Russell is a bit of a wallflower who is little uncomfortable in his own skin. He is unassuming, bit removed from his surroundings but you have a sense that is looking for a place to call a home. When you learn about his back-story, you really appreciate the acting choices Tom makes. He was just brilliant as Russell, one of my favorite acting performances of all time. I loved Chris's portrayal of the confident and opinionated Glen. Underneath all of that assertiveness you have inkling that Glen desperately wants to be liked but has closed himself emotionally. It was comical watching Glen's walls breaking down because he was trying so hard to play it cool. I loved how both characters were complicated and flawed. What I loved most was how they each were the missing links of themselves. This movie was just flawless.

I wouldn't call Weekend a gay movie. Obviously, the two characters are gay men but just labeling Weekend as a gay movie it feels like you are writing it off. It is an incredibly acted film with an impeccable script. This movie restores my faith in the romantic film genre. It is possible for a film to be romantic, funny, heart-warming and refreshing. In little under two hours, Weekend entered my heart and became my favorite movie of all time. This is a remarkable feat considering I am a bit of a cynic.

Monday, September 23, 2013

Cheat Sheet: September Edition

Rent This: Now You See Me

Starring: Jesse Eisenberg, Mark Ruffalo, Woody Harrelson, Isla Fisher, Dave Franco, Melanie Laurent, Morgan Freeman and Michael Caine
Directed by: Louis Leterrier
Written by: Ed Solomon, Boaz Yakin and Edward Ricourt
Rating: 4/5 Unicorns

Now You See Me was probably one of the most original films that came out over the summer. It was a fun, sexy and clever action flick. It will keep you guessing every step of the way.

Rent This: World War Z

Starring: Brad Pitt, Mireille Enos and Daniella Kertesz
Directed by: Marc Forster
Written by: Matthew Michael Carnahan, Drew Goddard and Damon Lindelof
Rating: 4.5/5 Unicorns

World War Z is a heart- stopping thrill ride. You will be on the edge of your seat from start to finish. I absolutely loved watching this smart zombie film. If there is ever a zombie Apocalypse, I hope it is not anything like this because I would not last five seconds in that world.

Catch This: Prisoners

Starring: Hugh Jackman, Jake Gyllenhaal, Viola Davis, Maria Bello, Terrence Howard, Melissa Leo and Paul Dano
Directed by: Denis Villeneuve
Written by: Aaron Guzikowski
Rating: 4.5/5 Unicorns

Prisoners follows the story of two families desperate plight to find their missing daughters. This film is a riveting thriller packed with astounding performances. You will have to watch it twice just to get the facts straight. Prisoners is the first great film of the fall, do yourself a favor and check it out. 

Thursday, September 5, 2013

Fall Movie Guide

Summer may be over but autumn brings some incredible things. The beauty of the change of the leaves. All the pumpkin and apple flavored beverages. My favorite things are all a crop of incredible films invading the cinemas. Here is the officially guide for all the fall movies. Let me know what you are most looking forward to.
September 
September 6
  • Riddick
September 13
  • Insidious: Chapter 2
  • The Family
September 20
  • Prisoners

  • Battle of the Year
September 27
  • Rush ( Extended Release)
  • Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs 2
  • Don Jon
  • Baggage Claim
October
October 4
  • Gravity
  • Runner Runner
  • Parkland( Limited Release)
October 11
  • Machete Kills
  • Captain Phillips
  • The Fifth Estate( Limited Release)
  • The Inevitable Defeat of Mister and Pete (Limited Release)
October 18
  • Carrie
  • Escape Plan
  • All is Lost (Limited Release)
  • 12 Years a Slave (Limited Release)
  • Kill Your Darlings( Limited Release)

October 25
  • The Counselor
  • Jackass Presents: Bad Grandpa
  • Blue is the Warmest Color( Limited Release)

November 
November 1
  • Last Vegas
  • Ender's Game
  • Free Birds
  • Diana( Limited Release)
  • Dallas Buyers Club (Limited Release)
November 8
  • Thor: The Dark World


November 15
  • The Wolf of Wall Street
  • The Best Man Holiday


November 22
  • Delivery Man
  • Nebraska( Limited Release)
  • The Hunger Games: Catching Fire
Thanksgiving Weekend
  • Black Nativity
  • Frozen
  • Homefront
  • Oldboy
  • Mandela: Long Walk To Freedom (Limited Release)

Friday, August 16, 2013

In Case of a Raining Day

I don't know about your heck of the woods but over here in the Garden State it was raining cats and dogs. It got me thinking, what a perfect day to watch a movie. If you ever get stuck in a rain storm I have some picks to get you through them.
1. The Intouchables

I loved this movie. It was funny and extremely heartfelt. Make sure to bring you tissues, you eyes will well up by the end.

2. The House I Live In

I admit that this is not light film for a raining day but you will not find a more educational documentary than this. A must see but you will be pissed.

3. The Conjuring

If you a brave enough to face the elements, check out this film at your local cinemas. One of the best films that came out this year. One of the best horror films to come out in a long time. I was scared sh**less.

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Friday, August 9, 2013

Drop Everything

In the Shadow of the Sun is having its US Network premiere this Sunday at 10:00 PM. Check out this link click me for more information on the broadcast. You can find  out what station will be broadcasting this magnificent film.If you can't watch it live, make sure to set your DVR. This film is not to be missed. 

Tuesday, July 30, 2013

Mid-Term Box Office Update

It has happened, summer is beginning to wind down. I want to wish a happy belated Independence Day for all my visitors from Liberia, United States and Canada.  If you need to know what movies are coming out for the remainder of the summer check out my Summer Movie Guide. Now that it is August is upon us, we are almost through the summer movie season. Like each season there are hits and misses. Bare with me as I breakdown what has been hot and what has not been this summer.

The summer box office started off with a bang with the highly anticipated  Iron Man 3. Iron Man 3 is the highest grossing film of the summer and has surpassed the grosses of its predecessors with a red hot gross of $407 million at the US box office. Third highest grossing film of the summer is the Superman reboot  Man of Steel which has grossed a spectacular $286 million at the box office. I don't think anyone is surprised that two superhero movies are two of the highest grossing films of the summer.. The Wolverine opened over the weekend and grossed over $55 million at the box office. It was not a spectacular opening but I feel that it may still have life in it.

Besides superheroes this summer has belonged to the kids. Despicable Me 2 and Monsters University are bona fide hits at the box-office. Despicable Me 2 has surpassed  Man of Steel over the weekend and is the second highest grossing film of the summer with an outstanding $306 million. Monsters University was another solid hit for Pixar, grossing $255 million at the US box office. The other animated films Epic  and Turbo may not have been huge blockbusters but they have performed solidly at the box office.  It will be interesting to see how Planes and Smurfs 2 pane out next month

Sequels and adaptations also had an incredible summer. The sixth installment of the Fast & Furious grossed $237 million at the US box office. Rounding out the top ten films of the summer are Star Trek Into Darkness, World War Z, The Great Gatsby and The Heat. One of the biggest surprises of the summer was  the success of the film Now You See Me. That film surpassed all predictions and has grossed $114 million to date. After two weekends I am certain the horror hit The Conjuring will end its run in the top ten highest grossing films of the summer. Not surprising Adam Sandler earned another his 14th $100 million grossing film with Grown Ups 2. Interestingly, there was no indie hit this summer. There have been a few pictures that have done well at the box office but no runaway hit. It will be interesting to see if Woody Allen's Blue Jasmine becomes the first indie hit of the summer.

Not everything has come up smelling like roses this summer. The summer has belong to the superheroes and the kids, a lot of summer blockbusters have been left to the wolves. One of the biggest misfires this summer was the Will Smith vehicle After Earth. The film crashed and burnt at the box office, collecting an underwhelming $60 million. I don't think this film's performance has anything to do with a dimming star power of Will Smith. I am positive with the right material people will pay big bucks to see him on the big screen. This summer has also seen Johnny Depp have a box office disappointment with the big budgeted The Lone Ranger. Channing Tatum and Jamie Foxx struck out with White House Down and much to my despair Pacific Rim did not draw the big bucks(don't know why, it was amazing).Then there was the final installment of Hangover that grossed a disappointing $111 million. I wished that they had never made Hangover into a series. They should have left it as a comedic classic. Another misfire this summer was Owen Wilson and Vince Vaughn vehicle The Internship.


Disclaimer: All of my figures come from Box Office Mojo. These figures only take into consideration how much the films grossed as of this past weekend. 

Tuesday, July 9, 2013

Fruitvale Station

I am so excited that this movie got made. I remember when this happened and I was completely heartbroken. I will be bringing my tissues and stress ball when I catch this. It is opening this weekend in limited release. Check out their website http://www.fruitvalefilm.com to see when it will be playing in your heck of the woods.

Tuesday, June 18, 2013

In the Shadow of the Sun

Sunday evening I attended my first film festival, Human Rights Watch Festival. My heart was beating a million beats per second because of my excitement. I was honored to watch the US premiere of the incredible documentary In The Shadow of The Sun directed by the lovely Harry Freeland. There was even a Q &A that followed afterwards and we got to learn more about how the film came to be. The model Shaun Ross was in attendance and I was a little star struck.  

In The Shadow of The Sun was filmed over the course of six years in Tanzania. It documents the lives of two men( Josephat Torner and Vedastus) living with albinism who are trying to pursue their dreams despite prejudice. This topic matter is something that is very dear to my heart. I grew up in Africa and it was not uncommon for me to see people with albinism. I was never aware about the discrimination they faced until it was reported a few years ago about the killings taking place in East Africa. There is a belief that if you kill someone with albinism good fortune will come to you. This belief is perpetuated by a few witch doctors. This film was an eye opening experience and should be watched by all. It was one of the best films I have ever seen. It was a  powerful and beautifully filmed documentary. I loved that it showed how Tanzanians were working to educate their population about this human rights issue. Usually documentaries of this nature come from an outsider perspective and never show Africans  trying to help themselves.  It is always an excuse to throw money without giving you much awareness about the real issue at hand. I have to give a huge congratulations to the team behind the film for this accomplishment.

I believe that it will be airing on PBS in August. To learn more about the film make sure to check out their Website and follow them on Twitter and Facebook for more up to date information.  To learn more about the Human Rights Watch Festival make sure to click this link. They have more incredible films on their roster. The film production have created an organization to promote social inclusion and to stop human rights violations against marginalized groups. It is called Standing Voice make sure to check out the website here


In The Shadow Of The Sun Trailer - Harry Freeland from Hunter Gather on Vimeo.

Wednesday, May 15, 2013

Cheat Sheet

If you love my top three picks post then you are in for a treat. Here is my first cheat sheet. A list of films to catch at your local cinemas and films to rent from home. Let me know of any films that are worthy of the cheat sheet.
Rent This:

  • The Impossible


This movie is a cinematic feat. I was crying within ten minutes of watching the film. Naomi Watts was incredible in this film, her performance was criminally overlooked during award season. She should have picked up at least one award for her memorizing performance. who played her son gave a spectacular performance. What a wonderful film. Just remember to keep your Kleenexes handy.


  • Wreck-It Ralph

One of the most original computer animated films I have ever seen. This movie made me feel warm and fuzzy. 

  • Seven Psychopaths


I just loved this movie. The dialogue was sharp and the characters were fascinating. It will definitely become a cult hit.

Watch this:

  • Iron Man 3



The perfect conclusion to a great trilogy. It's a rollicking good time. We have a great villain, which always makes a great action flick.  Robert Downey Jr is the perfect Tony Stark. We get to see more layers of Iron Man and its fantastic. One of the highlights for me was Pepper Potts. Now that is one kick-ass chick.
  • 42



This movie is an emotional roller-coaster.  There will be moments that make you hate humanity but most of time you feel incredible about the strength of this man. You will laugh and you will cry. Hands down the best sports movie since Remember the Titans

Saturday, May 4, 2013

Summer Movie Guide

It's becoming a bit of  tradition  for me to unveil my summer movie guide around this time. Now that the first summer movie blockbuster is playing why not know what the summer has in store. Let me know what movies you are most looking forward to. 

May

  • Iron Man 3- Now Playing
  • The Iceman (Limited Release)- Now Playing
  • The Great Gatsby- May 10

  • Tyler Perry Presents Peeples- May 10
  • Star Trek: Into Darkness- May 17
  • Epic- May 24
  • Now You See Me- May 31
  • Fast and the Furious 6- May 24
  • Hangover 3- May 24
  • Before Midnight (Limited Release)-May 24
  • The Kings of Summer (Limited Release)-May 31
  • The East ( Limited Release)- May 31
  • After Earth- May 31
June
  • The Internship- June 7
  • The Purge- June 7
  • Much Ado About Nothing( Limited Release)- June 7
  • Man of Steel- June 14
  • This is the End- June 12
  • The Bling Ring( Limited Release)- June 14
  • Monsters University- June 21
  • World War Z- June 21
  • The Heat- June 28
  • White House Down- June 28
July
  • Despicable Me 2- July 3
  • The Lone Ranger- July 3
  • The Way, Way Back( Limited Release)- July 5
  • Grown Ups 2- July 12
  • Pacific Rim- July 12  :)
  • Turbo- July 17
  • The Conjuring- July 19
  • R.I.P.D- July 19
  • Red 2- July 19
  • The Wolverine- July 26
  • Blue Jasmine( Limited Release)- July 26
  • Fruitvale Station( Limited Release)- July 26
  • The Smurfs 2- July 31
August
  • 300: Rise of An Empire- August 2
  • The Spectacular Now( Limited Release)- August 2
  • 2 Guns- August 2
  • Percy Jackson: Sea of Monsters- August 7
  • Elysium- August 9
  • We're the Millers- August 9
  • I Give it a Year( Limited Release)- August 9
  • Lovelace( Limited Release)- August 9
  • Planes- August 9
  • Kick-Ass 2- August 16
  • Paranoia- August 16
  • The To Do List- August 16
  • Austenland (Limited Release)- August 23
  • The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones- August 23
  • The World's End- August 23
  • Drinking Buddies( Limited Release)- August 23
  • One Direction: This is Us- August 30

Tuesday, April 2, 2013

My Top Three Picks

Rent This: Skyfall
Skyfall was the highest grossing Bond film ever and after watching it over the weekend I understand why. Another smart action film with a lot of heart. Javier Bardem was a fantastic villain and Daniel Craig is one bad-ass Bond. I thoroughly enjoyed how kick-ass Naomie Harris and Dame Judi Dench were.  

Rent This: End of Watch
End of Watch is shot in a documentary style and it takes a few minutes to get adjusted to that. That said End of Watch was one of the best films that came out last year. Jake Gyllenhaal and Michael Pena give arguably one of the best performances of their careers. I just loved their bromance and people should be lucky to have a friendship like that. It is a tear-jerking so make sure to keep tissues handy.

Catch This: Warm Bodies

If Warm Bodies is still playing at your local cinema, make sure to check it out. Probably one of the most original romantic comedies I have ever seen. It was hilarious and had a few scares.

Tuesday, March 12, 2013

Oz The Great and Powerful

Starring: James Franco, Mila Kunis, Michelle Williams, Rachel Weisz and Zach Braff
Directed by: Sam Raimi
Written by: Mitchell Kapner and David Lindsay-Abaire
Rating:4.5/5 Unicorns

Now that the Oscar Season has passed it is time to return back to basics. I am still catching up on films that came out last year but I still found time to watch the first blockbuster of the year. Oz the Great and Powerful tells the tale of  Oscar Diggs( James Franco) a small time circus magician who gets transported to the magical Land of Oz. He meets up with Theodora(Mila Kunis) who is convinced he is the great wizard destined to save Oz. In order to fulfill the prophecy he must kill the wicked witch.

In no means is Oz the Great and Powerful a great movie. It is not a film that inspired me or blew my mind; however, I absolutely loved it. I thoroughly enjoyed the cinematography, visual effects and art direction in this film. It was just an absolutely beautiful treat for the eyes. I loved how the film began in black and white and only became in color once Oscar entered Oz. Once again Danny Elfman did a fantastic job on the film's score. I also have to mention that Mariah Carey sings the theme song for the film entitled Almost Home. It really embodies the feel of the film. Unfortunately, you do not hear the song until the very end of the end credits. In terms of pacing, I thought the film had a great pace. There were no sections I felt dragged on or were too short. It was fun to see the origins of the characters we loved in The Wizard of Oz.

I thought the casting was on point. I thought James Franco did a great job at portraying Oscar and his transformation to the Wizard of Oz. On a superficial note he really is a good looking guy. Rachel Weisz was incredible as Evanora and Michelle Williams was breathtaking as Glinda the Good. I thought Mila Kunis did a good job as well. I felt her character arc was actually quite sad. The movie was really funny mostly because of Finley( voiced by Zach Braff) the flying monkey. Overall, Oz the Great and Powerful was a fun and sweet treat. It gets my seal of approval. 

Thursday, February 21, 2013

King's Guide: Final Predictions for the Oscars 2013

Well the Oscars are this Sunday. I am actually excited to see all the shenanigans Seth MacFarlane gets up to.    I am excited to see what everyone will be wearing and whether or not we are going to have memorable acceptance speeches. I have composed a list of  my final predictions. There will be no clear winner for this year, several films will pick up multiple awards. I have tallied that Les Miserables should pick up the most wins for the night. Let me know what you predictions are. Make sure to check back on Monday for a full rundown of the big night.

Best Picture
Will Win: Argo
Could Win: Lincoln

Best  Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role
Will Win: Daniel Day- Lewis for Lincoln
Could Win: Joaquin Phoenix for The Master

Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role
Will Win: Emmanuelle Riva for Amour
Could Win: Jennifer Lawrence for Silver Linings Playbook

Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role
Will Win: Tommy Lee Jones for Lincoln
Could Win: Christoph Waltz for Django Unchained or Robert De Niro for Silver Linings Playbook

Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role
Will Win: Anne Hathaway for Les Miserables
Could Win: Sally Field for Lincoln or Jacki Weaver for Silver Linings Playbook

Best Achievement in Directing
Will Win: Steven Spielberg for Lincoln
Could Win: David O. Russell for Silver Linings Playbook

Best Original Screenplay
Will Win: Quentin Tarantino for Django Unchained
Could Win: Mark Boal for Zero Dark Thirty

Best Adapted Screenplay
Will Win: Chris Terrio for Argo
Could Win: David O. Russell for Silver Linings Playbook

Best Animated Film
Will Win: Brave
Could Win: Wreck-It Ralph

Best Foreign Language Film
Will Win: Amour
Could Win: A Royal Affair

Best Cinematography
Will Win: Life of Pi
Could Win: Skyfall

Best Achievement in Editing
Will Win: Argo
Could Win: Zero Dark Thirty

Best Production Design
Will Win: Les Miserables
Could Win: Life of Pi

Best Achievement in Costume Design
Will Win: Anna Karenina
Could Win: Les Miserables

Best Achievement in Makeup
Will Win: Les Miserables
Could Win: The Hobbit

Best Original Score
Will Win: Life of Pi
Could Win: Skyfall

Best Original Song
Will Win: "Skyfall" for Skyfall 
Could Win: "Everybody Needs a Best Friend" for Ted

Best Achievement in Sound Mixing
Will Win: Les Miserables
Could Win: Skyfall

Best Achievement in Sound Editing
Will Win: Skyfall
Could Win: Zero Dark Thirty

Best Achievement in Visual Effects
Will Win: Life of Pi
Could Win: The Hobbit

Best Documentary
Will Win: Searching for Sugar Man
Could Win: The Gatekeepers

Best Documentary, Short Subject
Will Win: Open Heart
Could Win: Inocente

Best Short Film, Animated
Will Win: Paperman
Could Win: The Simpsons- The Longest Daycare

Best Short Film, Live Action
Will Win: Curfew
Could Win: Death of a Shadow



Saturday, February 16, 2013

King Guide's Best Ten Films of 2012

Usually at the end of the calendar year film critics release their top ten list of the year's  best films. I would have posted my list but there were some films on to watch list that I had not gotten to. I have to admit 2012 was a great year for films. There were so many gems that came out. Now that the Oscars are about a week away here is my top ten.  

1.     Django Unchained
The highly anticipated Tarantino's revenge flick did not disappoint. It was filled with fantastic performances that were accompanied by a remarkable score. It was hilarious and horrific all at the same time. 

2.     Flight
Robert Zemeckis returns to live-action cinema with the thrilling Flight. Denzel Washington gives his finest performance to date. It is a damn shame that he remarkable performance is a bit of a whisper this award season. This compelling film will haunt you long after you finished watching it.

This tiny film that premiered at Sundance last year was a diamond in the rough. It was devastatingly beautiful.

4.     The Perks of Being a Wallflower
The second film to stomp all over my heart. Just an incredible coming of age story filled with funny and heartbreaking performances.

5.     The Avengers
Blockbusters usually skip on substance and overload on gimmicks.  The Avengers was one fun and smart hell of a ride. It put all other blockbusters to shame.

6.     21 Jump Street
The funniest film of the year was the biggest surprise for me.

It is not often that you find a smart romantic comedy that is well written with riveting performances.

8.     Life of Pi
The most visually striking film of the year is powered by the brilliant performance of Suraj Sharma and the wonderful direction of Ang Lee.

9.     Men in Black 3
Never in my wildest dreams did I imagine that the final saga in the Men in Black series would make my top ten list. This wonderful surprise was hilarious and heartwarming.

  1.  The Cabin in the Woods
The most original film that came out last year was a true love song to horror fans worldwide.

Honorable Mention: The Dark Knight Rises, Bernie, and Looper

Movies I have yet to watch but sure I would love: Argo, Lincoln, End of  Watch, Zero Dark Thirty, The Intouchables





Saturday, February 2, 2013

State of the Race

Everyone in the US is getting ready for the big game tomorrow. They are getting treats for their parties and placing final bets. It is sort of like the World Cup but it happens every year. Lets face it, I have never been a football gal. The month of February for us Movie Buffs has always been about Oscar. All the premieres, all the press junkets, all the critical praise boils down to this magical moment. With three weeks before the big night, things are shaping up quite nicely this award season.

It appears that Argo may be the film to beat for Best Picture thanks to its recent wins at Golden Globes, Producers Guild Awards and Screen Actors Guild Awards. With Ben Affleck out of the mix, Steven Spielberg is on lock to win Best Director. Daniel Day- Lewis and Anne Hathaway are pretty much guaranteed to win in their respective categories. If they do not win it will be an upset. Actually, I can see Daniel Day- Lewis losing in two instances, one if Silver Linings Playbook does a sweep or the possibility of Joaquin Phoenix getting the most votes from the Academy. Those are the two possibilities that I could envision Mr. Day-Lewis not winning. The same goes for Anne Hathaway, if Silver Linings Playbook does a sweep then there is a possibility that Jacki Weaver may win this category.  Once again Best Supporting Actor is anyone's category. I think the academy is leaning towards Tommy Lee Jones for this prestigious award. Honestly it really is anyone's game in this category. Once again if Silver Linings Playbook is going to sweep then Robert De Niro will win this category.

The Best Actress category is still a toss up between Jennifer Lawrence and Jessica Chastain. Whomever wins the BAFTA will most likely win come February 24th. As of right now, I do not think anyone of them is in the lead for this category. This is the toughest category for me because I am torn between who I want to win. Honestly, I thought Quvenzhane had the best female performance of the year. I absolutely adore both Jennifer and Jessica. It really is a three women war going on in my head, trying to figure who I want to win the golden statue.

This has been my update for the big six categories. As the awards approach I will make my final predictions. So far it has been one hell of an award season. 

Sunday, January 20, 2013

Beasts of the Southern Wild

Starring: Quvenzhane Wallis, Dwight Henry and Levy Easterly
Directed by: Benh Zeitlin
Written by: Benh Zeitlin and Lucy Alibar
Rating: 5/5 Unicorns

Six- year-old Hushpuppy( Quvenzhane Wallis) lives in the Bathtub (southern Louisiana bayou community) with her hot-tempered ailing father (Dwight Henry), who is preparing her for life without him. When a storm approaches threatening to destroy all that she loves, Hushpuppy must begin to apply all of his lessons. With the approaching storm, the melting of the ice caps unleash the prehistoric creatures called aurochs.

Beasts of the Southern Wild has been on my radar for a couple of months now. I was completely ecstatic to see the film pick up four Academy Award nominations last week and after finally watching it they were completely deserved.  Quvenzhane is a revelation as Hushpuppy. I remember when I was her age, I could barely read yet alone be able to have that emotional integrity. Dwight Henry as Wink was riveting. You loathed and felt for him at the same time. I can't believe this was his first acting credit, talk about acting from your soul. The last scene in this movie had me crying like a two year old. It was incredibly powerful. Just remember to bring your tissues when you watch this magnificent film.

There was level of fantasy in this film and it was just beautiful to witness. You are not sure what is real and it liked that the viewer was never made aware of it. I really like the directing style of Benh Zeitlin . He has a great career ahead of him. The cinematography in this film was breathtaking and the score was beautiful especially in the final scene. I can understand way these elements were recognized by critics. Do yourself a favor and immediately check out Beasts of the Southern Wild. You will not be disappointed.
When it all goes quiet behind my eyes, I see everything that made me flying around in invisible pieces. When I look too hard it goes away. And when it all goes quiet I see they are right here, I see that I'm a little piece of a big, big universe and that makes things right. When I die, the scientists of the future; their gonna find it all, their gonna know, once there was a hushpuppy and she lived with her daddy in the bathtub.  Hushpuppy, Beasts of the Southern Wild 


Thursday, January 10, 2013

Nominations are in

Earlier this morning the 85th Academy Awards nominations were announced by host Seth MacFarlane and the lovely Emma Stone. Being a great amateur film critic I got up literally at the crack of dawn  to catch the nominees. There were quite a few surprises this morning.

  • Best Director

One of the biggest snubs was in the Best Director category  As you are aware I predicted that both Ben Affleck and Kathryn Bigelow were shoo-ins for this category. These two directors have been the frontrunners along with Steven Spielberg. I was completely floored that they did not pick up a nomination. The two directors that were nominated instead were Michael Haneke for Amour and Benh Zeitlin for Beasts of the Southern Wild. I am pleasantly pleased that Mr. Zeitlin was nominated. I always knew that Quentin Tarantino was a bit of a wild card but I was hopeful he would get a nod. David O.Russel got a well deserved nomination in this category for the darling Silver Linings Playbook.
  • Best Supporting Actress
One of the biggest surprises in this category was Jacki Weaver picking up nomination for her part in Silver Linings Playbook. I did not even predict her for a wild card but I am extremely pleased that she picked up this nomination. I believe that this award really is between Sally Field and Anne Hathaway. The only reason that none of them would pick up this award is if Silver Linings Playbook does a sweep. It could happen.

  • Best Supporting Actor
Leonardo Dicaprio was once again overlooked by the Academy. Which I find to be a complete shame because he was absolutely brilliant in Django Unchained. I am happy that Christoph Waltz got a nomination because he was my wild card.
  • Best Actress
I did a great job at predicting the nominees in this category. My wild card pick Quvenzhane Wallis is the youngest nominee in this category. As of right now Jessica Chastain and Jennifer Lawrence are the frontrunners in this category. I would not count out Emmanuelle Riva either.
  • Best Actor
The only category I had 100% accuracy.  Daniel Day-Lewis is the favorite in this category but I would not count out Denzel Washington and Bradley Cooper.
  • Best Picture
I was happy to see the majority of my picks getting nominated this morning. The only one that failed to pick up a nomination was Moonrise Kingdom. The Best Foreign Film favorite Amour picked up the final nomination in this category. Sources are suggesting that it will be hard for Argo and Zero Dark Thirty to win in this category because they failed to pick up Best Director nods. If that is the case Lincoln is looking as the shoo-in but I wouldn't be surprised if Silver Linings Playbook wins instead.

  • Overall
Besides the snubs in Best Director and Best Supporting Actor category I am pleased with the nominees this year. Lincoln leads the list of with 12 nominations followed by the beautiful Life of Pi with 11 nominations. 

Wednesday, January 9, 2013

Final Predictions

Unlike previous years the 85th Academy Award nominations will be announced prior to the airing of both the Golden Globes and SAG Awards. Those awards are always great indicators for which films will be nominated for the Oscars. Now most analysts have to look at what films were awarded by critics and what was nominated for the other big awards. Here are my predictions for big eight.

Best Picture
Lincoln
Zero Dark Thirty
Argo
Life of Pi
Silver Linings Playbook
Les Miserables
Django Unchained
Beasts of the Southern Wild
Moonrise Kingdom
Wild Cards: The Master, Skyfall and Flight

Best Director
Kathryn Bigelow- Zero Dark Thirty
Steven Spielberg- Lincoln
Ben Affleck- Argo
Ang Lee- Life of Pi
Quentin Tarantino- Django Unchained
Wild Cards: David O. Russel- Silver Linings Playbook, Tom Hooper- Les Miserables, Paul Thomas Anderson-The Master and Benh Zeitlin-Beasts of the Southern Wild

Best Actor
Daniel Day Lewis- Lincoln
Denzel Washington- Flight
Bradley Cooper- Silver Linings Playbook
Hugh Jackman- Les Miserables
Joaquin Phoenix- The Master
Wild Cards: John Hawkes- The Sessions

Best Actress
Jennifer Lawrence- Silver Linings Playbook
Jessica Chastain- Zero Dark Thirty
Marion Cotillard: Rust & Bone
Emannuelle Riva- Amour
Naomi Watts- The Impossible
Wild Cards: Quvenzhane Wallis- Beasts of the Southern Wild, Rachel Weisz- Deep Blue Sea

Best Supporting Actor
Tommy Lee Jones- Lincoln
Leonardo DiCaprio- Django Unchained
Phillip Seymour Hoffman- The Master
Alan Arkin-Argo
Robert De Niro- Silver Linings Playbook
Wild Cards: Christopher Waltz- Django Unchained, Javier Bardem- Skyfall, Matthew McConoughey- Magic Mike

Best Supporting Actress
Anne Hathaway- Les Miserables
Sally Field- Lincoln
Amy Adams- The Master
Helen Hunt- The Sessions
Nicole Kidman- The Paperboy
Wild Cards: Maggie Smith- The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel, Ann Dowd- Compliance

Best Original Screenplay
Mark Boal- Zero Dark Thirty
Rian Johnson- Looper
Wes Anderson, Roman Coopola-Moonrise Kingdom
Quentin Tarantino- Django Unchained
 John Gatins-Flight,
Wild Cards:Michael Haneke- Amour

Best Adapted Screenplay
Tony Kushner- Lincoln
Chris Terrio- Argo
David O. Russel- Silver Linings Playbook
David Magee- Life of Pi
Stephen Chbosky- The Perks of Being a Wallflower
Wild Cards: Benh Zeitlin & Lucy Alibar- Beasts of the Southern Wild, Christopher Nolan & Jonathan Nolan- The Dark Knight Rises

Monday, January 7, 2013

Top Ten Most Anticipated Releases of 2013

Happy New Year! I hope you had an incredible New Year and I hope this year is even better than last year. Below you will find  a list of films that I am most looking forward to. There seems to be a lot of incredible films coming out this year and I can't wait to see them. In the next couple of days I will post The King's Guide: Top Ten Films of 2012.  Until that time please sit back and enjoy the preview for 2013.

  1. Pacific Rim
  2. Star Trek Into Darkness
  3. World War Z
  4. Kick Ass 2
  5. Thor: The Dark World
  6. Gangster's Squad
  7. Iron Man 3
  8. Warm Bodies
  9. This is the End
  10. The Hunger Games: Catching Fire