30 Day Movie Challenge: Day 24- Death Note (2017)

After today, there are only six days left in the challenge and I am feeling pretty good about myself at this point so we are just cruising right through to the finish line. Netflix built itself to be a global powerhouse when it literally eliminated movie stores across the country as it took over with it's mailing subscription. Netflix literally changed the game again when they started the online streaming and then came the Netflix original films and that changed the game again. So, the task for today was to check out a Netflix original film and I chose 2017's Death Note which was directed by Adam Wingard (V/H/S). The film stars Nat Wolff (Stella's Last Weekend) as Light Turner, you typical everyday teen with teen problems whose problems are about to get a lot worse when he inherits a book that all he has to do is write someone's name down and they die. The film also stars Shea Whigham (Vice) as Officer Turner, Margaret Qualley (Once Upon A Time In Hollywood) as Mia,  LaKeith Stanfield (Uncut Gems) as L, Willem Dafoe (Murder On The Orient Express) as the voice of Ryuk, Jason Liles (Rampage) as Ryuk, Paul Nakauchi (Carmen Sandiego) as Watari, Jack Ettlinger (Good Witch) as Kenny Doyle, Chris Britton (The Romeo Section) as Peltz, and Christian Sloan (The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn - Part 1 ) as Agent Franks.

I have seen these kinds of films before where someone is given ultimate power to choose outcomes, but there is always an ugly side to it like the film Wishcraft or even Wishmaster. This one definitely separates itself from the others, but that's because it's based off of a Japanese Manga series I believe. I know there were three films made from Japan that this film is also based off of. It's much of the same idea though, the book happens to land on him and after being tempted by the books keeper Ryuk, he gets a little out of control with it, but when he reaches the moral dilemma it's almost too late for him. Now the film has been accused of whitewashing as they literally removed everything that identified itself with Japanese lore and they set it in Seattle and made every major character lose it's touch with the original source material. I'll have to take the time to watch the original films so I can better educate myself, but one reviewer was right and that Light was kind of a stupid character as he literally set himself up for everything that occurred to him in the film. It does have a very high school feel to it because a lot of us make decisions based on gut and not logic which is probably what I liked about it, but again I need to watch the originals. There's nothing really special about this film as far as effects or kills are concerned and what I mean is that they don't really shock you that much. I would have loved to see Ryuk in action a little more than we got to, but I understand how he makes things happen. So, I am going to go ahead and give the film an B- for a final grade (when I watch the originals, this grade could change).

30 Day Movie Challenge: Day 16- Vice (2018)

One of my favorite types of films are biopics which are films whose stories are based on the life or works of a person or people so it's non-fiction. The task for today's 30 Day Movie Challenge was to watch a film that was based on a true story and I chose to watch the 2018 film Vice which was written and directed by Adam McKay (Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues). The film stars Christian Bale (The Dark Knight Trilogy) as former Vice President Dick Cheney in this film that follows him from his beginnings in Wyoming all the way to his controversial time in office as Vice President of the United States of America as well as some of the personal issues that plagued him. The film stars Steve Carell (Dinner For Schmucks) as Donald Rumsfeld, Sam Rockwell (Jojo Rabbit) as George W. Bush, Amy Adams (Batman V Superman: Dawn Of Justice) as Lynne Cheney, Eddie Marsan (The Illusionist) as Paul Wolfowitz, Justin Kirk (Angels In America) as Scooter Libby,  LisaGay Hamilton (The Sum Of All Fears) as Condoleezza Rice, Tyler Perry (Diary Of A Mad Black Woman) as Colin Powell, Jesse Plemons (The Irishman) as Kurt, Shea Whigham (Bad Times At The El Royale) as Wayne Vincent, Bill Camp (Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance)) as Gerald Ford, Lily Rabe (All Good Things) as Liz Cheney, and Alison Pill (Scott Pilgrim vs. the World) as Mary Cheney.

If a lot of the facts in this film are true then Dick Cheney was definitely no slouch who knew exactly what he was up to and how to get things done. He involved himself with all the right people almost all of the time who he knew he could get the answers from if he needed them. Now I shouldn't have to say it because the caliber of the actor that he is, but for the sake of the review Christian Bale absolutely knocked this one right out of the park with the look and the way Cheney carried himself. It was absolutely amazing how much he added in weight just to be able to play the role of Dick Cheney. No fat suit needed for this guy because he nailed it. Out of all the actors that they chose, they definitely nailed the looks for Rumsfeld, Rice, and even Powell while Sam made a really good George W. Bush! There is this one point in the film and I have to five the director credit for this because he fooled me, but there is this point in the film where they make it look like it's over. I honestly believed that something was wrong as the credits begin to roll, but then they were ah we're just kidding and that is when the adventure begins. Some of the things they were able to get away with makes you wonder what else are politicians getting away with as they fool the American public. It's thanks to Dick Cheney and Co. that we have the division in television with CNN vs Fox News because before Reagan, you were not allowed to pick a side if you were a newscaster or news station. I thought it was a great film and definitely one to check out on HULU right now so I am going to give the film an A- for a final grade.

Bad Times At The El Royale (2018)

Sometimes films come and go from the theaters and sometimes we just do not have the time to see one even though it was on your list of films to watch. Today's film, Bad Times At The El Royale which was written and directed by Drew Goddard (The Cabin In The Woods) was one of those films even thought it boasted a tremendous cast, I never had the chance to check out the crime drama. You do know what they say, better late than never. The film follows four very different people who check into a hotel named the El Royale, a hotel that divides California from Nevada features the priest (Jeff Bridges), the singer (Cynthia Erivo), the salesman (Jon Hamm), and the runaway (Dakota Johnson). While all four may appear  to be one thing, they each have their own agenda and reason for being at the hotel, but as things begin to unravel they are not what they seem to be. The film also stars Chris Hemsworth (Avengers: Infinity War) as Billy Lee, Cailee Spaeny (On The Basis Of Sex) as Rose, Lewis Pullman (The Strangers: Prey At Night) as Miles Miller, Nick Offerman (Parks And Recreation) as Felix O'Kelly, Shea Whigham (Silver Linings Playbook) as Dr. Woodbury Laurence, and Xavier Dolan (I Killed My Mother) as Buddy Sunday.

The thing that I really liked about the movie was the fact that they sort of divided it into chapters especially if t twas a flashback to show you the origins of certain characters. I love how with the four that checked in, it all played to the very same moment in the film, but you were able to see it in different angles and viewpoints. I do have to say though that things became very interesting when Chris Hemsworth's character showed up because he sort of had a presence to him like he was modeled after Charles Manson. He's dangerous and he believes in his bullshit so much that he thinks and believes that he is larger than life. Now, I thought every actor did an amazing job with their roles, but Dakota Fanning's character was sort of the oddball out. I didn't believe her character's presence was any good and her backstory was kind of lame because it had more to do with a different person. I definitely thought that the film was going to head in a certain direction due to Jon Hamm, but it all changes as the film goes on. Lewis Pullman may just play a bellhop named Miles, but he becomes more and more interesting as the film continues and is definitely someone to watch for because he is just as interesting and important as the others. I liked the cinematography in the film as well as the actual set and costumes and I said before the acting was a very strong point for the film. I definitely think it is worth one watch which is why I am going to give the film an B for a final grade.

Silver Linings Playbook (2012)

I am quickly growing to be a huge fan of Bradley Cooper (Guardians Of The Galaxy) after having already viewed A Star Is Born and Burnt. If you do not have the VUDU app then you have to download it because they off great movies to view for free every month and if you keep throwing Coopers films in there I am going to check it out like today’s film Silver Linings Playbook. The film was nominated for eight Academy Awards, but they only took home one, but it was released in 2012 and was directed by David O. Russell (American Hustle). The film stars Cooper as Pat Solitano, a former high school teacher who just served a stint in a mental hospital after finding his wife cheating with another teacher and he uncontrollably beat that said teacher. Now he is out and all he wants to do is prove to his estranged wife that he is a better man than before and he’ll need Tiffany’s (Jennifer Lawrence) help in order to do so. The film also stars Robert De Niro (Ronin) as Pat Sr., Jacki Weaver (Widows) as Dolores, Chris Tucker (Rush Hour) as Danny, John Ortiz (Steve Jobs) as Ronnie, Julia Stiles (The Omen) as Veronica, Shea Whigham (Boardwalk Empire) as Jake, Paul Herman (Heat) as Randy, Dash Mihok (Romeo + Juliet) as Officer Keogh, and Anupam Kher (Hotel Mumbai) as Dr. Patel.

One thing has to be said right from the get go and that is the film won the award for Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role for Jennifer Lawrence who rightfully deserved the award. Bradley Cooper did a great job playing someone who kept telling themselves that they were getting better, but Jennifer put out a great performance as the girl who takes what she wants by any means, but is also vulnerable at the same time. Traumatizing events in life can have a very negative effect and it hits people in different ways and the two of them were examples of that. Bradley Cooper acted out in anger and frustration when situations were not going his way while Lawrence acted out because she was depressed and felt alone. Those are two well known examples of mental health distress, but everyone solves it in their own way and it was the two of them that helped each other. One of the funniest things in the film had to be Chris Tucker who must have escaped Baltimore like three times, but was always escorted back because his technicality didn't work. Robert De Niro was awesome as well as the very superstitious, old school father in a film that featured some great acting. The story si great, the cinematography is great, and there is a great balance of comedy and drama in the film. This is definitely a great one to check out and as I said before, it's available right now on VUDU for free. So, I am going to give the film an A- for a final grade.