The To Do List (2013)

Aubrey Plaza is a rising star in comedy but even she can’t save this one from being anything but an average sex comedy. Plaza plays a high school Senior who decides to complete a laundry list of sexual activities so she’ll be ready for college. It’s a promising premise with a very real and important lesson at its heart. My favorite aspect of this film is its ‘90s look. The costumes and set design nail this time period in a hilarious way in the same manner The Wedding Singer highlighted the ‘80s. Perhaps if the pacing was better it would have been funnier. I’m not sure because there were a lot of funny moments, but as a whole I just felt a better film could have emerged with the talent involved. Grade: B

Her (2014)

This has to be the most accurate film depicting the near future ever made. Yet it’s not about the future it’s a love story that just so happens to happen in the future. It’s a love story where the recipient of a man’s love just so happens to be a computer program. It’s an experience that will make you smile the next time you hear someone tell you they love their iPhone. When watching this film, I couldn’t help but wonder if someday our technology will surpass us, where computers find souls and we disconnect from ours. Or will there be a synergy between us as we become so interconnect you can no longer tell us apart. All of these ideas are evident in this Spike Jonze masterpiece of speculative romance. Joaquin Phoenix gives another amazing performance as personalized letter writer dealing with a hard break-up. He obtains the newest operating software voiced by Scarlett Johansson and she’s basically an invisible personal assistant. But as they become more acquainted internal spark begin to set off. There are way too many aspects of this film that I love. Amy Adams, Olivia Wilde and Rooney Mara play the flesh and blood females in his complex, strange and very relatable life and they’re all fantastic. The production design is amazing and very believable. I felt like I was watching a film shot in the year 2025. Sure as the film unfolds it’s clear this is not a high-tension thriller but the stakes are just as high with a man learning to love again and a computer evolving beyond anyone’s imagination. Grade: A

The Place Beyond The Pines (2013)

This is one of those dramas that so caught me off guard I wanted to watch it again. It tells the story of two families connected forever by a single moment of tragedy. We first met Ryan Gosling’s character Luke, a motorcycle stuntman who finds out he has a son born from an old fling. In a desire to support his new family he turns to armed robbery. Then we are introduced to Bradley Cooper’s character Avery, a police officer on track to be the man in the white hat who goes after corruption in the police force. How these two men’s destinies are intertwined over the course of sixteen years is unforgettable. Derek Cianfrance co-writes and directs and gives proof that there’s a talent to watch. Blue Valentine, the first film I saw of his, wasn’t a fluke. I’ll be interesting to see how people remember this film in time. I hope it goes on to be considered a new American classic. Grade: A

The Wolverine (2013)

Considered by many as the redemption film for this superhero franchise, Hugh Jackman is back and this time I believe they got the tone and character down just right. The story line is pretty good even if the third act is overdone and a bit disappointing. Wolverine returns to Japan where he was a prisoner of war during WWII and reunites with the Japanese solider he saved from the A-bomb. Now a powerful billionaire on death’s bed, he wishes to cure Wolverine but only to transfer his powers to him. Not really a good idea. There are many great moments to this story and I feel like they were close to making something more than just a silly superhero movie. In the end it’s just a silly superhero with more heart than it deserves. Grade: B

The Hunt (2013)

This is the Danish equivalent of The Children’s Hour except without the lesbian story thread. Wow, I haven’t wanted to punch a lady in the face in a long time. Mads Mikkelsen brilliantly plays a local boy who works at a school for children who is mistakenly assumed to be a child molester. How this accusation changes his life and his relationship with his once close neighbors is brutally honest and skillfully realized. This is the second film I’ve seen from director Thomas Vinterberg, the first being Festen (which was excellent as well) and I think this is his masterpiece so far. We ask our children to tell us the truth and yet how horrible it is to fool them into giving you the truth you already assumed to be real. Stories like this happen and it’s a tragic. Grade: A

Top Ten Oscar Moments

In honor of this year’s Oscar nominations, here is my top ten favorite moments during the Oscars.

10. Adrien Brody kissing Halle Berry – Not only did Adrien win a well-deserved Oscar but he topped the celebration by ambushing last year’s winner Halle Berry with a Hollywood-style kiss. It was funny; it was outrageous and it will be remembered for years to come.

9. Ben Stiller’s Green Suit – Mr. Stiller is hilarious and when he came on in an all-green suit, talking about special effects was very amusing. I actually think Stiller would make a great host some time; I hope it happens.

8. Jack Palance’s one armed push up – What’s the best way to show you’re the man, a real tough cookie like the character he portrayed, do a one-armed push up. Awesome.

7. Billy Crystal in the Lecter Mask – Billy Crystal has so many amazing moments and I could make a list of just those but for me it was when two stage hands wheeled him out on a dolly wearing the infamous Hannibal Lecter mask that sticks as a defining moment of his greatness.

6. Benigni jumping on Spielberg’s shoulders – Some were annoyed at Roberto Benigni’s enthusiasm but seeing him bounding from his seat and climbing up on Spielberg like a monkey was epic. I miss this guy and wish he’d have a comeback so we can see him in all his zaniness again.

5. Cuba Gooding Jr. goes berserk – Gooding Jr. might have one of the worst post-Oscar win careers out there but his celebration for winning for Jerry Maguire makes up for it. It was a standing ovation moment that rocked.

4. Jack Black, Will Farrell and John C. Reilly – The trio stole the show performing a music number that still makes me smile

3. Steve Martin hosts – I personally am a huge Martin fan so every year he hosted the Oscars was fantastic.

2. Robin Williams getting his first Oscar for Good Will Hunting – Watching a legend like Robin Williams win his first Oscar was amazing and I don’t remember being so happy for a complete stranger.

1. Shakespeare In Love beating Saving Private Ryan – I know I’m in the minority here but I was delighted by this upset. For me the best film won. I know, I know, everyone else out there disagrees. Everyone except the Academy voters of course.

Monsieur Lazhar (2011)

This French Canadian film nominated for an Oscar for Best Foreign language film is poignant story of an Algerian immigrant who takes the job as a teacher after the teacher he’s replacing hanged herself in the class room. Themes of cultural differences and emotional detachment propel the dramatic center of this film. If not for Mohamed Fellag memorable performance I’m not sure if this would have been as successful as it is. There are a few subplots that are just left to our imagination and some of the other characters are just not likeable enough. In the end, a strong ending and a well-established lead made for a good film that I wish had been a bit better. Grade: B+