Cake (2014) - 4 stars out of 10

Cake (2014) - 4 stars out of 10

The ingredients of “Cake” sound like a delicious treat but something went wrong with this recipe.  You would expect big name actors, a few amazing performances, a mysterious situation, and an impressive character transformation to add up to a great film but instead, it just drags on.  I fell asleep twice because there is basically no action and the pacing puts the story into slow motion.  Even with this low rating, I still recommend watching this film because it is the best performance of Jennifer Aniston's career.  She taps into a dark place for this refined performance that earned her nominations from the Golden Globes and the Screen Actors Guild.  We don’t understand why she is so low (until it is vaguely implied much later in the movie), but her pitiful state of depression and chronic pain create a strong connection to the character.  Her final scene is subtle yet powerful.  Meanwhile, Adriana Barraza shines in her moment to really showcase her acting skills and then spends the rest of the film supporting Aniston’s character in a very real way.  To keep the focus on Aniston’s journey, the other characters are each only present for one or two short scenes.  This includes well-known actors like William H. Macy (who was definitely underutilized but it makes sense for his character), Britt Robertson, Sam Worthington, Chris Messina, and of course Anna Kendrick.  It could almost be considered an “ensemble cast” if they all didn’t disappear from the screen so quickly.  This film is a total downer so be prepared for that at the onset.  If you are expecting a typical Aniston role, think again.  “Cake” is a snail-paced drama but is worth a watch if you appreciate subtle acting and realism.

[Pictured: It is rare to see Aniston without a smile, but these sad emotions really shine]

The Rescuers (1977) - 7 stars out of 10

The Rescuers (1977) - 7 stars out of 10

I like a lot of things about “The Rescuers.”  The film has beautiful imagery, particularly the pastel skies and animal animation during “Someone’s Waiting for You.”  Madame Medusa is a pretty scary villain (probably because she feels very “Miss Hannigan”).  The use of music when the crocodiles are trying to get the mice out of the organ creates some amazing comical moments.  But this film is noticeably missing Walt's touch.  Something about it resonates “good” instead of “classic,” which is why few claim this to be their favorite Disney movie.  One reason that it doesn’t feel like a traditional Disney film is because the songs are sung as part of the narrative instead of by the film’s characters.  Shelby Flint’s voice is perfectly suited for the mellow folk songs written for the film, but perhaps the writers could have better incorporated other songs into the storyline.  I do love the way that the opening scene leads into a series of still paintings (each of which is worthy of hanging in a museum) that depict the journey of the Help bottle as it travels to New York, and these images fit well with Flint’s rendition of “Who Will Rescue Me.”  But there are other montages that drag on and seem unnecessary.  There is nothing wrong with this device - it is just overused.  It would have been reasonable to keep “Who Will Rescue Me” and “Someone’s Waiting for You” (which are both very effective) but add a ballad sung by Rufus the cat, a villainous song for Medusa, and a heartwarming song for Penny.  Another issue is the inconsistency in the animation.  Some of the backgrounds are stunning, and others reminded me of "Scooby Doo."  At first, the story seems surprisingly dark but in historical context, it foreshadows films like “The Fox and the Hound” and “The Black Cauldron” that would follow in the 80’s.  Still, shoving an orphan into a flooding cavern to retrieve a diamond is enough to scare any kid.  The voice acting meets the expectation of most Disney films.  The young Michelle Stacy (perfectly cast as Penny) got to act alongside big names like Eva Gabor, Bob Newhart, and Geraldine Page.  One of the most important voice actors is Jimmy MacDonald (Evinrude), following up performances in Snow White (Dopey, yodeling Dwarfs), Cinderella (Jaq and Gus), Alice in Wonderland (Dormouse), Lady and the Tramp (howling pound dogs), and most importantly as the voice of Mickey Mouse from 1947-1977.  I would’ve liked to hear more from Pat Buttram’s character.  His voice is so distinct that it enhances any Disney movie (Sheriff of Nottingham in “Robin Hood,” Chief in “Fox and the Hound”).  The local animals feel mostly like an afterthought that we only incorporated to resolve the conflict.  “The Rescuers” contains all of the pieces for a classic Disney film, but its inconsistencies and departures from the winning Disney equation leave it lacking the spark that keeps us coming back.

[Pictured: The artistry present throughout the film is the true reason to watch]

The Hunger Games: Mockingjay - Part 2 - 9 stars out of 10

The Hunger Games: Mockingjay - Part 2 - 9 stars out of 10
1300th Review

“Mockingjay - Part 2” is everything that we had hoped it would be.  This conclusion to “The Hunger Games” completes the transformation of characters like Katniss and Peeta, brings the story to an unexpected conclusion, and serves up some of the most intense action sequences of the entire series.  One of the main criticisms of the film series was the splitting of “Mockingjay” into two parts but, now that I have seen both parts, I feel confident that this was the right decision.  Unlike several other film franchises that have elected to split their final installment into two parts, the content justifies the decision in this instance.  A one-part conclusion in excess of 3 hours would been inappropriate for the franchise’s target audience, but anything less would have required important events to be pared down or cut completely.  Probably the first things that would have been thinned out is the development of President Coin and the progressive breakdown of Peeta, both of which are vital to the ending of the series.  I agree that the events of Part 1 act mostly as a preface for the conclusion but if you rushed through them, the ending would feel ineffective.  Neither of the Mockingjay films are as good of a stand-alone film as the first two installments, hence them being called “Part 1” and “Part 2” since they work together to complete the story without feeling rushed.  Everything about this finale is great, from powerful acting performances by Jennifer Lawrence, Julianne Moore, Josh Hutcherson, and Donald Sutherland, to its unexpected twist and incredible special effects.  The “Pan’s Labyrinth”-esque mutts are among the most terrifying creatures that I have ever seen on-screen.  They seemed a bit out of place within the story but made for the most intense sequence of the entire series.  I also like how the main characters are placed into a figurative Hunger Games without the series saying “Hey, we’re going to make them do the Hunger Games again.”  James Newton Howard’s score soars throughout this film, enhancing every emotional moment with romanticized string melodies that capture the tragedies that have occurred in Panem.  My biggest criticism of the film is that they glossed over a very important event involving Primrose and missed a chance for Lawrence to shine even brighter; still, Lawrence continues to establish herself as one of the best actresses of this generation.  This film will always be notable as Philip Seymour Hoffman’s final film and I find it appropriate that the writers allowed the performance to remain “natural” by writing his character out of scenes that were shot posthumously instead of adding him via CGI.  At every turn, the producers of this franchise have made decisions that have led to success.  Dystopian fiction is in vogue right now but few films will endure time as well as this series.  While “The Maze Runner,” “The Giver,” and “Divergent” will all drift away, “The Hunger Games” will be the series that this generation of teenagers will share with their own children someday.  “Mockingjay - Part 2” is a poignant and exciting conclusion to “The Hunger Games” franchise that has guaranteed its popularity for generations to come.

For my review of Part 1, click here: http://jonnysdailymoviereview.blogspot.com/2015/01/the-hunger-games-mockingjay-part-1-9.html

[Pictured: Lawrence established a new expectation of acting quality for pop culture films]

The Kite Runner - 8 stars out of 10

The Kite Runner - 8 stars out of 10

"The Kite Runner" is a gripping drama that tackles difficult content and gives us a glimpse into modern Afghan life.  It also gives an interesting perspective into kite flying tournaments, which I never realized we're a thing.  The film's acting performances are so realistic that you will forget that you are watching fiction.  You will feel frustration and anger toward some of the actors because they are so convincing.  The story is adapted from the 2003 New York Times bestseller of the same name to deliver a combination of heartwarming moments (the childhood friendship of Amir and Hassan) and heart wrenching ones (racism against Hassan, the portrayal of the Taliban).  The highs and lows are connected by excellent character development and the theme of loyalty.  I was under the impression that this was a family movie... Imagine my surprise when I discovered that it is a foreign language film, and even more when I discovered some of the content!  A few details are suggested instead of shown to keep the film tasteful, but this is definitely a film better suited for mature audiences.  If you are in the mood to have a good cry or to have your faith restored in peoples' ability to change and do the right thing, "The Kite Runner" is for you.  If you are not in the mood for either of these things, stay far away.

[Pictured: This film will make you see Afghanistan in a new way.]