Trumbo (2015) - 8 stars out of 10

Trumbo (2015) - 8 stars out of 10

"Trumbo" explores the dark chapter of Hollywood history in which many of its actors and writers were blacklisted due to a Communist witch hunt.  This story is told through the lens of Dalton Trumbo, one of the greatest screen writers of Hollywood's Golden Age and a member of the Hollywood Ten.  These true events feel like fiction as Trumbo transitions from being one of the highest paid writers in cinema to being imprisoned, persecuted, and forced to write in secrecy.  It is a story of survival, fighting the system, and the cost of that fight.  The film is steeped in Hollywood history with the depiction of characters including Hedda Hopper, Kirk Douglas, Ian McLellan Hunter, Edward G. Robinson, Sam Wood, and John Wayne (who may have lost a few fans after they watch this).  Through these characters, we are transported back in time as several of Hollywood's greatest masterpieces are recreated before our eyes.  When we get to see the production of films like “Spartacus” from a new angle or perspective, it is automatic movie magic.  We learned this with the recreation of George Méliès’ films in “Hugo” and I hope that the trend continues.  Much of this film’s realism also stems from its strong acting.  Bryan Cranston earned his Oscar nomination with this, his greatest performance.  He completely embodies Trumbo from start to finish through strong emotions and impassioned speeches.  I didn't realize that I could dislike Helen Mirren so much.  I was seriously hoping that her character would die so that she couldn't cause any more trouble.  The film’s namesake would have appreciated the strong screenplay that drives this story.  Powerful dialogue by John Goodman and Diane Lane help to fuel the fire of Trumbo’s varying emotions.  “Trumbo” isn’t the best film of 2015 but it is definitely underrepresented in the Oscar nominations and is a must for any fan of film history.

[Pictured: Cranston's performance as Dalton Trumbo would probably win Best Actor if DiCaprio wasn't such an obvious choice for the 2016 Oscars]

The Danish Girl (2015) - 4 stars out of 10

The Danish Girl (2015) - 4 stars out of 10

I watched "The Danish Girl" out of curiosity... and this is a case where curiosity disturbed the cat.  I understand that the transgender movement is culturally relevant at the moment but there must have been a better way to present this subject matter.  Instead of creating awareness, the film comes off as very creepy (almost in a "Basic Instinct" sort of way).  Beyond that, this "based on a true story" film is actually based on a fictional novel that paints a fairly accurate picture of Lili but gets Gerda completely wrong.  The story's theme of “love conquering all adversity” should actually be "gender reassignment surgery leads to my wife remarrying and not sticking with me through the process."  For as much as I disliked the tone of the film, I equally disliked the acting of Eddie Redmayne.  It seemed like he was invincible after his Oscar-winning performance as Stephen Hawking and this may have seemed like a logical next step in his progression of extreme roles, but the misplaced tone of the film prevents Lili from being a likeable character.  I can't help but wonder if Redmayne's Oscar nomination is a reward for playing a transgender character instead of an indication of the quality of his acting in this role.  He had a few decent emotional moments but his effeminate gestures weren’t mind-blowing and his  voice prevents him from being a believable woman.  Will Smith definitely deserved to be nominated more.  If you want to see Redmayne in an Oscar-worthy performance, watch "The Theory of Everything" as this transgender transformation runs too much risk of ruining him for you forever.  I didn’t care for the movie but there were a few bright spots.  From the very onset of the film, it is clear that Alexandre Desplat's score should have been nominated for an Oscar.  Its themes are among the most beautiful that have been written by Desplat as they capture the curiosity of the film’s main character.  The score is wonderful but the acting of Alicia Vikander is even more stunning.  Where Redmayne has ruined his movies for me for awhile, Vikander has made me a fan.  I enjoyed her performance in “Ex Machina” more but am thankful that she will gain acknowledgement for her acting prowess through an Oscar nomination for this role.  She is the most interesting character in this story (again, misplaced tone) and made her transformation through the emotional duress that Redmayne lacked.  Desplat’s score and Vikander’s performance redeemed this film, but I still can’t recommend “The Danish Girl.”  In the end, it is a poor attempt at creating transgender awareness because it portrays it with such a creepy tone.  I should have stuck to my instincts and sat this one out.

[Pictured: Vikander is one of the only worthwhile parts of this film]

Ex Machina - 9 stars out of 10

Ex Machina - 9 stars out of 10

"Ex Machina" is a surprisingly deep science fiction film.  The Oscar-nominated special effects are stunning and give the story a truthful, believable sensation.  There is never a point where you question whether Ava could actually exist.  There is also never a point where you question whether the Ava that we see is actually a real robot.  Her appearance is futuristic but modern, and her design is visually fascinating.  Alicia Vikander is perfectly cast in this role.  Most importantly, she has a youthful look that portrays innocence.  This allows us to see the humanity of the robot and keeps us wondering if she can actually have romantic feelings.  Her possible humanity is the key to this story and an intimidating, Schwarzenegger-esque AI certainly would not fit into this story.  Vikander’s mastery of subtle movement convincingly paints her as a robot programmed to move like a human and her strong emotional performance further emphasizes her potential humanity.  If her performance in “The Danish Girl” wasn’t nominated for an Oscar, she likely would have been nominated for this role.  Her acting is contrasted by the bold acting of Domhnall Gleeson and Oscar Isaac.  It was strange to see this pair together after seeing them in “Star Wars: The Force Awakens,” especially because they are playing very different characters.  I loved Gleeson’s chemistry with Rachael McAdams in “About Time” and I feel the same about his chemistry with Vikander in this film.  Who cares if it would be a human-robot relationship - we just want to see them get together!  And Oscar Isaac makes a great instigator/bad guy, even though I prefer his nicer roles like in “Inside Llewyn Davis.”  The most impressive part of this film is its Oscar-nominated screenplay.  The film trades in the stereotypes of science fiction for believable concepts that are easily understood by any layman.  The story is addictive and will have you constantly hypothesizing potential plot twists as the story unfolds.  Even though you’ll think up several twists that would be great in a non-realistic sci-fi film, this realistic story has a thought-provoking conclusion that will keep you discussing it for days.  There's a lot of nudity in this film but it doesn't seem like it because they are robots.  Actually, it does seem like a lot of nudity and you should be prepared for that before seeing this movie.  It's unfortunate because this could be a great film for teens if not for some unnecessary f-words and extended shots of full-frontal nudity.  It fits the story but definitely goes beyond what is necessary.  “Ex Machina” is fresh, exhilarating, and entirely unique.  I would have preferred it without most of the objectionable content but I can’t help but be amazed by its visual effects and riveting story.

[Pictured: It’s difficult to look at Vikander and realize that she is not a real robot]