Must Love Dogs - 6 stars out of 10

Must Love Dogs - 6 stars out of 10

"Must Love Dogs" is a romantic comedy whose target audience is clearly older adults.  I enjoyed this film much more in my 30's than I did in my 20's.  The comedy is a little racey in its content though it executes its jokes with very little profanity.  The movie makes a good date movie because its situational comedy is relatable to most married couples.  A lot of the characters are stereotypes that we have all encountered and the film is a pretty accurate reflection of the dating world.  I particularly enjoyed the "chase scene" as they raced to various stores for an important purchase, but it isn't the sort of scene that parents should be watching with their teenage children.  The story is predictable (to the point that my wife questioned why the one male character was even in the story because it was so obvious that he wouldn't be “the one”) and the predictability is why most of the critics hated it.  At least John Cusack's character is totally unique, spontaneous, and unlike stereotypical romantic leads.  I found one of the most disappointing things to be the lack of dogs in the story.  I was ready for a classic “101 Dalmatians” guy-meets-girl-and-their-dogs-fall-in-love story but they dogs were only relevant in one scene.  Even “You’ve Got Mail” (which clearly does not have the word “dog” in its title) better utilizes a canine in its climactic scene.  The story could've been deeper but I think that predictability in chick flicks helps to create anticipation for the romantic ending that we crave.  Despite the faults in the story, this film has a great cast of characters that includes Christopher Plummer, Stockard Channing, and wonderful chemistry between Cusack and Diane Lane.  Cusack has long been a favorite of mine but Lane finally found her way into my heart with her high-impact emotional breakdown and the constant likability that she exudes.  "Must Love Dogs" is an entertaining date night comedy that won’t make your list of favorite chick flicks but will deliver a few laughs and a few tears.

[Pictured: This film has little to do with dogs and everything to do with great chemistry]

Fantasia (1940) - 7 stars out of 10

Fantasia (1940) - 7 stars out of 10

"Fantasia" is a classic but it is not without its faults.  This huge undertaking tackles eight pieces of classical music in their entirety, but there comes a point where this feels like the longest Disney movie ever.  Its highs are really high and its lows are pretty low, from The Sorcerer's Apprentice (my personal favorite Mickey Mouse cartoon of all time) down to the slow-moving Toccata and Fugue that shows little more than superimposed images of the orchestra in Technicolor.  The entire film is incredibly creative with a vast number of characters, memorable moments that will forever come to mind when their respective song plays, and the transformation of some pieces of absolute music into program music.  The lowest point of the film is the evolutionary interpretation of The Rite of Spring.  Dinosaurs are cool but this sequence is terribly boring.  There is also way too much time spent giving this an authentic concert feel with lengthy introductions for each piece, an in depth explanation of the soundtrack, and even an intermission.  This is evidenced by the fact that subsequent releases of the film edited out the majority of the introductions in favor of a more compact musical presentation.  I prefer the more family-friendly "Fantasia 2000" that focuses on the music, cuts each piece to an appropriate length, and animates its sequences with memorable stories.  The film does successfully bring its musical selections to life as the colors in each scene reflect the mood of the music and the pieces are given some sort of story.  The various nationalities represented in The Nutcracker Suite are cleverly given their ethnic characteristics, though the racial representations went a bit too far in Beethoven’s 6th Symphony (and have since been edited out).  The Beethoven is great when the cartoony unicorns are flying around but the centaur love sequences and drunk god of wine detract from the whimsy.  Seriously, so much nudity with those centaurs.  The Dance of the Hours provides the iconic ballet-dancing hippos and elephants that bring some much needed comedy to the latter half of the film and the Night on Bald Mountain sequence continues to be one of the darkest moments in all of Disney animation.  As I mentioned, the highlight is The Sorcerer’s Apprentice.  This marks the first appearance of the redesigned Mickey who now had pupils to allow for a greater range of expression.  The colors are vivid, the story is fascinating, and it is perfectly in sync with every musical cue.  It is no surprise that this sequence has influenced rides and shows at Disney parks as well as being reused in “Fantasia 2000.”  You will be hard-pressed to find a better Mickey cartoon than this one.  I know that I should claim this as my favorite Disney film because of the attention that it brings to classical music but I do find it to be long-winded and that it might actually cause younger kids to dislike classical music.  Parts of the film are entertaining but the feature as a whole is cumbersome, even for some with two degrees in music.  “Fantasia” is a film best suited for classical music experts and die-hard fans of Disney cinema.  Everybody else should defer to the pared-down-but-equally-significant sequel that captures the essence of Walt’s concept without the length, borderline inappropriate imagery, and questionable message of evolution.

[Pictured: One of the most significant accomplishments of Fantasia is the redesign of Mickey that allowed for a greater range of expression]

Back in Time (2015) - 7 stars out of 10

Back in Time (2015) - 7 stars out of 10

“Back in Time” is a nostalgic look at the creation of the “Back to the Future” series and its international fandom.  If you are not a fan of the films, this documentary will be meaningless to you.  If you are, you will be thrilled to see interviews with Robert Zemeckis, Michael J. Fox, Christopher Lloyd, and Steven Spielberg.  One of the most interesting aspects of the film is the ability to see pictures and footage of Eric Stoltz in the role of Marty McFly before it was recast.  It also chronicles the inspiration behind the story, the complex journey to bring it to a production company, and the unprecedented cultural impact of the DeLorean.  The documentary unearths new trivia, such as Michael J. Fox’s encounter with Princess Diana at a premier of the film and why the Jennifer character had to be written out of Part II and III.  Since the film represents all aspects of fandom, it sometimes feels disjointed.  The science behind actual hoverboards and the DeLorean convention are loosely related to the franchise but feel like filler.  “Back in Time” is a great walk down memory lane and is worth seeing if for no other reason than that it was released on October 21, 2015 - the day that Marty goes back to the future!

[Pictured: This film has every aspect of fandom including these people, the owners of three authentic vehicles featured in the series]

Zootopia - 10 stars out of 10

Zootopia - 10 stars out of 10

There is a lot more to “Zootopia” than a bunch of anthropomorphic animals coexisting in a city.  This allegorical presentation of racism and privilege in our society portrays its themes on a level that can be easily understood by any audience member.  Some might worry that the topical content is some form of political propaganda but its message just strives to make the world a better place.  Aside from the heavy themes, this is a well-written story of unlikely friendship between a fox and a bunny.  There is creativity around every corner, from the climatized design of the city and the unique Disney take on a cop story to the separation of the animals into two different classes (predators and prey) and the endless string of movie references.  So many films rely on one-liner jokes but this film succeeds because the humor lies in the situational comedy created by the story's concept.  Whether it is a giraffe dominating at volleyball or a bunch of lemmings following each other, the movie is funny at its core.  The final result is a balance of comedy and interesting storytelling that appeals to everyone.  I saw Zootopia in a sold out theater in which 50% of the audience was under the age of eight.  This seems like a miserable situation and yet, I did not hear a peep out of those kids. They were entirely engaged from start to finish and the adults never felt like they were watching a “kid movie.”  That is the measurement of a perfect family film.  The only misbehavior in the theater came from the two women sitting in front of me trying to illegally record the movie.  Speaking of pirating movies, one of the funniest moments of the entire film comes when a sleazy character is selling bootlegged Disney DVDs, including ones that haven't been released (Meowana, Giraffic).  But no scene can compare to the sloths at the DMV.  It is one of the funniest sequences in movie history.  It even has a few really great twists!  While most of the film was balanced, there were a few exceptions, like the inclusion of too much Shakira.  The scenes with the phone app were great and it helped the editors to incorporated the theme song into the film but much of her character could have been left on the cutting room floor.  I also feel that they could have milked a little more emotion out of this friendship story, though they nailed the climactic emotional moment.  It comes out of nowhere and hits so hard that you will surely tear up.  It is one of the most emotionally charged moments in animated film history.  The voice actors also bring a lot to the table.  Jason Bateman is the perfect voice for this sly fox, Ginnifer Goodwin’s voice really fits the appearance of her character, and who can resist the inclusion of J.K. Simmons, Octavia Spencer, and Idris Elba.  The animation is a visual masterpiece with the textures of its characters vividly bringing this fictional animal world to life.  The bunny fur looks so soft and enhances the cuteness of the characters (doesn't get much cuter than a fuzzy bunny from rural Bunnyburrow who aspires to become a cop and is named "Judy Hopps").  I was particularly struck by a scene where there is a badge sitting on a table and it looks too real to believe that it is animated.  The animation design is fastpaced and energetic which keeps the story moving and enhances the humor (the vermin neighborhood sequence).  The only disappointment of the night was that there was not a short before the feature!  You can't exactly hold it against this specific film but we've been spoiled with so many great shorts in recent memory that I look forward to them just as much as the feature.  I was very skeptical of “Zootopia” when I first heard its concept but Disney has managed to create another modern masterpiece that creates laughs for the entire family while embracing tough real-world themes.

[Pictured: The texture of Judy's fur is absolutely amazing]

Steve Jobs (2015) - 8 stars out of 10

Steve Jobs (2015) - 8 stars out of 10

"Steve Jobs" is a surprisingly unbecoming look at the cofounder of Apple.  This was nothing like what I expected.  The film is based on the biography of Steve Jobs in which he encouraged the interviewees to be honest and waived his right to preview the book before its release.  The honesty of this film is vivid.  Rather than detail the life events of Jobs, this film examines the character of this man.  We expect to see Jobs portrayed as a successful billionaire but it actually shows him to be an arrogant workaholic with an inability to communicate with his coworkers and daughter.  The story takes place in three acts and tells his story through the lens of three major product launches during his career – the Apple Macintosh, the NeXT Computer, and the iMac.  Danny Boyle's approach to creating a portrayal of Jobs is successful in that it is unique but it also falls short of expectations because we were all expecting a traditional biopic.  As long as you know what to expect, you will be blown away by the impeccable performances by Michael Fassbender and Kate Winslet that were both worthy of their Oscar nominations.  Seth Rogan, Jeff Daniels, and Katherine Waterston also turn in great performances that enhance this film’s realism.  The nonstop energy that permeates the film comes straight from the complex relationships between the various characters.  It is as if every relationship could be categorized into its own conflict: Man vs. Caring Assistant, Man vs. Freeloading Ex, Man vs. Friend (whom he treats terribly), Man vs. Inferior Coworker, Man vs. Boss, and most interestingly, Man vs. Mistreated Daughter.  There are so many emotions in this film and they all filter through Fassbender as he distributes them toward the appropriate party.  2016 was an incredibly strong year for film so it is no surprise that this film missed out on nominations in the directing, editing, and production categories, but it is a quality film with amazing acting performances and it is worth two hours of your time.

[Pictured: Incredible acting energizes the entire film]

OSCAR PREDICTIONS 2016

OSCAR PREDICTIONS 2016

Disclaimer: These are the films that I personally believe should win in each category, not my prediction of who I believe The Academy will choose.  Also, I did not see Boy & the World, Shaun the Sheep Movie, Straight Outta Compton, The 100-Year-Old Man Who Climbed Out the Window and Disappeared, or When Marnie Was There

Best Picture – 1st Pick: Room, 2nd Pick: The Revenant (but Spotlight will win)
Best Actor – 1st Pick: Leonardo DiCaprio, 2nd Pick: Bryan Cranston
Best Actress – 1st Pick: Brie Larson, 2nd Pick: Saoirse Ronan
Best Supporting Actor – 1st Pick: Tom Hardy, 2nd Pick: Sylvester Stallone
Best Supporting Actress – 1st Pick: Alicia Vikander, 2nd Pick: Kate Winslet
Best Director – 1st Pick: Lenny Abrahamson (Room), 2nd Pick: Alejandro G. Inarritu (The Revenant) should win, but George Miller (Mad Max: Fury Road) will win
Cinematography – 1st Pick: The Revenant, 2nd Pick: Mad Max: Fury Road
Film Editing – 1st Pick: The Big Short, 2nd Pick: Mad Max: Fury Road
Original Screenplay – 1st Pick: Inside Out, 2nd Pick: Spotlight (will win)
Adapted Screenplay – 1st Pick: Room, 2nd Pick: The Big Short (will win)
Best Animated Feature – 1st Pick: Inside Out, 2nd Pick: Anomalisa
Best Documentary Feature – 1st Pick: Amy, 2nd Pick: Winter on Fire: Ukraine's Fight for Freedom
Production Design – 1st Pick: Mad Max: Fury Road, 2nd Pick: The Revenant
Costume Design – 1st Pick: Cinderella, 2nd Pick: Mad Max: Fury Road
Makeup and Hairstyling – 1st Pick: Mad Max: Fury Road, 2nd Pick: The Reventant
Visual Effects – 1st Pick: Star Wars: The Force Awakens, 2nd Pick: Mad Max: Fury Road (but they all deserve to win)
Best Original Score – 1st Pick: Carter Burwell (Carol), 2nd Pick: Ennio Morricone (The Hateful Eight) will win
Best Original Song – 1st Pick: Writing’s On the Wall (from Spectre), 2nd Pick: Til It Happens To You (from The Hunting Ground)
Sound Editing – 1st Pick: Mad Max: Fury Road, 2nd Pick: Star Wars: The Force Awakens
Sound Mixing – 1st Pick: Star Wars: The Force Awakens, 2nd Pick: Mad Max: Fury Road

Movie Reviews for 2016 Oscar Nominees

45 Years - http://jonnysdailymoviereview.blogspot.com/2016/01/45-years-5-stars-out-of-10.html
Amy - http://jonnysdailymoviereview.blogspot.com/2016/01/amy-2015-8-stars-out-of-10.html
Anomalisa - http://jonnysdailymoviereview.blogspot.com/2016/02/anomalisa-5-stars-out-of-10.html
The Big Short - http://jonnysdailymoviereview.blogspot.com/2016/02/the-big-short-9-stars-out-of-10.html
Bridge of Spies - http://jonnysdailymoviereview.blogspot.com/2016/02/bridge-of-spies-8-stars-out-of-10.html
Brooklyn - http://jonnysdailymoviereview.blogspot.com/2016/02/brooklyn-10-stars-out-of-10.html
Carol - http://jonnysdailymoviereview.blogspot.com/2016/01/carol-8-stars-out-of-10.html
Cartel Land - http://jonnysdailymoviereview.blogspot.com/2016/02/cartel-land-7-stars-out-of-10.html
Cinderella - http://jonnysdailymoviereview.blogspot.com/2015/04/cinderella-2015-10-stars-out-of-10.html
Creed - http://jonnysdailymoviereview.blogspot.com/2016/01/creed-10-stars-out-of-10.html
The Danish Girl - http://jonnysdailymoviereview.blogspot.com/2016/01/the-danish-girl-2015-4-stars-out-of-10.html
Ex Machina - http://jonnysdailymoviereview.blogspot.com/2016/01/ex-machina-9-stars-out-of-10.html
The Hateful Eight - http://jonnysdailymoviereview.blogspot.com/2016/02/the-hateful-eight-8-stars-out-of-10.html
Inside Out - http://jonnysdailymoviereview.blogspot.com/2015/06/inside-out-2015-10-stars-out-of-10.html
Joy - http://jonnysdailymoviereview.blogspot.com/2016/01/joy-2015-7-stars-out-of-10.html
The Look of Silence - http://jonnysdailymoviereview.blogspot.com/2016/02/the-look-of-silence-7-stars-out-of-10.html
Mad Max: Fury Road - http://jonnysdailymoviereview.blogspot.com/2015/12/mad-max-fury-road-8-stars-out-of-10.html
The Martian - http://jonnysdailymoviereview.blogspot.com/2015/11/the-martian-2015-9-stars-out-of-10.html
The Revenant - http://jonnysdailymoviereview.blogspot.com/2016/01/the-revenant-10-stars-out-of-10.html
Room - http://jonnysdailymoviereview.blogspot.com/2016/01/room-2015-10-stars-out-of-10.html
Sicario - http://jonnysdailymoviereview.blogspot.com/2015/12/sicario-2015-7-stars-out-of-10.html
Spotlight - http://jonnysdailymoviereview.blogspot.com/2016/02/spotlight-2015-8-stars-out-of-10.html
Star Wars: The Force Awakens - http://jonnysdailymoviereview.blogspot.com/2015/12/star-wars-episode-vii-force-awakens-10.html
Trumbo - http://jonnysdailymoviereview.blogspot.com/2016/01/trumbo-2015-8-stars-out-of-10.html
What Happened, Miss Simone? - http://jonnysdailymoviereview.blogspot.com/2016/02/what-happened-miss-simone-7-stars-out.html
Winter on Fire: Ukraine’s Fight for Freedom - http://jonnysdailymoviereview.blogspot.com/2016/02/winter-on-fire-ukraines-fight-for.html

Spotlight (2015) - 8 stars out of 10

Spotlight (2015) - 8 stars out of 10

I had really hoped that "Spotlight" would live up to the hype of 6 Oscar nominations and its status as the front runner for Best Picture.  It did not.  Expectations aside, I found this film to be interesting and well-done but not at the same level of Oscar contenders like “The Revenant,” “Room,” and “The Martian.”  The only nomination that I would have given to this film is to Tom McCarthy for his screenplay and its treatment of this sensitive subject matter.  The statistics are shocking and the stories of the victims are sad but the film never seems like an attack on the church.  The use of strong sexual language is limited to the first half of the movie, serving as a reference point that we can remember throughout the story without having to hear those words over and over again.  I think that the shock of hearing some of those terms is necessary to grasp the levity of the allegations but I appreciate that the script didn’t continually hit us over the head with graphic sexual explanations.  The film focuses on exploring investigative journalism instead of pushing a hidden agenda, and it is impressive that a story about new research could be so riveting.  The acting is above average, especially the Boston accents, but I disagree with the Oscar nominations of Rachel McAdams and Mark Ruffalo in the Supporting categories.  In fact, I enjoyed the acting of Stanley Tucci, Michael Keaton, and John Slattery more than either of them.  Ruffalo gets to shine in one emotional scene but his acting throughout the rest of the film is average when compared by this year’s performances by Steve Carrell and Idris Elba.  I’m not even sure what stood out about McAdams’ performance to bring her so much acclaim.  Outside of the acting, the atmosphere and sense of authenticity adds to the realism of the story.  It was appropriate to film on location at The Boston Globe where the Spotlight team's findings transpired.  “Spotlight” is a very good movie that handles sensitive events in a creative, informative, and nearly unoffensive way.  Just prepare yourself for two hours of depression and a film that may fall below your expectations for an Oscar contender.

[Pictured: The acting is good but the screenplay is great]