Spotlight Review

3.0 Stars

Spotlight refers to the group of investigative reporters who work for The Boston Globe.  The group has been there since the 1970 and will often spend months working on a single story.  In 2001, Marty Baron (Liev Schreiber) comes in from Florida as their new editor-in-chief and asks the current team to put their latest investigation on hold and look into allegations of a Catholic priest's sexual abuse against a minor and the potential cover-up.  Retiring editor Walter "Robbie" Robinson (Michael Keaton) and his team of reporters are hesitant at first, considering Baron to be an outsider just trying to stir things up.  Eventually Robbie and his investigators Michael Rezendes (Mark Ruffalo), Sacha Pfeiffer (Rachel McAdams), and Matt Carroll (Brian d'Arcy James) agree to the story and find the truth is much worse than one priest and one child.

My only concern was the potential for deep lulls in the movie pulling the investigation and interviews together for their story over the course of the 2 hour and 8 minute film.  The "lulls" of the investigation were actually the driving points of the film.  Each stone the team overturned revealed more abuses, more victims and more cover-up on what turned out to be a global scale.  I gave Spotlight an anticipatory 3.5 stars  as I had a feeling it would be entertaining, moving and bold, but probably one of those films that seeing it once or twice would be enough without feeling the need or desire to own it.  I actually lowered it half a star.  Again, it's tough to rate these movies on their creative license when they are based on true stories, however, the main purpose of these reviews is to gauge how accurately the film as portrayed in the preview.  The preview for Spotlight made it seem like religious leaders, politicians, lawyers and more would be vehemently blocking the team's investigation and story at every turn.  In truth, it really wasn't that difficult for them to find attorneys, victims, and even perpetrators who were willing to come forward to help them piece their story together.  There was a lot of talk about how powerful the church was and the reach of their control with friends in influential places, but little action to that effect throughout their digging.

Spotlight was, as anticipated, disgustingly moving and disturbing.  It was well-written and brilliantly acted by the entire team, but a bit less dramatic than the preview lead me to believe.  I enjoyed it, might watch it again, but most likely won't be making it to my home collection.  So, what movie will be on my mind next?  We shall see.

Spotlight Preview

In February 2016, Spotlight beat out The Revenant, Martian, Room, Mad Max, Bridge of Spies, Brooklyn and The Big Short for Best Picture of the Year at the Oscars.  Spotlight refers to the group of investigative reporters who work for The Boston Globe.  The group has been there since the 1970 and will often spend months working on a single story.  In 2001, Marty Baron (Liev Schreiber) comes in from Florida as their new editor-in-chief and asks the current team to put their latest investigation on hold and look into allegations of a Catholic priest's sexual abuse against a minor and the potential cover-up.  Retiring editor Walter "Robbie" Robinson (Michael Keaton) and his team of reporters are hesitant at first, considering Baron to be an outsider just trying to stir things up.  Eventually Robbie and his investigators Michael Rezendes (Mark Ruffalo), Sacha Pfeiffer (Rachel McAdams), and Matt Carroll (Brian d'Arcy James) agree to the story and find the truth is much worse than one priest and one child.

In their pursuit of the truth, the Spotlight team must dig deeper and reach higher to discover just how much the Archdiocese knows about the scandal and what has, or more importantly has not, been done to eliminate such abuses.  While doing so, they try desperately to keep their findings a secret until they are ready to release their story so as not to be beat to the punch by competing agencies.  Their challenge grows as it's not just other news organizations they have to worry about, but powerful religious and political forces that will try to shut down their story.

Ruffalo and McAdams earned Oscar nominations for their supporting roles and Tom McCarthy was nominated for his work as the film's Director.  McCarthy and partner Josh Singer won the Oscar for best original screenplay.  The preview looks powerful, disturbing and awful.  The all-star cast looks like they will not disappoint in their performances and the story is one that would tear at anyone with a heart.  My only concern is the potential for deep lulls in the movie pulling the investigation and interviews together for their story over the course of the 2 hour and 8 minute film.  I'm giving Spotlight an anticipatory 3.5 stars.  I have a feeling it will be entertaining, moving and bold, but probably one of those films that seeing it once or twice is enough without feeling the need or desire to own it.  Am I right?  We shall see.

Creed Review

3.0 Stars

Creed is the 7th movie in the Rocky franchise and this time the Italian Stallion is training the son of his former enemy turned best friend, Apollo Creed.  Apollo died in Rocky IV during an exhibition match with a steroid-enhanced Soviet monster Ivan Drago.  His son, Adonis Johnson (Michael B. Jordan), wasn't even born.  Today, he wants to follow in his late father's footsteps as a professional boxer.  He seeks the help of the man his father fought, the man his father trained, the man who beat his father and the man who beat the Russian who killed his father, Rocky Balboa (Sylvester Stallone).  After some reluctance, Balboa agrees to train and mentor Adonis.

Creed has several pieces of all the previous Rocky movies.  The son of Apollo's glove man is now running Creed's gym.  There's running down the streets of Philadelphia.  Adonis has to deal with being the underdog and a much smaller opponent like in Rocky IV.  He trains like Rocky did in Rocky I.  He deals with adversity with his trainer like in Rocky III.  He starts his training in Mickey's old gym in Philly and winds up completing his training in a rougher part of town, also a la Rocky III.  

Most of Creed is predictable except for three pretty big things, without giving too much away: First, Adonis is the son of Apollo, though not how you might initially think; second, Rocky is given a surprising twist in the movie; and finally, the big final fight.  The most impressive part of the movie is Adonis' first professional fight with Rocky in his corner as his trainer.  From the moment he walks into the ring, through the entire first round, through the break between rounds, and until the fight is over midway through the second round is all one continues camera shot.  To get the action sequences and dialogue just right in one single take was extremely impressive.

Creed is a really good continuation of the Rocky franchise.  It was an enjoyable modern take on a 40 year classic.  It didn't win any Oscars, though Stallone earned a Best Supporting Actor nomination.  One could have made an argument for Johnson to be nominated for Best Actor, but this year was all about Leonardo finally getting his trophy anyway.  It was worth the money to watch, entertaining, and I'll probably watch it again on TV, but most likely won't be making it to my home collection, so I'm sticking with my 3.0 Stars.  What movie will be on my mind next?  We shall see.

Creed Preview

Back in 1987, Mel Brooks released an intergalactic spoof called Spaceballs in which a news segment jokingly reports on the movie Rocky 5000.  At that time, Rocky IV was 2 years old and Rocky V was 3 years away from being released.  Creed is the 7th movie in the Rocky franchise and this time the Italian Stallion is training the son of his former enemy turned best friend, Apollo Creed.  

Rocky previously dipped his toe in the training waters when he attempted to mentor an up-and-comer named Tommy Gunn in Rocky V.  His efforts created a rift between he and his family and ultimately lead to a street brawl when Gunn felt he could never get out of Rocky's shadow.  Of course, Rocky was able to repair his relationship with his wife and son; and, of course, he beat Gunn in the fist fight.  In the next Rocky installment, Rocky Balboa, the former Heavyweight Champ took on the current Champ when a sports computer ran a predictive simulation bout between the two boxers with Balboa theoretically being the better fighter. In the battle between age and youth, the current Champ won in a split decision.

Apollo Creed died in Rocky IV during an exhibition match with a steroid-enhanced Soviet monster Ivan Drago.  His son, Adonis Johnson (Michael B. Jordan), wasn't even born.  Today, he wants to follow in his late father's footsteps as a professional boxer.  He seeks the help of the man his father fought, the man his father trained, the man who beat his father and the man who beat the Russian who killed his father, Rocky Balboa (Sylvester Stallone).  After some reluctance, Balboa agrees to train and mentor Adonis.

We don't get too much from the preview for Creed except that Rocky is training Apollo's son, but we can assume a few things: first, Rocky will have some unusual training techniques combined from his own training and his former trainer Mickey and of course Apollo himself.  Second, Rocky's training won't be limited to boxing skills in the ring, but life lessons outside of the ring to make Adonis a better man.  Third, there will be some cheesy jokes that help make Rocky such an endearing character.  And finally, we can assume Stallone gives a rousing performance in the revival of the character who hasn't been on film in 9 years as he was nominated for an Oscar for Best Supporting Actor.

Stallone wrote the first 5 movies in the Rocky franchise and has directed 4 of them.  Creed is directed by Ryan Coogler and it's only his second feature film as director.  He also directed Fruitvale Station in 2013 which also starred Michael B. Jordan.  Though Coogler and Jordan and their 2013 movie were absent from Oscar nominations, they were nominated for 52 other awards and won 39 of them.

I'm predicting Creed will be another enjoyable movie in the Rocky franchise.  I think it will be warm and touching and sincere with some really good boxing scenes.  However, I also think seeing once will be enough until it comes out in a year on cable and will be worth watching again with nothing better on.  I'm predicting 3 stars.  Am I right?  We shall see.

2016 Oscar Awards

My predictions vs. actual winners:

Best Picture - The Revenant - Wrong - Spotlight
* Best Actor - Leonardo DiCaprio  - Correct
* Best Actress - Brie Larson - Correct
* Supporting Actor - Mark Rylance - Correct
Supporting Actress - Jennifer Jason Leigh - Wrong - Alicia Vikander
Animated Feature Film - Anomalisa - Wrong - Inside Out
Cinematography - Mad Max: Fury Road - Wrong - The Revenant
Costume Design - Cinderella - Wrong - Mad Max: Fury Road
* Directing - The Revenant - Correct
* Documentary - Amy - Correct
Documentary Short - Last Day of Freedom - Wrong - A Girl in the River
Film Editing - Star Wars: The Force Awakens - Wrong - Mad Max: Fury Road
Foreign Language Film - A War - Wrong - Son of Saul
* Makeup and Hairstyling - Mad Max: Fury Road - Correct
Original Score - Star Wars: The Force Awakens - Wrong - Hateful Eight
Original Song - Simple Song #3 - Wrong - Writing's On the Wall
Production Design - The Martian - Wrong - Mad Max: Fury Road
Short Film Live - Day One - Wrong - Stutterer
Sound Editing - Star Wars: The Force Awakens - Wrong - Mad Max: Fury Road
Sound Mixing - Star Wars: The Force Awakens - Wrong - Mad Max: Fury Road
Visual Effects - Star Wars: The Force Awakens - Wrong - Ex Machina
Writing Adapted - Room - Wrong - The Big Short
* Writing Original - Spotlight - Correct 

Well, I didn't do that well in my predictions here.  I think Spotlight took many people by surprise for Best Picture of the Year.  It was already next on my must see list.  Leonardo was almost a guarantee for his 6th nomination.  I just saw Room today and called Brie as Best Actress.  Months ago, when I saw Bridge of Spies, I called Mark Rylance as Best Supporting Actor, even before the nominations were announced.  I do have to say that I was most surprised by how many awards Mad Max: Fury Road won.  I saw it and I wasn't terribly impressed.  I thought the sound mixing and editing in Star Wars was superb.  And I'm also surprised by Ex Machina beating out Star Wars for Visual Effects.  I haven't seen Ex Machina, but the effects in Star Wars made up for three completely botched visual disasters in the franchise.  

I was a bit disappointed in Chris Rock as the host of the show.  I understand there was a lot of upset and outrage over the lack of diversity represented at the Oscars.  The point was driven home relentlessly before the show and during the red carpet interviews.  We all expected it to be addressed during the ceremony as well, but I actually appreciated Vice President Joe Biden's call to stand against rape and Leonardo DiCaprio's warning about global warning as a nice break from the non-stop protest that took over the show.  I did, however, think Cheryl Boone Isaacs' (President of the Motion Picture Arts and Sciences) speech was brief, effective, eloquent and to the point.  Hopefully next year, we can get back to poking fun at the actors and celebrating the accomplishments of talented artists.

2016 Oscar Predictions

Here are my predictions for the 2016 Oscars:

Best Picture - The Revenant
Best Actor - Leonardo DiCaprio
Best Actress - Brie Larson
Supporting Actor - Mark Rylance
Supporting Actress - Jennifer Jason Leigh
Animated Feature Film - Anomalisa
Cinematography - Mad Max: Fury Road
Costume Design - Cinderella
Directing - The Revenant
Documentary - Amy
Documentary Short - Last Day of Freedom
Film Editing - Star Wars: The Force Awakens
Foreign Language Film - A War
Makeup and Hairstyling - Mad Max: Fury Road
Original Score - Star Wars: The Force Awakens
Original Song - Simple Song #3
Production Design - The Martian
Short Film Live - Day One
Sound Editing - Star Wars: The Force Awakens
Sound Mixing - Star Wars: The Force Awakens
Visual Effects - Star Wars: The Force Awakens
Writing Adapted - Room
Writing Original - Spotlight

Room Review

4.0 Stars

 

Room is the story about 5 year old Jack (Jacob Tremblay) and his mother Ma (Brie Larson)  who are a typical loving mother and energetic son filled with curiosity and imagination in an anything but typical situation.  They are both living, surviving, trapped in a 10 by 10 foot space that Ma has called Room in her best efforts to protect Jack from the absolutely unthinkable nightmare that is the only life he has ever known, a life she isn't sure will ever be anything else.  However, miraculously, through Ma's ingenuity and guts and Jack's courage, one day, they escape.  With their 10 x 10 Room behind them, they face a new world (literally) of hopes, possibilities, challenges and fears.  

I wasn't sure if I wanted to watch Room or Spotlight next with the Oscars upon us, but a good friend of mine, Steve Williams, strongly recommended Room. I'll be watching Spotlight next, but thank you to Steve for the recommendation.  It was powerful.

Larson has had supporting roles in Trainwreck, The Gambler and Don Jon along with multiple TV appearances, but this is her first leading role and she also looks right at home.  In fact, her performance has not only earned her an Oscar nomination for Best Actress, but many critics are predicting she will go home with the win and after watching the movie, it would be an award well-deserved.

Room opens on Jack's 5th birthday.  We find out later that Ma was abducted 7 years earlier and Jack was born and raised in Room.  Her abductor makes regular visits (conjugal in nature) with Jack tucked away in Wardrobe.  We already know from the preview that they do eventually escape and are given a chance to have a life outside Room, so that's not a spoiler there.  I won't give it all away, but the escape will leave you breathless with white knuckles as you cling to whatever you have nearby.  I really only had two minor issues with the movie. First, after she is reunited with her parents, Ma is unsettled to discover they had split and her mother (Joan Allen) had met a new man.  Her father (William H. Macy) flies home to be there for the reunion, but quickly leaves and can't even look at Jack or address him.  And then we don't see him again and are left wondering what happened.  

The second minor issue I had was that the preview uses part of its limited time to share a scene after their escape between Jack and Ma in which Jack is concerned about their abductor finding them again.  Ma reassures him that it will never happen.  And it doesn't come up again at all.  It's handled just fine in the movie, but the issue is that the preview seemed to indicate it would be a factor in the aftermath.  It wasn't.  The aftermath of adjusting to the real world was dramatic enough as it was and didn't need to be in the preview.

Room is a touching, heart-warming, intense, gripping, original and well-acted and well-told story that I thoroughly enjoyed.  I predicted a solid 4 stars: worth the money in the theatre, worth watching again, and has a good chance of making it to my home collection, and that's exactly what I'm sticking with.  So, what movie will be on my mind next?  Most likely Spotlight.