Foxcatcher Review

A Fox On Your House

"To be a champion, I think you have to see the big picture. It's not about winning and losing; it's about every day hard work and about thriving on a challenge." 

That passage of a famous quote from Summer Sanders fits well into the world of Foxcatcher, which is a movie depicting how much the drive to succeed can take a person.  And boy howdy does Mark Schultz (Channing Tatum) want to succeed. Oh sure, he got a gold medal at the Olympics, but in his own words, he wants to be the best in the world. John Du Pont (Steve Carell) gives him a chance to do that, as he hires Schultz to lead his team of wrestlers to victory.

John Wick Review

A Shot In The Dark Becomes A Bullseye

There's one indisputable fact on this planet; puppies are adorable. I'm pretty partial to pugs myself, but all kinds of adorable puppies grace this Earth and make the world a better to place to be. The awesomeness of puppies was proved with Tom Hardy in The Drop last month, and now Keanu Reeves gets to pile on more evidence to this fact with John Wick. Reeves play the titular character, a widower whose sole solace from the pain he feels from his wife's passing is a puppy named Daisy his deceased wife gave him just before her passing.

Magic In The Moonlight Review

The Magic Just Isn't There

I've always wanted to travel to exotic locations, namely ones in Europe. The stunning landscapes there would just be glorious to look at in person, not to mention looking at all the unique architecture several of those cities have. Magic In The Moonlight takes place at a location that reminded me of those exotic spots I eagerly desire to see, though hopefully any trip I take up there has a bit more substance to it than this underwhelming Woody Allen venture.

So, I Was On Netflix: Punch-Drunk Love

Each Tuesday I review a film that can be found on Netflix Instant Streaming. This week, I take a gander at Adam Sandlers 2002 foray into the world of dramatic acting.

Me and Adam Sandler don't get along...at all. But I had constantly heard good things about his dramatic work, which he's dabbled in occasionally (he hasn't done that since 2009, but he is in two upcoming dramas that should be out sometime in 2014 or 2015) I was dubious, solely because the likes of Grown Ups 2 did not inspire confidence that this guy could do more than somehow con the likes of Shaquille O'Neal to appear in his flicks on a consistent basis.

Classic Write-Up: The Shawshank Redemption Review

Simply trying to put an exact number on the amount of great things The LEGO Movie accomplishes would be a fools errand. For you see, there are so many contained within that film, trying to name every single one would take an eternity. However, one I do want to point out is how wonderfully it parodies, yet reveres Morgan Freeman. While they use his distinct vocals to deliver deliciously silly lines, he always manages to show just how adept he is in the craft of acting, that even his most humorous scenes still remain plenty of gravitas.

Classic Write-Up: No Country For Old Men Review

You're Not Ready For What's Coming

This review contains Spoilers

Texas is a state that seems to be constantly at war with itself. There are cities of course, hustling and bustling metropolises overflowing with activity. Yet, the state is so big that there's a wider array of terrain than just cities. Sometimes there's old-timey towns that seem to have been sent from the year 1957. Others are emtpy vistas of sand and rubble. Where I live in Texas is predominantly business driven, with a Wal-Mart or such stores around every corner. But the ideals of the folks certainly do seem old-fashioned at times, which makes for a fascinating paradox. And really, what better state to set a tale like No Country For Old Men depicting universal thoughts of humanity than in a state that is a relentless quandary?

The Immigrant Review

I knew nothing going about The Immigrant going into it. Oh sure, I'd heard rave reviews (and interestingly, some vehemently negative ones) and knew the three of the characters in it were being portrayed by three of my favorite actors. But I hadn't watched so much as a trailer for the project before I sat down at the Angelika Plano to view it. In retrospect, that was for the best. Like the protagonist of this picture, Ewa (played magnificently by Marion Cotillard), I'm completely unprepared for what is about to occur, and man, is that the best mindset to have when witnessing this films tragic events.