| Title |
Year |
Rating |
Rank |
Review |
| Selma | 2014 | 97 | 1 | (full review) | | Avengers: Age of Ultron | 2015 | 93 | 2 | (full review) - AVENGERS: AGE OF ULTRON allows for more than just action sequence after action sequence. Although those are great too, particularly Iron Man trying to tame one of The Hulk's out of control rampages, but what makes the movie really work is the exploration of the character's relationships, interactions, trusts, mistrusts, powers, and weaknesses. | | Boyhood | 2014 | 93 | 2 | (full review) - This movie is for people who can really enjoy a less is more type of film. If you're waiting for major drama, major conflict, a clever plot twist, a kid who runs away from home or gets some girl pregnant, or worse, forget it. | | Ex Machina | 2015 | 93 | 2 | (full review) - Ex Machina takes place entirely inside Nathan's minimalist, luxury compound which sets a tension of danger for Caleb who is not free to leave until the helicopter scheduled to return in 7 days comes for him. The script is also quite clever when it comes to keeping the audience guessing on the motives of each character, many mind games being played... | | Kingsman: The Secret Service | 2015 | 88 | 5 | (full review) - I liked the scene where: Harry speaks to Eggsy about transformation through movie references like Trading Places and Pretty Woman. Eggsy is clueless about these old movies, yet instead refers to My Fair Lady. I suppose no matter your age, if you are a Brit you know the story of Pygmalion. I also love Harry's line quoting Hemingway - "There is nothing noble in being superior to your fellow man; true nobility is being superior to your former self." | | The Martian | 2015 | 88 | 5 | (full review) - I got to attend a panel discussion to promote The Martian in Philly at Fels Planetarium at the Franklin Institute moderated by Chief Astronomer Derrick Pitts. The participants: were two cast members from The Martian, Sebastian Stan (Mars crew) & Mackenzie Davis (Mission Control), retired NASA astronaut, Nicole Stott and Dr. Jim "Mr. Mars" Green - Director of the Planetary Science Division at NASA, also the film's consultant, and lead scientist on the announcement this past week on the discovery of streaks of water on Mars. | | Jurassic World | 2015 | 80 | 7 | (full review) - Not quite as humorous as "Jurassic Park", a close second to "The Lost World: Jurrasic Park", and a little better than "Jurassic Park 3". | | Ant-Man | 2015 | 75 | 8 | (full review) - Anyway, instead Scott goes to live with former inmate, wine tasting/impressionist art loving Luis (Michael Peña) it's through Luis' (humorously orchestrated) Latino network of "associates" that Scott learns of an old rich guy with a safe in his basement... | | Joy | 2015 | 75 | 8 | (full review) - I've read some of the criticism of "Joy", most critics feel it's messy, unfocused and falls way short of Russell's "The Fighter" which brought great drama with equal humor. "Silver Linings Playbook" (set in Philly)which had such unexpected charm and romance. "American Hustle" which created a definitive look and feel with wonderfully off kilter pacing and humor, so I can't argue the "Joy" criticisms entirely. But of the four, I most identify with Joy. | | Me and Earl and the Dying Girl | 2015 | 75 | 8 | (full review) - Alfonso Gomez-Rejon's film works on many levels as it's a coming-of-age, buddy flick, high school movie, tearjerker, and inventive indie rolled into one. | | Spectre | 2015 | 75 | 8 | (full review) - Love the Day of the Dead Opening - Christoph Waltz not quite as entertaining as Javier Bardem - Plot a little too similar to that of this summer's Mission Impossible:Rogue Nation - Still enjoyed SPECTRE quite well. I joined the Black Tribbles for an impromtu rehashing of the movie post screening. Give it a listen on Tinsel & Tine | | The Intern | 2015 | 75 | 8 | (full review) - Nancy Meyers (Somethings Gotta Give, It's Complicated, The Holiday) is not one for the 3 act structure. Instead the scenes stretch out as a day-in-the-life type storytelling, which allows you to really get invested in the characters. It's not an easy approach to pull off, as you could easily feel the movie is too long or be turned off by the non-traditional beats; but it's such good writing, your just all in! | | Fantastic Four | 2015 | 65.6 | 13 | (full review) - Yes, the movie is three parts build up/origins story, it does take a long time before they get or use their powers, but it's not boring or badly handled. It sets out to establish the team as friends and family, while attempting to make the Quantum Physics plausible and relatable. The thing that is missing from the movie is the trademark Marvel, laugh out loud humor. | | The Big Short | 2015 | 65.6 | 13 | (full review) - The movie doesn't talk down to the audience. At times they use easily understood analogy devices involving celebrities to explain the finer points of the game - like cutting to The Wolf of Wall Street's Margo Robbie in a bathtub, drinking champagne to explain sub-prime loans. But basically you either catch up and get the gist or you don't, and I like that. | | The Judge | 2014 | 65.6 | 13 | (full review) - If you follow me at all, you know that I just think Robert Downey, Jr. is an adorable, charming, intelligent, funny, irreverent, satirical, sexy, talented, reformed screw up, who's a bit full of himself, all which adds to the package. I can't say I've seen every single one of his movies, but I do adore him. Yet, I can assure you my assessment of his latest movie, The Judge, has not been biased by my long standing crush. | | DUFF, The | 2015 | 61 | 16 | | | Foxcatcher | 2014 | 56.6 | 17 | (full review) - Steve Carell plays the wealthy, eccentric, oddball, murderer John du Pont with perhaps a little too much characterization. Everyone's been praising Carell for losing himself in a dramatic roll; but for me, the transformative hair, prosthetic nose, extensive makeup, small teeth and overly stiff upward tilt of the head, is all a bit distracting. I think it should've been cast with someone more naturally weird and unattractive. It would have been a perfect role for the sadly deceased Philip Seymour Hoffman. | | The Theory of Everything | 2014 | 56.6 | 17 | (full review) - The movie is mainly based on the memoirs of his incredibly stalwart wife, Jane (Felicity Jones) whose performance is on par with Redmayne's. I am awestruck by a woman who would commit to marrying a man already showing signs of major debilitation, and raise 3 children, basically without help for years, while caring for her husband night and day. Yet, somehow, it's not quite enough to keep such a long movie going. | | American Sniper | 2014 | 43 | 19 | (full review) - By Tinsel & Tine Blog Contributor Mikhail Revlock A review of American Sniper is incomplete without a discussion of Bradley Cooper’s transformation. Though the physicality of the change is the most striking (Cooper gained forty pounds for the role, and his face seems to have borne the brunt of the weight), it is his altered personality that ultimately leaves the deepest impression. The high-strung motor mouth of recent Cooper turns is gone, replaced by a plodding, vacant-eyed husk. |
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