Category: 2014

Selma review

Director:
Ava DuVernay
Cast:
David Oyelowo
Carmen Ejogo
Tom Wilkinson
Dylan Baker
Tim Roth
Rated: PG-13

As the title suggests, “Selma” tells the story of Martin Luther King’s (Oyelowo) leadership during the Civil Rights Movement during the march from Selma, Alabama to Montgomery, Alabama. The film starts off by showing why the movement comes to Selma and chronicles all of the events leading to the march through the state.

While the movie is focused on King’s journey in leading the movement, it also gives time to show the reactions of prominent figures such as President Lyndon B. Johnson (Wilkinson) and Alabama Governor George Wallace (Roth), as well as how the entire civil rights movement weighs on King’s family life.

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Night at the Museum Secret of the Tomb review

Director:
Shawn Levy
Cast:
Ben Stiller
Robin Williams
Owen Wilson
Steve Coogan
Ricky Gervais
Rebel Wilson
Dan Stevens
Rated: PG

Ben Stiller returns to the “Museum” franchise for one last adventure, once again reprising the role of Larry Daley. Now an experienced security guard, Larry has aspirations of involving the museum pieces which magically come to life in the educational experience at the exhibit. The problem is that the tablet that allows the museum pieces to come to life is unfortunately losing its power.

To restore the magic at the museum, Larry, his son and exhibits like Teddy Roosevelt (Williams), travel to a museum in London which has the secret of the tablet that can reverse the current trend.

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Does the Academy need a new category for unique performances?

Every year Academy Awards are given to deserving nominees in the best actor, actress, supporting actor and supporting actress categories. Despite some upsets here and undeserving winners there, most of the time, the argument can be made that the Academy gets these categories right.

The problem is, despite having deserving winners and more so deserving nominees, there is still a category of performances that are left out. They are the more unique forms of acting. The ones where the actor can’t necessarily be seen, but the performance can still have a major effect on the audience.

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The Theory of Everything review

Director:
James Marsh
Cast:
Eddie Redmayne
Felicity Jones
David Thewlis
Harry Lloyd
Rated: PG-13

The life and relationship of world famous physicist Stephen Hawking is explored in “The Theory of Everything.”

The film begins with Hawking during his education career and follows through the discovery of his illness and eventually his well known life’s work.

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Exodus Gods and Kings review

Director:
Ridley Scott
Cast:
Christian Bale
Joel Edgerton
Aaron Paul
Ben Kingsley
Isaac Andrews
Rated: PG-13

Director Ridley Scott takes on the epic biblical tale of Moses in “Exodus: Gods and Kings.”

The story stays relatively true to the text, all of the plagues are there as well as the Hebrew slaves. What is a bit different is that Moses is portrayed as much more of an “action hero” type, having the skills of a warrior.

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Wild review

Director:
Jean-Marc Vallee
Cast:
Reese Witherspoon
Laura Dern
Thomas Sadoski
Rated: R

“Wild” follows the true story of Cheryl Strayed, who walked 1,000 miles on what is known as the Pacific Crest Trail and documented it in a book. Reese Witherspoon plays Strayed, who goes on the journey as a way of healing herself following multiple traumatic and tragic events in her life.

As she goes along her journey, Strayed meets a number of different characters and personalities and begins to recover as a person.

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Inherent Vice review

Director:
Paul Thomas Anderson
Cast:
Joaquin Phoenix
Katherine Waterston
Josh Brolin
Eric Roberts
Rated: R

The story of Inherent Vice is centered on Larry “Doc” Sportello (Phoenix), a detective who has less than orthodox methods and also happens to be a fairly heavy drug user. In the midst of one of his times of getting high, Doc is visited by a person who wants him to investigate the disappearance of a former girlfriend.

As Doc begins his investigation, he uncovers numerous things going on behind the scenes and runs into a variety of interesting characters along the way.

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The Hobbit: Battle of the Five Armies review

Director:
Peter Jackson
Cast:
Martin Freeman
Ian McKellen
Richard Armitage
Rated: PG-13

“The Hobbit” saga comes to a close in “Battle of the Five Armies,” directed by Peter Jackson. The film starts moments after the end of the second film, “The Desolation of Smaug.” The dwarves, led by Thorin, played by Richard Armitage, have regained their kingdom containing endless piles of gold and the evil dragon Smaug has been set free.

After leaving the mountain kingdom, Smaug begins destroying the nearby lake city. The fact that Smaug has now left the gold in the dwarf kingdom, though, has been spread by word of mouth and it sets in motion the events of the final installment as a number of armies descend on the location.

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Horrible Bosses 2 review

Director:
Sean Anders
Cast:
Jason Bateman
Jason Sudeikis
Charlie Day
Chris Pine
Christoph Waltz
Jamie Foxx
Rated: R

The bosses are still horrible and the jokes are still funny in this sequel to the 2011 film.

“Horrible Bosses 2” picks up with the three protagonists, Nick, played by Jason Bateman, Kurt, played by Jason Sudeikis and Dale, played by Charlie Day, who all left their old jobs after the events of the first film and have gone into business for themselves. This time around, the three have created a revolutionary shower handle and are looking for a company to sell it to.

They end up going into business with Rex and Bert Hanson, played by Chris Pine and Christoph Waltz, and everything is right on track until they find out they were double crossed by the Hansons. The three lose nearly all of their new start-up business. To get back at the Hansons, the trio decide to try a kidnapping plot.

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The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 1 review

Director:
Francis Lawrence
Cast:
Jennifer Lawrence
Josh Hutcherson
Liam Hemsworth
Woody Harrelson
Donald Sutherland
Philip Seymour Hoffman
Julianne Moore
Rated: PG-13

The odds will certainly be in this movie’s favor at the box office this weekend.
“The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 1” is the first in a two-part finale for the whole book- based movie series. The film picks up not long after the events of the previous installment, “Catching Fire” with Katniss Everdeen, played by Jennifer Lawrence, taken to the mysterious District 13.

District 13 is the home of the rebellion against the oppressive rule of the Capitol of Panem. Upon her arrival, Katniss meets the President of District 13, Alma Coin, played by Julianne Moore. Katniss soon learns that the District wants her to be the face and symbol of the rebellion.

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