Best Movies of 2014

Some brief comments on my top 10 films of 2014.  After the top 10 list, I've also included a list of other movies that just missed the cut.  All of these are worth watching.  As always, would love to hear your comments on my choices!

10)  John Wick

This one really surprised me.  I went to the theater to see something else, however the theater's website had posted the incorrect time, so I went to see John Wick instead.   I was not disappointed.

An old-school action flick with a little revenge mixed into a well-crafted and well-cast movie.  Death Wish meets Payback.  Just a whole lot of unexpected goodness and bad-assery.

I had been invited to see this movie a few weeks earlier by a friend who told me he "had heard good things."  He was absolutely correct.  Much like the first Taken, a couple
of hours of fun.   Put your Keanu Reeves doubts aside.  You will dig this.


9)  Gone Girl

Despite people telling me how good it is, I had not read the book of the same name.  When I learned David Fincher signed on to direct, I became very interested.  His movies rarely disappoint.   I purposely avoided reading anything about the film as I heard there was a large twist.  My goal was to go into the movie knowing nothing.   I was glad I did.

Deliberate cinematography and fine acting kept me interested throughout the entire film.  Rosamund Pike (who seems to now be in everything that I watch) plays her role to perfection.  During the film, I had inklings about what was really happening and was proved right when the movie took a different direction about halfway through.  A well-crafted twist.

A great movie to see with an engaged audience - there were more than a few very loud group gasps as the story continued to unfold.  What I really liked best is that as a viewer, you are forced to take the side of one of two very twisted individuals.  Made for a very satisfying theater experience.  If you don't already know, go into this one blind.  You'll be glad you did.


8)  Still Alice 

Alzheimer's frightens the hell out of me.   I can't imagine what it is like to watch someone slip away while they remain physically present.  Even more, I can't imagine how horrific it must be to be trapped in your own body while your mind slowly fades to darkness.

Julianne Moore plays a 50-year-old woman with a successful career and family.   She suddenly begins to forget words and how she ends up in places.  Diagnosed with a rare early-onset of Alzheimer's (one that is also genetic - there is a harrowing scene where she has to tell her children they are also likely to suffer the same fate), Moore's Alice does what she can to hold onto her memory and her family as she accepts her disease with dignity.  It is powerful acting and Moore will win Best Actress.

With a strong supporting cast and good writing, the film avoids wandering into over-sentimentality and cliche.


7)  American Sniper

A film surrounded with some controversy, I don't believe that Clint Eastwood is making a statement either way about the morality or the justification of war.  I honestly believe that he intended to tell the story of a common man who became extraordinary under times of incredible duress.  American Sniper succeeds in the latter.

To be completely honest, I was really worried that this movie would tread into too much faux patriotism and self congratulation.  This couldn't be farther from the truth.

Bradley Cooper is almost unrecognizable in his transformation of becoming Navy SEAL Chris Kyle.  His body, his mannerisms, his speech - it comes across natural and seems to be done out of a place of great esteem and admiration.

Bouncing back and forth, the film shows how difficult it was for Kyle and his family in both war and peace.  I had forgotten how the story truly ended, so the final moments came as a slight surprise.  I cannot remember another film that was completely silent when it rolled the credits.  Thought provoking and sad, it was an effective way to end the movie.  Over the next few decades, we will see movies of other stories of the men and women who fought in Iraq and Afghanistan. Eastwood has set the bar high in both craftsmanship and respect for these histories.


6)  The Theory of Everything

There are times when actors become those who they are portraying.  Eddie Redmanyne  embodies Stephen Hawking.  His mannerisms, his disease, his intelligence, his humor.  It is truly incredible and he will win Best Actor for it.

The Theory of Everything also presents an important story.  Where did we come from?  How do we learn more about our origins?  Is it even possible?  How did one man change the way we view science while battling his own demons and crippling disease?

The cinematography is well done and we see reoccurring patterns - much like nature itself.

It is an unflinching look at a complicated man - he isn't always kind to those he loves.  His work, however, is important and altering.  It is also inspiring - to his family, his colleagues and those who carry on his work today.


5)  The Imitation Game

Imagine being able to save hundreds of imperiled lives at this very moment.  Would you sacrifice them to save hundreds of thousands later?

I knew some of the story of Alan Turing because of an amazing article in the New York Times some years ago.  At the risk of not ruining an important part of the story, I will say that Turing was an incredible hero who likely saved millions of lives.  He also changed the way we use technology to this very day.

It is a sad and disturbing story and one that needs to be known and added to the important annuals of history.  The movie is well directed and written.  An amazing true story and one you will not soon forget.


4)  Foxcatcher

A friend of mine explained this movie perfectly to me in an email the other day: he was creeped out the entire movie (it was also his favorite movie of 2014).

Another incredible true story.  There are themes of brotherhood, homosexuality, defiance and extreme violence.  It is a pot of boiling water that suddenly explodes.

The acting is fantastic - Steve Carell broods and plots, Channing Tatum is dumb and plays the pawn, Mark Ruffalo is nearly unrecognizable as the begrudging brother and wrestling partner.  The directing and screenplay are nearly perfect.  For a more in-depth review, please click here.

Another film that lived up to the expectations that were set for it.  It is a movie that will be remembered for a long time.


3)  A Most Wanted Man

Sadly, this was Phillip Seymour Hoffman's last film.  Oddly, when watching it, you can almost see the future.   Frumpy, disheveled and sad, Hoffman mirrors the character he plays.  It is a shame he is not nominated for Best Actor for this role.  He will surely be missed.

When we think of spy movies, we think of James Bond.  Action and adventure.  I would assume A Most Wanted Man's portrayal of intelligence work is more factual.  Slow, methodical, murky and without credit.  We see agents who are brunt-out and exhausted.  Win this battle, there are thousands more to follow.

Set in Europe, agents begin to trace money to terrorist organizations.  What they discover leads them to dangerous and complicated places.  A very fine film - one that I really liked the moment it ended.


2)  Calvary

A film with one of the most surprising opening scenes I've ever seen.  Just its words, mind you.  I was just not expecting it

A dark-comedy about a priest who is given one week to shore up all of his business before he is to be murdered.    Brendan Gleeson plays the priest who must confront the dark characters in his town in an attempt to discover who is culprit.  Gleeson once again proves that he is one of the best actors today.

Funny in all of the wrong ways, Calvary's screenplay is top notch.  The movie isn't nearly as heavy as it sounds and provides just the right amount of humanity to add depth and sincerity.  As the townspeople come to life and show their true colors, so does the movie.

Watch this with as little information about it as you can.  It is easily one of the top films of 2014.

1)  Whiplash

I needed to re-watch this movie last week to see if it was how I remembered it.  It was.

This is a great movie.  One without an ounce of fat on its bones.  Every scene is important.  And the last 10 minutes, hold on.

I cannot remember being a theater where the audience stood and applauded once it ended.  There were cheers and whistling.  So much fun.

J.K. Simmons, who will win Best Supporting Actor, plays a motivator - think the Gunnery Sergeant from Full Metal Jacket - who demands nothing but absolute perfection.  Miles Teller, his student, has the skills, but can he live up to the high demands of his teacher?

Unfortunately, this movie is being overshadowed by Birdman and Boyhood, neither of which are nearly as good at Whiplash.  It really is a shame, Damien Chazelle has directed an American masterpiece.  I doubt this will be his last great film.

This one is still in theaters and it comes out on DVD and Blu-Ray next week.  Take the time to catch this - you will not be disappointed.

The Best of the Rest

Chef, Get On Up, Kill the Messenger, Love is Strange, Obvious Child, Starred Up, The Grand Budapest Hotel, The Overnighters, The Skeleton Twins, Top Five, What We Did On Our Holiday

2014 Most Hated or Vastly Overrated Movies

I want to get this out before the Oscars this Sunday, so I am going to do brief reviews of movies I thought were horrible and vastly overrated in 2014.  Use this as your guide for what not to watch.

Most Hated or the Vastly Overrated of 2014

The Badadook

Called by many a savior of the horror genre, The Babadook just seemed loud to me.  Perhaps, I have outgrown scary movies.  Via a child's book, a monster takes occupancy in the home of a troubled young boy and his equally troubled mother.  Is it real?  Is it a figment of the mind?  Is it the ghost of the boy's dead father?  Doesn't matter.  All you have to do is yell at it and it will go away.  Yep.  Dead Snow 2:  Red vs. Dead was much more fun.

Birdman

Aside from the commendable editing to make the film look like one continuous take, Birdman is over-hyped, long and boring.  It will likely win Best Picture as it is about acting - if there was ever a non-XXX version of a stroke-fest on the silver screen, this is it.  Want to see a great movie about someone slowly going insane?  Check out The Conversation.


Boyhood

I can appreciate the fact that Richard Linklater shot this movie over 12 years - filming the same actors during one boy's
journey from adolescence to young adulthood is certainly an interesting concept.  It would have been better if the story was more interesting, not to mention how distracting it was to watch main character get goofier looking as he aged.  After the initial introduction, I was aware of all 165 minutes the film lasted.  Ouch.



Fury

Not at all what I expected it to be.  Yes, we all know American soldiers weren't always the saints we were taught they were.  Was a 45-minute scene in a German apartment necessary to drive this point home?  Good ending, the rest was average.



A Most Violent Year 

A movie I could not wait for it to end.  It's the 80s, it's New York, it's gritty and dirty.  Scorsese does this so much better.  Nothing Earth shattering.  Not sure why this got so much critical love and adoration.  Looks like and is a little better than American Hustle.  I absolutely hated that movie.


Noah

And on the eighth day, God created a really shitty movie.  Those protesting the movie because it took liberty with the Bible's version should be happy they didn't have to shell out $15 to see it (as with most protesters of film, I'd bet many didn't even take the time to watch before criticizing).  Then again, bad PR is free PR.  A precursor to the marketing strategy for The Interview?




Selma

Is it an important movie?  Yes.  Is it a good movie?  Yes.  Is it one of the best of 2014?  No.  A movie that had a lot of hype behind it, however I believe that once time passes and people revisit this film, they will see it for what it really is:  a decent film about a very important time and person in American history.  See also Saving Private Ryan.



St. Vincent

Bill Murray as the salty curmudgeon with a sort-of heart of gold in a role you've seen a hundred times before.  Not a horrible film that has some funny moments, but move along, nothing new to see here.  Has Melissa McCarthy's fifteen minutes expired yet?  The movie redeems itself with a touching ending.


Unbroken

Another WWII film that failed to live up to lofty expectations.  Full of cliche and schmaltzy writing (trust your audience, we don't need everything told to us), the most exciting part of this movie was the approximately 40 minutes of three survivors floating on a life raft in the middle of the ocean.  Similar to The Railway Man, a movie that does a similar story so much better.  I have yet to read the book Unbroken is based from - it is sitting on my kitchen table.  I hear it is excellent.  The same cannot be said about the movie.


Wild

To be fair, I don't like Reese Witherspoon.  Something about her irks me - I can't put my finger on it.  I tried to give this movie a fair shake.  It just wasn't good.  Oh, you're a drug addict.  Oh, you're a lady with no morals.  Oh, now you're going to show your boobs.  If that's all it takes to get nominated for a Best Actress award, then I understand why there are so many cars at the Encore (they belong to casting agents, right?).  Nothing special about this one.

Review: Foxcatcher

I grew up with wrestling.  My dad coached, I watched.  I spent many hours in a gym or at tournaments.  Although I never wrestled competitively (I believe my high school wrestling experience lasted all of one initial team meeting; I decided to focus on my cross-country and track careers of continually finishing in the lower quarter of nearly every race), I can certainly appreciate the sport for its excitement and athleticism.  

“Foxcatcher” captures this, yet goes beyond to tell the story of lost souls, deceptive mentors and ultimate violence.  This is, after all, a true story.

It would be easy to see this film and point out its allegorical references to homosexuality.  While this is apparent, it is too simple.  Rather, the film focuses on a different storyline.  Its initial scene, one that shows Mark Schultz (Channing Tatum) practicing with his brother, Dave Schultz (a nearly unrecognizable Mark Ruffalo), sets the tone for the entire movie.  Stretching leads to slapping, which leads to hitting, which leads to pure and ferocious violence.  Explosive, animalistic and savage.  This scene mutates and cleverly repeats itself throughout the movie again and again.  

Much of the hype has been about Steve Carrell’s performance as Mark du Pont.  It is subdued, cold, calculating - a Carrell performance we are not accustomed to.  However. the real stars of the film is E. Max Frye and Dan Futterman’s screenplay and Bennett Miller’s direction.  Both are among the best work in film in 2014.

Halfway through the movie, Schultz introduces du Pont to a group in Washington by calling du Pont the father he never had. Schultz steps off the stage and into a hallway.  In the background, slightly faded, are a line of waiters and waitresses - Schultz has joined the help.

A bigger game is above, each of us a pawn.  Sadly, sometimes that game ends tragically.

Goodbye, Angelo

When I was in middle school, my mom would listen to WKLH every morning.  I recall hearing a comedy troupe named Brady Street - they would always make me laugh.  I bought the yearly WKLH CDs so I could listen to Brady Street's "bits" over and over.

When I was 12 or 13, my parents took me to the Comedy Cafe to see Brady Street live.  Brady Street was Bruce Brinker, Joe Cortese, Angelo Farina and John Podlesnik - each highly respected in the Milwaukee comedy scene (and I would later learn deeply respected in the American comedy community).  I remember watching them and thinking that I too could make people laugh.  It planted a seed deep in my mind.  To this day, I'm proud to say that I have been able to perform with each of them on stage and that I'm able to call each one my friend.

Moving back to Milwaukee, I saw a poster at a grocery store offering classes in improv.  I'm so glad I decided to take that class.  It was here I met Matt Tremmel and where both of us were encouraged to take "real classes" at ComedySportz.

After years of classes and countless shows for friends and family (please come, PLEASE, it's only $3 and this Tuesday), I was asked to join the ComedySportz Milwaukee troupe.  For nearly 10 years, I was one of the fortunate few that got to go on stage and make thousands of people laugh.  It was an amazing experience.  At nearly all of those shows, there was Angelo Farina.  Ang was one of the originals.  If he gave you notes, you listened - and you acted on those suggestions.  No matter if it was my first show or number 500, it was intimidating being in a show with him.  Screw influencing the audience; it was Ang you wanted to impress.  There was no better feeling than being in a show, saying something and hearing Ang's gravely laugh come from the sound booth.  For ComedySportzers, it was like getting the nod from Carson.  You knew you had done something right.

I don't recall the specifics of the conversation, however I remember talking with Angelo at the Clarion hotel for about an hour.  The talk was probably about something trivial - the state of radio, politics, boobs...whatever.  It was then I knew I had made friends with someone in comedy I respected.

Over the years, we had many conversations, the best often over beers at the CSz bar after shows.  Ang had been through more than anyone should, yet he always kept a positive attitude and continued to give advice.  I always loved his Brewer updates at the Summer picnic and running into him at the Budweiser pavilion every first Friday at State Fair (I can't even count the number of times people would stop to say hi to Mort Snotlocker).

Earlier this week, Angelo passed away.  It is a sad time for the CSz family, yet in an odd way, I'm looking forward to today's funeral as I know it will be filled with stories and laughter.  Angelo influenced so many.  The love for this man is incredible; I've read countless Facebook posts from all sorts of people praising his wit, his kindness, his sense of humor and the 30-year ComedySportz legacy he built.

I'm so grateful for the time I spent with him.  In a way he wouldn't realize, I'm grateful he planted that comedy seed in my mind so many years ago - because of it I have made countless friendships and shared millions of laughs.

My ComedySportz days are behind me.  I may not have been the greatest performer to ever grace its stage, but I can say that I held my own with some of the best in the world.  I mean that.  I have seen some of the most talented improvisational comedians Doo-Run-Run, Object Freeze and Sideline Debate their way to points that ultimately didn't matter.  So many have moved on to greater things on TV and in the movies.  Angelo played a gigantic part in this.  He may be gone, but his legacy will live on with each laugh, guffaw or groan.

From one ref to the best of them all, I blow my whistle and send all points to you, Angelo.  You will be missed.

Best Movies of 2013 - Part 3

3)  Nebraska

Alexander Payne and Bob Nelson get the whole Midwestern thing.  The people, the mannerisms, the look and the feel.  Much like the movie, it is simple and comfortable.

After receiving a letter stating he has recently won $1,000,000, Bruce Dern travels with his son to claim his prize.  From Montana to Lincoln, the two work their way toward an obviously non-existent prize.  As others find out Dern's character is a "millionaire," everybody tries to work an angle to get part of the riches.

Payne's use of black-and-white adds to the bleakness of the heartland.  It is a nice touch that adds depth to the story and makes the film look great.

The acting is excellent with June Squibb's character stealing the film.  It is a hilarious performance and certainly Oscar worthy (sadly, it won't win).  Her unexpected quips and actions are extremely funny.

Family plays a large role in this movie.  It explores the importance of relationships between sons and fathers and taking the opportunity to spend time together before it is no longer possible.

The movie has been highly praised and deservedly so.  Make time to see this - you won't be disappointed.

2)  Philomena

Based on a true story, "Philomena" follows Judy Dench and Steve Coogan as they search for Dench's grown son who was taken and put up for adoption by the Catholic church in the 1950s.

While subject matter is heavy, there are some really funny moments in this film.  Coogan and Dench are perfect foils and the roles are perfectly cast.  As the two get closer to solving the mystery of Dench's lost son, they form a genuine bond.

It is hard to believe that this actually happened just a half-century ago.  When the movie takes an unexpected turn, its theme turns to reconciliation, forgiveness and friendship.  While the church continues its deceitfulness, Dench's character practices the principles of Jesus the Catholic church claims to live by.  It is an interesting reflection.

This movie is very close to being the best of the 2013 bunch.  The casting, the story and Stephen Frears' direction are nearly perfect.  While it may not be possible, I hope director Stephen Frears, Dench and Coogan get the right story and the opportunity to work together again.  

1)  The Wolf of Wall Street

I have never been to a movie where people were so offended.  At least seven people walked out of the theater - one couple voiced their displeasure and left just minutes into the film.

Excess.  Money, power, sex, drugs, alcohol.  It is all there.  Despite taking place in the 1980s, it is a perfect reflection of modern society.  It seems we don't learn our lessons.

The big name of the film is Leonardo DiCaprio, and his performance is fine, however, the real star is Jonah Hill.  There is a scene that takes place at a party that made me laugh loudly.  It is a great and completely inappropriate moment steeped in drugs and offensiveness.  Hill's acting is among the best of the year - he has become a really good actor.  While this may not  win an Oscar this year, it won't be long before he does.

The movie is loud, brash and rowdy - Martin Scorsese guides the story to unbelievable and often hilarious places - I don't know how factual his interpretation is and I'm sure there was some creative license by screenwriter Terence Winter (who has shined as a writer for "The Sopranos" and "Boardwalk Empire").  This is white-collar "Goodfellas" and is excellent.

In my opinion, Scorsese hits another home run with "The Wolf of Wall Street."  It is not a movie for everyone (I know a number of people who didn't care for it - mostly older viewers).  For the most part, those who do watch will be rewarded with a funny and poignant film.

Best Movies of 2013 - Part 2

6)  Captain Phillips

Movies based on actual events where the outcome is known can be tricky.  Done right, they can be an excellent piece of a time capsule.  This is the case in "Captain Phillips," a film that features high-tension and white-knuckle suspense despite the world knowing how this situation ended.

Much like "All Is Lost," the sea plays a large role in the story.  It is massive and untamed, a playground for hopeless and hungry pirates.  Newcomer Barkhad Abdi plays the role of one of the Somali pirates.  He encompasses evil, hunger, humanity and desperation without being overbearing - amazing considering he is an actual Somali who is acting in his first film.  Abdi should win Best Supporting Actor but most likely will not.  You will feel empathy toward his character and his lack of options.

Tom Hanks turns in another solid performance - his emotional and physical breakdown at the end of the film is unforgettable acting.  He disappears into this role and viewers will find themselves forgetting it is actually Hanks.

Paul Greengrass is one of my favorite directors and is at his best when he is directing movies about actual events.  While "United 93" was a good movie, everyone needs to see "Bloody Sunday," which should have been a Best Picture nominee (and Best Picture winner) in 2002, but was ineligible because it was shown on British television before being released in the US.  If rumors are true, he has been attached to the movie version of "They Marched Into Sunlight," half of which will take place in 1967 Madison.  As a proud University of Wisconsin alum, I'm looking forward to his vision of our beloved and tumultuous university.

5)  The Spectacular Now

My generation revers John Hughes movies.  My age puts me at the end of this group, but it was easy to relate, nonetheless.  "The Breakfast Club," "Ferris Bueller's Day Off," and "Sixteen Candles" were all films we could relate to - each representing loss of innocence and the inevitable move from adolescence to "adulthood."  While Hughes masterfully masked this with comedy, his themes and images still remain as important now as they did 25 or 30 years ago.

There is a lot of Hughes' influence in "The Spectacular Now."  This might not be completely fair as "The Spectacular Now" is a really good movie and deserves to stand on its own merit.  I just couldn't help but see the similarities as I watched.  In no way is this a bad thing.

Miles Teller plays a gifted but self-indulgent, alcoholic teenager with little ambition, guidance or regard to his own future.  While he parties his way through his last year of high school, he remains infatuated with a former girlfriend while neglecting his schoolwork and his impending graduation.  Teller plays the role with a veteran actor's ease and confidence - he is surely a young actor to follow.

Shailene Woodley plays Teller's new love interest, someone down-to-Earth with a plan and a good future.  Caring enough to try to change Teller, yet bright enough to not allow him to drag her down, Woodley is impressive in her role - she is also an actress who be making headlines for years to come.

This is a very good movie about chances missed, promising futures and realizing the good times might not be so good after all. "The Spectacular Now" is film that would have made Hughes proud.

4)  12 Years a Slave

This is a brutal movie.  It needs to be.

Steve McQueen's films are always this way.  He often lets his camera linger over uncomfortable scenes drawing the viewer into the moments, forcing them to participate in the unease of the situation.  It is brilliant directing and something not often seen in modern film making.

"12 Years a Slave" should be mandatory viewing for everyone.  It is violent, it is unforgettable - it is our history.

Chiwetel Ejiofor's performance is noteworthy and deserves the praise it has received.  Educated, tired, broken, beaten, resolved, human.  He will likely win Best Actor this year - and if this happens, it is well deserved.  Michael Fassbender (a McQueen favorite) and Paul Giamatti also have memorable parts in the film.  Giatmatti's is especially surprising and wicked.

"12 Years a Slave" will likely win Best Picture of 2013.  It is a film whose importance and impact will be studied and appreciated for decades to come.  An important piece of our past that needs to be continually revisited to remind us how far we have come - and how far we still need to go.

Best Movies of 2013 - Part 1

9)  Inside Llewyn Davis

I am the first to admit, I like everything that the Coen brothers do - one exception might be "Intolerable Cruelty," a movie that has a hilarious first half, then fizzles to a disappointing close.  When I read that they would turn their camera toward the folk rock scene of the 1960s, I was eager to see what they would produce.

"Inside Llewyn Davis" follows Davis through a week in his life as he struggles to make a living as a musician.  As with any Coen brothers movie, there are subplots (including a hilarious story line involving a cat) and bizarre, but not completely unbelievable, characters who dot Davis' adventure.  This is, after all, New York City during the 1960s.

The movie also incorporates the trademark Coen brothers "repeat."  Often times, it is a line said again and again, however, during "Inside Llewyn Davis," the brothers cleverly use time as the film's "repeat."  It caught me off guard.

There is some great acting, especially by Oscar Isaac and Adam Driver and a few famous faces playing smaller roles.  Music plays a central role and has an authentic sound (some of it so corny, I have to wonder how people found this so revolutionary and exciting).

Not as flat out funny as some of their other films, it is a movie that will be appreciated as time goes on.

A final kudos to the Coens' nod to their fellow Minnesotan during the film's final act.  Unforced and completely appropriate.


8)  Dallas Buyers Club

Matthew McConaughhey has quietly become America's best actor.  In 2013 and early-2014, he has turned in three very memorable performances in "Mud," "The Wolf of Wall Street," and "True Detective."  His role in "Dallas Buyers Club" is no exception.  McConaughhey  plays the title character with the same recklessness and physicality that the real Ron Woodroof lived (in turn leading to his contraction of HIV).  I would be surprised if he doesn't win the Best Actor Oscar this year.  It's unforgettable.

The same can be said about Jared Leto, nearly unrecognizable as Woodroof's transgender business partner - another memorable performance.

The film itself is honest and brutal.  Woodroof lives selfishly and without regard to himself or others.  When he finds himself with just months to live, he must look elsewhere for ways to extend his life so that he may eventually be given a cure.  A tough cowboy, he finds unconventional ways to survive, in turn finding a business opportunity to help others in a similar situation.

Much like Soderbergh's "Side Effects," the film is a criticism of our medical system and big pharmaceutical companies.  Public health versus profit versus ethics.

Fantastic direction and an interesting story make this one of 2013's best.  While it presents a small period of time in the 1980s, it is a story with modern relevance.


7)  All Is Lost

The fact Robert Redford did not get nominated for a Best Actor Oscar is a mystery.  In "All Is Lost," he plays a lone-sailor whose boat begins to sink due to a nearly-improbable incident.  With nearly no dialog and no supporting actors, Redford battles the elements to survive.

There are no flashbacks, no telling of his previous life.  There is only the immediate - water, food, weather.  Over time, rational thought turns to panic and desperation.

The direction by J.C. Chandor is nearly perfect.  I can't imagine that shooting on water is an easy task - for actor or director.  To say that Redford is completely alone might be a bit unfair.  Much like Spielberg's "Jaws," Chandor's directing turns the ocean into another unpredictable character, one that mirrors Redford.

The film also asks viewers at what point does one decide to give up?   When is the struggle no longer worth the fight?

The end of the film is open to interpretation.  The quality of the production and acting in the movie is not.