Nebraska

Nebraska
(2013) [Trailer]
Director: Alexander Payne [IMDB]

I've been to Nebraska on a few occasions in my lifetime. Whenever my travels would have me passing through the cornhusker state I would think to myself "I'm glad I don't live here." The only place that's tolerable there is Omaha, and maybe Lincoln, but outside of that, there's not much. I always find myself wondering who would decide to live in these towns you find yourself looking at, spread out between the farmland on your way out of Omaha. To be far though, I say that about any place outside a major city, in any state. Well Alexander Payne decided to tell you a story about those people. Let's see how good it is.

Synopsis: An old fart hits, what he believes, is the jackpot when he receives a letter in the mail stating he won a million dollars. He decides to head down to Lincoln to retrieve his winnings.

While watching Nebraska I was immediately reminded of David Lynch's The Straight Story, but in black and white. Payne does a fantastic job at bringing you into the story and into the setting of the film. The characters were all pretty believable and the performances were all decent, with the best one coming from Bruce Dern. Before watching Nebraska, I thought the comedy may come from showing you how absurd these hayseeds were going to be, which would be too easy. While there is a little of that (the two cousins mainly), Nebraska is relatable and the laughs just come from good writing. The score is subdued and pleasant, while the cinematography was bold but impressionistic at times. In the end, the whole package fit nicely together.

I really enjoyed Nebraska and felt the ending was perfect. It left me with happy feelings... I hate those stupid happy feelings. It's well worth your time and I believe it will be out on blu-ray by the end of the month.

12 O'Clock Boys

12 O'Clock Boys
(2014) [Trailer]
Director: Lotfy Nathan [IMDB]

My first review of a 2014 release. Let it soak in, feel it in all its glory. I actually heard about this documentary last year, after it got glowing reviews at Hot Docs. But like most films at Hot Docs, I had to wait until it got a wide release to sample it, which was this week when it open in theaters and VOD. So here we go.

Synopsis: This doc follows Pug, a young boy in a shitty Baltimore neighborhood who is trying his hardest to join a local dirt bike gang called... The 12 O'Clock Boys.

This documentary and the view into the world of Pug and The 12 O'Clock Boys is awesome. Lotfy Nathan does a fantastic job just capturing everything as it is and letting the pieces fall where they may. It's unbiased in its aim and allows the viewer to ride along with the boys and see what their life is all about. Whether or not you agree with them, it's still worth the trip.

Construction-wise, this piece hits a lot of sweet cinematic notes and elevates the documentary genre a little higher than normal. I gotta say, there's not much I can think of to rag on.. maybe it could have focused on some of the other members a little more. Then again, maybe it didn't need to.

Check it out, it's available on your cable box or Apple TV through video on demand.

Miami Connection

Miami Connection
(1987) [Trailer]
Directors: Woo-sang Park (as Richard Park), Y.K. Kim (uncredited)

So bad it's good. That's a phrase that gets thrown around a bit, especially with Miami Connection. I do believe in that mantra and I love a good shitty movie from time to time. So I made the $15 dollar blind buy on the blu-ray and went all in on this ninja masterpiece.

Synopsis: A Taekwondo rock band (yes, you read that right) are targeted by a group of secret ninjas for extermination... and I'm not really sure why.

This movie is definitely bad. Real bad. The acting is hilarious, it makes the film a comedy. I'm not really sure who told Y.K. Kim (the main protagonist) he could act, but thank God they did, because he sucks in the best way possible. I love that the kung-fu band are all orphans, all live together, play in a band together, and all go to college together at the University of Central Florida (which was made apparent in many scenes). 

The band also plays some pretty sweet tunes including this masterpiece:

There are a slew of weird things about this movie. Things that make no sense. It's fun sitting back and watching it unfold and thinking to yourself "Why? What in the hell were they thinking?" Like why is the black dude always walking around the house with his pants unbuttoned? Or why do the cops show up with guns drawn to an empty parking lot, then seemingly just give up trying to figure out where all the bad guys just went? Great police work there guys.

Or why they decided to film this scene?

This film is a trainwreck, but worth a poke just to see how awfully awesome it is.

Blue Jasmine

Blue Jasmine
(2013) [Trailer]
Director: Woody Allen [IMDB]

I can't say I'm a huge Woody Allen fan. I mean, I could say that... but I would be lying to you and that's not cool. Everytime I think about having a Woody marathon I remember the dude has bolted out over 70 films and then I decide to just wash those thoughts away with a shitty 80's horror movie. Blue Jasmine is the fourth film I've seen by him and I'm hoping this is the one to light my Woody Allen fire.

Synopsis: An ultra rich Manhattanite loses everything and is forced to move in with her plain Jane sister in San Francisco.

This is by far the best Woody Allen film I've seen, which isn't saying much... but still, there you have it. Blue Jasmine is a wonderful look at crazy. That neurosis is delivered brilliantly by Cate Blanchett who is extremely convincing. After my viewing, I couldn't imagine anyone else in her role... she would be the definition on "owing it". Everyone else was alright, but felt a little lackluster compared to Cate. I thought the sister and all her friends in San Francisco felt too New York or too New Jerseyish to be from there. Plus, she lives in San Francisco in a decent sized apartment and is a grocery bagger... I call bullshit.

The story of Blue Jasmine is interestingly laid out by Woody and it's paced perfectly. I loved the ending,  which was like a nice depression cherry on top. My internal promise to start watch more Woody Allen films has once again been ignited. We'll see what comes next, but for now... go see this.

Dallas Buyers Club

Dallas Buyers Club
(2013) [Trailer]
Director: Jean-Marc Vallée [IMDB]

Back in middle school I used to think AIDS was an automatic death sentence. It was fucking scary and if you got it, your life was automatically getting flushed down the toilet. Today, that's not so much the case. With adequate health care, you can live with AIDS for a long ass time (Magic Johnson). If my recollection of AIDS from the 90's was an entree, it'd be a deep dish pizza, it was pretty heavy. If Dallas Buyers Club AIDS from the 80's was an entree, it'd be a Turducken, it was absolute madness.

Synopsis: A free wheelin' rodeo stud's life hits a brick wall when he contracts AIDS and is given 30 days to live.

During his acceptance speech for the Golden Globes, Matthew McConaughey said he was glad it took forever for Hollywood to green light this film because it allowed the role of Ron Woodroof to fall into his lap... I, for one, couldn't agree more. McConaughey rules hard all over this movie. He has been on a roll lately (Killer Joe, Bernie, Magic Mike, The Wolf of Wall Street) and with DBC he hit another home run. Jared Leto also blasted out an incredible performance. You can tell that both of them really submerge themselves into the film and it pays off. The story is also very compelling and unfolds at a nice pace.

The only real negatives would be the film making itself, it was a little basic and felt like the quality you'd get from something like a made for HBO film.

It's still out there in theaters and is certainly worth a poke.

Lone Survivor

Lone Survivor
(2013) [Trailer]
Director: Peter Berg [IMDB]

Before watching Lone Survivor I read a bunch of negative reviews, basically stating it was America Ra Ra and pro-military. I had also heard a lot of positives from people on facebook, many of whom were military themselves. So I was interested in seeing how it would unfold. I like Peter Berg's films mostly (not including Battle Ship) and thought how bad could it be?

Synopsis: The retelling of a failed mission by US marines in Afghanistan and their fight to survive.

I don't get it. This film didn't feel like pro-war or pro-America at all. If anything, it's ultra violent and makes war look unfun. The haters of this film just think that way because it's a modern tale from Afghanistan... which for many is an unpopular war. But take this story... a unit trap behind enemy lines fighting to get out, and place it in WWII, and everyone would love it. No matter what your politics, war is ugly, and Berg captures that masterfully in Lone Survivor. Going in, I knew what would happen, most people do, but waiting for it all to transpire was nerve racking. When the battle ensues, I was locked in and inthralled.

Berg also succeeded with the score, cinematography, and cast. Marky Mark and Tim Riggins were impressive and it was good to see Emile Hirsh playing some what of a different role.

The action felt a little over the top and Holly Woodish at times, which surprised me, but ultimately it wasn't enough to even come close to ruining it for me.

Lone Survivor is in theaters now and I believe #1 at the box office as of last weekend. Shit... Berg is ballin hard.

Inside Llewyn Davis

Inside Llewyn Davis
(2013) [Trailer]
Director: Joel Coen, Ethan Coen

3 Coen Brothers films sit inside my Top 100 Films of All Time list, I guess that means they are my favorite directors... or at least, almost my favorite directors. Who cares, they are rad and I've been meaning to check out their newest film Inside Llewyn Davis for a hot minute... I just used the term "hot minute", you can punch me in the throat next time you see me... sorry about that.

Synopsis: Llewyn Davis is a struggling folk singer living in NYC during the 60's... this is his story.

Inside Llewyn Davis was a big winner for me. I thought the one thing that may bring it down was the music, but I actually really enjoyed the soundtrack a lot. The fact that it was all recorded live while shooting is also incredible. Llewyn is the proverbial starving artist, but an extremely honest version of that which didn't feel forced. I loved going along for the ride with him, both literally when he took a road trip to Chicago and throughout the rest of the movie. He is a character that is flawed and ultimately heading down a dead end path, but you still want to see it unfold.

There were a lot of stand out moments for me... like the scenes with the cat, John Goodman, and the audition in Chicago. It also feels like a movie, on a rewatch, that will offer things you missed on the first viewing, as is the case with all Coen films.

Inside Llewyn Davis is still in theaters and comes highly recommended by me.... Curtis.