Yeah she's about to end Thanos' career, but how well did Captain Marvel's movie debut stand on its own? Here's my review for Captain Marvel (NO SPOILERS):
When I first saw the audience reviews for Captain Marvel before the movie was released to the general masses, I thought to myself "oh no we're in trouble here". Granted, most of those reviews were just internet trolls hating on Captain Marvel for the mere fact that she's a woman and possibly DC fans seeking revenge for critics hating on their beloved DCEU movies and HADN'T even seen the movie. Regardless, it didn't set a good tone for the release of the movie, but luckily the critics didn't pan it as much as the audiences did. Even still, it was still regarded as one of the least impressive movies in the MCU, but I went in with an open mind, hoping it wasn't as bad as those early audience reviews made it out to be. I'm just going to get this out of the way first: I didn't hate Captain Marvel and I enjoyed it far better than its DCEU counterpart Wonder Woman, but it's far from my favorite movie in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. However, before I dive into the BIG problems let me talk about what I LIKED about this movie. I loved Ben Mendelsohn as Talos, quite possibly my favorite character in the movie and probably one of the only characters to get character development. He also gets the best bits of humor and comedic timing in the film, something I always appreciate in the MCU. Samuel L. Jackson is great as always as Nicholas Joseph Fury and steals most of the scenes that he's in. I liked Lashana Lynch as Carol's best friend Maria Rambeau and she definitely gets a couple of scenes to shine in, but I wish they had done more with her in general. There were some incredible scenes that stuck out to me in the movie, such as the hand-held shot scene of the aftermath after the big reveal and the slo-mo shot of when Carol absorbs the energy-core, thus turning her into the titular hero. I can appreciate that directors Anna Boden and Ryan Fleck were trying some tricks that made the movie stand out a little bit more than other MCU movies. I can ALSO appreciate the fact that the last act of the movie wasn't just a CGI-filled, poorly choreographed, seizure inducing mess like a good deal of other superhero movies, both MCU and DCEU. Although there were some bad special effects and there were a couple of scenes where the green screen definitely felt more present, it didn't derail the movie as a whole. Lastly, Captain Marvel, for lack of a better term, kicks some SERIOUS ass and, yeah, she's a badass bitch. I was in awe in the last act of the movie as she splices through an entire enemy spaceship and destroys it. She's uber-powerful, much more so than any of the other heroes (except maybe Thor), and will be an incredibly formidable opponent for Thanos. And let's be real, she's going to kill Thanos. Now let's dive into the BIG problems of this movie, starting with the frustratingly lackluster story. I didn't feel like there was anything super interesting about this story, and unfortunately that's a big problem because the MCU, for the most part, is so great at crafting creative and fascinating stories that explore the characters and their personalities and their background. There was a twist that flipped the narrative around, and for that I am thankful, but other than that, the story was pretty bland. It's yet another origin story and the point of an origin story is to introduce the character in an intriguing way where the audience can connect, relate, and grow with them and unfortunately this movie failed to do that with its lack of dazzling narrative and character development. And aside from the twist, the story was also extremely predictable. Nothing was really left to the imagination and there were certain scenes where I murmured to myself "oh I bet this will happen" and sure enough it happened. I also wish they had explored the relationships between the Kree and the Skrulls deeper and why there's a war in the first place, but I suppose that might be fleshed out more in a future sequel (which of course there's going to be one). Now, don't get me wrong, I love Brie Larson, and I know she's a great actress, but I didn't feel like I really got to know Captain Marvel and her character. Larson does well with what she's given, but the problem is what she's given isn't much. I understand that, for the majority of the movie, Captain Marvel doesn't know who she is or where she's from, resulting in a lack of identity. However, even with all the memories that they piece together throughout the movie, it still didn't reveal to me who Carol Danvers was supposed to be. She's stoic and sometimes smirks and dishes out half-clever remarks, but that's not personality to me. In the end, Captain Marvel comes across as badass, but also, and it pains me to say this, one-dimensional. Hopefully, the Russo brothers can wrangle some better character development out of her in Endgame. Another problem is that the soundtrack doesn't really fit all that well. There's one scene in particular, a fight scene in which the song chosen is so on the nose about the 90's and about Marvel herself, that made me groan. The song is fine on its own but it doesn't seem to fit into the narrative. In Guardians of the Galaxy, the soundtrack made sense because it was the music that Peter Quill listened to, thus weaving into the narrative and becoming an important part of the story. The soundtrack felt like a grab bag of Buzzfeed-esque 90's nostalgia that were just put into the film for the sake of it being 90's music and the fact that the story is set in the 90's, even though the movie itself didn't feel like a 90's movie. The last big problem is that it seemed like the directors, while competent for the most part, didn't watch the rest of the MCU. I don't want to give away anything, but there's a certain device that's found in this movie that was introduced in a completely different way in another MCU movie. Perhaps it's given as a gift, but there's no explanation about it and it's just kinda...there. The timeline displayed in this movie doesn't line up with the rest of the MCU, and it probably would've helped if the directors had had a sense of what happened in the other MCU films and align with that timeline. Sure, there's other problems; Captain Marvel suffers from something that has been plaguing the MCU for a while: an uninteresting villain (what a surprise). However, for the most part though, this movie is competently made. There were no huge jarring editing issues and the acting, while nothing spectacular, is pretty good. The movie zips along at a pretty even pace and I never felt, except for one joke (a joke that was executed way better in a way better MCU movie), that the humor undercut the more serious moments of the film. I really appreciated the introductory Marvel logo with Stan Lee and his cameo was not only great but clever as well. Captain Marvel wasn't an awful film and it proves to be a fun placeholder until Endgame, but it definitely could've been a better platform to introduce what I'm assuming will be the future leader of the Avengers. P.S. Goose? Loved him. Rating: 8.4/10
0 Comments
I know what you're thinking: Buster, why are you posting a best/worst of 2018 list on March 9th, 2019? Well, there were a lot of movies I had still yet to watch, but now that I've seen all I need to see, it's time. Here's my personal list of top 10 best and 5 worst movies of 2018!
2018 was probably one of the first years in a while where I paid very close attention to cinema. I watched way more movies than I had in the last three years and I enjoyed it so much. I felt like it was something that was missing from my life and reintroducing my love for cinema rejuvenated something inside my soul. So without further ado, here are my top 10 favorite movies from 2018 (and then 5 worst...): 10. Searching: A movie about a man searching for his missing daughter, this movie is expertly told through social media, web cams, and news outlet. An inventive and well-crafted movie that showed that a narrative can be successfully carried through the glow of a computer screen (take note Unfriended). John Cho is phenomenal and that twist ending is one of the best twists I've seen in a long time. 9. Black Panther: A cultural phenomenon the moment it was released, Marvel's game-changing blockbuster left a mark on 2018 unlike any other superhero had done before in any of the previous years. Led by an amazing prominently black cast, it was universally loved by all, including myself. From Ludwig Goransson's now Academy Award winning masterful African-influenced score to the eye-popping costumes (which also won an Academy Award) to the incredible storytelling, Black Panther set the bar high for future Marvel releases (which we'll get to later). 8. Crazy Rich Asians: A delightful and vibrant romantic comedy with an all Asian-American cast, great performances, and a wonderful story that dominated hearts and the box office. I'm still of the belief that Constance Wu should have been nominated for an Academy Award. Don't believe me? Watch that Mah Jong scene near the end and tell me I'm wrong. Also, more Awkwafina please, just in general. 7. A Star Is Born: Masterfully directed by first time director Bradley Cooper, this is an age old love story told through the lens of modern times which not only boasts great performances from the leads (Cooper and Lady Gaga) but also from the supporting actors (Sam Elliott, Dave Chappelle, Andrew Dice Clay (!)). Lady Gaga was primed to win an Oscar eventually, and this was the movie to do it (Best Original Song). Seriously, listen to "Shallow" once and it'll get stuck in your head forever. 6. The Favourite: A fantastic quasi-true tale of two cousins and their competitive relationship with the manic and mentally ill Queen Anne, rife with humor, quick wit, jealousy, and pure maliciousness. The whole movie is essentially a masterclass on acting, with dynamic performances from the three leading ladies (Olivia Colman in an Academy Award winning performance, Emma Stone, Rachel Wiesz) and a hilarious turn from Nicholas Hoult. Incredible direction from the brilliant Yorgos Lanthimos, great cinematography, and one of the best screenplays I've seen come to life in a long while. 5. Game Night: A raucous madcap movie about a group of friends who's game night goes hilariously wrong, this might be one of the funniest movies I've seen in a long long time. Jason Bateman and Rachel McAdams absolutely kill it as the lead couple, with McAdams delivering dynamite comedic chops that I didn't even know she possessed. It's a laugh-a-minute riot that contains so many clever and downright funny jokes that it makes me ALMOST want a sequel. 4. Roma: Alfonso Cuaron's personal love letter to his Mexican heritage and the women that loved him, this movie follows the life of a live-in maid and a middle class family in 1970's Mexico. The movie is essentially Cuaron's canvas, painting an autobiographical picture through wide one-shot takes and gorgeous panoramic camera work. The acting performances, especially from Yalitza Aparicio and Marina De Tavira, feel real and genuine, allowing their actions and emotions to successfully portray a story of love, hope, despair, and family. 3. Mission Impossible: Fallout: Quite simply the best action movie of 2018, possibly of the last 5 or 10 years. Tom Cruise absolutely puts in his best work as the invincible Ethan Hunt. The action set pieces and sequences are breath taking and feel somewhat organic, never relying too much on CGI and green screen. It is a complete action movie that boasts great performances from the entire cast, heart-pounding and energetic action scenes, and an awesome story. After 22 years, this is truly the best movie of the franchise, which shows no signs of slowing down at this point. 2. Avengers: Infinity War: If Black Panther set the bar high for superhero movies in 2018, Infinity War was able to set the bar even higher, which is insane when you think about it. Infinity War eclipses Black Panther just by the sheer impact this movie had on the franchise. While it's packed to the brim with the usual action, humor, and great performances we come to expect from Marvel movies at this point, this movie changed the game with a solid as hell villain in Josh Brolin's Thanos, a destructive force that no other Marvel movie had ever possessed before. With one snap, everything changed, and the heroes of the brilliant MCU were put in a position we hadn't seen before: pure desperation mode. Cannot wait for Endgame. 1. Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse: I wrote a really long review for this, and if you're curious to read it, I would highly recommend it. I'll keep this brief: this is the best superhero movie and best overall movie of 2018. Hilarious, heartfelt, action-packed, and has the best and most inventive animation I've seen in years. I haven't laughed this hard at any of the MCU movies, not that that's a knock on the MCU, it's just that this movie, specifically Phil Lord and Chris Miller, executed humor better. I love this movie so much I would go as far as to say that this is my favorite superhero movie of all time and one of my favorite movies of all time. While I saw tons of great movies in 2018 (I didn't even include movies like A Quiet Place or Ralph Breaks the Internet, both of which were fantastic), there were also some absolute duds in 2018 as well. Here are the 5 worst movies I saw in 2018. 5. Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald: The first Fantastic Beasts movie was so good, like so much better than it should have been, and after that high this movie was such a downer. Too many things happening with too many unnecessary characters and plot lines that went nowhere, has one of the dumbest character deaths I've ever seen in a movie, and not nearly enough, ya know, fantastic beasts. After this disappointment here's to hoping the next movie is better. 4. Hurricane Heist: I'm gonna be completely honest, I don't remember a whole lot about this movie. I just remember it being really dumb and forgettable. I remember there was a hurricane and a heist. Yeah, it was definitely a movie I watched. 3. Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom: Jurassic World was a pleasant surprise that, although it wasn't perfect, it jumpstarted the franchise back to life and provided for an entertaining and somewhat smooth ride. Fallen Kingdom proves to be not all that entertaining and almost singlehandedly destroys the spirit of the franchise with awful acting, the worst story so far, and by retreading many of the same tired tropes that have been plaguing the franchise since the very beginning. Oh and that ending? Just...no. 2. The Meg: A B-movie about a giant megalodon that should've been more fun but it was no fun at all. Jason Statham does unbelievable Jason Statham things and there's not nearly enough, ya know, megalodon. Also, Rainn Wilson as the smarmy bad guy? Uh...no thanks. 1. A Wrinkle In Time: How did the final cut of this movie ever get approved? Shouldn't have someone watched this before it was released and go, hm, this really isn't good? Did anyone read the book at all? Did no one do their research? Why didn't someone tell the child actors that their acting wasn't good? Why did they change how the characters were portrayed from the book? Why did they gloss over some of the most important parts of the books? Why did they decide to unnecessarily insert some of the cringiest "humor" and most outdated cultural references in this movie? How did celebrated director Ava DuVernay mess up this much? I may never know any of the answers to these questions, but one thing is certain: this movie is just terrible. The Oscars 2019: What I Liked, What I Didn't Like, And Why Green Book Didn't Deserve Best Picture2/25/2019 The Oscars have come and gone now and while there were plenty of great moments and some welcome surprises, there were frustrating moments as well. Here's my thoughts on the 2019 Oscar ceremony and winners.
Truth be told, I don't care about a lot of award ceremonies but I love the Oscars. It's like a second Christmas to me. Granted, many of the past ceremonies have dragged on and on and and genuinely become unbearable and unwatchable. But every year I still get that same bit of excitement.To be fair, this year worried me a bit as it was announced that there would be no host (after the Academy had fired Kevin Hart and poorly handled every situation this year). However, there were a lot of great things and wins about this Oscar ceremony, but also some incredibly puzzling moments (as it usually is with these ceremonies). So here is my rundown on what I liked, what I didn't like, and why Roma was absolutely robbed. What I liked: Wakanda Forever: The Marvel juggernaut certainly made a huge splash at the Oscars, winning Best Costume Design and Best Production Design, with both winners being African American women and the latter being the first African American ever to be nominated in her category. However, no other moment made me go "hell yeah" more than when Ludwig Gorranson won Best Original Score for his amazing Black Panther score. Marvel had a banner year and it's a shame that Stan Lee didn't live long enough to see the studio reap the benefits of their success at the Oscars. Spike Lee FINALLY wins one: Spike Lee has been in the game for over 30 years and had never one a competitive Oscar (he got an Honorary in 2015). Seeing him jump in Samuel L. Jackson's arms for winning Best Adapted Screenplay for BlacKkKlansman, his first ever competitive Oscar, was definitely one of the feel-good highlights of the ceremony. The obvious feel-good wins: Going into the ceremony I knew two things were going to happen: "Shallow" was going to win Best Original Song and Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse was going to snag Best Animated Feature. Both happened and everyone was happy to see it happen. Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper: Listen, I love Jennifer Hudson and Bette Midler as much as the next person, but the best performance of the night was by and far Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper's intimate performance of their now classic power ballad "Shallow". Everyone knew it was going to be magical and it truly was, and to top it off, Lady Gaga gave an inspiring and heartfelt acceptance speech for winning Best Original Song. Olivia Colman's lovely acceptance speech: The best acceptance speech of the night, second being Regina King's beautiful acceptance speech to her mother, was Olivia Colman, winning Best Actress for The Favourite and beating still winless Glenn Close (0 for 7 now). Stumbling over her words, she still manages to deliver heart and humor and a first class acceptance speech. Alfonso Cuaron: Cuaron was certainly amassing quite the collection of awards, snagging Best Cinematography, Best Foreign Language Film, and Best Director for his masterpiece Roma. While he missed out on the big one (more on that later), he deservedly cleaned up at the Oscars. No host: No awful long drawn out jokes that last the whole entire show, no forced humor, no lull in the ceremony. The presenters all worked well together and there were a lot of great moments: Mike Myers and Dana Carvey perfectly presenting Bohemian Rhapsody, Keegan-Michael Key flying down like Mary Poppins, Melissa McCarthy and Brian Tyree Henry presenting Costume Design in a mish mash of all of the costumes nominated. It zipped along at a nice pace and it was done and wrapped up by 11:15. Not too bad for a hostless show. I honestly could get used to this. Chris Evans is a chivalrous man: Watching Chris Evans help Regina King to the stage just reminded me that Marvel is going to suck without Evans as Captain America. Awkwafina and John Mulaney: Co-hosts next year please? Trevor Noah: Can he host the year after? What I didn't like: Sam Elliott not winning Best Supporting Actor: I love Mahershala Ali and I think he's phenomenal in Green Book, but Sam Elliott gave the best supporting performance of the entire year in A Star Is Born. Watch both movies and tell me I'm wrong. Yes, I knew Elliott wasn't going to win, but man, I really really really wanted it to happen. Bohemian Rhapsody for Best Editing: Really??? Best Editing??? There was literally a scene that had 10 cuts in 10 seconds. It's choppy and headache inducing and should've never come close to winning this award. If I had my choice, it would've absolutely gone to Roma...which wasn't even nominated for the category but I can dream. Green Book winning Best Original Screenplay: Yeah no, definitely should've been Roma or The Favourite. Queen's performance: I've said it before, I love Queen, but Adam Lambert is obviously no Freddie Mercury and the strangely low energy performance was an odd way to start off the ceremony. The clips chosen: Some of the clips showed some serious spoilers which I will obviously not ruin here. Crucial and key moments in the final moments of the film were all but given away, all of which seemed like there should've been one big "SPOILER ALERT" before the ceremony even started. Also, it should be noted that Amy Adams' clip was a lot of Christian Bale talking and not a whole lot of interaction from Adams. Just struck me as odd. Green Book wins Best Picture: Alright, I'm going to take the political agenda out of this, which I could write a whole essay about (if you want to see the point illustrated perfectly, watch this video), and speak solely in terms of cinema. The fact of the matter is that Roma was clearly the superior movie and Green Book was the safe choice. The Academy has had this problem for quite some time: instead of rewarding the innovative and groundbreaking, they choose to reward the common and formulaic. Roma was a passion project made with love by a brilliant director, complete with some of the most jaw-dropping and gorgeous cinematography of the decade. Green Book was made by the director of Dumb and Dumber and Shallow Hal and is definitely a generic crowd pleasing story that possesses a somewhat familiar storyline that's been seen before in numerous movies (again, watch that video I posted above). I liked both movies, don't get me wrong-Green Book isn't a bad movie and does have some genuinely good and touching moments and the lead actors are fantastic-but having Green Book, the crowd-pleasing safe choice, win over Roma, a grand and artistic cinematic triumph, is highway robbery. Oscar Watch 2019 concludes with a realistic and semi-autobiographical look into the life of a middle class family and their maid in Mexico in the 1970's. Here's my review for Roma.
Alfonso Cuaron has established himself as one of the best directors in Hollywood at the moment. He's already won one Academy Award for Gravity, crafted one of the best movies of the 21st century (Children of Men), and directed, at least in my opinion, one of the best Harry Potter movies (Prisoner of Azkaban). Roma, however, is his masterpiece, an autobiographical movie bathed in intimacy, emotion, and quietude. Set in Mexico City during the early 1970's, a time of turmoil and unrest, a young Mexican woman (Yalitza Aparicio) works for a white middle class family that's falling apart at the seams. Cuaron is masterful at getting Aparicio, a newfound actress in her film debut, to display subtle emotions in such a way that feels genuine. There's no over the top dramatics with her. There's no show-stopping theatricals with her. She portrays Cleo with a sense of shockingly natural realism, authentic and pure, a hopeful soul. There's no big names in this movie; from Marina De Tavira as the matriarch Sofia down to the child actors, there are no instantly recognizable stars, a factor that makes the movie feel much more grounded and not so much an otherworldly and unimaginable generic drama. In fact, there's no sense of overly saturated melodrama in this movie. Cuaron has crafted a film based entirely in expressive realism in which every scene feels quite organic. The movie is Cuaron's lush canvas, with every scene beautifully shot like a black and white painting. Each frame is shot with gorgeous sprawling camera work, thanks to Cuaron's incredible attention to detail and clarity and the fact that he served as his own director of photography. The film visually displays Cleo's ordinary life with extraordinary power. Many of the scenes are shot in one take and without abrupt editing, letting the scenes flesh out the characters and the world that they inhabit. Numerous moments in the film could be a contender for best scene of the year-the brutal Corpus Christi Massacre, the devastating child birth scene, the climactic and immaculately shot beach sequence, the haunting Norwegian lullaby-and it's all due to Cuaron's brilliant direction. No moment feels out of place or unwanted. There is no strong sweeping story attached to this movie-honestly, the movie as a whole moves pretty slowly-but scene after scene Cuaron is able to curate a thorough and articulate vision of a woman who's world is being constantly affected by the mundane, the remarkable, and the life-changing. Cuaron treats the women in this film with utmost respect and gives them strength, even in the toughest of situations. Sofia, mother of four, wields power in her strength to carry on past her husband's infidelity. Cleo has great maternal instinct, acting as a surrogate mother to the four children, and remains auspicious through even the most difficult of times. The two women are representative of what Cuaron deems as an important theme: strong mother-like figures who deserve recognition for their perseverance, resilience, and love. While the two may not have everything together, they understand that they cannot control everything and must be willing to accept the hardships and work through them. Aparicio and De Tavira give such sincere and earnest performances that it's no surprise that both were nominated for Academy Awards (Best Actress and Best Supporting Actress respectively). It's hard to compare all of the Best Picture nominees-how would I be able to compare this movie to Black Panther?-but if I go with my gut and with what I believe is the purest cinematic experience, Roma should come out as the big winner of the evening. Alfonso Cuaron will definitely without a doubt take home a second Best Director Oscar, although he'd have serious competition if Bradley Cooper had been nominated for A Star Is Born (but even in that situation Cuaron would probably still win). Not sure if it'll win Best Original Screenplay, but it will for sure win Best Cinematography and it will be pure robbery if it doesn't win it. Yalitza Aparacio and Marina De Tavira are wonderful but will probably leave empty handed. A movie that deserves every accolade that it's currently being showered with, Roma is Cuaron's uncompromising artistic vision: beautifully directed and shot, a striking familial portrait, and a grand cinematic spectacle. Rating: 10/10 My Oscar Watch 2019 reviews continue with a story that's been told three times before, but updated for the 2018 crowd and really really well done. Here's my review for A Star Is Born (2018).
In 2008, Stefani Germanotta, commonly known as Lady Gaga, popped up on the scene with some of the catchiest pop tunes of the late 2000's, including "Just Dance" and "Poker Face". She was hailed as the next Madonna, a cultural mainstay, and an eccentric and relatable weirdo. Beyond all of that though, she proved herself to be a worthy entertainer and an extremely talented and multifaceted musician. Ten years after her grand entrance into the spotlight, Lady Gaga steps into a role that was practically tailor made for her in Bradley Cooper's directorial debut A Star Is Born (2018). It's a story that's been told three(!) times before: a famous actor/singer/alcoholic (Bradley Cooper) finds an aspiring and talented actress/singer (Lady Gaga) and helps them to fame, all the while falling in love with each other. It's an age old story with a modern retelling and a fresh perspective from first time director Cooper. Cooper has crafted a movie with such grand cinematic gestures and is able to pull wonderful performances not just from himself and Gaga but from the rest of the cast as well. I wouldn't have thought it possible that Sam Elliott, Dave Chappelle, and Andrew Dice Clay (yes, that Andrew Dice Clay) would be giving some of the best supporting performances of the year in a remake of A Star Is Born. Elliott portrays Bobby, Jack's half-brother and road manager, who gives the best supporting performance in the movie. His scenes with Jack are personal and poignant, but one of the best scenes is a heart-wrenching exchange between the two brothers which ends with Elliott's iconic stone face breaking into silent tears. It's something I would've never imagined in a Sam Elliott performance, but it's also credit to Cooper's fine direction for getting that kind of performance out of him. Dave Chappelle pops up in a brief but wonderful performance as Jack's best friend Noodles, helping Jack get back on track briefly and understand what's important in his life. And here's a sentence I never thought I'd say: even Andrew Dice Clay gives a sincere performance as Ally's dad Lorenzo in the few scenes he's in. Just like two of the other Best Picture nominees (Green Book and Bohemian Rhapsody), the music plays an important role in the movie and is woven as a driving factor of the story. Every song has a role to play in the development of Jack and Ally's romantic relationship as well as Ally's rise from Jack's muse to pop stardom to SNL to the Grammys. The music, written by Cooper, Lady Gaga, Mark Ronson, and Lukas Nelson (Willie's son), often emotes a force of intensity far better than the moments with dialogue. No other song displays this concept better than the obvious standout "Shallow", an electrifying power ballad that becomes the pivotal moment in Jack and Ally's bond. The first performance of "Shallow" is the highlight of the movie, signaling Ally's beginning rise to fame when Jack brings her on stage for the first time ever to sing the song with him. It's a gorgeous and goosebump inducing moment when Ally lets loose and belts those now iconic high notes and the crowd goes absolutely wild. Not only is this moment a treat for the movie crowd, but it's a treat for any music fan as well. Even if Lady Gaga doesn't win for Best Actress, you can bet that she'll be taking home an Academy Award for one of the best songs that has ever graced the Oscars. Not only is the music well written and well performed, every musical sequence is shot beautifully, from the beginning to the tearjerking end. Every moment-the quiet conversations between Jack and Ally, the moments of unease and tension, of rage and despair-feels real and genuine, thanks to Cooper's brilliant direction and fantastic camerawork (although that credit should also go to Darren Aronofsky's go-to cinematographer Matthew Libatique). Cooper is able to grasp and capture the grand cinematic gestures of a seasoned vet and present us a classic Hollywood story that's been given a sleek update that any moviegoer should be able to enjoy. It should be noted that this ambitious project took Cooper two and a half years to make, and the end result is nothing short of spectacular. This brings me to the last and concluding moment of this review: how will this hold up in the run for Best Picture? If this were any other year, I would say this would take the Best Picture award, but unfortunately, I don't believe it will take the top prize as it seems to have lost steam during this prestigious award season and Roma seems to be the favorite to win it all. If it did win, I certainly wouldn't be upset as it is a damn fine film that's worthy of the award (unlike Bohemian Rhapsody). As for the Oscar nominations: Lady Gaga has been nominated for Best Actress (which she won't win) and Best Original Song (which she will win). The most egregious oversight is the absence of Bradley Cooper as a Best Director nominee. Even though he wouldn't have won (it will absolutely go to Alfonso Cuaron for Roma), it's a shame that he didn't even get the nomination as his direction is responsible for why the movie is as good as it is. Thanks to Cooper's direction, A Star Is Born is a beautiful movie with heartfelt lead and supporting performances, stellar songs and songwriting, and a sincere and tearjerking story. Rating: 10/10 |
AuthorBuster Bigelow: 30 year old lover of movies, cinema, and music. Whether you agree or disagree with my reviews, I'd love to hear what you think in the comments! Archives
June 2020
Categories
All
|
"Every great film should seem new every time you see it."
-Roger Ebert
Copyright © 2015