Spring Breakers (dir. Harmony Korine)
Harmony Korine's Spring Breakers is a neon drenched, dub step fueled fever dream of a film- as well as one of the more damning portrayals of today's party obsessed youth. I found the film hypnotic and wonderfully directed- Korine didn't compromise his vision in the slightest, making for a film that's as brave as it is entertaining. The movie also showcases phenomenal work from James Franco and Vanessa Hudgens, as well as the best use of a Britney Spears song imaginable. The final scene has stuck with my since I've seen it. While I'm sure this film isn't for everyone- the highly negative reaction my entire screenwriting class had is indicative of that- I think it's easily one of the standouts from the year.
OVERALL GRADE: A-
The Conjuring (dir. James Wan)
While it was certainly terrifying, James Wan's Insidious fell apart in its final third when it tried to set up an overly complex mythology in under 30 minutes. But The Conjuring is a good 'ol fashioned haunted house story through and through- and it's also the best horror film in almost ten years. Thanks to Wan's considerable directorial strengths and a strong cast, The Conjuring succeeds as both a well made horror flick and a genuinely great film. And, in a summer where many of the big blockbusters disappointed, The Conjuring has more than enough entertainment value to make up for it. I've seen the film twice now and I have a feeling I'll be re-watching many times in the future.
OVERALL GRADE: A-
Only God Forgives (dir. Nicolas Winding Refn)
Only God Forgives is a lot of things: pretentious, visually stunning, weird, melodramatic and, most of all, entertaining. While the film isn't anywhere near as great as Winding's Drive, I was never bored by Only God Forgives and really enjoyed the movie as a visceral experience- which the beautiful lighting, excellent score and the slow build towards brutal violence certainly added to. I don't buy into any of the subtext that many are subscribing to, and I think the film is a bit ridiculous at times, but I enjoy it enough to recommend it. And while Ryan Gosling's performance left much to be desired, Kristen Scott Thomas is absolutely phenomenal.
OVERALL GRADE: B-
The Way, Way Back (dir. Jim Rash & Nat Faxon)
My soft spot for coming of age stories helped The Way, Way Back find a space in my heart and become one of my favorites of the year so far. Excellently blending comedy and drama without ever picking a genre to stick with, Jim Rash and Nat Faxon's follow up to The Descendants showcases some of the best comedic beats and some of the saddest sequences of the year. While it's never overdramatic, the two perfectly capture the pains of growing up and the pleasures one can find with great friends. I also hope people remember Sam Rockwell's performance come Oscar season- the man exudes charm and instantly wins over both our hero's heart as well as our own affections. This one is a must see.
OVERALL GRADE: A-
Fruitvale Station (dir. Ryan Coogler)
It pains me that I'm not actually writing a full length review of this film- the movie has stuck with me more than any other film this year, with a haunting final scene and brilliant performances from the entire cast. Coogler creates a sense of authenticity with this film that few directors can accomplish, and manages to depict a story that's important to discuss without ever slanting details or forcing a message down our throats. In the wake of the Trayvon Martin verdict and with subjects like gun control and police brutality being debated nation wide, Fruitvale Station somehow avoids becoming a political picture. Instead, it's an excellent portrait of a man who's life was cut short as he prepared to make his life better. There are many films I liked this year, but Fruitvale Station is the only one I've loved and the only one I can definitely see making my Top 10 list.
OVERALL GRADE: A
Despicable Me 2 (dir. Pierre Coffin & Chris Renaud)
It's not as good as the original and isn't much more than a Saturday morning cartoon expanded into 90-something minutes, but there is something I enjoyed quite a bit about this film. There really isn't much else to say about it however. I liked it for what it was.
OVERALL GRADE: B-
The Canyons (dir. Paul Schrader)
This is an awful, awful film. There is no way around it. Imagine a film starring a porn star, filmed like a porno, with a script only slightly more complicated than your average porno and filled with sex.... like a porno. Unsimulated sex. So, essentially, The Canyons is the world's least entertaining porno. I really don't understand what Paul Schrader was trying to do with this film- was it some sort of social commentary? An erotic thriller? I'm not sure and I don't care to ever find out. If there is one thing that saved the film from a dreaded F grade, it's Lindsay Lohan. I certainly didn't expect much from her, but she actually turns in a great performance here. Hopefully she'll find better material to work with next time.
OVERALL GRADE: D-
We're the Millers (dir. Rawson Marshall Thurber)
This is the biggest surprise of the year so far. That's not to suggest it's a great film, but it is an immensely entertaining one with some of the best jokes in any movie this year. I've always been a Jennifer Anniston fan- that's what happens when you grow up with two parents that were obsessed with "Friends"- and I think this is her finest comedic performance. The film's funny, edgy, sweet and wholly entertaining, with a supporting cast- including Nick Offerman, Kathryn Hahn and Ken Marino- that almost steals the movie. The fact that I enjoyed this film more than any of the summer blockbusters this year is indicative of how much fun I had with this film, and I'd recommend it to fans of R-rated mainstream comedies.
OVERALL GRADE: B
Blue Jasmine (dir. Woody Allen)
The more I think about this film the more I realize it's, essentially, just an Oscar reel for Cate Blanchett's performance. But what a brilliant performance that is. While the movie never really evolves into anything special,you'd be hard pressed to find a performance better than Blanchett's. She's amazing in what is the highlight of an already impressive career. I enjoyed the supporting cast a bit more than most- although Alec Baldwin plays the same character he's played in just about everything over the past ten years- but this is Blanchett's movie. And while this isn't exactly Allen's best, he's so talented that even his lesser work is pretty damn good.
OVERALL GRADE: B+
Mud (dir. Jeff Nichols)
I really wanted to love Mud, just as I really wanted to love Jeff Nichol's last film, Take Shelter. But as much as I admired Mud, I just didn't love it. The cinematography is stunning, the story is interesting and the performances from Tye Sheridan and Matthew McConaughey are amazing. But nothing about the film really grabbed me, mainly because I was considerably more interested in Sheridan's "coming of age" storyline than I was McConaughey's subplot. I also found the whole snake scene to be wildly overdramatic. But other than that, I did enjoy the film and it's one of the better movies of the year so far. Who knows, maybe Nichols will craft a film I love. One day.
OVERALL GRADE: B+
Admission (dir. Paul Weitz)
Not even my love for Tina Fey could make Admission anything more than a bland dramadey. None of the comedic beats were particularly funny, and the romance between Fey and Rudd felt forced and uninteresting. But worst of all is how the film's main storyline, about Fey reconnecting with the son she abandoned, feels so insignificant in the grand scheme of things. Everything just feels dull and completely uninteresting. The best thing from the film is Nat Wolff- the kid did a great job with what was essentially a nothing role. I'm interested in seeing what he does next.
OVERALL GRADE: C-
Elysium (dir. Neil Blomkamp)
Visual spectacle aside, Elysium is political propaganda disguised as an action film. Whether I agreed with Blomkamp's political stance or not, I just can't enjoy a film that's trying to shove its message down the throats of the audience. Matt Damon is miscast and Sharlto Copley is a cartoon character come to life, while Jodie Foster does a great job with the limited material she's given. The film is enjoyable from an action movie standpoint, though nothing stands out to much. This is one of the more upsetting disappointments from the year so far.
OVERALL GRADE: C+
You're Next (dir. Adam Wingard)
I hated the first third of this film and was prepared to despise the entire movie. But suddenly, Adam Wingard's slasher flick took a turn for the crazy and became one of the most consistently entertaining films of the year. The movie is an effective mixture of brutal violence, dark humor and surprising plot twists. Outside of it's leading lady, the cast is pretty terrible. And while the first third tries to turn the genre's conventions on its head, it's not well developed or ironic enough to really provide any interesting commentary. But in a year with some very entertaining horror films, You're Next is yet another solid entry.
OVERALL GRADE: B-
The World's End (dir. Edgar Wright)
A funny, fast paced film with energy to spare and an excellent lead performance. I think the film drags a bit at times and the ending is perhaps too weird for its own good, but I enjoyed The World's End quite a bit. Edgar Wright brings a unique style to the fight scenes (I can't wait to see what he does with Ant Man) and his script (which he wrote with Simon Pegg) is smart, charming and surprisingly dark. Pegg's performance is also wonderfully layered- he blends the dark characteristics of the character with the more lighthearted ones, and his character is insanely likable. I think the film is well worth a watch and is a great way to end the summer movie season.
OVERALL GRADE: B
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