Posted by James Brown on Thursday, December 24, 2015,
In :
0.00% Water
The Big Short
Directed By: Adam McKay
Starring: Christian Bale, Steve Carell, Ryan Gosling, Brad Pitt, Melissa Leo, Hamish Linklater, Rafe Spall, Marisa Tomei, Finn Wittrock, John Magaro, Adepero Oduye, and Max Greenfield
It's amazing how the best films can catch moviegoers by surprise. 2015 hasn't been a year boasting the strongest awards season contenders. Sure, we have Bridge of Spies, Room, and Brooklyn. The problem is, however, that there seems to be no front runner. This isn't a year o...
Posted by James Brown on Saturday, October 26, 2013,
In :
0.12% Hard Liquor
The Counselor
Directed By: Ridley Scott Starring: Michael Fassbender, Penélope Cruz, Cameron Diaz, Javier Bardem, and Brad Pitt
Some movies seem like the perfect recipe for success on paper but unexpectedly turn out to be failures on the grandest of scales. Until today, the best example in recent memory was the 2007 thriller Lions for Lambs. The film starred Tom Cruise, Meryl Streep, and Robert Redford. To top things off, Redford was playing multiple roles by sitting in the director's chair ... Continue reading ...
Posted by James Brown on Saturday, October 19, 2013,
In :
0.00% Water
12 Years a Slave
Directed By: Steve McQueen
Starring: Chiwetel Ejiofor, Michael Fassbender, Benedict Cumberbatch, Paul Dano, Paul Giamatti, Lupita Nyong'o, Sarah Paulson, Brad Pitt, Alfre Woodard, Quvenzhané Wallis, Dwight Henry, and Adepero Oduye
In a review two months ago, I wrote about how filmmakers are taking us to school this year. With films like Fruitvale Station, Lee Daniels' The Butler, and even 42, we've gotten a healthy dose of black history from Hollywood. We've arrived at our fi... Continue reading ...
Posted by James Brown on Saturday, November 19, 2011,
In :
0.06% Beer or Wine
Happy Feet Two
Directed By: George Miller
Starring: Elijah Wood, Robin Williams, Pink, Sofia Vergara, Brad Pitt, Matt Damon, Hugo Weaving, Anthony LaPaglia, Hank Azaria, Johnny A. Sanchez, Lombardo Boyar, Carlos Alazraqui, Michael Cornachia, Danny Mann, Meibh Campbell, Lil P-Nut, and Mark Klastorin
There is one theory about movies that almost never fails. Sequels cannot outdo original films. There are a few rare exceptions to this like The Empire Strikes Back,The Lord of the Rings: The Return... Continue reading ...
Posted by James Brown on Sunday, September 25, 2011,
In :
0.00% Water
Moneyball
Directed By: Bennett Miller
Starring: Brad Pitt, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Jonah Hill, Robin Wright, Chris Pratt, and Casey Bond
Most sports movies capture the thrill of snatching victory from the jaws of defeat. They delve into the joys of winning and the sorrows of losing. They do nothing more than depict competition and what drives it. That's your basic sports movie. Anything beyond that is a bonus. Given this, I went into Bennett Miller'sMoneyball expecting a decent baseball fl... Continue reading ...
Posted by James Brown on Tuesday, August 16, 2011,
In :
0.00% Water
The Tree of Life
Directed By: Terrence Malick
Starring: Brad Pitt, Sean Penn, and Jessica Chastain
Never before have I seen a film that captures life. That's a huge concept with a range of implications. It's a nearly impossible endeavor for any filmmaker. However, Terrence Malick has proven me wrong. Malick'sThe Tree of Lifedoes the impossible in a grand way. From grappling with the meaning and scope of life to questioning the purpose of faith, Malick covers a broad array of topics.The ... Continue reading ...
