The Huntsman: Winter's War

Director Cedric Nicolas-Troyan

Genre Action | Adventure | Drama

Cast Jessica Chastain, Chris Hemsworth, Emily Blunt, Charlize Theron

Rating PG-13

Release Date April 22nd, 2016

“As a war between rival queen sisters Ravenna and Freya escalates, Eric and fellow warrior Sara, members of the Huntsmen army raised to protect Freya, try to conceal their forbidden love as they combat Ravenna’s wicked intentions.”

The Huntsman: Winter’s War is directed by Cedric Nicolas-Troyan. He did not direct 2012's Snow White and the Huntsman but he did serve as the visual effects supervisor and earned himself an Oscar nomination. That's impressive. Less impressive is the fact that the man that did direct the previous film, Rupert Sanders (in his directorial debut no less), had an affair with actress Kristen Stewart effectively ending his marriage, as well as her relationship with Twlight star, Robert Pattinson. The studio thought better of having Sanders or Stewart anywhere near the next film, which was probably for the best. Drama, drama, drama. The Huntsman: Winter's War stars Charlize Theron, Chris Hemsworth, Emily Blunt, and Jessica Chastain. 

The Huntsman: Winter’s War is an overall enjoyable film that unfortunately fails to live up to expectations. Armed with a stellar cast, a big budget, and plenty of eye-opening CGI, audiences were lead to expect a final product that should at the very least improve upon Snow White and The Huntsman. Instead The Huntsman: Winter’s War took a few steps back, selling itself short and again suffering from consistent pacing issues. What felt like a weak and generally uninspired script kept the film from accomplishing the "wow factor" that is needed to make that leap from good to great. The cast was certainly an improvement, essentially replacing below average actress/homewrecker Kristen Stewart with love of my life and A-list actress Emily Blunt, who was fantastic as the Ice Queen. I also felt pretty good about the addition of rising star Jessica Chastain, who is quite possibly the most attractive redhead on this entire planet. Don't worry ladies, Chris Hemsworth puts his best foot forward yet again, and delivers some very impressive action sequences. 

The quality of the acting in The Huntsman: Winter's War is well above average as expected. I would be hard pressed to find a weakness as far as acting is concerned. The film was actually a lot funnier than I expected and I had quite a few good laughs, mostly thanks to the chemistry between Chris Hemsworth, Nick Frost (Hot Fuzz, Shaun of the Dead) and Rob Brydon. What I found interesting is the fact that Frost and Brydon, both of relatively average height 5'7 and 5'8 respectively, both play dwarfs that refuse to leave Hemsworth's side. As cool as the CGI was, turning these two into bantering dwarfs may have had the biggest impact on the entertainment factor of the film, at least in my opinion anyway.

I enjoyed The Huntsman: Winter's War, I did. But all things considered it was a bit of a letdown and that is difficult to ignore. Viewers simply deserved something better, something epic. It just wasn't meant to be. Fans of Snow White and the Huntsman, as well as Hemsworth, Blunt, Chastain, and Charlize Theron, will have plenty to appreciate, but average viewers might be better off waiting for the Blu-ray/DVD release. Perhaps amateur director Nicolas-Troyan was overwhelmed by the acting talent he had at his disposal and may have been better suited focusing on the visuals? We will never know for sure I suppose. 

Everybody Wants Some!!

Director Richard Linklater

Genre Comedy

Cast Zoey Deutch, Blake Jenner, Tyler Hoechlin, Ryan Guzman

Rating R

Release Date April 8th, 2016

“A group of college baseball players navigate their way through the freedoms and responsibilities of unsupervised adulthood.”

Richard Linklater has had quite the diverse career as a director thus far, having crafted the likes of Dazed and Confused, Before Sunrise, School of Rock, Bernie, A Scanner Darkly, and Boyhood, to name a few. Clearly as an artist he prefers to mix it up, which I think says a lot about him in terms of his versatility as a director and screenwriter. Everybody Wants Some!! is directed and written by Linklater. According to him, the film is a continuation of his 2014 film Boyhood (a project that took an astounding 12 years to complete), which ended with a guy showing up at college and meeting his new roommates and a girl. Filming was split between Texas State University and the downtown area in San Marcos, Texas.

Everybody Wants Some!! is well-written, insightful, real, and genuinely entertaining. If I had to categorize the form or type of entertainment I would say it is of the “smart” variety. The film passes on the opportunity for cheap laughs, especially considering the Animal House meets Old School-esque setting. Instead the smartly-written script allows for the development of complex characters each with their own unique personality. The late 70’s/early 80’s setting is intoxicating and the mustaches and clothing from that era is just perfect. I found myself laughing out loud on numerous occasions but what I enjoyed most was the dialogue, which felt fresh, creative, and extremely articulate. I have replayed some of the interactions between the characters in my head and I can’t wait to see the movie again. Everybody Wants Some!! requires the audience to exhibit some patience because it might be right up until the credits appear on screen before you fully realize just how great of a film it really is.

The acting in Everybody Wants Some! is perfect and I really enjoyed the cast. The chemistry was incredible and the characters played off each other very well. I read that Linklater actually had the cast live together for months in a guest house he has on his property so that the idea of a bunch of guys living in a house together would be as authentic as possible. 23 year-old Blake Jenner plays the lead role of incoming freshman Jake. He has a fairly short acting resume thus far consisting of mostly short films and non-recurring television roles. Jenner was perfect for his role as he epitomizes the wholesome all-American who may or may not be on the cusp of peer-pressure induced shenanigans. The relatively unknown cast of actors and actresses all perform well and seem to be given plenty of support and direction in their respective roles. 

Everybody Wants Some!! offers the audience Richard Linklater’s own personal brand of smart and insightful filmmaking, to the point where it will reinforce faith in genuine artistic integrity. Linklater’s films tend to serve as character studies of sorts and his newest work definitely carries that same feel. Everybody Wants Some!! will make you laugh and it will keep you entertained, but what really stood out to me was how much heart the film had, and that above all else will ensure an infinite shelf-life. Be sure to check this one out sooner than later.

Barbershop: The Next Cut

Director Malcolm D. Lee

Genre Comedy

Cast Ice Cube, Cedric The Entertainer, Regina Hall, Anthony Anderson

Rating PG-13

Release Date April 15th, 2016

“As their surrounding community has taken a turn for the worse, the crew at Calvin’s Barbershop come together to bring some much needed change to their neighborhood.”

The original Barbershop first released in 2002 and received a very warm welcome from critics. Fast forward 14 years and we have the 3rd entry in the Barbershop franchise (is this even considered to be a franchise?), Barbershop: The Next Cut. What I find interesting is the fact that all 3 films have a different director. This I suppose isn’t all that uncommon for other genres of film but I think it tends to be rare for comedies. Malcolm D. Lee steps up to the plate for this entry. In 2013, Lee directed The Best Man Holiday, as well as the lowly and very unnecessary Scary Movie 5.

I was dealing with a whirlwind of expectation and uncertainty when Barbershop: The Next Cut finally released. 14 years after the first film released, my expectations were modest at best but initial feedback for the film had me taken aback to say the least. I found my way to the theater to experience Barbershop: The Next Cut for myself and let me just say it put a big smile on my face. I had a recurring feeling of nostalgia throughout the entire film which was amazing, and to put it in simple turns this is a damn funny movie. Granted it feels very much like a comedic skit with limitless freedom for the actors, but it works. And it works well. I suppose it helps when the majority of the cast has experience in stand-up comedy and general improve. One of my favorite aspects of this belated sequel is easily Lamorne Morris, who plays the cat loving weirdo Winston Bishop in the hit Fox comedy New Girl. He basically plays the same character in Barbershop: The Next Cut and the role fits him like a glove (not like the O.J. glove, this one ACTUALLY fits).

A quality film relies on quality acting, right? At least to a certain extent. Barbershop: The Next Cut includes plenty of acting talent but the real strength lives and dies with comedic actors full of personality that can improvise until the cows come home (that is still a saying right?). Ice Cube sets the tone with his ability to play the serious and somewhat calculated role amongst all of the goofiness around him. As I mentioned before, Lamorne Morris is fantastic. I was also genuinely impressed with Common and he seems to have grown into a very solid character actor. And to give praise to one of my favorite and incredibly underrated actors, J.B. Smoove (best known for his Curb Your Enthusiasm character Leon Black), he was an incredibly effective and hilarious addition to the cast with his character One-Stop. He gets a solid amount of small roles in movies and television including his role as the cabbie in Date Night but he is underused. His talents need to be appreciated! 

Barbershop: The Next Cut is undoubtedly one of the feel-good movies of 2016. It has everything we desire as an audience; humor, heart, and creativity. Ice Cube could have pushed for a halfhearted sequel to make some easy cash but he didn’t. Instead he decided to shed some light on the serious issue with violence in the city of Chicago and even though the film is actually filmed in Atlanta, it feels genuine. I visited Chicago recently myself and I really feel that it is a great city that sometimes gets a hard rap. Nonetheless, Barbershop: The Next Cut is quality entertainment and should not be missed. 

The Jungle Book

Director Jon Favreau

Genre Adventure | Drama | Family

Cast Neel Sethi, Scarlett Johansson, Idris Elba, Bill Murray

Rating PG

Release Date April 15th, 2016

“The man-cub Mowgli flees the jungle after a threat from the tiger Shere Khan. Guided by Bagheera the panther and the bear Baloo, Mowgli embarks on a journey of self-discovery, though he also meets creatures who don’t have his best interests at heart.”

The Jungle Book originally released in movie format in 1967 and became an instant classic. It began in 1894 as a collection of stories written by English author Rudyard Kipling. Fast forward to 2016 and we have the new and technologically superior version of The Jungle Book brought to us by director Jon Favreau (Iron Man, Cowboys & Aliens). The film has a stellar cast of voice actors including Bill Murray, Ben Kingsley, Idris Elba, Christopher Walken, and Scarlett Johansson.  The Jungle Book is a live-action adaptation of the 1967 film, but the filmmakers decided to adapt elements from the novel to make it more adventurous and dangerous.

The Jungle Book is incredibly entertaining, immersive, hilarious, and to be quite honest one of the more genuinely satisfying experiences I have had at the movie theater in quite a while. I made sure not to leave any stone unturned as I went to see it in IMAX 3D and boy was it worth the extra $5. Right away I was in awe of the world that was created for the audience and honestly I still have a difficult time believing the film is essentially 100% CGI (Computer Generated Imagery) and green screen. The Jungle Book sets a new standard for what CGI is capable of and it has me extremely excited for the future. The animals were very realistic in their movements and on-screen presence and I read that they were created using actual animal behavior, which was then re-created by the actors using motion-capture VFX.  

The voice acting in The Jungle Book is absolutely top notch and I would be lying if I didn’t say that Bill Murray stole the show as the voice of Baloo the bear. I wouldn’t go as far as to agree with the older couple exiting the theater who stated, “Bill Murray made the movie,” but he certainly had quite an impact. I felt like they did a great job casting Neel Sethi as Mowgli who was the only actual human actor in the film. As an actor he delivered a genuine feel for his authentic presence and somewhat of a fish out of water appeal in the beginning. He gracefully transitioned into a resourceful and very determined little boy who above all knew exactly what he wanted out of life and where he felt he should call home. Idris Elba was the perfect choice for dreaded nemesis Shere Khan (the tiger), as he possesses an authoritative and very frightening tone to his voice. I certainly wouldn’t cross him as a real-life human being or voice actor.

The live-action adaptation of The Jungle Book is an amazing experience and one that should not be missed. The more I think about it the more I realize the fact that this film appeals to everyone. Whether you are able to achieve a nostalgic sense of your childhood or enter as a newcomer with sky-high expectations for an experience like no other, The Jungle Book will not disappoint. Granted IMAX 3D will probably break the bank if you take the entire family out to see it, sacrifices must be made and this is one that will be worth it in the end, I promise you that. Jon Favreau’s The Jungle Book gets the Ted Takes stamp of approval. The Jungle Book 2 has already been announced, you’re welcome in advance.

Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice

Director Zack Snyder

Genre Action | Adventure | Fantasy

Cast Ben Affleck, Henry Cavill, Amy Adams, Jesse Eisenberg

Rating PG-13

Release Date March 25th, 2016

“Fearing that the actions of Superman are left unchecked, Batman takes on the Man of Steel, while the world wrestles with what kind of a hero it really needs.”

Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice is directed by Zack Snyder who previously directed Man of Steel, Suckerpunch (which was a bust sadly), the violent comic book film Watchmen, and probably the best film on his resume, the 2006 hit 300. Snyder has a resume that easily places him with the upper echelon of directors who have turned comic books into hit films. The cast includes Ben Affleck, Henry Cavill, Amy Adams, and Lawrence Fisburne. Snyder previously defended his decision to cast Affleck as Batman by stating that he pictured Batman as a bigger and stronger character compared to a somewhat leaner Christian Bale who starred in The Dark Knight and The Dark Knight Rises, both films directed by acclaimed director Christopher Nolan.

I'm going to come right out and say it, I was disappointed with Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice. I wanted so badly to love it so that I could tell all of the haters out there to stick it where the sun doesn't shine but it just wasn’t meant to be. Did I hate it? No, but it just wasn’t the movie I was hoping for. The plot felt like it was all over the place shifting between different storylines without much of a clear direction, at least in my opinion anyway. Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice had plenty of action but it just wasn’t enough to satisfy that itch that is usually easily scratched by a Christopher Nolan directed film. I actually really respect Zack Snyder as a director and I enjoyed Watchmen. I even added it to my movie collection. I suppose the bar was set a bit too high by Nolan and the Dark Knight films, I mean who can be expected to follow-up a Heath Ledger Joker and Tom Hardy Bane? Jessie Eisenberg, I like you as an actor but the shoes were much too big to fill my friend.

Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice includes a fantastic cast as far as talent is concerned. Love him or hate him I think Ben Affleck is a talented actor and director, although whether he was the right choice for Batman I am still on the fence about. Henry Cavill is undoubtedly the right fit for Superman and he also played the role in Man of Steel. He has a very dominating presence and portrays the superhero the right way. I really like Jesse Eisenberg as an actor but the 5’9 150lb or so actor should stick to roles that are a bit more believable for him, although he does play the mentally unstable card pretty well. Amy Adams is a fantastic actress but she is just meh in her role, I think Natalie Portman would be a better fit for Lois Lane. Wishful thinking I suppose.

I genuinely wish I could say that I really enjoyed Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, I really do. I just feel like it ended up being just an average film with a huge budget that was unable to live up to expectations. The buzz is that fans have organized a petition asking that the studio release an R-rated version of the film and apparently director Zack Snyder is considering this option. He has confirmed that he has at least 30 minutes of additional footage that was set to release when the film hit Blu-ray/DVD as well as a few variations to other scenes in the film that would have warranted an R-rating. Perhaps a bit more leeway with the content is exactly what Snyder needed. This other version might see a late summer release if it does in fact happen. Only time will tell.

Hush

Director Mike Flanagan

Genre Horror | Thriller

Cast John Gallagher Jr, Kate Siegel, Michael Trucco, Samantha Sloyan

Rating R

Release Date April 8th, 2016 (Limited Theaters & Netflix)

“A deaf woman is stalked by a psychotic killer in her secluded home.”

Directed and co-written by Mike Flanagan, who also directed Oculus and the yet to be released horror film Before I Wake, Hush is an intimate take on the horror genre. Filmed in less than 18 days, Hush contains under 15 minutes of actual dialogue, meaning that 70 minutes of the hour and 127 minute run-time go by without a single word being spoken. Flanagan co-wrote the film with his new wife, Kate Siegel who stars in the film. Siegel met Flanagan while auditioning for his 2013 horror film Oculus, a role she ended up getting. She was quoted in an interview as saying when she met Flanagan she immediately thought, "This is a man I would do anything to work with." So naturally, they were soon married.

Hush is a great film and a breath of fresh air for a struggling genre. I really enjoyed it and felt like it utilized a tried and true formula, while separating itself with some unique elements, making it feel fresh and innovative at the same time. Hush puts the audience in the victim’s shoes during the film's most tense moments to experience what it's like to lack the ability to hear or speak, which I thought  was very effective. Hush includes everything a successful horror film needs; a psychopathic killer, resourceful victim, great writing, intimate style of directing, and a quality score that really sets the tone for the film. If I were to offer a bit of criticism I would say that Hush is certainly more thriller than it is horror but it does blend the two together quite well.

Hush has a very limited cast but each actor pulls their weight and helps to make this gruesome scenario feel like a reality. Kate Siegel is fantastic in the lead role and she made it rewarding for the audience to see her character develop the way it did. Siegel was asked whether or not having her husband direct the film added any extra pressure and she said that he is such a supportive director and husband that if anything, it made her more comfortable. John Gallagher Jr. is exceptional as the masked man, coming across perfectly as a crazed killer who takes pleasure in the suffering of others. Michael Trucco, who is traditionally a television actor, makes an impact in his brief on screen appearance.

Hush is a tense, dark, and uniquely crafted thriller that is a welcomed entry in the horror genre alongside the likes of The Strangers and You're Next, to name a few. Director and screenwriter Mike Flanagan seems to have a genuine appreciation for the horror genre and I am excited to see what he has in store for us. Considering Hush is a direct to Netflix streaming release, which is incredible by the way, I can comfortably say that you won't find a better and more accessible newly released film. To be honest it felt like I was cheating the system somehow watching a movie this good as soon as it released without having to invest in a movie ticket or giant bag of overpriced popcorn. Check this one out sooner than later.

Demolition

Director Jean-Marc Vallée

Genre Comedy | Drama

Cast Jake Gyllenhaal, Naomi Watts, Chris Cooper, Heather Lind

Rating R

Release Date April 8th, 2016

“A successful investment banker struggles after losing his wife in a tragic car crash.”

Demolition is directed by Jean-Marc Vallée who previously directed Dallas Buyers Club and Wild. The film is written by Bryan Sipe who recently wrote the 2015 romantic drama The Choice. The film stars Jake Gyllenhaal, Naomi Watts, and Chris Cooper and debuted at the 2015 Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF).

My expectations were somewhat in the middle of the road but Demolition proved to be a very entertaining and engaging film. I enjoyed the experience of watching the main character Davis, played by Jake Gyllenhaal embark on his full-fledged journey of soul searching. Davis is a unique individual battling some complex emotions and uncertainties to the point where he begins to question his own life and what it all means. Gyllenhaal steals the show and Demolition wouldn’t even be on my radar if this role were to have been given to a less capable actor. While I feel the writing is strong, it does stumble and feels a bit convoluted at times. It also suffers from some pacing issues and has its fair share of “lull you to sleep” periods. Luckily when things slow down the characters are brought back into focus and all is right in the world.

Gyllenhaal is absolutely incredible in Demolition and he once again proves why he is one of my favorite actors. The guy is simply amazing and his rare talent began to shine all the way back in 2001 when he starred in the cult classic Donnie Darko. Since then he has starred in one hit after another and Gyllenhaal is capable of making an average to mediocre script shine with his acting ability. The character he plays in Demolition has many layers and he transitions between them seamlessly. Naomi Watts and Chris Cooper are also fantastic in their respective roles. Gyllenhaal and Cooper previously starred together in the 2005 war based drama Jarhead, and in this film it is clear that their chemistry has remained intact over the years.

Demolition is a deeply engaging character study that includes some of the best acting you will experience in 2016. It is not without its faults and does suffer from pacing issues that lend to the film feeling slow and almost boring at times. If you can appreciate filmmaking as an art form and enjoy something that feels a little different and less commercialized (as the hipsters would say), Demolition is well worth checking out.