Mud Review

I've always heard the one thing you never call someone is mud, so I feel conflicted. Mud is the new movie by one of my favorite new directors Jeff Nichols. This will be Nichols third movie, the first being Shotgun Stories (one my top 10 2008), then Take Shelter (my pick for the best movie of 2011), and now Mud. The film is a coming of age movie starring Matthew McConaughey. It follows the stories of two young boys from Arkansas who here rumors about a boat stuck up in some trees on a small island in the Mississippi river. Once out there they discover that someone is living there, they come across a guy camped out on the island known only as Mud. He's been there for a while and says he's waiting to run away with his girlfriend Juniper. The boys soon discover that Mud is a wanted man, so they confront Mud about it. He tells them that he killed Junipers abusive ex- boyfriend, who got her pregnant then pushed her down the stairs which made her lose the baby as well as any chance of having children. Mud recruits the boys to help him fix up the old boat to get out of the state. The only problem is that the family of the man he killed is gunning for him. Now Mud's biggest worry is whether or not he'll make it out alive. Mud feels like something straight out of a Mark Twain novel, when people think of American movies Mud encompasses that better than any movie in recent memory. It has it all: hope, despair, love, heart break, comedy, tragedy, everything. That's what I love about director Jeff Nichols, these are the types of movies he excels that. He puts more emotion in five minutes than most movies have in their entire run time. Nichols captures the American essence, whether it be the well off middle class in Take Shelter or the bottom of the rung back woods rednecks of Shotgun Stories and Mud. There isn't a director alive that does the same style better than him. While the kids in the movie are the ones that get the most screen time, it is McConaughey who steals the show. This is unquestionably the best performance he has ever given; there isn't even a close number two. I would be amazed if he doesn't at least get a best actor nomination. But not to be out done, the kids in the movie perform their parts perfectly. One thing that caught my attention right off the bat was the cinematography, just the way it's shot really shows what this movies about and how these characters live their daily lives. Mud reminds me a lot of A Place Beyond the Pines, there's just something special about it that makes it truly amazing. Jeff Nichols really out did himself with this movie; I would be so bold to say this is his best movie. I know it's early in the year but I really hope this movie gets a couple Oscar nominations. Mud is one of the best movies I've seen in years, and I assure you I will mention it again on my "best of the year" list.  

5/5 Stars

The Last 5 Movies I'm Excited for in 2013

Note: That's about it, other than these and the other movies I talked about I'm not really excited for any other movies for the rest of the year. I'm honestly not super interested in any of these either, it's bumming me out.

5. Anchorman: The Legend Continues
Unlike many people, I'm not a big fan of Will Ferrell. I didn't like Semi-Pro or Step Brothers, every winter when USA plays Elf 24/7 I get angry. I'm not joking, I physically get angry and my head starts to hurt. If I could choose one movie to wipe off the face it would be Elf, not Movie 43 or Batman and Robin. I would get rid of Elf. But one of my favorite comedies in the last couple years was Anchorman, it really surprised me and laughed my ass off the first time I saw it. It reminded me of Network (not nearly as good but still funny). I wanted a sequel but wasn't sure if they were going to make one. But I really am happy to see that a new Anchorman is on its way.

4. The Purge
I don't get very excited for horror movies now a days, most of them just suck. They are cheap to make movies meant to get people in the seats opening weekend to make their money back and after three weeks they aren't even in the top five. They don't look interesting they aren't original; they aren't worth getting excited for anymore. But The Purge actually looks interesting. It's hard to describe, all I can see is just go watch the trailer and you'll know what I'm talking about. The movie doesn't look half-assed; it's an original concept with a really disturbing premise. Not long ago I saw the Evil Dead which was the first horror movie in a long time I was interested in, but I'm actually excited for the purge.

3. The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug
I was excited for the previous film, and while it wasn't as good as I was hoping I still really enjoyed it and will probably buy it on Blu-ray. But what Unexpected Journey did wrong was that the entire movie was a set up for the rest of the series. I expect the trilogy to start hitting its stride with Desolation of Smaug. Some of my favorite parts of the Hobbit will take place in the second movie; I do hope there's less singing though. And I think we can all agree that we've been interested in The Hobbit for the same reason. Not for the characters, not to continue the Middle Earth story, but because we want to see the dragon. Game of Thrones can only do so much; they can't take care of all our dragon needs by themselves.

2. Ender's Game
I remember reading Ender's Game back in the 10th grade and thinking it was pretty good. But I hated my teacher with a burning passion so I felt that the whole experience less enjoyable. Ender's Game takes place in a dystopian universe many years from now when genius children are used as soldiers and everything is really messed up. This looks like it will be shaping up to be a visual feast like other recent space sci-fi's like Star Trek. Bright and beautiful over embellished worlds that just make you think of the future. The movie sounds very promising but I am nervous. The directors most notable work is X-men Origins-Wolverine, which wasn't what you would call... good. But I'll give the project the benefit of the doubt. 

1. Much Ado About Nothing
Never in a million years would I have thought one of the movies I'm most looking forward to for the rest of the year would be a modern adaptation of a Shakespearean play. But you must be wondering, "Why would you be interested in Phillip?" Well the answer is because I have faith in the director, Joss Whedon. He made this small movie last year called The Avengers, you probably haven't heard of it (I'm hoping you can sense my sarcasm). The movie has been shown at a couple film festivals and was met with positive reviews. I'm not a huge Shakespeare fan, especially the stuff they teach you in school (Romeo and Juliet and A Mid Summers Night Stream). But I do love King Lear so I've been meaning to give some of his other stuff a try. The trailer is out and the movie has an interesting style and looks pretty good. So I'll keep an open mind and go into it with high expectations.

The Place Beyond the Pines

This was a hard movie to see; the only place showing it was a small fancy theater in downtown Dallas. I'm not even sure if it will get a major release at this point. As much of a pain it was to see the movie, it was worth every bit of trouble. The Place Beyond the Pines is a new crime thriller from the director of Blue Valentine. The movie stars several people, most notably Ryan Gosling and Bradley Cooper. Gosling plays Luke, a stunt rider in a traveling circus. After meeting up with an old girl friend, he soon discovers he had a child he was never told about. Luke is a dead beat, doesn't have a real job, and doesn't know how to be a dad; not exactly the ideal role model. After doing some soul searching he meets up with a mechanic who gives him the idea to rob banks to help provide for his son. After a few jobs people start to take notice. At that point Cooper's character comes into play. He's a way over qualified cop that gets involved in Luke's case. After sustaining an injury on the job and being out for a while, he gets mixed up with some dirty cops and doesn't know what to do. Gosling and Cooper are at a crossroads in their lives, and the choice they make won't just impact them but all of those around them. This movie is special, there's a beauty about it that we don't see enough of in cinema. Unlike most movies, the star isn't the actors or the dialog but the movie its self is the star. Just the way it was shot, from the cameras to the cinematography, was fantastic. My favorite shot in the movie was one that was shown in the trailer. It's a shot of such beauty and simplicity it's perfect. It's just Goslings character riding down an empty road in the forest on his dirt bike with this piano melody playing with the camera above and behind him. No fancy tricks, no smoke and mirrors, just film. Every actor gives a good performance, Gosling and Cooper put on some of the best acting of their careers. Eva Mendes also plays a major role in the film and she's never been better. While I could go on praising the movie it did have a few flaws. The movie had some pacing problems, one scene will be fast and intense but the next one won't be as engaging. The biggest problem I had was with the third act, it was a lot slower than the rest of the film. It wasn't bad; it had its moments, but wasn't quite as good. Those problems aside this movie really is incredible and certainly the best film released this year. I was conflicted on what score to give this movie, it wasn't perfect but there really is something spectacular about it. I really hope this movie gets a major release, and if it does please go see The Place beyond the Pines. 

5/5 Stars

Evil Dead Review

Right off the bat I'm going to say this; I have seen hundreds of movies, possibly well over a thousand and countless horror movies. But never, and I mean never, have I seen so much blood in a movie as I've seen in Evil Dead. Evil Dead is a remake of the original classic 1981 film The Evil Dead, one of the most legendary cult B grade movies. The movie follows the tail of five friends. One of the girls is a drug addict so the rest of them decide to help her get clean. So they take her out to an old cabin and plan on staying there for a couple days. When they arrive at the cabin there's a horrible smell, they find a door to the basement and it's filled with dead cats hanging from the ceiling. There's also something they believe is a book wrapped in a garbage bag and barbed wire next to a shotgun. They have no idea what's going on so they decide to just ignore it and throw out the cats. One of the friends is intrigued by the situation, believing it is some sort of satanic ritual. He decides to remove the barbed wire and see what's inside. He has no idea what it is but says some sort of chant which releases something they can't explain. And whatever it is it infects the addict, and it's coming for her friends. I was hoping for a lot from this movie, I was hoping it would be the next horror classic. It's been years since we've had a truly great horror movie. So does Evil Dead fill the void...no. Like most horror movies, the acting isn't fantastic. And also like many horror movies, it can be pretty cheesy at times. I also didn't like how the movie relied on the blood and gore to carry the movie. And one thing that sure didn't help is that the movie starts off with a bang but then slows to a crawl. But even with its short comings and while this may not have been what I was really wanting, it is a genuinely good horror movie. While it relied on how gruesome it is, I was fairly impressed by it. I have sat through some of the most disgusting and grotesque movies ever made. I can sit through movies like Hostile, Human Centipede part 2, and Cabin Fever 2 without blinking an eye. But this movie made me cringe on multiple occasions, that's impressive. The movie isn't as good as the original, like many reboots, but it pays respect to the original and does a good job to honor it. Probably the best asset to the movie is that it went old school, no special effects. No CGI, no green screens, none of that. Just plain old props and it looked good. This isn't the horror movie we've been waiting for that we'll talk about five years down the line. But I will say this; it is definitely one of the better horror movies I've seen in a while.

3.5/5 Stars

10 Best Shows Currently on TV

Note: This list is comprised of my personal opinions, and remember that I don't watch everything.

Honorable Mentions: Dexter, The Newsroom, Happy Endings, Louie, It's Always Sonny in Philadelphia, The Legend of Korra

 10. Doctor Who

This is the longest running show on the list and one of the most beloved. This British show has such a devout following it's a couple inches away from being recognized as a gang. The story of the Doctor is one of sci-fi, fantasy love, heart break, and above all hope. While the show can be a little cheesy and I might not have fallen in love with the last season or two, this show is downright great. It has the most lovable and sincere characters out there right now. And I can't actually think of a show where I care so much about characters, and I think they're the reason the show is so successful. She show has been going for almost 8 years strong at this point, and I hope for many more. 

9. Mad men

I've only recently started watching this show, and while I'm not that far into it I have fallen in love with this show. The story follows a bunch of ad men, white collar workers who come up with advertisement for products. The show is a period piece taking place in the early 1960's, and I think that's one reason why I love it so much. The 50's and 60's are my golden age; they are the decade I find the most interesting. And since the show happens in real time it's pretty cool to see historic events play out. The show is so well written and so witty it has few rivals in this day and age. A show where money is power and money comes from lies, it's truly fascinating.

8. Community
Words cannot describe how happy I am that this show is still going. People don't realize how close this show came to being canceled  Some executive producers left, so did several head writers  actor Chevy Chase threw the mother of all sh*t fits and threatened to quit, and on top of that the show has never pulled great numbers. But with help from their dedicated fan base the show survived. The show is about a group of friends going through community college. While that doesn't sound like the most interesting plot in the world, the show is absolutely hilarious. It's one of the funniest shows on TV right now. If you're not watching the show go check it out, it's on NBC so go help the show get more viewers. 

7. Sherlock

This show has taken the entertainment world by storm. It has garnered praise from critics and audiences on top of pulling ridiculous numbers in both the US and the UK. Sherlock is about just what it sounds like, Sherlock Holmes. It is a new take on Sherlock Holmes taking place in modern day London. There has only been two seasons with three episodes each, which doesn't sound like much but since each episode is an hour and a half it's like each episode is a movie. The show is smart, witty, and superbly well written, with outstanding performances from the actors Benedict Cumberbatch (Sherlock) and Martin Freeman (Watson). And once Moriarty shows up sh*t gets real. I don't know when the third season will start but it can't come soon enough. 

6. The Walking Dead

At this point there are a couple people flipping their sh*t cause this isn't number one or two, remember this is my list so f*ck you. The Walking Dead is the best show ever to air to have anything to do with zombies, but it's not so much about the zombies but about the survivors getting through the apocalypse. The biggest problem with the show is inconsistency one episode will be great then the next will be sub-par. The third season just ended and while I liked parts the episode in a whole was underwhelming. But I can forgive the inconsistency because when an episode is good, it's really good. What's most impressive about the show are the fans, the show pulls record breaking numbers for cable TV. And seriously, is there anything more awesome than seeing a bunch of people fighting for their lives take out a hoard of zombies?

5. Archer
This is by far, the funniest show on television right now. When I saw the commercial for the shows first season I though it looked terrible, boy was I wrong. Archer is a parody of all the spy and James Bond movies. The story follows a spy named Sterling Archer who works for an agency called ISIS which is run by his mother. While Sterling may be one of the best spies out there, he's an absolute idiot. He's also the most cocky and selfish person in the history of mankind. Seeing him react with his crazy co-workers including his ex and his terrible mother is hysterical. The complaint I get most often about the show that turns people off is the animation style. I'll be honest, it took me some time to get used to it, but trust me once you start watching you won't want to stop.

4. Game of Thrones
Game of Thrones is the most complex and intricate show to premier on TV since Battlestar Galactica. No show has such an amazing series of characters entwined in a story like we've never seen on TV. Game of Thrones in a historical fantasy drama based of the book series "A Song of Ice and Fire" written be George R. R. Martin. It's about the rivalry between warring families after an incident that happens early in the story. The main families involved in the conflict are the Starks, Lannisters, and the Targaryens (who have dragons which automatically make them the coolest). I could spend a whole article just talking about this show, and I just might in a review of the third season. If you're not watching this show, you're really missing out.

3. Boardwalk Empire

The second straight show on HBO is the best they've had in years. Boardwalk Empire takes place during the early 1920's right when prohibition came into law. If you don't know, prohibition was an act put in place by the government which outlawed alcohol. The law lasted for several years and is quite possibly the dumbest thing in the history of mankind. What was supposed to stop crime increased it tenfold, and bootleggers became gods. The show follows an Atlantic City politician who starts shipping alcohol and becomes the king of the city. But problems with family, friends, other politicians, and especially the law, it's not the easiest criminal enterprise in the world to run. Recently a fourth season has been announced an I can't wait. 

2. Justified

The dark horse in this little competition is unquestionably Justified. The show follows Raylan Givens, a US federal marshal working in his home state of Kentucky near Harlan County (one of the most dangerous and crime ridden counties in the country). He's one of those shoot first and ask questions later type of guys. What is so great about the show is that it mastered what The Walking Dead hasn't, consistency. Every episode, every season has been great from start to finish. All the characters and the story lines are interesting and compelling. The show airs on FX and has become a raving success pulling good numbers for cable TV as well praise from critics. It's my favorite show on TV right now, so much so I have the first two seasons on Blu-Ray and will be getting the third when the price goes down.

1. Breaking Bad
At this point I think it's heresy to not say "Breaking Bad" isn't the best show on TV, the show really is perfect. The story follows a genius level high school chemistry teacher named Walter White. Walter is diagnosed with cancer one day and being a family man that's what he thinks of first. He needs to find a way to raise several hundred thousand dollars his family can live off of once he's gone. After seeing a drug bust on TV he decides to start cooking meth. He meets up with one of his old students Jesse, who has since become a drug dealer, and they start their own little business. But as you can imagine, it's not the easiest job in the world. Everything about the show is exactly how it should be, I can't think of one way to improve it. It's not just the best show on right now, but one of the greatest shows of all time.

5 More 2013 Movies I'm Excited For

5. Riddick

Riddick is the newest installment in the long standing Chronicles of Riddick franchise. If you've never seen any of them you're probably wondering, "are they any good?"... No. But they are cool over the top action sci-fi cheese, which I love. The story follows a fugitive serial killer named Riddick who has been hunted for years because of the giant bounty on his head. I've been waiting for years to see a sequel and I'm really hoping that this movie is good. I loved the previous movie, I'm obviously skeptical because they are making a sequel after several years for a series that isn't even very good. And I'm very interested to see how they will continue the series after the last movie. But it has Katee Sackhoff in it so I'm game.

4. 12 Years a Slave

12 Years a Slave is about the tremendous yet heartbreaking true story of Solomon Northup, free slave who was kidnapped and sold at the D.C. auction. He is then bought and is kept as a slave for 12 years. What interests me most about the movie is that it's being directed by Steve McQueen who directed award winning movies Hunger and Shame, both of which starred Michael Fassbender who will also play a major role in 12 Years a Slave. Oscar nominated Quevenzhane Wallis (Beasts in the Southern Wild) is also in the movie which will only be her second role. As depressing as they are, these are the type of movies that I love and that strike a nerve like few others can. I have high hopes for the movie and I believe it will live up to them.

3. The Great Gatsby
I'm not sure about this one, the trailer looks amazing but I hated the book when I read it junior year. The story is about a young man named Nick who moves to the big city who be-friends the rich and mysterious philanthropist Jay Gatsby. He learns Jay is seeking out his former love who knows Nick, so Nick helps facilitate their rekindled love. But the only thing standing in his way is her husband who will do anything to expose what Gatsby. If you never read the book I'll tell you this, it's an awkward book to read. It's the characters that make it awkward everyone hates each other yet acts as friends and just lie to each other and talk about them behind their back. But the movie looks promising so I'll give it a chance.

2. Monster University

It's hard not to get excited for a Pixar movie (unless it was Cars 2, which we all know would kind of suck). Monsters U. is the prequel to Monsters, Inc. released back in 2001; the movie was met with critical praise, financial success, and the Oscar for best animated motion picture. While I'm looking forward to Monster U., it's not the movie I wanted to see Pixar make. To be honest I'm still waiting for a sequel to the Incredibles, of all the sequels they could do that's the one that makes the most since. But I'll accept this movie with open arms. I loved Monsters Inc., It may not be Pixar’s finest work but it is still a Fantastic movie and one of the best animated pictures of the twenty first century. And I'm sure Monsters U. will be a worthy successor. 

1. Only God Forgives
I'm going to tell you the truth; I wasn't excited for this movie until today after I saw the just released trailer. Only God Forgives is a new crime thriller starring Ryan Gosling, who plays an owner of a Thai boxing club in Thailand which is a front for his families drug trade; other than that not much is known. What's most intriguing me most is that it is directed by Nicolas Winding Refn who directed Drive (one of the best movies of 2011) also staring Gosling. Watching the trailer reminded me so much Drive it brought a smile to my face. What Refn brings to the table is something special, his movies are all style. Something like that rarely works but he gets the job done. All I know is this movie looks great.