The Martian Review

     Ridley Scott is often cited as one of the most celebrated directors of all time, being the mastermind behind classics like "Blade Runner," "Alien," and "Gladiator." But for the past few years Scott has not been at his best. The once praised director has since brought us some of the most critically panned movies in years such as "Exodus: Gods and Kings" and "The Counselor." Since "American Gangster" Scott has been looking for a way back on top, which brings us to "The Martian." Based off the acclaimed 2011 novel of the same name, it had to be one of the most talked about books in years. Sporting a rather unique premise and an all-star cast, it quickly became one of 2015's most anticipated movies after the trailers release. But while most everyone was excited, I still had my reservations. Ridley Scott isn't the director he once was, and after his last couple movies I pretty much wrote the guy off. But going into "The Martian" I gave him one last chance, and I'm glad I did.

     Mark Watney is a botanist and astronaut on a mission to mars with a team of five others. His job is to take soil samples to see if food could be grown on mars. One day while taking some samples, the team is alerted that a massive sandstorm is heading straight towards their base. Knowing that the storm is strong enough to topple their return shuttle that is fastened to the ground, the team captain decides to evacuate the red planet before their mission is up. While heading towards their shuttle, Mark is hit by a piece of debris. He goes flying and the sensors in his suit malfunction; barely able to see in the storm, the team has no option but to escape. The following day Mark wakes up on the mars surface, seriously injured and low on oxygen. He manages to make it back to the base and close his wounds. He quickly realizes that he is in some serious trouble. He doesn't have a lot of food and water and he's on a planet where if he steps out of his base without a space suit on he will die. On top of all that, the fastest that earth could get a shuttle to him would be in a few years. Scared and exhausted, he has reason to just give up; but he refuses to die on the red planet. So the question arises, how does he make a few months supply last for a few years until he can be rescued.

     "The Martian" was one of those movies that I had high hopes for, but went into with low expectations because of Ridley Scott. His last few movies were so underwhelming that it was hard to give him the benefit of the doubt; but with "The Martian," he is back. Basically, this is one of the year’s best movies. And it is Scott's best movie in over a decade. The way he directed this movie was brilliant, the amount of suspense is nail biting at times. Alongside "Sicario," this is one of the most intense and suspenseful movies I've seen in a long time; and certainly the best survival movie in the past few years. One of the stand out aspects of the movie would be the acting. Everyone does a great job, it's easily one of the best ensemble casts of the year; and there could be a few Oscar nominations for acting. What helps is that pretty much all of these characters are incredibly likable, and you are rooting for them to succeed. And every time they fail your heart sinks a little bit. The dialog between the characters is also top notch. This is one of the best written movies of the year, and a serious contender for best adapted screenplay. Speaking of the writing I really have to commend the humor. When you think about a man fighting for his life, you don't find much humor in the situation. But "The Martian" is filled with comedy that works very well, and had the entire theater laughing. When you have a movie on a foreign planet, you really have to nail the look of it all; and this movie does that perfectly. The visuals are gorgeous and the production design is top notch, you really feel like you are on mars yourself. The great special effects also help; both the practical effects and the computer generated ones. But while being on mars is riveting; being on earth though, not so much. The scenes that take place on earth are less interesting than what you see Matt Damon's character goes through on mars. While there by no means boring, you just can't wait to get back to the red planet. "The Martian" exceeded my expectations in almost every way. A movie filled with enough math and science to make any geek go nuts ended up being one of the year's most gripping movies. While they could have cut about 20 minutes or so, I found myself so connected to the screen and all the characters on it. "The Martian" is one of the must see movies of 2015, and a return to form for Ridley Scott. 

Pros: Great special effects, impressive visuals and production design, very suspenseful, humor works well, likable characters, great writing and dialog between characters, fantastic performances from Matt Damon and the rest of the cast, Ridley Scott's best movie in a decade, best survival movie in years, a nerd's wet dream.

Cons: Earth scenes aren't as interesting, 20 minutes too long.

4.5/5 Stars

Sicario Review

     For decades the US government has waged a losing war on drugs, with most of the drugs making their way into the US by going through our border with Mexico. Obviously drug smuggling is illegal, but if there is a demand there will always be a supply. Cartels have popped up all over Mexico, and made it their business to supply. And with such big business, these cartels will defend their turf. Since 2006, over 100 thousand civilians, police officers, soldiers, federales, and cartel members have been killed. And there doesn't seem to be any signs of the violence slowing down. Some say the solution would be to legalize more drugs in the US, some say we need tighter border security and take military action against the cartels; but that's an argument above my pay grade. All I know is this war still has years left. One thing I've noticed is that this subject hasn't been touched very much by the film industry. While it's often a plot point crime shows, I can't think of a lot of Mexican drug war movies. So when I heard that a new movie involving this subject matter called "Sicario" was in the works, and was being directed by one of the best in the game Denis Villeneuve, I was immediately interested; especially after hearing reviews during its run at this year's Cannes film festival. 

     Kate Macer is an FBI agent working kidnappings in the southern United States. One day on a routine operation looking for some kidnapped victims, her and her team come upon a particularly grizzly scene. Shortly after she is approached by a DOD contractor named Matt Graver, who asks if she would like to be part of his team; whose job it is to take down high ranking cartel members. While unsure she ultimately agrees. The team's first mission involves heading south of the border, where they pick up a cartel member from a prison and bring him back to the states. They come into some trouble along the way, and deal with the situation using questionable methods. Macer soon realizes that Graver might not be who he says he is. Wrapped up in a bad situation, Macer searches for the truth while trying her best not to be killed in the crossfire. 

     At the start of every year I basically start the countdown until Oscar season which usually starts in late September, in my opinion "Sicario" is the first movie of Oscar season. From the pulse pounding opening scene to the heartfelt finale, this is simply one of the best movies of the year; and most the credit has to go to the director Denis Villeneuve. With 2013's "Prisoners" and last year's "Enemy," he has really established himself as one of the best directors currently working; and I would say "Sicario" is his crown jewel. He directed this movie with a gritty realism that gets under your skin. And the way he did the action scenes felt believable, and kept you on the edge of your seat. And the way he told the story was top notch. On paper it seems like a cut and dry drug-revenge film, but there are twists and turns at every stop. The story always keeps you guessing, you're never really sure what the characters are planning or what they'll do next. Almost every scene is intense and suspenseful, which brings me to the biggest and most blatant problem. There are a few scenes that are rather uninteresting. One particular scene when the main character goes to the bar, as well as a side story involving a Mexican cop, pale in comparison to the rest of the movie. While they have important story elements, you're just waiting until the suspense picks back up. A lot of credit for how this movie came together would also have to go to the cinematographer Roger Deakins. Known for his work on "No Country for Old Men" and "Skyfall," he really made sure every shot in this movie was perfect. I wouldn't be surprised if he won the Oscar for best cinematography. The movie also features a very fitting soundtrack, which complements every shot and scene and adds to the intensity. What most movie goers will remember from this movie would have to be the acting. Every single actor gives a great performance, with stars Emily Blunt and Josh Brolin both give some of the best performances of the career; but the real stand out would have to be Benicio del Toro. This movie features his best performance in years, and will for sure get him an Oscar nomination and maybe even a win for best supporting actor. I had high hopes for this movie from the first time I heard the premise. I wanted to believe with this director and this cast that "Sicario" would be one of 2015's best, and it is. It's one of the most intense movies I've seen in years, and it is a must watch for anyone planning on heading out to the theater anytime soon. 

Pros: Great performance from the entire cast, Oscar worthy performance from del Toro, Oscar worthy cinematography, several impressive action scenes, fantastic directing, fitting soundtrack, gritty realism, incredibly intense and suspenseful, keeps you guessing until the very end.

Cons: A few uninteresting scenes. 

4.5/5 Stars

Mr. Robot Season One Review

     Networks and entertainment providers are really defined by their original content, and some providers are more revered than others. Channels like HBO, AMC, and FX have produced some of the greatest shows to ever air on television; and online providers like Netflix and Amazon Instant Video have released several widely popular and critically acclaimed shows over the past few years. Some channels on the other hand have produced content that hasn't been as beloved. USA, also known as that channel that plays "Law & Order: SVU" re-runs, has had a lot of original shows over the past half a decade or so; most of which aren't very good, and a few being down right bad. The only show of theirs released in that time frame that I would actually call good would be "Suits." If you judge a channel off its past shows, USA would not be one worth remembering; fortunately for them, their luck might be changing. A few months ago I saw the first trailer for "Mr. Robot," at the time I didn't pay it much attention. It just looked like USA was making a show in order to cash in on all the news of hackers and whistle blowers we've seen lately. But when the show premiered I was surprised by what people were saying it was nothing but good. So I decided to give it a try and watched the first two episodes back to back. And what I got wasn't just the best show USA has ever made, but one of the all around best new shows of the year.

     "Mr. Robot" revolves around the Eliot Alderson, a computer genius working as a security engineer at a cyber security company. Eliot suffers from severe social anxiety disorder and clinical depression and is heavily influenced by his paranoia and delusions, and has to do morphine regularly just to get through the day. Having very few friends, the only way he knows how to connect to people is by hacking them. Despite his personal troubles, Eliot has a strong moral compass believing that the wealthiest 1% of the wealthiest 1% to be ruining the lives of average people; causing him to become a cyber-vigilante. One day he is approached by a man known only as Mr. Robot, a cyber-terrorist and member of a group called fsociety. Knowing that Eliot works for the security company of multi conglomeration nicknamed Evil Corp, he asks Eliot to infiltrate the company and erase all the debt the company has over millions of Americans. The idea behind the group is to bring about a new world order where the 1% doesn't control everything. While Eliot is apprehensive about joining the group, he believes what fsociety is doing would benefit society as a whole; the only problem is that if the group gets caught, he and them would spend the rest of their natural born lives in prison.

     TV watchers have been treated to a lot of great new shows this year, "Daredevil," "Better Call Saul," and "The Jinx: The Life and Deaths of Robert Durst" have all made a splash in 2015; and "Mr. Robot" ranks right alongside them. If I were to describe this show in the simplest way possible, "Mr. Robot" is the TV equivalent of "Fight Club." On more than a few occasions the show actually directly references the movie. It even uses some of the same themes regarding society, capitalism, and a person's self worth. But the show doesn't only reference "Fight Club," it takes inspirations from a variety movies. "Mr. Robot" does a great job in paying homage to those that inspired it. The one thing that a show needs above all else is a good plot, and fortunately this show certainly has that. From the first episode to the finale, the story grabs your attention. Filled with a wide array of memorable and interesting characters (with each one performed perfectly by their actors), the story alone is enough to keep you interested. The show is also very well written; having a dark sense of humor along with many serious and dire elements, the writing is always on point and says a lot about modern society. It also pays justice to what hacking is really like. So often in shows and movies hacking is romanticized and features animations of laughing skulls. But "Mr. Robot" features some of the most realistic hacking I've ever seen. One thing that surprised me about a show revolving around computers is how exciting it is, the show is never boring. "Mr. Robot" really was a pleasant surprise; I expected very little from this series and it turned out to be one of my favorite of the year, and I am very glad that USA has already renewed the show for a second season. Hopefully in season two they can fix the biggest problem with season one, closure. There were several questions that were left unanswered in the season finale, I'm sure they did that on purpose to help season two but I would have liked some answers. All I know is that this show is great and has a promising future. And if it keeps up this level of quality, it will certainly be one of the best shows on TV.

Mission: Impossible- Rogue Nation Review

     If you have ever talked to me about action movies, you'll know I've been rather critical of American Action movies in recent years. While there have been some excellent American action movies such as "John Wick," "Edge of Tomorrow," and "Captain America: The Winter Soldier," international action movies such as "Mad Max: Fury Road," "Skyfall," and "The Raid" franchise have vastly overshadowed any action movies to come out of the United States. But of  all the American action movies to come out so far this decade, the best and most impressive has to be "Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol." Not only did it revitalize a series that many had given up on, it also breathed life back into Tom Cruise's career. "Ghost Protocol" was one of those movies that was much better than everyone thought it would be. Smart writing, solid performances, great special effects, and some of the most impressive action sequences we've seen in a movie in recent years; it was easily one of the stand out movies of 2011. Now after nearly four years fans finally get the sequel they've been asking for.

     Over the years, a covert spy agency known as the IMF has worked for the US government to keep the world safe; and the star of that agency would be Ethan Hunt, who has saved the world time and time again. But something has been under Ethan's skin, something he couldn't quite understand. Over the past several months Ethan has been investigating a series of attacks and incidents all over the world, believing them to be linked and perpetrated by a secret terrorist organization known as the Syndicate. While in London Ethan is captured by some Syndicate members, and only narrowly escapes with his life with the help from a woman he has never met before. When Ethan calls for backup he is met with disheartening news, the IMF has been shut down by the government in a case against them helmed by the head on the CIA. With no money, gear, or backup, Ethan has to set out to discover who is behind the Syndicate and how to stop them; all while being wanted by the US government.

     Going into 2015, this was one of the movies I was most excited for; I am such a big fan of the previous film "Ghost Protocol," there wasn't a doubt in my mind that this movie would continue the franchise’s legacy of kick-ass action movies. And from start to finish that was exactly what "Rogue Nation" was. In a year where we've already had some great action movies like "Mad Max: Fury Road," "Kingsman: The Secret Service," and "Avengers: Age of Ultron," this movie manages to stand out. "Rogue Nation" has some of the best action sequences and most impressive stunts I have ever seen in a movie. And I have to say, hats off to Tom Cruz for still doing his own stunts at the age of 53. Seriously, this guy is a freak of nature; he's doing things actors half his age wish they could do. And as always, his acting is one point. He may be a bit of a nut, but he is a good actor and one of the definitive Hollywood action stars. He's not alone in his talents though, the entire cast of this movie does a great job. The movie also features several great new characters to the series. Alec Baldwin and Rebecca Ferguson do an excellent job in their roles, and their new characters bring a lot to the movie. One of the biggest problems with the previous movie was the villain; he was rather unimpressive and completely forgettable. "Rogue Nation" on the other had has a much more compelling and menacing villain. The interactions between the characters are also great, with every character having some smart and clever dialog. The movie also does a great job with its attempt with humor, which is always on point. What really helps make these characters interesting has to be the well written screenplay. The plot is compelling and always entertaining. I was on the edge of my seat for the entire movie. As far as an action-spy thriller goes, this movie is about as good as they get; that being it said, it’s not perfect. I felt that the movie was about twenty minutes too long, by the end of the movie you're really feeling the over two hour run time. But the biggest problem that the movie faces is that it has a lot to live up to. This series is so iconic and loved by so many, as good as "Rogue Nation" was it didn't bring anything new to the franchise. "Ghost Protocol" felt fresh, it revitalized a series that had lost a lot of steam. It was shiny and new, and set the standard for the modern American action movie. "Rogue Nation" doesn't feel as distinct as its predecessor. So while I don't believe "Rogue Nation" is quite as good "Ghost Protocol," it is still phenomenal. It is an action thrill ride like we rarely see. All credit for how good this movie is has to go to director Christopher McQuarrie, he had some big shoes to fill following the previous director Brad Bird; and he managed to do it, making one of the year’s best. If you're looking to go to the movie theater anytime soon, this is a film that is worth your time and money.

Pros: Amazing action sequences, impressive stunts, excellent acting from the whole cast, great new characters, comedy always on point, great direction from Christopher McQuarrie, well written screenplay, always entertaining, always on the edge of your seat, good dialog between characters, improved villain from predecessor.

Cons: 20 minutes too long, doesn't bring anything new to the series.

4.5/5 Stars

Best Movies of the Half Year and Awards 2015

Honorable Mentions: Shaun the Sheep, Kurt Cobain: Montage of Heck, Going Clear, Kingsman: The Secret Service, Avengers: Age of Ultron, Jurassic World.
Note: This list consists of the best movies I've seen so far this year, so any movie I have missed could not be included. Remember, this is my personal opinion.

Runner-Up: Slow West
The western genre is one that has been sorely misrepresented over the past few years. While there have been some great western’s recently such as the "True Grit" remake and "Django Unchained," but great western’s are few and far between; that's what makes "Slow West" so refreshing. The story revolves around a young man from Scotland named Jay who has traveled to America to find his beloved and her father, along the way he meets a bounty hunter named Silas who agrees to act as a guide and protect him; little does the Jay know his beloved and her father have a bounty on them, and Silas is just using Jay to find them. "Slow West" first made waves at this year's Sundance Film Festival, with many calling it one of the best westerns in years. While the movie may slow to a crawl at times, the strong acting, smart screenplay and gorgeous cinematography makes "Slow West" worth the watch.

5. Dope
One of the best ways to learn of upcoming independent gems is to pay attention to the recent film festivals. You'll often hear from critics and audiences in attendance what upcoming movies are worth your attention. From this year’s Sundance one movie that everyone was talking about was "Dope." A coming of age comedy-drama, the story follows a high school student from the hood named Malcolm. Incredibly smart with near perfect grades, Malcolm hopes on attending Harvard when done with high school; but his plans have to adapt after he gets involved with a drug dealer, and has to sell a few pounds molly or he and his friends will be killed. "Dope" will certainly be one of the stand-out independent films of the year. Filled with strong performances from the young cast and some very funny dialog, "Dope" is an interesting look at how far someone will go to defy the status quo and better themselves.

4. Me and Earl and the Dying Girl
As I said when talking about "Dope," the best place to find out about the upcoming independent films are at film festivals; and at this year's Sundance film festival the definite standout had to be "Me and Earl and the Dying Girl." Based off the hit book of the same name, the movie follows the story of a high school senior named Greg and his best friend Earl who become close with a fellow classmate named Ashley that was recently diagnosed with cancer; while reluctant at first, Greg accepts the situation and becomes a huge part of Ashley's life and vice versa. What this movie does best is that it finds a perfect combination of funny dialog and heart wrenching moments. I did not read the book this movie was based off of, so I'm not sure how it holds up; all I know is that this movie is great. It has been a long time since I've come so close to crying in a movie. With such likable characters you can't help but hope for the best, so when things don't go their way it gets pretty emotional. For the entire run time I loved this movie, it is quirky, unique, and an all around great film; and one that everyone would enjoy.

3. Inside Out
When you think of great animation studios you think of Disney Animation, Dreamworks Animation, and Studio Ghibli; but above all others you think of Pixar. Since 1995 they have been the have been the most successful and acclaimed animation studio in the world. But over the past few years they have been in a slump, with their last few movies being rather lackluster. That put a lot of pressure on their new movie "Inside Out," a unique film regarding how our emotions control our actions and memories make up our personalities. Fortunately though, "Inside out" isn't just their best movie of the past few years, it is simply one of the best movies in their already impressive filmography. Brilliant writing, perfect casting with great voice acting, and complex themes with abstract thoughts; this is a great movie for audiences of all ages, and one of my personal favorites of the year thus far.

2. Ex Machina
For the past few years I have found that is the small movies that come out of nowhere that impresses you the most, and "Ex Machina" is one of those movies. The story revolves around a young computer programmer who is brought into a secret project by a computer genius; he wants the young programmer to perform a Turing Test on what he believes to be the first true artificial intelligence. This movie flew under a lot of peoples' radars, it wasn't until it received a limited release that it started to garner very well deserved critical acclaim. Noted for its strong performances, well written screenplay, and beautiful cinematography, "Ex Machina" is poised to be listed among the best movies of the year. Hopefully it will receive the recognition it deserves when this year's award season rolls around.

1. Mad Max: Fury Road
In 1979, the Australian film "Mad Max" from director George Miller came out and took the work by storm. A unique revenge film taking place in a possible post-apocalyptic world made for a great ride. And the film's sequel, "The Road Warrior," managed to top the original and go down in history as one of the all time greatest action movies. So when I heard that another film in the series was set to come out this year I was hopeful, but nervous. But upon its release, movie goers were greeted with a truly marvelous cinematic feast. As far as action movies go, "Fury Road" is near perfect. Filled with astonishing action sequences, great practical effects, unique characters, and truly phenomenal directing from the series creator George Miller might have made "Fury Road" one of the break out hits of the year. At the end of the day all I can say is that this is one of the most insane, over-the-top, and thoroughly enjoyable movies I have ever seen.

Best Actor in a Leading Role: Tom Hardy (Mad Max: Fury Road)
Best Actor in a Supporting Role: Oscar Isaac (Ex Machina)
Best Actress in a Leading Role: Charlize Theron (Mad Max: Fury Road), Alicia Vikander (Ex Machina)
Best Actress in a Supporting Role: Olivia Cooke (Me and Earl and the Dying Girl)
Best Animated Feature: Inside Out
Best Cinematography: Mad Max: Fury Road
Best Costume Design: Mad Max: Fury Road
Best Director: George Miller (Mad Max: Fury Road)
Best Documentary Feature: Going Clear
Best Film Editing: Mad Max: Fury Road
Best Makeup and Hairstyling: Mad Max: Fury Road
Best Original Score: Ex Machina
Best Original Song: Bundle of Joy (Inside Out)
Best Picture: Mad Max: Fury Road
Best Production Design: Mad Max: Fury Road
Best Short Film: Kung Fury
Best Sound Editing: Mad Max: Fury Road
Best Sound Mixing: Mad Max: Fury Road
Best Visual Effects: Mad Max: Fury Road
Best Adapted Screenplay: Me and Earl and the Dying Girl
Best Original Screenplay: Ex Machina