Showing posts with label 2014 releases. Show all posts
Showing posts with label 2014 releases. Show all posts

Friday, January 23, 2015

"American Sniper" - Movie Review


Trailer: American Sniper - Warner Bros.



Nerve-Wracking Portrait of Combat and Its Effects on Our Soldiers

There has been controversy over this film. The problem with those against it is that they don't understand what this film is about. It's about following one soldier and his experience in combat and what happens to him. People are beside themselves over the "politics" of the film. Well, I don't see any politics. Maybe that's enraging to some just because the politics of The Iraq War are never discussed.

I personally was against our going into Iraq. I remember watching "We Were Soldiers" with Mel Gibson just before the war started. This was another movie that was about the soldiers. The war in question there was The Vietnam War. Yet, that film didn't have any politics in it either. It was about the soldiers who fought. They signed up to serve their country. They didn't sign up for serving their country if they agreed with the war. They fought regardless. That is what soldiers do. If you have any questions about our nation deciding to wage a war, the only people you need to address is our elected representatives. They make the decision. Then, the soldiers fight. The soldiers have no say in the decision to fight that war. Once the soldiers are in the war, their lives are about doing what they've been ordered to do. And, it's about watching over each other. That's it, and that's the way it is.

This movie is about Chris Kyle, and what happens to him and to those around him. That is the structure of the movie. So, if people have a problem with that, that is up to them. I don't. I understand what Clint Eastwood intended to do with this film, and I think he, his cast and crew did a tremendous job.

The depiction of combat is nerve wracking. But, it is the effects on Kyle and his men that cut to the core. It should remind everyone what our men and women in the military do for their country.

****1/2 (4 1/2 Out of 5 Stars)

millerfilm is ON! Twitter and Google+

Thursday, January 15, 2015

"Birdman," "Great Budapsest Hotel" Lead Oscar Nominations!



Article: ‘Birdman,’ ‘Grand Budapest Hotel’ Top Oscar Nominees - Variety

Oscar Nominations are OUT!:

* Best Picture:
“American Sniper,” “Birdman,” “Boyhood,” “The Grand Budapest Hotel,” “The Imitation Game,” “Selma,” “The Theory of Everything” and “Selma.”

* Best Actor:
Steve Carell, Bradley Cooper, Benedict Cumberbatch, Michael Keaton and Eddie Redmayne.

* Best Actress:
Marion Cotillard, Felicity Jones, Julianne Moore, Rosamund Pike and Reese Witherspoon.

* Best Director:
Alejandro G. Iñárritu for “Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance),” Richard Linklater for “Boyhood,” Bennett Miller for “Foxcatcher,” Wes Anderson for “The Grand Budapest Hotel,” Morten Tyldum for “The Imitation Game.”

millerfilm is ON! Twitter and Google+

Oscar Nominations Are Out!



Article: ‘Birdman,’ ‘Grand Budapest Hotel’ Top Oscar Nominees - Variety

Alfonso Cuarón and J.J. Abrams led off the Oscar Nominations just now! They announced Animated Feature Film, Documentary Feature, Documentary Short Subject, Film Editing, Original Song, Production Design, Animated Short Film, Live Action Short Film, Sound Editing, Sound Mixing and Visual Effects in a live webcast that started at 8:30 a.m. EST.

Chris Pine, Academy President Cheryl Boone Isaacs announced the second set of nominations, which included Best Actor, Best Actress, Best Supporting Actor, Best Supporting Actress, Cinematography, Costume Design, Directing, Foreign Language Film, Makeup and Hairstyling, Original Score, Adapted Screenplay, Original Screenplay and Best Picture.

millerfilm is ON! Twitter and Google+

Friday, January 9, 2015

"Wild" Film Review


Trailer: Wild - Fox Searchlight



One Woman's Transformative Journey

An excellent film that shows the transformative journey of a woman working to find herself through an extensive hike through the challenging Pacific Crest Trail.

An excellent performance by Reese Witherspoon anchors a great movie about love, loss, and dealing with life and then moving on with one's life.

Directed by "Dallas Buyer's Club" helmer Jean-Marc Vallée, this movie beautifully balances the real-life story of Cheryl Strayed as she goes on her trek across the Pacific Crest Trail with flashbacks to what led her to take the trip.

Screenwriter Nick Hornby crafts an excellent blueprint for Vallée to follow. Well made and inspiring. It's great to know a movie like this can still be made!

****1/2 (4 1/2 Out of 5 Stars)

millerfilm is ON! Twitter and Google+

Wednesday, January 7, 2015

13 Most Disappointing Movies of 2014


Article: The 13 Most Disappointing Movies of 2014 - Variety

2014 saw the rise of the Kickstarter movie, where stars went to the popular fundraising site to have fans pitch in to fund their films. But, with that came disappointments, which are included in Variety's end-of-year list.

millerfilm is ON! Twitter and Google+

Monday, January 5, 2015

Overlooked Films of 2014


Article: The 17 Most Underrated Movies of 2014 - Variety

Every movie year seems to run from crazy to chaotic! And, so it was with 2014. But, with so many movies making the spotlight, there were many deserving attention that didn't get it. Variety has a compelling list of movies that were overlooked and would make for good viewing!

millerfilm is ON! Twitter and Google+

Monday, November 17, 2014

All-You-Can-"Interstellar" Tickets Available!


Event: ‘Interstellar’ Unlimited Ticket Offered at AMC - Variety

If your heart skips a beat every time you hear Christopher Nolan or "Interstellar" mentioned, movie theater chain AMC has a deal for you!

You can now get a single ticket that will let you see "Interstellar" as many times as you want. How 'bout that? So, if the first, second, third, etc. times weren't enough, now you can keep going back to latch onto every subtle (and not-so-subtle!) nuance.

What do you think? Feel free to leave a comment!

millerfilm is ON! Twitter and Google+

Monday, November 10, 2014

The Hunger Games: Mockingjay - Part 1 First Review!


Review: Film Review: ‘The Hunger Games: Mockingjay — Part 1′ - Variety


Variety has the first review of "The Hunger Games: Mockingjay - Part 1." The movie takes Suzanne Collins's last novel of the series and splits it in two, like was done at the end of "Harry Potter" and "Twilight." Here, it sounds like the director and screenwriters work hard to avoid the anti-climatic nature of splitting the last story in two.

millerfilm is ON! Twitter and Google+

Wednesday, October 1, 2014

Exodus - Full Trailer Just Released!


Movie Page: Exodus - Gods and Kings - 20th Century-Fox


20th Century-Fox is having a busy week! First, the new trailer for "Taken 3." Now, the first full trailer for this holiday season's "Exodus: Gods and Kings," Ridley Scott's take on Moses starring Christian Bale.

millerfilm is ON! Twitter and Google+

Friday, December 20, 2013

"The Expendables 3" - First Teaser!


Teaser: "The Expendables 3" - Lionsgate



Film's all-time most underachieving action franchise, "The Expendables," has come out with their first teaser for installment 3. And, this is a true teaser, in that nothing at all from the film is shown. It's just the cast walking away from the camera and turning around.

That's it! Nothing more. Wow, I am, like, so excited now! (yes, that's a joke!)

millerfilm is ON! Twitter and Facebook

Friday, November 1, 2013

"The Lego Movie" - First Trailer


Trailer: "The Lego Movie"  - Warner Bros.


Lego's come alive in the first full trailer for "The Lego Movie!" And, you can tell that the filmmakers are having a whole lotta fun with Batman!

"The Lego Movie" premieres February 7, 2014.

millerfilm is ON! Twitter and Facebook