Alright friends, this is my favorite year. This is when I get to go back and review the year of films that was and decide what my ten favorite movies were and the ten worst movies of the year. This one, the ten worst, I generally love more because I get to re-scream about movies that made me depressed because they were so bad, made me want to vomit from being so disgusting and so forth. So without any further ado, here is my list of the worst cinematic garbage that was created this year.
10. Man of Steel
I know a TON of people loved this film, and I was not one of them. I didn't like this film the first time I saw it. It was depressing and sad and an insult to everything Superman stands for. The more I think about this film and talk about it with people, the more I absolutely hate this film. And to think that Warner Bros and Legendary Pictures green lit a sequel that will be Batman vs Superman? Please. They cast Ben Affleck as Batman (not the best choice) but won't let him direct, which means the sequel will probably be even worse than this one.
9. A Good Day to Die Hard
I love Die Hard. I love Die Hard 2. I love Die Hard: With A Vengeance. I even enjoy Live Free or Die Hard (mostly because of great comedic work from Justin Long and surprisingly menacing work from Timothy Olyphant) but I had no need for this dopey, horrible fifth sequel to one of the best action franchises in history. It was tedious, long, boring, generally unfunny when trying to be, and just plain bad.
8. Hangover Part III
Like A Good Day to Die Hard, I love the original movie in this franchise. The Hangover is one of my all time favorite comedy films, but this movie was just terrible. It had a few decent laughs, most of which they got into the trailer anyways so I already knew the jokes. This was over the top disgusting (even for one of these films) and to top it off, this movie has nothing to do with crap hitting the fan because of the guys having a massive hangover. So what's the point?
7. Getaway
Ethan Hawke had a good year for movies with Before Midnight and The Purge (a surprisingly good film), but this is one I think he wants to forget. This was the absolute worst reviewed movie of the year with a 2% approval rating from critics on Rotten Tomatoes and rightfully so. Ethan Hawke was just phoning in this performance in between jobs he legitimately wanted and to top it off, I was supposed to believe Selena Gomez as a car jacker? This was just bad film making at its finest. The intense action, though badly edited, was enough to keep this from being closer to number 1 on this list.
6. Mortal Instruments: City of Bones
This year saw some great teenage books adapted into film. We had Beautiful Creatures, which surprisingly wasn't too bad, and The Hunger Games: Catching Fire which was a phenomenal film, but this was just bad. It was dopey acting from actors who honestly aren't very good in Lily Collins and Jamie Campbell Bower, and to top it off the veterans like Jared Harris and Jonathan Rhys Meyers were even terrible as well. When one of your TV spots is interviewing fans of the book about their excitement to see the movie, rather than clips of the movie, you know your movie is bad. Good news is though, we won't be getting a sequel anytime soon from how badly this panned at the box office.
5. The Incredible Burt Wonderstone
I'm hoping all of you have forgotten this would-be comedy from earlier this year. In a year where Now You See Me did really well, this was another magician movie, but this time gone horribly wrong. Steve Carell was decidedly unfunny in this and Jim Carrey wasn't much better. This movie had no laughs, and I didn't even smile while watching it.
4. R.I.P.D.
This is another film I wish I could just forget. I was actually lucky enough to not have to pay anything to see this movie, but I saw it later on after it was released on DVD. This is a terrible film with horrible performances from great actors. It hurts to see Jeff Bridges and Ryan Reynolds wasted on such a bad script. To top it off, they don't even try to make it enjoyable. It just comes off as plain boring, sloppy garbage.
3. The Host
An adaptation of a Stephanie Meyers novel is the worst words for my ear to ever hear and this was no different. Another teenage adaptation gone horribly wrong from the author of the Twilight series (I refuse to call it a saga which has a positive connotation). This is a bad story about aliens taking over human bodies and it just makes for a plain boring movie. When three of your six "If you like this..." movies on iMDb are two twilight films and a Nicholas Cage movie, your movie probably should have never been made.
2. The Lone Ranger
This is Gore Verbinski and Jerry Bruckheimer's heads getting way too big. Johnny Depp is the top billed star and he isn't even the title character. Him and Armie Hammer have no chemistry, and Johnny Depp's performance would kill the career of a lesser actor. This movie had a two and a half hour run time and the most entertaining part was the previews for other films. I can't believe that Disney is still letting this team create a fifth Pirates movie after seeing this trash.
1. Grown Ups 2
Here we go, the worst of the worst. Any year Adam Sandler puts out a film now, every other film is competing for the second worst film of the year. My hatred for all things Adam Sandler after he came out with the following movies in succession: Grown Ups, Just Go With It, Jack and Jill, That's My Boy, and Grown Ups 2 knows no bounds. He is unfunny and this movie was disgusting with jokes about urination, defecation and injuries to male genitalia. The sad part is that Sandler owns his own studio to make his movies, so we are continually subjected to this stuff. He has another movie slated for release next year and two more filming. Congratulations America. This is bed you've made and I have to lie in it.
Well I'm glad reliving that is over. None of those movies are ones I would ever choose to sit through again. Let me know if you had a movie that had you rolling and moaning at how bad it was that didn't make my list. Or maybe you loved one of the movies on this list. I know many of you loved Man of Steel. Here's your chance to convince me why. Leave a comment below.
Friday, December 20, 2013
Thursday, December 19, 2013
10 Movies Every Guy Should See
Hey guys (and girls), I decided to do another (sort of) Top 10 movie list since I haven't been to the movies in a while. Here is my list of 10 movies every guy needs to see, in no particular order. My Ten have been chosen from the list of the 100 movies on The Art of Manliness blog. The full list can be found at: www.artofmanliness.com/2009/07/13/100-must-see-movies/ , but here is my Top 10 choices.
1. Gladiator
This Ridley Scott classic (Can a movie be considered a classic only 13 years after its initial release?) is a staple for any man's movie library. A fantastic film that won Oscars for Best Picture and Best Actor (Russell Crowe), this movie stands out above the crowd for its moving performances and flawless direction. This was the best career performance of both Russell Crowe and Joaquin Phoenix.
2. Casablanca
This is the quintessential romance movie of all time. Boasting 4 lines on the AFI's 100 greatest movie lines list, this is a tragic romance movie for the ages. Humphrey Bogart is magnificent in this film and richly deserved the Oscar nomination he got for it. This movie, like Gladiator, also won Best Picture. If you want to learn how to be a real gentleman, watch this film. It doesn't get any better than toasting the woman you love with the line, "Here's looking at you, kid."
3. Top Gun
Seriously. I don't think I can say enough about this movie. This is one of my personal favorites ever since I was a kid. Every boy and man dreams of being Maverick. He is just the epitome of man. And who wouldn't want a best friend like Goose? This is a great film about friendship and love and overcoming adversity, but if you want to just watch a bunch of stuff blow up, this is great either way.
4. Rocky
This is, in my opinion, the best sports movie of all time, and the most inspirational movie of all time. Sylvester Stallone is fantastic and was nominated for Oscars for writing and acting in this film, and richly so. His fight with Apollo Creed is one of the greatest fights in the history of boxing films, and his love with Adrian is one that all men can relate to.
5. The Godfather
"The Godfather is the I Ching. The Godfather is the sum of all wisdom." Tom Hanks described the Godfather as such in his film, "You've Got Mail" and he is entirely correct. The Godfather's show of family first is fantastic for any father to watch. It is the quintessential gangster film and is one of the all time greats in all of film history.
6. The Great Escape
This true story of a large group of Allied POW's grand escape from a Nazi prison camp is fantastic. There are great bits of humor and great performances from Steve McQueen, James Coburn, and Charles Bronson. It is also a very daring movie that keeps you on the edge of your seat, especially from the escape till the end of the film. And if nothing else, the movie includes one of the greatest motorcycle chases in the history of film.
7. Braveheart
Another great film along the same lines of Gladiator. Mel Gibson directed and starred in this instant classic about the Scottish rebel William Wallace. He gives a very moving performance and the entire film makes you feel like you were a part of the rebellion that it shows. All of us men aspire to be this kind of man, willing to lead and help others be the best they can be.
8. Field of Dreams
This is a fantastic family movie. There are few greater movie dads than Kevin Costner's Ray Kinsella who risks losing his farm to create a baseball stadium in his corn field. This is another childhood favorite of mine. It works as a family drama, at times a comedy, and a sports movie.
9. Star Wars
I don't think this requires much description. Star Wars, like 2001: A Space Odyssey and The Matrix, reinvented what science fiction could do. George Lucas' direction creates some visuals that even today are top notch. Plus, like many of the movies on this list, you get great lessons on family and standing up for right against the powers of evil.
10. The Shawshank Redemption
This is currently the top ranked movie on The Internet Movie Database (or iMDb for short) and rightfully so. Both Morgan Freeman and Tim Robbins are amazing as convicted murderers who are serving together in Shawshank Prison in Maine. Together, over 20 years or more, they grow into the type of friends all men should aspire to be. It is a great lesson to us as well that through common decency we can find personal redemption in the darkest of places.
So that was my list of 10. What of the other 90 do you think might have been better choices, or is there a movie on even the Art of Manliness list of 100 that you think they missed. Let me know what you think.
1. Gladiator
This Ridley Scott classic (Can a movie be considered a classic only 13 years after its initial release?) is a staple for any man's movie library. A fantastic film that won Oscars for Best Picture and Best Actor (Russell Crowe), this movie stands out above the crowd for its moving performances and flawless direction. This was the best career performance of both Russell Crowe and Joaquin Phoenix.
2. Casablanca
This is the quintessential romance movie of all time. Boasting 4 lines on the AFI's 100 greatest movie lines list, this is a tragic romance movie for the ages. Humphrey Bogart is magnificent in this film and richly deserved the Oscar nomination he got for it. This movie, like Gladiator, also won Best Picture. If you want to learn how to be a real gentleman, watch this film. It doesn't get any better than toasting the woman you love with the line, "Here's looking at you, kid."
3. Top Gun
Seriously. I don't think I can say enough about this movie. This is one of my personal favorites ever since I was a kid. Every boy and man dreams of being Maverick. He is just the epitome of man. And who wouldn't want a best friend like Goose? This is a great film about friendship and love and overcoming adversity, but if you want to just watch a bunch of stuff blow up, this is great either way.
4. Rocky
This is, in my opinion, the best sports movie of all time, and the most inspirational movie of all time. Sylvester Stallone is fantastic and was nominated for Oscars for writing and acting in this film, and richly so. His fight with Apollo Creed is one of the greatest fights in the history of boxing films, and his love with Adrian is one that all men can relate to.
5. The Godfather
"The Godfather is the I Ching. The Godfather is the sum of all wisdom." Tom Hanks described the Godfather as such in his film, "You've Got Mail" and he is entirely correct. The Godfather's show of family first is fantastic for any father to watch. It is the quintessential gangster film and is one of the all time greats in all of film history.
6. The Great Escape
This true story of a large group of Allied POW's grand escape from a Nazi prison camp is fantastic. There are great bits of humor and great performances from Steve McQueen, James Coburn, and Charles Bronson. It is also a very daring movie that keeps you on the edge of your seat, especially from the escape till the end of the film. And if nothing else, the movie includes one of the greatest motorcycle chases in the history of film.
7. Braveheart
Another great film along the same lines of Gladiator. Mel Gibson directed and starred in this instant classic about the Scottish rebel William Wallace. He gives a very moving performance and the entire film makes you feel like you were a part of the rebellion that it shows. All of us men aspire to be this kind of man, willing to lead and help others be the best they can be.
8. Field of Dreams
This is a fantastic family movie. There are few greater movie dads than Kevin Costner's Ray Kinsella who risks losing his farm to create a baseball stadium in his corn field. This is another childhood favorite of mine. It works as a family drama, at times a comedy, and a sports movie.
9. Star Wars
I don't think this requires much description. Star Wars, like 2001: A Space Odyssey and The Matrix, reinvented what science fiction could do. George Lucas' direction creates some visuals that even today are top notch. Plus, like many of the movies on this list, you get great lessons on family and standing up for right against the powers of evil.
10. The Shawshank Redemption
This is currently the top ranked movie on The Internet Movie Database (or iMDb for short) and rightfully so. Both Morgan Freeman and Tim Robbins are amazing as convicted murderers who are serving together in Shawshank Prison in Maine. Together, over 20 years or more, they grow into the type of friends all men should aspire to be. It is a great lesson to us as well that through common decency we can find personal redemption in the darkest of places.
So that was my list of 10. What of the other 90 do you think might have been better choices, or is there a movie on even the Art of Manliness list of 100 that you think they missed. Let me know what you think.
Thursday, December 12, 2013
Quick Reactions - Golden Globe Nominations
The Golden Globe Nominations were announced about 90 minutes ago and here are some quick reactions. Before I begin, I do want to mention I much prefer the Golden Globes to the Emmys or Oscars every year since you don't get awards for the technical mumbo jumbo no one really cares about. That being said, here are my reactions. Keep in mind, some of these reactions are to movies that have not yet been released or that I have no yet seen, so I am basing my reactions on trailers and reviews of people whom I trust, such as Richard Roeper, who's reviews for these films can be found at www.richardroeper.com
Movies - Drama
So I'll just put these all together based on what fell in the drama category. My first reaction is pure joy to see Matthew McConaughey get nominated for what may be his best performance ever in Dallas Buyer's Club. I've heard a lot of buzz that he might be a contender for a best supporting actor award somewhere for Wolf of Wall Street but it seems like without a nomination here, chances are he is a dark horse come Oscar time along with Jonah Hill. However, with Tom Hanks getting a nod as well for Captain Phillips and Robert Redford getting nominated for All Is Lost, I believe McConaughey is a lock for an Oscar nod come January. I have no argument with anyone nominated here at all. I believe come Oscar time, when drama and comedy are combined, we'll see Hanks and Redford probably giving way to Leonardo DiCaprio and Christian Bale for their work in Wolf of Wall Street and American Hustle respectively.
I have no argument for the women nominated in the best actress in a drama category, though I believe everyone there is fighting for second since I believe Sandra Bullock is a lock to win here and the Oscars. Her only real competitor for an Oscar looks to be Amy Adams who's role in American Hustle is generating a lot of buzz.
I was super excited to see Rush get some love and get a nomination for Best Picture - Drama. It is a phenomenal film that I thought would get looked over because of how early in the year it came out, but it did get a nomination, as did Daniel Bruhl who did fantastic work in that film as well. I don't think either has a chance of winning, but to get nominated in a year filled with incredible films, this is a great achievement. I believe 12 Years A Slave is probably the front runner here, but we'll know more come closer to awards time.
Movies - Comedy
Okay, so let me start by saying, I was not aware that Wolf of Wall Street and American Hustle would qualify as comedies, and I believe that made the drama field a little less crowded. Those two movies by themselves seem to be the front runners in a pretty week year for comedies. I think American Hustle sweeps the major categories here with wins for Best Picture, Best Actor, Best Actress, as well as taking home Best Supporting Actress. I would say they take home Best Supporting Actor as well for Bradley Cooper, but the Hollywood Foreign Press is much bolder than the Academy so I believe Barkhad Abdi from Captain Phillips, or even Jared Leto from Dallas Buyers Club have a decent shot at stealing this away. However, come Oscar time, look for the Academy to give ultra love to another David O. Russell film in American Hustle. I wouldn't be surprised to see it sweep the acting categories at the Oscars, but probably not here at the Globes.
Television Series - Drama
Again, I think everyone here is playing second to Breaking Bad, with the exception of supporting actor since Aaron Paul didn't do a lot in the second half of season 5. This show is a near lock to win for Best Series and Best Actor. In it's final few episodes, Bryan Cranston did some of the best work I have ever seen in television or film. He was menacing, scary, and I never knew what Walter White would do. I love that show, but that man haunts my dreams, and I give the credit for that fully to Bryan Cranston, who is one of the greatest actors living today. With a pretty weak year for television, I am surprised awards favorite Mad Men got no love anywhere. I think it could have received nominations for Best Series, Best Actor (perennial nominee Jon Hamm), and Best Actress (other perennial nominee Elisabeth Moss). I think it should have also squeaked out a nominee for Best Supporting Actress for Christina Hendricks who was phenomenal this season. I also think they missed on not nominating Anna Gunn from Breaking Bad, who after her Emmy win this year, I figured was a lock to win a Golden Globe. In a nomination category that includes Hayden Pannettiere, Sofia Vergara, and Monica Potter, we couldn't find room for Anna Gunn and Christina Hendricks. Major snubs there. My other big snub is perennial snub Timothy Olyphant for his amazing work in FX's Justified. FX as a network gets little to no love, so we'll see if that ever happens, but I think he deserved a nomination over both Liev Schreiber, and James Spader. We could have done without those two as fluff nominees and put in Hamm and Olyphant and this immediately becomes a much stronger categories.
Television Series - Comedy
No real surprises here. I think the early favorite to win Best Show is going to be awards show favorite Girls, an HBO product that I am personally not a big fan of. I think The Big Bang Theory or Modern Family probably deserve to win, though don't be surprised to see a late push from Brooklyn Nine-Nine which, despite low ratings and not a lot of hype, is one of the better comedy shows I've seen come along in a while. My votes for the best actor would go to Jim Parsons, who is the funniest actor working in television today. His role on the Big Bang Theory is amazing and he completely makes that show. I think the award will probably end up in his hands at the end of the night, but don't be surprised to see Michael J. Fox in his return to television win as well. He is fantastic in his new show as well. For Best Actress, I have believed for a while that Zooey Deschanel deserves to win for her amazing work in New Girl, but it looks like it probably won't happen. Awards shows love Edie Falco for her work in Nurse Jackie, but even Falco has said that isn't a comedy so I don't know why we're still giving her love for it.
So there are my gut reactions with where we are for the nominees across the board. Let me know what you think. Leave me a comment with who you think could win, or should win, or even people you think may have been left off.
Movies - Drama
So I'll just put these all together based on what fell in the drama category. My first reaction is pure joy to see Matthew McConaughey get nominated for what may be his best performance ever in Dallas Buyer's Club. I've heard a lot of buzz that he might be a contender for a best supporting actor award somewhere for Wolf of Wall Street but it seems like without a nomination here, chances are he is a dark horse come Oscar time along with Jonah Hill. However, with Tom Hanks getting a nod as well for Captain Phillips and Robert Redford getting nominated for All Is Lost, I believe McConaughey is a lock for an Oscar nod come January. I have no argument with anyone nominated here at all. I believe come Oscar time, when drama and comedy are combined, we'll see Hanks and Redford probably giving way to Leonardo DiCaprio and Christian Bale for their work in Wolf of Wall Street and American Hustle respectively.
I have no argument for the women nominated in the best actress in a drama category, though I believe everyone there is fighting for second since I believe Sandra Bullock is a lock to win here and the Oscars. Her only real competitor for an Oscar looks to be Amy Adams who's role in American Hustle is generating a lot of buzz.
I was super excited to see Rush get some love and get a nomination for Best Picture - Drama. It is a phenomenal film that I thought would get looked over because of how early in the year it came out, but it did get a nomination, as did Daniel Bruhl who did fantastic work in that film as well. I don't think either has a chance of winning, but to get nominated in a year filled with incredible films, this is a great achievement. I believe 12 Years A Slave is probably the front runner here, but we'll know more come closer to awards time.
Movies - Comedy
Okay, so let me start by saying, I was not aware that Wolf of Wall Street and American Hustle would qualify as comedies, and I believe that made the drama field a little less crowded. Those two movies by themselves seem to be the front runners in a pretty week year for comedies. I think American Hustle sweeps the major categories here with wins for Best Picture, Best Actor, Best Actress, as well as taking home Best Supporting Actress. I would say they take home Best Supporting Actor as well for Bradley Cooper, but the Hollywood Foreign Press is much bolder than the Academy so I believe Barkhad Abdi from Captain Phillips, or even Jared Leto from Dallas Buyers Club have a decent shot at stealing this away. However, come Oscar time, look for the Academy to give ultra love to another David O. Russell film in American Hustle. I wouldn't be surprised to see it sweep the acting categories at the Oscars, but probably not here at the Globes.
Television Series - Drama
Again, I think everyone here is playing second to Breaking Bad, with the exception of supporting actor since Aaron Paul didn't do a lot in the second half of season 5. This show is a near lock to win for Best Series and Best Actor. In it's final few episodes, Bryan Cranston did some of the best work I have ever seen in television or film. He was menacing, scary, and I never knew what Walter White would do. I love that show, but that man haunts my dreams, and I give the credit for that fully to Bryan Cranston, who is one of the greatest actors living today. With a pretty weak year for television, I am surprised awards favorite Mad Men got no love anywhere. I think it could have received nominations for Best Series, Best Actor (perennial nominee Jon Hamm), and Best Actress (other perennial nominee Elisabeth Moss). I think it should have also squeaked out a nominee for Best Supporting Actress for Christina Hendricks who was phenomenal this season. I also think they missed on not nominating Anna Gunn from Breaking Bad, who after her Emmy win this year, I figured was a lock to win a Golden Globe. In a nomination category that includes Hayden Pannettiere, Sofia Vergara, and Monica Potter, we couldn't find room for Anna Gunn and Christina Hendricks. Major snubs there. My other big snub is perennial snub Timothy Olyphant for his amazing work in FX's Justified. FX as a network gets little to no love, so we'll see if that ever happens, but I think he deserved a nomination over both Liev Schreiber, and James Spader. We could have done without those two as fluff nominees and put in Hamm and Olyphant and this immediately becomes a much stronger categories.
Television Series - Comedy
No real surprises here. I think the early favorite to win Best Show is going to be awards show favorite Girls, an HBO product that I am personally not a big fan of. I think The Big Bang Theory or Modern Family probably deserve to win, though don't be surprised to see a late push from Brooklyn Nine-Nine which, despite low ratings and not a lot of hype, is one of the better comedy shows I've seen come along in a while. My votes for the best actor would go to Jim Parsons, who is the funniest actor working in television today. His role on the Big Bang Theory is amazing and he completely makes that show. I think the award will probably end up in his hands at the end of the night, but don't be surprised to see Michael J. Fox in his return to television win as well. He is fantastic in his new show as well. For Best Actress, I have believed for a while that Zooey Deschanel deserves to win for her amazing work in New Girl, but it looks like it probably won't happen. Awards shows love Edie Falco for her work in Nurse Jackie, but even Falco has said that isn't a comedy so I don't know why we're still giving her love for it.
So there are my gut reactions with where we are for the nominees across the board. Let me know what you think. Leave me a comment with who you think could win, or should win, or even people you think may have been left off.
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