The Imitation Game

☆☆☆☆☆

+
"The Imitation Game" is the gripping story of the brilliant Alan Turing (best performance of Benedict Cumberbatch's career), the man credited with breaking the German's World War II Enigma machine code...saving millions of innocent people.
In spite of this great accomplishment...Turning later faces charges for being true to who he is.

Five Golden Globe nominations and three Screen Actors Guild nominations.
_
It is unimaginable that people faced criminal charges for being gay.

Rated PG-13
1 hr. 54 min.

Visit the website and see the trailer!

Wild

☆☆☆☆1/2

+
Reese Witherspoon gives one of the best performances of her career as Cheryl Strayed, a woman who...after losing her mother, a marriage break-up, and self-destructive behavior...embarks on a thousand mile hike on the Pacific Crest Trail. Her journey (based on a true story) is a fascinating story of determination and self-discovery.
_
Some fans of the book may be disappointed, but director Jean-Marc Vallee has managed to take this woman's solitary trek and make it into an engaging movie.

Rated R
1 hr. 55 min.

Visit the website and see the trailer!

The Theory of Everything

☆☆☆☆1/2

+
Eddie Redmayne gives an award winning performance as world renowned astrophysicist Stephen Hawking in this incredible, moving story of this fascinating man's challenges and victories.

Golden Globe nominations for Best Picture, Best Actor (Redmayne), and Best Actress (Felicity Jones)
_
Some believe this film is too light on Hawking's scientific accomplishments.

Rated PG-13
2 hr. 3 min.

Visit the website and watch the trailer.

Foxcatcher

☆☆☆☆1/2

+
Based on actual events, "Foxcatcher" (Golden Globe nominee for best drama) stars Steve Carell (Golden Globe nominee for best actor) as multi-millionaire John du Pont whose obsession with wrestling leads him to invite Olympic Gold Medal wrestler Mark Schultz (one of Channing Tatum's best performances to date) to live and train on his property. Du Pont's enigmatic personality and behavior create a high level of tension throughout the movie.
-
It's hard to know if Carell is doing a spot-on performance of a very unusual man or just a poor performance. Likely it's the former.

Why was Tatum overlooked in the Golden Globe noms?

Rated R
2 hr. 10 min.

Visit the official website and watch the trailer.

Birdman

☆☆☆1/2

+
Filled with excellent performances, "Birdman" is the award-winning story of a once-famous actor (who starred as a superhero known as Birdman) trying to make a comeback in a Broadway play...while dealing with the disturbing voices in his head.

-
It is a challenge to find the humor in this black comedy.

The important component of making a viewer care about characters is sorely missing in this movie.

The three and a half stars are for the performances...not the story.

Rated R
1 hr. 59 min.

Visit the website and see the trailer.

Interstellar

☆☆☆☆

+
In this thought-provoking science fiction epic, Matthew McConaughey stars as a father of two who is recruited to go on a space mission that may help save all humanity.
All star cast: Anne Hathaway, Jessica Chastain, John Lithgow, Ellen Burstyn, Matt Damon, and Michael Caine
-
Be prepared for a long movie that explores the space-time continuum...which can be confusing.

Rated PG-13
2 hr. 49 min.

Visit the official site and watch the trailer!

The Hunger Games: Mockingjay - Part 1

☆☆☆☆

+
"...Mockingjay - Part 1"...the exciting build-up to the what is sure to be an excellent conclusion...Katniss Everdeen (Jennifer Lawrence) leads the Districts in a fight for freedom against the Capital.
-
It may not be as satisfying if you missed the first two installments.
Keep in mind this is part 1 of a two part conclusion...it will leave you hanging.

Rated PG-13
2 hr. 5 min.

Visit the website and see the trailer!

Pride

☆☆☆☆☆

+
One of the year's best films that tells the emotional (true) story of the National Union of Mineworkers' strike (1984) and the unlikely support they received from gay and lesbian activists in London. The two unlikely groups gradually come together in a heartwarming story of acceptance.
-
Too sentimental for some? Bring the tissues this one is a tearjerker!

Rated R
2 hr.

Visit the official website and see the trailer!

St. Vincent

☆☆☆1/2

+
A surprisingly touching story about Vincent (Bill Murray), a cranky old man who becomes a babysitter for his new young neighbor Oliver (great performance by Jaeden Lieberher). In spite of bad baby sitting decisions, Oliver learns valuable lessons from Vincent...and manages to see that he is a good-hearted old man.
-
Some may take issue with this man who drinks and gambles being celebrated as a saint.

Rated PG-13
1 hr. 43 min.

Visit the official website and watch the trailer.

The Judge

☆☆☆☆

+
Robert Downey Jr. turns in a great performance as Hank Palmer...a big city lawyer who returns home for his mother's funeral, but ends-up representing his estranged father (Robert Duvall)in the most important trial of his life.
-
The screenplay leans toward sentimentality.

Rated R
2 hr. 22 min.

Visit the website and see the trailer.

Gone Girl

☆☆☆☆1/2

+
Based on the best selling novel by Gillian Flynn, "Gone Girl," starring Ben Affleck and Rosamund Pike ("An Education"), is one of 2014's best movies (to date) telling the twisted and suspenseful story of a wife gone missing and a husband who is the prime suspect.
You will be talking about this one for days!
-
As always...people who loved the novel...may have issues with the movie.

Rated R
2 hr. 25 min.

Visit the movie website and see the trailer!

This is Where I Leave You

☆☆☆☆

+
Based on the best-selling novel by Jonathan Tropper, "This...Leave You" tells the story of four siblings who end-up together to sit shiva when their father dies.
Director, Shawn Levy (along with a well written screenplay) managers to to give a perfect mix of humor and drama...which is perfect if you love movies that move you to laughter and tears.

Excellent performances by an all-star cast (Jason Bateman, Tina Fey, and Jane Fonda).
-
Don't listen to any negative reviews. Some reviewers just love to hate everything.

Rated R
1 hr. 43 min.

Visit the movie website and watch the trailer.

If I Stay

☆☆☆1/2

+
Chloë Grace Moretz gives a noteworthy performance as Mia in this moving story of a young woman who is struggling with the decision to study music at Juilliard or stay with the love of her life. When faced with a life or death tragedy...Mia faces an even bigger decision.
-
This movie is worth seeing...in spite of other reviews.

Rated PG-13
1 hr. 46 min.

Visit the official website and see the trailer.

The Hundred-Foot Journey

☆☆☆☆

+
"The Hundred-Foot Journey" is the entertaining and heartwarming story of an owner of an upscale French restaurant (Helen Mirren), who opposes the opening of her new neighbor's Indian restaurant across the street. The battle begins...sparks fly...and two worlds collide.
_
Lacks character development for many key players.
What's wrong with a "feel good" movie?

Rated PG
2 hr. 2 min.

Visit the official website and see the trailer.

The Giver

☆☆☆☆

+
Based on Lois Lowry's popular young adult novel of the same name, "The Giver" is the engaging (and somewhat haunting) story of Jonas...a high school graduate assigned to be the Receiver of Memories. As he is introduced to these memories he realizes he must take drastic steps to save himself and everyone he loves.
_
Other recent films seem to have borrowed from this popular novel.

Sometimes films based on popular novels fall short.

Rated PG-13
1 hr. 40 min.

Visit the website and see the trailer.

Guardians of the Galaxy

☆☆☆

+
Fans of this Marvel series will enjoy this entertaining story of a quirky team of heroes that join forces to destroy Ronan...a villain who is out to destroy the universe.

Chris Pratt (Star-Lord) delivered the right mix of fun and action to make his character work.

Other critics LOVE this film!
_
It's easy to get lost in the battle sequences (like so many other films).

Don't leave too early...short scene after the credits.

Rated PG-13
2 hr. 1 min.

Click here to see the trailer.

Boyhood

☆☆☆☆1/2

+
Director, Richard Linklater gives us a groundbreaking coming of age film that was shot over a 12 year period allowing viewers to truly see the growth, the changes, and the ups and downs of Mason (Ellar Coltrane) and his family.

This is just a story about life, but it's so engaging that the almost 3 hour film goes by too quickly.
_
Are we more in love with the story or the uniqueness of this "project?"

Rated R
2 hr. 45 min.

Visit the website and watch the trailer.

Begin Again

☆☆☆☆

+
We all know Keira Knightley can act, but most of us didn't know she could sing. Knightley (Gretta) and Adam Levin (Dave) star as a songwriting couple who move to New York when Dave's singing career takes off. Tempted by his new found fame, Dave strays...leaving Gretta on her own in the big city.

Adam Levin turns-in a great first time performance.

Wonderful music!
_
Don't go expecting to see an American version of "Once"...just because it is directed by John Carney.

Rated R
1 hr. 41 min.

Visit the website and see the trailer!

Tammy

☆☆☆1/2

+
Co-writer (with husband Ben Falcone) Melissa McCarthy stars as Tammy and delivers plenty of laughs as a woman who goes on a road trip after she loses her job and finds her husband cheating. Grandma (Susan Sarandon) joins Tammy on this crazy ride.

All star cast includes: Allison Janney, Gary Cole, Mark Duplass, Toni Collette, Nat Faxon, Dan Aykroyd Sandra Oh, and Kathy Bates
_
The story is a little uneven (and has a few holes), but if you are fan of McCarthy...you'll have fun.

Rated R
1 hr. 36 min.

Visit the website and see the trailer.

Chef

☆☆☆1/2

+
"Chef" is the enjoyable and satisfying story of Carl Casper (strong performance by Jon Favreau)...a creative chef who struggles with a controlling boss and finding a balance of career and family.

Great supporting cast: Scarlett Johansson, Robert Downey Jr., Dustin Hoffman, Bobby Cannavale, John Leguizamo, Sofia Vergara, and Emjay Anthony (Casper's son Percy).
_
In the middle of CGI battle scene season, this film is a welcome departure...but it may be too low-key for many.

Rated R
1 hr. 55 min.

Visit the official website and see the trailer.

Jersey Boys

☆☆☆1/2

+
Once the music of The Four Seasons starts...the story begins to come together.
Anyone who remembers the fantastic hits of Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons will enjoy this film...
_
at least the music of this film.

I have heard people say the target audience is people in their 60s and 70s...do not let that keep you from going.

One thing that can ruin a movie or television show is an over emphasis on the details. Even though that would seem like a good thing...the audience understands these guys are from Jersey. No need to over do the accents, the clothes, and the stereotypes.

Rated R
2 hr. 14 min.

Visit the official website and see the trailer!

22 Jump Street

☆☆☆☆1/2

+
In this hilarious sequel to "21 Jump Street," Jonah Hill and Channing Tatum recreate their wonderful chemistry as they team-up as undercover cops (Schmidt and Jenko) sent to pose as college students to make a drug bust.
"22 Jump Street" is a well-written story that knows just how far to go with the humor and where to take the humor (not silly...not potty humor) in a script that remains somewhat believable...without excessive violence.

This film works on several levels. See it and enjoy the fun!
_
Stay for the closing credits for more laughs!
Also...one more laugh after the credits.

Rated R
1 hr. 50 min.

Visit the official website and watch the trailer.

Maleficent

☆☆☆☆

+
In this visual treat of a film, Angelina Jolie gives an enchanting performance as Maleficent (the woman scorned by the soon to be king) who seeks revenge by placing a spell on the king's daughter...only to later regret her actions.

_
The story is different...some may enjoy the changes...others may not.

Rated PG
1 hr. 37 min.

Visit the official website and see the trailer.

Neighbors

☆☆☆

+
Seth Rogen, one of the most natural funny guys in front of the camera, joins forces with Zac Efron to offer a few laughs in the crazy story of a fraternity moving in and creating havoc in Mac Radner's (Rogen) neighborhood.
_
The battle to get the Deltas off the normally quite street gets silly and just plain ridiculous.

Rated R
1 hr. 36 min.

Visit the website and see the trailer.

X-Men: Days of Future Past

☆☆☆☆

+
In this action-packed Sci-Fi Adventure (one of the best in the franchise), Wolverine (Hugh Jackman gives another great performance) travels back to the early 70s to save the mutants.

Director, Bryan Singer, delivers one of the best scenes (involving Quicksilver) in a very long time.
_
The plot could be better...but this movie is worth seeing!

Rated PG-13
2 hr. 11 min.

Visit the official website and watch the trailer.

Captain America: The Winter Soldier

☆☆☆1/2

+
Steve Rogers (Chris Evans) returns as Captain American in this action-packed adventure. He teams-up with Black Widow (Scarlett Johansson) to take down the enemy.

Scarlett Johansson gives another great performance as Black Widow...sexy and tough.
_
Hard to beat the first installment...but Marvel fans will love it.

Don't leave too early...two extra scenes.

Rated PG-13
2 hr. 16 min.

Visit the website and see the trailer!

The Other Woman

☆☆☆1/2

+
"The Other Woman" is the fun and entertaining story of Carly (Cameron Diaz) and Kate (the hilarious Leslie Mann) who join forces with Amber (Kate Upton) to get back at Mark (Nikolaj Coster-Waldau) who is married to Kate, but dating Carly and Amber on the side.

Diaz and Mann always deliver real comedy.
_
If you want to just have fun...ignore any negative reviews, and go have a few laughs.

Rated PG-13
1 hr. 49 min.

Visit the website and watch the trailer.

Heaven is for Real

☆☆☆1/2

+
Based on the New York Times best seller, "Heaven is for Real" is the astounding (and heart warming) true story of a boy who visited heaven while on the operating table.
Greg Kinnear's performance elevates the film.
_
This seems like mediocre film making...maybe low budget?
It may have worked better to have had Colton just describe heaven...and not try to recreate what he saw for the big screen.

Rated PG
1 hr. 40 min.

Visit the website and watch the trailer.

Draft Day

☆☆☆☆

+
"Draft Day," starring Kevin Costner as Cleveland Brown's GM Sonny Weaver, has a great mix of action, drama, and intrigue. This well-written (and well-acted) movie will keep you guessing as to what's going to happen on draft day to characters that we come to know and care about.

Great performance by Jennifer Garner.
_
Not a football fan? Not a problem. This film is so much more than a football movie!

Rated PG-13
1 hr. 50 min.

Visit the website and watch the trailer.

Bad Words

☆☆☆

+
Jason Bateman (one of the best comedic actors in the business) makes his directorial debut in a very original story about a 40-year-old man who is able to participate in a national spelling bee based on loopholes in the rules. The strength of the story is the on-going question...What is this guy's motivation?
-
The main character's (Guy Trilby) interactions with the kids (one in particular) were "uncomfortable" at times.

Rated R
1 hr. 29 min.

Visit the movie website and see the trailer.

Divergent

☆☆☆

+
In this action-packed thriller, Shailene Woodley (Academy Award nominee for "The Descendants") gives a strong performance as Tris, a young woman who doesn't properly fit into any of the factions developed by society based on human virtues. Tris is unique...and in this world unique isn't good.
-
The expectations may have been a little too high.

Rated PG-13
2 hr. 20 min.

The Grand Budapest Hotel

☆☆☆1/2

+
Wes Anderson's visual treat..."The Grand Budapest Hotel"...is one of the best films of his career. It's fun and well-acted. Ralph Fiennes stars as the crazy concierge of the hotel.
-
It is definitely worth seeing...I am just not a fan of quirky, screwball comedy.

Rated R
1 hr. 40 min.

Visit the website and watch the trailer.

Blue Jasmine

☆☆☆☆1/2

+
Cate Blanchett turns in an Academy Awarding winning performance as Jasmine, a New York socialite who loses everything and tries to start a new life by moving in with her sister Ginger (excellent performance by Sally Hawkins) who lives a much less glamorous life in a modest San Francisco apartment.
Blanchett convincingly captures the mental breakdown her character suffers from the stress of her loss.
-
May be seen as an unhappy movie with performances that have a tough time keeping-up with Blanchett's.

Rated PG-13
1 hr. 38 min.

Visit the website and see the trailer.

Oscar Winners 2014

* Denotes starmoviereviews.com Prediction


Best Picture 

"12 Years a Slave" *


Best Director 

Alfonso Cuaron -- "Gravity" * 


Best Actor 

Matthew McConaughey -- "Dallas Buyers Club" * 


Best Actress 

Cate Blanchett -- "Blue Jasmine" * 


Best Supporting Actor 

Jared Leto -- "Dallas Buyers Club" * 


Best Supporting Actress 

Lupita Nyong'o -- "12 Years a Slave" * 


Best Original Screenplay 

"Her" -- Spike Jonze * 


Best Adapted Screenplay 

"12 Years a Slave" -- John Ridley * 


Best Animated Feature 

"Frozen" * 


Best Foreign Feature 

"The Great Beauty" (Italy) * 


Best Music (Original Song) 

"Frozen": "Let it Go" -- Robert Lopez and Kristen Anderson-Lopez * 


Best Music (Original Score) 

"Gravity": Steven Price * 


Best Cinematography 

"Gravity" -- Emmanuel Lubezki * 




Best Costume Design 

"The Great Gatsby" -- Catherine Martin * 


Best Documentary Feature 

"20 Feet From Stardom" * 


Best Film Editing 

"Gravity" -- Alfonso Cuaron, Mark Sanger 


Best Makeup and Hairstyling 

"Dallas Buyers Club" -- Adruitha Lee and Robin Mathews *

Best Production Design 

"The Great Gatsby" -- Catherine Martin and Beverley Dunn * 


Best Visual Effects 

"Gravity" * 


Best Sound Mixing 

"Gravity" * 


Best Sound Editing 

"Gravity" * 


Best Short Film, Live Action 

"Helium" 


Best Short Film, Animated 

"Mr. Hublot" 


Best Documentary Short 

"The Lady in Number 6: Music Saved My Life" * 


Oscar Predictions 2014

Best Picture 

*"12 Years a Slave"


"The Wolf of Wall Street" 

"Captain Phillips" 

"Her" 

"American Hustle" 

"Gravity" 

"Dallas Buyers Club" 

"Nebraska" 

"Philomena"

Best Director
*Alfonso Cuaron -- "Gravity"


Steve McQueen -- "12 Years a Slave" 

David O. Russell -- "American Hustle" 


Alexander Payne -- "Nebraska" 

Martin Scorsese -- "The Wolf of Wall Street"

Best Actor
*Matthew McConaughey -- "Dallas Buyers Club"

 

Bruce Dern -- "Nebraska" 

Chiwetel Ejiofor -- "12 Years a Slave" 

Leonardo DiCaprio -- "The Wolf of Wall Street" 

Christian Bale -- "American Hustle"actress

Best Actress
*Cate Blanchett -- "Blue Jasmine" 


Amy Adams -- "American Hustle" 
 

Judi Dench -- "Philomena" 

Sandra Bullock -- "Gravity" 

Meryl Streep -- "August: Osage County"

Best Supporting Actor
*Jared Leto -- "Dallas Buyers Club" 



Barkhad Abdi -- "Captain Phillips" 

Bradley Cooper -- "American Hustle" 

Jonah Hill -- "The Wolf of Wall Street" 

Michael Fassbender -- "12 Years a Slave"

Best Supporting Actress
*Lupita Nyong'o -- "12 Years a Slave" 


Jennifer Lawrence -- "American Hustle" 


June Squibb -- "Nebraska" 

Julia Roberts -- "August: Osage County" 

Sally Hawkins -- "Blue Jasmine"

Best Original Screenplay
*"Her" -- Spike Jonze 



"American Hustle" -- David O. Russell and Eric Warren Singer 

"Blue Jasmine" -- Woody Allen 

"Nebraska" -- Bob Nelson 

"Dallas Buyers Club" -- Craig Borten and Melisa Wallack

Best Adapted Screenplay 

*"12 Years a Slave" -- John Ridley 


"Before Midnight" -- Julie Delpy, Ethan Hawke and Richard Linklater 

"The Wolf of Wall Street" -- Terence Winter 

"Captain Phillips" -- Billy Ray 

"Philomena" -- Steve Coogan and Jeff Pope

Best Animated Feature
*"Frozen"


"The Wind Rises" 
 

"Despicable Me 2" 

"Ernest & Celestine" 

"The Croods"

Best Foreign Feature
*"The Great Beauty" (Italy)


"The Hunt" (Denmark) 

"The Broken Circle Breakdown" (Belgium) 
 

"Omar" (Palestinian territories) 

"The Missing Picture" (Cambodia)

Best Music (Original Song) 

*"Frozen": "Let it Go" -- Robert Lopez and Kristen Anderson-Lopez 


"Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom": "Ordinary Love" -- U2, Paul Hewson 

"Her": "The Moon Song" -- Karen O, Spike Jonze 

"Despicable Me 2": "Happy" -- Pharrell Williams 

"Alone Yet Not Alone": "Alone Yet Not Alone" -- Bruce Broughton, Dennis Spiegel

Best Music (Original Score) 

*"Gravity" -- Steven Price 


"Philomena" -- Alexandre Desplat 

"The Book Thief" -- John Williams 

"Saving Mr. Banks" -- Thomas Newman 

"Her" -- William Butler and Owen Pallett

Best Cinematography 

*"Gravity" -- Emmanuel Lubezki 


"Inside Llewyn Davis" -- Bruno Delbonnel 

"Nebraska" -- Phedon Papamichael 

"Prisoners" -- Roger Deakins 

"The Grandmaster" -- Phillippe Le Sourd

Best Costume Design 

*"The Great Gatsby" -- Catherine Martin 


"12 Years a Slave" -- Patricia Norris 

"The Grandmaster" -- William Chang Suk Ping 

"American Hustle" -- Michael Wilkinson 

"The Invisible Woman" -- Michael O'Connor

Best Documentary Feature
*"20 Feet From Stardom"

 

"The Act of Killing" 

"The Square" 

"Cutie and the Boxer" 

"Dirty Wars"

Best Film Editing 

*"Captain Phillips" -- Christopher Rouse

"Gravity" -- Alfonso Cuaron, Mark Sanger 

"12 Years a Slave"-- Joe Walker 
 

"American Hustle" -- Jay Cassidy, Crispin Struthers and Alan Baumgarten 

"Dallas Buyers Club" -- John Mac McMurphy and Martin Pensa

Best Makeup and Hairstyling
*"Dallas Buyers Club" -- Adruitha Lee and Robin Mathews


"The Lone Ranger" -- Joel Harlow and Gloria Pasqua-Casny
"Jackass Presents: Bad Grandpa" -- Stephen Prouty 



Best Production Design
*"The Great Gatsby" -- Catherine Martin and Beverley Dunn


"12 Years a Slave" -- Adam Stockhausen and Alice Baker 
 

"American Hustle" -- Judy Becker and Heather Loeffler 

"Gravity" -- Andy Nicholson, Rosie Goodwin and Joanne Woollard 

"Her" -- K.K. Barrett and Gene Serdena

Best Visual Effects 

*"Gravity"


"The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug" 

"Star Trek Into Darkness" 

"Iron Man 3" 

"The Lone Ranger"

Best Sound Mixing 

*"Gravity"


"Captain Phillips" 

"Lone Survivor" 

"Inside Llewyn Davis" 

"The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug"

Best Sound Editing 

*"Gravity"


"All Is Lost" 

"Captain Phillips" 

"Lone Survivor" 

"The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug"

Best Short Film, Live Action
*"The Voorman Problem"


"Aquel No Era Yo (That Wasn't Me)" 

"Avant Que De Tout Perdre (Just Before Losing Everything)" "Helium" 

"Pitaako Mun Kaikki Hoitaa? (Do I Have to Take Care of Everything?)" 



Best Short Film, Animated
*"Get a Horse!"


"Feral" 
 

"Mr. Hublot" 

"Possessions" 

"Room on the Broom"

Best Documentary Short 

*"The Lady in Number 6: Music Saved My Life"

"CaveDigger" 

"Facing Fear" 

"Karama Has No Walls" 
 

"Prison Terminal: The Last Days of Private Jack Hall"

The Monuments Men

☆☆☆1/2

+
The fact that this is a true story...of a platoon sent to Germany in World War II to recover art stolen by Hitler...makes it much more interesting.
All star cast includes: George Clooney, Matt Damon, Bill Murray, John Goodman, Jean Dujardin, and Cate Blanchett.
_
The first half (or more) is very slow...and the story should have been much better.

Rated PG-13
1 hr. 52 min.

Visit the website and watch the trailer.

Labor Day

☆☆☆☆

+
Kate Winslet gives a strong performance as a single woman who can barely face the world because of past heartaches. Along comes Josh Brolin...a man in serious trouble...who reminders her how it feels to love someone.
-
It's slow...Winslet may have been "over directed"...the storyline is tough to believe, but this film is much better than most critics will lead you to believe.

Rated PG-13
1 hr. 51 min.

Visit the website and watch the trailer.

August: Osage County

☆☆☆☆☆

+
Based on Tracy Lett's play of the same name, "August..." is by far the best movie in a very long time. While telling the story of 3 sisters returning home for the funeral of their father...it manages to be funny and at the same time deeply moving.
This film offers two of the best performances this year. Julia Roberts as daughter Barbara Weston gives one of her best performances to date, and Meryl Streep deserves another Academy Award for her portrayal of Violet Weston...the drug addict mother filled with rage.
_
What was the Academy thinking when they did not nominate this film for Best Picture?
I am hoping voters won't pass over these two very deserving actresses.

Rated R
2 hr. 10 min.

Visit the website and watch the trailer.

Her

☆☆☆☆1/2

+
Joaquin Phoenix gives a strong and very real performance as writer Theodore Twombly...in an award winning story that actually establishes a convincing case that someone could fall in love with an advanced computer operating system.
_
Some may be distracted by the film's premise...suspend judgement and enjoy a great story.

Rated R
2 hr. 6 min.

Visit the official website and watch the trailer.

Nebraska

☆☆☆☆1/2

+
Bruce Dern stars as Woody Grant...an old man who is convinced he has won a million dollar magazine sweepstakes. Woody's attempts to get to Nebraska from Missouri bring his dysfunctional family together...at times in happiness and at times in sadness.

Fantastic performances by Bruce Dern, June Squibb, and Will Forte...who holds his own beside these seasoned actors.
_
Director, Alexander Payne gives viewers a film that is moody...and at times a little too grim.

Rated R
1 hr. 50 min.

Visit the movie website and watch the trailer!

2014 Academy Awards Nominations

Best Picture 

"12 Years a Slave" 

"The Wolf of Wall Street" 

"Captain Phillips" 

"Her" 

"American Hustle" 

"Gravity" 

"Dallas Buyers Club" 

"Nebraska" 

"Philomena"

Best Director 

Steve McQueen -- "12 Years a Slave" 

David O. Russell -- "American Hustle" 

Alfonso Cuaron -- "Gravity" 

Alexander Payne -- "Nebraska" 

Martin Scorsese -- "The Wolf of Wall Street"

Best Actor 

Bruce Dern -- "Nebraska" 

Chiwetel Ejiofor -- "12 Years a Slave" 

Matthew McConaughey -- "Dallas Buyers Club" 

Leonardo DiCaprio -- "The Wolf of Wall Street" 

Christian Bale -- "American Hustle"actress

Best Actress 

Amy Adams -- "American Hustle" 

Cate Blanchett -- "Blue Jasmine" 

Judi Dench -- "Philomena" 

Sandra Bullock -- "Gravity" 

Meryl Streep -- "August: Osage County"

Best Supporting Actor 

Barkhad Abdi -- "Captain Phillips" 

Bradley Cooper -- "American Hustle" 

Jonah Hill -- "The Wolf of Wall Street" 

Jared Leto -- "Dallas Buyers Club" 

Michael Fassbender -- "12 Years a Slave"

Best Supporting Actress 

Jennifer Lawrence -- "American Hustle" 

Lupita Nyong'o -- "12 Years a Slave" 

June Squibb -- "Nebraska" 

Julia Roberts -- "August: Osage County" 

Sally Hawkins -- "Blue Jasmine"

Best Original Screenplay 

"American Hustle" -- David O. Russell and Eric Warren Singer 

"Blue Jasmine" -- Woody Allen 

"Her" -- Spike Jonze 

"Nebraska" -- Bob Nelson 

"Dallas Buyers Club" -- Craig Borten and Melisa Wallack

Best Adapted Screenplay 

"12 Years a Slave" -- John Ridley 

"Before Midnight" -- Julie Delpy, Ethan Hawke and Richard Linklater 

"The Wolf of Wall Street" -- Terence Winter 

"Captain Phillips" -- Billy Ray 

"Philomena" -- Steve Coogan and Jeff Pope

Best Animated Feature 

"The Wind Rises" 

"Frozen" 

"Despicable Me 2" 

"Ernest & Celestine" 

"The Croods"

Best Foreign Feature 

"The Hunt" (Denmark) 

"The Broken Circle Breakdown" (Belgium) 

"The Great Beauty" (Italy) 

"Omar" (Palestinian territories) 

"The Missing Picture" (Cambodia)

Best Music (Original Song) 

"Frozen": "Let it Go" -- Robert Lopez and Kristen Anderson-Lopez 

"Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom": "Ordinary Love" -- U2, Paul Hewson 

"Her": "The Moon Song" -- Karen O, Spike Jonze 

"Despicable Me 2": "Happy" -- Pharrell Williams 

"Alone Yet Not Alone": "Alone Yet Not Alone" -- Bruce Broughton, Dennis Spiegel

Best Music (Original Score) 

"Gravity" -- Steven Price 

"Philomena" -- Alexandre Desplat 

"The Book Thief" -- John Williams 

"Saving Mr. Banks" -- Thomas Newman 

"Her" -- William Butler and Owen Pallett

Best Cinematography 

"Gravity" -- Emmanuel Lubezki 

"Inside Llewyn Davis" -- Bruno Delbonnel 

"Nebraska" -- Phedon Papamichael 

"Prisoners" -- Roger Deakins 

"The Grandmaster" -- Phillippe Le Sourd

Best Costume Design 

"The Great Gatsby" -- Catherine Martin 

"12 Years a Slave" -- Patricia Norris 

"The Grandmaster" -- William Chang Suk Ping 

"American Hustle" -- Michael Wilkinson 

"The Invisible Woman" -- Michael O'Connor

Best Documentary Feature 

"The Act of Killing" 

"20 Feet From Stardom" 

"The Square" 

"Cutie and the Boxer" 

"Dirty Wars"

Best Film Editing 

"Gravity" -- Alfonso Cuaron, Mark Sanger 

"12 Years a Slave"-- Joe Walker 

"Captain Phillips" -- Christopher Rouse 

"American Hustle" -- Jay Cassidy, Crispin Struthers and Alan Baumgarten 

"Dallas Buyers Club" -- John Mac McMurphy and Martin Pensa

Best Makeup and Hairstyling 

"The Lone Ranger" -- Joel Harlow and Gloria Pasqua-Casny
"Jackass Presents: Bad Grandpa" -- Stephen Prouty 

"Dallas Buyers Club" -- Adruitha Lee and Robin Mathews

Best Production Design 

"12 Years a Slave" -- Adam Stockhausen and Alice Baker 

"The Great Gatsby" -- Catherine Martin and Beverley Dunn 

"American Hustle" -- Judy Becker and Heather Loeffler 

"Gravity" -- Andy Nicholson, Rosie Goodwin and Joanne Woollard 

"Her" -- K.K. Barrett and Gene Serdena

Best Visual Effects 

"Gravity" 

"The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug" 

"Star Trek Into Darkness" 

"Iron Man 3" 

"The Lone Ranger"

Best Sound Mixing 

"Gravity" 

"Captain Phillips" 

"Lone Survivor" 

"Inside Llewyn Davis" 

"The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug"

Best Sound Editing 

"Gravity" 

"All Is Lost" 

"Captain Phillips" 

"Lone Survivor" 

"The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug"

Best Short Film, Live Action 

"Aquel No Era Yo (That Wasn't Me)" 

"Avant Que De Tout Perdre (Just Before Losing Everything)" "Helium" 

"Pitaako Mun Kaikki Hoitaa? (Do I Have to Take Care of Everything?)" 

"The Voorman Problem"

Best Short Film, Animated 

"Feral" 

"Get a Horse!" 

"Mr. Hublot" 

"Possessions" 

"Room on the Broom"

Best Documentary Short 

"CaveDigger" 

"Facing Fear" 

"Karama Has No Walls" 

"The Lady in Number 6: Music Saved My Life" 

"Prison Terminal: The Last Days of Private Jack Hall"

The Wolf of Wall Street

☆☆☆☆

+
Leonardo DiCaprio gives an outstanding performance as stockbroker Jordan Belfort, who is living the American dream...but his dream includes corruption and a wild life of women and drugs.
-
The character of Jordan Belfort (or maybe it's the performance) seems like so many other characters DiCaprio has played.

This film needs a little editing...it's just feels long.

Rated R
2 hr. 59 min.

Visit the website and watch the trailer.

The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug

☆☆☆1/2

+
"The Hobbit..." is the second film in a trilogy adapted from "The Hobbit" by J.R.R. Tolkien that tells the engaging tale of Bilbo (Martin Freeman), Gandalf (Ian McKellan), Thorin and 13 dwarves on a quest to take back the Kingdom of Erebor.
The make-up and cinematography are outstanding.
-
Viewers need to know that this is an unfinished story...ending with the line "What have we done?"

Rated PG-13
2 hr. 41 min.

Visit the website and see the trailer.