Top 10 of 2015

The end credits are rolling on 2015, which means it is time for me to create my annual top ten list by selecting my ten favorite movies of the year.  2015 has had many releases I was looking forward to seeing.  Many big spectacles (Spectre, Jurassic World), original films (Inside Out, Straight Outta Compton), exciting new Indy flicks (Mr Holmes, Ex Machina), intriguing documentaries (Amy, The Wolfpack), as well as the occasional foreign film(Phoenix, Coming Home) lured me back to my home away from home, the movie theater.

I always enjoy making this list.  I look back, on the movies I saw this year, remembering the good, the bad, and the ugly.  More importantly I tend to remember the times had with family, friends, and strangers watching the lights pave the way to the images racing across the screen.  For instance I always enjoy welcoming the summer movie season with a dinner party and Thursday night opener.  This years menu consisted of pulled pork BBQ and the film Avengers: Age Of Ultron.  The night started early evening and it was 5 in the morning when all was said and done.  The lateness doesn’t matter but what does is the time spent in the company of friends, family, and friends who are family.  This year saw many such nights and I smile remembering each moment of them.

As always the annual oscar extravaganza went off with out a hitch.  This past winter the party turned twelve, and for the first time in the history of the party shoveling snow was required.  It was a great night enjoyed by a record number of attendees.  I enjoyed playing the trivia games, catching up with everyone, talking movies, and seeing many great movies, and some not so great ones, win and lose Oscars.  It is the social event of my year and one I look forward to more then Christmas itself.  Not to brag but last years # 3 on the top ten list, Birdman, was crowned the big winner.

I must point out that it is rare that I see a movie twice on the big screen.  I want a new experience when I visit my local cinemas.  I do enjoy rewatching movies and thats why I collect DVDs & Blu Rays.  However this year there was a record number of films I saw twice on the big screen.  The quartet consists of Furious Seven, Jurassic World, Spectre, & Spotlight.  That’s more repeat viewings of theatrical releases then the past three years combined.  It made for some pretty awesome movies in 2015.

So on with this years top ten list. Please remember this is not what I think will be competing for the awards season but my personal favorite movies of 2015.

10.The Visit

There’s been a resurgence in the kind of horror films I enjoy the past few years.  I enjoy ones where the blood and guts are there to support the story (The Exorcist for instance) rather then having the story support the blood and guts (Saw, Hostel).  Films like Insidious, Sinister, The Conjuring, and It Follows have relied more on jump scares and the unknown vs the shock value in something like Saw.  What makes The Visit stand out is how it combines a since of humor with its horror.  It lead the viewer down the rabbit hole while jumping out at you from all sides.  It’s a fun film to watch especially with a group as you laugh with one another at what scared you.

9.Straight Outta Compton

This year should go down as the year of the music movie.  There weren’t any big musical adaptations but there were plenty of documentaries about musicians (Amy, The Wrecking Crew), movies about music (Pitch Perfect 2), and movies based upon the  lives of musicians (Love & Mercy).  Straight Outta Compton focuses on the rise of hip hop and the ensuing tensions between the artists creating the music.  I’m not a fan of hip hop music but saw the talent behind it, in this film.  It was an incredible story supported by an incredibly talented cast, mostly unknown to me, and sharp dialogue.  I really like how the movie didn’t shy away from the roughness (the violence, language, the behind the scenes manipulation) of the scene.  It pushed me in ways that made me uneasy and I admire it when a movie does that.

8.What We Do in the Shadows

No movie made me laugh this hard all year, and that includes going to a screening of Monty Python & the Holy Grail.  The film is a mockumentary that follows a group of vampires living in modern times.  I found myself quoting the movie the whole drive home and for hours after each subsequent viewing.  I’ve shown my copy of the movie to a handful of friends and each one of them has loved it as well.  I found the film works great with a group of people and is funny to watch on a lazy afternoon by yourself when you have a few hours to kill.  I never tire of its unique sense of humor and love the occasional homage to famous vampire tales that have come before.  If you want a treat yourself to a great comedy check out What We Do in the Shadows and if you want some company when you watch it, call me I’ll bring my disc over.

7.The Martian

I do enjoy science fiction cinema, after all Interstellar was number one on my list last year.  This film, like others I have really enjoyed, doesn’t feature little green men or the end of the world but rather is about the human spirit.  The film takes place on Mars and shows one man’s survival tale after being left behind.  It’s a simple story that also follows the rescue efforts to recover the stranded astronaut.   The film is supported by great performances from Matt Damon, Jeff Daniels, Jessica Chastain (my current hollywood crush) and many others.  There’s some great one liners and I do enjoy my one liners.  I went into the theater excited to see this one and did not leave disappointed.

6.Sicario

Hold your breath, grab the arm rest tight, and prepare not to let go.  Sicario is a tense, action thriller that never lets up.  I loved every minute of the movie.  The film focuses on an FBI agent, played by Emily Blunt, who joins a hush hush task force led by John Brolin and Benico Del Toro, that fights the war on drugs.  The film opens with a drug raid and ends with a slight twist ending.  I’m of the mind set that with out a decent story is what either makes or breaks a story.  This film has a good story that is complimented by some incredible action sequences and great performances.  

5.Ex Machina

I do think about the movies I see.  I tend to think about what I liked and disliked about the feature as well as the make up of the film, the performances, directing, the screenplay ect.  This one took me else where.  I thought about aspects of life and what is and isn’t in my control.  I thought about the god complex in terms of creating technology.  There is a lot of philosophy surrounding what it means to be alive, specifically human.  The elements of this resinated in me for the days to come and have dominated some great discussions about the feature.  The film centers around a trio of characters: a robot that has been given artificial intelligence, her creator, and the gentlemen there to test her.  All three characters are intriguing on their own and more so when interacting with one another.  The film stayed with for a while after I saw it on the big screen and again after I watched it at home.  I do enjoy my mindless movies but just as much I enjoy a movie that will make me think.  This one more then fulfills the ladder.

4.Mad Max: Fury Road

Who could ever fill the shoes of the once great Mel Gibson in, arguably, his greatest role?  Original Mad Max visionary George Miller nailed it when casting Tom Hardy to lead his epic post apocalyptic masterpiece.  The film is a two hour adrenalin rush movie (the more socially appropriate classification I have for this type of non stop action film).  An incredibly talented cast mixed tight directing created an adventure that is essentially a two hour car chase through the desert.  It’s nothing short of thrilling to watch.  Yes it is rough around the edges but it’s an action movie.  I really enjoyed the applause from a nearly sold out show at the end of the flick.  I love it when the audience gets into the movie as much as I did.  That could be part of why this was easily the best movie this summer and why it made my top ten list this year.  That and how well it holds up to repeat viewings.

3.Spotlight

Some films will take the breath right out of your lungs and Spotlight is one such feature.  The film is a black eye on one of the biggest organizations in the world: the catholic church.  The movie focuses on the team of investigative journalists from the Boston Globe who investigated the church’s clergy sexually abusing children.  While it is a movie and I’m sure parts of the film were exaggerated for dramatic effect its hard to believe that this film is based upon true events.  That only added to the suspense created by the filmmakers.  I was breathless, as was much of the audience that night, as the events of the film unfolded.  It’s rare I see a film multiple times in the theater.  However this film required a second theatrical viewing.  Again my breath was taken away from me and not returned until I exited the auditorium.  No matter what your views are on religion this is a must see.

2.Bridge of Spies

I’m a sucker for the thrills of the espionage genre and a good true story.  In the cross hairs of both those comes Steven Spielberg’s Bridge of Spies.  This is the fourth collaboration between director Steven Spielberg and actor Tom Hanks.  This one joins their first collaboration (Saving Private Ryan) as a masterpiece of cinema.  I was impressed with how the cold war thriller told its nail biting, 2 1/2 hour story, by relying more dialogue and tense situations over the genre typical action sequences.  The film was written by The Coen Brothers and they created two great characters especially their two central characters.  Then again they were also writing a film inspired by an incredible true story.  I enjoyed seeing this one with a crowd.  I really enjoyed gasping with the audience and cheering when the hero won the day.

And my number one pick of 2015 is . . .

1.Spectre

This should come as no surprise to anyone.  James Bond is the center of my cinematic universe and I am a huge fan of Daniel Craig in the role of 007.  This Bond entry continued expanding on the Bond back story as well as reintroducing old favorite characters.  I loved the excitement of the action sequences, the mystery in the slow reveal of the story, and how this one was very reminiscent of the Bond films of yesteryear while telling a new and unique story.  Also, maybe even more importantly, I loved spending the evening with friends, family, and friends who are family.  I cooked, we talked, we had a hell of a night that I had been eagerly anticipating for a very long time.  The only disappointment about the night and the movie was that it had to end.

So until next time keep the popcorn warm, the soda cold, and meet me at the movies.  They’re always better shared.

THE BEST OF THE REST

Every year, I publish this list around the New Year.  There are always a handful of films that are released wide after the New Year, and the publication of this list.  Some great movies have been exempt from this list because of that.  I have since added The One that Got Away to this list.  This way I can acknowledge a great movie from 2014 that did would not get acknowledged otherwise.  The Best of the Rest also includes my picks for best male & female performance, director, screenplay, and repertory screening.

THE ONE THAT GOT AWAY: American Sniper

Chris Kyle is an individual I admire for both his service during the Iraq war and to veterans struggling with PTSD after he left the seals.  I eagerly awaited his story to grace local cinemas.  I was far from disappointed.  The film was a powerful look at how war effects those fighting it and those who stand in their corner.  I got a lump in my throat at the end of the film that stayed lodged there the rest of the night.  It’s hard to say where on lasts years list that American Sniper would of appeared but I can easily say it would of been towards the top.  Well done Clint Eastwood, well done.

MALE PERFORMANCE (lead or supporting): Johnny Depp Black Mass & John Cusack Love & Mercy.  

I really couldn’t decide here.  I thought both performances were incredibly strong and the each film would of been much less of a movie with another actor in the role.

FEMALE PERFORMANCE (lead or supporting): Alicia Vikander Ex Machina

I fell in love Alicia Vikander’s performance from the moment she appeared on screen as the AI system AVA.  She made her presence known in every scene while supporting the story being told.

DIRECTOR: Tom McCarthy Spotlight

I love how he turned such a sensitive subject into such a nail bitter of a movie.

SCREENPLAY (original or adapted): Bridge of Spies

I’ve always thought the writing was the strongest part of the Coen Brothers work and they crafted a great screenplay with this flick.

REPERTORY SCREENING: A double feature of The Exorcist & Rosemary’s Baby.

This is a tough one for me.  After all I did see Sean Connery’s final canon Bond film Diamonds Are Forever, and the immortal Mel Brooks classic Spaceballs on the big screen.  After naming Spectre my number one of this year I am ok passing on Diamonds are Forever and narrowing the field to the champion double feature and Back to the Future part II.  I saw the ladder on 10/21/15, the future day that was traveled to in the film.  That is something unique and very special.  However I give the edge to the incredible double feature because of the company I kept when I saw it.  Back to the Future part II I went to see by myself where as The Exorcist & Rosemary’s Baby I saw with a pair of friends who are family to me, like brothers.  Being able to spend a friday night with them still makes me smile all these months later and it’s a cherished memory.

Tis the Season for some Holiday Features

It’s the holiday season and television program seems to be saturated with such programing.  Despite a few shows I watch regularly (NCIS, NCIS: NOLA, and a few others) I am more of a movie guy.  I enjoy watching some Christmas movies every year: The Polar Express, Miracle on 34th St, Christmas Vacation being the chief among them.

This year there have been two polar opposite new holiday films released into local theaters.  Other then both taking place Christmas eve, being slightly over predictable, and each having a 90 ish minute runtime there’s not much comparing.  One is a buddy, stoner like comedy (The Night Before) and the other is a horror flick based upon an urban legend (Krampus).  I saw both from my favorite seat at my local six screen multiplex. 

Both times I sat in my favorite seat towards the front of the theater where the screen hovers dramatically over me but far enough where my neck doesn’t want to commit mutiny.  In stadium seat theaters this is the first row behind the handicap row.  If no one using the handicap portion of this row it has the added benefit of doubling as a foot rest.  In non stadium theaters it’s about half way through the auditorium.  If there’s no handicap bar available to put my feet on I prefer the edge seat.  I had my favorite snack in hand as well, small popcorn large drink.  However if the theater brings the corn from the back in bags instead of popping in the lobby I sub junior mints for the popcorn.  

So now I’m seated and munching down on snacks.  Both movies start with the dimming of the lights and traditional blatter buster trailer real.  At this point this is where the similarities end and the differences begin.  The trailers were as different as the films themselves.  One trailer real showed comedies and the odd action flick while the other advertised horror films.  During the respective features I laughed frequently at one and jumped at the other.  With the exception of my brother, who watched The Night Before with me, the audiences for both were complete strangers and moderately full.  Sharing the experience of films, especially comedies and horror, add to the fun of attending movies.  Both cases the crowd got into the movie.  90 or so minutes later I am more then pleased with the movies I have seen.

In the end both films were different but I enjoyed watching some holiday goodness on the big screen just the same.

SPECTRE A JAMES BOND BLOG ENTRY

There is no denying that James Bond movies are my favorite.  I enjoy the excitement, the action, among other things about the franchise. Shortly the 24th entry, Spectre, will be released.  So with that said, I’m trying something new with this blog entry.  I’m writing it over the course of a few days, before and after the release of the feature film.

11.4.2015 8PM THE DAY BEFORE!

The event is almost here and the excitement of it is just a notch under being overwhelming.  The date was set for the release a while ago and I really got into the movie last year when the title and cast was announced, officially kicking off the start of production of the movie.

Over the course of production I watched every vlog, trailer, tv spot, read every gossip story, and press release multiple times.

Then it came time to start planning my party.  It started with getting tickets.  (7 for 007. Get it?)  Guests were invited and menu planned. 

Now it’s the final twenty four hours until the party gets going and then the movie starts.  I’ve cleaned up my place and prepared my entree to cook.  I’ll be slow cooking venison gumbo.  

The obsessive preparations are two fold.  The obvious reason is so I’m ready and can enjoy the party with out having to worry about anything.  The other and less obvious is to help keep my anxiety about all this under control.  I have lost sleep in anticipation for the event.  Regardless I’m looking forward to the event.

11.5.2015 NOON THE DAY!

The event is today and I’m barely containing myself with excitement.  In a few hours I’ll be surrounded by family and friends having fun and then at warp speed off to the movie theater.  I enjoy being at movie theaters, they seem to be relaxing for me.  Tonight will be no exception. Dinner has been slow cooking for a few hours now and is really smelling my home up nicely.  I’m ready for the guests as I look forward to the event.  

As a side note I’ve had a realization that this kind of blog would be better suited for a string of social media posts but I’m not on twitter and believe I’ve flooded friends Facebook walls enough with status updates on 007.  

With that said I will keep writing in Blog form about the Spectre event.

11.6.2015 2:30 AM THE MOVIE ITSELF

It’s going to be hard to set my bias mindset to the side.  Oh well let’s move on.  The movie was fantastic and a lot of fun to watch.  As in typical James Bond fashion its pure escapism.  I loved how it, not only referenced what came before, but modeled itself on the 007 films of yesteryear while telling its own unique story.  Daniel Craig continues to be an excellent 007 and I selfishly hope with all my heart he doesn’t walk away from the series until after his contract his fulfilled with the next entry.  

I have a thing about not seeing movies twice on the big screen.  I do enjoy watching movies over and over again but I’d rather experience something new, good or bad, when making the effort to go to the big screen.  I eagerly await any reason to see this movie again theatrically.  

11.6.2015 9:45AM THE DAY AFTER.

Ugh It’s over. A year plus worth of anticipation and speculation, six weeks of planning, and 10 hours of slow cooking all came down to one incredible night.  I hope all those who came enjoyed themselves, at very least a fraction as much as I did.  

I’m gonna be honest, and this may be a bit on the brutal side of things, but I’m a bit blue.  Not cause of the night or the movie, both of which were incredible.  It’s over and I don’t think I’m really ready to face that fact.  It’s hitting hard.  However I’ll always treasure the night we watched James Bond take on his foe known as Spectre.

The Emotions of my Movies.

With the start of October, 2015 will soon rapidly be drawing to a close.  I DO NOT WANT THIS TO HAPPEN, for one selfish reason.  That reason is the movies this year are to damn good.  I do cringe at the inevitability of the new year.

What makes these movies so good?  The roller coaster of emotions I’ve ridden while viewing them.  

Inside Out is a perfect example of a roller coaster of emotions.  No pun is intended here.  I cheered out loud when the protagonist’s journey came to an end.  Along the way I genuinely laughed in between moments of having a lump in my throat.

Happiness is a very powerful emotion and in my mind the most powerful.  Many films have brought me happiness this year.  Doing a midnight party for Avengers: Age of Ultron is still a high of happiness for me.  Same can be said for spending a weekend in February watching films like Dig Two Graves at the Nevermore festival.  Of course the happiness of emerging from my cocoon after the snow melted to go see McFarland USA with my mom goes without saying.  Having someone I know share in my movie going journeys is always happy.  This is more powerful then any prescription pill can ever achieve.  

Anxiety, of course, is also a very powerful emotion.  A pair of films that have yet to flicker across cinema screens currently are playing with this emotion.  Spectre (releasing11.6) and Star Wars: Episode VII: The Force Awakens (releasing 12.18) are those two titles.  I can’t currently say I’ve lost sleep over it but my stomach fills with butterflies when I read gossip or see an advertisement for each flick.  It’s a good kind of anxiety.

Excitement can be argued as more of a feeling but I in turn argue that feelings are on the same plain of emotions.  Action adventure films like Jurassic World, Furious 7, and Mad Max: Fury Road got that adrenaline pumping and excited me very much.  Not all the excitement came from action blockbusters.  The excitement of my annual Oscar party comes to mind.  As does standing in the lobby discussing indy films like Mr Holmes with those who just viewed the flick.  There’s a lot of excitement when seeing a documentary with a friend that fascinate both of you.  Seeing Spaceballs on the big screen was exciting as well.  It’s a personal favorite that I have viewed countless times on dvd and had the good fortune to see it big for the first time this past summer.

A few times this year I’ve gone to the movies to hide from the world.  Turning off my cell phone and being off the grid for a few hours is ok every now and then.  It gives me time to pull myself together and overcome whatever funk I maybe in at that particular moment.  It’s kind of like a reset to a baseline for me.  If it weren’t for moments like those I would not of seen some incredible films like Dope or Southpaw.

Movies can be a great place to celebrate, like seeing Jurassic World for a friends birthday (or Blackhat for mine).  They can be a place to mourn.  This year on the anniversary of my sisters passing I did a double feature of Everest and Black Mass.  It’s not the best way to remember a really good film but a powerful way to remember a really good film.  Sometimes even a necessity to get through a really hard time, even if you don’t want anyone to know what’s going on.  That happens.

So with that said dear readers the chair next to me will always be vacant for anyone wanting to go see a film.  You never know what emotion, good bad or indifferent, is going on as the cinema lights make their voyage across the gulf of the auditorium to dance upon the screen.

9.18.2015

There are life altering events in everyone’s life.  Some are for the better while others are for the worst, its all part of the yin and yang of life. In September of 2001, a week after the towers fell, I experienced one such event.  Every year for fourteen years now, I dread September.  Solely because of this event.  (I’m not going to put the event in writing.  I just don’t want to.  I’m sure the vast majority of those reading this blog do know.)  This event led to an eventual diagnosis of a heart disorder.  One that I tend to ignore more then pay attention to but that is a whole different topic of conversation and its one I intentionally am vague on.  

So back to the topic at hand.  9.18 is the anniversary of the before mentioned event.  I prefer to take the day off from work.  On this day there are years where I am perfectly fine and others where I am not.

This year I spent the morning with my mom, doing errands and what not.  Busy work that I enjoyed.  I had lunch with my cousin and chatted with my Dad on the phone.

Then came the part of the day I was both dreading and looking forward to at the same time.  It was the time I was by myself.  

So as always I found myself at the movies.  This year I did a double feature.  It started with an IMAX matinee of Everest and was bookended with the Johnny Depp gangster picture Black Mass.  I throughly enjoyed both movies, the ladder one more so.  More importantly I enjoyed and appreciated the distraction.  For not one but two features I got to hide behind the unfolding stories and live the lives of the characters on screen.  For that distraction on today of all days I am truly appreciative of being able to go to the movies.  

Had I seen these movies on any other day of the year I would of throughly enjoyed them.  Would I have enjoyed them as much?  The question of circumstance while watching movies is one I will have to address in another blog.  Right now though I am going to close my eyes and bond with their insides sleeping away the rest of this awful day.

My Movie Choices can be a reflection of my Mood

In good times and bad movies seem to be a constant baseline for me, especially this time of year.  I have my go to movies for both occasions, like a prescription only better.  Sometimes it seems nice not to go back and forth in selecting a title to watch, just grab something and view.

The James Bond franchise seem to go both ways for me.  It doesn’t matter which franchise entry goes in the player they all tend to do to the trick.  When I’m feeling super excited or feeling down in the dumps a 007 adventure always seems to be a good choice.  Sometimes one of these adventures can change a bad mood into a good one or keep a good one going.  Bond films are my favorite and that may contribute to being able to be go to films no matter what my mood.

Like Bond films Gattaca and Waking Ned Devine, two films from almost twenty years ago, do the same trick.  They both help me turn a bad or down mood around as well as keep a good mood going.  Both films routinely top my all time favorites list.

Other films that tend to keep a good mood going, sometimes increase it, are slap stick comedies.  Airplane, The Naked Gun, Monty Python & the Holy Grail lead the pack in that regard.  Other films that tend to ride a good mood forward are horror flicks.  The Conjuring, The Haunting, The Shining among others help that movement.

Movies that make me think are also something I enjoy watching when in a really good mood.  Typically espoinage films like Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy and Zero Dark Thirty top this list.  Also films I find inspirational like Flight are good films for me to watch when in a good place.

Of course not every mood I have can be a winning one.  I do tend to have my down days.  Who doesn’t, right?  

When in comes time to veg out when having a bad day or a mood that’s down action flicks tend to help turn a frown upside down.  Top Gun, The Rock, The Fugitive are a few that are reliable in turning things around.  When I’m just not feeling myself monster movies tend to help a little.  Jurassic Park (which is also a go to for a rainy day) and the classic Godzilla battle films tend to help.  Also something just minding numbing like Uncle Buck or Tommy Boy tend to do the trick. 

Regardless of the mood I always find it nice to revisit a flick that I haven’t seen in a while.  War Games most recently was one I pulled off the shelf and wiped the dust off.  It made my day to watch this one again.  The feeling was almost like hearing from a good friend.

Either way it’s hard to beat a really good prescribed movie for any high or low that life produces.

2015: The Summer Film Season.

The long days of summer are beginning to yield.  This will soon usher in long nights, cold weather, and the flicks of fall.  Though there are many releases I am looking forward to seeing but right now let’s look back at the summer of features that was 2015.

The summer movie season started out with a bang.  I welcomed the season with a midnight movie party for Avengers: Age of Ultron.  This was a movie I was excited to see but it didn’t top my list of must sees for this year or even this summer.  It was a magical night with friends and family.  It was a night I’m glad I put together.

Mad Max:Fury Road and Jurassic World were my favorite blockbusters of the season.  Mad Max: Fury Road was above and beyond what I was expecting it to be.  I went in with low expectations, basically a run of the mill low thrill action flick.  I was more then surprised to get an incredible movie.  For two hours I held my breath in anticipation of what will be next.  Jurassic World was FUN.  Dinosaurs chasing people, people hunting dinosaurs, and some new creations that made the thrills exciting.

The summer had some pretty good blockbusters anchoring its resume.  Terminator: Genisys, Mission Impossible Rogue Nation, and San Andreas top that list.

There are two films this summer that should be creating some pretty tight competition at the academy awards.  Those two films Love & Mercy and Inside Out.  Love & Mercy was anchored by two great performances by John Cusack and Paul Dano.  Both played Brian Wilson in duel story lines at different parts in the musicians life.  The filmmakers intertwined both stories with ease and in the process crafted an incredible movie.  Yes Inside Out is a cartoon but that doesn’t stop it from being incredible.  It’s a film that I found easily relatable after going through puberty.  The combination of a strong story and fantastic animation raised the already high bar for Pixar movies.

There were some great non blockbuster films this summer as well.  Dope, Mr Holmes, Straight Outta Compton, and Me & Earl & the Dying Girl all gems to see.  

I can’t leave out a pair of documentaries: The Wolfpack and Amy.  Both were fascinating films capturing fascinating subjects.  Both are also must sees if given the opportunity.

Of course not all films can be winners.  Pixels once again asks the question why Adam Sandler still makes movies.  In the past decade I’ve enjoyed only one of his films and lost interest in a lot of his work that made me a fan when I was a younger version of myself.  A horror flick titled The Gallows wasn’t a winner either but it did advertise the upcoming The Visit, which looks great.  The new Fantastic Four wasn’t much to speak of as well.

With all that said I’m going to miss the summer blockbuster season but I look forward to the Oscar bait to be released this fall.  Of course the closing of the summer means I’m that much closer to seeing the new 007 flick Spectre.  Good times were had and lay ahead.

Happy Birthday Mr Rocky Horror

There’s a tradition I like to participate.  I get dressed up, make my way to the affair, and participate by singing the songs and the wisdom of the elders.  Sound a little like going to church?  This is something a little less formal but with the same concept.  Of course I’m talking about The Rocky Horror Picture Show.

The film is now forty years old, making it eleven years older then yours truly.

I first became acquainted with the film some years back while watching TV.  If memory serves correctly it was some sort of behind the scenes on the film.  From that moment forward I was hooked and I hadn’t even seen the film.  

The spring of my high school sophomore year that changed.  Over a decade later I still don’t know what possessed my mother to take me to a midnight showing of Rocky Horror.  (Regardless I still remain appreciative of this jester and thankful to have such an awesome mom).  I don’t recall ever telling her but that night remains one of my personal favorites.

I was so excited to go that I just couldn’t hide it.  The friday, filled with the normal routing of classes, seemed to go by slowly, like a child eagerly waiting for the spoils of Christmas morning.  Eventually dinner was devoured and we were on the road.  That was one long car ride to the movie theater all those miles away.  With ticket in hand I sat down.  

Then, oh boy, the festivities began.  When I was brought up to the front to take part in the right of passage my thoughts were something to the extent of what the hell have I gotten myself into?  After all I had a V put on my forehead in lipstick, a badge of pride by the end of the night, and I was doing a socially accepted pelvic thrust.  At this point I would like to remind you that my mother was in the auditorium.  I then rejoined her side and the house lights dimmed.  I would say it started but really it continued with the starting of the film.  

I WAS AND REMAIN TO THIS DAY HOOKED!

Through the course of the following 100 minutes I sang, danced, and yes took a few steps to the right after jumping to the left.

Of course I learned a few things watching this movie.  I learned more about homosexuality and this was my first time I became aware of transexuals.  What a way to broaden my horizons.

Since my awakening that Friday night many years ago I have purchased the DVD of Rocky Horror and it’s sequel Shock Treatment.  I watch Rocky Horror with some frequency and on occasion still attend the midnight movie madness.  Each time is a unique experience but pales in comparison to the night I lost my Rocky Horror virginity.

Thank you mom for taking me to the movies that night.

A letter from my Inner Fanboy

Dear Blogger Readers.

Thank you for stopping by and reading this entry.  This blog is not being written by Will himself but rather me, his inner fan boy.

Did you pause? Comic con was a few weeks ago with their pop culture extravaganza announcements.  Disney’s expo is next month with a scheduled Star Wars presentation.  The question is why am I geeking out today?

The answer is the debut of the full length trailer for Spectre.  I know people who get excited for the comic book movies and to an extent I do as well.  However they interest me more as event cinema and I am excited for Star Wars.  After all though none of those hold a flame to the greatest spy Mr James Bond.

I stayed up way to late to watch the debut of the trailer.  It came online at approx 3am.  Why 3 am?  That’s because it made its debut in the UK at 8am local time.  Time traveling back the five hour time difference makes it 3 am here in North Carolina.

I must of watched it half a dozen times before turning off the computer and bonding with the inside of my eye lids.

I loved everything about the trailer.  I love that it featured appearances from the new M, Moneypenny, & Q and of course show cased the return of Daniel Craig as the super spy.  The action teases where excited me as well.  The return of Sam Mendez (Skyfall) to the directors chair tells me he knows what he is doing.

This one features plenty of homages to the 007 features of yesteryear.  Live & Let Die and The Man with the Golden Gun were both represented.  They are my two favorites of the Roger Moore era.  The music was a slight remix of the music from On Her Majesty’s Secret Service, my favorite film in the history of the fifty plus year franchise.  Also Daniel Craig sported the same tux style that Sean Connery did in Diamonds are Forever.  Exciting!!

Then of course there is SPECTRE itself.  The organization returns for the first time since Sean Connery was being tailored for the Bond tux.  The film looks to continue to explore the past of Bond.  It makes since that the organization bent on world domination would return. 

I conclude with Christoph Waltz.  He was featured more in this trailer.  It’s perfect casting him as a Bond villain.  Time will tell if he will be portraying the ultimate nemesis Blofeld.

Is it Nov 6 yet?

Sincerely 

Will’s inner fanboy.

Cinematic Changes of Taste

While hosting the 77th Annual Academy Awards Chris Rock stated in his opening remarks “Remember when you were young and every movie was magical, every movie was great?  Then you grow up and realize Rocky V sucked.”  I stumbled upon this quote recently while watching Oscar clips on youtube.  It got me thinking about how my tastes have changed over the years, in particular how they’ve changed since I was a smaller, but just as cute and charming, version of myself.

Let’s get the embarrassing fact that a smaller, more naive, version of the author of this piece, once enjoyed Star Wars: Episode I: The Phantom Menace.  I still had high school on the horizon was somewhere around the starting line of puberty.  Ok no more excuses just know that I've since come to my senses. 

Other then coming into my own about what a bad movie that was The Phantom Menace, how else have my tastes changed?  Movies such as Back to the Future part III(not the first two just number three), EdTV, and the 1996 release of The Island of Dr Moreau no longer their flame in my eyes glaze.  Even Robin Williams, my hero of film, was in Flubber, a movie for which I have long lost my fondness.  However with that title I do have the poster autographed by the legend himself.  That point of pride will never change.  In some cases it’s probably for the best I have moved forward with my tastes.

On another side of the coin there are movies that still hold my attention and hold it well.  Somewhere around the same time as The Phantom Menace release a little comedy called Waking Ned Devine hit screens.  I pull my dvd off the shelf and giggle with anticipation of watching it.  It was also my awkward middle school days were I developed my man crush on the James Bond franchise.  The love for those films hasn’t weakened by time but rather strengthened.  Even movies from when I was a little Will still are great to rewatch.  Examples include the original War of the Worlds, Ghostbusters, The Princess Bride, and yup yup yup The Land Before Time.

I’ve also grown to appreciate such fine films as Jaws, Alien, and pretty much most of the Coen brothers resume.  

In the end changing cinematic tastes is a natural part of my life and seems to change with different phases of life.  I look forward to those tastes continuing to evolve with the untold chapters of life yet to live.

My Annual Mid Year Movie Ramble: 2015 edition

Are you staying cool, in this June heat, dear readers?  I hope so.  I’m eagerly awaiting the long, cold filled nights of fall.  Not only because I CAN’T STAND the heat but it also means the release of not one but two major films I am excited to see.  (Excited is the wrong word, anxiety riddled maybe more fitting).  Those two releases are, of course, Spectre and Star Wars: Episode VII: The Force Awakens.

But that’s for tomorrow.  After all this is my mid year ramble, a chance where I rewind on the last half year of movies seen.

I’ve enjoyed seeing a wide variety of films, some better then others.  

Let’s start from the beginning.  Blackhat being the first film of 2015 that really caused me to fall in love with this years flicks.  To be fair it opened my birthday weekend and I had one hell of a time putting on my own birthday party, which concluded with the late night Saturday showing.

Kingsman: The Secret Service was one of the most fun films I have seen this year.  The early February release was two hours of good times.  I do recommend seeing this one with a group, because it plays well with a crowd.

The cold nights of winter turned into a few days of revisiting some old favorites on DVD when the snow fell.  The original Shaft, Land Before Time, and Les Miserables all rewatched with much enthusiasm.  By the time cabin fever set in I was watching Stanley Kubrick’s immortal The Shining.  It was not the best choice in the world to watch but one I strongly stand behind.

The snow melted away and the Nevermore festival came to town.  Dig Two Graves easily the best film of the festival.

Of course this meant it was also time for my annual Oscar party.  What a night that was.  This years was the biggest and best yet.  A huge crowd of people came and seemed to enjoy themselves.  Over all I agreed with most the winning titles.  Yes to Birdman winning best picture.  Yes to American Sniper being nominated.  No to Citizen Four becoming an academy award winning documentary.  That’s more of my personal feelings to its subject matter.  It is a film I refuse to see.

Moving forward.  March brought a lovely sci-fi film called Chappie.  Also What We Do in the Shadows arrived this past March.  That was one I can’t wait to see again on DVD.  I missed parts of it laughing at some of the greatest jokes in recent cinema.  I regret not seeing it again on the big screen.

Furious 7 then rolled in to theaters in early April.  What a blast to watch.  Again made better with a crowd.  Ex Machina also came out in April and that is a must see for any film lover, sci-fi fan, and/or philosophy major.  April also brought The Age of Adaline.  I was surprised at how much I enjoyed that flick.  I was expecting it to insult my intelligence more but it didn’t.  The film also had a lot of charm to it.

Summer kicked off strong with a midnight release of Avengers: Age of Ultron.  I love hanging out with good people, eating good food, and seeing good movies.  That night I got to do all of the above.

The summer’s been awesome with releases such as Spy, Jurassic World, Pitch Perfect 2 (yes you read the right move on), Insidious Chapter 3, and Mad Max Fury Road.  

I can’t wait to see what the rest of the year brings and hey let’s go to the movies.

Curveball

I watched a movie that seems like an oddball choice for me to watch.  The movie, Life Itself, is a movie about the grand daddy of film critics: Roger Ebert.

I’ve made no secret how I feel about what film critics do.  I feel pretty strongly about it in fact.  I’m going to see a flick regardless of reviews and feel confident enough to know what I liked or disliked about a movie.  I get insulted when it’s pointed out to me before I see a flick.

So with that said why on earth would I want to see Life Itself? 

I found his back ground interesting but found an underlying theme in the film relatable.  This is a movie about a guy who loved the movies and I love the movies.  

I probably love the movies more then I should. (To be honest I feel that point is somewhere more towards the dependency side of things.)  The documentary shows how Ebert loved a large variety of movies.  I to share a love a large variety of movies.  I don’t know many more people that will be enthusiastic about Oscar contenders, such as Boyhood and The Grand Budapest Hotel, and then flip the coin to enthusiastically enjoy Roger Corman’s Piranha.

Another point really attracted me within the movie.

I go to watch a story about an interesting human being.  His story fascinated me with its ups and downs.  It had a some what underdog feel to it and I am a sucker for a good underdog story.

I feel pretty confident that those two major facts is what drew me in to enjoying a movie about a film critic.

If you’ve seen it let me know your thoughts and if you’re interested in watching it please borrow my copy so we can discuss it.

What movies do you get excited for?

This weekend marks the release of the first of a trilogy of movies, that I am excited above all else to see.  San Andreas has made its way to my local multiplex.  The other two films are Jurassic World and Inside Out.  Of course there are other movies that I want to see this summer but none more then these three.  (As a side note it should go without saying that the November release of Spectre is the one film above all else that I am eagerly awaiting).  

What makes San Andreas stand out?  After all Jurassic World has the nostalgic factor going for it and Inside Out is the latest Pixar movie.  Pixar has never made a bad movie and they always entertain me beyond words.  Sure I enjoy mindlessness in my film from time to time.  I REALLY enjoy that adrenaline rush, that’s a natural high for me.  In my cinema I enjoy watching things go to hell and back.  To balance that I love a good hero moment.  I love a stupid one liners and corny bits of heroic dialogue.  That what makes San Andreas stand out for me.

But the bigger question I have is what movies do you truly get you excited?

I’m not going to lie there have been some nights I have not slept in anticipation of going to see a certain movie the following day/evening.

James Bond films do this for me.  Far above all else in the history of cinema the 007 franchise is my favorite.  In part its because my fantasy life is that of a military intelligence operative, like Bond.  I’m a social creature who enjoys non holiday traditions and Bond more then fulfills that need.  I love the history of the franchise and how wrapped up in itself it is.  The films are filled with many moments of triumph where the good overcomes the obstacles of evil.  Goldeneye being a particular favorite in the triumph over evil department.  There are also moments of true heart break.  The endings to both On Her Majesty’s Secret Service and Skyfall still put a lump in my throat.  Many memories, good & bad, surround film in general but growing up learning about 007 flicks stand above the crowd.  James Bond films are the north star of my cinematic world.

So I ask you again what movies do you get truly excited for?  Please feel free to respond either publicly or privately.  I always love hearing from readers.

A Personal Note on Avengers: Age of Ultron

It’s just past four in the morning on Friday May First.  Don’t worry dear bloggers I am not  having sleeping troubles at the moment and will soon be whisked away to be reacquainted with the inside of my eye lids.  I just have a bit on my mind I want to get down before calling it a night.

It’s opening night!!  Stereotypically that is a sports thing.  I’m using it in terms of its opening weekend at the summer box office.  This is an enjoyable time of year, during the next few months the mega film blockbusters arrive at multiplexes in your neighborhood.  I always look forward to this time of year and like to mark the occasion. 

This year I marked it with one of my favorite activities, a midnight movie party. (A side tangent: I can’t stand the pre midnight openings such as 7:00 pm.  The purist in me says it has to be midnight.  When I have to be I try to be flexible but its not the same.  The wonderment gets lost). Friends and family gathered for an ambitious menu of carolina style pulled pork BBQ.  I even made first ever home made mac n’ cheese.  We ate in merriment before going to see Avengers: Age of Ultron.  A highly awesome movie in my opinion and those who joined me for the film seemed to be of the same mind set.

However this is not a review of the film.  On the way home this wet evening a George Strait song came on the radio.  Its one I’ve heard dozens of times before but this time was taken back by a bit of the chorus.  The bit of the chorus being “It’s not the breath you take, the breathing in and out that gets you through the day, it’s the moments that take your breath away.”

Tonight, and reflecting back night’s like tonight, have truly done that very sentiment.  I would have seen the movie regardless and would of enjoyed it.  Not as much but still would of highly enjoyed watching it.  This night was never about seeing the movie.  It was about the people who came and the time spent together.  Yes I am going to remember the movie but more importantly I’m going to remember crowding around my small kitchen table talking about books, movies, and life with friends and family.  I’m going to remember piling in and out of my jeep to get to and from the theater.  I’ll treasure the 142 moments shared watching the movie with everyone.  I smiled the whole drive back to my apartment with friends.  I’ll treasure moments driving a good friend home as well.  I don’t want this evening to end but I know it must.  That’s just the way it is.  What I’m left with is a feeling of true happiness.  Moments like this have gotten me through some pretty bad times and those pretty bad times only reinforce how much I treasure nights like tonight.

To all who came thank you.

A Bit on my Movie Going Habits

It’s no secret that I like more movies then I dislike.  Even in movies I don’t like I tend to gravitate towards something and isolate a bit I enjoy.  However there are those rarities where there is nothing that I enjoy.  The musical Into the Woods is a prime example of that.

However there are a variety of reasons I go to see a movie.  Some are as basic as I got a few hours to kill and while others simply look like they will entertain me (Furious 7).  Sometimes I need to hide from the world for a few hours to regroup.  Sometimes a friend really wants to see a specific movie and I want to hang out.  This is why I saw Into the Woods.  I’m an awards season junkie so movies gaining awards season traction tend to attract me as well.  I doubt I would of seen 12 Years A Slave otherwise.  I enjoy seeing issue movies and the documentary genre appeals to this level of cinema goer in me.  Sometimes I go to take a nostalgia trip back to a younger version of myself.  In addition to being highly entertaining The Lego Movie filled this need.  

Other times I go because a movie is a favorite of mine.  The latest James Bond entry and reparatory cinema is how this void gets filled.  Also watching dvds.

One reason I go to the movies is to remember times lost.  A big regret of mine is not being able to enlist in the Marine Corps.  Military movies like Lone Survivor and American Sniper fill this tremendously.  (Yes I also make a point to donate to programs like toys for tots).

I enjoy a mental stimulation with a bit of life discussion in my movies.  Oddly I tend to find this in science fiction.  Not so much Aliens & Star Wars, which are fine films, but movies like Inception.

Tonight I saw a movie that was just that: A mental stimulation with a bit of life discussion.  The film is Ex Machina.  The story was simple and went in directions I was not expecting.  But that’s for a review.  I enjoyed having my mind challenged.  Ex Machina is one that will be mulled over for days to come.

So in the mean time I look forward to whatever reason drives me to walk through the doors of the local theaters.

What memories do your movies tell?

What do you remember about going to the movies?  I’m not referring to what rom-com or action blockbuster you recently went to see.  I’m referring to first times and memories made.

Reflecting on it I remember many firsts.  I don’t remember the first time I went to the movies but I’m told that it was with my grandmother to see Bambi.  However, I remember going to see Baby’s Day Out, just the two of us, years later.  It was when I went to stay a week with her and just her.  

I remember going to the Ram’s Plaza, back when there was such a movie theater, to see my first R rated movie.  The flick was Air Force One and to this day I remember how  excited I was to finally get to see a grown up movie.  To this day it still remains one of my favorites.  While reminiscing about the Ram’s Plaza I greatly patroning their auditoriums seeing my first 007 mission,Tomorrow Never Dies, on the big screen.  This changed my movie world forever.  I will forever hold seeing each additional bond entry to date with friends and family.  In fact, I am eagerly awaiting the release of the next Bond adventure, Spectre, later this year.  More importantly I look forward to seeing it with friends and family.

I fondly remember a rainy weekend afternoon going to the Timberlyne movie theater to see Gattaca, with a friend who grew up with me.  After almost twenty years this still remains my favorite movie.  A few years prior, with the same friend, I remember going to  see Batman Forever, my first movie I saw without my parents.

I remember falling in love with science fiction movies while watching Contact, with my family.  Also I remember why I love science fiction movies many years later while attending a double feature with two of my dearest friends.  The double feature was the original Planet of the Apes, staring Charlton Heston, and was followed by Stanley Kubrick’s beautiful genre defining 2001: A Space Odyssey.  In fact, for Christmas, they dedicated the Planet of the Apes screening for me.  I still have the pamphlet telling me that on display by my television.  It’s an extension of my Planet of the Apes memorabilia I have at home,

But there is more then firsts to remember.  At a screening of The Incredibles, over the Thanksgiving holiday, was the first time I kissed a girl.  Hell rewinding the clock back to the summer before when King Arthur opened.  I went on my very first date.  Two separate girls, just in case you where curious dear reader.  I’m smiling remembering both times with a smile on my face.

Friendships have been made and others made stronger at the movies.  People have come and gone from my life intertwined with a visit to the local multiplex.

After my sister passed I remember going to see Zoolander at the Varsity on Franklin St.  I remember how good it felt to laugh.

For years my great uncle and I would go to the movies.  I learned a lot from our trips to the movies and a lot more about life.  I really loved getting to know great uncle.  I still treasure these little moments, watching images move across the screen.  If it wasn’t for him I wouldn’t be as a big fan as I am of the Academy Awards.  Our big thing to do together was watch the movies gaining traction for the nominations and after the nominations were announced seeing the movies we had not seen.  Nomination morning was always a favorite for us both.

After his passing I mourned by going to a double feature.  I started by going to see Charlie Bartlett and wasn’t anywhere ready to be home.  I wanted, needed to come to terms with his passing in my own way.  Of course that way was going to our favorite theater and seeing In Bruges.  Of course picking up a sandwich on the way back, like we did many times, also helped me.  Looking back at that day I continue to realize how much I miss him and want to rewatch both those movies in his honor.

Reflecting back on the opening of the entry it’s about life.  What moments, whether its a first time, a good time, or something else, do you relate to the movies?

MY SUMMER 2015 FILM FORECAST

It’s the middle of March and the warm is beginning to arrive.  I’ve started to get ancy for the outdoor swimming pool and being able to grill.  I won’t miss the cold nor welcome its willing replacement, the heat.  However I do eagerly look forward to the summer movie season, when the studios fire off as many of their big time fireworks as they can.

Before the summer officially gets underway in May the remaining weeks that make up March and April bring a few exciting flicks for the preseason warm up.  Sean Penn, Javier Bardem, and once potential 007 Idris Elba team up for the action thriller The Gunman.  Following in early April Furious 7 comes roaring into cinemas.  Fast & Furious 6 was easily the best film of summer 2013 for me and like a fine wine this franchise has benefited from time.  No doubt there will be others to see in the preseason but those two I look forward to the most.  

Opening night this year will be Avengers: Age of Ultron.  YES THERE WILL BE A MIDNIGHT SHOWING.  Yes I have tickets and am planning the event to mark the occasion.  (As a side note midnight showings have been a thing or rarity being replaced by the earlier, more aggravating ten or so pm showings.  I am a fan of the superhero genre but it breaks my heart that there is a strong chance that the November release of Spectre, the latest 007 entry, won’t have a midnight release.)

Summer season 2015 looks like it will have its normal bombardment of sequels.  Jurassic World, Terminator: Genisys (aka Terminator: The Greatest Hits), Ted 2, Mission Impossible 5, and the creepfest Insidious Chapter 3 rank among this years sequels that excite me.

More exciting to me are the two major animation releases this summer, Minions and Inside Out.  Minions being a spin off of Despicable Me and will follow the little yellow guys in their first big screen feature solo outing.  Inside Out is the latest from Pixar.  Pixar Studios have never made a bad film and it will be two years since their last release, Monsters University, was released for my viewing pleasure.

On the subject of family fair, Pan looks like it could be a fantastic movie.  The movie looks to serve as an origin story for Peter Pan and will feature Hugh Jackman as Blackbeard.

I’ll see Ant Man.  I’m kind of on the fence about it because I don’t know a whole lot about the character nor this comic in particular.  I had a very similar mind set to last year’s Guardians of the Galaxy.  That movie reminded me how much fun I have going to the movies and for that reason I look forward to seeing Ant Man.

Aloha looks like a nice main stream alternative to the big action spectacles, not to mention a really exciting cast.  I’m sure there will be some indy films that will provide the same kind of excitement for me when they are released.

I end my ramble with a question: Why is it necessary to release a remake of Poltergeist? The first one was pretty damn near perfect as it stands now.

My Academy Awards Wrap Up

This past weekend my annual Oscar party went off without a hitch.  This was number twelve.  Twelve consecutive years doing the party and it has been a great twelve years worth of celebrating movies.  

The first awarded basket of the night.

This year was no exception.  The party started at its normal time with ballots being filled and food being grazed upon.  Once party goers got comfortable the trivia games started.  Prior to Neil Patrick Harris’ brilliant opening number and the first Oscar was handed out approx. half a dozen trivia games had been won with their prize baskets awarded.  Many more would be won during the course of the night.  The three balloted contests, the prediction contests, were judged after the party and prizes awarded the day after.

During the course of the evening everyone cheered for their favorite movies and appeared to be having a great time.  Regardless I did.  It was a years worth of work ending in one spectacular evening.  It was a years worth of gathering prizes, researching trivia, designing envelopes, mass printing ballots, and of course seeing the movies.  It was well worth it.

Me preparing to give a prize.

The telecast itself was incredible.  Neil Patrick Harris was a natural as host.  I can not speak enough at how much I loved him.  He was a true showman, singing, dancing, and telling a classy joke.  I eagerly await his return to this position.  I love that Robin Williams was quoted during the presentation of the first award, supporting actor.  The quote was “Your only given a little spark of madness, you mustn’t loose it” and it is truly a great quote.  

There were many moving speeches including Patricia Arquette’s acceptance speech for supporting actress for Boyhood.  The most moving speech was the recipient of the adapted screenplay award for The Imitation Game.  I loved how he spoke about staying true to oneself.

I was thrilled with many of the winners.  Birdman was a brilliant movie and well deserved champion in the best picture category.  I had it on my prediction ballot taking the big victory, secretly hoping American Sniper would win.  It was a powerful and engaging movie that looked at multiple aspects of war.  Not only did the film explore the battlefield but also explored the pain that the battlefield causes on those fighting the war and those loved ones of the troops.

I walked out of Boyhood saying Patricia Arquette would win supporting actress for her performance and it was a well deserved victory. 

Interstellar was my favorite film of 2014 and I was glad to see it take home the visual effects award.

The only award I was really disappointed in was the documentary feature category.  Citizen Four took home the award.  I refuse to see this movie based upon what it is about.  Not only that but Finding Vivian Maier was incredible movie about a truly fascinating character.  One out of twenty one awards, I can’t complain about though.  (There are twenty four awards I’m subtracting the three short film categories because I don’t follow short films.)

For those who attended the party and filled out the ballots the Shoulda/Woulda/Coulda and 2014@the movies nominees lists are below.  The winners are in red.

SHOULDA/WOULDA/COULDA NOMINEES

The night goes on and on and on...

PICTURE: Gone Girl, The Homesman, Interstellar, A Most Wanted Man, Nightcrawler, Pride, Unbroken
ACTOR: Ben Affleck Gone Girl, Jake Gyllenhaal Nightcrawler, Philip Seymour Hoffman Most Wanted Man, David Oyelowo Selma 

ACTRESS: Scarlett Johannson Under the Skin, Gugu Mbatha-Raw Belle, Hilary Swank The Homesman

DIRECTOR: David Fincher Gone Girl, Angelina Jolie Unbroken, Christopher Nolan Interstellar

SUPP. ACTOR: Neil Patrick Harris Gone Girl, Bill Nighy Pride, Alfred Molina Love Is Strange

SUPP. ACTRESS: Jessica Chastain Interstellar, Melissa McCarthy St Vincent, Imelda Staunton Pride

ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY: Chef, Interstellar,  The Lego Movie, Pride,  Selma, St Vincent
ADAPTED SCREENPLAY: Gone Girl, Guardians of the Galaxy, The Homesman, A Most Wanted Man, Unbroken

DOCUMENTARY: Art & Craft, Bears, Elaine Stritch: Shoot Me, Fed Up, Tim’s Vermeer, Unknown Known

ANIMATED FEATURE: The Book of Life, The Lego Movie,  The Nut Job, Mr Peabody & Sherman

FOREIGN FILM: The Admiral: Roaring Currents (South Korea), Chinese Puzzle (France), The Lunchbox (India), The Raid 2 (Indonesia)

2014 @ THE MOVIES NOMINEES

WORST FILM: Annie, The Hobbit 3, The Identical, In Secret, Le-Weekend, Ride Along,Transformers 4
PREQUEL/SEQUEL:300:Rise of an Empire, Annabelle, Dawn of the Planet of the Apes, Jack Ryan, Trip to Italy

DRAMA: Boyhood, The Drop, Gone Girl, Kill The Messenger, The Homesman, The Imitation Game, A Most Wanted Man, Selma

COMEDY:22 Jump St, Chef, Grand Budapest Hotel, Million Ways to Die in the West, St Vincent, Trip To Italy

SCI-FI: Dawn of the Planet of the Apes, Guardians of the Galaxy, Interstellar, The Last Days on Mars,The Signal, Under the Skin

HORROR: Annabelle, As Above So Below, Deliver Us From Evil, Haunt, Open Grave, The Quiet Ones

Putting things together.

INDY FILM: Chef, The Grand Budapest Hotel, I Origins, Land Ho, Pride, The Trip to Italy, Under the Skin

FAMILY FLICK: Draft Day, Hundred Foot Journey, Maleficent, Muppets Most Wanted, Night at the Museum 3 

FIGHT: Navy Battle The Admiral:Roaring Currents, San Francisco battle Dawn of the Planet of the Apes,Stallone V Mel Gibson The Expendables 3, Godzilla v both Muto: final showdown Godzilla, Batman V Bad Cop Lego Movie

HERO: Andrew Garfield The Amazing Spiderman 2, Chris Evans Captain America2, Chris Pine Jack Ryan

SIDEKICK: Kevin Costner Jack Ryan, Scarlett Johansson Captain America 2, Robin Williams Night at the Museum 3

VILLAIN: Kenneth Branagh Jack Ryan, Jamie Foxx Amazing Spiderman 2, Eva Green 300 Rise of An Empire

MUSIC (soundtrack OR score): Boyhood, Chef, Get on Up, Guardians of the Galaxy, Jersey Boys, Whiplash

ENSEMBLE: Birdman, Chef, Gone Girl, Grand Budapest Hotel, The Homesman, Interstellar,  Monuments Men, Selma

VOICEOVER: Vin Diesel Guardians of the Galaxy, Michael Keaton Birdman, Andy Serkis Dawn of the Planet of the Apes

KISS: Andrew Garfield/Emma Stone Amazing Spiderman 2, Andy Serkis/Judy Greer Dawn of the Planet of the Apes, Aaron Taylor Johnson/Elizabeth Olsen Godzilla, Jon Hamm/Lake Bell Million Dollar Arm

FINAL PERFORMANCE: James Gandolfini Drop, Phillip Seymour Hoffman Most Wanted Man, Robin Williams Night at the Museum 3

TRUE LIFE PERFORMANCE: Chadwick Boseman Get On Up, Benedict Cumberbatch Imitation Game, Bill Nighy Pride

CAMEO: Matt Damon Interstellar, Christopher Lloyd Million Ways to Die in the West, Mickey Rouney Night at the Musuem 3

LINE: ‘‘After all its 1959 we still think Liberace is theatrical’ Jersey Boys, ‘Come with me if you want not to die’ Lego Movie, ‘We were born on Earth, we were never meant to die here’ Interstellar

CGI CHARACTER: Caesar Dawn of the Planet of the Apes, Godzilla Godzilla, Groot Guardians of the Galaxy, Tars Interstellar

REVIVAL: Monty Python & the Holy Grail(75) Rocky Horror Picture Show(75) Jaws(75) Ghostbusters(84)