Review: A Most Violent Year (2014)

"A Most Violent Year" is a throw back film that can be embraced with open arms. Writer-director J.C. Chandor puts forth a character-driven melodrama that thankfully lacks predictability and includes great dialogue.

Set in New York City in 1981, the film explores the difficulty of keeping violence at bay and begs the question of whether or not it takes more strength to not pull the trigger than to pull it. Is reigning in the desire to lash out when you think you're losing the war really the most difficult part of the battle?

Oscar Isaac delivers a fantastic performance as Abel Morales, a Latin immigrant who started at the bottom and has grown into an upwardly mobile businessman. All he wants is to achieve his version of the American Dream while keeping hold of what he believes is right.

Jessica Chastain also brings a complex character to the table with her portrayal of Anna Morales, daughter of a Brooklyn gangster, wife to Abel and mother to their three daughters. She's tough and she displays that not all wives with husbands in questionable businesses are oblivious to what's going on. Some wives actually do the book cooking themselves. 

The dynamic between Isaac and Chastain is so believable and interesting to watch as they both battle and balance one another. Abel may be Latino and Anna a blonde Caucasian, but they are no Tony Montana and Elvira Hancock. They are a true power couple and this is a film to see. 

Chandor says that he has ideas for a trilogy that details more adventures from Abel and Anna and if they are anything like this film, movie lovers should be happy to hear it.*

Nikita's Rating: 3.5/4

*Source: http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/movies/la-et-mn-most-violent-year-review-20141231-column.html

Review: ABC's TGIT

Shonda Rhimes has started another season of pulling at our heart strings and making us rush to fill our anxiety med prescriptions. Or, at least that's what we're hoping for in the long run. Last night, her three shows had their season premieres and America was there to watch. I only watched two of the premieres (Scandal and How To Get Away With Murder) because I am a rebel. Below are my reviews:

Shonda Rhimes begins this season of Scandal by showing us where Olivia and Jake have been hiding away since they left DC. They are on an island that's not on any map where expensive wines can be delivered. The entire viewing audience was most likely envious at this point as opposed to just the heterosexual female portion of the audience that was wondering where their Jake hiding. The two soon find reason to leave their island oasis when Olivia learns that Harrison is dead (much like Columbus Short's career at this point. Let us take a moment... ok).

Olivia proceeds to speak/argue with her old associates who have scattered since her disappearance. Gladiators without a leader are apparently no gladiators at all. Fitz is doing whatever he wants politically (i.e., firing cabinet members and choosing a Democrat for Attorney General) and Mellie is mourning the death of their son in a way that involves wearing a bathrobe everyday. Needless to say, everyone is a mess. Especially Cyrus, who without his more stylish husband has gotten himself the worst haircut ever.

The episode ends with Harrison's funeral and the band getting back together (well, most of the band). David is made the new Attorney General and Jake sees his island-dreams just disappear into the sunset. The episode wasn't life changing, but it was good to see Olivia with a case again. The show lost sight of that formula more than once in the last season. Also, there is no Fitz/Olivia drama in the episode. That is most likely so Shonda can whack us all over the head in a couple of episodes.

::raises glass:: To a season filled with wine, popcorn and the motto that there is always time for sex!

The pilot episode of How To Get Away With Murder premiered tonight and it wasn't everything that many were hoping for, but most likely viewers will be in their seats next week. Coming off of the not-so-high high of the Scandal premiere, viewers met Annalise Keating (Viola Davis), defense attorney and criminal law professor at Middleton Law School. The show begins with four of Keating's students trying to figure out how to get away with a murder they've committed (or so the audience must figure when one of them is holding a bloody figurine and they're discussing getting rid of a body). The audience is then taken 3 months into the past to the first day of Keating's class where she introduces a case of her's and we meet the five students she chooses to have as interns at her firm.

We have the cut-throats, Michaela Pratt (Aja Naomi King) and Connor Walsh (Jack Falahee), the obnoxious one, Asher Millstone (aka Orange is the New Black's Matt McGorry, the idealistic one, Laurel Castillo (Karla Souza), and the "good guy," Wes Gibbons (Alfred Enoch). They will most likely become much more layered just like there leader Keating who we, and Wes, find out is cheating on her husband seemingly because he is pressuring her about kids. 

By the end of the episode, we find out that the body of a missing student has been found, that the student was a student of Keating's husband (he's a psychology professor at Middleton), that Wes' neighbor is somehow involved because the missing/dead student's boyfriend is seen talking to her, and that the body the four law students are about to destroy is none other than Keating's husband. 

All of this should have added up to a blown mind, but for some reason it did not. May there is Shondaland desensitization going on, but despite Voila's great acting, a pretty interesting case and the body reveal, the pilot was amazing. Good, but not great. As with Scandal, this was not off of the charts fantastic, but the season is young and Shonda and her team always know how to wow us (or make us fall out of our seats). I like the premise of this show and I look forward to the rest of the season. Watch out Friday, Thursday is coming to get you.

Real Talk: Blackish Pilot

I'm going to start off by saying that I'm ok with being the bad guy (or in this case "bad girl"). It doesn't bother me. I'm pretty sure that it comes with the territory of being a critic. So, with that being sad, I am not in love with Blackish as yet. Here's why:

The first half of the show was spent trying entirely too hard to address "being Black" or "blackness" or whatever you may choose to call it. I wasn't with it though I understood why it was happening (the title of the show says it all). And, I understand that this was a pilot is at the end of the day. It's just a start.

The second half of the show had a much better flow and better discussion between characters. Andre (Anthony Anderson) coming to the realization that he dosen't have to "black it up" as Sasheer Zamata once put it in one of her stand-up routines was a great way to bring the episode to a close.

I think that this show has potential. I just refuse to jump on the bandwagon as yet. I wasn't doubled over in laughter, though Lawrence Fishburne's character was a source of a few chuckles, like some of the Twitter and Instagram universes. Let's see where this goes and be happy to have Tracee Ellis Ross back on TV for now.

Real Talk: Captain Phillips (2013)

This Golden Globe nominated, and now Academy Award nominated, film was, to put it plainly, really good. Captain Phillips (Tom Hanks) was just a guy doing his job who was put into a crazy, but not unknown, position. He had to protect his crew from Somalian pirates that had made their way on to his ship. He risked his life and in the end he and his crew got home safely. That is not to say that he wasn't affected by the experience or that a glimpse at the lives of some Somalians wasn't revealed. It is just to say that I hope to never be anywhere close to being in that position.

I decided to do a "real talk" instead of a review of this film because of a question one of my uncles asked me when I told him I'd seen it. He asked, "has this changed your view of Somali pirates?" I replied, "I didn't have a view of Somali pirates to begin with." Which, I didn't. Was I supposed to have a view? I knew that there were still pirates roaming the seas, but to me the notion of piracy had much more to do with stealing movies and music via the internet than with actual men on boats ransacking other men's boats (yes, I have revealed that I don't really think of pirates as being women. I blame Disney).

The question caused me to sit and think. Throughout the film, I did feel a bit sorry for the pirates. They weren't out there because they wanted to be; they were out there because they HAD to be out there. The safety of their people depended on being able to pay the brand of "pirates" we see at the very beginning of the film. Their backs were against a wall. However, I'd like to think of myself of someone who'd be strong enough to smash through said wall. Honestly, I don't know who's "right," but I appreciated director Paul Greengrass revealing both sides of the story and allowing the audience to see why those pirates were out there. This wasn't a matter of mere greed, but also one of survival.

Where is the line between right and wrong when your life and the lives of your loved ones are at stake? It does seem to become a bit blurred doesn't it? We're quite supportive of Liam Neeson taking out whoever's standing in the way of saving his daughter, but the pirate saying that he just wants the money and plans on hurting no one we find it a bit easier to lay blame upon. It's an interesting case to ponder. And once again, I'm glad that it is not my case to live.

If you haven't seen Captain Phillips, I highly suggest watching it. Make sure to section off a little think time afterward. It's good for you, I promise. Also, congratulations to Barkhad Abdi on his Oscar nomination.

Real Talk: Girls Season 3 Premiere

Girls is back! It premiered last night with a two-parter that brought us all up to speed with what's been going on with the four girls we aren't always sure we actually like. Hannah and Adam are back together, Shoshanna is actually seen at school and with a book, Marni has been abandoned by Charlie and Jessa is in rehab. I don't love it, but I sure don't completely hate it.

Let's start with the belle of the ball, Hannah. She got herself on meds, she's seeing a therapist and she's managed to mend things up with her editor. She's literally at the best spot she's been in since the show began. But, we all know that this can't last. No one ruins Hannah's life like Hannah though I'm sure she would place some blame on Adam. And, speaking of Adam, how has this man managed to be the wisest (and most honest) person on the show? If we lived life according to the tone Hannah has set for Millennials, we're all supposed to be friends with people we aren't interested in and entering into relationships in which we change ourselves for the other person. Sounds like an earthly version of hell if you ask me (and if you ask Adam). I am once again on this man's team. Also, let's give it up for the audience getting 27 minutes of screen time before Hannah's breasts appeared. This might be a record.

Being Mary Jane Season 1 Premiere

BET's Being Mary Jane had its season premiere last night at 10pm EST. The brainchild of Mara Brock Akil and directed by her husband Salim Akil, the show has been highly anticipated since its made-for-TV movie came out last summer and introduced audiences to Miss Mary Jane Paul (Gabrielle Union).

I was more than ready to watch this premiere despite some warning signals that went off in my head due to the movie. I want more black women on screen. The caveat is that I want them in roles that don't fall into the same recycled stereotypes that leave audiences, both black and white, with generalizations about an entire group of people. "Poor successful black women who can't find a man and will never have a family," is not exactly what I deem helpful. Is this a legitimate worry for some black women? Of course. Do I think that these portrayals sometimes exacerbate the worry. Yes, I very much do. But, I guess in the show's defense they did tell us that they weren't attempting to generalize (see the first minute of the movie).

I was entertained by what I saw. I am not denying that. However, I felt that I was watching some kind of mutant version of what I am calling the "Olivia Pope Complex." Mary Jane, like Olivia Pope, is very successful and on top of her game. If there's a scandal call Olivia, if there's a hurricane call Mary Jane. Both women have morals. Olivia has to make things right and Mary Jane voices her opinion without fear when she feels that something is wrong. They both even have Cryuses in their lives. Olivia's is actually named Cyrus. Mary Jane calls her's "Kara" aka her producer who might have just had the SNC audience watch the demise of an elderly couple in hopes of an Emmy nomination. Finally, both women are both sleeping with married men. Sure Olivia aimed all the way high and decided to sleep with the President of the United States, but Mary Jane didn't make too shabby a choice either. Affair anyone?

Some viewers probably feel that Mary Jane's life situations are more realistic than Olivia's and maybe this makes her an easier character with which to connect. But honestly, how many women in the audience are driving Porsches, living on small compounds and anchoring a news show? I guess we could ask Tamron Hall if she feels like the portrayal is accurate... I like seeing powerful black female characters. I'm just not sure if their given weakness in this instance bothers me on principle or because it feeds and further fuels a fear that is not the monster that it has been made out to be. I'm leaning towards the latter.

On a different note, I do appreciate the beautifully filmed sex scenes in the show. Too often sex scenes with black women are reminiscent of scenes from Baby Boy and only aid in further their gross hypersexualization. One would think black women incapable of "making love" from most portrayals. Gorgeous lighting and highlighting the beauty of the black female body is something that needs to be done more often.

My feelings toward the show at the moment can be verbalized as "ehhhhhh IIIIII mmmmm," which is about a step or two before a "no." I'm going to continue watching. I want to see where Mara Brock Akil is going with this character. I'm about 80% sure that it won't make me happy, but there's still a 20% that I could be wrong. I'll just have to watch and see.

Check out the season premiere if you haven't seen it and make sure to tune in to the next episode so you can form a more rounded opinion for yourself.

HBO's "Girls" Season 3 Trialer

"I hold the keys to the prison that is called my mind." -Hannah

Oh yea, Girls is coming back on January 12 with two back to back episodes. We will once again be delving into the lives of Hannah, Marni, Jessa and Shoshanna and all of the people who for some strange reason continue to deal with them. Below is the trailer: