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

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: Shortbus (2006)

I had never heard of the film 'Shortbus' before January, but since watching it I often reflect on the thoughts that the film evoked. Thoughts on how people can often feel alone despite being surrounded by hundreds of thousands of other people. Consideration about how communicating how we feel is not always as simple as speaking and reflections on how sex, intimacy, desire and the erotic are connected, but are not necessarily synonymous. The film is set in New York and focuses on group of people who are figuring out themselves and their romantic and sexual relationships as their lives converge at the Shortbus, an infamous underground salon that is full of music, art, carnality and conversation.

Directed and written by John Cameron Mitchell (for those of you who watch Girls he's the one who told Hannah that he wanted her write a book in a month an episode ago), 'Shortbus' is easily the film containing the most sex I have ever seen on screen. Its actors and actresses are actually having sex, which I thought would be distracting, but it wasn't. It took a backseat to the issues the film discussed and the thoughts the work provoked. I don't want to ruin this story for you and I do want to make sure to let you all know that if you aren't okay with watching sex that this is not the film for you. However, I do think that this is a film to watch and to think about. I will be adding this film to my collection (but I will probably have to hide it a drawer). 'Shortbus' is a winner in my opinion and a source from which introspection inevitably will occur.