The Hunger Games

This week I am reviewing the film The Hunger Games starring the lovely Jennifer Lawrence. This film is the first in a series based on a novel trilogy of the same title. Prior to the films inception I had read the trilogy, and as in general, I was skeptical of the film because I always favour the novel. Considering this bias, I was rather impressed by the film. In particular, I really did love Jennifer's portrayal of Katniss Everdeen. Initially, I was unsure of this choice, but after finishing the film I could not imagine another actress playing the role. This series is based on a dystopian world where there has been much ruin to world as we would know it today, and there are no countries but districts. Different from today, each district is poor, only the "Capitol" is wealthy. This is where the acting government or ruling forces live, and control the rest of the world. Each district is responsible for different industry and it's production. Examples include District One, where our main character Katniss Everdeen is from, is responsible for the "Luxury" industry which consists entirely of mining for precious metals and platinum. District Two is responsible for gold mining, District Three for Technology particular computer hardware, Four for fishing, Ten for livestock and so on. These districts benefit very little from their work as the vast majority of all product goes to the Capitol. In the midst of this oppression, a televised annual event called the Hunger Games takes place. This event is a battle to the death which takes place in a different virtual environment each year, consisting of different members of each district which are selected based on the number of times they have needed government/capitol support to feed their families. Katniss Everdeen proves to be a heroin in this film, standing up for her family and District and going against the wishes of the Capitol in her trial of the Hunger Games. I found this film to be a fair portrayal of the novel and overall I enjoyed it. I would give this movie three cupcakes!
Check out the trailer below!

Gravity

This week I am reviewing the vastly underrated film, Gravity. Now, I say underrated here referring specifically to the public, critics loved the film. I may also want to narrow the "public" down to some men in particular in my personal social circle. Viewing the film, these men were not able to keep focus or stay interested in the film, possibly because they have very short attention spans, and also possibly because there were no car chases or gun fights. Before I digress too far here, I will educate and inform these members of the public and all alike on the wonders of this film. 
Sandra Bullock, who I adore, is Gravity, as stated by the director of the film in the past Academy Awards show, to which the Miss Congeniality (fitting for her character) star became visibly emotional. Bullock performs with such intensity and emotion that, if you are not only partial to car chases and gun fights, you cannot help but become riveted, and emotionally invested in the outcome of the film. 

Although the film does surround at most two characters and takes place entirely in the same or similar environments of space, I was blown away by the film, the ending perhaps especially. That being said though, as Bullock is the main character, and for much of the film the only character, it was really her performance I was hooked on. The emotional aspects of her personal life added to the dialogue of the film was presented as a memoir. Her journey through past, to thoughts and doubt of the future, and back to living in her current distressed environment are presented in a way that made me feel as if I was witnessing a private moment between Bullock and her experiences in life. I found myself praying fiercely that her journey would end well. That type of emotional connection to a film and fictional character can not be achieved in many films, nor can it be presented by many actors or actresses. The weak moments, strong moments, sad moments and incredibly happy moments make this film one of the best I have seen. I had not witnessed such a real performance in a long time, and it was refreshing to see such talent in a person who has had some past troubles and issues, and has only blossomed into a successful better, happier version of herself beyond them. 

I give this movie one cupcake because, especially if you happen to be in a relationship with a typical male, the point may be fully grasped by another viewer, and the cry is a very necessary part of viewing this film. Don't forget to check out the trailer below!

Dallas Buyers Club

Today my film of choice to review is Dallas Buyers Club. I hope I am not always completely transparent in which reviewed films I enjoy the most, I do not wish to be completely biased in my opinions after all, but this movie was fantastic. The film itself is controversial in its storyline and ultimate goal to voice concern for the medical retail industry, and of the American medication approval system, the FDA or Food and Drug Administration. As all medication needs to be approved by this administration before it can be administered or sold to the public, there is much controversy surrounding the procedures and policies that allow some forms of medication to be approved, and others not. The controversy itself suggests that the approval is skewed by visions of financial gain when products are introduced to the administration. 
Dallas Buyers Club highlights the opinion of controversy, and shares insight with the public into a struggling community battling AIDS in the 1980’s and 1990’s. The story follows our main character, Ron Woodruff played by Matthew McConaughey on his journey to fight his illness and find medication by the FDA that improves his health, lessens his symptoms, and creates a comfortable quality of life. The medication McConaughey finds is unapproved, but the medication being administered in hospitals is given in doses too high to be beneficial, resulting in a breakdown of the patients already weakened immune system, resulting in death. The main character finds ways to administer this unapproved drug to others facing the illness, and thus Dallas Buyers Club is given life.

The role is played to perfection my McConaughey and leads viewers to be drawn into the emotional aspect of every person battling the illness, and especially to the LGBT community fighting for equality and respect in the midst. The friendships developed through the help and advocacy brought to the LGBT community by McConaughey is touching, real, and necessary to be brought to life in film. This film is moving, controversial and incredibly interesting.
I give this movie 4 cupcakes! Tune in next week for my humble opinion on film, and watch the trailer below!

American Hustle

Today I am reviewing the acclaimed film AmericanHustle. This film received a lot of buzz for award nominations prior to it's receiving the many it went on to claim, and that was most likely because of the dynamic team of A list actors and actresses. Each actor and actress in this film is well recognized and loved in the public. The actors are: Christian Bale, known for his roles in Batman, Holocaust and most recently, Out of the Furnace, Bradley Cooper, known for his role in The Hangover films most recently. Jennifer Lawrence and Amy Adams hold roles as the films leading ladies, and both received awards for their performances, including Academy Awards Adams as best actress in leading role and Lawrence best actress in supporting role. Bale and Cooper won the same awards, respectively. Bale, Christian, Adams and Lawrence also won Golden Globes awards this year, and the entire cast won the Screen Actors Guild Award for outstanding performance by a cast in a motion picture, to name only a few. As these prestigious awards may suggest, the film is highlighted by incredible performances by each actor and actress. The story line follows two con artists in the middle of a CIA investigation through which they become involved with the Mafia thanks to the CIA agent played by Cooper. The storyline take the three main characters, two con artists and one CIA agent, on a glamorous, dangerous and at some points comical adventure. The agent loses himself in some of the temptations of the high rolling lifestyle he invests in for his case, and Christian and Adams as the two con artists, develop an escape plan for their developing Mafia involvement.

I give this movie 3 cupcakes!

Tune in next week for another insightful review by myself, a public relations student finding time to indulge in film, and check out the trailer above!

Captain Phillips

Today’s review will be of the film Captain Phillips starring the great Tom Hanks, recognized for his incredible portrayals of real life emotion in film. Hence Castaway (a must see film if one is unfamiliar). The story itself is based on true events of a 2009 cargo ship hijacking in Somalia. Captain Richard Phillips and his crew were on board throughout the ordeal, and the story follows while Captain Phillips through his mission to protect his crew, while risking his life for them in the process. The story is riveting and incredibly moving. The journey a viewer is taken on is one of shocking discovery and developed understanding of life for Somalians and the desperation felt by the citizens living in poverty. Captain Phillips's tale is one of heroics and personal sacrifice for the greater good of his crew, his family on the sea.

One very interesting fact about this film is Hanks co-star in the film, Barkhad Abdi is a Mogadishu, Somailia native, and prior to entering the film industry in his award winning role in Captain Phillips, worked as a limousine driver, store clerk and disc jockey in Minnesota. The awards Abdi was nominated for are: Academy Award for Best Actor in a Supporting Role, Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actor – Motion Picture, BAFTA Award for Best Actor in a Supporting Role, Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Supporting Role, National Society of Film Critics Award for Best Supporting Actor, Broadcast Film Critics Association Award for Best Supporting Actor. 
I give this movie 4 cupcakes!


View the trailer beside for a sneak peek of the movie, farewell for now my movie lovers, keep posted for my next review!

Rush

Today’s review will be of the film based on a true story titled Rush starring Chris Hemsworth, best known from his starring role in Thor, as the main character legendary racer James Hunt and Daniel Bruhl playing the equally legendary Niki Lauda. The story line follows the true events of racing and an infamous rivalry in the ’70’s between Hunt and Lauda. The story line is one of a powerful connection to a sport, the love of the sport, and with James Hunt particularly, a need to face near death head on. Niki Lauda throughout the film as in his life saw racing in terms of logic and science.  Although he had no experience in the vehicles as a racer, he understood the importance of the vehicle he operated in his success as a driver. He created a vehicle with a company which was at the time floundering, focusing on aero dynamics including the weight and design of the car, and the outcome was a vehicle faster than any on the market. This successful venture landed Lauda a chance to race with Ferrari who created an updated version of Laudas design. James Hunt was very different from Lauda, viewing racing as a thrill and adrenaline rush he felt connected to beyond that of an occupation. His life was the thrill and danger in racing, the feeling of being near death and beating it. Laudas logical approach leads him to defeating the previous top racer, Hunt, and this only increased the competitive feud between the two.
The story is one of power, lust, and devotion to racing. The two rivals discover they have more in common than they could have imagined, and that they are bonded together through equal love for the sport and a discovered respect for one another. 
I give this movie 2 cupcakes!

Watch the trailer above to preview the film, hope to have you back for my next review!

About Time

Today I will be reviewing a refreshing  rom com film titled About Time. The leading actress is our beloved Rachel McAdams (of The Notebook and The Vow to name a few) who shares the lead with a breakthrough actor named Domhnall Gleeson. Gleeson plays the unexpected but absolutely perfect socially awkward lead to capture the hearts of every viewer. This is not a typical love story by any means because these characters don't do everything right to find each other and fall in love. There are more mishaps in their love affair then successful candlelit dinners and strolls on the beach. The family of our main character is hilarious, honest and truly authentic.

I loved this movie, as not only a love story of two people but of family as well. I am personally powerless to the effects of a good rom com, but this one film in particular was wonderful. I think the most heartwarming aspect of the film is its total and complete quirkiness. The characters are all impossible not to fall in love with for all their very real faults and awkwardly beautiful personalities. Of course, there's also the time travel bit to really set it apart. Even that adds emotion to the story, not the silliness you might expect. The bond between father and son is really the love story this film tells. It is beautiful, lovely, a bit odd, and very authentic. An absolute must watch.
I give this movie 2 cupcakes!

Feel free to view the trailer above and tune in next week for another review!

Winters Bone

The film I will be reviewing today for my first review is titled Winters Bone and stars everyone’s current favourite actress and person, Jennifer Lawrence. Lawrence is still very new to film, and certainly to starring roles, but her performance is commendable. The film focuses on Lawrence, a 17 year old guardian, forced to raise her young siblings due to a lack of parental support from her mentally unstable mother and absent father. When the children’s father misses a court date after posting bonds to be released from jail, the family’s home lies in the hands of 17 year old Lee. In order to save her home, Lee must find her father. This promise made to the bondsmen to keep their home becomes a liability Lee discovers she may not be able to answer to. The story follows the young girl’s search, down a road she is warned she ought not to travel, into some dangerous territory.

The most entertaining part of the film may be in large part thanks to Lawrence’s incredible performance.

I give this movie one cupcake!

Feel free to watch the trailer included above, and be sure to tune in next week for my next review!