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!