Lee Daniels' The Butler

Director: Lee Daniels
Genre: Historical Drama
Starring: Forest Whitaker, Oprah Winfrey, Cuba Gooding Jr., Lenny Kravitz, David Oyelowo
Distributed by: The Weinstein Company
Release Date: August 16, 2013
My Rating: 9/10

This has undoubtedly been another of my top favorite movies of the summer and of the year thus far. Director Lee Daniels (Precious) brings to the big screen the true story of White House butler Cecil Gaines (Academy Award-winner Forest Whitaker), who is based on Eugene Allen, a butler who served eight different US presidents over eight terms, from 1952 to 1986. Over the course of these three decades, Cecil Gaines witnesses a number of historical events both from within and outside the White House, including the Civil Rights Movement, the assassination of John F. Kennedy (James Marsden), the Vietnam War and the Anti-Apartheid Free South Africa Movement. Throughout the film, these events begin to personally affect his family: his wife Gloria (Oprah Winfrey) and his two sons Louis (David Oyelowo) and Charlie. Cecil also quickly befriends two fellow butlers, Carter Wilson (Academy Award-winner Cuba Gooding, Jr.) and James Holloway (Lenny Kravitz).

What I liked most about this film was the fact that, contrary to many similar dramas that covered the same period of American History, this story presented it from a very different point of view: that of an African-American butler of humble origins (he grew up on a farm as a slave for a white plantation owner) who ends up working at the most important building in the nation. To some, the "little-fish-in-a big-pond" story may seem overplayed but to me, it made the story so much stronger. It was also very captivating to see the constant switch between the parallel stories of Cecil's everyday life in the White House (and the special relationships he forms with each president) and that of his family's life, particularly his older son Louis' involvement in movements such as that of the Freedom Riders and the Black Panthers.

Aside the all-star cast led by Whitaker, this film is overall a powerful portrayal of one man and his family, and how they struggle through the turbulent times that marked the post-war era. It is a very human, touching, and 100-percent American story.

Fruitvale Station

Director: Ryan Coogler

Genre: Drama

Starring: Michael B. Jordan, Octavia Spencer, Melonie Diaz, Kevin Durand

Distributed by: The Weinstein Company

Release Date: July 26, 2013

My Rating: 8/10

I always like watching films that are based on a true story. Movies are a great way of raising awareness amongst the general public about events that actually took place, and you look at the film differently from the moment you walk into the theatre because you know the story is real and not a work of fiction.

This film-produced by Forest Whitaker-tells the true story of 22-year-old Oscar Grant (Michael B. Jordan), a young black man living in Oakland, California with his girlfriend Sophina (Melonie Diaz) and young daughter Tatiana. After having been arrested a year before the start of the film's events, Oscar has become determined to make some changes in his life: get a steady job to provide for his girlfriend and daughter, and strengthen his relationship with his mother (Octavia Spencer). On December 31, 2008, Oscar, Sophina and their friends decide to take a Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) train to San Francisco to celebrate New Year's Eve. All goes well until Oscar begins a fight with another man who was an inmate with him in prison, causing the train to stop at Fruitvale Station and BART officers to forcibly remove Oscar and his friends from the train and arrest them. After a long shouting match between the police and the young adults and a number of resists, one of them shoots Oscar in the back.

The film is very short, with a running-time of about 90 minutes. However, not much appears to happen during the first 45 minutes or so, although it is evident why: the main purpose served by the first half of the film is not to demonstrate the relationship that Oscar has with his loved ones-his friends, his mother, his girlfriend and his daughter-and both the happiness and arguments that he develops with them. These scenes are beautifully written and acted, and come off as very genuine, although they could have been slightly developed and prolonged in exchange for two or three out-of-place scenes that could have been omitted.

Once the film finally reaches the main action, the events seem to unfold much more quickly, and the long-running scene at the end where Oscar and his friends are stopped by the police is an incredible and heart-pounding sequence. This movie is a fantastic portrayal of the final day in a young adult's life: I really liked that all of the events-except for one flashback-occurred over a single day, thus reinforcing the idea that you have to live each day as if it were your last. The film also raises questions about the power and brutality of law enforcement officers, injustice and racism, since the other man with whom Oscar started a fight on the train was white and the film never seems to show that man even being arrested. Overall, this film shows a powerful story about a youth who became a symbol in the Bay Area after that fateful day and remains one to this day. 

Despicable Me 2

Directors: Pierre Coffin, Chris Renaud
Genre: Animated Comedy/Kids

Voices: Steve Carell, Kristen Wiig, Benjamin Bratt, Miranda Cosgrove, Steve Coogan

Distributed by: Universal Pictures (Illumination Entertainment Studio)

Release Date: July 3, 2013

My Rating: 7/10

In Illumination Entertainment's Despicable Me 2, sequel to the successful box-office 2010 animated film Despicable Me, we are reunited with Gru, the lovable and eccentric villain-turned-good-guy for a whole new adventure. After his last great scheme to steal the moon in the first film, Gru (Steve Carell) has decided to leave his life as a villain behind and become a responsible father to his three new adopted daughters, Margo (Miranda Cosgrove), Edith, and Agnes, and start a new jelly-making business. One day, an agent named Lucy Wilde (Kristen Wiig) shows up at his door and asks him to come with her to an unknown location. After he refuses, Lucy kidnaps Gru and two of his minions and takes him underwater to an organization known as the Anti-Villain League, headed by a man named Silas Ransbottom (Steve Coogan). Together, Lucy and Silas attempt to convince Gru to help them steal a purple serum fluid from an evil villain known as "El Macho," who plans to use the serum to create terrifying monsters and rule the world.

This sequel proves to be a superbly fun thrill ride and although I believe it doesn't match the excellence of the first film, it certainly comes very close. Of course, the plot is a bit more complex than that of the first, but it remains captivating nonetheless. The new characters who are introduced, such as Lucy Wilde and the new villain El Macho are excellent, and each one brings an additional lovableness and humor to the story through their incredible voice talents. Gru's hilarious hi-jinks and american expressions in his funny and unidentified foreign accent never get old, and I was glad to see him paired up with a female character to see how their relationship evolved. 

The girls again provide a fabulous distraction for Gru, and accentuate his proneness to get into awkward situations as their father. Unsurprisingly, nothing made me laugh more throughout the film than the minions, whose antics most people seem to remember and adore most in the first film. The originality of the characters, from their appearances and costumes, voices and facial expressions, had me laughing hysterically the entire movie. In addition, there are two well-known old songs sung by the minions at the end that wrap up the film on an extra-hilarious note. (I promise I won't spoil which ones) Directors Pierre Coffin and Chris Renaud provide the minions' voices, and producer Chris Meledandri proves that Illumination Entertainment Studios (The Lorax) can truly make great films.   

The Heat

The Heat

Director: Paul Feig

Genre: Comedy

Starring: Sandra Bullock, Melissa McCarthy, Demian Bichir, Marlon Wayans

Distributed by: 20th Century Fox

Release Date: June 28, 2013

My Rating: 7.5/10

Action comedies (cop-duo comedies specifically) have recently become an increasingly frequent genre. A number of movies have been released in the last few years that fall under this category: The Rush Hour film series, Hot Fuzz (2007), The Other Guys (2010), and 21 Jump Street (2012), just to name a few. The Other Guys is the only one of these that I have seen -and thus unfortunately the only comedy I could compare this film to- and although I found it funny, it did not make me laugh nearly as hard as or positively surprise me as much as The Heat did.

Paul Feig (Bridesmaids) directs this hilarious action comedy that stars Sandra Bullock as old-fashioned, tense FBI Special Agent Sarah Ashburn who is transferred from her field office in New York to Boston to investigate and hunt down a ruthless drug lord known as Larkin. There, she quickly becomes paired up with local BPD Officer Shannon Mullins (Melissa McCarthy), a tough and foul-mouthed cop who is determined to solve the case by any means necessary. Despite their enormous personality differences, the two women work together to bring the drug lord to justice and eventually become the unlikeliest of friends.

Like many similar modern comedies, this film is rampant with crude and sexual humor, cursing, comic violence, one-liners, and awkward situations. Unlike many similar movies, it seemed to have a slightly more thought-out and developed plot (for a comedy, that is), developed protagonists, and a handful of genuine, semi-serious moments, many of which are of course rapidly ended with a funny/snarky comment. Oh and more blood than you would expect, too. Melissa McCarthy is the heart and soul of the film, delivering many if not all of her lines perfectly with both a tone and an expression that make it almost impossible for one not to laugh hysterically. She brings a humor to the screen that will make you laugh at her character as much as Megan from Bridesmaids, if not more since she has a lead role. Sandra Bullock provides an excellent role as a lovable, genuine, and well-intentioned agent who recalls her previous characters such as Gracie Hart from Miss Congeniality (2000).  

However, the film is rather predictable in a certain sense. It also feels a touch too long for a comedy, with a two-hour running time: some scenes probably could have been omitted entirely, as they seemed unnecessary because they either detracted from the main storyline, or because they were almost identical to other more important scenes. Nonetheless, this comedy proves to be a true success. I can't blame anyone who isn't willing to spend $11 (or whatever it is) to go see this in theaters -because it does not have any special effects or major action sequences like those in sci-fi movies- but it is definitely worth seeing on DVD at home on a rainy evening.          

Man of Steel

Man of Steel

Director: Zack Snyder

Genre: Action/Sci-fi

Starring: Henry Cavill, Amy Adams, Russell Crowe, Michael Shannon

Distributed by: Warner Bros. Pictures 

Release Date: June 14, 2013

My Rating: 4/10

I have always been a great fan of superhero flicks. To name just a few, my personal favorites include Iron Man and The Dark Knight trilogy. After watching several trailers and learning that this film would be produced by none other than this famous trilogy's director-Christopher Nolan-I was naturally very excited and had high expectations. Unfortunately, I was vastly disappointed by the end of this movie.

In this version of DC Comic's classic hero Superman, a young boy born with the name Kal-El on planet Krypton to parents Jor-El (Russell Crowe) and Lara. After a military coup by the evil General Zod (Michael Shannon), Jor-El sends his son to Earth to ensure his safety and so that he may protect human beings. Kal-El lands in a small town in rural Kansas and is raised by an elderly couple, Jonathan and Martha Kent (Kevin Costner and Diane Lane), who name him Clark. As a boy, Clark discovers and learns to control his powers and then as a young man (Henry Cavill), embarks on a journey to find out where he came from and what he was sent to Earth to do: save mankind from dark forces. Also attempting to learn more about Superman's origins is a young reporter for the Daily Planet named Lois Lane (Amy Adams). 

Zack Synder (Watchmen, 300) directs this superhero epic that proves rather short on substance and character development and long on action. Although the special effects are very well created, the fight/action sequences are far too prolonged, to the point where the destruction of New York City-for example-comprises a significant portion of the second half of the film. And there aren't even doses of comic relief like those in 2012's The Avengers to momentarily take the audience's mind from all of the fights and explosions.

The film also seems to be unable to maintain a uniform pace/rhythm all throughout. The beginning appears very slow, while the second half, where the action sequences prevail, seems much faster. I'm sure that one or two scenes from the first half could have been omitted or shortened and the fight scenes reduced as well.

I have never been a big fan of Mr. Snyder's films, as I personally find his style to be rather eccentric. However, this is not to say that his films are all major flops, as he has delivered great works such as 300. Compared to many other superhero flicks however, this movie proved to be a great letdown, although not as much as 2006's Superman Returns, where another virtually unknown actor (Brandon Routh) also played the Man of Steel himself. I also find it ironic that a British thespian was chosen to play a classic American superhero. Hearing Henry Cavill say "I'm from Kansas, General. I'm about as American as you can get" was quite amusing for this very reason. As tragic as it sounds, I suppose it's just simply become difficult to direct any half-decent new versions of movies about this beloved superhero. The Man of Steel's kryptonite has recently been mediocre directing/screenwriting. 

The Great Gatsby

 The Great Gatsby

Director: Baz Luhrmann

Genre: Drama/Romance

Starring: Leonardo DiCaprio, Tobey Maguire, Carey Mulligan, Joel Edgerton 

Distributed by: Warner Bros. Pictures

Release Date: May 10, 2013

My Rating: 7/10

In this new adaptation of F. Scott Fitzgerald's classic 1925 novel, Tobey Maguire stars as Nick Carraway, a war veteran who moves from the Midwest to Long Island in the summer of 1922 to follow his American Dream and begins working as a bond salesman on Wall St in New York City. Right across the bay live Nick's cousin Daisy (Carey Mulligan) and her husband Tom Buchanan (Joel Edgerton), with whom he begins to spend time. Shortly afterwards, Nick realizes that he lives next door to a mysterious millionaire named Jay Gatsby (Leonardo DiCaprio), another war veteran famous for throwing large parties. After Nick is invited to a party one night by Gatsby himself, he slowly becomes involved in the world of the rich, their illusions, loves and deceits.

Moulin Rouge director Baz Luhrmann presents a glamorous portrayal of this beloved tale that astoundingly recreates the fashion and customs of the "roaring 20s" while adding doses of a modern twist to the style. Famous rap and hip-hop stars such as Jay-Z and Fergie provide the upbeat songs in the amazing soundtrack that reflect the glitz and glam of the era, with other more mellow artists like Lana Del Rey, Florence and the Machine, and Jack White rounding out the somber tracks that play against the film's backdrop.

Although this constant contrast/fusion of old and new (both with music and other theatrical elements) creates a great and original mix in certain scenes, at others it seems out of place and the anachronisms are more evident. The cinematography, however, is truly incredible and aesthetically pleasing: the party scenes are very colorful and beautifully shot.

Like many book-to-film adaptations, the film does not do the novel complete justice. It omits a number of subtleties contained in the novel, particularly with regards to the thoughts, opinions, and perceptions of the narrator, Nick. The film does keep the first-person narration, however, even though Nick's voice-over only appears in certain scenes, for obvious reasons.

Per usual, DiCaprio delivers an excellent performance (despite a slightly overdone 1920s accent), bringing to life the essence of the character of Jay Gatsby. Tobey Maguire also proves his status as an actor by immersing himself completely into the character of Nick, by incorporating his naiveté and by powerfully and very realistically projecting a wide variety of emotions all throughout the film.
Unfortunately, I have not had the pleasure of seeing previous film adaptations of this novel (such as the 1974 version with Robert Redford and Mia Farrow) and thus cannot compare the styles of two or more different directors. I have, however, read the book and conclude that although it is a satisfactory adaptation in some senses, it does not truly capture some of the more abstract elements of the novel, such as the thoughts and feelings of the main characters.

The Place Beyond the Pines

The Place Beyond the Pines 
Director: Derek Cianfrance
Genre: Crime Drama
Starring: Ryan Gosling, Eva Mendes, Bradley Cooper, Ray Liotta
Distributed by: Focus Features
Release Date: March 29, 2013
My Rating: 9/10

Ryan Gosling stars as Luke Glanton, a motorcycle stuntman at a local fair in Schenectady, New York, the town whose name the title of the film is derived. (Schenectady is a Mohawk word that roughly translates to "place beyond the pine planes") One night, Luke is visited by his ex-lover Romina, (Eva Mendes) who reveals to him that she now has a son whom he fathered a year earlier. Upon learning this, Luke decides to quit his job at the fair in order to provide for his young child. Determined to be a responsible father, Luke begins working part-time and for low pay for a mechanic named Robin who tells him about his past days as a bank robber and suggests this as a possible way for Luke to gain more money. Although at first Luke is not convinced it is a good idea, he soon accepts and uses his skills as a motorcycle driver to pull off a series of bank robberies with Robin's help.
Luke's crimes quickly put him in the spotlight and cause him to be pursued by a rookie policeman named Avery Cross (Bradley Cooper). As the two men collide, their actions begin to have significant impacts on their personal and professional lives.

The film is beautifully directed and shot, with a number of scenes filmed dramatically with close-ups and frenetic camera switches that reflect both the somber mood and the fast-paced, suspense-filled and heart-pounding atmosphere that constantly alternate in and pervade the movie. The story is a very human and realistic portrayal of a broken family and the people around them that they affect and are affected by.

The film also intensely depicts the consequences of the decisions and actions taken by each main character, and how these consequences are multiplied in the following years.
Ryan Gosling gives a stirring performance as an unconventional father prepared to risk everything to care for his son, and Bradley Cooper delivers a powerful and visceral performance that I believe to be the best of his career thus far, as he plays a character so filled with a series of emotions that it recalls his Oscar-nominated role in Silver Linings Playbook. Cooper truly seems to immerse himself into the film and become his character.

My only criticism is that it is a rather long film, with a few scenes that could have been reduced or simply omitted entirely, as they seemed to either serve the same purpose or detract from the main focus of the film. Although I have not seen Blue Valentine (another of Cianfrance's films from 2010) and thus cannot compare film styles, what I can certainly say is that director Derek Cianfrance has created a beautiful portrait of two individuals and the life path they choose to follow. This film has single-handedly been one of my favorites of the year. This drama could not be better summed up by a line from the film itself: "If you ride like lightning, you're gonna crash like thunder."

About the Cinephile's Corner

Everyone likes movies, right? Some people might prefer a certain type of movies, like comedy, drama or thriller, but the truth is that films are a form of art and entertainment that have been universally adored for decades.
I, for one, have always been a cinephile (just like Michael Bolton in the Lonely Island's "Jack Sparrow" music video) and have created this blog to share my thoughts and critiques on the latest flicks out there.
I will try to alternate genres every post, so as to provide comments on all different types of movies. I will rate each movie on a scale from 1 to 10.
Disclaimer: The opinions I share on this website are my own and no one else's, and I am open to constructive criticism of any kind on my reviews. Anyone is free to disagree with my opinions.