Phil sees THE REVENANT from 20th Century Fox - April 28, 2016

OK, so the film I will be reviewing today finally gave its lead actor Leonardo DiCaprio his long overdue Academy Award for Best Actor. Yup, it's a good movie. Yup, it's beautifully directed. Yup, it's got great acting in it. Yup, it's a hella depressing movie. So now we got that out of the way, let's talk about the film THE REVENANT.

Theatrical Movie Poster

The film's official synopsis: Inspired by true events, THE REVENANT is an immerse and visceral cinematic experience capturing one man’s epic adventure of survival and the extraordinary power of the human spirit. In an expedition of the uncharted American wilderness, legendary explorer Hugh Glass (Leonardo DiCaprio) is brutally attacked by a bear and left for dead by members of his own hunting team. In a quest to survive, Glass endures unimaginable grief as well as the betrayal of his confidant John Fitzgerald (Tom Hardy). Guided by sheer will and the love of his family, Glass must navigate a vicious winter in a relentless pursuit to live and find redemption.

Let's start at the beginning. One, this is a brutal film to watch. Literally, it's a hard movie to watch. While it contains beautiful cinematography and it captures nature in all its glory, it also shows that nature is a cold hearted bitch and it makes you get inside your dead horse naked so you won't freeze your cajoles off! Second, Tom Hardy's character is a total douchebag and you can hardly understand what the hell he's talking about. Basically he talks and sounds like Boomhauer from the King of the Hill. But he's a man on a mission and that mission is getting paid for selling pelts by any means necessary. Especially if it means leaving poor Leonardi DeCaprio buried alive in a shallow grave after killing his son. Like I said, he's a total douchebag and Brady brings that to his character perfectly.

Acting means pretending to be something your not. It's like playing make believe pretty much. Like when we were kids and we used to pretend we were a cowboy or a superhero or something like that. However, DeCaprio wasn't really acting. He's actually freezing ass cold. He's eating raw liver from a buffalo and puking. He's really naked inside of a dead horse's carcass. That's not acting. That's suffering for your art which begs the question of just how far will you go and do to win an Oscar? Well, DeCaprio went all out in this film so I guess he deserved that Oscar, but he should have won one for some of the other films he was in like THE DEPARTED or THE WOLF OF WALL STREET. But like the old saying goes, better late than ever.

The film is directed and co-written by Academy Award winning filmmaker Alejandro G. Iñárritu, whose previous films include BABEL and 2014's critically acclaimed BIRDMAN. The man is unquestionably a talented and gifted filmmaker so no argument there. There's a rhythm to his films, almost like poetry set to a Frank Zapa album. Really unique, different and has a very personal voice in his work. His set-ups and framing is superb, pacing is good and uses a lot of long takes to emphasize the characters and their situations so we the audience are immersed in their lives and we experience their trials and tribulations along with them. He also uses several images as metaphors about life and death, man and nature as well as war and love.  

Overall THE REVENANT is one hell of a movie that grips you from the get go and doesn't let until up until the very end. The movie truly is a work of art and will go on as one of Alejandro G. Iñárritu's best films and the role that finally DeCaprio his Oscar. 4 1/2 out of 5 stars!! Highly recommended!!

THE REVENANT is still playing in select theaters nationwide. The movie is also available on Blu-Ray, DVD as well as on Video On Demand, Netflix and at your local Redbox and retailer.

Thanks for reading, and enjoy the show!

Phil sees CRIMSON PEAK from Universal Pictures-February 20, 2016

Director Guillermo del Toro has made some of the most interesting, original and frightening films ever made. From his breakthrough debut of CRONOS to films like HELLBOY, PAN'S LABYRINTH and PACIFIC RIM, del Toro has crafted works of art that contains both surrealistic imagery and social commentary. His latest film CRIMSON PEAK is equal parts horrifying disturbing and atheistically pleasing visually.

Theatrical Movie Poster (2015)

The film's official synopsis: When her heart is stolen by a seductive stranger named Thomas Sharpe (Tom Hiddleston), Edith Cushing (Mia Wasikowska) is swept away to a house atop a mountain of blood-red clay: a place filled with secrets that will haunt her forever. Between desire and darkness, between mystery and madness, lies the truth behind Crimson Peak.

Words cannot describe just how amazing and gorgeous this movie is. With its sweeping visuals, impressive sets, outstanding performers and terrifying script, the movie harkens back to the old Hammer Films of the past. And like those gothic classics, this film captures the look and sounds of the early 1900s perfectly: the impressive exterior sets, the dramatic costumes, the eirry English castle, everything is done to perfection. You don't see to many movies being made with this much attention to detail. Again, del Toro's directing is fantastic!

Along with co-writer Matthew Robbins, del Toro's script is utterly horrifyingly romantic and weaves together themes of love, murder, life and death. It's sheer brilliance is such a welcomed change of pace from your typical Hollywood cookie cutter films and the tired reboot/remake/sequel trend. The story itself is gripping; showing us a time and place that we immediately are drawn to. We the audience  are transported into another world and we become so invested in not only the story, but the characters that inhabit this world.

The three main leads are phenomenal, each bringing something interesting to the table. Our protagonist Edith is wonderfully brought to life by Mia Wasikowska and she brings a wide variety of emotions. Edith is intelligent, a gifted writer, bold and has no problem with speaking mind, and yet at the same time she's naive, stubborn and vulnerable. A great performance by this talented actress. Tom Hiddleston breaks out of his Marvel alter ego Loki and shows us he has a lot more to offer to his fans. He adds a sense of intrigue, mystery and distrust to his character Thomas but there's a level of confusion. He knows what he has to do but he becomes town between his love for Edith and his loyalty to his sister Lucille, played amazingly twisted by Jessica Chastain. Lucille is both insanely breathtaking and gorgeously twisted which is very hard to pull off but Miss Chastain does this effortlessly. This actress was born to play this character!

CRIMSON PEAK is one of the most hauntingly beautiful romantic horror films I've seen in decades! Easily one of the most strikingly and original films as well! So do yourself a favor and see this astounding work of art!! 5 out of 5 stars!! Very highly recommended!!

CRIMSON PEAK is now available on Blu-Ray and DVD at your local retailer. It's also available on Redbox and Video On Demand.

Thanks for reading, and enjoy the show!

Phil sees DJANGO UNCHAINED at the Camera 7 Pruneyard-December 29, 2012

When one sees a Quentin Tarantino movie, always expect the unexpected and always now you're gonna be entertained as Hell! His films are never boring, full of movie references, always melding several different types of genres, and are always causing some sort of controversy. He continues this tradition with his newest film: the highly entertaining, over the top violent, spaghetti western entitled DJANGO UNCHAINED.

The film's official synopsis: In the pre-Civil War South, Django (Jamie Foxx) is a slave whose brutal history with his former owners lands him face-to-face with German-born bounty hunter, Dr. King Schultz (Christoph Waltz). Schultz is on the trail of the murderous Brittle brothers, and promises to free Django and re-unite him with his wife Broomhilda (Kerry Washington) in return for his assistance in tracking down his bounty. They soon learn that Django's wife is under the hands of Calvin Candie (Leonardo DiCaprio), who just happens to be a ruthless plantation owner.

Now normally I would go on and write my critique, but I'm going to do something that is not normal. I'm just going to say this: The movie was badass!! And now I'm going to repeat it over and over again: The movie was badass!! The movie was badass!! The movie was badass!! The movie was badass!! The movie was badass!! The movie was badass!! The movie was badass!! The movie was badass!! The movie was badass!! The movie was badass!! Did I mention it was badass?!?

The only real fault in the film is when Quentin Tarantino appears in the film as one of The LeQuint Dickey Mining Co. Employees and he spoke with a horrible accent. I think he was trying to do an Australian accent but it came out really, really bad. So I'm taking off half a star because of this. Also look for Samuel L Jackson in the film and look out for the controversial N-word. But what'd you expect from a Tarantino film?!?

DJANGO UNCHAINED is a one of Tarantino's best films, and it's already been nominated for 5 Golden Globes!! So stop reading this, get your ass to you local theater and see this movie!! 4 1/2 out of 5 stars!! Highly badass and recommended!!

DJANGO UNCHAINED is currently playing at select theaters nationwide, including at the Camera Cinemas here in the Bay Area. To view showtimes, visit their website at www.cameracinemas.com.

Thanks for reading, and enjoy the show

Phil sees A DANGEROUS METHOD at the Camera 12-January 7, 2012

This past Saturday I went nuts! I went and saw four movies: three at the Camera 12 during the day and a midnight show at the Camera 3, both located in beautiful downtown San Jose. So for the first film of the day that I saw was David Cronenberg's A DANGEROUS METHOD.

Theatrical Movie Poster (2011)

Based on a true story, the film chronicles the story of the intense relationship between Carl Jung (Michael Fassbender) and his mentor Sigmund Freud (Viggo Mortensen) and the birth of psychoanalysis, and Sabina Spielrein (Kira Knightley), the troubled but beautiful young woman who comes between the two of them. Soon Jung becomes obsessed with Sabina and succumbs to his sexual desires and they become entwined with one another, despite Freud's disapproval with the idea.

The screenplay was adapted by Christopher Hampton from his 2002 stage play The Talking Cure, which was based on the 1993 non-fiction book by John Kerr, A Most Dangerous Method: the story of Jung, Freud, and Sabina Spielrein.

Once again director Cronenberg ventures into familiar territory: human sexuality and the human condition. Like what he explored in his previous films like DEAD RINGERS, THE FLY and CRASH,  Cronenberg has made a career out exploring taboos such as sex, death, a social anxieties. Here, highlighting the progression of psychoanalysis, Carl has a sexual awakening, thanks to both Sabina and his other patient Otto Gross (Vincent Cassel), who informs him that sexual depravity is not an illness, but can be used as a treatment. With Sabina as his lover, he begins to question the traditional scientific method that Freud has implemented in the science community. Soon their friendship becomes frayed, with Sabina literally caught in the middle.

Again Cronenberg's directing in superb, capturing the emotional and the scenic beauty in this period piece. Knightley does a incredible job performing the insane but intelligent Sabina: from raging lunacy to sexual mistress to professional doctor, Knightley really gives an impressive performance. Both Fassbender and Mortensen give us the intellectual fight that I was hoping to see. Powerful and  commanding performances by these two actors.

A DANGEROUS METHOD is a brilliant, though-provoking, absorbing period drama that tells us the story of love, lust and the beginnings of psychoanalysis. Great directing, great story, great acting add up to a very impressive movie. Definitely a must-see!

A DANGEROUS METHOD is currently playing in theaters nationwide, including at the Camera Cinemas here in the Bay Area. To view showtimes, visit their website at www.cameracinemas.com

Thanks for reading, and enjoy the show!