Movie Review Monday: Top Five

Welcome to another edition of Movie Review Monday!

This week's film is 2014's Top Five, starring Chris Rock and Rosario Dawson among a stellar ensemble cast of comedians and actors.

Top Five follows a sort of dramatized version of reality, where Rock's character Andre Allen, is a fictional mouthpiece for struggles common to Rock (and surely other comedians and actors like him), such as authenticity, integrity, creativity, and addiction. It feels very similar to the movie Funny People, or the television show Louiein certain respects. Other entertainment industry shows like Extras (or the several others out there) also hold a lot of thematic similarities to Top Five, just to get a flavor for this movie since it feels so unique to me. While it falls into a pantheon of other great shows and movies, it falls a bit short for me in the end.

The movie as a whole is pretty funny. It's not uproariously hilarious, nor is it unfunny, it has some humorous moments, and was a pleasure to watch, but it could probably be better billed as a "dramedy" (drama + comedy). Allen struggles with alcoholism, his personal motivation for where his life is going, people taking him seriously, and relationship woes. Rock imbues the character and his struggles with a reliability and his unique swagger, so it makes the proceedings engaging enough to watch.

All of the other actors in the movie shine in their brief roles. Tracy Morgan, Michael Che, Jay Pharaoh, Gabrielle Union, and Leslie Jones specifically all hold their own, and Dawson is fantastic as her character, reporter Chelsea Brown, accompanies Rock's character around for most of the film. There are also some really fun cameos later in the film that made the whole viewing experience even better.

I'd recommend folks check this movie out, especially if you're a fan of Chris Rock and/or comedy as an art form. It explores issues that I found interesting and I think others like me would as well.

You can stream Top Five right now on Hulu and Amazon Prime Instant Video.

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Movie Review Monday: Dear White People

Welcome to another edition of Movie Review Monday!

This week's film is the 2014 film, Dear White People, written and directed by Justin Simien.

The story of the movie takes a comedic yet poignant look at an ensemble of college students dealing with privilege, race, and identity. It takes place at the fictional Ivy League institution, Winchester University, and builds toward a black face party that mimics recent real world events.

This is a great film for several reasons. It address very real and important concerns, and it does it in a palatable, fun way that doesn't take away from the relevance and takeaways. It delves into the deep identity issues that can be experienced by college students, especially students of color (mainly black students). There is so much pressure coming from different sides, saying who we should or shouldn't be and how we are supposed to act. This is even more severe for black students, since they're in environments that are typically built for their white counterparts, and they don't feel as heard, respected, or supported. The types of discussions that happen in the movie are ones that I feel like I have seen pretty much verbatim.

I think especially for folks who are college students, or work with college students, this can be a very important and necessary viewing. You can better understand your peers or the students you serve respectively. On top of that, it is at the very least an engaging film about coming of age and figuring who we want to be. I'll also give some kudos to the ensemble cast of this film. Everyone delivers in their roles and all of the characters interact in neat ways.

You can check out Dear White People streaming right now on Hulu and Amazon Prime Instant Video.

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Movie Review Monday: Back in Time

Welcome to another edition of Movie Review Monday!

This week's film is the 2015 documentary Back in Time highlighting the fan-base around the beloved classic Back to the Future.

Like some of the other fan documentaries I've reviewed here  for the cult followings of shows like Star Trek and Firefly, this movie is a fun look at the passionate community that has come up around this simple movie from 30 years ago. The majority of the exploration focuses on the original movie, with some lesser emphasis on the second two parts of the trilogy. I love the Back to the Future series of films, and this was an entertaining way to explore the enthusiasm others share for these silly sci-fi films.

The documentary features fans, actors, and the people who made Back to the Future to examine every aspect of the film's reception and production respectively. I did find that the direction was a bit aimless at times, especially towards the middle when the documentary seems to get lost a midst different details of the production and stories from fans. Nevertheless, the documentary is fairly comprehensive (some cast members are absent), and as we celebrate a milestone anniversary for the franchise, this is a must watch for any fans like myself.

What I love about these sorts of films is how they highlight the positive aspects of passionate geek/nerd communities. People meet their spouses through them, they do good for the world through them, and they find peace as well as kinship through them. It always warms my heart to see stuff like that and reminds why I'm so proud to be a part of this global community, even in my own small way.

Check out the documentary's website for more information and stream Back in Time instantly right now on Netflix!

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Movie Review Monday: The Hunger Games - Mockingjay, Part 2

Welcome to another edition of Movie Review Monday!

This week's film is the recently released The Hunger Games: Mockingjay, Part 2 starring Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson, and Liam Hemsworth among many others.

I've reviewed the two previous films, Catching Fire and Mockingjay Part 1, here on the blog, and thinking back to all of them (even the original), I think Mockingjay Part 2 is the best of the bunch. It is a culmination of all of the plot threads of the franchise, and is an emotional, intense film. Everyone's performances are great, the action is awesome, the stakes are high and as someone who didn't read the books, I didn't know what was going to happen next.

I've warmed to this series more and more because I think the films have gotten better as the series went on as they focused more on the revolution than the Hunger Games since those were at best just different unusual action set pieces without much personal connection to what was going on. This movie is deeply personal, heavily narrative driven, and is just a thoughtful story.

I knew going in that some people did not like the ending from the book, but watching the movies and seeing what they emphasized, I felt as though the ending was good and made sense for the story. I really enjoyed how much the movies went into the politics and mechanics of a revolution versus it being just an action movie without any depth. How a revolution uses propaganda, treats the enemy, and transitions power are all interesting concepts to watch unfold on screen here and are just intriguing to me in general.

I encourage folks to check this entire franchise out (you can stream the first three installments). It is a great young adult franchise that seems to me to be far superior to the Divergent or the Maze Runner movies, which seem to be poor copies of the Hunger Games franchise (while they aren't exactly alike, they both seem to be going for the same exact market of dystopic light sci-fi action stories for young adults).

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Movie Review Monday: Trainwreck

Welcome to another edition of Movie Review Monday!

This week's film is the 2015 romantic comedy Trainwreck, starring Amy Schumer and Bill Hader.

Written by Schumer (and directed by Judd Apatow), this movie was one on me and my partner's radar when it came out this summer, but we unfortunately never got around to seeing it in theaters. As it is now available to rent through iTunes, we decided to check it out together this weekend, and we were glad we did.

The story follows Amy as her character enjoys her life of at her magazine job she loves, free of inhibitions, and casually dating men until she meets the focus of a story she is writing, a sports doctor (Hader) who turns everything upside down for her. Supported by a mostly strong ensemble cast and some fun cameos, we go on the journey with Amy as she allows herself to be loved and find true happiness.

Hader and Schumer are really great in this movie. They both bring a lot of genuine emotions and laughs to the story. The comedy in the movie has the usual Apatow spin to it, which I enjoy, but I'm sure others might not or perhaps may have become tired of it. As is also usually the case with Apatow films, the heart in the movie is strong and I was really committed to the proceedings versus just waiting for the next bit. The comedy served the plot and the emotional beats were well done.

I haven't watched too much of Schumer's show on Comedy Central, so I don't know exactly how much of her comedic stylings translate over to this movie, but nevertheless, she is funny in Trainwreck and the movie would have obviously lived or died by her performance. I think this is going to be a great launching pad for whatever she wants to do next. I'm glad a movie like this exists and did so well at the box office. It just goes to show that we need way more female-led movies like this.

I definitely recommend you check out Trainwreak available right now to buy or rent on DVD, Blu-Ray, and your favorite on-demand video streaming service.

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Movie Review Monday: Hunger Games - Mockingjay, Part I

Welcome to another edition of Movie Review Monday!

This week's film is the 2014 blockbuster, The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part I, starring Jennifer Lawrence and a stellar ensemble cast.

In anticipation of the final chapter of this film series coming out in a few weeks, I wanted to look back and review the most recent release (read my Catching Fire review too!) to get myself mentally prepared.

We pick up this movie right after Catching Fire and the plot focuses on Katniss (Lawrence) being strongly pushed into being the symbol for a growing revolution against the Capital. She has her reservations, partially being about not knowing how to be a rebel leader, and also not wanting to get the people she cares about (or anyone else for that matter) hurt or killed on her behalf. We see Katniss begin to warm to the idea as she realizes the true reach of the Capital's carnage.

We also see Peeta (Josh Hutcherson) become a weapon of the Capital's propoganda and he serves as their sort of antithesis to Katniss. An interesting part to this movie (since it is mostly slow moving) is the gradual tension, anticipation, and building up towards something more, as well as how much the importance of symbols is explored. People need something (or someone) to believe in, and a lot of times the images we use are very carefully crafted versus being genuine moments, and both sides in this story utilize artificial symbols to achieve their ends, further deepening the shades of grey for each.

While this movie isn't the best of the series, it is a solid movie which definitely is comparable to Deathly Hallows Part I in that it allows for some breathing room and plot development where if this was just one movie, it would feel rushed and/or shallow.

Make sure to catch up on the full story since you can find the other Hunger Games movies available to stream on Hulu and Amazon Prime right now (the original movie isn't on either service at the moment but you could just rent it from any video-on-demand provider). They're all great and it is a solid sci-fi universe to explore. I've only watched the movies and I enjoy it a lot.

Definitely check back here on the blog to get my thoughts on the final chapter, Mockingjay Part II, when it comes out in theaters on November 20.

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Movie Review Monday: Mad Max - Fury Road

Welcome to another edition of Movie Review Monday!

This week's film is the recent fourth entry in the venerable Mad Max franchise, Mad Max: Fury Road, starring Tom Hardy and Charlize Theron.

This movie serves as a spiritual reboot and successor to the original three films, which starred Mel Gibson in the title role. It isn't retelling anything anything we've seen before but has the same character (Max) in the same setting (futuristic, dystopic Australia) simply just treading new thematic territory.

The plot surrounds Max (Hardy) once again a reluctant hero as he encounters a small group of females escaping their camp and being led by Imperator Furiosa (Theron). Furiosa's group is being chased across the desert by the camp's leader, Immortan Joe, and his crazed band of henchmen.

I really enjoyed this movie. It got a lot of positive buzz over the summer and I'm bummed I missed it in theaters. The visuals are amazing, the action is intense, and the story is great. Hardy and Theron carry the film well and the weird, wild universe they're put within is intriguing to explore. You really get invested by the end of the film, and the ending is very cathartic and well done.

You also don't need to watch any of the other Mad Max films to fully enjoy Fury Road, but if you do, you'll catch some nods to the past movies. I watched the original and the second in the series, and both were moderately enjoyable but Fury Road blows both of them away. It's unique, original, and entertaining, which is of course the most important thing.

While Mad Max: Fury Road isn't available on Netflix or Hulu, you can rent it now from whichever On Demand service you choose or you can get it at Redbox (which is what I did). It's well worth the rental!

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Movie Review Monday: Demetri Martin - Live* (*At the Time)

Welcome to another edition of Movie Review Monday!

This week's film is the 2015 stand-up comedy special, Demetri Martin: Live* (*at the time).

I like to cover comedy specials from time to time, and Demetri Martin (one of my favorite comedians) recently released a new set exclusively on Netflix.

The special captures well Martin's unique comedic style. He spews off irreverent, skewed perspective one-liner jokes that are clever and smart. A lot of them build off one another but most are non-sequiturs which adds to their randomly humorous impact. He certainly isn't for everyone, but I recommend checking him out. If you've seen (and liked) his comedy before, this set is more great jokes to enjoy.

I look forward to the day when I could see Demetri Martin live on stage. I would also love to see Mike Birbiglia perform live (I did a review of some of his comedy here on the blog too).

You can check out this excellent comedy special right now on Netflix!

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Movie Review Monday: A Place at the Table

Welcome to another edition of Movie Review Monday!

This week's film is the 2012 documentary, A Place at the Table.

The movie follows the personal stories of a handful of Americans who, like millions of others in this country, experience food insecurity on a regular basis. They have periods of time where they don't know where their next meal is coming from, if it comes at all. They go hungry in a country where this more than enough food. Often, the food they do get, is not adequate nutrition for them to thrive, especially the children who need it most.

A Place at the Table explores the stories of hungry families in heartbreaking detail, as well as the political climate that created this current situation. Part of the problem is inadequate government programs to help supplement low-income families get enough food, as well as the core problem of income equality and stagnant wages. The documentary is helped along by the likes of actor Jeff Bridges, a longtime hunger advocate as well as experts in several different careers who are working to end food insecurity. The issue is complex and simple at the same time and it has numerous consequences, such as childhood obesity, a lack of childhood engagement with education, and an overburdening of charities to treat the symptoms of the problem.

I've reviewed other documentaries that connect well to this societal issue, like Food, Inc, and Inequality for All. There are others on Netflix as well if you want to explore this issue, but it is something where a lot of lip-service gets given out, but little is actually done to solve the problem. The problem is only increasing over time, so something needs to be done on a federal level to fight hunger.

Check out the film's website for more info, and do what you can to help end food insecurity in your communities (donate food, advocate for food assistance programs, vote for minimum wage increases, and support your local farmers' markets).

You can check out A Place at the Table streaming right now on Netflix.

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Movie Review Monday: Seeking a Friend for the End of the World

Welcome to another edition of Movie Review Monday!

This week's film is the 2012 apocalyptic comedic drama, Seeking a Friend for the End of the World, starring Steve Carell and Keira Knightley.

The story follows Dodge (Carell) and Penny (Knightley) as they look to make the most of their last weeks before an asteroid collides with the Earth, destroying all life and effectively ending the world. We witness society as it responds to this impending doom, showcasing the bliss, depression, and confusion people would feel in such a situation.

What I like about this movie is that it feels like a very realistic portrayal of what would happen in a scenario like this. You'd have some people who would go on like normal, mowing their lawns and maintaining their routines, and others who would go wild and be carefree for their final days, trying drugs and having orgies. You'd have people who were depressed and give up, and others who would make the most of their time by doing what they never got to do or doing whatever is important to them such as spending time with family or loved ones.

This film is the best comedy of this type that I've seen in the recent past. This is the End featuring Seth Rogen and James Franco is more vulgar and silly, while another movie I reviewed here on the blog from Netflix, It's a Disaster, was more absurdist and less realistic. Seeking a Friend for the End of the World really captured the emotions of it all, and had some fun, genuine humor as well (as well as its own fun cameos).

I definitely recommend checking this movie out. It really makes you think about who you'd want to be with when the world ends.

You can check out Seeking a Friend for the End of the World streaming right now on Netflix.

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