The Imitation Game (2014)

This movie could have been, in itself, an enigma/puzzle that would have been difficult to understand, and it most certainly was not.  This movie was honestly thrilling.  Alan Turing is a British mathematician who is hired by the government to solve a German machine known as "enigma"  Solve? Yes, solve.  The enigma works for the Germans as a machine that takes a secret German message and scrambles it into a code in which only the Germans know of.  Turing is hired to find that code, which changes on a daily basis.   The film itself is incredibly well written for what it is, and I actually learned quite a lot about not only WWII, but also Turing himself and interestingly enough, how homosexuality was treated back then in Britain. Benedict Cumberbatch pulls off a great performance that will somewhat seem like he's just playing his version of Sherlock Holmes, but still a very well played role.  The movie was awesome, yet I felt as if it was lacking something.  I couldn't exactly describe what, but all that aside, this movie taught me a few things and made me laugh and generally feel for Benedict's character.  A well deserved Oscar nomination.

Inherent Vice (2014)

I absolutely love movies that take place in the 70's, and this one (taking place in 1970) is a gem in representing that time.  Inherent Vice takes you into the life of Larry "Doc" Sportello, a private investigator and former doper who is set out to help a former lover of his.  I can only really describe this as one lead taking him to a certain location which takes him towards like 7 other leads to different investigations somehow having to do with each other.  Despite this, the movie actually flows really well and has pretty good pacing.  The writing is quirky and funny and real.  Joanna Newsom, who narrates the film, does a fantastic job playing her minor character and narrating for Doc.  She plays this off really well because the feeling Doc feels, she expresses.  Everything had a real and well played 70's look to it and I most definitely loved it. Joaquin Phoenix and Josh Brolin both deserve some kind of award for this movie. Phoenix played his role really well as a pot smoking, private investigator hippie, and Josh Brolin did a fantastic job being... well... a crazy, crazy man.  Overall the movie was incredibly well written, and I give it props.  A whole ounce worth.

American Sniper (2014)

I didn't know what I expected when I went to the theater to see this movie.  I expected it to be good definitely, but I certainly didn't expect it to be this good.  This movie tells the story of Chris Kyle, a Navy SEAL sniper who has a recorded 160 confirmed kills and his trials throughout being a Navy SEAL.  He struggles greatly being back home in America saying that he isn't doing his duty for America.  What I love and respect about both Chris Kyle and this film is that Chris knows that his sniping job isn't done for kills.  Everybody constantly congratulates him on his killstreak, and every time his response is almost silence and just saying it's his job and he's just helping to save America and I heavily respect this man for it.  As far as the film goes I think it was fantastic.  Great cinematography and editing, and all the sounds were superb.  Bradley Cooper's acting was great, not stunning, but great.  He played the role really well, taking in Chris' personal workouts and attitude.  This main character is such a kind-hearted man and yet the things he goes through in war are insanely brutal.  This is by far my favorite war movie, and I will most likely find myself watching it again, and again, and again.  

Dawn of the Planet of the Apes (2014)

I don't remember much from Rise of the Planet of the Apes, but I remembered enough for this movie to make sense.  Then when it came to make sense to me I began to pay more attention to the "morals" of this particular story.  The apes have taken over a particular part of a forest nearby San Francisco and there are some disputes over territory between the humans and apes.  The apes just want to have the forest to themselves and be left alone by humans and more importantly, their weapons.  This movie shows that there are fucked up humans just as much as there are fucked up apes.  Some apes are better than others, as are some humans.  I watched this film for the visual effects it is nominated for, and as far as I'm concerned so far, it won.  Every ape is computer generated using motion capture and it is beautiful.  Every move made by the apes is incredibly ape-like, and everything else is incredibly detailed.  Gary Oldman played a good part that I honestly wish was involved more even though his character threw in some surprises to this ape/human war.  A fantastic addition to the "of the Apes" franchise.  

Hey Everyone

To anybody who actually reads this, just a heads up.  I'll be trying to fit in watching as many movies as humanly possible. Until February 22nd however, I'll be focusing more on the Oscars and everything that usually entails from a movie review page during "Oscar season" So basically... enjoy!

Selma (2014)

Selma is a film brought to life one screen by a marvelous cast and an amazing director.  Telling the story of Martin Luther King Jr. after his famous "I Have a Dream" speech.  There was actually a lot to King's story that I didn't already know, and a learned a significant amount from this film.  Every shot in the movie was either breathtaking for the peace protests and church sermons, or horrifying through every brutal riot.  It's crazy what the government used to do to people back then.  President Johnson constancy shoves off King in this film showing that the Civil Rights Movement went far beyond King winning the Nobel Peace Prize.  Stock footage of the riots throughout the film helped us identify exactly what was going on through a minimally choppy and somewhat well paced film.  The cast of this film was absolutely fantastic.  Tim Roth, Oprah Winfrey, Tom Wilkinson, and even Giovanni Ribisi make the roles in this movie really stand out.  David Oyelowo by far though did a fantastic job playing King.  Every speech given by David was enthralling and captivating in only a way King could pull off.  I've never been more pleased to listen to a church sermon.  I think this film deserved a little more credit as far as the Oscars are concerned however.  Most of the acting was brilliant and some of the cinematography was fantastic to watch.  Overall the movie was entertaining as much as it was moving.  Not my pick for best picture this year, but definitely a great film.