Mini Review: "About Time"

Interesting plot device, but the travel back in time angle adds some unnecessary and silly complications.  Rachel McAdams is as charming as ever though.

B

2014 Top Picks Updated

Must see's are as always, in bold.  Check local listings as release dates are subject to change.

JAN. 17 - Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit.

FEB. 7 - The Monuments Men

FEB. 21 - 3 Days to Kill

MAR. 14 - Walk of Shame

APR. 4 - Captain America: The Winter Soldier

APR. 18 - Transcendence

MAY 2 - The Amazing Spider-Man 2

MAY 9 - Chef

MAY 16 - Godzilla

MAY 23 - X-Men: Days of Future Past

JUN. 6 - Edge of Tomorrow

AUG. 1- Guardians of the Galaxy

AUG. 8 - Into the Storm

AUG 15 - The Expendables 3

AUG. 22 - Sin City: A Dame to Kill For

SEP. 19 - The Maze Runner

SEP. 26 - The Equalizer

NOV. 7 - Interstellar

OSCAR PICKS!

As always, our choice is in bold.

Best Motion Picture of the Year

American Hustle

Captain Phillips

Dallas Buyers Club

Gravity

Her

Nebraska

Philomena

12 Years a Slave

The Wolf of Wall Street

Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role

Christian Bale for American Hustle

Bruce Dern for Nebraska

Leonardo DiCaprio for The Wolf of Wall Street

Chiwetel Ejiofor for 12 Years a Slave

Matthew McConaughey for Dallas Buyers Club

Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role

Amy Adams for American Hustle

Cate Blanchett for Blue Jasmine

Sandra Bullock for Gravity

Judi Dench for Philomena

Meryl Streep for August: Osage County

Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role

Barkhad Abdi for Captain Phillips

Bradley Cooper for American Hustle

Jonah Hill for The Wolf of Wall Street

Michael Fassbender for 12 Years a Slave

Jared Leto for Dallas Buyers Club

Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role

Sally Hawkins for Blue Jasmine

Julia Roberts for August: Osage County

Lupita Nyong'o for 12 Years a Slave

Jennifer Lawrence for American Hustle

June Squibb for Nebraska

Best Achievement in Directing

Alfonso Cuarón for Gravity

Steve McQueen for 12 Years a Slave

David O. Russell for American Hustle

Martin Scorsese for The Wolf of Wall Street

Alexander Payne for Nebraska

Best Writing, Screenplay Written Directly for the Screen

American Hustle: Eric Warren Singer, David O. Russell

Blue Jasmine: Woody Allen

Her: Spike Jonze

Nebraska: Bob Nelson

Dallas Buyers Club: Craig Borten, Melisa Wallack

Best Writing, Screenplay Based on Material Previously Produced or Published

Before Midnight: Richard Linklater

Captain Phillips: Billy Ray

12 Years a Slave: John Ridley

The Wolf of Wall Street: Terence Winter

Philomena: Steve Coogan, Jeff Pope

Best Animated Feature Film of the Year

The Croods

Despicable Me 2

Ernest & Célestine

Frozen

The Wind Rises

Best Foreign Language Film of the Year

The Broken Circle Breakdown: Felix Van Groeningen (Belgium)

The Missing Picture: Rithy Panh (Cambodia)

The Hunt: Thomas Vinterberg (Denmark)

The Great Beauty: Paolo Sorrentino (Italy)

Omar: Hany Abu-Assad (Palestine)

Best Achievement in Cinematography

Gravity: Emmanuel Lubezki

Inside Llewyn Davis: Bruno Delbonnel

Nebraska: Phedon Papamichael

Prisoners: Roger Deakins

The Grandmaster: Philippe Le Sourd

Best Achievement in Editing

12 Years a Slave: Joe Walker

American Hustle: Alan Baumgarten, Jay Cassidy, Crispin Struthers

Gravity: Alfonso Cuarón, Mark Sanger

Captain Phillips: Christopher Rouse

Dallas Buyers Club: Martin Pensa, John Mac McMurphy

Best Achievement in Production Design

12 Years a Slave: Adam Stockhausen, Alice Baker

American Hustle: Judy Becker, Heather Loeffler

Gravity

The Great Gatsby: Catherine Martin, Beverley Dunn

Her: K.K. Barrett, Gene Serdena

Best Achievement in Costume Design

American Hustle: Michael Wilkinson

The Great Gatsby: Catherine Martin

12 Years a Slave: Patricia Norris

The Grandmaster: William Chang

The Invisible Woman: Michael O'Connor

Best Achievement in Makeup and Hairstyling

Dallas Buyers Club: Adruitha Lee, Robin Mathews

Jackass Presents: Bad Grandpa: Steve Prouty

The Lone Ranger: Joel Harlow, Gloria Pasqua Casny

Best Achievement in Music Written for Motion Pictures, Original Score

The Book Thief: John Williams

Gravity: Steven Price

Her: William Butler, Andy Koyama

Saving Mr. Banks: Thomas Newman

Philomena: Alexandre Desplat

Best Achievement in Music Written for Motion Pictures, Original Song

Despicable Me 2: Pharrell Williams ("Happy")

Frozen: Kristen Anderson-Lopez, Robert Lopez ("Let It Go")

Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom: Bono, Adam Clayton, The Edge, Larry Mullen Jr., Brian Burton ("Ordinary Love")

Alone Yet Not Alone: Bruce Broughton ("Alone Yet Not Alone")

Her: Karen O ("The Moon Song")

Best Achievement in Sound Mixing

Gravity: Skip Lievsay, Niv Adiri, Christopher Benstead, Chris Munro

The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug: Christopher Boyes, Michael Hedges, Michael Semanick, Tony Johnson

Captain Phillips: Chris Burdon, Mark Taylor, Mike Prestwood Smith, Chris Munro

Inside Llewyn Davis: Skip Lievsay, Greg Orloff, Peter F. Kurland

Lone Survivor: Andy Koyama, Beau Borders, David Brownlow

Best Achievement in Sound Editing

All Is Lost: Steve Boeddeker, Richard Hymns

Captain Phillips: Oliver Tarney

Gravity: Glenn Freemantle

The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug: Brent Burge

Lone Survivor: Wylie Stateman

Best Achievement in Visual Effects

Gravity: Timothy Webber, Chris Lawrence, David Shirk, Neil Corbould

The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug: Joe Letteri, Eric Saindon, David Clayton, Eric Reynolds

Iron Man 3: Christopher Townsend, Guy Williams, Erik Nash, Daniel Sudick

The Lone Ranger: Tim Alexander, Gary Brozenich, Edson Williams, John Frazier

Star Trek Into Darkness: Roger Guyett, Pat Tubach, Ben Grossmann, Burt Dalton

Best Documentary, Feature

The Act of Killing: Joshua Oppenheimer, Signe Byrge Sørensen

Cutie and the Boxer: Zachary Heinzerling, Lydia Dean Pilcher

Dirty Wars: Rick Rowley, Jeremy Scahill

The Square: Jehane Noujaim, Karim Amer

20 Feet from Stardom: Morgan Neville

Best Documentary, Short Subject

Cavedigger: Jeffrey Karoff

Facing Fear: Jason Cohen

Karama Has No Walls: Sara Ishaq

The Lady In Number 6: Malcolm Clarke, Carl Freed

Prison Terminal: The Last Days of Private Jack Hall: Edgar Barens

Best Short Film, Animated

Feral: Daniel Sousa, Dan Golden

Get a Horse!: Lauren MacMullan, Dorothy McKim

Mr Hublot: Laurent Witz, Alexandre Espigares

Possessions: Shuhei Morita

Room on the Broom (TV): Max Lang, Jan Lachauer

Best Short Film, Live Action

That Wasn't Me: Esteban Crespo

Just Before Losing Everything: Xavier Legrand

Helium: Anders Walter

Do I Have to Take Care of Everything?: Selma Vilhunen

The Voorman Problem: Mark Gill

Mini Review: "August: Osage County"

Mediocre film featuring a great Meryl Streep and a few fleeting moments of brilliance from the rest. 

C

OSCARS!!

Here's a list of nominees.  As always, we go into our shell on reviews and catch up on what we've missed....our picks coming soon to this site!

http://www.imdb.com/oscars/nominations/?ref_=rto_3p_vi2

Awards season begins, Razzie noms!!

As always, my choices are in bold.

Worst Picture

After Earth

Grown-Ups 2

The Lone Ranger

A Madea Christmas

Movie 43

Worst Actress

Halle Berry (The Call and Movie 43)

Selena Gomez (Getaway)

Lindsay Lohan (The Canyons)

Tyler Perry (A Madea Christmas)

Naomi Watts (Diana and Movie 43)

Worst Actor

Johnny Depp (The Lone Ranger)

Ashton Kutcher (Jobs)

Adam Sandler (Grown-Ups 2)

Jaden Smith (After Earth)

Sylvester Stallone (Bullet To The Head, Escape Plan and Grudge Match)

Worst Supporting Actress

Lady Gaga (Machete Kills)

Salma Hayek (Grown-Ups 2)

Katherine Heigl (The Big Wedding)

Kim Kardashian (Tyler Perry's Temptation)

Lindsay Lohan (InAPPropriate Comedy and Scary Movie 5)

Worst Supporting Actor

Chris Brown (Battle Of The Year)

Larry The Cable Guy (A Madea Christmas)

Taylor Lautner (Grown-Ups 2)

Will Smith (After Earth)

Nick Swardson (A Haunted House and Grown-Ups 2)

Worst Screen combo

The Entire Cast of Grown Ups 2

The Entire Cast of Movie 43

Lindsay Lohan & Charlie Sheen (Scary Movie 5)

Tyler Perry & EITHER Larry the Cable Guy OR

That Worn-Out Wig & Dress (A Madea Christmas)

Jaden Smith & Will Smith on Planet Nepotism (After Earth)

Worst Director

The 13 People Who Directed Movie 43

Dennis Dugan (Grown Ups 2)

Tyler Perry (A Madea Christmas and Temptation)

M. Night Shyamalan (After Earth)

Gore Verbinski (The Lone Ranger)

Worst Screenplay

After Earth (Screenplay by Gary Whitta and M. Night Shyamalan, Story by Will Smith)

Grown Ups 2 (Written by Fred Wolfe & Adam Sandler & Tim Herlihy)

The Lone Ranger (Screen Story & Screenplay by Ted Elliott, Justin Haythe & Terry Rosso)

A Madea Christmas (Written by Tyler Perry)

Movie 43 (Written by 19 "Screenwriters")

Worst Remake, Rip-Off or Sequel

Grown Ups 2

Hangover III

The Lone Ranger

Scary Movie 5

Mini Review: "The Wolf of Wall Street"

Didn't quite feel like I was watching a Scorsese picture, which was a very nice touch by the director.  Great film.

A-

Mini Review: "Lone Survivor"

This true story from the War on Terror is heartbreakingly told and performed.  I'm not ashamed to say I wept as the credits rolled.  Damn close to being the best of the year, just lacked a little something....

A+

Mini Review: "12 Years A Slave"

Wonderfully done film with good performances, but after seeing it I have to wonder if some of the hype is more about the ....brutality..of the story rather than how it was told.

B+

Mini Review: "Her"

Spellbinding, deep, meaningful, hopeful and touching.  I gave Gravity early nods, but this one may have just become my choice for best picture.

A+

Mini Review: "The Lifeguard"

Not even 90 minutes of Kristen Bell in a swimsuit could save this flaccid turd of a film.

F

Mini Review: "Contracted"

Interesting little quasi-morality tale that lacks a bit in the metaphoric meaning, but is a fun ride getting there.

B-

Mini Review: "Fruitvale Station"

While without doubt some of the most outstanding performances I've seen lately, and a poignant, powerful story...I was bored through most of the film.

The grade may not reflect the comments, but based on the acting, its deserved.

A

Mini Review: "You're Next"

Surprisingly entertaining and effective little home invasion thriller with a unique twist.

B

Mini Review: "Carrie"

Weakly handled remake with a cast that is far more promising than the performances delivered.

C-

Non film post: Prepping for severe season

2011 was a rather trying year for me, and 2012 wasnt a whole lot better.  Both years filled with severe tribulations and many times I was this close to throwing in the towel...however, I somehow fought through and started 2013 full of potential.

In 2013 I have changed my outlook on life, and while I've still had some trials, I have refused to allow myself to dwell on the bad or let it run my life as I had done in the past.  I've had much more good this year, including meeting a lady who has done nothing but improve my entire life.

That being said, however, there has been one thing that has haunted me from last year...one thing I still feel the need to address and correct:  severe weather coverage.

For those who don't already know, my desire to turn my facebook and twitter pages into a news feed in times of emergency stems from September 11, 2001.  On that day, you couldn't access the major news sites, but there was a forum site I was a member of that was accessible and providing updates as fast as anything you were seeing on TV.  So, I decided that never again would anyone I know have to fight to get information, and have been doing pretty well till this past season.

We covered the early outbreaks pretty well, but kinda dropped the ball in May I feel.  For example, I knew May 19th was going to be a busy day but still scheduled a trip to see Star Trek Into Darkness and then a soccer game after.  I was actually on the field when the storm that produced the Shawnee tornado starting putting down tornadoes.  We had to pack up and race home, a waste of 10 minutes, to start covering the storm. In fact, in photos from that day, you can see I'm still in my game shorts as Im plotting radar paths.

We were similarly slow on the draw on May 20th and May 31st.  After the Moore tornado I was lamenting on facebook about the loss of life, and a friend told me that she thought we'd done everything we could.  My comment was simply "obviously not everything".  

This year, we will have improvements in the "fatcave" as we so lovingly call it.  We've gone from 3 PC's to 4, including one specifically earmarked for providing faster alerts and radar feeds.  We've bookmarked major news sites so we can access information faster.  On days with ANY level of enhanced severe risk, we'll pay much closer attention to alerts and evolving conditions and keep plans to the absolute minimum so we don't get caught short again.  We also have the capability to add up to 2 additional PC's as need arises.

Also, while the twitter feed has been (and will remain) public, the facebook page will make ALL weather posts public, so you can tell your friends to use that page for immediate and potentially lifesaving information. 

And in potentially big news, there is early talk of adding a live stream to the arsenal, so you can just watch whats going on in real time.

2014's severe weather season kicks off in about 2 months.  As always, we'll be here to watch it for you, and with more vigilance this year.

And the first mini-review of 2014 goes to....

American Hustle...not as interesting or as fluid as director Russel's previous Silver Linings Playbook, but great performances all around and especially from Jennifer Lawrence, but I think ultimately the story is a little weak.

B