Starring: Will Ferrell, Kevin Hart, Alison Brie, Edwina Findley, and Craig T. Nelson
Starbucks, one mighty brand in American commerce, had a rare public relations misstep recently. The company's decision to promote their baristas as experts on race relations in the United States really backfired to say the least. That's right. The young guy or girl whipping up your cappuccino or frapuccino was tasked with having a meaningful exchange with you on what is perhap... Continue reading...
Posted by SoberFilmChick on Sunday, March 22, 2015 In : 0.06% Beer or Wine
The Divergent Series: Insurgent SoberFilmChick
Directed by: Robert Schwentke Starring: Shailene Woodley, Theo James, Octavia Spencer, Jai Courtney, Ray Stevenson, Zoë Kravitz, Miles Teller, Ansel Elgort, Maggie Q, Naomi Watts, Kate Winslet, and Ashley Judd
With the flood of young adult film adaptations in theaters, it has become increasingly difficult for popular book series to stand out. Last year’s Divergent, however, was a surprise success. While Divergent did not reach Hunger Games’ he... Continue reading...
Directed By: David Robert Mitchell Starring: Maika Monroe, Keir Gilchrist, Daniel Zovatto, Jake Weary, Olivia Luccardi, and Lili Sepe
If you've followed this site for any extended period of time, I'm sure you've discovered the fact that I have no love lost for the horror movies of today. These days, we get the millionth unwarranted entry in a long-running franchise, a supernatural horror flick that is stylistically akin to every other horror movie that's come out in the last twenty y... Continue reading...
Posted by James Brown on Sunday, March 22, 2015 In : 0.00% Water
'71
Directed By: Yann Demange
Starring: Jack O'Connell, Richard Dormer, Sean Harris, Sam Reid, Charlie Murphy, Paul Anderson, and Paul Popplewell
I must admit that I've been a bit of a pessimist when it comes to the cinematic landscape as of late. In the interest of full disclosure, there's nothing that's quite motivating me to make my way to my local theater. The next movie on my radar is Avengers: Age of Ultron, which will not arrive until May. While many would argue that this predisposes m... Continue reading...
Posted by James Brown on Saturday, March 21, 2015 In : 0.03% Wine Coolers
Gett: The Trial of Viviane Amsalem
Directed By: Ronit Elkabetz and Shlomi Elkabetz Starring: Ronit Elkabetz, Menashe Noy, Sasson Gabai, and Simon Abkarian
Some people just aren't meant to be together. The blinding nature of love can have disastrous consequences. Still, the divorce rate isn't exactly sky high in the United States, or most other countries around the globe for that matter. As of 2011, the divorce rate stateside sits at a respectable 6.8%, but I'm certain the percentage of unsucc... Continue reading...
Posted by James Brown on Saturday, March 21, 2015 In : 0.00% Water
Wild Tales (Relatos Salvajes)
Directed By: Damián Szifron
Starring: Ricardo Darín, Oscar Martínez, Leonardo Sbaraglia, Érica Rivas, Rita Cortese, Julieta Zylberberg, and Darío Grandinetti
I normally am not one to review short films, but I must make an exception in the case of Damián Szifron's Wild Tales. This Argentinian anthology of shorts offers the biggest laughs I've had in a movie theater since last year's Chef. It's a rather insane series of films, but they all deliver incredible h... Continue reading...
Posted by James Brown on Saturday, March 21, 2015 In : 0.12% Hard Liquor
The Gunman
Directed By: Pierre Morel
Starring: Sean Penn, Idris Elba, Ray Winstone, Mark Rylance, Jasmine Trinca, Peter Franzén, and Javier Bardem
With director Pierre Morel of Taken fame at the helm, acting royalty Sean Penn in the lead role, and a host of acclaimed supporting cast members, The Gunman should have been far better than it turned out to be. On paper, it's cinematic gold. However, it's been abundantly clear in every trailer and TV spot that this film would hardly hit the spot. ... Continue reading...
Posted by James Brown on Saturday, March 14, 2015 In : 0.06% Beer or Wine
Run All Night
Directed By: Jaume Collet-Serra
Starring: Liam Neeson, Joel Kinnaman, Common, Ed Harris, Génesis Rodríguez, Vincent D'Onofrio, Boyd Holbrook, and Nick Nolte
"Wherever we're going, we'll cross this line together." -Shawn Maguire (Ed Harris)
It's abundantly clear that Taken marked a turning point in Liam Neeson's career. As Bryan Mills, he became the action star we know and love today. Well, he may be getting ready to arrive at another turning point in his career. In a recent inte... Continue reading...
Posted by SoberFilmChick on Saturday, March 14, 2015 In : 0.09% Cocktails
Cinderella SoberFilmChick
Directed by: Kenneth Branagh
Starring: Lily James, Richard Madden, Cate Blanchett, Stellan Skarsgård, Holliday Grainger, Derek Jacobi, Helena Bonham Carter, Nonso Anozie, and Hayley Atwell
Disney has always been adept at developing and selling princess fantasies. In 1950, Disney’s animated version of Cinderella garnered critical and commercial success, and Cinderella became a vital component of the Disney brand. But Disney did not stop with Cinderella and her prede... Continue reading...
Starring: Sharlto Copley, Dev Patel, Watkin Tudor Jones, Yolandi Visser, Jose Pablo Cantillo, Sigourney Weaver, and Hugh Jackman
There's a fine line between a director utilizing recurring stylistic flourishes throughout his or her filmography and a director doing the same thing over and over again expecting the same success time and time again. Neill Blomkamp is flirting with this line. His first film District 9 focused on aliens living in the slums of a fut... Continue reading...
