2013 SPECIAL EDITION
LCR LIGHTS CAMERA REACTION APRIL 2014 | ISSUE 01| £3.99 lightscamerareaction.co.uk
FILMS INCLUDED HER GRAVITY THE WOLF OF WALL STREET GODZILLA Interstellar
SASHA STONE
FIND OUT WHAT THE AWARDSDAILY BLOGGER THOUGHT OF 2013 IN FILM in our exclusive interview.
PLUS...
BEST FILMS OF THE YEAR
FAVOURITE PERFORMANCES
OSCAR RECAP
2014 preview
contents FEATURES 04 | 2013 Films and performances that we loved. 08 | OSCAR RECAP Who won what? 10 | INTERVIEW Sasha Stone speaks to us.
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14 | 2014 PREVIEW Everything you should see that’s coming out soon. Does Her make our top list? Diving right into 2014!
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Cate Blanchett excells in Blue Jasmine
Now what is Lupita so happy about?
08
Exclusive interview!
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LETTER from
H
THE EDITOR ow to describe 2013 in film? The Bling Ring, Spring Breakers, This is the End and The Wolf of Wall Street introduced the fun lifestyle some of us are eager for while incorporating other dark themes. 12 Years a Slave, Rush, Captain Phillips, Philomena and Dallas Buyers Club provided us with films based on actual events. We had a year filled with exciting blockbusters, including Thor: The Dark World, Iron Man 3, Star Trek Into Darkness and Man of Steel. We found ourselves being scared by films such as Evil Dead, Mama, The Conjuring and World War Z. Not to mention there were some laughs too, Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues, The World’s End, We’re the Millers and The Heat were some of 2013’s most popular comedies. And what’s a year in film without animation? Frozen, Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs 2, Monsters University and Despicable Me 2 were all charming, funny and memorable. This issue’s theme is 2013, allowing viewers to read Lights Camera Reaction’s favourite films and performances. This includes five films, one of them being the issues main feature. After that, you can see the twelve performances that are considered noteworthy of the year, split into three sections: Best Actress, Best Actor, Best Supporting Actor and Supporting Actress. A huge part of a year in film is awards season, mainly the Oscars. This issue features a double spread focuses on the 86th Academy Awards and what went down. Discussing Ellen DeGeneres’ hosting skills as well as the winners, losers, and the photo that broke twitter! “There will be backlash. Count on it. That’s the Oscars for you. We love to hate them” said Awards Daily’s Sasha Stone, during our pre-Oscar interview. Sticking to our theme, we ask Stone what she thought of 2013 in film, discussing what she liked and didn’t like as well as other issues, including the controversy over an Academy member refusing to watch 12 Years a Slave. Finally, Lights Camera Reaction brings you a 2014 preview. What looks good and the reason why you should be looking forward to it. Release dates ranging from May to December. Including blockbusters, dramas, comedies and possible Oscar contenders. So sit down and relax! Enjoy this issue and be sure to visit lightscamerareaction.co.uk for further updates.
Jack Smith Editor
BEST FILMS OF 2013 A Spike Jonze Love Story.
HER
CERTIFICATION 15 DIRECTOR Spike Jonze CAST Joaquin Phoenix, Scarlett Johansson, Amy Adams, Chris Pratt, Olivia Wilde RUNNING TIME 125 minutes Theodore Twombly (Joaquin Phoenix) is a lonely, introverted man He develops an unlikely relationship with his newly purchased operating system that’s designed to meet his every need. Spike Jonze perhaps one of the foremost directors today of absurdist stories, judging by his previous films (Being John Malkovich and Adaptation. among them), but with Her, he limits the range of his fantastical mise-en-scene to deliver his most grounded work to date. Still, this doesn’t mean that his film isn’t brimming with beautiful energy, the sort that you often see in love stories of old like It Happened One Night and It’s a Wonderful Life. Indeed, with this film, Jonze does seem to channel Frank Capra by way of Charlie Kaufman. One could call Her a sci-fi film, and while it does deal with a philosophical question that Philip K. Dick would salivate over (can a man and an artificial intelligence fall in love, and consequently, is that love real?), it isn’t the crux of the story. No; this is a personal tale as old as time itself: boy meets girl. There just happens to be a bit of a novel twist to the romance, but Jonze does not bog the story down in the high-tech mumbo-jumbo of it all.. The way his characters talk, how they interact, shows that Jonze has a distinct ear and style. Not only that, but he writes Her as a fable, a neo-mythical tale about two beings, one human and one artificial, who find themselves at a crossroads. The hero of Her would be one Theodore Twombly, the awkward, painfully shy letter-writer brought to nebbishy life by Joaquin Phoenix. Theodore is as heartbreaking and uniquely portrayed as any of Phoenix’s finest
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“Her unravels in a fascinating way, touching on elements that any person who has ever been in love can relate to.”
creations, from Gladiator’s Commodus to The Master’s Freddie Quell. Phoenix plays emotionally damaged so well, but Theodore might be his most delicate creation to date. Mustached and bespectacled, Phoenix really does play Theodore as a vulnerable dandelion in the breeze, indanger of being disintegrated by anything that comes along. Any guy or gal who’s ever been lovelorn will see bits of themselves in Phoenix’s performance, making him one of the most relatable cinema characters to come along in years.
For all of her beauty, Scarlett Johansson’s voice has always been the most enthralling thing about her. There is an eagerness there, a bright and nearly peppy enthusiasm, and yet every word about her promises sensuality. As Theodore and Samantha bond and their relationship flowers, Johansson’s presence almost feels so three-dimensional that we can practically see her on-screen. Throughout the film, you’ll be wondering just where the relationship between Theodore and Samantha is going.
How can it work? What are the long-term ramifications of it all? And of course, Jonze touches on any and all concerns that might come from dating your personal operating system. How can a physical relationship work? How do other people view it? How does an OS itself view it? Each of these questions is a thesis in itself, and yet Jonze examines them and answers them honestly and beautifully. By the end of the film, you’ll see not only how something like
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DID YOU KNOW.. Samantha Morton was originally the voice of Samantha. With Morton’s blessing, he decided to recast the role with Scarlett Johansson as Samantha. Carey Mulligan was originally cast but dropped out due to scheduling conflicts. She was replaced by Rooney Mara. During some of the more emotional scenes, Amy Adams would sing songs from famous musicals like “Annie” in order to cheer herself up.
this can be possible, but that it is inevitable. As is normally the case with Jonze, the music is key, and Her brings what might be his best soundtrack to date. Arcade Fire and Karen O. supply an utterly fantastic score, with songs that seem to encapsulate everything about the film and what it’s trying to say in a few heartbreaking verses. (“The Moon Song” is one of the best songs to appear in a film all year.) By the end of Her there’s a heart
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felt theme on the fact that we are losing touch with other people in the world, slowly losing the human connection that sustains us and it seemingly implores us to reach out and just feel one another existing in this increasingly isolated, clinical world. This could have come across as a pretty trite message, but Jonze handles it with such heartfelt sincerity and manages to avoid falling into a cliché love story. Her may paint a vivid portrait of the near-future with all its bells and whistles, but in the end,
relationships won’t have evolved that much. And I think when the time comes that this new brand of interaction comes along, Her might very well be seen as a romantic classic thanks to its unique premise. Her unravels in a fascinating way, touching on elements that any person who has ever been in love can relate to.
film yet. Jonze tells the story of a lonely man, without falling into a cliche zone we’ve seen in other romantic films. It’s honest, creative, beautiful and deserves all the praise it has recieved. Bravo Spike Jonze.
One of the most original and unique films you’ll see in a long, long time. Spike Jonze is a creative and fascinating filmmaker who has written and directed his most complete and poignant
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best films of 2013
Inside Llewyn Davis A week in the life of a young singer, Llewyn Davis, (Oscar Isaac) as he navigates the Greenwich Village folk scene of 1961. Joel and Ethan Coen have returned with one of their finest efforts to date. Inside Llewyn Davis is a bleak, beautiful film about shattered dreams, self-pity, dealing with disappointment and the cycles that often capture us. Thanks to a breakout performance from Oscar Isaac as the main figure, this journey through the 1960’s folk music scene feels
GRAVITY Don’t let go.
CERTIFICATION 12A DIRECTOR Alfonso Cuarón CAST Sandra Bullock, George Clooney RUNNING TIME 98 minutes Dr. Ryan Stone (Sandra Bullock) and Matt Kowalsky (George Clooney) must work together to survive after an accident in space destroys their shuttle, leaving them adrift in space.
In 2009, James Cameron’s Avatar bewildered audiences everywhere with its advancement in technology and exceptional use of 3D. Despite what I think of the film as a whole, it was a technical breakthrough influencing directors everywhere. Just last year, Ang Lee brought us Life of Pi, a film that was supposedly unfilmable and was turned it into a phenomenal piece of art. This year, we have Gravity. An exceptional film that is not only beautiful to watch, it reminded me why I love going to the cinema. Carrying most of the story on her shoulders, Sandra Bullock (Angelina Jolie was originally cast ) gives the film so much emotion and makes Ryan a real character despite having limited time to create a backstory. She fits the role 100% with both the physical demands and the dramatic character arc. We don’t learn a lot about Dr. Ryan Stone, but we are given glimpses into her life that keep us interested. We don’t learn a lot about Dr. Ryan Stone, but we are given glimpses into her life that keep us interested.
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as personal to Llewyn as it does to the two directors; taking the film to an entirely different level. It’s a fascinating story that can surely be deconstructed on a myriad of levels and I’m sure will become even more rewarding on multiple viewings but even on the surface level it’s one of the best films they’ve made to date. Certificate 15 Running Time 105 minutes
The Wolf of WalL Street We immediately relate to her as an audience, you would be absolutely frightened if you were in that situation. Adding to Bullock’s remarkable performance is her warming chemistry between her and George Clooney. Some of the best scenes of Gravity are moments between Ryan and Matt. Clooney brings his usual charm to Matt, giving Gravity the balance it needed. His character is essential to the story and Clooney plays the part perfectly. Alfonso Cuarón has directed a variety of films, but Gravity will show what he’s capable of when behind the camera. He presents a story that is so beautifully crafted and perfectly paced that will make you appreciate his skilful direction. Cuarón uses a variety of techniques that work wonders adding to its intensity and beauty. Point-of-view shots from Bullock’s Ryan Stone are exceptionally crafted; really getting you involved in the film. Scenes where she was spinning in space are horrifying to watch, its frightening to put yourself in that position. Gravity is an exceptional film that brings out all kinds of different emotions in you. It’s insightful, intelligent, thrilling and original. Alfonso Cuarón crafts Gravity with everything he’s got with the end result being a visual masterpiece enhanced by Sandra Bullock’s remarkable performance and Emmanuel Lubezki’s bewitching cinematography. Gravity will remind you why you love going to the cinema.
Based on the autobiography of the same title, Jordan Belfort dreams of living the rich lifestyle in order to get there he goes down the path of crime, corruption and greed. Based on Jordan Belfort’s autobiography of the same title, the film showcases one crazy, messed-up man and his rise and fall from a stockbroker to a founder of a widely successful broker’s firm on Wall Street. Pushing the business to one side, Wolf focuses on what fuels Jordan’s ambition – his addiction to sex and drugs. Throughout the course of several years, we follow Jordan and his change in character and the events that surround him.
What really pushes the film up another level is Leonardo DiCaprio’s powerhouse performance, making Jordan Belfort the most convincingly awful yet captivating character we’ll meet in recent memory. The Wolf of Wall Street showcases a career high from Leonardo DiCaprio and Martin Scorsese, who cranks up the energy for maximum result. It’s a film that shows that even for the rich, lawbreaking still doesn’t pay. Certificate 18 Running Time 180 minutes
BLUE JASMINE Socialite Jasmine arrives in San Francisco to live with her adopted sister after she loses all of her money due to her husband turning out to be a financial crook. Blue Jasmine follows Jasmine (Cate Blanchett), arriving to San Francisco to stay with her sister, Ginger (Sally Hawkins) after her husband Hal (Alec Baldwin) turns out to be a crook and Jasmine loses all of her money. Finding herself stuck with what to do with life and drinking her problems away. Jasmine realises that things aren’t going to go back to the way they used to be.
force of her actions. However, this is really Blanchett’s movie capturing the vile and arguably sympathetic sides. Blanchett perfectly showing what a phenomenal actress she is and needs to be seen by all audiences. Jasmine is no easy character to play by any means, but Blanchett excels showing her vulnerable, scared and witty personas – Blanchett does it all.
Woody Allen beautifully captures Jasmine’s breakdown and the full
Certificate 12A Running Time 98 minutes
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PERFORMANCES WE LOVED.. leading actress
leading actOR
SUPPORTING ACTor
SUPPORTING ACTRESS
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OSCARS 2014 The 86th Annual Academy Awards have come, and they have gone,with months of predicting who’s going to win what. It’s now over.
Ellen DeGeneres hosted the 86th Academy Awards at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood. The ceremony included a “movie heroes” theme, honouring big-screen real-life heroes, superheroes, popular heroes and animated heroes, both past and present, as well as the filmmakers who have brought them to life in cinemas. “We need heroes now more than ever,” DeGeneres said during the broadcast. “People in the world are going through hard times, and movies offer us an escape.
Movies inspire us. I’m not saying that movies are the most important thing in the world ’cause we all know the 86th Annual Academy Awards - Showmost important thing in the world is youth.” DeGeneres’s opening monologue included reference to the heavy rain Los Angeles had been experiencing over the past few days, as well as poking fun at some of the stars in the audience, including Jennifer Lawrence‘s habit of tripping over. “If you win tonight I think we should bring you the Oscar,” said DeGeneres. She closed her monologue by mentioning that there were, two possibilities this year: that Steve McQueen’s drama would win best picture. “And possibility two: you’re all racists.”
Dallas Buyers Club won three Oscars, for Matthew MccConaughey’s lead performance, Jared Leto’s supporting role and Makeup and Hairstyling. Frozen followed with two awards, for Best Animated Feature and Best Original Song. The Great Gatsby won both Best Costume Design and Best Production Design. Her took home Best Original Screenplay, and Blue Jasmine won Best Actress for Cate Blanchett. Lupita Nyong’o moved everyone during her speech for Best Supporting Actress for 12 Years a Slave, which went on to win Best Picture. Gravity, on the other hand, went on to win seven oscars for Directing, Cinematography, Editing, Score, Sound Editing, Sound Mixing and Visual Effects.
and the oscar goes to...
best picture
best director
best ACTRESS
best ACTor
12 Years a slave
alfonso Cuaron
CATE BLANCHETT
Matthew McConaughey
best ADAPTED SCREENPLAY
best ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY
12 years a slave
her
best SUPPORTING ACTRESS Lupita Nyong’o
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best SUPPORTING ACTOR JARED LETO
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86thMonday, Academy Awards 1st march 2014
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........................................................................ RATINGS trivia Alfonso Cuarón is the first Mexican and Latin American winner for Best Director and Editing.
Italy broke its own record in terms of most wins by a country in the Foreign Language Film category.
............................................. THE PHOTO THAT BROKE TWITTER
By 7am it been retweeted more than 3.4 million times breaking the record set by Presdent Barack Obama with the picture of him hugging First Lady Michelle Obama. The selfie shows Hollywood stars including (from left) Jared Leot, Jennifer Lawrence, Channing Tatum, Meryl Streep, Julia Roberts, DeGeneres, Kevin Spacey, Bradley Cooper, Brad Pitt, Lupita Nyong’o and her brother and Angelina Jolie
Woody Allen is the first director to have directed an oscar winner in every decade.
Steve McQueen is both the first black producer to win and the first black director to direct a Best Picture Winner. Cate Blanchett is the most awarded Australian actor (Male and Female) nominee and winner.
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SASHA STONE
“I’m blessed to have lived through the 70s, which I think was such a great time for film” 10 | Lights Camera Reaction|2014
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CONVERSATION WITH...
SASHA STONE Growing up in California, Sasha Stone went on to study film at New York University, Columbia University and the University of California. Soon after graduating, she went on to write for a variety of entertainment magazines, including The Wrap, Variety and The Hollywood Reporter. Sasha Stone is now the proud owner of Awards Daily, founded in 1998, a popular website following the Academy Awards. Interestingly enough, the website was first called Oscar Watch, but Stone was forced to change it after being sued by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences for using Oscar Watch as the site’s name; She changed it to Awards Daily. Hi Sasha. First, thank you for letting me interview you. No problem. So, you graduated from the university of California studying film. What is it about film that you love? Everything. My father was a bit of a film nerd, so he’d always put on a ton of movies and it started from there really. I love being able to connect with a story, or the characters, getting that kind of emotion out of a film is pretty awesome. What kind of films did you watch growing up? I’m blessed to have lived through the 70s, which I think was such a great time for film. Annie Hall, Jaws, One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest, Star Wars, Rocky and Taxi Driver are all great films from that time. I didn’t see any of them, apart from Star Wars and Rocky, during that time as I was quite young, but my point still stands. And being a mother, have you passed your film knowledge onto Emma? [her daughter] Of course! How can you even ask that? I’ve made sure she’s watched all the classics. Luckily, she loves film. I don’t think she’ll go onto study, but I’m glad she shares my passion. She’s just beginning to follow the Oscar race, so its very fun to talk to her about all that stuff. In my opinion, 2013 has been a great year for film. What do you think? Well, [pause] it started off really average. I can’t really recommend a film before August/Septemberish time that really stood out for me. Do you feel the same? Yeah, I mean, I was a big fan of The Bling Ring, Spring Breakers, Blackfish and This is the End, but nothing else really grabbed me. Bling Ring was great, not a big fan of Emma Watson though; bit of a fish out of water. She’s simply too nice and compassionate to be believable as a shallow idiot. I thought she was great. I was able to see past Hermione Granger and really see her as this girl who was a monster all the vain of wanting to be famous. Mm, I need to see it again. Good for her for trying something different though.
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Getting back on track, what films stood out for you this year? The Wolf of Wall Street was my favourite. I was really worried it wouldn’t get nominated for best picture due to the controversy of the film. So you can imagine my delight when it got in, and [Leonardo] DiCaprio’s nomination too. I’m happy he got in, wasn’t expecting that Tom Hanks snub for Captain Phillips. I know! Wasn’t too pleased about that. Apart from The Wolf of Wall Street, what other films? 12 Years a Slave, Inside Llewyn Davis, Gravity, Nebraska and Her all come to mind. Big, big fan of them. I loved Her, it didn’t come out in the UK until Valentine’s Day. Bad times! Worth the wait though? Definitely. Little gutted Joaquin Phoenix didn’t get more attention for his performance. Scarlett Johansson too. The Golden Globes deemed Scarlett’s performance as ineligible because it was voice work. I think we’re at a time where we should be acknowledging them more. Definitely. And in terms of performances, who stood out for you? Cate Blanchett in Blue Jasmine. I hate this phrase, but she knocked all of the other nominees out of the park. She was revolutionary. Couldn’t agree more. I felt so nervous watching her! I loved Judi Dench in Philomena too. She was adorable. Philomena really took off, audiences and critics everywhere really took to it. I think a lot of it has to do with Dench’s remarkable performance and chemistry with Steve Coogan. His writing really helped turn it into the film that it was. Also, people love true stories with a heart, and that’s what Philomena was. It never became too cliche or anything, it always managed to stay above that. Most of the acting nominations seem locked. [Cate] Blanchett for Best Actress, [Matthew] McConaughey for Best Actor, [Jared] Leto for Supporting Actor. Supporting Actress is the only category that isn’t entirely locked down. It’s between Lupita Nyong’o for 12 Years a Slave and Jennifer Lawrence for American Hustle. What do you think?
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It’s close, but I think Lupita Nyong’o, I still can’t pronounce her name right, will win. I can’t see them giving another Oscar to [Jennifer] Lawrence so soon, she only just won Best Actress last year. Who do you think gave the better performance? Lupita. If Jennifer Lawrence wins, she will make Oscar history being the first actress to win in lead and then supporting the following year. That is correct. And there will be backlash. You think? Count on it. That’s the Oscars for you. We love to hate them. I tweeted something like that not long ago. You run an immensely popular website, Awards Daily, running that must give you an idea of what the public wants, if that makes sense? What do they want to happen on Oscar night? I think I get what you mean. We did our own simulated ballot on Awards Daily, and it came to 12 Years a Slave for Best Picture, Gravity for Best Director, Cate Blanchett for Best Actress, Leonardo DiCaprio for Best Actor, Jared Leto for Supporting Actor, and Lupita Nyong’o for Supporting Actress. That’s interesting. Matches up with the predicted winners, apart from DiCaprio. Yeah, most people seem happy, but we’ll see. Are you predicting anything unusual? I think for my one wild card prediction I’m gonna go with [American] Hustle for editing.
“There will be backlash. Count on it. That’s the Oscars for you. We love to hate them.” Do you think American Hustle will have a good night? It’s got a lot of stiff competition. Who knows really, anything can happen. The Oscars began 85 years ago, and only one woman of colour has ever won for Best Actress (Halle Berry) and only one woman for Best Director (Kathryn Bigelow). Men of colour too, with only six winning for Best Actor, and none
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for Best Director. What do you think? The Oscars only serve to underline the power dynamic in Hollywood. Diversify THAT I say. Do you think we will see an appreciable shift in that dynamic in our lifetime? To me, the one thing they can do is start opening more doors of opportunity. A member of the Academy’s executives
branch tells The Hollywood Reporter she didn’t see “12 Years a Slave” because she doesn’t want “terrible stuff to keep in my head”. Do you have any thoughts on this? Time for this Academy member to retire -- her choices aren’t bad but it’s what she says here that tells me it’s time to pack it in - job well done, life led, time to step aside. There is no shame in that. I find the psychology of these ballots fascinating - which is one of the reasons I’m drawn to the Oscars year after year. People are flawed and so are the Oscars. Still an interesting spectacle that brings attention to many worthwhile films each year. I agree. She voted for documentary even though she never saw The Square. What do you want to bet she never saw Act of Killing - far more difficult to watch than 12 Years a Slave., which it is, in fact, nowhere near as violent as some of the films that have won
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two films coming out this year - I’m very excited for that. He’s rounded up an impressive cast for both films! He has indeed. That is if none of them get cut though. The Disappearance of Eleanor Rigby looks interesting too. Very interesting and unqique premise. Jessica Chastain is certainly picking some exciting roles. The director [Ned Benson] wrote the part of Eleanor Rigby specifically for her. And in terms of performances? Who do you think is looking to have a good 2014? In terms of comedy, Cameron Diaz could possibly have a good run. She has three films coming out, none of them are anything exciting, but you get my point. Jessica Chastain, Amy Adams, Emma Stone and Natalie Portman also come to mind. Hopefully Philip Seymour Hoffman too. Oh yes. It’s an absoultely tragedy what happened to him. He has three films coming out this year. Hopefully the Academy will reward him with a nomination for something. His last film will be The Hunger Games: Mockingjay - Part 1, which is a shame. Why so? It’s a nothing role. No disrespect to the actor, but in The Hunger Games: Catching Fire, I didn’t think I would ever see Philip Seymour Hoffman sleepwalk through a role like he did there.
Best Picture. Going back to 2013 as a year in film, what disappointed you? Nicolas Winding Refn’s Only God Forgives. Firstly, Refn should have kept the film completely silent considering how awful the dialogue was. Refn makes his film more about the mood than anything else, but when everything else is embarrassingly falling apart, its hard to let the mood take over.
Cinematographer, Roger Deakins, has been nominated for eleven Oscars and never won once. He’s getting a lot of buzz for his work on Angelina Jolie’s Unbroken, which is released later this year. Do you think he’ll finally be rewarded? It’s a shame, he’s a fantastic cinematographer and it’s shocking he’s not been rewarded yet. It’s mainly because when they vote for who gets the oscar, it doesn’t say the name of the cinematographer - just the name. They should really sort that out. He announced that he won’t be doing Bond 24.
I wasn’t a fan of Only God Forgives either.
He did amazing work in Skyfall, but its time for him to move on.
That was my only big disappointment. I can’t think of anything else.
Finally, what do you think will win Best Picture at this years Academy Awards?
Are you looking forward to this year in cinema? I’m always looking forward to new releases. I don’t see it being as strong as 2013, but you never know. Terrence Malick supposedly has
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SS: 12 Years a Slave, easily. You’d be stupid to think otherwise.
This interview TOOK place before the 86th academy awards
BEST OF 2013 Stone’s favourite films of last year... #1
The Wolf of Wall Street
I’m honestly shocked that this movie got made, as for almost three hours it is an unapologetic display of some of the most depraved and juvenile proceedings to be put to screen. People will hate this, but if you get on board with it like I did then you will have one hell of a good time. Leonardo DiCaprio is sensational.
#2
12 Years a slave
Astonishing and heartbreaking. It is a film that stimulates at both an emotional level and an intellectual one. I was left speechless as the credits rolled, I’ve never seen anything like this. Steve McQueen has made a powerful film that brings out every kind of emotion inside of you. Chiwetel Ejiofor is very powerful in it.
#3
INSIDE LLEWYN DAVIS
Another Great Coen Brothers Film. When are they not great? Oscar Isaac is an exciting actor, I’m really loving all his career decisions at the moment. He is remarkable in this film. When he’s performing you can see everything else in his life disappear and he loses himself in the music, conveying it with such a soulful presence. imakes the heart break in a way. Great film.
#4
gravity
Absolutely unique and spellbinding. The best space movie ever made. The genius of the film is just being simple, but what’s remarkable is how it elevates the use of CGI and a direction giving us the right amount of suspense we need for a space thriller. Sandra Bullock gives an astounding performance and you end up rooting for her with all your heart.
#5
nebraska
A pleasant surprise. I wasn’t expecting to like Nebraska as much as I did. This is really a character-driven film, with some of the most vibrant, fleshed-out characters ever on screen. Bruce Dern and June Squibb are both terrific and did a great job of caupturing my interest throughout. A wonderful film, powerful in its simplicity. If you haven’t seen it - watch it immediately.
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2014 preview
THE GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY What a bunch of a-holes. 1 August
Think the superhero genre is getting tiresome and repetitive? Think again. With an epic cast including Chris Pratt, Zoe Saldana, Glenn Close, Karen Gillan, Benicio Del Toro, Vin Diesel, and Bradley Cooper lending his voice to play Rocket Racoon. It’s a rather eclectic cast. Due to the large and epic scale of their area, Guardians of the Galaxy could be the film of the summer.
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Knight of Cups
Sin City: A Dame To Kill For 29 August 2014
Summer
Originally set to be released in Autumn 2013. Nine years later, and we finally get a sequel. With most of the original cast returning, and a few new faces (Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Lady Gaga, Juno Temple, Josh Brolin, Ray Liotta, Eva Green and more.) Sin City: A Dame to Kill For is easily one of our most anticipated.
The latest instalment from Terrence Malick, featuring an incredible cast including: Christian Bale,Natalie Portman and Cate Blanchett. That is if none of the actors get cut, which Malick is famously known for. Knight of Cups follows a man’s journey in the L.A movie business. Fun fact: There was no script. All of the scenes were improvised.
The Disappearance of Eleanor Rigby A New York couple’s relationship. 1 August
INHERENT VICE 12 December
Reuniting with his ‘Master’ Paul Thomas Anderson for Inherent Vice, based on the novel of the same name by Thomas Pynchon. Joaquin Phoenix plays a detective investigating the disappearance of a former girlfriend. Featuring a talented cast including Benicio Del Toro, Jena Malone, Reese Witherspoon and Owen Wilson.
Jessica Chastain and James McAvoy are two fantastic actors who continue to make exciting career decisions. The Disappearance of Eleanor Rigby is a testament of the relationship between a man and a woman. The film was originally split into two: His and Hers. It is still not announced whether that’s still happening. However, it could make for a more fascinating film if they release it in two parts. Having a relationship shown in two films is a brilliant idea and gives us the audience, a chance to delve into these characters. It could be a revolutionary film for the romance genre. Viola Davis, Bill Hader and Isabelle Huppert also star.
What else to look forward to..
30 May: Maleficient (Angelina Jolie, Elle Fanning) 30 May: A Million Ways to Die in the West (Seth MacFarlane) 4 July: Tammy (Melissa McCarthy, Susan Sarandon) 29 August: Jane Got a Gun (Natalie Portman, Ewan McGregor) 26 December: Unbroken (Jack O’Connell, Domhnall Gleeson)
GODZILLA 16 May
Anything will be better than the 1998 version, right? After giving us two impressive trailers, Gareth Edward’s Godzilla, which stars Bryan Cranston, Sally Hawkins, Ken Watanabe, Elizabeth Olsen, Aaron Taylor-Johnson and Juliette Binoche, hopefully won’t disappoint. Fun fact: This film is to release in 2014, Godzilla’s 60th anniversary.
INTO THE WOODS
FURY
Interstellar
SEX TAPE
25 December
24 October
7 November
5 September
Meryl Streep plays a witch conspiring to teach valuble lessons to characters of popular children’s books including Cinderella, Jack and the Beanstalk, Little Red Riding Hood and Rapunzel; a warming and unique idea that will be very messy, or very charming. Anna Kendrick, Chris Pine, Johnny Depp, Emily Blunt, Christine Baranski and James Corden round up the rest of the cast.
Focusing on World War II mixed with Brad Pitt, Jon Bernthal, Logan Lerman and Shia Labeouf. What do you get? Hopefully an epic war film. Fury follows an army sergeant, who commands a Sherman tank and five-man crew on a deadly (and entertaining) mission. Their plan? To strike at Nazi Germany. Sounds like a mix between Quentin Tarantino ‘s Inglourious Basterds and Edward Zwick’s Defiance.
The mind behind The Dark Knight Trilogy and Inception brings us a story about a wormhole to surpass the limitations on human space travel. With a cast including Matthew McConaughey, Jessica Chastain, Ellen Burstyn, Anne Hathaway and Michael Caine, Insterstellar is not to be missed. After missing out on multiple Best Director nominations at the Oscars. Could this be Christopher Nolan’s year?
Teaming up with their Bad Teacher director, Jake Kasdan, Cameron Diaz and Jason Segal play a married couple who wake up to discover that their sex tape has gone missing; leading to a frantic search to find it which will test their relationship and reputation Sex Tape could either be hilarious, or a dud. Rob Corddry, Jack Black, Ellie Kemper and Rob Lowe round up the rest of the cast.
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2014|Lights Camera Reaction|15