IndieWire Project of the Year - Vote for Delinquent

Levi Smock a native of ‪#‎StJoeMo‬ is making his mark in the film industry, is about to have a very big month. He first feature film ‪#‎Delinquent‬ has quietly and steadily climbed the ropes in indieWIREs esteemed “Project” contest, having been chosen by the Editors as the‪#‎IndieWireProjectoftheWeek‬, winning ‪#‎IndieWireProjectoftheMonth‬ in August, and now finds itself one of the film projects being considered for‪#‎IndieWireProjectoftheYear‬! This recognition would be an incredible boost for the team behind #Delinquent & open the remaining doors needed to see this great film come to life on screens all across the nation.  If there has ever been a time to be ‪#‎StJoeProud‬, the time is now. Please vote for #Delinquent using this link:  
http://www.indiewire.com/article/vote-for-indiewires-project-of-the-year-20160111 (scroll to the bottom - it's easy!) 

Here is the link to their website:  www.delinquentthemovie.com so you can watch the trailer and learn all about the movie.  

IndieWire’s Project of the Year is all about the votes. We are the village that can make this happen. Let’s do this!









http://www.indiewire.com/article/vote-for-indiewires-project-of-the-year-20160111

The Revenant - The Most Beautifully Gruesome Movie Ever Made

Inspired by true events, THE REVENANT captures one man's epic adventure of survival and the extraordinary power of the human spirit. In an expedition of the uncharted American wilderness, legendary explorer Hugh Glass (Leonardo DiCaprio) is brutally attacked by a bear and left for dead by members of his own hunting team. In a quest to survive, Glass endures unimaginable grief as well as the betrayal of his confidant John Fitzgerald (Tom Hardy). Guided by sheer will and the love of his family, Glass must navigate a vicious winter in a relentless pursuit to live and find redemption. Written by 20th Century Fox

It is Alejandro Inarritu’s brilliant vision that brings us the Revenant - at times so beautiful it will take your breath away....

and other times so gruesome it’s all you can do to keep watching....

Tom Hardy is pure evil in his role as Fitzgerald, the frontiersman who volunteers to stay back with a gravely injured Glass (Dicaprio) & care for him until his expected death.  He is very convincing.

But it is Leo Dicaprio who takes The Revenant to a whole new level. How far he goes to exact his revenge wouldn’t even be believable, except this movie is based on true events.  Leo is unrecognizable in this role – and gives the performance of a lifetime. 

This is one of my two favorite movies of 2015, and Leonard Dicaprio has my vote for best actor this year, hands down.

I highly, highly recommend!!  

@take2reviews Top Five Movies of 2015

I may still be working on my Top Ten movie list, but I feel pretty confident in my Top Five.  Since we are airing this list on Fox 26, I thought I should commit it to my blog as well.

So barring any upsets (see footnote), here are my top five movies of 2015

5.  Trainwreck  

 

A comedy - with a bit of drama - & two outstanding performances by Amy Schumer and Bill Hader. Hysterical every time I watch it.

4.  Creed  

The feel good movie of the season that is nostalgic with a breath of fresh air.  Sylvester Stallone proves he is still a winner.  He will get an Oscar nod this year.

3.  The Danish Girl

Eddie Redmayne blows my mind in everything he does.  If it weren’t for Leo, he would take the Oscar again for his beautiful portrayal of Lili.

2.  The Revenant

I can’t say enough about this movie.  It is both torturous & breathtakingly beautiful.  I was spellbound. 

1.  Spotlight 

I went back & forth between Spotlight & The Revenant as my favorite movie this year, but I ultimately went with Spotlight.  It was rewarding to see a film tackle a subject so controversial, yet be so delicate with ALL the victims in the Catholic Church Sex Abuse Scandal.  It was amazing.  A must see. 

Footnote:  I still haven't seen a few movies (although they are stacked up ready to watch at home), so this list has the potential to shift.  Here are the movies that could shake things up a bit depending on how my weekend movie marathon goes:

• Clouds of Sils Maria
• Mad Max - Fury Road
• Love & Mercy
• 45 Years
• Son of Saul

So tell me, what do you think of my list?

About A Blog

Once in a while we should take inventory of what is working in our lives, and what really isn't.  For me, writing a weekly movie blog isn't really working.

Please follow @take2review on facebook, twitter & instagram to keep up to date on all my movie madness & to read my quick thoughts/reviews on new releases.

You can also watch Andrew and I review our favorite movies live on Fox 26 KNPN & on our website www.newspressnow.com

I may be back from time to time if I have something important to say.

Until then, I'll see you at the movies!

Brooklyn

With awards season upon us, there are many movies to choose from.  I recently checked out, Brooklyn starring Saoirse Ronan, a historical romance based on a novel by Colm Toibin.  The movie tells the story of an Irish girl who lands in 1950s Brooklyn, where she quickly falls into a new romance. When her past catches up with her, however, she must choose between two countries and the lives that exist within.

Saoirse Ronan stars as Eilis, the young girl who leaves her mother, her sister, and everything she knows behind in the hope of a better life across the pond. And she does a fine job.  Ronan is beautiful and poised – seems perfectly cast for this role.  It’s the love interests that really sank this ship for me.  They seemed weak and not really all that interesting.    Give me a hunky Irish lad such as Michael Fassbender and you will have my attention.  Overall, it is a sweet romance movie;  but I would recommend reading the novel (as was recommended by my daughter Jen,) and then waiting for the DVD on this one.  

Creed - Sylvester Stallone & Michael B. Jordan are both Knock Outs

Adonis Johnson is the son of the famous boxing champion Apollo Creed, Who died in a boxing match in Rocky IV. Adonis wasn't born before his fathers death and wants to follow his fathers footsteps in boxing. He seeks a mentor who is the former heavyweight boxing champion and former friend of Apollo Creed, Rocky Balboa who is now in retirement. Rocky then agrees to mentor Adonis. With Rockys help they hope to get a title job to face even deadlier opponents than his father. But whether he is a true fighter is to be seen....Written by Blake Ordonez

I was a big fan of Director Ryan Coogler with last year’s Fruitvale Station (also starring Michael B. Jordan) and he doesn’t disappoint with this second film. I admire the way he wrote the character of Rocky Balboa.  There is no macho man left in Stallone’s performance.   Coogler shows us Balboa for who he is – aging, lonely, but still in love with the game of boxing.  I will go so far as to say this is Stallone's best performance ever.  

I thought both on-screen performances by Sylvester Stallone and Michael B. Jordan were brilliant.  

The best moment in the movie for me was a fight scene showing Donnie (played by Jordan) completely  defeated in the ring and suddenly “Theme from Rocky” blasts over the air.  Everyone in the theater loved it  – including myself. 

There are many other scenes i really loved, but to discuss them now would spoil the movie. Creed is worth checking out.  You won't be disappointed.

Creed is rated PG-13

Spotlight - Best Movie of 2015 (So far)

Starring Michael Keaton, Mark Ruffalo, Rachel McAdams, Liev Schreiber, Brian d'Arcy James and Stanley Tucci, SPOTLIGHT tells the riveting true story of the Pulitzer Prize-winning Boston Globe investigation that would rock the city and cause a crisis in one of the world's oldest and most trusted institutions. When the newspaper's tenacious "Spotlight" team of reporters delves into allegations of abuse in the Catholic Church, their year-long investigation uncovers a decades-long cover-up at the highest levels of Boston's religious, legal, and government establishment, touching off a wave of revelations around the world. Directed by Academy Award-nominee Tom McCarthy, SPOTLIGHT is a tense investigative dramatic-thriller, tracing the steps to one of the biggest cover-ups in modern times. Written by Open Road

My heart rate picked up at a steady pace all the way through Spotlight.  By Minute 128, my heart was pounding so loudly in my chest, I had to remind myself to breathe.

Such respect for Director Tom McCarthy.  His characters loved their Catholic faith & those lines were so important.  Because this isn’t a movie about faith.  It’s a movie about corruption of power.  

He told the story in a voice we could all understand, and he did so without graphic flashback scenes or repulsive language. 

Bravo to him.  Bravo to the cast.  And congratulations on your Oscar nomination that is sure to come, Mark Ruffalo.

Best movie of 2015 so far.