Interstellar (2014)

Directed by Christopher Nolan

Written by Jonathan Nolan and Christopher Nolan 

Starring Matthew McConaughey, Anne Hathaway, Jessica Chastain and Michael Caine

    Interstellar is a sci-fi masterpiece of epic proportions. It is a Nolan masterpiece. By 2014, the release date of this movie, we are well aware that Christopher Nolan is not a director to shy away from a challenge-with the mind-bending Inception or his re-invented Batman movies. This big-budget science fiction journey is one everyone needs to take, because while it may be a nearly three hour long commitment with some confusing space travel mumbo-jumbo, its more simply a tale of love and sacrifice. This movie is the definition of a film you see in IMAX on the big screen. The visual effects are as astounding as the breathtaking story. 

     The story opens in an un-specified year in the distant future. The world as we know it, has fallen victim to a famine caused by overpopulation and blight that is killing crops and causing massive dust storms. Nitrogen is reaching a new high in the atmosphere, and the new fear is the human race will die from suffocation and famine. The movie presumably on purpose, does not specify a year that this is all taking place- I'm guessing its somewhere around 2040. Former NASA engineer and pilot, Cooper (Matthew McConaughey) owns and operates a huge corn farm with his family: son Tom, father-in-law, Donald (John Lithgow) and his daughter, Murph (Mackenzie Foy). Cooper and his daughter are lead by almost supernatural means to chain-link fence surrounding a super secret building. At this location is Coop's old employer- NASA, led by Professor Brand (Michael Caine). NASA has been working at this secret location for years, trying to figure out a way to save the human race. They present Coop with two plans they have formulated; the first being contracting a massive interstellar aircraft that could transport as many humans into outer space as possible. The second plan is to re-populate a new planet with frozen embryos- however this plan involves the current human race on planet earth to fade away, while a new one is created.
     As if all this isn't already swelling your brain, we learn about a wormhole in our galaxy near Saturn. This wormhole was presumably placed there by (alien) entities of extreme intelligence, who are trying to help the human race by giving us this entry to another galaxy. This galaxy through the wormhole holds potentially habitable planets. A decade ago, 12 astronauts were sent into this hole to discover the planets, in hopes of finding one that could support human life. Now, Cooper must pilot a ship that will travel into the wormhole and make the final call to ultimately decide the fate of the humankind. He is joined on this mission by Professor Brand's daughter, Dr. Amelia Brand (Anne Hathaway); scientists Doyle (Wes Bentley); and Romilly (David Gyasi); and the highly advanced robot, TARS. Back on ground, a now adult Murph (now played by Jessica Chastain) is working as Brand's second in charge- also helping to find a way to save mankind.
     The dialogue of this movie may be dense at times with science talk, however it is never impenetrable. Nolan does a great job at working explanations into the script. The first 45 minutes of the movie are used as an introduction to not only the global famine, but the love shared between Murph and Cooper. This was a great stepping stone to the gripping middle half of the movie. The first part  of the movie allows us to see why it was so hard for Coop to leave for this mission, and why Murph still shows resentment over her father leaving after all those years. Once in space, the white knuckle moments begin. Over the course of the nearly three hours, the movie really never bores. Especially in the last 20 minutes, where I don't think my jaw ever left the floor.
     I may have left with a few unanswered questions at the end, but I still feel Nolan did a fine job at portraying this complex story to us in a comprehensible manner. Matthew McConaughey was the perfect fit for the lead role in this. He is the glue that holds everything together in this movie. He is basically the one expected to save the human race. The supporting cast is riddled with big names, but they all fall short considering the monstrous story. The acting is fine- but with the amazing visuals, the excellent score by Hans Zimmer, and the huge lead role from McConaughey- its hard to pay a lot of attention to the supporting acting roles. One of 2014's best movies. This is what the genre science fiction exists for. Everyone needs to see this.

I give Interstellar a...

8/10

The Help (2011)

Directed by Tate Taylor

Written by Tate Taylor (screenplay) and Kathryn Stockett (novel) 

Starring Viola Davis, Emma Stone, Octavia Spencer and Bryce Dallas Howard

     "You is kind. You is smart. You is important." These candid compliments have the power to repair any mended ego and build your self confidence and will be forever stuck in your mind like a commercial jingle after you see this film. This drama set in the 1960's is based on the critically acclaimed novel written by Kathryn Stockett and brought to the big screen by Stockett's childhood friend from Mississippi, Tate Taylor. Jackson native, Taylor makes his big directing debut with a film that tackles issues of prejudice and racism in Jackson, Mississippi during the Civil Rights Movement. Stockett and Taylor conquer a story that has been told before in film, and make it an unforgettable emotional story that is driven by an impeccable cast that brings awareness to what was going on in this time period, with an appropriate level of humor to leaven the drama.
     Recent college graduate, Eugenia "Skeeter" Phelan (Emma Stone) gets her first job of writing a cleaning column for the Jackson Journal. Skeeter approaches local housewife friend of hers, Elizabeth (Anna O'Reilly) in hopes of interviewing her maid, Abileen (Viola Davis). Skeeter starts to become more aware of the injustice these maids are facing at a local card game with her socialite housewife friends lead by the iron grip of Hillie Holbrook (Bryce Dallas Howard). Hillie refuses to use Elizabeth's bathroom because she allows her colored help to use it. Dismayed by this, Skeeter decides write a book from the maid's point of view, with the assistance from the reluctant Abileen. Employed by Hillie Holbrook, the sassy Minnie (Octavia Spencer) very reluctantly joins Skeeter and Abileen after she loses her job for using Hillie's bathroom during a violent thunderstorm. Eventually, dozens of other maids join the battle and Skeeter gets her book anonymously published.
     The Help brilliantly tells the story of racial prejudice and bigotry through the point of view of the black maids. Normally we hear these stories from this time told by the privileged white men and women who employ these maids, and when that happens their actual stories get lost in translation. Tate Taylor brings us the remarkably talented Davis and Spencer to play these noble black maids who are experiencing issues of injustice and poverty.
     This film portrays all black people as humble and kind and all white people as ignorant and racist, with a few exceptions. One of these exceptions is Celia Foote (Jessica Chastain) who is viewed as this outcast "trailer trash" to the other bigoted socialites. Celia eventually employs the recently fired Minnie, and breaks all the racial boundaries created by society during this time. Chastain plays a role that was so fun to watch. I found myself feeling sad for her as she was an outcast that just wanted the attention of her community members, white or black. Celia Foote saw no racial difference between her and Minnie and mostly hired her to help her impress her husband as she was very new to the housewife scene.
     Aside from Chastain's oscar nominated supporting role in the film, we get a heartfelt performance from Emma Stone as the protagonist. Stone's performance is mainly fed by Davis and Spencer, as she mostly serves as the pen that records all of their experiences. Viola Davis was Oscar nominated for her leading role in the film, as Octavia Spencer gained her first Oscar win for her supporting role. I mean, how could she not win an Oscar after her delicious pie that she makes for Hillie Holbrook.  Bryce Dallas Howard's role as the venomous queen B was fun to watch as well. Allison Janney has a minor role in the film as Skeeter's mom, which was comical at some points as she played a fierce, sometimes over the top local socialite who is sick with cancer.
     The Help is dominated by strong female performances which is one of the reasons I enjoyed it so much. It was't some fuzzy female empowerment movie about friendship. It was a powerful film covering important issues from the past, told by empowering female characters.

I give The Help an...

8/10     

The Martian (2015)

Directed by Ridley Scott

Written by Drew Goddard (screenplay) and Andy Weir (novel)

Starring Matt Damon, Jessica Chastain, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Kristen Wiig

      A gripping sci-fi story brought to the big screen by writer, Drew Goddard and adapted by novelist, Andy Weir, The Martian will leave you at the edge of your seat, mentally and audibly cheering at every small victory that gets astronaut Mark Watney (Matt Damon) one step closer to getting home. Directed by the exquisitely aged mind that brought us other science fiction films such as Alien (1979), this film has a refreshing splash of comedy thrown throughout to leaven the sometimes confusing dialogue filled with lots of astro physics and chemistry. However this film did have me bragging to my friends after that I know how many Earth days equals a Mars sol. 

     Set in the near future, Mark Watney and his fellow Hermes crew members lead by Commander Melissa Lewis (Jessica Chastain), are on a routine walk when a storm strikes the dry planet and sends the crew in a frenzy as they hustle to get back to their ship. The impending situation leaves the crew with no other choice but to evacuate, but while doing so Watney is struck by flying debris and left stranded on Mars while the rest of the Hermes crew presumes him as dead. Talk about some bad luck. Mark wakes impaled by a metal rod and still on Mars. With enough food rations to last him about a month, and stuck in a small life habitat not meant to keep humans alive for very long, his death seems imminent. With the tireless efforts of NASA and Watney's own brilliance, he perseveres and we witness humanity unify as we "bring him home."

     Brilliantly casted, the real beauty behind The Martian lies behind the importance and fluidity that every cast member brings to this storyline. There is no evil NASA scientist secretly plotting against Wateny's heroic return to Earth. Everyone in this film comes together and is genuinely sincere over the efforts to send this astronaut home, and their acting performances show this. Damon's role scored him an Oscar nomination for best lead actor and won him a golden globe. Matt Damon brings a very personable character to the screen that we all cant help but relate to and root for. He doesn't have some sob story of his wife and kids that he needs to get back home to. He's just a man who was doing what he loves and suffered a terrible accident that no one could've predicted. He bring's a very astonishing level of intelligence matched with a dry sense of humor that makes this one of my favorite roles that Matt Damon has played. 

    Aside from Damon, this movie brings us a cluster of strong supporting cast members riddled with Oscar nominees and winners. Jessica Chastain has always and will always be one of my favorite actresses after her roles in The Help (2011) and Zero Dark Thirty (2012), so seeing her play this intellectual commander of the Hermes ship that had a manned mission on Mars was so different than her other roles but she did a stellar job. You can really feel guilt for leaving Mark behind but admire and believe her conviction in getting him back. The rest of the Hermes crew (Michael Pena, Sebastian Stan, Kate Mara, and Aksel Hennie) all contribute to the collective greatness of this film. The most prominent NASA crew member was Vincent Kapoor played by the growingly talented Chiwetel Ejiofor. Ejiofor's character, along with Kristen Wiig's character, give us faith that everyone on ground control is doing everything in their power to help Watney. Donald Glover plays astrophysicist Rich Purnell and brings some comical moments to the film. 

     Screenplay writer Drew Goddard beautifully made a film that could've been 142 minutes of confusing science diction and boring scenes that tend to drag on, into something that is brimming with humor and really appeals to a wide audience. I left the film shocked that over 2 hours had passed because every minute had me intrigued. I especially enjoyed the music in the film and found myself downloading lots of old songs that The Martian re-surfaced (Like David Bowie's "Starman"). With a cast that is out of this world (had to throw at least one space pun in there), tremendous visuals, and an unforgettable storyline, The Martian will undoubtedly be deemed a Science Fiction classic. 

I give The Martian an...

8/10