Southpaw

                Hello everyone, you know me as the one, the only, the mysterious reviewer behind the keyboard, known globally as TheCinemaChick.  Am I known around the world?  Like, do people in Russia know who I am?  I’m curious now.  I know I’ve made a small name for myself in this area but like, are people in other countries interested in my blog?  I know I can check my stats to see where the blog is viewed and all but I want to know about the people who are reading it.

                So, if you’re living in a land that’s not America, let me know!  I’d love to hear where you’re from!

                I know, I have about a half dozen movies to review and that I once again and as always, really behind on things.  Last week, I saw Marvel’s “Ant Man” which was much better than it looks.  Seriously, I didn’t expect to like it as much as I did.  Let’s be honest, Ant Man isn’t exactly the first person you think of when you think of Marvel.  No, you think about Iron Man or Thor or Hulk.  Or, if you’re like me, you think about Loki, but I will not go into my reasons as to why I like Loki the best again.  I feel I have gone into that more times than I need to.

                Also, remember that promise I made in the last blog to have gummy bears in my purse?  And how I threatened to use them if I saw someone on their phone?  Well…I lied.

                I used Reese’s Pieces instead.  But I still got someone!  This guy, who was probably two rows ahead of me took his phone out.  And to make matters worse, it was right after there was a sign on the screen saying not to take pictures or record anything because this was a special screening.  Are you really that stupid?  The screen JUST SAID to put it away, why you are checking it now?  You’ve been sitting there for at least ten minutes, you had plenty of time!

                Oh!  And another one of my lovely little pet peeves came into play.  People, when the movie is playing, shut your mouths!  I understand it’s a crowded theater, but some people are trying to hear what’s going on.  I’m pretty sure I missed some dialogue that was vital to the plot because the guys next to me wouldn’t shut up.  Dude, I don’t care that you have nachos nor do I care how good they are!  I was perfectly happy with my tea and Reese’s Pieces.  I mean, you are grown adults, learn the rules of the theater or stay home!

                I should not have to say this in almost every single review I write lately.

                The last thing I’m going to say before I get into the actual review is that you should not be taking your presumably ten or under child to this movie.  I don’t care what your excuse is, this movie was rated R and would not have been good for a girl that age.  It had a lot of swearing and violence and there are things no child should have to know about at that age.  Hell, even the girl in the film didn’t need to see that and I know this was all fiction!

                Enough about my anger and people at the theaters.  Let’s get into the real reason you’re taking time out of your day to read this.  Or night.  I don’t care, as long as you read until the end.  I don’t know, for all I know some of you are actually nocturnal.  If you are nocturnal, are you an owl or a wolf or…some other creature that’s awake at night?  Ah, an insomniac.  I have insomnia sometimes but that’s not the topic of discussion here.  Nope, we keep getting off topic.

                Guys, you’re in for a treat tonight.  I got to attend a special early screening of the move starring Jake Gyllenhaal.  I haven’t seen much advertising done for this film which is a surprise to me.  I actually didn’t have an interest in seeing it based on the whopping one trailer I’d seen but then I got this opportunity and I jumped on it.  So me and Butterfly had free tickets to go see the movie “Southpaw” which doesn’t come out until this Friday.  As with every movie that comes out now, there are some showing Thursday night.  Why do they do this again?  When I was a kid, which was an undetermined number of years ago, we had to wait until Friday to see a movie that was coming out.  There were not midnight showings or this weird 7 PM Thursday thing.

                And no, I won’t tell you my age.  I’m old enough to purchase alcohol.  Let’s leave it at that.

                To my surprise, “Southpaw” was much better than I had thought it would be.  I was expecting a sports movie with not a lot of substance but I was wrong.  There is an actual plot, there are really amazing characters and they grow and change as the film progresses.  To me, there is one character that stands out from the others and there is one glaring problem with the film but I will get to that in a moment so bear with me.

                Our movie is about a professional boxer named Billy Hope.  I’m not kidding.  His name is seriously Billy Hope.  It’s one of the worst names I’ve ever heard.  I’m fairly certain that there is some not so subtle symbolism thrown in there with his name.  One of those things like “When you have nothing else, you always have hope” sort of things.  I imagine I’d see this little saying on a motivational poster.  Well, Billy and his wife, Maureen, are happily in love and they have a daughter named Leila.  Maureen wants her husband to speak at a charity thing, something bad happens and she dies tragically. 

                And no, I am not spoiling this.  All the information I just gave you was in the trailer.  I will even leave the trailer at the end to prove to you that I am not lying.

                So of course, he can’t cope with his loss, more bad things happen and he finds himself falling from grace.  Billy must now work his way back to the top with the help of an older and wiser mentor.  While overall it’s a good film, the premise is completely predictable.  It’s like every movie involving sports I’ve ever seen.  The star falls from grace and must work his way back up to the top in order to redeem themselves.  Boring.  Overdone.  Typical.  Yawn.

                And yes, I was rooting for Billy the whole time.  I wanted him to get it all back, including his daughter.  But as I watched, I realized there is a secondary theme going on throughout this film.  While it is mainly focused on boxing, there is a subplot of grief.  Billy and Leila must go through all the stages in their own way in order to cope with their loss.  And for those who don’t know, the stage of grief are: Anger, Denial, Depression, Bargaining and Acceptance.  I don’t think those are in the right order but you get my point.  Billy goes through with all of them in his way while Leila deals with hers. 

                I have to warn you, the scenes with Leila are heartbreaking.  She starts off so innocent but quickly has to grow up when she loses her mother.  This kid sees things that no one, no matter what age you are, should have to see.  The young actress who played her is named Oona Laurence and she was phenomenal.  If I had a say in who should be nominated for an Oscar, this kid deserves a nod.  I’m fairly certain she’s new to the acting world since I have never seen her name before but I really hope she continues on in the acting game.  There were parts where I felt so bad for her.  This is the one character I wanted to mention first because in my eyes, she was the best.  I mean, yes the others were good but none of them managed to evoke the level of emotions she did.

                I didn’t go into “Southpaw” thinking I’d enjoy it this much.  I thought, “Well, the tickets were free so why not?”  Then I sat through it and I was impressed.  I think it’s striving for some Oscar recognition, which I can definitely see the possibilities.  Though, I would guess it could get a nod for Best Supporting Actress for Oona Laurence, possibly Best Original Score (or is that a Grammy) because it was done by the late James Horner.  I can also see Jake Gyllenhaal scoring a Best Actor nod, but not winning for his role. 

                This one will more than likely fall into my “Best of 2015” list because even though it’s not my type of film, it was incredibly well done.  I felt emotional during it and I was never bored.  The cast definitely put their hearts into and it shows. 

                “Southpaw” isn’t for everyone.  I will admit that.  But if you want something that starts off gritty, then just keeps your emotions in check until the end, I recommend it.  I would say pay full price for it.  Make it a date night movie.  Just do yourself a favor and check it out.

                I’m TheCinemaChick and I like to howl at the moon.

                All opinions are mine.  I have no ties to any theater and I am not affiliated with this movie.  I just enjoyed it.

Also, I wasn't kidding about the murder being in the trailer.  

Better Late Than Never: Mad Max

                What’s going on everyone, I’m that girl known as TheCinemaChick!  I have a ton of laundry to do because I’m in the process of cleaning out my closet!  I have a lot of clothes I forgot I even had so this should be tons of fun.  And by tons of fun, I’m fairly certain I have a ton of clothes in there.  They’re everywhere!  I’m on a bit of a cleaning kick in general, in case you’re curious.  I have my reasons, so let’s not get into that since no one cares about me sorting clothes!

                Can we please, please, PLEASE talk about Mad Max and why it’s the most badass movie out there right now?  I mean come on…Charlize Theron is the most awesome female around right now.  And for all of you who think the film was a cop out because it wasn’t centered around Max…I don’t care!  Can you not appreciate it as a great action/adventure movie?  Visually, it was stunning.  The plot wasn’t the best but it worked with everything going on.  And hello, let’s also look at the costuming and how prefect it was to the setting?  Not to mention how the music just worked with every single scene.

                But first, let’s take a gander at everyone’s newest and most favorite character from this film, Guitar Guy!  You’ve all seen him.  He’s strapped to some speakers, playing a guitar that is also a flamethrower!

                You see, in the nerd world AKA my home planet, we would refer to him as a bard.  Bards play music in an attempt to rally his friends together and get them pumped for battle.  Tell me that isn’t what Guitar Guy does!  And I have no shame in admitting that I am a level 5 Cleric in Dungeons and Dragons.  If you think that’s lame…I don’t care!  You weren’t there when we went up against a half dozen trolls and guess what?  I, the sweet little cleric, killed 4 of them with my now favorite spell, Inflict Wounds.  Oh yeah, I’m awesome!

                Ah, but enough about my nerd habits, let’s talk about the movie!  Not going to lie, I absolutely loved it.  I didn’t think I would since I didn’t really care for the cheesy older ones with Mel Gibson, but there was a lot of thought put into this one.

                Let’s get one thing straight though.  This movie isn’t about Max.  This one is all about Furiosa.  And you know what, I’m perfectly fine with this.  Seriously, it’s not often that we get a chance to see an action movie with a female lead.  For the most part, when I see a movie like this, women are either the damsels in distress of they are a sidekick.  I admit, we did have this issue in the movie at first, but it turns out, most of the women in “Mad Max” are badass.  Other than out main heroine, we have four minor girls who do some really awesome things.

                Since the movie has been out a while, I feel I can go into the plot a bit.  It centers around Furiosa who steals the four young brides of Immortan Joe, who is super creepy.  I don’t know what he looks like or how he came to power but his costume made me uncomfortable.  She wants to get them to a safer place but he won’t allow it.  Enter Max, a living blood bag for a man named Nux.  These people are insane.  They follow Immortan Joe blindly, accepting him basically as a god.  So when the girls are taken, the boys go after them.

                Anyone remember watching “Wacky Races”?  That’s what this movie reminds me of.  Only for adults.

                The visuals in this movie are fantastic, but that also causes its downfall.  I saw the movie in 3D and the effects were amazing.  However, they won’t really translate into normal television so some of it will be lost.  On the big screen, when you see that steering wheel coming towards you, it’s breathtaking.  This is what 3D films are meant to be.  I loved that it did that instead of just making everything seem like it was in high definition.

                You know, why are so many movies being converted into 3D these days?  Is that just the trend?  Honestly, for the most part, the special effects don’t change when it’s in a different format.  I don’t see anything different between 2D and 3D.  If I’m paying extra money for special effects, I want to see them, Damnit!  I know it might just be me complaining about this but that’s just how I see it.

                OH!  Speaking of seeing a movie in the theater, can we once again talk about theater etiquette?  People, if you are planning to see a movie, for the love of Red Vines, put your phone away!  I am so sick and tired of trying to enjoy what’s going on when someone whips out a phone and starts texting.  This person was older than me as well!  You should know better by now!  There are some teenagers who are smarter than you!  I should not have to have this cell phone rant this many times.  I am going to start carrying gummy bears in my purse and start pelting people with them if they don’t knock it off.

                You think I’m kidding?

                Watch me.

                I know a lot of people are arguing that this can’t be seen as a Mad Max film because it’s not about Max.  Some people are complaining that it’s a movie for feminists.  Who says that’s a bad thing?  We need more positive, strong female role models out there!  I’m not saying you should take your ten year old daughter to this but come on…most of the movies out there have the women doing almost nothing.  We need more of this.

                I honestly have almost nothing bad to say about “Mad Max: Fury Road”.  It definitely worth seeing.  If you’re not going for the plot (which there isn’t much of one), go for the acting.  See it for the gorgeous visuals and scenery.  See it because there are some badass chicks who are smart and kick some major ass.

                What are you waiting for?

                Go out and see it!

                …Well, after you read this.

                I’m TheCinemaChick and I’m “Out of Control”

Get it?  "Out of Control"?  It's a song...here's the original video to enjoy as well...

Videos are from YouTube, no copyright infringement intended.  If you like the band, they are called "Man With a Mission".  This song features Zebrahead but go check out more of their music.  You won't be disappointed.

Pitch Perfect 2

                Hello everyone in Internet Land, I’m the girl who throws popcorn at people on their phones during a movie, better known as TheCinemaChick!  I’ve been so irritated by theater goers lately.  I saw Mad Max and one person kept taking out their phone to text someone.  News flash for you buddy, I can see you every time you do it!  It’s a massive distraction and why aren’t you watching the freaking movie?  You paid good money to see it in 3D, why waste it?  Seriously, pocket the phone and watch!  I should not have to be the one who must start throwing popcorn at you to make a point!  You’re older than me!  Have you never been to a movie before?

                I know I’m ranting but how many times have I had to talk about this?  Even children (for the most part) know better!

                What have I been up to the past month, you probably aren’t wondering?  Well, I’m glad I brought it up.  I have been doing some teaching but the school year is now over, so I won’t be doing that again until August.  Then, on top of that, I had several American Heritage Girl events to attend and help with.  For those of you who don’t know what AHG is, it’s like Girl Scouts but it’s centered on the church.  The easy way to put it is that it’s basically Christian Girl Scouts.  I don’t remember if I’ve brought that up before or not, but now you know.  I just finished up a week of vacation Bible school, which I have done for I think five years now.  I started off with the two year olds, then went up to do arts and crafts and never looked back. 

                However…small children and crafts are a tricky thing.  They get bored easily and it’s almost impossible to keep their attention for the forty five minutes we have them.  We also have multiple rotations so we have may have a minute or two to clean up from one class and set up for the next.  Fortunately, the other ladies I work with and I have a system.  We got this down.

                But I’m not here to talk about things that aren’t cinema related…even though I just did…Well, I’m here to talk about the movies I’ve seen recently.  I’ve only got three so far, but I’ve been busy and money’s a bit tight right now, so I have to scale back for a while.  Trust me, there are a dozen films I’d go see right now if I could, I just can’t.

                Then there’s the movies I saw and wished I hadn’t spent money on.  Like Pitch Perfect 2.  Don’t get me wrong, I loved the first one.  I still watch it from time to time.  Anna Kendrick cracks me up, Rebel Wilson is a great comedic actress and the musical numbers are amazing.  It made me want to be a part of an a Capella singing group.  I admit, my choir days are over, but this made me want to start over and do more things with it.  The group’s chemistry was really good.  I wish the second one had been half as good.

                I admit, the sequel does have some high points but for the most part, I just couldn’t enjoy it.  Many of the jokes are offensive.  There is a new girl named Florencia who I believe is supposed to be from Guatemala.  Instead of making her a positive character, they made her into a walking stereotype.  All of the jokes about her were racist.  She talks about being traded for chickens or how she’ll be deported after college and die trying to sneak back in to America.  SERIOUSLY.  As a woman who is Hispanic, I am incredibly offended by this.  I don’t appreciate jokes like that and I think they crossed a line with this one.  Why did you think it was a good idea to include multiple jokes about this?  It’s not funny, it’s just disgusting.

                And, if you’ve seen the previews, you know what happens to the Bellas.  They perform for the president and Fat Amy’s costume tears, revealing that she does not have underwear on.  Here’s the second thing I had a major issue with.  Why did it have to be the plus size girl?  I know a lot of people think it’s funny to make fun of the fat girls, but we don’t like it.  Not to mention, if there is a plus size woman in a movie, she’s either comedic relief or the ugly friend.  She doesn’t get the good roles or the handsome lead actor.  Larger women are reduced so that the skinny woman can take center stage.  Fat Amy is another stereotype that I can’t stand.  She has a few lines that I liked but for the most part, I hated her role this time.  I mean, they couldn’t even give her clothes that fit properly!  Why does every outfit she wear have to be so tight and short?  The other girls get clothes that fit great, but not her.  It’s like…everything you think about fat girls is Fat Amy.  I wish Rebel Wilson had been given better clothes and less disgusting lines.

                The plot itself is a mess.  I understand the main plot is that the Barden Bellas have fallen from grace and would like to redeem themselves at the world championship.  That story rarely ever comes out.  Every now and then, the movie is like “oh yeah, we’re a singing group!” and gets back on topic.  They have so many side stories going on that it detracted from the main one.  There’s still the whole Beca and Jesse thing going on, we get more on the Fat Amy and Bumper love story then the new girl (they call her Legacy) and Ben have a romance as well.  They wanted to do so much but they shouldn’t have.  I wish some of the filler material had been cut out because it just didn’t fit. 

                To make matters worse, they tried to recycle ideas from the last movie to try and remind us that the first one was great.  So now, instead of a riff off in the pool, we have a weird contest in some guy’s basement.  The highlight of this scene is that the Green Bay Packers are in it.  Okay, they’re terrible but it’s still funny.  But it’s no different from the last one.  And what really got me is that the Treblemakers are gone.  The only returning members are Jesse and Ben.  The rest of the group gets one musical number then you never see them again.  Even the main rivals have been reduced so much that they are nothing but romantic interests.  I can’t even really say this movie tries to promote female empowerment because it was just two hours of racism and vagina jokes.

                I laughed a grand total of three times.  I’m not joking.  The final medley of songs was great and I really enjoyed it, especially when they brought out the past members of the Bellas to sing with them.  It was a touching moment, one I think this movie needed more of. 

                My question now is, they establish that everyone but one girl graduates.  There will be a Pitch Perfect Three coming out in the future but what’s going to happen with it?  Are we going to look at the girls now that they’ve all left college?  Are we going to focus on Legacy and her life as a Bella and a college girl?  Will they explain why singing groups get houses on campus?  There are a lot of things that never get answered.  Continuity people!  Use it!

                In recent months, Fry has pointed out that I tend to be a little too critical when I discuss films, which I admit, can be true.  However, when it comes to Pitch Perfect, I can’t help it.  The movie had the potential to be just as good, if not better than its predecessor.  Instead, they went back to the same plot, added some fluff and offensive jokes and called it a film.  I also understand that movies are not catered to my specific tastes.  I just also have the hopes that it will not rely on racist jokes or vulgarity to be good.  And that’s what the problem is with this one.  It relied on a tired formula without really adding anything fresh to it.  And if you have to resort to race jokes, then you should have edited the script better.

                Maybe I expected too much from Pitch Perfect Two.  I admit, I did have high hopes for this one but it just never came together for me.  In the end, I felt bad that I’d paid to see this.  It wasn’t too terribly memorable and I just didn’t enjoy myself.  I know it did quite well and I’m just one person, but I have no desire to see another film in this franchise.  They should quit while they’re ahead or it’s just going to end up as another stale, formulaic two hour bore.  That’s just my opinion and if you disagree, that’s fine by me.  I’m just telling you what I think.

                I’m TheCinemaChick and I’ve got two more reviews to go to be caught up.

Theater Reviews: Harkins Southlake

                Hey everyone out there behind a computer screen!  Happy Monday from me, you’re (probably not) favorite reviewer, TheCinemaChick!  I've had a rough weekend, so I’m setting aside a few things for now.  Don’t worry, I’m still going to do my look at the summer movie season.  You see, yesterday was Mother’s Day and for me, it’s not an easy day because I lost MovieMomma in 2012.  I did go through grief counseling this year but if anyone else has ever lost a parent, you know how hard it is to have holidays like this.  Yes, I have OtherMother and TenMom (KitKat’s mother has accepted me as her daughter and they live in Tennessee) but it will never be MovieMomma.  Don’t get me wrong, I love all of the maternal figures in my life.  There’s just no one else like your mother.

                Enough about my sadness.  I've been mulling this over in my head a while and I've decided that I want to take a look at the theaters I frequent.  That’s right, I’m reviewing the theaters themselves.  I've thought about what I would base my criteria on and I think I've got it.  I’m going to base my opinions on the following five factors: Lobby/Hallway, Theater, Management/Staff, Snacks and Cleanliness.  I've been to a lot of cinemas in the area and everyone’s got an opinion on which one they prefer.  I can honestly say, I've been to some amazing places but there is one theater that I will never go to again.  You’ll understand when I write about that one.

                What’s my rating system?  Let’s make one up…I suppose a five star system would work.

                Also, keep in mind I am not affiliated with any of these businesses.  I’m not employed at any of them.  At most, I’m a patron.  If they like what they read, fantastic.  If they don’t, I’m sorry but I’m entitled to my opinions.

                The first theater I want to visit, metaphorically, is Harkins Theater.  It is in Southlake, Texas which isn’t too terribly far from me.  It’s a bit of a drive, whether I take a highway or the back roads.  But that’s not their fault.  I’m more than willing to make the drive out there to see a movie.  So, let’s look at each of my criteria, one at a time.

1.       Lobby/Hallway

The building itself is fairly small.  There’s just one long hallway and a medium sized lobby.  Even when it’s full of people, it never feels like it’s small because there’s plenty of room to maneuver through the crowds.  Granted, there are always those people who stop in the middle of the area to chat but that’s not anyone’s fault but their own.  And remember, it’s hard for me to get around because I do require a cane to walk.  I've never felt like I was going to be shoved aside or knocked over.  And they are well lit, so navigation isn't an issue.  Overall, I give it my highest rating, five stars.

2.       Theater

The theater itself is bright both before and after the show.  A lot of people leave as soon as the credits start, which is ok but if you’re like me, or it’s a Marvel movie, you wait.  However, I've been to some theaters where you can’t see anything until well after the credits end.  It’s like the want you to be in the dark, pun intended.  A lot of the time, I am terrified to move around in a theater because it’s dark and having a cane, I need to see where I am stepping.  I’m also visually impaired, so I can’t see outlines in dark places.  I love that Harkins actually makes sure people can see where they are going.  I personally feel safer going up and down the steps, knowing I can clearly see what I am doing.

Rating: Five Stars

3.       Management/Staff

You know how some places have employees that just look like they’d rather be doing anything else at that moment?  Or how it reflects in their attitude?  I never see that with the workers at Harkins.  I’ll admit, sometimes they do seem tired but they work hard and I cannot fault them for showing signs of exhaustion.  They are genuinely friendly, gladly help out if you have a question and are incredibly helpful.  I've had issues with an employee…never actually.  And the management?  Bravo Harkins management!  You guys are the best.  I went to a midnight showing and asked a manager about possibly going in like, 2 minutes earlier so I could get a seat.  When he asked why, I explained how most people rush in at once, run past me, etc and that I had been knocked over before during a marathon.  I was just asking because of my personal safety.  Since that night, I've noticed there has been a “no running, no pushing” rule enacted.  They’ve even said if you get caught doing that, it’s the end of the line for you. 

I am incredibly impressed that they took a concern from a customer (I’m sure it wasn't me, other people have probably said things in a similar manner before) and made it a rule so everyone can be safe.  And yes, I do feel safer at Harkins.  I feel I am less likely to trip, be knocked over, fall…I just think they raised the bar here.

Rating: Six Stars (Because they are that good.  I’m not kidding, they are amazing.)

4.       Snacks

Honestly, just about every theater I go to has a subpar snack bar.  I’m normally unimpressed but everything.  However, they have a great selection.  I've never had stale popcorn either and believe me, some places I've been have no shame in serving leftover stuff.  Don’t like the amount of butter you got?  They have small stations to the side where you can add more.  They also have the plastic jars with seasoning in them if you want a different flavor.  Did you know other theaters charge for it?  I've seen it sold for about a dollar other places but here, they give it away.  And if you haven’t tried ranch popcorn, you’re missing out.  They have a huge variety of candy as well, if that’s what you want.  They even offer pizza and small burgers if you’re really hungry.  I’m not a fan but that’s because I've never understood getting a full meal at a movie.  If you’re at a movie tavern, I understand but a normal movie?  Don’t get me wrong, I've eaten probably everything they offer because I've attended marathons there and if you’re there all day, you don’t just want popcorn.  Personally, I go for the pizza but to each their own.

Rating: Four Stars (sometimes the lines get really backed up and you end up waiting a long time to get to the counter, and I don’t mean during marathon events.  Even then, it’s worth the wait)

5.       Cleanliness

Not going to lie, I've never seen this theater dirty.  Yes, after a movie, people leave their trash all over but that’s it.  The bathrooms are always spotless, even during marathon events when they are in high use.  How is it possible that they keep it so clean?  The lobby and halls may have the occasional piece of popcorn or ticket stub but that’s it.  It’s just…clean.  Once again, it’s good for me because I feel safe, knowing I can’t slip on someone’s spilled popcorn.  They take care of things in a very timely manner.  Oh and during marathons, if you’re too tired or too stiff to make it to the trashcans in the hallway, they come around with a bag so you can dispose of your garbage.  Is there anything they won’t do?  Well, I mean, yeah they can’t do everything for you but still, they’re pretty impressive by my standards.

Rating: Four and a Half Stars.  They’re not perfect and there are some people who just leave the trash all over and it’s possible that sometimes, something might be overlooked.  However, by far, Harkins is the cleanest theater I go to.

                There you have it, folks!  My first theater review!  What do you guys think?  Do you want me to write about more places I go?  Would you want to know what I think about some of the local theaters?  And by local, I mean the places in the Hurst, Euless, Bedford, Grapevine, Southlake, Colleyville, Arlington area.  I live in the Dallas/Fort Worth suburbs so I tend to stick with what’s closest to me.  Sorry, I don’t see the need to drive to downtown Dallas for 3 hours.

                Also, as I've said before, I am not affiliated with any of these places.  They are simply theaters I go to and like going to.  If they like what I say, great, if they don’t, I’m sorry.

                Until next time, I’m TheCinemaChick and I think I’ll make a sandwich for dinner.

Avengers: Age of Ultron

                Hello everyone, I’m the nerd you might love and enjoy hearing from, TheCinemaChick!  I’ve been busy as usual but I come bearing good news for a change.  Today is the first of May which means “Avengers: Age of Ultron” is now out in theaters.  Fortunately, I got to see it last night in a double feature so I can review it for you now.  I will try to remain as spoiler free as possible because I know everyone wants to see it this weekend.  And I don’t blame you.  Right now, Marvel is a hot company.  They’ve got a dozen movies lined up so this is all leading up to the highly anticipated “Infinity War”.

                I will say this, if you haven’t seen ALL of the Marvel movies to date, don’t see this yet.  Go catch up and make sure you’ve seen them then go see this one.  There are a lot of references that come up that you might miss. I’d start with the first Avengers, then all of Phase 2 up until this point.  Technically you don’t need to see “Guardians of the Galaxy” because it isn’t really mentioned except for a brief reference during a tiny montage.  However, you should see it anyway because it’s a good movie.  Plus, it’s Marvel and we all know they rarely ever have a misstep.  Let’s not go into my intense dislike of “Iron Man 3” or why I can’t stand to sit through “Captain America: The First Avenger”.  They’re both good in their own right but they are my least favorites.

                There is a lot going on in this film, not going to lie.  There are a lot of new characters, some huge plot twists added in and this is the movie that will lead us into Phase 3.  What’s going to happen in Phase 3 you may ask?  To which I will respond, “Where have you been?”  Everyone know what’s coming in the next wave of films!  To be fair, we will probably never see another Hulk film.  I’m not sure why to be honest but I would love to see another.  If you’ve see “Age of Ultron” already, then you might agree with me when I say that I would love to have a film showing what happens next for him.  That ending…I won’t spoil it for you.  You just have to see it and if you haven’t seen it yet, why not?  I mean, come on this movie just set a record!  It is now the second best opening ever at roughly $187.7 million. 

                Wondering what the biggest opening ever is?  “The Avengers” with $207.4 million.

                I will admit, all of the new characters can make the movie a bit hard to follow.  We have Quicksilver and the Scarlet Witch added into the fold.  I have to admit, I loved their portrayal.  However, I didn’t care for Elizabeth Olsen’s portrayal.  Overall, I really liked her but she sounded terrible with her accent.  Aaron Taylor-Johnson was spot on and as much as I love Evan Peters…I’m sorry, Taylor-Johnson wins this one.  He was exactly what you want.  Peters brought more of a comedic edge to the character but traditionally, Pietro Maximoff isn’t humorous.  He’s hot headed, impatient and extremely volatile.  Yes, he does have some wonderful moments that made me laugh but I’m used to a more angry Quicksilver.  As for Olsen and Wanda Maximoff, again, for the most part, I enjoyed her.  She brought this mysterious yet slightly kooky vibe to her, which I liked.  I just wish she’d done a little more work on that accent.

                One really great thing about this movie is how things from all the previous films are starting to come together.  Little elements from “Thor” and “The Winter Soldier” are starting to come into play here.  There are things you notice from those films in this one.  The obvious thing is the yellow stone that showed up in one of the previews.  Comic fans will know what this is: The Mind Stone.  Ladies and gentlemen, the Infinity Stones are coming.  Remember in the first “Thor” movie, when they’re down in the vault and you see all those relics?  While the movie focused on the Casket of Winter, there is something else I hope you noticed.  Remember that glove you saw for a brief moment?  That is the Power Glove, the thing that houses the Infinity Stones.  Once someone has all the Stones in that Glove, they become damn near invincible.

                Thanos is coming.

                I have to admit, despite my dislike of Elizabeth Olsen’s lack of accent, the way she interacted with the other actors, in character was brilliant.  She was essentially what I had hoped for.  The Scarlet Witch comes off as slightly out of her mind, which she is.  I liked how her powers effected the Avengers so much that they had to leave and sort themselves out before going back to it.  It’s like the film is trying to get the point across that super heroes are vulnerable too.  Even they can lose their nerve.  But the best part of Wanda’s powers were the little dreams she brought out.  The audience gets to see little glimpses into the minds of each character.  Finally, we get to see some of Black Widow’s background, which made her more of a sympathetic person to me.  I’m not a huge fan of her but after seeing her story, I like her more.  Thor’s dream, however, is more relevant to the future of the Marvel movie universe, so I’d rather not spoil that.

                I would like to point this out though.  Earlier in the year, I had read an interview with Idris Elba where he confirmed that both he and Tom Hiddleston would appear in “Age of Ultron”.  Heimdall does show up, I won’t say where or how.  However, Loki is noticeably absent in the movie.  I’ve since read another interview, this one with Joss Whedon and he says that yes, Hiddleston did shoot some scenes but they were ultimately cut.  I understand his reasoning since there is so much going on that maybe having Loki in it as well would have made the movie feel cluttered.  As is, the film felt stuffed full of things I’ll need to remember into Phase 3.  I agree with the decision to keep Loki out of this movie but that has just made me curious.  What would his role have been?  Remember, they think he’s dead because in “The Dark World”, Thor believes he sees Loki killed but at the very end, we see the trickster sitting on the throne of Asgard with a cocky grin on his face.

                Anyone else wondering where Odin is?

                I’ll admit, I had hoped that Ultron, Quicksilver and Scarlet Witch would play a larger part but I felt like they were underutilized.  I know, I know, this movie is about the Avengers and how they save the world.  In my eyes, the twins are some of the most interesting and possibly tragic characters in this movie but they aren’t in it as much as I’d like.  There could have been more added so we got to know them more but they were just pushed aside.  I wasn’t even a huge fan of Ultron.  Maybe it’s because I’m not familiar with him in the comic book universe, but to me, he was the least threatening villain ever.  Maybe it was because he was always so calm and philosophical but I never once found him to be a threat.  A nuisance maybe but never truly menacing.  I wanted him to be a little more sinister and they almost turned him into a comic relief.  I get that he’s new to the world and he intends to save it in his own way but having him apologize for hurting someone?

                I admit, that bothered me.  In the original “Avengers” movie, I had the sense of danger and urgency while they were looking for the tesseract and Loki.  In “Age of Ultron”, I never really got that feeling.  There were a few brief moments of “I wonder what will happen next” and a few times, I did say “Well, didn’t see that coming” but overall, it played out just as I had thought.  There weren’t any major huge twists or surprises.  I mean, we see the Hulk Buster armor in the trailer, so that wasn’t a surprise.  Hell, they even teased the reveal of The Vision.  Had they left that a secret, I would have been even more excited.  Trailers these days just give away too much. 

                I will say this, the trailer, while it did give away too much for me, also did a good job of teasing me to the point where I had to find answers.  Like, you see Captain America’s shield broken and you need to know why it’s broken.  Or, you’ll see Thor in that pool of water and question what that has to do with the film overall.  I can honestly say that even though it’s brief, it’s extremely important.  Thor’s dream is something you should pay attention to and listen to everything he says.  Again, this is all leading into Phase 3, The Infinity War.

                Spoiler alert!!  Kevin Feige has gone on record stating that the Gauntlet we see in “Thor” might not be the only one.  I can’t say more because I don’t know more but I need to know.

                I thoroughly enjoyed “Avengers: Age of Ultron” but it did have its faults.  There was too much going on and far too many characters were involved.  While the film does center on the main group, there are nearly a dozen additional minor characters as well.  I won’t say who because that would spoil the ending, which was brilliant as well.  The problem being, in my opinion, is that it took away from the overall feel.  Yes, I understand that they’re important and they serve a purpose in later films but did we need them?  Okay, they were needed at the end but all throughout?  The plot is straightforward but then there are so many side stories that I got bored several times.  I understand why its needed but maybe, just maybe, we could cut some of it out?  I am glad to see that Jeremy Renner gets far more screen time.  He also gets some of the best lines in the movie too.

                There is some dialogue that was absolutely perfect, both in the comedic sense and in terms of foreshadowing.  Joss Whedon is really careful with his words and I think that shows in the final product.  Quicksilver is always snarky while Scarlet Witch is always a little vague.  I would like to see it again because I know there will be things that I missed in the first showing.  Plus, we finally get to meet The Vision, who was amazing.  I like Paul Bettany and seeing him “come to life” so to speak in the movie…the way they did it was great.  I hope to see more of him in later films because he does possess an Infinity Stone.

                And before you jump on my case, no that’s not a spoiler.  It’s in the trailer!

                I would say “Age of Ultron” is another Marvel masterpiece, but like all of its other films, it is flawed.  It suffers from what my creative writing professor in college called “population control”.  There are too many characters, too many side stories and some of it just didn’t even feel necessary.  I think they over emphasized the idea that the Avengers needed to come together because they spend so much time on it. 

                I do recommend it, not just because I’m obsessed with the Marvel world.  It’s genuinely entertaining, it does make you think about things like artificial intelligence and it did get me excited for the next round of films.  I do hope there’s another Hulk movie in the future but we’ll have to wait and see.  We’ve got “Captain America: Civil War” to look forward to, along with “Ant Man”, “Doctor Strange” and the one I’m most excited about “Thor: Ragnarok”. 

                What can I say, I love mythology.

                Guys, once again, I just want to say thank you for sticking with me.  I know I’m not posting as often as I used to and I’ve been combining reviews but to know you’re still reading, it means a lot to me.  Cinema is a huge passion of mine, on a technical and artistic level.  I love writing this blog and I love being able to share my opinions with you guys.

                So, from the bottom of my nerdy heart, thank you.

                I would also like to say that the summer movie season is upon us, so be looking for my list of movies I’m geeking out about soon.  I can tell you that I will see “Mad Max”.  Who knows what else I’ll see?  Time will tell.

                I’m TheCinemaChick and what a lovely day.

Unfriended

            Hey everyone, I’m that one girl who seems to disappear more often than she is here, TheCinemaChick!  I’ve actually been doing real work as of late and let me tell you, wrangling children is tiring work.  Not to mention, I can officially say I have been spit up on.  Here’s a lesson I learned the hard way, never wear your favorite shirt to work if it means you’re handling babies.  Especially babies with full tummies.  They can projectile spit up.

            As usual, you’re not here to listen to me whine about work, you just want to know about the movies!  Have I seen anything good lately?  Nope!  I’m disappointed in the movie I’m reviewing, however, I also feel it is deserving of praise in its own special way.  It touches on a very hot topic in a way I haven’t seen before.  The content was fairly disturbing and I was far more annoyed than I was scared but overall, it wasn’t completely horrible.  So, close Facebook, finish that iMessage and step away from Skype, we’re going to look at “Unfriended”.

            I have to admit, I didn’t have high hopes for this one.  The trailer did have me intrigued, but even then, it seemed like another typical horror movie.  A group of friends did something wrong in the past so a vengeful spirit is out to get them, how original.  (Note the intended sarcasm here)  It had the potential to be good but it starts off with a weak, overdone premise.  A teenager has committed suicide, it’s the anniversary of the death and weird things start happening to a group of friends who knew her.  Plus, it’s a found footage film and you should all know how I feel about those.  I want this genre to die.  I am so sick of it.  And on top of all that, we have the stereotypical teens.  We have a drama queen, a slut, a pothead, a party boy, an airhead and a jealous boyfriend.

            My biggest pet peeve?  The fact that you know how these characters are going to die as soon as you meet them.  And this one won’t be a spoiler since it’s in the trailer: One of them is shown mutilating his hand by sticking it in a running blender.  Well, when we first meet him, he’s got a blender in his hand and he’s talking about his salsa.

            However, do remember that I see more movies than the usual person, so I have figured out the formula to almost every movie out there.  This is why I hate romantic comedies and I can never seem to be scared by horror films.  While I’m usually bored to tears with most films, some of them have qualities that redeem them.  Believe it or not, “Unfriended” has some things about it that I liked enough to keep this movie off of my “Worst of” list this year.  One of them is the topic of cyber-bullying, another one being the end of the film.

            Again, since the trailer shows this, it’s not a spoiler.  It centers around a girl who commit suicide due to some videos that had been posted of her online.  After putting up with a lot of abuse on YouTube and Facebook, she kills herself with a gunshot to the head.  The movie starts on the one year anniversary of her death, as is the cliché.  The movie starts off innocent enough and I have to admit, that’s something I liked.  It’s a bunch of teenagers having a call on skype just to talk about casual teen things.  It feels realistic.  I have skype calls with my friends and we talk about the dumbest things.

            As the movie progresses, things get incredibly tense.  You don’t know who’s going to be next or for what reason Laura will target them.  The more you find out, the more you realize that these teens are horrible people.  They have done things so shameful I can’t even repeat it.  Plus, if I did, that’d be major spoilers.  But I was shocked at what took place.  Okay, okay, I know things have changed drastically since I was roughly seventeen or eighteen.  And yes, I know teens drink, do drugs and have sex but back in my day (I feel so old now) it wasn’t as prominent.  Underage sex was more of a taboo.  Movies never addressed it, television never showed it and the music was a lot more…the best word I can think of is wholesome. 

            Am I ranting about sex?  Yeah, I am a little.  Sex and sexuality have become a mainstream topic these days.  And you know, that does bother me.  I’m sorry but I was raised to believe that what happened in the bedroom stayed there.  Now we have things like “Fifty Shades” out there which…I plan to review it, I just don’t know if I can do it without needing a shower after.  I don’t like this borderline glorification of sex and how it’s become so common and casual.  There’s more of it in movies, television shows and I can’t even listen to the radio now because so many of the songs offend me with their content.

            Enough about that.  I could go on for a while.

            Like every horror movie that comes out lately, this one’s full of the typical tropes.  It’s predictable, you know what’ll happen, things I’ve already pointed out.  And the idea of doing it all on a computer screen isn’t even new.  There’s a film out there called “The Den”, which I haven’t seen yet, that did something similar.  However, I like the idea that it’s all shown through Blair’s (the “main” character) laptop.  We get to see everything she sees and the panic becomes more and more real.  It’s like staring at your own screen as these things take place, which gives it a nice edge.

            But you get to see the strange messages she gets, see the music she picks but honestly, if you’re in a group call, why are you listening to music?  Another element I liked is that as the movie goes on, Laura seems to be more and more in control of the situation.  She starts picking the songs, she answers Blair’s messages before she can even send them.  There is a genuine sense of tension and panic throughout.  I also have to commend the use of various means of social media throughout.  It was good. 

            Like I said, this won’t by my favorite film this year but it won’t be the worst.  I did enjoy it and I might actually sit through it again at some point.  To me, the overall tone was just annoyance because the notification sounds are amplified so they are way too loud.  That’s the one thing that kept getting to me.  I’d be bored, dozing off then DING!  You have message!  To the movie’s credit, it’s a great way to keep your audience awake during the slow parts.  Personally, I think it could have been downplayed a lot more and still had a good effect on the general feel.

            Would I recommend “Unfriended” to the masses?  I would actually say this is a good movie that the younger crowd needs to watch.  Let this one be a lesson about what you post online.  Remember, what you put on the internet becomes permanent.  That picture you took in college where you’re drunk, half naked and holding of a bottle of Jack?  Your parents might find that.  Pictures of you cuddling an ex?  Oh yeah, the internet remembers that.  Keep that in mind next time you take a ton of pictures at the next party when you’re drunk.

I’m TheCinemaChick and I’m haunting your Skype right now.

2015 Films So Far!

Hey everyone, I’m the girl you know and love, the one, the only (as far as I know) TheCinemaChick!  And before you say anything, yes, I’ve been sick again.  I don’t know what’s going on with 2015 but I have spent most of this year incredibly sick.  So far, I’ve had pneumonia, bronchitis and the flu.  Each illness has lasted longer than I have ever been ill before, so I’m starting to think I might have another health issue.  So, while I’m not feeling like death, let’s look at some movies I’ve seen this year. 

The sad thing is, I haven’t seen anything that’s gotten me excited.  Everything has been mediocre at best.  I am disappointed because there are some huge titles that have been released this year.  Nothing has lived up to its hype.  What do I mean?  Well, let’s have some mini reviews so you can understand what I’m ranting about this time.

First off, let’s start with Blackhat.  It was supposed to be this cyber-crime thriller starring Chris Hemsworth of Thor fame.  However, it fell short of its intentions.  It wasn’t terribly exciting nor was it really about cyber-crime.  Sure, the criminal activities were mentioned and they were a huge focus but the film just kept going off track.  It would start going into the pasts of the hacker and the detective and how they were best friends at one point.  The detective even admits he’s partially responsible for this virus and no one penalizes him.  Then his sister gets involved and her and not Thor have a fling.  Why is there always time for a sex scene in action movies?  Seriously, it’s even true in James Bond movies.  He’s in the middle of a top secret mission but still has time to nail the hot chick.  To be fair, he gets killed later on, so I guess he does get punished for his actions.  But even then, I couldn’t be sympathetic because they add in so many characters I forgot who he was.  It’s so hard to keep track of everything going on but they never give you time to acclimate to one part of the story.  It starts off slow, then gains more and more speed that just rushes it to a highly unsatisfactory happy ending.

Then there’s Jupiter Ascending.  I know, this one was supposed to be huge.  It was meant for release last year but the date was pushed back so there could be some post production 3D conversion.  I will admit there are some highly positive things about this movie.  The visuals are absolutely gorgeous.  You can tell the Wachowski clan put a lot of time, thought and effort into how they wanted this movie to look.  I was blown away by the beauty of it.  The costumes, while a bit odd, are also beautiful.  If I had to base this movie solely on visuals, it would be amazing.  However, I do think the story suffered.  I mean, we’ve seen intergalactic politics in other films and honestly, the other movies handled it much better than this did.  I get it, Jupiter (Mila Kunis) is the reincarnation of the mother of the Abraxos family but let’s not forget, she inherited the galaxy.  For the most part, she is useless and relies on Cain (Channing Tatum) to save her from the ridiculous situations she puts herself into.  By the end, I was just confused and unimpressed.  Other than being pretty to look at, Jupiter Ascending did not wow me.  I was left with too many questions.  Also, Eddie Redmayne, you just won an Oscar.  You are better than a role that reduces you to a weirdly dressed man who either whispers or screams.

Now, let’s move on to The DUFF.  This is basically another cheesy teen sex comedy.  I know it’s supposed to be about accepting who you are and being proud of yourself and all but it goes about it in all the wrong ways.  It was very awkward and clunky, so the flow wasn’t so great.  Plus, it tried to include this side message of cyberbullying being wrong but that never really panned out for me.  Honestly, it never really had resolution.  It went exactly how I thought it would happen so there wasn’t anything special about it.  What I really hate is when they do stories like this, the nerdy, awkward “ugly” girl always ends up getting this amazing makeover so she becomes attractive.  I’m sorry, but isn’t this supposed to be about accepting yourself and your unique quirks?  Why does it always have to happen like this?  Why does the girl have to change herself to make a man or rival female happy?  This has always bothered me to no end.  If you want to make a movie that’s inspiring or even more realistic, show me a film where the lead female doesn’t have to undergo a makeover and change her personality in order to find love.

Here’s my lesson to all teenage girls.  Embrace your oddities.  Don’t let anyone change you to make you into something you’re not.  Be you, be beautiful and be happy.

Now let’s look at the Kingsman: Secret Service.  I actually really enjoyed this movie.  It was fun and fast paced and somewhat ridiculous.  It was sort of like a spoof on James Bond but in a more serious manner.  Plus, Colin Firth is kicking some major ass in a suit and looking good doing it.  The story is solid, albeit a little far fetched.  Samuel L. Jackson is really good as the villain.  What made me love this character is that he is so sensitive to violence.  What bad guy gets physically ill at the sight of blood?  Even when he does finally kill one person, he has such a negative reaction that you feel sorry for him.  I was angry that he had murdered a very important character but his immediate show of remorse and disgust made me like him.  It’s not every often we find a sympathetic evil guy…unless you count Loki but that’s another blog for another day.  My only problem with the movie was the amount of cursing and the ending.  I understand, spies normally don’t have to watch their language but the amount of F bombs I heard in the run time was almost appalling.  Not to mention, people brought their young children to this movie!  Fry and I were at a late showing, so it was well past midnight when we left.  Why are you bringing your kid to a movie this late?  They were getting cranky and kept asking questions.  Not to mention, they basically show the beginning of two people having inappropriate relations.  The ending could have been so much better, but they went with the smutty route.  Overall, not bad.  I wish they didn’t curse so much but in general, I enjoyed it.

And finally, let’s talk about Cinderella.  Maybe it’s me and I’m jaded but I can’t stand fairy tales.  This is another one of those things were lying proves to be beneficial.  I admit, I did like a lot of things about this film but overall, it did nothing for me.  They chose to focus on the darker side of the story so much that it brought a fairly depressing tone to it.  I love Cate Blanchett, don’t get me wrong.  I want to be best friends with her but this wasn’t her best role.  She’s supposed to be the wicked stepmother but at most, she was just annoying.  In the animated version Lady Tremaine had this air of evil about her so you automatically didn’t trust her.  In this one, however, she just came off as a gold digger with two daughters dumber than my lovely dog Hammy.  And believe me, Hammy’s an idiot.  I wanted to like it because it is meant to be a masterpiece.  And here’s where I will praise it.  The visuals and setting are absolutely gorgeous.  I mean, that gown Cinderella wears at the ball is to die for.  Seriously, this should be considered during awards season for the costuming.  Everything was done perfectly, down to the smallest details.  One thing I loved is how Anastasia and Drusilla are always dressed similar but not the same, just like in the animated film.  And if you’ve seen the movie, you know just how breathtaking that pumpkin carriage was.  Oh!  Can we talk about Helena Bonham Carter as the Fairy Godmother?  How awesome was she?  I love that she’s slightly absent minded and makes mistakes with her spells.  I make no secret of my love of Helena Bonham Carter, I would love to be friends with her as well.  To me, she is the best part of the film. 

So yes, there are multiple redeeming qualities and overall, it is a good movie  It’s not too long, it’s sweet, it’s great for little girls but for me, I just don’t care for the “happily ever after” feel good flicks like this.  Cinderella was never my favorite fairy tale anyway.  I admit, I am stoked to see the upcoming live action Beauty and the Beast remake with Emma Watson and Luke Evans.  I was liked a good fantasy with magic and monsters and strong(ish) female characters.  I give Belle more credit because she fell in love with the prince because of who he was, not because he was hot.  Sure, we could get into the whole Stockholm Syndrome thing but I’d rather not.  If you don’t know what that is, google it.

I do have one more movie to look at, but I have purposely waited for the hype on this one to die down.  Yes, I did see Fifty Shades of Grey but I did not want to immediately jump on the bandwagon.  So many people were excited to see it that I didn’t want to ruin it for them.  Apparently, my opinion can hold some sway over people.  I’ve had people tell me that they chose not to see a movie just because I did an unfavorable review.

Folks, I can’t decide what you do and don’t see. Everything I say here is just what I think.  Hell, I’m not even a professional.  I am simply a blogger who loves movies.  I appreciate knowing that you actually take the time to read my blogs and think about what I’ve said.  However, I would never discourage anyone from seeing a movie they want to see…unless it’s that bad.  I know I’ve seen several movies where I have flat out said “Stay away!”

Well, that’s all for this time guys.  Much love and thanks for sticking with me all these years and through multiple hiatuses.  I’ll try not to get sick again and soon, I should have some horror movies to look at and you know what?  Just for the fun of it, let’s make a list of movies I’m geeking out about this summer.  That’s right, summer movie season is coming and that’s when a lot of big movies are released.  We’ve got the second Avengers to look forward to, Pitch Perfect 2, Fast 7, just to name a few.

What are you excited to see?  What summer movie blockbuster has you amped up?  Let me know!  Talk to me, send me some feedback!  Is there a movie out now that you think I need to see?  IS there something on Netflix that you think is worth a look?  I’m always open to new suggestions.

I’m TheCinemaChick and I may or may not be a Cyberman.

Upgrade in progress…delete, delete, delete…

2015 Academy Awards Predictions

Best Picture

American Sniper
Birdman
Boyhood
The Grand Budapest Hotel
The Imitation Game
Selma
The Theory of Everything
Whiplash

Who will probably win: Boyhood

Who I want to win: Honestly, this one’s tough.  I think “The Theory of Everything” will pull through.

Best Director

Alejandro Innaritu, Birdman
Richard Linklater, Boyhood
Bennett Miller, Foxcatcher
Wes Anderson, The Grand Budapest Hotel
Morten Tyldum, The Imitation Game

Who will probably win: Richard Linklatter

Who I want to win: Richard Linklatter

Best Actor

Steve Carell, Foxcatcher
Bradley Cooper, American Sniper
Benedict Cumberbatch, The Imitation Game
Michael Keaton, Birdman
Eddie Redmayne, The Theory of Everything

Who will probably win: Eddie Redmayne

Who I want to win: Honestly, I have heard nothing but amazing reviews for Eddie Redmayne, Benedict Cumberbatch, Bradley Cooper and Michael Keaton.  I would love Cumberbatch to win this round but I’m fairly certain it’s going to Redmayne.

Best Actress

Marion Cotillard, Two Days, One Night
Felicity Jones, The Theory of Everything
Julianne Moore, Still Alice
Rosamund Pike, Gone Girl
Reese Witherspoon, Wild

Who will probably win: Julianne Moore

Who I want to win: Julianne Moore, hands down.

Best Supporting Actor

Robert Duvall, The Judge
Ethan Hawke, Boyhood
Edward Norton, Birdman
Mark Ruffalo, Foxcatcher
J.K. Simmons, Whiplash

Who will probably win: Ethan Hawke

Who I want to win: Honestly, Mark Ruffalo or J.K. Simmons

Best Supporting Actress

Patricia Arquette, Boyhood
Laura Dern, Wild
Keira Knightley, The Imitation Game
Emma Stone, Birdman
Meryl Streep, Into the Woods

Who will probably win: Patricia Arquette

Who I want to win: Keira Knightley or Meryl Streep

Best Adapted Screenplay

American Sniper
The Imitation Game
Inherent Vice
The Theory of Everything
Whiplash

Who will probably win: American Sniper

Who I want to win: Another toss up between The Imitation Game and The Theory of Everything.  But, let’s be honest, it’s most likely going to American Sniper

Best Original Screenplay

Birdman
Boyhood
Foxcatcher
The Grand Budapest Hotel
Nightcrawler

Who will probably win: Boyhood

Who I want to win: Nightcrawler

Best Cinematography

Birdman
The Grand Budapest Hotel
Ida
Mr. Turner
Unbroken

Who will probably win: Birdman

Who I want to win: The Grand Budapest Hotel

Best Costume Design

The Grand Budapest Hotel
Inherent Vice
Into the Woods
Maleficent
Mr. Turner

Who will probably win: The Grand Budapest Hotel

Who I want to win: Into The Woods

Best Film Editing

American Sniper
Boyhood
Grand Budapest
The Imitation Game
Whiplash

Who will probably win: Boyhood

Who I want to win: Boyhood

Best Makeup and Hairstyling

Foxcatcher
The Grand Budapest Hotel
Guardians of the Galaxy

Who will probably win: The Grand Budapest Hotel

Who I want to win: The Grand Budapest Hotel

Best Original Score

The Grand Budapest Hotel
The Imitation Game
Interstellar
Mr. Turner
The Theory of Everything

Who will probably win: The Theory of Everything

Who I want to win: The Imitation Game

Best Original Song

“Everything is Awesome,” The Lego Movie
“Glory,” Selma
“Grateful,” Beyond the Lights
“I'm Not Going to Miss You,” Glen Campbell: I’ll Be Me
“Lost Stars,” Begin Again

Who will probably win: “Glory” Selma

Who I want to win: “Lost Stars” Begin Again

Best Production Design

The Grand Budapest Hotel
The Imitation Game
Interstellar
Into the Woods
Mr. Turner

Who will probably win: The Grand Budapest Hotel

Who I want to win: The Imitation Game

Best Sound Editing

American Sniper
Birdman
The Hobbit: Battle of the Five Armies
Interstellar
Unbroken

Who will probably win:  American Sniper

Who I want to win: The Hobbit: Battle of the Five Armies (because I’m biased)

Best Sound Mixing

American Sniper
Birdman
Interstellar
Unbroken
Whiplash

Who will probably win: Interstellar

Who I want to win: American Sniper

Best Visual Effects

Captain America: The Winter Soldier
Dawn of the Planet of the Apes
Guardians of the Galaxy
Interstellar
X-Men; Days of Future Past

Who will probably win: Interstellar

Who I want to win: Captain America: The Winter Soldier (because why not?)

Best Animated Feature

Big Hero 6
The Boxtrolls
How to Train Your Dragon 2
Song of the Sea
The Tale of Princess Kaguya

Who will probably win: The Tale of Princess Kaguya

Who I want to win: The Boxtrolls

Best Documentary Feature

Citizenfour
Finding Vivian Maier
Last Days in Vietnam
The Salt of the Earth
Virunga

Who will probably win: Last Days in Vietnam

Who I want to win: Citizenfour

Best Foreign Language Film

Ida
Leviathan
Tangerines
Timbuktu
Wild Tales

Who will probably win: Leviathan

Who I want to win: Tangerines

Best Animated Short

The Bigger Picture
The Dam Keeper
Feast
Me and My Moulton
A Single Life

Who will probably win: The Dam Keeper

Who I want to win: Feast

Best Live-Action Short

Aya
Boogaloo and Graham
Butter Lamp
Parvaneh
The Phone Call

Who will probably win: Boogaloo and Graham

Who I want to win: Aya

Best Documentary Short

Crisis Hotline: Veterans Press One
Joanna
Our Curse
The Reaper
White Earth

Who will probably win: Crisis Hotline: Veterans Press One

Who I want to win: The Reaper