Photo (c) Getty Images
(UPDATE: 02/28/16, 9:30 p.m.: As I suspected, this year saw my worst prediction record for the Oscars, as I went 17/24 this year. The categories I got wrong were Picture, Supporting Actor, Film Editing, Costume Design, Original Song, Visual Effects, and Documentary – Short Subject. I can only hope for a better record next year!)
I swear, doing this every year makes me more anxious than it really should.
Title: Deadpool | Rated: R | Runtime: 108 min | Theaters nationwide
From his much-aligned debut in 2009’s X-Men Origins: Wolverine, fans have loudly clamored for a movie that would do justice to Deadpool. To say that it’s been a long, troubled road to release is an understatement; the film was stuck in development hell as far back as 2000, left to wait in the shop window as a carousel of filmmakers came in and out without ever really liberating it. Fox began treating it seriously not long after test footage leaked to positive reactions in 2014, and even when things were starting to look good, the creative team had to fight budget cuts as well as a proposal to make the film PG-13. At long last, the Merc with a Mouth has arrived on the big screen (again, technically speaking), and his fans seem to be quite happy with Deadpool, even though it’s a decent flick at best, where the parts are clearly greater than the whole.
Ahhh Valentine’s Day. The most blatant example of a Hallmark holiday. Valentine’s weekend, my wife and I had big plans – BIG plans. Go to a winter carnival. Go to Ottawa. Eat some dim sum. You know, pretend we’re in a real city and not Potsdam, NY. We kicked off the weekend with Deadpool. It was Friday, there was a blizzard, but I couldn’t wait any longer. I needed to see this movie. Good thing I forced her out because on Saturday -25 degrees hit us like a sack of bricks. All those big plans? Turned into staying in and eating Taco Bell (well, that’s a good thing for me).
Which meant the only real “going out” we did was watch this year’s #1 romantic movie. Deadpool was all things it should have been: over the top, inappropriate, violent, hilarious, and… AWESOME! So in honor of everyone’s favorite merc with a mouth, here are ten things I like and dislike about the latest superhero movie (potential spoilers ahead)… Continue reading
Title: Hail, Caesar! | Rated: PG-13 | Duration: 106 min | Theaters nationwide
Joel and Ethan Coen, also known as the Coen brothers, are perhaps the most unique American filmmakers to grace the craft. Stocked with eccentric characters and delving into complex ideas and themes, their films typically toe a fine line between absurdist comedy and captivating drama, and their stories unfold in unconventional manners and distinct styles. Hail, Caesar! is likely their most divisive work to date even for their fans, but it’s very much a product of their minds, and it makes for a fun, thought-provoking watch.
Photo courtesy of Warner Bros.
Normally, you’d see lists like these at the tail end of a year, or within the first week of a new one. That would ideally be the case for us, but unfortunately, MediaBrewPub isn’t a full-time commitment for us (though it can be, if you’re a rich benefactor á la Abel Magwitch and want to support us). That being said, January tends to be the month when I attempt to watch as many films from the previous year that I wasn’t able to catch in theaters. January has now passed, and the time has come for me to finally release this list. Perhaps it isn’t as comprehensive as it can be, but given my budget and spare time, it’ll do.