American Sniper
The movie was released in Milan on New Year's Day. It was an amazing true story that maybe people outside of the US has never even heard of. Directed by Hollywood vet Clint Eastwood starring the now three time nominee Bradley Cooper as Chris Kyle, America's best sniper. In also a sterling performance, Sienna Miller as Chris Kyle's wife. It was a thrilling movie, filled with confident direction and great performances. However for a true story, it felt too dramatized, like there's a real villain and all. But it was a honorable service for Kyle's stellar achievement for America. And yes, I noticed that dead-looking baby but I didn't expect it would be a doll. Nevertheless, I personally found it more exciting and thought-provoking than The Hurt Locker. American Sniper: rated 3.5/4The Imitation Game
Another Best Pic nom, directed by Morten Tyldum and starring Benedict Cumberbatch (how did they manage to collect these strangely named people?). The film is another biopic and the first one here about a great Brit. Played by the more-than-able Benedict Cumberbatch, this film is the story about Alan Turing who helped the British Intelligence cracked the Nazi Enigma code, which then helped the Allies ended the war. Also back in the great films' limelight, Keira Knightley as Joan Clarke. Rounding up the cast are Ozymandias and Tom Branson. The film is a very well made film, but it is very safe. Trust me guys, Cumberbatch is not in his full mode here, see Sherlock for more of his talent show-off. While I'm quite content with Turing's relationship with Clarke, I felt something missing between Turing and his team. Among the film reviewed in this post, The Imitation Game is the one that made the most creative decisions, making it strayed the furthest from the fact. But when you see this film, you'll love the cast, the theme by Alexandre Desplat and most of all, Keira Knightley's super strong performance. The Imitation Game: rated 3.5/4The Theory of Everything
Another Brit biopic about great men with great women behind them. Aesthetically, this film is the most pleasing among the four. It looks beautiful. It has Eddie Redmayne in his high game. Portraying Stephen Hawking is incredibly hard. Felicity Jones is also amazing as Jane Hawking. While the film doesnt delve too much on Hawking's science and achievements, it explored his personal life to its fullest. It is beautifully shot, masterfully directed by James Marsh, charged by powerful performance--especially by Eddie Redmayne's Oscar-bound performance, and ear-pleasing courtesy of Johann Johannsson's amazing score. I'd say among the four reviewed here in this post, this movie is the best. The only thing is, this film might come out too soon. The Theory of Everything: rated 4/4Unbroken
The buzz surrounding this film is wrong. It shouldn't focus on 'the second feature directed by Angelina Jolie'. The film is about one of the most amazing survival story by a person with incredible milestones in his life. The book might be more powerful, because the film focuses on the wrong part of his life. His survival story might be even more wholly amazing when told in its entirety. The film failed to made us care about Louis Zamperini's achievement. Played by the powerful rising star Jack O'Connell, Zamperini is portrayed greatly yet the story doesn't make the character that great. It is ably directed by Angelina Jolie though and beautifully shot by master cinematographer Roger Deakins. The casting is great for the exception of Miyavi as The Bird. He's so out of place here and it irritates me the most, he's not a good actor too, sorry. Unbroken: rated 3/4Next up
should be Exodus: Gods & Kings but it might not happen.
if it doesn't happen then, the next post would be Indonesia-based.
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