Take Me Out to the Ball Game

"How many times have I told you to pick on somebody your size?"

"There ain't nobody my size."

Denny Ryan (Sinatra) and Eddie O'Brien (Kelly) are baseball players for the Wolves and vaudeville performers.  As they prepare for the upcoming season, the they learn that team has a new owner: K.C. Higgins (Williams).  The team is shocked to learn that K.C. is a woman, and even more surprised when she knows what she's talking about.  She also asks the coaches, Michael Gilhuly (Lane) and Slappy Burke (Dugan), to enforce the strict curfew rules, which cramps O'Brien's social life.

O'Brien and K.C. butt heads on every occasions.  Ryan is smitten with K.C. and believes she is the one.  Ryan is pursued by an obsessive fan, Shirley Delwyn (Garrett).  The season begins with a victory, thanks to the fielding dream team of O'Brien, Ryan, and Nat Goldberg (Munshin).  But their victories attract the wrong kind of attention.  Can the team stick together to win it all?


This is the second of three film collaboration between Gene Kelly and Frank Sinatra: Anchors Aweigh in 1945 and On the Town in 1949.  Several cast members from this film also appeared in On the Town: Sinatra, Kelly, Betty Garrett, and Jules Munshin.  This film capitalized on the success of Kelly and Sinatra.

Sinatra received top billing in the film.  He also gets the most songs.  He works well with Kelly, who does most of the dancing.  Sinatra and Garrett have great chemistry and are entertaining, which is probably why they were paired together again in On the Town.  Sinatra, Garrett, and Kelly each get a character defining solo number.  Despite getting second billing, Esther Williams does not have a solo.  She sings a shortened reprise of the title number while swimming, but it isn't a big number like her costars.  She did not enjoy making the film, which she specifically recounts in her autobiography.

The film is entertaining with some good songs.  Ultimately it was upstaged by On the Town a few months later.

Take Me Out to the Ball Game (1949) 93 minutes
Director: Busby Berkeley
Starring: Frank Sinatra as Denny Ryan
Esther Williams as K.C. Higgins
Gene Kelly as Eddie O'Brien
Betty Garrett as Shirley Delwyn
Jules Munshin as Nat Goldberg
Edward Arnold as Joe Lorgan
Richard Lane as Michael Gilhuly
Tom Dugan as Slappy Burke

Let's Dance (1950)

During the war, Kitty McNeil (Hutton) and Don Elwood (Astaire) were dancing partners for the USO.  Years later, Kitty is a widow with a young son, Richie (Moffett).  Her late husband's grandmother Serena (Watson) does not approve of Kitty or has big plans for the way her great-grandson will be raised.  Kitty objects and runs away with Richie.

She runs into Don, who is working at a local nightclub while trying to make it big in the financial world.  He gets her a job at the nightclub as a cigarette girl, while the other employees help her care for Richie.  When Serena's lawyers, Edmund Pohlwistle (Young) and Charles Wagstaffe (Cooper), find Kitty, they take her court to find out who will be allowed to raise Richie.


I discovered this film on AmazonPrime and decided to give it a try.  It's no easy task upstaging Fred Astaire, but Betty Hutton manages to do that in this film.  Hutton brings a joy and enthusiasm to the film.  She is the lead character and carries the film with easy, while belting out songs and dancing with Astaire.  Astaire is a more polished dancer than Hutton, but she still tackles each dance with gusto.

The cast is fun.  Roland Young and Melville Cooper work well together and get the most laughs as the lawyers.  Hutton and Astaire have good chemistry.  The songs are terrible and unmemorable, but the dancing is excellent and the story is entertaining.

Let's Dance (1950) 112 minutes
Director: Norman McLeod
Starring: Betty Hutton as Kitty McNeil
Fred Astaire as Don Elwood
Roland Young as Edmund Pohlwistle
Ruth Warrick as Carola Everett
Lucile Watson as Serena Everett
Gregory Moffett as Richie Everett
Barton MacLane as Larry Channock
Shepperd Strudwick as Timothy Bryant
Melville Cooper as Charles Wagstaffe
Harold Huber as Marcel

It's Always Fair Weather

"Somebody stole my mustache. Fielding, I want that mustache returned, every hair in place."

Ted Riley (Kelly), Dough Hallerton (Dailey), and Angie Valentine (Kidd) are best friends and army buddies.  When WWII ends, they gather at Tim's (Burns) Bar to enjoy a last drink together.  They make a wager with Tim that in 10 years they will reunite at the bar and be able to pick up their friendship where they left it.

Ted abandons his dream of becoming a lawyer and is now a gambler and boxing promoter with shady connections.  Doug wanted to be an artist, but is an advertising executive on the verge of a divorce.  Angie planned to be a gourmet chef, but runs a burger joint and has a family.  They all make the reunion, but are disgusted with each other and go their separate ways.  In the process, Ted catches the eye of Jackie Leighton (Charisse), who wants to feature the men on Madeline Bradville's (Gray) TV show.


I discovered this film while checking out musicals on Netflix.  I enjoy Gene Kelly's dancing and Stanley Donen's films, and was excited to see the film debut of choreographer Michael Kidd, so I decided to give this film a chance.  Unlike many of the musicals of it's time, this film takes a more realistic approach to the story... the main characters are not happy for the majority of the film.

The film was written by Betty Comden and Adolph Green, the writing duo behind On the Town and Singin' in the Rain (among others), and was originally conceived as a sequel to On the Town.  They mentioned the idea to Kelly, who wanted them to make it a movie instead of a Broadway show.  Ultimately the film went in a different direction, focusing on Army buddies.

The film features some incredible dances.  The three male leads are talented dancers and really shine in the "The Binge" and "Once Upon A Time" sequences.  All three were supposed to have a song and dance of their own, but ultimately Kidd's number was cut from the final film (although it does appear as a Deleted Scene on the DVD).  Dan Dailey gets "Situation-Wise", which is funny.  And Kelly dances on roller skates.

The film also features 2 incredibly talented actresses.  Cyd Charisse is a phenomenal dancer, and although she doesn't dance with any of her co-stars, she gets the big "Baby You Knock Me Out" number with the boxers, which plays up her talents.  Dolores Gray is incredible.  She did not have a long film career, which is a shame, but she impresses here and in Kismet where she is paired with Howard Keel.  She is incredibly talented.  I love her "Thanks But No Thanks" (see below).  Her role is satirical and over the top, and she steals the show.

This film is considered one of the last classic musicals.  It was good and had some great moments, but I understand why it isn't as well liked as other musicals made by these talented folks.  Worth checking out.

It's Always Fair Weather (1955) 101 minutes
Director: Stanley Donen & Gene Kelly
Starring: Gene Kelly as Ted Riley
Dan Dailey as Doug Hallerton
Cyd Charisse as Jackie Leighton
Dolores Gray as Madeline Bradville
Michael Kidd as Angie Valentine
David Burns as Tim

Oscar Picks 2015

It's time to predict the outcome of the 2015 Oscars.  This is my 9th year of predictions!  Last year I saw 13 of the nominated film, and correctly predicted 6 of 8 categories (I don't predict all of them).  This year I saw 13 films (for the full list of nominees, go to the Academy Awards website):

Begin Again
Birdman
The Boxtrolls
Captain America: The Winter Soldier
Finding Vivian Maier
The Grand Budapest Hotel
Guardians of the Galaxy
How to Train Your Dragon 2
Ida

Into the Woods

The Lego Movie
The Tale of the Princess Kaguya
Virunga

Begin Again is nominated for Best Song.
Captain America: The Winter Soldier is nominated for Best Visual Effects
Guardians of the Galaxy is nominated for Best Makeup and Hairstyling & Best Visual Effects
Ida is nominated for Best Foreign Language Film (from Poland)
The Lego Movie is nominated for Best Song


Alright, let's get to the main event:


Best Supporting Actor

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

...who will win... J.K. Simmons

...who should win... J.K. Simmons

J.K. Simmons has won pretty much every award this season for his performance in Whiplash.  I haven't see the film at this point, but he is definitely the front runner in this category.  I enjoyed Edward Norton's performance in Birdman, but I don't think he will upset Simmons.  The rest seem tied, so I feel confident with Simmons as the victor.

Best Supporting Actress

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

...who will win... Patricia Arquette or Meryl Streep

...who should win... Patricia Arquette

Patrica Arquette seems to be the frontrunner, but the Academy loves Meryl Streep so I wouldn't be surprised to see her win.  I give the edge to Arquette.  I love Keira Knightley, but I don't think this is her year... and I don't think Laura Dern or Emma Stone stand a chance.

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 win...Eddie Redmayne or Michael Keaton

...who should win... Michael Keaton

This category is a little harder to predict.  The Theory of Everything, which I do not intend to see, seems like the kind of performance that the Academy will award, so I give an edge to Eddie Redmayne.  However, I really enjoyed Michael Keaton in Birdman and he has won multiple awards for the part.  It could go either way...  Steve Carell's award is this nomination, Bradley Cooper's film is continually in the news but that won't help him here (it probably hurts him), and while people love Benedict Cumberbatch this isn't his year.

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 win... Julianne Moore

...who should win... Julianna Moore

I haven't see any of these films...  But I am most interested in Still Alice and Julianne Moore's performance.  Marion Cotillard and Reese Witherspoon are past winners, and I'm sure their films are great... but I'm still calling it for Moore.

Best Director

*Alexandro G. Inarritu, Birdman
Richard Linklater, Boyhood
Bennett Miller, Foxcatcher
Wes Anderson, The Grand Budapest Hotel
Morten Tyldum, The Imitation Game

...who will win... Richard Linklater

...who should win...Richard Linklater or Alexandro Inarritu

I loved The Grand Budapest Hotel, but it wasn't as technically astounding as Birdman and Boyhood.  Both films required serious planning and vision.  I think Richard Linklater will win for his 12 year labor or love, Alexandro Inarritu could easily upset this, but I think Birdman will be rewarded with Best Picture and Linklater will win here.

Best Animated Film

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

...who will win... Big Hero 6

...who should win... Big Hero 6

I still haven't see it yet, but I always vote Disney, so I give the win to Big Hero 6.  I still can't believe that The Lego Movie wasn't nominated here.  I liked The Boxtrolls, but it won't win.  Song of the Sea and The Tale of the Princess Kaguya are too obscure (although both excellent).  How to Train Your Dragon 2 was good, but it's a sequel... so I give the win to Big Hero 6.

Best Documentary 

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

...who will win... Citizenfour

...who should win... Virunga

I assume Citizenfour will win.  I have absolutely no desire to see it (or Last Days in Vietnam), but based on the subject matter and the general popularity of this film, it will probably win.  I would prefer to see Virunga win.  It was a strong documentary that is relevant and moving.  I don't know if it will win, but that would be my preference.

Best Picture

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

...who will win... Birdman

...who should win... Birdman or Boyhood

As I said in the Best Director section, I think Birdman will win this category.  It is an excellent film, with lots of vision and great performances.  I think it has the edge to win.  The only film that could upstage it is Boyhood, which is another film that required vision.  I think Boyhood will win for director, so that Birdman can win here.

I would like "Feast" (pictured above) to win Best Animated Short, because it is adorable and moving (and Disney, and made by the people that made the Paperman short film).  I would also like to see "Everything Is Awesome" from The Lego Movie win Best Original Song, because the song is infectious (and because the film was not nominated for Best Animated Film)... but I don't know enough about the other contenders in either category to officially call them the winners.


*Edit: 7/8
I enjoyed Neil Patrick Harris as host (loved him hosting the Emmy's and Tony's previously).  I didn't make it through the entire show, but what I saw was good.  I was glad to see the only Foreign Language Film that I was able to watch / find, Ida, was the winner in that category.  Happy to see Feast take home the prize.  I enjoyed the performance of "Everything Is Awesome", but was satisfied with "Glory" winning.

Birdman

"I'm nothing. I'm not even here."

Riggan Thomson (Keaton) is an out-of-work Hollywood actor.  He is best remembered as the star of the popular Birdman action superhero franchise decades ago.  He is looking for redemption on Broadway.  He is the star, writer, and director of the play, based on Raymond Carver's "What We Talk About When We Talk About Love."  The play is being produced by his best friend and lawyer Jake (Galifianakis), and is draining Riggan's personal finances.

Riggan is tormented by the voice of Birdman mocking his decisions.  He also has to deal with contentious costars.  After his original costar was injured on set, he hires Broadway star Mike Shiner (Norton).  Mike is a brilliant actor, but wants everything to be realistic which includes ignoring the wishes of his costars.  Riggan's girlfriend Laura (Riseborough) and Broadway newbie Lesley (Watts) round out the plays main characters.  And Riggan's daughter Sam (Stone), fresh out of her stint in rehab, is serving as his assistant.  With theater critic Tabitha Dickinson (Duncan) gunning for the show, can they make it to opening night?


This film has garnered significant buzz over the last few months.  It is nominated for 9 Oscars (Best Actor, Best Supporting Actor, Best Supporting Actress, Best Original Screenplay, Best Cinematography, Best Sound Mixing, Best Sound Mixing, Best Director, and Best Picture) and has won numerous other awards.

Director Alejandro Inarritu, who also co-wrote the screenplay, made some impressive technical choices on the film.  It is filmed to look like one continuous shot, which required intricate planning for every scene.  The actors were required to know 15 pages of dialog and blocking to keep the number of cuts to a minimum.  The story also makes use of magical realism, where Riggan has supernatural abilities.  The film is very fascinating from a technical perspective.

The story is unique and interesting.  It is funny (dark comedy) and has fun with the reputations / public persona's of the cast and the film industry.  Michael Keaton, like his character Riggan, was the star of a popular superhero franchise (Batman) and then walked away.  Edward Norton and Mike have reputations for being difficult to work with.  There are other insider jokes about theater.

The cast is great and a great fit for their characters.  Keaton is perfect as Riggan.  Zach Galifianakis plays against type, and it works so well.  The score is mostly percussion pieces, which were written and performed by Antonio Sanchez.  It is a smart choice to focus on the drums, which add so much to the film and add to the intensity of the scenes.

A strong, interesting film, worth all the hype / accolades.

Birdman (2014) 119 minutes
Rating: R for language throughout, some sexual content and brief violence
Director: Alejandro Inarritu
Starring: Michael Keaton as Riggan Thomson
Edward Norton as Mike Shiner
Emma Stone as Sam Thomson
Naomi Watts as Lesley
Zach Galifianakis as Jake
Andrea Riseborough as Laura
Amy Ryn as Sylvia Thomson
Lindsay Duncan as Tabitha Dickinson

The Tale of the Princess Kaguya

The Bamboo Cutter (Caan) sees a glowing bamboo stalk and finds a tiny girl.  He takes her home to his Wife (Steenburgen) and they are astonished as the girl grows into a baby and begins rapidly aging.  They name her Princess (Moretz).  Princess quickly befriends the local boys and grows especially close to Sutemaru (Criss).  Worried that she is becoming too wild, her parents move her to a palace in the city.

In the city, Lady Sagami (Liu) teaches her to be a refined lady.  She charms everyone she encounters, and soon suitors line the streets to win her hand.  All she wants to do is run through fields, can she avoid her fate?


I watched this film because it is nominated for an Oscar for Best Animated film.  I had previously heard about the film through other film blogs.  I am not too familiar with the animation of Studio Ghibli, who produced this film: this is my second film, the first being Princess Mononoke.

It is a beautiful film.  The animation is stunning, especially towards the end of the film.  And the story is interesting, although it does take a little to get into it, and some parts seemed to drag along.

I watched the English dubbed version, featuring the cast below.  The cast was good and didn't take away from the film.

I don't know enough about animation, or about the style, or about the Studio Ghibli films... and while this film is good, it doesn't spur me to find out more about any of these.


The Tale of the Princess Kaguya (2013) 137 minutes
Director: Isao Takahata
Starring: Chole Grace Moretz as Princess Kaguya
James Caan as The Bamboo Cutter
Mary Steenburgen as The Bamboo Cutter's Wife / Narrator
Darren Criss as Sutemaru
Lucy Liu as Lady Sagami
Beau Bridges as Prince Kuramochi
James Marsden as Prince Ishitsukuri
Oliver Platt as Lord Minister of the Right Abe
Hynden Walch as Me no Warawa
Dean Cain as The Mikado
Daniel Dae Kim as Grand Counselor Otomo
George Segal as Inbe no Akita
John Cho as Middle Counselor Isonokami

The Boxtrolls

"We're exterminators! Of justice!"
"We exterminate justice!"

The people of the town of Cheesebridge live in fear of the monstrous Boxtrolls that terrorize their town by night.  Archibald Snatcher (Kingsley) is on a mission to rid the town of the Boxtrolls and patrols the streets at night to round up and dispose of any creature found.  He is joined by his red hatted henchmen: philosophical Mr. Trout (Frost), confused Mr. Pickles (Ayoade), and sociopath Mr. Gristle (Morgan).

However, the Boxtrolls are peaceful creatures.  They live under the city and venture out at night to take gadgets from the trash and build things.  Their youngest member is named Eggs (Hempstead Wright), a boy they raised as one of their own.  As the Boxtrolls numbers dwindle, Eggs ventures to the surface during the day where he meets feisty Winnie Portley-Rind (Fanning).  Can Eggs save his friends and the town from Snatcher?

This film is based on the novel Here Be Monsters by Alan Snow.  The filmmakers chose to bring the story to life using 3D stop-motion animation, like the previous films made by Laika: Coraline and ParaNorman.

I liked the voice cast, but I didn't love the look of the film.  The Boxtrolls are cute and endearing, but I don't love the look of the rest of the characters / film.  That being said, the animation team needs to be commended for their attention to detail and all of the work that goes into making a stop-motion film look as smooth.

The best characters, besides the Boxtrolls, are the henchmen.  Nick Frost and Richard Ayoade, who I already love for being British and from their TV roles on Spaced and The IT Crowd respectively, are great as the conflicted Mr. Trout and Mr. Pickles.  Their conversation at the end of the film is hilarious.  And Tracy Morgan is the perfect person to round out the henchmen.  He doesn't say as much, but his Mr. Gristle is equally memorable.  Ben Kingsley is a great choice as the villain, a role he tackles with gusto.  Isaac Hempstead Wright and Elle Fanning carry the film well.

A decent film.

The Boxtrolls (2014) 96 minutes
Director: Graham Annable & Anthony Stacchi
Starring: Ben Kingsley as Archibald Snatcher
Isaac Hempstead Wright as Eggs
Elle Fanning as Winnie Portley-Rind
Nick Frost as Mr. Trout
Richard Ayoade as Mr. Pickles
Tracy Morgan as Mr. Gristle
Jared Harris as Lord Portley-Rind
Simon Pegg as Herbert Trubshaw
Dee Bradley Baker as Fish / Wheels / Bucket
Steve Blum as Shoe / Sparky

Life of Crime

Louis Gara (Hawkes) and Ordell Robbie (Bey) are low level ex-cons in need of cash.  Through their connections they learn that real-estate developer Frank Dawson (Robbins) has a sizable fortune in off-shore accounts.  They set a plan in motion to kidnap his socialite wife Mickey (Aniston) and get a hefty ransom for her return.

However, nothing goes according to plans.  Their kidnapping is interrupted by family friend Marshall (Forte), who wants to have an affair with Mickey.  Meanwhile, Frank is in the Bahamas with his mistress Melanie (Fischer) and doesn't want to pay the ransom.


This film is based on Leonard Elmore's 1978 novel "The Switch."  Elmore revisited the main characters again in his 1992 novel "Rum Punch" which was adapted by Quentin Tarantino into the film Jackie Brown.  The films are not canon with each other, so the characters that appear in both films are not necessarily meant to be exact copies of each other.  I've never seen Jackie Brown, or read Elmore's novel, but due to the high caliber of the main cast, decided to give the film a chance.

The plot is similar to Ruthless People, which is a knock-off of Elmore's novel, and is more comedy based than this film.  I enjoyed this film.  The story is interesting and keeps you guessing (love the twist at the end).  The cast is great.  Yasiin Bey (also known as Mos Def) and John Hawkes are great as the criminals.  Both are charismatic and command the screen.  Jennifer Aniston is a good choice for Mickey and does well with the material.  I enjoy seeing Will Forte in dramatic roles, and his character provides some of the comedy of the film.  Isla Fischer is conniving as Melanie and has great chemistry with Bey and Tim Robbins.

A good film that makes me want to read the original source material, and it's sequel, and watch Jackie Brown and Ruthless People.

Life of Crime (2013) 98 minutes
Rating: R for language, some sexual content and violence
Director: Daniel Schechter
Starring: Jennifer Aniston as Mickey Dawson
Yasiin Bey as Ordell Robbie
John Hawkes as Louis Gara
Isla Fischer as Melanie
Will Forte as Marshall Tyler
Mark Boone Junior as Richard Monk
Tim Robbins as Frank Dawson

Begin Again

"You can tell a lot about a person by what's on their playlist."
"I know you can. That's what's worrying me."

Dan (Ruffalo) is a record label executive who has fallen on hard times.  He is estranged from his wife Miriam (Keener) and barely knows his daughter Violet (Steinfeld).  And he was just fired by his business partner Saul (Def).  Feeling hopeless, he stumbles into a bar where he hears Gretta (Knightley) perform.  He is inspired and he offers to get her a record deal, but Saul is underwhelmed and turns them away.

Gretta recently broke up with boyfriend / songwriting partner Dave (Levine).  They moved to New York months ago when he received a major recording deal, and then he had an affair.  Gretta is living with her best friend Steve (Corden), a struggling musician.  Gretta and Dan decide to produce her album on their own, as a live album recorded all over the city.  Can the music save them both?


The spiritual successor to 2007s Once.  The comparisons to Once make sense, as they were both directed by John Carney and featured strong music.  The song "Lost Stars" from this film is nominated for the Academy Award for Best Original Song.  All of the songs are beautiful, but "Lost Stars" is definitely the showpiece.  I also like "A Step You Can't Take Back Again," which recurs throughout the film.

Mark Ruffalo is an excellent lead, rapidly becoming more likeable and endearing as the film progresses.  Keira Knightley works well with him and has a nice singing voice (she even learned to play guitar for the part).  Most of the songs are performed by Knightley or Adam Levine, lead singer of Maroon 5.  This is Levine's film debut, and he does well in his part.  James Corden is loveable as Steve.  Carney made solid choices for all of his leads, who fit nicely into their roles and deliver memorable performances.

The music is the real star of the show, and it does not disappoint.  A sweet film that will having you humming for days.

Begin Again (2013) 104 minutes
Rating: R for language
Director: John Carney
Starring: Keira Knightley as Gretta
Mark Ruffalo as Dan
Adam Levine as Dave
Catherine Keener as Miriam
Hailee Steinfeld as Violet
James Corden as SteveCeeLo Green as Troublegum
Mos Def as Saul

The Hunters (2013)

The Flynn's are not a typical family.  Parents Carter (Payne) and Jordyn (Forbes) are part of an ancient group called Hunters that protect the world from magical artifacts.  They keep this information a secret from their sons.  They are betrayed while on a mission and presumed dead.  Their sons Paxton (Amell) and Tripp (Tracey) learn the truth about their parents from Paxton's ex Dylan (Vega) who is also a Hunter.

The Flynn's were seeking a mirror shard, belonging to a magical mirror (the mirror has 4 missing shards).  Another group is looking for the shards and the rest of the mirror, to use the power for their own nefarious purposes.  Paxton, Tripp, and Dylan team up to find the shards and rescue their parents.


I discovered this film on my Netflix recommendations and decided to give it a try.  I went in without expectations and was pleasantly surprised.  Apparently the story is based on a a graphic novel by Joshua Williamson.  It was a TV movie, produced by Walden Media and debuted on the Hallmark channel.

The story reminded me of TNTs The Librarian film trilogy and The Librarians TV show.  It is also similar to SyFys Warehouse 13, a more serious version.  All of these examples tell stories of modern people protecting the world from artifacts / items that have special powers and inspired legends / myths / fairytales etc.  I am a fan of all of these and found the film to be quite enjoyable.  It takes a more serious approach to the concept.

The film ends with the possibility of a sequel.  If all of the original cast returned, I would love to see a sequel.

The Hunters (2013) 85 minutes
Director: Nisha Ganatra
Starring: Robbie Amell as Paxton Flynn
Alexa Vega as Dylan Savini
Keenan Tracey as Tripp Flynn
Michelle Forbes as Jordyn Flynn
Victor Garber as Mason Fuller
Kira Clavell as Mai
Dan Payne as Carter Flynn

Finding Vivian Maier

John Maloof purchased a box of negatives at a flea market.  Two years later he started developing the photographs and was impressed with he found.  Knowing only the photographer's name, Vivian Maier, he was curious about her body of work.  He started scanning the negatives and uploading them to a Flickr account, which garnered a great deal of interest.

He soon discovered that Maier had recently died and was given access to her storage unit.  The unit was filled with thousands of undeveloped photographs and packed with boxes of trinkets from her life; she was a pack rat that never got rid of anything.  Maier worked as a nanny for decades, always with a camera around her neck.  Interviews with the families she worked for, revealed that she was an extremely private person with a unique perspective on the world.


I first heard about this film when it was nominated for Best Documentary Feature for the 2015 Academy Awards.  In my effort to watch as many nominees as possible, I added it to my Netflix queue and was delighted to cross another film off my list.  It is an interesting subject, trying to figure out who a person was based on their body of work, the possessions left behind, and the people that were in their lives.

I don't know anything about photography, but you can't help but feel something when her photographs appear on the screen.  She saw something interesting in people and captured it.  Is it important to know the photographer to appreciate the photographs?  Probably not, but I understand John Maloof's desire to know more about Virginia Maier.

The interviews show a private woman, who never really let anyone in.  People saw different sides to her, and not all of their memories are positive.  She may have suffered from a mental illness... these are little tidbits that show more about the woman, but don't change the quality and fascination of her work.  Everyone agrees that she would not enjoy the publicity and definitely would not like that Maloof and Charlie Siskel investigated her life.

At the end of the day, we will never know why she didn't show her work... but now it is on display across the country (and in France) for millions of people to see and appreciate.

Finding Vivian Maier (2013) 83 minutes
Director: John Maloof & Charlie Siskel

Grassroots

In 2001, journalist Phil Campbell (Biggs) just lost his job.  While he decides what to do next, he agrees to help his eccentric best friend Grant Cogswell (Moore) run for a seat on the Seattle City Council.  Grant is frustrated by the incumbent, Richard McIver (Entertainer), who has held the position for 15 years.  Grant has no political background, but is passionate.  He wants the city to extend it's monorail system and do away with the frustrating highway and other transportation that causes more congestion and annoyance.

Even though the odds are against them and Phil's girlfriend Emily (Ambrose) thinks they are crazy, they sue the city and start a campaign.  Grant's passion attracts the attention of college students and misfits, and with a little advice from political reporter Jim Tripp (McDonald) they start to gain some ground.  McIver has more money and supporters, but can Grant and Phil and their grassroots campaign actually win?


I discovered this film on Netflix instant streaming and thought it looked interesting.  Apparently it is based on the book "Zioncheck for President", about the 2001 city council campaign for Grant Cogswell.  I don't know much about politics (and don't care to change that) and I had never heard of the book.  That being said, the film is interesting.  The film has a rocky start and takes a bit for you to care about the characters and their story.  As the story picks up speed, it draws you in.

Joel David Moore excels at playing eccentric characters.  He fully embodies the character, and you truly believe that he would wear a polar bear costume in public (and to a city council meeting if elected).  He works well with Jason Biggs, who anchors the film well.  They are surrounded by a great cast of supporting characters.  Cedric the Entertainer is charismatic as Richard McIver and incredibly likeable.  Before the end credits pictures of the main cast members morph into their real life counter part along with a brief bio about what happened in their lives after the campaign.

It is an indie film that didn't garner much attention and probably never will.  It has a good cast and funny moments, but it won't appeal to everyone.  It was enjoyable, but I don't intend to watch it again.

Grassroots (2012) 98 minutes
Rating: R for pervasive language and brief drug use
Director: Stephen Gyllenhaal
Starring: Jason Biggs as Phil Campbell
Joel David Moore as Grant Cogswell
Lauren Ambrose as Emily Bowen
Cobie Smulders as Clair
Cedric the Entertainer as Richard McIver
D.C. Pierson as Wayne
Emily Bergl as Theresa
Chistopher McDonald as Jim Tripp
Tom Arnold as Tommy