A Dynamite STEVE JOBS Overcomes Its Well-Tread Subject (Review)

I am a big fan of Danny Boyle. He's a director who utilizes the tools of the cinema to great effect. His films, including Trainspotting, Slumdog Millionaire, and my personal favorite 127 Hours feature breakneck editing, split screens and hyper blocking to make films breathe and jump off the screen. A collaboration with Oscar winning writer Aaron Sorkin, famous for his talky, quippy scripts, feels odd but interesting. And then factor in the subject of this movie--a biopic about the Apple billionaire/traitor/punk/genius Steve Jobs, and the film is sure to be a firecracker.

Steve Jobs is one of many films, both narrative and documentary, to tell the story of Steve Jobs but it's claiming to be the definitive one. That's perhaps because of the pedigree both behind and in front of the camera. The film stars Oscar nominee Michael Fassbender (12 Years a Slave), Oscar winner Kate Winslet (The Reader), Seth Rogen (Neighbors), Jeff Daniels (The Martian), Katherine Waterston (Inherent Vice), Michael Stuhlbarg (Boardwalk Empire) and Perla Haney-Jardine (Spider-Man 3). The film is based on the biography of the same name by Walter Isaacson. The cinematography was done by Alwin H. Kuchler (Hanna), with editing by Elliot Graham (Milk) and a score by Daniel Pemberton (The Man from U.N.C.L.E.).

ROOM: A Horrific Story Told Humanly (Review)

Every now and then, we hear stories about people in horrific situations. These stories are sensationalized and repeated throughout the media and online. Some people obsess over the grim details, some over the legal effects, and some over the medical parts. The people involved in these situations are mere names, forever associated with "what took place." What gets forgotten is that these victims, these survivors, are people too. Humans who have to carry their baggage with them, and figure out a way to survive the burden.

Room, the new film from Lenny Abrahamson (Frank), tells the story of Joy Newsome, played by Brie Larson (Short Term 12, 21 Jump Street). Joy was held captive for seven years in a woodshed by a serial rapist. She has a five year old son Jack (Jacob Tremblay), whom she raises to believe that their Room is the entire world. The TV people are fake, and right outside the shed is outer space. When Joy finds out that her captor (Sean Bridgers) is out of a job and might kill them, she hatches a dangerous plan to escape.

Will 'The Martian' Get Any Love from the Oscars?

In a just world, here are the Oscar nominations The Martian would get:
Best Picture
Best Actor - Matt Damon
Best Supporting Actor - Chiwetel Ejiofor
Best Director
Best Adapted Screenplay
Best Editing
Best Cinematography
and why not, Best Original Score

In reality, I'm not sure if any of these things will happen. The Oscars are notorious for ignoring genre movies these days and for being extremely fickle and forgetful. On paper, The Martian feels very Oscar friendly, and not in a bad way either. The film is a box office success ($320 million worldwide and counting) and critically acclaimed (93% on Rotten Tomatoes). Director Ridley Scott is a veteran and the cast is stacked with name actors and promising up-and-comers. From all angles, The Martian feels like it could be a genuine Oscar and audience hit. But for some reason, I feel like it could be left out during the arduous Oscar race.

20 Years Ago, 'Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge' Defined a Generation

I have specific memories of seeing Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge in the theater. I remember seeing many of its iconic moments on the big screen. The film has been playing at the Maratha Mandhir in India since it premiered in 1995. The film swept the awards, was a major financial success and created stars out of young actors and seasoned veterans. DDLJ is one of the most iconic, influential and indelible films in Bollywood history.

The Shah Rukh Khan we know today--that's from DDLJ. Kajol became a household name, Amrish Puri, Farida Jalal, Himani Shivpuri and Anupam Kher found new lives to their careers. The soundtrack of the film is not only classic but each song became its own archetype; the template created by the film still lives on today. For a while I wondered why DDLJ became such a sensation both in India and abroad. And I think I have my answer.