Cinematic Escapes

Containing some brilliantly crafted noir-style cinematography, “The Day We Disappear” is a unique, memorable short film, the type that lingers in your mind afterwards. The synopsis is simple: a melancholy artist is out at a sushi bar and unexpectedly gets drugged. From then on, his world gets pulled out from under him, making it hard to identify what is real and what is just in his mind. As the audience, we are brought along for the ride; mesmerized by the haunting, dark images before us. And the explosive soundtrack is just icing on the cake.

Derrick Damions is sheer perfection as the lead role. His fiery, intense eyes speak volumes; even when he doesn’t. If you get a chance, “The Day We Disappear” is definitely a film to see.

IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0289914/

Whenever a film like “Mud” comes along, it reminds me why I love the movies so much. Containing a captivating performance by Matthew McConaughey, who, in recent years, has finally won me over as a “serious” actor; it also has some great natural lighting and landscape cinematography; and, finally, has one of the best coming-of-age stories to come along in a long time. “Mud” is the best film I have seen so far in 2013. [...]

“It’s about allowing people to face their inner fears to enjoy the darkness within their lives, because if they don’t enjoy the darkness, they get afraid of it later on.” So begins Mikhail Tank’s documentary “Psychological Antidotes and Soul Prescriptions,” which explains the story and origins of Darksoul Theatre. Not being immediately familiar with the subject, I found this documentary very interesting. Mikhail Tank has a storytelling manner, drawing the audience directly into his world and his life. [...]

Almost exactly a year after the premiere of “The Avengers,” “Iron Man 3″ is the latest in the highly enjoyable “Marvel Cinematic Universe” series, which, at this point, is one of the most successful series of all time. The hype for “The Avengers” last summer was almost equal to “Iron Man 3.” I was wondering how they could possibly reach the level of that last film with only one superhero, as opposed to the variety of superheroes in “The Avengers.” Yet, “Iron Man 3″ finds a way. It is a hugely entertaining, solid action film; and a great way to start off what seems to be a very promising summer for movies. [...]

Whenever I ask people if they have seen the latest Tom Cruise movie, I always hear the same response: “I don’t like Tom Cruise.” But people make this judgment almost solely because of Cruise’s controversial personal life, or maybe it is from an impression he exudes of arrogance and over-confidence in his acting abilities. But just look back at the last 25 years, and of the many great films that Cruise has been a part of: the Mission Impossible series, Top Gun, Rain Man, A Few Good Men, Magnolia, Born on the Fourth of July, Risky Business, Eyes Wide Shut, Jerry Maguire, Minority Report; just to name a few. When Cruise chooses a movie, he usually chooses well. “Oblivion” is no exception. While perhaps not at the top of the list of Cruise’s best, it succeeds as a solid, entertaining sci-fi flick all the same. [...]

“The Place Beyond The Pines” is a story of families; of life in an urban town; of the choices of parents; and how one incident can change the course of a family’s life forever. It is an expertly crafted film that will appeal to true “movie buffs,” although it may not be as enjoyable to general audiences. As only the second feature film from director Derek Cianfrance; it shows true potential for someone that I predict will be a major figure in the growing world of young directors. [...]

Sam Raimi’s “The Evil Dead” is often cited as one of the most endearing classic horror films of all time. Made with a very low budget, when Raimi himself was only 22 years old, the film is uniquely styled, with a touch of humor mixed into horror and gore. It was just a matter of time before a remake was made, and this time it is just simply titled “Evil Dead.” While this new rendition may lack the “charm” of the original, and, in numerous scenes may make you uncontrollably cringe in disgust, it manages to somehow entertain as well.

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“Oz the Great and Powerful,” a prequel to the original “Wizard of Oz” movie, may not quite reach the level that the name implies. The experience is more like a carnival adventure ride than a film on its own. Though the CGI-infused effects may envelop the film with vibrant colors and beauty, it doesn’t quite make up for the awkward performances, poor storyline, and overall blandness. The movie has potential; and, in fact, may be worth a viewing just for the eye-popping 3D experience. But, in the end, “Oz” falls short.
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“The Perks of Being a Wallflower” is, from the outside, your classic coming-of-age tale. Yet, in contrast to the majority of these films, it does not fall victim to an overly dramatic portrayal of teenage angst, or of alienated cliches. Based on a novel that has gained a considerable cult following, the film is unusually written for the screen and directed by the author of the book, Stephen Chbosky. Perhaps still meant for younger generations, the film also echoes more sophisticated themes; easily identifiable even to adults. [...]

With the Oscars coming up today, it seemed like the right time to give my Academy Award predictions for this year. I have excluded a few categories, including the documentary category, and the categories for shorts, since I have not seen many of these films, and did not feel I could make an accurate prediction. These predictions come not from what I feel should win, but from what I feel the Academy is going to pick, based a lot on the buzz I have read online from movie sites and movie critics. [...]