Song of the Week

Trying to get back into the mood of posting on my blog on a weekly basis, so here we go.

This is from the movie Synecdoche, New York. It's not a movie made for everyone because of its somber and bleak tone, but one ray of light comes at the closing credits when this song starts to play. It's just a simple song that puts me into perspective when I think of myself in the big big world we live in today. Enjoy!

Click here for more info about the album/artist

Thanks for reading and hope you have a great week!
Sam

Top 15 Movies of 2013!

Alright, I'm totally late to the party here, but I finished watching a few of the movies over 2013 and decided to put some of my favorites in a list. It was so hard to sort these movies out and determine which one was better, this was a pretty good year in movies! There still are a couple of movies that are award-worthy that I haven't watched. So forgive me and without further ado, here's my top 15 movies list for 2013!

With every movie on my list, I give a brief explanation and my 'score' for it.

15. Ernest et Célestine

This is a French-Belgian animated film (I saw the original French dub) about two animals that form an unlikely relationship with each other. I'm a fan for the hand drawn animated movies as it's not common in America anymore. The message is obvious from the start and a little repetitive but it still achieves that feeling of warmth when it's over. The English dubbed version is set to come out sometime in a few months.  PG, 1 hr. 20 min (8.5/10)

14. The Place Beyond the Pines

This is an interesting drama about a man trying to make ends meet through breaking the law, but there's certainly more to it. It also has a few different stories that eventually come together as one. This movie does a great job in showing how little it takes to make an impact on a life, even if it is not your own. It also shows how some actions can often come back to haunt us in the future. I was immensely invested in the characters and felt a wide range of emotions for them. The plot lines toward the end didn't have as much emotional grip on me as it did when it started, but it's still a good movie. R, 2 hr. 20 min (8.5/10)

13. Prisoners

This movie did a great job in making me feel the despair of having a child kidnapped, even though I'm not a father. What also stands out to me was how unconventional this movie felt compared to other movies of this genre, because there aren't any cliched or predictable moments in the movie, and that had me on the edge of my seat for most of the time. Jake Gyllenhaal's performance as the detective was strangely addictive to watch and I found myself more invested in him that in any other character in the movie. The cinematography of the movie was also great because the bleak colors in every shot really set the appropriate tone for the whole movie. Some parts of the movie do feel a little dull and I was puzzled at the relevance of some of the symbolism, even on my second viewing. Still, a good movie with great performances that will have you on the edge of your seat till the very end. R, 2 hr. 33 min (8.5/10)

12. Mud

A well done adventure-drama movie about two boys who go on an adventure with an odd person they meet on a remote island. Great performances by Tye Sheridan and Matthew McConaughey, who everyone seems to be praising these days for making one of the greatest comebacks in his acting career. There's not a lot of your typical blockbuster in this one, just a well-told story. PG-13, 2 hr. 10 min (8.75/10) 

  11. The Wolf of Wall Street

The ambitious dark comedy/drama/crime film about a prominent investment banker named Jordan Belfort and his rise and fall by Scorsese is indeed epic in proportion. DiCaprio plays the character so well and gives one of the best performances I've seen this year and in his overall career. Jonah Hill also gives it his all and delivers another Oscar nominated performance as his sidekick. It is filled with excessive nudity, profanity (broke the record for most uses of the F word in a non-documentary), and drug use that can get repetitive at times, but it all comes together to make the viewer feel engrossed in the life of Belfort. Very entertaining and interesting to discuss with others afterward. R, 2 hr. 59 min (8.9/10)

10. Nebraska

This movie is about a man in Montana who believes he's won a prize and goes with his son to claim it in, you guessed it, Nebraska. While I can't say this will interest everyone, I can say that it was an interesting character study and a surprising (dark) comedy to me. It is a little dull in the middle, but there's great character development between the father and son and that made this an interesting watch. It's also one of those movies that just does everything fairly flawlessly. R, 1 hr. 45 min (9/10)

 9. The Hunt

It's amazing what one little lie can do to a man's reputation. Denmark's Oscar-nominated movie has great acting by Mads Mikkelsen (Hannibal!), an interesting story, and a strange way of having the viewer relate to what the character is going through and empathize with him. It's also a bit of a mystery so you'll be hooked till the very last shot. R, 1 hr. 55 min (9/10)

8. Saving Mr. Banks

I was shocked when I found out that this movie has as many Oscar nominations as Jackass: Bad Grandpa. This movie was about the process of adapting the now famous Mary Poppins movie from its book. Emma Thompson, Tom Hanks give amazing performances as P.L. Travers and Walt Disney, respectively. This movie avoids being too whimsical and cliched and as a result, has many heartfelt and warm moments through its character development. You don't have to watch the original Mary Poppins movie to understand this one, but it is a plus to have a basic idea of the original plot. PG-13, 2 hr. 5 min (9/10)

7. Rush

A movie with well-paced action, interesting characters, good drama, and story is a hard find these days. Rush is a story about a rivalry that existed between two race car drivers in the 1970s. What I really like about this movie is that it isn't filled with cliches and and it really delivers in showing us the realistic emotional experience that both these racers go through. On top of that, it's exciting, suspenseful, and fun to watch! A well-rounded movie that really delivers its premise. R, 2 hr. 3 min (9/10)

6. Captain Phillips

Yet another great performance from Hanks that goes fairly unnoticed during the awards season. Captain Phillips was had me at the edge of my seat throughout because it was so realistic, gritty, and intense. Great acting, story, and suspense! PG-13, 2 hr. 14 min
(9/10)

5. 12 Years a Slave

Unlike many of the other movies on the list,  this movie isn't meant to be watched for entertainment purposes. It's essentially the black man's Schindler's List as far as the biting realism is concerned. Great performances by Ejiofor and Nyong'o, although some of the long takes in the movie are more effective than others, and the ending isn't on par with the rest of the movie. While it is a little difficult to watch, 12 Years a Slave is essential to view in order for us learn an important lesson from the past. R, 2 hr. 14 min (9/10)

 4. American Hustle 

 

  

If this movie had any plot holes or cliches, I wouldn't know because I was so engaged by all the actors' performances the entire time. An interesting plot, spectacular performances, and an interesting running gag throughout the movie made American Hustle another one of the most fun movies I watched the entire year. R, 2 hr. 18 min (9/10)

 3. Her 

 

A beautifully shot movie about an beautiful romantic relationship between man and an operating system (essentially his computer). This movie awed me with the wonder of being alive right now and having the ability to do things that we take for granted everyday. I was  in a daze after watching this movie and I had to stop and compose myself  because I was so mesmerized the entire time. The voice acting by Scarlett Johansson and Phoenix's acting was crucial to make this relationship feel real to the viewer, and I felt it every single minute I was in that world. The music is great, the futuristic production design, and bright shots are gems to look out for while watching this movie. Simply amazing. R, 2 hr. 6 min (9.25/10)

 2. Inside Llewyn Davis 

 

Is it possible to despise someone and still root for their success? I found myself asking that very question while watching this movie. What I love about this movie is that you can really feel what the character is enduring through in his life. In a way, it depicts the struggles that nearly every musician has to go through before they make big, if that ever happens at all. I'm not a fan of folk music, but the soundtrack to this movie was so brilliant that it has been stuck in my head within the first few minutes of the movie. The songs Llewyn plays is literally the soundtrack of his life, and we really feel the despair and heartbreak that he has to endure while trying to make it. 

A lot of people have also noted that the movie has no universal theme or applicable meaning (especially based on its ambiguous ending). I found it to be an interesting character study and a realistic portrayal of the life of a musician. It shows that life can be a struggle for some, even though they have good talents and intentions. R, 1 hr. 45 min (9.25/10)

 1. Gravity

 

Gravity wasn't a movie, it was an experience. It is truly one of the greatest visual masterpieces ever made in the history of film. I literally couldn't work my way through a bag of popcorn when I first watched this movie because I was captivated by the sheer beauty of its visual effects. Alfonso Cuaron's last movie, Children of Men, was one of the few Sci-fi movies that had a lot of heart in it, and Gravity is no different. Sandra Bullock's character is really a testament of the spirit of determination and courage when things get rough. It may a little dull at parts for some, but I found myself surprised at how much I felt for the character throughout the entire movie. Watch it on a big screen! PG-13, 1 hr. 31 min (9.5/10).

Some movies close to making my list:

Side Effects

Frozen

The Wolverine

Iron Man 3

Pacific Rim

The Hobbit: Desolation of Smaug

The World's End

Here's a few movies I didn't get the chance to watch this year that I've heard are good:

Dallas Buyers Club

Blue Jasmine

Short Term 12

Philomena

All is Lost

The Conjuring

Thor: The Dark World

The Way Way Back

Lee Daniels' The Butler

Fruitvale Station

So what do you think? Got a top 10/15 list yourself? Post your thoughts in the comments below. 

As always, Thanks for reading!

A Resolution

Why hello there!

It's the first day of a new year, so I figured I needed to bring some life back to my blog yet again. 2013 had its ups and downs, but I'm honestly left feeling a little overwhelmed when I think of it all. I just feel like I lost a grip on things such as friends, school, family, and so on. In 2013, I also felt very lethargic and unenthusiastic, I aspired to be successful and work hard in everything that I do but in reality I feel like I haven't made any progresses or strides in advancing myself through life.

I don't know anymore.

I think I've lost my way.

Well here's to a better 2014; a 2014 where I put all of the troubles behind me and work to become a better friend, brother, student, and overall person, a 2014 where I'm fit, focused, and ready to face what the world has in store for me.

I hope you find inspiration and strive to get on top of things in 2014 as well, no matter what you do in life.

So one of my goals for 2014 is to continue writing my blog and update it weekly (or often). I know I've tried to do this before and failed, but hey, another shot couldn't hurt, right?

Thanks for reading and I wish you a Happy New Year!

Sam 

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