Movie Review: Boyhood [2014]

Richard Linklater started a project in between the "before" series that most of directors are either incapable, or have no patience to do. He decided to film a life of one family, in particular a member of this family Mason [Ellar Coltrane] through 12 years until his young adulthood. More amazingly, he did not change any of actors, instead filmed different scenes of movie year by year, so that every actor grew old naturally in the film. The concept of Boyhood is similar to Linklater's acknowledged trilogy which also follows a couple through 18 years, visiting them in every 9 years. Here, instead, film is done as a one [damn] long story skipping from year to year and transforming to a later periods quite quickly. Having brought an impressive cast of Patricia Arquette, Ethan Hawke, and his own daughter Lorelei Linklater, Richard created an realistic journey with Mason, his sister Samantha and mom.

First, we are introduced to this small family of three, where mother [Arquette] is divorced and still tries to partner with the guy taking care of her children. This unsuccessful attempt results in those three departing to another city to make it work better. The next guy turns out to be tyrant, beating his wife and abusing children. So, this story also has no happy ending. While they are struggling, kids' father and ex-husband of Patricia's character - Ethan Hawke - is living his life, seeing children on weekends and holidays and doing the best of him to be a dad. 

Film feels extremely natural, as if you are looking at real life of real people. The fact that actors grow up, get old and progress through one movie and you know that this is not fake, makeup or special effects, just aggravates sense of reality. On the other hand, it sometimes gets as boring as the lives of others [and ours too]. Regardless all the good stuff I'm gonna say below, Boyhood sometimes felt a little long [it's 165 minutes] and hard to follow.

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Movie Review: Guardians of the Galaxy [2014]

I can only imagine how much hard work it took for Vin Diesel to films this.

If someone had ever told me that I'd love any film by James Gunn, I'd have laughed at his or her face, because last year Gunn managed to write for the trashiest movie with the most brilliant cast - Movie 43. To the contrary, Guardians of the Galaxy is probably one of the best superhero movies ever made for its decent, very nice humor, outstandingly good cast and catchy story. I believe very shortly, all superhero movies will pretty much look like each other, unless someone makes even a little difference. In this case, making action movie comedy was such a thing. I know, you can name other "funny" pictures from the genre, but come on, this was more than just funny.

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Emmys Winners

The winners of 66th Emmy awards are:

Outstanding Drama Series:
Breaking Bad

Outstanding Comedy Series:
Modern Family

Directing Drama Series:

Directing Comedy Series:
 "Las Vegas" Modern Family

Lead Actor, Drama Series:
Bryan Cranston, Breaking Bad

Lead Actress, Drama Series:
Julianna Margulies, The Good Wife

Supporting Actor, Drama Series:
Aaron Paul, Breaking Bad

Supporting Actress Drama Series:
Anna Gunn, Breaking Bad

Lead Actor, Comedy Series:
Jim Parsons, The Big Bang Theory

Lead Actress, Comedy Series:
Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Veep 

Supporting Actress, Comedy Series:
Allison Janney, Mom 

Supporting Actor, Comedy Series:
Ty Burrell, Modern Family

Writing, Drama Series:
Ozymandias, Breaking Bad

Writing, Comedy Series:
"So Did The Fat Lady" Louis

Guest Actor, Drama Series:
Joe Morton, Scandal

Guest Actress, Drama Series:
Allison Janney, Masters of Sex

Guest Actor, Comedy Series:
Jimmy Fallon, SNL

Guest Actress, Comedy Series:
Uzo Abuda, Orange is the New Black

Outstanding Mini Series:
Fargo

Outstanding TV Movie:
The Normal Heart

Movie/Mini Series Actress:
Jessica Lange, American Horror Story: Coven

Movie/Mini Series Actor:
Benedict Cumberbatch Sherlock: Last Vow

Movie/Miniseries Supporting Actress:
Kathy Bates, American Horror Story: Coven

Movie/Miniseries Supporting Actor:

Martin Freeman, Sherlock:His Last Vow

Movie Mini Directing:
Colin Bucksey, Fargo

Movie Mini Writing:
Steven Moffet, Sherlock: His Last Vow

Movie Review: The Apartment [1960]

The Apartment is a classic film directed by Billy Wilder - a creator of one of my most favorite comedies Some Like It Hot. Despite being filmed back in 1960 it, as a comedy, brings something you can not easily find in modern era - a true joyful fun, some brilliant lines, very decent and enjoyable story. The Apartment alongside with Hitchcock's Psycho had been a brilliant start of 60's - a period of so many notable movies in history.

The Apartment is a story of C.C. Baxter [Jack Lemmon] - an insurance company employee - who lets his company executives to use his apartment for trysts in late evenings. In exchange, he hopes and gets some promotions moving up the corporate ladder. One day, he is called by personnel director Jeff Sheldrake informing about his sudden promotion in exchange of minor favor - adding married mr. Sheldrake to list of welcomed guests to his apartment. C.C. could not have been any happier, especially not knowing that Jeff is dating Baxter's darling Fran Kubelik [Shirley MacLaine] - an elevator girl C.C. liked for quite a long time. Despite the unsuccessful date with Fran, Baxter is still trying to win her heart and one day, he finds Miss Kubelik unconscious in his apartment. As it turns out, she has an overdose of sleeping pills after the date with Mr. Sheldrake. With the help of Dr. Dreyfuss young lady is safe, however she's to stay at Baxter's for couple of days to recover. And here their little romance and attraction starts to grow, while they are trying to cohabitate for their own comfort.

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