Category Archives: Jacob’s Corner
10 Cloverfield Lane Movie Review
Watch as Jacob Tiranno reviews 10 Cloverfield Lane. To watch more video reviews go to www.youtube.com/chasingcinema
Star Wars: The Force Awakens Movie Review
**The following reviews doesn’t reveal any spoilers and avoids revealing the story except a brief synopsis. **
I can’t imagine the audience sitting in the theater in 1977 for the first Star Wars film, A New Hope, could have predicted that they were about to see the beginning one of the biggest forces in pop culture arrive. The movie spawned five sequels, and each one came with a wave of toys, backpacks, lunch bags, and anything you can think of. Star Wars has one of the biggest culture impacts we’ve ever seen. I just read an article, that a person could survive off Star Wars products alone because they have nearly every product imaginable. Now, almost 40 years later comes the seventh installment, and the buzz is louder than ever. But, this time, the franchise isn’t in the hands of creator, George Lucas. In 2012 he sold Star Wars to Disney, so not only are we getting fresh faces but a whole new creative team.
Daisy Ridley, John Boyega, and BB8 in Star Wars: The Force Awakens
Star Wars: The Force Awakens, directed by J.J. Abrams, takes places three decades after the fall of the Galactic Empire, but now, a new threat arises. The First Order follows in the steps of the Empire to rule the galaxy, but a group of heroes and The Resistance will do everything to stop them.
The Good Dinosaur Movie Review
Earlier this year, I watched Disney and Pixar’s film Inside Out. “[It] is one of the best movies of 2015 and one of greatest animated films ever made. It brought me joy, sadness, and fear, making it the emotional roller-coaster of a lifetime,” I wrote. The film struck me very strongly and in the back of my head I doubted that Pixar would ever be able to top it. That is until I sat down with a directing animator on The Good Dinosaur, named Rob Thompson. I landed the interview because Thompson visited the University of Nevada Las Vegas and gave a behind the scenes presentation of the movie. It was there that I got a sneak peek of the latest animated film, and for a second, I wondered, “Could this movie be better than Inside Out?”
Arlo & Spot in The Good Dinosaur
The Good Dinosaur asks the great question, what if the asteroid that killed the dinosaurs missed Earth? But more specifically, it follows the story of a young Apatosaurus named Arlo (Raymond Ochoa), who is accidentally separated from his family. In order to make it home, Arlo goes on an epic journey, meeting an unlikely, human friend named Spot (Jack Bright), along the way. The movie was originally supposed to be directed by Bob Peterson, but in October of 2014, Pete Sohn took control of the film. Sohn had been working with Peterson on the movie since 2009 until Peterson was removed from the project in 2013. The cast and story were nearly changed in its entirety. During my interview with Thompson, he was sure to mention it the huge change of story and how it was reimagined, “When that happened, the whole movie changed.”
The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 2
I still remember lining up at a local theater for the midnight screening of The Hunger Games. I had just started Chasing Cinema, and I still wasn’t on any lists for press screenings. The line was crazy long; people were dressed up and even holding Suzanne Collins’s books. It was in 2008 when Collins published the first book in The Hunger Games trilogy, and all three were done by 2010. They had gained significant popularity, hence the studios quickly buying the rights and releasing a film only two years later. Now, seven years after the book was published comes the final chapter in this incredibly popular film franchise.
Jennifer Lawrence and Natalie Dormer in The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 2
The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 2 is the concluding chapter of the war against Panem. The districts, led by Katniss Everdeen (Jennifer Lawrence), must all stand together as an army to take down President Snow (Donald Sutherland). All while everything Katniss loves and has fought for, hangs in the balance. The picture was directed by Francis Lawrence, who has directed every Hunger Games film besides the first. Catching Fire was my favorite of the series, but my least favorite was Mockingjay Part 1. So, going into this movie, my expectations were mixed. Will Lawrence bring it hard for the finale? Or is he over it? Because that’s what it seemed like with Part 1.
Spotlight Movie Review & Film Summary
At a time when newspapers are closing, and print readerships are down, Spotlight couldn’t have arrived at a more pivotal time. The new film from director Thomas McCarthy is truly a love-letter to the art of journalism. It doesn’t glamorize the job or what these journalists did; it just illustrates how they did their jobs—to investigate and to report. It shows all of the lengthy footwork that is among the process of an investigative reporter’s job. Most importantly the film, which is based on a true story, shows just how important journalism is.
Rachel McAdams, Mark Ruffalo, Brian d’Arcy James, Michael Keaton, and John Slattery in Spotlight
Spotlight follows the oldest continuously operating newspaper investigative unit in America, The Boston Globe’s “Spotlight” team. The team consisted of Walter “Robby” Robinson (Michael Keaton), Michael Rezendes (Mark Ruffalo), Sacha Pfeiffer (Rachel McAdams), Marty Baron (Liev Schreiber), Ben Bradlee Jr. (John Slattery), and Matt Carroll (Brian d’Arcy James). The focus of the movie is on the team’s coverage of the sexual abuse scandal in the Catholic archdiocese of Boston, Massachusetts. The “Spotlight” team brought the filthy secret of sexually abused minors by the church to the national limelight. The coverage earned The Globe the 2003 Pulitzer Prize for Public Service.
Secret in Their Eyes Movie Review
La Pregunta de Sus Jos (translating to The Question in Their Eyes) is a 2005 thriller novel, written by Argentinian author Eduardo Sacheri. Four years following the book’s release, Argentinian filmmaker Juan José Campanella adapted it into a film called The Secret in Their Eyes. The movie earned critical acclaim receiving multiple awards in both Spain and Hollywood, including an Oscar for Best Foreign Language Film at the 82nd Academy Awards. Now, only six years after the successful film’s release, comes the American remake, Secret in Their Eyes, from writer-director Billy Ray.
Julia Roberts in Secret in Their Eyes
Secret in Their Eyes tells the story of FBI investigators, Jess (Julia Roberts), Ray (Chiwetel Ejiofor), and their supervisor Claire (Nicole Kidman), who are carefully watching a mosque in Los Angeles shortly after the attack on America on September 11. However, the three are ripped apart after they discover that Jess’s teenage daughter was brutally murdered and left in a dumpster near the mosque. Thirteen years later, after Ray left the Bureau, he returns to LA after finding a new lead that feels can finally close the case on the murder.
Spectre Movie Review & Film Summary
Want to talk about a new spy movie with explosive action sequences, a fun, charismatic lead, and interesting, compelling story? Well, we can’t—this isn’t my review for Mission Impossible: Rogue Nation. You are reading my review for Spectre.
I like most moviegoers and critics absolutely loved Skyfall. It is perhaps my favorite Bond movie ever. However, I will openly admit that I’ve never been a fan of the series. Let me clarify, there are a handful of 007 movies I enjoy, like Goldfinger, Casino Royale, and Dr. No, but I’ve never fallen into the hype of the secret agent. But, after seeing Sam Mendes’ successful film from 2012, I was looking forward to the follow-up, the twenty-fourth Bond film—Spectre.
Daniel Craig in Spectre
Unfortunately, I couldn’t have been more let down. The movie was completely disinteresting and unsatisfying. I sat, slouched, during the two-and-a-half-hour movie, occasionally checking the time and wondering when something exciting was going to happen. Now, technically, there were action sequences and car chases happening during the duration of the film, just none that got any emotion out of me. The reason I felt most of the movie was quite dreary was because nothing seemed at stake, so I had no investment. This is possibly the worst feeling you can have while watching a movie, asking “Why should I care?”
The Peanuts Movie Review
Peanuts was a syndicated comic strip, which debuted in October 1950, and was written and illustrated by Charles M. Schulz. This influential and incredibly popular comic strip ran for fifty years, totaling in over 17,000 strips published, and it continues to be a major icon in pop culture. Peanuts was read and seen in 75 countries and reprints appear in almost every U.S. newspaper today. The lovable characters from the strip eventually leaped off the page and appeared in several successful TV specials, such as It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown, and A Charlie Brown Christmas, and even theatrical films. Similar to the comic strip, these critically acclaimed specials still air during the holidays. Now, for the first time in 35 years the Peanuts gang return to the big screen for the new film—The Peanuts Movie.
Sally Brown, Charlie Brown, and Snoopy in The Peanuts Movie
The Peanuts Movie tells the story of good man Charlie Brown (Noah Schnapp), a nervous, unconfident, but gentle boy. But that must all change so he can impress his new neighbor and crush, The Little Red-Haired Girl (Francesca Capaldi). At the same time, Snoopy (archival recordings of Bill Melendez), one of the world’s favorite dogs, takes to the sky to chase his arch-nemesis The Red Baron.
Burnt Movie Review & Film Summary
Whether or not you agree with the following review of the new film Burnt, there is one thing you must take seriously: do not go on an empty stomach! The latest film from director John Wells focuses on the gorgeous-looking gourmet food. If you’re someone who loves the art of plating, are a foodie, or just likes watching chefs do their thing, and then I’m sure you’ll enjoy the new dramedy. But if you are not going to salivate over the enchanting plates, you might find yourself a bit disappointed.
Bradley Cooper & Sienna Miller in Burnt
Burnt tells the story of Chef Adam Jones (Bradley Cooper), who destroyed his once-booming career with drugs and other vices, hurting a few people along the way. However, after a self-served punishment of shucking a million oysters, he decides to return to London, spearhead a top restaurant, and earn three Michelin Stars. However, he has a lot to prove to his former friends and colleagues, but most importantly—himself.
Steve Jobs Movie Review & Film Summary
Steve Jobs is not the ordinary biopic, a movie that takes you through a person’s life, from beginning to end. No, the new Danny Boyle film just shows us portions of Steve’s life. The movie begins with Steve (Michael Fassbender) at the launch of the Macintosh in 1984, the middle of it takes place at the launch of NeXT Box in 1988, and finally the movie concludes with the reveal of the iMac in 1998. It is a specific portrait of a man in his most stressful times, the very man we use to represent imagination and knowledge.
Michael Stuhlbarg, Michael Fassbender, and Kate Winslett in Steve Jobs
Steve Jobs is based on the authorized, self-titled biography of Jobs, written by Walter Isaacson. The book was written at the request of Jobs and was released just 19 days after his death. It was adapted by Academy Award winner Aaron Sorkin, the mastermind that brought the world The Social Network. Similar to that film, Sorkin is able to take scenes where there are conversations about computers and make them feel like a heist is going on. Jobs can be talking about a voice demo, and the scene will have you on edge. The dialogue is witty, sharp, and passionate, and it wouldn’t surprise me if this gets a nomination for Best Adapted Screenplay at the Oscars.