Ant-Man Review


            We are now twelve films into the Marvel Cinematic Universe and the franchise has certainly run itself into a groove.  We now know what to expect from a Marvel Cinematic Universe film and until now that hasn’t stopped these films from being anywhere between a solid film to a great blockbuster (with the exception of Thor: The Dark World, which saw its predecessor’s flaws come to the forefront).  With Ant-Man though, the Marvel Cinematic Universe clichés are beginning to become a negative.  The predictable third act structure, the Avengers connections, and the overuse of a McGuffin all come back to haunt Ant-Man.  Fortunately, though Ant-Man also happens to be one of the more unique entries in the franchise.  With a lot of comedy, a strong female character, visually inventive scenes, and a smaller scale, Ant-Man is more than able to overcome its clichés.

            Ant-Man follows inventor Hank Pym (Michael Douglas bringing some much needed gravitas to the film) as he seeks out burglar Scott Lang (Paul Rudd doing his usual shtick to decent effect) in order to steal Pym’s former protégé and rival’s (Corey Stoll doing good work in an underwritten role) size changing suit, the Yellewjacket.  Pym soon reveals that the Yellowjacket is born from rumors of one of Pym’s own creations, which happens to be much more real than the rumors suggest.

            For a film that featured such a tumultuous pre-production period, you would hardly realize there was any trouble with the film at all in the finished product.  I haven’t seen any of director Peyton Reed’s previous works, but he certainly proves that he can bring visual flair to the film without overburdening the plot.  The film also has some visual inventiveness that is very reminiscent of an Edgar Wright film (for his fans who are disappointed that he wasn’t allowed to carry this film through to the end) such as with scenes in the “Quantum Realm” or with flashbacks narrated by the scene-stealing Michael Pena.  The long pre-production process also definitely did not hurt the performances from the cast as they are all-around the board great.  Special note has to be given to Evangeline Lilly who once again finds herself giving a performance that is much better than her one note performance on Lost years ago suggested she was capable of giving.

            The real problem with this film stems from the fact the more Marvel-ly elements feel forced and boring.  You know where this film is going to end so none of the major events of this film are hardly surprising no matter how twisty this film thinks it is.  It just follows your typical Marvel film structure.  Additionally, a sequence involving a visit to Avengers headquarters feels completely half-baked and ultimately makes the appearance of one of the more interesting MCU supporting characters rather dull.


            Marvel fatigue may finally be setting in but Ant-Manis inventive and different enough on its own to still continue Marvel’s winning streak.

8/10

67th Primetime Emmy Awards Nominations: The Good, the Bad and the Ugly


The nominations for the 67th Primetime Emmy Awards were announced yesterday morning where we were introduced to an expanded field in many categories (by design in the Series categories and not so much in others such as Comedy Supporting Actress where ties occurred) and an absence by the usual incumbent favoritism that comes with these awards.  The full list of nominees can be found here.  My thoughts on the nominations as a whole are:

THE GOOD
-This was a great year for comedies as I was really impressed with the final season of Parks and Recreation, the sophomore season of Silicon Valley and the debut seasons of Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt and You’re the Worst.  The little seen You’re the Worst was probably a little too indy to get attention from Emmys voters (it ended up with 0 nominations) but the other three can be found nominated in the Outstanding Comedy Series (which may be the strongest category in the entire field of nominations).

-It’s really difficult to make a satisfying prequel so it was nice to see Better Call Saul be rewarded with a Best Drama Series nomination, a Lead Actor nomination for Bob Odenkirk, a Supporting Actor nomination for Jonathan Banks in what might be the performance of the year as fan favorite Mike Ehrmantraut and a Writing nomination for the standout, Mike-centric episode “Five-O”.

THE BAD
-One of the oddest and most disappointing surprises of the morning was that Miguel Sapochnik did not get a Directing nomination for his impressive work on the Game of Thrones episode “Hardhome” (the one with the White Walker attack).  It wasn’t like he was snubbed in favor of other shows, though.  David Nutter somehow got nominated for the underwhelming finale “Mother’s Mercy” and Jeremy Podeswa got nominated for the controversial Sansa rape episode “Unbowed, Unbent, Unbroken”.

THE UGLY
-One of my favorite shows of the year, The Leftovers, found itself without a single nomination.  The Leftovers may be a controversial show but it is also artistically driven so it was a shame to see it get no attention for its incredible directing, writing, acting (especially Carrie Coon’s powerhouse performance) or even a simple nomination for its majestic opening sequence.

-It was nice to see the well-done production of Wolf Hall get a lot of attention from Emmy voters.  However, it seemed like the voters voted for the miniseries based on the talent involved rather than for the actual work or else a best in show performance from Claire Foy would have certainly been nominated.


In terms of predicting, I went 109 for 155 (70.3%, up 1.2% from last year) and got the Limited Series and Reality-Competition Program categories completely correct.

Me and Earl and the Dying Girl Review


            At first glance, Me and Earl and the Dying Girlis your typical independent romantic drama that tries to find its own sense of quirkiness and ride that to success.  However, as the main character is keen to remind us, “This is not a love story”.  Me and Earl and the Dying Girl finds ways to keep you off-guard despite reminding you a lot of its other Sundance brethren.  Not all of it works for the best, but this film is ultimately one of the most unique experiences you will have in a theater this year.

            Me and Earl and the Dying Girl follows Greg Gaines (Thomas Mann), a high school senior with no ambitions outside of continuing to make spoof films with his “co-worker” Earl (Ronald Cyler II).  His life begins to change, though, when his mother (Connie Britton in an underwritten role) forces him to hang out with fellow high schooler Rachel (Olivia Cooke with a phenomenal performance) after she is diagnosed with leukemia.

            The story of this film is highly predictable to the point that screenwriter and author Jesse Andrews believes an unreliable narrator is necessary.  However, the film more than makes up for this with its sense of quirk.  The over use of pop culture references, Claymation imagination sequences being forced on you without notice, the odd and obscure film references all make for an experience that is a lot to grasp onto at first blush.  It takes a while for you to get used to this film’s sense of style, and it will prevent a lot of people from getting into this film, but once and if you do, you are given quite a unique experience.  Jesse Andrews and director Alfonso Gomez-Rejon also do an admirable job of mixing in some honest drama with all of this quirkiness and neither really detracts from the other.

            It also helps that the three leads are well cast.  Thomas Mann is able to carry this odd film quite well, and Ronald Cyler II does a lot in what is ultimately a one-note role on paper.  However, this film really belongs to Olivia Cooke, who oddly once again finds herself cast as a teenager with a terminal illness (she also happens to play one on Bates Motel).  It’s hard not to fall in love with Rachel thanks to Cooke’s performance, and the length she goes to in both range and in physical transformation is incredible.


            Me and Earl and the Dying Girl is an odd film that also has quite the emotional wallop in store for its viewers.

7/10

Terminator Genisys Review


            The Terminator film series has long been seen as a film franchise that has kept going beyond its expiration date.  While none of the films in the series have been able to match the greatness of James Cameron’s The Terminator, all of the following films have had something to offer.  Terminator 2: Judgment Day is a solid (albeit dated) action film.  Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines has one of the most surprising and risky endings in a blockbuster ever, and Terminator: Salvation was one of the first films to jump on the tracking shot bandwagon that many films and shows want to hop onto nowadays.  Terminator Genisys follows in line with the other sequels.  It’s very problematic at times, but it’s hard not to enjoy the top-notch visuals and fun performances from Arnold Schwarzenegger in his signature role and J.K. Simmons in one of his first post-Oscar performances.

            Terminator Genisys picks up with John Connor (Jason Clarke in one of the more effective portrayals of the character) and the Resistance on the verge of achieving victory over the forces of Skynet.  Skynet, however, releases it’s secret weapon before the Resistance can prevent them in the form of the T-800 and their time travel device.  As the other films in the series tell us, John Connor sends back Kyle Reese (the bland Jai Courtney), but when an unexpected event occurs while in the process of time traveling he ends up traveling to an alternate timeline that no one was preparing for.

            Director Alan Taylor has thus far been seen as a studio director.  His last film was Thor: The Dark World, which he was brought in for to stabilize a rocky pre-production, and that was by far the weakest Marvel Cinematic Universe film to date.  So his hiring for this film didn’t spark much confidence.  However, his directing reveals that he is more than capable of delivering technically impressive scenes that can be fun and inventive like blockbusters should be.  Taylor’s direction of the film ends up being one of the main highlights of the film as it is actually the script and some of the casting decisions that ultimately let this film down.

            The script has many of the problems that the Terminator sequels have had in that it is tries to make its cake and eat it too.  This film tries to find inventive ways to call back to the original films and yet it doesn’t give itself enough time to invent its own plot, which ends up as a convoluted mess.  Ultimately, this film functions as a bunch of interesting set pieces that never really work together. 

            Additionally, it doesn’t help that some of the main roles in the film are badly miscast.  Emilia Clarke as Sarah Connor is a fun presence at times, but her accent wavers constantly and her performance ultimately fails in comparison to Linda Hamilton’s.  Meanwhile, Jai Courtney just seems to suck the life out of every scene he’s in, and you can just listen to lines that he has to speak be really worthwhile if it was anyone even remotely more talented than him saying them.  That isn’t to see all of the acting in the film is bad.  Far from it as Arnold Schwarzenegger is clearly having fun, and J.K. Simmons is a great scene-stealer in the second half of the film.  Even Jason Clarke does some great villainous work.


            Terminator Genisys is a gigantic mess that ultimately has more good than bad.

7/10

67th Primetime Emmy Awards Nominations Predictions: July Update


OUTSTANDING DRAMA SERIES
1. Mad Men
2. Game of Thrones (+1)
3. Downton Abbey (-1)
4. House of Cards
5. Orange is the New Black
6. Empire
7. Homeland (RE-ENTRY)

OUTSTANDING COMEDY SERIES
1. Modern Family
2. Veep
3. Louie
4. Silicon Valley (+2)
5. The Big Bang Theory (-1)
6. Transparent (-1)
7. Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt

OUTSTANDING LIMITED SERIES
1. Olive Kitteridge
2. American Horror Story: Freak Show
3. The Honorable Woman
4. Wolf Hall
5. American Crime

OUTSTANDING TELEVISION MOVIE
1. Bessie
2. Nightingale
3. Worricker: Salting the Battlefield
4. Derek Special
5. Killing Jesus

OUTSTANDING VARIETY TALK SERIES
1. The Colbert Report
2. The Daily Show With Jon Stewart
3. Last Week Tonight With John Oliver
4. Late Show With David Letterman
5. The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon
6. Real Time With Bill Maher

OUTSTANDING REALITY-COMPETITION PROGRAM
1. The Amazing Race
2. The Voice
3. Top Chef
4. Project Runway
5. Dancing with the Stars
6. So You Think You Can Dance

OUTSTANDING LEAD ACTOR IN A COMEDY SERIES
1. Jim Parsons, The Big Bang Theory
2. Louis C.K., Louie
3. William H. Macy, Shameless
4. Matt LeBlanc, Episodes
5. Jeffrey Tambor, Transparent (+1)
6. Don Cheadle, House of Cards (-1)

OUTSTANDING LEAD ACTOR IN A DRAMA SERIES
1. Jon Hanm, Mad Men (+1)
2. Kevin Spacey, House of Cards (-1)
3. Jeff Daniels, The Newsroom
4. Terrence Howard, Empire
5. Hugh Bonneville, Downton Abbey (NEW)
6. Bob Odenkirk, Better Call Saul (NEW)

OUTSTANDING LEAD ACTOR IN A LIMITED SERIES OR TV MOVIE
1. Adrien Brody, Houdini
2. Richard Jenkins, Olive Kitteridge
3. David Oyelowo, Nightingale (+1)
4. Mark Rylance, Wolf Hall (-1)
5. Ricky Gervais, Derek Special (+1)
6. Bill Nighy, Worricker: Salting the Battlefield (-1)

OUTSTANDING LEAD ACTRESS IN A COMEDY SERIES
1. Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Veep
2. Amy Poehler, Parks and Recreation (+1)
3. Amy Schumer, Inside Amy Schumer (NEW)
4. Edie Falco, Nurse Jackie (-2)
5. Melissa McCarthy, Mike & Molly (-1)
6. Jane Fonda, Grace and Frankie

OUTSTANDING LEAD ACTRESS IN A DRAMA SERIES
1. Julianna Margulies, The Good Wife
2. Viola Davis, How to Get Away With Murder
3. Robin Wright, House of Cards
4. Claire Danes, Homeland
5. Taraji P. Henson, Empire (+1)
6. Elisabeth Moss, Mad Men (NEW)

OUTSTANDING LEAD ACTRESS IN A LIMITED SERIES OR TV MOVIE
1. Jessica Lange, American Horror Story: Freak Show (+1)
2. Frances McDormand, Olive Kitteridge (-1)
3. Maggie Gyllenhaal, The Honorable Woman
4. Queen Latifah, Bessie
5. Felicity Huffman, American Crime
6. Helena Bonham Carter, Worricker: Salting the Battlefield (RE-ENTRY)

OUTSTANDING SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A COMEDY SERIES
1. Ty Burrell, Modern Family
2. Jesse Tyler Ferguson, Modern Family
3. Tony Hale, Veep
4. Fred Armisen, Portlandia
5. T.J. Miller, Silicon Valley (NEW)
6. Andre Braugher, Brooklyn Nine-Nine

OUTSTANDING SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A DRAMA SERIES
1. Peter Dinklage, Game of Thrones
2. Mandy Patinkin, Homeland
3. Jim Carter, Downton Abbey (+1)
4. Jon Voight, Ray Donovan (-1)
5. Jonathan Banks, Better Call Saul
6. Ben Mendelsohn, Bloodline

OUTSTANDING SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A LIMITED SERIES OR TV MOVIE
1. Bill Murray, Olive Kitteridge
2. Michael Chiklis, American Horror Story: Freak Show
3. Stephen Rea, The Honorable Woman
4. Damien Lewis, Wolf Hall (+1)
5. Michael Gambon, The Casual Vacancy (+1)
6. Ralph Fiennes, Worricker: Salting the Battlefield (-2)

OUTSTANDING SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A COMEDY SERIES
1. Allison Janney, Mom
2. Julie Bowen, Modern Family
3. Kate McKinnon, Saturday Night Live
4. Mayim Bialik, The Big Bang Theory
5. Anna Chlumsky, Veep
6. Sofia Vergara, Modern Family

OUTSTANDING SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A DRAMA SERIES
1. Maggie Smith, Downton Abbey
2. Uzo Aduba, Orange is the New Black
3. Joanna Froggatt, Downton Abbey (+1)
4. Lena Headey, Game of Thrones (-1)
5. Christina Hendricks, Mad Men
6. Christine Baranski, The Good Wife

OUTSTANDING SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A LIMITED SERIES OR TV MOVIE
1. Sarah Paulson, American Horror Story: Freak Show
2. Kathy Bates, American Horror Story: Freak Show
3. Angela Bassett, American Horror Story: Freak Show (+1)
4. Janet McTeer, The Honorable Woman (+1)
5. Mo’Nique, Bessie (-2)
6. Judy Davis, Worricker: Salting the Battlefield

OUTSTANDING DIRECTING FOR A COMEDY SERIES
1. Louie (+2)
2. Veep (NEW)
3. The Comedians (NEW)
4. The Last Man on Earth (NEW)
5. Parks and Recreation

OUTSTANDING DIRECTING FOR A DRAMA SERIES
1. Boardwalk Empire
2. Downton Abbey (+3)
3. Mad Men (NEW)
4. The Knick (RE-ENTRY)
5. Empire (NEW)

OUTSTANDING DIRECTING FOR A LIMITED SERIES, MOVIE OR A DRAMATIC SPECIAL
1. Olive Kitteridge
2. The Honorable Woman
3. Bessie (+2)
4. Houdini (-1)
5. Worricker: Salting the Battlefield (NEW)
6. 24: Live Another Day (RE-ENTRY)

OUTSTANDING DIRECTING FOR A VARIETY SERIES
1. Saturday Night Live
2. The Colbert Report
3. The Daily Show With Jon Stewart
4. The Late Show With David Letterman
5. Portlandia

OUTSTANDING WRITING FOR A COMEDY SERIES
1. Louie
2. Veep
3. Transparent
4. Silicon Valley (NEW)
5. Episodes (NEW)

OUTSTANDING WRITING FOR A DRAMA SERIES
1. Downton Abbey (NEW)
2. Game of Thrones
3. Mad Men (-2)
4. The Affair (NEW)
5. The Good Wife (-1)

OUTSTANDING WRITING FOR A LIMITED SERIES, MOVIE OR A DRAMATIC SPECIAL
1. Olive Kitteridge
2. The Honorable Woman
3. Wolf Hall (+1)
4. Bessie (NEW)
5. The Missing
6. Derek Special

OUTSTANDING WRITING FOR A VARIETY SERIES
1. The Colbert Report
2. The Daily Show With Jon Stewart
3. Last Week Tonight With John Oliver
4. Inside Amy Schumer

5. Portlandia

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