The Importance of Music in Film

Movies are usually filled with powerful performances that can make us feel a huge variety of emotions. And it's definitely up to the actors to tell the story and allow us to be immersed into the world the film is creating.  But what we don't realize, something that we really should give credit to, is the film's score (or music that plays in the background) that helps the story run smoothly. Without a score, a movie would only have the acting to tell the story, and while that's what is supposed to happen, without music we are left with something that just doesn't feel whole.

I was looking at the nominations for the Best Score for the Academy Awards. I've seen 3 of the 5 movies nominated, none of which wouldn't have had the same kick they had without an excellent score driving it. The first one I can think of is Gravity. It's a film that doesn't rely much on dialogue to let it have an impact. Instead, the score in the background digs into the emotions the characters feel: dread, fear, suspense, and hope. It's incredible that all we need is background instrumentals to allow us to feel more connected to the story. And in Gravity's case, the music gave it a whole new dimension. To really prove the power of a good score, here's the scene from Gravity where the characters are in huge danger. Listen closely and you can pretty much picture the scene and the emotions pumping through them.

Then there's the score for the movie Her, which, at first listen, doesn't seem too complex. But while watching, you realize how much emotion it really adds to the beauty and heartbreak of the story. No lyrics at all, just pure music that appeases the soul.

And in my opinion, the best score of the year goes to Saving Mr. Banks. The movie itself made me an emotional wreck, but the music layered over the tragic and hopeful story provided one of the most amazing film experiences in 2013. Just listening to the music from it while I type this flood memories from the movie into my mind. Only music can really trigger specific thoughts for me without actually watching the movie itself.

All in all, my point is this: Music needs to start getting more credit for what it does for film. So do yourself a favor and the next time you're watching a movie (hopefully a movie with a quality score) just close your eyes and listen for a moment. See how incredibly it matches the tone. How it can speak the thoughts of the movie while saying nothing at all. That's the power of a score.

Horror Movies: What Actually Makes a Scary Movie...Scary?

Usually when we think of horror movies, we're flooded with images of blood and guts and stupid characters fleeing around half-naked trying to seek shelter. But is this really the first image that we should picture when we think of the horror genre? For too long crappy torture movies and poorly produced storylines have presented themselves on the big screen.

Recently I was watching movies like Texas Chainsaw (2013) and the remake of Halloween. The original versions of both these films were all genuinely scary and presented a psychological factor that the remakes failed at. The original Texas Chainsaw film was genuinely creepy and had an element of true fear. And the original Halloween had pure suspense and relied on nearly no blood and no huge jump scares to carry itself as a truly horrifying film. The remakes are filled with crappy, attractive actors in their young 20's, willing to show skin and have their characters die in crazy over-the-top gore scenes. What went wrong?

I think teens of this generation don't really know what a scary movie is. A scary movie doesn't just throw jump scares at you, but also creates an atmosphere that lingers long after the movie has ended. Some recent movies that have done very well with that are The Conjuring, Sinister, and Insidious. Though modern, these movies maintain an eerie atmosphere packed with suspense and fear that will make it difficult to sleep at night. And not one of those movies relies on an attractive young cast with crazy kills and full on stupidity. So why is it that film makers don't understand that this is what we really want in a horror movie?

As teenagers, we keep giving money to these terrible, cheesy horror movies because they're dumb fun. Don't get me wrong, I love me a crappy horror movie to watch with friends and just sit back and have fun. But there's comes a point when the movie studios just need to stop and think about the audiences. We can still have a fun time at the movies with the scares and still feel something after watching.

So forget about all those terrible movies and start supporting some quality horror films before we have none left to support.

The Oscar Nominations - My Predictions Part: 2

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS:

This race, to me, also appears to come down to two people. Jennifer Lawrence (American Hustle) and Lupita Nyong'o (12 Years a Slave). Lawrence is incredible and adds a lot of depth to what could have been just a silly little comedic relief role, and to be able to do that was awesome to watch on screen. However, Nyong'o is relatively new to the scene and her role was an unexpected hit with audiences, and she could easily take the win. Both are such powerful performances and it's anyone's game. Another side note: Sally Hawkins (Blue Jasmine) snuck into the nominations after not being nominated for the Golden Globes, so that could be an indication that she'll sneak up and pull a win too. This one is very hard to predict... But I think I'll go with Lawrence.

ANIMATED FEATURE FILM:

I am so mad that Monsters University is not on the list this year, as it's leagues better than The Croods. But because Hollywood likes to make us angry and question our sanity sometimes, The Croods manages its way onto this list over Pixar's incredible film. Despicable Me 2 also made its way on here, but as much as I love those minions, it wasn't anything award-worthy. I really think Frozen will take it this year. Families had flooded to it and report nothing but overly-positive things about it, and it's made a huge splash over critics everywhere.

BEST DIRECTING: 

Really should go directly to Alfonso Cuaron for Gravity. Though the race for films is really tough this year, I feel like this one should just be an immediate lock for Cuaron. His directing has brought what is being said to be the most visually thrilling film to date. I saw Gravity without knowing much, and I walked out of that theater completely in awe on what I just saw. Everything blended together so well and what could have been such a long and dragging story was brought to being a captivating and suspense-filled movie adventure. The only other possible winner would be David. O Russell for his fantastic work on American Hustle, but I really want Cuaron to take this one.

VISUAL EFFECTS:

Should be another quick and easy win for Gravity. Honestly nothing else even comes close so this is probably the shortest one you'll read.

Overall this is an extremely competitive year for movies. Any of these categories could completely throw everyone for a loop. Last year it was, for the most part, easier to pick out what would take home what award. But this year has been filled with award-deserving performances, writing, and directing.

The 2014 Academy Awards will air on ABC, March 2nd.

The Oscar Nominations - My Predictions Part: 1

Well, folks, another year in cinema has passed and let me tell you, 2013 was an incredible year for film making. Visual effects, storytelling, and acting have all blended together to create some unforgettable movies, but unfortunately only one movie can win per category. Here are some of my predictions for the first few major categories, to be continued into another part in my blog.

BEST PICTURE:

9 films were nominated this year (the limit is 10). I'm going to narrow them down here for you. First of all, I'd eliminate Captain Phillips, Nebraska, and Philomena from the huge race because out of all 9 films, those haven't been getting a crazy amount of attention. What I see it really coming down to is American Hustle, Dallas Buyers Club, and 12 Years a Slave. But my overall prediction is 12 Years a Slave taking the win. It won best drama at the Golden Globes and I think the movie is an incredible and eerily brutal revelation about our past. The performances are incredible and it's so well written. It's possible the other two could swing in and take the title too, but it's really hard to tell when the race is so close.

BEST ACTOR:

We can probably just eliminate Christian Bale and Leonardo DiCaprio from this race, even though both turned in some awesome performances. I just feel like both don't really stand up to the other 3 incredible performances from actors this year (but it definitely is possible that one of these actors will win.) I also don't really see Bruce Dern (Nebraska) winning because the movie never really captured a large audience. I see it coming down to Chiwetel Ejiofor (12 Years a Slave) and Matthew McConaughey (Dallas Buyers Club). Honestly either could take it (McConaughey won at the Golden Globes) but I'm going to go on a limb and say Ejiofor will take it.

BEST ACTRESS:

Automatically this race definitely comes down to Amy Adams (American Hustle) and Cate Blanchett (Blue Jasmine). From this point it's really either one's game. Personally I'd love to see Adams take it because her performance was absolutely mind blowing and gripping. But on the other side of the spectrum, there's plenty of support going towards Blanchett and her role. But overall I'm just going to have to say Adams will win it, and I really hope she does from my personal view.

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR:

This is another one that seems pretty obvious. Jared Leto (Dallas Buyers Club) has so much buzz surrounding him that it seems impossible for him not to win. That being said, anything could happen. Though he'd be whom I suspect would take it, I think Bardhad Abdi (Captain Phillips) could come out of nowhere and snatch it. Though I didn't love Captain Phillips, Abdi's performance was incredible and he's very new on the Hollywood scene. Everybody loves an underdog!

ONTO PART 2....

Her - Movie Review and Analysis

This is probably the furthest thing in the universe from a generic love story. I was talking to some of my friends the other day and I brought up this film, only to get a bunch of weird looks and people claiming "It looks so weird" or "It just looks like a sappy romance movie." The concept is a bit weird, I'll give them that. But the unique idea that seems to be getting more and more plausible (a man dating an artificially intelligent operating system) makes this one of the most thought-provoking film in years.

I absolutely loved how this movie was filmed. The wise camera shots and intriguing visuals make this a huge pleasure to watch. A lot of the movie is purely conversation, yet it's not once boring. The screenwriting was just a huge gift to the audience (it actually won best screenplay last night at the Golden Globe Awards) and it definitely shows on screen.

The acting was also probably in the higher rankings of movies I've seen, as it's so genuine and appears to happen effortlessly. But when incredible acting can seem effortless, you know it has some of the best actors. Joaquin Phoenix plays the main character who has just struggled through a break up and becomes attached to his operating system. It's equally beautiful as it is heartbreaking, and his performance really sells the story that could have otherwise been too absurd. My other favorite was Amy Adams, who plays probably the kindest woman ever, and always sees the best in people. She's also probably the most relatable character and also brings up some complex themes.

Alright, now that I've mentioned the themes a few times, I'd like to talk about them. Her places the audience in the not too distant future where people are completely attached to their electronics and devices, which is what we kind of see happening already. Human emotion is dwindling and it poses a rhetorical question that asks us "Do we need social interaction and human affection?" I feel like the true definition of love is always changing, and we see that shift in definition a lot in this film. But in the end I feel like we will always need someone, another human, to be truly happy. Because while talking with a device that gets to know you can be soothing and therapy at times, it's also important to get out and experience the world. What Her achieves is remarkable, I can't recommend it enough. It's engaging, heartwarming (and heartbreaking), and eye opening. It's a true spectacle. A+

My Top 10 Films of 2013

Top ten lists are the hardest things to do, in my opinion. I'm always worried that I'll leave something out, or that I'll spark controversy with my choices. Well this year I say screw it, I'm going to do it anyways. So here are my personal top ten films of 2013.

10. Thor: The Dark World
Marvel has been churning out the superhero movies by the bucketful since their movies are usually vastly superior to other superhero films and definitely a lot more mainstream. I think this year, however, they hit a bit of a snag. Iron Man 3, while awesome, simply didn't live up to the huge expectations. Thor: The Dark World, however, was filled with fun, action, and some incredible acting and world building. I love the mythology of Thor and I was pleased to see that they explored the different realms. It was my favorite superhero flick of 2013.

9. The Conjuring
Horror movies have faced some hardships lately because they've just lost originality and directors seem to just want to make them for the money now. Most audiences settle for some jump scares nowadays, but The Conjuring gives us a bit more for our buck. It's still filled with jumps, mind you, but it also focuses on characterization and has some solid writing and suspense, making it a standout as a horror film and a film in general.

8. Monsters University
I don't care what anyone says, Monsters University had to have been my favorite animation of 2013. Don't get me wrong, I loved Frozen, Despicable Me 2, and The Croods, but Pixar just has a knack for making lovable movies for any age group. The voice acting was awesome, the animation was stellar, and the story was a nice throwback to a classic of my childhood.

7. Prisoners
This film was so under-looked this year, and it was one of the best thrillers I've seen in recent memory. Hugh Jackman especially steals the scenes he's in, as the movie makes us question our morals as we watch in high suspense. It's a gripping, gritty suspense film filled with controversy and emotion.

6. The Secret Life of Walter Mitty
What a beautiful film this was. Filled with genuine human emotion and determination, and is visually incredible. I fell in love with it immediately and it made me see life in a completely new perspective. Any movie that can do that is deserving of a spot on my top 10 list.This movie shows you how you should never stop exploring, and always follow those huge dreams we tend to put away as we move into adulthood.

5. Gravity
Talk about gripping. Gravity was, hands down, the most visually stunning movie I think I've ever seen. It didn't rely on much of a script, yet it told the story all through the actions and scenery surrounding it. It was a defining moment in movie history as a huge step forward for visual effects and 3D. Sandra Bullock and George Clooney are fantastic, but the true feat was how jaw-dropping the movie's visuals were.

4. American Hustle
This movie had the best ensemble of actors of the year, in my opinion. Amy Adams brought intensity and determination. Bradley Cooper was filled with life, Christian Bale grounded the movie, and Jennifer Lawrence brought the insanity and unpredictable side of the movie. It really had such good characterization, that even though the script was a little fuzzy and confusing at times, the actors pulled this one through.

3. The Way Way Back
I saw this movie back in the summer and reference it on a near daily basis. It's a story following a teen struggling with a new step dad and overall just trying to fit into this crazy world. It's relatable, funny, heartwarming, and real.

2. The Hunger Games: Catching Fire
My favorite book series is unfolding quite nicely with this second installment being spot on. The actors, especially Jennifer Lawrence, bring their characters to life like I've never seen before in a young adult film franchise (except of course, Harry Potter). The world building, plot progression, and suspense building all make this continuation one to remember.

1. Saving Mr. Banks
I didn't know how much I'd fall in love with this movie before I saw it. The story shows that hardships in the past can really drag someone down, but everything can get better when you accept things and begin to look towards a bright future. I was not expecting all the emotional punches and it was definitely my favorite film of 2013.

The Secret Life of Walter Mitty - Movie Review

I'm finding it very hard to begin this review because this movie is just filled with beauty in all definitions of the word. It explores hardships and the silver linings we can find, the absolute incredible earth we live on, and the strength we can find in our relationships with family and friends. It explores passions and fighting to be our best self, and never giving up on lifelong dreams. Basically, this movie is filled with thought-provoking themes that leave you thinking long after you leave the theater.

Now, the script is by no means award-winning or anything close to that, but it's the storytelling that really steers  the film along in a smooth way. It whisks us through our main character's fantasies that are filled with action and over-the-top ideas he has. But the way the story plays out, using the surroundings to tell the story, is truly the amazing part of this movie. It's hard to explain the movie to one who hasn't seen it, but the true beauty is how everything plays out. It makes the seemingly ordinary things in our life appear to be something grand and memorable.

The acting was a pleasure to watch on screen. With an inspiring performance by Ben Stiller (Walter Mitty) and Kristen Wiig as his hilarious and kindhearted love interest, the movie is always entertaining to watch. The two lead's chemistry is truly awesome to see and it's very genuine, unlike many on screen couples nowadays. Each character brought something new and amusing to the table, and I loved every minute of it, even though it wasn't all perfection.

I think the real appeal of this movie is just the adventure it gives you. Not many movies can tell a story through the visuals and spontaneous camerawork, but this one was a true thrill ride. And again, not all aspects of this movie were the highest of quality, but there was just something so fun about watching it unfold that I looked past the imperfections. There are so many themes in the movie that I left appreciating life a little bit more. It's always a feat when movies can manage to change your views on certain things. It teaches you to let life happen, and don't let anything stop you from achieving life's biggest dreams. The music, the scenery, the camerawork, film making, acting, and storytelling all blend together to create one of 2013's most mesmerizing and beautiful films. A

Paranormal Activity: The Marked Ones - Movie Review

Paranormal Activity started out as this small budget movie that was packed with jump scares and was quite literally an hour and a half of pure suspense. It took the found footage genre to a completely new level because it didn't rely on any creepy music or over the top special effects. It was purely based on the building of a simple ghost story into one that would haunt your sleep for the next month.

Then Paranormal Activity 2 and 3 came, both pretty solid entries into the franchise, but things became a bit repetitious. And then, we hit the 4th film and audiences were bored out of their minds. The plot was beginning to not advance at all and things just seemed to have hit a rock. And now we are given a spin-off that is completely a different style than all the previous 4 films. It's based in a town with completely new characters, yet somehow ties together a lot of the mythology from the first 4 films.

In the sense of plot building, this 5th entry (though don't confuse it for Paranormal Activity 5, which comes out this October) is refreshing and gives us a lot of background on why certain things happened in the previous installments. However, this movie also raises more questions than answers, and that's the problem with this franchise. No film has solidly answered questions yet but more and more questions rise. It's fun, mindless entertainment but hardcore fans like me want answers instead of being treated like an unintelligent audience.

The acting was off and on. Often in horror movies the acting is either very generic or way over the top. In this case we get a solid offering of both. And when these actors try to act serious, it just seems so contrived and almost comical. If these movies are to get any better, the actors need to step up their game.

All that being said, I loved this entry simply because it was very entertaining and mindless fun for an hour and a half. But if this series is to continue, I want to begin having my questions answered and for the actors to begin immersing their selves into this world. These flicks are great for loud noises and huge jump scares, but they haven't actually scared me since the third movie. But it's always a good time. B-