A Movie Review: Pi

Pi. Max Cohen (Sean Gullette) is a mathematician, a numbers theorist. He believes that mathematics can explain nature. He also comes to the conclusion that math can predict stock market moves. To work on his theory, he spends his days inside his apartment, programming his computer to come up with a way to model stock price movements. Others become interested in his work. Marcy Dawson (Pamela Hart) who works for a Wall Street firm wants to help Max on his model  There is also Lenny Meyer (Ben Shenkman), a Hasidic Jew, who believes the Torah provides secrets hidden via numbers. Max randomly runs into Lenny at a coffee shop, but one has to wonder if it is really a random meeting.

Max is also somewhat unstable, driven by piercing migraine headaches. He takes medicine to limit these headaches though the headaches are definitely not eliminated.

During one of his programming sessions, he blows up his computer. Before his computer dies, a 216-digit number spits out. He eventually comes to realize that this 216 digit number provides him the ability to forecast stock prices and that it also represents the name of God. Both Marcy and Lenny tighten the screws on Max.

I personally didn't like this movie all that much. I appreciated it, but didn't like it. The movie is filmed in black and white. I wonder if Max was color blind due to the fact that he damaged his eyes when he was 6 due to staring at the sun for too long? The black and white does provide the perfect medium to highlight the pain that Max goes through while suffering through his headaches. I sort of appreciated Max's research into the stock market. Everyone would love to know how to perfectly determine stock price movements. Though interestingly, I think Max was more interested in the challenge versus becoming wealthy.

A Movie Review. Mad Max: Fury Road

Mad Max: Fury Road. The world is rather desolate. A nuclear war has destroyed civilization and earth. Water is scarce. Survivors are ruled by despots who, at least in the world we see, rule in a theocratic manner.

Mad Max (Tom Hardy) is a loner, living in this desolate world. He is captured by the War Boys who report to Immortan Joe (Hugh Keays-Byrne). He is taken back to Citadel. It is determined that he is a universal blood donor, which makes him valuable. A sick War Boy named Nux (Nicholas Hoult) receives blood transfusions from Mad Max.

Meanwhile, one of Immortan Joe's top lieutenants, Imperator Furiosa (Chrlize Theron), is sent off to Gas Town to get gas. My sense is that there was a trade going on where Gas Town would receive Mother's Milk. Mother's milk is what is implied, the milk from a woman. With the world desolated, human milk has become valuable. Imperator Furiosa has a different idea. She has decided that she will help Joe's wives escape to freedom.

Immortan Joe soon realizes what Imperator Furiosa is doing. He leads a charge with his War Boys to get his wives back. Mad Max is brought along to continue the blood transfusion to Nux. This recapture of the wives doesn't work out very well. During the course of events, Mad Max finds himself allied with Imperator Furiosa and Joe's escaping five wives.

I felt this move started out a touch too weird, but it quickly straightened out and became a thrill ride. What is really great about this thrill ride is that it gives you great detail into the society. It isn't just a movie that has an action sequence followed by another -- honestly that is what is happening here, but it is so much more. There are just these moments and conversations that give you a sense of how this post-apocalyptic world works. There is a brief moment were you see women with breast pumps in the Citadel. As the movie continues, you get the understanding that breast milk is highly valued in this society. Also, when death is potentially near, War Boys spray paint their mouths with silver paint, which represents their readiness to enter the afterlife. It makes one want to explore this world all the more.

My one problem: the vast majority of the population appears to have deformities of some sort and yet Mad Max, Imperator Furiosa and the five wives are near perfect specimens of humanity -- admittedly, Imperator Furiosa doesn't have part of an arm, but I assumed this was more due to an accident versus a birth deformity. The world has high levels of radiation. Most of humanity is suffering from significant deformities due to this and somehow there are a handful of people who look like models. I don't think so.

Vylet, Lindsay Nourse and Sweet Child at Silverlake Lounge

Sweet Child

Silverlake Lounge had an interesting mix of musicians on a recently Monday night. Starting off the night was Vylet. Her style had a tinge of goth. I couldn't help but think about that grand festival that had way too short of a life, Silverlake Jubilee. I remember hanging out in El Cid and watching musicians such as her, playing in the dark.

Lindsay Nourse had some glitches with her computer. In fact, I think she arrived late and was squeezed in between Vylet and Sweet Child. Even with all that, one could tell that there was a cool softness to her sound.

Sweet Child dresses glam. From their bio, they met at the Music Institute so they are talented. Their best song has to be "Voices." "I have these voices in my head." It is rather catchy. Four young women rocking it.
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A Movie Review: Pitch Perfect 2

Pitch Perfect 2. The Barden Bellas are performing for President Obama's birthday. There is an unfortunate wardrobe malfunction. Fat Amy (Rebel Wilson) exposes her "down under." The result, a national scandal. Punishment must be dealt out. The Bellas are restricting from performing in any competitions. There is a loophole; however. They are still allowed to compete in the a capella world tournament held in Denmark.

As they prepare for the tournament, life and a lost of confidence infiltrates the group. Beca (Anna Kendrick) gets an internship with a top producer. The Bellas go to a car show to catch their potential biggest competitors, the Das Sound Machine from Germany. The Germans are excellent and send a demoralizing chill through the Bellas. Then the team gets invited to a secret sing-off where they get to match their skills directly against DSM. Unfortunately for them, they get eliminated when new comer and freshman Emily Junk (Hailee Stenfeld) freezes. It just goes downhill from there. Somehow, The Barden Bellas need to get their mojo back.

Over-all, this is an enjoyable movie. I'm not sure it carries the same spark that the first movie had, but that would be asking a lot. I did have some problems with the movie that prevents me from giving this a rave review. First, I honestly didn't think Hailee Stenfeld had the greatest vocals when she auditioned for the Barden Bellas. I wasn't exactly sure why they took her. Second, the introduction of Emily Junk made it all too obvious that we should expect to see Pitch Perfect 3: the next generation. I could potentially list a few others, but I'll go with this final one: did Snoop Dogg really think that his rendition of "Winter Wonderland" was anything other than boring?

On the other hand, the music rocks. The Green Bay Packers showing up is hysterical. I loved how the camera focused in on a cameo role by Robin Roberts -- though I did momentarily think: why is she there? Not that I have anything negative to say about her. It is just that Robin Roberts is employed by ABC, while Pitch Perfect is made by Universal Studios/NBC. And one has to stick around after the credits roll, because perhaps the most  hysterical moment of the movie happens at that point.

A Movie Review: From Here to Eternity

From Here to Eternity. Robert E. Lee Prewitt (Montgomery Clift) plans to make it as a military man in 1941 Hawaii. First; however, he has to deal with Captain Dana Holmes (Philip Ober). It so happens that Robert is an excellent boxer. So excellent that he almost killed his friend during a sparing match. Due to this, Robert refuses to fight. Captain Holmes does not like this answer as he wants his unit to win the boxing championship. The captain makes life as difficult as possible for Robert. Meanwhile, Sgt. Milton Warden (Burt Lancaster) has eyes for the Captain's wife, Karen Holmes (Deborah Kerr). Probably due to this factor, he tries his best to cover for Robert.

This is an interesting film where in one sense the female characters show far more desire/ambition than their male counterparts. Perhaps one could argue that they're even willing to cross over the line to get what they desire. Karen Holmes does in fact fall for Sgt Warden; however, she doesn't want to give up the prestige associated with being an officer's wife. So she pushes Sgt. Warden to pursue an officer's commission. Alma (Donna Reed) is a young woman that Robert pursues romantically. She intends to marry up in life and so tells Robert that he is really just her boy toy. At the conclusion of the movie, we learn that she is willing to lie to get what she desires. Now perhaps this all can be viewed as sexist, that a woman needs a man to be seen as important. On the other hand, I found the two female characters far more aggressive then the male counterparts in the movie.

Other than starring Burt Lancaster, Montgomery Clift, Deborah Kerr and Donna Reed; there are supporting roles from Frank Sinatra, Ernest Borgnine and Jack Warden.

A solid movie that holds up well.

 

A Movie Review: Seeking a Friend for the End of the World

Seeking a Friend of the End of the World. That world ending asteroid has appeared and is about to destroy humanity -- either via immediate death or long-term starvation, I suppose. If one can say, this is a rather light-hearted take on the end of humanity when compared to a movie such as Melancholia.

With an asteroid only days away, Dodge (Steve Carell) finds himself alone. His wife has freaked out and left him. For some reason, he continues to go to work. His co-workers are slowing drifting away either via suicide or just leaving to be with family. He eventually decides to leave, as well. He finds himself hanging out with his apartment neighbor, Penny (Keira Knightley). They decide to spend their last few days helping each other out. Penny wants to be with her family. Dodge wants to find his high school sweetheart.

They take a semi-amusing road trip. Sure there are some serious moments that are played for dark humor: the truck driver who has hired a hit man to take his life, the police officer who has to play it by the book even with only days left for humanity, the preppers who plan on surviving it all. This end of the world movie doesn't take anything serious even though it does address in bits the various reactions that would no doubt occur if such an event was about to hit earth.

This movie is sort of forgettable and yet watchable. The ending attempts to make a profound statement, but it really doesn't feel like one. In the end, an average movie that sort of underwhelms considering the talents of the two leads.

My Spring 2015 Movie Rankings

I didn't really catch all that many Spring movies in the theater -- though looking at last year's list, I did end up seeing 1 more movie this time around though I think I could have skipped out on Jupiter Ascending and made it equal year over year.

Excellent

Cinderella
Ex Machina

Average

Fast and Furious 7

Awful

Jupiter Ascending

A Movie Review: Ex Machina

Ex Machina. Caleb (Domhnall Gleeson) is selected to meet the reclusive CEO of the corporation he works for, Nathan (Oscar Isaac). He is flown by helicopter across a glacier pack and is deposited in a beautiful meadow. There, surrounded in the distance by this glacier pack, is Nathan's research lab. He learns that Nathan has selected him to test an artificial intelligence named Ava (Alicia Vikander). He is to determine if Ava has human qualities. Ava, by the way, is a very beautiful robot creature.

After a couple of interview sessions with Ava, Caleb finds himself falling for this artificial intelligence. Nathan is less enamored with Ava. To him, Ava is a scientific experiment. She is a something that can be improved upon. Nathan lets Caleb know that he is likely to pull the plug on Ava at some point, taking what he has learned and improving upon it.

I think this movie focuses on two human desires: love and survival. Has Nathan created an advanced enough A.I. who can feel love and has the desire to survive. I think Alex Garland's (director/writer) answer is no to one and yes to the other.

This movie also has a very intense look into the triangle relationship between Caleb, Nathan and Ava. Caleb finds himself falling in love with Ava. Nathan views Ava as his experiment. Ava believes she is alive. Is one playing the other? Is one or more characters simply evil? By the end of the movie, I think we can conclude that Caleb is simply a pawn, a naive one at that. Nathan perhaps blinded by his passion to create has passed that line between scientific explorer and murderer. Ava though initially sympathetic is one that must be viewed skeptically at the end: did her creator forget one or more important elements of being human: a sense of moral behavior and empathy?

My one complaint: the whole scene where Caleb suspects that maybe he is an A.I. He cuts open his arm and with all the blood spilling out one has to think that maybe he cut an artery versus a vain. How did he possibly survive such a deep cut?

Over-all, this is a thought invoking movie that can lead to some deep introspection and conversations.

A Movie Review. Avengers: Age of Ultron

Avengers: Age of Ultron. This movie is essentially all action. The movie immediately starts out with the Avengers attacking a Hydra outpost. After the Hydra attack, there is some brief calm as Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.) and Bruce Banner (Mark Ruffalo) experiment with Loki's scepter. The experiment goes wrong, resulting in a robot named Ultron who is out to destroy humanity. One might think that a movie with barely any character development other than between Bruce Banner and Natasha Romanoff (Scarlett Johansson) would be over-kill, but it actually works. The one thing I will admit I could have done without were the hallucinations incited by Scarlet Witch (Elizabeth Olsen). Maybe two at most of those hallucinations, but having so many just seemed like it was at attempt to lengthen the movie.    

Best character addition: Scarlet Witch was fun to watch -- yes, she was causing the overload on hallucinations, but Elizabeth Olsen is just too fun to watch.

How do I rank this movie in terms of the Marvel movies I've seen? Probably in the middle. Not as good as Captain America: The Winter Soldier. Better than Thor.

Cillie Barnes and Joe Keefe at The Satellite

Cillie Barnes

Cillie Barnes is Los Angeles' Natalie Merchant. I can't explain why specifically. I suppose it is because I bet if Natalie Merchant was playing a set at The Satellite, I'd think of Cillie Barnes. What did I notice first about Cillie Barnes' set? How much care she took in decorating the stage. Candles on stands. Candles inserted into hanging bulbs. Gigantic paper flowers with the stems attached to paper cups. A microphone stand decorated with flowers. What was fun about the set itself was the use of the projector. Of course, video was shown via the projector, but what was really cool was that it allowed shadows of the musicians to play across the back of the stage -- helped along by a white curtain. Yeah, Cillie Barnes did some careful planning for her residency.

Joe Keefe from Family of the Year opened up for Cillie Barnes. Some may not know this, but Cillie Barnes used to be part of Family of the Year. It was an introspective set. Of course, "Hero" was one of the final songs played. The crowd was very appreciative as the song concluded. It has been a long time since I last got to catch Family of the Year. Joe Keefe's set was a real pleasure.
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A Movie Review: Prisoners

Prisoners. The Dover and Birch families are close friends. My sense was that Keller Dover (Hugh Jackman) and Franklin Birch (Terrence Howard) have known each other since at least their high school years -- though I could be wrong there. The two families get together one Thanksgiving at the Birch family house. The two younger girls of the two families get permission to head off to the Dover family house with the expectation that at least one of the older siblings will join them. Unfortunately, there is some miscommunication and the two young girls head off on their own.

The two girls are kidnapped and the spotlight immediately falls on a driver of a van that was seen in the neighborhood. The driver is Alex Jones (Paul Dano), who also happens to have the mental capacity of a 10 year old.

Without any evidence that Alex Jones committed the crime, he is released from custody. Keller can't accept this and kidnaps Alex Jones.

There are some interesting reviews out there that really dig into this movie: for example, the movie really takes it out on Christians -- Keller Dover (Hugh Jackman) and a priest named Father Patrick Dunn (Len Cariou) -- while promoting secret societies -- Detective Loki (Jake Gyllenhaal). I can see the point, the Christians are seen as making rash decisions while the detective is seen as being methodical. Father Patrick Dunn is also a sex offender, but perhaps can be seen as playing a demented role of hero.

The following contains spoilers.

After finishing the movie, I initially started to think: this movie makes no sense. It only makes sense if Holly Jones (Melissa Leo) was the driver of the van that picked up the two young girls. Holly Jones (the "aunt" of Alex Jones) is revealed to be the true kidnapper of the children. But then when the van was at the gas station, Alex Jones was definitely the driver of the van.

After reading reviews, I've come to the conclusion that Alex Jones was complicit in the abduction of the two girls. Does it mean that he deserved the treatment that he received from Keller? Considering how Holly Jones was able to control the minds of those she abducted over the years, I think it is rather clear that Alex Jones was just as much a victim as the two young girls. My one problem with this conclusion and I think it is also mentioned in the movie: how can someone with an IQ of a 10 year old go around driving a van?

I do love how all the suspects in the movie are tied together. And I love watching Detective Loki carefully put together his analysis.

I actually think that this is a movie that one might benefit from reading a few spoilers so that the focus can be on how this vast interconnected story plays out.

Golden Coast with Armors/Act As If at Bootleg HiFi

Golden Coast

A new month, which means excitement for a new group of Monday night residencies. Golden Coast is made up of Denny White and Steven Mudd. From what I read, they're from Colorado, but you'd swear their music is the sounds of Southern California summer nights. Well, I guess that means they made the right move in coming out to California. Along for the ride was a guitarist who took to her instrument like a jazz improvisational expert.

Armors. They're young. They're fun. They place their drummer right up front with the rest of the band, which I love. Actually, their drummer down triple duty: playing, singing, and speaking. At times, it sounded like he was eager to catch his breath for just a few seconds.

Act As If. I missed most of their set. That wasn't the intent. I just misjudged the start time. I loved their smooth sound. They take their time, allowing one to wrap themselves up in the embrace of their music.
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Dororthy and David and The Curse/Wake Up Lucid at The Satellite

Dorothy

Dorothy had her final residency night at The Satellite. It was spine tingling. I was initially surrounded mostly by her fans. I say initially and mostly, because there was one new person there. It didn't take long for that one person to become an enthusiast fan. As for The Satellite itself, it was packed. I wonder if they had to turn people away at the door. It is a strong possibility.

I will say: when she gets big, she's going to take it out on her boyfriend. Watch out former boyfriend. When she gets to showcase her stuff on one of the late night talk shows, you better not watch.

Opening up for her was David and The Curse. What did I notice: he had a friend there taking photos. Every time he was about to leap in the air, he'd give a nod to his friend who would rush into position to take a shot.

Wake Up Lucid was a great set-up for Dorothy. Their pulsating rock got one in the perfect mindset to rock.



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