2013 Cinema: The Best and The Worst of the Year

2013 Cinema: The Best and the Worst of the Year

By Brett Takeshita

Overview of 2013 Cinema

2013 was a solid, if a bit uneven, year for the movies. I noticed a strange pattern in which some of the best movies came out earlier in the year, and at least for me, cinema as a whole declined in quality as the year went on. (I'll admit that I'm not that ecstatic with this year's Oscar nominees). Nevertheless, what I will remember and appreciate from 2013 is that cinema dared to be different. It was stamped with modernity. It dared to be bolder and take more risks by having loftier ambitions. Whether the movies succeeded or failed, they left lasting impressions.

The Wolf of Wall Street Review

The Wolf of Wall Street

4 stars out of 4

By Brett Takeshita

The Wolf of Wall Street is a masterpiece that ends 2013 with a bang. This is a new American classic, one that will be remembered years from now as one of Scorsese and DiCaprio's best works ever.

Capsule Reviews: Awards Buzz Edition

Capsule Reviews: Awards Buzz Edition

Reviews of Her, August: Osage County, Dallas Buyers Club, and Upstream Color

By Brett Takeshita

I've decided to do things a little bit differently for some 2013 movies that I've recently seen; mainly because I've been getting a lot of requests for my "Best Films of 2013" list. That is still a work in progress but should be out shortly. So, here are my mini reviews for some of the movies that have been garnering Oscar and/or Spirit Award nominations (as well as a slew of other awards nominations from smaller groups, circles, and organizations).

Getaway Review

Getaway

2.5 stars out of 4

By Brett Takeshita

To be completely honest, I was really excited to see Getaway. When I first saw the trailers, I thought to myself, "Ethan Hawke + Selena Gomez + fast cars = awesome." And then I got nervous after I saw the reviews. It has a whopping 2% rating on Rotten Tomatoes and is one of the worst reviewed movies of 2013. But I gotta tell you that I sorta dug Getaway. It's ridiculously stupid and unbelievable, but it's also tons of fun. 

2014 Oscar Nominations- Thoughts and Snubs

2014 Oscar Nominations

Thoughts and Snubs

By Brett Takeshita

It is Thursday, January 16, 2014. What does that mean? Oscar nominations, of course! What was surprising for me this year was that there weren't very many big surprises. Remember last year when the Academy screwed up and forgot to nominate both Ben Affleck and Kathryn Bigelow for Best Director? Yeah, the Academy made sure not to make similar mistakes again. And for the most part, nominations for both Best Picture and Best Actor/Actress (as well as the supporting categories) lined up with what critics' circles and other awards groups had been nominating these past few months. So, I'm actually pretty content with the nominees this year. Here are some of my thoughts:

The Way Way Back Review

The Way Way Back

3 stars out of 4

By Brett Takeshita

The Way Way Back proves that even if movies follow formula, they can still be fantastic. The Way Way Back doesn't bring many surprises to "the summer that changed everything" coming-of-age film, but it is so charming that you can't help but love it. 

American Hustle Review

American Hustle

2 stars out of 4

By Brett Takeshita

You might be thinking that I've lost my mind. How could I not recommend one of 2013's most acclaimed films? Well, it's a little complicated. American Hustle has one of the finest acting ensembles of the year. The larger-than-life performances are absolutely electric. But for me, the overly convoluted plot proved more frustrating than fun.