New Releases For Home Viewing This Week With Brilliant Young Mind

BURNT
Directed by John Wells
Screenplay/Story by Steven Knight and Michael Kalesniko
Starring: Sienna Miller; Bradley Cooper; and Daniel Bruhl



Adam Jones (Bradley Cooper) is a Chef who destroyed his career with drugs and diva behavior. He cleans up and returns to London, determined to redeem himself by spearheading a top restaurant that can gain three Michelin stars.

 It is almost a sports film in the kitchen.
It has some nice performances. Bradley Cooper playing against type is really good. Sienna Miller as Helene, a single mother who is also an up and coming chef, is fantastic. I wished she was on the screen more. Daniel Bruhl as Tony the owner of the, I guess, Restaurant/ Hotel that Adam is making his comeback at is also very good and plays off the wired Bradley Cooper's character very well.
So you have a very strong cast. Now for the plot/script.
It is hard to like Bradley Cooper here. He is nasty and wired all the time. Plus annoyingly cocky. I am no expert here but I am sure there are great chefs out there who do not constantly break plates and belittle the employees around him. There was really one nice scene with Bradley Cooper's Adam and Sienna Miller's daughter, I wish there was a lot more of that in this comeback/redemption story. The angry chef act is getting cliché in the cinema and on TV these days.
A couple last notes:
-Nice small performances in this film by Omar Sy (who shocks us in this film); Emma Thompson (her part could have been edited out but you do not edit out Emma); and Uma Thurman (With some real bad makeup).
- Alicia Vikander is in this film!! Lets see the films in 2015:
Burnt
Ex Machina
Testament Of Youth
The Man From U.N.C.L.E
The Danish Girl

Well 3 stars out of 5 for Burnt. It is not as bad as what critics are saying. It will for sure make you hungry!!

GOOSEBUMPS
Directed by Rob Letterman
Screenplay by Darren Lemke; Scott Alexander; and Larry Karaszweski
Based on the books of R.L. Stine
Starring Jack Black; Amy Ryan; Dylan Minnette; Odeya Rush; Ryan Lee; and Jillian Bell



A teenager, Zach (Dylan Minnette), teams up with the daughter ( Odeya Rush) of  adult horror author R.L. Stine (Jack Black) after the writer's imaginary demons are set free on the town Zach just moved into.

I understand this film was not made for me. Was it enjoyable enough for an adult to sit through? Sure was. It was fun and exciting, and the perfect film for kids 9 and up to watch (Anyone younger it may be nightmare city).
I thought the script started strong and got a bit sloppy at the end. So it was not the script that made it work. Some of the special effects were sub par. So it was not the special effects that made the film work. It was the casting/acting that made this work:
Jack Black as R.L. Stine and as the voice of the creepy Slappy is pitch perfect.
Dylan Minnette as the new neighbor Jack is good but gets swallowed up by the actors around him.
Odeya Rush as Hannah, who went in and stole the film The Odd Life Of Timothy Green, is really good here also, even though her role is underwritten and a bit creepy.
Amy Ryan as Jack's mom is really good in a small part. I wish she was on screen more often.
Jillian Bell as Jack's aunt and Ryan Lee as Jack's best friend are hilarious and had me laughing out loud often . In fact they both kind of stole the film.

The film will not change the world, and yes it was a little long, but it is just a fun watch which I think for kids may end up being a yearly October watch. Plus, a film that suggests children reading books can open up their imagination works for me.
3 1/2 stars out of 5 for Goosebumps. For adults it may be 3 out of 5.

A BRILLIANT YOUNG MIND
Directed by Morgan Matthews
Screenplay by James Graham
Starrimg Asa Butterfield; Sally Hawkins; Rafe Spall and Jo Yang






A socially awkward teenage math prodigy (Butterfield) finds new confidence and new friendships (Yang) when he lands a spot on the British squad at the International Mathematics Olympiad.

A fantastic film!! One of the best of the year!! It is A Beautiful Mind if he was a Middle School/High School Student.
Nathan clearly is autistic and with that comes obsessive compulsive behaviors. He has to have food in a prime number. He loves patterns which draws him to math. With these issues he has many social problems like speaking in public, holding hands and even showing feelings toward his mother. Also, throw in a tragedy that happens early in the film that resonates with him through his life.
No spoilers here. However directing and casting makes it all work.
Butterfield has to do most of his acting with looks/stares and body language. A very difficult part and he scored.
Hawkins who never gives a bad performance is Nathan's confused and calming mom.
Spall as Nathans tutor and mentor with MS brings a much needed levity to the film.
Yang who comes in to Nathans life and is unfazed by his behavior and just rolls with it and will not take no for an answer which is good for Nathan,
The direction by Matthews is very much spot on. He does not rush the film and he knows that  sometimes the camera will tell the story and words are not always necessary.
Faults? The ending seemed a bit rushed, I wish it was a bit cleaner. Spall's character was just getting fleshed out but the film seemed to not follow through with it.

This is a fantastic film based on the real life of Daniel Lightwing a mathematician. 4 1/2 out of 5 stars. This film is really good and totally took me by surprise. A wonderful happy tearjerker. You may also find it as another title X +Y.



From the shadows as always thanks for your time

Snowed in??!! The Shadow Snowed In Movie Recommendations!!

Many of my readers will be stuck inside because of the storm flying up the east coast.
So here are some movies that I recommend to bide your time:


FOR THE KIDS


SHAUN THE SHEEP MOVIE
Directed and Screenplay by Mark Burton and Richard Starzak
Starring Well: Shaun Who Is A Sheep



Shaun the sheep is tired of doing the same work at the farm everyday. He decides to take a day off. In order to do that, he needs to make sure the farmer doesn't know. When more happens than they can handle, the sheep find their way in the big city. Now they need to get back to the farm.

SHAUN THE SHEEP IS ON THE LAMB. I just love that tag line!!!

Available on Pay Per View

DISNEY SHORT FILM COLLECTION



INCLUDES THE FOLLOWING SHORTS: "John Henry," "Lorenzo," "The Little Matchgirl," "How To Hook Up Your Home Theater," "Tick Tock Tale," "Prep & Landing: Operation Secret Santa," "The Ballad Of Nessie," "Tangled Ever After," "Paperman," "Get A Horse!", "Feast," "Frozen Fever"

Available to stream on Netflix.


ROMANCE

Miss Pettigrew Lives For A Day



Guinevere Pettigrew, a middle-aged London governess, finds herself unfairly dismissed from her job. An attempt to gain new employment catapults her into the glamorous world and dizzying social whirl of an American actress and singer.

Available to stream on Netflix


POPULAIRE



1958. Rose is a terrible secretary but a demon typist. Her handsome boss resolves to turn her into the fastest girl in the world.

Available to stream on Netflix


DRAMA

THE IMMIGRANT



1921. An innocent immigrant woman is tricked into a life of burlesque and vaudeville until a dazzling magician tries to save her and reunite her with her sister who is being held in the confines of Ellis Island.

Available for stream on Netflix

THE GIRL WITH THE DRAGON TATTOO EXTENDED ADDITION



9 hours of film. Close to perfect!
Girl With The Dragon Tattoo
Girl Who Played With Fire
Girl Who Kicked The Hornets Nest

Available On Netflix To Stream.


COMEDY

TRIP TO ITALY



Two men, six meals in six different places on a road trip around Italy. Liguria, Tuscany, Rome, Amalfi and ending in Capri.

Available On Netflix To Stream


THE DUFF



A high school senior instigates a social pecking order revolution after finding out that she has been labeled the DUFF - Designated Ugly Fat Friend - by her prettier, more popular counterparts.

Available On Pay Per View


ACTION

3 Days To Kill



A dying CIA agent trying to reconnect with his estranged daughter is offered an experimental drug that could save his life in exchange for one last assignment.

Available to stream on Netflix

SWEETWATER



In the late 1800s, a fanatical religious leader, a renegade Sheriff, and a former prostitute collide in a blood triangle on the rugged plains of the New Mexico Territory

Available to stream on Netflix


SCI FI

THE MARTAIN



During a manned mission to Mars, Astronaut Mark Watney is presumed dead after a fierce storm and left behind by his crew. But Watney has survived and finds himself stranded and alone on the hostile planet. With only meager supplies, he must draw upon his ingenuity, wit and spirit to subsist and find a way to signal to Earth that he is alive.

Available on pay per view

EX MACHINA



A young programmer is selected to participate in a groundbreaking experiment in artificial intelligence by evaluating the human qualities of a breathtaking female A.I.

Available on pay per view

Now if your power goes out, here are three books:

BROOKLYN
GIRL ON A TRAIN-Being Made Into A Film
MOVIE STAR

From the shadows as always thanks for your time be safe.

The Shadows Top Ten Films Of 2015....Number 1

Well before I get to number 1, for newbies to the blog here are my top ten from 2014:
10-The Grand Budapest Hotel
9-The Immigrant
8-Maleficent
7-Whiplash
6-Trip To Italy
5-Belle
4-The Fault In Our Stars
3-American Sniper
2-Top Five
1-Wild

Now for my number 1 film of 2015:

.THE MARTIAN
Directed by Ridley Scott
Screenplay by Drew Goddard
Based on the book by Andy Weir
Starring: Matt Damon and Mars



During a manned mission to Mars, Astronaut Mark Watney (Damon) is presumed dead after a fierce storm and left behind by his crew. But Watney has survived and finds himself stranded and alone on the hostile planet. With only meager supplies, he must draw upon his ingenuity, wit and spirit to survive and find a way to signal to Earth that he is alive.

Damon and Scott!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Ridley Scott goes away for awhile then pops up and does this!!! Like wow!! It looks incredible!!
How did he not get an Oscar Nomination.

What is crazy here is, most of the time I have no idea what NASA and Damon are talking about or planning or doing, but somehow they have me on the edge of my seat.
Casting!! So many good performances, I am not going to even bother to name all of them. However I will highlight a couple unknowns or less famous performers:
Donald Glover, as Rich Purnell is brilliant and funny at the same time. And important.
Mackenzie Davis as Mindy Park also gives many scene stealing scenes.
The look of this film is phenomenal. The special effects cannot be matched. From Mars to the ships you really feel like you are right there.
Faults? 
People in the street scenes, that was going over the top. Maybe the only bad decision Scott made. I really do not see people in the street acting like this. I would imagine people at home glued to the TV or at local pubs, not in the streets (Those scenes stopped it from being a perfect 5 of 5 movie for me). Thankfully Ridley Scott took the film past those scenes and gave us more of a decisive solid ending (No Spoilers).
My last note.... I think this film is so important to show to your children. It should be almost mandatory in Middle Schools. Why? Science and math!!! It shows students where the science and math that they are being taught in the schools can be used out in the real world, be it Mars or this planet. Or maybe it will at least get them to pick up Weirs' book.
4 1/2 stars out of 5 for The Martian best film of the year. For the love of science and math and film!

My 2015 Top Ten Films:
1 The Martian
2 Inside Out
3 Brooklyn
4 Starwars The Force Awakens
5 Ex Machina
6 Spotlight
7 Trainwreck
8 Room
9 Creed
10 The End Of The Tour



From the shadows as always thanks for your time.

In The Shadows Top Ten Film Of 2015 4-3-2

4
STAR WARS THE FORCE AWAKENS
Director J J Abrams
Screenplay by Lawrence Kasdan; J J Abrams; and Michael Arndt
Based On The Characters by George Lucas
Starring Daisy Ridley; John Boyega; Oscar Isaac; Domhnall Gleason; Adam Driver; Harrison Ford; Carrie Fisher



30 years after the defeat of the Galactic Empire, a new threat rises. The First Order attempts to rule the galaxy and only a ragtag group of Heroes can stop them, along with the help of the Resistance.

"Real sets. Practical effects. You have been here before but you do not know this story. Everything has changed but nothing has changed". As the above video noted that was viewed at Comic-Con.
Yes you knew there would be a backlash. It is so popular you knew people were going try to be different by being critical.Yes it is similar to the New Hope. Still.....It brought magic back to the movie theatres!!
It all starts and ends with J.J. Abrams. He is the master here and it works.
His casting. Was just spot on:
From Names from past Star Wars films: Harrison Ford and Carrie Fisher.
To people we know from other movies:
Adam Driver (Girls)....Deliciously evil as Kylo Ren
Oscar Isaac (Ex Machina).... as the brave fighter Poe Dameron. Who plays the dry straight man here very well.
Domhnall Gleason (Harry Potter films/Brooklyn/ExMachina) Is soooo well cast as the evil General Hux. It is against type because we are so use to seeing him as a stuttering, bumbeling kind of character.
 To casting faces we never have seen before:
John Boyega as Finn is fantastic as the every man hero played with dry humor. He becomes us. Tackling certain situations with a hold your breath...I have to do this...with fear and lack of enthusiasm.
Then we come to Daisy Ridley. She is the film. She is the star. This Kierra Knightly look alike carries this film (with BB-8--the cutest thing in movies this year). She is strong. She is funny. She is a ball of emotions. I can not note enough how amazing she is. It is a credit to J.J. by just finding her.
The look.
This film is beautiful. Some scenes are breathtaking. So again credit goes to J.J. for bringing in Cinematogropher Daniel Mindel. There were a couple times in this film where I thought..."Oh that will make a great poster!" Just watch the scene as Daisy rides down the sand hill.
The music:
He brought back John Williams!!!!!!!!!!!! I mean you get chills from the start when the score plays and he sets the tone throughout the film.
My big negative which is a common complaint of mine, and kept this from getting a higher ranking: When dealing with films that are set up for future episodes, every film should have a clean ending. There are some loose strings here that left me wondering who is alive and who is not. I always feel you pay your money you should get a clear ending for a film that you paid to see. You should not have to pay for another film to see what happens. Each film should be go clearly from beginning to end on it's own.
It is amazing that it actually lives up to its hype. Great for the whole family. The torch has been passed. Starts with J.J. Abrams...did I mention that before?

3
BROOKLYN
Directed by John Crowley
Screenplay by Nick Hornby
Based on the book by Colm Toibin
Starring Saoirse Ronan; Domhnall Gleeson; Emory Cohen; Jim Broadbent; and Julie Walters



An Irish immigrant (Ronan) lands in 1950s Brooklyn, where she quickly falls into a new romance. When her past catches up with her, however, she must choose between two countries and the lives that exist within.

 It grows in popularity in the theatres. It is just so simple. Basic movie making. No agenda. Just a nice little story. It is sweet. It is funny. It is romantic.
Ronan as Ellis gives an Oscar worthy performance as a confident and brave yet scared Irish girl establishing a new life in Brooklyn. Ronan says so much by just a look.....just wonderful.
I love a good dinner table scene and in this film there are many highlighted by another an ignored Oscar worthy performance by Julie Walters, who is hilarious as the house mother for all the girls.
Now the real stars in this film are Yves Belanger the cinematographer and Odile Dicks-Mireaux as the costume designer. This film looks beautiful, every seen is perfectly shot. The look almost steals the film away from the great acting and screenplay.
Acting....screenplay...look...altogether a wonderful film.
And note: Domhnall Gleeson is in three films in my top ten: Star Wars The Force Awakens; Brooklyn; and Ex Machina.

2
INSIDE OUT
Directed by Peter Doctor
Screenplay by Peter Doctor; Ronaldo del Carmen; Meg LeFauve; and Josh Cooley
Starring the voices of: Amu Poehler; Phylliss Smith; Richard Kind; Bill Hader; Lewis Black; and Mindy Kaling.



After 11 year old Riley is uprooted from her life in Minnesota (in fact she plays ice hockey which I love about her) and moves with her parents to San Francisco, Joy (Poehler), Fear (Hader), Anger(Black), Disgust(Kaling) and Sadness(Smith) - conflict on how best to navigate her new surroundings and her brain/emotions.

It is a Pixar classic. It should have received an Oscar nomination for best picture. Just watch the Joy and Riley ice skating dream scene a couple of times. It is a thing of beauty! It is perfection. Should have been a best picture nominee.

This film can be heavy. Riley is sad through about 75% of the film. You feel her sadness. You feel the parents sadness. At times it is so real it is heartbreaking. This does not make the film bad, just different. I think the film is not for young children, not that there is anything bad for them to see, they just may not get it. Riley is 11, and I think the film may be for 11/ 12/teenagers/and parents.
It starts with a very good screenplay.  Then comes the look, in fact it is like nothing you have seen from Pixar. There are layers of colors muted and also very bright, it takes a bit to get use to.
A quick note of maybe two unsung people: Richard Kind as Riley's imaginary friend Bing Bong is just ...words cant say (no spoiler)!! Kaitlyn Dias is Riley and this film relies on us loving Riley, so her voice makes it work.
We see there is no joy without sadness and no sadness without joy. We also see that memories and time can be sadly fleeting, but new and better memories are on the horizon. Please note: watch the credits, you see in the mind of teachers, dogs, cats and so on. Very close to perfect (It gets a little to wacky at the end).


Tomorrow Number 1

From the shadows a always thanks for your time

New Releases For Home Viewing This Week

THE INTERN
Directed by Nancy Meyers
Screenplay by Nancy Meyers
Starring Robert De Niro and Anne Hathaway



70-year-old widower Ben Whittaker (De Niro) has discovered that retirement isn't all it's cracked up to be. Seizing an opportunity to get back in the game, he becomes a senior intern at an online fashion site, founded and run by Jules Ostin (Hathaway).

This is the type of film that critics love to rip. Critics think all films have to make a statement about something. They want the world to see how smart and PC they are.
Me? I really love a film like this that just entertains and maybe throws in a small lesson here and there. I am a sucker these films.
As for this film? I had a great time watching it. Hathaway and De Niro have fantastic chemistry. There is one wonderful scene when they are in bed together (Get your mind out of the gutter, just talking) which is heartbreakingly sad and kind of funny. The film tries to make a statement on working moms and can they work and be successful and be a mom at the same time. If you throw in an AHole of a husband maybe not!!! I think the point is mind your own biscuits and life will be gravy (Thank You Kacey Musgraves).
Now I love Nancy Meyers films however one of the problems here, as in most of her films, is she has a lot of trouble closing. We see that in The Holiday, in It's Complicated and so on. Here we understand what Ostin decides to do about her personal life and her business (No spoilers here). We were pulled along with these issues, but in reality they were not resolved, she made a decision but it does not resolve the issue which pushed the movie along.. So the same problems are still there after the film. The ending is just flat. It is heartbreaking to me that the ending was so bad because the film was sooo good up to that point. I want to rewrite it!!!
Still getting to that end is fun and emotional like most of her films.
4 out of 5 stars for The Intern. One of De Niro's best performances in years...and Hathaway, even though her character is bossy she somehow makes Jules likable. See it is fun.

EVEREST
Dirtected by Baltasar Kormakur
Screenplay by William Nicholson and Simon Beaufoy
Starring Jason Clarke; Josh Brolin; Sam Worthington; Emily Watson: Keira Knightley and Jake Gyllenhaal



On the morning of May 10, 1996, climbers from two expeditions start their final ascent toward the summit of Mount Everest, the highest point on Earth. With little warning, a violent storm strikes the mountain, engulfing the adventurers in one of the fiercest blizzards ever encountered by man. Challenged by the harshest conditions imaginable, the teams must endure blistering winds and freezing temperatures in an epic battle to survive against nearly impossible odds.

Exhausting!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
And I was not even climbing!! I was just sitting there with some popcorn!!
Exhausting!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
This is a very good film. Hold your breath excitement!! The film puts you right in the mess!!
Lead by director Kormakur and many talented actors, with a fantastic performance by lead actor Jason Clarke. Gyllenhaal and Knightly, who take minor roles in this film, really shine.
I am not going to give up too many spoilers here. Mind you. Yes it is a very hold your breath exciting film, however it is sorta sad and even though I really liked it, I am not sure I will want to see it again. So because of that I drop it down a notch and give it 4 1/2 out of 5 stars. One of  the most exciting movies of 2015. Did I say exhausting?!

DIARY OF A TEENAGE GIRL

Directed by Marielle Heller
Screenplay by Marielle Heller
Based On The Book by Phoebe Bloeckner
Starring: Bel Powley; Kristen Wiig: Alexander Skarsgard



A teen (Powley) artist living in 1970s San Francisco enters into an affair with her mother's (Wiig) boyfriend (Skarsgard).

The acting in this film is fantastic.
Powley, whom I have never seen before, is in every scene and is incredible. She is 23 years old and is playing a 15 year old and it worked!!!
Wiig in her second drama this year (Welcome To Me), is so spot on as the mother who is just not there mentally for her child.
Skarsgard, whom I have not seen on the big screen before, here with a cheesy 70's mustache, just drips sleeze.
The film looks real good. It has a fade to it, like it is a 70's film, which I kind of liked.

As for the film itself? It is a tough watch. The subject matter is something that is not fun to sit through. This book has been floating around Hollywood for years. It is just a hard subject matter. You have a 15 year old young lady, Minnie, having sex over and over with an adult. You have a mom doing drugs in front other kids. You have an even younger daughter just being ignored. Then as the film goes on you have a 15 year old drinking alcohol and doing drugs. It is uncomfortable to watch.
As we get deeper into the second half we get to see Minnie start to draw and she sees she is more than what she thinks she is. However it is a uncomfortable wait to get to that point.
The trailer tries to make this film funny and quirky, and I understand this, you have to sell tickets.
Still, it is not funny or quirky, and just a little better than okay, mainly because of the great
 performances but....still uncomfortable. 3 1/2 out of 5stars.

STRAIGHT OUTTA COMPTON
Directed by F Gary Gary
Screenplay by Jonathon Herman and Andrea Berloff
Starring: O Shea Jackson Jr; Corey Hawkins; Jason Mitchell; Neil Brown Jr; Aldis Hodge and Paul Giamatti

The rap group NWA rises from the shadows in Compton to be maybe the most influential rap group (Or Run DMC) in history.

Straight Outta Compton has been in  development hell for a decades, maybe longer ,and now it has finally hit the big screen.
It has a really good first act highlighted by a fantastic performance by Jackson jr. playing Ice Cube. He has the mannerisms down (it helps that he is Ice Cubes son).
The first half is fun to watch these friends and kinda acquaintances get together and write about what they see and feel about life in Compton. They have fantastic instincts on how to put a beat to it and sell it. It is fun to watch.
The second half is when it starts to die...like a lot of success stories women/or men/hanging "oners" get in the way. Then as often happens money changes people. Paul Giamatti shows up with a ridiculous hair piece that is distracting and the movie slows down and just will not push forward. The movie clocks in at 2 hours and 25 minutes!!! It just needed more editing.
NWA changed music and it is an interesting story, I almost want to tell people to just watch 2 hours and then you are okay to go.
What should have been left on the floor? A little less Giamatti. I like watching the development of the music, however to hear it live in other factions could have been left out because you know what it sounds like. In other words something had to be left out, and the story is interesting so maybe some music has to go to speed the film up. Maybe that is why it has been in development hell all these years. They maybe had trouble telling the story, within the framework of the music.

3 1/2 stars out of 5 for a really good bio from game changers however the story dragged in the second half.

From the shadows as always thanks for your time

In The Shadows Top Ten Films Of 2015 7-6-5

Continuing with my top ten films of 2015

7
TRAINWRECK
Directed by Judd Apatow
Screenplay by Amy Schumer
Starring Amy Schumer and Bill Hader



Amy is well, a trainwreck, a commitment-phobic career woman,who may have to face her fears when she meets a good guy.

The funniest film of the year. At the same time there is a sweet love story mixed in with all the humor.
Schumer is fantastic as you would expect. Hader, fantastic also as you would expect. What is great is that there are sooo many comedic moments from other actors. Tilda Swinton is funny!!! Who would have thought??!! Then there are moments that surprise you like an hilarious sex scene with a bare ass John Cena. Lebron James with great comic timing and playing a cheap bastard!! A movie within a movie about dog walking!! Ezra Miller (Perks Of Being A Wallflower) another hilarious sex scene.
I could keep going but if I mention more of the funny parts I feel like I am spoiling the film.
Yes, it had trouble closing. Still, in a year lacking of actual funny comedies, this is far and above the funniest film of the year. Trainwreck is available for home viewing.

6
SPOTLIGHT
Directed by Tom McCarthy
Screenplay by Tom McCarthy and Josh Singer
Starring Rachel McAdams; Mark Ruffalo; Michael Keaton; John Flattery; and Live Schreiber



The true story of how the Boston Globe Spotlight Team uncovered the massive scandal of child molestation and cover-up within the local Catholic Archdiocese, shaking the entire Catholic Church to its core.

This is a really good film. One that many will not go see. "Honey lets go out to the movies and watch the story about priest molesting children". Yeah. That is not going to happen. However I will tell you anyway...it is a very good film.
Why?
It takes you back to All The Presidents Men. When newspapers did not have an agenda. They just worked hard on a story to get the truth out. And, as in this story, you push for the truth despite all the obstacles in front of you. Lets face it. These reporters were not just fighting priests they were fighting the beliefs of most of Boston who were catholic. In the face of all the push back...they worked very hard to get the truth out to the public. These reporters were heroes who opened up a can of worms. Again it has you long for the day when a newspaper just went out and got the news and did not try to make the news.
Every single actor in this film gives a fantastic performance. Highlighted by Ruffalo as Rezendes. He pushes and pushes and gets emotionally involved.
A really good film the is still out in the theatres.

5

Ex Machina
Direction and Screenplay by Alex Garland
Starring Alicia Vikander; Domhnall Gleeson; and Oscar Isaac



A young programming geek Caleb (Gleeson) is selected to visit the lab/house of Nathan (Isaac) an eccentric inventor. While there, Nathan is excited to show off his beautiful AI invention Ava (Vikander) and have Caleb put her(?) through a series of tests.

Different than any film you may have seen (Maybe the film HER?). Using a wonderful screenplay by director Garland; Rob Hardy's grey/dark fantastic Cinematography; and a haunting constant score by Rupert Coulson, brings a very intense feel throughout the film. The film is 110 minutes and it seemed to fly by.
Throw in fantastic performances by all three leads, mainly highlighted by Isaac (With the oddest yet best dance scene of the year), in a film that plays out like a stage drama. It is like a cat and mouse and I guess cat game that comes to an interesting conclusion. It simmers to a boil, in a film that asks the questions of how smart or realistic do we want our electronics/AI?! Who or what is playing who?
Sadly the ignored for an Oscar Nomination, where the Academy cannot remember back to April when it was released.
Interesting that the two male leads, Gleeson and Isaac are in the new Star Wars film.
Ex Machina is available for home viewing.

Tomorrow 4-3-2

As always from the shadows thanks for your time.

Shadow Picks Top Ten Films 2015 10-9-8

My top ten will not be the same as the critics. I am not here to tell you how smart I am. My main criteria for my top ten is, do I want to see it again and was I entertained and/or did I learn something. Did the film deliver what it promised in ads or trailers.
So here are my top ten:

10
THE END OF THE TOUR
Directed by James Ponsoldt
Screenplay by Donald Margulies
Based on the book by David Lipsky
Starring Jason Segel and Jesse Eisenberg



The true story of a five day road trip following David Wallace  (Segel) and Rolling Stone writer David Lipsky (Eisenberg) as Wallace finishes up his book tour for his 1000+ page novel Infinite Jest.

I went back and forth on putting The Revenant here. It came down to...do I want to see The Revenant again? No. It is beautiful to watch but hard to watch at the same time. So I am saying The Revenant was 11.
So The End Of The Tour. I love a good road trip movie. This one is really good. It is so quiet and so simple.
It does not touch on the life of Wallace but it touches on the relationship and conversation between the two writers.
Segel as Wallace, gives a fantastic performance. He is so relaxed and at the same time nervous. He has awful social skills and relates with his dogs better than he does with people. He says so much with his ticks and stares, and when he talks he sucks you into every word. Often you wonder who is interviewing who on the road trip because he asks as many questions as Lipsky.
Eisenberg is also wonderful, stepping back just enough to let Segel command the screen.
The film captures a moment in time, watching Wallace, who is aware of all going on around him ( a great speech about TV screens is almost seeing into the future). He is kind but not a pushover. He does not lecture he just suggests and he is almost embarrassed by the attention and at the same time a little proud. Almost rude. Still, after all the success of this book, which he seems to not understand, he still fights with depression. He talks about his history with depression in one heart breaking scene. It is so honest and raw.
At the end we realize for Lipsky it was more than an interview on a road trip. As Wallace says at one point "This is nice". It may have started out as just an interview but looking back I think he sees, it was two friends enjoying, laughing, arguing during a moment of time that was captured on tape.

The film is so different, so interesting, so relaxed, and so sad. The End Of The Tour. It is available now for Rent. Watch during the credits. It will make you smile.

9
CREED
Directed by Ryan Coogler
Screenplay by Ryan Coogler and Aaron Covington
Starring Michael B Jordan and Sylvester Stallone



The former World Heavyweight Champion Rocky Balboa serves as a trainer and mentor to Adonis Johnson, the son of his late friend and former rival Apollo Creed.

It is wonderful. Close to perfect. How does it work?
Well you have to have Sylvester Stallone be willing to take a backseat. Not only to Jordan but also letting Coogler direct and Coogler and Covington do the writing. By stepping back, Stallone gives an Oscar worthy performance. Maybe his best performance since the original Rocky.
Michael B Jordan here reteams with Coogler after they did Fruitvale Station together, like Stallone, is perfect in this film. He may not get the recognition that Stallone gets in this film just because his character is angry and seems to always keep his head down and almost growls. He just does not get the funny and touching lines that Stallone gets.
It is a sports film but it is more of a film about two characters finding out who they are at different stages of their lives and finding purpose. So do not get caught up in it being a boxing film. Far from it. As Jordan says as Creed, he just wants to prove he was not a mistake.
Exciting (The boxing match), Funny (Cloud), even touching (The last scene on the art museum steps). Finally the city!! The city looks beautiful. Philadelphia the city I love. "If You Look Hard Enough You Can See Your Whole Life From Up Here".
Close to perfect (That damn silly bike scene??!!). What a great surprise! Still available in theaters.

8
ROOM
Directed by Lenny Abrahamson
Screenplay and Novel by Emma Donahue
Starring: Brie Larson; Jacob Trembley; Joan Allen; and William H Macy



TRUCK...WIGGLE OUT..JUMP...RUN!!!
Mom (Larson) has been locked away in a shed for 6 years. Kidnapped. Jack (Trembley)  has been with his mom for 5 years in the shed in which he calls ROOM. After Jacks fifth birthday, Ma decides it is time to make a dangerous move to break away from their capture.

It is far from depressing, which is what I feared (at times it can make you feel almost claustrophobic). It is full on inspiring. It shows you the power of never giving up, and nothing is as powerful as a mother fighting for her child and trying to keep him safe physically and emotionally.
 For Ma, there is the guilt and fear for what happens in ROOM and what is to come outside of ROOM. A great performance by Larson. Sans makeup. Raw. Just the fear and love in her eyes.
Then I come to Jacob Trembley who plays Jack. The film is on his shoulders, his little shoulders, and he is amazing. He is in almost every scene. Watching him see WORLD and trying to deal with it (including stairs) is heartbreaking and exhilarating. He was wrongly snubbed for an Oscar Nomination.
 If there is a negative I wanted it to be longer. I felt the second half was rushed. I wanted to slow down because I cared so much about the leads.
Trust me...it is not as depressing as it sounds. Yes it can be sad, but it has you cheering and tearing and sometimes laughing.   Wiggle out...jump...run... see it. It will be released for home viewing March 1. However it will be rereleased in limited theatres between now and the Oscars.

Tomorrow 7-6-5

As always from the shadows thanks for your time.

New Film Review: 13 Hours The Secret Soldiers Of Benghazi

13 HOURS THE SECRET SOLDIERS OF BENGHAZI
Directed by Michael Bay
Screenplay by Chuck Hogan
Based On The Book By Mitchell Zuckoff
Starring John Krasinski; Pablo Schreiber; James Badge Dale; and Dave Denman



An American Ambassador is killed during an attack at a U.S. compound in Libya as a security team struggles to make sense out of the chaos.

I went in to this film very hesitant. No it was not the subject. It was that Michael Bay was involved.
I am not a fan. In fact I honestly cannot tell you one film he made that I liked.
So 13 hours. Michael Bay. Finally, something god!!. Sure he still cannot help himself. He has to throw in his corny lines "I am just proud that you are an American". Or his slow motion walk to the fight in a lined up group shot. Or the American flag at the end floating in water with debris. The same mortar shell shot following it straight down toward its target used in all his other films. The moments of "I love you kids" He has to do it.
However, except for those typical Michael Bay moments this film is really good.
Michael Bay made many smart choices starting with Krasinski as the lead. An odd choice using someone mostly known for his work in The Office, a comedy (Note David Denman is in this also from The Office). It was a very good decision because he looks like the every man. He does not have those Hollywood good looks and you can believe him as just an average guy doing a job.
He also used darkness as the biggest fear. You can really see what these brave men went through in the pitch black and the confusion of not only the darkness, but that darkness and the confusion of who is on their side. I was holding my breath often watching this. I knew what happened, but I could not remember who came out of this mess alive.
The film wisely does not go to heavy on WHY ISN'T ANYONE COMING TO HELP!! They mention it about every 15-20 minutes by showing phone calls and maps mainly because ...THEY NEED HELP!
You feel as frustrated as all the people stuck there. I cannot imagine what all those people were going through while leaning on these four/five people to help fight off 100's. It must of been out and out crazy.
Now why? After watching this film I think the question should be why? Why and how? Note why!
I think sometimes people get caught up in who. Who is to blame. Instead of why. Why did this happen. Why was there such a communication breakdown where it seemed like everywhere they looked for help the person on the other line did not want to take responsibility?! Now, did it go all the way up to the Hillary? By watching the film, I get a feeling it never went there, but we will never know. Which goes back to the why. People have to ask why was there a communication breakdown?! Why was communication so slow?! Why was security so soft at the compounds which could have saved Ambassador Chris Stevens life?! People should own the why and then make sure that it does not happen again so others who are living or fighting over seas are safe. Clearly there was a communication breakdown that I hope was/or will be fixed. Bay puts us in the middle of this and you can sense their frustration. But, like noted before, he does not overkill the communication problem, he tends to focus on the heroes.

4 stars out of 5 for this surprisingly well done film

From the shadows as always thanks for your help

New Film Review: Ride Along 2

RIDE ALONG 2

Directed by Tim Story
Screenplay by Phil Hay and Matt Manfredi
Starring Ice Cube and Kevin Hart



As his wedding day approaches, Ben (Hart) heads to Miami with his soon-to-be brother-in-law James (Ice Cube) to bring down a drug dealer who's supplying the dealers of Atlanta with product.

I was not a fan of the first Ride Along film. I found the plot thin and the laughs were few and far between.
So now I come to Ride Along 2. This is an odd film. Like the first film it lacks laughs ( there is one funny video game/car chase). The plot is predictable. However even though... there are not many laughs...and a thin plot...it is oddly enjoyable as a slight action film.
The chemistry between Cube and Hart seems to be getting better, with Cube being the straight man. They grow on you and you kind of care about them.
They get help from Olivia Munn a Miami police investigator. She really does not have much to do but her part is needed as a navigator through Miami. She has no chemistry with the two leads at all. She looks like she seems to have came in from another film.
 What really make this film work here is very good performance by Benjamin Bratt as the bad guy. He plays the part so slimy you want him to go down and that is the hook that works. He is really fun to watch and hate.
So what you have here is a comedy without many laughs and a script that you know where it is going . However, like noted before, there is something there in the plot with a really good bad guy that makes it slightly work.
2 1/2 stars out of 5 for a film that at best is serviceable for entertainment. What I am saying is you could do a lot worse. I just wish it had more laughs and the script was not so transparent.

From the shadows as always thanks for your time.

From The Shadows...Oscar Thoughts With Snubs

What a hard morning. You are interested in Noms and you hope that certain films you like get some love. Then you hear the news this morning about Alan Rickman passing. It is so sad. I will just say there is not a Die Hard without Rickman. You cannot see anyone else play the part of Professor Snape. He just owned his characters. He was one of the best and not showy or egotistical. It is a great loss.

Now to the Oscars.
I will run down the biggest categories and give my thoughts.

DIRECTING

• Adam McKay - The Big Short
• George Miller - Mad Max: Fury Road
• Alejandro G. Iñárritu - The Revenant
• Lenny Abrahamson - Room
• Tom McCarthy - Spotlight

Okay this was one of the biggest snubs of the morning. No Ridley Scott for The Martian???!!!
I would have easily replaced him with Adam Mckay for The Big Short. Or Lenny Abrahamson for Room, I mean I love the movie but it did not come across as a directorial challenge. How about J.J. Abrams for Star Wars The Force Awakens?????!!!!!

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS

• Jennifer Jason Leigh,, The Hateful Eight
• Rooney Mara, Carol
• Rachel McAdams, Spotlight
• Alicia Vikander, The Danish Girl
• Kate Winslet, Steve Jobs

I love Rachel McAdams. She is one of my favorite actresses. In Spotlight I think she was good. nNthing over the top great. I would have replaced her with Kristen Stewart for Clouds Of Sils Maria. Or Julie Waters in Brooklyn.

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR

• Christian Bale, The Big Short
• Tom Hardy, The Revenant
• Mark Ruffalo, Spotlight
• Mark Rylance, Bridge of Spies
• Sylvester Stallone, Creed

I would have loved to have seen Jacob Tremblay in here for Room or Steve Carell for The Big Short but in all honesty I do not know who you would take off the list. I looooved that Tom Hardy got some Oscar love in a very difficult part.

BEST ACTOR

• Bryan Cranston, Trumbo
• Matt Damon, The Martian
• Leonardo DiCaprio, The Revenant
• Michael Fassbender, Steve Jobs
• Eddie Redmayne, The Danish Girl

I would have replaced Cranston with Will Smith in Concussion. I would have replaced him with Jason Segel  and The End Of The Tour. I am not getting the love for Cranston in Trumbo.

BEST ACTRESS

• Cate Blanchett, Carol
• Brie Larson, Room
• Jennifer Lawrence, Joy
• Charlotte Rampling, 45 Years
• Saoirse Ronan, Brooklyn

Well....okay.

BEST PICTURE

• The Big Short
• Bridge of Spies
• Brooklyn
• Mad Max: Fury Road
• The Martian
• The Revenant
• Room
• Spotlight

Okay. I have no problems with any of the films. I think The Big Short is okay. I am glad that Brooklyn still gets love. It is a very good simple film with no big overriding message which the Academy sure loves. I would have thought of Ex Machina!!!! Or Star Wars The Force Awakens.

A lot of people are upset about Compton not getting a nom. I think it was just good. It really was not focused and needed editing bad. I would also think that maybe Inside Out should be nominated.

 

Outside the lineup above a big snub I think was Costume Design for Brooklyn. Best Score for Irrational Man, it was a very cool jazzy score.

 

Well there are my Oscar thoughts. Look for my top ten films of the year starting this weekend.

From the shadows as always thanks for your time

New Releases This Week For Home Viewing

Well three releases of note this week. Not a bad week for home viewing.

THE MARTIAN
Directed by Ridley Scott
Screenplay by Drew Goddard
Based on the book by Andy Weir
Starring: Matt Damon and Mars



During a manned mission to Mars, Astronaut Mark Watney (Damon) is presumed dead after a fierce storm and left behind by his crew. But Watney has survived and finds himself stranded and alone on the hostile planet. With only meager supplies, he must draw upon his ingenuity, wit and spirit to survive and find a way to signal to Earth that he is alive.
Before I begin with the Martian home viewing review I want to note that after the sad passing of David Bowie, that when watching this at home in memory of Ziggy when The Martian plays Starman rewind/go back and watch the scene twice. Great song and great scene in memory of Bowie.
Damon and Scott!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Ridley Scott goes away for awhile then pops up and does this!!! Like wow!! It looks incredible!!
Damon, it is all on him to make it believable and he succeeds!!
What is crazy here is, most of the time I have no idea what NASA and Damon are talking about or planning or doing, but somehow they have me on the edge of my seat.
Casting!! So many good performances, I am not going to even bother to name all of them. However I will highlight a couple unknowns or less famous performers:
Donald Glover, as Rich Purnell is brilliant and funny at the same time. And important.
Mackenzie Davis as Mindy Park also gives many scene stealing scenes.
Faults? A little long at 2 hours and 20 minutes, a little editing may have been needed.
People in the street scenes, that was going over the top. Maybe the only bad decision Scott made. I really do not see people in the street acting like this. I would imagine people at home glued to the TV or at local pubs, not in the streets. It almost made the ending a little over the top corny but it went past these scenes and gave us more of a decisive solid ending.
My last note....I think if you feel your children can sit through a 2 hour and 20 minute film sit down and watch with them. I think this film is so important to show children. It should be almost mandatory in Middle Schools. Why? Science and math!!! It shows students where the science and math that they are being taught in the schools can be used out in the real world, be it Mars or this planet. Or maybe it will at least get them to pick up Weirs' book.
4 1/2 stars out of 5 for maybe the best film of the year. For the love of science!


IRRATIONAL MAN
Directed and Screenplay by Woody Allen
Starring Joaquin Phoenix; Emma Stone; and Parker Posey



A tormented/depressed philosophy professor with a drinking issue (Phoenix) finds a will to live when he over hears a conversation at a diner.

It is a strange film. It is a hard film to categorize. I liked it but did not love it. It is not a drama but it is not a comedy. And strange as it sounds I did not love it but I would like to see it again. I think it is because it is well acted or maybe because it is so different..
Emma Stone plays Jill a student at the university. She is smart and has become smitten with her professor. She does a wonderful job here playing a smart but naïve student.
Parker Posey plays Rita another instucter at the school who also falls for Abe, and wants to leave her husband and run off to see the world with Abe. It is hard to believe Posey has never been in a Woody Allen film. She seems like a female Woody Allen. So of course she is wonderful in this movie even though her character is not really fleshed out.
Joaquin Phoenix is perfect as the depressed professor Abe. He almost mumbles his way through life and walks with a slight slouch like he is never interested in going anywhere. Then after that fateful day in the diner you watch him transform. He is sad, intelligent, comical. A very good almost quiet performance.
That all being said.....the strange thing is...the two leads Stone and Phoenix lack chemistry. I know it is odd because they give wonderful performances but together it just seems off. And that is a problem. It leads you as the viewer to lose focus while watching.
As for the script...I loved it. Not sure if I liked the abrupt ending but I loved that it had smart dialogue and it did not over stay its welcome coming in at 96 minutes.
A quick note, a wonderful light jazzy score, that gives the film a pace and a quirkiness. Loved it!!!
 I would give Irrational Man 3 1/2 stars out of 5. I understand this review is choppy a little bit, but I did not want to give out any spoilers. Well any way, back to the film, I do think this may end up being an underrated Woody Allen film, mainly because other reviewers may be insistent on categorizing it, and this is one film you just have to let it go and just enjoy.


HOTEL TRANSYLVANIA 2
Directed by Genndy Tartakovsky
Screenplay by Robert Smigel and Adam Sandler
Starring Adam Sandler and Selena Gomez




Dracula and his friends try to bring out the monster in his half human, half vampire grandson in order to keep Mavis from leaving the hotel.

I was not a fan of the first Hotel. I was pleasantly surprised that I liked this one better. Is it good? To children it may be. To me, I classify it as serviceable as a animated film to watch at home with the family.
It still seemed long for a film that was only 89 minutes. It had a good storyline about learning to fit where you are and dealing with family needs and your needs. It just could not seemed to push through as a Saturday morning cartoon after awhile. The writing was okay. It had some real funny moments so that is a positive.
2 stars out of 5 maybe 3 out of 5 for children. For home viewing you could do worse.

As lways thanks for your time from the shadows.

New Film Review: Anomalisa

ANOMALISA
Directed by Duke Johnson and Charlie Kaufman
Screenplay by Charlie Kaufman
Starring David Thewlis; Jennifer Jason Leigh; and Tom Noonan



Michael Stone, an author that specializes in customer service, is a man who is unable to interact deeply with other people.  But, when he went on a business trip, he meets a stranger - an extraordinary stranger, which slowly became a cure for his negative view on life.

 Often you hear people describe a film by saying "You have never seen anything like it". Well I am here to tell you without a doubt, with Anomalisa, you have never seen anything like it.
Charlie Kaufman is a master of odd films and this is surly one. We follow a cranky Michael Stone and his mundane life into a hotel for a conference. How mundane? Every single person he interacts with has the same voice. Be it female or male. They are all voiced by Tom Noonan. It is very odd and takes awhile to get used to. Note the hotel is called The Fregoli. The Fregoli Delusion is an actual condition where a person thinks everyone is the same in disguise. Then he meets Lisa who takes his heart and brings out life in him. She is voiced by Jennifer Jason Leigh. From there....no spoilers.
For me there was a disconnect. Maybe it was because I was distracted by the whole puppet thing (including the puppet sex). Maybe it was he was married but in a hotel maybe falsely leading on a young lonely woman. Maybe it was that Michael Stone is not that likable and he was the lead.
The trailer felt happy and full of hope but the film felt sad. The ending felt like there was a celebration of hope but I felt it was just false.
Positives? The trailer is correct that it really captures life and the day to day survival of it. So the screenplay is very good and real. There is one great and funny and lovely scene involving GIRLS JUST WANT TO HAVE FUN. Just adorable.

3 out of 5 stars for Anomalisa. Well they took a chance and did something different. I just was not as taken with it as the national critics.

The Shadow Picks Who Will Win And Who Should Win The Globes

Well the Golden Globes are Sunday night. Strangely I am not looking forward to it. I think the nominations are a mess, with many nominations in the wrong category. Also, I can handle Ricky Gervais in small doses but I am not a fan of his comedy, which is making fun of people and then laughing and saying sorry. In fact there is a good chance I will not be watching it live. I may watch it on delay later so I can fast forward.

Well with all that being said here are my predictions:

BEST ORIGINAL SONG
“Love Me Like You Do” from “Fifty Shades of Grey” “One Kind of Love” from “Love & Mercy” “See You Again” from “Furious 7” “Simple Song No. 3” from “Youth” “Writing’s on the Wall” from “Spectre” WILL WIN- Writing's On The Wall SHOULD WIN- Writing's On The Wall BEST SCORE Carter Burwell (“Carol”) Alexandre Desplat (“The Danish Girl”) Ennio Morricone (“The Hateful Eight”) Daniel Pemberton (“Steve Jobs”) Ryuichi Sakamoto Alva Noto (“The Revenant”)
WILL WIN-Daniel Pemberton for Steve Jobs SHOULD WIN-Daniel Pemberton for Steve Jobs BEST ANIMATED PICTURE “Anomalisa” “The Good Dinosaur” “Inside Out” “The Peanuts Movie” “Shaun the Sheep Movie” This will be a three film race between Shaun and Anomalisa and Inside. This may be surprising but remember this award is voted on by the  Hollywood Foreign Press. WILL WIN- Anomalisa SHOULD WIN-Inside Out BEST SCREENPLAY Emma Donoghue (“Room”) Tom McCarthy, Josh Singer (“Spotlight”) Charles Randolph, Adam McKay (“The Big Short”) Aaron Sorkin (“Steve Jobs”) Quentin Tarantino (“The Hateful Eight”) This could go any way. All 5 are deserving of winning. WILL WIN-Tom McCarthy and Josh Singer for Spotlight SHOULD WIN-Quentin Tarantino for The Hateful Eight BEST DIRECTOR Todd Haynes (“Carol”) Alejandro G. Iñárritu (“The Revenant”) Tom McCarthy (“Spotlight”) George Miller (“Mad Max: Fury Road”) Ridley Scott (“The Martian”) I think this is a two horse race. WILL WIN- Inarritu for The Revenant SHOULD WIN- Ridley Scott for The Martian BEST SUPPORTING ROLE BY AN ACTOR Paul Dano (“Love & Mercy”) Idris Elba (“Beasts of No Nation”) Mark Rylance (“Bridge of Spies”) Michael Shannon (“99 Homes”) Sylvester Stallone (“Creed”) This is a two horse race. I think Elba was very good, however he should be eliminated because Beasts was shown on TV at the same time as one theatre. Stallone has an edge here because the Hollywood Foreign Press lean toward older actors. WILL WIN- Sylvester Stallone for Creed SHOULD WIN-Mark Rylance for Bridge Of Spies BEST SUPPORTING ROLE BY AN ACTRESS Jane Fonda (“Youth”) Jennifer Jason Leigh (“The Hateful Eight”) Helen Mirren (“Trumbo”) Alicia Vikander (“Ex Machina”) Kate Winslet (“Steve Jobs”) Mirren is always a threat. Fonda overrated. Vikander may  cancel herself out by splitting her votes for Best Actress and this. So that leaves two: WILL WIN- Kate Winslet for Steve Jobs SHOULD WIN-Jennifer Jason Leigh for The Hateful Eight BEST ACTOR IN A COMEDY OR MUSICAL Christian Bale (“The Big Short”) Steve Carell (“The Big Short”) Matt Damon (“The Martian”) Al Pacino (“Danny Collins”) Mark Ruffalo (“Infinitely Polar Bear”) Boy this category shows the lack of comedy in films this year. The Martian? Polar Bear? Big Short? Not comedies. WILL WIN-Matt Damon The Martian SHOULD WIN- Al Pacino Danny Collins ----the only real comedy here. BEST ACTRESS COMEDY OR MUSICAL Jennifer Lawrence (“Joy”) Melissa McCarthy (“Spy”) Amy Schumer (“Trainwreck”) Maggie Smith (“The Lady in the Van”) Lily Tomlin (“Grandma”) As noted before, the Hollywood Foreign Press leans toward older actors so.... WILL WIN-Lilly Tomlin for Grandma SHOULD WIN-Amy Schumer for Trainwreck BEST ACTOR IN A DRAMA Bryan Cranston (“Trumbo”) Leonardo DiCaprio (“The Revenant”) Michael Fassbender (“Steve Jobs”) Eddie Redmayne (“The Danish Girl”) Will Smith (“Concussion”) WILL WIN DiCaprio for The Revenant SHOULD WIN DiCaprio for The Revenant BEST ACTRESS IN A DRAMA Cate Blanchett (“Carol”) Brie Larson (“Room”) Rooney Mara (“Carol”) Saoirse Ronan (“Brooklyn”) Alicia Vikander (“The Danish Girl”) In the year of women in film any one of these leads could win. WILL WIN-Saoirse Ronan in Brooklyn SHOULD WIN--Brie Larson in Room BEST PICTURE MUSICAL OR COMEDY “The Big Short” “Joy” “The Martian” “Spy” “Trainwreck” Again The Martian is not a comedy. WILL WIN-The Martian SHOULD WIN-Trainwreck BEST PICTURE DRAMA “Carol” “Mad Max: Fury Road” “The Revenant” “Room” “Spotlight” I think this really comes down to Room and Spotlight. WILL WIN-Spotlight SHOULD WIN-Spotlight From the shadows as always thanks for your time.