All posts by Alex Brannan

Sisters (2015) Movie Review

In Sisters, the eponymous sisters Maura (Amy Poehler) and Kate (Tina Fey) are misguided and somewhat juvenile. The two travel to their parent’s house in Orlando, which they find sold and emptied. They protest the loss of their childhood home, and ultimately decide to throw one last party in the house in an attempt to return to their glory days.

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The film totes the expected cavalcade of SNL alum. At the head are Fey and Poehler, both of whom Continue reading Sisters (2015) Movie Review

Star Wars Episode VII – The Force Awakens (2015) Movie Review

Note: I’ve tried to make this review as spoiler free as possible. That said, one person’s reaction is another person’s spoiler. I can’t make this 100% devoid of spoilers. Proceed at your own risk.

Star Wars – The Force Awakens is directed by J.J. Abrams, and it is the first new Star Wars film in 10 years. Easily the most anticipated movie of the year, The Force Awakens could have been the biggest disappointment since, well, The Phantom Menace. Thankfully, this is not the case.

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This part is unavoidable, but it must be mentioned. Continue reading Star Wars Episode VII – The Force Awakens (2015) Movie Review

Alles Wird Gut (Everything Will Be Okay) Short Film Review

In Patrick Vollrath’s Alles Wird Gut, a divorcee picks his daughter Lea (Julia Pointner) up for a day at the fair. Only, something is tonally disjointed from this, what should be a lighthearted affair.

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We begin by seeing the father Michael (Simon Schwarz) waiting anxiously at the gate of Continue reading Alles Wird Gut (Everything Will Be Okay) Short Film Review

AUFDRUCK (LABEL) Short Film Review

Aufdruck (stylized AUFDRUCK or LABEL) is a short film from independent filmmaker Jaschar L Marktanner. It is a film shot in elegant black and white that features a plunking piano score, a score which plods along with the conversation of two women (Mary Krasnoperova and Kira Mathis) at a restaurant.

At first glance, the film appears to be Continue reading AUFDRUCK (LABEL) Short Film Review

Snubs From the 2016 Golden Globes Nominations

The Golden Globes suffer from something that the Academy Awards recently remedied quiet easily. The format of the Golden Globes is to have two separate categories for Best Picture, one for drama and one for comedy or musical. The Academy Awards, by comparison, have Continue reading Snubs From the 2016 Golden Globes Nominations

Initial Reactions to the 2016 Golden Globe Nominations

The nominations for the 2016 Golden Globes were announced today. The GGs is generally looked at as the award ceremony that kicks off award season proper and a precursor for what films will be tapped for Academy Award nominations.

Here are my initial reactions after reading the nominee list. Continue reading Initial Reactions to the 2016 Golden Globe Nominations

Creed (2015) Movie Review

Creed is essentially a re-boot of the Rocky franchise showcasing fresher, younger hands.

The film centers around the trials of son of legendary fighter Apollo Creed, Adonis Creed (Michael B. Jordan). Creed grows up in a juvenile corrections facility and in and out of group homes until Apollo Creed’s wife (but not Adonis’ biological mother) Mary Ann (Phylicia Rashad) takes him in.

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18 years later, Creed is following in his father’s footsteps as a pro boxer in Tijuana. By day, he is a desk jockey in Los Angeles, but he knows that it is not the life for him. We see him Continue reading Creed (2015) Movie Review

Academy Awards 2016: Best Animated Feature Nominee Predictions

The award season is beginning to ramp up as we head into the Holiday. As such, Oscar buzz is beginning to bubble up. Which animated films will get the nomination for best animated feature? Here are my predictions:

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Nominees:

Continue reading Academy Awards 2016: Best Animated Feature Nominee Predictions

Academy Awards 2016: Best Director Nominee Predictions

The Academy Awards are right around the corner (a few months from now). With the holiday movie season kicking into full gear, it is time to look at what film directors could be honored as nominees at the 2016 Oscar ceremony.

The list of possible candidates is rather long, but here are my projected top five:

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Nominees:

Continue reading Academy Awards 2016: Best Director Nominee Predictions

Academy Awards 2016: Best Picture Nominee Predictions

It’s a long way to Academy Award night, but there are plenty of films already vying for Hollywood’s top honor. As it stands now, Spotlight might be the film to beat, but many films could make a viable run for the award in the coming months.

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Nominees: Continue reading Academy Awards 2016: Best Picture Nominee Predictions