Downsizing (2017)

Alexander Payne makes some weird stuff. The idea is novel. And there is a message about the environment, overpopulation and class. Matt Damon is charming and Hong Chau is very good. The accent is maybe overkill since we know she doesn't really talk like that (she was in Treme).  The original downsizing concept is interesting, but the class theme then begins to overpower the downsizing. After the first act, the rest of the movie didn't have to take place in miniature at all. This lack of cohesion is ultimately what sinks the film.

mother! (2017)

What an utterly baffling movie. What's really frustrating is that I think I understood the allegory with my basic knowledge of the Bible and yet I was still baffled. Javier Bardem is God. And the house is Earth. That much I'm sure of, but Jennifer Lawrence is a little trickier. Is she the mother Earth? Is she the nature spirit? Is she Mary? Is she also Christ? I think there's probably a degree of truth to all those identities. That's what was confusing. Pick a metaphor and stick to it.

The movie itself defies categorization. It's marketed as a horror film, but it's not actually scary. What is scary is just the sheer number of people in the house and what terrible guests they are. But it's not really thrilling either. It's just uncomfortable. I will concede that the last twenty minutes of utter chaos is pretty impressive. It's an immersive, visceral experience. 

The Martian (2015)

This movie is perhaps the best advertisement for NASA and STEM. If this doesn't inspire you to pursue a STEM field, nothing will. It makes science cool. The characters are true experts in their fields, quickly solving complex problems with innovative out-of-the-box solutions. I think this movie will inspire a generation to pursue careers in astronomy, physics, and....botany. The script is well-written, fast paced, and sounds mostly scientifically accurate to someone like me who doesn't know (But to my credit I did follow some of it!).

The ensemble cast is excellent. Matt Damon carries the film with his likable personality, quick thinking, and one-liners. In the face of certain death, he finds a way. There is a moment at the end that reminded me of the end of Captain Phillips, when Tom Hanks gives a masterclass in acting--in a state of shock having just been rescued. In The Martian, this moment comes before the rescue attempt, when Matt Damon breaks into tears of hope. The scene could have been elongated to let Damon play it up a bit more, but it evoked a similar feeling. The casting of Kristen Wiig in a largely non-comedic role was a little strange. And as much as I like Chiwetel Ejiofor, he is decidedly not Indian, nor is Mackenzie Davis Korean. The characters were written as Asian, and so those roles should be played by Asian actors. There are not that many roles for Asian actors, so we should give the few that do exist to Asian actors.

Ridley Scott creates a convincingly barren picture of Mars on location in Jordan. He made a crowd pleasing, visually thrilling, and thought provoking story.

Welcome to Me (2014)

This movie was very strange. Just listen to the premise: a woman with borderline personality disorder wins the lottery and uses her winnings to buy a talk show.  She basically aspires to be Oprah. How do you make a personality disorder funny? Leave that to Kristen Wiig.  This movie has the same feel as The Skeleton Twins--it is sort of slow, has its moments, but drags in the middle. Wiig lives in a casino for some reason, has some weird obsession with swans, and she silently, uncomfortably stares into the camera a lot.  Basically, her character is pretty crazy and Wiig just runs with it. It's so ridiculous that it just barely works. This only works because of her, and Joan Cusack is pretty funny too.  

The Skeleton Twins (2014)

Kristen Wiig and Bill Hader play two suicidal siblings and breath comedy into a movie that is otherwise very depressing.  It is a refreshingly dark turn from the Bridesmaids-era Wiig.  The former SNL cast mates are at their best when they are alone on screen, seemingly improvising.  They feed off of each other, and sometimes they are on the verge of breaking--acceptable on SNL but usually not elsewhere, though it undeniably works with these two.  The most fun scene is a straight-forward lip syncing scene to Starship's "Nothings Gonna Stop Us Now."  It's simple, but Bill Hader and Kristen Wiig make it hilarious.  It is best when SNL alumni team up to make comedy...could Kristen Wiig and Bill Hader be the next Amy and Tina?

Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues (2013)

This movie is very uniquely Will Ferrell-style comedy.  He assumes the now iconic character of Ron Burgundy and just runs with the ridiculous nonsense.  It is very fast paced, with jokes in rapid succession.  The jokes are not as memorable as those one-liners from the first film,, but many of them hit the nail right on the head thanks to good execution.  The cast has mastered improv techniques and funny-looking facial expressions.  Aside from jokes, the plot is a relevant, clever, and spot-on satire on cable news.   Burgundy finds work at the thinly veiled 24-hour news network.  What do they do when they don't have 24-hours worth of news? He helms the decline of journalism and the rise of car chases and animal videos.  To quote Will Ferrell, "You're welcome, America."             

How To Train Your Dragon 2 (2014)

The sequel to the children's favorite from 2010 does not disappoint.  In fact, it builds on the intriguing world created in the first film, including a new game of Quidditch on dragons.  The Vikings of the fictional town of Berk, much like those of the real world, begin to explore and consequently encounter new lands and peoples.  This movie takes a slightly darker, more mature turn than its predecessor, appropriately growing up with its audience.  With Pixar taking a break this year, Dreamworks picks up the slack with Pixar-level emotion.  It is highly imaginative film and the animators keep up with incredible artwork.  Who knew dragons could be drawn in so many different ways?  And the image of the giant Bewilderbeast is a brush stroke of brilliance.