The Interview (2014)

I readily admit that I probably would not have seen this movie had it not been for all the controversy brought by the cyber-terrorist attack.  It is important that the right to free speech be preserved and protected and that no one, let alone cyber-terrorists, be allowed to decide what may be said.  Political satire has been consistently protected by the Constitution--it is the Constitution not terrorism that dictates law in America.  

The movie just as much a satire on the North Korean regime as it is on the American media.  It presents an interesting idea about politics.  How does a regime fall?  The initial plan is to kill the Supreme Leader, hoping that a better leader will usurp power.  But of course there is a Plan B.  Plan B shows the full potential of the media in its power to affect change and to make the public aware of what has been kept secret.

That being said, it is not a great movie.  It has its funny moments, mostly in the beginning of the film (I appreciate a good Hobbit reference).  As the movie progresses, the jokes get old.  We don't know too much about Kim Jong Un, so Randall Park runs with his portrayal, playing a shy, not-very-charismatic leader.  His depiction of the Supreme Leader is almost as funny as Margaret Cho's portrayal of the late Kim Jong Il in 30 Rock.  I've come to rather like Seth Rogen who is quite likable, but James Franco just comes off as annoying.    

My Emmy Picks 2014

Predicting the Emmys is very difficult considering the shear amount of high quality TV nowadays.  This is really a testament to the depth of the medium of television.  There are 26 categories at this Monday's Emmy telecast:

Acting

Lead Actor in a Comedy: Jim Parsons (Big Bang Theory) should repeat here in a relatively weak category

Lead Actress in a Comedy: Amy Poehler (Parks and Recreation), long overdue, should finally win her maiden Emmy though I would not count out Julia Louise Dreyfus (Veep) to win her third in a row

Supporting Actor in a Comedy: I pick Jesse Tyler Ferguson (Modern Family) to win his first but watch out for Tony Hale (Veep) to repeat

Supporting Actress in a Comedy: Allison Janney (Mom) also won this year for her role in Masters of Sex and could win a second, but don't underestimate the influence of Modern Family with its two-time winner Julie Bowen

Lead Actor in a Drama: It's a dead heat between Bryan Cranston (Breaking Bad) and Matthew McConaughey (True Detective) and I think McConaughey will win over Emmy voters though Bryan Cranston is probably the most deserving

Lead Actress in a Drama: Juliana Margulies (The Good Wife) gave her best performance yet and this will be the consolation prize for the snub in the Drama series category, but keep an eye out for Robin Wright (House of Cards)

Supporting Actor in a Drama: I see a three way race between Josh Charles (The Good Wife), Aaron Paul (Breaking Bad), and Peter Dinklage (Game of Thrones).  I think Emmy voters will not pass on the chance to award Paul one last time but I would be happy to see Charles win for his final season

Supporting Actress in a Drama: Remember when Maggie Smith (Downton Abbey) used to be a dead lock? But this is Anna Gunn's (Breaking Bad) race to lose.  A win for Christine Baranski (The Good Wife) would also be acceptable

Lead Actor in a Movie/Miniseries: In a very strong field, Billy Bob Thornton (Fargo) is the favorite to win

Lead Actress in a Movie/Miniseries: Cicely Tyson (The Trip to Bountiful) won a Tony for playing the same role on Broadway

Supporting Actor in a Movie/Miniseries: Matt Bomer (The Normal Heart) makes a huge transformation for his role as a man with AIDS; I would also look out for Martin Freeman (Sherlock) who could win a consolation prize here since he will likely lose in the the Lead Actor category to his costar in Fargo

Supporting Actress in a Movie/Miniseries: Allison Tolman (Fargo) has gotten the most buzz and the trio from American Horror Story will likely split voters paving the way for Tolman

Writing

Comedy: Orange is the New Black

Drama: Breaking Bad (Ozymandias, though it could easily be Felina)

Variety Special: 67th Tony Awards

Miniseries/Movie: The Normal Heart

Directing

Comedy: Modern Family

Drama: Breaking Bad

Variety Special: The Kennedy Center Honors

Miniseries/Movie: The Normal Heart 

Programs

Comedy: This probably comes down to a race between perennial favorite and four-time reigning champ Modern Family and the newcomer with the momentum Orange is the New Black.  I love Modern Family, but I'm betting on Black.

Drama: This category will mirror the Lead Actor category, but don't let the outcome of that race influence this one. Breaking Bad should edge out True Detective for its superb final season that wrapped everything up so perfectly.  Breaking Bad will go down in history as one of the best shows ever and I imagine they will go out on a high note. 

Variety: Last year, The Colbert Report ended The Daily Show's long reign and they could easily repeat this year, though Jon Stewart is still very much a factor.  However, this year also saw the rise of Jimmy Fallon and a revamped Tonight Show that has done well in the ratings and continues to deliver.  I predict a win for the Tonight Show

Miniseries: Fargo, hands down

Movie: The Normal Heart, because Emmy voters love Hollywood stars who do TV, but I love Sherlock. Sherlock is really the best

Reality: The Amazing Race used to win every year, as it should.  I pick Amazing Race to come back as it has before when Top Chef dethroned it.  The reigning champ The Voice is also a very strong contender but it really should be Amazing Race

Update: 11/26 in what was a very surprising award show.  American Horror Story and Sherlock swept the miniseries/movie acting categories (Sherlock deservedly, but surprisingly, so) and Sherlock also picked up a writing award.  Other surprises: Netflix shutout, Ty Burrell a two-time winner, Fargo and The Normal Heart go 0/10 acting awards

Emmy Nominations 2014: Who Is Missing and Who Stole Their Nominations?

Aside from reviewing movies, I will also offer my commentary on other media and entertainment. Here is who was left out of the Emmy nominations, and who took their place instead.

Lead Actor in a Drama Series
I, along with everyone else, expect this to be a close race between Bryan Cranston and Matthew McConaughey, fresh off an Oscar win.  I do not imagine Jeff Daniels will pull off another upset.  James Spader carries his show and he's devilishly good, but does not score a nomination.

Lead Actress in a Drama Series
Thank goodness Juliana Margulies broke back into this category after a stellar season.  Unexpected was Lizzy Caplan, sneaking into a very crowded category for a performance that is allegedly worthy.  However, I would have expected (preferred) to see Elisabeth Moss return with her dance to "My Way" or Tatiana Maslany, who is getting all the buzz on the internet.  It was excusable to overlook Maslany once, but two years in a row just tells us that the Emmys might be out of touch.

Lead Actor in a Comedy Series
Ricky Gervais managed to fill Jason Bateman's spot for Netflix, who scored 31 nominations (more than double its nominations last year, and more than perennial stalwart AMC).  William H. Macy successfully made the transition from Drama to Comedy for the same show.  Andy Samberg fails to convert his Golden Globe win into a nomination here.

Lead Actress in a Comedy Series
Taylor Schilling scores a nomination here as she should.  No big surprises here.  Perhaps Amy Poehler will finally win her much-deserved Emmy, riding a win at the Golden Globes and a brilliant finale.

Outstanding Comedy Series
Silicon Valley is a big surprise in this category, stealing a spot from Golden Globe winners Girls and this year's Brooklyn Nine Nine.  And of course Parks and Recreation is often unjustly left out.  Modern Family is going for five in a row, repeating the feat that only Frasier has achieved.

Outstanding Drama Series
Downton Abbey managed to somehow keep its spot in a rather nothing-special season, a far cry from its brilliant first season.   Instead I was hoping for, praying for, and really believed The Good Wife would break back into the category for the Big Four networks after a long campaign.  Game of Thrones leads the way with 19 nominations, but in the end, it will come down to Breaking Bad's final season and newcomer True Detective, which bravely chose to enter into the Drama category instead of miniseries, where it surely would have dominated.  

Other Notables

• As usual, Survivor is inexplicably left out of the Reality Competition category. Jeff Probst, the only host on reality television that isn't just reading a teleprompter or cue cards, somehow loses out to the likes of Betty White's Off Their Rockers.
• Emmy voters pass on Emilia Clarke in favor of her costar Lena Headey in the Supporting Actress in a Drama category, rightfully so.
• Modern Family does not steal all of the Supporting spots with only three nominations, notably leaving two-time winner Eric Stonestreet out.  Though his replacements deadpan Andre Braugher and SNL alum Fred Armisen are worthy.  On the other side, Kate McKinnon picks up the SNL slack with a nomination; she is in almost every sketch.  
• Orange is the New Black scores three guest acting nominations.  They will likely fight it out.  If they split Emmy voters, an SNL host could sneak a win.  
• Miniseries and Movie are split into two categories, so Fargo does not have to compete with The Normal Heart.  Consequently, no one is forgotten.    
• The new Tonight Show gets a nomination and actually stands a serious chance against favorites The Daily Show and The Colbert Report.  But in the future, the variety category needs to be split up to allow room for brilliant shows like Key & Peele, Inside Amy Schumer, Conan, and Portlandia.  Because really Real Time and SNL do not belong in the same category.

I will post my predictions as we get closer to awards night!