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Favorite Film Friday: Cold Mountain

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By Isaac Mathewson
Directed and written by: Anthony Minghella
Starring: Jude Law, Nicole Kidman, Renee Zellweger, Philip Seymour Hoffman
A common theme for many love stories is love torn apart by disaster or war. This has been done many times before, most notably in Gone with the Wind and Casablanca. While those films are no doubt classics and carry this theme well, this film puts a different take on it.
 
Cold Mountain tells the fictional story of W.P Inman (Law) and Ada Monroe (Kidman), two lovers who have been separated by the American Civil War. Close to the end of the war, Inman deserts the Confederate Army after being wounded during the Siege of Petersburg and the rest of film shows his journey across hundreds of miles to reunite with his love in the fictional town of Cold Mountain, North Carolina. Along the way, he meets new people and gets into many misadventures, very similar to The Odyssey, as he evades The Home Guard, who are on the hunt for deserters and Union soldiers (referred to in this film as Yankees).
 
The film also shows Ada’s civilian perspective of the war as she struggles to run her farm alongside her close friend Ruby Thewes (Zellweger). Ada had met Inman on her first day at Cold Mountain and had a romance with him the day before he joined the Army. Since then, she consistently wrote letters begging him to desert the army and come home to her, despite his better judgement.
 
What makes the film works is the fact that it does not just show the visceral and violent aspects of the war, but also the psychological aspects. Throughout the film, every character grows through some kind of change. Inman grows from a working man to a soldier traumatized by war and wanting only to reunite with his love. Ada goes from a simple farm girl to a much more independent and strong woman who longs for everything to go back to normal. The film also does a great job depicting the South and how they are not just bad people who want slavery, but are everyday people who have lost so much in a war that they initially thought was going to be over quickly.
 
The film is absolutely gorgeous to look at. The North Carolina landscapes are absolutely breathtaking and the cinematography is incredible. I also really love the music by Gabriel Yared, especially the piece played during the opening battle sequence.
 
Speaking of battle sequences, the action scenes in this film are really well done. We really get the feeling that we are actually witnessing the civil war. We get the sense of both the physical and the psychological effects of the war, especially through the eyes of the characters. The opening scene alone is one of the greatest American Civil War battles put on screen along with the climax of Glory.
 
The most impressive aspect of the film is its cast. It features an all-star cast that includes Philip Seymour Hoffman, Natalie Portman, Donald Sutherland, and Giovanni Ribisi. All of these actors, while they come and go, are great to watch and they are all superb. The leads are also very impressive, but perhaps the one who steals the show is Renee Zellweger who won an Academy Award for her performance. She plays a very tough, but also a very emotional character who carries a lot of depth in her performance. This role, along with her role the previous year in Chicago, is a huge departure from her previous works in romantic comedies such asJerry Maguire and the Bridget Jones films.
 
While some may argue that the film has too many characters and fails to capture the true horrors of war, this film is no doubt beautiful and it features Oscar worthy performances. It remains a classic love story, as well as one of the best American Civil War movies.
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Favorite Film Friday: Ferris Bueller’s Day Off

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By Isaac Mathewson
Written and directed by: John Hughes
Starring: Matthew Broderick, Alan Ruck, Mia Sara, and Jennifer Grey
Sometimes I come across a movie that just puts me in a good mood. Coming from someone who suffers from chronic depression, I loved this movie when I first saw it. It made me forget about my problems and it was a lot of fun to watch. Today, I consider it not only a great comedy, but somewhat of a suicide prevention film.
 
Ferris Bueller (Broderick) is a popular, wise guy high school senior who decides one spring day to fake being sick from school in order to take his best friend Cameron (Ruck) and his girlfriend Sloane (Sara) on a day out on the city of Chicago. They spend the day going to a baseball game, an art museum, and lip syncing at a parade (one of the most famous scenes in the movie), all the while, they keep Ferris’s parents in the dark, who along with the rest of the town think that he is actually sick and have set up a “Save Ferris” campaign. There are only two people who suspect anything; Ferris’s principal Ed Rooney, played by Jeffrey Jones, who serves as the main antagonist, and Ferris’s sister Jeanie (Grey) who is immensely jealous of her brother’s popularity and the attention that he receives from his parents.
 
The film was directed and written by the late John Hughes, who is famous for classic works such as The Breakfast Club and Home Alone.Often times his movies balance both comedy and drama effectively. That is to say, his movies are generally comedies with dramatic moments to provide a theme for the movie. This film is no exception.
 
It does play as a playful comedy most of the time, but there are also moments in the film that actually make you think. Throughout the course of the film, Ferris tries desperately to make his depressed friend Cameron get up and enjoy life. There is a famous quote said by Ferris in the film that sums up the film’s message. He says; “Life moves pretty fast, and if you don’t stop to look around once in a while, you could miss it.” Ferris, or rather Hughes, is not telling us to ditch school and education for the sake of fun, he is saying that everyone needs to take a break once in a while and just enjoy life for what it is.
 
Scenes like this turn a mere entertainment film into a classic film with a philosophical message. However, that is obviously not the only reason to enjoy this film. It is just great fun. You laugh the whole time and by the end you feel like you know the characters and have spent the day off with them.
 
What makes the film stand out the most is the main character himself. Matthew Broderick, although 23 when he starred in this, is very convincing as a wise guy kid with a great charm in his character. He is the film really and not just because his name is in the title. He also has that sweet, recognizable voice that makes him very innocent.
 
All of the other characters are good too. Ruck is very likable and funny and Sara is very attractive and has a great personality. The principal is also funny in how he will go to ridiculous lengths to stop Ferris from “corrupting his students,” and in the end he gets his comeuppance. Grey is also very good as the sister who is immensely jealous of her brother. Even some of the minor characters such as Ferris’s parents or Charlie Sheen as the criminal that Jeanie meets at a police station are memorable and a ton of fun to watch.
 
While the soundtrack is mediocre and outdated, and some of the actors look far too old for their role (Ruck was 29 when he did this film and he was playing an 18 year old), this film has so much to treasure. It is funny, smart, and a lot of fun. It is one of those films that just leaves you in a good mood after seeing it, like you were with Ferris and his friends the whole time. The film to this day remains a coming-of-age classic, as well as arguably John Hughes’s best work.
A&E

Columnist gives his Oscar predictions

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By Isaac Mathewson
It has been two weeks since the 2013 Academy Awards were announced and while I think it is a good list (with a few snubs like Tom Hanks for not getting a Best Actor nomination for either Captain Phillips or Saving Mr. Banks) it is difficult to decide who will win. Here are my predictions for this year’s Oscars judging by critical statistics, previous award ceremonies, and my own perspective, but only in the major categories.
Best Supporting Actress
Sally Hawkins- Blue Jasmine
Jennifer Lawrence- American Hustle
Lupita Nyong’o- 12 Years a Slave
Julia Roberts- August: Osage County
June Squibb- Nebraska
All of these actresses are fantastic in their roles. How do we narrow down who will win? Although Squibb and Nyong’o are great, they are not household names and their roles are not memorable enough to secure a win. Hawkins is very good in her role as Cate Blanchet’s sister in Blue Jasmine but not much has been said about her performance from other critics. Julia Roberts and Jennifer Lawrence are the highest contenders from this year and the most famous. While Roberts gives one of her best performances in years, the Oscar will probably go to Lawrence judging by her popularity and the acclaim the film and her performance have received.
Best Supporting Actor
Barkhad Abdi- Captain Phillips
Bradley Cooper- American Hustle
Michael Fassbender- 12 Years a Slave
Jonah Hill- The Wolf of Wall Street
Jared Leto- Dallas Buyer’s Club
You couldn’t ask for a better list this year. While Abdi has received great acclaim for his performance, the film that was originally considered one of the year’s top Oscar contenders has sort of deteriorated in popularity in the months since it was released. Hill is great, but does not have the acclaim that the other actors have. Fassbender gives a ruthless performance in 12 Years a Slave and Bradley Cooper gives a funny and electric performance in American Hustle. However, the Academy just can’t overlook Leto as the transvestite roommate of Matthew McConaughey.
Best Actress
Amy Adams- American Hustle
Cate Blanchett- Blue Jasmine
Sandra Bullock- Gravity
Judi Dench- Philomena
Meryl Streep- August: Osage County
All great choices, who will take home the big one? Judi Dench is a fantastic veteran actress and gives a powerful performance in her film, but there is just no love for it. Bullock doesn’t have much of a chance because the Academy never gives Oscars to actors in science fiction movies. Adams had a major chance with her role, but her chances seem slim going up against Streep, one of the greatest actresses in history. However, even she is in steady competition against Blanchett, who gave one of the best performances of her career in her film. While it is a tough choice, it will probably go to Blanchett, because I’m sure by now even the Academy is tired of nominating Streep over and over again.
Best Actor
Christian Bale- American Hustle
Bruce Dern- Nebraska
Leonardo DiCaprio- The Wolf of Wall Street
Chiwetal Ejiofor- 12 Years a Slave
Matthew McConaughey- Dallas Buyers Club
This is perhaps the best selection this year, as well as the hardest. While Dern is a veteran actor, and is fantastic in his role, there is not enough love for the film to secure the win. Ejiofer has no doubt received much acclaim for his performance, but the Academy usually does not give Oscars to foreign actors. DiCaprio is very memorable and so is Bale, but even their performances cannot top that of McConaughey, who just won the Golden Globe in the film in which he plays an AIDS patient, who illegally sells pain relievers to other patients.
Best Original Screenplay
American Hustle- David O’ Russell
Blue Jasmine- Woody Allen
Dallas Buyers Club- Craig Borten
Her– Spike Jonze
Nebraska- Alexander Payne
While all great choices, it’s difficult to narrow them down. Perhaps the two biggest candidates are Her and American Hustle. While Her won the Golden Globe, it should not be a surprise if American Hustle takes home the Oscar for its electric dialogue and story.
Best Adapted Screenplay
12 Years a Slave– John Ridley
Before Midnight- Richard Linklater, Julie Delpy, and Ethan Hawke
Captain Phillips– Billy Ray
Philomena– Steve Coogan
The Wolf of Wall Street– Terence Winter
Again, all great choices. While all of them are memorable films and have great dialogue, it will most likely go to 12 Years a Slave because of the buzz it has been getting.
Best Director
Alfonso Cuaron- Gravity
Steve McQueen- 12 Years a Slave
Alexander Payne- Nebraska
David O. Russell- American Hustle
Martin Scorsese- The Wolf of Wall Street
While every director made a fantastic film, the Oscar this year will probably go to Cuaron, because of how influential his filmmaking is in Gravity.
Best Picture
12 Years a Slave
American Hustle
Captain Phillips
Dallas Buyer’s Club
Gravity
Her
Nebraska
Philomena
The Wolf of Wall Street
Most of these films don’t have a chance at winning. The two biggest candidates are 12 Years a Slave and American Hustle. Although the former is very powerful, the big one will go to American Hustle for its powerhouse writing and performances.
The 86th Academy Awards will take place on March 2, 2014. Judging by the nominees, it should be a good show.
A&E

Favorite Film Friday: South Park: Bigger, Longer, and Uncut

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Directed by: Trey Parker
Written by: Trey Parker and Matt Stone
Starring: Trey Parker, Matt Stone, Isaac Hayes, and Mary Kay Bergman
Release date: June 30, 1999
Oh how I do love South Park. Earlier this year, I wrote a column about why the show is comedic genius and how influential it is to me and to our culture. This may be somewhat of a cliché, but I believe that its film adaptation truly is a work of art and it may just be one of the best animated films in history as well as one of the best musicals.
In the film, Stan, Kyle, Cartman, and Kenny go see an R-rated movie starring their favorite Canadian duo: Terrence and Philip, and the film’s foul language has “warped their fragile little minds.” Soon, they and the rest of America’s youth start swearing like sailors and as usual, the people overreact to the situation. Within days, the parents of South Park, led by Kyle’s mom Sheila, start a war between the United States and Canada, which will shape the fate of history forever. In order to save the day, the boys form a resistance movement; La Resistance, in the hopes of showing their parents just how much trouble they have caused.
There are also two subplots in the film. One involves Stan trying to win Wendy’s heart over a young British genius named Gregory. The second involves Satan himself and his struggling relationship with his homosexual lover Saddam Hussein, in a very over-the-top portrayal.
The film’s concept is borrowed from a previous South Park episode Death in which the parents of South Park protest against the show Terrence and Philip. The film does satirize a lot of major issues with today’s society and the problems that people cause in an attempt to keep their children from watching anything that they find inappropriate. This obviously backfires when they realize the lengths that their actions have gone and how they have made things worse for their kids when they were initially trying to protect them.
The screenplay for this film is fantastic. It is extremely funny and it is philosophical at the same time. The characters are all great as usual, even if some just come and go, and others do not even get a line. This was released in the middle of South Park’s third season, which I believe is when the show was funnier, so it has a very different feel whenever people think of the South Park we know now. This was back in the time when the kids were in third grade and were much more naïve, and it acts more of a surreal comedy than a social satire.
The film is a musical. Trey Parker, who majored in music in college, writes the songs for this film which are parodies of classic musicals likeLes Miserables, Oklahoma, and the Disney Renaissance movies. There are classic songs like What Would Brian Boitano Do? Mountain Town, and the Academy Award nominated Blame Canada. All of them capture the mood of the film, whether it is supposed to be happy, motivating, or even sad, at least in a comedic way. The soundtrack is one of the best in film history.
Younger fans tend not to be as attracted to this film. They seem to be more into the more modern and satirical South Park than the more surreal classic South Park. Like I said before, this was when the show was much different and it really depends on your comedic taste to say if you will enjoy this movie. For me, it is a very funny movie with memorable songs and a great message and it is as funny now as it was 15 years ago. It works well as not only a good adaptation of a great show, but also of a great film on its own.  It remains my favorite animated film.
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‘Her’ proves to be both funny and heartbreaking

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By Isaac Mathewson

Directed and Written by: Spike Jonze

Starring: Joaquin Phoenix, Amy Adams, Scarlett Johansson, and Rooney Mara

Spike Jonze has had a reputation as being one of Hollywood’s most interesting directors. His films Being John Malkovich and Adaptation have been hailed for being very bizarre while telling compelling stories that balance comedy and drama. However, this is his first screenplay and that is a much bigger stretch for him than just simply being the one who brings this film to life.

Luckily, he proves to be just as capable of writing as he is directing.

Her tells the story of introverted writer Theodore Twombly (Phoenix) in the futuristic (about 10 or 20 years from now) Los Angeles, who after divorcing his wife Catherine (Mara) purchases an artificially intelligent operating system (or OS), which has the unique ability to develop its own personality. The OS, named Samantha (voiced by Johansson), becomes friends with Theodore and their relationship begins to grow from friendship to love. However, things start to get really complicated between the two because she is a computer and not a person. Things get even more complicated when Theodore realizes Samantha’s secrets.

Over the course of the film, there is a subplot involving Theodore’s neighbor Amy (Adams) who is also going through a tough time in her life and is too dating an operating system. She serves as the secondary female protagonist in the film.

One of the most impressive qualities about the film is its depiction of the not-so-distant future and a world that is run by technology. What separates Her from other films of this kind is that it shows us what it would be like if a computer could not only develop a personality, but also feel and possibly love. This would be the equivalent of Siri being able to love.

The film looks really nice. Its cinematography and visuals make it seem like we have been transported to this time period. Apart from the OS’s, there are virtual simulators that people can purchase and they act as games and there are appliances that you can operate without buttons.

The acting in this film is superb. Phoenix has always been one of my favorite actors and he has shown that he is capable of both drama and comedy in the same film. Adams and Mara are also very good and they provide the audience the chance to know other characters and not just technological ones. Johansson is especially good. It is a shame that the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences does not give Oscar nominations to voice actors because she sure would be a good candidate if they did. She seems to be much more than a simple computer, but her own likable person with a good personality.

One major criticism I have is the ending. Without giving anything away, it is very sudden and there is not a lot of buildup to it. This prevents an otherwise good film from being a masterpiece, but it does not make the film bad, just not perfect.

Despite its flaws, I highly recommend this film. Fans of Jonze and Phoenix, or any of the other actors will probably get something out of it and even if you aren’t, its themes and ideas will probably fascinate you. This film will likely be a big contender for this Oscar season..

Motion Picture Rating: R

Strong language and brief graphic nudity

My rating: A