awards, Documentary, Foreign Film, Movie Reviews, Movies, Oscar Awards

7 DAYS OF OSCARS: DAY ONE ~ “BEST FOREIGN FILM & BEST DOCUMENTARY”

02/21/2016 Peggy Marie 3 Comments

Well, Well, Well.. here we are!! At that time of year once again where I give a countdown of my top Oscar categories, hence the title “7 Days of Oscars” – This year I’m starting off gently, and I’ve added in two categories ~ Best Foreign Language Film & Best Documentary Feature ~ and I’m starting off with those two. I’m giving who I think the winner will be and what would be my pick – because they don’t always necessarily coincide with each other!! 😀

BEST FOREIGN LANGUAGE FILM

Embrace of the Serpent
I did like this film as it was truly interesting to me. Not a pick though.

Mustang – MY PICK
Simply LOVED this film! By far, one of the best movies I saw this year period.

Son of Saul – WINNER
People seem to love this movie. As someone who was told many camp stories as a child by family members who had been in them, it rang very false to me. Didn’t really like the film at all.

Theeb
While this movie told a good story, I just didn’t gravitate towards it as much as I did others.

A War
This is the only one I haven’t seen yet, though I plan to this week as it’s the last one on my list to do so.

BEST DOCUMENTARY FEATURE
Quick note – Documentaries are never easy watches.. They are hard and quite depressing, though mostly eye-opening, they can be difficult to watch – this years picks are no different.

Amy – WINNER
Sad & Heartbreaking are just two of the words I would use to describe this doc on the life of Amy Winehouse. While showcasing how beautiful her voice was, it also shows how at times, some just can’t handle the trappings of fame that go along with a gift like this.

Cartel Land – MY PICK
This would actually be my pick for best documentary and while it has a chance at winning, Amy will probably be the one. This story is simply put and very straight-forward showing that even behind the good, there is bad. And it shows us all, it will never end.

The Look of Silence
Possible one of the hardest watches of the whole movie season for me. It might sound silly, but I even had to put down my popcorn I was so disturbed and more than one person left the screening. The true evil of people never fails to boggle ones mind.

What Happened, Miss Simone?
Well done portrait of Nina Simon’s life. While I wasn’t completely familiar with all her music as it was quite before my time, I knew who she was. The accounting of her struggle with mental illness & being banished by promoters for her support of the race struggles at the time is shown in some great footage.

Winter on Fire: Ukraine’s Fight for Freedom
Also haven’t seen this one as I just couldn’t do three movies in a row on this day of screenings. It’s just too hard sometimes with the depressing nature of documentaries. I can only handle so much. I will see it this week tho.

1980's, Biography, Comedy, Drama, Movie Reviews, Movies, Uncategorized

REVIEW: “EDDIE THE EAGLE” (2016) ~ Post Q & A: Taron Egerton & Dir: Dexter Fletcher

02/20/2016 Peggy Marie 12 Comments

“Eddie the Eagle” is a story about an underdog in every sense of the word.
The story follows Eddie Edwards (Taron Egerton) from the time he’s a little kid with dreams of going to the Olympics, through his many assorted set-backs, and all the people around him who saw only failure in his future. It also shows the moments when he got helping hands when he most needed it. This movie is about his struggle and for all his sometimes annoying flaws, Eddie is a character that you just cannot dislike.

Edwards, while maybe a somewhat good downhill skier, narrowly missed the Great Britain team for that event for the 1984 Games. To improve his chances to qualify for Calgary in 1988, he moves to Lake Placid, NY to train and enter bigger races, but he quickly finds himself short on funds. To realize his Olympic dream, he decided to switch to ski jumping for reasons of cost and easier qualification as there were no other British ski jumpers with whom to compete for a place.

He was handicapped by his weight—at about 82 kg (181 lbs), more than 9 kg (20 lbs) heavier than the next heaviest competitor — and by his lack of financial support for training as he was totally self-funded. Another problem was that he was very longsighted, requiring him to wear thick eyeglasses at all times, which sometimes fogged to such an extent that he could not see. Maybe due to all this, Eddie seems a bit dim though his spirit of wanting to be in the Olympics never dies, even as his father tells him his only choice in life is to become a plasterer such as himself.

Taron Egerton does an excellent job here and really assumes the part of Eddie. Hugh Jackman as ex-downhill skier-turned-coach Bronson Peary puts in a good performance, and manages not to overpower Eddie’s character. Eddie’s parents are also well played, his mother Janette Edwards played by Jo Hartley, gives a particularly poignant portrayal of the never-ending support of a mother. Eddie’s father, played by Keith Allen, is a bit of a caricature, but well acted. Actually, a lot of the supporting cast of characters are caricatures, especially the other ski-jumpers/coaches and the British Olympians/Olympic Committee. But to an extent that serves to emphasize the struggle for Eddie. Also, for those intent on seeing this film for Christopher Walken as Warren Sharp, he has wonderful, albeit, very small role that has impact.

While the struggle of Eddie is emphasized throughout the film, there is also a good dose of comedy thrown into the mix as well. The tone is upbeat throughout, even when Eddie has setbacks. While some of the failures are played for laughs, it’s mostly Eddie’s perseverance that makes this film endearing. It also feels like we’re laughing with Eddie rather than at him, since it seems Eddie’s in on the joke.

There’s not much to dislike about the film. I absolutely loved the music choices including the score and some timely 80’s song choices. Sure, I think the stakes could have been raised a bit here or there to give an even bigger emotional moment, but I can’t say the film didn’t already bring me to teary eyes at some points. And that to me, is an experience at the movies.

Random tidbit that Taron told us all: Stay tuned for the song at the end credits as the overlying song playing is actually Taron Egerton & Hugh Jackman singing together..yep..you read that right.. Taron & Hugh are singing the closing credits song. I wouldn’t have known it had he not said so.

Grade: B

@pegsatthemovies

POST Q & A WITH TARON EGERTON & DIR: DEXTER FLETCHER

Hugh Jackman was also supposed to be in attendance, but didn’t make it. Taron more than made up for it as he was nice, fun & entertaining as was Dexter Fletcher. This guy..being my breakout star of 2015.. is just as personable as I thought he would be when I first saw him in the fantastic “Kingsman:The Secret Service”.

Started off with the basics noting that since the project was greenlit till it’s release, it’s been a short 18mos. All a very fast shoot of 8 weeks in Germany at Garmisch-Partenkirchen – the same place where the real Eddie Edwards trained – also with some being done at Pinewood Studios.

Taron had a chance to meet with the real Eddie before & during filming and when he went to the very first screening of the finished film, he sat next to Eddie, which made him very nervous as it’s harder to portray someone who is still alive. At the end of the screening, Eddie was so moved by Taron’s performance and the film, he was actually crying. Taron noted what a fantastic feeling that was.

Dexter Fletcher is quite the character and entertained us thoroughly before & after the film with his banter with Taron. Both noting, as I did, that Hugh Jackman is really good in this role and a very big man! ha! Also, one-week into production they were told no actors could ski at all ~ so they got a bunch of crazy stunt guys – noting that downhill skiers really have to be a bit crazy to do this sport – who more than willing to do it. Except for Hugh, where at the end of his run, he is actually skiing. As Taron puts it “It’s sickening how good Hugh is at EVERYTHING!”

Fun note from Dexter – in real life, the Finnish skier, Matti Nykänen, actually became a male stripper, then a singer and sadly, turned to alcohol and is now known for some, shall we say, ‘colourful antics’.

Christopher Walken was cast because they had to get someone who coud make Hugh Jackman weak in the knees.. and clearly they did.

One theme that is repeated throughout the movie, is the quote from Pierre de Coubertin (father of the modern Olympics), “The important thing in the Olympic Games is not to win, but to take part; the important thing in Life is not triumph, but the struggle; the essential thing is not to have conquered but to have fought well.” It’s just a little something we all could use as a reminder at times and maybe apply to our own everyday lives.
Cheers..

Review Screening: Thursday, January 28, 2016 ~ Courtesy of 20th Century Fox Nationwide release: Friday, February 26, 2016

Action, Action Adventure, Comedy, Marvel Comics, Movie Reviews, Movies, Sci Fi

REVIEW: “DEADPOOL” (2016) 20th Century Fox

02/10/2016 Peggy Marie 16 Comments

For those of you who, like me, who might not be so familiar with the “DEADPOOL” series of Marvel, just going to give you a heads up ~ this movie is extremely over the top graphic in terms of sex, violence and humor, and that’s exactly what I loved about it! What a breath of fresh Marvel air this movie is. By far the one of the funniest ones from the Marvel Universe I’ve seen since…well Guardians of the Galaxy, and I simply loved that one. But it is also the bloodiest, and well deserving of it’s R rating – take note – this one is not for the kids.

But alas, there are many things I’m not going to tell you in this review because as any true Marvel fan should know.. spoilers are not cool. I will however tell you from moment one of the opening ‘introductions’ of the cast (which you MUST take note of) you will be rolling with laughter in your seats.

Speaking of that cast of characters, Wade Wilson (Ryan Reynolds) is a skilled special forces operative turned mercenary. And he talks a lot, a whole lot, doesn’t really ever stop! To some this be annoying, while to the rest, myself included, it’s like music to our ears, mainly because of the hilarity of everything he says. But you have to really pay attention to keep up with every innuendo that’s flying at you. And trust me, he breaks all the boundries – meaning he’ll talk to you the audience as if you’re there. But what’s even more epic than that is the fact that he is AWARE of the universe that he’s in and the universe that you’re in, and those two collide in the most epic way possible. And while Reynolds body really is sheer perfection, the fact that yes Ryan Reynolds’ character, Wade Wilson, makes fun of Ryan Reynolds the actor and also mocks Ryan Reynolds’ previous poor decisions like Green Lantern and People Magazine’s Sexiest Man Alive cover, is just sheer amusement.

Morena Baccarin is Vanessa, a prostitute who shares his fondness for dark humor steps up to the plate well here as the girl Wade/Deadpool falls in love with. T.J. Miller as Wade’s sometimes side-kick appropriately named Weasel, adds in some good back and forth banter. But once Colossus (v/o Stefan Kapicic) and Negasonic Teenage Warhead (Brianna Hildebrand) show up and the battle between them and Angel Dust (Gina Carano) and Ajax aka Francis (Ed Skrein) is truly the only time the film turns a teensy bit cliché. And by now you know my ‘villain motto’ because yes, “you’re only as good as your villain” ~ well Skrein, who let’s face it, wasn’t so good in the Transporter film, really brings his A-game here as a truly good love-to-hate character showing us that action films really do seem to be his forte.

I think everyone is going to have blast with this one as it’s smart, brash, fast and a whole lot of fun! And of course it goes without saying – STAY FOR THE END CREDITS – you won’t regret it as after all, its a Marvel film riiight??!! 😀

Grade: B+
@pegsatthemovies

Review Screening: Thursday, February 4th, 2016 ~ Courtesy of 20th Century Fox
Nationwide release: Friday, February 12, 2016

Action, Comedy, Dark Comedy, Horror, Movie Reviews, Movies, Romance

REVIEW: “PRIDE AND PREJUDICE AND ZOMBIES” (2016) Lionsgate

02/06/2016 Peggy Marie 9 Comments

Featuring a talented, mostly younger British cast of actors that I truly like and admire, I must admit I have been looking forward to this take on Jane Austen/Seth Grahame-Smith’s mash-up of “Pride and Predjudice and Zombies” for some time now. And yes, it delivers – if of course what you are looking for is a sure-fun little take on an iconic story. Here the zombie apocalypse has landed in the middle of Austen’s prim and proper story, including the now-famous attraction between Elizabeth Bennett (Lily James) and Mr. Darcy (Sam Riley).

Anyone expecting the seriousness of Ms. Austen’s 1813 novel will be disappointed ~ hence the title should have provided a pretty solid hint of that to most. While her characters and general story line act as a structure here, I expect most critics to destroy this one because it’s made simply for fun, not for art.

Of course, any Pride and Prejudice spin-off ~ even one with zombies ~ must pay meticulous homage to Elizabeth Bennett and Mr. Darcy. In this versions, it turns out that Elizabeth and her four sisters are highly trained warriors raised to survive and fight against the undead. Mr. Darcy is billed as a zombie hunter and protector of Mr. Bingley, the rich bachelor hooked on Jane Bennett. We follow suit on the original story as things are still made topsy-turvy by the devious Mr. Wickham, Lady Catherine de Bourgh, and especially the flamboyant Parson Collins. The interactions between the characters juggle between loyalty, romantic attraction, emotional chaos and hand-to-hand combat – with just enough comedic elements that most viewers will find plenty of opportunities to get some good laughs in. Make no mistake though, this is no ‘Walking Dead’ rip-off and it’s nowhere near as gory with it’s details.

Lily James and Bella Heathcote in Screen Gems' PRIDE AND PREJUDICE AND ZOMBIES. — Lily James and Bella Heathcote in Screen Gems’ PRIDE AND PREJUDICE AND ZOMBIES.

And yes, this talented cast is all in. They play it mostly straight to achieve the balance between somber and silly. Lily James and Sam Riley again, are both fun to watch as Elizabeth and Darcy. They are the film’s best fighters with both swords and words. Jane (Bella Heathcoate) is “the pretty one”, who is wooed by the simply stunning Douglas Booth as Mr. Bingley.

Lena Headey makes an impression in her limited screen time as an eye-patched Lady Catherine de Bourgh, and Jack Huston is well cast as the devious Mr. Wickham. Screen veterans Charles Dance and Sally Phillips take on the role of parents to the five Bennett daughters, but it’s Matt Smith, who turns the film fun with his comedic timing and his unconventional twist on the oddball Parson Collins, who pretty much steals each of his scenes.

Even though this entertaining film offers plenty of fun with laughs, action and romance, I am hoping it doesn’t kick off a new zombie-adaptation trend as that would truly get annoying and mundane. Personally, I just like to be entertained, even sometimes in the silliest ways like this film did for me.

Grade: C+
@pegsatthemovies

Nationwide release on Friday, February 5, 2016

1950's, Comedy, Drama, Musical, Uncategorized

REVIEW: “HAIL, CAESAR!” (2016) – Universal Pictures

02/04/2016 Peggy Marie 9 Comments

All Hail Caesar!!!

This Coen Brothers satire of old school Hollywood is a perfectly done mix of what our imagination might conjure up of what the Aqua-musicals or dance sequence films from the ‘Golden Age of Hollywood’ could be if they were done today.

The film centers around physical production/studio head Eddie Mannix, played by Josh Brolin. Mannix is a fixer at the fictitious Capital Pictures in the 1950’s. This involves him dealing with numerous egos, including their box-office superstar Baird Whitlock (George Clooney) and Aqua~movie starlet, DeeAnna Moran (Scarlett Johannson). Not long after the film begins, Whitlock is kidnapped and Mannix begins his quest to get him back with some surprising help along the way from young western actor, Hobie Doyle (Alden Ehrenreich).

With a top notch billed cast, you do tend to notice that some of the names receiving top billing, are only in it for short pieces of time or literally there for only a ‘blink-and you missed it’ moment – as such is the case with Jonah Hill’s character Joseph Silverman. Besides that odd glitching, all the supporting cast as a whole are just plain good and you don’t get a bad performance from anyone as even the normally so wooden Scarlett Johannson plays her small part well and unannoying. Aside from the names mentioned, you’ll also see Ralph Fiennes being spot on as director Laurence Laurentz, Tilda Swinton doing hysterical double time as bickering twin gossip columnist sisters, Thora & Thessaly Thacker. Channing Tatum for whom I must say, I love where he is taking his career with roles like this, truly dazzles with his singing and dancing number that is so beautifully done it makes you not only yearn for those times of past, but want them back if he keeps doing this.

Brolin is fantastic in the lead role and turns what could be a very unlikable character into a very endearing and sympathetic one. The real find among the cast is Ehrenreich. The character of Hobie Doyle is simple enough but Ehrenreich manages to turn him into one of the more amusing and interesting characters you’ll find in this film.

All in all I truly enjoyed the film as a whole and I’m guessing all Coen Bros. fans will thoroughly enjoy it. However as a second note, my guest didn’t like it as much and he made a good point. That he didn’t ‘get’ all the innuendos of some of it and said the general public as a whole might not either as it might have that ‘going over their heads’ problem.

For me, I highly recommend this Golden-Age romp through the glory days of Hollywood..

Grade: B-

@pegsatthemovies

Review Screening: Tuesday, February 2, 2016 ~ Courtesy of Universal Pictures

Nationwide release: Friday, February 5, 2016

Uncategorized

Bereavement Leave..

01/17/2016 Peggy Marie 20 Comments

Hello all. I will be taking a week or two off from reviewing and reading all of your wonderful reviews and posts that I always enjoy so much. I’ve tried to keep up but the last 4 1/2 mos. have been really rough for me with my wonderful, beautiful Momsy becoming ill and passing away this past Thursday. I feel honoured to have been able to have spent her last hours here on earth with her and I know that she is out of pain & can only hope she knew I was there with her. We all think our moms are the best in the world, and they all are..but mine really was and I miss my wonderful Momsy more than anything. She loved movies and though our tastes were so completely different (she loved romantic & sappy! 🙂 ) we always went to movies together and it was our tradition to do so every Christmas.

I will be back soon as she instilled in me these few months to continue to do what I love and not stop living life and loving movies and the beach. So with that..I will just say I love you Momsy and will miss you so so much…and I WILL be back soon with some more fun reviews! Peace.

Uncategorized

GOLDEN GLOBES: MY PICKS & THE WINNERS

01/10/2016 Peggy Marie 9 Comments

(Cue into me singing) “It’s the most wonderful time of the yyeeeaarrr…”
Yep..in case you haven’t guessed it already.. it’s Awards season. And the first big event is the Golden Globes this Sunday. It’s truly my favourite of all Awards shows with the best of both worlds, Film & TV, being there – and it’s a lot of categories so I just picked most of the major ones to choose from. I will just give a rundown of top categories – who I think the winner will be and what would be my pick – because they don’t always necessarily coincide with each other!! 😀

Best Motion Picture – Drama

Always a tough category – 2 films here that I am having trouble choosing over.. and what will actually win as last year they picked ‘Boyhood’ (ZZZzzzzzzz) so truly anything is possible.

Carol

Mad Max: Fury Road
Ohhh how I love this movie. It’s fast, entertaining, and just an all around thrill ride..

The Revenant ~ MY PICK
When I saw this film I was completely and utterly blown away as I didn’t think Inarritu could outdo ‘Birdman’.. he did.

Room
Why this movie is even here on not under a Law & Order:SVU episode on TV, just still boggles my mind.

Spotlight
Very good and VERY gutsy movie to bring this subject literally back into the spotlight. Just not a winner for me, but it could very well do so here.

Best Motion Picture – Comedy or Musical

The Big Short ~ MY PICK
This film is dark comedy at it’s best. You don’t know whether to laugh or cry and the acting is just spectacular all the way around.

Joy
Great cast, though it’s basically a story about a mop.

The Martian ~ WINNER
Fun fun movie here.. Completely entertaining and definitely a good watch.

Spy
One of those comedies that you just don’t think can work, but it does and it was pretty funny.

Trainwreck – yes I did like this movie a lot and it made me laugh ..a lot..maybe because you see a bit of yourself in something, I’m not sure, but with just the right amount of funny & sappy, which is hard to do.. It was a hit for me.

Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture – Drama
The fact that Charlize Theron isn’t nominated is a pisser for me – but I regress..into trying to pick a winner here.

Cate Blanchett, Carol ~ MY PICK
I liked her in ‘Truth’ and haven’t been able to catch this yet but the fact that she can give 2 really good performances like this a year.. enough said.

Brie Larson, Room ~ WINNER
Love Brie, don’t think this is anywhere close to being a performance or film that should be here..but hey..maybe she will share the award with Mariska Hargitay from L & O:SVU if she wins.

Rooney Mara, Carol

Saoirse Ronan, Brooklyn
While the film might’ve had it’s cheesy moment factors, Saoirse was the standout. Definitely a likable performance.

Alicia Vikander, The Danish Girl
The film was sweet, but very slow. Didn’t stop both lead performances from being very good.

Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture – Drama

Bryan Cranston, Trumbo

Leonardo DiCaprio, The Revenant ~ MY PICK/WINNER
There is not even a question in my mind here that this is Leo’s year. Hands down the best performance out there.

Michael Fassbender, Steve Jobs
Fassbender’s performance saved this from being a very bland film, but that doesn’t make it a winner.

Eddie Redmayne, The Danish Girl
Again, 2 great lead performances, but Eddie will not repeat this year.

Will Smith, Concussion

Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture – Comedy or Musical

Jennifer Lawrence, Joy
Decent enough performance, but not enough to garner an award.

Melissa McCarthy, Spy
This is a comedy category, and she is one of the funniest out there. With a few misses under her belt, this was a fantastic reminder to us all how funny she really is.

Amy Schumer, Trainwreck ~ MY PICK
I loved this movie and her in it. She is after all, comedy’s ‘it girl’ right now.

Maggie Smith, The Lady in the Van
Wasn’t able to catch this one as it was in and out of theatres in the blink of an eye.

Lily Tomlin, Grandma ~ WINNER
This was a very middle of the road, sweet film. Was it a fantastic performance that will go down in history..no, but it was fun enough for this.

Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture – Comedy or Musical

Christian Bale, The Big Short ~ MY PICK
Absolutely Bale at his best. While it was a complete ensemble cast, he stood out and while he has competition, he should win this.

Steve Carell, The Big Short ~ WINNER
Because Carell has really stretched himself in his last few roles, I gotta give it to him, he was good here – and yes has a big chance at winning. I just give Bale the slightest edge in performances.

Matt Damon, The Martian
This was a highly entertaining film and Damon carries it well.

Al Pacino, Danny Collins
Clearly just filling in the blanks here of needing someone to fill out the category.

Mark Ruffalo, Infinitely Polar Bear
Same with this one.. ZZZzzzzzzz

Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in Any Motion Picture

Jane Fonda, Youth

Jennifer Jason Leigh, The Hateful Eight
There were times I just thought ‘wow, JJL is knocking it out of the park here’ then there were more times when I thought ‘oh, no no she’s not, she’s kinda annoying me’ so this is a give & take for me.

Helen Mirren, Trumbo

Alicia Vikander, Ex Machina
Why everyone loves this ‘performance’ so much I do not know.. except that I have noticed it’s pretty much based on guys under the age of say 35 that make up the bulk of the crowd..It was a mostly CGI-based character who..well.. never mind.

Kate Winslet, Steve Jobs ~ MY PICK/WINNER
Another great job by Kate, though I wasn’t to fond of her trying on the accent.

Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in Any Motion Picture
This is by far the toughest category for me as truly every single one of these performances is worthy of the award.. Truly, they are.

Paul Dano, Love & Mercy
Being such a huge Beach Boys fan, and knowing that Brian Wilson is truly a musical genius of his time, I found Paul Dano to once again, just be extraordinary here.

Idris Elba, Beasts of No Nation
Does it go without saying how fantastic Idris was playing such a horrible character.. if it doesn’t, he just was.

Mark Rylance, Bridge of Spies
While I like the film, there was only one person that truly stood out for me performance-wise in it and that person was Mark Rylance. Many don’t know who he is as he’s mostly done a lot of theatre in England, but I’ve been lucky enough to have spied his talents before. He’s got a fantastic chance here.

Michael Shannon, 99 Homes ~ MY PICK
I was treated to a screening of this film where Michael Shannon did the Q & A afterwards. If I hadn’t loved him so much already, I might have just gone head over heels. At that moment, I thought he had it in the bag for sure.

Sylvester Stallone, Creed ~ WINNER
Oh Sly.. How I’ve pretty much seen all your stuff, whether good or bad. But I remember how no one thought you could act.. I kept telling them you could, and then came ‘Copland’ where you showed them that. Has there been more misses than hits…sure there has, but damn you were so good here. He could pull at everyone’s heartstrings like he did mine and take this.

Best Director – Motion Picture

Todd Haynes, Carol

Alejandro G. Inarritu, The Revenant ~ MY PICK
What can I say here.. Did I think ‘Birdman’ could be outdone..no I didn’t think so. But yet here with The Revenant it was. Can Alejandro make it 2 in a row is yet to be seen. But it would be well deserved.

Tom McCarthy, Spotlight
Good movie, though not a winner for me.

George Miller, Mad Max: Fury Road ~ WINNER
Just truly an incredible film. We were brought back to a Mad Max of old, the kind where you really didn’t even have time to breathe for the first 15 minutes of the film. This film was just epic. It’s such a close one here for me.

Ridley Scott, The Martian
Again, really fun, entertaining picture – but not on the same level as Mad Max & The Revenant. It’s just not.

Best Television Series – Drama

Empire (Fox) ~ WINNER
While I get the appeal of this show to some, after about 5 episodes I was done.

Game of Thrones (HBO)
A not-so-great season of one of my favourite shows has me not picking it this year.

Mr. Robot (USA) ~ MY PICK
As I told everyone about this show, I realized something. Worse name for possibly one of the best new shows to come up on TV in the past year.

Narcos (Netflix)
Only was able to watch one episode and it was a fantastic one. But I can’t truly judge off of that.

Outlander (Starz)
I’ve only bee able to see a few episodes of this as I don’t have Starz. It’s appeal is clear to me though!

Best Television Series – Comedy or Musical
This category is simple for me.. I can’t pick one as I’ve only watched a few of them and the only one I truly liked is Mozart. ah well..

Casual (Hulu)

Mozart in the Jungle (Amazon) ~ WINNER

Orange Is the New Black (Netflix)

Silicon Valley (HBO)

Transparent (Amazon)

Veep (HBO)

Best Performance by an Actress in a Miniseries or Motion Picture Made for Television

Kirsten Dunst, Fargo
While the show is odd, but oddly captivating, I still find that I can miss a few episodes here and there and not lose the storyline. I would’ve have probably picked Jean Smart’s performance for the show though.

Lady Gaga, America Horror Story: Hotel
Why she is nominated here I’m not quite sure..again category filler maybe because while I like Gaga a ton, she is just herself in this show, of which I could only handle a few eps.

Sarah Hay, Flesh and Bone

Felicity Huffman, American Crime
I couldn’t get that into this show, but the acting was not the reason why.. Felicity was fantastic.

Queen Latifah, Bessie ~ WINNER
I will confess to having this on my DVR and having only watched 1/2 of it so far.. #badme but I’m loving what I’ve seen!

Best Performance by an Actor in a Miniseries or Motion Picture Made for Television

Is this a trick category/question of who should win??!! Hellloooooo

Idris Elba, Luther ~ WINNER/MY PICK

Oscar Isaac, Show Me a Hero
Love Oscar Isaac, and while he was of course good here, the mini-series as a whole was sorely lacking.

David Oyelowo, Nightingale
I’m not Davie Oyelowo’s biggest fan, but this was definitely a pretty darn good creepy performance..but definitely not enough for a win.

Mark Rylance, Wolf Hall
Mr. Rylance was really good in this, but again, sadly the series itself was soooo bloody slow – even with Damian Lewis added it, it was a slow watch.

Patrick Wilson, Fargo
This year’s Fargo, I loved the cast more than the first one (except for Allison Tolman whom I sorely missed), but there was definitely something amiss with the story itself.

Best Performance by an Actress in a Television Series – Drama
Will just pick who I think will win here..I have no ‘My Pick’ in this category.

Caitriona Balfe, Outlander

Viola Davis, How to Get Away With Murder

Eva Green, Penny Dreadful
The show lives up to it’s name – and I’ve just not understood the ‘Eva Green good actress’ fascination.

Taraji P. Henson, Empire ~ WINNER
While I’ve loved Taraji in so many things, this just misses the mark for me somewhat. yeah..I know, she’s so over-the-top you’re supposed to love it. (shrugs)

Robin Wright, House of Cards
Having only seen 2 eps. of this show.. hard for me to judge this.

Best Performance by an Actor in a Television Series – Drama

Jon Hamm, Mad Men ~ MY PICK/WINNER
Hands down – no questions asked.

Rami Malek, Mr. Robot
Love Rami Malek, and he truly encapsulated this role so well. If it wasn’t the year of Jon Hamm. I’ve a feeling we’ll be seeing Rami’s name in this category again.

Wagner Moura, Narcos
Good show, good performance of the little bit I’ve seen of it.

Bob Odenkirk, Better Call Saul
This is a definite no for me. While I loved the character on Breaking Bad, here he does nothing for me. Didn’t even care enough to finish out the 1st season..and I tried. I really tried.

Liev Schreiber, Ray Donovan
Liev is amazing in this show. Never had a character as messed up as this make me pretty much wanna cheer him and yes, even hang out with him for a bit. If only Jon Hamm wasn’t here..riiiggghtt!!

Best Performance by an Actress in a Television Series – Comedy or Musical
Again, will pick a winner, but no ‘My Pick’ as I just don’t watch enough of any of these shows.

Rachel Bloom, My Crazy Ex-Girlfriend

Jamie Lee Curtis, Scream Queens

Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Veep

Gina Rodriguez, Jane the Virgin

Lily Tomlin, Grace and Frankie ~ WINNER

Best Performance by an Actor in a Television Series – Comedy or Musical
Even though I also don’t watch all of these enough..I’m going to do picks without comment because of how funny I think Rob Lowe is in his new show.

Aziz Ansari, Master of None

Gael Garcia Bernal, Mozart in the Jungle

Rob Lowe, The Grinder ~ MY PICK

Patrick Stewart, Blunt Talk

Jeffrey Tambor, Transparent ~ WINNER

Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in a Series, Miniseries or Motion Picture Made for Television

Uzo Aduba, Orange Is the New Black

Joanne Froggatt, Downton Abbey

Regina King, American Crime

Judith Light, Transparent

Maura Tierney, The Affair ~ MY PICK/WINNER
After the second episode of the new season, I said she deserved an award for where she took this character.

Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Series, Miniseries or Motion Picture Made for Television

Alan Cumming, The Good Wife ~ MY PICK

Damian Lewis, Wolf Hall ~ WINNER

Ben Mendelsohn, Bloodline

Tobias Menzies, Outlander

Christian Slater, Mr. Robot

Uncategorized

REVIEW: “THE REVENANT” ~ POST Q & A ~ LEONARDO DICAPRIO/DIR: ALEJANDRO GONZALEZ INARRITU/PROD: STEVE GOLAN & MARY PARENT

01/08/2016 Peggy Marie 4 Comments

Even though it’s been 2 months since I’ve seen it ~ today is the official release date of this FANTASTIC film! Plus a Q & A w/Leo & Alejandro – well.. I just had to re-post! Happy 2016 movie viewing all! Cheers!

Peggy at the Movies

Since I was lucky enough to be part of the first ever audience to see this remarkable picture with Leonardo DiCaprio & Alejandro González Iñárritu doing the post Q & A along with producers Steve Golan & Mary Parent ~ I think I can safely tell you all…Prepare to be blown away as I’ve personally never seen a film of this magnitude in my life. And here I thought Alejandro couldn’t outdo last years epic ‘Birdman’, well I was wrong. He can and he did.

Along with the sure-fire Oscar gold performance of Leo DiCaprio here, ‘The Revenant’ follows the true story of the epic adventures of frontiersman Hugh Glass. It is also about someone trying to survive using the extraordinary power of the human spirit. In an expedition of uncharted America back in the fur trading days, legendary explorer Glass (Leonardo DiCaprio), is brutally mauled by…

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Biography, Comedy, Drama, Uncategorized

REVIEW: “JOY” (2015) 20th Century Fox

12/27/2015 Peggy Marie 20 Comments

With narration told by her grandmother Mimi (Diane Ladd), the only person who believes in and encourages young Joy’s as her story begins at Rudy’s Bus and Truck metal shop, where being an imaginative creative girl, she entertains herself through paper models of forests and castles.

Based on a true story, the film depicts the rise of female inventor and entrepreneur Joy (Jennifer Lawrence), who rises to fame by hawking her Miracle Mop on QVC. The story is much more than about business success, for Joy is a 1970’s housewife who supports four generations in her house, including her ex-husband, Tony (Edgar Ramirez) and father Rudy (Robert De Niro).

Director David O. Russell struggles here, a bit unsuccessfully I might add, to portray a harrowing the path to the mop. Joy deals with a houseful of kids, only a few of them children by actual age. The motley crew she calls family all crammed in her small house are not on Joy’s side. She is the breadwinner, the adult, the rock whose imagination is a liability to those overly dependent on her. Her mother Terry (Virginia Madsen) a soap-opera viewing addict, who watches made-for-this-film, unfunny soap opera segments that seem unmotivated with there being no implication as to why we are pointing to the off-TV characters. It’s goes on to become a paint-by-numbers affair from there – familial jealousy from sister Peggy (Elisabeth Rohm), dirty financial dealings, the nightmare of the age-old saying, “Do not do business with your family.”

After all, Joy manages to build a mop prototype. She brings it to QVC where the initial sale segment bombs. With Neil Walker (Bradley Cooper), the slick head honcho of newly formed shopping network QVC behind her, he takes a chance and allows Joy to showcase the mop herself. Bingo! The mop sells out. Success? Nope. The parts supplier is screwing Joy, every sale of the mop loses money, and the family wants their money back. Financial ruin follows. Then Grandma passes. But Joy decides she’s been walked all over enough and ‘womans up’ to settle all scores financial and emotional. You would think Hooray! right? If only the story wasn’t so average and been done so many times before would it be all that and more.

The acting is nothing notable as De Niro is no stranger to playing a conflicted father with a big heart, though there is something a bit off-kilter here even for him on this. We all know Lawrence & Cooper play well off each other and they do that again here. It’s Edgar Ramirez, who after falling so flat in Point Break, really stands up and dazzles amongst this all-star cast.

So let me just do a quick sum up for you in one sentence. ‘Down and out mother thinks up an invention, brings it to market, and becomes rich after some pitfalls that, in reality, is all fought and done with lawyers in the end’. In lieu of dramatizing a woman overcoming, Russell instead created a often unfunny comedy.

While the real life, inventive Joy deserves kudos, the bottom line is this is a feature film about the creator of a better mop and offers little on the path to an unsatisfying end where Joy makes it big and helps others succeed.
With all the heavy-hitters in film coming out these last 2 weeks of the year, it’s doubtful JOY will stand out amongst them.

Grade: C
@pegsatthemovies

Review Screening: Monday, December 21, 2015 ~ Courtesy of 20th Century Fox Studios
Nationwide release: Friday, December 25, 2015

Comedy, Movie Reviews, Movies

REVIEW: “DADDY’S HOME” (2015) Paramount Pictures

12/24/2015 Peggy Marie 7 Comments

In this the second collaboration between Wahlberg and Ferrell, “Daddy’s Home” gives us Brad Whitaker (Will Ferrell), a mild-mannered radio executive who is trying his damndest to become the best stepdad to his new wife Sara’s (Linda Cardenelli) two children. But some big complications are coming his way when their fun, free-wheeling, free-loading real father Dusty Mayron (Mark Wahlberg) arrives, forcing Brad to compete for the affection of the kids.
At this point is of course where the fun starts as father and step-father challenge and begin competing with one another for the love of their children for the position of being called “Dad”.

The film spends its first ten minutes working to establish Brad as a character, as the over-eager, almost irritatingly, sincere step-father who found himself left impotent after a dental mishap. In contrast, we have Dusty Mayron. Dusty is Sara’s ex-husband and the biological father to Brad’s two step-children. Dusty is an eccentric larger-than-life type of guy, basically the walking and talking embodiment of all of Brad’s insecurities he seems to swagger around with his own soundtrack of AC/DC’s Thunderstruck playing in the background.

Sara is the mother who watches as both these men in her life engage in a rapidly escalating game of one-upmanship to win the love of her children and while she is completely wise to what is going on and doesn’t try to stop it, she plays against neither character.

The supporting cast – The wonderfully accented fertility specialist Dr. Francisco (Bobby Canavale); Thomas Haden Church as Leo Holt, Brad’s boss, is as always sheer comedy gold. Taking me back to his WINGS days here with his delivery of stories and one-liners. And the man who seriously MUST re-consider his lively-hood in the pro-wrestling arena and become the hysterical supporting actor in every comedy film made.. John Cena. Hannibal Buress as Griff, the handyman extraordinaire, all do well, but director Sean Anders does struggle somewhat to keep the laughs coming.

While I had a few really good belly laughs at this one – take note- it’s not a kids movie as even the littliest of kids swears some, it’s PG-13 rating is true to form here. All in all, Daddy’s Home has a solid premise and a talented cast. It just doesn’t manage to do much with either.

Grade: C-
@pegsatthemovies

Review Screening: Saturday, December 19, 2015 ~ Courtesy of Paramount Pictures
Nationwide release: Friday, December 25, 2015

Peggy at the Movies ~ Film Critic | Movie Maven | Reviews & More"