Paramount Pictures has unleashed the first teaser trailer for Star Trek Beyond directed by Justin Lin. Chris Pine, Simon Pegg, Zach Quinto, Zoe Saldana, John Cho, Anton Yelchin and Karl Urban return in starring roles, with the teaser focusing on our favorite Star Trek characters attempting to get out of an impossible situation.
Star Trek Beyond will open in theaters on July 22, 2016. Newbies to the world of Star Trek in this outing include Idris Elba, Sofia Boutella, Lydia Wilson, and Joe Taslim. Roberto Orci & John D. Payne & Patrick Mckay, and Douglas Jung & Simon Pegg wrote the script.
Kirsten Dunst as Peggy and Jesse Plemons as Ed in ‘Fargo’ (Photo: Chris Large / FX)
The nominations have been announced for the 21st Annual Critics’ Choice Awards and Mad Max: Fury Road topped the list of films recognized with 13 nominations. Carol, The Martian, and The Revenant followed not far behind with nine nominations each. Spotlight picked up eight, The Big Short earned seven, and The Hateful Eight was recognized with six nominations.
On the television side it was Fargo leading the way with eight nominations. The Leftovers and Transparent were also popular with critics, earning six nominations each. The Wiz Live! had five and Black-ish, Mr. Robot, and Penny Dreadful picked up four each.
The Critics’ Choice Awards are chosen by members of the Broadcast Film Critics Association* and the Broadcast Television Journalists Association. Winners will be announced during the Critics’ Choice Awards on January 17, 2016 at 5pm PT. The 2016 ceremony will be hosted by T.J. Miller and will air live in A&E, Lifetime, and LMN.
“This is a new Golden Age in Hollywood, with a dazzling array of spectacular, delightful and illuminating films and programs to choose from,” stated BFCA/BTJA President Joey Berlin. “These nominations not only honor extraordinary achievements but they serve as an incredibly helpful guide to the best of the best for viewers and ticket buyers. We always tell the creative community, show us your best work and we’ll help the world find it – and that’s what we’re doing today.”
BEST ACTOR
Bryan Cranston – Trumbo
Matt Damon – The Martian
Johnny Depp – Black Mass
Leonardo DiCaprio – The Revenant
Michael Fassbender – Steve Jobs
Eddie Redmayne – The Danish Girl
BEST ACTRESS
Cate Blanchett – Carol
Brie Larson – Room
Jennifer Lawrence – Joy
Charlotte Rampling – 45 Years
Saoirse Ronan – Brooklyn
Charlize Theron – Mad Max: Fury Road
BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR
Paul Dano – Love & Mercy
Tom Hardy – The Revenant
Mark Ruffalo – Spotlight
Mark Rylance – Bridge of Spies
Michael Shannon – 99 Homes
Sylvester Stallone – Creed
BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS
Jennifer Jason Leigh – The Hateful Eight
Rooney Mara – Carol
Rachel McAdams – Spotlight
Helen Mirren – Trumbo
Alicia Vikander – The Danish Girl
Kate Winslet – Steve Jobs
BEST YOUNG ACTOR/ACTRESS
Abraham Attah – Beasts of No Nation
RJ Cyler – Me and Earl and the Dying Girl
Shameik Moore – Dope
Milo Parker – Mr. Holmes
Jacob Tremblay – Room
BEST ACTING ENSEMBLE
The Big Short
The Hateful Eight
Spotlight
Straight Outta Compton
Trumbo
BEST DIRECTOR
Todd Haynes – Carol
Alejandro González Iñárritu – The Revenant
Tom McCarthy – Spotlight
George Miller – Mad Max: Fury Road
Ridley Scott – The Martian
Steven Spielberg – Bridge of Spies
BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY
Matt Charman and Ethan Coen & Joel Coen – Bridge of Spies
Alex Garland – Ex Machina
Quentin Tarantino – The Hateful Eight
Pete Docter, Meg LeFauve, Josh Cooley – Inside Out
Josh Singer and Tom McCarthy – Spotlight
BEST ADAPTED SCREENPLAY
Charles Randolph and Adam McKay – The Big Short
Nick Hornby – Brooklyn
Drew Goddard – The Martian
Emma Donoghue – Room
Aaron Sorkin – Steve Jobs
BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY
Carol – Ed Lachman
The Hateful Eight – Robert Richardson
Mad Max: Fury Road – John Seale
The Martian – Dariusz Wolski
The Revenant – Emmanuel Lubezki
Sicario – Roger Deakins
BEST PRODUCTION DESIGN
Bridge of Spies – Adam Stockhausen, Rena DeAngelo
Brooklyn – François Séguin, Jennifer Oman and Louise Tremblay
Carol – Judy Becker, Heather Loeffler
The Danish Girl – Eve Stewart, Michael Standish
Mad Max: Fury Road – Colin Gibson
The Martian – Arthur Max, Celia Bobak
BEST EDITING
The Big Short – Hank Corwin
Mad Max: Fury Road – Margaret Sixel
The Martian – Pietro Scalia
The Revenant – Stephen Mirrione
Spotlight – Tom McArdle
BEST COSTUME DESIGN
Brooklyn – Odile Dicks-Mireaux
Carol – Sandy Powell
Cinderella – Sandy Powell
The Danish Girl – Paco Delgado
Mad Max: Fury Road – Jenny Beavan
BEST HAIR & MAKEUP
Black Mass
Carol
The Danish Girl
The Hateful Eight
Mad Max: Fury Road
The Revenant
BEST VISUAL EFFECTS
Ex Machina
Jurassic World
Mad Max: Fury Road
The Martian
The Revenant
The Walk
BEST ANIMATED FEATURE
Anomalisa
The Good Dinosaur
Inside Out
The Peanuts Movie
Shaun the Sheep Movie
BEST ACTION MOVIE
Furious 7
Jurassic World
Mad Max: Fury Road
Mission Impossible: Rogue Nation
Sicario
BEST ACTOR IN AN ACTION MOVIE
Daniel Craig – Spectre
Tom Cruise – Mission Impossible: Rogue Nation
Tom Hardy – Mad Max: Fury Road
Chris Pratt – Jurassic World
Paul Rudd – Ant-Man
BEST ACTRESS IN AN ACTION MOVIE
Emily Blunt – Sicario
Rebecca Ferguson – Mission Impossible: Rogue Nation
Bryce Dallas Howard – Jurassic World
Jennifer Lawrence – The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 2
Charlize Theron – Mad Max: Fury Road
BEST COMEDY
The Big Short
Inside Out
Joy
Sisters
Spy
Trainwreck
BEST ACTOR IN A COMEDY
Christian Bale – The Big Short
Steve Carell – The Big Short
Robert De Niro – The Intern
Bill Hader – Trainwreck
Jason Statham – Spy
BEST ACTRESS IN A COMEDY
Tina Fey – Sisters
Jennifer Lawrence – Joy
Melissa McCarthy – Spy
Amy Schumer – Trainwreck
Lily Tomlin – Grandma
BEST SCI-FI/HORROR MOVIE
Ex Machina
It Follows
Jurassic World
Mad Max: Fury Road
The Martian
BEST FOREIGN LANGUAGE FILM
The Assassin
Goodnight Mommy
Mustang
The Second Mother
Son of Saul
BEST DOCUMENTARY FEATURE
Amy
Cartel Land
Going Clear: Scientology and the Prison of Belief
He Named Me Malala
The Look of Silence
Where to Invade Next
BEST SONG
Fifty Shades of Grey – Love Me Like You Do
Furious 7 – See You Again
The Hunting Ground – Til It Happens To You
Love & Mercy – One Kind of Love
Spectre – Writing’s on the Wall
Youth – Simple Song #3
BEST SCORE
Carol – Carter Burwell
The Hateful Eight – Ennio Morricone
The Revenant – Ryuichi Sakamoto and Alva Noto
Sicario – Johann Johannsson
Spotlight – Howard Shore
TELEVISION:
BEST ACTOR IN A COMEDY SERIES
Anthony Anderson – Black-ish – ABC
Aziz Ansari – Master of None – Netflix
Will Forte – The Last Man on Earth – Fox
Randall Park – Fresh Off the Boat – ABC
Fred Savage – The Grinder – Fox
Jeffrey Tambor – Transparent – Amazon
BEST ACTOR IN A DRAMA SERIES
Hugh Dancy – Hannibal – NBC
Rami Malek – Mr. Robot – USA
Clive Owen – The Knick – Cinemax
Liev Schreiber – Ray Donovan – Showtime
Justin Theroux – The Leftovers – HBO
Aden Young – Rectify – Sundance
BEST ACTOR IN A MOVIE MADE FOR TELEVISION OR LIMITED SERIES
Wes Bentley – American Horror Story: Hotel – FX Networks
Martin Clunes – Arthur & George – PBS
Idris Elba – Luther – BBC America
Oscar Isaac – Show Me a Hero – HBO
Vincent Kartheiser – Saints & Strangers – National Geographic Channel
Patrick Wilson – Fargo – FX Networks
BEST ACTRESS IN A COMEDY SERIES
Rachel Bloom – Crazy Ex-Girlfriend – The CW
Aya Cash – You’re the Worst – FX Networks
Wendi McLendon-Covey – The Goldbergs – ABC
Gina Rodriguez – Jane the Virgin – The CW
Tracee Ellis Ross – Black-ish – ABC
Constance Wu – Fresh Off the Boat – ABC
BEST ACTRESS IN A DRAMA SERIES
Shiri Appleby – UnREAL – Lifetime
Carrie Coon – The Leftovers – HBO
Viola Davis – How to Get Away With Murder – ABC
Eva Green – Penny Dreadful – Showtime
Taraji P. Henson – Empire – Fox
Krysten Ritter – Jessica Jones – Netflix
BEST ACTRESS IN A MOVIE MADE FOR TELEVISION OR LIMITED SERIES
Kathy Bates – American Horror Story: Hotel – FX Networks
Kirsten Dunst – Fargo – FX Networks
Sarah Hay – Flesh and Bone – Starz
Alyvia Alyn Lind – Dolly Parton’s Coat of Many Colors – NBC
Rachel McAdams – True Detective – HBO
Shanice Williams – The Wiz Live! – NBC
BEST COMEDY SERIES
Black-ish – ABC
Catastrophe – Amazon
Jane the Virgin – The CW
Master of None – Netflix
The Last Man on Earth – Fox
Transparent – Amazon
You’re the Worst – FX Networks
BEST DRAMA SERIES
Empire – Fox
Mr. Robot – USA
Penny Dreadful – Showtime
Rectify – Sundance
The Knick – Cinemax
The Leftovers – HBO
UnREAL – Lifetime
BEST GUEST ACTOR/ACTRESS IN A COMEDY SERIES
Ellen Burstyn – Mom – CBS
Anjelica Huston – Transparent – Amazon
Cherry Jones – Transparent – Amazon
Jenifer Lewis – Black-ish – ABC
Timothy Olyphant – The Grinder – Fox
John Slattery – Wet Hot American Summer: First Day of Camp – Netflix
BEST GUEST ACTOR/ACTRESS IN A DRAMA SERIES
Richard Armitage – Hannibal – NBC
Justin Kirk – Manhattan – WGN America
Patti LuPone – Penny Dreadful – Showtime
Margo Martindale – The Good Wife – CBS
Marisa Tomei – Empire – Fox
B.D. Wong – Mr. Robot – USA
BEST MOVIE MADE FOR TELEVISION OR LIMITED SERIES
Childhood’s End – Syfy
Fargo – FX Networks
Luther – BBC America
Saints & Strangers – National Geographic Channel
Show Me a Hero – HBO
The Wiz Live! – NBC
BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A COMEDY SERIES
Andre Braugher – Brooklyn Nine-Nine – Fox
Jaime Camil – Jane the Virgin – The CW
Jay Duplass – Transparent – Amazon
Neil Flynn – The Middle – ABC
Keegan-Michael Key – Playing House – USA
Mel Rodriguez – Getting On – HBO
BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A DRAMA SERIES
Clayne Crawford – Rectify – Sundance
Christopher Eccleston – The Leftovers – HBO
Andre Holland – The Knick – Cinemax
Jonathan Jackson – Nashville – ABC
Rufus Sewell – The Man in the High Castle – Amazon
Christian Slater – Mr. Robot – USA
BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A MOVIE MADE FOR TELEVISION OR LIMITED SERIES
David Alan Grier – The Wiz Live! – NBC
Ne-Yo – The Wiz Live! – NBC
Nick Offerman – Fargo – FX Networks
Jesse Plemons – Fargo – FX Networks
Raoul Trujillo – Saints & Strangers – National Geographic Channel
Bokeem Woodbine – Fargo – FX Networks
BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A COMEDY SERIES
Mayim Bialik – The Big Bang Theory – CBS
Kether Donohue – You’re the Worst – FX Networks
Allison Janney – Mom – CBS
Judith Light – Transparent – Amazon
Niecy Nash – Getting On – HBO
Eden Sher – The Middle – ABC
BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A DRAMA SERIES
Ann Dowd – The Leftovers – HBO
Regina King – The Leftovers – HBO
Helen McCrory – Penny Dreadful – Showtime
Hayden Panettiere – Nashville – ABC
Maura Tierney – The Affair – Showtime
Constance Zimmer – UnREAL – Lifetime
BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A MOVIE MADE FOR TELEVISION OR LIMITED SERIES
Mary J. Blige – The Wiz Live! – NBC
Laura Haddock – Luther – BBC America
Cristin Milioti – Fargo – FX Networks
Sarah Paulson – American Horror Story: Hotel – FX Networks
Winona Ryder – Show Me a Hero – HBO
Jean Smart – Fargo – FX Networks
BEST ANIMATION SERIES
Bob’s Burgers – Fox
BoJack Horseman – Netflix
South Park – Comedy Central
Star Wars Rebels – Disney XD
The Simpsons – Fox
BEST REALITY SHOW – COMPETITION
Chopped – Food Network
Face Off – Syfy
MasterChef Junior – Fox
Survivor – CBS
The Amazing Race – CBS
The Voice – NBC
BEST REALITY SHOW HOST
Ted Allen – Chopped – Food Network
Phil Keoghan – The Amazing Race – CBS
James Lipton – Inside the Actors Studio – Bravo
Jane Lynch – Hollywood Game Night – NBC
Jeff Probst – Survivor – CBS
Gordon Ramsay – Hell’s Kitchen – Fox
BEST STRUCTURED REALITY SHOW
Antiques Roadshow – PBS
Inside The Actors Studio – Bravo
MythBusters – Discovery
Project Greenlight – HBO
Shark Tank – ABC
Undercover Boss – CBS
BEST TALK SHOW
Jimmy Kimmel Live! – ABC
Last Week Tonight with John Oliver – HBO
The Daily Show with Jon Stewart – Comedy Central
The Graham Norton Show – BBC America
The Late Late Show with James Corden – CBS
The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon – NBC
BEST UNSTRUCTURED REALITY SHOW
Anthony Bourdain: Parts Unknown – CNN
Cops – Spike
Deadliest Catch – Discovery
Intervention – A&E
Naked and Afraid – Discovery
Pawn Stars – History
* – I’m a member of the Broadcast Film Critics Association.
The bizarre case of accused murderer Steven Avery is examined in the new Netflix 10 part docu-series Making a Murderer premiering on December 18, 2015. An official trailer’s been released for the docu-series from directors Laura Ricciardi and Moira Demos who spent a considerable amount of time interviewing those closest to the Avery case in order to attempt to find out the truth behind the murder charge. Avery’s case was also documented in the book The Innocent Killer: A True Story of a Wrongful Conviction by Michael Griesbach.
The Plot:Making a Murderer examines allegations of police and prosecutorial misconduct, evidence tampering and witness coercion. The filmmakers look at what went wrong in the first case and question whether scientific advances and legislative reforms over the past three decades have gotten us any closer to delivering truth and justice in the system.
Focus Features and Laika just unveiled the first teaser trailer and gorgeous poster for the animated film Kubo and the Two Strings. The Boxtrolls and ParaNorman‘s lead animator Travis Knight makes his feature film directorial debut with Kubo and the Two Strings, with Art Parkinson, Matthew McConaughey, Charlize Theron, Rooney Mara, Ralph Fiennes, George Takei, Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa, and Brenda Vaccaro all lending their voices to the animated movie.
Kubo and the Two Strings will be released in theaters on August 19, 2016.
The Plot:
Kubo and the Two Strings is an epic action-adventure set in a fantastical Japan from acclaimed animation studio LAIKA. Clever, kindhearted Kubo (voiced by Art Parkinson of Game of Thrones) ekes out a humble living, telling stories to the people of his seaside town including Hosato (George Takei), Hashi (Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa) and Kamekichi (Academy Award nominee Brenda Vaccaro). But his relatively quiet existence is shattered when he accidentally summons a spirit from his past which storms down from the heavens to enforce an age-old vendetta. Now on the run, Kubo joins forces with Monkey (Academy Award winner Charlize Theron) and Beetle (Academy Award winner Matthew McConaughey), and sets out on a thrilling quest to save his family and solve the mystery of his fallen father, the greatest samurai warrior the world has ever known. With the help of his shamisen – a magical musical instrument – Kubo must battle gods and monsters, including the vengeful Moon King (Academy Award nominee Ralph Fiennes) and the evil twin Sisters (Academy Award nominee Rooney Mara) to unlock the secret of his legacy, reunite his family and fulfill his heroic destiny.
Jeff Goldblum stars in ‘Independence Day: Resurgence’
Director Roland Emmerich reunited with his Independence Day stars Jeff Goldblum, Bill Pullman, Judd Hirsch, and Vivica A. Fox for the 2016 sequel, Independence Day: Resurgence, and today 20th Century Fox has released the very first official trailer. Along with the trailer, the studio launched the Warof1996.com website which features “key developments and important moments since humanity’s greatest victory, from the rebuilding of our cities to the establishment of the Moon base.”
The cast of the sci-fi sequel also includes Liam Hemsworth, Brent Spiner, Charlotte Gainsbourg, Jessie Usher, Maika Monroe, Angelababy, William Fichtner, and Sela Ward. Independence Day: Resurgence opens in theaters on June 24, 2016.
The Plot:
We always knew they were coming back. After Independence Day redefined the event movie genre, the next epic chapter delivers global spectacle on an unimaginable scale. Using recovered alien technology, the nations of Earth have collaborated on an immense defense program to protect the planet. But nothing can prepare us for the aliens’ advanced and unprecedented force. Only the ingenuity of a few brave men and women can bring our world back from the brink of extinction.
The In the Heart of the Sea Plot: In the winter of 1820, the New England whaling ship Essex was assaulted by something no one could believe: a whale of mammoth size and will, and an almost human sense of vengeance. The real-life maritime disaster would inspire Herman Melville’s Moby-Dick. But that told only half the story.
In the Heart of the Sea reveals the encounter’s harrowing aftermath, as the ship’s surviving crew is pushed to their limits and forced to do the unthinkable to stay alive. Braving storms, starvation, panic and despair, the men will call into question their deepest beliefs, from the value of their lives to the morality of their trade, as their captain searches for direction on the open sea and his first mate still seeks to bring the great whale down.
20th Century Fox has unveiled the first trailer for X-Men: Apocalypse starring James McAvoy, Michael Fassbender, and Jennifer Lawrence. Bryan Singer directs from a script by Simon Kinberg, with Oscar Isaac, Nicholas Hoult, Rose Byrne, Tye Sheridan, Sophie Turner, Olivia Munn, Lucas Till, Evan Peters, Kodi Smit-McPhee, Alexandra Shipp, Josh Helman, Lana Condor, and Ben Hardy co-starring.
X-Men: Apocalypse opens in theaters on May 27, 2016.
The Plot:
Following the critically acclaimed global smash hit X-Men: Days of Future Past, director Bryan Singer returns with X-Men: Apocalypse. Since the dawn of civilization, he was worshipped as a god. Apocalypse, the first and most powerful mutant from Marvel’s X-Men universe, amassed the powers of many other mutants, becoming immortal and invincible. Upon awakening after thousands of years, he is disillusioned with the world as he finds it and recruits a team of powerful mutants, including a disheartened Magneto (Michael Fassbender), to cleanse mankind and create a new world order, over which he will reign. As the fate of the Earth hangs in the balance, Raven (Jennifer Lawrence) with the help of Professor X (James McAvoy) must lead a team of young X-Men to stop their greatest nemesis and save mankind from complete destruction.
The San Diego Film Critics Society just voted on their 2015 nominees, with the winners set to be announced on Monday, December 14, 2015. As usual, the group marched to its own drummer, awarding nominations to a diverse group of films and filmmakers including the wild action thriller, Mad Max: Fury Road; the beautiful character-driven romantic drama, Brooklyn; the thought-provoking sci-fi film, Ex Machina; and the riveting drama, Room.
Here’s the complete list of nominees. And for purposes of full disclosure, I’m the President of the San Diego Film Critics Society so, yes, some of these represent my picks for the best of 2015.
Best Picture
EX MACHINA
BROOKLYN
MAD MAX: FURY ROAD
ROOM
SPOTLIGHT
Best Director
George Miller, MAD MAX: FURY ROAD
John Crowley, BROOKLYN
Lenny Abrahamson, ROOM
Tom McCarthy, SPOTLIGHT
Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu, THE REVENANT
Best Actor, Male
Leonardo DiCaprio, THE REVENANT
Jason Segel, THE END OF THE TOUR
Matt Damon, THE MARTIAN
Bryan Cranston, TRUMBO
Jacob Tremblay, ROOM
Best Actor, Female
Saoirse Ronan, BROOKLYN
Brie Larson, ROOM
Charlotte Rampling, 45 YEARS
Charlize Theron, MAD MAX: FURY ROAD
Alicia Vikander, EX MACHINA
Best Supporting Actor, Male
Mark Rylance, BRIDGE OF SPIES
Tom Noonan, ANOMALISA
Oscar Isaac, EX MACHINA
Paul Dano, LOVE & MERCY
RJ Cyler, ME AND EARL AND THE DYING GIRL
Best Supporting Actor, Female
Alicia Vikander, THE DANISH GIRL
Jennifer Jason Leigh, THE HATEFUL EIGHT
Helen Mirren, TRUMBO
Kristen Stewart, CLOUDS OF SILS MARIA
Olivia Cooke, ME AND EARL AND THE DYING GIRL
Best Original Screenplay
Noah Baumbach, Greta Gerwig, MISTRESS AMERICA
Alex Garland, EX MACHINA
Jemaine Clement, Taika Waititi, WHAT WE DO IN THE SHADOWS
Quentin Tarantino, THE HATEFUL EIGHT
Tom McCarthy, Josh Singer, SPOTLIGHT
Best Adapted Screenplay
Nick Hornby, BROOKLYN
Emma Donoghue, ROOM
Charlie Kaufman, ANOMALISA
Donald Margulies, THE END OF THE TOUR
Drew Goddard, Andy Weir THE MARTIAN
Best Documentary
AMY
HE NAMED ME MALALA
CARTEL LAND
MERU
THE WRECKING CREW
Best Animated Film
INSIDE OUT
ANOMALISA
SHAUN THE SHEEP MOVIE
THE GOOD DINOSAUR
THE PEANUTS MOVIE
Best Foreign Language Film
PHOENIX
TAXI
WHITE GOD
A PIGEON SAT ON A BRANCH REFLECTING ON EXISTENCE
GOODNIGHT MOMMY
Best Editing
Margaret Sixel, Jason Ballantine MAD MAX: FURY ROAD
Joe Walker, SICARIO
Pietro Scalia, THE MARTIAN
Michael Kahn, BRIDGE OF SPIES
Nathan Nugent, ROOM
Stephen Mirrione, THE REVENANT
Best Cinematography
Roger Deakins, SICARIO
Yves Belanger, BROOKLYN
Dariuz Wolski, THE MARTIAN
John Seale, MAD MAX: FURY ROAD
Emmanuel Lubezki, THE REVENANT
Best Production Design
Colin Gibson, MAD MAX: FURY ROAD
Mark Digby, EX MACHINA
Arthur Max, THE MARTIAN
Francois Seguin, BROOKLYN
Adam Stockhausen, BRIDGE OF SPIES
Best Sound Design
THE MARTIAN
MAD MAX: FURY ROAD
EX MACHINA
SICARIO
LOVE & MERCY
Best Visual Effects
THE MARTIAN
EX MACHINA
MAD MAX: FURY ROAD
THE WALK
JURASSIC WORLD
Best Use Of Music In A Film
THE HATEFUL EIGHT
LOVE & MERCY
MAD MAX: FURY ROAD
SICARIO
STRAIGHT OUTTA COMPTON
Breakthrough Artist
Alicia Vikander, THE DANISH GIRL, EX MACHINA
Jacob Tremblay, ROOM
Emory Cohen, BROOKLYN
Abraham Attah, BEASTS OF NO NATION
Sean S. Baker, TANGERINE
Best Ensemble
SPOTLIGHT
THE HATEFUL EIGHT
STRAIGHT OUTTA COMPTON
INSIDE OUT
THE BIG SHORT
WHAT WE DO IN THE SHADOWS
“It’s just a whale,” says Owen Chase (Chris Hemsworth) as what’s left of his crew is being attacked by a ghostly white monstrous sperm whale that’s determined to kill them all in the action thriller, In the Heart of the Sea.
In 1820, the New England whaling ship the Essex left to go whaling with a first-time Captain named George Pollard (Benjamin Walker) at the wheel along with his assigned first mate, Owen, who has many years under his belt working on whaling boats. The two men do not get along mostly due to their class distinction and because Owen had originally been promised to get his Captain’s license by the investors and owners of the ships. They had gone back on their word preferring to have someone like Pollard whose descendants come from a long line of sea captains.
It’s in the winter of their voyage that the Essex, which had sailed further than most whaling ships dare because it was desperate to make its fortune, is attacked by a gigantic lone whale that seems bent on their destruction. The damage to the ship is insurmountable and the Essex goes down, leaving the men to abandon ship and struggle to stay alive in three lifeboats. Facing storms, starvation, dehydration, and the deadly mammoth whale that follows their adrift boats, the crew struggle to survive while Captain Pollard searches for a direction in hopes of finding land. His first mate Owen senses the presence of the monster whale and strives to kill it.
Based on a true story and directed by Ron Howard, In the Heart of the Sea is a visually impressive film with stunning special effects and a frightening first attack by the monster whale. The best scenes in the film are, as expected, when the giant sperm whale is attacking the whalers and their ship.
The performances are adequate but fairly one-dimensional, and the negative dynamic between Captain Pollard and his first officer Owen Chase seems lifted from the classic film Mutiny on the Bounty. Unfortunately, in many ways In the Heart of the Sea feels like nothing more than a second rate Moby Dick meets Mutiny on the Bounty.
The one standout performance in the film is delivered by Brendan Gleeson who portrays Tom Nickerson, the surviving ship hand who was only a boy when the incident happened. Gleeson’s character tells the story of what really took place to struggling author Herman Melville, played by Ben Whishaw. The emotions Gleeson displays of his character’s disgust, sorrow, and self-loathing of everything the men had to do to try to survive is the only heart and soul the movie has and does help keep it from being just an average disaster/adventure film.
With first-rate special effects and a truly frightening monster whale hunting the sailors, In the Heart of the Sea is worth catching up on the big screen but at the matinee price.
GRADE: B-
MPAA Rating: PG-13 for intense sequences of action and peril, brief startling violence, and thematic material
Daisy Ridley and John Boyega star in ‘Star Wars: The Force Awakens’
A new behind the scenes IMAX featurette has arrived for Star Wars: The Force Awakens featuring new footage from the much-anticipated Star Wars film. The new video has director J.J. Abrams and stars Daisy Ridley, John Boyega, and Gwendoline Christie discussing working on the set with the IMAX cameras. “That feeling of going to the movies and having a fully immersive, powerful, high-quality presentation of the film is something that is more valuable than ever and I think IMAX stands for that,” explained Abrams. “When you go to see a movie in that format you know you are going to get something that is the best version of going out to the movies.”
Star Wars: The Force Awakens opens in conventional and IMAX theaters on Friday, December 18, 2015. The cast also includes Harrison Ford, Mark Hamill, Carrie Fisher, Adam Driver, Oscar Isaac, Lupita Nyong’o, Andy Serkis, Domhnall Gleeson, Anthony Daniels, Peter Mayhew and Max Von Sydow.
Watch the Star Wars: The Force Awakens IMAX Featurette:
