My Top 10 Movies of 2016

2016 was a year that most people wish to forget. Movies offered a much needed escape from the real world this year. Luckily, Hollywood delivered with some fantastic films that scratched every itch we have as movie fans. Whether you wanted to be entertained with spectacle and action, to laugh so hard that your sides hurt, or be moved so deeply that you were “nearly” brought to tears. In my humble opinion, these are the 10 best (my favorite) movies from the past year.

Before I start, here are some movies that I haven’t seen yet or just missed the list and deserve some recognition:

Moonlight 

Synopsis – “A timeless story of human self-discovery and connection, Moonlight chronicles the life of a young black man from childhood to adulthood as he struggles to find his place in the world while growing up in a rough neighborhood of Miami.”

I have heard many great things about this film; from its performances, structure, directing, and cinematography. This would have most likely made my list if what I’ve heard is true, so I look forward to seeing it and hope you will give it a chance as well.

The Invitation:

The less you know going into this movie the better. If you are put off by the opening 30 minutes or so please give it at least another 30 minutes before you turn it off. If you are a fan of thrillers like I am you will not regret giving this sweet indie gem a chance. Easily the most surprisingly enjoyable film of the year. It should still be on Netflix.

The Nice Guys

Synopsis – “In 1970s Los Angeles, a mismatched pair of private eyes investigate a missing girl and the mysterious death of a porn star.”

This movie is on a lot of movie critics top 10 lists of the year. And for good reason, this was a well-crafted, entertaining ride. Buddy cop movies are either non-existent or sub-par at best these days. It is refreshing to see a classic detective story given the unique oddball touch of Shane Black (director). Ryan Gosling and Russel Crowe’s performances and chemistry are the highlight of this movie.

Nocturnal Animals

Synopsis – “A wealthy art gallery owner is haunted by her ex-husband’s novel, a violent thriller she interprets as a symbolic revenge tale.”

To be honest I have kept myself in the dark about this movie for the most part, wanting to be able to enjoy it with as little expectations as possible. Jake Gyllenhaal is one of my favorite actors working today, Michael Shannon is a bankable actor in every movie he’s in, and the fact this movie was directed by Tom Ford means it could have a unique and interesting story to tell.

 

#10 Moana/Zootopia

Yes, I’m cheating on the first one but these 2 animated films deserved to make it on this list.

 

This is a return to the classic, musically inclined Disney films of my youth in the 90’s. While the story is somewhat cliched, it is told in a beautiful and entertaining way. It feels like a mashup between Lilo and Stitch and The Little Mermaid. The Hawaiian atmosphere for both the setting, characters and music is captivating and puts you in a much simpler, more peaceful place. Then enters Dwayne “the Rock” Johnson, who oozes charisma, energy and charm as the demigod Maui. His entertainer limits know no bounds as he serves as singer for one of the catchier songs in the movie.

 

While the The Rock nearly steals the show, which he may in some eyes, Moana still has a great story to tell about a young woman ultimately proving to herself that her ambitions – which appear insane to others, including her father – are more than just dreams but actually the thing that will save her family and island. It’s refreshing to see a classic tale told through a new and interesting lens.

 

These days animated films are for adults just as much as they are for children. They tell stories with mature themes and subject matters masked in a colorful and imaginative setting with silly and joyful cartoon characters. I can’t think of a recent animated film that balanced both of those sides so well then Zootopia did this past year. It tackled a huge hot button issue (racial stereotypes) and delivered a message on both an adult and children’s level. While some of the comparisons across animals and humans are a tad bit extreme, they nonetheless illustrate the tensions and relationships between different races and socioeconomic classes. Along with a powerful message, the world building in this film is amazing and leaves you wanting to see sequels of the different climates within Zootopia’s city. From the deserts to the arctic to the rainforest, the adventures through each unique part of the city and its residents leaves you wanting more time to spend with the hilarious “bunny” (buddy) cop duo of Judy Hopps and Nick Wilde.

#9 A Monster Calls

This is easily the most emotional movie I’ve seen this year, probably the past few years. Don’t let the fact that their is a 40 foot tall tree with Liam Neeson’s voice fool you, this is just as much a drama as it is a fantasy film. Conor O’Malley is a boy dealing with the emotional and mental troubles of his mother dying from cancer. This film gives one of the most honest and innocent stories of someone wrestling with watching a loved one die. In a world where cancer has almost become common and loved ones of ours are ill with varying diseases, this is a film that can be almost therapeutic and cathartic for those who are or have dealt with a loss of a loved one. In my opinion Lewis MacDougall is by far the best part of the film, and that isn’t an insult to the rest of cast or crew, he is just that good. The subtleties in his moments of fear and depression in contrast to his fits of rage and frustration are dazzling. If you have the emotional capacity to watch this movie, I highly recommend you do, just bring some tissues.

#8 Captain America: Civil War

I just got done talking about super hero movie fatigue and how they are becoming formulaic. Well sometimes the old adage “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it” really does ring true. Marvel movies have made an effort to diversify their movies in tone and style over the past few years, attempting to be more original instead of just big and bombastic. Civil War is a perfect blend of the blockbuster abilities of Marvel along with the captivating story telling. It finds a way to tell a personal story about a man (Captain America) struggling to decide whether he should remain loyal to his new ally (Iron Man) or help his childhood friend (Bucky)  find redemption for the wrongs he’s committed. Another story line runs through the film about whether these super humans should be allowed to “save the world” as they see fit or fall in line with much less powerful organizations in order to serve the greater good. It begs the question whether the good you do outweighs the bad that may come out of it. Holding superheroes accountable for the destruction of buildings, cities and even the death of humans is a new, more mature theme that tests the moral compass of both the heroes and the viewer. Along with all of these great themes is a handful of amazing set pieces and action sequences. The Black Panther and Bucky chase through the tunnel or the now iconic airport scene are marvels to watch. You can enjoy them just on entertainment value alone, but also on repeated viewings there is plenty to appreciate as far as choreography, cinematography,  and acting goes.

#7 Swiss Army Man

Easily the most unique film I saw this year, Swiss Army Man is an insane, ridiculous piece of art. It does not attempt to appease the average movie goer with a standard, by the numbers story or humor. If you aren’t in after the first 30 minutes or so you may not like this film. It is unapologetically odd and baffling at times, in the best way possible.  If you can enjoy the film with all its quirks and zaniness, you will see it is an extremely heartwarming and gut punching tale of a man who is on the ropes with life and finds an unlikely companion – understatement of the century – who teaches him how to appreciate the small things in life again. Their relationship mirrors that of a curious child and an impatient parent. Watching Paul Dano’s character attempt to explain different aspects of life, like masturbation, is some of the most hilarious dialogue in cinema this year. This movie is also very self-aware. When the tension and mood are becoming too deep or depressing it has impeccable comic relief peppered throughout the movie. If this movie has the longevity to remain a cult classic it could go down as one of the most quotable movies in recent memory. This movie also boasts one of the best soundtracks of the year. The ingenious use of a capella and drums creates a distinct style and sound that pairs phenomenally with the tone of the film.

#6 Hacksaw Ridge

First off, it must be acknowledged and pointed out that this is Mel Gibson‘s first directed movie in a decade. He was in Hollywood exile for some antisemitic comments he made in the past and is now making his comeback as one of the best directors in cinema. Here is one of his first interviews after returning with his new movie Hacksaw Ridge:

Now let’s talk about the movie. No one shoots action and combat quite like Mel Gibson does. As seen in Braveheart, Mel Gibson has an eye for making war beautifully horrific. He does not sugarcoat the violence or live’s lost out of respect for those who fought in the war and the maturity of his audience. Those who criticize him for “glorifying” war and violence are entitled to their opinion, but they seem to be missing the point of why he shows in such gruesome detail the trials and tribulation of what the soldiers wen through. It is impossible to fully appreciate what these veterans did by laying down their lives in such dreadful circumstances. However, Mel Gibson does his best to emphasize the primitive chaos of war, especially during the Battle of Okinawa. Outside of the battlefield, this films tells a powerful story of a man who fought hate with love. When we fight fire with fire the whole world burns. One of the powerful and most satisfying parts of the film was to learn why he does not use a weapon. The Christian beliefs and convictions in this film are very evident, but aren’t the sole driving force for why he chooses to abstain from the killing. Without spoiling the film, I thought it was great to see the film give a layered reasoning for his conscientious objection instead of just relying on the religious aspect to be suffice enough, even though this is a true story. My only real criticisms of the film are that Andrew Garfield’s accent was a bit jarring and distraction at the beginning of the movie and some of the moments seem to pull a little too intently on the heart strings. Besides those small nitpicks, this film is a powerful story of a man not losing his way amidst utter hell and mayhem.

#5 La La Land

I must preface my review of this film with the fact I’m not a musical expert or even fan, I am judging this piece of art as a movie. And boy was it good. The first thing I’ll say to someone if they ask me about La La Land is that it would’ve been fantastic even without the musical aspects. The musical numbers just enhance the tone and ambiance of the film set in Hollywood. The music feels well placed and extremely well done. The two stars of this film shine brightest when they are on screen together, not to say they aren’t blinding the entire film. The chemistry between Ryan Gosling and Emma Stone is electric. They could go down as one of the best romantic movie pairings in movie history. Both of these actors started out their careers in mediocre to average films and have both skyrocketed to the top in the past few years. Don’t be surprised to see these two dominating the Oscar ballots the next decade.

#4 Deepwater Horizon

Director Peter Berg and Mark Wahlberg are building an impressive track record as a director-actor duo. Their new film releasing across the country this weekend (1/13/17), Patriot’s Day, is already getting a lot of buzz as Berg’s best film. But as far as Deepwater Horizon goes, this was by far the most intense and pulse pounding movie I saw this year. From the opening 30 minutes the tensions slowly ratchets up until it erupts and the rest of the film deals with the catastrophic fallout of the disaster. The sequence in which the oil rig finally explodes is one of the most terrifyingly beautiful scenes in recent memory. The sheer scope and magnitude of the moment is jaw-dropping. Peter Berg’s level of detail leads me to believe he does his research and sticks to the truth the best he can. This movie does an awesome job of laying out the facts and science of the situation in an entertaining fashion that feeds into the intense tone of the film.

#3 Manchester By The Sea

Manchester by the Sea is a phenomenal story about a man and his struggle to cope with the loss of his brother, but more importantly how his past impacts his life and relationship with his nephew going forward. Casey Affleck delivers one of the most subtle and understated performances of the 21st century. Most “oscar” roles show a wide range of acting from crying to screaming. While there are moments of that in this film, some of the more impressive moments were in the minutia of each day as he deals with the aftermath of his brothers death. His ability to express so much pain and deep emotion in his subdued performance is a marvel to watch. The other star of this film is the writer/director Kenneth Lonergan. He wrote a heart wrenching story that is translated excellently onto the screen. Sometimes the choice to use flashbacks can be seen as gimmicky or can be poorly executed. Lonergan enhances both the story and the development of the characters with these carefully placed flashbacks. Though you may not want to watch it again for a while afterwards due to its emotionally draining story, you will not regret seeing this movie.

#2 Hell or High Water

I was super excited when I first watched the trailer for this movie when the trailer came out 7 months ago. Then I heard great early reviews for it and my expectations got higher. As I sat in the theater before the movie began I got a feeling that maybe I had hyped it a bit too much in my mind and it wasn’t going to live up to my idea of it. Boy, it blew away my expectations. The 4 main characters in this movie are amazing, and performed tremendously by each actor. The 2 standouts would be Ben Foster and Jeff Bridges, though they aren’t new to delivering notable performances. Both pairings have incredible chemistry and make you believe their relationships. Just as a modern western/drama, this movie succeeds with flying colors with its action and intense tone. If you look just a little deeper there is a great commentary on the dying of the west as we knew it and the people who are clinging to it and trying to survive. There are 2 different moments in the movie (the sheriffs outside the restaurant and Chris Pine and Jeff Bridges at the end) that were really powerful. The former being about how we are constantly moving forward and eventually the way of life we knew is just like the caves for the cave men, outdated and archaic. The latter is about generational poverty and how it infects families who never seem to break free. It can be easy to miss these powerful moments amidst all the action, but they still are gripping.

#1 Arrival

To anyone who hasn’t seen this yet, if you are not ready to be challenged mentally and as a movie watcher this may not be the movie for you. If you watch this movie purely on the surface it is probably a top 20 movie at best. But if you begin to think deeply about the ideas and themes in this movie you will be highly rewarded. I have only seen this movie once so far, but I plan to watch it multiple times to break it apart and discover all the nuances and concepts within it. Okay, so my first praise of the movie is that my favorite director right now Denis Villeneuve just continues to kill it. I have waited a long time for a ultra realistic alien movie. Obviously when I say realistic, I am talking about how grounded in logic, science, and reason the movie is. Villeneuve established a level of detail and reasoning throughout the film that held himself responsible for the rules and logic he had set in place. The movie stays firmly grounded in the rules he sets and the laws and logic of real science. In order to appreciate that you have to stay attentive and ready to recall ideas and concepts. This is not something that is detrimental to the viewing experience if you forget, but instead just enhances it each time you watch the film. The cast in this movie is so believable that at times it feels like you’re watching reenactments of real life events. Each choice made by each character, even if not rational, seems like something a real human being would do under the circumstances. The way individuals react differently to each situation really makes you think how you would feel and behave in the same situation. Amy Adams easily stands out in this film, showing a wide range of acting. Her ability to sell you on a linguistic theory one second to believably having a mental/emotional break down seconds later is remarkable. Jeremy Renner should also receive some notice for his work. He offers perfectly placed comic relief but also serves as a very capable partner to Amy Adams. I really don’t want to say much else because a lot of this movie is better when you go in blind. So if you are willing and ready to really engage in this movie for 2 hours, you may just find this to be the best movie of the past year.

 

As always, thank you for taking the time to read my list. I don’t claim to be an expert on film, just a big fan. All I really hope is that you will find at least one movie on here you didn’t see and give it a chance. They’re all great, but watching at least one is worth it.

Moms’ Summer Movie Guide

In honor of Mother’s Day, I’ve decided to sift through the upcoming movies this summer and pick out the movies I felt moms would enjoy the most. There are a variety of films coming out in the next few months, ranging between comedies, dramas, and family films. The blockbuster season is known primarily for it’s big action and spectacle films. While these are probably not most moms’ cup of tea, I’ve picked a few that I thought they should give a chance. So without anymore preparation, here are my choices for the Mom’s Summer Movie Guide.

May 13

Money Monster (George Clooney, Julia Roberts, Jack O’Connel)

If you enjoy thrillers, you may enjoy this tense, action-mystery with some familiar faces. It also has an up and coming actor, Jack O’Connel who starred in last year’s Unbroken. 

Last Days in the Desert (Ewan McGregor, Susan Gray, Tye Sheridan)

There have been several cinematic depictions of biblical stories in the past few years, but this is one of the first that stars and revolves around messianic figure, Jesus. I have been a big fan of these movies and how they have made me think more deeply and differently about these Bible stories as a Christian and an audience member.

May 20

The Angry Birds Movie (Jason Sudeikis, Kate McKinnon, Bill Hader, Maya Rudolph)

This film may very well lay an egg, but no one can deny the star power behind the voices. This is a bit of a gamble, but if you have kids who are still interested in Angry Birds, you may consider going to the Drive-In or cheap theater to catch this movie.

Nice Guys (Russell Crowe, Ryan Gosling, Matt Bomber, Kim Basinger)

Set in the late 70’s, this is a spiritual sequel to the movie Kiss Kiss Bang Bang. If you are looking for a date night movie, this looks to be possibly the hit of the summer. Filled with plenty of action and comedy, it’s sure to keep you entertained even on the ride home.

June 17

Finding Dory (Ellen DeGeneres, Albert Brooks, Idris Elba, Kate McKinnon, Bill Hader, Diane Keaton)

Pixar is a powerhouse for family movies and they’re going back to one of their best with Finding Dory. Dory stole the movie in Finding Nemo and is back as the star in her new movie. While it looks like a new spin on the same story from Nemo, it has a stellar cast and Pixar’s creative team on its side.

Free State of Jones (Matthew McConaughey, Keri Russel)

The McConaussance continues with his new film Free State of Jones. It looks to be an emotionally charged war film that doesn’t pull many punches. If you love period pieces or war films you should check this one out.

July 1

The BFG (Rebecca Hall, Bill Hader, Mark Rylance)

Based on the beloved childrens’ novel, Steven Spielberg has returned to the fantastical universe with his new project The BFG. Spielberg is still considered one of the best directors of all-time but has not put out a big, family, fun movie in years. Hopefully this will be his return to the genre.

July 8

The Secret Life of Pets (Louis C.K., Eric Stonestreet, Kevin Hart)

Animated films continue to bring tons of talented voices to fill out the characters and this one is no different. Illumination has slowly become one of the powerhouses for animated films. Plus, any pet owner will love seeing how their furry and feathered friends act when we leave the house.

Captain Fantastic (Viggo Mortensen, Frank Langella, Kathryn Hahn)

My pick for indie film of the summer, this movie looks like it will be driven by a emotional story and powerful performances. This movie will probably either leave you in tears of joy, sadness, or laughter by the end of it.

July 15

Ghostbusters (Melissa McCarthey, Kristen Wiig, Kate McKinnon)

There hasn’t been a lot of good buzz around this movie since the first trailer was released, but the talent and property involved lead you to believe it has a chance to be great. Director Paul Feig is familiar with this start studded female cast and that chemistry will hopefully deliver a terrific scifi-comedy like the original.

July 29

Bad Moms (Milas Kunas, Kristen Bell, Christina Applegate, Kathryn Hahn)

WARNING! RED BAND TRAILER!

This movie was made for all the hard working moms out there. It looks like the female equivalent of The Hangover and pretty similar humor to Bridesmaids. It does look extremely raunchy and dirty, but if you like that humor you should love this movie.

August 5

The Founder (Michael Keaton, Nick Offerman, Patrick Wilson, Linda Cardellini)

Ever wonder how your kids’ favorite place to eat was made? It’s a lot more complex and interesting than you may have thought. Michael Keaton has starred in the last 2 Best Picture winners at the Oscars, so he’s a good luck charm for the time being.

 

2015 Fall/Winter Movie Guide

So the summer is over. Kids are back in school, parents are back to their mundane schedules and it seems as though the world is crumbling into the apocalypse. But don’t fret or worry, more movies are coming and they look mighty promising. If you were as excited for this summer as I was you may have been a tad bit underwhelmed. While there were no shortages of blockbuster thrill rides, some of the most anticipated films of the summer landed on their faces. If you are a fun of substance over explosions and one liners, prepare for what could be a delightful season of terrific films.

I have compiled a list of my most anticipated movies of the fall/winter and listed them according to their release dates given on IMDB. I hope you enjoy this guide to movie watching and choose to see a couple of the movies that flew under your radar or did not even know existed. Now let’s start!

September 18

Black Mass 

Kicking off this list with possibly my most anticipated film of the rest of the year. Any long time fan of Johnny Depp knows he hasn’t been delivering his best performances in the past few movies he’s done, but this looks like it could end up being one of his bests ever. I don’t say this lightly, but I felt the same spine-tingling creepiness that I felt when I first watched Heath Ledger as the Joker in the Dark Knight. Even if it isn’t that good, it looks to be an Oscar contender for sure.

Sicario

Also probably my most anticipated movie on this list, this movie is directed by Denis Villeneuve, director of my favorite movie, Prisoners. Along with that, this movie has a stellar cast. Emily Blunt fresh off of Edge of Tomorrow, Josh Brolin who’s always a solid actor, Benicio Del Toro who always bring an extra level of gravitas, and Jeffery Donavon who is an underrated actor from the show Burn Notice. Plus what seems to be an intense, mind blowing and action packed story. All adds up to an awesome movie.

September 25

Everest

This is what I like to call an “Experience” movie. It is meant to be seen and experienced in a theater, specifically an IMAX. The scale and power of the film is truly felt when viewed on a large screen with tremendous speakers. This could be much what Interstellar was for me as well, a decent story with good acting and amazing visuals and cinematic greatness. I am optimistically excited for the cast of this film as it boasts a large and talented one, including my favorite and the greatest, Jake Gyllenhaal.

October 2

The Martian

DO NOT WATCH ANY TRAILERS!!! All the other trailers have been very spoiler filled and almost tell the whole story. Please stay away from them until you see the film. With that said, I am very excited for this movie. It has an amazing cast, headlined with Matt Damon as “the martian”. To give you a little of the plot, I will tell you that a team of astronauts goes to Mars and has to evacuate but Damon’s character is left on the planet. While I am in the minority for people who liked Prometheus, I am hoping Ridley Scott can bring some of the same epicness to this film as well.

Legend 

This is one of my dark horses for a great movie this fall/winter. The insanity of 2 Tom Hardy’s and a rejuvenated gangster movie could be a recipe for either a disaster or brilliance.

October 9

Pan

Hugh Jackman as Black Beard sold me alone, but this looks like a great mystical spectacle for the whole family. While prequels and origin stories seem to be being made more than they are being wanted, this looks like a fun adventure that can give more depth and clarity to the lore of Peter Pan. I’m especially curious to see Garret Hedlund as the young Captain Hook.

Steve Jobs

Every owns or has owned something from Apple at some point. Steve Jobs changed culture more than most people in history, but it wasn’t a squeaky clean path. I’ve seen the Ashton Kutcher biopic of Steve Jobs and while it delved into some aspects of the turmoil and chaos surrounding Steve Jobs this movie seems to go even further and deeper. Michael Fassbender is nearing his prime and each film he does is catapulted by his amazing performances.

October 16

Bridge of Spies 

While I am not typically a fan of court/law dramas, anything with Tom Hanks and Steven Spielberg peaks my interest. This promises to be a fascinating look into history with great acting and thrilling moments throughout.

November 6 

Spectre

After Skyfall I was ready for whatever the Bond franchise would put out next. And this film looks to crank up the intensity levels for everything that made Skyfall so great. The addition of Christoph Waltz as the villain is a sure fire thing and I’m curious how Dave Bautista does in this new role as the menacing henchman.

Spotlight

I love when films take events from real life that not many people know about and bring them to the front so everyone can be aware how the world really is. This looks to be an incredible drama with an amazing cast, once again.

November 25

Creed 

After being slightly underwhelmed by Southpaw, I am hoping this movie can deliver the KO. With the lore and history of Rocky behind it, it appears Creed has a chance to become a franchise within itself if they can land the first punch with this movie. Keeping the focus off Rocky but utilizing him still was a good choice in the trailer and I hope they do the same in the film.

The Night Before 

WARNING!!! RED BAND TRAILER!

This looks like Neighbors + The Hangover at Christmas time. Seth Rogen is quickly taking the place of best comedic actor in my opinion. I can’t wait to see the chemistry between Anthony Mackie, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, and Seth Rogen on the big screen.

The Good Dinosaur

This looks to be another homerun for Pixar. The buzz coming out of this year’s D23 Expo (Disney’s biannual convention) is that this will be another Pixar classic, despite the rough start it had in development and production. At it’s core this is a “boy and his dog” story but this time the dinosaur is the boy and the boy is the dog. Coming off of Inside Out, possibly my favorite movie of the year, I’m always excited for original stories from the brilliant brain trust at Pixar.

December 11

Into The Heart Of The Sea

EPIC. The only word I can find to describe what I can only imagine this movie will be. Ron Howard has the phenomenal ability to take strong and intimate stories and tell them on a powerful and tremendous scale. I hope I have the chance to see this IMAX because the scenes involving Moby Dick seem they could be jaw-dropping on such a big screen. I’m also curious to see Thor (Chris Hemsworth) in a more dramatic and serious role.

December 18

Star Wars: The Force Awakens

Kids my age group with the Star Wars prequels. We did not know better and thought they were awesome until we were introduced to the mystical greatness of the original trilogy. With light years of advancements in visual and special effects and a director who claims to be going back to the roots of what made Star Wars so good, it’s hard for any fan, casual or the ones who sleep in their storm trooper pajamas with their lightsaber, to not get overly excited at the possibility of what we could get with this movie.

Top 20 90’s Movies

The 90’s was a great time in movies. Action movies were coming off the explosive and testosterone-filled 80’s. A couple of the funniest comedies ever were released. Children’s films went through a renaissance. And directors and film makers began tap into the potential of CGI. While I only remember seeing these movies for the first time in bits and pieces as a youngster, they all have held up if not become better with age in some instances. Possibly one of the best years in film happened to be the year I was born 1994. When I looked through the lists of movies I decided I would have to extend the list to 20 movies in order to really show the quality of the movies of the decade.

It was impossible to include all the great movies but I wanted to make sure to at least mention those that I hadn’t seen yet or believed deserved recognition. Some movies on here would be high on some people’s lists but I have either never seen them or just didn’t enjoy them as much as the general audience.

HONORABLE MENTIONS

• Ace Venture: Pet Detective – One of Jim Carrey’s funniest.
• Tommy Boy – Chris Farley’s best and just a stupid fun time.
• The Little Rascals – An awesome story about a gang of kids getting into trouble.
• True Lies – Have not watched all the way through yet, only heard good things about it.
• Rudy – One of the best underdog stories of all-time.
• Total Recall – Have not watched all the way through yet either, great action packed, scifi adventure.
• The Fugitive – Love me some Harrison Ford, and one of the best cat and mouse thrillers.
• Apollo 13 – One of the best casts and amazing historical thriller.
• Space Jam – Best live-action cartoon hybrid since Who Framed Roger Rabbit.
• The Big Lebowski – great comedy that transcends the genre.
• Pulp Fiction – For some reason I never got into this movie but I must acknowledge it’s overwhelmingly huge cult following.

Now for what I believe are the 20 best films from the 90’s, in my opinion. While the rankings express my appreciation and love for each movie, there is a little wiggle room for each movie as always. And this is always subject to change over time. But right now, these are my favorite 90’s movies and I think you should all check them out.

#20 From Dusk Till Dawn (’96) WATCH on NETFLIX

In it’s essence, this is 2 movies: a heist movie, and a horror B-movie. And it’s awesome. Go into this film with slightly lowered expectations and ready for a good time. While this is definitely not one of Quentin Tarantino’s gems (he helped write the screenplay), it certainly has his flavor to it. George Clooney as the “anti-hero” badass is unfamiliar but a ball to watch and will make you wish he took more roles like this early on in his career. While Tarantino as the brother and co-conspirator is laughable and sometimes disturbing, if you can get past it, this is a great fun flick to watch with a group of buddies or if you’re bored on the weekend.

#19 That Thing You Do (’96) 

This isn’t based on a true story but it almost feels like it is. Ever wonder what it would be like to be a part of a one-hit-wonder band? Here’s the story. Tom Hanks as the business savvy and smooth talking manager just adds another electrifying layer to this musical adventure. Each little moment adds to the hysteria, building up to the meteoric rise and fall of the “Oneders”, or Wonders.

#18 Lion King (’94) 

I’m not the biggest fan of the Lion King as most others but I still recognize how great of a film it is. Most people compare the Toy Story trilogy to the Godfather and this movie could similarly be compared to such a great film as Shawshank Redemption as it can stand alone as well for the test of time. All the influences from Macbeth and WWII culminate with the imaginative minds at Disney to create one of the greatest prodigal stories in cinematic history. And Hakuna Matata is easily one of the most recognizable songs even outside of movies ever.

#17 Men In Black (’97)

Ever wonder why we haven’t heard from aliens yet? This is the best….most fun explanation yet. MIB caught Will Smith near the apex of his fame and paired him surprisingly well with the stoic Tommy Lee Jones. One of the funniest action-packed scifi movies until maybe Guardians of the Galaxy, which is saying a lot. Anyone unfortunate enough to miss this gem when it first came out should definitely give it a watch. And when you’re done, the sequel (which decently follows it up) is on NETFLIX.

#16 Rush Hour (’98)

Speaking of unlikely pairings, no one expected this buddy cop comedy to work and it was so good it spawned arguably a better sequel, a third film, and possibly a fourth now. A large percentage of people are annoyed by Chris Tucker’s voice and humor but if you enjoy it like me you will get a huge kick out of this movie. And even if that’s not enough, any chance to watch Jackie Chan fight is a cherished treasure now that he’s done with movies.

#15 Dumb and Dumber (’94)

It could be argued that this is the best buddy comedy ever. While the humor is definitely dumb, it doesn’t dismiss the fact that this movie leaves you in stitches and busting a gut every time you watch it. It’s extremely quotable and even thought it inspired a terrible prequel, it also was beloved enough to bring the two original actors back for a fairly decent and funny sequel. Any fan of comedy has to watch this movie at least every few years to remember the basics of what can make movies so funny.

#14 Good Will Hunting (’97) Watch on NETFLIX

After Robin Williams passed away I went back and watched some of his movies and finally watched this movie. I’m a big fan of Matt Damon and was curious to see what him and Ben Affleck could write. I was blown away by Robin Williams performance. I had scene him act serious in several of his goofier and more silly roles before but never in such a dramatic role as this. The scene on the park bench between him and Damon’s character was my favorite and I was waiting for each conversation between the two to be mesmerized by their amazing chemistry and dialogue. While the overall story to me was not stellar, the acting and especially the chemistry between Williams and Damon was legendary.

#13 Terminator 2: Judgement Day (’91) 

I watched this in its entirety for the first time a few weeks ago and wasn’t very impressed after all the great things I had heard about it. However, after a few weeks to mull it over and revisit some scenes, I have gained a great respect and affection for this film. I also just recently watch the first movie (NETFLIX) which greatly helped put the film in perspective. The T-1000 is tremendously well-done and Arnold as the T-800 is improved upon from the previous movie. I have recently been watching several of Schwarzenegger’s older movies and believe this may be my favorite of his performances. Even though I found John Connor’s character annoying and dumb at some points, I felt he overall fit into the setting and story of the film. I also enjoyed Linda Hamilton as Sarah Connor a ton more in T2 than I did in the first Terminator. If you are like I was and haven’t gotten around to it yet, don’t waste your money on Terminator Genysis and go rent Terminator 2.

#12 Schindler’s List (’93)

I’ve only seen this once and it was in school, but it was still remarkably powerful and captivating. I plan on probably watching this movie one more time, maybe twice in my life. It is an extremely hard movie to watch and can be emotionally draining. Everyone should watch this movie once but it is not the type of movie that needs multiple viewings. The powerful visual and oral messages of the film are for more impacting than the entertainment value of this film. The choice to do it in black and white somehow made the scenes even more disturbing and realistic. It felt as though you were watching old footage from camps and factories at that time. There are few movies who have ever delivered a message and truth so carefully and powerful as this film has.

#11 Reservoir Dogs (’92) Watch on NETFLIX

The first time I tried to watch this I turned it off after about 20 minutes. The first restaurant scene can be a bit off-putting but if you can get past it, this really is a well-crafted story. With Quentin Tarantino as the director, what do you expect? The dialogue and flashbacks are used perfectly and help advance the story with only a few minutes of unnecessary conversations. This was Tarantino’s major picture directorial debut and he knocked it out of the park. He set the tone for the rest of his films to come: heavy and smart dialogue, realism and ultra graphic violence.

#10 Braveheart (’95) Watch on NETFLIX

This was one of the first movies I ever wrote a review for and I loved it. For a in depth review and analysis of the film check out my review page. But for the short summary, the score is amazing, the battles are violent but tasteful, and the theme is beautifully crafted and delivered. My favorite Mel Gibson role. And of course one of the best speeches ever.

#9 Shawshank Redemption (’94)

Watching this movie for the first time was the first time I realized how good movies could be. It caused me to view movies more deeply and gave me a higher standard for the films I watched then on out. While the characters are performed well by their respective actors, the real star of this movie is the plots and story telling. You are instantly sucked into this world within the prison as Andy Dufresne slowly turns it upside down until he makes his daring escape.

#8 Fight Club (’99)

One of the weirdest and most surprising movies I’ve watched in a while. Fight Club is way more than a movie about people punching each other. It’s a thought provoking and mind bending journey with twists and turns. I don’t want to give too much away to ruin the movie, but you will instantly want to watch it again after it’s over to try to understand everything that happened. Brad Pitt is a rockstar and gets to personify it in this role and it’s a blast to watch.

#7 Toy Story (’95)

Not much can be said that hasn’t been already about the Pixar debut and classic. It revolutionized animated films for the future and jump started possibly the best and most consistently good movie production company in the past 20 years. Woody and Buzz are gods in the animated community, almost eclipsing Mickey Mouse as the the main characters of Disney. I work at a daycare and see children wearing some kind of Woody or Buzz clothing at least 2 or 3 times a week. On top of being a very popular movie, it really is a fantastic family adventure that is timeless and will be enjoyed for generations.

#6 The Iron Giant (’99)

This is in my top 2 all-time favorite animated films, alongside The Sword In The Stone. It’s an awesome scifi/coming-of-age/action/comedy/family film that still holds up great. There have been numerous animated films getting rebooted as live action versions and I believe this movie is highly deserving of one as well. While it is entertaining to watch the Iron Giant learn about things from Hogarth it is also a very emotional and pulse-pounding film. And I must mention the ending, which is one of my favorite of all-time. It’s nearly guaranteed you will cry the first time you watch it. Any one who is a fan of Disney’s Big Hero 6 should give this movie a try.

#5 Forrest Gump (’94) Watch on NETFLIX

Forrest Gump is like apple pie and baseball in America. It is almost unpatriotic to have never seen Forrest Gump. Funny story: I watched this several times as a kid and didn’t watch again until I was a teenager and realized that Forrest was mentally challenged. I just thought he was really weird as a child. My favorite part of the movie and one of my favorite secondary characters of all-time is Lt. Dan. His interactions with Forrest have always cracked me up and sometimes touched me emotionally.

Extra: There is a channel on YouTube that makes “Honest Trailers” for movies and the one for Forrest Gump is hilarious. Check them out on the Screen Junkies channel! 

#4 Saving Private Ryan (’98) 

F.U.B.A.R. This acronym from the film best describes the movie and the war. Arguably the best war film of all-time and it does not hold any punches. The opening half hour of the movie displays the horror and valor of war for these soldiers. Probably the most tasteful, yet realistic depiction of war in any movie thus far. While most action/war movies try to make the violence slightly entertaining but not glorify, Spielberg did a magnificent job of making it horrifying without being overly disturbing. An essential movie for any fan of war films or history.

#3 Jurassic Park (’93)

When you think of a dinosaur movie you don’t imagine developed characters and well told story, but that’s what you get when Steven Spielberg directs it. He found a way to merge dinosaurs with a thoughtful script and fun visual adventure. It is remarkable how well the dinosaurs hold up today after over 20 years. The blend of practical and CG dinosaurs makes you believe that the extinct creatures are actually on screen with these actors. The other masterful aspect of this film is the amount of screen time for the dinosaurs. Any other director may have felt pressured to put dinosaurs on the screen as much as possible, but Spielberg held back and only showed them for about 15 minutes of the hour and a half film. This built suspense and anticipation for each next scene that involved the dinos. Even though I loved this movie as a child, along with other factors it brought about a huge fear of dinosaurs within me. To this day I can’t ride any rides involving dinosaurs or go near any dinosaurs inside museums.

#2 Tombstone (’93)

The best western in my opinion and the best Kurt Russell performance also. The cast is incredible from Kurt Russell and Val Kilmer to Powers Boothe and Michael Biehn. Tombstone also has one of the most badass quotes ever when Wyatt Earp, Russell’s character, says:  This an action-packed modern western with a great story and even great characters like Wyatt Earp, Doc Holliday, Johnny Ringo and Curly Bill Brocius. Saddle up for an awesome time and give Tombstone a watch for a rootin’ tootin’ good time.

#1 Goodfellas (’90)

This one of the few films I’ve seen that I can say is perfect. The dialogue and story telling are magnificent and draw you deep into the world of the mobsters. There’s so much to say about it that I recommend you read my full review here. It took me forever to get around to watching it but I’m kind of glad I got to watch it in its entirety for the first time at a more mature age.

I hope you enjoyed my list and will watch any of the movies you had never heard of or seen before. You won’t be disappointed, I promise. Please any comments on what would make it on your list and what you liked and disliked about mine. Thanks for reading!

Best Movies of 2014

This is a tad bit late but I’ve been going through and watching several movies I saw last year and theaters and I can’t help but say that last year was an amazing year for movies! There were some crazy action movies, super super-hero movies, gut-busting comedies and heart-wrenching dramas. It’s hard to see every movie that comes out each year (there were over 9,000 movies last year according to IMDB) but I felt that I saw a majority of the better films in 2014. Some were blockbusters and a several were independent films, and each one was unique and great in its own way.

However, there are some movies I have yet to see from 2014 and I felt they deserved some recognition as well:

Gone Girl – With his wife’s disappearance having become the focus of an intense media circus, a man sees the spotlight turned on him when it’s suspected that he may not be innocent.

The Imitation Game – During World War II, mathematician Alan Turing tries to crack the enigma code with help from fellow mathematicians.

The Theory of Everything – A look at the relationship between the famous physicist Stephen Hawking and his wife.

Boyhood – The life of Mason, from early childhood to his arrival at college. (Filmed over a period of 12 years)

Grand Budapest Hotel – The adventures of Gustave H, a legendary concierge at a famous hotel from the fictional Republic of Zubrowka between the first and second World Wars, and Zero Moustafa, the lobby boy who becomes his most trusted friend.

The Guest – A soldier introduces himself to the Peterson family, claiming to be a friend of their son who died in action. After the young man is welcomed into their home, a series of accidental deaths seem to be connected to his presence.

Locke – Ivan Locke, a dedicated family man and successful construction manager, receives a phone call on the eve of the biggest challenge of his career that sets in motion a series of events that threaten his carefully cultivated existence.

Raid 2 – Only a short time after the first raid, Rama goes undercover with the thugs of Jakarta and plans to bring down the syndicate and uncover the corruption within his police force.

Snowpiercer – Set in a future where a failed climate-change experiment kills all life on the planet except for a lucky few who boarded the Snowpiercer, a train that travels around the globe, where a class system emerges.

Now for the movies I did see this year. I have ranked them but there is a little wiggle room for the movies starting at the bottom. Generally, this is where I felt each movie deserved to be in my best movies of the year. So without anymore buildup, here’s number 22! (yeah, couldn’t whittle it down to a solid 20)

22) Noah 

This movie got a lot of criticism, especially from Christian groups, for about how they portrayed the story of Noah along with the use of the “Watchers”, large stone creatures who were fallen angels. While the Watchers were created because of a verse in the bible referencing the fallen angels, I cannot defend that choice besides the fact that it was bold and interesting. If you can get past that, I believe this movie is one of the best character pieces of 2014 or in a while. So many times in Sunday school and church we gloss over the horrors of the flood and instead focus on the rainbow and animals. This movie gave the audience the side of Noah never talked or written about. Noah had choose to believe so strongly in his God to build this ark and then also the emotional and spiritual tole it took on him to allow the rest of the people to die. While the visual spectacles throughout the movie and especially at the end were fun to watch, the character development and messages of the film are what drew me in.

GRADE: B-

21) Godzilla 

Godzilla was another divisive film. The most glaring thing about the movie Godzilla, whether you like it or not, is that Godzilla is not in it a lot. I found it was good choice, even though I wouldn’t have complained seeing more of the monster. Compared to another favorite monster movie of mine, Pacific Rim, this has very little monster action. But what it sacrifices in action, I believe it made up for in intensity and scale. There were several scenes in the movie theater where my jaw nearly dropped due to the shear size and presence of these monsters. Brian Cranston is the big name draw in this picture, coming off his legendary performance in Breaking Bad as Walter White, but he was under utilized in the movie. He’s the only human I felt much connection to and he was not used enough. The payoff at the end of the movie was great and should please any fan of the gigantic lizard.

GRADE: B 

20) Interstellar 

I’ll start off by saying that this movie makes me excited for Christopher Nolan’s next film even more, whatever it is. For anyone who did not get to see it in theaters, I’m sorry. I saw this in IMAX when it came out and it enhanced my viewing experience immensely. The visual euphoria and amazement when you see space and the different worm holes and black holes are out of this world! (pun intended) Matthew McConaughey gives a good performance just like he has in everything else lately. T.A.R.S., the robot companion provides comic relief during this intense space journey. I’ll preface my problems with the movie by saying, I expected this to be a realistic depiction of what it will look like when we have to leave earth. And for most of the movie the science and logic is sound and grounded in reality. Then there comes a point in the movie where the narrative takes a big turn and it lost me, both intellectually and as an audience member. I left the movie a bit upset that Nolan sort of chickened out and cheated to make it a happy ending. Even on a second viewing I was still upset about it. However, the conversations, ideas and thoughts it gave me afterwards about space exploration and humanities last days on Earth made this movie an awesome talking piece. Despite my disagreements with the end of the movie, this is still a very ambitious, thought-provoking viewing experience that everyone should at least give a chance.

GRADE: B- 

19) John Wick 

Now if you watched the trailer and thought this looked stupid, I’m right there with you. And boy were we wrong. In no way is this a serious action movie. it is very self-aware and almost felt like a throwback 80’s action movie with way better visuals and fighting. Keanu Reeves and the crew used a new style of choreographed fighting known as Gun-Fu and it’s freaking awesome. I always enjoy hand-to-hand combat over gun fights in movies and this movie is the perfect blend. You get the satisfaction of beautifully timed headshots along with the strategy and skill martial arts. If you are looking to shut off your brain for a while and watch some ridiculous action, this is the movie.

GRADE: B

The Lego Movie 

This was an awesome joyride through the world of Lego and all the different properties it has rights to. Seeing Batman, Abraham Lincoln, the ninja turtles, Shaq and so many other characters interact was an amazing childhood dream come to life. And more surprising than all the cameos was how the film was able to tug on my heart strings at the end with Will Farrell’s character and his son. This is a great animated movie for all ages and you won’t regret watching it.

GRADE: B+

17) Big Hero 6 

In a world where superhero movies seem to be coming out every weekend, it was nice to get a fresh new take on the genre. Even though this is based on a comic book, the choice by Disney to pick an obscure and unknown source material for their summer blockbuster was a bold and great choice. It had a great cast of characters and an action-packed, heartfelt story.This movie had great humor placed throughout the entire film and also made you feel the expected, but not overused, Disney emotional moments. Baymax, the big white robot, was a hilarious, innocent but also powerful character that performed great as the co-star alongside Hiro. A great movie for everyone, even the superhero fans.

GRADE: B+

16) A Most Violent Year 

Despite the title of the movie, there is little action or violence in this film. However, it was very intense from scene to scene, due in no small part to Oscar Isaac’s performance as Abel Morales, the unwavering business man trying to achieve the American dream the right way. While parts of the movie can be forgettable, whenever Morales would speak it was a treat to see him deliver his words with such confidence, bravery and leadership. The ending was a bit of a letdown and kind of fizzled out but the overall experience of the film was amazing. This is definitely not a movie to watch with a bunch of friends but rather maybe a few people or by yourself to really invest in the film.

GRADE: B

15) How To Train Your Dragon 2 

2014 was a great year for animated movies. The 3rd and final animated film on my list was the sequel to the surprise hit How To Train Your Dragon and it found a way to surprise us with an even better movie this time around. The first movie centered on a father-son relationship and this time around it focuses on his mother. There have been many movies of a child finding their lost mother, but none have had the mother be as awesome as the queen of dragons in this movie. The action sequences between the dragons were even more intense and exciting than the first movie and raised the stakes higher. The crew at Dreamworks has created an amazing universe with this series and I hope they can continue to do so.

GRADE: B+

14) Neighbors 

LOL. ROFL. LMAO. I don’t know enough ways to tell you how funny this movie is. There isn’t a dull scene in this movie. Each scene offers something different and great. The setup is rather simple, a new couple with a baby buys a house and a fraternity moves in next door.Let the feud begin! The characters are more layered and full of depth than your average bro comedy, but it’s not even necessary with how hilarious each character is. This movie definitely earns the “R” rating in a few scenes so be cautious who you watch it with. Other than that, don’t hesitate possibly the funniest movie of 2014.

GRADE: A-

13) Dawn of the Planet of the Apes 

If you watched the original Planet of the Apes or the remake a few years back, you would have never guessed that they we would spawn essentially the prequels we have today in Rise of the Planet of the Apes and this film. While both movies have great performances by humans characters, the stars by far in both movies is Caesar and his primate companions. I remember leaving the theater after seeing this movie and thinking, I have never felt so emotionally connected to a character with so little dialogue, not human and created by motion-capture. This movie is visually stunning not only because of the apes but the settings and environments as well. We may be entering the age of motion-capture movie stars, with Andy Serkis obviously being the superb pioneer. This movie is a must watch for any fans of the first film and anyone who enjoys scifi/action.

GRADE: A-

12) Captain America: Winter Soldier 

This is possibly the closest we’ll get to an “R” rated Marvel film in a long time, if ever. It had the darkest and most serious tone of any Marvel film I have seen so far. It was the first time I had any feeling that lives were at risk and the stakes had been raised. It’s a departure from the repetitive and successful formula Marvel has used with every other film. It was the first super hero movie that didn’t feel like a super hero movie, but instead a great, huge blockbuster thriller. With the success of this film, it has opened doors for more original and different style Marvel movies in the future. Most of all, it made me respect Captain America. I was not a fan of his first movie or in the Avengers so much, but now he may be my favorite. With Captain America: Civil War coming out next year and being directed by the Russo brothers again, I’m looking forward to more awesomeness from Cap.

GRADE: A-

11) American Sniper  

Regardless of all the controversy on the news and the whole fake baby scandal, this is a great movie. This was easily the best performance by Bradley Cooper that I’ve seen so far. Eastwood delivered one of the most powerful movies in years. While it can be said that anything that is super pro America will always win over audiences, which is mostly true, this movie would’ve been just as nearly powerful without the American aspect. If I could describe this movie in two words it would be intensity and rage. My muscles were tense and my ears attentive the whole movie due to the tense tone of the film. One of my favorite scenes of 2014 came from that intense rage tone, which was when he stood outside the baby room after his daughter was born. The gradual crescendo of the music and his fist pounding harder and harder on the glass was one of the most dramatic and intense scenes I’ve seen in a while. One more thing, I have rarely seen a movie where there was silence at the credits. At the end of this film it was deadly silent until everyone left the theater because of the powerfulness of the movie.

GRADE: A

10) 22 Jump Street 

Funniest in a long time. I always think back to when I saw this movie with a bunch of friends when it first came out and I cried the entire movie. I don’t remember ever hearing the theater completely silent because the jokes and one liners came in so quickly. Just watching this trailer I chuckled a few times. While this movie is definitely made to watch with friends I could laugh out loud the whole time watching it by myself it is so funny. Tatum and Hill’s chemistry is unmatched by anybody in comedy today besides maybe Rogen and Franco. No hesitation, watch this movie.

GRADE: A

9) Selma 

I love civil rights movies. It’s one of the most chaotic and interesting moments in our country’s history in my opinion. The ways in which you can examine human beings and our behaviors are extraordinary and disturbing. Selma gives a snapshot of the civil rights movement and tries to show you the gravity and scope of the terrible travesties that plagued our society before, during and after the 60’s. With all the things happening in Baltimore and cases with police shootings, this is a touchy subject in the present. However, I think it sheds light on the dark side of humanity and not just racial tension. And it also shows hope for the future between all races and ethnicity. Even if you’re not interested in all of that, this is an incredible film with great performances. One of my best movie going experiences this year.

GRADE: A

8) Nightcrawler 

Jake Gyllenhaal is by far my favorite actor today and in my opinion the best. This movie makes that abundantly clear. While I cannot say this was as transformative of a role as Heath Ledger’s Joker, it is the closest thing I have ever seen to it.

Top 10 Sports Movies

Sports movies are awesome. They provide an exhilaration and excitement that many movies can’t. Whether it be the underdog or the comeback, sports stories are inspirational and gets everybody’s blood pumping.The brotherhood in sports provides a place for dramatic and hilarious stories among players, coaches and fans. That’s why I decided to make a list of what I feel are the best 10 sports movies I’ve ever seen.There are a few movies (Rocky, Remember the Titans) that aren’t on here that many other people may have on there list, but I feel that most of the movies on my list arguably in the discussion for top 10.

10. Space Jam

Michael Jordan agrees to help the Looney Toons play a basketball game vs. alien slavers to determine their freedom. Every boy between the ages of 18 and 30 loves this classic basketball movie. The greatest basketball player alive, alongside Bugs Bunny and the Tune Squad! It is possibly the best live-action animation hybrid since Who Framed Roger Rabbit.

9. The Replacements and Major League

These both have a similar plot and I couldn’t decide between the two, so I’m calling an audible and putting both of them in.

The Replacements – A comedy based on the 1987 professional football players’ strike. Gene Hackman plays the coach of the team, Jack Warden is the owner, Brett Cullen is the All-Pro quarterback that goes on strike and Keanu Reeves is the “scab”, Shane Falco, who replaces the star QB. Gene Hackman gives a good performance as the coach and the team is full of misfits and lunatics. A fun movie with plenty of laughs and football action.

Major League – The new owner of the Cleveland Indians puts together a purposely horrible team so they’ll lose and she can move the team. But when the plot is uncovered, they start winning just to spite her. Another movie with a hilarious group of teammates who have to band together to defeat their evil owner. Charlie Sheen as Ricky Vaughn, a.k.a. Wild Thing, is one of my favorite sports characters of all time. Bob Uecker as Harry Doyle the announcer is one of the highlights of the film.

8. Benchwarmers 

A trio of guys try and make up for missed opportunities in childhood by forming a three-player baseball team to compete against standard children baseball squads. Gus, Clark and Ritchie are the best trio in sports to date. Anyone who was not between the ages of 9 and 16 when they first saw this movie may not find it that great, but for those of us who were, it’s a cult classic. It’s an extremely quotable film and has a tons of pre-teen, fart joke humor for every guy who loves a good immature laugh once in a while. It’s a modern baseball-style Happy Gilmore in a sense.

7. Coach Carter

Controversy surrounds high school basketball coach Ken Carter after he benches his entire team for breaking their academic contract with him. One of the best performances of Samuel L. Jackson’s career and a great movie about basketball and the troubles of living in the inner city.

6. Dodgeball

A group of misfits enter a Las Vegas dodgeball tournament in order to save their cherished local gym from the onslaught of a corporate health fitness chain. Easily the best sports comedy in my opinion, this movie will leave you in stitches the first time you see it. Peter La Fleur is the “average joe” that everyone can relate to in some way. White Goodman, probably my favorite Ben Stiller character, is one of the funniest characters ever. Another quotable movie (“Dodge, Duck, Dip, Dive and…Dodge.”) with tons of raunchy humor. Plus the added bonus of watching multiple hilariously themed teams of grownups play dodgeball. Pepper (Jason Bateman) and Cotton (Gary Cole) also create the funniest commentator duo on screen ever.

Not the real trailer, but thought it was funny. 

5. The Fighter

A look at the early years of boxer “Irish” Micky Ward and his brother who helped train him before going pro in the mid 1980s. While this story focuses more outside of the ring, it’s a great story about two brothers on different paths. Both Christian Bale and Mark Wahlberg give outstanding performances. The story shows the physical and emotional toll it takes on a man to survive and thrive as a boxer.

4. Moneyball

Oakland A’s general manager Billy Beane‘s successful attempt to assemble a baseball team on a lean budget by employing computer-generated analysis to acquire new players. Brad Pitt and Jonah Hill knock it out of the park (haha) with this amazing retelling of Billy Beane and Peter Brand’s experiment in Major League Baseball. This movie almost made me decide to get into sports management because of how cool it looked. It’s a great story of rebellion in a way we hadn’t seen until this movie. One of my favorite scenes in movie history is still the winning streak in Moneyball. I get goosebumps every time I watch it. It captures all the excitement leading up to the 20th game where it finally erupts.

3. Glory Road

In 1966, Texas Western coach Don Haskins led the first all-black starting line-up for a college basketball team to the NCAA national championship. This is a greatly under appreciated movie. It is one of the best feel good movies I have ever seen. While managing to stay family friendly as a Disney movie, it also shows the dark and emotional side of what these players went through having so many black players on a Texas team.

2. 42

The story of Jackie Robinson from his signing with the Brooklyn Dodgers organization in 1945 to his historic 1947 rookie season when he broke the color barrier in Major League Baseball. I was skeptical when I first heard about this movie and was worried they wouldn’t do Jackie Robinson’s story justice. I was gladly surprised by this amazing film that showed the physical and emotional struggle put on this man because of the color of his skin. It does not pull punches on the characters, dialogue or the depiction of his career. It gave me an even bigger respect for one of the greatest athletes in history.

1. Friday Night Lights

Based on H.G. Bissinger’s book, which profiled the economically depressed town of Odessa, Texas and their heroic high school football team, The Permian High Panthers. This is the epitome of what a sports movie should strive to be. Billy Bob Thornton gives one his best performance ever as the coach and mentor to the players. Lucas Black does phenomenal as the shy QB thrusted into the leadership position when Boobie Miles, the star running back on their team, injures his knee and is out for the season. The movie captures the intensity and pressure from the fans of the small town. This is a must see for any fan of football movies.

My Summer 2015 Movie Watch List!

There are tons of movies coming out in the next few months and I wanted to share with you guys all the movies I’m planning on seeing this summer! There are some some great blockbusters and Indie movies that I am really excited to see in theaters! I hope you find some movies on here that you will plan on seeing as well, you shouldn’t be disappointed! Release dates tend to change and a lot of indie movies start in small release before reaching a nation wide release, so all dates are tentative.

April 24

Ex Machina – A young programmer is selected to participate in a breakthrough experiment in artificial intelligence by evaluating the human qualities of a breathtaking female A.I.

It has Oscar Isaac and one of the main characters’ names is Caleb!

May 1

Avengers: Age of Ultron – When Tony Stark tries to jumpstart a dormant peacekeeping program, things go awry and it is up to the Avengers to stop the villainous Ultron from enacting his terrible plans.

It’s the Avengers sequel…need I say more? MUST SEE IN IMAX! 

May 15

Mad Max: Fury Road – In a post-apocalyptic world, in which people fight to the death, Max teams up with a mysterious woman, Furiousa, to try and survive.

This looks to be a visual masterpiece. MUST SEE IN IMAX! 

Slow West – Follows a 16-year-old boy on a journey across 19th Century frontier America in search of the woman he loves, while accompanied by mysterious traveler Silas.

Westerns making a comeback! Yee-Haw! 

May 22

Tomorrowland – Bound by a shared destiny, a teen bursting with scientific curiosity and a former boy-genius inventor embark on a mission to unearth the secrets of a place somewhere in time and space that exists in their collective memory.

George Clooney, House M.D., Brad Byrd, and it’s based off a part of Disney World! 

Poltergeist – A family’s suburban home is invaded by evil forces. A remake of the 1982 classic.

A Throwback to one of the greats horror movies. Plus, Sam Rockwell. 

May 29

San Andreas – In the aftermath of a massive earthquake in California, a rescue-chopper pilot makes a dangerous journey across the state in order to rescue his estranged daughter.

I think this could be a movie to set The Rock on a path to the level of Stallone and Schwarzenegger in their prime. And Paul Giamatti is always awesome. 

Aloha – A celebrated military contractor returns to the site of his greatest career triumphs and re-connects with a long-ago love while unexpectedly falling for the hard-charging Air Force watchdog assigned to him.

Curious to see how Bradley Cooper follows up American Sniper and a good cast around him. 

June 12

Jurassic World – Twenty-two years after the events of Jurassic Park (1993), Isla Nublar now features a fully functioning dinosaur theme park, Jurassic World, as originally envisioned by John Hammond. After 10 years of operation and visitor rates declining, in order to fulfill a corporate mandate, a new attraction is created to re-spark visitor’s interest, which backfires horribly.

Chris Pratt and Velicoraptors tag team against a mutant dinosaur! 

Me and Earl and The Dying Girl – A teenage filmmaker befriends a classmate with cancer.

What I want from and indie film.

June 19

Inside Out – After a girl moves to a new home, her emotions are plunged into chaos as they compete for control of her mind.

Pixar never turns out a dud. Always exceptional work. 

June 26

Ted 2 – Newlywed couple Ted and Tami-Lynn want to have a baby, but in order to qualify to be a parent, Ted will have to prove he’s a person in a court of law.

Peter Griffin as a teddy bear and his best friend is Mark Wahlberg. FUNNY. 

July 3

Terminator Genisys – After finding himself in a new time-line, Kyle Reese teams up with John Connor’s mother Sarah and an aging terminator to try and stop the one thing that the future fears, “Judgement Day”.

He is back. 

July 10

Minons – Minions Stuart, Kevin and Bob are recruited by Scarlet Overkill, a super-villain who, alongside her inventor husband Herb, hatches a plot to take over the world.

BA-NA-NA! 

Self/Less – An extremely wealthy man, dying from cancer, undergoes a radical medical procedure that transfers his consciousness into the body of a healthy young man. But all is not as it seems.

Anything with Ryan Reynolds in his new, more serious roles. 

July 17

Ant-Man – Armed with a super-suit with the astonishing ability to shrink in scale but increase in strength, con-man Scott Lang must embrace his inner hero and help his mentor, Dr. Hank Pym, plan and pull off a heist that will save the world.

Paul Rudd as a super hero. And it’s basically the superhero version of Honey, I Shrunk The Kids. 

July 24

Pixels – When aliens misinterpret video feeds of classic arcade games as a declaration of war, they attack the Earth in the form of the video games.

Grownups with arcade games. Awesome. 

Southpaw – A boxer fights his way to the top, only to find his life falling apart around him.

Best actor in hollywood, Jake Gyllenhaal. 

July 31 

Mission Impossible 5: Rogue Nation – Ethan and team take on their most impossible mission yet, eradicating the Syndicate – an International rogue organization as highly skilled as they are, committed to destroying the IMF.

After seeing Edge of Tomorrow, Tom Cruise can’t be stopped. 

August 7

Fantastic Four – Four young scientists achieve superhuman abilities through a teleportation experiment gone haywire. They must now use these abilities to save the world from an uprising tyrant.

Wonder how good Mr. Fantastic is on the drums..? 

August 14

The Man From U.N.C.L.E. – In the early 1960s, CIA agent Napoleon Solo and KGB operative Illya Kuryakin participate in a joint mission against a mysterious criminal organization, which is working to proliferate nuclear weapons.

Man of Steel in the CIA and Lone Ranger in the KGB working together. 

Straight Outta Compton – The group NWA emerges from the streets of Compton, California in the mid-1980s and revolutionizes pop culture with their music and tales about life in the hood.

Biopics are always awesome. Plus the great music.Oh, and Paul Giamatti again.  

Masterminds – A night guard at an armored car company in the Southern U.S. organizes one of the biggest bank heists in American history.

Hilarious cast. 

#49 Mulan

The Fa family’s only child, Mulan, fails to fulfill a Chinese girl’s traditional duty as desirable bride. When the empire mobilizes a man from every family to fight the invading Huns, Mulan fears her father, an honorable veteran, is no longer up to fighting and joins in his place, pretending to be his son. The ancestors designate the mighty stone dragon as her magical protector, but only eager baby-dragon Mushu actually goes. Mulan is assigned to general Li son of captain Fa Li’s training unit. When they reach the front, the Huns have already wiped out the regular army. Now the novice company must save China or perish honorably.

The movie has 2 classic Disney songs that kids still sing today:

I also remember playing with my Mushu (Eddie Murphy) toy as a kid, my favorite character in the movie!

#50 101 Dalmatians

Roger Radciffe and his pet dalmatian, Pongo meet Anita and her pet dalmatian, Perdita and they fall in love and get married and Pongo and Perdita have puppies. Later the puppies end up in the clutches of Anita’s hateful classmate, Cruella De Vil who is planning to make fur coats from their skin. Pongo and Perdita, with the help of a colonel, cat, horse and cows must save their puppies and bring them back home.

The movie also spawned a TV show on Disney that I loved to watch as well:

Here is the entire movie on Youtube:

Top 50 Favorite Animated Films of All-Time!

If you ask anybody, young and old, one of their favorite movies is animated. The movie may be a piece of their childhood or it may be a recent film they really enjoyed. Animated pictures are the only style of film truly created for people of all ages, race, and background. They have an ability to translate across generations and often even nations. They teach us about different virtues and life lessons while making us laugh and smile along the way. Children love the adventurous wonderment of exploring these fantasy worlds while older audiences enjoy the refreshing innocence that sends us back to a much simpler, fun time in our lives.

Because of this, I’ve decided to make a list of my favorite animated films. The process of sitting down and looking up all the movies I watched as a kid up until now was a pleasant trip down memory lane. I constantly remembered flashes of sitting in front of our big old TV and putting in a VHS or DVD after school or on a Friday or Saturday night. I quickly realized I had to put a limit on my list because there were and have been a lot of animated movies I love. The best solid, round number I landed on was 50. This allowed me to show my absolute favorites and also some of my more obscure or unknown beloved films.

The criteria for ranking them was pretty straightforward. I used 2 different factors to determine each movies spot: 1. How much did I like the movie when it first came out/when I first saw it. 2. How well does it hold up today for me and the general audience. I had a few films make the list because of the 1st and a few not make it because 2nd. Also, I have not watched all of these very recently, even though I’ll try to watch watch most of them before I reveal their ranking. That being said, some of the films have a leeway of about 3 up or down but are generally in the right spot on my list. And just as any movie and movie list, opinions change for better or worse and new movies are always being made so this is not written in stone.

In order to keep this from lasting almost 2 months, I will do 2 a day for either the first 20 or 30. So for example: 50 and 49 on Monday, 48 and 47 on Tuesday, etc. I will put a brief summary and personal review of each film along with videos (clips, trailers, interviews, behind-the-scenes).

There were a couple of films that did not make it that I felt at least deserved some recognition, even if not on my list. Some just missed the cut or I have yet to see and have heard good things about and wish to see.

These are some of the movies that I unfortunately could not fit on my list: Alice In Wonderland, James and the Giant Peach, Nightmare Before Christmas, Meet the Robinsons, Monsters Vs. Aliens, Dinosaurs, Mr. Peabody and Sherman, Brave Little Toaster, The SpongeBob SquarePants Movie, Despicable Me 2, Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius, Balto, Space Jam (felt too much of it was live action, would easily be in my top 20), Brave.

These are a few movies I have not watched yet and feel deserve recognition: Lego Movie, Frozen (Even though I hate Let It Go, especially working at a daycare), Fantasia, Fantasia 2000, Fantastic Mr. Fox, Wallace and Gromit: Curse of the Were-Rabbit, and Bolt.

What I hope comes from people reading my list of my favorite animated movies is that people would either discover new movies they haven’t watched before or go back and watch some of them and rekindle and that childish fire in them. Here are a few videos to help ignite that fire and pump you up for number 50 and 49 tomorrow. Enjoy!