Ex Machina

I could not recommend this sci-fi drama more: 2015's Ex Machina

It's about the winner of a huge corporation's in house sweepstakes, who finally gets to meet the elusive CEO and see whether or not he's actually created AI (artificial intelligence).

Let me digress to, perhaps, the creepy part of my opening sentence.Yes, it's a drama.With even less action than Blade Runner. No Michael Bay explosions. No John Woo super slo-mo bullets. No Lucas muppets. No Spielberg's kids on bmx bikes...

But that is exactly the point of this movie! It's talky and unravels slowly at first, then grows - bit by suspenseful bit into something a lot better than Scott, Bay, Woo, etc.

This is more Asimov. More a game of Chess rather than Asteroids! 

And it ROCKS!!

Tusk

An obscure Kevin Smith movie?? Not since Clerks, right?

Nope. Not many knew Tusk existed, including me. (And everyone knows how big a fan I am of Smith!) 

Well, I should say, I'm a huge Kevin Smith fan with exceptions. Mallrats, Jay & Silent Bob, and his horror movie, Red State, were not good, in my humble opinion. 

Which is why Smith's horror movie #2, right after Red State, didn't have much appeal to me when I finally did hear of it. 

I was wrong!

WOW! 
This is a very, very creepy movie! Hard to sit through without squirming. But isn't that what a horror movie is supposed to be?

It's about a podcaster who goes to Canada to do an interview and disappears. His friends search for him... Much more is involved, of course.

But the best part of this movie is it's alter-ego! 

After being totally creeped-out watching the movie, watch a couple of the short dvd extras (Making Of's) and you'll see/hear an idea that instantly changes this movie from 1 of the creepiest to 1 of the funniest!

I had to instantly watch it again, based on this new information. And it's hysterical! 
And I came along another Easter Egg hidden in the movie, also!

This is the best metamorphoses I've ever seen in a movie! 

Veronica Mars

The story of Veronica Mars is very cool!

It was a TV show for 3 seasons, starting in 2004. It achieved critical success but a very small, yet loyal audience. Turns out that this audience wasn't just loyal - they were rabid!

Not willing to let go, this small cult funded its movie through a kickstarter-type campaign. And in 2014 Veronica Mars: The Movie debuted.

Very loyal! Very cool!

Based on the idea that such dedication surely can't be misplaced, and on a recommendation from Sezduck (not in that order), I embarked on the journey...

And found it sucks. Just kidding. It's great! But I think it needs to be seen in order. Her story is very cool (see what I did there?):

Veronica (Kristen Bell), in Season 1, is a high school student in the town of Neptune, CA. Her best friend is killed so she uses skills gleaned from her father (ex-sheriff, now PI) to try to catch the murderer. Basically, she's Nancy Drew - in the 21st century using current technology. Lots more is involved, of course. Yes, it does get soap opera-esque here and there, but it also has lots of acerbic wit and gets dark. Dark! Season 1 ROCKS!! Must-see!!

Season 2 is a little more disjointed and soap opera-ish, but it still ROCKS!! In an effort to boost ratings they have some fun cameos. Kevin Smith plays a clerk (HA!) and Joss Whedon pays homage to Smith by playing a clerk (HA HA!!). I liked parts of 2 better than 1! As a whole, I'm not sure which I'd choose. Too close to call. Must-see!!

Season 3 is very disjointed, sometimes hard to keep up with the details, but I still looked forward to seeing that Netflix envelope in my mailbox. Still good! Worth watching!

The Movie: 10 years go by for the characters, 7 years for fans but only 2 days for me! I was really expecting something to knock my socks off and didn't get it. Looking back, and watching it again, I realized that my sights were set way too high (and maybe lack of sleep had a part). But it's still Veronica! It's still good! Maybe better than Season 3?

So, thanks for the suggestion, Sezduck! Best stuff I've seen in a while!

Inequality for All

I'd consider this documentary a must-see no matter what part of the political spectrum you see yourself on - Left, Right, somewhere in the middle, or even on the fringe.

Inequality for All, 2013, is Robert Reich making a plea to America: please, decrease the wage inequality - the drastic amount more that the top money makers profit as apposed to the "working class".

This isn't "Class Warfare." It's simple economics. Societies run better when the Middle Class earns a comfortable wage. The MC spends most of the money in the market and thus keeps the system going.

There's plenty of proof. Lots of graphs and stats (perhaps a little too many, in spots?), and historical evidence to back up the claims. And they interview Conservatives and Liberals alike. Fox News and Jon Stewart's Daily Show make numerous cameos. 

Unfortunately, when you (meaning me) agree so much with a documentary it's hard to say anything more about it. (I'll) Let the movie speak for itself! 

Broadway Idiot

In 2004 the band Green Day released an album called American Idiot, a rock opera (a la The Who's Tommy) that went platinum. It's a scathing indictment of post-9/11 America. If you already know this and like(d) it rent Broadway Idiot! Now! 

If you didn't know and/or like the album you may still like this documentary. It does explain the concept.

The album inspired a Broadway musical. And this movie is the transition from album to Broadway hit.

This movie is rated R for bad language throughout - songs especially. But my fave is on opening night: "What the *^#& is Donald Trump doing here?!" 

Me - being a casual fan of the band, and a little more eager fan of this album, and a tiny bit theater geek - loved this movie! It made me wish I had seen the theatrical production when it was in town.

As much as I liked the album, I (just from what was shown in this documentary) like the stage version better. A) it points out, subtly, how great an album it is: Lyrically, they didn't change a thing. Musically, they just enhanced what was already there by adding voices - strings, chorus, piano, female vocals, etc. And what was on the album was good enough to go to Broadway with just a little tweaking.  B) The added story lines to turn the album into a musical. I think it works much better following 3 protagonists (plus a couple very necessary, very good lesser characters) rather than just 1. 

It also pointed out a big limitation in (pop) punk rock. All I felt from their album was the rage and angst. The stage version made me feel a lot more. 

But it also made me appreciate the album more at the same time. 

Defendor

Here's an alternative to all the millions of superhero movies out there: 2009's Defendor.

Woody Harrelson plays a man who believes his mission in life is to fight crime - dawn a superhero's uniform to take out the city's evil villain. A crooked cop stand in his way. But he makes headway when he befriends a young prostitute. 

I was expecting a dark comedy (like Kick-Ass - highly recommended!). But it's more of a drama with a few very funny moments. 

The entire cast is great. Writer-director, Peter Stebbings is good in both roles. 

It's not a 5-star movie, But I'd recommend it.