Suicide Squad

Expectations:
As superhero films continue to spiral out of control, Warner Brothers was happy to bring us Guardians of the Galaxy 1.5--a.k.a. Suicide Squad. And, of course, I was happy to watch--partly because of the hype and excitement that accents every new superhero franchise... but mostly because of the promise of the Caped Crusader and Will Smith. For the most part, I tried to avoid the (daily) new Suicide Squad trailers, for the sake of actually being a little surprised and interested during the film. Then, the reviews and criticism began to flow in, and many people preached that the trailers were actually better (and completely different) than the film. As a result, my expectations were not very high, but, really... Will Smith... So, who cares.

Spoilers ahead...

Plot:
A lot of fuss has been made over the Joker's absence throughout much of this film, and, while some might argue that the film would be much improved with more Joker, I must disagree. A large problem with this film sat right in the Enchantress's heart (or lack thereof). Not only was every Enchantress moment overly dramatic, but the whole bit with her being in love with the unbearable army dude (Joel Kinnaman) was terrible. However, the Suicide Squad and their magic powers are not quite necessary to take down the Joker, making a supernatural villain a necessity. But, the biggest problem--by far--was the lack of cohesion among the Suicide "Squad." Unfortunately, the film felt more like the Suicide Individuals because there was never a moment to bring everyone together. Each and every squad member had their motives, which the film spent time establishing, but there was never any reason for them to make sacrifices for one another, which they managed to do numerous times anyway.

Characters:
As I said before, the Enchantress (Cara Delevingne) and her lover-boy were unbearable, but the "Psylocke Award" for useless characters goes to Karen Fukuhara's Katana, who did absolutely nothing but stare at her sword. Literally, that's all she did. Thankfully, the rest of the cast was decent or great, even if they didn't interact particularly well with one another. As expected, Margot Robbie was spot-on as Harley Quinn, really piquing my interest in the character and her portrayal, as well her strange and intriguing relationship with the Joker. And, very unexpectedly, Jai Courtney was wonderfully cast, as Boomerang--a character that didn't accomplish very much but certainly provided laughs and a little bit of group cohesiveness.

But, the real hero of this film was the wonderful, the talented, the MAN himself... Mr. Will Smith. Honestly, I cannot remember the last time that I loved Will Smith in an action role, but boy did I miss him so very much. There was once as day when Will Smith was my favorite actor, and his turn as Deadshot helped me recall those glorious days. We can only hope that he continues to choose great roles and focuses on himself a little more than those crazy children of his.

Conclusion:
My expectations for Suicide Squad were not very high, but, even so, the film could have been much better than it was. There was so much potential, with Smith and Robbie blowing the roof off of their respective performances, yet we ended up with a mediocre film that was critically despised. But, to all the Will Smith fans out there, looking for hope in an action-movie world filled with The Rock, Chris Hemworth, and, logically, Harrison Ford, I would encourage you to check Suicide Squad out. If you're anything like me, you'll be so excited to love Will Smith that everything else will just fade away! I give Suicide Squad 2.88 out of 5 stars.

The Above Average Awards: Drama 2014

Yearly best lists are powerful things in the minds of movie bloggers. Not only are they the ultimate expression of film success or failure, but they totally dictate movie viewing habits from October to February of each year. People wonder why films from early in the year are so easily forgotten, and it all boils down to the fact that people want to talk about what they're watching with people who are watching the same things. Debates die out after a couple of months, which is unfortunate for early-year releases.

So, while I have had far from enough time to watch every film worthy of an Above Average Award, I tried my darndest to get to as many as possible, and the three lists, below, are the culmination of every 2014 movie that I have had the opportunity to see. Bask in the greatness, people...

Best Actress

While not nearly as populated as the best actor list, this year's best actress list features some amazing performances, beating the heck out of the 2013 female performances. As a guy, I must alert you to the fact that I tend to get more out of male performances. I'm not at all saying that actresses are lesser or lacking in talent. They just can't reach me on the same level.

 

That said, the ladies on this list were able to accomplish that difficult task of reaching my emotions, and, for that, they deserve all of the recognition in the world.

 



Honorable Mention: Jennifer Connelly (Noah), Anne Hathaway (Interstellar)

 



#5 - Kim Dickens
(Gone Girl)

While watching the trailer for Gone Girl, Kim Dickens annoyed the crap out of me, which greatly lowered my expectations for her character. Maybe that was why I loved her so much, but, regardless, she was great! Kudos to Dickens for impressing me and the rest of the world that is encompassed with Gone Girl fandom.

#4 - Rosamund Pike
(Gone Girl)

If you have seen Gone Girl, you know exactly how perfect Pike's portrayal of Amazing Amy turned out. There is no doubt in my mind that Pike was ideal for this role, and I am certainly hopeful that she can make a splash at The Oscars, however surprising that might be, at this point. On the other hand, if you have NOT seen Gone Girl, check it out! I'm going to keep my praise of Pike a bit short, in order to refrain from spoiling. So, just trust me and watch!

#3 - Laura Dern & Shailene Woodley
(The Fault in Our Stars)

If you read my review of The Fault in Our Stars, you know that I have a certain affinity for the novel and the resulting chick flick. Sure, the average audience member may have been 16, but this film got so very much right! Two of those right things are Shailene Woodley and Laura Dern. While neither of them would have been my selection for their respective roles, they were still great, and, honestly, the film was at its emotional best when the two were sharing the screen. While the novel may have revolved around a teenage love story, the film undoubtedly revolved around a relationship between mother and daughter, and it was brought to life by these two phenomenal actresses.

 



#2 - Felicity Jones

(The Theory of Everything)

Eddie Redmayne is one of my favorite up and coming actors, and, when I went to watch The Theory of Everything, I expected greatness on his part. But, while watching the film, I realized that the true star is not Redmayne, at all. Instead, Felicity Jones stole the show, and I was super impressed! The film is based on the memoir of Jones's character, which should have lead people on to the likelihood of her being the true star, but, nonetheless, it snuck up on me. Kudos to Jones and kudos to the filmmakers for allowing the best piece of The Theory of Everything to shine so bright. 

#1 - Emma Stone

(Birdman)

It only took one scene! I mean, just look at this picture and tell me she doesn't deserve the Oscar! Forget you, Patty Arquette! In 2011, Emma Stone sort of topped my best actress list, as a portion of "Every Female Cast Member on the Set of The Help," to which I recognized with that top prize, but this one is exclusive. Stone is not one of my favorite actresses (certainly not to the extent of many folks that adore her), but, in Birdman, she excels in so many ways! Of course, Stone has many, many great performances ahead of her, in her young career. However, I do not believe she will ever top her Birdman mini-rant that put her at the top of this list.

 

Best Actor

This category was the most difficult to wrap my head around, mostly due to the superior performance of the actor who tops this list. When thinking "who should be #2???" I kept drawing blanks! But, it is my duty to give you a complete list, and I shall do my duty. My 2014 Best Actor list is full of mediocrity-turned-great, which makes me totally excited for the future! So many careers were changed, for the better, in 2014, and that, my friends, pumps me up!

 

Honorable Mention: Bradley Cooper (American Sniper), Jesse Eisenberg (The Double), James McAvoy (X-Men: Days of Future Past), Evan Peters (X-Men: Days of Future Past), Vincent Piazza (Jersey Boys), Eddie Redmayne (The Theory of Everything), Channing Tatum (Foxcatcher)

#8 - Benedict Cumberbatch
(The Imitation Game)

Benedict Cumberbatch is his own enigma, in my opinion. I've never thought of him as a bad actor, but, considering the performances of his that I have witnessed, I never, ever thought he would give a performance as gripping as he did in The Imitation Game. You might be wondering how I could put such a great performance at number 8 on my list, which will be answered by my praise of the other AMAZING 7 performances that were just a little bit better...

#7 - Ethan Hawke
(Boyhood)

In the past, Ethan Hawke has been able to pleasantly surprise me, on multiple occasions. While he is not a great actor, there is something about him that is so honest and relatable, and, in Boyhood, that honesty was shining like never before. While I was not the biggest fan of the film, it was certainly well-made and emotional. Looking back at my own childhood and the maturation of both myself and my parents, I truly appreciate what Hawke brought to this film. Personally, I thought Patricia Arquette was borderline horrible in the film, but Hawke did not let that slow him down. In fact, it made him shine just a little bit more!

#6 - Edward Norton
(Birdman)

While I don't particularly dislike Edward Norton, I have never, ever been impressed with him as an actor. Thankfully, Birdman swept in and changed that struggle! Norton was absolutely great in this role, as he truly encompassed the character. He was likeably unlikeable, and I wouldn't have changed a single thing about him (or much of the film, for that matter). Edward Norton was just a small part of what made Birdman great... 

#5 - Michael Keaton
(Birdman)

Michael Keaton is in the mix to win Best Actor at The Oscars, and he is certainly deserving. In fact, if I enjoyed Keaton, as an actor, a little bit more, there is a good chance that he would be much higher on this list. For some reason, he just doesn't really connect with me, as a performer. Instead, I just always feel like I'm watching Michael Keaton, rather than his character. Regardless, his performance and character in Birdman were certainly worthy of recognition.

#4 - Jake Gyllenhaal
(Enemy)

Jake Gyllenhaal was on fire in 2014, and so many of the average viewers that I like to think I represent were deprived of said fire. Enemy has received ample critical praise, and Gyllenhaal is certainly responsible for much of that praise. The film itself was a bit too complex for me (but still good), but Gyllenhaal was spot on and deserving of my kudos! Check this one out! You will not be disappointed.

#3 - Chadwick Boseman
(Get On Up)

Anyone who is crazy enough to attempt to play James Brown deserves a certain amount of praise! But, anyone who is able to play James Brown as crazily as Chadwick Boseman deserves an abundance of praise. Because the film itself was lacking and poorly received, Boseman's performance went unseen by many and, throughout the awards season, unrecognized by most, and I am here to right that wrong! Boseman nearly made my list, last year, for his performance in 42, but Get On Up solidifies him as a rising star. I cannot wait to see what Boseman does in the future, but, for now, be sure you check out his performance in Get On Up.

#2 - Steve Carell
(Foxcatcher)

Creepy killed in 2014, and no one brought home the crazy like Steve Carell! So many people have been amazed at the performance, because of the fact that it is Steve Carell. However, I was just amazed at the performance because it was an amazing performance. Personally, as a fan of laughter, I hope that Carell sticks to his comedic roots, but, if these types of characters continue to fall into his lap, you can't blame him for taking the opportunity to blow us away. Kudos to Carell and whoever made this amazing, unusual match.

#1 - Jake Gyllenhaal

(Nightcrawler)

There may have been multiple grand performances in 2014, but the distance between Jake Gyllenhaal and the rest of the dramatic field is absolutely insane! Honestly, I had trouble coming up with comparable choices for the rest of the list, because he was just that good. In my four years of blogging, Gyllenhaal's performance in Nightcrawler is undoubtedly the best that I've reviewed, and I'm stoked to see what his still-young career has in store for him. Kudos to Gyllenhaal for his performance, and kudos to any of you who had the honor of enjoying that performance. Also, he is the first actor to ever make The Above Average Awards list twice in the same year! There is no doubt that 2014 is the year of Gyllenhaal!



 

 

Best Film

Conflict... Simple conflict is such a powerful thing. You may notice that 4 of the 5 pictures that I chose for my 5 favorite dramatic films of the year show two people facing each other, with some sort of conflict (don't peek). It is quite strange how these things work themselves out, but I did not plan that to be the case, at all. Maybe these pictures are an indication of theme of interpretation, throughout my 2014 movie viewing, but who knows! Regardless, 2014 was a year that featured many amazingly impressive films and a number of mediocre films. But, what I will remember most about 2014 is the lack of disaster among the year's blockbusters. Not only were studios successful in launching non-sequels, but they rarely failed (at least with films that I had the opportunity to view). So, lets see which film will take home the ultimate prize and join The Place Beyond the Pines, The Perks of Being a Wallflower, and 50/50, each of which have topped my lists for best drama, over the past three years...

 

Honorable Mention: Enemy

 



#5 - Nightcrawler

At this point, I have seen Nightcrawler twice, and, both times, I was just thinking "what the heck!" throughout the entire film. Gyllenhaal's performance was obviously phenomenal, as I just notified you, but the entire thing is just so fascinating and draws you in! Of the films represented on my best list, Nightcrawler is probably the one that you, as an average viewer, have heard the least about. Don't let that discourage you! Check it out! Even the wife liked it!

#4 - Gone Girl

Even with the hype and heightened expectations, Gone Girl was undoubtedly one of the most universally loved, non-superhero films of 2014. Along with the next two films on this list, Gone Girl could have been an epic disaster. I mean, if it wasn't in the hands of David Fincher, that is! Fincher is one of the best in the biz, of course, which was the sole source of my excitement for the film, but I never expected it to be so intense and well-written. Gillian Flynn can certainly sell to more than just moms on the beach! 

 

#3 - Guardians of the Galaxy

Many consider Guardians of the Galaxy the "little Marvel project that could," and they are certainly entitled to their opinion. Sure, the film was GREAT, but I've yet to understand why so many people (many of whom worship at the throne of Marvel) were surprised by the success of Guardians. Regardless, the entire film was spot-on, and, at #3 on my 2015 best-list, Guardians of the Galaxy is the highest rated Marvel film in the four-year history of The Above Average Awards, besting The Avengers by one spot! However, 2012 was a much stronger year for film (in my opinion), and Guardians is not quite Avengers-good.  

#2 - X-Men: Days of Future Past

Days of Future Past could have been a disaster! And, when I say it could have been a disaster, I mean it could have singlehandedly murdered the X-Men franchise and other perspective superhero films. Yet, it turned out to be the most impressive blockbuster of 2015 (in my opinion). Because of the financial success of Guardians of the Galaxy, X-Men will not be considered 2015's biggest superhero success story (which is such a shame), but, regardless, Bryan Singer and crew took two entirely different franchises and successfully merged them into one, in a way that made total sense. Now, I'm a pretty smart guy, but there is no way in heck that I could have accomplished or foreseen the success of what Singer did with this franchise. Each and every time that I see the film (and I am certainly racking up the views), I am in awe of the ease with which the film flows from past to future to present to the deletion of 40 years of humanity. It was just great! And, while I do watch pretty much every superhero film, I'm not easily impressed by action and superpowers. In fact, in the first three years of my blog (during which the superhero era took flight), The Avengers was the only superhero film to make any of my yearly best lists. Days of Future Past deserves so much more credit than it has garnered, and I'm here to give it!

 

 

#1 - Birdman

No 2014 film caught me off-guard as much as Birdman! The cast was brilliant. The direction was brilliant. The story was brilliant. And, the score was one of the most impactful that I have heard in many years, and the fact that it was not eligible for Oscar voting is an absolute shame. Seriously, those drums were fantastic! But, anyway... Birdman was the most perfect piece of artistic filmmaking in 2014. Until I went to see Birdman a second time, X-Men was going to top my list, but things just kept trending towards the Bird. If Birdman ends up winning best picture (which I hope it does), I will be so excited. However, I never really thought that my #1 would line up with Oscar's. So, I'm excited to see if that is the case! Regardless, Birdman is one of the most engaging, exciting, nerve-wracking mind blowers of all time. Please, for the love of all that exists, watch this movie! And soak it in! Because Birdman is the best dramatic film of 2014!

 

 

 

But it still doesn't top The LEGO Movie!

 

 

Well, there you have it, folks! That's a wrap on the year that was 2014.

 

As always, thank you to everyone for reading and be sure to let me know if there is anything that I can do to make 2015 an even better year for The Average Critic.

 

Be sure to check out the best in comedy from 2014 in The Above Average Award: 2014 Comedy, which was released last week.

 

Happy Oscars!

 

Guardians of the Galaxy

Expectations:
Here, in our "Age of the Superhero Film," many moons have passed since Marvel's last bomb. Disney has taken a film franchise and turned it into THE film franchise, and no one expects anything but greatness from this point forward... including me. Sure, Guardians of the Galaxy was going to be different, but, unlike many, I never saw the film as a risk for the Disney's Marvel franchise. With Kevin Feige behind the curtain and Disney's marketing abilities abounding, Guardians was destined to be a hit! At this point, Marvel studios has the power to do absolutely anything that they want, as long as it's connected (however vaguely) to the Avengers' universe. With all that said, I expected Guardians of the Galaxy to be different from your typical Avengers flick, and, at the same time, I expected more of the same humorous, action-packed, mass marketable, superhero mumbo-jumbo that we are all hooked on!

Plot:
For some reason, the serious opening scene of the film did not quite fit with what was marketed to me as a fun, goofy superhero flick. As a result, I was quickly worried about the things to come. But, thankfully, the film jumped back into what I expected and never stopped entertaining me, from that point on.

I've heard so much about the differences of Guardians, compared to the other Avengers-related, Marvel films, but I must say that I disagree, to a certain extent. While there is no doubt that the jokes and dialogue were a bit more mature and clever, the characters and the storyline were really no different. There was a bad guy, who was threatening the universe. There were some good guys, who couldn't quite get along. There was a forced (and obvious) love interest for the main character. There was action. There was death and revival. There were forced connections to the Avengers-world. I mean, if you take out the dialogue of Rocket (voiced by Bradley Cooper), you have absolutely nothing left to call unique! There's no doubt that Guardians of the Galaxy was one of my favorite Marvel films, to this point, so I'm not hating on what was done here, AT ALL. I just don't know why everyone believes the film is so unique...

Characters:
Kudos to the folks at Marvel for having the guts to make a film that featured a talking raccoon and a tree that could only say three words! Sure there were some predictable traits and quirks among the cast, but, Guardians is not a film that would have been financially successful three years ago. Impeccable timing is the key to Marvel's success, and I think the world had to get ready to see these types of characters, in this light, because we have already seen different versions of most of these characters before. Drax (played by Dave Bautista) was just a better version of Thor (100% better). Groot ("voiced" by Vin Diesel) was just a happier version Hulk. John C. Reilly's Corpsman Dey was a perfect clone of Agent Coulson. And, finally, Peter Quill (played by Chris Pratt) was a dumber version of Tony Stark. Let me know if you disagree!

Negatives:
Guardians' two leading, female characters were quite disappointing to me. First, Zoe Saldana's Gamora just didn't impress, in comparison to the other Guardians. She lacked the comedic element, which is what made the film work, and her storyline just didn't interest me. Add that to the fact that she belongs to Star Trek, and it just doesn't work for me. Additionally, her (un)sister Nebula (played by Karen Gillan) was absolutely useless. Remove her from the film, and nothing changes, at all!

Positives:
I'm going to use this space to praise the greatness that was the relationship between Groot (the tree)and Rocket (the raccoon). Basically, it was a mirror of that dude and his reindeer in Frozen... but it was interesting. Rocket absolutely made the movie and was probably the only super-unique character that came out of the film. I'm already hopeful for a Rocket spin-off (probably won't happen until Phase 45). I would watch the heck out of that!

Conclusion:
Although I ranted a bit about the lack of uniqueness, Guardians of the Galaxy deserves every bit of praise that it is receiving! Marvel continues to impress (minus the Thor stand-alones), and I don't see any end in sight. I mean, bringing in Paul Rudd certainly won't hurt! While I can't wait for The Avengers: Age of Ultron, I'm now even more excited for the second Guardians film to hit in a few years. If you happened to miss out on Guardians' opening weekend, go watch! Today! It's cheap ticket day, here in Hattiesburg! I give Guardians of the Galaxy 3.78 out of 5 stars.

Great Expectations: August 2014

This week, I'm camped out in a beach town, playing golf and chillaxing! I may take time to watch a movie or two, but, for the most part... golf!!! It has been quite some time since I've had the chance to play, so I kind of suck. However, I'm having a blast and keeping the game in business by losing dozens of balls in the water/bushes. So, kudos to me, on behalf of golf ball manufacturers, for keeping them in business!

As we head into the final month of summer movies, there is no doubt that Guardians of the Galaxy will rock the August box office. In fact, I will be surprised if it doesn't turn out to be as big as Captain America: The Winter Soldier, which was released in April. While I am excited about Marvel's risky venture, I'm even more excited for some smaller-releases that I suspect will impress me. Check out the trailers below. You might even find one that you want to see!

 

Get On Up

(August 1)

 

 

 

About Alex

(August 8)

 

 

 

Frank

(August 15)



Summer Preview: 2014

The summer movie season is fast approaching, and, as always, I'll be covering the biggest blockbusters of 2014, all summer long! Just so you know, I consider summer films to be any films released from May to August. Sure, some films don't have that big, summer-movie feel, but, regardless of what movie you are watching, if you sweat after leaving the theater, it's summertime. So, take a look at my lists of expectations, below, which include my expectations for films' financial success and my expectations for films entertainment success. The films are in no specific order, with regard to their respective categories. Let me know if I left off one that you are really looking forward to! Enjoy the summer of 2014!!!

 

Big Winners ($)

 

X-Men: Days of Future Past

 

Guardians of the Galaxy

  

The Fault in Our Stars

How to Train Your Dragon 2

Transformers: Age of Extinction

 

Big Losers (-$)

 

Million Dollar Arm

 

Sex Tape

Earth to Echo

Jupiter Ascending

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles

 

 

 

Most Anticipated Dramatic Films

 

The Fault in Our Stars

 

Get on Up

 

X-Men: Days of Future Past

 

Godzilla

 

The Double

 

 

Most Anticipated Comedic Films

 

22 Jump Street

 

A Million Ways to Die in the West

 

Wish I Was Here

 

 

Films I'll Steer Clear Of

Blended

Maleficent

Dawn of the Planet of the Apes

Jupiter Ascending

Night Moves

Earth to Echo

Hercules

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles

The Expendables 3

Sin City: A Dame to Kill For



Great Expectations: April 2014

Easter is fast approaching, and I just couldn't resist sharing my favorite Easter meme, regardless of how sad it may be that I have a favorite Easter meme. So, there ya go!

Thankfully, this April, we are blessed with what is sure to be one of the biggest blockbusters of 2014. Of course, I'm talking about A Haunted House 2 Captain America: The Winter Soldier. Considering that April is an odd month for a superhero film to be released, it got me thinking about Disney's strategy, and I've come to the conclusion that the Disney folks realize they have the power to release any film with the word "Marvel" attached to it at ANY time of the year, without sacrificing any bit of success. Maybe the Disney folks are just flaunting their power. Maybe they wanted to leave a fair amount of time between Captain America and Guardians of the Galaxy. Maybe they just drew a random weekend out of a hat. Regardless, I'm going to make a prediction that will one day make me quotable... The "summer" movie season will begin in April, starting around 2016. That's right, folks... No time for carrots and egg-hunting, we will have to go to the movies. I mean, think about how many sequels will have built up by that time. Where are they going to go? Batman v. Superman and Captain America 3 cannot be forced to occupy the same weekend, and people are sick of summer flicks by the end of August. So, April will soon be engulfed with blockbuster superhero films and unnecessary comedy sequels. Mark my words... It's happening, people...

Unfortunately, this April looks like it will be a month filled with rentals. So, enjoy Captain America!

Captain America: The Winter Soldier

(April 4)