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Joy (2015) Movie Review

PG-13 | 124 min

Genre: Biography, Comedy, Drama

Director & Writer: David O. Russell

Stars: Jennifer Lawrence, Robert De Niro, Bradley Cooper, Édgar Ramírez, & Diane Ladd

Plot: Joy is the story of a family across four generations and the woman who rises to become founder and matriarch of a powerful family business dynasty

David O. Russell is back with a follow up to his last film American Hustle, he brings back most of the actors that you've come to know from his films but this time Jennifer Lawrence is the main focus.

The character of Joy is pretty likable, she is able to take on problems and challenges with out breaking or over working. She is very control of herself which is in contrast with most of her family. At the start of this movie she has to help out all of her family do basic tasks just to keep things orderly. She has always had a fascination with creating and inventing new things but was never really able to shine because of her family holding her back.

I did find that Jennifer Lawrence, just like in American Hustle, just feels too young for the role. It feels like she is just a younger person trying to act older than they are. It's not that she is acting bad, which she isn't, it just feels like she is once again miscast.

I couldn't help but notice how old the music as placed in this film. It almost felt like it was used to make you feel a certain emotion instead of enhancing the scene. This is pretty common to be used this way on television or film, but it actually bothers me here. I would've liked to have seen it toned down or just used more effective and appropriate in the right moment.

Joy is a fine movie but isn't anything special. It has good performances from most of the cast and the characters are memorable. It's worth a rental during a dead air period of new movies. Watch it then and you have a good time with it.

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The Hunger Games: Mockingjay - Part 2 (2015) Movie Review

PG-13 | 137 min

Genre: Adventure, Sci-Fi

Director: Francis Lawrence
Writers: Peter Craig & Danny Strong

Stars: Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson, Liam Hemsworth, Woody Harrelson, Donald Sutherland, Julianne Moore

Plot: As the war of Panem escalates to the destruction of other districts by the Capitol, Katniss Everdeen, the reluctant leader of the rebellion, must bring together an army against President Snow, while all she holds dear hangs in the balance.

This is the final movie in the Hunger Games saga and the Part 2 to a book that was split into two that didn't need to be. But it gets to follow the trend that all young adult franchises follow now and days. This is the typical end to most big films, the rebellion go to war with the capital and all the emotion is heighten for the big climatic fight at the end. Unfortunately, while those moments are there they are far and between one another to not feel cohesive enough in the story.

Katniss is in the middle of all this and tries her best to bring the troops together as she is the symbol of hope for just about all of them. Which makes sense because this is a very dark film with not much hope for these people and characters to go on. The film isn't as fast paced as I would've expected it to be, especially with how Part 1 was. Luckily this one doesn't follow Part 1 completely because things slowly begin the pick up as the film progresses. But oddly enough the film does go back to being a dark slow serious film after the actions scenes are over.

I noticed that the acting was toned down in this film, which is different to see from most big summer films theses days. It works well with the slower pace that the film has but it does make some of the action scenes that do come later on in the film feel a bit disjointed at times. The biggest problem with this movie is that it was split into two films and it shows in both Part 1 and Part 2. I think that is what is prevent this film from being a great finale to just an okay finale.

The first Hunger Games film really hooked be in and that is why I have been able to stick with the franchise all the way through to the end. Though the ending definitely wasn't its high point it was decent enough that can leave both me and fans of the franchise satisfied with the end. I did like this world and the characters in it, I think those aspects will be the ones that I remember the most from this saga of films.

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Check out my review of Part 1 right here!

The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 1 (2014) Movie Review

PG-13 | 125 min

Director: Francis Lawrence
Writer: Peter Craig & Danny Strong
Stars: Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson, Liam Hemsworth, Woody Harrelson, & Donald Sutherland
Genre: Adventure | Sci-Fi

Plot: When Katniss destroys the games, she goes to District 13 after District 12 is destroyed. She meets President Coin who convinces her to be the symbol of rebellion, while trying to save Peeta from the Capitol.

I read Mockingjay previous to this movie being made, and I wasn't a big fan of it. The other two books had been much more original and interesting. When they announced that the third book will be split into two in movie form, I knew that they could do it and make sense but I though it was unnecessary. The third book was the weakest and would've benefited in cutting down a lot of the unnecessary parts in movie form.

Unfortunately the movie doesn't do any of those things and because its split into two parts, its uses all the material plus more. I felt like the last movie used a balance of the action and talking scenes perfectly, building up to a great climax in the movie. This movie doesn't necessary have that and has all its focus on the talking rather than a balance of action to counter.

Its not that the talking is bad, its just not what I would want in The Hunger Games movies. The character of Katniss isn't so likeable in this film because of the focus of here semi love triangle between her and the other two lead characters. The problems from the book translate to the movie as well.

Overall The Hunger Games Mockingjay Part 1 its a decent movie but does lack a lot of elements that the previous movies had. I hope that when the second part comes out this movie will maybe benefit more, but until then its just a movie that you can wait on. At least until the second part comes out.

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Silver Linings Playbook Review

This is a movie that has definitely gained hype recently especially from the Oscars nominations recently. And I have to say, this movie is worth all the hype its getting! I really enjoyed it more than I thought I would. What makes this movie more enjoyable is the fact that this is much more of a “Dramedy” than anything.

All the performances in this movie were great all around. Bradley Cooper was fantastic and Jenifer Lawrence is easily my favorite actress right now and this movie only makes me like her more. Robert De Niro essentially showed a great example of how a supporting character should be! and it was very much a surprise to see Chris Tucker in this movie, and not being over the top either. I really found myself getting attached to the characters which I can very much give credit to the writing and directing, which was both by David O. Russell.

All in all this will be a movie I will definitely remember when it comes to thinking of my top 10 of the year. Its a story that can easily be connected with and characters that are more relatable than you think. If there is one movie to see this year so far, its Silver Linings Playbook.

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