Matthew R. Reis: Film and TV Critic

Blog Exclusive!   The 3 films below are my favorite pieces of cinema from 2013. I haven't seen every movie this year. However, I think these three films should be nominated for the awards listed below.   "12 Years a Slave" Best Picture Best Director Best Actor in a Leading Role Best Actress in a Supporting Role Best Adapted Screenplay What did I personally like best about "12 Years a Slave"?    Director Steve McQueen helms a picture so grandiose in scope, yet so uneasy to watch , that I doubt you will get through it in one sitting without crying. "12 Years a Slave" is based upon Solomon Northup's ( Chiwetel Ejiofor) stolen life. McQueen shows all the ills of slavery: rape, kidnapping, assault, vilification, dehumanization. And most importantly McQueen and shows us (the viewers) that hope is humanity's most precious asset. It's the most important film of the year and quite simply the best film of the decade.   ...

Film mania Blog exclusive! In this new weekly series I will be highlighting the things I love most and least about cinema. I watch a lot of films and obviously some stand out more than others. I didn't actually rank these numerically, but I tried to do my best by listing the films I liked better first. So without further ado here are my favorite films of all time: "Being John Malkovich" (1999, color) "Fantastic Mr. Fox" (2009, color) "Avatar" (2009, color) "Breathless" (1960, black and white) "Slumdog Millionaire" (2008, color) "True Romance" (1993, color) "The Matrix" (1999, color) "Alien" (1979, color) "There Will Be Blood" (2007, color) "Wall-e" (2009, color) "Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb" (1964, black and white) "The Dark Knight Rises" (2012, color) "Star Wars Episode V: ...

Unlike a fish out of water. (Now on DVD) 3 1/2 Stars As featured in: The Ithacan Note: This is my very first professional film review ever (it's roughly 2 years old.) I've come a long way since then and hope to improve even more. “Ponyo,” the latest film from Academy-Award- winning director Hayao Miyazaki (“Spirited Away”), is a charming, family-friendly film. Packaged as an old-style animated movie, “Ponyo” uses the dying technique of traditional hand-drawn animation to tell its story. This process makes the film feel older than it is and adds a level of realism and humanity to the movie. The eccentric characters and larger-than-life story contribute to the magic of “Ponyo.” “Ponyo” isn’t meant to be a massive box- office hit like “Wall-E,” “Cars” or “Toy Story.” This is apparent, thanks to its less-than-stellar box-office take of about $3.5 million. Unlike most recent animated films, which are CGI-laden and full of beautiful high-definition imagery, “Ponyo’s” visual s...

Inspired by the "Blue Man Group" (Now on DVD) 4 Stars As featured in: The Ithacan A film taking place several million light-years away has never felt more realistic. With its revolutionary use of computer animation, “Avatar” is the future of filmmaking. “Avatar” transcends ordinary popcorn flicks and deserves multifaceted acclaim for its engrossing visual and sound effects, strong supporting cast and epic moments only director James Cameron is capable of delivering. The on-screen chemistry between Jake Sully (Sam Worthington) and Neytiri (Zoe Saldana) sparks with burgeoning passion. Messages about environmental and feminist issues are present throughout the film. Some of them are obvious, while others are discretely hidden. “Avatar” serves as a grim reminder of what could happen in the future if people continue to abuse the planet’s resources. At nearly three hours long, the run time may turn away some viewers, but those who are patient are in for a special treat. ...

Movies! Movies! Blog exclusive! One Sentence Synopsis and Review "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2" 4 Stars Synopsis: When Harry Potter leaves Hogwarts after six years he doesn't find himself owling in dedication to the dead Hedwig, but rather running towards a man with no nose while carrying a magic stick. Review: Potter's swan song is the best film in the series and of the Year due to its technical wizardry, knock your socks off acting and bone chilling revelations. Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson and Rupert Grint star. One Sentence Synopsis and Review "Horrible Bosses" 2 Stars Synopsis: Three workers with little power are shopping for a killer to alleviate their respective workplaces of horrible bosses which include the a-hole Bobby Pellit aka Colin Farrell whose abhorrent personality is matched with a greasy comb over! Review: "Bosses" is a good idea for an epic office comedy however its terribly crafted villains ov...

Seasick to the fourth power (Now on DVD) 4 Stars Blog exclusive! The previous two Pirates sequels, "Dead Man's Chest" and "At World's End," were less than stellar. "On Stranger Tides," producer Jerry Bruckheimer's latest extravaganza get's the series back on track. Returning the tongue-in-cheek humor that made "The Curse of the Black Pearl" so great and combining it with the darker thematic elements of the latter two installments "Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides" is simply the best Pirates yet. The biggest difference between the last installment "At World's End" and "On Stranger Tides" is the cast and crew. Trading in Keira Knightley for Oscar winning actress Penelope Cruz doesn't hurt the film one bit. In fact it's a substantial upgrade. Both women are extremely beautiful, and have exotic European flair, but Cruz is simply the better actress. While Keira Knightley fit in...

A cat fight in leotards (Now on DVD) 3 Stars As featured in: The Ithacan Director Darren Aronofsky finds comfort in telling cautionary tales. “Black Swan,” Aronofsky’s first film since “The Wrestler” won him widespread praise two years ago is his most foreboding yet. The film takes place in the ultra—competitive world of New York City ballet where constant pressure takes its toll on the nimble performers. Nina Sayers, played by Natalie Portman in an Oscar worthy turn, is an extreme example of what that pressure can do. Sayers is an eager yet self-deprecating talent who wilts when given the chance to become the lead performer in a modern retelling of Swan Lake. A film is only as good as the sum of its parts and “Black Swan” is built from quality ingredients. The screenplay by Mark Heyman and Andres Heinz covers many topics ranging from self—worth to addiction and weaves them together quite well. Best categorized as a psychological thriller “Black Swan” forces the audience to conti...

Refriend this old toy (Now on DVD) 4 Stars Blog exclusive! Note: I did not see the 3D version. Three strikes you’re out? Not in Toy Story 3’s case. Blending tear jerking moments with outstanding CG the creative minds at Pixar have again managed to craft an outstanding film. This new film may even match Toy Story 2’s brilliance. As expected the latest chapter in the series is more of the same, in a good way that is. Part family friendly fun and coming of age tale all rolled up into one Toy Story 3 shows that three is indeed good company. The last time we saw the toys on the big screen was 11 years ago in the aforementioned Toy Story 2. Pitted against the evil Emperor Zurg, Buzz Lightyear’s arch nemesis, the odd ensemble of toys stuck together and managed to save the day. Now the toys have an even bigger challenge on their hands (or should I say parts?). Andy, their owner, is no longer a young lad anymore and is ready to head off to college. College is no place for toys such as M...

Don't wake up, Inception is a really good dream. 3 1/2 Stars Blog exclusive! In a slumber of a summer movie season it’s hilariously ironic that the best film revolves around dreaming. Inception’s director Christopher Nolan likes to bend the rules when it comes to linear story-lines. Like Tarantino in the 90s, Christopher Nolan is a master of time manipulation. Inception revels is Nolan’s bag of tricks from start to finish. The plot centers around a dream thief, a highly skilled extractor named Dom Cobb (Leonardo DiCaprio) and his team of assistants seeking to plant a idea into an unsuspecting energy company executive. Inception’s plot elements are folded like an accordion, one intriguing bit on top of another. The gist of the story is accessible through a single viewing, but I recommend seeing Inception twice. My second viewing didn’t unearth any significant new information, but it really enabled me to focus on the characters and how they deal with their emotions and each oth...