Movie Review: 12 Years a Slave

12 Years a Slave- the film adaptation of Solomon Northup's memoirs of going from being a free man in New York to being kidnapped and sold into slavery for 12 years- took away the coveted Best Picture award at this year's Academy Awards. Given the nature of the story and its historical impact, the victory wasn't all that surprising. After missing it during its theatrical release, I was finally able to catch 12 Years a Slave on DVD right after the Academy Awards last week. While 12 Years a Slave is mostly a successful telling of Northup's story, there are certain shortcomings in the filmmaking that hold it back from being a complete success.

12 Years a Slave is certainly not lacking its fair share of powerful scenes and performances. There are a few scenes here that convey the horrors of slavery with such unflinching brutality that's simply heartbreaking to watch. This sense of heartbreak carries over to the performances of Chitwetel Ejiofor and Lupita Nyong'o. Ejiofor is at his finest as Northup, embodying his will to survive amidst all the suffering he was enduring. Nyong'o in her first film role as Patsey- the sexually abused and prized slave of depraved cotton plantation owner Edwin Epps (Michael Fassbender)- makes quite the impression in her limited screen time. There's only two scenes where Patsey really has any substantial dialogue and Nyong'o makes the absolute most of it with the most powerful and devastating monologues of the entire film. I'm really excited and curious to see where Nyong'o goes from here; she has the potential to do big things in this business. Even the brief appearances from Paul Giamatti, Benedict Cumberbatch and Sarah Paulson as various figures from Northup's horrific journey into slavery are haunting and memorable. Aside from American Hustle, there was no more impressive acting ensemble in 2013 than 12 Years a Slave.

Where 12 Years a Slave loses its footing is with the script and direction. Throughout most of the film I had the feeling this could've been so much better with a different writer/director team than John Ridley and Steve McQueen. Ridley's script is far too uneven (especially in the middle of the film) to get the full power from this subject matter. The film starts off absolutely brilliantly documenting Solomon's kidnapping and initial journey to the slave auction in Louisiana then starts to lose focus by jumping around too much when he actually starts serving his term as a slave. The jumpy narrative completely blurs the timeline of the film and makes Northup's service seem far shorter than it actually was. It also doesn't help that Ridley is not consistent with showing the brutality of slavery. There are certain scenes that play out every detail of the torture of slavery, while others show restraint and cut away before anything graphic happens. When you have a film about such an ugly and graphic subject matter, subtlety lessens the emotional impact and softens the overall depiction of slavery. McQueen, on the other hand, forces his indie roots far too hard here. McQueen previously directed indie darlings Hunger and Shame, and for whatever reason, implores the same filmmaking techniques here. Long extreme close-ups with no dialogue and artsy editing tricks are just awkward and unfitting in a film about slavery. 12 Years a Slave is an important film that is well worth the watch for some brilliant acting and individual moments that hit with brute emotional force, but it could've been more substantial with a more well-rounded script and minimalist direction.

4/5 Stars

Top 10 2014 NFL Free Agents

The chaotic NFL free agency period officially opens this Tuesday March 11th at 4 p.m. Eastern Time. While many big names such as Greg Hardy, Jimmy Graham and Anquan Boldin have already re-signed with their respective teams, there are still plenty of big impact players set to hit the open market. Here are my picks for the 10 best unrestricted free agents that are available in 2014.

10.Jared Veldheer, tackle (Most recent team: Oakland Raiders)
Jared Veldheer has been one of the most consistently productive tackles in the entire league for years despite being buried in the barren wasteland of Oakland for his entire career. The Raiders have a lot of cap space and can likely make a run at re-signing him, but if Veldheer chooses to leave Oakland, there a lot of franchises with a lot more upside that could use his services.
Possible Destinations: Oakland Raiders, Miami Dolphins, Arizona Cardinals, Baltimore Ravens, Kansas City Chiefs, Jacksonville Jaguars, St. Louis Rams

9.Jared Allen, defensive end (Most recent team: Minnesota Vikings)
Jared Allen may not quite be the superstar defensive end he used to be at age 31 going on 32, but he's still got something left in the tank. He quietly had an 11.5 sack season last year and has had double-digit sacks every year he's been in the league except for his rookie season. You may not want to lock Allen down long-term because of his age, but he could make for a really great situational pass-rusher for a playoff-contending team.
Possible Destinations: Minnesota Vikings, Green Bay Packers, New England Patriots, Denver Broncos, Seattle Seahawks (if Michael Bennett doesn't return), Cincinnati Bengals, Philadelphia Eagles, New York Giants
 
8.Eugene Monroe, tackle (Most recent team: Baltimore Ravens)
Eugene Monroe was not quite in top form last year as he struggled a bit after being traded by the Jaguars to the Ravens mid-season. Even with his disappointing 2013, Monroe remains the best available offensive lineman in this year's free agent class and should be able to get a pretty big contract because of it.
Possible Destinations: Baltimore Ravens, Arizona Cardinals, Miami Dolphins, Oakland Raiders   

7.Eric Decker, wide receiver (Most recent team: Denver Broncos)
Eric Decker is arguably the most polarizing and intriguing player in the 2014 free agent class. Is his success only because of Peyton Manning or is he truly one of the league's best options as a number two wide receiver? No matter if Decker returns to Denver or goes elsewhere, he is the biggest boom-or-bust player on the open market by a long shot.
Possible Destinations: Denver Broncos, Indianapolis Colts, New York Jets, New York Giants, Carolina Panthers, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Baltimore Ravens, Buffalo Bills, Cleveland Browns 
 
6.Karlos Dansby, inside linebacker (Most recent team: Arizona Cardinals)
Karlos Dansby had a major resurgence with the Cardinals last season and got the first All-Pro honors of his nine-year career. This incredible season should see the 32 year-old Dansby get a nice paycheck for 2014 despite his relatively old age for the position. If his two-way linebacker skill set can remain as sharp this upcoming season, Dansby should be one of the top pickups of this free agency class.
Possible Destinations: Arizona Cardinals, Tennessee Titans, New York Giants, Baltimore Ravens, Chicago Bears, New England Patriots

5.Michael Bennett, defensive end (Most recent team: Seattle Seahawks)
Michael Bennett signed a one-year "prove it" contract last year with the Seahawks and went onto prove just exactly how much is he worth with an excellent 2013 campaign that included 8.5 sacks and his first career defensive touchdown. Bennett is a defensive end that not only rush the passer, but can stop the run, open up holes for his fellow lineman to get to the quarterback and lineup anywhere he is asked to on the line. A player with Bennett's two-way abilities and versatility is bound to get paid big time regardless of whether or not he stays with the defending Super Bowl champs in Seattle.
Possible Destinations: Seattle Seahawks, Chicago Bears, Minnesota Vikings, San Francisco 49ers, Atlanta Falcons, Tennessee Titans, Jacksonville Jaguars, Oakland Raiders, Indianapolis Colts   

4.Aqib Talib, cornerback (Most recent team: New England Patriots)
 Aqib Talib was absolutely elite for the Patriots last year prior to injuring his hip in the middle of the season. Regardless of the injury, Talib is going to command a lot of money in free agency with his physical play and great hands in the secondary.
Possible Destinations: New England Patriots, San Francisco 49ers, Oakland Raiders, Washington Redskins, Denver Broncos, Jacksonville Jaguars, Minnesota Vikings, New York Jets

3.Alterraun Verner, cornerback (Most recent team: Tennessee Titans)
Alterraun Verner has a similar skill set and accolades as Aqib Talib except three years younger and lacking the injury history or off-the-field problems Verner continues to improve each year he is in the league and has the potential to be a top 3 corner in this league if he keeps it up. I wouldn't be at all surprised if Verner ended up being the most productive player of this free agent class within the next few seasons.
Possible Destinations: Tennessee Titans, New England Patriots, Oakland Raiders, Washington Redskins, Denver Broncos, St. Louis Rams, Jacksonville Jaguars, Minnesota Vikings, New York Jets  

2.T.J. Ward, safety (Most recent team: Cleveland Browns)
T.J. Ward is the most underrated safety in the league in my eyes, but if he is able to get out of Cleveland this offseason, people should start to take notice. Ward is the best run-stopping safety in the league and his hard-hitting style will instantly make any defense more physical and productive.
Possible Destinations: Cleveland Browns, Chicago Bears, Buffalo Bills, St. Louis Rams, New York Jets, Green Bay Packers, Detroit Lions, Tennessee Titans

1.Jarius Byrd, safety (Most recent team: Buffalo Bills)
Jarius Byrd was on this list last year and here he is again after failing to reach a long-term deal with the Bills prior to the start of this year's free agency period. Byrd wants big money and deservedly so; he's consistently been one of the best safeties in the league since he was drafted in 2009. Byrd has the ball skills and tackling ability to make a huge difference wherever ends up. Any team with a decent amount of cap space and a safety need is going to make a run at Byrd- who is pretty easily the top of the heap amongst this free agent class.
Possible Destinations: Buffalo Bills, Cleveland Browns, Chicago Bears, Green Bay Packers, Detroit Lions, Tennessee Titans, Tampa Bay Buccaneers (unlikely given that they have Mark Barron and Dashon Goldson, but Byrd's father just got hired as defensive backs coach)  

Other notable unrestricted free agents:

Adam Vinateri, kicker (Most recent team: Indianapolis Colts)

Ahmad Bradshaw, running back (Most recent team: Indianapolis Colts)

Andre Brown, running back (Most recent team: New York Giants)

Andre Roberts, wide receiver (Most recent team: Arizona Cardinals)

Anthony Spencer, defensive end (Most recent team: Dallas Cowboys)

Antoine Bethea, safety (Most recent team: Indianapolis Colts)
Antonio Cromartie, cornerback (Most recent team: New York Jets)

Antonio Smith, defensive end (Most recent team: Houston Texans)

Arthur Jones, defensive end/tackle (Most recent team: Baltimore Ravens)

Asante Samuel, cornerback (Most recent team: Atlanta Falcons)

Ben Tate, running back (Most recent team: Houston Texans)

Branden Albert, tackle (Most recent team: Kansas City Chiefs)

Brandon Browner, cornerback (Most recent team: Seattle Seahawks)

Brandon LaFell, wide receiver (Most recent team: Carolina Panthers)

Brandon Myers, tight end (Most recent team: New York Giants)

Brandon Pettigrew, tight end (Most recent team: Detroit Lions)

Brandon Spikes, inside linebacker (Most recent team: New England Patriots)

Brian De La Puente, center (Most recent team: New Orleans Saints)

Calvin Pace, outside linebacker/defensive end (Most recent team: New York Jets)

Captain Munnerlyn, cornerback (Most recent team: Carolina Panthers)

Champ Bailey, cornerback (Most recent team: Denver Broncos)

Charles Tillman, cornerback (Most recent team: Chicago Bears)

Charles Woodson, safety (Most recent team: Oakland Raiders)

Corey Graham, cornerback (Most recent team: Baltimore Ravens)

Danario Alexander, wide receiver (Most recent team: San Diego Chargers)

Darren McFadden, running back (Most recent team: Oakland Raiders)

Darren Sproles, running back (Most recent team: New Orleans Saints)

Daryl Smith, inside linebacker (Most recent team: Baltimore Ravens)
Davin Joesph, guard (Most recent team: Tampa Bay Buccaneers) 

Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, cornerback (Most recent team: Denver Broncos)

Donald Brown, running back (Most recent team: Indianapolis Colts)

Donnie Jones, punter (Most recent team: Philadelphia Eagles)

Donte Whitner, safety (Most recent team: San Francisco 49ers)

Emmanuel Sanders, wide receiver (Most recent team: Pittsburgh Steelers)

Garrett Graham, tight end (Most recent team: Houston Texans)

Geoff Schwartz, guard (Most recent team: Kansas City Chiefs)

Golden Tate, wide receiver (Most recent team: Seattle Seahawks)

Hakeem Nicks, wide receiver (Most recent team: New York Giants)

Henry Melton, defensive tackle (Most recent team: Chicago Bears)

Jacoby Jones, wide receiver (Most recent team: Baltimore Ravens)

James Jones, wide receiver (Most recent team: Green Bay Packers)
Jason Hatcher, defensive tackle (Most recent team: Dallas Cowboys)

Jay Feely, kicker (Most recent team: Arizona Cardinals)

Jermichael Finley, tight end (Most recent team: Green Bay Packers)

Jon Beason, inside linebacker (Most recent team: New York Giants)

Josh Brown, kicker (Most recent team: New York Giants)

Josh McCown, quarterback (Most recent team: Chicago Bears)

Julian Edelman, wide receiver (Most recent team: New England Patriots)

Justin Tuck, defensive end (Most recent team: New York Giants)

Kevin Williams, defensive tackle (Most recent team: Minnesota Vikings)

Knowshon Moreno, running back (Most recent team: Denver Broncos)

Lamarr Houston, defensive end (Most recent team: Oakland Raiders)

Lance Moore, wide receiver (Most recent team: New Orleans Saints)

LeGarrette Blount, running back (Most recent team: New England Patriots)

Linval Joesph, defensive tackle (Most recent team: New York Giants)

Louis Delmas, safety (Most recent team: Detroit Lions)

Maurice Jones-Drew, running back (Most recent team: Jacksonville Jaguars)
Michael Johnson, defensive end (Most recent team: Cincinnati Bengals) 

Michael Oher, guard/tackle (Most recent team: Baltimore Ravens)

Michael Vick, quarterback (Most recent team: Philadelphia Eagles)

Paul Soliai, defensive tackle (Most recent team: Miami Dolphins)

Perry Riley, inside linebacker (Most recent team: Washington Redskins)

Phil Dawson, kicker (Most recent team: San Francisco 49ers)

Randy Starks, defensive tackle (Most recent team: Miami Dolphins)

Rashad Jennings, running back (Most recent team: Oakland Raiders)

Rashard Mendenhall, running back (Most recent team: Arizona Cardinals)

Richie Incognito, guard (Most recent team: Miami Dolphins)

Shaun Phillips, outside linebacker/defensive end (Most recent team: Denver Broncos)

Sidney Rice, wide receiver (Most recent team: Seattle Seahawks)

Steven Hauschka, kicker (Most recent team: Seattle Seahawks)

Tarrel Brown, cornerback (Most recent team: San Francisco 49ers)

Ted Ginn, wide receiver (Most recent team: Carolina Panthers)

Terrell Thomas, cornerback (Most recent team: New York Giants)

Travelle Wharton, guard (Most recent team: Carolina Panthers)

Vontae Davis, cornerback (Most recent team: Indianapolis Colts)

Walter Thurmond III, cornerback (Most recent team: Seattle Seahawks)

Wesley Woodyard, inside linebacker (Most recent team: Denver Broncos)

Will Smith, defensive end/outside linebacker (Most recent team: New Orleans Saints)

Zane Beadles, guard (Most recent team: Denver Broncos)

Album Review: ScHoolboy Q-Oxymoron

West coast hip-hop artist ScHoolboy Q has spent the past year getting his name out there and hyping up his major-label debut Oxymoron. Whether it was comparing himself to friend and labelmate Kendrick Lamar or guest spots on what seemed like every major hip-hop release released throughout the year, it was difficult to avoid ScHoolboy Q in 2013. Riding that wave of self and industry hype, Oxymoron has finally dropped after a lengthy delay, and Q's longwinded promotion pays off with his most complete album to date.

Prior to release ScHoolboy Q was quoted as saying that Oxymoron "was as good or better" than Kendrick Lamar's 2012 landmark release good kid m.A.A.d city. The comparison is ridiculous not because Q is an inferior rapper to Lamar, but because they don't tread the same ground with their music. good kid m.A.A.d city is a narrative about not succumbing to the temptations of a crime-ridden neighborhood. Q is the street antithesis to Lamar:  He sold Oxycontin, he was in gangs, he lived the life that Lamar avoided before he got into hip-hop. These men may be signed to the same label and hail from similar neighborhoods in southern California, but they are absolutely not the same artist.

Oxymoron is the easily the most wide-ranging release ScHoolboy Q has put out to date. Q spends more time here experimenting with heavier subject matter and incorporating new genres into his music than on his past records.  "Prescription/Oxymoron" is a bold, tempo-shifting seven-minute track that explores Q's addiction to pills and his days as a Oxycontin dealer. Q displays a strong skill for narratives that he hasn't shown before as the song explains with brutal honesty how he went from being an addict and alienating himself from the world then overcoming that addiction and going onto sell pills to make a living. He is able to brilliantly paint the picture of both his struggle as an addict and subsequent guilt for having to turn to selling pills to addicts like himself to support his family. Q is similarly effective with denser material on "Break the Break", which chronicles his joy of finally being successful, but to not take that money for granted because it can disappear at any time. "Studio" managed to completely catch me by surprise with Q doing some singing over funky production from Swiff D with a prominent soulful hook from B.J. the Chicago Kid. Although the rapping sections are still very much in line with his general style, this is about as close as you're going to get to a love song from ScHoolboy Q. It's a bold move for Q to contrast his hard image for even a single song and the risk pays off far better than I would've ever expected.

Oxymoron doesn't spend all its time in Q's previously uncharted musical territory; there's still plenty of odes to his love of weed, women and his street background. Previously released singles "Collard Greens" and "Man of the Year" have subtle yet punchy synth-driven beats and wildly catchy hooks that are perfectly built for any house party or nightclub dance floor. While "Collard Greens" and "Man of the Year" are a whole lot of fun, Q's self-proclaimed "gang banger" anthem "Los Awesome" is easily the most rousing, infectious track of his career thus far. Pharrell lays down a monster of a beat that serves as a powerfully nostalgic ode to the west coast hip-hop of the 90s'. Q and guest artist Jay Rock use this platform to spit venom-filled verses that match the intensity of the beat flawlessly. If Tupac and Eazy-E were still alive today, they would be spitting over shit like this. "Los Awesome" is straight-up gangster rap nirvana that I didn't think could be achieved in 2014.      

However, the biggest triumph of Oxymoron is how it corrects the long-standing consistency problem with Q's music. Q's last record, Habits and Contradictions was one of the most frustratingly erratic hip-hop releases of the past few years. For every quality track, there was a string of filler ones to kill the momentum. Oxymoron is a much more focused and cohesive record overall. While there are a couple of misses in "The Purge" and the absolutely horrendous collaboration with 2 Chainz on "What They Want", there's never a long stretch of the almost hour-long album where it loses a lot of steam. Q has always shown flashes of real talent in his music and finally on Oxymoron, that ability is not lost within a sea of weak tracks that wrongfully mask his potential.

Oxymoron is finally a mostly enjoyable and surprisingly experimental record from ScHoolboy Q. It may lack much of the lyrical complexity of Q's peers on Top Dawg Entertainment, but what he lacks in clever wordplay, he makes up for with perfect production choices and an incredible knack for crafting memorable hooks.  If Kendrick Lamar is the sophisticated leader of the Top Dawg crew, ScHoolboy Q is the hard-partying understudy. Oxymoron isn't a classic, but it plays nicely on the strengths of Q as an artist and shows a whole lot of improvement from his first two albums.

3.5/5 Stars
Standout Tracks
1.Los Awesome (feat. Jay Rock)
2.Break the Bank
3.Prescription/Oxymoron

Predicting the 86th Academy Awards

Film's biggest night of the year is finally upon us as the 86th Academy Awards are held tonight at the Dolby Theater in Hollywood, California. Here are my predictions for who will take home the six biggest awards of the evening. 

Best Picture
Nominees:
12 Years a Slave
American Hustle
Captain Phillips
Dallas Buyers Club
Gravity 
Her
Nebraska
Philomena 
The Wolf of Wall Street

Will Win: 12 Years a Slave
Should Win: American Hustle 
Nominees I've seen: 6/9 (American Hustle, Captain Phillips, Dallas Buyers Club, Her, Nebraska, The Wolf of Wall Street)

There really is no clear unopposed frontrunner this year, but I believe 12 Years a Slave has a slight advantage over Gravity and American Hustle. 12 Years a Slave has the based on an incredible, poignant true story pedigree that Academy voters love to reward.   

Best Actor
Nominees:
Christian Bale, American Hustle
Bruce Dern, Nebraska
Leonardo DiCaprio, The Wolf of Wall Street
Chiwetel Ejiofor, 12 Years a Slave
Matthew McConaughey, Dallas Buyers Club

Will Win:Matthew McConaughey, Dallas Buyers Club
Should Win: Christian Bale, American Hustle
Nominated performances I've seen: 4/5 (Christian Bale, Bruce Dern, Leonardo DiCaprio, Matthew McConaughey)

Who would've thought the guy who starred in Ghost of Girlfriends Past just 5 short years ago would be up for an Academy Award and suddenly become one of the most well-respected actors in Hollywood? Matthew McConaughey made a remarkable physical transformation for Dallas Buyers Club and a all-but-guaranteed Oscar victory tonight will complete his recent rebirth as an actor. 

Best Actress
Nominees:
Amy Adams, American Hustle
Cate Blanchett, Blue Jasmine
Sandra Bullock, Gravity
Judi Dench, Philomena
Meryl Streep, August: Osage County

Will Win: Cate Blanchett, Blue Jasmine
Should Win: Cate Blanchett, Blue Jasmine
Nominated performances I've seen: 2/5 (Amy Adams, Cate Blanchett) 

Cate Blanchett should walk away with the second Oscar of her career for her powerhouse performance in Blue Jasmine and she absolutely deserves it. Few actors this year commanded the screen with as much depth and emotion as Blanchett did.

Best Supporting Actor
Nominees:
Barkhad Abdi, Captain Phillips
Bradley Cooper, American Hustle
Michael Fassbender, 12 Years a Slave
Jonah Hill, The Wolf of Wall Street
Jared Leto, Dallas Buyers Club

Will Win: Jared Leto, Dallas Buyers Club
Should Win: Bradley Cooper, American Hustle
Nominated performances I've seen: 4/5 (Barkhad Abdi, Bradley Cooper, Jonah Hill, Jared Leto)


If I was to bet on one award for tonight, it would be Jared Leto for Best Supporting Actor. He has 100% of the momentum going into the Oscars and his role as a transgender female with AIDS is about as Oscar-friendly as any role can be.

Best Supporting Actress
Nominees:
Sally Hawkins, Blue Jasmine
Jennifer Lawrence, American Hustle
Luptia Nyong'o, 12 Years a Slave
Julia Roberts, August: Osage County
June Squibb, Nebraska

Will Win: Jennifer Lawrence, American Hustle
Should Win: Jennifer Lawrence, American Hustle
Nominated performances I've seen: 3/5 (Sally Hawkins, Jennifer Lawrence, June Squibb)

This is a complete toss-up between Jennifer Lawrence and Luptia Nyong'o. Nyong'o has the advantage of being a first-time nominee in a dramatic role, but I believe Lawrence's hilarious scene-stealing performance in American Hustle gives her the slight edge.

Best Director
Nominees:
Alfonso Cuaron, Gravity
Steve McQueen, 12 Years a Slave
Alexander Payne, Nebraska
David O. Russell, American Hustle
Martin Scorcese, The Wolf of Wall Street

Will Win: Alfonso Cuaron, Gravity
Should Win: David O. Russell, American Hustle
Nominees I've seen: 3/5 (Alexander Payne, David O. Russell, Martin Scorcese) 

The simple yet effective concept and groundbreaking visuals of Gravity makes Alfonso Cuaron the clear favorite. Though I haven't seen Gravity, it's quite the achievement to make a film with only two actors on screen with such a basic plot and make it work on any level; let alone get all the high praise and awards-love that Gravity has received.     

March in Film

After a slow start to the year, March opens the doors for some bigger and more exciting films to enter the cinematic marketplace. Here are my thoughts on all of March's wide releases.

Films I want to See:
6.Bad Words (3/14 limited, 3/28 wide): Jason Bateman's directorial debut looks to be an amusing dark comedy romp similar to films like Bad Santa and Horrible Bosses (which Bateman also starred in). Hopefully Bateman's on screen talent can translate to behind the camera.

5.Muppets Most Wanted (3/21): The last Muppets film in 2011 was pretty amusing and this looks to be similarly enjoyable with the writers of the previous installment returning and a cast featuring premier comedic talents such as Tina Fey, Ricky Gervais and Ty Burell.

4.Need for Speed (3/14): Yes it looks similar to the Fast and Furious films, but that doesn't mean it looks bad in the slightest. It should be interesting to see how Aaron Paul handles the role of an action hero and director Scott Waugh (Act of Valor) does at the helm of a big budget film.

3.Sabotage (3/28): Arnold Schwarzenegger has been on point since his acting comeback in 2012 and Sabotage looks to be another fun, grimy action film from the B-movie icon. Only downside is the involvement of screenwriter Skip Woods- who is fresh off tainting the legacy of the Die Hard franchise  with last year's colossal letdown A Good Day to Die Hard-with the project.

2.Noah (3/28): The story of Noah's ark being brought to the big screen would typically not interest me at all. But when you put the iconic Biblical story in the hands of a director like Darren Aronofsky, my interest is piqued. Nothing I've seen on the film so far looks particularly fantastic though I remain hopeful that Aronofsky can do something special with this subject matter.

1.300: Rise of an Empire (3/7): I feel like it's 2007 again when I see the promotional material for 300: Rise of an Empire. The first 300 remains one of my favorite films of all-time, and with Zach Snyder's stamp still all over this film despite the fact that he's not directing it, my hopes are very high for the return of the Spartan army.

Films I'm unsure on:
Divergent (3/21): The concept is certainly intriguing and there is a lot of potential in this series with Shailene Woodley in the lead role, I'm just not completely sold on the quality of this film from the marketing and middling screenwriting team behind it.

Films I have zero interest in:
Mr. Peabody & Sherman (3/7): Quite simply this just doesn't look funny or charming to me.

Tyler Perry's Single Moms Club (3/14): I'd like to thank Tyler Perry for confirming that Nia Long and Amy Smart are still working actors. Mr. Perry, if you can track down Regina King and Jenna Elfman for your next project; I'd greatly appreciate it.

My Personal Academy Awards for 2013

The 86th Annual Academy Awards to honor the best of cinema in 2013 will be held on Sunday. No matter whom the winners end up being; film buffs across the world are bound to be aggravated with at least some of the winners. With the inevitable disappointment of the Academy Awards right around the corner, I figured it would be fun to live out every film geek’s fantasy and hand out my own personal film awards for 2013. So pour yourself a glass of Cabernet, throw together an elegant cheese platter, and (hopefully) enjoy this fictional awards ceremony.

Best Picture: Nominees: “American Hustle”, “Blue Jasmine”, “Fruitvale Station” “The Hunger Games: Catching Fire”, “Iron Man 3”, “Pain & Gain”, “Short Term 12”, “The Spectacular Now”, “This is the End”

And The Winner Is...: “Frutivale Station”

 In a year full of deep and brilliant films, “Fruitvale Station”was far and away the most complete film of 2013. It brings the story of Oscar Grant to the masses with jaw-dropping authenticity and excellent acting while also serving as a thought-provoking reflection on the racial issues that plague our society in the modern day.

Best Actor: Nominees: Christian Bale, “American Hustle”, Hugh Jackman, “Prisoners”, Michael B. Jordan, “Fruitvale Station”, Joaquin Phoenix, “Her”, Miles Teller, “The Spectacular Now”

And the Winner Is...: Michael B. Jordan, “Fruitvale Station” 

Michael B. Jordan’s work in “Fruitvale Station” is the type of performance that turns a young actor into a bonafide star. Jordan becomes Oscar Grant and explores him with an incredible depth that exposes every single side of his character. From Grant’s introduction as a newly released convict trying to not fall back into his old ways to support his daughter to the final moments before he is gunned down; Jordan is simply mesmerizing to watch as he brings Grant back to life on screen. There was not a single performance in 2013 that came close to being as emotionally affecting and profound as Jordan’s work in “Fruitvale Station”.

Best Actress: Nominees: Amy Adams, “American Hustle”, Cate Blanchett, “Blue Jasmine”, Brie Larson “Short Term 12”, Jennifer Lawrence, “The Hunger Games: Catching Fire”, Shailene Woodley, “The Spectacular Now”

And the Winner Is...: Cate Blanchett, “Blue Jasmine”

This is a virtual tie between Blanchett and Amy Adams’s spellbinding performance in “American Hustle”, but Blanchett’s work as the mentally unstable title character in “Blue Jasmine” gets the slight edge. Blanchett nails the desperation, insanity and manipulative antics of a woman that can’t acclimate back to the real world after being pampered in high society for so long.

Best Supporting Actor: Nominees: Daniel Bruhl, “Rush”, Bradley Cooper, “American Hustle”, James Franco, “Spring Breakers”, Dwayne Johnson, “Pain & Gain”, Jeremy Renner, “American Hustle”

And the Winner is...: Jeremy Renner, American Hustle

It’s shocking to me that the other four top-billed actors in “American Hustle” were given a plethora of award nominations while Renner was snubbed by every major award ceremony. Renner’s Carmine Polito is the most sympathetic and lone good-hearted person in a set of characters that thrive off taking advantage of other people. Renner hasn’t been this dialed into a role since “The Town” and he manages to steal the show in a film that was chock full of show-stopping performances.

Best Supporting Actress: Nominees: Kaitlyn Dever, “Short Term 12”, Melonie Diaz, “Fruitvale Station”, Scarlett Johannson, “Her”, Jennifer Lawrence, “American Hustle”, Octavia Spencer, “Frutivale Station” 
And the Winner Is...: Octavia Spencer, “Fruitvale Station”

Octavia Spencer managed to top her excellent Academy Award-winning performance in “The Help” as Oscar Grant’s mother in “Fruitvale Station”. The final 10 minutes after Grant passes are some of the most heartbreaking scenes ever put on film and Spencer’s commanding performance as his grief-stricken and utterly shocked mother is at the forefront of it.

Best Director: Nominees: Joel and Ethan Coen, “Inside Llewyn Davis”, Ron Howard, “Rush”, David O. Russell, “American Hustle”, Guillermo Del Toro, “Pacific Rim”

And the Winner Is...: Ryan Coogler, Fruitvale Station 

In his directorial debut, Ryan Coogler proved that he has a better grasp on filmmaking than most directors that have been making movies for decades. Coogler makes “Fruitvale Station” so convincing that it seems like the events of the film are unfolding in real time. At only age 27, Coogler has a very bright career and hopefully numerous real awards ahead of him.

2013 in Film From Worst to Best (From the Prespective of 21 Year Old Men)

Over the course of 2013, six of my friends were kind enough to appease my nerdy blogger request to give a numerical rating (1-10, .5 scores were allowed, no 0's or .25/.75 scores allowed) of every single movie they saw for the year. This little experiment netted some pretty interesting and surprising results. With the Academy Awards being right around the corner,  I figured now would be a good time to unveil the results from this project. Without further ado, here are the rankings of 60 films from 2013 from worst to best according to a group of seven 21 year old males from suburban Massachusetts.

60.Evil Dead Avg: 1.7

59.The Purge Avg: 4.3

58.Identity Thief Avg: 4.5

57.47 Ronin Avg: 4.8

56.After Earth Avg: 5.0

54.21 and Over/The Counselor Avg: 5.5

53.The Incredible Burt Wonderstone Avg: 5.8

52.A Good Day to Die Hard Avg: 6.0

51.Oz: The Great and Powerful Avg: 6.1

50.Grown Ups 2 Avg: 6.2

49.Oblivion Avg: 6.5

47.The Hobbit: Desolation of Smaug/Machete Kills Avg: 6.8

46.White House Down Avg: 6.9

44.Don Jon/Riddick Avg: 7.0

43.Man of Steel Avg: 7.1

42.G.I Joe: Retaliation Avg: 7.2

40.Olympus Has Fallen/World War Z Avg: 7.3

39.The Hangover Part III Avg: 7.4

33.Bullet to the Head/Hansel and Gretel: Witch Hunters/Metallica: Through the Never/R.I.P.D./Spring Breakers/The Wolverine Avg: 7.5

31.Ender's Game/Mud Avg: 7.6

30.Side Effects Avg: 7.7

29.Now You See Me Avg: 7.8

28.Red 2 Avg: 7.9

25.Gangster Squad/The Last Stand/The World's End Avg: 8.0

23.Trance/You're Next Avg: 8.2

20.Kick-Ass 2/Pacific Rim/Pain & Gain Avg: 8.3

18.2 Guns/Thor: The Dark World Avg: 8.4

16.The Hunger Games: Catching Fire/The Wolf of Wall Street Avg 8.5

13.Monsters University/Star Trek Into Darkness/We're the Millers Avg: 8.6

12.42 Avg: 8.7

10.Lone Survivor/Prisoners Avg: 8.8

6.American Hustle/Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues/Iron Man 3/The Secret Life of Walter Mitty Avg: 8.9

5.Inside Llewyn Davis Avg: 9.0

4.Elysium Avg: 9.1

2.Fast and Furious 6/This is the End Avg: 9.3

1.Fruitvale Station Avg: 9.7

Overall Average: 7.5
Average by Person:

Dave: 8.3

D.J.: 8.3

Matt: 8.1

Steve: 8.1

Nick: 7.7

Chris: 7.2

Justin: 7.2

Films excluded because they were only seen by one member of the group:

A Band Called Death

Aftershock

Black Rock

Blackfish

Blue Jasmine

Broken City

Captain Phillips

Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs 2

Dallas Buyers Club

Despicable Me 2

Frozen

Her

Jackass Presents Bad Grandpa

Kevin Hart: Let Me Explain

Last Vegas

Lee Daniels' The Butler

Lovelace

Movie 43

Nebraska

Only God Forgives

Parker

Rush

Short Term 12

Snitch

Texas Chainsaw 3D

The Conjuring

The Croods

The Heat

The Internship

The Kings of Summer

The Lone Ranger

The Place Beyond the Pines

The Spectacular Now

The To Do List

The Way Way Back

Warm Bodies

What Maisie Knew