Movie Review: Gifted

The 2017 drama Gifted, directed by Marc Webb and starring Chris Evans and Mckenna Grace, promises audiences a heartwarming story of the bond between an uncle and his young niece. After watching this film a couple of nights ago, I have a lot of mixed feelings and want to share my thoughts and opinions on it.
Gifted is about a mathematically genius girl, Mary, who is living with Frank, both her uncle and guardian since Mary's mother committed suicide. Frank wants to raise Mary as normally as possible, choosing to send her to a public school instead of a private school specifically for gifted students. Wanting Mary to fully embrace and develop her abilities, Evelyn, who is Frank's mother and Mary's grandmother, shows up seeking custody of Mary. This results in a court case that threatens to tear Mary away from Frank and break their strong bond with each other.
Despite having a promising synopsis that intrigued me, I found Gifted to be a rather disappointing film. My biggest criticism is just how slow the pacing seemed. This movie is not very long, with a running time of just over an hour and a half, but somehow the plot seemed to drag. As the film progressed, the courtroom scenes especially were quite tedious and forgettable. I also was letdown by a lot of the relationships between some of the characters, specifically between Frank and Bonnie, Mary's teacher at school. Their interactions felt awkward, and the relationship between their characters felt like it didn't really belong in the film and was simply added to lend an extra element to the story. A third factor that didn't work for me was the cliched scenes of Mary "being brilliant." So many movies featuring an intelligent lead character include unnecessary scenes simply added to show just how smart the protagonist is, and Gifted completely falls into this trap. I understand the motivation behind wanting to show Mary's mathematical intellect, but it got old very quickly when I was reminded of it again and again throughout the film.
I can't say that Chris Evans' portrayal of Frank was particularly captivating, and although I enjoyed Octavia Spencer's character she probably had about five minutes of screen time. Truly the singular shining star of Gifted is Mckenna Grace, the actress who plays Mary. Even omitting her young age as a factor, she still managed to deliver a nuanced and believable performance that was a pleasure to watch.
My final stance on Gifted is that conceptually it was well thought out but the delivery fell very short of its potential. Because of this, the emotional connection to the characters that is needed to carry it as an engaging film is lost. If you are thinking about seeing Gifted, I would say that it is worth watching for Mckenna Grace's performance alone. However, as a whole this film is a mediocre blur that is likely to be forgotten as soon as viewers walk out of the theater.
Rating: PG-13

Genre: Drama

Run Time: 101 minutes

Release Date: April 7, 2017

My Rating: ★★☆☆☆

The Best Movie Soundtracks

Two things I love are watching movies and listening to music. So I guess it makes sense that I really love listening to motion picture soundtracks, and I really appreciate composers that understand how to convey the emotion of a film through the score. Lately I've been on a big soundtrack kick, listening to music from all kinds of movies. I decided to compile a short list of what I would consider to be some of the best soundtracks that I've heard. For the purposes of this list, I am looking at how much the music elevates the film overall. For example, I love the Inception soundtrack but I don't feel that it makes the movie significantly better. Inception is already an amazing film, regardless of the score. So here is my list, complete with a short blurb explaining what it is about each soundtrack that makes its respective film that much more of an experience.

Interstellar
Composer: Hans Zimmer

I love Hans Zimmer as a composer, but his soundtrack for Interstellar exceeded all my expectations. This film is already a solid motion picture, but the music turns it into a cinematic experience. Its soundtrack is essentially the pulse of Interstellar, deftly manipulating between emotional melodies and volcanic explosions of sound, punctuated by interludes that mimic the empty vastness of space. It is the composing abilities of Hans Zimmer that transform this film into something very special.

Requiem For A Dream
Composer: Clint Mansell

Requiem For A Dream gets a lot of hype surrounding its dark and disturbing nature, unflinchingly depicting the downward spiral of addiction. But what should really be highlighted about this film is the soundtrack. Clint Mansell does an incredible job, producing a score that seesaws between the highs and lows of the characters. The perpetual pattern between raving club music and the film's signature devastating melody creates a jarring sound that makes this film's disturbing visuals that much more intense.

It Follows
Composer: Disasterpeace

In my opinion It Follows is an incredibly underrated movie, and by far what I love about it most is the soundtrack. What makes this horror film so unnerving is the music. Disasterpeace somehow manages to capture every aspect of It Follows in the score, creating incredibly eerie acoustics complete with a distinct 80's vibe. To top it all off, the vehement volume of the soundtrack adds a lot to the disturbing feel of the film.

Ex Machina
Composers: Ben Salisbury and Geoff Barrow

Subtle is perhaps the best way to describe the soundtrack of Ex Machina. I honestly didn't pay much attention to the music the first time I viewed it, but after re-watching this film I was surprised by how much the score bolstered the plot. The composers create a steady, futuristic-sounding rhythm that becomes the backbone of Ex Machina. Both soothing and unnerving at the same time, this contradictory score is truly what brings this film to life.

Oblivion
Composer: M83

As a longtime fan of musician M83, I was very excited to go see Oblivion when it was released. Although this film wasn't anything spectacular in most aspects, the music was truly incredible. M83 made Oblivion into a far superior film than it actually was. There's an undeniable otherworldly feeling that the score evokes, which fits perfectly with the apocalyptic setting of Oblivion. All of the emotion that this film delivers is amplified by its soundtrack, and it's one that I can listen to time and time again.

TV Series Review: 13 Reasons Why

Netflix's newly released series 13 Reasons Why, based on the young adult novel by Jay Asher, is certainly getting its fair share of hype. Despite disliking the book when I read it several years ago, I decided to jump on the bandwagon and give the show a watch to see if it would deliver the galvanizing drama that it promised. Upon finishing the first season of 13 Reasons Why several days ago, I wanted to share all of my thoughts and opinions about it here on my blog.
13 Reasons Why introduces the character of Clay, a high school student who is grappling with the recent suicide of his co-worker and classmate Hannah Baker. One day, he finds a box of tapes sitting outside his front door. Upon listening to them, Clay realizes that Hannah recorded them right before her suicide, outlining thirteen reasons why she killed herself and the people directly involved. As the show progresses, it becomes clear that there is much more to Hannah's suicide than anyone initially realized.
What really caught my attention while watching 13 Reasons Why is how unabashed the creators were depicting the myriad intense topics that this show addresses. I really appreciate how nothing was censored simply because this show is based on a young adult novel. Time and time again, screenwriters tend to get scared when dealing with teenage issues on camera. The most gritty elements are glossed over or often completely omitted simply for the sake of having a safer rating. 13 Reasons Why clearly brakes away from this, with its TV-MA rating as its stamp of approval. Although my feelings on the acting in 13 Reasons Why are mixed, there are some standout performances. I especially want to give praise to Alisha Boe and Miles Heizer, who played Jessica and Alex respectively. Justin Prentice perhaps deserves the greatest credit for his very believable portrayal of Bryce. The fact that I found his character to be detestable is a credit to how well Prentice's acting is in this show. A final point I want to make in support of 13 Reasons Why is just how great its soundtrack is. I was introduced to several new songs, and the creators of the show did a praiseworthy job of supporting each episode with music that always seemed to fit perfectly with the events of the storyline.
I do have several critiques of 13 Reasons Why though, with two main issues at the forefront. The first is involving the casting choices of Hannah Baker and her mother. There was a disconnect between Katherine Langford and her portrayal of Hannah Baker; I never felt like she truly got into the skin of Hannah. Because of this I wasn't able to develop any sort of emotional connection to Hannah throughout the entirety of the show. I also disliked Kate Walsh's portrayal of Olivia Baker, Hannah's mother. It seemed at times like she was overacting her grief, rendering her character nearly unbelievable. The other negative element of 13 Reasons Why is its writing, particularly with the lead character Clay. I found him to be the most uninteresting character of the entire show, and this ultimately created a somewhat dull storyline at certain points. This may partly be a fault of the book, but regardless it was a facet of 13 Reasons Why that I took notice of.
In conclusion, Netflix's 13 Reasons Why is a show that is not afraid to shine a light on many of the issues that plague our society, especially among young adults. For this I will give it a standing ovation. It's the delivery where things are a bit lacking. Between the stale lead character of Clay and my apathy towards Hannah, this show is rendered into a teen drama that doesn't particularly stand out from the numerous other shows available. If you're still on the fence about watching it or not, I would recommend at least giving the pilot episode a try. Even if it doesn't become your favorite TV show of all time, 13 Reasons Why certainly does a solid job of delivering a drama-packed mystery that is great to binge-watch.
Rating: TV-MA

Genre: Drama/Mystery

Seasons/Episodes: 1/13

Release Date: March 31, 2017

My Rating: ★★★☆☆

Monthly Amusements: March 2017

March has been quite a good month in terms of finding entertainment that I enjoy. Between TV shows and movies to watch, music to listen to, and books to read I have managed to stumble on some pretty great finds. As always, the following items do not have to be released or published in March 2017. As long as I discovered them sometime in the past month, they can be included on this list. So here is my final rundown of my favorite things from the world of entertainment in March 2017.

Movie: Inception

Go ahead, criticize me all you want for not seeing Inception sooner. This has just been one of those movies that I had been meaning to watch for literally years, but only got around to viewing it a few weeks ago. Between the brilliant directing of Christopher Nolan, the brilliant composing of Hans Zimmer, and the fact that this is my brother's all-time favorite movie, I know I should have seen it waayyy sooner. But the bottom line is that I did finally watch Inception, and it far exceeded my expectations. A lot of people are scared off by the complexity of this film, but that's exactly what makes Inception so good. Seven years since its release, this movie still outperforms most motion pictures in terms of its originality, directing, soundtrack, acting, and just about every other aspect.
My Rating: ★★★★★

TV Show: The Fall

My feelings about the British crime drama The Fall are extremely mixed, to say the least. This TV show is riveting in a way that I can't really explain. There's a lot about this series that I don't like: it features a very slow-moving plot and an array of odd and unlikable main characters, although the actors all do a stand-up job of portraying their respective parts. But where this show does deliver is with its dark, eerie atmospheric quality. I found myself quite inexplicably drawn to this show, and despite its faults The Fall made for a captivating show to watch.
My Rating: ★★★☆☆

Book: A Man Called Ove

I recently read and wrote a review (read it here) for Fredrik Backman's novel A Man Called Ove. It ended up being my favorite book that I read this month, despite having a few minor faults that I further elaborate on in my review. I ultimately concluded that this book offers quite a lot though, featuring both an original story and a great protagonist. If you haven't read it already, I would definitely recommend checking it out.
My Rating: ★★★☆☆

Music: Interstellar Soundtrack

Really all I can say about the soundtrack to the motion picture Interstellar is to stop what you're doing and go listen to it right now. I mentioned above how much I love Hans Zimmer as a composer, and his brilliance is glaringly apparent on the Interstellar soundtrack. The music forms such an integral part of the film, but is also just as powerful when listened to on its own. I particularly love the tracks S.T.A.Y and Mountains, the latter of which displays an incredible example of how to build intensity in music. Whether you've seen Interstellar or not, this soundtrack is certainly one you don't want to miss out on.
My Rating: ★★★★★

Book Review: A Man Called Ove

The most recent book that I've read is the humorous and heartwarming A Man Called Ove, written by Swedish author Fredrik Backman. This was a novel that I was requested to write a review for, so I had absolutely no idea what it would be about when I started in on chapter one. I can say that overall, I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed A Man Called Ove. Despite containing a few cracks in its foundation, this book has plenty of substance and uniqueness to make itself stand out in a plethora of published literature.
This novel introduces the character of Ove, a grumpy old man who is very much set in his ways and is not afraid to be judgmental of those that think differently than him. One day a young couple moves in to Ove's neighborhood, knocking down his mailbox in the process. This event begins a new course of events, one that reveals Ove's true character and shows that there's more to him than meets the eye.
While reading A Man Called Ove, I felt that all of its positive and negative elements were about evenly balanced. My first impression was how well written this novel is, with extremely clever choices in words used by the author. The plot unfolds in a descriptive flourish that is not overdone. Adding to this is the humor that really makes A Man Called Ove shine. This is the first novel that I've read in a long time that uses humor so deftly. Backman seamlessly manages to blend comedy with the grumpiness and mildly depressive life of Ove into a combination that works perfectly. Another component that makes this book stand out is how well-developed the main character is. Ove becomes more complex from page to page, making readers that much more invested in his story. One final high point of A Man Called Ove that I want to give mention to is its ending. The author manages to wrap everything up into a conclusion that works amazingly with the rest of the story. Blending heartache and humor, the final pages of this novel balance out many different emotions superlatively.
Getting into what I didn't enjoy about A Man Called Ove, I first want to address the difficulty of following along with the characters. The story is told from Ove's point of view, and throughout a large portion of the book he doesn't refer to other people by name. Instead he gives them somewhat humiliating nicknames (The Lanky One, Blond Weed, Pregnant Foreign Woman, etc.). Although this aspect of the storytelling does lend a lot of added humor to the book, it also makes it somewhat confusing to follow along with who Ove is referring to. A second critique I have is the lack of emotional investment I had towards the characters in A Man Called Ove. Although I appreciated how well-developed Ove was and loved the juxtaposition that the comical secondary characters added to balance Ove's roughness, I didn't have any deep connection to any of them. To put it simply, I didn't really care what happened to the characters. I was simply intrigued by what was happening and wanted to see the outcome of the plot. The last slightly negative aspect of this novel is the flashbacks on Ove's life. These chapters, although necessary to understand Ove as a character, were simply not quite as entertaining to read as the chapters happening in the present time. I found myself glossing over the portions of A Man Called Ove that describe his life as a child and young man, looking forward to the switch back to Ove's comedic struggles with his eccentric mix of neighbors.
Ultimately A Man Called Ove is a breath of fresh air in terms of uniqueness. I truly haven't read a book like this before, and for that reason alone I would recommend picking it up for a read if you get the opportunity. There are a few shortcomings, but overall Fredrik Backman delivers a heartwarming tale about a bitter man, continuously perturbed by his neighbors, who magically transforms into a lovable protagonist as the story unfolds.
Author: Fredrik Backman
Genre: Comedy, Drama

Pages: 337

Year Published: 2014

My Rating: ★★★☆☆