Oct 16 2015

Crimson Peak

Talk about life imitating art, a young author, Edith Cushing (Mia Wasikowska), is in the midst of writing her own metaphoric ghost story with a love twist when a mysterious brother and sister duo, Thomas and Lucille (Tom Hiddleston and Jessica Chastain) blow into town in search of financial backers for their plan to mine the clay rich soil and ore of their home, Crimson Peak. Swept off her feet Edith is married to Thomas only to discover the house she now lives in breathes, bleeds, and remembers the tragedy that have befallen its foundation. But what exactly are the black intentions of Thomas and Lucille, and will Edith be able to escape their clutch before she becomes her own gothic horror? crimsonpeak Directed and partially written by Guillermo del Toro, signature monster movement and spindly ghost fingers reign throughout with the fanciful gravitas that only del Toro can bring to the table; meanwhile, performances from the ensemble all fit to a darkened point. With select scare moments, Crimson Peak, is much more the artistic study of classic psychological horror as opposed to the jump out of your seat scares of today. Still, beautiful in its execution for fans of a solid dark tale before bed, this might just be your match. Crimson Peak is rated R.


Oct 16 2015

Bridge of Spies

Drafted by the U.S. government to provide a “legitimate” defense for accused Soviet Spy Rudolf Abel (Mark Rylance), former lawyer turned insurance salesman, James Donovan (Tom Hanks) would quickly find himself with a front row seat to the rising heat of the cold war; yet the eventual center of the action would become a negotiation for the release of several imprisoned U.S. citizens. This is the story of James Donovan’s unfaltering convictions and fight for what’s right by human standards.bridgeofspies Directed by Steven Spielberg, this procedural biographic examining the political tensions between the two superpowers is put together with a slow burning meticulous hand; delivering the goods Rylance and Hanks both rise to the occasion, but interestingly enough, it’s Rylance’s simple and understated performance makes for the more fascinating character study, file that one for later. Cinematography by Janusz Kaminski and his use of light to tell a story also provides for interesting watching, and, although predictable, Thomas Newman’s score adds just the right amount of tension to make this solid performer stand out as we begin the wind up and wind down of 2015. Worthy of your time, Bridge of Spies is rated PG-13.


Oct 16 2015

Steve Jobs

Centered around three iconic tech product launches in the last century, the intensity and insanity of Steve Jobs (Michael Fassbender) is detailed in painstaking resolution to paint one image of the man at the center of Apple’s massive rise to success and the costs paid along the way to friends, family, and life.SteveJobs Written by Aaron Sorkin and Directed by Danny Boyle this selective historic retelling certainly raises multiple questions as to what exactly drove Jobs to his competitive fit; in this case, at the end of the foil, Fassbender’s unfaltering, unapologetic, and razor sharp delivery shows keen insight to the emotional shifts in Jobs persona with age and wisdom. Meanwhile, Kate Winslet’s portrayal of Joanna Hoffman, Jobs’ assistant and semi work-wife, Seth Rogen’s depiction of Apple’s other the benevolent half Steve Wozniak, and Jeff Daniels as Jobs’ father figure and Apple CEO John Sculley all hit their mark to the point of a modern day Greek tragedy. All the while, Boyle’s knack for creative cinematography continues to reach in subtle but effective manners as the film passes through time, and of course, poignant attention to soundtrack adds extra flavor to the mix. All told, a sharp but unsettling character study worthy of your time, especially for those at all interested in the tech world. Steve Jobs is rated R.