The Interview ★★⭑
After weeks of controversy about this movie, I was sadly disappointed with how not funny The Interview was. Starring James Franco and Seth Rogen, this movie was definitely…an experience. If I had to describe it in one word, I would say “ridiculous.” After all of the anticipation and anxiety over whether this movie would be publicly released, the funniest part was that the whole country got into a frenzy about a movie that can’t even get a Korean accent right. In The Interview, Rogen and Franco are sent to interview Kim Jong Un for a TV news special, but the CIA coerces them into “[taking] him out” instead. The acting and stunts were subpar, and it felt more like a comedy skit than an actual film. There were a few funny parts that made me giggle—mostly because of how absurd each scene was. While I was expecting a hilarious, limit-pushing movie, all I got was some good one-liners (that I’m sure I’ll be hearing for a while) and a crazy idea of how the North Korean government works. But directors Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg did reach their main goal of making the audience laugh and that deserves a few gold stars. 2.5/5 stars.
Boyhood ★★★★
Boyhood was definitely worth the 12-year wait it took to film and make the movie. Boyhood, starring Ellar Coltrane and directed by Richard Linklater, is a movie that depicts exactly what it’s like growing up. Coltrane started acting for this movie when he was six years old and stopped just after he turned 19. In this movie, we see Mason (played by Coltrane) and his mom, dad, and sister go through 12 years of aging, struggle, and love that everyone goes through at least once in their life. It shows the pain and joy of adolescence and ends perfectly with the strain of going off on your own for the first time. Boyhood definitely deserved all six Oscars that it was nominated for—and it should have won Best Picture. Being in high school, I felt a very personal connection toward this film because of how well each stage of Mason’s adolescence is portrayed. It perfectly renders the journey of becoming an adult and brings every emotion out in the audience. I couldn’t find anything wrong with this movie, so I guess you could say this is more of a praise than a review. Thank you, Richard Linklater, for creating a movie that resonates with everyone’s adventures through the early stages of life. 4/5 stars.
American Sniper ★★★⭑
American Sniper was thrilling, patriotic, and had me on the edge of my seat. Starring Bradley Cooper and Sienna Miller and directed by Clint Eastwood, American Sniper gives viewers an idea of what the real struggles are of going to war and fighting for freedom. In this true war story, we see Chris Kyle (played by Cooper) battle with the effects the war has on soldiers and how he deals with it, all while having to take care of his wife and two kids. The electrifying war scenes are as realistic as they get, and make the audience really feel like they are there with the actors. By the end of the movie, Chris Kyle becomes one of the most deadly snipers in American history, but a big part of his story is how he copes with the guilt and sadness of doing his job. Following the release of the movie, Texas Governor Greg Abbott has named Feb. 2 Chris Kyle Day to honor the American hero. I would definitely recommend this movie for a rainy day or when you’re just feeling a little patriotic. Everything good about American Sniper rests on how well the characters were portrayed and how Chris Kyle had more in his head than we will ever know. 3.5/5 stars.
