Category: Emotional Rantings
Oscar Nominations Reaction: La La Land and then everything else
by Matt Ward
So did “La La Land” get nominated for anything? I’m sure I didn’t hear their name called more than 14 times early this morning, tying a record for most nominations in Academy Awards history. It’s a City of Stars and we’re all just living in it. If you haven’t already seen “La La Land,” you’re going to want to go and watch Damien Chazelle’s … Read More Oscar Nominations Reaction: La La Land and then everything else
The Birth Of A Nation: Personal conflict
by Matt Ward
It’s been nearly a week since I drove an hour away to see The Birth Of A Nation.
It was incredibly difficult for me to put my thoughts into words then while hammering away a few notes on my cell phone.
It’s incredibly difficult for me to write about this film now. And it shouldn’t have had to be.
Captain America Civil War: An incredibly spoiler-filled review
by Matt Ward
This is a incredibly spoiler-filled review of Captain America: Civil War. Do not scroll past the trailer unless you have already seen the film. It may ruin the entire experience for you. Seriously. Don’t do it. There will be a spoiler-free review of this movie as well. This isn’t it. Also, nearly all of Cinematic Considerations is written in third person form. This column … Read More Captain America Civil War: An incredibly spoiler-filled review
Zoolander 2: A #Oops of a movie
by Matt Ward
I feel like ridiculously good looking male model Derek Zoolander. I just don’t know the words. It’s almost impossible to accurately describe what an absolute disaster of a film the Ben Stiller-Owen Wilson sequel Zoolander 2 is. It’s not JUST that people once again weren’t really banging down the doors for a follow-up to the 2001 comedy which saw Stiller catwalk down the runway … Read More Zoolander 2: A #Oops of a movie
Ted 2: Where’s the humor?
by Matt Ward
Comedy requires originality. It’s as simple as that. There’s absolutely not a single shred of originality in “Ted 2,” an amalgamation of leftover “Family Guy” setups, hokey premises and half-hearted humor that leaves viewers disappointed from the outset. Honestly, “Ted 2” shouldn’t come as much of a surprise to those who’ve followed the career trajectory of Seth MacFarlane, the mastermind (and vocal talent) behind … Read More Ted 2: Where’s the humor?
Aloha: Why Crowe’s latest film paid the ultimate price for sins of another film
by Matt Ward
Dead on arrival. Angered by a Seth Rogen-James Franco buddy comedy that saw the duo attempt to assassinate Kim Jong-un, North Koreans hacked emails and threatened war if 2014’s “The Interview” was released into American theaters. Despite their best efforts, last year’s email hack of Sony Entertainment executives didn’t kill the raunchy buddy comedy, released video on demand to widespread support from celebrities and … Read More Aloha: Why Crowe’s latest film paid the ultimate price for sins of another film
Pitch Perfect 2: Avoid the pitfall of comedy sequels
by Matt Ward
While “Mad Max: Fury Road” does a masterful job of weaving a feminist message into an action film, “Pitch Perfect 2” smashes stereotypes straight out of a Spice Girls song over viewers’ heads like that annoying song you can’t get out of your head stuck on repeat for hours on end. That song, by the way, in “Pitch Perfect 2” is the Pitbull song … Read More Pitch Perfect 2: Avoid the pitfall of comedy sequels
Paul Blart Mall Cop 2: No, just no
by Matt Ward
This week’s biggest release, “Paul Blart: Mall Cop 2,” arrives in theaters on the assumption that bigger is better — both figuratively and literally — when it comes to sequels. Yet, like the lackluster “Dumb and Dumber To” before it, “Blart 2” is a sequel no one really asked for. The premise of star Kevin James getting an all-expenses paid vacation to Las Vegas … Read More Paul Blart Mall Cop 2: No, just no
Get Hard: Failing cultural sensitivity tests
by Matt Ward
Things would have been better off if Kevin Hart and Will Ferrell teamed up to develop a remake of the classic Eddie Murphy-Dan Aykroyd comedy “Trading Places.” It’s the direction that their latest film, the double-entendre heavy “Get Hard,” heads down and the part of the raunchy comedy that actually works. Aside from some gratuitous rear nudity from Ferrell to “set the mood,” the … Read More Get Hard: Failing cultural sensitivity tests
Fifty Shades of Grey: Chemistry, quality missing in film adaptation
by Matt Ward
It takes two to tango — one to lead and one to follow — in the feature film adaptation of E.L. James’ best-selling erotic novel “Fifty Shades of Grey.” The follower, Dakota Johnson as the naïve and bookish Anastasia, is a breath of fresh air anytime she appears on screen and truly gives 110 percent of herself to every scene no matter how much … Read More Fifty Shades of Grey: Chemistry, quality missing in film adaptation
Jupiter Ascending: Sci-flop not worth your time
by Matt Ward
It’s unfortunate that “Jupiter Ascending,” the latest sci-fi adventure from the Wachowski directing team of “Matrix” fame, wasn’t released last summer like originally scheduled. The film, which believes itself to be the second coming of the original “Star Wars” trilogy, is more like the Jar Jar Binks of the sci-fi genre, heavily derided, over-animated and just not that good. It certainly doesn’t seem like … Read More Jupiter Ascending: Sci-flop not worth your time
Revisiting Boyhood: ‘I just thought there’d be more’
by Matt Ward
Coming-of-age films are nothing new. Boy starts out young and naïve, things happen, boy matures, end of film. Filmmakers have always circumnavigated lengthy time jumps in these sort of movies by casting multiple actors to play the same part at different ages. In the case of the Golden Globe-winning drama “Boyhood,” director Richard Linklater took the slow approach, filming segments of his movie over … Read More Revisiting Boyhood: ‘I just thought there’d be more’
Cinematic Considerations 