The Poseidon Adventure

British director Ronald Neame delivered a classic film with this disaster film that became hugely popular genre in the 70's. A group of passengers struggle to survive in a race against time when their cruise ship is capsized at sea. Neame delivered the best of disaster films of the era which relies on its characters, each representing a different archetype which everybody can identify with. Gene Hackman stars along with Ernest Borgnine, Shelley Winters and Stella Stevens amongst many others. 1001 Films' coverage of films on DVD. 

Pariah

Writer and director Dee Rees made her feature debut with this powerful coming-of-age drama. A teenager aware of her sexual orientation has to navigate through difficult times between family and friends to risk love and heartbreak that might shatter the status quo. Rees adapted her own short film for this heartbreaking film which shows the perils of growing up in a toxic environment where all the elements are against a girl who's on the verge of becoming a woman. Adepero Oduye stars with an astounding performance along a terrific supporting cast that includes Pernell Walker, Kim Wayans, Charles Parnell and Aasha Davis. 1001 Films' coverage of films on DVD.

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Writer turned director Brian Helgeland finally brought the incredible story of Jackie Robinson with this emotional drama. The story of Jackie Robinson and Branch Rickey who faced incredible obstacles and racism before they made history that turned Robinson into a legend. Helgeland finally managed to bring the long overdue story of an inspiring American legend who made history and changed a nation. While the film is a classic old-fashioned film, the story and characters are complex and real which gives the film resonance and context which remains relevant. Chadwick Boseman stars with a terrific performance that channels why Robinson was a legend along an equally terrific Harrison Ford as the mastermind who helped shaping history. The solid supporting cast includes Nicole Beharie, Christopher Meloni, Lucas Black and T.R. Knight. 1001 Films' coverage of films on DVD.

The Big Town

Veteran TV director Ben Bolt's only feature film explains why it remained so with this entertaining disaster of a film with an all star cast. A small town gambler goes to the big town to tries his luck where falls for two different women. Poorly written and directed with cliches from the first frame till the last. The only saving grace is the fun watching the talented cast that signed up for the mess. Matt Dillon stars along with Diane Lane and Suzy Amis who's the only one that delivers a decent performance. The supporting cast includes Tommy Lee Jones, Bruce Dern, Lee Grant, Tom Skerritt, Cherry Jones and a very young Sarah Polley. 1001 Films' coverage of films on DVD.

RIP: Gabriel Axel 1918 - 2014

Far From Heaven

Writer and director Todd Haynes delivered a dazzling homage to the 50's melodramas with this drama. A housewife finds out that her life is not as perfect as she imagined when she discovers the truth about her husband and finds herself targeted for befriending her African-American gardener. Haynes channels the films of Douglas Sirk perfectly, specially "All That Heaven Allows" but goes further beyond imitation to show what couldn't be shown in those films of the era such as homosexuality and interracial relationships which makes the film resonant and gives it complexity and substance. Julianne Moore stars with another terrific performance along with stellar supporting cast that includes Dennis Quaid, Dennis Haysbert, Patricia Clarkson and Viola Davis. 1001 Films' coverage of films on DVD.

GUILD AWARDS 7: Art Directors Guild (ADG)

PERIOD FILM 
THE GREAT GATSBY, CATHERINE MARTIN
AMERICAN HUSTLE, JUDY BECKER
INSIDE LLEWYN DAVIS, JESS GONCHOR
SAVING MR. BANKS, MICHAEL CORENBLITH
12 YEARS A SLAVE, ADAM STOCKHAUSEN

FANTASY FILM 
GRAVITY, ANDY NICHOLSON
ELYSIUM, PHILIP IVEY
THE HOBBIT: THE DESOLATION OF SMAUG, DAN HENNAH
OBLIVION, DARREN GILFORD
STAR TREK INTO DARKNESS, SCOTT CHAMBLISS

CONTEMPORARY FILM  
HER, K.K. BARRETT
AUGUST: OSAGE COUNTY, DAVID GROPMAN
BLUE JASMINE, SANTO LOQUASTO
CAPTAIN PHILLIPS, PAUL KIRBY
THE WOLF OF WALL STREET, BOB SHAW

2013
2012
2011
2010
2009
2008
For more info: http://www.adg.org/ 

VIPs

Brazilian director Toniko Melo made his feature debut with this uneven drama about Brazil's biggest conman. A young man runs away from home to become a brilliant conman where he pretends to be a pilot, drug dealer, a billionaire and other VIPs. Based on a true story, Melo and his writers fail to capture the scope of the story with the right balance and tone which is unfortunate given the potential of the story. Wagner Moura stars with a brilliant performance which prevents the film from total disaster. 1001 Films' coverage of films on DVD.

GUILD AWARDS 6: Editor's Guild (ACE)

FEATURE FILM (DRAMA)

12 Years a Slave

Joe Walker

Captain Phillips

Chris Rouse

Gravity

Alfonso Cuarón & Mark Sanger

Her

Eric Zumbrunnen & Jeff Buchanan

Saving Mr. Banks

Mark Livolsi 

FEATURE FILM (COMEDY OR MUSICAL)

American Hustle

Jay Cassidy, Crispin Struthers & Alan Baumgarten

August: Osage County

Stephen Mirrione

Inside Llewyn Davis

Roderick Jaynes

Nebraska

Kevin Tent

The Wolf of Wall Street

Thelma Schoonmaker

ANIMATED FEATURE FILM
 

Despicable Me 2

Gregory Perler, A.C.E.

Frozen

Jeff Draheim 

Monsters University

Greg Snyder

DOCUMENTARY FILM

20 Feet from Stardom

Douglas Blush, Kevin Klauber & Jason Zeldes

Blackfish

Eli Despres

Tim’s Vermeer
Patrick Sheffield

2013 
2012 
2011
2010
2009
2008
For more info: http://ace-filmeditors.org

Kick-Ass 2

Writer and director Jeff Wadlow took over the sequel for his third feature and delivered another terrific film. The teenagers who became real life superheros experience the consequences of their actions which has wide ranging effects on their lives and those around them. Wadlow delivers more of the same that the original established but fails to reach the right balance of tone that made the first film remarkable. The film has its moments but goes more than often overboard which threatens to derail everything it has been building upon. Aaron Taylor-Johnson and Chloë Grace Moretz return with solid performances along with Christopher Mintz-Plasse. The supporting cast includes Morris Chestnut, John Leguizamo and an unrecognizable Jim Carrey who's outstanding. 1001 Films' coverage of films on DVD.

The Terminator

Writer and director James Cameron made his entrance into cinema history with this clever and original science-fiction action thriller. A soldier and a cyborg from the future are sent into the past to protect and to kill the woman who will become the mother of the resistance leader, in order to change the future. Cameron and co-writer Gale Anne Hurd delivered a film that worked on several levels and set a new standard for the genre. While the effects and the film feel dated, the story works with its bold ideas and strong characters. Arnold Schwarzenegger stars with his best performance along with Linda Hamilton and Michael Biehn who got their breakthrough with this classic film. 1001 Films' coverage of films on DVD.

Being John Malkovich

Director Spike Jonze and writer Charlie Kaufman made their feature debut with this dazzling and magical film which is utterly original on every level with some bold and profound ideas. A struggling puppeteer discovers a portal into the mind of actor John Malkovich which has unexpected consequences on his personal life. Kaufman and Jonze go places nobody ever dreamed of going in movies or otherwise with this staggering film which just mind blowing in every way that explores universal themes of identity and love amongst others. John Cusack and Cameron Diaz star and deliver outstanding performances while a game John Malkovich and Catherine Keener steal every scene one after another. 1001 Films' coverage of films on DVD.

Sunlight Jr.

Writer and director Laurie Collyer delivered another heart wrenching drama with her third feature. A minimum wage cashier and her disabled boyfriend face more hardship when she discovers she's pregnant which threatens their short lived happiness and relationship. Collyer shows an unflinching look at poverty which threatens the delicate fabric of a couple's relationship on the verge of a bleak existence with this powerful film. Naomi Watts and Matt Dillon star with terrific performances that's the core of this drama. The supporting cast includes Norman Reedus and Tess Harper. 1001 Films' coverage of films on DVD.

The Constant Gardener

Brazilian director Fernando Meirelles made his English language debut with this riveting romantic thriller based on the novel by John le Carré. An English diplomat investigates the murder of his activist wife who was trying to expose pharmaceutical companies operating shady business in Africa which leads him to discover an international cover up that involves corporate corruption with ties to organized crime and government officials on an international level. Meirelles made another vibrant film which dazzles on several levels that blends romance and politics seamlessly without losing sight at its core message. Ralph Fiennes and Rachel Weisz stars with outstanding performances along a superb supporting cast that includes Danny Huston, Bill Nighy, Archie Panjabi and Hubert Koundé. The terrific crew includes cinematographer César Charlone, editor Claire Simpson, production designer Mark Tildesley and composer Alberto Iglesias amongst others who delivered first rate work for this thought provoking thriller. 1001 Films' coverage of films on DVD.

RIP: Philip Seymour Hoffman 1967 - 2014

 

 

 

GUILD AWARDS 5: Cinematographers' Guild (ASC)

FEATURE FILM
Sean Bobbitt, 12 Years a Slave
Barry Ackroyd, Captain Phillips
Philippe Le Sourd, The Grandmaster
Emmanuel Lubezki, Gravity
Bruno Delbonnel, Inside Llewyn Davis
Phedon Papamichael, Nebraska
Roger Deakins, Prisoners

2013
2012
2011
2010
2009
2008
For more info: http://www.theasc.com/

GUILD AWARDS 4: Writer's Guild (WGA)

ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY 
American Hustle 
Written by Eric Warren Singer & David O. Russell

Blue Jasmine 
Written by Woody Allen

Dallas Buyers Club
Written by Craig Borten & Melisa Wallack

Her
Written by Spike Jonze

Nebraska
Written by Bob Nelson

ADAPTED SCREENPLAY
August: Osage County
Screenplay by Tracy Letts
Based on his play

Before Midnight
Written by Richard Linklater & Julie Delpy & Ethan Hawke
Based on characters by Richard Linklater & Kim Krizan 

Captain Phillips
Screenplay by Billy Ray
Based on "A Captain’s Duty" by Richard Phillips

Lone Survivor
Written by Peter Berg
Based on the book by Marcus Luttrell

The Wolf of Wall Street
Screenplay by Terence Winter
Based on the book by Jordan Belfort

DOCUMENTARY SCREENPLAY
Dirty Wars
Written by Jeremy Scahill & David Riker

Herblock – The Black & The White
Written by Sara Lukinson & Michael Stevens

No Place on Earth
Written by Janet Tobias & Paul Laikin

Stories We Tell
Written by Sarah Polley

We Steal Secrets: The Story of WikiLeaks
Written by Alex Gibney

2013
2012
2011
2010
2009
2008

For more info: Writer's Guild (WGA) 

RIP: Maximilian Schell 1930 - 2014

Visitors

Visionary writer and director Godfrey Reggio returns with another striking documentary that reunites him with composer Philip Glass and producer Lawrence Taub with whom he created the groundbreaking trilogy that began with Koyaanisqatsi more than three decades ago. This time Reggio turned the camera on the faces of human species of all ages, races and sexes to show how familiar and strange they look. The film opens and closes with the face of a gorilla which puts perspective to the film along with striking shots of the moon, buildings and nature to show that the human race is only a visitor to the planet. The film shot in stunning black and white and projected on 4K projection is a visual feast along the haunting score by Glass whose music provides the subtext to the images. 1001 Films' coverage of upcoming releases.

Confucius

Chinese writer and director Mei Hu delivered an epic film about legendary Chinese philosopher Confucius. The rise and fall of Confucius who was a shrewed politician, philosopher and teacher in a crucial period of Chinese history who influence got him the attention of kings but caused his exile as well. Given Confucius stature in Asia, Hu and her talented cast and crew created a respectable film that's surprisingly sentimental than it needs to be and has a narrow focus on specific period. Chinese superstar Chow Yun-Fat stars with a commanding performance which gives the film the necessary gravitas despite its many shortcomings. Among the large ensemble, Zhou Xun makes the most impression as the only female character. 1001 Films' coverage of films on DVD.