JoeMama's Movie Reviews

The Woman in Black 2: Angel of Death Starring Phoebe Fox, Helen McCrory, Oaklee Pendergast, Jeremy Irvine Directed by Tom Harper Synopsis: During World War II, Eve Perkins (Phoebe Fox) and her headmistress Jean Hogg (Helen McCrory) take a group of schoolchildren out of London and to a desolate island with an old mansion where they hope to hide away from the bombs and violence of the war. As soon as they arrive strange events begin to occur, especially around young Edward (Oaklee Pendergast), who just lost both his parents in the war.  Soon children begin dying under strange circumstances, and Eve and fighter pilot Harry (Jeremy Irvine) investigate the property and discover an ancient secret revolving a woman who used to live at the house, and the shocking connection to Eve herself. Review: Chalk this up to another unnecessary sequel to a decent original.  The first "Woman in Black" had Daniel Radcliffe as the charismatic lead role, and an eerie atmosphere to ...

The Dance of Reality Starring Brontis Jodorowsky, Pamela Flores, Jeremias Herskovits, Alejandro Jodorowsky Directed by Alejandro Jodorowsky Synopsis: Alejandro Jodorowsky (Jeremias Herskovits) is growing up in a small Chilean city with his Opra-singing mother Sara (Pamela Flores) and Stalin-worshiping father Jaime (Brontis Jodorowsky), who is also Jewish.  Jaime, a tyrannical father figure, wants to turn Alejandro into a man by cutting his long hair, teaching him tolerance of pain, and looking down on the less priveledged. Then there's a conspiracy to assassinate right-wing president Carlos Ibáñez which Jaime oversees, going undercover and becoming a groom to the president's horse.  However, as the opportunity arises, his hands are inexplicably struck with paralysis, and he is forced to live among the people he once criticized.  After being tortured by Nazis, he gains a newfound respect for humanity and a desire to get back home to his long-suffering wife an...

Dead Snow 2: Red vs. Dead Starring Vegar Hoel, Orjan Gamst, Martin Starr, Jocelyn DeBoer Directed by Tommy Wirkola Synopsis: Taking place right after the events of the first film, Martin (Vegar Hoel), the last survivor, manages to escape the Nazi zombies on the mountain only to end up in a hospital under arrest for the murders of his friends.  His arm, which he had sawed off, has now been replaced by the arm of the zombie Nazi leader Herzog (Orjan Gamst), and has taken a life of its own. After escaping the hospital, Martin discovers that the Nazi zombies are on an eternal mission to complete their orders given by Hitler to wipe out a small Norwegian town.  At first he's only aided by Glenn (Stig Frode Henrikson), a gay WWII museum worker, and three Americans known as the Zombie Squad, things look bleak for the heroes.  Then Martin discovers that the undead arm attached to him has the power to raise the dead, and sets out to bring back to life a Russian army ...

American Sniper Starring Bradley Cooper, Sienna Miller, Keir O'Donnell, Brando Eaton Directed by Clint Eastwood Synopsis: "American Sniper" tells the real-life story of Chris Kyle (Bradley Cooper), who wanted to be a cowboy, but felt a strong love of country drive him to be a Navy SEAL instead.  While in the SEALS he falls in love and marries Taya (Sienna Miller), and through his four tours of duty, he becomes the most lethal sniper in American military history with over 160 confirmed kills.  As he returns home, he has to learn how to deal with suburban life, his wife, and his two young children. Review: This was one of the films I've been dying to see for a while, and I surely wasn't disappointed.  Clint Eastwood directed another blockbuster hit, which isn't just well-received by moviegoers but critics as well, earning 6 Academy Award nominations including Best Picture and Best Actor. The true story of Chris Kyle is more than just a sniper wh...

Gone Girl Starring Ben Affleck, Rosamund Pike, Neil Patrick Harris, Tyler Perry Directed by David Fincher Synopsis: Nick (Ben Affleck) and his wife Amy (Rosamund Pike) seem to have the picture-perfect life.  They live in an upper class neighborhood, they seem to have money and everything they need, but things aren't as perfect as they seem.  When Amy goes missing, the spotlight centers on Nick and as all the dark secrets come to light, public opinion begins to sway against Nick, and many wonder if he indeed did murder his own wife. Review: I honestly have no clue what all the praise is about for this film.  The only decent thing was Rosamund Pike's performance (which deserved the Oscar nomination for Best Actress), but other than that it seemed like a long...VERY long...Lifetime movie. Did I mention long?  Because the movie was almost 2 and a half hours.  That is a long time to keep my attention without any action sequences or likeable charact...

Best Motion Picture – Drama Boyhood Foxcatcher The Imitation Game Selma The Theory of Everything WINNER: Selma Best Actor in a Motion Picture – Drama Steve Carell – Foxcatcher Benedict Cumberbatch – The Imitation Game Jake Gyllenhaal – Nightcrawler David Oyelowo – Selma Eddie Redmayne – The Theory of Everything WINNER: Eddie Redmayne – The Theory of Everything Best Actress in a Motion Picture- Drama Jennifer Aniston – Cake Felicity Jones – The Theory of Everything Julianne Moore – Still Alice Rosamund Pike – Gone Girl Reese Witherspoon – Wild WINNER: Julianne Moore – Still Alice Best Motion Picture – Comedy or Musical Birdman The Grand Budapest Hotel Into the Woods Pride St. Vincent WINNER: Birdman Best Actor in a Motion Picture- Comedy or Musical Ralph Fiennes – Grand Budapest Hotel Michael Keaton – Birdman Bill Murray – St. Vincent Joaquin Phoenix – Inherent Vice Christoph Waltz – Big Eyes WINNER: Michael Keaton – Birdman Best Actress in a Motion Picture- Comedy or Musical Amy Ad...

John Wick Starring Keanu Reeves, Michael Nyqvist, Alfie Allen, Willem Dafoe Directed by Chad Stahelski Synopsis: John Wick (Keanu Reeves) used to work for the Russian Mafia in New York before retiring to lead a normal suburban life with his new wife.  When she dies from illness, she leaves him a puppy to care for. One day he runs into Iosef (Alfie Allen) and two other Russian thugs at a gas station, and Iosef wants to buy Wick's car.  He refuses and goes home, where Iosef and his goons invade that night, beat John up, steal his car and kills his dog. Iosef's father, Viggo (Michael Nyqvist), is the head of the Russian Mafia, and when he finds out what his son did, he immediately fears for his life as well as his son's, because Wick was his most dangerous assassin, brought out of retirement for one purpose - to get revenge on those who killed his dog.  Wick becomes a one-man killing machine, extracting revenge against Iosef, Viggo, and the entire Russian Maf...

Fargo Starring Frances McDormand, William H. Macy, Steve Buscemi, Peter Stormare Directed by Joel & Ethan Cohen Synopsis: Jerry Lundegaard (William H. Macy) is in dire need of money, and instead of asking his wealthy father-in-law, he hatches a plan to have his wife kidnapped at the hands of Carl Showalter (Steve Buscemi) and Gaear Grimsrud (Peter Stormare).  The kidnapping goes horribly wrong, and three people end up dead.  Pregnant Minnesota police chief Marge Gunderson takes up the case which leads her to Lundegaard and spirals into an out-of-control predicament involving more deaths - and a wood chipper. Review: "Fargo" is one of those films I've always wanted to see and heard nothing but good things about, but never had the time to sit down and actually see it.  I finally found time to see it, and it far exceeded my expectations.  Joel and Ethan Cohen are well known for their offbeat style of filmmaking ("No Country for Old Men" immediate...

The Normal Heart Starring Mark Ruffalo, Matt Bomer, Taylor Kitsch, Julia Roberts Directed by Ryan Murphy Synopsis: It's 1981, and homosexuals are beginning to gain their own sense of identity, when a mysterious disease begins striking them dead.  Ned Weeks (Mark Ruffalo), an abrasive gay man with a fire in his belly, sets out to show the world what is happening to them, and how he feels the government doesn't care.  Together with his friend Bruce (Taylor Kitsch), he forms a gay activist group set out to help understand what this new disease is and how to stop it, along with the help of former polio victim Dr. Emma Brookner (Julia Roberts).  However, as Ned's overwhelming personality seems to cause more harm than good, it causes a rift in the organization and could hinder Ned's desire. Review: Based off a play of the same name written by Larry Kramer (who is the real life inspiration for Ned Weeks), "The Normal Heart" brings to harsh light the st...