We Are Your Friends (2015)

Directed by: Max Joseph

Written by: Max Joseph, Meaghan Oppenheimer, & Richard Silverman

Starring: Zac Efron, Wes Bently, & Emily Ratajkowski






We Are Your Friends is a cross between Skins and Catfish.  What I mean is, the plot is similar to the British television show, while the camera shots and directing style is clearly documentary like Catfish, the show that Max Joseph is a huge part of.

We Are Your Friends stars Zac Efron playing Cole who just wants to make it big in the DJ world.  He meets James (Wes Bently), an established artist, who helps him make his music unique, but in the process Cole sees the dark side of what fame and money can do to a person.  His friends become a mess.  His love life is complicated.  And in the end, he falls back down to the bottom of the food chain.  Can he make back on top or will he stay where he is at the bottom?  Dum dum dummm.

Anyway, there were things that I loved about this movie, and then there were things that I just didn't.  For instance, this movie greatly reminded me of Skins.  (If you haven't seen the show, watch the UK version.  5 POPCORNS!!!)  There was drugs, partying, drinking, relationship triangles, etc...all like Skins, and even some of the characters were like the ones from Series 3.  Now I love Skins, but this film is way past the deadline.  It's late to the game.  It seems misplaced in the current movie stream, which kind of makes sense since originally it was supposed to be an independent film.

On the plus side, the music was amazing! And the directorial style represented documentary, which I kind of liked.  We were there with the characters and I appreciated how Joseph showed the non-glamorours side of L.A. along with the spectacular things of the city.  It gives people a sense that it isn't all sunshine and rainbows.

Other than that, not much else to say.  It was enjoyable and the whole time I was watching the film, I was wondering why Kendall Jenner is not an actress yet?  Ratajkowski looks a lot like her, just shorter and with fuller lips.  Efron was a good casting choice since he seemed out of place with his friends and the DJ world.  This made his character stand out.

Nevertheless, I thought this movie should have come out earlier when people were into these types of films, but hey, it was okay.  Not bad, but not that good either.  Hence the 3 popcorns.

The Gift (2015)

Directed by: Joel Edgerton

Written by: Joel Edgerton

Starring: Jason Bateman, Rebecca Hall, & Joel Edgerton






For Joel Edgerton's first directorial of a feature film, I applaud him.  It's exciting, able to make you jump, and definitely a mystery.  The ending guys...that ending.
Anyway, no spoilers here.  The film revolves around Bateman's character Simon, his wife Robyn, played by Ms. Hall and their new move to California.  While shopping they encounter Edgerton's character Gordo, Simon's high school classmate.  After that encounter several gifts arrive at Simon and Robyn's home, making them paranoid about their boundaries and the intentions of Gordo.  As the plot goes on, they need to figure out if Gordo is out to hurt them or is just a generous gift giver.

Of course there is more to the story then told in the summary, but like I said no spoilers.  All the characters were well casted and the story was very creative.  The location was great.  The camerawork was great.  I didn't really see any problems.  I was suprised that people actually jumped in the movie.  One woman screamed and apparently hurt her spine by doing so.  I will admit I also jumped twice.  It was that good.

But there were some parts that dragged and I could see how one particular point in the plot was confusing to some people in the audience.  If you have questions about the film, feel free to leave a comment and I can explain it to you.  The parts that dragged though were necessary to show the passing of time.  True film trick.  Nevertheless, the film deserves 4 popcorns.  Once again, congratulations to Mr. Edgerton.

Pixels (2015)

Directed by: Chris Columbus

Written by: Tim Herlihy & Timothy Dowling

Starring: Adam Sandler, Kevin James, Michelle Monaghan, Josh Gad, & Peter Dinklage







Nom nom nom.  That's the sound for Pac-Man.

So I was really intrigued when I first saw this trailer because I love video games.  The challenge of beating something is my kind of game, which is pretty much every game.

The film opens up establishing the characters involved in the saving of the world when they are younger.  You see the history behind their competitiveness and what games they are good at.  The plot continues with showing us what each kid grew up to be and I thought it was interesting that Kevin James became president.  But that makes sense since otherwise how would these gamers be found to defend the world?

Of course the plot is ridiculous and it is very unlikely that this could ever happen in real life, but it is pure entertainment.  It answers the question of what alien life forms would consider our society and the playing of these classic games.

I liked that they stayed true to the classics and did not include any new video games.  The characters were funny and it worked well all together.  But like usual the best parts were in the trailer.  There were maybe only one or two other parts of humor that were not included in the trailer.  Are these worth paying for?  Perhaps in the morning when there are cheaper tickets.  Therefore I give the film 3 popcorns.

Vacation (2015)

Directed by: John Francis Daley & Jonathan M. Goldstein

Written by: John Francis Daley & Jonathan M. Goldstein

Starring: Ed Helms & Christina Applegate






I love the Griswolds.  They are quirky, funny, and original.  My favorite film with them is Vegas Vacation.  I just can't get enough of it.

When it comes to this film though, the plot and the characters were true to their origins.  Ed Helms was definitely Rusty and Leslie Mann was definitely Audrey.  I really appreciated how they kept to their characters original personalities.

As for the new characters, they definitely added to the story and expanded the adventures such as new romance, the struggle of siblings, and just all around realistic problems that married couples go through.  But, at the same time, there are also problems that would probably never happen to me or you.  Not that I'm saying they couldn't happen.

To cut things short, I liked this film, but I still love Vegas Vacation more.  Therefore it gets 3 popcorns.  Mostly because the funny parts of the film can be seen in the trailer.  There are a couple additional ones, but just watch the trailer and you pretty much watched the film.

Ricki and the Flash (2015)

Directed by: Jonathan Demme

Written by: Diablo Cody

Starring Meryl Streep







Meryl Streep's performance is always great, and it is in this film.  She has a few great lines and everything.  It's just the writing of the story that made it go off course.

Ricki and the Flash stars Streep's character Ricki Randazzo a.k.a. Linda Brummell who is trying to make it in the world doing what she loves most, performing with her band.  When her daughter Julie, played by Streep's own daughter Mammie Gummer, goes through a divorce, Ricki flies back to try to get her daughter back on her feet.  Stuff happens, yadda, yadda, yadda, and she realizes that she may have made a mistake of going after a music career instead of being with her family.

It was a nice film.  But the trailers mislead what the story was about in my opinion.  I thought there would be much more bonding of Gummer with Streep and there was barely any...just at the beginning.  It mostly involved Ricki's reflection of her life and how she deals with the choices she's made.

The other characters were great though.  My favorite was Gummer since I'm a huge fan of hers since her days on Emily Ownes M.D.  But like I said, the plot was boring.  Thanks a lot Cody.

I would give this film 3.5 popcorns, but I'll give it the benefit of the doubt and say 4.  A low 4, only for Ms. Streep and Ms. Gummer.

Rock on Ricki.

Mission: Impossible - Rogue Nation (2015)

Directed by: Christopher McQuarrie

Written by: Christopher McQuarrie

Starring: Tom Cruise







I don't know about this film.  I haven't seen all the other Mission: Impossible ones.  I've only seen this one and the previous one so maybe that is why the film was a little confusing.

If you haven't seen it, this film revolves around rogue agents, hence the name Rogue Nation.  The premise is to figure out who is rogue and who is still loyal.  Tom Cruise's character Ethan Hunt is on a mission to destroy the Syndicate, who is out to destroy the organization that he works for: the IMF.

The film definitely had action and some humor provided by Simon Pegg, but there were parts that dragged.  I also didn't like how the beginning of the film just sprang into this issue of the Syndicate.  Maybe I needed more explanation of the group in the beginning of the film.  Or maybe I was supposed to watch the other films beforehand.  Either way, it was not my cup of tea.

As for the camera shots, most of them were good.  My favorite was the ones attached to the motorcycles during the car chases.  Least favorite was a huge close up on Alec Baldwin's face.  Too close if you ask me.  No offense Mr. Baldwin.

Overall, if was an okay film.  I wouldn't see it again.  Therefore I give it, 3 popcorns.  In other words, go in the morning when there are cheaper tickets.