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2014 BOX OFFICE AWARDS: The Official Ceremony (BEST PICTURE: GRAVITY)

By Chewy, in And The Winner Is...

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Chewy Global Phenomenon

Chewy

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Our second BEST PICTURE nominee is RUSH, the story of two dueling F1 drivers, played by Chris Hemsworth and Daniel Bruhl.

 

 

"Rush is a story of two men who both want to be the best at what they do, but whose diametrically-opposed beliefs and methods about how they become that leading figure create an intense rivalry. It’s one of the classical tenets of storytelling, but what made Rush a bit of an odd duck for filmgoing audiences was that this story centered around the sport of Formula One racing, based on a pair of real racers in the 1970s. Chris Hemsworth and Daniel Bruhl star respectively as Brit racer James Hunt and Austrian driver Niki Lauda and the two couldn’t be more different people. Hemsworth as Hunt is relaxed, effortless, a playboy who’s also an adrenaline junkie behind the wheel. Bruhl as Lauda is meticulous, exacting, calculating, trying to find the best possible angle with the least possible amount of risk. They’re both dynamic performances, Bruhl’s in particular, and when the two face off in their verbal confrontations, the screen electrifies.

 

But Rush doesn’t merely shine in its verbal sparring, it outright explodes when the action goes onto the track as we watch the drivers careen around curves, weave in and out of packs of pursuers, and occasionally upend into spectacularly choreographed crashes, many of which have extra effect from having actually happened. What makes Rush truly work on all cylinders is the care it takes to get beneath the skin of its two leads, showing their personal lives, their romances, the origins of their drive to win. Seeing all this makes it hard to pick one side to root for as Hemsworth is so likeable and Bruhl, while prickly, is more than compelling enough to hold his own. It also makes the film’s final act, showing Lauda’s disastrous accident at the German Grand Prix and his recovery and return to racing all the more riveting, since even if you’re pulling for Hunt, you want Lauda back in the ring as well so it’s a worthy matchup.

 

When it comes to storytelling, it’s near impossible for a film to pull off a story with no true antagonist, only protagonists who are each other’s adversary. Rush succeeds because it gets its characters, depicting them with such care and depth that there’s no right choice, or wrong choice, when it comes to who you want to win. And that is what makes the film’s dramatic tension all the more magnetizing."

 

-Commentary by Numbers

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ChD Global Phenomenon

ChD

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My vote would've gone to Gravity. Its run is more remarkable considering the kind of movie it is, compared to Frozen. Animated movies have some audience already built it and are nearly impossible to flop nowadays. Movies like Gravity don't. But yeah, I'd say it was the second most impressive run.

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Chewy Global Phenomenon

Chewy

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Our third BEST PICTURE nominee is BEFORE MIDNIGHT, a little film about a pair of lovers on vacation.

 

 

"A trilogy can be a tricky thing. Often the term trilogy is associated with the bloated, enormous blockbusters that Hollywood pumps out on a seemingly weekly basis in the bustling summer months. Here, director Richard Linklater and stars Ethan Hawke and Julie Delpy have capped off their very own masterful, wonderful, thrilling trilogy. A follow-up to 1995's Before Sunrise and 2004's Before Sunset, the movie tells the story of two lovers as they again explore the nature of their love. The filmmakers return to that well not to cynically repeat their past success, but rather to complement and enrich it.

 

The passage of time and its effect on this relationship is a major theme in the film, and it's fascinating. That the actors have been allowed to naturally age 9 years with each new installment gives the proceedings a unique weight, and makes the film and the experience all the more emotional for the viewer. These characters have responsibilities in their lives - to each other, to their children, to themselves - that they could never have imagined. What that means for their relationship and what that means for their future terrifies them, and there's a rawness to these discussions that hits home with the viewer. The film asks some difficult questions about love, and rarely pulls its punches. That it remains such a joyous experience is a testament to the filmmakers.

 

The chemistry between the leads is palpable, and Delpy in particular is wonderful in her role. Warm and funny, clever and biting. Her chemistry with Hawke, carried through from the first two films, brings an energy to the screen that's almost electric. The dialogue is sharp as ever, due in large part to the magnificent script. The film contains some beautiful shots, and the score compliments it well.

 

Linklater, Hawke, and Delpy are fully invested in these characters' journey and lives, and it shines through in every frame of the film. In turn, their audience has fallen in love with these films. A wonderful, sincere, heartbreaking, uplifting love letter to love and life, the film is a joy. The trilogy is a miracle. Before Midnight is one of 2013's best, and any viewer who gives it a chance will be richly rewarded."

 

-Commentary by Chewy

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