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

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Our fourth BEST PICTURE nominee is a challenging look at slavery through the eyes of a once-free man.

 

 

"There have been a good number of films based on slavery, or the era of it, however there has never been a definitive film made that captures slavery as it was, and with 12 Years a Slave, that has now changed.  The tale, based off the autobiography written by Solomon Northup, of this film rings utterly powerful and captures the heart and soul of the viewers through this Shakespearian-esque tragedy.First, let me give my praise to the actors of this film, the performances are captured perfectly, they captivate you, and are not overdone (like many Oscar hopeful actors tend to do).  Ejiofer commands the screen, giving the beating heart to the film, he creates a connection in that you can almost relate to him so you have even more sympathy toward him, it's not just the things he had to go through but that before he was a man who was free like the viewers of the film, it makes you grateful you live when and where you do, despite your current conditions. While, Ejiofer was undoubtedly the strongest performance given, that is not to take away from the phenomenal work done by Fassbender and N'yongo, who had much more complicated roles.  Fassbender doesn't just play the southern stereotype of a harsh slave owner, but he owns their actual mindset, he delves into the psyche of the man, and shows how there is a corrupting power in slavery that not only effected the slaves, but it effected the man in power.  N'yongo, on the other hand, breaks your heart, her performance is what put me to tears and what drives the true theme of this film.  12 Years a Slave, is not just a film depicting the horror of slavery, but how in such vile conditions that there is a fall into despair (as Ejiofer said in the trailer and film, "How could you fall into such despair?") because of the loss of hope, hope is the driving force behind human survival, and even the smallest ounce of it will push the determination to live, and when it's lost you become nothing more than a beating corpse waiting for death to take you.The cinematography of the film just further exemplifies the power of the film and its capabilities to put you on the plantation as an observer, so many shots are so incredibly beautiful, it places you into the environment.  It makes the setting not only a setting, but an actual character to the piece, the environment is a living obstacle, yet a gorgeous (and tortuous) view at the same time.  You see the worst in vile scum of Fassbender's character, and yet also a beauty in the determination (and sympathy) of characters portrayed by Pitt or Ejiofer.  You see a paralleled loss of hope from N'yongo and sense of determination, to fight the evil, out of Northup, and the visuals exemplify this in the broadest sense.Overall, 12 Years a Slave isn't a film about slavery, it is THE film about slavery.  It captures the scene, puts you in it, and then makes you feel like no other film about slavery has gotten close to accomplishing.  It is an extraordinary achievement that may just end up being the masterpiece of this decade."

 

-Commentary by The Panda

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Chewy Global Phenomenon

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The fifth BEST PICTURE nominee is Captain Phillips, in which Tom Hanks struggles against Somali pirates

 

 

"Captain Phillips is a film that represents a return to form. Not just for one of the finest actors to ever star in Hollywood, but for Paul Greengrass, the effective and kinetic director who delivered the Bourne Supremacy and and the Bourne Ultimatum in addition to docudramas such as United 93. Both Hanks and Greengrass had made missteps over the past five years or so. Hanks, once an unstoppable force had done films like Larry Crowne and flops such as Cloud Atlas while Greengrass struggled to bring the same energy from the Bourne series to Green Zone, which was too expensive and too politically charged to ever be successful. Phillips is a culmination of what both this actor and director does best and they were rewarded handsomely with a strong 107 million to date domestically, receiving widespread acclaim from critics and audiences alike. There were some brief controversies, notably the portrayal of Richard Phillips, seen by some as a hero, while by others, not nearly as innocent as painted since he may have endangered the lives of his crew by the route they took along the Horn of Africa. The film hardly paints Phillips as anything but a noble person, though there are brief moments that show the stern side of him and also the immense pressure he faced to meet goals.The film ultimately however is more concerned about the event that occurred and how truly unnerving it was rather than dwelling too much on who Richard Phillips was. Captain Phillips effortlessly escalates, little by little, from the moment the two skiffs appear on the Alabama's radar all the way to the thrilling final 30 minutes, despite the fact that we know how the movie ends. It's a credit to the film that it is as unnerving as it is despite how publicized the ordeal had been. Despite no notable stars besides Tom Hanks and a brief appearance by Catherine Keener, the actors who portray the crew and military lend a degree of authenticity to their roles and the Somalian pirates who had no previous acting experience show surprising range in their roles. The movie briefly touches on their perspective, where piracy is everything to these people, but without the performances the Somalian actors bring, the film would not work nearly as well as it did. They range from intense and passionate to young and relatively innocent, delivering on a tall task to help carry the movie.But it all comes down to the two powerhouse performances, Tom Hanks and Barkhad Abdi. Hanks' Boston accent may have been as sketchy as they come, but as the film goes on, Hanks begins to settle into that everyman personality that made him one of Hollywood's most likable actors. We see the stern side of Richard Phillips as he commandeers his crew, the intelligent side as he tries to outsmart Muse in a game of wits as they search the ship, and the emotional side as the film draws to a close. But despite the tall shadow that Hanks casts, Abdi proves to be his equal, shown to be extremely cunning at times, other times menacing, and even occasionally sympathetic. His performance will likely be defined by the moment he takes over the bridge of the Maersk Alabama, specifically when he claims the Captain position of the ship. It was a centerpiece of the marketing and rightfully so, it's a display of the commanding presence and charisma that Abdi brought to the screen. And it's absolutely shocking that it was his first film ever, having only been a limo driver previously when he heard about the auditions for the role.And then there's the final 10 minutes. In a history full of great performances, Hanks' final minutes may be the best of his career. There are crying scenes, and then there's this. It's not one of pure sorrow, it's a combination of shock, incredulity, and trauma all in one, that left audiences all over in tears, including myself. It's a stark reminder of why Tom Hanks is one of the best in the business, and it also left me and others puzzled as to how he missed out on an Oscar nomination despite how crowded the Best Actor field was. The ending is one of the most cathartic in recent memory, which Variety aptly called 'an eruption of emotional fireworks.' Captain Phillips may not have the awe of films like Gravity, nor the depth of Her, or whatever the crazy concoction that is The Wolf of Wall Street, but it is an exercise of incredible efficiency. Every piece just fits together so well that it's hard to fault the film for anything major. When things click that well, it can combine into a powerful experience, which by that token, makes Captain Phillips one of the best films of the year."

 

-Commentary by MrPink

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