It’s been a good year for seasoned filmmakers like Ava DuVernay, Hirokazu Kore-eda, Wim Wenders, and Denis Villeneuve to showcase their considerable skills. But there are New Movies names to watch, too, including American Fiction director Cord Jefferson and French-Senegalese filmmaker Ramata Toulaye Sy.
Birdman New Movies
In an era when every movie seems to be a superhero story, Birdman stands out as a film that takes aim at the industry. The movie centers on Riggan Thompson (Michael Keaton), a former superstar actor who is trying to relaunch his career by producing and staring in a Broadway play.
The film is a satire of Hollywood and its egocentric characters. It’s overt in its disdain for superhero movies, which the director has previously called “cultural genocide.” The movie also uses Riggan as a symbol for his own decline, as the character is based on his time as Batman in the late 80s and early 90s. This has led some critics to wonder whether the movie is a dig at Keaton’s legacy, though it’s worth remembering that he’s still a talented and accomplished actor New Movies.
Another interesting feature of the new movies is its use of long takes, which creates a sense of continuity. The shots are intended to make the film feel as if it was shot in one continuous take, and they’re largely thanks to Gravity cinematographer Emmanuel Lubezki. The effect is stunning and helps to further emphasize the hallucinatory elements of the movie.
Keaton gives a remarkable performance in the film, and it’s possible that it’s his best performance in years. He’s supported by a strong cast that includes Edward Norton and Emma Stone. The film is also noteworthy for its directing from Alejandro González Iárritu, who is known for making expansive films that use a variety of settings to tell far-reaching stories New Movies.
Birdman is a must-see for new movies fans of Iárritu’s work and those who enjoy thematic films about art, theatre, and celebrity. However, it’s not a perfect movie, and it could benefit from less reliance on genre conventions. In some cases, the movie strays too close to the Hollywood it’s satirizing, and it can sometimes feel like a white elephant of a movie that trades in facile dichotomies about theatre versus cinema and art versus commerce. Nevertheless, it’s an entertaining and thought-provoking film.
The Conjuring New Movies
Unlike Sinister which focuses on a single family, this new movies traces the adventures of a husband and wife team of real-life paranormal investigators (Ed and Lorraine Warren). It may be an old trick in horror movies to have priests, exorcists, psychics and everyone else you can think of show up at the last minute to save the day but it works here. This is mostly because the film is based on actual events and we know these people are real. Patrick Wilson and Vera Farmiga are both genre regulars (Insidious and Bates Motel for Wilson and Orphan for Farmiga) and they bring a sense of authenticity to the roles.’
The Conjuring has a great sense of atmosphere and is packed with inventive scares (one scene involving a bed covers all the bases). Its reliance on sound (creaking floorboards, slamming doors) and clever visuals is what makes it stand out. Its script is more thoughtful than many in this genre too. The story builds the tension subtly and creatively, and it never veers into the over-the-top territory of the sex and blood movies which have become commonplace in modern horror.
Annabelle: Creation new movies continues in the same vein as The Conjuring and it too is effective if you’re prepared to take a leap of faith and accept its supernatural premises. The movie is less heavy on jump scares than its predecessor but it still contains some creepy set pieces and some fun character moments. However, this sequel becomes bogged down by a postpartum anxiety metaphor and a Rosemary’s Baby homage which isn’t as fresh as it should be.
The first Conjuring movie to not be a haunted house drama, this movie takes a look at demonic possession in a court case. It’s a more rounded piece than The Curse of La Llorona and it benefits from the chemistry between its stars. The film also boasts some of the best music in the franchise and a throwback ’70s supernatural-horror vibe. The only downside is that the scares aren’t quite as imaginative as they could be, but this is a minor quibble and it’s still the highest-grossing entry in the franchise.
Philomena New Movies
The true story of a woman who searches for her adult son, taken from her decades ago by the Catholic church and sent off to live with an American family, Philomena is both touching and heartbreaking. Judi Dench and Steve Coogan deliver strong performances as Lee and Sixsmith, respectively, but the movie’s real strength lies in its script, written by Coogan and Jeff Pope from Sixsmith’s account of the events. It’s a funny yet thought-provoking film that touches on topics like faith, family and forgiveness with sincerity and wit.
While the film does occasionally fall into the new movies trap of sentimentality and melodrama, the sensitivity and compassion of the filmmakers helps keep it grounded. It avoids being an infuriated anticlerical screed against the Church and instead portrays both the cruelty of some nuns and the pious kindness of others. Its closing scenes will resonate with anybody who has been hurt by the Church’s long history of intolerance and persecution of those who express their sexuality freely, whether they be gay or straight.
Philomena is also a good choice for anyone interested in Ireland’s dark past and its Magdalene laundries, where pregnant women and those who did not marry were forced to live in institutions that often lacked the resources, training and empathy required to care for them. Director Stephen Frears captures the atmosphere of a repressive era with style and grace.
The DVD of Philomena contains New Movies two featurettes, including a nine-minute “A Conversation with Judi Dench,” and a nine-minute “An Intimate Portrait of the Real Philomena Lee.” It also includes a nine-minute interview with Sixsmith in which he talks about his relationship to the real-life Philomena and the process of adapting her story for the screen. Extras also include several deleted and extended scenes, and a video interview with the cast and crew. The DVD also features a theatrical trailer.
A Most Violent Year New Movies
Abel Morales (Oscar Isaac) runs Standard Oil, a heating-oil company in New York City during 1981, statistically the most violent year in the city’s history. Despite the title, this movie isn’t about violence, but rather Abel’s struggle to maintain his integrity and achieve the American Dream. He’s a first generation immigrant who believes in hard work and has worked his way up the ranks of his company. But his dreams are in jeopardy when he has to buy a storage facility and can’t come up with the $2 million. He needs a loan from his Mafia-connected brother-in-law, but when the mob takes control of Standard Oil, Abel must decide how far to go to protect his family and company.
Writer-director J.C. Chandor delivers a riveting new movies drama about crime, corruption and decay in urban America with this gritty period piece. The film is shot in sepia tones that capture the era and feel authentic. And the performances are excellent from a great cast, led by Oscar Isaac and Jessica Chastain.
Both actors give outstanding performances, and their chemistry is electric on screen. The supporting cast is also top-notch, especially Albert Brooks as a gangster. The movie is heavy in cliches, but they don’t detract from the story.
More Words
This is a New Movies for people who appreciate quality over quantity. It’s a good example of why it is so rare to see movies that don’t rely on dumb humor or gratuitous violence these days.
This isn’t American Hustle, new movies but it’s a satisfying crime thriller that focuses on one man trying to follow his own moral compass in an unkind city. The dialogue has undercurrents of corruption in every syllable, and the story builds to a dramatic climax. It’s worth a watch, and it’s a solid sleeper Oscar contender. But don’t expect it to be a blockbuster like Birdman or The Conjuring. It’s more of a character-driven drama with excellent performances. And that’s what makes it work. A Most Violent Year is a must-see for all crime and thriller fans. It’s one of the best films of the year.
