Movie Geeks

THE NICE GUYS – The Blu Review

Review by Brandon Krzysztof

“You’re the world’s worst detectives!”

August 23, 2016 was a huge day for blu-ray releases of all sorts: Criterion Collection, TV Seasons, and your standard amarays. Each release represented many different kinds of genres: fantasy for The Huntsman: Winter’s War and animation for the popular video game adaption, Ratchet & Clank. But the one release I was looking very forward to was Shane Black’s latest, The Nice Guys, released to theaters on May 20, 2016. (read Jim Batt’s WAMG review HERE)

The Nice Guys was a film I missed in theaters and subsequently made me bummed out about missing it. I am a huge fan of the Ryan Gosling movement here which in the last several years is a name that sky-rocketed since his huge 2010-2011 films. From being the heartthrob in The Notebook to being an a-list actor, Gosling has proved to be a solid name in Hollywood and is one everyone’s radar. When it comes to Russell Crowe, we know we are going to get a great performance and that’s exactly what we got here. I haven’t seen much of Shane Black’s work but I remember Iron Man 3 being one of my favorite Marvel releases and I hear a lot of people like what he bring behind camera.

THE SYNOPSIS

Two private detectives investigate a murder of an adult film star.

THE REVIEW

The movie was highly enjoyable, but it I would be lying if I didn’t say it was a bit confusing. It’s very fast paced and if you miss something you can be lost and that’s how I felt at some points during the film. Regardless, Gosling shines and like I mentioned before about Crowe, great and subdued. The movie was very hysterical, had great action sequences, and featured really great shock moments; on the latter without giving the shock away, the outcome when two men fall off a building. Overall, it was a very fun experience that I would like to revisit sometime soon, perhaps before the year ends.

4/5

THE QUALITY

I was very disappointed when I found out that this was not getting a 4K release. Warner Bros. has been putting out some there older titles on 4K like Lego Movie and San Andreas and with most major releases getting the 4K treatment, I thought this would be sure thing. Even though that is a bummer, the 1080p HD release looked great on my 4K television. There was some slight grain which you will get with upscaling a standard blu-ray but again it looked very good. The sound was above average as well. The dialogue scenes stood well with louder parts of the movie and I didn’t have to increase the sound or apply subtitles to year what the characters were saying.

THE FEATURES

I was shocked to find that were no audio commentaries at all on this blu-ray. From watching the two featurettes and how everyone got along that Gosling, Crowe, and Black would get together and record one. This obviously wasn’t the case and it was a huge disappointment due to the fact that after I watched the film I was going to watch again.

The first featurette, Always Bet on Black, is a five and a half minute segment that focuses on Shane Black and how the cast and crew think of him on set and how he makes film. This was very interesting, but however it will be over if you take time to blink your eyes.

The second featurette, Worst. Detectives. Ever. – Making the Nice Guys, is just over six minutes and features quick comments with cast and shows behind the scenes of certain scenes of the movie. I’m mixed about this feature because, again, it is very short but I love seeing the making of process. I felt like there is so much that happened in this film that would be interesting to see but we are left with a few scenes.

The third featurette is simply just Trailers from Warner Bros. films. If you haven’t seen them already, they are here for your viewing pleasure but I would like to note that the trailers do play when you insert the disc.

THE VERDICT

The Nice Guys is a great film that is definitely poised to be in your Top 10 of the year. The film has a high re-watchability factor because it’s so fun and also because it’s a bit confusing on the first watch. It didn’t blow me away but I did have fun with it. Great script, direction, and performances make it one of this year’s strongest. The quality of sound and picture are above average but the features are lacking and disappointing even though the little content it has is interesting.

Next week’s blu-ray review will be Disney’s live action hit, The Jungle Book.

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GLITTER TRIBE – Review

Review by Stephen Tronicek

Burlesque, in the public eye, is an art form of debauchery. It’s a goof, a dirty little time that doesn’t suggest much depth. Yet, it is an artform, fueled by passionate artists, and in many cases can find itself being therapeutic and helpful. Burlesque as a word means an over exaggeration, usually having to do with sexuality, allowing a well-intentioned show that though explicit is formal enough to create a hysterical time.

A formal, yet debaucherous tone is actually what benefits GLITTER TRIBE too. The film is completely professional about the world it’s depicting and is also completely indulgent of the more debauched nature of the artform. Not indulging in both would do an injustice to the authenticity that the film is attempting to represent.

The subjects of GLITTER TRIBE are both wise and whip smart. Much of the interview footage results in some of the wittiest dialogue in any documentary. These are funny, determined people, each with a different reason for loving what they do. One of the most beautiful things in the world is watching somebody speak about and the art that they love, and the way it helps them. GLITTER TRIBE reaches a serene happiness in its coverage of this, and the respectful nature of this aspect of the film only serves to show how respectable burlesque is in its raunchiness.

It is very raunchy too. This aspect of the film complements the well intentioned and somewhat philosophical natures of the performers. There are a number of performances that are covered in the Glitter Tribe and each is oddly hilarious in their own right. They’re all so absurd that they have to be deadpan. A dancing taco, huge peacock feathers, and a swan dance to the opera from Mission Impossible 5 are all things that sound too ridiculous to have existed and those aren’t even the raunchiest ones. All of it is enlivening and gut-busting though so it works.

But again, it’s is about indulging in both the heady nature of the performers and the raunchiness that makes burlesque as an art form and the film so appealing. The balance of interview footage and performance footage perfectly reflect upon each other making for some great visual punchlines, a rarity in documentaries, and almost heartfelt ingenuity. These are people sinking themselves, their money, and their time into just making people laugh and being free and it’s just a joyous experience to watch them. If you have no qualms with the material, GLITTER TRIBE is a documentary to check out.

This Week’s WAMG Podcast – WAR DOGS, BEN-HUR, BLOOD FATHER and More!

This week’s episode of our podcast WE ARE MOVIE GEEKS The Show is up! Hear WAMG’s Jim Batts and Tom Stockman talk movies. Our guest in the studio this week is Lynn Venhaus, film critic for The Belleville News Democrat and the Kirkwood/Webster Times. Michelle McCue will call in to discuss the weekend box office and we’ll review WAR DOGS, BEN-HUR, KUBO AND 2 STRINGS. LITTLE SISTER and BLOOD FATHER. We’ll then talk about the upcoming “Classics on the Loop” Film fest at the Tivoli and pay tribute to the late director Arthur Hiller

Here’s this week’s show. Have a listen:

Win Passes To The Advance Screening Of THE LIGHT BETWEEN OCEANS In St. Louis

DreamWorks Pictures’ THE LIGHT BETWEEN OCEANS is a heart-breaking drama about fate, love, moral dilemmas and the lengths to which one couple will go to see their dreams realized.

Starring Academy Award® nominee Michael Fassbender, Oscar® winner Alicia Vikander, Oscar and Golden Globe winner Rachel Weisz, Bryan Brown and Jack Thompson, the film is written for the screen and directed by Derek Cianfrance based on the acclaimed novel by M.L. Stedman.

In the years following World War I, Tom Sherbourne (Michael Fassbender), a young veteran still numb from his years in combat, takes a job as lighthouse keeper on Janus Rock, a remote island off the coast of Western Australia. As the island’s sole inhabitant, he finds comfort in the monotony of the chores and the solitude of his surroundings. When he meets the daughter of the school’s headmaster, Isabel Graysmark (Alicia Vikander), in the local town of Partageuse on the mainland, Tom is immediately captivated by her beauty, wit and passion, and they are soon married and living on the island. As their love flourishes, he begins to feel again, their happiness marred only by their inability to start a family, so when a rowboat with a dead man and infant girl mysteriously washes ashore, Isabel believes their prayers may have finally been answered. As a man of principle, Tom is torn between reporting the lost child and pleasing the woman he loves, and against his better judgment he agrees to let Isabel raise the child as their own, making a choice with devastating consequences.

DreamWorks Pictures’ THE LIGHT BETWEEN OCEANS opens in U.S. theaters on September 2, 2016.

WAMG invites you to enter for the chance to win TWO (2) seats to the advance screening of THE LIGHT BETWEEN OCEANS on August 30 at 7PM in the St. Louis area.

Answer the following:

At age 23, director Derek Cianfrance co-wrote, shot, directed and edited his first feature film which premiered at the 1998 Sundance Film Festival to much acclaim. The film went on to screen at over 30 film festivals worldwide, winning several honors, including the Special Jury Prize for Bold Original Expression at the Florida Film Festival.

Name this film.

TO ENTER, ADD YOUR NAME, ANSWER AND EMAIL IN OUR COMMENTS SECTION BELOW.

OFFICIAL RULES:

1. YOU MUST BE IN THE ST. LOUIS AREA THE DAY OF THE SCREENING.

2. No purchase necessary. A pass does not guarantee a seat at a screening. Seating is on a first-come, first served basis. The theater is overbooked to assure a full house. The theater is not responsible for overbooking.

THE FILM IS RATED PG-13 for thematic material and some sexual content.

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WAMG Giveaway – Win A Blu-ray/DVD Copy Of THE HUNTSMAN: WINTER’S WAR

If it’s the Snow White tale you’re looking for, discover the story that came before in The Huntsman: Winter’s War, coming to Digital HD on August 2, 2016 and 4K Ultra HD™, Blu-ray™, DVD and On Demand on August 23, 2016, from Universal Pictures Home Entertainment. The Huntsman: Winter’s War on Blu-ray™ and DVD includes an all-new extended edition of the epic action-adventure, plus exclusive bonus features that reveal the movie’s behind-the-scenes secrets.

The Huntsman: Winter’s War stars Charlize Theron (Mad Max: Fury Road, Monster) as the evil Queen Ravenna, who betrays her good sister Freya (Emily Blunt: Sicario, Edge of Tomorrow) with an unforgivable act, freezing Freya’s heart to love and unleashing in her an icy power she never knew she possessed. Retreating to a kingdom far to the north, Freya raises an army of Huntsmen as her protectors, with the only rule that no two of them should ever fall in love. As a war for domination escalates between the two queens, the hero standing between good and evil is Freya’s most elite Huntsman, Eric (Chris Hemsworth: Thor, Star Trek Into Darkness). Alongside fellow warrior Sara (Jessica Chastain: The Martian, The Help) — the only woman who has ever captured his heart — Eric must help Freya vanquish her sister or Ravenna’s wickedness will rule for eternity.

Pre-order HERE.

For a chance to win:

ENTER YOUR NAME AND E-MAIL IN OUR COMMENTS SECTION BELOW. WE WILL CONTACT YOU IF YOU ARE A WINNER.

OFFICIAL RULES:

1. YOU MUST BE A US RESIDENT. PRIZE WILL ONLY BE SHIPPED TO US ADDRESSES. NO P.O. BOXES. NO DUPLICATE ADDRESSES.

2. WINNERS WILL BE CHOSEN FROM ALL QUALIFYING ENTRIES.

No purchase necessary.

The film will also be available on 4K Ultra HD™ in a combo pack which includes 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray, Blu-ray™ and Digital HD with UltraViolet. The 4K Ultra HD™ will include all bonus features on the Blu-ray disc.

4K Ultra HD™ is the ultimate movie watching experience. 4K Ultra HD™ features the combination of 4K resolution for four times sharper picture than HD, the color brilliance of High Dynamic Range (HDR) with immersive audio delivering a multidimensional sound experience.
Blu-ray™ features high definition picture, theater quality surround sound and exclusive extras.
DIGITAL HD with UltraViolet™ lets you watch movies anywhere, on any device. Users can instantly stream or download movies to watch on iPad®, iPhone®, Android™, smart TVs, connected Blu-ray™ players, game consoles and more.

BLU-RAY™ DISC EXCLUSIVES

Two Queens and Two Warriors – The true heart of The Huntsman: Winter’s War is found in its three powerful women, Ravenna, Freya, and Eric’s lost wife, Sara. Learn how the strength and complexity of the film’s female roles drew potent new star power in Emily Blunt and Jessica Chastain, as well as convincing Charlize Theron to reprise her role as Ravenna.
Meet the Dwarfs – Nick Frost’s Nion and Rob Brydon’s Gryff brought a sense of levity and fun to the adventure — especially once they met their female counterparts. Explore the importance of all four dwarf characters in the film and on set, where the actors who portrayed them earn a reputation for keeping the fun rolling, even when the cameras stopped.
Magic All Around – Rooted in history, but inhabited by magic, the world of The Huntsman: Winter’s War is a true visual spectacle. Follow along and see how the magic made it to the screen. From Freya’s icy freeze to the gold-laden goblins of the forest, explore the visual effects at work with an exclusive peek behind the curtain.

BLU-RAY™ and DVD BONUS FEATURES

Deleted Scenes with Commentary
Gag Reel
Dressed To Kill – Academy Award^®-winning costumer Colleen Atwood returns to help reignite the splendor she brought toSnow White and The Huntsman. A visual feast, her costumes often border on the supernatural in their beauty while helping bring the characters to life.
Love Conquers All — From the infectious enthusiasm of director Cedric Nicolas-Troyan to the sisterly bond shared byEmily Blunt and Charlize Theron, the set of The Huntsman: Winter’s War was filled with laughter and life. Actors and artists came together to help create a fairy tale about the pure power of love — and had a blast along the way.
Feature Commentary by director Cedric Nicolas-Troyan

Website: http://uni.pictures/TheHuntsman
Facebook: https://facebook.com/thehuntsmanmovie
Twitter: https://twitter.com/TheHuntsman
Instagram: https: https://www.instagram.com/thehuntsman
Hashtag: #TheHuntsman #WintersWar

FILMMAKERS:
Cast: Chris Hemsworth, Charlize Theron, Emily Blunt, Jessica Chastain, Sam Claflin, Nick Frost, Rob Brydon, Sheridan Smith,Alexandra Roach
Directed By: Cedric Nicolas-Troyan
Written By: Evan Spiliotopoulos, Craig Mazin
Characters By: Evan Daughert
Produced By: Joe Roth
Executive Produced By: Sarah Bradshaw, Palak Patel
Director of Photography: Phedon Papamichael
Production Designer: Dominic Watkins
Edited By: Conrad Buff IV
Composer: James Newton Howard
Costume Designer: Colleen Atwood

TECHNICAL INFORMATION 4K DISC:
Street Date: August 23, 2016
Copyright: 2016 Universal Pictures Home Entertainment
Selection Number: 61180130 (US)/ 61180183 (CDN)
Layers: BD-66
Aspect Ratio: Widescreen 2.40:1
Rating: PG-13 for fantasy action violence and some sensuality
Languages/Subtitles: English/English SDH, Spanish and French Subtitles
Sound: DTS:X Immersive Audio/ DTS Digital Surround 5.1 Spanish and French (Canadian)
Run Time: 1 Hour 54 Minutes / 2 Hours

TECHNICAL INFORMATION BLU-RAY™:
Street Date: August 23, 2016
Copyright: 2016 Universal Pictures Home Entertainment
Selection Number: 61168742 (US)/ 61168751 (CDN)
Layers: BD-50
Aspect Ratio: Widescreen 2.40:1
Rating: PG-13 for fantasy action violence and some sensuality/N/A
Languages/Subtitles: English/English SDH, Spanish and French (Canadian) Subtitles
Sound: DTS:X Immersive Audio/ DTS Digital Surround 5.1 Spanish and French (Canadian)
Run Time: 1 Hour 54 Minutes / 2 Hours

TECHNICAL INFORMATION DVD
Street Date: August 23, 2016
Copyright: 2016 Universal Pictures Home Entertainment
Selection Number: 61168748 (US)/ 61168752 (CDN)
Layers: Dual
Aspect Ratio: Anamorphic Widescreen 2.40:1
Rating: PG-13 for fantasy action violence and some sensuality/N/A
Languages/Subtitles: English/English SDH, Spanish and French (Canadian) Subtitles
Sound: English Dolby Digital 5.1/ Dolby Digital 5.1 Spanish and French (Canadian)
Run Time: 1 Hour 54 Minutes / 2 Hours

Win Passes To The Advance Screening Of MORGAN In St. Louis

A corporate troubleshooter (Kate Mara) is sent to a remote, top-secret location, where she is to investigate and evaluate a terrifying accident. She learns the event was triggered by a seemingly innocent “human,” who presents a mystery of both infinite promise and incalculable danger.

That mystery is Morgan, the next step in human evolution and a bioengineered being with synthetic DNA. At one month, she (it) was walking and talking; at six months, she exceeded her creators’ wildest expectations. Morgan is enigmatic and unpredictable—a lab-created being with emotional capacity and conflicting traits that blur the line between being human and synthetic.

But what happens when the creation surpasses the creator? And what’s more dangerous—this genetically engineered wonder or the corporation that is overseeing its development?

From producer Ridley Scott and director Luke Scott, MORGAN offers a thrilling, visceral and intense movie-going experience. The film also stars Anya Taylor-Joy, Toby Jones, Rose Leslie, Boyd Holbrook, Michelle Yeoh, Jennifer Jason Leigh, and Paul Giamatti.

MORGAN opens in theaters on September 2.

WAMG invites you to enter for the chance to win TWO (2) seats to the advance screening of MORGAN on August 24 at 7PM in the St. Louis area.

Answer the following:

In 2015 Kate Mara had a supporting role as astronaut Beth Johanssen in which Ridley Scott sci-fi film?

TO ENTER, ADD YOUR NAME, ANSWER AND EMAIL IN OUR COMMENTS SECTION BELOW.

OFFICIAL RULES:

1. YOU MUST BE IN THE ST. LOUIS AREA THE DAY OF THE SCREENING.

R for brutal violence, and some language.

Visit the official site: http://www.foxmovies.com/movies/morgan

Win Passes To The Advance Screening Of HANDS OF STONE In St. Louis

HANDS OF STONE tells the story of how the legendary Roberto Duran and his celebrated trainer Ray Arcel changed each other’s lives. From 1964 through 1983, in the heart of the golden era of boxing, the film explores the true life tale of Duran’s infamous rivalry with Sugar Ray Leonard.

Two time Academy Award® winner Robert De Niro stars as legendary trainer Ray Arcel, a Jew from Harlem who became the first boxing trainer to be elected into the Boxing Hall of Fame. He trained more than 2,000 fighters in his 70 year career, and none of them were ever seriously hurt. The movie captures his comeback after a retirement forced by the Mafia. Arcel agrees to train Duran for free, risking his own life, and beginning a journey that will change him forever.