Despicable Me 2 by Pierre Coffin and Chris Renaud, 2013 (PG)

with Steve Carell (Seeking a Friend for the End of the World, Hope Springs, Crazy Stupid Love, Dan In Real Life, Get Smart), Kristen Wiig (All Good Things, Bridesmaids, Date Night, How to train your dragon), Benjamin Bratt (Miss Congeniality, Traffic), Miranda Cosgrove (Despicable Me), Russell Brand (Despicable Me), Steve Coogan (Philomena, What Maisie Knew, Ruby Sparks, Our Idiot Brother), Ken Jeong, Elsie Fisher (Despicable Me), Dana Gaier (Despicable Me), Moises Arias
From the directors of Despicable Me

Gru, his adorable girls, and the mischievous Minions are back with a cast of unforgettable new characters in the blockbuster sequel to the worldwide phenomenon. Just as Gru has given up being super-bad to be a super-dad, the Anti-Villain League recruits him to track down a new criminal mastermind and save the world. Partnered with secret agent Lucy Wilde, Gru, along with the wildly unpredictable Minions, must figure out how to keep his cover while also keeping up with his duties as a father.
It still works. It is funny, trying to be romantic in a very awkward way, so even funnier. The minions are win-wins, they just need to be there to make the whole situation a good one. The kids are less relevant in this episode which in a way is sad, but the new character of the special agent Lucy Wilde compensates completely.

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Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi by Richard Marquand, 1883 (PG)

following Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope and Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strike Back
In this original theatrical version of the finale to George Lucas's epic space trilogy, the rebel forces take their last stand against the Empire, while Luke Skywalker seeks a final confrontation with his nemesis.

Who didn't fall in love with the teddybear-like Ewoks? Once you are started with this trilogy, you gonna watch it all. This one is more resolutory and close the cicle, perhaps with a stretch which feels similar to "A New Hope" in the destruction of the Death Star, but the overall story keeps the spirit of the previous Star Wars with the sense of humor, a little romanticism, action and a little drama.

with Peter Mayhew, Mark Hamill, Anthony Daniels, Ian McDiarmid, Carrie Fisher, Billy Dee Williams, James Earl Jones, Harrison Ford (Morning Glory, Blade Runner, Indiana Jones: Raiders of the Lost Ark), Kenny Baker, Frank Oz

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Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back by Irvin Kershner, 1980 (PG)

George Lucas's epic saga continues as Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill), in hopes of defeating the evil Galactic Empire, learns the ways of the Jedi from aging master Yoda. But Darth Vader (voiced by James Earl Jones) is more determined than ever to capture Luke. Meanwhile, rebel leader Princess Leia (Carrie Fisher), cocky Han Solo (Harrison Ford), Chewbacca, and droids C-3PO and R2-D2 are thrown into various stages of capture, betrayal and despair.

Probably my favorite Star Wars, it is funny, the action is really entertaining, the suspense and revelation (of course now everybody know it). And watching it all over again was a treat.

with Mark Hamill, James Earl Jones, Harrison Ford (Blade Runner, Morning Glory), Carrie Fisher, Billy Dee Williams, Anthony Daniels, David Prowse, Peter Mayhew, Kenny Baker, Frank Oz, Alec Guinness, Jeremy Bulloch, Denis Lawson (Perfect Sense), John Ratzenberger (Cars)
following Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope

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And the Oscar goes to...

12 Years A Slave
Best Picture: Brad Pitt, Dede Gardner, Jeremy Kleiner, Steve McQueen and Anthony Katagas, Producers
Actress in a Supporting Role: Lupita Nyong'o
Writing - Adapted Screenplay: Screenplay by John Ridley


 
Dallas Buyers Club
Actor in a Leading Role: Matthew McConaughey
Actor in A Supporting Role: Jared Leto
Makeup and Hairstyling: Adruitha Lee and Robin Mathews



Blue Jasmine
Actress in a Leading Role: Cate Blanchett


Gravity
Directing: Alfonso Cuarón
Cinematography: Emmanuel Lubezki
Film Editing: Alfonso Cuarón and Mark Sanger
Music - Original Score: Steven Price
Sound Editing: Glenn Freemantle
Sound Mixing: Skip Lievsay, Niv Adiri, Christopher Benstead and Chris Munro
Visual Effects: Tim Webber, Chris Lawrence, David Shirk and Neil Corbould


Frozen
Animated Feature Film: Chris Buck, Jennifer Lee and Peter Del Vecho
Music - Original Song: "Let It Go" - Music and Lyric by Kristen Anderson-Lopez and Robert Lopez


20 Feet from Stardom
Documentary Feature: Morgan Neville, Gil Friesen and Caitrin Rogers


The Great Beauty - La Grande Bellezza
Foreign Language Film: Italy


The Great Gatsby
Costume Design: Catherine Martin
Production Design: Catherine Martin (Production Design); Beverley Dunn (Set Decoration)


Mr. Hublot
Short Film - Animated: Laurent Witz and Alexandre Espigares


Helium
Short Film - Live Action: Anders Walter and Kim Magnusson


The Lady in Number 6: Music Saved My Life 
Documentary Short Subject: Malcolm Clarke and Nicholas Reed


Her
Writing - Original Screenplay: Written by Spike Jonze

Philomena by Stephen Frears, 2013 (PG-13)

with Judi Dench (Skyfall, The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel, Chocolat, J. Edgar), Steve Coogan (What Maisie Knew, Ruby Sparks, Our Idiot Brother), Sophie Kennedy Clark, Anna Maxwell Martin, Ruth McCabe, Barbara Jefford (The Deep Blue Sea), Kate Fleetwood, Peter Hermann, Mare Winningham (Mirror Mirror, Mildred Pierce), Michelle Fairley (Game of Thrones)
From the director of Muhammad Ali's Greatest Fight and Dirty Pretty Things

Based on the 2009 investigative book by BBC correspondent Martin Sixsmith, The Lost Child of Philomena Lee, PHILOMENA focuses on the efforts of Philomena Lee, mother to a boy conceived out of wedlock - something her Irish-Catholic community didn't have the highest opinion of - and given away for adoption in the United States. In following church doctrine, she was forced to sign a contract that wouldn't allow for any sort of inquiry into the son's whereabouts. After starting a family years later in England and, for the most part, moving on with her life, Lee meets Sixsmith, a BBC reporter with whom she decides to discover her long-lost son.

Philomena is an interesting movie, told with a very naive point of view, but of a terribly tragic story. One that reveals a society of the 60s when religion was able to make you a sinner for the rest of your life, but also a powerful business administration, where poverty was just a facade. The story of the son is also symbolic of how the 80s in their own way were backward. Philomena, as naive as she may look like, is also a nurse who has seen it all, so it definitely is confusing when it comes to her fundamental views and shame. Steve Coogan is excellent, Judi Dench as Philomena is definitely unsettling, but I don't know if it is because of her character and how extreme are the different positions she takes over time, or if there is a discontinuity in how she portrays Philomena, and I know how amazing is Judi Dench, so definitely, the movie left me unsettled.

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Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope by George Lucas, 1977 (PG)

Mark Hamill, Harrison Ford (Blade Runner, Morning Glory), Carrie Fisher, Peter Cushing, Alec Guinness, Anthony Daniels, Kenny Baker, Peter Mayhew, David Prowse, James Earl Jones (Lincoln, X-men, First Class)

Obi-Wan Kenobi (Alec Guinness) guides intrepid Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill) on a valiant bid to save the captured Princess Leia (Carrie Fisher) from Darth Vader (voiced by James Earl Jones). With his trusty droids and smuggler Han Solo (Harrison Ford), Skywalker must also destroy the Galactic Empire's all-powerful weapon: the Death Star. George Lucas cemented his status as a pop-culture legend with this classic battle between good and evil.

Star Wars Episode 4 will officially be my 500th post! Well, it's a classic, and I also loved it. I first saw in in the cinema (well, not in 1977, but when they republished it in 1997). I was so pissed when it ended that I would have to wait two more weeks to see the following episode the Empire Strike Back, and two more for the Return of the Jedi (I didn't have TV at home, so was going to the movies - a lot - To compensate...). Anyway, I can't even imagine the people who had to wait six years after episode 4 to see episode 6... Ok, so Mark Hamill is absolutely irresistible in it (not so much the case in the next ones), and princess Leia and Han Solo are irresistible together, as well as R2D2 and C3PO, even if we never have any frelling idea what R2 might be saying. Brilliant! I watched it again the other day, and felt a bit bizarre as I thought Darth Vader is not as impressive as I had imagined. But really, the transitions, the vintage computers and flight assistant, everything was so inventive. Anyway, a blast that of course made me want to see the other episodes (1980 and 1983, not the newests). So, reviews coming up. Of course, they are announcing the episode 7, I am truly looking forward, specially since the cast will include Mark Hamill, Harrison Ford and Carrie Fisher. Yay!!!!

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