Birdman

A perfect movie about such imperfect characters. Everything about this movie feels like a dream. The one-shot direction as if the whole thing is one big, dramatic scene. The sharp visuals that usually only occur in one's head. The vivid characters brought to life by those portraying them (most notably Keaton, Stone, and Norton). The grand finale making you wonder what really happened and what the whole thing meant, wanting you to go back and re-do it all.

4/4

Nightcrawler

If there's ever an award for most committed performance,  just like Leonardo DiCaprio in last year's Wolf of Wall Street, I would say Jake Gyllenhaal in Nightcrawler would be an obvious choice. He dives down the mental rabbit hole so persuasively at times you have to wonder if the actor himself is a bit nutty. It's such a sociopathic movie, watching him outsmart and manipulate his assistant and his boss (a stellar Rene Russo) at times you almost forget the character's inability to be anything but deceptive. It's such an unsettling concept that sometimes the ones behind the camera give you more to worry about then the ones in front of it. Nightcrawler will get and stay under your skin.

4/4

The Theory of Everything

If this one took a bit more chances in the approach used to display Stephen Hawking and his wife Jane's marriage, I'd easily name it the best of the year. Because technically, everything is on its' side. Eddie Redmayne and Felicity Jones are breathtaking. They couldn't have more chemistry and both express more with their eyes and body language then many can with an entire script. Speaking of script I admired how it never turned sappy and doesn't favor one side or the other as to why the marriage didn't work. I also loved the color changes; the brightness during when they first meet, the rather melancholy look when Hawking is diagnosed, and the rather muted look of when things feel rather hum-drum. If it was played a bit less safe/was wrapped up a little too perfectly it would have been flawless. 

3/4

The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 1

Mehh. I'm all for building suspense, but this movie just felt like fancy, pretty time-killer to the second part of Mockingjay.  My biggest issue is that nothing really seems to happen. Situations get set up, there's so much build-up but it leads to nothing. It's a roller coaster that takes you up the big hill and ends the ride just as the anticipation reaches its' highest. I did enjoy the change of theme here as I find it intriguing that more evil is off the battlefield.  And Jennifer Lawrence is always a treasure even when the script reduces her to crying and looking distraught.  But it all just feels like filler. You're not catching any fire this time, Katniss.

2/4

White Bird in A Blizzard

When I think of this movie,

a blizzard comes to mind,

though Woodley & Green bring the fire,

and the material certainly resonates,

stiff characters & clashing tones drag it down,

possibly leaving the viewer cold and disoriented,

struggling to see through all of the fog.

2/4