Written by Tyrone BruinsmaHonorable Mentions -Afflicted [Dir. Derek Lee and Clif Prowse] -As Above, So Below [Dir. John Erick Dowdle] -As the Gods Will [Dir. Takashi Miike] -The Babadook [Dir. Jennifer Kent] -Batman: Assault on Arkham [Dir. Jay Oliva and Ethan Spaulding] -Big Eyes [Dir. Tim Burton] -Big Hero 6 [Dir. Don Hall and Chris Williams] -Birdman [Dir. Alejandro Gonzalez Iñárritu] -Black Sea [Dir. Kevin MacDonald] -The Book of Life [Dir. Jorge Gutierrez] -The Borderlands (Final Prayer) [Dir. Elliot Goldner] -Calvary [Dir. John Michael McDonough] -Camp X-Ray [Dir. Peter Sattler] -Charlie's Farm [Dir. Chris Sun] -Cub [Dir. Jonas Govaerts] -Dying of the Light (Dark) [Dir. Paul Schrader] -The Editor [Dir. Adam Brooks and Matthew Kennedy] -Exists [Dir. Eduardo Sanchez] -Exodus: Gods and Kings [Dir. Ridley Scott] -Gett: The Trial of Viviane Amsalem [Dir. Ronit Elkabetz and Shlomi Elkabetz] -Good Kill [Dir. Andrew Niccol] -Goodbye to Language [Dir. Jean Luc Goddard] -Goodnight Mommy [Dir. Veronika Franz and Severin Fiala] -The Green Inferno [Dir. Eli Roth] -The Guest [Dir. Adam Wingard] -Hercules (Extended Cut) [Dir. Brett Ratner] -The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies (Extended Edition) [Dir. Peter Jackson] -Inherent Vice [Dir. Paul Thomas Anderson] -Into the Woods [Dir. Rob Marshall] -Joe [Dir. David Gordon Green] -John Wick [Dir. Chad Stahelski] -Kristy [Dir. Olly Blackburn] -Late Phases [Dir. Adrián García Bogliano] -The Lego Movie [Dir. Phil Lord and Christopher Miller] -Love & Mercy [Dir. Bill Pohlad] -Lucy [Dir. Luc Besson] -Maleficent [Dir. Robert Stromberg] -A Most Wanted Man [Dir. Anton Corbijn] -My Life Directed by Nicolas Winding Refn [Dir. Liv Corfixen] -The Nightingale [Dir. Philippe Muyl] -Over Your Dead Body [Dir. Takashi Miike] -Predestination [Dir. Spierig Brothers] -The Purge: Anarchy [Dir. James DeMonaco] -The Sacrament [Dir. Ti West] -Selma [Dir. Ava Duvernay] -Starry Eyes [Dir. Kevin Kölsch and Dennis Widmyer] -The Taking of Deborah Logan [Dir. Adam Robitel] -Transformers: Age of Extinction [Dir. Michael Bay] -Tusk [Dir. Kevin Smith] -Two Days, One Night [Dir. Luc Dardenne and Jean-Pierre Dardenne] -The Two Faces of January [Dir. Hossein Amini] -Veronica Mars [Dir. Rob Thomas] -What We Do in the Shadows [Dir. Jemaine Clement and Taika Waititi] -When Marnie Was There [Dir. Hiromasa Yonebayashi] -WolfCop [Dir. Lowell Dean] -X-Men: Days of Future Past [Dir. Bryan Singer] 20. The Grand Budapest Hotel [Dir. Wes Anderson]Wes Anderson is one of the most distinctive 21st Century American auteurs who is somewhat known to general audiences. His clear use of color, framing, camera moves and cultural influence are impossible to miss-even if I've not been the biggest fan of his prior work. However, The Grand Budapest is both his best film and my favorite of his works. From a visual, narrative, thematic, historical and performance standpoint-it's amazing. While I originally felt it was little more than a doll house version of a Tarantino film, there is a genuine and earnest complexity to this pastel crime mystery. Seriously, I know Anderson's been dismissed as "that quirky director" but this is really good. 19. Blue Ruin [Dir. Jeremy Saulnier]After making the unique horror comedy Murder Party and before his more widely known Green Room, Jeremy Saulnier made this tense and smartly constructed revenge thriller. Blue Ruin is the kind of film that sneaks up on you with how genuinely great it is. It's closer in model to Dogme 95 or the Mumblecore film movements, but functions as a perfectly captivating thriller with great characters performed by amazing actors and follows a strong narrative. It's made on less than half a million dollars and is far more engaging than many mega budget action films. 18. Noah [Dir. Darren Aronofsky] Alongside Calvary the same year, Noah marks one of the best uses of biblical text as a means of storytelling. Darren Aronofsky made an epic, post-apocalyptic and action-packed fantasy story out of the story of Noah's Ark. Taking inspiration from multiple sources, the story unfolds less as a man doing God's bidding and instead a lone hero who might be losing his mind for forces he doesn't comprehend. The visuals are beyond gorgeous, the performances by the likes of Russell Crowe, Emma Watson and Ray Winstone are powerful and this really is one of the best ways to utilize texts of faith in cinema. Considering how much religious propaganda parading as "films" came out in 2014 like Son of God, God's Not Dead and Kirk Cameron's Saving Christmas-it's nice to know actual talented people wish to make art out of faith and not pander to ignorance. 17. Under the Skin [Dir. Jonathan Glazer]What at first seems to be “Species but with Scarlett Johansson” is in reality, one of the best sci-fi art house horror films ever made. Jonathan Glazer, the underappreciated director of Sexy Beast and Birth creates a visually gorgeous and chilling film about an alien in the form of a woman seducing and killing men. Some scenes feature unknowing civilians speaking to Scarlett’s character for a sense of genuine realism. The horror sequences, along with visual themes of alienation, predation and sexual dynamics are the reason to see this film. The ending still haunts me. 16. Fury [Dir. David Ayer]The movie that probably got him signed on to Suicide Squad, David Ayer’s Fury is both one of the best World War 2 action films and easily the best film revolving around tanks. Brad Pitt and his surrogate male family are a nasty bunch of bastards with only one good kid trying to stay good, showcasing how dark these actors can get. Every action scene is brutal, thriller, immensely well crafted and stand outs of the genre. I feel like people have forgotten how good this movie is, so give it a re-watch. 15. Winter Sleep [Dir. Nuru Bilge Ceylan]This Turkish 3-hour drama might not deliver thrilling action scenes or multi-layered intrigue, but it is an impressive epic in its own right. A film focusing on a hotel owner and landlord who views himself the king of a poverty-stricken town-the story and characters are immensely detailed. The cinematography, landscape and realistic production is breathtakingly gorgeous. The performances are top tier, with the actors making this story feel real and cliched or melodramatic. Turkish cinema is rarely appreciated, so give this one a try. 14. Interstellar [Dir. Christopher Nolan] While considered one of Nolan’s lesser works, Interstellar is still a breathtaking cinematic experience. The closest anyone has come to achieving something akin to Stanley Kubrick’s 2001: A Space Odyssey, Interstellar sees a team of astronauts try to save humanity through a space adventure. There’s many amazing sequences to behold here, the best being the sequence on the water planet: achieved mostly through practical or well made CGI effects. The cast lead by Matthew McConoughey is firing on all cylinders, giving Nolan’s first tearjerker film. I know the issues people have and while I identify them, I think the story still proceeds with a strong resolve and commitment to its thematic goal. Interstellar still rocks. 13. Mommy [Dir. Xavier Dolan]This intimate French-Canadian film is one of the best surprises in cinema you can experience from 2014. A dysfunctional relationship between a down-on-her-luck-mother and her behaviorally challenged teenage son might sound like the set up for a cliche riddled bore, but Xavier Dolan and his impeccable cast make it work as a revelation. The two lead actors bring to life characters who are human, balancing a realm between likeable and detestable. Emotionally, the film is devastating by the end-with its clever use of an aspect ratio being purposeful. I highly recommend this to any lover of good acting, drama, writing and directing. 12. Dawn of the Planet of the Apes [Dir. Matt Reeves]Before he directed The Batman, Matt Reeves made one of the best blockbusters in recent memory. While Rise of the Planet of the Apes was a solid film, its sequel brought better effects, a new world and better writing to the table. Thinking man's sci-fi in a film with apes dual-wielding machine guns on horseback-because yes you can do that. The performances by the ape actors end up outshining the solid human cast, production team did great work and the action is awesome. 11. Leviathan [Dir. Andrey Zvyagintsev]This small scale Russian drama is a powerhouse film. A biblically themed drama about the toxic Russian bureaucracy in a small town is one of the best Russian films and dramas you can see. The simple, yet efficient long taking cinematography and direction allows for the brilliant performers to take center stage while production design details linger in the background. It’s not a super dark film or narratively complex, but human and real in the ways that only the best dramas are. 10. Whiplash [Dir. Damien Chazelle]One of the most praised dramas of 2014, Whiplash is a film that recognizes the value performances have over almost any other part of a film. Miels Teller gives a great lead performance while J.K Simmons utterly dominates the screen with his monster of a man. The story is solid, the direction and editing are perfect and it really is the kind of small scale indie drama that anyone can watch as it doesn't waste your time. And if you are a creative, this film can sting a bit in a way that makes you feel seen. 9. Guardians of the Galaxy [Dir. James Gunn]James Gunn’s blockbuster debut is one of the best examples of indie darlings thriving in the mainstream sphere as an artist. While Guardians of the Galaxy was seen as a risk with using niche Marvel characters; the performances, script and direction show why they’ve become many people’s favorites. The use of classic pop music is not only a staple of this franchise but has influenced many other blockbuster films to implement a similar style-but James Gunn makes that concept part of the main character’s identity. It’s fun, emotional, inventive and while not challenging on a thematic or narrative level-is certainly a step above the rest. 8. Foxcatcher [Dir. Bennett Miller]Based on the tragic, dark events of the Foxcatcher ranch: this film is one of those quiet masterpieces that’s often quickly forgotten despite how good it is. Channing Tatum, Mark Ruffalo and especially Steve Carrell have never been better than in this somber film. It’s a film about toxic masculinity, self loathing homosexuality, 80’s Reganomics, dangerous legacies and the commercialization of human physicality. Foxcatcher should be mandatory viewing for all lovers of this artform. 7. Captain America: The Winter Soldier [Dir. Russo Brothers]The first Captain America film was decent, but his second solo film is easily one of the best films in the MCU. Captain America updated to modern day, with a film that feels inspired by Jason Bourne and 70’s spy thrillers-leaving our hero as the only bright moral compass. The conspiracy narrative allows for both an upending of the Marvel Universe and some impressive action sequences. While it technically is Steve’s solo film, it does allow for Black Widow, Falcon, Nick Fury and The Winter Soldier to all be stars in their own right. This movie is so good upon re-watching. 6. Enemy [Dir. Denis Villeneuve]An arthouse surrealist piece that while be familiar to fans of the genre, but something almost alien to mainstream viewers. The film follows Jake Gyllenhaal as a bored teacher who discovers a doppelganger by chance and pursues him, but in reality unravels a dark truth about himself. The film is an artistic piece about gender dynamics, infidelity, the façade many put on for society and loved ones, imagined persecution complexes and many other things in this surrealist story with constant spider imagery. I won’t give the game away, just watch it and unravel the web of truth for yourself. 5. The Raid 2 [Dir. Gareth Evans]The first Raid film is one of the best action films of the 21st Century. Its sequel…it’s not quite that, but is still pretty damn awesome. The Raid 2 feels closest to someone combining a 2.5 Hour crime drama like the Godfather with a brutally violent martial arts action film. Every action scene has pitch perfect directing, bone crunching hits and awesomely violent kills. While some have criticized the choreography for being too close to a dance, I disagree and just think it’s so righteously awesome. You know a film is great when the quiet character and story beats are just as good as a car chase where the camera moves car to car, with the camera operators physically handing the camera car to car. 4. Nightcrawler [Dir. Dan Gilroy]The director debut of the writer who brought you Two for the Money and The Fall, Nightcrawler is a gnarly about the toxicity of media. Jake Gyllenhaal has always been a great actor, but never been better than in this thriller where he’s allowed to be a morally terrifying monster. While not an action or horror film, the film has moments that are far more thrilling and engaging than a shootout or chase sequence. The commentary on how predator news and media is for its story in exploiting people’s deaths has not lost any of its bite years later. 3. Edge of Tomorrow [Dir. Doug Liman]Easily the best action movie of 2014 is this masterpiece by Tom Cruise and Doug Liman. An action sci-fi film about mech soldiers fighting aliens when suddenly the cowardly Tom Cruise gains the ability to restart his day and gains help from Emily Blunt’s “Full Metal Bitch”. An excellent adaptation of “All You Need is Kill”, Edge of Tomorrow is perfectly crafted, impressively written and provides some of the best action sequences a blockbuster film can. I feel it’s become severely underappreciated in recent years, but trust me when I say it’s awesome. 2. Gone Girl [Dir. David Fincher]David Fincher’s adaptation of the Gone Girl novel yields easily one of the best thrillers in recent years. This film's direction, performances, eerie score and masterful script are easily the best 2014 had to offer. The subtle use of CGI shows Fincher’s maturity in using the tool, the balance between high art execution and pulpy b-movie thriller story is also why you have someone like Fincher take on this project and it really is just a perfect film. Ben Affleck and Rosamund Pike are the true stars here, but everyone is great-even Tyler Perry. If Gone Girl was just a well made thriller, that’d be enough: but it’s also got themes aplenty revolving around post-modern relationships vs traditionalist views, toxic media, financial ruin in marriages, toxic masculinity and femininity, and the court of public opinion’s grossness. Gone Girl is easily one of Fincher’s best films and one of the best films of the past 10 years. 1. Godzilla [Dir. Gareth Edwards]10 Years since the last Godzilla film and 16 years after the first American Godzilla film, Gareth Edwards and Legendary Pictures brought to life one of the best incarnations of Godzilla to date. The film is just awesome, a dark disaster thriller with giant monsters that is pure cinematic spectacle. I know there’s criticisms of pacing and a lack of Godzilla, but I think the film earns its big reveal of the King with a moody, well crafted story about small people in a big world. Edwards’ direction in always being somewhere a camera can actually be gives us a human eye into the destruction. The score is equal parts haunting and epic, the numerous action scenes are incredibly well crafted and that final showdown between Godzilla and the MUTOs is the kind of big budget Godzilla spectacle we’ve wanted to see. The sound design is impressive, the cast is solid with Bryan Cranston and Ken Watanabe being the highlights, the atmosphere is palpable and overall it’s my favorite film of 2014. Without this film, we wouldn’t have the varied and truly fantastic Monsterverse.
0 Comments
Written by Tyrone BruinsmaDishonorable Mentions -America: Imagine the World Without Her [Dir. Dinesh D'Souza and John Sullivan] -Annabelle [Dir. John R. Leonetti] -Atlas Shrugged: Part 3 [Dir. James Manera] -The Babadook [Dir. Jennifer Kent] -Birdman [Dir. Alejandro Gonzalez Iñárritu] -Boyhood [Dir. Richard Linklater] -Canopy [Dir. Aaron Wilson] -The Cobbler [Dir. Tom McCarthy] -Divergent [Dir. Neil Burger] -Dracula Untold [Dir. Gary Shore] -The Fault in Our Stars [Dir. Josh Boone] -Freezer [Dir. Mikael Salomon] -The Giver [Dir. Philip Noyce] -Good People [Dir. Henrik Ruben Genz] -The Grace of Monaco [Dir. Olivier Dahan] -Heaven is for Real [Dir. Randall Wallace] -Heavenly Sword [Dir. Gun Ho Jung] -Hunting the Legend [Dir. Justin Steeley] -The Identical [Dir. Dustin Marcellino] -If I Stay [Dir. R.J. Cutler] -Jailbait [Dir. Jared Cohn] -Jarhead 2: Field of Fire [Dir. Don Michael Paul] -Leprechaun: Origins [Dir. Zach Lipovsky] -Lone Survivor [Dir. Peter Berg] -A Million Ways to Die in the West [Dir. Seth MacFarlane] -The Mirror [Dir. Edward Boase] -The Monuments Men [Dir. George Clooney] -Need for Speed [Dir. Scott Waugh] -Nurse 3D [Dir. Douglas Aarniokoski] -Ouija [Dir. Stiles White] -Outcast [Dir. Nick Powell] -The Persecuted [Dir. Daniel Lusko] -Pompeii [Dir. Paul W.S Anderson] -Possession of Michael King [Dir. David Jung] -The Pyramid [Dir. Grégory Levasseur] -Revenge of the Green Dragons [Dir. Andrew Lau and Andrew Loo] -Saving Christmas [Dir. Darren Doane] -Sex Tape [Dir. Jake Kasdan] -Sharknado 2: The Second One [Dir. Anthony C. Ferrante] -Son of God [Dir. Christopher Spencer] -3 Days to Kill [Dir. McG] -The Theory of Everything [Dir. James Marsh] -Vampire Academy [Dir. Mark Waters] -Welcome to New York [Dir. Abel Ferrara] -Winter’s Tale [Dir. Akiva Goldsman] -Zodiac: Signs of the Apocalypse [Dir. David Hogan] 10. Robocop [Dir. José Padilha]The original Robocop is a violent and intelligent sci-fi action film, while this modern attempt at a remake is just bad. It's a generic sci-fi action film with a cookie cutter screenplay that borrows from as many smart sounding political ideas as it can think of without doing any work to back it up. There are good actors here, but they're all so bland that they might as well be robots themselves. Any of the ideas from the original film that return here are poorly managed, while the action is just boring slick CGI backed numbness. 9. Transcendence [Dir. Wally Pfister] How do you spend $100-$150 Million and make one of the most boring attempts at a sci-fi thriller? Transcendence has one of the most talented casts you could ask for in Johnny Depp, Morgan Freeman, Rebecca Hall, Kate Mara, Cillian Murphy and Paul Bettany; and pairs them with one of the worst attempts at an intelligent film. Transcendence is a pretentious sci-fi film that wants to talk about humanity, terrorism, transhumanism, technology and ends up having nothing really to say on the matter. It follows every cliche evil-science/technology story you’ve seen, but in a stupid and wrongheaded manner. It tries to make us empathize with both an incomprehensible madman in a computer who wants to infect the world with nanomachines, and also an anti-technology terrorist group (who use radiation bullets) that sounds like anti-vaxxers. There’s no point to any of it, the few action scenes are incredibly dull and it ends with nothing really happening. I mostly feel sorry for Kate Mara as she truly got the worst written character in the film who sounds like a parody version of your QAnon aunt on Facebook. This movie sucks. 8. The Legend of Hercules [Dir. Renny Harlin]This film’s production was rushed to be out before Dwayne Johnson’s Hercules came out that same year and it was not a good choice. This cheap looking effort from Lionsgate and Millennium Media looks like something Pure Flix or The Asylum would make, despite costing $70 Million. It’s a blandly made adaptation of the Hercules story that borrows everything from the story of Jesus, Gladiator and especially 300. Like Gods of Egypt, this film really wants to be Zack Snyder’s 300 with slow-motion action, but utterly fails. There’s clearly gore effects that have been left out for the sake of a lower rating, even though the production values would favor a pornographic interpretation. The performances are bad, the script gives them nothing to work with and it’s easily the worst film by Renny Harlin. 7. Kite [Dir. Ralph Ziman]A live action version of the controversial 1998 anime Kite isn’t a terrible idea. It’s basically an ultra violent, exploitative, pornographic crime film: it could be done. Unfortunately, this 2014 cheapie production doesn't do the anime justice. While Rob Cohen was attached at one point, David R Ellis of Final Destination 2 and Snakes on a Plane was appointed the directorial chair until his tragic passing. Music video director Ralph Ziman stepped in and tried his best, but the material and budget limits everything about this film. This adaptation takes the violent, sexualised, nasty and occasionally silly anime, and scrubs it down to a generic, gritty and boring sci-fi action thriller. None of the action scenes are interesting, some of the kills are alright-but the characters are watered down clichés. Samuel L Jackson is trying his best, but his character is so obvious and boring. All the interesting, dark, graphic and shocking content has been washed away for what amounts to a dark, sometimes violent, edgy fanfic of Blade Runner. 6. American Sniper [Dir. Clint Eastwood]Clint Eastwood has made some amazing films as a director: Play Misty for Me, Unforgiven, A Perfect World and Mystic River just to name a few. But lately he's politically devolved into your grumpy grandpa who doesn't understand the changing world and in doing so-decided to make easily the worst film of his career. Clint Eastwood and Bradley Cooper take the real life figure of Chris Kyle and boil his entire story into a generic military story with no theme, narrative through-line or real point. It sands down many of Kyle’s questionable behavior (including accused racism and him claiming to have murdered looters in hurricane Katrina for disturbing popularity points when the latter was proven to be untrue) to make him a non-entity of a soldier. Eastwood’s direction is fine; but his lack of interest in military accuracy or providing ANY kind of political, thematic or moral point leaves this film to be a boring slog. It doesn’t function as an action film as only one scene kind of works, but it’s mostly a series of cringeworthy clichés. And this $59 Million movie that was nominated for 6 Oscars (including Best Picture) and made $547 Million at the box office uses a toy baby that’s obviously a toy baby to play a real child. Either tell the complicated story of Chris Kyle (narrative or documentary) or at least use his story to have a point, this film doesn’t. 5. Black Butler [Dir. Kentarō Ōtani and Keiichi Satō]As a fan of the Black Butler anime, this movie annoyed me to no end. This Japanese adaptation cannot decide if it’s a direct adaptation/remake, a complete rebuild of the story or even a sequel. It copies scenes straight from the anime (poorly), changes character names and personalities for no reason, cuts out large chunks of the story’s most interesting parts and ends up as little more than a bad tech demo. The cast don’t look or act like their characters, Sebastian’s actor being the worst offender. This is actually an instance where a western adaptation would be better as most of the Black Butler characters are British. Can we get Ben Wheatley or Edgar Wright to adapt the manga? Probably the most annoying change for fans is straight-washing the dynamic between Ceil and Sebastian because they kiss. I know Japan tends to adapt anime better than America, but this is about as bad as the live action Japanese Attack on Titan films. 4. Left Behind [Dir. Vic Armstrong]After getting cheap and lazy tv film adaptations in the 2000s starring insane wormling Kirk Cameron, the Left Behind books got a more "Hollywood" adaptation in 2014 starring Nicolas Cage and was the directorial debut of legendary Indiana Jones stuntman/reliable 2nd Unit Director Vic Armstrong. Unfortunately, while the authors of this adaptation were happier with this than the prior films-it still sucks. It's still a cliche pro-Christian nonsense rapture story with rambling debates about faith, nonsensical character decisions and a boring plot. Dialogue you've heard a thousand time, characters acting nothing like humans and Nicolas Cage just being boring. It had every opportunity to be at left dumb fun and settled for just dumb. And 9 years later it got a worse sequel directed by and starring human conspiracy colostomy bag Kevin Sorbo. 3. God’s Not Dead [Dir. Harold Cronk]I don’t know what was with 2014 and having so many terrible Christian faith films like Left Behind, The Persecuted, Son of God, Heaven is for Real and God’s Not Dead. All of them boiled down to appeal to the conservative Christian Faith-Based audience who believe they’re oppressed or under attack despite that not being true. Most of them had really toxic ideals and completely fake information just to assure its target audience of their supposed superiority, yet threaten their viewers with the presence of the “other”, like Nazi propaganda. God’s Not Dead is a Christian propaganda film about how leftist politics gives you cancer, Universities force philosophy students to conform to religious beliefs on day one, success in money is a tool of Satan, Muslim men are all abusers and God will kill you to make you believe him again. Despite supposedly being a film to inspire the faith in non-believers, it actually comes off as disingenuous, mean spirited and often very xenophobic. It ends up being an overly long and extremely boring bout of choir preaching to appeal to the same kind of audience who thought Donald Trump was a moral man. So many character decisions make no sense, dialogue feels incredibly fake and the eventual “debate” over God’s existence feels like a series of bad faith high school arguments. And the film has multiple characters convert to Christianity for contrived reasons: a Muslim woman converts because of Christian music while being oppressed by her father and an environmental activist converts when she gets cancer under the guidance of a Christian rock band starring as themselves. But the most egregious is Kevin Sorbo’s anti-God philosophy professor who only hates God (despite not believing in him) because of prior trauma and suddenly believes in him when hit by a car (caused by God) and a pastor prays over him instead of giving medical attention. It’s the typical Christian propaganda view of non-believers that doesn’t understand society, other cultures or belief systems different to their own. This movie’s message was so bad that even many Christians saw through the terribleness to comment on its lack of intellectual honesty. Even if the film wasn't xenophobic nonsensical propaganda designed to comfort the sheltered, the film is a cheap looking, poorly acted and horribly written mess that’s not even worth a “so-bad-it’s-good” recommendation. It’s just bad. Also let’s not forget Kevin Sorbo supported the domestic terrorists involved in 2021 US Capitol Siege, changed his tone to create the narrative it was “Paid Antifa actors” when that didn’t end well and Lucy Lawless gloriously smacked him for it on Twitter for it. 2. Kirk Cameron's Saving Christmas [Dir. Darren Doane]There's something deeply wrong with Kirk Cameron. His born-again Christian beliefs have run from a personal choice to outright insanity and delusions. This barely-a-movie "movie" is little more than Cameron and company giving him a platform to spout his paranoid beliefs and misconceptions about history or the very idea of Christmas. It promotes the truly tired "War on Christmas" nonsense conservatives have been banging on about since they invented this non-issue, using Kirk's truly strange and demented view of Christmas. Aside from the most ridiculous arguments and lines, it ultimately comes as little more than choir preaching for middle-class Christian to engage in capitalism and to not think about things like Kirk's 2008 trash film Fireproof. It's poorly made, acted, constructed, edited and is only entertaining for how nonsensical Kirk's logic is. 1. The Principle [Dir. Katheryne Thomas]This film pretends to discuss the concepts of the Earth’s placement in the universe with actual credible scientists being mixed in with bigoted men who have doctorates from fake universities. In its marketing and creative intent, The Principle claims that the Earth is the center of the Universe, that the Sun revolves around the Earth because God made it so and that “evidence” of this is being suppressed by NASA, the scientific community and whoever else the participants don’t like. Dan Olsen of Folding Ideas made a great video breaking this down [That Time Geocentrists Tricked A Bunch of Physicists - YouTube] and having watched it myself via a reupload on YouTube (where disturbingly, commenters were buying it’s garbage, as this film is deceptive and manipulative for those prone to conspiratorial thought) it’s a disgusting use of the documentary form.
Documentary films operate on trust of the audience, but the film is very non-committal in text. It uses innuendo to suggest its Geocentric goal, which shows a devious nature to the filmmakers. In marketing and debates, the film has been used explicitly as a “Proof of God” thesis by its participants and those who believe in it. Many of the legitimate scientific participants and Star Trek: Voyager actress Kate Mulgrew who narrated the film have denounced the film, saying they were wrongfully informed about its attempt. To claim these participants are liars, the filmmakers themselves lie about release forms and claim a conspiracy is trying to suppress their film. It also targets many people's insecurities by insisting that science and "they" want you to believe you're insignificant in the cosmic scales to push all this garbage because it's creators are clearly scared, paranoid and are projecting that onto everyone. Even though in reality, manipulating and lying to participants will get you nothing but shame, and misinformation should not have a platform. The film is effectively bigoted conspiracy mongers with fake degrees interviewing themselves along with actual scientists to prove their garbage theory is correct. The main producer Rick DeLano is completely paranoid in believing conspiracies and dislikes people with other perspectives. Robert Sungenis is an anti-progressive right-wing peddler who thinks homosexuality, contraception, abortions and democracy are bad. And the grossest person this film gives a platform to is Martin G. Selbrede of the Chalcedon Foundation, a Libertarian Christian Reformation hate group that desires to have trans and gay people threatened with death under legal means or be forced into the closet. So tell me, do you think a film by some bigoted religious grifters who think the Earth is the center of the universe and respond to criticism with lies and conspiratorial videos titled ‘Thought-Crime: The Conspiracy to Stop The Principle’ is a good film? No. The Principle might be well made as a manipulative piece of documentary filmmaking, but it’s garbage. It’s very much akin to the documentaries of Dinesh DeSousa, used as a political thesis to argue for a conspiracy against those the creator(s) hate. The Principle is dishonest, made by terrible people and has no scientific or artistic value. It’s easily the worst film of 2014. DO. NOT. WATCH. THIS. TRASH. |
Tyrone BruinsmaThis is the Official Blog/Magazine for filmmaker, writer and content producer Tyrone Bruinsma Categories
All
|