2015 Fantasia International Film Festival Review: RAIDERS! THE STORY OF THE GREATEST FAN FILM EVER MADE- Jonesy's Take

RAIDERS! THE STORY OF THE GREATEST FAN FILM EVER MADE

Directed by Jeremy Coon and Tim Skousen

Starring: Eric Zala and Chris Strompolos

Synopsis: A documentary following two friends as they try to film the one scene missing from their RAIDERS shot-for-shot remake they started as kids.

PAPER TOWNS Review- Jonesy's Take

Director: Jack Schreier

Writers: Scott Neustadter and Michael H. Weber

Starring: Nat Wolff, Cara Delevingne, Halston Sage, Austin Abrams, and Justice Smith

This review originally ran on CentralTrack.com

MINIONS Review- Jonesy's Take

Director: Kyle Balda and Pierre Coffin

Writer: Brian Lynch

Starring: Sandra Bullock, Jon Hamm, Michael Keaton, Allison Janney, Steve Coogan, Geoffrey Rush, and Pierre Coffin.

This review original ran on CentralTrack.com 

DOOMSDAYS Review- Jonesy's Take

Directed by Eddie Mullins

Written by Eddie Mullins

Starring: Leo Fitzpatrick, Justin Rice, Brian Charles Johnson, and Laura Campbell

Synopsis: A pair of drifters make their way from vacation house to vacation house and pick up two other like-minded people along the way.

DOOMSDAYS is available on VOD June 5th. 

DIFF 2015 Review: NOWITZSKI: THE PERFECT SHOT- Jonesy's Take

NOWITZSKI: THE PERFECT SHOT

Directed by Sebastian Dehnhardt

Synopsis: A look at the Mavericks power forward and his relationship with his basketball mentor.

 This review originally ran on CentralTrack.com

DIFF 2015 Review- THE WOLFPACK- Jonesy's Take

THE WOLFPACK

Directed by Crystal Moselle 

Starring: Bhagavan Angulo, Govinda Angulo, Jagadisa Angulo, Krsna Angulo, Mukunda Angulo, and Narayana Angulo.

Synopsis: A documentary following a family in the Lower East Side.

DIFF 2015 Review- THE LOOK OF SILENCE- Jonesy's Take

THE LOOK OF SILENCE

Directed by Joshua Oppenheimer

Synopsis: A brother of a victim of the military overtake of Indonesia is on a quest to confront his brother's murders.

THE HUNTING GROUND Review- Jonesy's Take

Directed by Kirby Dick

Written by Kirby Dick

Synopsis: A look at the growing rape problem on college campuses, and the students who decide to take a stand. 

This review originally ran on CentralTrack.com

INSURGENT Review- Jonesy's Take

Director: Robert Schwentke

Writer: Brian Duffield and Akiva Goldsman

Actors: Shailene Woodley, Kate Winslet, Theo James, Ansel Elgort, Miles Teller, Octavia Spenser, and Naomi Watts

Synopsis: Tris is back trying to overthrow Jeanine and her master plan to wipe out Divergents.

This review originally ran on CentralTrack.com

THESE FINAL HOURS Review- Jonesy's Take

THESE FINAL HOURS

Directed by Zak Hilditch

Written by Zak Hilditch

Starring: Nathan Philips, Angourie Rice, Kathryn Beck, and Daniel Henshall 

Synopsis: There is 12 hours left before humanity is wiped out forever, and James is helping Rose find her family. 

IN A WORLD... Review- Jonesy's Take

IN A WORLD...

Directed by Lake Bell

Written by Lake Bell

Starring: Lake Bell, Fred Melamed, Demetri Martin, Rob Cordrry, Michaela Watkins, and Ken Marino.

Synopsis: A young woman tries to make it in the world of voice-overs. 

ELYSIUM Review- Jonesy's Take

ELYSIUM

Directed by: Neill Blomkamp

Written by: Neill Blomkamp

Starring: Matt Damon, Jodie Foster, Sharlto Copley, Wagner Moura, and Diego Luna

Synopsis: A terminally ill man seeks to cure himself by breaking into Elysium, a satellite where only the rich people of Earth reside. 

Doc a Day: Week One

Week one is complete! Below I have mini-reviews of all the films I watched including links to all of them on Netflix Instant. If my first week's picks were any indication, there's a plethora of eclectic docs out there, and there's a fit for everyone. 

Here's my line up for week two:

• MANSOME
• FAT, SICK, AND NEARLY DEAD
• MEET THE FOKKENS
• SENNA
• CRAIGSLIST JOE
• INTO THE ABYSS
• DEAR ZACHARY

So enjoy what I discovered this week!

Doc a Day Project

It started in college on summer session when I took a class about film and politics. It was required for my major, I love movies, and the professor was really cool. It was a win-win-win. We covered a lot of the staples, DR. STRANGELOVE, MR. SMITH GOES TO WASHINGTON, FAIL SAFE), but our professor threw in some documentaries (BROTHER'S KEEPER, THE WAR ROOM). The docs were the ones that surprised me because I never really appreciated them. I always figured informational type programming was meant for National Geographic or the History Channel. Up until that point, the only other experience I had with documentaries was watching Michael Moore's, BOWLING FOR COLUMBINE.

This made me seek out more documentaries, and there was one documentary I kept hearing about...CAPTURING THE FRIEDMANS. I tracked it down and watched and was blown away. By the end of the film, I didn't know what the answer was and/or what side I fell on. I thought all docs had to have a definitive side, but I was proven incorrect. So, if that film could surprise me, what other great documentaries must be out there?

So thus my project begins. During this month, I will be watching a doc a day. All of the films will be available on Netflix, so feel free to watch along with me, and they will be films I have not seen before. I will have weekly write up of all the films with my thoughts.

Here is my first week line-up:

• Resurrect Dead: The Mystery of the Toynbee Tiles
• Chasing Ice
• The Flat
• Bully
• Girl Model
• Side by Side
• The Woman Who Wasn't There

Check back next week for my thoughts on these films and the next seven I will watch!

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MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING Review- Jonesy's Take

MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING

Directed by Joss Whedon

Written by William Shakespeare and adapted by Joss Whedon

Starring: Amy Acker, Alexis Denisof, Jillian Morgese, Fran Kranz, Nathan Fillion, Clark Gregg, and Sean Maher

Synopsis: Shakespeare's romantic comedy set around the wedding of Hero and Claudio and the witty sparring relationship of Beatrice and Benedict.

Dallas IFF 2013 Review: TERMS AND CONDITIONS MAY APPLY- Jonesy's Take

TERMS AND CONDITIONS MAY APPLY

Directed by Cullen Hoback

Synopsis: A documentary that takes a look about what it means when we click "agree" to companies terms and conditions and privacy policy statements. 

Netflix Instant TV and Movie Picks

It's about to get crazy around here starting next week. The Dallas International Film Festival will be starting up, and then the elusive summer season of movies will begin. If you are lucky enough to be enjoying a three day weekend, here are some films to keep you company on your day off. If you are working today, then, here's some titles to look forward to once you're off work!

HOLY MOTORS

This film needs another chance. I watched it in the middle of Fantastic Fest when the lack of sleep and copious amounts of beer was beginning to set in. I didn't understand all the praise. Not that it's a bad film, but I wasn't sure why it made tons of "Best of" lists. I realize now that I need to give this film another chance when there's ample time to focus on it. 

COSMOPOLIS

I had no interest in seeing this film until my cohort wrote about it for his top ten films of the year, and it spiked my interest. Even though I'm still weary of watching a film with Robert Pattinson, I can always use a good film that comments on the state of modern culture. 

30 FOR 30: PONY EXCESS

This was my first taste of the ESPN series, 30 for 30. It's a fantastic look at the year the SMU football team got the "death penalty" from the NCAA for serious rules violations. It's heartbreaking to see this team go from one of the top football teams to absolute bottom. 

Javi will be back next week with some awesome themed column!

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Netflix Instant TV and Movie Picks- Shame List Edition

We all have them. Those films that have slipped through your viewing cracks that when brought up in conversation, you're subjected to many minutes of shame because, "What do you MEAN you haven't seen [insert film here]?!"

There are plenty on my list, but unfortunately not all of them are on Instant yet. However, I did find three on my list that I've heard, multiple times, that I need to see like yesterday. So, here they are, and yes, you are free to scoff and laugh at my shame.

Netflix Instant TV and Movie Picks

I found myself at a loss a little bit this week. With the Oscars taking up most of the this year, it's tough to get out of that mindset all of a sudden. But thankfully, that season is over, and now is the time to catch up on films that you may have missed in years past. 

Netflix Instant TV and Movie Picks

How was your V-day everyone? Awesome? Lonely? Well, it's behind us now, so you can stock up on your discounted candy hearts and heart-shaped peanut butter cups. For many people, a long weekend is coming up, and so I have a two small and quiet films, and one series that you can marathon.

BERNIE

I'm going to steal a phrase from my cohort by saying that clearly Jack Black has been trolling all of us with they type of comedy characters he's been playing. I know I use to write him off as a silly comedian, but BERNIE proves he has the restraint and acting chops to play serious. He completely steals this very odd film. 

TEDDY BEAR

I walked into this film during The Dallas International Film Festival knowing nothing about it. I was quite surprised how sweet and endearing it was. TEDDY BEAR is a Danish film that follows a hardcore body builder, Dennis, who travels to Thailand to find a wife. The problem with Dennis is even though he's a huge dude, he has the persona of a teddy bear and has trouble standing up for himself. By the end, you just want to give him a huge hug and hope he doesn't squish you.

  HOUSE OF CARDS

HOUSE OF CARDS had me when I heard it was a series about politics and scandals, but then add in Kevin Spacey? Oh, I'm in. This is Netflix's first experiment at producing an original series and throwing it all on streaming at once. I've heard great things, and I can't wait to plow through it.

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