Sarah Knight Adamson member of the Broadcast Film Critics Association attends the Critics Choice Movie Awards and interviews talent on the Red Carpet January 15, 2015 — Hollywood, CA
What a great year for movies, these are my favorites in order according to my most favorite as #1.
1. Life Itself-Documentary, Based on the life and book of film critic Roger Ebert
2. Birdman-Dark Comedy, Based on the Broadway comeback of a movie superhero
3. The Grand Budapest Hotel-Comedy, Wes Anderson’s latest quirky film
4. Guardians of the Galaxy-Fantasy, Comedy, Comic Books, 80’s soundtrack
5. Selma-Drama, Based on historical facts of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. in 1965
6. The Theory of Everything-Drama, Based on the facts of Stephen Hawking’s life
7. Gone Girl-Mystery, Drama, Based on the bestseller novel in which a husband is a suspect
8. American Sniper-Based on the true story of war hero sniper Chris Kyle
9. Boyhood-Drama, Filmed over a 12-year span, a boy grows up before your eyes
10. Wild- Drama, Based on the true story of Pacific Crest Trail hiker Cheryl Strayed
11. The Imitation Game- Drama, Based on facts of British war hero Alan Turing’s life
12. The Lego Movie- Animation, Family, Based on the brightly colored toys that connect
13. Captain American: Winter Solider- Action and Adventure, Comic Books
14. Chef-Comedy, Family, Road Trip centering on food and a father/son relationship
15. X-Men Days of Future Past- Action and Adventure, Comic Books
16. Godzilla- Science Fiction, Remake, Based on the original story of the famous monster
17. Whiplash-Drama, An intense jazz teacher’s teaching methods dangerously bullies his student
I8. Into the Woods- Fantasy, Remake of the Broadway musical, a mashup of fairy tales
19. 22 Jump Street-Comedy, Sequel, Two undercover cops go to college
20. Nightcrawler- Drama, Over ambitious creeper crime videographer goes over the top
Steve James, director, Chaz Ebert (Roger Ebert’s wife) and Garrett Basch, producer of ‘Life Itself’ on the Red (Blue) Carpet at the Critics Choice Awards. Photo Credit: Sarah Knight Adamson
Check out Sarah Knight Adamson’s article on the Critics Choice Awards includes Red Carpet, Interviews, Recap of the show and more, posted to RogerEbert.com
Bradley Cooper stars is “American Sniper.” Photo Credit: Warner Bros.
Sniper Story Hits Hearts
Director Clint Eastwood’s latest film may be his best since 2008’s Gran Torino and Changeling. The bio-drama American Sniper is based on United States Navy SEAL Chris Kyle’s autobiography, American Sniper: The Autobiography of the most Lethal Sniper in U.S. Military History.
This incredible true story stars a beefed-up (forty pounds heavier) Bradley Cooper (Guardians of the Galaxy, 2014) as Kyle and the almost unrecognizable Sienna Miller (Foxcatcher, 2014) as his wife, Taya. Kyle was recognized as the deadliest operative in United States Navy history with more than 160 confirmed kills, including Al Qaeda members, women, and their children, if absolutely necessary. It’s important not to get the wrong impression, however. Kyle was far from malicious or mean-hearted. In fact, Kyle is so devoted to his country – almost to a fault. When off of tours, he is at home, but not actually ‘present.’ He is helplessly emotionless and withdrawn. His mind is back in Iraq, thinking about his next move. Every noise he hears and reflection he sees triggers his sniper mindset and he can’t turn it off.
The film, set during the Iraq War, immediately opens with a suspenseful scene, which sets the caliber of emotion that this film carries. Kyle must make a split second decision that may take innocent lives and haunt him forever. We bounce back and forth between life on tour and life at home, while witnessing Kyle and Taya’s relationship evolve and digress. We witness Kyle’s reality of trying to cope with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) while trying to juggle his main prioritizes God, country, and family. The film doesn’t have a political agenda. It simply illustrates the sacrifice, hardship and tragedy of war, overseas and at home, through the mindset of someone who experienced it all. Read more…
Oscar Isaac and David Oyelowo star in “A Most Violent Year.” Photo Credit: A24.
A Gripping Tale About The Struggles of the American Dream
With his third feature film, writer-director J.C. Chandor continues to impress. His latest crime-drama, A Most Violent Year (preceded by Margin Call and All is Lost) is gritty and intense. While the title suggests another gruesome tale about American greed and violence, the audience will be pleasantly surprised in the direction the film takes on this theme.
The setting for the story is 1981 New York City, a year that saw the most murders the city has ever had and represents arguably the nadir in the city, which is captured very well in the filming and settings. Within this backdrop, the film follows the immigrant business owner Abel Morales (Oscar Isaac, Inside Llewyn Davis, 2013) and his family as they attempt to expand their heating and oil business and capture their piece of the American Dream. The wealthy thirty-something Morales is on the verge of greatly expanding his operation as he buys a loading and storage dock near his property. The icing on the cake for the deal is that the dock is located on the East River, therefore allowing his company easy access to oil barges. The sellers accept a cash down payment and require the remainder of the payment, a million and a half dollars, to be paid in cash within 30 days. Morales must find a way to scrounge up the cash, or risk losing his down payment and the opportunity altogether. Read more…
Sienna Miller talks with Sarah Knight Adamson on behalf of the film “American Sniper.” Clint Eastwood directs, also stars Bradley Cooper as American hero Chris Kyle. Photo Credit: Warner Bros. Pictures
Based on the bestseller book of the same name by Cheryl Strayed, written 20 years after she hiked over a 1000 miles of the Pacific Crest Trail, alone. Stars Reese Witherspoon Photo Credit: 20th Century Fox
Sarah Knight Adamson’s Film Reviews and Celebrity Interviews can be heard weekly on the internationally syndicated show: Hollywood 360 Radio Network. It airs in New York, LA and 92 stations. In Chicago listen to WINDam560.
