Soliders, Rappers, and Frat Boys OH MY!

An article by Halima    No Comments

Hey Lallster world, I know it’s been a while since I blogged there for I thought to myself if I am to blog at the end of the year why not make this my top 10 movies of 2014.

Now coming up with a top 10 list is hard enough, but trying to remember all the movies you’ve seen this year is even harder. But here we go…and believe me when I say this list has changed 3 times.

10. This Is Where I Leave Your
So what happens when you mix a power house such as Jane Fonda in with the brilliance of Tina Fey, Jason Bateman, Adam Driver, and Corey Stoll, and throw in 5 chairs low to the ground that you worry about tripping over Adam Driver’s and Corey Stoll’s legs (well at least my 5’2 self does)? True chaos and family dynamics with drama ensues. I found this movie although with a sad back story very enlightening. Did it make it seem like my family was normal compared to their crazy? No, this movie made me feel like I was part of their family that their liberated, grieving (now lesbian) mother, a daughter with an jerk of a husband, a player/underestimated son, a caring/good heart-ed son, and another son on the baby train; was what you would expect of any family and accept them for it because it was their life, and you loved them no matter what was going on. Because even though they are sometimes idiots, they are your idiots.

9. Captain America: The Winter Soldier
Umm, Chris Evans back again in a Captain America outfit. Yes please. This movie I thought was a great addition the marvel Universe. Captain America learned parkour, and it was the first time we heard him speak French. Ladies pause for a sigh. I think I saw this movie 3 times…you would have to ask Miss Ramdini and the Lallster. I know they made me go to a movie that I seen twice before and I won’t be surprised if it were this one. Captain America’s fight for his best friend (who turns out to be a fantastic bad guy) well done Sebastian Stan, along with his chivalrous actions makes him one of my favorite hero’s.

8. Neighbors
Zac Efron, Dave Franco, and Seth Rogen…give me a minute while I catch my breath from laughter. I’ll be honest I did not expect to like this movie, but I thought that it was a great time if anything. Did it teach me any lessons, no, did it make me enjoy going to the movies again…absolutely. If you do not see this for anything see it for just fun and having the feeling of partying with your brother and a bunch of his friends.

7. Maleficent
I have been a fan of Sleeping Beauty, even if it is a rip off of Snow White. I thought this spin on a classic was wonderful, it thought you that not all things that look evil are evil and that at one point in their life there was something honest, pure and good about them, and it was just some jerk that broke their heart and pegged them as an evil character. And we take a moment and talk about Angelina Jolie’s costume…applause to her for wearing that head piece for most of the movie. I thought this was a wonderful role for her. So often we see her as this femme fatale, it was refreshing to see her in a role that I believe suits her more than anything…that is a care giver from her humanitarian work to being first and foremost a mother. Maleficent taught me the most important thing about love…it’s not always in the form on a man, but true love is something without malice, without ego, it is pure.

6. Chef
Good food, amazing music, and a chill movie with a lesson to follow your heart and love those around you; it does not get better than that. Jon Favreau’s Chef is a feel good, fun movie for any foodie. As much as I love movies I love music and the music in this movie is incredible, sexy, and fantastic. After seeing this movie I bought the soundtrack and all of a sudden wanted to cook. This movie is about a father who has a dream of being a chef that cooks what he wants, when he wants. You can taste the flavor off of the screen, and your hips won’t lie when it comes to the Hot 8 Brass Band’s rendition of Marvin Gaye’s Sexual Healing.

5. Gone Girl
One word…CRAZY. I will be honest I was not always the biggest Ben Affleck fan, but after seeing Argo he had won me over. And after he took on Bill Maher I thought to myself that Ben Affleck is my dude, and has the cutest wife I have ever seen; so seeing this movie was a no brainer. And after I left the theatre that’s how I felt. Where did my brain go? What happened to my mind…it was messed with for sure. I went in to see Ben Affleck for his genius portrayal of a jilted, confused, somewhat unfazed husband, but left and felt like I needed to see it for Rosamund Pike. I mean…girl… a round of applause for her. The way she portrayed Gillian Flynn’s character as a conniving, manipulative, bored, housewife was unbelievable, I for one would not want to mess with her. I warn you after you see this movie you may feel like you need therapy.

4. Into the Woods
What happens when Cinderella, Prince Charming, Rapunzel, a witch, a baker and his wife, red riding hood, granny, a wolf, the other prince(you know the one who save Rapunzel), Jack, some giants, a wicked step mother and 2 wicked step daughters, come together? Well madness ensues of course. I wish everyone went to see this movie, yes it is a musical and as a diehard fairy tale lover this movie was incredible. From Broadway stars to actors and actresses, this movie was beautiful. You know when you see a musical movie, like hairspray, it feels like a movie and you know you are just watching a movie…this wasn’t like that. I felt like I was in New York, or okay maybe the citadel watching a musical. It music, lyrics and deliveries were so powerful. It was funny, scary, and all together a great way to spend the afternoon. The spins Rob Marshall, and James Lapine put on this movie no musical was fantastic. A whole blog could be dedicated to this movie from the musical notes, to the selected cast. The one thing I can say about this movie to sum it up, the chemistry between Meryl Streep, Emily Blunt, James Corden, Anna Kendrick, Daniel Huttletone, Lilla Crawford, Christine Baranski, Tammy Blanchard, Lucy Punch, Tracey Ullman, Billy Magnussen and Chris Pine is one you can not get anywhere else. Why hasn’t Merly Streep won an academy award yet!

3. Guardians of the Galaxy
What can I say that I did not already say in my post from the summer time…this movie to me will never cease to amaze. I still love the family dynamic behind this movie. Take 5 complete strangers (aside from Groot and Rocket of course), stick them on a mission that is for their own personal gain at first, and then it turns out that they are a kick ass team together. This movie has tears, laughs, and action, Chris Pratt, Vin Diesel, Dave Bautista, Bradley Cooper and Zoe Saldana. If you haven’t see it already, it’s almost 2015…get on it.

2. Horrible Bosses 2
I for one thought the first one was okay, so seeing the second one changed my mind completely. More often than not you see a sequel and it’s okay but the first one is better. No this one completely changed my mind about the first one. It may have something to do with Charlie Day’s character of being so spastic, and having no filter, or the fact that I wanted the brilliant Christoph Waltz and Jamie Foxx to do a scene together, maybe even Chris Pine as a jerk of a villian; but it was hilarious, well thought out, and the return of Kevin Spacey and Jennifer Aniston in my opinion made the movie complete.

1. Top Five
This movie is sadly only played at one theatre here in Edmonton. And that could be, now this may offend some people, but it is completely unjust. The fact that it is played only in one theatre in Edmonton, is not because it is an indie film, or no one knows the actors, it is because there is a predominantly African American cast. Think about it…in the last 5 years have you seen a Tyler Perry or a movie with well-known ethnic actors in one or more movie theatre in Edmonton…not that I can recall, and I would like to think I don’t live under a rock. We need to change this. But that rant is for another day.
Top Five, was written and directed by Chris Rock. Yes the fantastically hilarious Chris Rock. This movie explores the life of a comedian who after his big break is now trying to find his way in the media and entertainment world, struggling with what he loves to do vs. what everyone expects him to do. Co-Produced by Shawn “Jay-Z” Carter and Kanye West you know the music is going to be good. The reason this movie is my number 1 is because with the fantastic cast ensemble to many names to count, including shining Rosario Dawson this movie is a top for discussion, brings you back to who you were before life happened and you got caught up with everyday becoming more stressful filled with exception. Especially in the upcoming New Year it reminds me to not forget who I am and who I want to be vs. who everyone else wants you to be. This ,movies also adds a little fun to life, especially in a scene where Chris Rock’s character goes back home to kick it with his neighborhood friends with asking the question of who are your top 5 hip hop/rap artists or genius, and what they meant to the world and you it was like as an audience member you were there with him, vibe-ing in a New York apartment just talking. Oh and my top 5: Jay-Z, Tupac, Salt-N-Pepa, Queen Latifah, and Drake.

Have a comment? Want to change my list? Agree with my choices? Disagree? Let me know.
Have a wonderful New Year, be safe, and make memories.
Peace and Love.