FRJ's Best of 2015 Awards (Film List)

I love making lists.

The Best in Women's Cinema 2015 Edition: Gender in Film Part 2

It’s no secret I was disappointed by 2014’s alarming lack of strong female roles (discussed in my We Are The Best! review and 2015 Mid-Year List), which, admittedly, had been heightened by a then recent binge on 70s era films: one of the weakest decades for women’s cinema.  The 70s was a very depressing chapter for women’s cinema, predominately because the 60s was quite the opposite: an explosively progressive decade filled with new and fleshed-out female roles.  The 70s took such progressive thinking and, with the exception of the occasional outlier, pushed it back around 40 years.  It’s taken another 40 years to catch back up to where the 60s were heading, and yet, 2014 gave a shiver of worry that such backtracking was once again happening—that was, until 2015 came into play.  Not only has 2015 made up for 2014’s disappointment by surpassing expectations, it's also gave, quite possibly, the most abundant, diverse and well-rounded year for women in all of cinematic history.

Allegiant (Film Review)

What a bland, generic mess.

10 Cloverfield Lane (Film Review)

Director Dan Trachtenberg describes 10 Cloverfield Land as a “spiritual successor” to 2008’s Cloverfield—a found footage, disaster flick about a group of young adults escaping a giant monster attack on New York City—which is a fairly accurate description towards the film.  10 Cloverfield Lane is very different from Cloverfield, in both plot, perspective, and genre.  The only real similarity between them is the alien-monster attack, and even that has several alterations.  This is neither a disparagement towards the original nor the “sequel”, but an indisputable fact that both films are very different, yet offer very enjoyable concepts.  Cloverfield is a pure popcorn flick: exciting, thrilling, and mindlessly entertaining.  10 Cloverfield Lane is more a combination between 10% War of the Worlds and 90% Misery: offering a fleshed out story, fleshed out characters (all three of them), actual character development, great performances, and an engaging, well-constructed sci-fi thriller.  The two are like day and night, though if I had to pick between them, 10 Cloverfield Lane would win as the superior film.

Deadpool: The R-Rated Review (Film Review)

This review is rated R for raunchy humor and excessive, uncensored language; in particular, a whole lot of the F-word.

Enjoy!

Hail Caesar! (Quick Review)

There’s always two sides to a coin.

10 Hidden Gem Films: 2015 Edition (Film List)

Here are ten remarkable 2015 films that:

1. Are not blockbusters
2. Got completely snubbed by the Oscars
3. Are nearly, if not completely, unknown to the general public
4. And are extraordinarily unique creations

Each one deserves to be given at least a single viewing—far more so than a good deal of mainstream films.  I highly recommend checking them out.

Risen (Quick Review)

Well crafted, Christian-faith films are a rarity to come by, but do happen every so often, as is the case with 2016’s Risen—an alternate take on The Greatest Story Ever Told (or, more accurately, its epilogue), shown from a Roman tribune's perspective.  The alternate perspective is a refreshing twist to a done to death story (though amusingly, the Coen Brother’s recent Hail Caesar! satirizes the idea as a film within their film), yet what successfully sells the film are three aspects: acting, subtlety, and cinematography.

Winner of March Film Poll (Film Poll)

The results are in!

Feminist Films vs. Female Focused Films: Gender in Film Part 1

Is Pitch Perfect 2 a feminist film?

According to multiple reviews on the film—such as this one, and this one, and this one—the answer is undoubtedly yes.

I say no, but not for the reasons you may think.

FRJ's Top 20 Films of 2015 Is Out!

My best of the year list is finally out!!! Here's the link:
http://thefilmguystash.blogspot.com/2016/02/frjs-top-20-films-of-2015-film-list.html

Sanjay's Super Team (A "Short" Review)

Director(s): Sanjay Patel

Date Released: 2015

Theatrically Released Alongside: The Good Dinosaur

Chalk Sanjay’s Super Team up as the fourth Pixar short to outdo its feature-length film.

Which March Film would You be Most Interested in Me Reviewing? (Film Poll)

Thought I'd try something new this year.  For the first time on Film Reviewer Jr., you can vote on which March release you're most interested in seeing me review!  The film with the most votes will be guaranteed (barring unexpected injuries and/or emergencies) a review by yours truly.