It’s the eighties and the Channel 4 news team is back, and they’re taking on New York City. The film follows Ron Burgundy and the rest of the team as they tackle a 24-hour-news channel and features tons of familiar and new faces.

The film is set for release this December.

To start off, this is an M. Night Shyamalan film. Despite the failed responses to his previous directorial efforts (The Happening, The Last Airbender), I wouldn’t blame the P.R. department for hiding that fact. After seeing his latest effort, After Earth, I then realized that P.R. made a big mistake.

After Earth, while not his best work (and certainly not Will Smith’s either), it certainly is a step forward for Shyamalan and kicks off the summer movie season.

Based on a story by Mr.Smith the movie stars him and his son, Jaden Smith.  Not surprisingly unexpected, they play as father and son. Set 1000 years in the future, Will Smith plays Cypher Raige, a legendary soldier who’s just returned home. His son, Kitai, didn’t make the ranger program, and always tries to outdo the other cadets. As an effort to reconnect, Cypher takes his son on a routine trip when the ship takes a crash landing on a desolate, dangerous, and abandoned Earth.

With the ship down and his legs broken, Cypher is forced to send his son out into the wilderness, with the hope of finding some hope for salvation.

The film has many things going for it, both good and bad. Visually the film is great. It’s odd that a futuristic version of Earth is deemed dangerous and scary that it looks beautiful. In a way, Earth should have seemed scarier. The creatures that Kitai comes across didn’t seem that vicious until the very end. The visuals were stunning though, and the imagery captivates the audience.

The performances weren’t lackluster but they weren’t exciting either, walking a very uneven line. Jaden seemed a little deadpan in some parts, and so did his dad. It’s a shame too cause Will Smith has established himself as a terrific actor, and Jaden, who was in The Karate Kid and The Pursuit of Happyness (the first film he did with his father), has great potential. Sure Jaden probably got the role because his dad is Will Smith, but he gives it his all, it just doesn’t show on the screen. Will Smith was called “Mr. Blockbuster” for quite some time (and rightfully so). With Will Smith not saving the day, some audiences might feel a bit cheated.

The biggest surprise here is the triumphant return of Shyamalan. The film had some pretty intense moments filled with suspense. In a way, he goes back to his roots. He managed to create interesting characters and brought you into that world. It is by no regards a movie like that of The Sixth Sense or Unbreakable, but he manages to bring you into this world and be immersed by   its mystery, despite its flaws. It shows the fans that he hasn’t lost his touch, and even though it’s not his best, I feel we’re in the upswing of things.

After Earth is a good way to start the summer. It has plenty of thrills and action sequences with beautiful cinematography. Despite some performances and questionable story elements, it has a good payoff, and audiences will be pleased overall. It was just a shame that Mr. Blockbuster didn’t show up to give us some extra thrills.

And how can man die better
Than facing fearful odds,
For the ashes of his fathers
And the temples of his Gods.

~ Horatius XXVII

A Tom Cruise-driven sci-fi action flick that conforms to a non-linear storyline, impressive but redundant plot twists and gorgeous visuals, Oblivion stands on its own as the bar for science fiction films so far this year and constitutes a successful, if not off-line, approach shot from director Joseph Kosinski.

In a post-apocalyptic Earth circa 2077, an invading alien force has destroyed our Moon, causing earthquakes and tsunamis to rip the planet apart.  Jack Harper and Victoria Olsen (Andrea Riseborough) are part of a drone-repair, reconnaissance group with the Tet, where the Earth refugees are currently being held before the remainder of the human race migrates to Titan, an inhabitable moon on Saturn.

However, a shocking discovery that hearkens to Harper’s past will de-stabilize his objective and place his future and the future of all humanity in the crosshairs of a deadly enemy force.

The first aspect of the film that will immediately raise eyebrows is how drop-dead gorgeous the film is and how ideally the sound works with the picture.  Easily one of the crispest experiences you will have in the theater this year, the grounds of Iceland were used for the destroyed earth to great effect, as you will see several recognizable landmarks buried in the ruins of the old world.  The sound design is even stronger, using every speaker in the theater to its full capacity.  You will hear gunshots over your left ear while the hovering sound of a drone is in your right.  It’s an engrossing environment to be in.

Cruise is by himself on camera for roughly the first 40 minutes with the exception of a few scenes with Riseborough.  The movie was going to be made or broken by his performance and the experienced actor manages to pull it off.  Cruise has quickly become the go-to for these kinds of films, as his turns in Minority Report and War of the Worlds have demonstrated.  He can play to sci-fi and allow the viewer to suspend reality.  His performance alone justifies this movie, but he is also complimented by a very strong supporting cast.

Riseborough steals the show as a cold, calculating and slightly over-confident navigator for Cruise.  Seemingly a prisoner in the beautiful sky house that the pair resides in, Riseborough communicates with Mission Control (Melissa Leo) and constantly has to make excuses for Harper’s off-mission escapades.  As the plot advances and thickens, Riseborough continues to intensify, furthering her concealed insanity until a great showdown with Harper midway through the film.

Morgan Freeman also plays a strong resistance leader, although that is what we have come to expect from the experienced, award-winning fan favorite.  Olga Kurylenko also plays one of the strongest roles in her career as the catalyst for the plot.

At a concise two hours, Oblivion’s flaws start at poor pacing in certain scenes.  Going to the old adage of “flashbacks make everything clear”, the film relies heavily on flashbacks to help the audience make sense of everything that is happening on screen.  In the beginning, they are necessary.  Going back to the same flashback four times in a span of 45 minutes is redundant.  A big flashback at the end was much appreciated, solved all of the questions that I had, but by that time I couldn’t help but feel overwhelmed by the flashbacks.

Another issue is the overall redundancy of the film.  Not to give away spoilers, but there are several films that Oblivion feels like a replication of and for hardened sci-fi fans, the plot twist will have a been there, done that feel.

Oblivion is a strong science-fiction film.  It won’t rank in anyone’s top 10 of the year, but it does a good job holding you over until the official summer releases hit theaters.  Cruise controls this vehicle and is furthered by a strong cast.  The brilliance of the film both through audio and striking visuals, however, are somewhat muddled by poor pacing and a redundant story.  Still, Oblivion is a film that must be experienced in theaters and is a very competent and enjoyable sci-fi adventure.

Writing a review for this movie is not easy. With every other movie that I have reviewed in the past it was on the basis of comparing it to another film, weighing the pros and cons, and all the other jargon that applies.

With Looper, I feel it really can’t be compared. Sure, it’s a hybrid-genre film like Blade Runner or Zombieland, but that’s a similarity in itself, not a comparison. Looper, Rian Johnson’s third film, manages to pay tribute to so many genres and at the same time stands alone as what extravagant, brilliant storytelling should be.

In Looper we meet Joe played by Joseph Gordon-Levitt. It takes place in Kansas in the year 2044, when time travel hasn’t been invented yet. Joe is a “looper,” a hitman whose targets are sent from the future thirty years from now, where time travel has been invented. Joe’s wealthy, savvy, and has the world at his fingerprints. However, the reason he is called a “looper” is because eventually he’ll have to close his own loop by killing his future self. When Old Joe (Bruce Willis) is sent back he manages to escape. It’s up to Young Joe to find out what his future self is after, and to set things right to save not only his present, but also his future.

Joseph Gordon-Levitt delivers a stunning performance as Joe. Levitt, who starred in Johnson’s first film Brick, is captivating throughout. The greatest part of his performance was that he managed to add some gruff to his voice, making him seem like a young Bruce Willis. Willis also manages to turn a great performance. It’s a very subtle, yet ruthless in the best way, nothing comical like the Die Hard franchise.

What this film does with time travel is so unique it’s probably the best time travel movie in years, even though it’s not all about time travel. In the diner scene, Willis’ character even refutes the idea of talking about time travel, saying “I don’t want to talk about time travel shit, cause if we start talking about it then we’re going to be here all day talking about it, making diagrams with straws, it doesn’t matter.” With this line alone, moviegoers can think of dozens of sci-fi that physically have diagrams and what not. Also, one would think that based on the trailer that they might end up helping each other, but each of them are so dead-set on what they have to do. This film has all the elements of a time travel story, but Johnson merely uses that as a tool to enhance the characters and the story.

Rian Johnson stated that the idea going into this was to make a movie the way he would want at an independent level except with more money, and he pulls it off. Looper does have the blockbuster factor to it and some major star-power with Emily Blunt, Paul Dano, and Jeff Daniels, but the film has more worth to it than just star-power alone. The film has one of the greatest stories told in 2012, and definitely sets the bar high for everyone else.

After seeing Looper, the audience will definitely discuss and debate this film, and they’ll wrap their minds on what just happened. A film that pays homage and feels original at the same time is a film always worth seeing. Looper may be the most exciting, original film I have seen in 2012.

At first glance from trailers and teasers, Killing Them Softly looks like a slow-moving film with a couple action scenes here and there, with nothing much to offer to the moviegoer audience. That is a dead wrong statement, for Andrew Dominik’s film is a strong hidden gem that not only keeps your attention throughout, but also requires it.

Based on the 1974 novel “Cogan’s Trade” by George V. Higgins, Killing Them Softly takes us to a Boston neighborhood, around the time of the 2008 Presidential Election and the beginning of the financial crisis. During the opening credits, the film abruptly cuts between one of Obama’s first “Hope” speeches and a destitute area of Boston.

After two thugs rob an underground criminal poker ring and making it look like its own proprietor Markie Trattman (Ray Liotta), the mafia enlists Jackie Cogan (Brad Pitt), a local hitman, to kill the men responsible and to restore confidence in amongst local thugs and mobsters by killing Markie, in order to keep the card games going.

Right off the bat, Killing Them Softly has so many things going for it that it’s harder to say what’s wrong with it, if anything at all. Performances first, Brad Pitt gives a brilliant, subtle performance. However, this is more of an ensemble film, and literally every performance is excellent. James Gandolfini is brutally hilarious as Mickey, a fellow hitman who’s addicted to drinking and prostitutes. While his scenes were brief, they were still memorable enough to stick with you til the end. Richard Jenkins who plays Driver, the contact between Cogan and the mafia, delivers another great performance, as well as Liotta.

Dominik has put together a film whose technical aspects are just as good as its on-screen ones. The sound mixing in this film is one of the more visceral and realistic ones this year. In one scene where some mafia goons are attacking Markie, the sound in the scene is brutal. Every punch and body hit is amplified and cringing. It doesn’t sound like a Hollywood fight scene, it sounds like an actual fight scene. There are many other scenes in the film that play with sound in order to make you feel more in the moment, making the film that much better.

What Dominik has also achieved with the film is that it could have easily been a story about Jackie Cogan killing some guys, but it’s more than that. This film is easily a character study of not only Cogan’s life as a hitman, but how frustrating and complicating it can be as well. Some of the best scenes are where Cogan and Driver are sitting in Driver’s car, talking about how to take care of the situation in the most casual way possible. The film is easily structured like a play, with scenes about people rather than the situation. To some it may seem a slow pace, but Domink’s dialogue keeps you engaged throughout.

When given the chance, Killing Them Softly is a film that offers something else rather than the typical Hollywood movie. It wasn’t nominated for many awards (although it should be), but it’s still one of the top films of 2012, and over time people will notice its brilliance.

The 85^th Academy Awards are rapidly approaching, with Seth MacFarlane set to host the film industry’s biggest night on February 24^th, 2013. With the recent reveal of the nominations there’s a lot to be excited about, with Spielberg’s Lincoln leading the pack with 12 nominations. That doesn’t mean there aren’t any upsets though. Here are my top 5 upsets of this year’s nominations:

5) So many overlooked films

It’s impossible for every film to get nominated for an Oscar, but this year there were many films and performances that got overlooked. Robert Zemeckis’s Flight where Denzel Washington gave one of his finest performances only got one nod for Denzel. Robert Linklater’s Bernie was a superb film that was overlooked, including Jack Black’s incredible performance. Andrew Dominik’s Killing Them Softly was a film that was extremely overlooked, with it’s outstanding writing, performances, cinematography, direction, and sound. Those were only two examples, but you get the point. The films that were nominated deserve their nods I’m sure, but spread the love.

4). P.T.A., Wes, and Quentin Snubbed

Paul Thomas Anderson, Wes Anderson, and Quentin Tarentino all got snubbed (respectfully) for a chance at a Best Director Oscar this year. The Master, Moonrise Kingdom, and Django Unchained were films that were led ferociously. Although the nominees for this year’s Best Director Oscar are all strong visionaries, it still stinks that not all visionaries, including these veterans, are nominated.

3). No love for Looper

Looper was a movie that can’t easily be confined to one type of genre. It takes elements of many genres and defies what a blockbuster has to be. If anything it should be nominated for Best Original Screenplay for Johnson who also wrote it (and was nominated at the Golden Globes in the same category). It’s as smart as it is entertaining as it is fresh. Rian Johnson’s sophomore effort is one that felt more exciting than most films this year, and for the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences to not recognize films like Looper is just criminal.

2). Ben Affleck Snubbed

Ben Affleck proved Gone Baby Gone and The Town that he has a very keen eye for telling very compelling stories and Argo may be his finest picture to date. What got everyone was that this was a true story and you knew how it would end, but Affleck still takes you on a wild ride. It’s a shame that he’s not nominated for Best Director, especially since he won the Golden Globe for Best Director, beating out Spielberg and Ang Lee, who both got Oscar nods for directing this year respectfully. If anyone has a shining moment in the sun right now, it’s Affleck.

1). Only 9 slots for best picture?

The number of films that could be nominated per year varied over the years. For the past couple of decades though the number was five entrees, but a couple of years ago the number doubled giving more films a chance. Then for some reason the number decreased to nine last year. There are so many films that could take that tenth spot from The Master, Moonrise Kingdom, Brave, and dozens of other films. That tenth spot could make all the difference.

Last month, the nation faced unspeakable tragedy. We at Reel-2-Reality would like to take a moment to express our deepest condolences to the families of the 26 students and teachers killed at Sandy Hook Elementary in Newtown, CT and to the Webster, NY families of the four firefighters injured and killed on Christmas Eve. They will never be forgotten. Their legacy will carry on in the hearts of all they touched. We would like to thank first responders in Newtown, Webster, and across the country for what they do to keep us safe every day.

The tragedy in Webster hits, disturbingly, close to home, because it is home. I have grown up in West Webster my entire life. Living there for the last 22 years, the town and the amazing individuals within it have taught me, and continue to teach me, the value of community. And much like every other community across the United States after the events in Newtown, we thought, that could never happen here. Until Monday December 24,2012.

It happened minutes from my home. Two firefighters shot dead and two injured as they rushed to put out what was thought to be a routine house fire.

I was awoken at 5:30a.m. by the sounds of sirens, not unusual for being so close to Highway 104, but these sirens seemed to keep coming and rang louder than any I had heard before. I went to work. Once there I logged onto my company’s Facebook and Twitter pages only to find Webster all over the news. I had spent the morning unable to concentrate on anything except the reports coming though on social media.

After authorities announced that two firefighters had been killed, and two injured, my mind raced through the list of people I knew were involved with the West Webster Fire Department. It wasn’t until Noon that I received the call. Names I knew. Unable to compose myself I left work early and went home, only to be hit with the full reality of what had happened.

A beloved community leader and a kid I had grown up with were gone in a few brief moments. Families of both the injured and lost were changed forever. My hometown sat stagnant with shock, disbelief, and immense grief.

It’s one of those moments in your life that, even when you’re old and grey, you will be able to recount with specifics where you were and what you were doing when you heard the news. These past few weeks will stick with me for life. The unspeakable love, kindness, strength, and support sent to the Town of Webster, the West Webster Fire Department, and the families of the victims, will remain as a constant reminder of the good in human nature.

With that said, there is a reason, other than an attempt to begin the healing within myself, I wrote this today. Ralph Waldo Emerson once said “You cannot do a kindness too soon, for you never know how soon it will be too late.” And it’s that which I ask of you, kindness. In honor of those we lost last month, the staff at Reel-2-Reality encourages all of our readers to perform 28 Acts of Kindness.

Webster and Newtown will never return to “normal,” and I believe they never should. Because returning to “normal” means that nothing has changed, and to truly honor our heroes, change is sorely needed. Whether the acts are small or big show others that there are amazing people in this world who care. We need to learn from the pain and violence of 2012, and begin 2013 in a state of mutual caring and kindness. Because I think we can all agree… we need it.

13. Movie 43

One only needs to watch the above trailer to understand why this movie made the list. Between the star power and the obvious raunchy jokes, Movie 43 might end up being the funniest movie of 2013.

12.Despicable Me 2

When the original was released in 2010, it found success through word of mouth.  Now with the sequel on the way later this year, it will most definitely find success if it is anything like its predecessor.

11. The Wolverine

Not much is known about the next installment in the saga of the X-Men’s Wolverine. However, with the film expected to be released in June, its only a matter of time before we finally get a glimpse to what The Wolverine will be bringing to the table.

10. The Lone Ranger

Johnny Depp is back again, this time in a supporting role to Armie Hammer’s Lone Ranger in the big screen adaptation of the beloved television series. If any previous TV to film transfers are any indication this film is set for failure. However, with Depp and Hammer who have established themselves as good actors, this film might stand a chance.

9. Anchorman: The Legend Continues

He’s back ladies and gentleman. The man’s whose voice could make a wolverine purr will be back with his news team in tow later this summer. Prepare for the glorious return of Ron Burgundy.

8. Thor: The Dark World

Marvel’s Norse god of thunder is back and has to defend his home of Asgard yet again in Thor: The Dark World. Unfortunately, comic book fans have to wait until November for Thor’s next adventure. However, it will be more than likely worth the wait.

7. Pacific Rim

Director Guillermo del Toro’s summer release is without a doubt the movie no one is talking about. With dazzling special effects and what looks to be a very intriguing story, Pacific Rim is the official sleeper film of 2013

6. A Good Day to Die Hard

Ron Burgandy isn’t the only infamous character returning in 2013. John McClane is back and is saving the world one butt kicking at a time in the next installment of the Die Hard franchise.

5. World War Z

The novel by Max Brooks about the zombie apocalypse is coming to the big screen this summer. Brad Pitt stars and from the looks of the trailer, World War Z looks like it is going to break new ground for apocalypse movies.

4. Man of Steel

After Superman Returns failed to reach expectations, the Superman franchise was in need of a face-lift. Zach Snyder, director of 300 and Watchmen helms the reboot of the beloved comic book superhero. Oh and Christopher Nolan helped too. Just throwing it out there.

3. Hunger Games: Catching Fire

Katniss Everdeen and all her hunting skills are back for the follow up to last years The Hunger Games. This time the stakes are raised even higher and many are already predicting this to be 2013′s financial bread winner.

2. Star Trek 2: Into Darkness

Once again, director JJ Abrams is taking us to the final frontier with the sequel to 2009′s smash hit. As Captain Kirk and his crew arrive home from their last mission they will be faced with an unstoppable terror from within their own group and it is up them to stop by themselves before its too late.

1. Iron Man 3

America’s favorite entrepreneur/playboy/genius/superhero Tony Stark is back for the 3rd installment of the Iron Man franchise. From the trailer alone you start to get the feeling that Iron Man 3 may be the most epic installment yet.

Like this list? Don’t like it? Let us know with your comments! Enjoy what is destined to be a great year for movies!