Divergent

Divergent is a futuristic action thriller set to premiere this Friday March 21. It takes place in a post-war Chicago where people are separated into different societies based on their personalities. Everyone fits into one of five groups that is determined by a test and influenced by upbringing. Beatrice Prior, played by Shailene Woodley, doesn't conform into one specific category. She finds her way into one society at first and tries to assimilate but just isn't able to. As she trains to become a part of her new faction, she realizes she's one of a few people who possesses the power to exercise free will. Beatrice wants to think and live freely, and that's a danger to the current structure of society. Beatrice becomes a threat to plans the government has in store. The journey takes us through the trials and tribulations of fighting against evil to regain humanity.

Divergent is the latest in Hunger Games look-a-likes. Based on the 2011 book by Veronica Roth, Divergent is one of a three book series that has a large following among tweens and teenagers. Interesting fact, Roth wrote the book when she was only 21 years old.

The film was engaging and enjoyable to watch. It was action packed and carried a strong plot line throughout. The most interesting scenes were Beatrice's "dream" sequences that were pretty intense. Woodley plays opposite Theo James. The British native has been acting for a number of years but is an up-and -coming young actor to look out for. He has great screen presence and is sure to be a hit with the ladies. Kate Winslet was the true scene-stealer though. She plays Jeanine Matthews, the villainous leader of her faction with plans of total domination. Matthews goal of completely wiping out independent will is obstructed by Divergents, so she is on the hunt to capture each last one. 

Whether or not you've read the book this movie is a great watch. At first I was not even aware that Divergent was a book adaptation, but thoroughly enjoyed it and understood the concept. An added bonus, the soundtrack is amazing. It features music by Ellie Goulding, Zedd, and A$AP Rocky. The musical score accompanied in the film really set the tone.

SEE IT!

Honor Diaries LA Premiere

This past week I had the pleasure of attending the LA premiere of Honor Diaries at the Museum of Tolerance. This documentary brings to light the popular yet horrifying act of  'honor violence' that women and girls face around the world. Nine women come together to tell their stories and difficult journey as women's rights advocates, specifically within Muslim societies. These heroic women hail from different parts of the world and professional backgrounds but have one common message, the goal to end the inequality and injustices that women are facing globally.

Through a compilation of interviews, round table discussions, and news stories we learn about the unfortunate mentality the Muslim world carries about the 'honor' women are expected to uphold. The film discusses such horrible atrocities like female genital mutilation and honor killings. What I found most gripping and appalling is the fact that these acts of female oppression are not only occurring in the Middle East but in the United States, Canada, and Britain. Westernized societies have turned a blind eye to the persecution of women in the name of culture and religion. Audiences of all backgrounds and genders need to see Honor Diaries in order to not only become educated, but learn how to speak up against such dangerous and morally unjust acts.

Alex Traiman, the producer and writer, spoke briefly before the screening and his words encompassed the overall message: "More than a movie, Honor Diaries is a movement meant to inspire viewers to learn more about issues facing women in Muslim-majority societies, and to act for change."

To find out more about the film or to attend/host a screening visit:
http://www.honordiaries.com/host-a-screening/

Q&A with three of the stars: Zainab Khan, Raquel Saraswati, and Nazie Eftekhari (left to right)

Raquel Saraswati, one of the stars of Honor Diaries

Oscar 2014 Wrap Up and Review

This past Sunday's 86th annual Oscars was a pleasant and entertaining, yet predictable show. Ellen DeGeneres hosted for the second time, and jokingly said it only took 7 years. She was a delightful host who succeeded at making the show engaging. Ellen was constantly in the crowd playing around with the stars. This really made the night more interactive. In fact, she made history with the most re-tweets in Twitter history (photo below). And it's not every year a host can get celebs to eat pizza right in the middle an award show. Ellen amusingly wanted to feed the starving stars by ordering a few pies from LA's famous Big Mama's & Papa's Pizzeria, only to later collect money from Harvey Weinstein and Brat Pitt to pay the tab.

Jared Leto and Matthew McConaughey's wins for Supporting Actor and Lead Actor, respectively, were the big stand outs of the night. Each played a role that was culturally timely and pushed the limits of acting. I think they both take home the title of 'best acceptance speech' also. It's hard to believe a rock star and the man who brought us Failure to Launch could be Oscar winners but every year we see unlikely surprises. I don't understand all the Leo DiCaprio sympathizers who think he deserved to win. While I agree he's a great actor, his performance in The Wolf of Wall Street was in no way comparable to McConaughey's portrayal of an AIDS victim in Dallas Buyers Club. Recently someone sarcastically joked, 'Leo's many roles playing a rich white guy is a far stretch from his real life.'

I was personally hoping Her would have won more awards but was glad to see Spike Jonze take home Original Screenplay. For all the hype American Hustle gathered over the months, it was happily surprising (for me) to see them with no wins. Gravity took home a few awards to for it's excellence in technical fields like Best Director and Cinematography. 

The Great Gatsby won awards for Costume Design and Production Design, although the film didn't garner any recognition in acting and directional work. Lupita Nyong'o won for Supporting Actress which was really no big surprise, but that doesn't make it any less worthy. As an alumnus of Yale University School of Drama, Lupita moved us not only with her acting in 12 Years a Slave but her real-life poise and heroism. Bill Murray's impromptu and off-the- record tribute to the late Harold Ramis was a great treat as well. Those unexpected moments are what I enjoy and remember the most.

All four nominees for Original Song performed, which really added entertainment value to the show. Otherwise we'd just be looking at John Travolta's horrible head of hair and Leonardo DiCaprio's sour face. Most the performances were beautifully sung, but Pink's rendition of "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" paying tribute to the 75th anniversary of The Wizard of Oz really blew everyone else out of the water. Surprisingly the worst performance was the actual winner, Idina Menzel's "Let it Go" from Disney's Frozen. I think she was just having an off night. Menzel was great on Glee, but last night was not her best work. Bette Midler made an unexpected yet welcoming appearance singing her classic Beaches song "Wing Beneath My Wings" following the in memoriam video.

The big award of the night went to 12 Years a Slave for Best Picture. While I don't think it was best picture worthy, I do agree that it was the standout film of 2013. It surpassed all other nominees in depth of acting and range of content. Overall another great year in movies. Let's see what this year has in store for us. Make sure to follow me at @MattMovieGuy for more reviews and maybe we can shut down Twitter again.