WINNING FIGHTERS
Two Golden Globe winners perfectly embody their personal battle for success and recognition.
Jennifer Lawrence does it again as a young woman battling to sell her inventions and save her family from bankruptcy in David O. Russell’s dysfunctional comedy “JOY”. She demonstrates maturity and unstoppable strength as the provider of a family of wacky members, including her problematic father, her antisocial mother and the ex-husband who continues to live in the basement. Despite all the distractions, she’s aiming for a way out and decides to invest on her useful inventions, such as a new model of a cleaning mop. Willing to face all challenges the new step into business will bring, including other eccentric characters/obstacles, (especially Bradley Cooper as the producer of a Shopping Show on TV) she won’t rest until she gets it right. Named Best Actress in Comedy, gorgeous and extremely talented, Jennifer confirms her status as America’s sweetheart, providing laughs, excitement and tears with a caring performance that won’t give up on her business dream and mainly won’t give up on family. In “CREED”, Sylvester Stallone’s Rocky Balboa earned him a Golden Globe for Best Supporting Actor as the retired athlete who’s given another chance to make his decisive impression. It’s relieving to see the actor finally getting into roles that matches his age. He personifies his most famous character again, and as he discloses his insecurities with such dramatic power, he becomes the heart of the film, not like the superhero/combatant type, but as an ordinary aging human being. Director Ryan Coogler’s accomplished drama follows a troubled young man determined to honor his father’s legacy, a legendary fighter who died on the rink, and persuades Rocky to become his trainer. After the hit “Fruitvale Station” showcased both breakthrough talents, director Coogler’s and star Michael B. Jordan, they reunite again with this emotionally efficient, adrenaline paced and superbly structured tale about acceptance, forgiveness and redemption.
ALTERNATIVE CHOICES
MoMA wraps up its prestigious series “The Contenders” with a special screening of “Brooklyn” on Friday with the appearance of actress Saoirse Ronan. Film Society of Lincoln Center kicks off The 25th New York Jewish Film Festival with a presentation of the cult coming-of-age drama “Welcome to the Dollhouse” and Premieres. First Look Festival at Museum of Moving Image presents two Latin-American films this weekend, Cuba’s “This is What It Is” and Argentina’s “Toponimia”.
THIS WEEK’S DVD
THE MARTIAN is one of the most celebrated films of the Award season, including its Golden Globe winning as Best Picture and Best Actor for Matt Damon. Ridley Scott’s funny, meticulously designed and Eco-friendly film about an astronaut abandoned in Mars is also a knockout exposé on greedy political interests over humanitarian causes. But above all, it’s the splendid visual techniques of the set designs and cinematography that really makes it astonishing.
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