Movie Review: The Revenant (2015)

Going in to seeing The Revenant, I found it hard to ignore some facts regarding the production. It is not that I was seeking this information, but when you travel in certain circles, it becomes,a bit difficult to completely avoid it. With regards to this film, much has been made of Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu shooting it entirely with natural light, leading to some days only having twenty minutes of shooting time. The there is Leonardo Dicaprio who did much of his own work, going through the rigors of the elements and having some issue with the raw liver. Not that this should have an impact on the movie itself, but sometimes it can color an opinion.

Movie Review: Birdman: or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance)

It seems that anytime we get to see Michael Keaton on the big scree, it is a treat. I did not always think that. Frankly, there was a lot of time when I really didn't give Keaton much thought at all. Still, over the years I have found his screen presence to be fascinating. The man is quirky, talented, and knows how to be his character. Even when he appears for a few scant minutes in the barely mediocre Need for Speed is a treat. Even White Noise sees Keaton working some magic. While it seems he is rarely on the big screen, he has been working steadily for the better part of four decades. Birdman may be one of his best performances.