Adam Driver: The Most Interesting Actor On The Planet

Adam Driver Best actor

Right now, who is the best actor on the planet? Robert De Niro, Meryl Streep, Daniel Day-Lewis, Cate Blanchett, Al Pacino, and Nicole Kidman all come to mind, but narrowing that list to one is nearly impossible. However, if the question changes from “best actor” to “most interesting actor,” there’s only one name that comes to mind and it’s Adam Driver.

Adam Driver is skyrocketing up the charts for best actor on the planet, but for me, he is the clear choice for the most interesting actor right now. For an actor as talented and well-respected as Driver, a career in acting almost never happened. Driver applied to Juilliard after high school but was rejected. After a short stint as a door-to-door vacuum salesperson, he joined the Marines after the 9/11 attacks. In his interview with Howard Stern, Driver emphasized he loved being in the Marines. However, Driver never went to the Middle East because he broke his sternum mountain biking. After being medically discharged, he eventually tried out for Julliard and was accepted. Imagine training as a marine for over two years and having it all end because you fell off a bike. The world is a weird place.

Thankfully, Driver became an actor. After some small roles on television as well as a role alongside Leonardo Dicaprio in J. Edgar, Driver’s first real big break came on Girls. Driver played Adam Sackler, a passionate but standoffish wannabe actor. If I’m being honest, Girls wasn’t for me and I never finished most of it, but Driver was a standout. Driver has this dominant presence where every time he’s onscreen, I’m listening because I know whatever he says will be important. Driver earned three Emmy nominations for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series.

As successful as Driver is on television, I’m absolutely fascinated by his movie career. Driver becoming the most interesting actor on the planet is due to these three components: his range, the roles he takes, and the directors he works with.

Let’s start with his range. If Adam Driver played baseball, he’d be a five-tool prospect. For those not familiar with that phrase, a five-tool player has all five of the components that scouts look for when evaluating a player. They are speed, power, hitting for average, fielding and arm strength. Driver is a five-tool actor with unlimited range. There is not a genre that doesn’t suit Driver’s talents. Action, romance, comedy, drama, thrillers, blockbusters, indies, etc. Driver has done it all. He can help lead a huge franchise like Star Wars that grosses billions of dollars or he can be the star of indie dramas like Patterson and Hungry Heart. Spike Lee described Driver in one word, “Beast.” (Start video at 7:10)

Going off his range, the roles that Driver takes are beyond compelling. There are some actors who can only play the good guy. Some actors can only play bad guys. Few will ever cross over and go against typecasting for fear of negative reception. That problem is nonexistent for Driver. His choices are so ballsy, but 9 times out of 10, they pay off.

Let’s take his role as Kylo Ren in the Star Wars franchise. Driver is evil and manipulative, but he’s so damn captivating as the villain. Now, let’s see Driver be a good guy who has to act like a racist in BlacKkKlansman. A.O. Scott of the NY Times said, “The most shocking thing about Flip’s (Driver’s character) imposture is how easy it seems, how natural he looks and sounds. This unnerving authenticity is partly a testament to Mr. Driver’s ability to tuck one performance inside another…” These roles are both extremely complex, but Driver’s innate ability to immerse himself into any role and give good performance after good performance is why he’s so critically acclaimed.

Last but not least, look at the directors that Driver has worked with over the years. These are not some shmucks who are picking up the camera for the first time. These are some of the most influential and renowned filmmakers of the last 50 years.

This list is unbelievable. Clint Eastwood, Oscar winner. Steven Spielberg, Oscar winner. The Coen Brothers, Oscar winners. Martin Scorsese, Oscar winner. Steven Soderbergh, Oscar Winner. Spike Lee, Oscar winner. Jim Jarmusch is one of the most important independent filmmakers of the last 40 years. J.J. Abrams, Emmy winner and one of the most famous sci-fi directors ever. Rian Johnson directed The Last Jedi and one of the greatest episodes of television of the last 21st century, Breaking Bad’s “Ozymandias.” Noah Baumbach is one of the hottest filmmakers in Hollywood and critics are already predicting that his newest film, Marriage Story, which stars Driver, will be this generation’s Kramer vs. Kramer. It’s no surprise that these esteemed directors want to work with Driver. Simply put, Driver is brilliant.

If you’re into betting, place a wager on Driver winning an Oscar within the next 10 years. You may not even have to wait that long since Driver has three movies coming out later this year that all have Oscar buzz: Marriage Story, The Report, and Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker. I said that determining the best actor on the planet is a tall task. However, if Driver goes three for three to close out 2019, the debate may be over. Adam Driver is the most interesting actor on the planet and soon, he may be the best actor on the planet.

No Time To Die: Everything You Need To Know About Bond 25

Daniel Craig as James Bond

Bond 25 finally has a title. The 25th installment in the James Bond series will be titled, No Time To Die. The announcement was made official by the film’s producers on the James Bond Twitter page.

Up to this point, between director changes, writer additions, and production issues, Bond 25 has been far from smooth sailing. This past May, star Daniel Craig had a minor ankle injury that required surgery. In June, there was a controlled explosion Pinewood Studios that left one crew member outside the set injured.

Let’s take a look at everything we know about Bond 25 up to this point.

Everything We Know About No Time To Die

Cast: Bond 25 marks the fifth and final film for star Daniel Craig, who has played the iconic character since 2006’s Casino Royale. Returning to the franchise will be Naomi Harris, Ralph Fiennes, Ben Whishaw, Jeffrey Wright, Rory Kinnear, and Lea Seydoux. Rami Malek is set to be the primary villain, which will be his first high profile role since winning Best Actor for Bohemian Rhapsody. Also joining the film are newcomers are Billy Magnussen, Ana De Armas, and Lashana Lynch.

Director And Writers: Cary Joji Fukunaga will direct No Time To Die. Danny Boyle was the film’s first director but left after creative differences in August 2018. Fukunaga, who is known for directing the first season of True Detective and Maniac, signed on to direct and write Bond 25. In addition to Fukunaga, Scott Z. Burns, Neal Purvis, Robert Wade, and Phoebe-Waller Bridge will all receive a writing credit for the screenplay. Waller-Bridge, who is having a career year with both Killing Eve and Fleabag, was brought in to sharpen the script’s dialogue and add a much-needed female presence to the iconic series.

Release Date: No Time To Die will be out in the UK on April 3, 2020, and in the US on April 8, 2020. The film was originally scheduled for November 8, 2019. After Boyle left, the film was pushed to February 2020, but then with production delays, it found its current home on April 8, 2020.

Plot: The official synopsis reads: “James Bond has left active service when his friend Felix Leiter enlists his help in the search for a missing scientist. When it becomes apparent that the scientist was abducted, Bond must confront a danger the likes of which the world has never seen before.”

Other than that, when it comes to the plot, your guess is as good as mine. Rumors continually flood the Internet almost every week as to how Craig’s version of Bond will conclude. Will he die? Will he not die? Does he have no time to die? The biggest rumor to date is that newcomer Lashana Lynch will play 007 after Bond leaves MI6. She’s not replacing the character of James Bond, but she’ll add a new wrinkle to the franchise.

The only guarantee I can give is that I will see be seeing No Time To Die in April 2020.

Are you excited for Bond 25? Leave your thoughts in the comments or tweet us, @unafraidshow.

Watch 1 Movie At The Theater For Rest Of Your Life. What’s Your Pick?

Although streaming is taking over the universe, I’m still an old soul and enjoy going to the movie theater. While scrolling through Twitter, Kevin O’Connor of The Ringer posed this question on Twitter. One movie at the theater for the rest of your life. What movie are you choosing?

So what’s your pick? Here are some of my suggestions,

Contenders

Interstellar

KOC made a great choice with Interstellar. Christopher Nolan’s time travel epic is one of the coolest depictions of space travel I’ve ever seen on the big screen. I saw Interstellar by myself and was instantly blown away. I rank Interstellar higher than other space films like Gravity because of its mysterious plot and the ensemble cast. Sandra was tremendous in Gravity, but give me Matthew McConaughey, Anne Hathaway, and black holes every day of the week.

Saving Private Ryan

The greatest war movie of all time with one of the greatest opening scenes of all time. The storming of Omaha Beach as part of the Normandy Invasion is worth the price of admission alone. It’s 25 minutes of pure carnage and chaos as Tom Hanks and company navigate their way to safety. Good luck trying to keep your heart rate down with bombs and explosions constantly going off in the background.

Avengers: Infinity War OR Avengers: Endgame

Avengers: Endgame / Marvel Studios

Take your pick. Do you want the War in Wakanda or the War at Avengers HQ? Both are legendary battles with unforgettable finishes. If I chose Endgame as my theater movie for the rest of my life, I would die on the third viewing once Captain America says, “Avengers, assemble.”

Get Out

Get Out holds a special place in my heart because my theater included the most lively and engaged audience I’ve ever been apart of. At times, it felt like I was at a Yankee Stadium because of the screaming and cheering. Get Out was a roller coaster of emotions and I’m happy I didn’t have to go through them alone. Now, sink into the floor.

Any Star Wars Film

https://youtu.be/fyIPvIjVMYo

I’m being nice when I say “any.” If you pick The Phantom Menace or Attack of the Clones, consider us enemies. That being said, Star Wars are entertaining popcorn flicks with great action sequences and stellar visuals. You can’t go wrong! (Unless you pick The Phantom Menace or Attack of the Clones. Then, you’re wrong.)

If I could only watch one movie at the theater for the rest of my life, I’m choosing The Dark Knight.

If you’re sick of me discussing The Dark Knight, well, prepare to feel ill once again! For me, it’s the most rewatchable movie of all time. If I flip through the channels and land on The Dark Knight, it’s an instant “stop what you’re doing and watch this movie.” The opening bank robbery, the introduction of the Joker, the Hong Kong kidnapping, etc. You name it and I love it. If you don’t hear from me soon, it’s because I’m watching the greatest chase scene of the 21st century.

What movie would you choose to watch in theaters for the rest of your life? Leave your thoughts in the comments below.

Little Women Trailer: Greta Gerwig’s Adaptation Will Be Major Factor At The Oscars

Little Women

A few weeks ago, I wrote about the Best Picture race for the 2020 Oscars and how there have been few, if not any, favorites to be in the hunt for the industry’s top prize. After the release of Quentin Tarantino’s Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, it’s clear that OUATIH is the first clear contender for Best Picture. After watching the first trailer to Little Women, Tarantino will have some company in the form of Greta Gerwig.

In her second solo directorial feature, Gerwig presents her adaptation of Little Women, which is based on the 1869 novel of the same name by Louisa May Alcott. Little Women focuses on the lives of the March sisters in 1860s New England in the aftermath of the Civil War. This marks the eighth film adaptation of the novel.

In order to differentiate itself from the novel, Gerwig is going to focus more on the sisters’ young adult lives, particularly after Meg, Jo, and Amy leave their family home, according to one of the film’s producers. The film will jump back and forth between timelines to focus on themes rather than narratives. The trailer presents a more modern approach to 1860s New England that’s full of strong female protagonists.

Speaking of protagonists, this cast is full of young stars and living legends. The March sisters are Saoirse Ronan as Joe, Emma Watson as Meg, Florence Pugh as Amy, and Eliza Scanlen. As if those four women weren’t popular enough, throw in future “It” star of Hollywood, Timothée Chalamet, and this young core would make the Denver Nuggets jealous. I purchased Saoirse Ronan stock years ago thanks to Atonement and Brooklyn, but Florence Pugh is joining Saoirse in my “Drop Everything And See Their Movie” list. Did I mention that Laura Dern and MERYL FREAKING STREEP rounds out the cast?

I only needed to watch this trailer once to convince myself that Little Women will be nominated for multiple Oscars. The Academy tens to award historical period pieces based on famous works of literature AND films with actors and directors who have received/won previous Oscars. Ronan, Chalamet, Dern, and Gerwig have all received Oscar nominations previously while Streep and Chris Cooper have won for Best Actress and Best Supporting Actor respectively. The ingredients of an Oscar-nominated film are present. The question is not if they will receive nominations, but how many nominations it will receive.

Timothée Chalamet and Florence Pugh in Little Women (2019) / Wilson Webb/© 2019 CTMG, Inc.

The person whose Oscar chances intrigue me the most is Gerwig. In 2017, Greta Gerwig’s solo directorial debut, Lady Bird, was nothing short of a success. Lady Bird was nominated for five Oscars including Best Orginal Screenplay and Best Picture. More importantly, Gerwig became the fifth women in Oscar history to receive a nomination for Best Director. Gerwig set the bar extremely high. I have no doubt that she can match or even surpass those expectations, but will the Academy reward with her more nominations so quickly?

Little Women is going to be nominated for Best Picture. I’d bet that Gerwig receives an Adapted Screenplay nomination as well. Director is where it gets tricky. As previously stated, The Academy has only nominated five women for Best Director so unfortunately, history is not in Gerwig’s favor. However, if Little Women receives a Best Picture nomination as well as a screenplay and multiple acting nominations, don’t be surprised if Gerwig makes history once again.

Full Oscar Predictions for Little Women

  • Best Picture
  • Best Adapted Screenplay – Greta Gerwig
  • Best Actress – Saoirse Ronan
  • Best Supporting Actress – Meryl Streep OR Florence Pugh
  • Best Costume Design

See you this Christmas when Little Women arrives in theaters.

Are you excited to see Little Women? Leave your thoughts in the comments below or tweet us @unafraidshow.

Once Upon A Time In Hollywood: Predicting Its Oscar Chances

Once Upon a Time... In Hollywood

It may have taken seven months, but the film community has its first serious Oscar contender with Quentin Tarantino’s Once Upon a Time in Hollywood. Tarantino’s tribute to the end of the Golden Age in Hollywood has been rumored to be in the Oscar race ever since the film was announced two years ago. Once Leonardo DiCaprio, Brad Pitt, and the prolific ensemble cast were officially announced, the Best Picture hype began to build.

*This article will contain light spoilers.*

Once Upon a Time in Hollywood revolves around the friendship between an aging actor, Rick Dalton (Leonardo DiCaprio), and his stuntman, Cliff Booth (Brad Pitt), in 1969 Los Angeles. The film industry is changing and Dalton and Booth both struggle to adapt to the new times. While this is going on, the major subplot of the film involves Sharon Tate (Margot Robbie), Dalton’s next-door neighbor, and the Manson family and their interactions leading up August 9, 1969, when members of the Manson family murdered Tate and her guests at Tate’s house.

All of Tarantinos’ films include his signature style of extended dialogue sequences, large ensembles, and brutal depictions of violence. Those elements were on full display in Once Upon a Time in Hollywood. However, this film will go down as Tarantino’s most nostalgic and tender film to date. This film is a love letter to the Golden Age of Hollywood. From recreating Hollywood Blvd to the music, clothing, and stars, Tarantino’s Once Upon a Time in Hollywood is as accurate a description of 1969 LA as you’ll ever see on film.

Due to Tarantino’s reputation and a star-studded cast which included DiCaprio, Pitt, and Robbie, Once Upon a Time in Hollywood debuted to $40.3 million at the box office, marking the largest opening of the director’s career. The film has also been well-received from critics with an 84% on Rotten Tomatoes. Now, attention will turn to the 2020 Oscars. The question is not if Once Upon a Time in Hollywood will be nominated for Oscars, but how many Oscar nominations will it receive? Let’s break it down by category.

Best Picture – Yes

There is nothing that the Academy loves more than a film about Hollywood. A film that showcases Hollywood and all it has to offer is a lock for nominations. Add in the fact that it’s a Tarantino film and has “movie stars” in every sense of the word means Once Upon a Time in Hollywood will be in the running for multiple Oscars. For example, take La La Land as another film that highlights Los Angeles. Damien Chazelle’s musical received a record-tying fourteen nominations, winning six categories. Once Upon a Time in Hollywood may not receive that many nominations, but Best Picture is just the first of many nominations.

Best Actor for Leonardo DiCaprio – Yes

In his first film since his Oscar-winning performance in The Revenant, DiCaprio is at his best once again in Once Upon a Time in Hollywood. The way DiCaprio is able to channel an aging star with such intimacy and care is amazing to witness. It’s a sentimental and loving side of DiCaprio we haven’t seen in years. Add Once Upon a Time in Hollywood to his long list of excellent performances.

Best Supporting Actor for Brad Pitt – Yes

Pitt did not have as much screen time or lines as DiCaprio so Sony is most likely going to position Pitt as a supporting actor. That being said, Pitt and DiCaprio have tremendous chemistry. Pitt’s cool, no-nonsense persona blended perfectly with Dalton’s egotistical and conceited mannerisms. Essentially, Pitt was his Rusty character in the Ocean Eleven series. Keep in mind that Pitt is going to push for Best Actor for his performance in Ad Astra, which comes out in September. Could Pitt be a double nominee come Oscar night?

Brad Pitt oscars

Best Supporting Actress for Margot Robbie – No

This is tricky. I thought Robbie did a solid job with the material she was given. Robbie depicted Sharon Tate as this beautiful, star-in-the-making who was married to one of the hottest directors in Hollywood, Roman Polanski. We know what happens to Tate in real life so it’s hard to watch her onscreen and not think ahead to her encounter with the Manson family. Robbie also does not have many lines. My gut says she won’t receive a nomination, but if Once Upon a Time in Hollywood dominates major categories in award shows prior to the Oscars, I won’t be surprised if the momentum leads to a nomination for Robbie.

Best Director And Best Orginal Screenplay for Quentin Tarantino – Yes

If I had to say which category Tarantino has a better shot in receiving an Oscar nomination, Best Orginal Screenplay over Best Director is the better bet. Tarantino received screenplay nominations for Inglourious Basterds, Pulp Fiction, and Django Unchained, winning for the last two in that list. On the flip side, Tarantino has been nominated twice for Best Director: Pulp Fiction and Django Unchained. Tarantino’s revisionist history in the final act may rub some voters the wrong way, but it shouldn’t stop him from receiving a nomination for screenplay. This should also lead to a directing nomination as well because as I’ve previously stated, this is a softer, more contained version of Tarantino in his homage to 1969 Hollywood. Voters will reward his nostalgic vision.

Other Categories Where Once Upon a Time in Hollywood Will Receive Nominations

  • Cinematography
  • Production Design
  • Film Editing
  • Costume Design

If these predictions turn out to be true, Once Upon a Time in Hollywood will receive at least nine Oscar nominations, which would be a career-high for a Tarantino film. It’s not out of the question that the film will receive less than nine or more than nine nominations. However, don’t expect this film to ride off into the Hollywood sunset. Quentin Tarantino’s Once Upon a Time in Hollywood will be a major player in the Oscar race.

Five Greatest Opening Scenes In Films Of The 21st Century

Christoph Waltz

In simplest terms, stories have three components: beginning, middle, and end. The great stories captivate the audience with each scene and transition smoothly into the next act. However, the opening scene is crucial. This is where you have to convince the audience to stay around and pay attention. Opening scenes set the stage for what’s to come. Opening scenes explain the tone of the film and provide the basic blueprint as to where the story is going. Since the turn of the century, there have been a few standout opening scenes in films. Here are the five greatest opening scenes of 21st century films.

Inglourious Basterds – The Jew Hunter

https://youtu.be/Ig0815OI9Lg

No one on Planet Earth writes dialogue like Quentin Tarantino. Tarantino’s scenes are usually long, dialogue-driven conversations that are compelling, clever, and most of all, suspenseful. Tarantino’s unique style was put on full display in the opening scene of Inglourious Basterds.

In the scene, Colonel Hans Landa (Christoph Waltz) interrogates French dairy farmer Perrier LaPadite (Denis Mènochet) for housing a Jewish family, who are hiding under the floorboards. Landa has LaPadite in the palm of his hand the entire time. Landa knows that LaPadite is hiding something, but he elects to draw the conversation out and acts like a friend who will help another friend. The suspense and tension build with each sentence from Landa. LaPaditie is courageous for conversing Landa, but he stands no chance. Landa stalks his prey the entire scene and pounces at the end, massacring all but one of the family members. The scene established Landa as one of Tarantino’s best characters ever.

La La Land – Another Day In The Sun

A musical about two struggling artists in Los Angeles? Does that capture your attention? Without Emma Stone, Ryan Gosling, and Damien Chazelle attached to La La Land, I’m not sure if I would have gone out of my way to see this film. Thankfully, I did and left the theater full of raw emotion and inspiration.

The opening scene perfectly captures Los Angeles. The bumper to bumper traffic, the influx of struggling actors and artists looking for a break, and an over-the-top and theatrical dance number represents the dreams of so many in the city of angels. Chazelle and composer Justin Hurwitz’s opening number, “Another Day of Sun,” soars and jumpstarts La La Land to one of the best musicals of 21st century film.

The Social Network – You’re Breaking Up With Me?

Speaking of great screenwriters, when it comes to fast dialogue and complicated monologues, it’s hard to find a writer better than Aaron Sorkin. In the opening scene of The Social Network, Erica Albright breaks up with Mark Zuckerberg at Harvard University in 2003. In this seven-minute scene, the audience learns so much about the two characters in such a short time. Mark is witty, brash, and smug, but he’s a motivated genius who will eventually become one of the most powerful people in the world thanks to Facebook. However, at the end of the day, all he wants to do is impress Erica, but Erica sees right through his bullshit and that’s something that deeply effected Mark and motivated him throughout the rest of the film. Mark becomes both the hero and the villain in The Social Network and it all starts with a conversation in a pub.

Baby Driver – Opening Chase

Baby Driver is a fun film. It’s fast action sequences, a killer soundtrack, and lovable protagonist make this the perfect summer blockbuster. Director Edgar Wright didn’t reinvent the wheel by starting the film with a heist. However, Wright added a new interpretation as to how a heist thriller can open. Heists usually end in gunfire and violence. Baby Driver has both of those elements, and yet it’s so upbeat and uplifting that the violence takes a back seat to its joyfulness. The editing of this scene is superb along with the introduction of the lovable Baby (Ansel Elgort).

The Dark Knight – Bank Robbery / Joker Reveal

https://twitter.com/screenplayed/status/1152629514649907200?s=20

I believe my tweet says it all.

Let’s be honest. I’m only writing this article so I can geek out over The Dark Knight. Christopher Nolan’s The Dark Knight is the greatest comic book film of all time and it all starts out with the opening bank robbery scene. The Dark Knight was Nolan’s version of Heat with Robert De Niro and Al Pacino. It’s hard to find a director better with large set pieces and action sequences than Nolan. The suspense builds throughout the entire scene and climaxes with the reveal of the Joker (Heath Ledger). For my money, Ledger’s Joker is the best acting performance of the 21st century and top 10 of the last 50 years. There’s great acting, and then there’s Ledger. Enough said.

Honorable mention: Bank robbery in The Town, opening montage in No Country for Old Men, bank robberies in Hell or High Water, opening credits in Watchmen.

What’s your favorite opening scene of 21st century films? Leave your thoughts in the comments below or tweet us, @unafraidshow.

The Lion King Review: Visuals Shine In Nostalgic Remake

The Lion King

In Field of Dreams, Terrance Mann, played by James Earl Jones, who voices Mufasa in The Lion King, gave a passionate speech about the power of nostalgia when Ray was about to sell his farm. Mann said, “Ray, people will come, Ray. They’ll come to Iowa for reasons they can’t even fathom. They will turn up your driveway, not knowing for sure why they’re doing it. They’ll arrive at your door as innocent as children, longing for the past. ‘Of course, we won’t mind if you look around,’ you’ll say. ‘It’s only twenty dollars per person.’ They’ll pass over the money without even thinking about it. For it is money they have and peace they lack.”

Nostalgia is a powerful concept. Channel it correctly and people will react without even thinking. As Mann said, “They’ll pass over the money without even thinking about it.” That is exactly how I feel about the live-action version of The Lion King. There could have been zero well-known actors in the new remake and yet people would still rush to the theaters to see Simba become King.

The summer box office may be down from 2018, but the studio that continues to make money at an alarming place is Disney. The Disney machine keeps on churning out box office success after box office success. This year, Disney has the four highest-grossing films domestically (Avengers: Endgame, Captain Marvel, Toy Story 4, and Aladdin). It’s safe to say that The Lion King will join those films in a short amount of time.

The Lion King is the latest Disney animated film to receive the live-action* treatment. Directed by Jon Favreau (The Jungle Book, Iron Man), it’s the first Disney live-action film to have no human characters. That being said, the visuals are absolutely stunning. The visual effects are groundbreaking and so lifelike that it’s a masterclass in technical precision. Watching animals speak didn’t always work. At times, the sound did not match with the animal’s facial movements. However, sometimes you don’t have to critically analyze the jaws and mouths of computer-generated animals. At the end of the day, animals talking is pretty cool to witness onscreen. Five-year-old me and twenty-six-year-old me were very entertained.

*There is an argument to be made that this version of The Lion King is not live-action because of its lack of human characters. Every character was built on a computer so, therefore, it’s still an animated film.

Once the sun rises and the first note of “The Circle of Life” is heard, the nostalgia strings are violently pulled inside anyone who has ever seen the film. The main plot in 2019 remains the same as it did in 1994. Simba, who after the murder of his father, Mufasa, by his uncle, Scar, must return to the Pride Lands and claim his role as King. The 2019 version of The Lion King stays almost exactly to script as 1994 original, which is not always a good thing. Most viewers are going to be satisfied with the plot remaining the same (which is where I fall), but there was a missed chance to develop a few more characters besides Nala.

Although The Lion King lacked some originality, the star power of the cast was extraordinary. Highlighted by Donald Glover as Adult Simba, Beyoncé Knowles-Carter as Adult Nala, and James Earl Jones returning as Mufasa, the cast was an eclectic collection of stars across all mediums.

For the most part, every actor did an acceptable to a slightly above average job, but the two standouts were Billy Eichner and Seth Rogen as Timon and Pumbaa. The comedic duo had the most chemistry between characters in the film and perfectly played off of each other. It can’t be understated how charming they were especially Eichner. Following up Nathan Lane, who voiced Timon in the 1994 version, was no easy task, but Eichner gave an admirable new twist to the character. Who knew he had a great voice?

Speaking of voices, what can’t be denied is the music of Elton John and Tim Rice still holds up 25 years later. “Circle of Life,” “I Just Can’t Wait to Be King,” “Be Prepared (most underrated song of the film),” “Hakuna Matata,” and “Can You Feel the Love Tonight” all still draw huge reactions from the crowd. Plus, having accomplished singers and performers like Donald Glover and Beyoncé to sing familiar anthems is a cheat code.

Despite the similar plot, The Lion King‘s visuals and music carry this live-action film that will win over audiences and become an immediate box office triumph.

What are your thoughts on The Lion King? Leave them in the comments or tweet at us, @Unafraidshow.

Tom Hanks: The Scream King

Tom Hanks A League of Their Own

Tom Hanks has played some of the most recognizable and iconic characters in movie history. All of Hanks’ roles all have one common trait: screaming. Hanks loves to yell and we love him for it.

Jamie Lee Curtis is universally known as the Scream Queen. Ever since Curtis played Laurie Strode in her feature film debut, Halloween, Curtis became the staple for scream queens in horror films. Just like Curtis is the top scream queen, there is a top scream king and the answer might surprise you. The Scream King is Tom Hanks.

Tom Hanks? The two-time Academy Award winner and one of the most decorated actors ever is a scream king? It’s more like a yelling king. While Curtis screams in terror during horror films, Hanks yells to emphasize his feelings, thoughts, and emotions. These screams range from complaints, exclamations, and even starling revelations about toys. Start running through Hanks’ filmography and almost every film includes the actor raising his voice and letting off a trademark howl.

The time he yelled at a volleyball

WILSON! WILSON! Who knew that yelling at a volleyball would automatically go into the Hall of Fame of Tom Hanks Quotes. Not everyone has seen Cast Away, but I’d argue that if you drop a “Wilson” around someone, they’re going to understand the reference. It’s a gut-wrenching scene that made the world care about a volleyball. A volleyball! Don’t forget that Hanks showcased his trademark squeal earlier in the movie when he learned to build a fire.

Tom Hanks is a yeller and screamer in movies

The time he yelled at Buzz Lightyear for being a toy

Toy Story Woodie Tom Hanks scream

The truth hurts and when that truth goes against your entire system of beliefs, it hurts even more. Woody executed a heel turn that would make Vince McMahon jealous. Woody screaming “You are a toy” to Buzz in Toy Story was flat-out mean. Was Buzz delusional? Yes. Was Woody too harsh? Absolutely. It’s one of the few moments where Hanks became the villain, not the hero.

The time he yelled that there’s no crying in baseball

Remember when I said Hanks went full heel in Toy Story? It turns out Hanks had another personality shift in him when he went full asshole as the manager in A League of Their Own. Is it ok to cry in sports? Depending on what era you were raised in might effect your answer. It’s ok to cry tears of joy after winning a championship. It’s ok to cry tears of despair after blowing the game on your mistake. However, as Tom Hanks screamed, “There’s no crying in baseball.” I don’t make the rules. I only enforce them.

The time he yelled that he was not a fish

Tom Hanks Scream movie

Because of giant romantic comedies like Sleepless in Seattle and You’ve Got Mail in the 1990s, Splash tends to be forgotten when mentioning Hanks’ best romantic comedy roles. However, Splash may be the most underrated movie in Hanks’ filmography. Surrounded by two comedic legends in John Candy and Eugene Levy, Splash was the match that lit the career of Tom Hanks. Per usual, Hanks had some memorable screams including his “I am not a fish” speech in the tank. It’s safe to say that Tom Hanks is indeed, not a fish.

The time he told Jenny to go home to Greenbow, Alabama

Oh, Jenny. Why couldn’t you just listen to Forrest and go home to Greenbow, Alabama? All Forrest ever wanted was to protect you and keep you safe. You would’ve had a nice life on the Gump estate after the Apple stock kicked in. Instead, you chose a life of sex, drugs, and rock and roll. I’m not mad, Jenny. I’m disappointed.

These aren’t the only movies where Hanks will let off a signature yawp. Youtube User Owenergy created a supercut of Hanks yelling throughout his career and includes additional clips from Big, Turner & Hooch, and Dragnet.

Here’s to a lifetime of screams Tom Hanks movies. Hanks will play Fred Rogers in a biopic later this year. If anyone can make Mr. Rogers scream in the neighborhood, it’s Hanks.

What Movie Has The Greatest Soundtrack of All-Time?

Greatest movie soundtracks of all time

So this question has been making its rounds on Twitter. What movie has the greatest soundtrack? Soundtracks have the ability to elevate a bad movie to a good movie (Batman Forever) and turn a good movie into a great movie (8 Mile).

For me, the soundtrack should reflect the overall themes of the movie. Songs can tell a story into how the main characters think and feel. If I listen to songs from a soundtrack outside of the theater, that’s when you know the film will stick with you.

Narrowing down my choice for greatest soundtrack is proving to be impossible. Instead of choosing one soundtrack, here are a few of my favorite soundtracks over the years.

Forrest Gump

When I first saw the original tweet asking for the greatest soundtrack, Forrest Gump instantly came to mind. Since Forrest Gump spans from 1954 to the early 1980s, the film covers a variety of musicians, bands, and genres. Elvis Presley, Bob Dylan, Fleetwood Mac, The Supremes, Jackson Browne, and Lynyrd Skynyrd are just names off of the iconic soundtrack. Instead of running across the country like Forrest, roll down the windows, go for a drive, and blast the Forrest Gump soundtrack on your next road trip.

Dazed and Confused

Alright, alright, alright. If you love 70s classic rock, then you will love the Dazed and Confused soundtrack. The soundtrack reflected the rebellious personalities for these rising high school seniors. With an uncertain future, finding the next party and enjoying summer break was the main priority, which a lot of us can relate to at the age of 17. With so many classic rock songs to choose from, “Slow Ride” by Foghat during the final scene is the song that sticks out for me.

La La Land

Make Jazz Great Again. If you think you are “too tough or macho” for a musical film, then I don’t want to be friends. La La Land is a delightful film about a jazz pianist and an aspiring actor who fall in love while chasing their dreams in Los Angeles. Unlike a traditional musical, there is a lot of dialogue so it’s not all singing. However, when stars Ryan Gosling and Emma Stone decide to sing and dance throughout the city, it’s movie magic. I would say I listened to at least one song from La La Land for about 8 straight months in 2017. After you fall in love with the piano arrangements and huge dance numbers, you’ll be listening to a lot of jazz in the future.

A Star Is Born

If you want to tell me that I’m suffering from recency bias or it’s too early to name this the “greatest soundtrack of all-time,” I’ll hear your argument. However, I know for a fact that it’s not to early to call this a great soundtrack in general. Who knew that Bradley Cooper can sing? Cooper and Lady Gaga had unreal chemistry throughout the entire film. The soundtrack is a mix of rock anthems, ballads, and powerful duets. I dare you to say something about about “Shallow.”

West Side Story

The title of “best film adaption of a broadway musical” belongs to West Side Story thanks to the iconic score and lyrics from Leonard Bernstein and Stephen Sondheim. West Side Story has it all: romance, action, conflict, and great music. This tragic love story and its themes of loyalty, revenge, and class warfare are still prevalent in 2019. If I had to recommend one musical to watch that any person would appreciate and enjoy, my recommendation would be West Side Story

Honorable Mention:

Almost Famous, Black Panther, Fifty Shades of Grey (100% serious), Grease, Garden State, Purple Rain, Saturday Night Fever, The Sound of Music, Straight Outta Compton

Do you agree with my choices? Do you hate every single one of them? Let me know your choices for greatest soundtrack on Twitter @danny_giro.

‘Avengers: Endgame’ Review: Satisfying Finish To Marvel’s 11-Year Saga

Avengers Endgame review thanos

As Dr. Strange said in Infinity War, “We’re in the endgame, now.” After an 11-year, 22 film saga, Avengers: Endgame has the daunting task of wrapping up this era of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Not only did it succeed in tying together a decade’s worth of characters and storylines, but Endgame delivers a satisfying conclusion that rewards fans for their dedication.

*Note: This review will be as spoiler-free as possible. No major plot points will be revealed. I believe in #DontSpoilTheEndgame.*

Directed by Joe and Anthony Russo, Avengers: Endgame picks up where Infinity War left off. Captain America, Black Widow, Thor, Iron Man, Hulk, War Machine, Rocket, and Nebula were the only major heroes who survived Thanos’s snap, which wiped away half the universe’s population. Down and seemingly out, the Avengers receive a much-needed ally in the form of Captain Marvel. The Avengers seek to reverse the damage done by Thanos and bring back half the universe’s population. Sounds simple, right?

The film succeeds in the fact that it answered so many questions that have been lingering throughout the MCU up until this point. However, it’s far from perfect. My biggest gripe is the beginning of the film. The first act of the film sets the scene for life after Thanos and explains how the survivors live in a desolate world. The film has a run-time of 3 hours and 1 minute so the film did not rush at all in terms of giving the appropriate backstory. However, it wasn’t almost too much backstory and not enough planning to defeat Thanos. If this movie trimmed it’s runtime by about 20 minutes and sped up some of the beginning, it would have been perfect.

That being said, once the Avengers picked up Ant-Man and Hawkeye (now Ronin) towards the end of the first act, Endgame begins to hit its stride. The scene in the trailer where the Avengers assemble while wearing the Quantum Realm suits is where this movie took off. The final two acts were immensely entertaining and turned my theater into Yankee Stadium after a walk-off home run with all the cheering and clapping.

What impressed me the most about Endgame was the balanced mix of dramatic and comedic bits. This is a Marvel movie so you’re guaranteed to get a bunch of superheroes using their powers in elaborate fighting scenes, which is awesome. However, I didn’t expect to laugh as much as I did. In particular, Thor’s evolution from a serious, semi-charming god to a witty, fun-loving superhero has been spectacular. Huge credit should go to Taika Waititi, the director of Thor: Ragnarok, for showing that Thor can be much more than a god with a hammer. Chris Hemsworth is a movie star in every sense of the word and this version of Thor is his best work.

I keep coming back to the word, “satisfying,” to perfectly describe Avengers: Endgame. Part of the reason why fans relate to these movies so much is the films’ ability to deal with common themes despite incorporating supernatural elements. The feeling of loss and regret in Infinity War is channeled into revenge and resilience in Endgame, which is felt by not only the heroes in the movie, but the audience in the theater. Endgame ties up many storylines and gives fans exactly what they have wanted for a decade. However, it also poses new questions for the future of the MCU, which is fairly unknown at this point.

Avengers: Endgame will make you laugh and cry, but most importantly, you’ll be rewarded for your patience. I’m not sure where the MCU goes from here, but if there’s one thing Marvel needs from us, it’s trust. After witnessing Avengers: Endgame, trust is exactly what they deserve.