Sandra Bullock

Action Movies: Over-the-Top Spectacles or Misunderstood Meaningful Narratives?

Garrett Hartman

Critics and general audiences alike often view these films as over-the-top spectacles lacking meaningful storytelling. The action-packed focus of these films obviously detracts from narrative content; however, there seems to be a false perception that spectacle means the complete absence of worthwhile content. After all, we still learn about characters and how they develop during action sequences. For example, in “The Matrix’s” iconic scene where Neo dodges bullets in slow motion, we see Neo’s transformation from someone held to the mercy of the system to someone who has the will to defy it. 

Movie Watch: A Look at This Year's Oscar Contenders

Forrest Hartman

With Matthew McConaughey and Jared Leto winning best actor and best supporting actor from numerous awards groups, they are the unquestioned frontrunners in the Oscar race. McConaughey famously lost more than 40 pounds to portray real-life AIDS victim Ron Woodruff. The Dallas resident refused to see his disease as a death sentence and began smuggling experimental medications into the U.S., then selling them to others with HIV. Leto plays a transgender woman who was created by screenwriters as a composite of numerous people in Woodruff’s life. 

‘Gravity,’ Nebraska’ Arrive on Home Video

Forrest Hartman

Director Alfonso Cuarón’s “Gravity” is tied with “American Hustle” as a No. 1 contender in this year’s Oscar race. Both films earned 10 nominations, including nods for best picture, best director and best actress. Sandra Bullock nabbed the latter honor for her memorable portrayal of Dr. Ryan Stone, a fledgling astronaut who is stranded in space when a fast-travelling band of debris disables the shuttle that she and her colleagues launched in. 

‘Pacific Rim,’ ‘The Heat’ Arrive on DVD, Blu-ray

Forrest Hartman

Throughout his career, writer-director Guillermo del Toro has capably balanced pulp sensibilities with high-end art, and the result is a filmography that is fanciful and highly enjoyable.  With “Pacific Rim,” Del Toro throws his more serious side out the window to make a big-budget spectacle that pays homage to giant-monster movies like “Godzilla” and “Gamera.” The premise of the film is as silly as one would expect, but that’s OK. Del Toro has fun with the material and, as a result, the audience does, too. 

“Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close,” “A Dangerous Method” Arrive on DVD, Blu-ray

Forrest Hartman

More than a decade has passed since the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks shook the foundations of America, and in that time a number of feature films have examined their overwhelming impact. For the most part, these movies have received tepid welcomes at the box office.  In keeping with that trend, “Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close” had a quiet theatrical run. Still, it gained notice with two Oscar nominations: one for best picture and one for supporting actor Max von Sydow.

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