PopCulturedwithMovieMike

In 2014, Jennifer Kent made the transition from character TV actress to director of a feature-length film. That film was The Babadook, not only one of the best horror films of the decade but one of the very best films of the decade period. The film was showered with critical praise and landed Kent on the shortlist of "it" directors. Then nothing.

Kent could have easily jumped at the first studio horror film or blockbuster that came her way. Instead, she decided to write and direct The Nightingale about a young Irish convict woman named Clare who is hell-bent on revenge for a terrible act of violence committed against her family.

What follows is one of the most brutal and unflinching films I've ever seen. There were some reports that during its festival run, there were counselors present for audience members after they left the theater. If hell hath no fury like a woman scorned, then you don't even want to know what happens to a woman that is way more than scorned.

What makes The Nightingale stand out from other revenge films is how we see how the main character's actions affect her. No matter how vengeful Clare is, it doesn't make her feel any better once she gets her revenge. I really appreciated the climax of the film because it didn't go where I thought it was going to go.

The other major theme in The Nightingale is race. Throughout the film, we see how the British Troops treat the Aboriginal population. Those aspects of the film might feel heavy-handed, but I couldn't help but think that the way the aboriginals were treated was probably even more brutal than depicted in the film. Jennifer Kent is a really talented filmmaker and if it takes her 4 years to make her next film, I will be patient.

"I just tend the bar," Bob Saginowski innocently states in this under- the-radar gem of a film. Tom Hardy plays Bob, a quiet, reserved bartender at his cousin Marv's bar. Cousin Marv is played by James Gandolfini in his final role. The Drop is getting a lot of attention because of Gandolfini, who gives another memorable performance, but The Drop is much more than an opportunity to see one our generation's greatest actors one last time, it's one of the best films of the year.

In The Drop, Marv owns a local neighborhood bar that also happens to be a "drop bar", which means the bar essentially collects money from illegal betting and god knows what else and then delivers it to the local Chechen gang. Gandolfini plays Marv as a Tony Soprano that never was. A guy that tried to get into the game, but couldn't really cut it when the big guys came into town. Those "big guys" are the Chechen mob that have taken over Marv's bar. It's his bar in name only and he's relegated to serving drinks and cleaning up spills. Gandolfini plays Marv as a bitter, beaten down man. It's vintage Gandolfini and a perfect way to end a career that was cut way too short.

As one actor takes his final bow, it's another actor who officially arrives. The Drop is clearly Tom Hardy's film. Granted, Hardy certainly hasn't come out of no where. He burst on the mainstream scene with Inception and should have become a household name after his performance as Bane in The Dark Knight Rises. He didn't, and I'm not really sure why. He seemingly has everything you'd want in a leading man.

Hardy's performance in The Drop should finally change that. I know it's early, but it's Oscar worthy. Hardy plays Bob with such an authentic nature that it's downright astounding. He really inhabits this character. Bob seems to take everything in stride, nothing seems to bother him. When he is confronted by the Chechen mobsters, he keeps his head down and chooses every word with precision, knowing that his life depends on it. Bob is non-threatening and unassuming and almost comes off as simple-minded, but as the film progresses, it's clear something is brewing beneath the surface. Bob is an example of a guy who is a product of his environment. He's a good man that doesn't really have a choice in life. He either adapts to survive or dies.

Bob also has a big heart as is evidenced when he rescues a puppy that has been beaten and literally thrown in the trash. This is where he meets Nadia, played by Noomi Rapace (Prometheus). Nadia is also reserved and seems wounded in some way. It makes sense that The Drop is written by Dennis Lahane (writer of Mystic River, Gone Baby Gone and Shutter Island) who adapted the film from his short story "Animal Rescue," a title with more than one meaning. Not only does Bob rescue an injured dog, but both he and Nadia seem like animals that need rescuing in one way or another.

The Drop is the kind of film that Hollywood just doesn't make anymore. It really does feel like it was ripped right out of the 80's. It has a slow, deliberate pace that perfectly builds suspense. The Drop is a character driven film that constructs each scene with great dialogue and fantastic acting. The director allows his characters to inhabit the world they live in. It's the wardrobe and the set design that really help bring everything together and add to the authenticity of the film. Everything seems organic and not like it's part of a movie set.

The Drop is a film lovers film. It has everything you could possibly ask for: a top notch cast, great direction, dialogue, set design, cinematography, and an understated score. You name it, and The Drop has it. It's easily one of my favorite films of the year. We need more films like The Drop. Go see it.

Guardians of the Galaxy follows in the footsteps of its more powerful, well-known superhero family members. What Marvel has done over the past six years is just short of amazing. Pumping out one, sometimes two big budget films a year to (mostly) critical and commercial success in almost every case.

That being said, Guardians of the Galaxy was somewhat of a risk for the studio. Unlike the previous Marvel films that featured well-known comic book characters for those who have never even picked up a comic book, Guardians is unknown by even the most die-hard comic book fans. Not to mention the fact that director James Gunn (Super, Slither) doesn't exactly have a massive track record and had never directed a big budget studio film before.

Last but not least, Guardians doesn't have a big name actor like Robert Downey Jr. or Chris Evans to sell the film to the public. In fact, the most recognizable faces among the cast are Bradley Copper and Vin Diesel. Ironically, neither actor actually appears in the film, they just lend their voices to CG created characters.

Much of the success or failure of Guardians of the Galaxy and their presumed sequels falls on the shoulders of Chris Pratt. Pratt is asked to walk in the shoes of other legendary Marvel superheroes. A lot of pressure for an actor who is hardly a household name. Pratt is best known as the perennial scene stealer on the NBC sitcom Parks and Recreation. Pratt's film career mainly consists of small roles where he normally plays the goofy best friend.

Pratt plays Peter Quill, who was abducted from Earth in the 80's as a young boy. Quill is now a swash-buckling space outlaw who goes by the name of Star-Lord, an infamous rogue feared across the galaxy, or so he likes to think. As a child of the 80's, you can see who Quill probably grew up idolizing. As Star-Lord, Quill feels like a cross between Indiana Jones and Han Solo. Quill's memory of pop culture is the one thing that keeps him connected to Earth. That and a Walkman that is constantly playing 80's pop songs.

Pratt carries the whole film and his character really sets the tone. He infuses almost every scene with his free spirit and wise-cracking personality. You can't help but not love his character. Guardians is sure to blow up Pratt's career (he can be seen in the Jurassic Park sequel due out next year) and rightly so.

Quill rounds out his motley crew with Gamora, played by Zoe Saldana, a green-skinned assassin. Drax, an eloquent behemoth trying to avenge the death of his family. Drax is played by professional wrestler Bautista, who is surprisingly competent here as a cerebral brawler who takes everything literally, which happens to be one of the many areas mined for laughs. Then there is Rocket, voiced by Bradley Cooper, a genetically engineered Raccoon whose temper is about as short as his stature. Finally, there is Groot, a gentle giant of a creature that resembles a tree. Groot is voiced by Vin Diesel, who has all of three words the entire film, but is sure to become a fan favorite.

This group of characters is what sets Guardians apart from all the other Marvel films. They all have their flaws and they're all interesting and unique. They feel new and fresh and you can't wait to see what kind of mischief they will get into next. I'm not taking anything away from the other Marvel movies, I've enjoyed most of them, but many of them feel a little too formulaic and often times they take themselves a little too seriously.

Maybe the best way to compare Guardians of the Galaxy and The Avengers would be to equate them to a high school setting. The Avengers would be the popular jocks that get all the girls and the Guardians would be the misfits who are always getting into trouble. As cool as The Avengers are, they are so powerful that it's almost too easy to root for them. Everybody loves to root for the underdogs and that's exactly what the Guardians are.

Although Guardians is a pretty light film, there are quite a few heartfelt scenes, including one 5 minutes into the film that will have you reaching for a tissue before the opening title. We get just a nugget of a back story from each member, which helps us invest and care for these strange characters.

Guardians also features one of the best soundtracks of the year. Often times mixing catchy 80's pop songs with fast-paced action scenes. Possibly my favorite scene is one that will remind some people of a more deranged version of "Singin' in the Rain."

In the end, Guardians of the Galaxy was a huge risk for Marvel, a studio that can seemingly do no wrong since Iron Man came out in 2008. To say that the risk paid off in a huge way is putting it mildly. Guardians of the Galaxy is one of the best Marvel films to date and it might just be the funniest and most fun film of the year.