22 Jump Street (2014) - Movie Review by Sean Wu

'22 Jump Street' is a continuation of 2012's surprise smash comedy hit '21 Jump Street'. Ordinarily, sequels turn out much worse than the first film, but this isn't any ordinary sequel. This is by Phil Lord and Chris Miller, the comedy geniuses behind the first film and 'The Lego Movie'.

Channing Tatum and Jonah Hill return as Jenko and Schmidt, the brawn and brains of an undercover cop program in the fictional Metro City. In the first film, they busted a drug ring in high school, and in this one they attempt busting one in college. Even if Lord and Miller are doing an old trick, at least they improved on (already fantastic) it.

Hill and Tatum are to current day comedy as OutKast was to hip-hop: they work together superbly, and separately they hold their own just as well. The gags are extremely well done, and the pop culture references are great too ('White House Down', anyone?). Ice Cube, the scene stealer of the first film, gets more time in this one, and he holds his own extremely well.

The movie is incredibly lean too- after a TV-esque recap, the story starts immediately and not a minute is wasted. There are Tracy Morgan and Maya Angelou references, which is unfortunately timed, but the movie remains hilarious nonetheless. For my money, it might be the comedy of the summer.

The Wolf of Wall Street screens, and some thoughts trickle in.

Good news: Scorsese is still fresh with his latest (and longest) picture! Based on an article from Hitfix, performances were things that most took notes on. Last Golden Globes, DiCaprio remarked that he thought that his work in Wolf was his best yet. Apparently Kris Tapley disagrees, but he says its strong work. Jonah Hill shows off his best work yet, allegedly, and looks to be a strong contender in the Supporting Actor category. Newbie Margot Robie is also a contender in the Supporting Actress category.

Bad News: The chances at Oscar are fuzzy. Performances are good, but it might be too crowded of a year. Kris Tapley's words, not mine. Tapley however states that the film is at a major advantage because "it almost feels like what the 2013 film awards season needs is a nice prestige-level dose of the outrageous, something bonkers, something to take the edge off", in a season with somber films, including 12 Years a Slave, Gravity, and Captain Phillips.

More reactions will come out tonight from LA, since according to Paramount's FYC site, there will be an official screening at 2:00. Expect more reactions from more people soon.

First posters and clip for The Wolf of Wall Street!

With the film coming out in nearly a month, the marketing for The Wolf of Wall Street is now kicking into high gear. We have two new posters, a TV spot, and a clip from the movie. Christmas cannot come sooner!

Second poster, and videos after the jump.

New trailer for The Wolf of Wall Street!

Looks excellent. My thoughts on the trailer below.

Oscar Opinions: Moneyball (2011)

Another homerun by Bennett Miller.

QUICK OPINIONS:
The film itself is actually very basic. What it is is Billy Beane, manager of the Oakland A's, is trying to make a better team. Problem is, that the team is 'under 50 feet of crap'. Beane brings in Peter Brand, a newly graduated stats freak. Peter thinks that a cheap team is possible, and they just need to find the 'misfit toys'. It's as most critics put it, 'a baseball movie that is for people who don't like baseball'.

I found out about this movie almost a year ago, and I put it on the top of my Oscar predictions, next to The Tree of Life. I was very happy that the film got a nomination. I cannot wait for Miller's next film, with Steve Carrell, Foxcatcher. No it's not the best film of the year, but it's one of. 'B+'

Oscar Luncheon!

Today was the Academy's "Oscar Luncheon", as shown below.