Judgement at Nuremburg: 1961 Greatness

Turner Classic Movies (TCM) around the Oscar's brings the wood playing great classic that won various Oscar's. Judgement at Nuremburg follows the trial of German judges during WWII and the Holocaust. The issue at hand is what was their duty to their country vs. human decency? It's an incredibly difficult question that is probed in depth during this three hour drama. Maximillian Schell pulled out Best Actor for his portrayal of the German attorney defending the accused. Spencer Tracy, Burt Lancaster, Judy Garland, William Shatner (he's aged wonderfully), and Richard Widmark round out the great cast. The movie probes into Nuremburg and what was known by everyone (mistreatment of Jews/"undesirables") vs. unknown, the concentration camps mass exterminations. Emotion is laid bare and examined deeply by a great cast. Bottom Line: 9.1 out of 10. I found it riveting and excellent. Highly recommended viewing for movie fans.

Inside Out: Another Pixar Home Run

Inside Out is a tale that follows the five feelings inside a child's head: Joy (Amy Pohler), Sadness (Phyllis Smith- AKA Phyllis from the Office), Anger (Lewis Black), Fear (Bill Hader), and disgust (Mindy Kaling). Joy primarily runs shop in Riley (The child's) head as Riley grows up a happy girl in MN. Then, Riley's family moves to San Francisco and her life changes completely. The voice talent in this movie is excellent, they are all awesome. The movie attempts to bring a playful way to how someone becomes depressed and essentially lost at life. The animation and story are typical Pixar excellence. There was an awesome part extra interviewing women at Pixar describing their ascent to their current roles in the company that's also fascinating and recommended viewing. Bottom Line: 8.9 out of 10. Another Pixar movie that's essential viewing for the world. They play with your emotions like Mozart & a piano.

Deadpool: A Fun Anti-Hero

Deadpool is unique in many ways, but his attempts to be an anti-hero and his own man are what it's all about. He's funny, but in a mean way. He makes jokes, often at great personal expense and in the face of danger. I knew it would often get too smirky and cute for its own good, but a lot of the jokes hit in this one. Deadpool follows the story of Wade Wilson, former Army (I think) specialist/assassin who is a "bad guy who hurts other bad guys". He falls in love with the gorgeous MOrena Baccarin (Firefly and Homeland fame) and shortly after their engagement Wade finds out he has VERY terminal cancer. In an attempt to cure himself he enters a program that will give him "powers" to heal himself, but at great cost. It forces mutation through pain and suffering and his sadist "administrator" Ajax, AKA Francis, clearly wants to be the bad guy in this film. Wilson becomes essentially like Wolverine in the ability to heal himself, but his skin becomes irreparably damaged, making him look like a burn victim of the most serious kind. Wilson finds himself unable to become part of Vanessa's Baccarin's character) life because of his "deformity". He becomes obsessed with finding Ajax, who he believes can repair the damage to his skin. He does it in an ultra-stylized manner unlike anything we've ever seen. He's very skilled and flashy, but also tries to be the biggest smartass ever the entire time. It combines his backstory while pushing forward with the story very well. Reynolds is perfect for the role and the cast is very solid. If you like trademark Ryan Reynolds humor, you'll like this film. Bottom Line: 7.6 out of 10. Humor that works, most of the time, and excellent action/effects help carry a similar story that you've seen many times in other superhero stories. Worth checking out, even as a date movie.

Bridge of Spies- That's HOW YOU NEGOTIATE

Tom Hanks and Spielberg come off the shelf to deliver another great and classic film. The movie follows the events surrounding the 1957 arrest of a Soviet "spy" Rudolf Abel and his defense by American insurance attorney James Donovan. Donovan accepts the momentous and VERY unpopular job of defending Abel in his case vs. America. Hanks fights for his release and also a reduced sentence after he is found guilty initially. His home is shot at and hostilities are everywhere while he does his job defending not only Abel, but the American justice system and human rights. Donovan is then, after going through the trial and appeal, asked to negotiate a prisoner exchange with Russia, and, out of nowhere, East Germany. It gets lost on most people who see the film how TENSE things were between Russia, East Germany, and America during these events. Russian and East Germany were demons. Communism was the ultimate evil and nuclear war was a threat to everyone. Donovan travels as a U.S. Citizen, not a government official, to West Germany to work on the negotiation to get back U-2 spy plane pilot Francis Gary Powers and innocent student Frederic Pryor, who simply made the mistake of studying Economics at a University in East Germany. Donovan's work to get a 2 for 1 exchange and get those American men out of communist countries was exemplary and impressive. It makes you want to read a biography on him when you find out all he gave to our nation in terms of a man who was willing to go into hostile areas and work to get our hostages back to safety. A great man. Bottom Line: 8. 4 out of 10. Great acting and, obviously directing in this one. Another gem of an untold story dusted off by Spielberg. Go see this movie and feel proud.

NBA All-Star Weekend: A Tradition Unlike Any Other

I'm currently watching the NBA Legends All-Star Brunch and the honoring of Tracy McGrady, Steve Nash, Oscar Robertson, and others for not only their great NBA careers, but their accomplishments away from the court. It's humbling and awesome. I love NBA All-Star weekend. The dunk contest, 3 point shootout, skills competition, and the Young Stars game. It makes an EVENT out of All-star weekend. Over 150 legends come back to be a part of the weekend, and that's what I want to highlight. The unity and ties between the pioneers of the game and the current players in so special. The respect and honor they are given is so well deserved and I feel lacking in other major sports. Hearing Oscar Robertson briefly touch on the the struggles of the early NBA and the efforts made to increase pay to players during the ABA/NBA merger was excellent. They have so much fun during the weekend, but also share in the rich history of the game. I'm a big fan of the NBA and keep trying to push people to watch the regular season because the game features the best talent on the planet. The game is much different than the early 2000's game that saw a lot of people turned off. Give it another chance! I know college basketball is special, but the NBA deserves to be noticed for being the superior game.

13 Hours: The Story of Benghazi (Libya that means)

13 Hours takes you into a formerly classified CIA base located on the outskirts of Benghazi, Libya. It's a base of operations for the burgeoning illegal weapon trade that's been going on there since Ghadafi's overthrow. The CIA has some security and then has six former SEALS, Rangers, and Army veterans who go out into Benghazi with staff to protect them offsite. The U.S. Ambassador in Libya lives away from that secret compound in a former mansion with walls, but that totally lacked necessary security. He only had three security agents with him who lacked combat experience. The six former military guys examine the compound and point out the various weaknesses and the obvious fact that it is a "sniper's paradise" with limited cover. On the anniversary of 9/11 the Ambassador's compound is attacked by Libyan rebels. The compound is quickly overthrown as the paid Libyan security detail quickly bails. The limited staff are left to attempt to stay in the safe room and hold off the rebels and stay alive. That's essentially where the movie starts and the next 90 minutes (estimate) is incredible similar to the first time you saw Black Hawk Down. There is frustration with U.S. policy and it's terrible inefficiency. The failures in certain citizen's hours of need will frustrate you. You will see real heroes and men who deserve all the accolades possible for their efforts and sacrifices. Bottom Line: 8.8 out of 10. I was nothing but impressed by the cast (Jim and Roy from The Office are outstanding, as are all the veterans) and the movie doesn't condemn anyone particularly as Bay's goal was to tell the accounts of the Veterans as accurately as possible. There will be finger pointing at Hilary and other high-ranking staff, but this movie avoids most of it, though you'll wish you could murder the station chief. Go and see this in theatres because Michael Bay movies are made for the big screen.