By JIM O’DONNELLWe had 25 contenders and only one winner for our second annual Reel Deal Academy Award Contest. If Boyhood would have won instead of Birdman, I would have had to award about 20 six-month passes.
Birdman, the quirky but original film was a bit of surprise but maybe the Academy is looking for original, non-sequel films. This is a good thing as the days of four, five or even six sequals are getting real old.
Having said that I am also convinced the Academy is becoming more disconnected with movie patrons. If it was up to moviegoers, the winner list would look very different. I am surprised that Selma, American Sniper, St Vincent, with Bill Murray, and The Grand Budapest Hotel didn’t do better. Gone Girl, Interstellar, Maleficent, and Hunger Games should have been in the mix also. I’m not sure the Academy represents the movie patrons at all, but the winners are happy to accept the Oscar from their peers, The Academy.
This Friday we are opening Focus with Will Smith and Margot Robbie and Whiplash, winner of three Oscars. We will hold Kingsman, and McFarland USA for another week. Fifty Shades of Grey will end this Thursday.
Movie poster for ‘Focus.’ Courtesy/Real Deal Theater
Focus: Starring Will Smith and Margo Robbie: In the midst of veteran con man Nicky’s latest scheme, a woman from his past – now an accomplished femme fatale – shows up and throws his plans for a loop.
Nicky Spurgeon is an extremely accomplished con man who takes an amateur con artist, Jess, under his wing. Nicky and Jess become romantically involved, and with Nicky’s profession of being a liar and a cheater for a living, he realizes that deception and love are things that don’t go together.
They split, only to see each other three years later… And things get messy. IMDB
Movie poster for ”Whiplash.’ Courtesy/Real Deal Theater
Whiplash: Winner of 3 Oscars! Andrew Neyman is an ambitious young jazz drummer, single-minded in his pursuit to rise to the top of his elite east coast music conservatory. Plagued by the failed writing career of his father, Andrew hungers day and night to become one of the greats. Terence Fletcher, an instructor equally known for his teaching talents as for his terrifying methods, leads the top jazz ensemble in the school. Fletcher discovers Andrew and transfers the aspiring drummer into his band, forever changing the young man’s life. Andrew’s passion to achieve perfection quickly spirals into obsession, as his ruthless teacher continues to push him to the brink of both his ability-and his sanity. (C) Sony Classics
Movie poster for ”Wrenched.’ Courtesy/Real Deal Theater
Wrenched: The Movie: We are screening a one-time special event in collaboration with PEEC at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, March 5. We are proud to bring you Jack Loeffler, a longtime friend of Edward Abbey’s. Jack will introduce Wrenched and answer questions about Ed’s Legacy. He is the author of Adventures with Ed: A Portrait of Abbey, published by UNM Press. If you’ve ever read Monkey Wrench Gang or are a fan of Abbey’s, don’t miss this event. Kids, Students, Seniors $8, Adults $10.
Movie poster for ‘McFarland USA.’ Courtesy/Real Deal Theater
McFarland USA: Starring Kevin Costner and Maria Bello. This film was inspired by the 1987 true story of novice runners from McFarland, an economically challenged town in California’s farm-rich Central Valley. They give their all to build a cross-country team under the direction of Coach Jim White (Kevin Costner), a newcomer to their predominantly Latino high school. (Disney)
Movie poster for ‘Kingsman.’ Courtesy/Real Deal Theater
Kingsman: Based upon the acclaimed comic book and directed by Matthew Vaughn (Kick Ass, X-Men First Class), The Secret Service tells the story of a super-secret spy organization that recruits an unrefined but promising street kid into the agency’s ultra-competitive training program just as a global threat emerges from a twisted tech genius. (c) Fox
Coming attractions include: Chappie, Cinderella, Selma, Still Alice, The Avengers, The Divergent Series: Insurgent, and Jurassic World.
Note: Do not trust other websites for Reel Deal Theater movie times as they are often incorrect and we’ve been getting a lot of confused patrons who use these random sites including Google. For correct show times, visit www.reeldealtheater.com or use the Los Alamos Daily Post listings for show times. If you have any requests, email me at odonnell455@gmail.com and I will respond when I know something.
Don’t forget, if it’s your birthday, the movie of your choice is free!
You can see our full schedule, show times and trailers at www.reeldealtheater.com.