Chiwetel Ejiofor – IamGuruJay

Get to know Nicole Kidman. She was born in Honolulu, Hawaii in 1967 but was raised in Australia. She was Tom Cruise’s wife for 11 years. Now, she is married to Keith Urban. Moreover, she is the mother of 4 children.

Let’s recognize Nicole Kidman for her greatness. The Australian actress is at the pinnacle of her success. Secret in Their Eyes showcases her supreme talents along with Julia Roberts’. Unfortunately, box office results occasionally do not correlate with true results.

I believe the messaging and packaging of a film is more important than initial reception. I admire Nicole Kidman because she’s an actress first, and a movie star second. Many movies take time to register with the public. Moreover, great stories such as Moby Dick are discounted in value when initially released.

I feel Secret in Their Eyes will gain in momentum because Kidman is at her best. It compares favorably to her Academy Award winning performance in The Hours. No offense Meryl Streep but Nicole Kidman stole the spotlight from you.

By far, Far and Away (no pun intended) is my favorite Nicole Kidman movie. Here’s why. Her chemistry with Tom Cruise could cause a volcanic eruption on the Big Island. They were truly in love with each other. In my book, Far and Away is a classic.

Photos By: Wikimedia Commons

Australia is another great movie starring Nicole. As an added bonus, Hugh Jackman escorts his lady for the journey on horseback. I recommend watching it because learning about Australian-Aboriginal relations is insightful. I remember seeing women cry in the movie theater because the plot enthralled them.

The Stepford Wives film deserves an honorable mention. Additionally, Eyes Wide Shut and Moulin Rouge should be acknowledged. Last but not least, Nicole Kidman’s portrayal of Grace Kelly in Grace of Monaco is not recognized enough. With such an amazing career, no one can deny that Nicole Kidman is at the pinnacle. What is more, she’s done more than enough to be considered the best actress ever.

I am Guru Jay launching into orbit in 5-4-3-2-1!

BY: GURU JAY

The Martian Movie Review

If you’re a regular at Guru Jay, you know The Martian is my kind of movie. I expect this film to be number 1 at the box office for the third consecutive week. Numbers indicate that The Martian might become director Ridley Scott’s best movie ever.

Tonight, my initial thought was: what are comedians Kristen Wiig and Donald Glover doing in this particular piece? After viewing the film, now I realize that they are three-dimensional actors. Who can complain about this wonderful cast? Jeff Daniels, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Kate Mara, Michael Peña…

The Plot

Matt Damon plays an astronaut (Mark Watney) stranded on Mars because his crew abruptly aborts their mission due to a severe storm. His crewmembers leave him behind thinking he’s dead. However, the determined character lives through this tribulation and awaits rescue.

Luckily, Watney’s a botanist who figures out how to grow food for survival purposes. “The Martian” finally contacts NASA, who already gave him a memorial. Soon, the public learns he is alive. Then, the whole world prepares for his return home safely.

Typically, it would take 4 years to travel to Mars. However, Watney may come home earlier than imagined because of a fortunate discovery. Without a doubt the proposition is risky. What option will NASA take?

Jessica Chastain plays mission commander Melissa Lewis. To her credit, she never wanted to abandon Watney. Nonetheless, she is pivotal to the storyline. I won’t spoil it any further for you. If you’re into science, go check it out.

Photos By: Wikimedia Commons

Closing Thoughts

The cinematography is on point. The Martian is realistic and futuristic as possible. The audience will enjoy spectacular visual effects aligned with technology’s capabilities. We must acknowledge Andy Weir’s great literary contribution.

My main criticism is the movie progresses slowly. Whenever we watch Matt Damon we’re used to seeing fast action-packed scenes. In spite of this, I believe The Martian is brilliant. This is Matt Damon’s magnum opus. You won’t find a carbon copy.

IamGuruJay launching into orbit in 5-4-3-2-1!