Director: Matt Reeves
Writers: Rick Jaffa, Amanda Silver
Stars: Andy Serkis, Gary Oldman, Jason Clarke

Synopsis: A growing nation of genetically evolved apes led by Caesar is threatened by a band of human survivors of the devastating virus unleashed a decade earlier. They reach a fragile peace, but it proves short-lived, as both sides are brought to the brink of a war that will determine who will emerge as Earth’s dominant species.

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DIRECTION
Matt Reeves opens Dawn of the Planet of the Apes with a harrowing glimpse at the decline of man as the “Simian Flu” breaks out and spreads all across the world, killing just about everyone on the planet. Reeves immediately sets the tone and quickly brings us back into the world of Caesar. The pacing is brilliant and fluid, while telling the story beautifully with great camera work and amazing visual effects. The CGI is some of the best we’ve ever seen on film and enhances the characters is some incredible ways. The action scenes are seamless, thrilling and pack a mighty punch, making this one of the most riveting blockbusters of 2014. Reeves took the momentum from Rise of the Planet of the Apes and carried it even further in almost every way possible. There are a few things here or there he could’ve tweaked, like using Gary Oldman’s character better for example, but for the most part, Dawn of the Planet of the Apes is one wild ride.

Grade: A+

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SCRIPT
The thing that can almost always make a script work, regardless of the actual story, is compelling characters. This is the case in Dawn because as far as a story goes, there is nothing original here. This film has gotten a lot of praise, but let’s be honest, the story isn’t anything new or different that what we’ve seen a thousand times before. However, what makes it work, is that Caesar (Andy Serkis) is captivating on every level as well as his ape brethren. Caesar is now a husband and a father, as well as the leader of the entire group, which has grown significantly since Rise. When a group of humans show up on their turf unexpectedly, tension rises and the apes have to figure out how to deal with this new dilemma. As for the humans, which is led by Malcolm (Jason Clarke), they need to get to a dam to get power for their colony of survivors, however it’s in ape territory. As soon as Malcolm and Caesar find a way to work things out, all hell breaks loose when Caesar’s military-like confidant, Koba, has a difference of opinion on leadership. Again, as the story plays out, it’s not the narrative but rather the ape character struggles, transformations and decisions that makes the story so provocative. The human characters lack depth but do offer some nice interactions throughout that feel genuine, despite the lack of potency it went for at times. All in all though, this is Caesar’s movie and he is so engaging and remarkable. That alone makes the story good enough for me.

Grade: B+

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RELATED: Transformers: Age of Extinction Movie Review

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PERFORMANCES
If Andy Serkis isn’t nominated for awards, then he should be recognized on some level. What he does with Caesar absolutely carries the movie to a whole other level and it doesn’t pack the punch it does without him. In fact, he’s so good, that when he’s not on screen you feel it and you want him back immediately. The interactions Caesar has with his son and wife are gorgeous, moving and always believable. Toby Kebbell, who plays Koba, is also fantastic and crucial to the film. While he’s not as known as Serkis, he will have more mo-cap roles in his future. Jason Clarke is no James Franco. Don’t get me wrong, Clarke is great in the role but his character doesn’t have the emotional pull that Franco’s did but he’s definitely serviceable. Gary Oldman is also fine, but again, the writing of his character was muddled and could’ve been utilized better. However, when Oldman is on screen, he’s a veteran presence that works well. The rest of the human cast is fine as well but it’s really the ape family that stands out and what’s important here.

Grade: A

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SCORE
Michael Giacchino’s score isn’t going to have an iconic theme or anything that’s rememberable, however it’s one of the more gorgeous scores of 2014. Because a lot of the film is slowed down for emotional beats and character moments, the score lingers on those beats and let’s the strings carry the weight of those scenes. The action scenes are tense and thrilling, which is reflected in the score as well. For those who like to listen to scores outside of the film, this is a gorgeous listen to, but you may have to be in the right mood for it.

Grade: A-

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FINAL THOUGHTS
While Dawn of the Planet of the Apes can certainly stand on it’s own two legs, the character building and set-up from Rise, makes Dawn a little bit more potent. And while everything with Caesar and his family is just magnetic, I can’t help but feel underwhelmed by the human characters. The script tries to pull a lot of emotional punches that didn’t hit as hard as it could have, however, the punches pulled with Caesar and his family were very strong. And not because I love apes more than people, but because we spend a lot more time with them and we’re given more depth. Don’t get me wrong, like Godzilla, that’s a minor quibble in the grand scheme of things. This film is amazing. Andy Serkis is incredible and the action is a lot of fun. Seeing this world is just one heck of a ride and it’s easily one of the best films of the year.

Overall Grade: A

Director: Josh Overbay
Writers: Ginny Lee Overbay
Stars: Chris Nelson, Sylvia Boykin, Luke Beavers, Abi Van Andel

Synopsis: After the death of the Prophet, a man is called to lead his small religious sect as they anxiously await the end of the world they were promised.

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DIRECTION
For a director that is working on a very small budget, Josh Overbay’s As It Is In Heaven is arguably the best “faith” based film of 2014 so far. Overbay does a wonderful job of utilizing his Kentucky backwoods aesthetic, which made for a rich visual style and sound design. The cinematography is gorgeous, fluid and used wonderfully to help elevate the narrative and the compelling character struggles in the film. The religious aspects of the film are never over-the-top or campy, which is the case in a lot films featuring Christian customs. Overbay’s pacing is pretty solid and the third act is brilliantly handled. The last few shots of the film were absolutely perfect.

Grade: A

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SCRIPT
The story is centered around David (Chris Nelson), who is recruited by Edward (John Lina) to join a small religious sect in which he leads. Edward is considered a modern-day Prophet and believes that Jesus will be coming back to Earth in about 30 days. Soon after David is recruited, Edward becomes ill and soon passes away, but before he does, he tells David that he wants him to lead the group. Edward’s son, Eamon, isn’t a fan of David and animosity is raised among them, especially after David orders a fast until the day of reckoning. David’s choices start to lead to some ugly consequences but most members of the group still try to be faithful till the end, despite it’s harrowing nature. While these kinds of cults are stereotyped in public, the film explores their perspectives and genuine beliefs, despite the connotations that come with it. The story also explores ideas of leadership and how faith can affect people’s decisions, especially when trying to interpret dreams and visions from a “supreme being”. The internal struggle David has is fascinating and the crystallization of that idea is impeccable. The narrative slows down a little bit towards the beginning of the third act, but if you keep with and stay engaged, the final punch is a knockout.

Grade: A

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RELATED: The Immigrant Movie Review

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PERFORMANCES
None of the actors are going to win Academy Awards, but they are more than serviceable for the kind of film we see here. Chris Nelson is fantastic, but what makes his great here isn’t his dialogue, but rather his non-verbal expressions and mannerisms that sell the performance. The inner struggle he faces is strong and compelling, which he delivers well and the ending, again, is brilliant. The rest of the supporting cast, including Sylvia Boykin and Luke Beavers among others, is fine but none of them stand out as much.

Grade: B+

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SCORE
Composer’s Tim Morton and Ben Zoeller got the nod to score here and were terrific. The music uses southern tones and strings to capture the single location feel the film was going for. It really enhances the character moments, which lingers beautifully with the music. The main themes are used appropriately and definitely add to the experience.

Grade: A-

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FINAL THOUGHTS
As It Is In Heaven is a fascinating look at a group of people who genuinely believe in something that can seem ludicrous to the outside world, but to them it was very real. The drama is blended well and feels authentic throughout, especially when the repercussions of David’s choices start to follow. You don’t have to be religious to be engaged with this story and the ending is quite provocative.

Overall Grade: A

A few month’s ago, we were privileged to interview director Josh Overbay about his film on one of our InSession Film Podcast: Extra Film episodes. Click here to listen to that show now!

Director: Scott Derrickson
Writers: Scott Derrickson (screenplay), Paul Harris Boardman (screenplay)
Stars: Eric Bana, Édgar Ramírez, Olivia Munn

Synopsis: NY police officer Ralph Sarchie investigates a series of crimes. He joins forces with an unconventional priest, schooled in the rituals of exorcism, to combat the possessions that are terrorizing their city.

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DIRECTION
Scott Derrickson’s Deliver Us From Evil comes across and is masked as a paranormal horror film, but really it’s more of a crime drama about a man who has his own demons, if you will, that he must learn to overcome. The film is well-paced and offers some interesting questions that parallel the superficial horror. Many critics have bashed the film for it’s stereotypical tropes and lack of originality, which is valid, but I’m not so sure that’s what the films was all about. Sure, Derrickson throws a lot of typical jump scares at you, but the inner struggle of the film I found compelling. The overall aesthetic is creepy and fits the vibe he was going for and the final sequences were pretty thrilling, despite it being nothing new.

Grade: B

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SCRIPT
The story is “based of true life events” and centers around New York Police detective Sarchie and his partner Butler. When they investigate a domestic disturbance, they find out they’re in for more than just an abusive husband. Through several circumstances that arise, the story works as a crime thriller and the pieces of the puzzle start to fall in line as they continue their investigation. At the same time, Sarchie, is experiencing symptoms that on the surface seems supernatural, but rather his pain is much deeper and needs a, well let’s just say a different kind of healing. Eventually Sarchie and Butler find out that the three men they were after suffer from being “demon-possessed” and need the help of Mendoza, an undercover priest who specializes in supernatural occurrences. As mentioned, there are many tropes that we’ve seen a hundred times over and the film is pretty predictable. However, there are two types of exorcisms that are featured here and one is certainly more relatable than the other.

Grade: B-

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RELATED: The Immigrant Movie Review

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PERFORMANCES
Eric Bana is pretty great in the role, selling both the crime aspects as well as the spiritual ones. His character is a man who is struggling in more ways than one and Bana showcases that well. Joel McHale is also great and delivers some nice comedic timing, in a movie that doesn’t have much humor. Édgar Ramírez, as an undercover priest, delivers a solid performance as well and delivers some dialogue that is sure worth thinking about. Olivia Munn isn’t in the film a ton, but when she’s there, she’s actually pretty good. Really, none of the supporting actors are terrible, and while some of it is stereotypical, it’s never distracting.

Grade: A-

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SCORE
Christopher Young’s score is probably the most mundane part about the film. Like the script, it’s not that it’s terrible, but rather something we’ve heard before. It certainly adds to the horror moments but in the end, it’s forgettable.

Grade: C

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FINAL THOUGHTS
Look I get it, I understand why a lot of people don’t like this movie. It certainly is unoriginal and doesn’t add anything new to the genre on a horror production standpoint, but I found the inner struggle parallels compelling and the crime drama story was still interesting. Given that, it wasn’t a bad watch and something you can still engage with.

Overall Grade: B

Director: Dave Green
Writers: Henry Gayden (screenplay), Henry Gayden (story)
Stars: Teo Halm, Astro, Reese Hartwig

Synopsis: After receiving a bizarre series of encrypted messages, a group of kids embark on an adventure with an alien who needs their help.

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DIRECTION
Dave Green’s Earth to Echo makes itself pretty clear that it’s trying to be this generations E.T., which is a standard that’s almost impossible to achieve. The premise is endearing, however, Green’s execution is pretty poor and unfortunate, because there was good potential here. The choice to film this “found footage” style wasn’t too much of a distraction, and actually made sense within the story they wanted to tell. The problem was more the pacing and editing, which was feeble and unfocused. None of the emotional beats it was going for was earned and much of it felt forced. In other words, it gets very campy. However, the visuals were pretty great and almost Transformers-esqu at times. Green uses Google maps and phone technology effectively that was fun to see on screen. Echo himself was also pretty compelling, but in the end it’s more of a lost opportunity.

Grade: C

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SCRIPT
The story centers around three kids, Alex, Tuck and Munch, who are three best friends in Nevada, but are being forced to move away from one another due to the government buying their neighborhood to build new roadways. The friends find themselves heartbroken, but Tuck narrates us through their last journey together, a story in which they find an alien whose crash landed on earth. Upon finding the alien, they name him Echo, because of the way he communicates. The kids eventually learn that Echo is wanting their help so he can rebuild his spaceship and go home. Of course, they run into trouble when mysterious construction workers catch up to them, who has been looking for Echo all this time as well. Much of the narrative is unoriginal but you have to give them credit for just going for it. It’s very much a crossover of E.T., Chronicle, a little bit of The Goonies and a little bit of Close Encounters of the Third Kind. And it’s absolutely intentional, in my opinion. All in all, the first five minutes is compelling when we learn that these three kids have to deal with the moving of their closest friends, which is heartbreaking for anyone at that age. And once again, the last five minutes of the film comes back to that premise and how they learn friendship isn’t about proximity. However, everything in between is so muddled, forced and trite, that it doesn’t earn much engagement.

Grade: C-

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PERFORMANCES
Earth to Echo stars three kids that are mostly unknown. Brian ‘Astro’ Bradley as Tuck who narrates the story and has some pretty funny lines throughout the film. Bradley’s performance was easily the best of the trio and there’s some good potential there for him. For Teo Halm, this was his first major credit, and I gotta say, he’s not bad at all. His character’s arc was forced and not written, which is no fault to him. He plays the emotional beats okay enough, but it’s not enough to save the story. Ironically, Reese Hartwig has the most credits of anyone and he is the campiest as well. His character is annoying, which was part of it, but he plays it too over the top. And here I am criticizing a 12-year-old, who am I? Let’s just say they aren’t the best performances we’ve ever seen, but they’re still adorable nonetheless.

Grade: B-

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SCORE
Joseph Trapanese has put in some great work on the Raid movies, and while this is very different, it’s still very effective and one of the best elements of the film. The music by itself is gorgeous and absolutely worth listening too. Trapanese uses a lot of strings, while going for the one’s in your heart, which is beautifully done. The use of it in the movie enhances the forced melodrama, but it doesn’t make the music less exciting. Good stuff here from Trapanese.

Grade: A-

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FINAL THOUGHTS
Earth to Echo, while I’ve given it a hard time, will most likely work for kids and young teens. It has some fun sci-fi elements and Echo is adorable, which is really all that matters right? The kids dealing with their friends moving away is something a lot of us can relate to, which is probably what makes the film more disappointing than anything. So Earth to Echo, it’s not that I’m mad at you, I’m just disappointed. Or is that just worse to say? Well, I’ll just say, of the kid-friendly material out there, go see The Lego Movie or How to Train Your Dragon 2.

Overall Grade: C