NEBRASKA

Directed by: Alexander Payne
Starring: Bruce Dern, Will Forte, June Squibb, Stacy Keach, Bob Odenkirk
Running time: 110 minutes

I always wonder how The Simpsons in real life and now I have the answer in Nebraska, a black and white (since Alexander Payne wanted to produce an "iconic, archetypal look") film about an old man's journey to fulfill his life.

Alexander Payne is the perfect choice for this film, having launched The Descendants into major awards, this one is nominated for six Academy Awards, including best picture. So what's this all about? Woody Grant (Bruce Dern) is an old man who believes that he just won US$1 million. His son, David (Will Forte) knows that it is actually just a scam for magazine subscription and after several funny and stubborn exchanges, decided to play along his father, taking him to Lincoln, Nebraska.

But not before stopping by in Hawthorne where Woody's past and his brothers catch up with him, also with the "news" that Woody won a lot of money. Soon they gather and bicker about anything, from the past, present and off course, the money itself. I like Bruce Dern's act here since he can portray a quirky grandpa with no regrets in life. He is Homer Simpson of real life in Nebraska.

The whole film itself is not as depressive as August: Osage County, but a bittersweet homage to almost extinct American extended family in the Midwest and a reminder to us all, that no matter how old you are, to achieve what you want is worth fighting for.

DALLAS BUYERS CLUB

Directed by: Jean-Marc Vallée
Starring: Matthew McConaughey, Jennifer Garner, Jared Leto
Running Time: 116 minutes

I used to undermine Matthew McConaughey since he was once famous starring in romantic comedies such as The Wedding Planner (2001), How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days (2003), Failure to Launch (2006) and Ghosts of Girlfriends Past (2009). I think there are no big challenges as an actor to act in rom coms, but when this Texan actor takes a U turn with The Lincoln Lawyer (2011) I start to take notice.

His southie accent is something and in Mud (2012) I enjoy his act. So without further introduction I watch this one, which happened to be nominated in major awards this year.  As a skinny rodeo driver, McConaughey act as Ronny Woodroof, an anti hero in the first wave of AIDS plague in the 80s. At first Woodroof is in denial, thinking that only homosexual will get AIDS, not heterosexual like him.

Woodrof who had no degree in pharmacy and infected with HIV, took a turn by overcoming FDA regulations and importing unlicensed medicine (or drugs) which he distributed through his "club", Dallas Buyers Club. The result were impressive although it breaks the law. It is also worth noted that Jared Leto as Rayon/Raymond comes flawless in the screen. Long gone the bearded vocalist of 30 second to Mars, replaced by a suave transgender as Woodroof's sidekick in the club. This odd couple will make the FDA realize their mistakes.

I know such theme (especially since it is loaded with events only those who know what US is in the 80s when facing AIDS epidemic)  is a hard sell among mainstream audiences but if you like a good story and acting, this one worth your time.

12 YEARS A SLAVE

Directed by: Steve McQueen

Starring: Benedict Cumberbatch, Brad Pitt, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Michael Fassbender, Paul Dano

Runtime: 133 minutes

Slavery, upon listening to that word most people will get a hard time recognizing it. It felt like ages ago that people still practice slavery. Although in today's world slavery still existed. In 2012 we have Django Unchained, the pop corn version of slavery, now we have the gritty and uncompromising 12 Years A Slave.

With only two movies before this one (Hunger and Shame), McQueen is gambling his future by taking a very serious theme. The torture and flogging are represented as it is, it will make you flinch and wonder; why does such atrocities happened at all? Don't these slave owner have consciousness or not?

To discuss the historical and socio-cultural aspect of slavery will take so much time so I will just review the movie itself. Chiwetel Ejiofor is Solomon Northrop, a free African American. At that time some African American are free man, not all of them are slaves. One day Solomon got kidnapped and sold as a slave for years, taken away from his family for years and facing numerous act of violence (and kindness) professed not just by the slave owners but fellow slaves too.

What I like from this film is not just the uncompromising violence and depiction of human degradation by another human being, but also the gradation of characters in it. Not all slave owners are maniac like Epps (Michael Fassbender), one is sympathetic like William Ford (Benedict Cumberbatch) although not as 21st century sympathetic, more like a 19th century slave owner sympathetic.

After seeing this I wonder, why such thing ever happened? Why does nobody, not even the slaves, rebel against such deprivation and degradation? Perhaps the answer lies in history books and analysis from expert. Somehow McQueen succeeded in making a gripping tale of human survival and it deserves to win best picture at the BAFTA and nominated for the same category in this year's Oscar.