What News Guys?

Since the February 19th ruling where a Supreme Court judge refused to grant Kesha a preliminary injunction to free her from her contrac...

Since the February 19th ruling where a Supreme Court judge refused to grant Kesha a preliminary injunction to free her from her contract with alleged abuser and producer Dr. Luke, the globe has been in an uproar. While it seemed like everyone had an opinion, there was one voice that remained quiet: Sony. The parent label to Dr. Luke’s Kemosabe Records, the imprint which Kesha is signed to, Sony has been mum through the celebrity outpour of support, Dr. Luke and Kesha personally voicing their sides, and #SonySupportsRape trending on Twitter.

That is, until today. Scott Edelman, a lawyer representing Sony Music, broke the silence, telling The New York Times, “Sony has made it possible for Kesha to record without any connection, involvement or interaction with Luke whatsoever, but Sony is not in a position to terminate the contractual relationship between Luke and Kesha.” Furthermore, he says, “Sony is doing everything it can to support the artist in these circumstances, but is legally unable to terminate the contract to which it is not a party.” We’re not sure where that leaves us in terms of where Sony’s feelings lie, only that they, sadly, have no involvement with her contract.

As the layers of complexity continue to unravel, Kesha’s case has not only become a light exposing the normalcy of abuse within the music industry, but also a devastating example of the extreme bureaucracy that has long plagued it. While technically signed to a subsidiary of Sony, it’s through a ”furnishing agreement" with Luke’s production companies Kasz Money Publishing and Prescription Songs. Her agreement rests, then, with Luke, and it is ultimately up to him if it is terminated.

Sony’s statement serendipitously comes the day before a planned protest. Tomorrow at 10am EST, Kesha fans will gather outside of Sony headquarters, on Madison Avenue in New York City, in support of the #FreeKesha movement. Lacey Kohlmoos of Care2, the group organizing the protest, told Billboard: “Whether or not Kesha’s music affected someone personally, this case represents the unfair treatment of sexual assault survivors around the globe. It is important for Sony to see the uproar they have caused, so protesters are bringing it right to their front door.”

This project went from pretty much being cancelled to being one of the most anticipated movies of 2016. It spent many years in developm...

This project went from pretty much being cancelled to being one of the most anticipated movies of 2016. It spent many years in development hell because the people at 20th Century Fox didn't believe that the project had enough box office potential…..well, they have certainly been proved wrong so far! It's the famous Marvel comic adapted to the big screen, just with a serious amount of rude jokes, nudity, crazy sex and violence…definitely not one for the kiddies!!!

Wade Wilson (Ryan Reynolds) is a former Special Forces operative turned mercenary who protects women from would-be stalkers. One night he meets female escort Vanessa (Morena Baccarin) in a strip club and they become romantically involved for about one year. His life is shattered when he discovers that he has multiple organ cancer. He undergoes an experimental procedure to cure his cancer but the serum injected by Francis aka Ajax (Ed Skrein) proves to be torturous and life changing, leaving him with special healing powers and a disfigured face. Not wanting to upset Vanessa, Wade leaves her and lives with a blind woman named Al (Leslie Uggams). With the help of X- Men Negasonic Teenage Warhead (Brianna Hildebrand) and Colossus (voice of Stefan Kapicic), the masked vigilante Deadpool as he is now known, seeks revenge and will stop at nothing to acquire a cure for his disfigurement.

The first thing I noticed was how inventive the storytelling is. The film throws you into the action from the first moment (literally: the very first moment) and then it goes back and forth in brilliant and unexpected ways to slowly unspool the story of this insane - but oddly charming - antihero. Flashbacks and fast-forwards can be annoying as hell, but when done right, they can help render even a somewhat simple story fresh and exciting. And that's exactly how Deadpool felt to me right from the start: like a fresh (if somewhat dirty) jolt of energy. Talking about comedic relief, the movie was full of pop culture references that those alone can be made into a handbook. The dirty jokes never stopped coming, and you know what, they were awesome! Everything is about political correctness these days. Here is Deadpool with his unfiltered self-expression, and it was cathartic.

Ryan Reynolds makes up for the atrocities of his previous portrayal of a comic book character in The Green Lantern. He's in excellent form here, showcasing his comedic talents which even include poking fun at himself. He lives and breathes the part of Deadpool and is sure to please fans of this 'superhero'. The in-jokes involving the X-Men characters are just one of the many highlights of the unorthodox comedy strategy employed by the writers Rhett Reese and Paul Wenick. Credit must also go to the director. This is Tim Miller's first feature length film. He is better known as a visual effects artist and it's evident in his direction how much he knows about this field. Even the CGI creation in Colossus is a character you have to admire.

The supporting cast do amazingly well as well. Colossus and Negasonic Teenage Warhead from the X-men are just the greatest additions to this film. This is easily the best incarnation of Colossus we have ever seen and with such a low budget he looked beautiful. Of course, with them on board there are some very funny Xmen jokes to look out for. Morenna Baccarin is the perfect love interest for Ryan Reynolds. Her character is a lot better than other 2-Dimensional females in comic book films. When she is introduced and the way that happens shows how much of an impact she makes and it is great.

Despite all my praise, it's not a perfect film. The villain in this revenge tale is utterly forgettable and the story itself far too derivative to do its highly unconventional protagonist (he insists he's not a hero) - justice: but it's a damn good first entry in a franchise that will hopefully explore the character and his world to a much larger extent in the sequel(s). And it's actually a very important film for another reason. If Deadpool is a financial success - which at this point is already clear it will be - this could play a vital role in how studios henceforth view the financial prospects of R-rated superhero films, and we'll hopefully see more of them in the future.

Last but not least, Deadpool, the superhero/antihero, was actually extremely likable, and Ryan Reynolds did a spectacular job bringing him to life.

A revengeful survivor story set in a terrific landscape. The audience is introduced to explorer Hugh Glass ( Leonardo DiCaprio ) e...

A revengeful survivor story set in a terrific landscape.

The audience is introduced to explorer Hugh Glass (Leonardo DiCaprio) early on in the film. A legend in his own right, Glass is charged with making sure his fellow fur trappers get home safely, as he is the one who knows the open country best. Joined by his son, Hawk (Forrest Goodluck) who is half Native American, Hugh is no stranger to tragedy. His Native American wife was killed by white soldiers, devastating Hugh and set him on a vagabond lifestyle afraid to call anywhere home too long. Along the journey, a long (seemingly endless) winter ensues and the group is forced to make difficult decisions to get home safely. Glass is seen as the most knowledgeable in regards to traveling which upsets another group member, John Fitzgerald (Tom Hardy) who almost always disagrees with Glass's assessment of whatever situation is at hand. After being viciously attacked by a bear, Glass is rendered incapacitated, unable to speak, and reliant on the group to return him to full health. The more brutal the winter becomes, the more Fitzgerald wants to leave Glass for dead and make headway along with the men, taking their firs to a big payday that awaits. Captain Andrew Henry (Domhnall Gleeson), unable to pull the trigger and put Glass out of his misery, splits the group up, leaving Glass, Hawk, and the young Bridger (Will Poulter) to care for him and return home. Seeing an opportunity, Fitzgerald volunteers to join the boys and Glass along the way. After a scuffle with Hawk, then tricking Bridger, convincing him there are Native Americans on their trail ready to kill them, they leave Glass behind to fend for himself. In abandoning Glass, Fitzgerald goes against Captain Henry's orders that if Glass should take a turn for the worst, he is to have a proper burial. Believing he will die, Fitzgerald goes about traversing the wilderness with the unwilling Bridger (who sees what kind of man Fitzgerald really is). With nothing but anger and will power assisting him, Glass vows recovery with the notion that he will hunt Fitzgerald down over his betrayal. Forever dedicated to the memory of his family, Glass fervently searches revenge as vengeance overwhelms him.

If you asked what The Revenant is in one word it would be visceral. For most of Glass's journey he is alone, and that means much of the film is without dialogue. The film chooses to tell its story through visuals instead, and this is certainly helped by the beautiful cinematography. The shots are so wide and expansive showing a huge, empty, snow- covered land that Glass must trek. It truly is so breathtaking that it seems to almost be alien, the land seems so unfamiliar by today's highly modernized society that the film is almost a fantasy. However, there is a point where the expansive shots become somewhat intrusive and break the narrative's flow, but it is hard to complain as each one is more beautiful than the last. There are also many nuances that help the film become more immersive, such as when characters breathe the camera lens will become foggy or the camera will switch from the perspective of the character to the perspective of the audience (This entails parts that go from a first person perspective to a third person perspective). These are small details, but they help the film create a much more realistic world. If you were forced to describe The Revenant with another word it would be unpleasant. From the brutally clear sound mixing to the downright terrifying action sequences, The Revenant is not for the faint of heart. The film immerses you in its reality, but that reality is an incredibly brutal one. Some scenes go on for so long while Glass endures such physical pain that is hard to watch, let alone stomach. Even the sounds and sights can be disorienting, confusing or just downright painful (such as one part where a man repeatedly scrapes a knife against a canteen) and even though the film going experience is certainly not a fun one because of this, but it almost puts you in Glass's shoes by subjecting you to the harsh reality that he lives in.

It is, I would say, 100% guaranteed that Leonardo will finally win an Oscar. His role was the hardest one this year and he pulled it of beautifully. Maybe his best acting job ever. Tom Hardy, brilliant actor with huge potential. Great acting from him, not just in this movie, but in all movies he stared in 2015. Three great movies and three great acting performances from him. He worked hard in 2015 and has done everything beautifully, so he deserves an Oscar.

(Note : I didn't know it was Tom Hardy as Fitzgerald until the first 45 minutes LOL)