+3
Dallas Buyers Club (2013): One of the better movies I've seen from last year. Matthew McConaughey and Jared Leto deserved their Oscar statuettes. Their phenomenal performances escalate the movie to another level. It's startling to see how much weight both men lost to prepare for their roles. In the last couple of years, McConaughey has transformed from an actor I purposely avoided to an actor whose work I genuinely look forward to watching. 4.5 out of 5
Oldboy (2013): Not as good as the original, but still a solid movie. I probably would've liked it more if I was unfamiliar with the story and all of its twists and turns. 3 out of 5
Maniac (2012): An improvement over the 1980 original, but that's not saying much. The remake is filmed entirely from the perspective of the Maniac--- similar to found-footage, only different, since the "camera" here is the main character's eyes. The unique approach sets the film apart from your typical slasher. Plus there's an added level of creepiness to seeing through the character's eyes as he stalks and stabs and strangles his victims. However, I think the effect would've been stronger if used in moderation. Save the first-person perspective for the stalks and kills and hallucinations, but allow the audience to see the main character, played by Elijah Wood, when he's attempting to interact with others and portray some sense of normalcy. Regardless, it's an interesting film, even if it isn't wholly successful. Fans of slashers will probably like it. Others not so much. 2 out of 5