By Dave Montalbano

http://cinemadave.livejournal.com

Another awards season has come to an end, with only the Super Tuesday Primaries and March Madness to distract us until the next major mass media conflict on March 25, Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice.

While Amy took the Best Documentary Oscar, the most fan favorite documentary (according to www.rotten tomatoes.com) is Embrace of the Serpent, which makes its South Florida debut on March 11. Mad Max Fury Road garnered the most awards for its well-deserved visual and technical feats, but it was Spotlight that earned the Best Original Screenplay, which led to Best Motion Picture Award.

While Chris Rock lampooned the lack of diversity for the Academy Awards, there is a box office success story that is being ignored by Hollywood: Risen. Produced on a relatively small budget of $20 million, Risen has already earned its investors a return on their investment. Directed by Hollywood veteran Kevin Reynolds (Waterworld, Rapa Nui), Risen is a thriller about an event that happened nearly 2000 years ago.

Roman Tribune Clavius (Joseph Fiennes) is assigned to oversee the execution of a political insurgent named Jesus. By the time Clavius arrives, Jesus has died on the cross during crucifixion. While two other crucified men are tossed in a common burial pit at Golgotha, Joseph of Arimathea asks of Clavius that Jesus be interred in a family tomb. Clavius agrees.

After meeting with his supervisor Pontius Pilate (Peter Firth), Clavius is told to assign two men to guard the tomb for fear that the body of Jesus would be stolen to create a new religious movement. Despite following every forensic procedure, after three days, the body disappears.

Being the middle of the Lenten Season, many Christians are counting down to Easter Sunday on March 27. Risen opens as if it were another television version of CSI and appears to offer another series of Christian clichés. Yet, unlike many New Testament epics that focus on Jesus’ final days, Risen presents a different perspective, the afterlife of Jesus Christ.

This film provides a fresh perspective to the Independent Christian genre born12 years ago with the release of Mel Gibson’s The Passion of the Christ. While he does not strive for Gibson’s artistic intentions, Reynolds’s low key direction enhances the narrative. The film begins with violence and despair, but grows into a peaceful resolution that does not feel dull or forced.

While Risen is not likely to be mentioned in next year’s Academy Awards, a story about Jesus’ life after death is too good to pass over.

By Dave Montalbano

AdventuresOfCinemaDave.com

Despite a critical pummeling, Journey 2: The Mysterious Island has been resilient at the box office.

Currently, the IMAX treat at the IMAX Ft. Lauderdale Museum of Discovery until March 9 (when John Carter opens), this film is a fun adventure movie for the whole family.

A loose sequel to Journey to the Center of the Earth:
3-D, Josh Hutchenson returns as Sean, a teenage rebel with some intelligence. He has received a secret ham radio code from his long lost grandfather, Alexander (Michael Caine), a character who could be Kungaloosh, a member of the dearly-departed Adventurers Club. Despite protests from his Mom (Kristin Davis) and Stepfather (Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson), Sean embarks on a quest to find his grandfather.

This film is a trademark of producer Charlotte Huggins, whose previous MODS IMAX credits include Encounter in the Third Dimension,  Alien Adventure and the first Journey.

Oscar events

Four years ago, while promoting his original Journey, Hutchenson was honored by the Palm Beach International Film Festival (PBIFF).

This Sunday, PBIFF will  host an Oscar party at Mizner Park. Officially sanctioned by Oscar, the event will feature a LIVE broadcast in the Count de Hoernle Amphitheater. Admission is FREE. Dress like your favorite actor. Bring a towel and sit on the grass. Silent auction will feature the second Cinema Dave Adventure Pack. Enclosed in a large painter’s box, this pack will feature movie memorabilia, social science artifacts and my book The Adventures of Cinema Dave in the Florida Motion Picture World. www.pbifilmfest.org.

Meanwhile, The Ft. Lauderdale International Film Festival (FLIFF) will host their Oscar party at Cinema Paradiso in Ft. Lauderdale starting at 6 p.m.

Meals will be named after this year’s Oscar contenders, including Moneyball Miso Soup, Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close Thai Curry Coconut Shrimp Soup, Hugo Vietnamese Spring Rolls, Midnight in Paris Stir Fried Veggie Rice, The Artist Steamed Dumplings, War Horse Teri-yaki Meatballs, Tandoori Chicken and for dessert … The Tree of Life Ginger & lemon cake, refreshing The Descendants Sorbet Bar and The Help Rice Pudding with a complimentary glass of Sake. (www.fliff.com)

Regardless of whether you Journey 2 the Oscar parties in Cinema Paradiso or Mizner Park, Billy Crystal will be host at both events. Stay tuned past the Oscars and you might see my old classmate “Jake Byrd” from the red carpet on The Jimmy Kimmel Show.