My View: Don’t
Breathe (2016) R Suspenseful film about a group of friends who
break into a house inhabited by a blind man. They think it will be an easy
heist…boy are they wrong. I enjoyed this
film, but let me tell you, there is a lot of violence, gruesome, bone-cracking
violence in this film. Also, there is a scene that is so gross, the audience I
saw the film with let out a huge “eew.” There is a lot of suspense in this
movie, and it builds extremely well. I thought that Jane Levy did an
outstanding job as the cat burglar, Rocky, who steals to get enough money to
take her and her sister out of state and away from their abusive mother. There
is an excellent use of sound in this film, making the scenes incredibly tense.
What I liked about this movie is that takes a very simple premise and makes it
a highly entertaining film. But, be warned, it is very violent, and you will be
talking about the gross scene long after the movie ends. My Rating: Full Price Don't Breathe Website
My View: Hands of
Stone (2016) R Roberto Duran (Edgar Ramirez) was one of the
toughest fighters ever. He fought from age 16 to age 50. In 1980, he defeated
Sugar Ray Leonard (Usher) to capture the WBC welterweight title. That was just
the start of the story. The film takes
what is a remarkable tale and makes it seem generic. The script, which has some
horrible dialogue, lets down the cast,
especially Edgar Ramirez, who, in spite of the script, gives a phenomenal
performance. Robert De Niro didn't seem to break a sweat playing the legendary trainer, Ray Arcel, who takes Duran under his wing. I hated the editing of the fight sequences, which were choppy and
hard to follow. The film tries to cover too much of Duran’s life and so seems
to drag in certain places. The film takes a fascinating, dynamic fighter and
makes him seem dull. My Rating: Cable Hands of Stone Facebook Page
Indiefest: Southside
with You (2016) PG-13 The film chronicles the first date in 1989
Chicago of future President Barack (Parker Sawyers) and Michelle Obama (Tika
Sumpter). I enjoyed this romantic drama by director/writer Richard Tanne, as it
has a nice light touch of romance with some smarts to it, much like the
subjects it profiles. The film concentrates on two people getting to know each
other, both confident in their abilities to express themselves and make a
point. Tanne creates a world where we see the potential in both of these people
individually and as a team. It’s the dialogue that makes this film interesting
and fun to watch. The heart of this movie and why it works so well is the
performances by Tika Sumpter and Parker Sawyers. Sumpter gives a spirited and
fiery performance as Michelle, while also being a little reserved, almost cold,
especially early on. Sumpter plays off Parker well, with the patter between the
two seeming natural and effortless. Sawyers does an excellent job capturing the
future President’s speech pattern and mannerisms. It’s a delightful romance
that works on every level. My Rating:
Full Price Southside with You Website
Indiefest: Miss
Sharon Jones! (2016) This documentary
follows R&B singer Miss Sharon Jones in the most challenging year of her
life when she confronts pancreatic cancer. Cancer will soon learn that you
can’t keep a Grammy nominated powerhouse down for long. This documentary is
from the two-time Academy Award-winning documentary filmmaker Barbara Kopple.
Kopple’s camera follows Jones, who is talkative and mostly upbeat, as she goes
from surgery to remove and reroute her organs, to moving in with a holistic
nutritionist to help her with recovery from her chemo. The film contrasts the
concert scenes of the past, where Jones is a whirling dervish, to a woman who
has lost her strength so much that she struggles to walk up a flight of stairs.
We get to see the smaller moments of Jones’s struggle. You are constantly
amazed at her positivity and her lust for life, such as when she revels in
telling the camera of her seemingly endless list of daytime TV watching or when
she interacts with other chemo patients, always with a positive attitude and
ear to listen to their stories. You are going to want to go on this journey
with this fireplug of a singer who, through her grace, spirit makes you feel
better about the world, a world filled with the beautiful music that she
creates. My Rating: Full Price Miss Sharon Jones! Website
Forgotten Film: The
Whole Wide World (1996) PG In a small Texas town in the 1930s, a young
schoolteacher, Novalyne (Renee Zellweger), meets a young man named Robert
Howard (Vincent D’Onofrio). Robert is the writer of the Conan the Barbarian
stories and is quite shy and a little strange. They start up a friendship that
just might lead to better things. This is a beautiful story about two people
who seem exact opposites but find common ground to relate to each other. Zellweger
is dazzling as the school teacher with the heart of gold, and D’Onofrio gives
one of his best performances. My Rating: Full Price The Whole Wide World Info
Weird Credits: From
the credits of Don’t Breathe: Standby
Props
Coming Soon to a Theatre Near You: The Magnificent Seven (2016) PG-13 Two of my favorite films are Seven Samurai (1954), the original source for both westerns and The Magnificent
Seven (1960), so I am looking forward to this retelling of the tale of seven
gunfighters coming to the defense of a western town. The cast includes Denzel
Washington, Chris Pratt and Ethan Hawke. The Magnificent Seven Facebook page
Until Next Time!