The Grudge and Mike's Top Ten Films of 2019

My View: The Grudge (2019) R   A house is cursed by a ghost hell-bent on getting vengeance by dooming anyone who enters will die a violent death. The first The Grudge (2004) was a surprise hit, mostly riding on the coattails of Buffy’s Sarah Michelle Gellar. After two lesser successful sequels, they have decided to reboot the series with this film. While the original movie wasn’t a slam dunk, it did have its scary moments and was worth the watch. I can’t say the same thing about this film. The film does a very clumsy tie-in to the first film and then proceeds to jump back in forth between three or is it four stories (I was too bored to keep track). The film has a bunch of jump out of the dark scares that don’t ever work, and the movie never builds any suspense. I now have a grudge against the writer/director of this film for making sit through ninety-three minutes of boring  My Rating: You Would Have to Pay Me to See it Again   The Grudge Website

Indiefest: Cunningham (2019)  PG   Documentary on Merce Cunningham and the history of his iconic dance company. A fascinating film about a cutting-edge choreographer/dancer who created a ground-breaking company that pushed the boundaries of music and dance. When asked if he wrote and performed ‘avant-garde’ pieces, he replied, ‘I don’t describe it, I just do it.’ The film beautifully recreates some Cunningham’s most well-known pieces, often in usual settings such as a forest or the top of a high-rise. There are also behind-the-scenes glimpses of Cunningham at work with his dancers, plus archival footage of the company performing on live television. Cunningham isn’t a film for everyone, but for lovers of theater and dance, it is a must-see.    My Rating: Full Price    Cunningham Website

Forgotten Film: Whale Rider (2002)  PG-13   On the east coast of New Zealand, the Whangara people believe that they were founded by an ancestor, Paikea, who, when his canoe capsized, he rode to shore on the back of a whale. This New Zealand tribe believes that the first-born sons are the only heirs that can become the chief. Pai (Keisha Castle-Hughes) believes that it is her destiny to become chief, against the wishes and beliefs of her grandfather, Koro (Rawin Paratene), she fights against a thousand years of tradition to fulfill her place in history. A stirring film of courage, with the unbelievable setting of New Zealand, along with Castle-Hughes giving us a magical and uplifting performance as the determined Pai, make this a film you will want to watch.   My Rating: Full Price    Whale Rider Info

Weird Credits: From the credits of The Grudge: Special MUFX Show Runner

Coming Soon to a Theatre Near You: Just Mercy  (2019) PG-13   A young Harvard grad lawyer (Michael B. Jordan) could have the pick of any job in the country, but he picks Alabama to set up a law firm specializing in advocating for death row inmates he feels to have been wrongly condemned. He meets and defends Walter McMillan (Jamie Foxx), a man convicted of a notorious murder of an 18-year-old-girl. As I stated before, I will see any film starring Michael B. Jordan.    Just Mercy Website

Mike’s Top Ten Films of 2019

1).  1917   (film comes out Jan. 10th)

2).  Parasite   Parasite Review

3).  Marriage Story  Marriage Story Review

4).  The Peanut Butter Falcon   The Peanut Butter Falcon Review

5).  The Irishman    The Irishman Review

6).  Little Women    Little Women Review

7).  Avengers: End Game   Avengers: End Game Review

8).  Knives Out    Knives Out Review

9).  Apollo 11    Apollo 11 Review

10). The Little Biggest Farm    The Biggest Little Farm Review

Honorable Mention: Honeyland, Once Upon a Time…In Hollywood, Pain and Glory, Uncut Gems, Toy Story 4, I Lost My Body, Booksmart, Ford vs Ferrari, Us, Diego Maradona, The Amazing Jonathan, Jojo Rabbit, One Child Nation, Maiden, Late Night, Dolemite Is My Name

Until Next Time!

Greta

My View:  Greta  (2018)  R  A young woman, Frances (Chloe Grace Moretz), befriends a widow (Isabelle Huppert) against the advice of her roommate (Maika Monroe). Frances will soon regret that she started up the friendship. This is a really strange stalker film with a performance by Isabelle Huppert that is just wacky. I enjoyed some of the film but I think that the filmmakers pushed it too far into left field and it never quite returns. I like Chloe Grace Moretz as an actress but she only has two expressions in this film; afraid and angry. My Rating: Cable    Greta Website

Indiefest:  Ruben Brandt, Collector  (2018)  R  A Psychotherapist (Iven Kamaras) suffers from violent nightmares inspired by famous works of art. He hires four patients of his to steal the artwork because he believes if he posses the artwork, the nightmares will stop. I can’t tell you how much I enjoyed this film. Part film noir, part experimental animation, the film has a unique look to it. All the characters look like they are right out of a Picasso painting, with some having two heads or three eyes. The plot is really cool and there are some great action sequences (one is a car chase in the streets of Paris). I highly recommend this animated action film for adults   My Rating: Full Price    Ruben Brandt, Collector Website

Indiefest:  The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind  (2019)  A young boy named William (Maxwell Simba) lives in a small village that is suffering through a horrible drought. To help his village survive he build a wind turbine inspired by a bike headlight. This is moving film about a family that is tearing apart and how a young boy saves the family and their crops by a keen mind and determination to never give up. Chiwetel Ejiofor, who stars as William’s father, also wrote and directed the film. Maxwell Simba gives a moving performance as William. The film is a beautiful look of a family struggling with life in a harsh country.  My Rating: Full Price    The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind Website

Indiefest:  To Dust  (2018)  R  Shmuel (Geza Rohrig) is a Hassidic cantor in upstate New York who has just lost his wife and is struggling to find religious solace. He is secretly obsessing over how his wife’s body will decay. He develops a strange relationship with Albert (Matthew Broderick), a local community college biology professor. This film deals with death and how two very different men help each other and become unlikely friends. Geza Rohrig gives a brilliant and passionate performance of a man who is having a hard time dealing with the loss of his wife. Matthew Broderick is funny as the dim professor who is reluctantly helping Shmuel understand how a body decomposes.  My Rating:  Full Price   To Dust Website

Indiefest:  Apollo 11  (2019)  G   Documentary that looks at the landing on the moon by the Apollo 11 mission led by Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin. Run, don’t walk, to your local IMAX theatre and see this amazing and spectacular film. This is one of the best documentaries that I have ever seen. It is worth the extra money for IMAX for the launch sequence alone. The footage is stunning and you see the mission from so many angles. I am a space junkie, having seen the landing while I was eleven on a B&W small tv in Mexico, but there is footage in this film that I have never seen before. One of the best film experiences that I have ever had.  My Rating:  I Would Pay to See it Again   Apollo 11 Website

Forgotten Film:  Altered States  (1980)  R  A Harvard scientist (William Hurt) conducts experiments on himself with a hallucinatory drug while he is in an isolation chamber. He starts to exhibit problems due to the process. Directed by Ken Russell and written by Paddy Chayefsky, this movie is one strange trip. The film delightfully goes in multiple directions because not only is this about tripping on mushrooms, it is also a love story between the scientist and his wife (played by the talented Blair Brown). The special effects for the time are amazing and it has a great soundtrack too.  My Rating:  Full Price    Altered States Info

Weird Credits:  From the credits of Greta:  Piano Coach

Coming Soon to a Theatre Near You:  The Mustang  (2019)  R  Roman Coleman (Matthias Schoenaerts) is in prison for a violent crime. He volunteers for a rehabilitation therapy program involving the training of wild mustangs. The trailer is great and the stellar cast includes Connie Britton, Bruce Dern, and Jason Mitchell.    The Mustang Website

Until Next Time!

How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World

Family Faire:  How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World  (2019)  PG  When Hiccup (Jay Baruchel) discovers that Toothless isn’t the only Night Fury dragon, he must seek ‘The Hidden World.’ a secret dragon utopia with Astrid (America Ferrera) before a hired tyrant named Grimmel (F. Murray Abraham) finds it.  The third and final film in the series is a fitting ending to a wonderful series of films about the love of a young man and his faithful dragon companion. The animation is striking, the storyline is heartfelt and the film moves at a nice pace. I am going to miss these characters that I have grown so fond of. One warning, if you haven’t seen the other two films in the series, you need to watch them before you take in this one.  My Take:  Full Price   How to Train Your Dragon Website

My View:  Fighting With My Family  (2019)  PG  Sayara (Florence Pugh) has been dreaming of wrestling in the WWE since she was thirteen, working small shows that her family puts on in England. She gets her chance when she is picked from a tryout with the WWE. Now can she beat the odds and make it to the big time? I am going to say something shocking, this is a really good movie! I can’t believe I am saying this about a WWE production, but the movie is fun, touching and moving. Now be warned that Dwayne Johnson is only in two scenes in the film but both are fun to watch. I loved all the cameos that the WWE wrestlers did in the film. The wrestling scenes are well done and Pugh is a force on the screen. Go see this film!   My Rating:  Full Price   Fighting With My Family Website

In Case You Missed It (A movie just released on DVD/Blu-Ray):  Can You Ever Forgive Me?  (2018)  R    Lee Israel (Melissa McCarthy) has made her living writing about celebrities. When she falls out of style and can’t get published, she begins to forges letters from deceased authors and playwrights. Melissa McCarthy gives a stunning performance of someone who is utterly unlikeable. In fact both her character and her best friend, Jack (played superbly by Richard E. Grant), a gay man who doesn’t seem to have a job or a home, are horrible people. McCarthy’s character thinks that she is the greatest writer in the world and that nobody realizes that. It makes Lee bitter and angry at the world. Jack gets by on his looks, which are rapidly fading as he ages, and by selling cocaine. The film is entertaining to watch as we wait for when it will all fall apart for Lee. You are not going to like these characters, but you are going to love the film and its performances.    My Rating: Full Price     Can You Ever Forgive Me? Website

Forgotten Film:  Otley  (1969)  Otley (Tom Courtenay) is a down and out antique dealer and sometime pickpocket that gets thrown out of his apartment for not paying rent. He sleeps that night in a friends home for the night and wakes up two days later in an airport field. He finds out he is wanted for killing his friend and then finds himself entangled in international espionage. Because of the success of the James Bond books and films, the 60s were filled with spy thrillers but also films that made fun of the spy thrillers. This is a fun ride with a number of twist and turns that make this film so much fun to watch. Courtenay is brilliant in the role of an everyday guy that gets caught up in stuff that is way over his head.  My Rating:  Full Price    Otley Info

Weird Credits:  From the credits of Fighting With My Family: Personal Barber to Dwayne Johnson

Coming Soon to a Theatre Near You:  Apollo 11  (2019)  G  Documentary on the Apollo 11 mission that placed the first man on the moon. I really want to see this film on an IMAX screen. The film won the editing award and was up for the Grand Jury award at the 2018 Sundance Film Festival.     Apollo 11 Info

Until Next Time!