Guardians of the Galaxy

My View: Guardians of the Galaxy (2014)  PG-13  Peter Quill (Chris Pratt) is a thief who goes by the name, Star-Lord, and who travels through the Galaxy stealing objects for a group of smugglers called, the Ravagers. After stealing an orb, he discovers that everyone in the Galaxy wants the orb due to its immense power. Now, he must team up with some fellow misfits to keep the orb from the evil Ronan (Lee Pace). This film is a blast to watch! You’ll have to see the film twice, as you’ll miss dialogue because you’re laughing so hard. The storyline is creative, and the special effects are amazing.  Chris Pratt is going to be a big star because of this film. Besides Pratt, the two breakout stars are Groot, a tree-like humanoid voiced by Vin Diesel, and Rocket, a talking, genetically engineered raccoon voiced by Bradley Cooper. Both are animated for the film, and they are the funniest buddy team since Eddie Murphy and Nick Nolte paired up in 48 Hours (1988). Audiences are going to fall in love with Groot, who only delivers one line, “I am Groot.” The soundtrack is fun, and the film has a number of great fight / battle sequences. It’s worth seeing in 3-D, and there is a special added scene at the end of the credits. My Rating: I Would Pay to See it Again  Guardians of the Galaxy Website

My View: Get On Up (2014)  PG-13  The story of James Brown (Chadwick Boseman), his rise from poverty to one of the biggest icons in the music world.  Boseman makes an amazing James Brown, and gets all the dance moves of Brown’s down to perfection. The concert portions of the film are very well done and give you the experience of seeing one of the great showman’s ever work a crowd. Unfortunately, Boseman and the rest of the excellent cast are let down by the script. The film shifts its timeline constantly, which makes the film stop and start too many times. In addition, on a number of occasions, Brown leaves the scene he is in to address the audience directly, commenting on what is happening. That breaking of “the fourth wall” is too jarring and doesn’t help us understand the characters or the story. The film is too long and doesn’t explore Brown’s struggle with addiction and his bad behavior with women. I loved the music and Boseman’s performance; I just wish it was in a better film. My Rating: Bargain Matinee  Get On Up Website

Indiefest: Boyhood (2014)  R  We watch Mason, Jr. (Ellar Coltrane) grow up from age 6 to age 18 as he experiences the trials and tribulations of a son from a broken marriage.  This is an stunning, groundbreaking film that is one of the best movies I have seen in the past five years. Shot over twelve years, this film features four main characters who grow both physically and emotionally. This is a very simple story of a family trying to survive a marriage that, as we open the film, has just collapsed. Patricia Arquette and Ethan Hawke play the parents of Mason. Lorelei Linklater plays Mason’s sister. The whole cast does an unbelievable job of making us care about this family and their well-being. Richard Linklater directed / wrote this film, and it’s one you should not miss. My Rating: I Would Pay to See it Again  Boyhood Website

Indiefest: Happy Christmas (2014) R  Twenty-something Jenny (Anna Kendrick) arrives at her brother’s house with bag in-hand and no idea how long she will stay. Her brother, Jeff (Joe Swanberg), is a filmmaker married to his novelist wife, Kelly (Melanie Lynskey). The idea is that Jenny can live with them for a while if she helps care for Jeff and Kelly’s two-year-old son. The question is, can Jenny be trusted with that much responsibility? The reason to watch this film is the lead, Anna Kendrick, and the supporting actress, Melanie Lynskey. Kendrick is her usual delightful self in a role that isn’t so lovable. Lynskey, using her native New Zealand accent, is impressive as the mom who has given up her life as a novelist to raise her son. What makes this film unique is that all the dialogue is ad-libbed by the cast. My Rating: Full Price  Happy Christmas Website

Forgotten Film: Manhunter (1986)  R  A ex-FBI profiler (William Petersen) is called out of retirement because a serial killer named, “Tooth Fairy” is terrorizing a town.  To catch the killer, the profiler will have to consult with another serial killer who is behind bars, Dr. Hannibal Lecktor (Brian Cox). This is an interesting film that keeps you guessing up until the very end. Cox makes a really creepy Lecktor, and Petersen is at the top of his game as the profiler who hoped police work was in his past. This film is just as good as Silence of the Lambs.  See it!. My Rating: Full Price  Manhunter Info

Weird Credits: From the credits of Get On Up: playback singer

Coming Soon to a Theatre Near You: If I Stay (2014) PG-13  Mia (Chloe Grace Moretz) is a young girl who, after a car accident, is in a coma. She has an out-of-body experience where she is given the choice of waking up or going on to the afterlife. I think Moretz is one of the better up-and-coming actresses in Hollywood today, and I love watching her on-screen.  If I Stay Website

Until Next Time!

Transformers: Age of Extinction

My View:  Transformers: Age of Extinction (2014)  PG-13 Four years after the invasion of Chicago, a mechanic (Mark Wahlberg) and his daughter (Nicola Peltz) find a broken down semi -truck. It turns out the truck is a deactivated Optimus Prime.  The mechanic fires up the truck and starts a chain of events that could destroy the world. If you like dumb, pointless movies with loads of bad dialogue and action sequences that make no sense, then this is your movie. It’s one long (almost three hours) mess of a film franchise that has never valued its human actors over the robots.  The first third of the film was promising, as we got to know Wahlberg’s character and his first interactions with Optimus.  But, by the end, we really don’t care what happens. Yes, there are robots riding dinosaur robots, but, at this point, we don’t care, and  we just want all the robot violence to end. By the there are so many product placement products in this film, it would make a great drinking game.  The film is not worth seeing in 3-D, and there are no bonus scenes during the credits. Mr. Bay, I would like my 3 hours back, now!  My Rating: You Would Have to Pay Me to See it Again  Transformers: Age of Extinction Website

Indiefest:  Obvious Child (2014) R A standup comedian (Jenny Slate) gets dumped by her boyfriend in the bathroom of a comedy club. She finds out that her day job, at a bookstore she loves, is closing.  After doing a miserable standup routine while drunk, she meets a nice guy and sleeps with him.  A few weeks later she discovers that she is pregnant and makes the decision to have an abortion. Now, the question is, does she tell her parents, and, more importantly, the guy she slept with? This is a downright funny film, and Jenny Slate is perfect in the role of a girl with a wicked sense of humor whom you just can’t help rooting for.  The film is getting a lot of attention due to the topic of abortion is the centerpiece of the film, but it’s really a movie about relationships.  How we try to hang on to old ones, how we need our close friends and family for support, and how we must be open to new ones is what this film is about.  I laughed throughout this romantic comedy, finding myself falling in love with Jenny Slate, and I think you will too.  My Rating: Full Price  Obvious Child Website

Indiefest:  Ivory Tower (2014)  PG-13 A documentary about the high cost of college and dealing with the mounting problem of student loans. This is an interesting film that looks at the high cost of higher education and how the student loan system has become such a big business.  What I liked about this film is it explores a number of solutions to the problem, whether it be online education or non-traditional education (like a college in Death Valley that is on a working ranch). It’s a film that any parent needs to see and the debt of student loans (more than the credit card debt in this country) is something that needs to be explored. My Rating: Full Price  Ivory Tower Website

Indiefest:  We Are the Best! (2013) Three girls, Bobo (Mira Barkhammar), Klara (Mira Grosin) and Hedvig (Liv LeMoyne) in 1980’s decide to form a punk band.  The only problem - they can’t play any instruments. Oh, and, by the way, they are told that punk is dead.  This is a joy of a film to watch as the three actress give incredible performances.  Grosin, who plays the outspoken Klara, pinballs from scene to scene with energy of a girl who wants to get everything she can out of life.  LeMoyne, playing the more restrained Hedvig, has real musical talent and a nice presence on screen.  The film relies on Barkhammar as Bobo, to carry the film and she does so with ease.  The musical soundtrack  helps the film move along, using old punk songs from the late 70’s and early eighties.  This is one of those films that you are glad you spent some time with the characters. My Rating: I Would Pay to See it Again  We Are the Best! Website  

Forgotten Film:  Tie Me Up! Tie Me Down!  (1989) NC-17 A former mental patient (Antonio Banderas) seeks out a former lover (Victoria Abril), who happens to be an actress and part-time porn star.  When she rebukes his marriage proposal, he kidnaps her and holds her prisoner.  This film isn’t for everybody, but I found it funny and extremely witty.  Banderas is the best he has ever been in this film and has chemistry with Abril, who plays the woman he is trying to make love him, even though his methods are a bit extreme. Directed by Pedro Almodovar, it’s a film that never takes itself seriously. It’s a movie that just should be enjoyed. My Take:  Full Price  Tie Me Up, Tie Me Down! Info

 

Weird Credits:  From the credits of Transformers: Age of Extinction: sculptor gang boss

 

Coming Soon to a Theatre Near You:  Boyhood (2014) R The buzz from critics on this Richard Linklater film is hitting a fever pitch.  The film about a boy growing up, was shot over a 12 year time period. The film stars Ellar Coltrane, Patricia Arquette, Ethan Hawke, and  Elijah Smith. Boyhood Website

Until Next Time!