The Space Between Us

My View:  The Space Between Us  (2017)  PG-13  Set in the near future, an astronaut stationed on Mars, gives birth to a boy, Gardner Elliot. The boy is now a teenager (Asa Butterfield) and has made friends on-line with a girl named, Tulsa (Britt Robertson), on Earth. Gardner is given a chance to go to Earth. There he will experience an adventure of a lifetime. This is almost a sure thing to be on my bottom ten list of films for this year. The dialogue is atrocious, and the plot has holes that you could drive a rocket ship through.  There is absolutely no chemistry between Butterfield and Robertson, making their love story hard to believe. There were several times that I grimaced when a new, unbelievable plot point was introduced, including a bi-plane (that Robertson is piloting) crashes into a barn, and a huge explosion ensues. I was constantly wondering what Gary Oldman and Carla Gugino, two actors whom I like and respect, are doing in this mess of a movie.    My Rating: You Would Have to Pay Me to See it Again   The Space Between Us Website

My View:  The Comedian  (2017)  R  Jackie (Robert De Niro) is an insult comedian who has seen better days. His fans are stuck in the past when he had a hit TV show in the 80’s. Jackie has just about hit rock bottom, so can he mount one last comeback? This movie should have been better, and I think its failing is due to its star. I never believed that De Niro was a stand-up comedian. His delivery is horrible, he looks so uncomfortable up on stage, and he was not helped by jokes that aren’t much better.  The movie only comes to life when Leslie Mann is on-screen as the love interest. There is great chemistry between De Niro and Mann, and the film slows way down when she is off-screen. I did enjoy seeing a bunch of old pros like Charles Grodin and Billy Crystal give De Niro’s character some guff, but the film never finds its footing, and I hated the ending (it should have ended 5 minutes before).  If you are going to make a film about a comic, the heckler in the film shouldn’t be the funniest thing in the movie.   My Rating:  Cable   The Comedian Website

Indiefest:  I Am Not Your Negro  (2017)  PG-13 A documentary about race in America as told through the voice of writer James Baldwin. This is an outstanding film that uses the words of legendary writer James Baldwin to examine the issue of race in today’s America. When Baldwin died, he was writing a book about the lives and murders of three of Baldwin’s closest friends, three giants in the civil rights movement, Medgar Evers, Malcolm X and Martin Luther King, Jr. The film uses interviews and speeches that Baldwin gave throughout his life, as he spoke about the struggle of black men and women in the 60s and 70s. Sharp editing and moving narration by a toned down Samuel L. Jackson make this a moving and insightful film. Watch this thought-provoking film, and you will see why it has won so many awards and why it’s up for an Academy Award.   My Rating:  I Would Pay to See it Again   I Am Not Your Negro Website

Forgotten Film:  Jackie Brown (1997)   R   Jackie (Pam Grier) is a flight attendant who supplements her income by smuggling in money from Mexico for an arms dealer named Ordell Robbie (Samuel L. Jackson). She is caught by FBI agents, and then they convince her to help them set up Ordell. Now Jackie, with the help of a bail bondsman named Max (Robert Forster) is going to run a con on both the FBI and Ordell to get Jackie the money she deserves. This film, written and directed by Quentin Tarantino, has some of the best dialogue ever written. Pam Grier gives a performance of a lifetime, and Robert Forster is brilliant as the over-the-hill bail bondsman who falls for Jackie. The film is fast moving and has an ending that perfectly fits this film.    My Rating:  I Would Pay to See It Again   Jackie Brown Info

In Case You Missed It (A Film Just Released on DVD / Blu-ray):  Queen of Katwe  (2016) PG The film follows the life of Phiona Mutesi (Madina Natwanga), a Ugandan chess prodigy from Katwe, who becomes a Woman Candidate Master after her performances at World Chess Olympiads.  This film works because the film treats its subject with such a loving touch. The fact that this is a true story makes it all the more uplifting and impressive. It’s a charming and inspirational film that will have you rooting for the underdog, a young woman with an extraordinary skill and an impressive drive to be the best. A great film for kids of any age to watch!   My Rating: Full Price   Queen of Katwe Website

Weird Credits:  From the credits of The Space Between Us:  Global Director of Motion Picture Logistics

Coming Soon to A Theatre Near You: Beauty and the Beast  (2017)  PG  I was skeptical about remaking the beloved animated film into a live-action movie but the trailer looks beautiful and amazing.    Beauty and the Beast Website

Until Next Time!

The Longest Ride

My View:  The Longest Ride (2015) PG-13   Luke (Scott Eastwood) is a professional bull rider who is trying to make a comeback and make it to the PBR (Professional Bull Riders) finals. Sophia (Britt Robertson) is an art major who is about to graduate and do an internship at a New York City art gallery. They meet and start dating but only after encountering an old man (Alan Alda) whom they rescue from a car accident. Now their interaction with him will change their lives forever. I liked this film. Yes, it has all the Nicholas Sparks plot points; there is a death, two star-crossed lovers, lovers separated for a time, etc.  What I think is different about this film is the bull riding sequences are well done and exciting. There is good chemistry from Eastwood and Robertson, and Alan Alda makes any film better. I would rank this film third in the Sparks movie list behind A Walk to Remember and The Notebook.   My Rating: Bargain Matinee   The Longest Ride Website  My interview with Nicholas Sparks, Scott Eastwood and Britt Robertson

My View:   While We’re Young (2015)  R   A middle-aged couple’s (Ben Stiller, Naomi Watts) lives are overturned when a young couple (Amanda Seyfried, Adam Driver) infiltrate their lives. Their world will never be the same. This is an excellent adult comedy about dealing with aging when your mind says you are still 25, but your body says you’re in your late 40’s. Stiller and Watts work well together and have some terrific scenes. Driver and Seyfried are the perfect young couple, full of energy and stupidity. The strong point of this film is the dialogue, which the cast performs at a quick, very crisp and funny pace. Twenty-somethings will like this film, Fortysomethings (and beyond) will love this film. This was one of my favorite films from the SXSW Film Festival.  My Rating: Full Price  While We're Young Website

Indiefest:   Kill Me Three Times (2014)  R    A professional hit man, Charlie Wolfe (Simon Pegg), is sent to kill the wife (Alice Braga) of a wealthy man (Callan Mulvey).  Wolfe soon realizes that he isn’t the only one trying to kill her.  The start of this film is inventive, and I just wish the plot for the rest of the film was as imaginative, but it isn’t.  Pegg is wasted as a steely-eyed hit-man, as the film never gives him a scene where he can shine. I do like Bryan Brown as the police chief that has his hands in everybody's illegal money. The film jumps too quickly from hard drama to light comedy, making the film seeming disjointed. The ending of the film is easy to predict and doesn’t make a lot of sense.  My Rating: Bargain Matinee   Kill Me Three Times Website

Indiefest:   The Sisterhood of the Night (2015)  PG-13   A teenage girl (Kara Hayward) says she is the victim of a secret network called, The Sisterhood of the Night. Accusations run rampant, and the girls of the network, led by Mary (Georgie Henley), refuse to talk about their group. The film is based on the Salem Witch Trials, which is an outstanding idea, but, unfortunately, this is another film where the superlative cast is let down by a weak script.  Henley just shines on the screen and dominates every scene she is in. The plot is rather boring, though, and never delivers on the intriguing premise. This isn’t a bad film, but it just isn’t all that interesting.    My Rating: Bargain Matinee   The Sisterhood of the Night Website   My ATLFF Red Carpet interview with the cast

Forgotten Film:   Night on Earth (1991)  R   No one saw this Jim Jarmusch (Only Lovers Left Alive) film back in 1991, and that’s a pity because it’s a cool, well-done film.  It’s five short films that take place around the world at the same moment. The film’s common denominator is each film has a taxi ride at its core. The film is bold and gets better with repeated viewing. The cast is mostly made up of unknown actors with a few notables like Winona Ryder and Gena Rowlands.   My Rating: Full Price  Night on Earth Info

Weird Credits: From the credits of Kill Me Three Times: Surf Cinematographer

Coming Soon to a Theatre Near You: The Age of Adaline (2015)  PG-13  I don’t know if this will be any good but the plot, about a young woman (Blake Lively) who after an accident stops aging, looks interesting.  The Age of Adaline Website

Until Next Time!