The Broken Circle Breakdown

Indiefest:  The Broken Circle Breakdown (2013)   Didier (Johan Heldenbergh) is the leader of a bluegrass band. Elise (Veerie Baetens) is the owner of a tattoo shop. When the two meet, they instantly fall in love and soon after, get married. Their life seems perfect after the birth of their daughter, but their marriage is tested when their worst nightmare comes true.  The most amazing thing about this Belgium film is that all the singing in the film by Didier and Elise sounds as though it was coming from the state of Kentucky - it’s that good.  The film hits the extremes of this very intense couple who are played perfectly by Heldenbergh and Baetens.  You can see the attraction of the characters from the very start.  This is definitely one of those roller coaster rides of a film that has some extreme highs and even lower lows.  My Rating:  Full Price  The Broken Circle Breakdown Website

The 50  (A Movie from My Best/Worst Films of All Time) 

#5 Best Film:

Seven Samurai  (1954) A grizzled samurai (Toshiro Mifune) has fallen on hard times and takes the offer of some villagers to protect them from a gang of bandits.  He recruits six other samurai to help him, and they proceed to try train the villagers in the art of war.  When the bandits do arrive, the village and the seven samurai face almost impossible odds to overcome to protect their homeland.  The film is expertly directed by Akira Kurosawa, a master filmmaker who fills the screen with extraordinary shots that just seem to flow.  The action sequences are far better than any action film done in present day. The final battle scene is one of the most stunning pieces of cinema ever done.  Seven Samurai Info

Forgotten Film:  Beautiful Girls (1996)  R  Willie (Timothy Hutton) is a man at the crossroads of his life.  He must decide if he is going to quit playing the piano for a living and get a sales job.  Plus, he is trying to decide if he wants to marry his longtime girlfriend, Tracy (Annabeth Gish).  Willie uses the excuse of a high school reunion to go back to his small hometown to sort things out.  He finds that everyone he went to high school with still lives in the town and most seem to be stuck in the past.  Willie then meets Marty (Natalie Portman), literally the girl next door, who is smart, beautiful and instantly has a rapport with Willie.  The only problem, she is 13.  This is a fun movie to watch with great dialogue that feels real and a incredible ensemble cast that includes Matt Dillon, Lauren Holly, Mira Sorvino, and Uma Thurman.  It’s Natalie Portman, though, who makes this film a delight to watch as she perfectly plays Marty as the girl with the “old soul." My Rating:  Full Price  Beautiful Girls Info

In Memory of Ed Wood (A Movie I’ve Only Seen in Trailers But Just Looks Like a Bad Idea):  Paranormal Activity: The Marked Ones (2014) The Paranormal franchise has gotten a little old, so they are doing a spinoff. I think only positive thing I see about this film is that it is only 84 minutes long.  Paranormal Activity: The Marked Ones Info

In Case You Missed It (A Film Just Released on DVD):  Despicable Me 2 (2013) PG  Gru (Steve Carell), his adoptive girls (Miranda Cosgrove, Elsie Kate Fisher, Diana Gaier) and the Minions are back! This time, Gru has tried to settle into a life of raising kids and staying out of trouble. Trouble, though, inevitably always finds Gru, and The Anti-Villain League recruits him to find a new super-criminal who has stolen a secret formula. Gru must now go undercover, with the help of AVL agent Lucy (Kristen Wiig), and work at a place in his worst nightmares, the local mall.  I enjoyed this film much more than the first Despicable Me mostly because it features the Minions more.  My Rating: Full Price  Despicable Me 2 Website

Weird Credits:  From the credits of Frozen:  Head of music preparation

Coming Soon to a Theatre Near You:  Her  (2013)  R  A writer (Joaquin Phoenix) who is still mourning the breakup of his marriage and installs a new operating system on his computer that is designed to learn about him and respond to his needs.  Very soon he finds that he has fallen in love with his computer.  There is a big debate on whether Scarlett Johansson, who voices the computer he falls for, can be nominated for a supporting actress Academy Award.  Her Website

Until Next Time!

Despicable Me 2

Family Faire:  Despicable Me 2 (2013)  PG   Gru (Steve Carell), his adoptive girls (Miranda Cosgrove, Elsie Kate Fisher, Diana Gaier) and the Minions are back! This time, Gru has tried to settle into a life of raising kids and staying out of trouble. Trouble, though, inevitably always finds Gru, and The Anti-Villain League recruits him to find a new super-criminal who has stolen a secret formula. Gru must now go undercover, with the help of AVL agent Lucy (Kristen Wiig), and work at a place in his worst nightmares, the local mall.  I enjoyed this film much more than the first Despicable Me mostly because it features the Minions more.  This is a funny, imaginative film that delights from start to finish.  It is worth seeing in 3-D, and the film moves at a fast, clever pace that both children and adults will enjoy.  Be sure to stay through the first part of the credits as there is a bonus scene with more Minion goodness.   My Rating:  Full Price    Despicable Me 2 Website

My View:  The Lone Ranger (2013)  PG-13  Tonto (Johnny Depp) tells the story of a man who started out as lawyer John Reid (Armie Hammer), a man who favored the law over a gun. But the West is a tough place and to save his brother’s family, John had to turn into the man with the white hat and the black mask.  He had to become The Lone Ranger.  I enjoyed the first 30 minutes of this film as it was funny and moved at a quick pace.  Then the movie bogged down in trying to top itself with massive explosions and unimaginative stunts. And why does a western feel the need to have massive explosions and stunts for almost two and half hours? The film can never decide if it is a film for kids (it's not, even though it's being released under the Disney label) or adults, and it mixes things such as a violent shootout where numerous lives are lost, with a humorous scene involving the Lone Ranger's horse, Silver. Depp is the star of the film as Hammer can't keep up with the more experienced actor.  But, I think fans of Depp will be disappointed as he delivers most of his lines in a deadpan manner. The film is too long, never captures the audience's imagination, and the last big chase scene is entirely too confusing to make any sense. It's a sad state of affairs when I enjoy the performance of a horse more than the actors. By the way, there is a bonus scene during the credits, but like most of this film, it doesn't go anywhere and is not worth staying for.  My Rating:  Cable     The Lone Ranger Website

Indiefest:  20 Feet from Stardom  (2013)  PG-13  The film highlights one of the most unappreciated jobs in the world, the world of the backup singer. The spotlight is placed on singers Merry Clayton, Lisa Fisher and Darlene Love – whom you know only by their voices.  This fascinating film is a must-see for fans of rock music of the 60's and 70's as it gives behind-the-scenes stories and footage of some of the greatest musical performances of that era, including concerts by such artists as Sting, The Talking Heads, The Rolling Stones and Joe Cocker. There is also some amazing television footage of performances by Lynryd Skynrd, Ray Charles, Ike and Tina Turner and David Bowie. Music is the key to this film, and it is an enjoyable experience to see how much these singers love what they do. In addition to getting a glimpse into the world of  a back-up singer’s lifestyle, you get to experience their passion, and how hard these singers work, often in the shadows with very little recognition.   My Rating:  Full Price   For My In-Depth Review of the Film Click Here    20 Feet from Stardom Website    

Indiefest:  Unfinished Song  (2013)  PG-13  Arthur (Terence Stamp) is a grumpy husband who barely tolerates his wife’s (Vanessa Redgrave) love for singing in the community center’s choir. Arthur’s world is about to change when the head volunteer of the choir, a young woman named, Elizabeth (Gemma Arterton), decides to enter the choir, made up of senior citizens, in a national competition.  This is a heart-warming film with a winning performance by Stamp.  The film is at its best when the choir start singing the latest hip-hop and heavy metal hits. Arterton does a terrific job as the choir leader who becomes a friend to Arthur and gets him to come out of his grumpy shell.   My Rating:  Full Price   Unfinished Song Info

Forgotten Film:  Silent Running (1972)  PG  In the future, due to overbuilding and overcrowding, the Earth has put all it's remaining flora on gigantic pods contacted to a space ship.  Freeman Lowell (Bruce Dern) enjoys his time on the ship, caring for the ecosystems like they are his own family.  But, when word comes that the pods that contain the ecosystems are to be jettisoned, and the ship is to return to Earth, Freeman must choose between the lives of his fellow crewmen and the ecosystems that he loves.  Dern gives a moving performance in this film, and, while the "hippy, earth first" theme is a little heavy handed, it's still a surprising and enjoyable film to watch.   My Rating:  Bargain Matinee    Silent Running Info

In Case You Missed It (A Film Just Released on DVD):  A Good Day to Die Hard (2013)  R  I hated this film as I felt it didn't live up to the Die Hard franchise. The plot is horrible, and the film is so poorly constructed that when you get to the end, you have no idea how you got there.  Stay away from this film filled with "Daddy issues".   My Rating: You Would Have to Pay Me to See it Again    A Good Day to Die Hard Info

Weird Credits: From the credits of The Lone Ranger:  Facial hair and hair goods

Coming Soon to a Theater Near You:  Red 2 (2013)  PG-13  The retired black-op CIA agents are back, and this time they are looking for a missing portable nuclear bomb.  The cast is why we should be excited to see this film with Bruce Willis, Helen Mirren, Anthony Hopkins, Anthony Hopkins, John Malkovich, Mary-Louise Parker.  And, they have added Catherine Zeta-Jones to the cast as a former lover of Willis.  Can't wait for this one!    Red 2 Website

Until Next Time!