My View: Bridge of Spies (2015) PG-13 Brooklyn lawyer James
B. Donovan (Tom Hanks) works for an insurance company during the height of the
Cold War. He is volunteered by his company to be the lawyer of an accused
Russian spy. Donovan finds himself at the center of a “war of nerves”
between the United States and the Soviet Union. This is a big, sprawling
Hollywood film that Steven Spielberg is so good at directing, and it opens with
an almost silent sequence that perfectly sets up the remainder of the film.
This is a role that is tailor-made for Tom Hanks who plays the determined
lawyer who seems part every man and part brilliant lawyer. Hanks plays Donovan
as a man who, while somewhat easygoing, is committed to do the right thing and
is compassionate about his fellow man. Hanks plays his character as a man who
can find humor in almost any situation. It’s that sense of humor that helps his
character deal with the desperate situations that he gets into in the film. I
had a hard time coming up with anyone else who could play this role so well.
George Clooney, maybe, but he would have to tone down the smart aleck vibe that
Clooney often tends to give out on the screen. Bridge of Spies is the type of
big “Hollywood “ film that is so hard to pull off, but Spielberg succeeds. He
brings us a tale that is tension filled and thrilling but also filled with
small, emotional scenes that make this film so enjoyable to watch. It helps
when your leading man is up to the task of a very demanding role of a character
that is willing to take on the world. My Rating: Full Price Bridge of Spies Website
My View: Crimson Peak (2015) R Set in England in the late 19th century, Edith (Mia Wasikowska) falls in love and marries Sir Thomas Sharpe (Tom Hiddleston). They move to Sir Sharpe’s mansion, a crumbling home that harbors some sinister entities that will threaten Edith’s life. Crimson Peak is not a horror story but a Gothic romance with a mystery built-in. There are some stunning looking ghosts, but they never deliver the scare that you want. The film looks incredibly beautiful and striking; with a set design that creates a mansion that is gloomy and menacing, making it another character in the movie. This movie is all flash and very little substance, with the cast being let down by a script that is highly predictable. I did enjoy Jessica Chastain as Sharpe’s very strange sister, but it doesn’t make up for a script whose ending I figured out almost from the start of the film. There is a rather gruesome death in the first half that may disturb some viewers. My Rating: Bargain Matinee Crimson Peak Website
My View: Steve Jobs (2015) R A look at the founder and leader of Apple, Steve Jobs (Michael Fassbender). The film is set backstage at three iconic product launches and gives us a look at the man, the myth and the legend. This is a scintillating film about a complex, brilliant but flawed man who changed the way we use technology. The film is revealed in three sections and takes place before three separate product launches. The film isn’t about the product launches, but it’s mostly about the relationships that Jobs has with his fellow workers and family. Fassbender is mesmerizing as Jobs, and while he does not look or talk like Jobs, he has still captured the essence of the man. Kate Winslet gives a sure Oscar-nominated performance as Jobs’ Marketing Manager who is the only person who can tell Jobs the truth about how badly or well he is handling his personal relationships. The script, by Aaron Sorkin, is fast moving with witty and dazzling dialogue. The direction by Danny Boyle is perfection with some luminous camera work. It’s a fascinating film that gives us an inside look at the man who changed how we deal with daily life. My Rating: Full Price Steve Jobs Website
Indiefest: Drunk Stoned Brilliant Dead: The Story of the National Lampoon (2015) R Documentary about the humor magazine that created a culture through its magazine and movies that changed comedy forever. National Lampoon was a humor magazine long before it started putting out movies. It was irreverent, sometimes vulgar and always contained shots of topless women in humorous situations. Its covers were legendary, and some of the most brilliant comedy writers got their start at the magazine. This film is funny and insightful with excellent interviews from Lampooners like Chevy Chase and P.J. O’Rourke. There is fascinating footage of people like John Belushi and Gilda Radner who worked on National Lampoon projects, and the stories of the glory days of the magazine will amaze you. I do want to warn you that there many on-screen inappropriate things My Rating: Full Price Drunk Stoned Brilliant Dead Website
Indiefest: Beasts of No Nation (2015) R Agu (Abrahma Attah) has a good life. He lives in a village with his family and goes to school that is run by his father. It’s a loving family, and while Agu gets into a bit of mischief from time to time, he’s a good kid. All that changes when civil war breaks out. His mother and his baby brother are sent away to escape the war, and then government forces invade the village and kill his father and brother. Agu escapes into the wilderness, eventually being captured by Commandant (Idris Elba) and his band of rebels. Agu is soon indoctrinated into the rebel army, and he is now a soldier in a war that will destroy a lot of lives. This is a powerful movie that is tough to watch at times due to the extreme violence of war and the psychological abuse by Commandant to get Agu and the rest of child warriors to commit to the cause. Idris Elba is superb as the fascinating but brutal Commandant, a man who expects his men to lay down their lives for the cause. Abrahma Attah is amazing in the role of Agu, a child whose life is turned into hell by a war that no one seems to win. Beasts of No Nation is a film that will stay with you for a while, and you will feel that you have spent time in a world that has been turned upside down. My Rating: Full Price Beasts of No Nation Website
Family Faire: Goosebumps (2015) PG Zac (Dylan Minnette) moves to a small town and meets Hannah (Odeya Rush) and her father, the famous writer R.L. Stine (Jack Black) the creator of the children’s horror series “Goosebumps.” Zac mistakenly opens one of R.L. Stine’s manuscripts that releases every ghost and ghoul from Stine’s works. Now Zac, Hannah, and her father must team up to try and get the monsters back where they belong. Fans of the book series are going to love this film and parents will enjoy it also. It’s a funny and creative film that tells a new original tale that is an imaginative take on the horror film. I thought Minette had great chemistry with Rush, making their attraction seem real. The monsters are fun (though maybe too scary for the under six crowd), and the story moves quickly once the Stine’s creations are released. Goosebumps was not shot in 3-D, so save the extra bucks. It’s a fun film that while not a great movie, was a blast to watch. My Take: Bargain Matinee Goosebumps Website
Forgotten Film: Matinee (1993) PG At the height of the Cold War, exploitation filmmaker, Lawrence Woosley (John Goodman), has brought his latest film, “Mant,” to town. Woolsey’s “Mant” is a grade B-picture about a man who has mutated into a giant ant. To bring in an audience, Woolsey is setting up the theatre with devices to thrill theatre goers and possibly keep them from noticing how bad the film is. Gene (Simon Fenton) is attempting to woo a girl by taking her to the film. This is a fun, funny film about a time when technology was simpler and movies were trying to stand out from TV shows. There are some great laughs, and the film shows just how far and how desperate filmmakers were. My Rating: Full Price Matinee Info
Weird Credits: From the credits of Crimson Peak: Piano Coach for Jessica Chastain
Coming Soon to a Theatre Near You: Rock the Kasbah (2015) R Richie (Bill Murray) is a rock manager who has seen better times. While taking his last remaining artist on a USO tour in Afghanistan, he finds himself in Kabul and discovers a young Afghan girl who he mentors while she competes on the Afghanistan version of American Idol. Besides Bill Murray, the cast includes Bruce Willis, Kate Hudson, Zooey Deschanel and Danny McBride. Rock the Kasbah Website
Until Next Time!
My View: A Most Violent Year (2014) R The winter of 1981 was the most violent year in the history of New York City. Under that backdrop, a businessman (Oscar Isaac) and his wife (Jessica Chastain) struggle to keep their business against all the odds. This is a gangster film about a man who isn't a gangster but is forced to do what he must do for his family and his business to survive. Isaac gives a memorable and believable performance of a man who gets pulled further and further into the seamy world of New York City. Chastain, as usual, is perfect as the woman who knows how the gangster life works and helps her husband in his quest. I didn't enjoy this movie as I was watching it but, after further thought, I have changed my mind and now think this film works on all levels. My Rating: Full Price A Most Violent Year Website
My View: Black or White (2014) PG-13 A grieving widower (Kevin Costner) is drawn into a custody battle over his granddaughter in Black or White. Costner plays Elliot, a father whose daughter died in childbirth. He and his wife were raising dead mom's daughter when his wife suddenly dies. The father of the young girl is a drug addict. His mother (whose mother? (Octavia Spencer) wants her granddaughter to spend more time with her side of the family and, after several incidents with Elliot, she decides to file for custody. I like Costner in this role as he gives a very nuanced performance as the grandfather who can't get over the losses of his wife and daughter. The young, talented Jillian Estell is the best part of this film, giving a winning and touching performance as the granddaughter and focus of the custody battle. I didn't like Octavia Spencer as the fiery matriarch who bullies her family to get what she wants. She just kind of missed the mark for me as I never believed her in the part. It's not a bad (better word?) film, and Costner is excellent in it, but I just never got the big emotional moment that I wanted from this type of film. My Rating: Bargain Matinee Black or White Website
Indiefest: Black Sea (2015) R A submarine captain (Jude Law) takes a job to find a World War II Soviet sub that may be full of gold at the bottom of the Black Sea. I really liked this taut suspense film that is a new take on the classic submarine film. Law, in a strong performance that is fun to watch, really commands the screen as the rough and tumble sub commander who has always placed his work over his family. The film has some vibrant and fascinating underwater sequences and has very few special effects shots, making the film feel realistic and slightly claustrophobic. Besides Law, I loved Ben Mendelsohn in the role of the menacing sailor who challenges Law's command decisions at every turn. This film is enjoyable for both its performances and strong storyline. My Rating: Full Price Black Sea Website
Indiefest: Two Days, One Night (2014) PG-13 A young Belgian mother (Marion Cotillard) has a weekend to convince her fellow workers to give up a bonus so that she can remain with the company. This film features a brilliant performance by Cotillard, who has become one of the best actors out there. She is perfect in the role, and we root for her to succeed right from the start. It's an outstanding story that slowly builds the tension until the end of the film. Cotillard could be a dark horse to win Best Actress at this year's Academy Awards. Her portrayal is just that good. My Rating: Full Price Two Days, One Night Info
Indiefest: Oscar Nominated Shorts: Live Action and Animated (2015) The Academy Award nominated shorts, both Live Action and Animated films for this year’s Oscars. This year's nominees are an outstanding group of films from around the world. Highlights include: Aya, a fantastic live action film about strangers connecting on a car ride discussing their lives. The Single Life, the most fun animated film of the bunch, about a woman who discovers a record that allows her to travel through time. The Dam Keeper, a brilliant and touching animated film about a young pig in charge of a windmill that keeps pollution from reaching his town. The Phone Call, a live action short where Sally Hawkins plays a crisis center worker who receives a phone call from a man who is trying to kill himself and won't give his name or location. My Rating: I Would Pay to See It Again Oscar Shorts Website
Forgotten Film: Fearless (1993) R Max (Jeff Bridges) is on an airplane that has lost its hydraulics and is going to crash. He spends what he thinks will be his last moments comforting a little boy. Against the odds, Max survives the crash and now has to deal with the after-effects. This is an moving film, with outstanding performances by Bridges and Rosie Perez, who plays a fellow survivor who seems to be the only person who knows how Max is thinking and feeling. This film also has one of the strongest supporting casts, including Tom Hulce, John Turturro, Benicio Del Toro and Isabella Rossellini. This is a magical film that has one of the truly greatest endings. My Rating: I Would Pay to See it Again Fearless Info
Weird Credits: From the credits of Black Sea: underwater best boy
Coming Soon to a Theatre Near You: What We Do in the Shadows (2015) I am hearing great things about this comedy. It’s about three vampires trying to live in modern society. I mean, how do you keep up with your appearance when you can’t look in the mirror? What We Do In the Shadows Info
Until Next Time!
