The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 1

My View:  The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 1  (2014) PG-13  After destroying the games forever, Katniss Everdeen (Jennifer Lawrence) fights for the rebellion, determined to rescue Peeta (Josh Hutcherson) from the clutches of President Snow (Donald Sutherland). I enjoyed this film and fans of the book won’t be disappointed.  It is darker in tone than the first two films, and while there are a few weak points, it’s still a blast to watch.  While this is Lawrence’s film, and she does a great job, it’s sad to see the late great Philip Seymour Hoffman on-screen.  Of the supporting cast, I thought Hoffman and Elizabeth Banks  stood out from the rest of the cast as both have some interesting, fun scenes.  The first part of this film takes a while to get going, but once the action starts, the film starts to click.  My Rating:  Full Price   The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 1 Website

Indiefest:  The Homesman  (2014) R Three women have been driven insane by the hard life of living in the west.  Mary Bee Cuddy (Hilary Swank) volunteers to help transport the three across the country by covered wagon.  She enlists the help of a low-life drifter (Tommy Lee Jones) to move the women.  The best word to describe this film is meandering.  With a cast that includes Jones, Swank, John Lithgow, James Spader and Meryl Streep, you would think this film would be filled with memorable scenes and high energy performances - but it isn’t. The film takes a very strange turn about two-thirds through and never recovers from with an ending that is just puzzling and unsatisfying. I was excited to see this film, but I would recommend going back and watching Lonesome Dove, instead.  My Rating: Bargain Matinee The Homesman Facebook page

Forgotten Film:  Chaplin  (1992) PG-13 The story of Charlie Chaplin (Robert Downey Jr.) as told by Chaplin to his autobiographer (Anthony Hopkins).  The film is a little long and tries to cover too much ground, but Downey nails Chaplin, making him come alive, especially when he plays Charlie working on the set.  The supporting cast is outstanding with Kevin Kline as Douglas Fairbanks and Dan Aykroyd as Mack Sennett.  My Rating:  Bargain Matinee  Chaplin Info

In Memory of Ed Wood (A Movie I’ve Only Seen in Trailers But Just Looks Like a Bad Idea):  The Woman in Black 2: Angel of Death (2015) PG-13 I didn’t like the first one, so why would I like this sequel about the house haunted by the “Woman in Black?”  Plus, no Daniel Radcliffe.  The Woman in Black 2: Angel of Death Info

In Case You Missed It (A Film Just Released on DVD/Blue Ray):  The Wind Rises (2014)    PG-13 This is a beautiful, animated film that is let down by its very long and slow moving storyline. Other critics went nuts over this film by legendary filmmaker Hayao Miyazaki, but I think it just doesn’t rank up there with his Spirited Away (2002) or Princess Mononoke (2000).  My Rating: Bargain Matinee  The Wind Rises Website

Weird Credits:  From the credits of The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 1:  Screening Operations Executive

Coming Soon to a Theatre Near You:  Still Alice  (2014) PG-13 Julianne Moore plays a linguistics professor who starts to forget words and soon learns she has an illness that will change both her and her family’s lives.  Many are saying that Julianne Moore gives a performance of a lifetime.  Still Alice Info

Until Next Time!

The Hunger Games: Catching Fire

My View:  The Hunger Games: Catching Fire (2013)  PG-13  Katniss (Jennifer Lawrence) and Peeta (Josh Hutcherson) have returned triumphantly from the Hunger Games. Their victory has sparked a rebellion, and President Snow (Donald Sutherland) has made it his mission to squash the rebellion, even if it means the destruction of Katniss.  Just like the first film, this film is very similar to the book, including changing the color of the Prim’s cat from black and white in the first film to the correct shade of orange.  I think that the action sequences in this film are better than in the first film, and Lawrence does an brilliant job as the valiant Katniss.  I do think this film does not have the same emotional level that the first film had but that may be just because we now understand the world that Katniss is trying to survive in.  It is worth seeing it in IMAX, since almost 50 minutes was shot in the IMAX format.  I look forward to the next two films in continuing on the adventure with Katniss and her friends. .  My Rating:  Full Price   The Hunger Games: Catching Fire Website

My View:  Delivery Man  (2013)  PG-13 David (Vince Vaughn) basically skates through life, making almost no effort in his relationship with his girlfriend (Cobie Smulders) or at his family owned business. This all changes when David is told that, through a mistake at a fertility clinic, he has fathered more than 500 children. Now more than 100 of his kids are suing to find out who is their real father. How can a man who has escaped responsibility his whole life be a father to so many children?  This film is a remake of the French-Canadian film Starbuck, which I really liked last year.  The problem with this film is it is exactly like Starbuck, except shot in English.  Most of the scenes in this film match the earlier film shot for shot.  The big difference is the casting.  I like the casting in the Starbuck film much more than in the American film.  The lead in Starbuck was much more of a sad-sack looking guy, while Vince Vaughn looks too much like his role in Swingers.  The woman who played his girlfriend in Starbuck looked like she could beat him up, where I just don’t believe Cobie as a cop (and yes, I know she is an agent of Shield in the Marvel world, but she just looks out of place in a cop uniform).  The film absolutely brings nothing new to the screen, so if you want to see this film, rent Starbuck and skip the theatre  My Rating:  Cable  Delivery Man Website

Indiefest: The Book Thief (2013)  PG-13  Liesel (Sophie Nelisse) is handed over, by her mother, to a foster family in pre-World War II Nazi Germany. Liesel tries to fit in with her foster parents, the kind-hearted Hans (Geoffrey Rush) and the strict Rosa (Emily Watson). Soon, a new houseguest arrives, a Jewish refugee (Ben Schnetzer) whom the family must hide from the authorities, as his very presence threatens Liesel’s new family.  Fans of the bestselling book may be slightly upset at some of the changes the film makes from the book, but the heart and message of the book are still there, inside the film.  It’s an inspiring story of the power of words, and the movie is expertly cast. Nelisse is spot on playing Liesel, a girl who is trying to overcome so much with the help of her adopted family.  Geoffrey Rush gives one of his better performances as the kind-hearted Hans.  The film can be tough at times to watch as it is about the Holocaust, but ultimately, it’s inspiring.  My Rating:  Full Price   The Book Thief Website

Indiefest:  Kill Your Darlings (2013) R  In 1944, Allen Ginsberg (Daniel Radcliffe) enrolls in Columbia University to become a poet in the big city of New York. He soon encounters Lucien (Dane DeHaan) a ringleader of the ragtag group of writers, including William S. Burroughs (Ben Foster) and Jack Kerouac (Jack Huston), who are bent on changing the world, one word at a time.  This is a film about the origins of the “Beat Generation” of writers.  I especially like Radcliffe in the lead role of Allen Ginsberg.  He plays Ginsberg as a young man who is in search to find his voice and to come to terms with his sexuality.  Foster, as the weird and eccentric Burroughs, is perfect in the role and Michael C. Hall, who plays the key part of a former lover of Lucien, is his usual creepy self.  The film is an interesting look at a time that the world was at war, and it’s young generation was trying to find a way to express themselves.   My Rating:  Full Price  Kill Your Darlings Website

Forgotten Film:  What’s Up, Tiger Lily?  (1966)  PG   Before there was Mystery Science Theatre 3000 and Rifftrax, there was Woody Allen, who took making fun of bad movies to new heights.  Allen bought a Japanese action film titled “International Secret Police: Key of Keys” , took out the dialogue track and redubbed with English speaking voices, using a script that isn’t even close to the original plot.  Not all the jokes work, but there are so many of them, that it’s just a fun film to watch.  My Rating:  Bargain Matinee   What's Up, Tiger Lily? Info

In Case You Missed It (A Film Just Released on DVD/Blu-ray):  The World’s End (2013)  R   loved this film from the makers of Shaun of the Dead (2004) and Hot Fuzz (2007).  Five friends decide to reunite to relive a pub-crawl, and things start going very badly from almost the beginning.  This is one of those films you will have to see twice since you will be laughing and not hear all the lines.  My Rating: Full Price  The World's End Website

Weird Credits:  From the credits of The Hunger Games: Catching Fire:   Ethnic Flute

Coming Soon to a Theatre Near You:  Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom  (2013) PG-13  This should be a sure thing Oscar nomination for Idris Elba in the lead role.  This film has been ten years in the making about the legendary South African Nelson Mandela.  Mandela:The Long Walk Home Website

Until Next Time!