Kingsman: The Secret Service

My View:  Kingsman:  The Secret Service  (2015)  R  A secret spy agency recruits a young man to join the organization just as a global threat emerges. This film was directed by Mathew Vaughn, who directed the 2010 film Kick-Ass.  If you liked/loved Kick-Ass, you will enjoy this film. If you didn't, then don't see this one, as it is ultra-violent with a sense of humor. I enjoyed Colin Firth as the super-cool secret agent, and Taron Egerton is up to the task as the young apprentice, but there is a major scene in this film that I have a real problem with and, in my opinion, it brings down the whole film. Without giving anything away, the scene is incredibly violent, with people dying in every way imaginable. I don't have any problems with that, but I do have a problem with Colin Firth's character participating and doing most of the killing in the scene. I did enjoy Samuel L. Jackson as the Steve Jobs-like villain with a lisp.  And, the ending of the film is highly enjoyable, but the scene in the middle, which is a game changer, does not fit and makes me not like this film.  My Rating: Bargain Matinee   Kingsman: The Secret Service Website

Indiefest: A Girl Walks Home Alone at Night (2014) In a town that is full of people doing bad things, no one notices that there is a new woman (Sheila Vand), a woman who just happens to be a vampire. I loved this film, and it has one of the best soundtracks of any film of the  past five years. It's very stylish, shot in black and white, with the main character, the mysterious woman, almost uttering no lines throughout the film. It's a mixture of a  modern vampire film with bits of an Italian Spaghetti Western thrown in. Vand is perfect in the role of the woman who only comes out at night and wears a long, black cape. If you are a fan of horror films  I highly recommend this one.   My Rating:  I Would Pay to See it Again   A Girl Walks Home Alone at Night Website

Forgotten Film:  The Day I Saw Your Heart  (2011)  Melanie Laurent plays Justine, an x-ray technician who refuses to keep a boyfriend.  Every time she starts going out with someone, her father (Michel Blanc) secretly befriends the boyfriend.   She is bored with her job and would rather create art from her x-rays than do her actual job.  Now it’s going to take a major event to propel Justine out of her funk.  Laurent is brilliant as Justine and just shines on screen.  I loved the message of this film, and it’s worth checking out this French gem.   My Rating: Full Price  The Day I Saw Your Heart Info

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

#1 Worst Film:  Plan 9 from Outer Space (1959)  Directed by the legendary director Ed Wood, who directed some of the worst films of all time, this one is the ultimate in bad filmmaking. The acting is horrible, the special effects are incredibly bad, and the storyline makes no sense. If you tried to make a crappy film, you couldn't do it as pathetically as Wood does in this one. Be sure to look for the flying saucer, which is two paper plates glued together, spray painted and suspended by a string. The legendary actor Bela Lugosi, known for playing Dracula, makes an appearance.  He died before principle shooting, but there were test shots of him done, so producers just put those in the film.  I mean, why wouldn't you have Dracula in a film about space aliens invading the earth and creating zombies?   Plan 9 from Outer Space Website

Weird Credits:  From the credits of Kingsman: The Secret Service:  fight arranger

Coming Soon to a Theatre Near You:   Cinderella (2015)  While it sounds like a bad idea to remake a classic as a live action film, the trailer looks incredible and it’s directed by Kenneth Branagh, so I have hope that this will be fantastic.   Cinderella Website

Until Next Time!

American Sniper

My View: American Sniper (2015) R  Chris Kyle (Bradley Cooper) is the deadliest sniper in the U.S. armed services. This Navy SEAL saves lives of his fellow warriors on the battlefields. Back home, Chris struggles to return to a normal life with his wife (Sienna Miller) and kids. Is Chris’s dedication to his duty going to be his downfall? Bradley Cooper deserves his Oscar nomination for this film as he is perfect in the role of the tough but troubled sniper. I also loved Sienna Miller in the role of the wife he has left behind. They work wonderfully together, and some of the best scenes of the film are their interactions. I didn’t like the way Clint Eastwood directed the film. The film feels very stodgy, and the camera work is extremely unimaginative. The film opens with a great scene but never keeps that momentum. I also didn’t like the way the plot develops during the second half of the film, which feels almost like we are watching some sort of superhero movie. I would have liked the film to spend more time on Chris Kyle’s life after the military and less on trying to pull on the heartstrings.   My Rating: Bargain Matinee   American Sniper Website

My View: The Wedding Ringer (2015)    Jimmy Callahan (Kevin Hart) provides a service: he will be the best man in your wedding. It’s a service for guys who are a little socially challenged and don’t have anyone close enough to stand by them. Doug (Josh Gad) has gotten himself into a pickle:  he has fabricated not only his best man but all nine of his groomsmen. Now, Jimmy must come to the rescue.  If you are a fan of Kevin Hart, you will like this movie. If you aren’t, then stay away because he and Josh Gad are in every scene. Luckily they work well together, and the film is helped by their on-screen chemistry. The film is funny at times but never can quite sustain the comedy. The comedic talents of Kaley Cuoco-Sweeting are wasted as she is mostly eye candy as the bride.   My Rating: Cable   The Wedding Ringer Facebook page

Family Faire: Paddington (2014) PG  After Paddington The Bear loses his uncle to an accident in the Peruvian jungle, Paddington makes his way to London where he befriends the Brown family in a train station. They decide to take the bear into their home, and their lives will never be the same.  Whoever made the commercials/trailers for this film should not be working because they don’t do this film justice. This is one of the best family films that I have seen in years. The animation of Paddington the Bear is breathtaking, and this film has humor and heart. It doesn’t hurt that the film has Hugh Bonneville playing the gruff dad and Sally Hawkins playing the loveable mom, both exceptional actors. This film is a blast to watch, and both adults and children will fall in love with Paddington. Oh, and Nichole Kidman makes a pretty good bad guy.   My Rating: Full Price   Paddington Website

My View: Spare Parts (2015) PG-13   Four Hispanic students from a high school decide to compete in a robotics competition against schools such as M.I.T. The team only has $800 and no experience, but the students are helped by their high school teacher (George Lopez). I never thought that I would write this about George Lopez, but he gives a very moving and understated performance in this film. He has great chemistry with the kids, which makes this film work. It’s a surprisingly touching film about overcoming adversity and believing in yourself. I also like Marisa Tomei in the role of the fellow teacher who gives Lopez’s character some guidance on how to connect with the kids. This is a great movie for families, and I highly recommend this inspiring film.   My Rating: Full Price Spare Parts Facebook page

Forgotten Film: Gloria (1980) PG  Jack Dawn (Buck Henry) is an accountant for the mob and is about to give up evidence to the FBI. Fearing for his son’s (John Adames) safety, Jack sends his son to a neighbor, Gloria (Gena Rowlands), for safekeeping. Unfortunately for Gloria, Jack also sends over the evidence that could put many in the mob in prison. Now Gloria and the kid are on the run. This film has a great performance from Gena Rowlands, who plays a former mob girlfriend with her typical firecracker style. The film was written and directed by Rowlands’ real-life husband, John Cassavetes and gets better every time I see it.   My Rating: Full Price  Gloria Info

Weird Credits: From the credits of Paddington: special effects teeth

Coming Soon to a Theatre Near You: Kingsman: The Secret Service (2015) Colin Firth as a secret service agent. You had me at Colin Firth.   Kingsman: The Secret Service Website

Until Next Time!