Red Sparrow

My View:  Red Sparrow  (2018)  R  Ballerina Dominika Egorova (Jennifer Lawrence) is injured in a freak accident. Her dancing career is over, and she is forced to join the “Sparrow School,’ a Russian intelligence service where she is forced to use her body as a weapon. Her first mission is to seduce an American CIA agent (Joel Edgerton). When the mission starts to unravel, it just might threaten the security of both countries. If you think you are going to see something like last year’s Atomic Blonde, you aren’t. While a violent film with a couple of very hard to watch torture scenes, this is more of a movie about the psychology of breaking people down to become someone who will do anything for their country. The film is too long (two hours, twenty minutes), and the storyline, while it has some nice twists and turns, is too slow. Lawrence doesn’t do a Russian accent well, to the point that it just gets distracting. While Atomic Blonde was a blast to watch, I was either revolted at the torture or bored by the countless talking head scenes. I did enjoy the all too brief part that Mary-Louise Parker has as a wisecracking chief of staff of the American Embassy. She breathed life into the film, but her part was too short to save this film.   My Rating: Cable   Red Sparrow Website

Indiefest:  The Party  (2018)  R  Janet (Patricia Clarkson) is hosting a party to celebrate her new promotion, but once the party starts, it’s very apparent that not everyone is in a celebratory mood. I didn’t enjoy this film because it felt like I was watching a stage play (I was shocked to find that it wasn’t based on one). The film feels stiff and unnatural with the characters spewing out dialogue that doesn’t feel real. I did enjoy the performance of Patricia Clarkson, who commands the screen in every scene she is in. I especially didn’t enjoy the performance of Timothy Spall, whose character almost doesn’t say a word until near the end of the film. It’s a bizarre film that, all I can say in its favor, is that it is only 71 minutes long.   My Rating: Cable   The Party Website

Indiefest:  The Vanishing of Sidney Hall (2017)  R   After publishing a bestselling novel based on the death of one of his high school classmates, the controversial writer Sidney Hall (Logan Lerman) finds himself catapulted to unexpected fame and renown. His relationship with his girlfriend (Elle Fanning) begins to fall apart as the dark consequences of the book intrude on their life together, and he disappears without a trace. Nearly a decade later, an enigmatic detective searches for the missing author, whose books are connected to a string of mysterious arsons. Part drama, part romance with a bit of mystery, and this film was enjoyable to watch. The film goes back and forth in time, from the high school days of Sidney, where he meets his girlfriend, to the present where a police officer (Kyle Chandler) is trying to track down Sidney, to a few years ago in New York when everything should have been great for Sidney but wasn’t. Lerman and Fanning have fantastic chemistry on the screen, and I loved their initial courtship. The film will keep you guessing about how it’s going to end with plenty of surprises that aren’t fully answered until the final scenes.    My Rating:  Full Price    The Vanishing of Sidney Hall Facebook Page

My View: Death Wish  (2018)  R  Dr, Paul Kersey (Bruce Willis) is used to seeing the day to day violence that goes on in the city as he works in the ER. When his wife (Elisabeth Shue) and daughter (Camila Morrone) are viciously attacked in their suburban home, Paul decides to take matters into his own hands and get revenge. The original 1974 film starring Charles Bronson was a lousy film but captured the attention of a nation due to its violence. This film isn’t much of improvement. There is a horrible sequence to AC/DC’s Back in Black, which compares side by side Willis performing surgery and cleaning his gun. The storyline is predictable and at times boring. The scary thing is that during my screening a couple of audience members clapped when one of the bad guys was killed by the doctor. The violence is pretty horrific, and there is a pretty ugly torture sequence, so be warned if you are squeamish. When is Hollywood going to learn that remaking a bad film will just give you another bad film?     My Rating: Cable   Death Wish Website

Forgotten Film:  Cutter’s Way  (1981)  R  Alex Cutter (John Heard) is a Vietnam vet who has come back an injured and angry man. His only friend, Richard Bone (Jeff Bridges), witnesses someone dumping a murdered young girl’s body in an alley. Cutter decides to embark on a crusade to find the killer with the help of his friend, Bone. Heard and Bridges play off each other with gusto, and Heard gives an intense performance that keeps the film moving. This is the type of film that just isn’t made anymore - a smaller film that has real characters that make you want to root for them.    My Rating: Full Price   Cutter's Way Website

Weird Credits:  From the credits of Red Sparrow:  Hair Piece Knotter

Coming Soon to a Theatre Near You:  Thoroughbreds  (2017)  R  Two upper-class suburban Connecticut teenage girls ( Anya Taylor-Joy, Olivia Cookein) rekindle their friendship after being estranged for years. Together, they hatch a plan to solve both of their problems by any means necessary. The trailer looks riveting, but I really want to see this film because it’s one of the last films done by the late Anton Yelchin.   Thoroughbreds Info

Until Next Time!

SaveSave

Fury

My View:  Fury (2014) R It’s April, 1945, and the Germans are determined to defend their homeland with everything they have.  A Sergeant named, Wardaddy (Brad Pitt), leads his five-man tank crew with the goal of getting everybody back alive.  Norman (Logan Lerman) has just joined the crew but was trained as a typist, not a warrior. Now the crew must go on a mission that has impossible odds -  just what Wardaddy has trained his crew for. This is not a movie for the faint of heart or someone who faints at the sight of blood.  The film has some of the most realistic war scenes ever filmed.  Bodies literally fly apart as they are hit by bullets or bombs. The language in this film is equally coarse, and there aren’t many likable characters. The film, though, realistic tries too hard to hit all the bases, and though it wants to be Oscar material, it is just an average film.  Pitt, though serviceable in the lead role, never quite connects with the audience, and we are left not really knowing his character. It’s an interesting film, but not the great film you want it to be.    My Rating: Bargain Matinee  Fury Website

Indiefest:  St. Vincent (2014) PG-13  A mother (Melissa McCarthy) and her son (Jaeden Lieberher) move next door to a cranky war veteran (Bill Murray). An unlikely friendship between the boy and the old man starts up when the vet begins babysitting the boy after school. This is a fun, smart film about a man who is unlikable, and still a kid can see the good in the man. Murray is funny as the old man, and his chemistry with Lieberher is wonderful. Lieberher shows great comedic timing, able to deliver the best lines of the film. McCarthy shows some dramatic acting chops in this role, as her part is mostly supporting. It’s a joy to watch, and Lieberher gives a beautiful speech near the end of the film that had many people, at my screening, crying.   My Rating: Full Price  St. Vincent Website

Indiefest:  Keep On Keepin’ On (2014)  R 90-year-old jazz musician, Clark Terry, has mentored blind 23-year-old Justin Kauflin for a few years. Just as Kauflin’s career is taking off, Terry’s health turns for the worse.  This is their story, one of friendship bound by the love of music. The film documents a year in the life of the two men. Kauflin has to move back home with his parents and is preparing for an international jazz competition.  Terry is battling diabetes and is trying not to lose his leg to the disease.  They get through the hard times by their friendship and support of one another.  Terry is a remarkable man, full of knowledge, and this is a brilliant film that will make you feel better about your place in the world.   My Rating: I Would Pay to See it Again  Keep On Keepin' On Website

My View: The Best of Me (2014)  PG-13  A pair of high school sweethearts, Dawson(James Marsden) and Amanda (Michelle Monagham), reunite years later when they both return to their small hometown.  Can they overcome the past to start their romance again?  This film has every romantic cliché in the book.  The film is highly predictable, way too long and has an ending that is just cringe worthy.  Marsden and Monaghan have a bit of chemistry together, but it takes the film so long to get them in a romantic situation that you just don’t care.  I did like Liana Liberato in the part of the young Amanda, as she breathes life into this film every time she is on camera, but it’s just not enough.  If you want to see a Nicolas Sparks film, go rent The Notebook because this film just doesn’t work.  My Rating: Cable  The Best of Me Website

Family Faire:  The Book of Life (2014) PG Growing up in a small town in Mexico, Manolo (Diego Luna), Joaquin (Channing Tatum) and Maria (Zoe Saldana) are the best of friends. Manolo wants to be a musician, Joaquin a solider, and Maria has a passion for saving animals. After Maria is sent away, the three are reunited years later.  Will the musician or the soldier win Maria’s heart?  Imaginative storylines and beautiful animation make this film a joy to watch.  It’s about time we had some animation films based on the Mexican culture and this film does just that by using the traditional holiday “The Day of the Dead” as its central plot point. Very young kids may be a bit frightened by some the scary aspects of the film, but older kids will delight at the story of three young people trying to make the own way in the world.  My only complaint with this movie is Channing Tatum, playing a Mexican native part,  does not sound like he is from Mexico, he just sounds like Channing Tatum. I will say that while I did see the film in 3-D, I did not notice the 3-D effects, so save your money and see it in 2-D.   My Rating: Full Price  The Book of Life Website

Indiefest:  Dear White People (2104)  R  The lives of four black students(Tyler James Williams, Tessa Thompson, Kyle Gallner, Teyonah Parris) at an Ivy League school change drastically after an ill-conceived Halloween party goes down.  It can be tough going to college, trying to find your place in the world; it’s even harder when you are in the minority.  This is a film that will spark many conversations, and, while funny at times, it is mostly a serious look at dealing with race relations in this country.  The standout performance of this film is Tyler James Williams, who plays a gay student who just doesn’t seem to fit in anywhere. This is an interesting film that examines not only how the world sees young African Americans but also how they perceive themselves. My Rating: Full Price  Dear White People Website

Forgotten Film: Lady Sings the Blues (1972) R The story of legendary jazz singer Billie Holiday (Diana Ross) as she struggles to make it in the music world.  This film has an incredible score with Ross singing some moving jazz standards. Billy Dee Williams plays the romantic interest in the film, but the standout performance (besides Ross’s) is Richard Pryor as Piano Man.  Pryor gives a funny and moving performance making this a much richer film.  My Rating: Full Price  Lady Sings the Blues Info

Weird Credits:  From the credits of The Book of Life:  additional voice

Coming Soon to a Theatre Near You:  White Bird in a Blizzard  (2014)  I am looking forward to one of my favorite young actresses, Shailene Woodley, taking on more mature roles.  When Kat (Woodley) is 17 years old, her mother (Eva Green) disappears.  Years later she comes home to confront the feelings of abandonment and guilt.  White Bird in a Blizzard Website

Until Next Time!

Elysium

My View:  Elysium  (2013)  R   It’s the year 2154, and the Earth is an overcrowded, polluted mess. The world’s wealthiest people live on a space station called, Elysium, high above the Earth. A gang leader named, Spider (Wagner Moura), has a plan to ship illegal immigrants to Elysium, but he needs one man to take on a dangerous mission, and that man is Max (Matt Damon). One of the leaders of Elysium, Secretary Delacourt (Jodie Foster), has made it her mission to keep Elysium free of all illegal immigrants, and she hires Kruger (Sharlto Copley), an insane bounty hunter, to use any means necessary to get the job done. Now, Max and Kruger are destined to battle.  I loved the first thirty minutes of this film, as we got to know about Max’s world and how he deals with it. It’s a world that is set up to keep Max in his place and a world he has wanted to desperately escape from, even as a kid. The film then started down a path where I no longer cared about what happened to Max and the other characters. It just seemed like writer / director, Neil Blomkamp, wanted to hit the audience over the head with a particularly strong political statement, something that portrayed better in the 2009 film, District 9. This film is extremely violent with the deaths of characters shown in a particularly gruesome way. As the film progresses, the plot becomes full of holes, so much so that you begin focusing on what is wrong or missing in the movie instead of the film and its storyline. I have always liked Jodie Foster as an actor, but her accent in this film is so strange that I have no idea where her character was supposed to have originated.    My Rating:  Bargain Matinee    Elysium Website

Family Faire:  Percy Jackson: Sea of Monsters  (2013)  PG  Percy (Logan Lerman), Grover (Brandon T. Jackson), Annabeth (Alexandra Daddario) and Clarisse (Leven Rambin) embark on a journey to retrieve the legendary Golden Fleece. Luke (Jake Abel), Percy’s arch-enemy, is determined to get the Golden Fleece first and therefore stop Percy and his gang from saving their training grounds, Camp Half-Blood.  While adults may be a little bored with this film, I think that children and young adults will enjoy it.  It’s much better than the first film (Percy Jackson & the Olympians: The Lightning Thief (2010)), and moves faster with much better acting.  The main stars, Lerman and Jackson, seems more comfortable in their roles and play off each other in an amusing way.  I also liked Leven Rambin, as the kick ass and take names later Clarisa, who has quite a few anger issues.  The highlight of the film is Nathan Fillon who plays the God, Hermes, who runs a shipping company. His scene supplying the gang with specialized weapons is incredibly funny. The special effects are much better than in the first film and, includes an incredible giant mechanical bull that Percy and the gang have to fight. I thought the ending was a little weak and much too easy, but, overall, it’s an enjoyable and adventurous film.   My Rating:  Bargain Matinee     Percy Jackson: Sea of Monsters Website

My View:  We’re the Millers  (2013)  R    A small time pot dealer, David (Jason Sudeikis), is hired to bring a huge shipment of weed over the U.S. border from Mexico. To successfully smuggle the pot, he needs a plan, so David rents an RV and then hires a stripper (Jennifer Aniston), a runaway (Emma Roberts) and a neighborhood kid (Will Poulter) to pose as his family.  David's thinking is that no one will suspect a loving, fun group coming back from vacation. The big question is, can they pull it off?   I found very few scenes in this film funny and felt most of the time the writers (can you believe it took four of them to come up with this film) went for the easy laugh.  This is a film that tries to be crass and push the boundaries of comedy, but its plot is so weak and its dialogue so contrived, you see plot points way ahead of time.  I must say that Jennifer Aniston is a beautiful woman and a brave one for playing a stripper who wears very little clothing, but man, she’s got to get a better agent and quit making crappy films.  Be sure to stay for the outtakes at the end as they are much funnier than anything that was in the script..   My Rating:  Cable     We're the Millers Website

Indiefest:  Blue Jasmine  (2013)  PG-13  Jasmine’s (Cate Blanchett) life is falling apart, so she moves to San Francisco to live with her sister Ginger (Sally Hawkins). Jasmine is used to living the good life on Park Avenue, but now she must come back down to reality where people get jobs and live paycheck-to-paycheck.  Blanchett is this year’s Best Actress frontrunner for her portrayal of Jasmine as she slips slowly into madness right before our eyes.  While Blanchett is amazing to watch on-screen, the storyline and the dialogue feel as though Woody Allen, writer and director, mailed it in, not pushing many boundaries, while producing this very heavy drama.  I also didn’t like that there isn’t one character who actually develops throughout the film.  We learn everything about Jasmine and Ginger’s character in the first ten minutes of the movie. My Rating:  Cable   Blue Jasmine Website

Forgotten Film:  The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie  (1969)  The film is about a teacher, Jean Brodie (Maggie Smith), who teaches young girls at a school in Edinburgh, Scotland during the 1930’s. Brodie is a headstrong woman who believes her method of ignoring the curriculum and teaching her students about life will influence them forever.  Maggie Smith, in her Oscar winning role, is extraordinary in the role of the flamboyant and charismatic teacher who isn’t above manipulating her students, expecting them to follow her blindly.  This film is a fascinating character study of a woman who is so sure of herself and her beliefs that she can’t see why everyone else in the world doesn’t follow her lead.     My Rating:  Full Price    The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie Info

In Case You Missed It (A Film Just Released on DVD):  Mud  (2013)  PG-13  One of my favorite films of this summer about two teenage boys (Tye Sheridan, Jacob Lofland) who encounter a fugitive (Matthew McConaughey) who persuades them to help him evade bounty hunters so he can get back to his one true love (Reese Witherspoon).  Matthew McConaughey is excellent in the title role, but it’s Sheridan who plays a troubled young man desperate for attention and love that makes this film work so well.    My Rating:  Full Price   Mud Website

Weird Credits:  From the credits of the film Elysium:  Truck Costumer

Coming Soon to a Theatre Near You:  Rush (2013)  R  Ron Howard brings us this film a legendary Formula 1 champion drive Niki Lauda, who has a near fatal crash, then mere weeks after the accident,  gets behind the wheel to race again.  The film stars Chris Hemsworth, Natalie Dormer and Olivia Wilde.     Rush Website

Until Next Time!