Divergent

My View:  Divergent (2014)  PG-13  Set in the future, people are living in the ruins of Chicago as part of a society that is divided into five distinct factions. These factions are based on different personality characteristics such as self-sacrifice or the quest for knowledge. Beatrice “Tris”  Prior (Shailene Woodley) will have to choose which faction to join. Her problem is she discovers that she is “Divergent,” meaning she doesn’t fit into any one faction. Will she pick a faction based on what her head or her heart tells her?   I adore Shailene Woodley, who has yet to disappoint me on the screen and she is outstanding in the role of Tris. There is great chemistry between her and her love interest, Four, played by Theo James.  The problem with the film is that its plot is very complicated and not easily explained, so much that film goers who haven’t read the bestselling books will be confused.  The film does move at a quick pace with lots of compelling action sequences and doesn’t over emphasize the romance angle (which a lot of “Young Adult” films tend to do).  I am looking forward to exploring this exciting world of "future" films. 
  My Rating: Full Price  Divergent Website

Family Faire:  Muppets Most Wanted (2014) PG  While on a world tour hitting cities like Berlin and London, the Muppets gang gets involved with a jewel thief named, Constantine, who looks just like Kermit the Frog. Now, can Kermit take down his doppelganger and save his reputation?  I loved the 2011 film The Muppets, making it one of my top ten films of that year.  Unfortunately, this film doesn't portray the joy and magic of the previous film - it’s more in line with some of the other Muppet films of the past, making it bland and full of lame jokes.  The songs are unmemorable, and even the cameos (which were so much fun in The Muppets film) are ordinary.  Tina Fey, who plays a Russian prison guard, seems to be the only one of the cast who is having fun.  It’s a film that only true Muppet fans will enjoy.  I say, for the next Muppet movie, bring back Jason Segel and let him do his Muppet magic.    My Rating: Bargain Matinee  Muppets Most Wanted Website

Indiefest:  Bad Words  (2014)  R  Guy (Jason Bateman) is a 40 year-old high school dropout. He has never gotten over his bad experiences in school and finds a loop-hole in the rules of the national spelling bee. He enters the contest and along the way meets a reporter (Kathryn Hahn) and a fellow contestant (Rohan Chand), both whom he befriends. I thoroughly enjoyed this very raunchy R rated comedy.  The chemistry between Bateman and Chand is incredible, with Chand showing some real comedic timing. This is a hilarious film full of very interesting characters and a great storyline. This film is surprisingly heartwarming if you can get past Bateman's character profusely cursing.     My Rating: Full Price  Bad Words Website

My View:  Dark House (2014) R   Nick (Luke Kleintank) is a clairvoyant and, after his mother’s death, he discovers he has inherited an old home in the isolated country. So, Nick, his pregnant girlfriend (Alex McKenna), and his best friend, Ryan (Anthony Rey Perez) decide to check out the home. It’s a decision that may cost them their lives.  This is an interesting horror film that has some nice plot twists and turns.  While not overly scary, it does have a compelling storyline containing some rather fearsome bad guys.  I’m just not sure horror fans will be satisfied with this film, as it just doesn’t provide the scary moments they would love.     My Rating: Bargain Matinee  Dark House Info

Forgotten Films:  Lilies of the Field (1963) Homer (Sidney Poitier) is on his way across the country when his car breaks down near a remote farm.  A group of Catholic nuns who have recently immigrated from Eastern Europe run the farm and take in Homer, who they believe has been sent by God to help rebuild their church.  Poitier won an Academy Award for his role in this film and rightly so, as he is pitch-perfect as the headstrong Homer.  The interaction between Homer and the nuns is fun and fascinating, especially when Poitier deals with the Mother Superior (Lilia Skala), who believes in Homer and his abilities.  It’s a magical film that makes you feel good about humanity My Rating:  Full Price  Lilies of the Field Info

Weird Credits:  From the credits of Muppets Most Wanted (2014):  ice construction

Coming Soon to a Theatre Near You:  Under the Skin  (2014) R  I don’t know much about this film, other than it’s a Sci-Fi film about an alien seducing hitchhikers in Scotland.  All I have to know to want to see this film is that it stars Scarlett Johansson.  Under the Skin Website 

Until Next Time!

The Lego Movie

Family Faire:  The Lego Movie (2014)  PG  For Emmet (Chris Pratt), every day is awesome. He enjoys his life working in construction until he meets a girl named, Wyldstyle (Elizabeth Banks). She is convinced that he is the “Special,” the greatest Master Builder who can save the Lego universe from the evil President Business (Will Ferrell). Now with the help of Batman(Will Arnett), Vitruvius (Morgan Freeman), Metalbeard (Nick Offerman) and Uni-Kitty (Alison Brie), Emmett must find the courage to fight President Business from using his secret weapon.  My biggest complaint about animated movies is three years are spent making the film but, then they seem to have scripts that took a weekend to write.  This is not the case with this film as it is one of the best animated scripts in the past ten years and encompasses highly imaginative, extremely creative filmmaking.  In the screening I attended, parents were laughing at times more than the kids because the film packs on the sight gags  and funny lines.  I liked Chris Pratt as the everyman Emmet, but it’s Will Arnett who steals the show as the voice of Batman.  He has the Batman voice down pat, as sort of a cross between Bale and Keaton.  Near the end of the film, the action slows down, but the rest of the film is such a fun, wild ride, you can overlook that part. By the way, there is a theme song in the movie called, “Everything is Awesome,” that shows up in various forms in the film. I predict that you will be singing the song with a smile on your face as you leave the theatre.  My Rating:  Full Price   The Lego Movie Website

My View:  The Monuments Men (2014)  PG-13  An unlikely group of World War II soldiers is put together to create a platoon whose job it is to rescue stolen art masterpieces from the Nazis before they destroy them. The strength of this film is its cast with George Clooney, Matt Damon, Bill Murray, Cate Blanchett, John Goodman, Hugh Bonneville, Bob Balaban and Jean Dujardin all making up the squadron that is in charge of trying to rescue the art.  The film does have some very nice moments between some of the characters in the film, especially the relationship of Damon’s character, an art historian who tries to get a key French woman, played by Blanchett, to cooperate in the finding where the Nazis took the art work.  There's a nice chemistry between Blanchett and Damon in the scenes where they are trying to figure out each other’s motives.  There is also a great “bromance” between Murray’s very laid back character and the very stuck up character that Bob Balaban that is probably the best and funniest relationship of the whole film.  The cast is let down by the script as it can never find the right tone for the film, and the film, at times light and funny, never seems to find the right mix to put in the hardships of war.  The film tries too hard to touch on the heartstrings and almost begs us to care before we are given good reason to.  This is not a bad film, in fact, at times, it is very enjoyable, but it’s not the Oscar contender that the studio thought it had.  My Rating:  Bargain Matinee  The Monuments Men Website  

Indiefest:  Gloria (2013)  R  Gloria (Paulina Garcia) is a 58 year old divorcee' who is determined not to spend her nights alone. She hits the single scene, but it seems as though she can’t find love. That is until she met Rodolfo (Sergio Hernandez), an ex-naval officer who sweeps her off her feet. The question is, will this new romance last?  When people complain that movies aren't made for adults anymore, we should point them to this film. Garcia is a force on the screen as she plays a character who, while is comfortable being single, is still looking for love.  Her character has a love of romantic songs and dancing, which shows us that she is hopeful that she will find love again.  This is an interesting, and at times, delightful film, with a performance from Garcia that makes you want to see her find love again.   My Rating:  Full Price  Gloria Website

Forgotten Film:  The Limey (1999)  Wilson (Terence Stamp) is a recently released ex-con who flies overseas to L.A. to investigate the recent death of his daughter.  Once in L.A. he soon gets involved with the sleazy underworld of L.A. life, including his daughter’s boyfriend, Terry (Peter Fonda), who is a record producer with ties to drug trafficking.  Steven Soderbergh directed this taut crime drama that is told through flashbacks.  Stamp gives a performance of a lifetime as a man on the road to vengeance.  It’s a film where you'll discover new things with each viewing.  My Rating:  Full Price  The Limey Infor

In Memory of Ed Wood (A Movie I’ve Only Seen in Trailers But Just Looks Like a Bad Idea):  Need for Speed (2014)  Looks to me like a rip off of the Fast & Furious franchise starring Aaron Paul.  This one, unlike the Fast franchise, looks like it takes itself way too seriously. I know Aaron Paul was in the TV show “Breaking Bad,” but this film just looks like it’s “Breaking Down.”  Need for Speed Info

In Case You Missed It (A Film Just Released on DVD/Blu-ray):  Rush  (2013)  R  I like this movie about the 1976  season of Formula One racing.  The film has great racing sequences (the best I have ever seen), and Daniel Bruhl gives a riveting performance as driving legend Niki Lauda., one, which I thought, was worthy of an Academy Award nomination (alas, he didn’t get one to my dismay).  My Rating:  Full Price  Rush Website

Weird Credits:  From the credits of The Lego Movie:  Physical Objects Coordinator

Coming Soon to a Theater Near You:  Muppets Most Wanted (2014) PG  I don’t really care what the plot is (something about a Kermit look-a-like jewel thief).  All I care about is that it’s a film where the Muppets interact with Tina Fey and Tom Hiddleston!  Muppets Most Wanted Website

Until Next Time!