A Wrinkle In Time

My View:  A Wrinkle in Time  (2018)  PG  Meg (Storm Reid) finds out that her father (Chris Pine), who has been missing for years, is alive and being held captive by an evil force. With the help of her young brother (Deric McCabe) and a friend (Levi Miller), they go on a journey with the help of three astral travelers, Mrs. Which (Oprah Winfrey), Mrs. Whatsit (Reese Witherspoon) and Mrs. Who (Mindy Kaling) to save him. Visually this film is stunning, but, other than that and the brilliant performances by all three kids, the film falls flat. The dialogue is horrible, especially that of Mrs. Who, as she only talks in famous peoples’ quotes. The soundtrack is one of the worst I have heard in a movie and, at times, overpowers the dialogue. I can only recommend this film for young kids, who will enjoy the visuals, and there is an excellent message in the film that will appeal to young girls. My guess is that director Ava DuVernay, who directed the touching Selma, was overwhelmed by the enormity of the budget and a book that is hugely complicated. This is one of those films that you wanted to succeed, but it fails to deliver.    My Rating: Cable   A Wrinkle in Time Website

Indiefest:  Gringo  (2018)  R  Harold (David Oyelowo) is a down-on-his-luck businessman who finds out he is about to lose his job and decides to stage his own kidnapping. What Harold doesn’t know is that, due to his boss’s bad decisions, he has become a kidnapping target by a drug lord. Will Harold survive? I enjoyed this film, but, after seeing the trailer (which made it seem funnier than it is), this film is a bit of a letdown. The film drags, and it has plot holes the size of Mexico. There are some characters that you don’t know why they are doing what they are doing and other characters are entirely forgotten until they just show up on screen for no reason. There are several twists and turns that are unnecessary and make the movie seem much longer than it is. Some of the actors look out of place, and I got tired of Harold’s co-boss (played by Charlize Theron) with her I am better than everyone else attitude. There are some fun action sequences, but that’s not enough to make this film enjoyable.   My Rating: Bargain Matinee     Gringo Website

Indiefest:  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. I loved this odd, quirky film that’s part dark humor and part suspense film. Amanda (Olivia Cooke) is a troubled teen who did something horrible in her past and, by the way, can’t feel any emotions. Lily (Anya Taylor-Joy) is being tormented by her stepfather (her birth father died a few years ago). First time director Cory Finley does a bang-up job directing this film as it never feels staged or slows down even though most of the film takes place in Lily’s mansion. It’s an amazing job for a director who is a playwright who never had stepped on a set before directing this film. The plot moves at a quick pace, keeps you guessing what is going to happen next and slowly builds the tension until the final scenes. This isn’t a movie for everyone as it is not your ordinary teenage drama, but if you’re up for an interesting adventure, then check out Thoroughbreds.    My Rating: I Would Pay to See it Again   Thoroughbreds Website

Indiefest:  Submission  (2017)  A cynical college professor (Stanley Tucci) takes an interest in a talented young writer (Addison Timlin). It’s not a question of if, but when lines will be crossed, and we just don’t know who is the predator, and who is the prey. In the “Me Too” era this movie should have hit all the issues on the head. Instead, we get a movie about a self-indulgent professor who thinks he is going to foster the next great writer. The professor is more turned on by the fact that she can write and less about that she is young and pretty. Tucci, Timlin and Kyra Sedgwick are let down by a script that is predictable. The film almost feels like it is in love with itself it’s that self-indulgent.  My Rating: Bargain Matinee   Submission Info

Indiefest:  The Cured  (2017)  R  A virus that turns people into zombies, and it hits Ireland especially hard. A cure is found, but it only cures 75 percent of the zombie population. Now the people who have been cured are moving back into their old neighborhoods, and people who lost loved ones are not too happy. There is one problem with the cure; you remember what you did when you were a zombie. This is an excellent twist on the zombie genre as its makeup is more psychological than horror (though there are still some horrifying zombies in the film). There are some brilliant performances in this film including Ellen Page, who plays Abby, who is still getting over the loss her husband in the initial zombie attack, and Sam Keeley, who plays Senan, Abby’s brother-in-law who goes to live with her and her young son. The action sequences are exciting, and there are plenty of plot twists to keep you interested. If you are a fan of horror and suspense, this film is for you.   My Rating: Full Price    The Cured Info

Forgotten Film: Il Postino  (1994)  PG  When a famous Chilean poet (Philippe Noiret) is exiled to a small island, the mail delivered to the island increases substantially. Mario (Massimo Troisi), an unemployed fisherman, is hired to hand-deliver the mail to the poet. Mario becomes enamored with Beatrice (Maria Grazia Cucinotta) and uses the poet and his poetry to help him woo her. This is a beautiful, simple film about life and romance. Troisi gives a moving performance as the mailman who discovers a love for poetry. The film’s cinematography is gorgeous as it shows off the exquisiteness of Italy.   My Rating: I Would Pay to See it Again   Il Postino Info

Weird Credits: From the credits of A Wrinkle in Time: Science Advisor

Coming Soon to a Theatre Near You:  Incredibles 2  (2018)  Bob (Mr. Incredible) is playing “Mr. Mom,” taking care of Jack-Jack while Helen (Elastigirl) is out saving the world. I loved the first film about a family of superheroes, so I am looking forward to this one.    Incredibles 2 Website

Until Next Time!

Kick-Ass 2

My View:  Kick-Ass 2 (2013) R   Kick-Ass (Aaron Taylor-Johnson) and Hit Girl (Chloe Grace Moretz) are back, this time they are joined by fellow crime-fighting costumed do-gooders on the streets. Red Mist (Christopher Mintz-Plasse) vows to avenge his father’s death and will do anything he can to defeat Kick-Ass, including threatening the people he loves the most.  As with the first Kick-Ass film, this film is very violent and bloody, with some of the action sequences played for comedy. I like that Moretz’s Hit Girl character is more featured as I think she is the best thing in the first film. There are several things I don't like about this film. One is the use of the “shaky camera” during the action sequences. The great thing about the first Kick Ass movie was the choreography of the fight sequences, but in this film, the fight scenes feel choppy and unimaginative. I also don't like the way women are depicted.  Many of the female characters are treated as just sex objects (one “hero” is called Night Bitch), or as stereotypical woman, such as the head cheerleader who is stuck up and petty. There are some funny scenes in this film, thought it doesn’t match the wit and humor of the first film. I don't like Jim Carrey as Colonel Stars and Stripes, as his performance is too restrained for my taste.  I wanted his character to be much more over the top. There is a bonus scene at the end of the credits that, if you are a fan of the series, you will want to see.   My Rating:  Bargain Matinee  Kick-Ass 2 Website

My View:  Lee Daniels’ The Butler  (2013) PG-13  Cecil Gaines (Forest Whitaker) goes from the cotton fields of Georgia to work as a butler in the White House. Cecil serves for more than three decades and deals with eight American Presidents during a time of great change in the country, including the Civil Rights Movement, Watergate and the Vietnam War.  This is an interesting film that shows the Civil Rights movement through the political world of the White House and Cecil’s job but also through the eyes of the butler's son, Louis (David Oyelowo), who participates in the movement as a Freedom Rider. The film is powerful at times, especially in scenes from the civil rights protests and the reaction to the assassination of Dr. King.  The film, though, drags when it deals with Cecil’s home life and his early years with his wife Gloria(Oprah Winfrey), where she feels neglected due to his devotion to his job. The casting in this film is interesting with some good choices such as John Cusack as Richard Nixon or Live Schreiber as LBJ and some bad choices, such as Robin Williams as Dwight Eisenhower. While the film’s subject matter is compelling, I feel the film tries to cover too much ground which makes it seem longer than it really is.   My Rating:  Bargain Matinee  Lee Daniels' The Butler

My View:  Jobs  (2013) PG-13  The story of Steve Jobs (Ashton Kutcher) who went from college dropout to running Apple, making it one of the most powerful companies in the world.  The film focuses on the early years of Apple, starting when Jobs and a few others founded the company in his parent’s garage. The film ends at the time that Jobs comes back to Apple in 1996, after being kicked out of the company a few years earlier. This film is way too long and makes one of the most interesting men of the twentieth century a one dimensional jerk with no depth. Kutcher doesn’t have the charisma on-screen to play Jobs properly, and we never understand why anyone would want to work for the man, much less be inspired by him. I did enjoy Josh Gad who is brilliant as Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak, a man more concerned about how to make a computer better than about the politics going on inside the company. The film has the look and feel of a TV movie, and it seems as though we miss some key parts to the story as the film tends to jump timelines quite a bit. This isn’t a bad film, but Kutcher fails to bring the legend of Steve Jobs to the screen.  My Rating:  Cable   Jobs Website

Indiefest:  The Spectacular Now  (2013) R  Sutter (Miles Teller) is a high school senior who is just happy living in the present. He seems to have everything you would want – he’s popular, has a good job, and his girlfriend is the prettiest girl in high school. Suddenly, everything comes crashing down around Sutter when his girlfriend dumps him and leaves his once promising world now in tatters. Sutter then meets Aimee (Shailene Woodley) who isn’t like anyone he has ever met before and just might be the person to get him back on track.  Woodley and Teller are the reason to see this film as they have great chemistry together. The dialogue in the film is witty and real. The film can be a little grim, at times, but overall, its message of love and the importance of friendship, make this film worth watching.  My Rating:  I Would Pay to See it Again  The Spectacular Now Website

Forgotten Film:  The Grifters  (1990) R  Roy (John Cusack) is a small time con artist who lands in the hospital after an unsuccessful scam. His mom, Lilly (Anjelica Huston), works for a bookie. Roy’s girlfriend, Myra (Annette Bening), is a beautiful woman who knows how to play men and get what she wants. Roy is now torn between the two women in his life who have taken an instant disliking to each other. This is a dark, fascinating film, reminiscent of the film noir crime films of the 1940’s with a lot of twists and turns, some you never see coming. All three principle actors are outstanding in this film, especially Annette Bening as the grifter girlfriend.  My Rating:  Full Price  The Grifters Info

In Case You Missed It (A Film Just Released on DVD):  Olympus Has Fallen (2013)  R I I liked this film about a Secret Service agent (Gerard Butler) who finds himself trapped in the White House just as it is invaded by terrorists.  I thought Butler was impressive and believable as the Secret Service agent and enjoyed this film’s action sequences.  The film was also helped by its excellent supporting cast: Aaron Eckhart, Morgan Freeman, Melissa Leo and Angela Bassett.   My Rating:  Bargain Matinee  Olympus Has Fallen Website

Weird Credits:  From the credits of Jobs:  Custom Hair Extensions

Coming Soon to a Theatre Near You:   The Secret Life of Walter Mitty (2013)  An office worker (Ben Stiller) fantasizes about leading an adventurous life. When his job and the job of the woman he is secretly in love with (Kristen Wiig) is threaten, he sets off on a journey around the world to save their jobs. The film is directed by Ben Stiller, and the trailer is one of the best I’ve seen in years.  The Secret Life of Walter Mitty Info

Until Next Time!