Cyrano

My View: Cyrano (2021) PG-13   The legendary story of a wordsmith and master swordsman, Cyrano (Peter Dinklage), who falls madly for the lovely Roxanne (Haley Bennett). Despite being in love with Roxanne, Cyrano is too full of self-doubt to make a move but then is enlisted by the dashing Christian (Kelvin Harrison, Jr.) to woo her with letters that Cyrano writes for Christian. Cyrano de Bergerac is one of my favorite plays and has been brought to the screen numerous times, including some of my favorites of all time: Love Letters (1945), Cyrano de Bergerac (1950), Electric Dreams (1984), and the classic Steve Martin romantic comedy Roxanne (1987). So, accordingly, I fell in love with this version of Cyrano, a musical starring Peter Dinklage, who, instead of the enormous nose making Cyrano feel that he is not worthy of Roxanne’s love, it’s his size that causes his doubts. This version of Cyrano is a musical with a score written by members of the Indie-rock band The National. While not a great singer, the songs in the film allow Dinklage to half-sing, half-speak the songs, but this makes for a more mournful and soulful Cyrano, as he pours out his heart for a love lost. Dinklage is one of those performers who commands your attention, and he does this with an ease that makes him seem effortless on the screen. Haley Bennett is superb as the lovely Roxanne and Kelvin Harrison, Jr. belts some of the film's best songs as the tongue-tied Christian. I thoroughly enjoyed this revisit to an old friend about a man who sacrifices his happiness for what he thinks will make the love of his life happy, only to be disappointed by the cruel turn of events.   My Rating: Full Price  Cyrano Website  Now playing in theatres nationwide.

My View:  Studio 666  (2022) R   Dave and the rest of the Foo Fighters are looking for the perfect place to record their much-anticipated 10th album. Finally, they have found the ideal location, a mansion in Encino that is steeped in rock and roll history. However, there is one problem: supernatural forces threaten to take over their lives. If you are a fan of the Foo Fighters and have enjoyed their music videos, you will have a good time watching this film. Based on a story written by frontman Dave Grohl, a huge horror fan, the film is a take on the haunted house theme, with an evil force possessing Grohl for mayhem and gore. The film is a takeoff on all the low-budget slasher films you have seen, with each new death bloodier and grosser than the last one. The film is funny, but it overstays its welcome by at least 30 minutes, and I got tired of the seemingly endless plot, as the killings keep going long after I thought it was fun. The band looks as if they were having a blast and a lot depends on if you like Dave and his tendency to overact. If you're not a fan, you might want to skip Studio 666 and maybe try something like The Cabin in the Woods (2011) or Tucker and Dale vs. Evil (2010) instead.   My Rating: Bargain Matinee  Studio 666 Website  Now playing in theatres nationwide.

My View: No Exit (2022) R  Darby (Havana Rose Liu) is a runaway from rehab desperate to visit her sick mother, but Darby is stranded by a blizzard in an isolated highway rest stop. Shortly after arriving, she discovers a kidnapped child hidden in a car belonging to one of the people inside the rest stop she is stranded with. Darby (Havana Rose Liu) is a runaway from rehab desperate to visit her sick mother, but Darby is stranded by a blizzard in an isolated highway rest stop. Shortly after arriving, she discovers a kidnapped child hidden in a car belonging to one of the people inside the rest stop she is stranded with. No Exit is a gripping suspense film that starts with the premise that there is a kidnapper among the four people you meet in a rest stop, and you have to figure out who it is and how to get the child safe while trapped in cramped quarters. The film has plenty of nice twists to keep you interested while keeping the suspense high. I enjoyed this film, where you get to play detective along with Darby and try and figure a way out of an impossible situation. Havana Rose Liu gives us someone in Darby to help us figure out what is going on in a desperate attempt to rescue the child. No Exit loses a bit of steam in the second half, but it’s still a cool roller coster ride that becomes a bit horrific.  My Rating: Full Price   No Exit Website  Now playing on the Hulu platform.

In Memory of Ed Wood (A Movie I've Only Seen in Trailers But Just Looks Like a Bad Idea): A Day to Die  (2022) R   After killing a drug syndicate member while protecting a parolee, Connor (Matt Dillion) has one day to pay two million dollars in reparation. He enlists his old military ops crew, led by Brice Mason (Bruce Willis), to steal two million dollars. Anything these days with Bruce Willis on the movie poster is a bad sign. Willis is making a ton of these direct-to-video movies where he comes in, acts for a day or two, and then departs, making the film basically a walk-on for him, and the rest of the film is an action film without its star.    A Day to Die Info

Forgotten Film: Nobody's Fool (1994) R  Sully (Paul Newman) is a man in his 60’s who has lived a carefree life. He has a job as a construction worker, lives in a rented apartment, and gets by because he is charming and good-looking. He spends most of his days drinking beer at a local watering hole and flirting with his boss's wife (Melanie Griffith). Then in walks his son, Peter (Dylan Walsh), going through a messy divorce and has moved back to his hometown. Now, Sully must confront the past he has long ignored. Newman was one of those actors who could do incredible things with very little. Newman’s Sully is a man who, though full of faults, is someone you still root for. It’s that easy-going charm that Newman fills the screen with as no one else can. Nobody's Fool is a film that lets Newman fill with his presence, and it's a performance that is one of his best, especially of his later career. The cast is outstanding, including Bruce Willis as Sully’s boss and Jessica Tandy as Sully’s landlord (and old 8th-grade teacher), but it’s Newman that makes this film work and worth watching.   My Rating: Full Price    Nobody's Fool Website

Weird Credits: From the credits of Cyrano: Action Prop Buyer

Coming Soon to a Theatre Near You: The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent (2022)   A cash-strapped Nicolas Cage (yes, that Nic Cage) has agreed to make an appearance for 1 million dollars at a billionaire’s (Pedro Pascal) birthday party. It gets complicated when Nic learns that the billionaire is not only a fan but is a drug kingpin. OK, Nic Cage is playing himself, so this could go one of two ways: a heck of a lot of fun or a huge mess. Either way, it will be worth seeing for this Cage fan.      The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent Website

Until Next Time!

Stuber

My View:  Stuber  (2019)  R  Detective Vic (Dave Bautista) has been chasing his partner’s killer for two years without success. Vic gets a tip that the killer is going to be at a drug drop-off but it comes at the worst possible time as Vic has just got laser surgery and can’t see to drive. So gets an Uber driver Stu (Kumail Nanjiani), who is hired to take Vic on an adventure they both will remember for the rest of their lives. Ok, so this is not a great film but it is a lot of fun to watch. Bautista and Narjaiani have great chemistry and play off each other really well. I will tell you that I was a little shocked at how violent the film is with lots of blood and a ton of headshots. I also loved that one of my favorite actresses, Natalie Morales has a fairly big part in the film of playing Vic’s daughter. If you want to just go watch a film that is fun this film is for you.    My Rating:  Bargain Matinee    Stuber Website

Indiefest:  The Spy Behind Home Plate  (2019)  Documentary on baseball catcher Moe Berg, who played during the Golden Years of professional baseball. But Moe Berg led a double life, he was a spy for the US government, gathering intel on both the Japanese and the Germans. This film explores a man who was not just a ballplayer but was one of the smartest men of his time. Berg when he traveled always had an extra suitcase with him filled with books and newspapers. The man also was fearless, during WW II he traveled throughout Europe spying on the Nazi’s and recruiting scientists to come to America to work on the Atom Bomb. This film has incredible footage of Berg playing baseball and has great interviews, including interviews with Berg’s brother. You will be amazed at what this man accomplished.    My Rating: Full Price    The Spy Behind Home Plate Website

Indiefest:  Bethany Hamilton: Unstoppqble  (2018)  PG  Documentary on surfer Bethany Hamilton, who at a very young age it was thought that she was so talented she was sure to win a World’s Championship sometime in her pro career. Seemly Bethany’s dream of becoming a pro surfer was cut short when at age 13 her arm was bitten off by a 14 foot Tiger shark. Amazingly not only did Bethany take up surfing again she won tournaments. This is a beautiful and inspiring film about a remarkable woman who is such an amazing athlete but also an inspiration to young people around the world. What I enjoyed the most about the film is the remarkable footage of Bethany surfing. Using all sorts of camera angles, including underwater cameras and cameras mounted on her surfboards, you are right there watching Bethany’s high’s and lows. The starts and ends with Bethany attempting to surf ‘Jaws’ an area of surfing in Hawaii that has 60-foot waves that almost always do what is called a ‘barrel’ (where the wave curves over the surfer. I loved the drone shots that show Bethany surfing big waves from high above. Experience what it is like being a professional surfer. I guarantee you will be amazed by Bethany’s perseverance and talent.  My Rating: Full Price    Unstoppable Facebook page

My View:  Crawl  (2019) R    A Category 5 hurricane is about to hit. having not heard from her dad, Maley (Kaya Scodelario) goes to his house and finds that he is injured. But there is something down in the basement with them and it’s out for blood. This is quite a good horror film while there are a few ‘jump out of the dark’ scares, most of the film is building terror. You also can’t figure out how the father/daughter are going to get out of this situation. I liked the performance of Kaya Scodelario, who is very believable as a college swimmer, which the pilot uses to its advantage. There is no rhyme or reason why the gators are killing people but the shark in Jaws didn’t have a reason either, he just killed.   My Rating: Bargain Matinee    Crawl Info

In Case You Missed It (A Film Just Released on DVD / Blu-ray):  Shazam!  (2019)  PG-13    Billy Baston (Asher Angel), a newly foster kid, s picked to become a superhero named Shazam (Zachary Levi). All Billy has to do is say the word ‘Shazam’ and he becomes the world’s greatest superhero. This film is a blast to watch as the makers of the movie decided that they were just going to have fun with these characters. The film is hilarious and you may have to see it twice because you will be laughing so hard you won’t hear some of the dialogue. Zachary Levi is perfect in the role of Shazam, who throughout the film, keeps learning new powers he has. Mark Strong, as the evil Dr. Sivana, makes a good bad guy who wants to take Shazam’s powers for his own. The film is a little slow at first but really gets going once Shazam shows up and then it just takes off for plenty of thrills. The action is fast-paced and the fight sequences are well done. But it’s the humor that makes this film work and boy, does it ever. Be sure to stay through all the credits as there are two bonus scenes.    My Rating:  Full Price    Shazam! Website

Forgotten Film:  The Verdict  (1982)  R  A washed-up lawyer (Paul Newman) seeks redemption with taking on a malpractice case to trial rather than settling. Directed by five-time Oscar-nominated Sidney Lumet and written by two time nominated writer David Mamet, the film is an intriguing tale of a case that has plenty of twists and turns. The reason to see this film is the performance of Paul Newman, who starts out as a boozing loser who we begin to root for by the end of the film. It’s a riveting performance by Newman, one of his best (and that is saying a lot).  My Rating: Full Price    The Verdict Info

Weird Credits:  From the credits of Stuber:  Rain Effect

Coming Soon to a Theatre Near You:  Fast & Furious Presents: Hobbs and Shaw  (2019) PG-13  Lawman Hobbs (Dwayne Johnson) and outcast Shaw (Jason Statham) form an alliance in order to take on cyber-genetically enhanced villain who threatens the future of humanity. I have thoroughly enjoyed the Furious franchise since they decided to escape reality and make the cast superheroes. This one should be a lot of fun.    Hobbs and Shaw Website

Until Next Time!