Mike's Fearless Oscar Picks 2024

 

As always these are who I think are going to win on Sunday night, not who I think should win.  If I have a Spoiler listed, it's a film that I think has a chance to win. 

Winners in Green.

Best Picture:  Oppenheimer

Best Director: Christopher Nolan - Oppenheimer

Best Actress: Lily Gladstone - Killers of the Flower Moon     Spoiler: Emma Stone - Poor Things

Best Actor: Cillian Murphy - Oppenheimer     Spoiler: Paul Giamatti - The Holdovers

Best Supporting Actress: Da’Vine Joy Randolph - The Holdovers

Best Supporting Actor: Robert Downey Jr. - Oppenheimer

Adapted Screenplay: Cord Jefferson - American Fiction     Spoiler: Christopher Nolan - Oppenheimer

Original Screenplay: Justine Triet and Arthur Harari - Anatomy of a Fall      Spoiler: David Hemingson - The Holdovers

Animated Feature Film: Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse      Spoiler: The Boy and the Heron

Documentary Feature Film: 20 Days in Mariupol

International Feature Film: The Zone of Interest

Original Score: Ludwig Göransson - Oppenheimer       Spoiler: Robbie Robertson - Killers of the Flower Moon

Original Song: Billie Eilish and Finneas: What Was I Made For? - Barbie      Spoiler: Mark Ronson and Andrew Wyatt: I’m Just Ken - Barbie

Sound: Oppenheimer       Spoiler: The Zone of Interest

Makeup and Hairstyling: Maestro       Spoiler: Poor Things

Costume Design: Jacqueline Durra - Barbie      Spoiler: Holly Waddington - Poor Things

Cinematography: Hoyte van Hoytema - Oppenheimer       Spoiler: Killers of the Flower Moon

Production Design: Poor Things       Spoiler: Barbie

Film Editing: Jennifer Lane - Oppenheimer      Spoiler: Anatomy of a Fall

Visual Effects:  Godzilla Minus One   Spoiler:  The Creator

Short Subject Documentary: The Last Repair Shop        Spoiler: The ABCs of Book Banning

Short Subject Live Action:  The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar       Spoiler: Red, White and Blue

Short Subject Animation: WAR IS OVER!         Spoiler: Letter to a Pig

Violent Night

My View:   Violent Night   (2022) R   When a group of mercenaries attack the estate of a wealthy family, a little girl asks for help on Christmas Eve. Santa Claus (David Harbour) is about to answer the little girl's wish and finds out who has been naughty. In fact, it's not going to be such a silent night after all. I had high hopes for this film, not because I thought it would be great but because it would be fun, but because I was let down by a lack of creativity in the script and some rather lame fight sequences. I think I wanted more superhero from Santa, but instead, we get a washed-up, lost 'the Christmas spirit' Santa that became too much of a downer. I enjoyed David Harbour in the role, and it looked like he was having fun, but that joy didn’t always translate to the storyline. Next time have Santa come in swinging instead of swigging a lot of beer.  My Rating: Cable   Violent Night Website  Now playing in theatres nationwide.

My View: Emancipation (2022) R Peter (Will Smith) is a slave who has been taken from his family to a new plantation. Peter learns that the Union Army is near and escapes cold-blooded hunters and the unforgiving swamps of Louisiana on his quest for freedom and to see his family again. This film tells the story of slavery from the perspective of one man, Peter, a devoted family man who believes with his whole heart in God. When taken away from his family to work building a railroad for the Confederacy under unimaginable circumstances, Peter is determined to escape and find his way back to his family. I had several problems with this film. We spend so much of the movie in the swamp with Peter battling everything from dogs to snakes to gators to men on horseback that it makes the film seem like a man vs. nature film instead of about the man himself. Secondly, I had a hard time on why a man named Fassel (Ben Foster), the man everyone looks to capture and bring back escaped slaves, is so determined to chase down one man when so many men have escaped from the work camp. We get some background information on Fassel’s upbringing, but why is Peter singled out for Fassel to go so far as to go to the edge of the Union Army to bring Peter back? This isn't the Oscar vehicle I'm sure the studio and Will Smith envisioned it would be. Emancipation is based on a real man, Peter, whose photograph shocked the world and changed the hearts and minds of many when it was published, and that moment is potent and moving, but it’s not enough to make this film rise above it, being just another ordinary escape film.   My Rating: Bargain Matinee  Emancipation Info Now playing in select theatres and Apple TV+ on Friday, December 9, 2022.

Indiefest: Nanny (2022) R  Aisha (Anna Diop), an immigrant nanny who starts a new job for an Upper East Side family. Aisha is working toward making enough money to bring her son from Africa to join her. However, Aisha begins seeing things in her dreams and real life that becomes terrifying and could destroy her hopes for her future. Anna Diop is exceptional in the role of Aisha, a woman who isn’t afraid to stand up for what she is due and loves her child so much that she is willing to work as hard as it takes to bring him to her. The film has been marketed as a horror film, and it really isn’t one, though it sometimes tries to be one. It’s more of a psychological delve into how our dreams and fears can overwhelm us. The film tries too hard to bring in the horror aspect, making it seem less real to the viewer and taking away some of the impact and power of the emotional scenes that Aisha experiences. I was disappointed by this film because it never could quite figure out what it was; a horror film or a drama, and it wasted a performance that could have been even better.   My Rating: Bargain Matinee  Nanny Website Now playing in select theatres and on Amazon Prime on Friday, Dec. 16, 2022.

Indiefest: SR. (2022) R Documentary on the life and career of Robert Downey Sr., the director of irreverent films in the 70s and 80s, who became a latter-day actor (Boogie Nights, Magnolia), and was, of course, the father of Robert Downey Jr. I was never a big fan of Robert Downey Sr.’s films. They were always way too out there, too absurdist for my taste. However, I did enjoy this loving tribute to the man by a son who, like his father, has lived a life full of obstacles along the way. What we get with this film is a sweet, kind look at a man who made many mistakes, especially with his son, but in later life has found humor and peace to live out his final days. What sticks with me is the family's love on-screen during the final scenes with Sr. and how adored he was by everyone, including his son.   My Rating: Full Price  SR. website  Now playing on the Netflix platform.

Familyfaire: Darby and the Dead (2022) PG-13 Darby Harper (Riele Downs), who, after suffering a near-death experience in her childhood, sees ghosts and helps them travel to the great beyond. Darby is an outcast at school, but all that is about to change when the most popular girl in her high school, Capri (Auli’i Cravalho), dies and needs Darby’s help. The first third of this film is a lot of fun, but unfortunately, the film falls into the trap of going for the easy story of letting fame and success go to your head before the redemption in the final act. I think younger teens will enjoy the antics of the high schoolers, but the rest of us will grow tired of the storyline and the predictable plot.   My Rating: Cable  Darby and the Dead Website  Now playing on the Hulu platform.

Indiefest: Clean Slate (2021) Documentary about two friends in a Southern drug recovery program who decide to make a short film to express their struggles with recovery and the pain they have caused their families. This is an inside look at how hard it is to stay clean and sober, no matter how much support and help you have. You go on a journey with these two men to make a film, and the end result is success but not without heartache, lots of work and hope, lots of hope. Clean Slate is a documentary that makes us look at ourselves while trying not to judge others. It's a film about encouragement and striving to accomplish something, a goal that sometimes seems unreachable but can be achieved with help, time, and lots of work. But it’s also about the people still struggling to stay alive, the people who haven’t failed; they just have a long road to go. Clean Slate is a moving film that can give anybody what they really need; hope.   My Rating: Full Price  Clean Slate Info Now playing in select theatres and On Demand.

Forgotten Film:  Arthur Christmas (2011)  PG  In this animated film, Santa (voiced by Jim Broadbent) is getting ready to retire...which of his two sons will follow in his footsteps? Steve (voiced by Hugh Laurie), the older son, is Santa’s right hand and runs Santa’s workshop with military precision. Arthur (voiced by James McAvoy), the younger son, is a wide-eyed lover of all things Christmas, but Arthur’s optimism can get the best of him, and sometimes he is just a little too eager to please. On Christmas Eve, it’s discovered that one present has not been delivered, and Arthur decides to make sure that everyone’s Christmas is a merry one. I enjoyed this film, and it plays to both kids and adults as it has humor aimed at both. The best part of this movie is the army of elves that help run the massive operation, as they deliver gifts with the skills of a gymnast and the stealth of a ninja. Arthur Christmas is an enjoyable film, and it’s very inventive in describing how Santa delivers all his presents on Christmas Eve.   My Rating: Full Price Arthur Christmas Info

Weird Credits: From the credits of Nanny: Haze Operator

Coming Soon to a Screen Near You: A Man Called Otto (2022) PG-13 Otto (Tom Hanks) is a grumpy old man who just wants to be left alone after the loss of his wife. Otto’s world will be turned upside down by a new family next door and a cat that won’t leave him alone. I loved the 2015 Swedish two-time Oscar-nominated film, A Man Called Ove, that this film is based on.   A Man Called Otto Website  Coming to theatres Mid-January, 2023.

Until Next Time!

Bad Boys for Life

My View: Bad Boys for Life (2020) R   The Bad Boys (Will Smith, Martin Lawrence) are back together for one last ride. The guys have to confront possible career changes and midlife crises, as they join a new task force named AMMO to take down a ruthless leader of a Miami drug cartel. If you are a fan of the first two films in the Bad Boys series, then you will have a good time watching this film. Is the plot stupid and the ending pretty unbelievable? Yes. Are there a lot of high-speed car chases and numerous things blowing up (sometimes for no reason)? Yes. Is the chemistry between Smith and Lawrence still there? Yes (but barely). I didn’t quite have as much fun as the audience I saw the film with, but if you know what you are getting into (watch the trailer), you will probably have a good time watching this ‘popcorn’ movie.   My Rating: Bargain Matinee     Bad Boys for Life Website

Familyfaire: Dolittle (2020) PG   Seven years ago, the famed doctor and veterinarian of Victorian England, Dr. John Dolittle (Robert Downey Jr.), lost his wife and has been sequestered behind the walls of Dolittle Manor with his menagerie of animals for his only company. When Queen Victoria (Jessie Buckley) falls ill, Dr. Dolittle sets out on an epic adventure to find a cure. Dolittle is an unfunny and rather stupid film that only young, and I mean really young, kids will enjoy. Downey has some sort of Welsh accent that I have no idea what he was saying about a third of the time. The plot is predictable, and the only fun animal in the whole bunch is a squirrel (voiced by Craig Robinson) that thinks people are out to kill him. The CGI is unimpressive, with some of the animals looking like they were drawn by eight-year-olds. I hope the paycheck was huge for Downey because he isn’t going to live down this film for quite a while.    My Rating: You Would Have to Pay Me to See it Again    Dolittle Website

Indiefest: The Song of Names (2019) PG-13   Thirty-five years after his close childhood friend, a violin prodigy, disappears on the eve of his big solo concert, an Englishman travels throughout Europe to find him. I wish this was a better film than what it turned out to be. It is intriguing at first, with the mystery of why the violinist disappeared without a trace. Unfortunately, the film takes too long to solve that mystery, and I became rather bored with the movie as it moved back and forth from the past to the present. When the mystery is solved, it’s quite a letdown, making the film feel a little shallow. Tim Roth plays the adult who is looking for the long, missing violinist, and Clive Owen is the man he finds. Both actors aren’t given much to do in this film, and the big, emotional moment just doesn’t deliver.   My Rating: Bargain Matinee     The Song of Names Website

Indiefest: Les Miserables (2019) R   A cop (Damien Bonnard) transfers to the 93rd district (where Victor Hugo wrote his 1962 novel ‘The Miserables’) so that he can be near his son after his divorce. He is assigned to the local Anti-Crime Brigade, where cops try to keep the peace between residents. Les Miserables is a gritty, down, and dirty cop drama about the hard streets of a low-income Paris neighborhood, where the cops are constantly harassing the people of the community. What I loved about this film is there are a number of different characters in the movie, all with interlocking stories that all come together at the end of the film. Nominated for an International Feature Film Academy Award, this film is a hard look at a harsh life in the street.   My Rating: Full Price     Les Miserables Website

Indiefest: Weathering With You (2019) PG-13   A high-school boy, Hodaka, runs away to Tokyo, where he meets and befriends a girl who seemingly can manipulate the weather. The animation in this film is beautiful and sometimes a bit haunting. The film is a love story between a 15-year-old boy and a mysterious 18-year-old girl, Hina, who he discovers is called ‘The Sun Girl.’ Tokyo is in the middle of a record-setting weather event, it won’t stop raining. Hina, it seems can through prayer, stop the rain from falling for a short time. They start up a business, selling sunshine for events like a wedding or a ball game. Weathering with You is a love story, and the film is aimed at teenagers (think a Young Adult novel) where we wonder if Hodaka is ever going to get up the nerve to tell Hina just how he feels about her. Hina has a secret, and this love affair could be doomed. I enjoyed this film, and I loved the soundtrack that had a number of Japanese pop songs that perfectly captured the feelings of the characters.   My Rating: Full Price     Weathering With You Website

Forgotten Film: Lady in White (1988) PG-13   Frankie (Lukas Haas) is an 11-year old kid who one night is lured into the school cloakroom by some kids and is left behind, the door locked and Frankie realizes that no one knows where he is. He is visited by a ghost, a young girl who looks sad. As he tries to communicate with the spirit, another figure appears, a masked man who is looking for something in the cloakroom. The masked man decides to spare Frankie, leaving Frankie to figure out if he was visited by one or two ghosts. Lady in White is an excellent ghost story as our hero sets out to discover why he was visited by the young ghost, and if the masked man had anything to do with her death. I loved the fact that the film perfectly captures the look and feel of a small town as it deals with a ghost and a possible murderer. The film has a few nice twists and turns to make this a movie to watch. My Rating: Full Price    Lady in White Info

Weird Credits: From the credits of Bad Boys for Life: Elk Set Production Assistant

Coming Soon to a Theatre Near You: Saint Frances (2019)  A young woman (Kelly O’Sullivan) life is falling apart, and she decides to take a new approach, she becomes a nanny to a six-year-old girl who will change her life. The star of the film, O’Sullivan wrote the screenplay, and the trailer looks like this film could be a lot of fun to watch.     Saint Francis Website

Until Next Time!

Avengers: Endgame

My View:  Avengers: End Game  (2019)  PG-13  After the disastrous results of Avengers: Infinity War (2018), where Thanos turned the world’s population to dust, the Avengers must assemble what is left of them and try to undo Thanos’ actions. This film exceeded my expectations. It is everything I wanted. First off, the film has a lot of humor in it, very similar to Thor: Ragnarok. They did an excellent job of not letting one of the three leaders of the group, Ironman, Capt. America and Black Widow, dominate the scenes, all are important to the story. Yes, the film is over three hours long but it didn’t feel that way. The film never lags and moves a great pace. Brie Larson does an incredible job with Captain Marvel, even more, amazing performance considering she shot this film before Captain Marvel. Yes, you are going to shed a few tears, and you are going to be thrilled with the final battle sequence between Thanos and the Avengers. Marvel did an amazing job with this film and the films leading up to this ending, setting pieces up in those other films that get resolved in this one. Go have a blast and see this brilliant film.    My Rating: I Would Pay to See it Again    Avengers: Endgame Website

Indiefest:  Sunset  (2018) R  A young woman named Irisz (Jul Jakab) shows up at a famous hat shop in pre-WW I Budapest, wanting a job. She is hiding a secret that  may get people killed. After we saw the film, I asked another critic whom I really respect, do you have a clue what we just saw and he said ‘no’. All I can tell you is the plot, and the character motivation are incredibly unclear. I can tell you every time Irisz leaves the house something bad happens, but she keeps doing it. This film directed by Laszio Nemes, the Oscar-winning director of the intriguing  Son of Saul (2015), which I loved, so I was disappointed by this film. The film was shot from the point of view of Inisz, and I got incredibly tired of the camera following her from behind, so we see scene after scene of us looking at the back of her head and neck. The film is 2 hours and 22 minutes but it felt like a four-hour film at least.    My Rating: Cable     Sunset Trailer

   

Indiefest:  Wild Nights with Emily  (2018)  PG-13  The little known life of writer Emily Dickinson (Molly Shannon), in particular, the great love of her life, a woman named Susan (Susan Ziegler) her brother’s wife.  Much lighter in tone than the Cynthia Nixon starring film A Quiet Passion (2016) which took the traditional route that Dickinson was a recluse and was never in love. This film takes a very different view of Dickinson, both her life as a spinster and her love life. In this film, Dickinson has a sense of humor, is in love with her brother’s wife and that Dickinson wrote almost all of her poems for Susan. I am not a fan of poetry, and there is a lot of it in this film, so at times I was a little bored. If you are a fan of Dickinson, then this is a must see to see a different take on her life.     My Rating: Bargain Matinee     Wild Nights with Emily Facebook Page

Indiefest:  Family  (2018) R  Kate Stone (Taylor Schilling) is focused on her career. She really doesn’t get along with anyone and doesn’t care. Her life changes when she has to baby sit 12-year-old Maddie (Bryn Vale), her brother’s misfit daughter. I loved this sweet and funny film about two very strange people connecting as a family. Kate is only focused on her career, that is all she does. She gets to the office before anyone else and is the last one to go home. She sees weakness in everyone and is fully confident that she is the one that will always come out on top. When her brother’s mother in law is near death and must be put into hospice, he and his wife are desperate to find someone to take care of Maddie. After much browbeating, Kate reluctantly agrees to take Maddie for one night. When she goes to find Maddie at her ballet class, she sees Maddie, in a tutu next door doing karate. Schilling and Vale have great chemistry together on the screen,  and I really enjoyed Vale as the peculiar Maddy. I loved the running gag as Kate’s life starts getting more and more complicated, the break room coffee performs less and less. Go see this warm film about family, and where you can find it in unexpected places. Just a bit of a warning, the Insane Clown Posse is a big part of the film and so you hear a lot of cussing, both in song and spoken.   My Rating: Full Price    Family Info

Forgotten Film:  Saint Jack  (1979)  R  Jack Flowers  (Ben Gazzara) plays an American hustler in the 70s Singapore. He dreams of opening a brothel so he can make some money to make it back to the states. The film gets a little slow but Gazzara gives a performance of his lifetime.   My Rating: Bargain Matinee   Saint Jack Info

Weird Credits: From the credits of Avengers: Endgame:  Senior Fur Groomer

Coming Soon to a Theatre Near You:    The Biggest Little Farm   (2018)  PG   A Documentary cameraman and his food blogger wife, decide to leave the city and become farmers of a failed 200-acre farm. This documentary was shot over seven years and was one of most talked about films of the 2019 Atlanta Film Festival.        The Biggest Little Farm Website    

Until Next Time!

Avengers: Infinity War

My View:  Avengers: Infinity War  (2018)  PG-13 The Avengers and their allies must risk all to defeat the mighty Thanos (Josh Brolin before he destroys the universe.  First, the film moves along at a brisk speed, which makes the film seems shorter than its 2 hours and thirty-minutes. I loved that other than focusing on the main bad guy, Thanos, the film does a great of spreading out the storyline to all the good guys, so no one dominates the film, with the exception of Thor, who steals a little bit of the thunder (pun intended) in the last third of the film. Thanos is one of the best bad guys in the Marvel universe who has a plan to kill half the world’s population. The action scenes are well done and intense, and I especially loved the dialogue when the Guardians of the Galaxy are on screen.  The director of the first two Guardians films, James Gunn, wrote the dialogue for those scenes. I will warn you that young kids may be upset because there are some superhero deaths in the film, one of which is incredibly moving. Do stay through all the credits for a bonus scene that will set up the next Avengers film.   My Rating: I Would Pay to See it Again   Avengers: Infinity War Website

Indiefest:  Lean on Pete  (2018)  R   A troubled teen named, Charley (Charlie Plummer), starts working for a cantankerous horse trainer (Steve Buscemi). Ray falls in love with a quarter horse named, Lean on Pete, that, if he doesn’t start winning, the horse will be sold.  Charlie Plummer gives a mesmerizing performance as a teen who falls in love with a horse and will do everything in his power to keep it alive. A great deal of this film is Charlie talking to the horse about his life, his loves, and his troubles. Buscemi and Plummer have great chemistry on screen, and the little heart to heart talks that they do are magical. Lean on Pete is not a film for children as there are some very adult themes in the movie, and there is one scene in particular not made for kids. Go see this small bittersweet film that has a ton of heart.  My Rating: Full Price   Lean on Pete Website

Forgotten Film:  Akira  (1988)  R  In a post-World War III era, a secret military project endangers the city of Neo-Tokyo when it turns a biker gang member into a psychopath. The city’s only hope is two teenagers who, with the help of a group of psychics, try and stop the psychopath’s rampage. The reason to see this film is the detailed animation (hand drawn) that gives this movie its super realistic look. The storyline is very adult, and there is quite a bit of grisly violence, but it’s worth checking out.  My Rating: Full Price    Akira Info

Weird Credits:  From the credits of Avengers: Infinity War:  Weather Consultant

Coming Soon to a Theatre Near You: Dead Pool 2 (2018)  This is what the studio left for the synopsis of the film on IMDB which sums up their rather creative marketing campaign:  After surviving a near-fatal bovine attack, a disfigured cafeteria chef (Wade Wilson) struggles to fulfill his dream of becoming Mayberry's hottest bartender while also learning to cope with his lost sense of taste. Searching to regain his spice for life, as well as a flux capacitor, Wade must battle ninjas, the Yakuza, and a pack of sexually aggressive canines, as he journeys around the world to discover the importance of family.    Deadpool 2 Website

Until Next Time!

Spider-Man: Homecoming

My View:  Spider-Man: Homecoming  (2017)   PG-13  Several months after the events of Captain America: Civil War, Peter Parker (Tom Holand) is mentored by Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr). Peter is trying to balance his high school life with his spidey life. Now, a new threat, the Vulture (Michael Keaton), is on the scene, and Peter is determined to bring him down, without the help of Ironman.  I think this is the best Spider-Man movie of all time. It’s funny, has great action sequences, Michael Keaton is a superb villain, and Tom Holland is perfect in the part. Add a few appearances by Robert Downey Jr. and Jon Favreau, and you get a fun ride. The plot has plenty of twists and turns to keep you interested and guessing about what happens next. What I love is that this isn’t a re-telling of the Peter Parker/Spider-Man story, but an all new adventure that fits in with the rest of the Marvel Universe.  You will want to see this film again, not just because the movie is a blast to watch, but because there are times you are laughing so hard you don’t hear the next line.  And, be sure to stay through all the credits as there are two bonus scenes.   My Rating:  I Would Pay to See it Again   Spider-Man Homecoming Website

My View: The Big Sick  (2017)  R  Kumail (Kumail Nanjiani) is dating Emily (Zoe Kazan), much to the dismay of his traditional Pakistani Muslim family. Now a crisis will test their love.  Based on his life, writer/star Kumail Nanjiani and his wife in real life, Emily V. Gordon, along with director Michael Showalter, have brought us a brilliant film that is part romantic comedy and part serious drama. The film doesn’t feel its 2-hour length, mostly because the laughs keep coming. There are a few behind the scenes at the comedy club that could have been cut, but even then I didn’t mind them because there was usually a joke or two told, mostly at the expense of one of the fellow comics. There are some serious moments in this film, and they are dealt with a loving touch, though always humor is just around the corner waiting until it’s time to break the tension. The Big Sick is one of those great date films, one that has something for everyone.  My Rating: I Would Pay to See it Again   The Big Sick Website

Indiefest:  The Journey  (2017)  PG-13  Two implacable enemies in Northern Ireland, Democratic Unionist Party leader Ian Paisley (Timothy Spall) and Sinn Fein politician Martin McGuinness (Colm Meaney), are forced to take a journey together, and it just might change history. Director Nick Hamm gives us a fictional account (though based on actual events) on how two men from seemingly impossible odds put away their profound felt differences to broker peace that seems so far from their grasp. Hamm uses a ride to an airport together to let us get to know the two men and how deeply held their beliefs are. Both Timothy Spall and Colin Meaney give exceptional and stellar performances. Meaney has to work hard in his performance as his character is the one trying to break through the icy exterior of Spall's character, trying everything from jokes to stories to get to the man. While the film stalls, at times, the performances of Colin Meaney and Timothy Spall bring home just how hard it is to create lasting peace, but understanding the other side makes it possible. The Journey is a film that you will want board and take.   My Rating: Full Price   The Journey Website

In Case You Missed It (A Film Just Released on DVD/Blu-ray):  The Zoo Keeper’s Wife  (2017)  PG-13  Based on a true story, this film tells the story of Antonina (Jessica Chastain) and her husband Jan (Johan Heldenbergh), who own a small zoo in downtown Warsaw. When the Nazis took over, Antonina and Jan save hundreds of Jews in their zoo, right under the German’s noses.  Jessica Chastain makes this film worth watching as she gives a compelling and moving performance of a brave and loving woman who risks everything to save the lives of over 300 strangers. Being a big fan of the Atlanta Jewish Film Festival (a co-sponsor of the screening I went to), I have seen a lot of films about the Holocaust. Where this movie is lacking is in its depiction of the Warsaw ghetto and the horrors that went on there.  The husband travels into the ghetto numerous times (to transport Jews out under the ruse of collecting garbage for his pigs), but its depiction feels frail and sanitized. The Zoo Keeper’s Wife is a fascinating tale about two people who have the courage to step up and help their fellow man.  I just wish this film was as powerful as Chastain’s acting.   My Rating: Full Price    The Zookeeper's Wife Website

Forgotten Movie:  Go  (1999)  R  Three stories intertwine over the course of 24 hours during Christmas.  All the stories are connected to a drug dealer (Timothy Olyphant), and the three stories converge at an all-night rave.  This movie goes all over the place, part comedy, and part drama. The cast is the reason to watch this strange film. Katie Holmes, Scott Wolf, Jay Mohr, William Fichtner and the brilliant Sarah Polley make this movie so much to watch.  My Rating:  Bargain Matinee   Go Info

Weird Credits:  From the credits of Spider-Man: Homecoming:  Water Truck Driver

Coming Soon to a Theatre Near You:  Atomic Blonde  (2017)  R  The Berlin Wall is about to fall, and Lorraine (Charlize Theron), an undercover MI6 agent, is sent to the Communist side to find a fellow agent and recover a missing list of double agents.  Charlize Theron as a James Bond-like kickass spy?  I’m in!   Atomic Blonde Website

Until Next Time!

Captain America: Civil War

My View:  Captain America: Civil War  (2016)  PG-13  The government is concerned about the Avengers and their activities, asking the Avengers to agree to give up control of their team.  Could this cause a rift between Captain America and Iron Man?  Will the Avengers split up?  This is one of the best comic book films that I have seen. There are stunning and magnificent action sequences, one that had the audience standing and clapping. There are some new characters introduced to the Marvel world, including a certain web-slinger, whose appearance gave me hope for the franchise. Robert Downey Jr as Ironman and Chris Evans as Captain America are outstanding, but it’s Paul Rudd’s appearance as Ant-Man that steals the film. While I saw it in 3-D Imax, I would not recommend as it made one of the early action sequences feel very choppy. Do stay through all the credits as there are two bonus scenes, one after the first set of credits and the other after all the credits.    My Rating:  I Would Pay to See It Again   Captain America: Civil War Website

Indiefest:  Dough  (2015)  NR  Nat (Jonathan Pryce) is a Jewish baker, whose shop has fallen on hard times.  His cliental has either died or moved away from his neighborhood, and his assistant quits. He hires a young Muslim, Shaun (Malachi Kirby), to help in the shop. At first, the two clash, but eventually mutual admiration and cooperation happens, changing both men. Full disclosure: I saw this film over a year ago at the Atlanta Film Festival, and there may have been changes since then. I loved the performances of Jonathan Pryce, as the world-weary baker, and Malachi Kirby, as the brash kid who knows very little about baking and even less about Judaism. The story is sweet and predictable, and while not groundbreaking, Dough is an enjoyable film.   My Rating: Bargain Matinee   Dough Website

Indiefest: A Hologram for the King (2016) R  Alan (Tom Hanks) is an American businessman who has just gone through a rough divorce, lost his high power job and his daughter has to take a year off from college because he can’t pay for it. He has one chance to recover with a new job. That job will take him to Saudi Arabia to try and convince the King to buy his companies high tech software. I really liked this film. Tom Hanks gives another winning performance as a man who is struggling to find his confidence and will power to make the sale. There is great chemistry between Hanks and actress Sarita Choudhury, who plays a Saudi doctor that treats his character. It’s a film that is sweet and at times funny with a great message about it’s never too late to rework your life and maybe even find love.    My Rating: Full Price   A Hologram for the King Website

Forgotten Film:  The Deep End (2001)  R  Margaret (Tilda Swinton) is the mother of three who is dealing with the fact that her husband, an admiral, is away at sea. Her oldest son, Beau (Jonathan Tucker), has started acting up and running with a dangerous crowd. Beau’s struggles could get him into big trouble and just might cause the family to fall apart, no matter how hard Margaret tries to keep everything under control. This is a fascinating film that keeps piling on problem after problem for Margaret to handle. Tilda Swinton shines as the mom who has to deal with the impossible and still survive, making her character likable and believable. It’s a movie about death and deception that will keep you guessing how it will end.   My Rating: Full Price   The Deep End Info

In Memory of Ed Wood (A Movie I've only seen in Trailers but just looks like a bad idea): Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Out of the Shadows  (2016)  NR  All you have to know about this film is that Megan Fox is still in it. ‘Nuff Said.   Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Out of the Shadows Website

Weird Credits:  From the credits of Captain America: Civil War:  Trainee Silicone Runner

Coming Soon to a Theatre Near You: The Lobster  (2016)  R  In the near future, single people are taken to “The Hotel” where they have to find a romantic partner in forty-five days or they are turned into an animal of their choice and sent off into “The Woods.”  As weird as this film sounds, it’s been winning awards at film festivals around the world, including three awards at the 2015 Cannes Film Festival.   The Lobster Website

Until Next Time!

 

Avengers: Age of Ultron

My View:  Avengers: Age Of Ultron   (2015) PG-13   Tony Stark (Robert Downey, Jr.) attempts to re-start a dormant peacekeeping program. Things go bad and, what should have helped mankind, threatens to destroy it. Now the Avengers must stop the evil Ultron from completing his evil plans. While I didn't like this film as much as I liked the first, it's still an excellent addition to the Marvel universe. Unlike the first Avengers film that Robert Downey Jr.'s Ironman dominated, this film does a better job highlighting each superhero, even giving quite a bit of background on Hawkeye (Jeremy Renner). While it's primarily an action film, there are a number of places where you will be laughing out loud, mostly due to the quick and witty dialog. I found that the villain of the movie, Ultron (voiced by James Spader), was a bit bland, but the plot moves along at a good pace, and the action sequences are numerous and well thought-out. I thought that 3-D did add to the experience, so I can recommend that you see it that way. There is a bonus scene at the end of the first series of credits. Unlike the first Avengers film, there is not a bonus scene at the very end of credits.   My Rating: Full Price   Avengers: Age of Ultron Website

Indiefest:  The Mafia Kills Only in Summer  (2014)  Arturo (Alex Bisconti) grows up in 1970s Sicily with an obsession for the Mafia. It seems that everyone whom Arturo meets by chance ends up dead or missing. The only thing that keeps Arturo from thinking about the Mafia is Flora (Ginevra Antona), a girl in his class he loves from afar. I loved this surprisingly funny and touching film. The first half of the film is what makes this movie so much fun to watch. Bisconti is hilarious as the kid who can't catch a break. Unfortunately, the film loses steam when Arturo is an adult. Writer/director Pif Diliberto plays Arturo as an adult, mugging at the camera every chance he gets. I did enjoy the scenes that he has with Cristiana Capotondi, who plays Flora when she is an adult. The film is an interesting mix of fiction with fact, as it uses actual news footage from the time giving us a good background into what was happening in the region. It's a fun film that touches the heart as well as the funny bone   My Rating: Bargain Matinee   The Mafia Kills Only in the Summer Website

Indiefest:  Hyena  (2014) A brutal undercover cop, Michael (Peter Ferdinando) has been targeting London's most violent drug traffickers. Michael and his team are known to take a bribe or two and because of that, he and his team have been threatened with exposure. Now Michael may have to change it up and sell out his allies to stay alive. This is a dark and gritty crime drama that sucks you in right from the start. Peter Ferdinando is brilliant as the cop who tries just about everything to stay alive as his world collapses around him. The film has a unique look, with most of it bathed in a dull blue light. Director / writer Gerard Johnson takes us quickly into this intense, grimy world where you can't trust even your best friend. It's a film that isn't always easy to watch and doesn't quite have the finish that you want, but Ferdinando makes it a film to experience.    My Rating: Bargain Matinee    Hyena website

Forgotten Film:  The Friends of Eddie Coyle  (1973)  R  Eddie (Robert Mitchum) is a two-bit criminal who, in order to get out of long prison sentence, decides to snitch on his friends. This is one of the best performances that Robert Mitchum has ever given. I love how this film slowly drags you into Eddie's world, giving us time to know and sympathize with the main, timeworn character. Mitchum dominates every scene and, by the end of the film, we really feel for Eddie, as we know it isn't going to end well. There isn't a lot of action in this film, but wow, can Mitchum act!    My Rating: Full Price    The Friends of Eddie Coyle Info   

Weird Credits:  From Avengers: Age of Ultron:  Personal Hair Designer and Stylist for Mr. Chris Hemsworth.

Coming Soon to a Theatre Near You:  I Am Big Bird: The Caroll Spinney Story (2014)  Who doesn’t want to see a documentary about the man who is Sesame Street’s Big Bird and Oscar the Grouch?   I Am Big Bird: The Caroll Spinney Story Website

Until Next Time!