Reminiscence

Note to readers: I have started going to movies in the theaters, having received my two shots and passed the two-week standby period, wearing a mask at all times and following social distancing. Most of the films I am reviewing are still movies that I watched at home, but I will note in the review if I saw them in a theatre. I am not going to tell you whether or not to attend a theatre. Just be aware of the risks, do your research, and follow the instructions to the letter.

My View:  Reminiscence  (2021) PG-13   Set in the near future, Private Investigator Nick Bannister (Hugh Jackman) uses a machine to explore the past of his clients. His life is changed when a new client of his, Mae (Rebecca Ferguson), goes missing, and Nick fights to learn the truth about Mae and what happened to her. I loved the world that this film has created with Miami being flooded by rising seas and the population becoming nocturnal due to the heat, the film has a look all of its own, and I am glad I saw this in a theatre on the big screen. Unfortunately, it is all for show as the storyline is weak and drags on forever. I have always liked Hugh Jackman, but he looks uncomfortable in the role of a vet who is haunted by the war he fought and now is making his living as a P.I. There is very little flame between Jackman and Ferguson, and that is where the movie starts to fall apart because we have to believe that Jackman’s character is so in love with Ferguson’s Mae that he is willing to lose everything to find out what happened to her. I just never cared about either character and, in fact, kind of wish that the film had been about Nick’s assistant Watts, played by Thandie Newton, whose character of a sharp-shooter war vet with a drinking problem is far more interesting than Nick or Mae. At almost two hours, Reminiscence takes too long to get to the chase, and once that chase begins, I didn’t care who won.   My Rating: Bargain Matinee    Reminiscence Website  Now playing in theatres and on the HBO Max platform.

My View:   The Protege  (2021)  R  Rescued as a child by the legendary assassin Moody (Samuel L. Jackson), Anna (Maggie Q), has been brought up to be an assassin herself, becoming the world’s most skilled contract killer. When Moody is brutally killed, she goes out on her own to get revenge. This is one of those action-adventure films that you just sit back and enjoy. Have fun with Samuel L. Jackson doing Samuel L. Jackson stuff as the killer with a heart of gold. Watch Maggie Q kick serious butt and get in and out of some sticky situations. And have a blast watching Michael Keaton play the bad guy as James Bond has gone to the dark side. There is plenty of hand-to-hand combat and a few explosions to liven up the place as the plot moves along at a quick pace with not too much setup. I enjoyed The Protege for what it was, a good action film with a lot of butt-kicking.   My Rating: Bargain Matinee    The Protege Website    Now playing in theatres.

My View: Habit (2021) R  A street-smart party girl (Bella Thorne) and her friends louse the money they owe to a violent drug dealer (Josie Ho) and decide to get the money back while hiding out…as nuns. This film reminds me of the schlocky movies that used to be made for cheap that would play at the drive-ins in the 60s and 70s. With a wafer-thin plot, an over-the-top performance of Josie Ho as the demented drug lord, and an attempt to be provocative (Bella’s character at one point has sex with a good-looking priest in a confessional), this movie fails on every aspect and at times is unwatchable. Add in a bizarre cameo of Paris Jackson as a female Jesus, Gavin Rossdale, chewing up scenery right and left, and some very strange appearances by Hana Mae Lee and Ione Skye, and we have a film that will make my bottom ten list of bad films of ’21.   My Rating: You Would Have to Pay Me to See it Again   Habit Website   Now available to rent on online platforms and on DVD/Blu-Ray Aug. 24th.

My View: Sweet Girl (2021) R   Cooper (Jason Momoa) finds out that a big pharmaceutical company denied his wife a life-saving drug, and he vows to bring justice to the people responsible for his wife’s death. There are big stakes involved, and now Cooper and his daughter, Rachel (Isabela Merced), are trying to escape from the people that want to shut him up permanently. This is your ordinary action-adventure ‘on the run’ film with a few twists and turns to make it interesting. While a great deal of the action is centered on Jason Momoa, the film's real star is Isabela Merced, who has already shown us that she can be an action star in the Dora movie. Merced has a pleasing screen prescience that when even pared with a big guy like Momoa, your eye moves toward her. The film allows her to do some action sequences that are, frankly, more exciting than seeing Momoa’s fight sequences. The film does get a little messy with the plot and an ever-evolving target that Cooper and his daughter are chasing. Sweet Girl isn’t a bad action film, just one weighed down by a story that becomes very confusing on exactly who is responsible for Cooper’s wife’s death. That being said, I wouldn’t mind seeing a film with Rachel out dealing justice on her own.   My Rating; Bargain Matinee    Sweet Girl Website  Now available on the Netflix platform.

Indiefest: Demonic (2021) R   Carly (Carly Pope) hasn’t seen her mother, Angela (Nathalie Boltt), in years since Angela was put in prison for setting fire to a nursing home and killing twenty-one people. Carly finds out that her mother is in a coma, but an experimental procedure will allow Carly to visit her mother in a kind of second reality. Carly soon learns that Angela might not have been responsible for the deaths, that some sort of demon was involved, and now it has set its sight on Carly. This is one of those films that you wonder what happened to the filmmaker like Neill Blomkamp, who seemed so promising with his early work (Academy Award nomination with District 9) but has hit a wall and just doesn’t deliver the goods anymore. That is the case with Demonic, a film with an exciting start that gets bogged down in details and a plot that makes less and less sense as it goes along. Demonic is a horror film, but the scares aren’t there, with a bad guy that we don’t really meet until the end, and then it’s a big letdown. The plot is easy to figure out (even the big twist near the end) and never ramps up the tension, leaving the film any sense of horror, something a so-called scary movie needs.   My Rating: Cable   Demonic Website  Now playing in select theatres including Landmark Midtown Art Cinema and available to rent on online platforms.

Forgotten Film: Proof   (1991) R  Martin (Hugo Weaving) has been blind since birth. He takes photographs and has them developed and then has people tell him what the photograph is about. Celia (Genevieve Picot) becomes Martin’s caretaker and is obsessed with him. Andy (Russell Crowe) pops into Martin’s life and soon becomes his best friend, but Celia is jealous of their friendship and is willing to do anything to break them up. Proof is a strange little film that is helped by three outstanding and interesting performances. You don’t know where the film will end up, but it's fun watching these three actors on the screen work their magic. Add in the fact that Weaving and Crowe are so young and this is a film to enjoy.   My Rating: Full Price    Proof Info

Weird Credits:  From the credits of The Protege: Patina Artist

Coming Soon to a Screen Near You: Eternals (2021)   An unexpected tragedy forces the Eternals, an ancient band of aliens who have been living on Earth in secret for thousands of years, to come out of the shadows to reunite against mankind’s most ancient enemy, the Deviants. The film is based on a comic book series by my favorite artist, Jack Kirby, and is co-written and directed by two-time Academy Award winner Chloé Zhao (Nomadland). Add in a cool trailer and a cast that is headlined by Salma Hayek and Angelina Jolie, and this makes it a film not to be missed.     Eternals Facebook Page

Until Next Time!

Hitman's Wife's Bodyguard

Note to readers: I have started going to movies in the theaters, having received my two shots and passed the two-week standby period, wearing a mask at all times and following social distancing. Most of the films I am reviewing are still movies that I watched at home, but I will note in the review if I saw them in a theatre. I am not going to tell you whether or not to attend a theatre. Just be aware of the risks, do your research, and follow the instructions to the letter.

My View:  Hitman’s Wife Bodyguard  (2021)  R   Just when Michael (Ryan Reynolds) thought his job was done, Darius’s (Samuel L.Jackson) wife, Sonia (Salma Hayek), is up to no good, and Michael is back trying to protect someone everyone wants dead. I really liked the first film, The Hitman's Bodyguard, enjoying the banter between the two leads, and thought the action sequences were fun and thrilling. This film feels like a cash grab. The film isn’t entertaining, the dialogue, which was one of the best things about the first film, is crass and stupid. And the plot is such a mess I had a hard time figuring out what exactly was going on in the movie, other than letting Salma Hayek say some outrageous stuff and kill a lot of guys. I started looking at my watch about twenty minutes into the film, hoping that we were close to the film ending and then being crushed that I had much more to watch. I just wanted the endless car crashes, gunfights, and shouting to come to a close. If you make it to the end, and if you do, you should get a metal, there is a small, unfunny scene after the end of the first portion of credits. I saw this film in a theatre, but that didn’t make any difference to my dislike for this film and its sorry and boorish attempt at humor.   My Rating: You Would Have to Pay Me to See it Again     The Hitman's Wife's Bodyguard Website  Now playing in select theatres.

Familyfaire: Luca   (2021)  PG   Luca (voiced by Jacob Tremblay) is a sea monster who dreams of exploring the world, but his parents are worried that the humans living on the ground will hunt and kill Luca. One day Luca discovers that he can change into human form, and with help from his fellow sea monster friend Alberto (voiced by Jack Dylan Grazer), Luca sets out to travel the world of the humans. What more could you want than a small Italian coastal town, plenty of pasta, good friends dreaming of a Vespa to take them on adventures? That’s what the animated joy of a film called Luca delivers. What a fun, fantastical movie to watch as we follow Luca on his journey to discover the world and the hero inside him. Kids will love the bright, colorful animation and the whimsical action sequences, and adults will fall in love with the little sea monster who is scared of the real world but finds out that the world is a whole lot less scary when you have friends to help you along. I wish Pixar/Disney did not decide to release this film only on the Disney + platform and not in the theatres because it deserves the big screen in all its glory. Regardless, you and your family will have a blast riding along with Luca on his adventures in the wide, wide world, even if it all happens in a small, cozy Italian town. And oh, by the way, there is a funny bonus scene at the end of all the credits!    My Rating: I Would Pay to See it Again   Luca Website   Now playing on the Disney + Platform.

My View: 12 Mighty Orphans  (2021)   PG-13   Set in the Great Depression, a small group of orphans are put together by a football coach (Luke Wilson) and lead them to the state championship, inspiring a tired and broken nation along the way. This is a film that feels a little too earnest for its own good. The story of the Mighty Mites is a good one as a group of orphans who, against unbelievable odds, made it all the way to the high school football championship game in the huge football-loving state of Texas during the depression, giving a community and eventually a nation a cause to back during a tough time in our history. It’s an inspiring story, but the film hits us over the head at every chance it has to make this point. Its villain, a man who runs the school's work program printing press, played by overacting Wayne Knight, is so sadistic and evil that it seems he is right out of a Charles Dickens novel. Luke Wilson plays the coach who sweeps into the orphanage to give the young men hope and a purpose, a hero who is haunted by his past, one that includes being an orphan himself. It’s an inspiring true story that the film never quite knows when to quit pouring on the sappiness. 12 Mighty Orphans isn’t a bad film and has an excellent message for young teens, but it can’t find a tone other than sappiness and over-the-top earnestness that never delivers the inspirational and emotional feeling that the film needs to carry out its message successfully.    My Rating: Bargain Matinee   12 Mighty Orphans Website  Now playing in select theatres.  

Indiefest: The Sparks Brothers  (2021)  R  Documentary on the legendary band Sparks, made up of brothers Ron and Russell Mael, who made music for the past five decades, releasing an astounding 25 albums and inspiring generations of pop and rock stars. I never was a Sparks fan, always thinking their music was a little too weird and ever-changing, only interested in their music when they teamed up with my Go-Go’s crush Jane Wiedlin. I have changed my mind due to the brilliance of this Edgar Wright-directed documentary. The film is a Sparks fan’s dream as it gives you not only a full rundown of each album that Sparks released but gives you rare concert footage of early performances and behind the scene photos of the band from the when the band started to form to the present. The film uses a mix of highly amusing animation with the band's music videos (remember when MTV used to be essential and necessary to a band's success) to give you an overwhelming and fantastic experience. The film interviews everyone from Beck and Todd Rundgren to Gilmore Girls creators Daniel and Amy Sherman-Palladino and Weird Al Yankovic. This film has something for everybody, including in-depth interviews on camera from the brothers themselves that lets the film show you their wild and creative voices. I’m still not sold on all their music, but that’s what is great about the band is they were so creative and prolific that you can find something in their vast song library that you are sure to like, and I am sold on what a brilliant documentary The Sparks Brothers is about a strange and inventive band that we all need in our lives.    My Rating: Full Price    The Sparks Brothers Website  Now playing in select theatres.

Indiefest: Rita Moreno: Just a Girl Who Decided to Go For It  (2021)   Documentary about the legendary dancer/actress who, over a 70-year career, defied both her humble upbringing and relentless racism to become a celebrated and beloved actor, one of the rare EGOT (Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, Tony) Award Winners of our time. When I was a kid, I fell in love with Rita Moreno when she dazzled me on the screen with her fiery dancing in West Side Story. I am happy to say that I am still in love with Rita Moreno and this documentary only confirms it. She is delightful telling her tale of a beautiful young girl who had a talent for dancing, lucked into an audition with a big Hollywood mogul, and then had to claw her way through the Hollywood system to become one of the great performers of our time. It’s a fascinating tale that Moreno tells us with both humor and candor. Some of its shocking, like after she won the Academy Award, she didn’t work for seven years because the roles she was offered were too small or too demeaning. Or that Rita was the long-time lover of Marlon Brando during his glory days as not only Hollywood’s leading actor but also its most beautiful. The tales of men in Hollywood trying to have their way with her are horrifying, especially her painful encounters with her agent, a man she trusted with her career.  I was also amazed at how often I have seen Rita in films during her early years and not realized it was her because she was always playing the ‘native girl’ or the ‘Indian princess’ with her makeup, making her almost unrecognizable. I love how Rita kept her sense of humor and that passion for life, even when she went through hard times. It’s a beautiful documentary about a remarkable woman who is a treasure to the world of dance and acting.   My Rating: Full Price   Rita Moreno: Just a Girl Who Decided to Go For it Website  Now playing in select theatres.

Indiefest: Enfant Terrible  (2020)   This is a film based on the life of the award-winning, controversial German director Rainer Werner Fassbinder, who in a short span completed 40 feature films, two TV series, and twenty-four plays. I never was a big Fassbinder film fan. His movies were too raw, where he didn’t often care about camera angles or realistic cutting sequences, wanting the audience to focus more on the emotion and faces of his characters. This film does the same thing with Fassbinder’s life story. It doesn’t care that the scenery is fake or that the acting is overbearing at times; it wants to show you how Fassbinder lived his life and made his movies; raw, emotional, and scenery-chewing to excess, and it does this. However,  a little goes a long way, and I got tired of the fake scenery and the feeling that I was watching a stage play that was filmed. A word of warning, there are some sex scenes that, like Fassbinder’s life, are rather graphic and uncomfortable to watch. Also, I was not too fond of the idea that the film plays a little loose with the facts of Fassbinder’s life. It ignores that he was married twice to women who didn’t mind or care that he was gay. And it totally ignores the facts about the death of one of the loves of Fassbinder’s life, actor El Hedi ben Salem, who killed himself after Fassbinder helped him escape from a city where Salem had stabbed three people in a drunken rage. It was a death that was kept from Fassbinder in real life because his friends felt it would have destroyed him, but in the film, not only does he not personally help Salam escape the city where the stabbing happened, but he finds out about the death overhearing two crew members talking about the suicide. Like many of the  Fassbinder films I have seen, I never could connect with the film or its characters, always bothered by the surrealistic feel of the film itself.   My Rating: Bargain Matinee    Enfant Terrible Info   Available for rent on participating on-demand services.

My View:   Fatherhood   (2021) PG-13   After what was one of the happiest days of his life, the birth of his daughter, his wife dies, and a new father, Matt (Kevin Hart) is faced with raising a child, Maddie, on his own, something he was never ready for but must succeed because he is in it…together. Kevin Hart gives a touching and heartfelt performance as the single dad trying to raise a daughter on his own. The film does a better job in the second half of the film, once we get past the new father with a baby phase, which goes for the easy laughs way too many times. The film's heart is the relationship between Matt and Maddie, how they struggle through life together, as not only a team but as father and daughter. The film is greatly helped by a thoroughly enjoyable performance by Melody Hurd as the daughter Maddy, who is adorable in the role. The chemistry between Hurd and Hart is beautiful and makes the film work. The supporting cast isn’t given much to work with characters that are too cartoony and predicable, like Paul Reiser as the boss who gets upset when Matt puts Maddy in front of his job but then allows Matt to keep it because he is good at it or Lil Rel Howery’s character, Jordan, the friend who tries but always doesn’t do or say the right thing. Fatherhood doesn't have a  groundbreaking storyline, nor does it quite reach the heartstrings that you want it to, but Kevin Hart and Melody Hurd together make it a film worth watching.    My Rating: Bargain Matinee   Fatherhood Website    Now playing on the Netflix platform. 

Forgotten Film: Blue Collar  (1978)  R  Three co-workers (Richard Pryor, Harvey Keitel, Yaphet Kotto) at a Detroit auto plant are frustrated with their job, their lives, and their union. They decide to make a little money by breaking into their union’s headquarters, only to discover a few hundred dollars and a ledger. That ledger and what it contains will change the three friends' lives forever. First, please ignore one of the worst movie posters of all time that was surely developed to try to cash in on Richard Pryor’s sudden red hot career. Blue Collar is a drama, and Pryor is magnificent as the family man who all he wants is to give his wife and kid a life where they don’t have to worry about how much their weekly grocery bill is. Blue Collar is a gritty film that doesn’t go for the easy win, showing that life can be challenging and get rich quick schemes usually don’t work out.   My Rating: Full Price    Blue Collar Info

Weird Credits: From the credits of The Hitman’s Wife’s Bodyguard: Cliff Jumpers

Coming Soon to a Screen Near You: Old (2021)  PG-13   A family is out on a tropical holiday, then they discover after spending a few hours on the beach that something is causing them to age by the hour. If this keeps going, they will be dead by the end of the day. Writer/director M. Night Shyamalan is hit or miss these days, but it's always interesting to see what he has come up with.     Old Website

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Until Next Time!

Men in Black: International

My View:  Men in Black: International  (2019)  PG-13  Agent M (Tessa Thompson) has just joined the Men in Black to protect Earth from the scum of the universe. Teamed up with Agent H (Chris Hemsworth), Agent M learns something thought impossible, there is a mole inside the MIB organization and she and Agent H must find the mole or the Earth is doomed. I was very disappointed in this film that wasted the comedic talents of Chris Hemsworth. The film is dull and seems much longer than its almost two hour run time. The only redeeming quality of this film is the character of Pawny (voiced by Kumail Nanjiani), a small little creature who becomes the sidekick to Agent M. Pawny is hilarious, always voicing his opinion on everything. For most of the film, I was bored and the action sequences aren’t well done.    My Rating: Cable    MIB: International Website

My View:  Late Night  (2019)  R  Molly (Mindy Kaling) is a quality control worker at a chemical plant that dreams of working as a writer on a late night talk show. Due to being in the right spot at the right time, Molly gets a job on the writing staff of a talk show hosted by the legendary Katherine Newbury (Emma Thompson). Katharine is about to lose her job and it is up to Molly to save it. Absolutely brilliant writing from Mindy Kaling. The film is filled with witty dialogue and Kaling kills it on the screen as the writer desperate to succeed. Emma Thompson is a delight as the embattled talk show host that slowly warms up to Kaling’s character and her ideas to improve the show. This was such a fun film to watch and I enjoyed it immensely.    My Rating: I Would Pay to See it Again   Late Night Website

Indiefest:  The Dead Don’t Die  (2019)  R  The small, peaceful town of Centerville is suddenly turned into a killing zone as a horde of zombies invades the town. Now it’s up to its Police Chief (Bill Murray) and his deputies (Adam Driver, Chloe Sevigny) to save the town with a little help of the new funeral home director (Tilda Swinton). How writer/director Jim Jarmusch swung and missed with such a great cast is a mystery. The film has its moments, mostly due to Bill Murray but the film never finds its tone or footing and just isn’t funny enough to be called a comedy. Also, while funny, the film breaks the fourth wall which takes you out of the movie, almost grinding the film to a halt. The film had such promise but never delivers, making it a great disappointment.    My Rating: Cable   The Dead Don't Die Website

Indiefest:  The Last Black Man in San Francisco  (2019)  R  Two best friends (Jimmie Falls, Jonathan Majors) try to decide if they stay in their hometown of San Francisco which has drastically changed since their childhood. This is a wonderful film about the importance of friendship and how inter-cites landscapes are changing, not always for the best. This is also a love letter to the city of San Franciso, a city that director Joe Talbot and his lead actor Jimmie Fails absolutely adore. I loved the chemistry between Fails and Majors, who work well with each other on the screen. In a climate where a bunch of blockbuster films are duds, this small film deserves to be seen and treasured.   My Rating:  Full Price   The Last Black Man in San Fransisco Facebook Page

My View:  Shaft  (2019)  R   After his best friend mysteriously dies, john Shat Jr. (Jessie T. Usher) enlists the help of his father (Samuel L. Jackson) and his grandfather (Richard Roundtree) to find out what happened. This film just can’t figure out what it is: is it a buddy film? A gritty action film? A comedy? The only thing this movie knows what it is, a vehicle for Samuel L. Jackson to say as many F-bombs as he can. Some of the dialogue is downright laughable and the villains are so cut and dried that they could be from a 70s TV crime drama and the plot has holes as big as the muscle car that Shaft drives. I will say this, the small audience that I saw the film with laughed at all the jokes that Jackson made but that might be some hometown cooking (Jackson lives in Atlanta).   My Rating: Cable   Shaft Website

Forgotten Film:  Ryan’s Daughter  (1970)  PG  During the 1916 IRA rebellion a British officer (Christopher Jones) has a torrid affair with a married woman (Sarah Miles. Two reasons to see this movie; the performance of Robert Mitchum who is terrific and a storm sequence that is spectacular. The movie lacks some of the drama that director David Lean’s earlier movies such as The Bridge on the River Kwai (1957) or Doctor Zhivago (1965) but is still worth watching.    My Rating:  Bargain Matinee    Ryan's Daughter Info

Weird Credits:  From the credits of Men In Black: International:  Crowd Hair Junior

Coming Soon to a Theatre Near You:  Yesterday  (2019)  PG-13  A musician (Himesh Patel) realizes he’s the only person to remember The Beatles. He then starts performing their songs and becomes a big star. The film is directed by Danny Boyle (Slumdog Millionaire, 127 Hours) so I have high hopes for this film.    Yesterday Website

Until Next Time!

Captain Marvel

My View:  Captain Marvel  (2019)  PG-13   Carol Danvers (Brie Larson) becomes one of the universe’s most powerful heroes and she will need that power when Earth is caught in the middle of a battle between two alien races. I absolutely love this movie! There is a wonderful and moving tribute to Stan Lee before the film starts, and he does make one last cameo in the film. Brie Larson is amazing in the role, and her character kicks major butt. There is a cat in the named Goose that will steal your heart. The action sequences are fun and well choreographed. The film starts a little slow but I liked that there is a quite big mystery on how Captain Marvel got her powers. There are some nice twists and turns to the plot that keeps you guessing. I loved the chemistry between Samuel L. Jackson, playing Fury and Larson. The film has a killer soundtrack from the 80s and 90s. This film features a very strong supporting cast, the best of the bunch is Lashana Lynch, who plays an Air Force pilot. This picture delivered everything I wanted and more. There are two bonus scenes in the credits, so make sure to stay all the way through the credits.   My Rating: I Would Pay to See it Again    Captain Marvel Website

Indiefest:  The Invisibles  (2017)  In 1943, the Nazi’s declared that Berlin was ‘free of Jews.’ Little did they know that  Jews still lived in the city. This is the story of four Jews who somehow hid, some in plain sight. This is a fascinating documentary that uses recreations, interviews and archival footage to tell the story of these people that stayed in Berlin and survived. Their stories are all varied on how they were able to hide for so long in a city that was hostile to them. The recreations are well done and really helpful in experiencing the terror that these people felt every day. It also shows you how many ordinary Germans helped them survive.   My Rating: Full Price   The Invisibles Website

In Case You Missed It (A movie just released on DVD/Blu-Ray):  Creed II  (2018)  PG-13   With Rocky’s (Sylvester Stallone) help, newly crowned light heavyweight champion Adonis Creed (Michael B. Jordan) faces off against Viktor Drago (Florian Munteanu), the son of the man that killed Adonis’ father. This is a disappointing film because the first Creed film was one of the best of that year. Sylvester Stallone co-wrote this film, and it has his heavy hand all over it. This feels more like a Rocky picture than a sequel to Creed. What is surprising is how good Dolph Lundgren is as Ivan Drago, the boxer who lost everything when Rocky beat him thirty years ago. Lundren makes Drago a real character who wants revenge through his son and it’s the best performance in the film. I just wish the movie wasn’t so over the top and was much too long.    My Rating: Bargain Matinee    Creed II Website

Forgotten Film:  Short Term 12  (2013)  R   Grace (Brie Larson) works as a supervisor at a foster-care facility for at-risk teenagers.  Her boyfriend, Mason (John Gallagher Jr.), works with her at the home.  Grace’s world is changed when Jayden (Kaitlyn Dever), a troubled teenaged girl, enters the facility, and Grace sees herself in Jayden.  Brie Larson gives one of the best performances of the year as the tough, but kind-hearted Grace.  She is able to show, just in her eyes, all the pain and empathy that her character has.  I also loved the scenes between Grace and Mason, as both actors bring a nice, comfortable chemistry that two people who have been together for awhile should exhibit.  The supporting cast of kids are good, and Larson plays off of them with an ability to show us she has dealt with their problems before, possibly in her own life.  This is a film that gives you hope for kids who are troubled, and there are people out there trying to help them and give them some sort of feeling of family, even if that family is not ordinary.   My Rating:  I Would Pay to See it Again     Short Term 12 Website

Weird Credits:  From the credits of Captain Marvel:  Prosthetic Makeup Artist

Coming Soon to a Theatre Near You:  Penguins  (2019)  A Disney documentary that centers on the story of Steve, a very clumsy Addie penguin, who is looking for a mate. The trailer just looks adorable.    Penguins Website

Until Next Time!

Kong: Skull Island

My View:  Kong: Skull Island  (2017)  PG-13  In 1973, a team of explorers along with a company of soldiers are following the myths and legends of the Pacific. It seems that there is an island where creatures both prehistoric and monstrous live, including Kong, the legendary giant that is King of Skull Island. This is an old fashioned  “leave your mind at the door” popcorn movie. The best parts of this film are the battle sequences, which are spectacular looking and exciting to watch. The special effects (CGI), especially Kong, who has quite a few close-ups, are sensational.  The worst part of this film is the huge plot holes and the blatant way the movie tries to get you to care about the team. The character that Toby Kebbell portrays, a soldier who writes letters to his kid, exists only so you will feel sorry for the soldiers as they fight monsters on the island. You just don’t care about anyone in this film, and there are few characters (like the one Samuel L. Jackson portrays) that are so annoying, you want them to die. Stay through all the credits, as there is a bonus scene. Kong: Skull Island was not shot in 3-D, so save the money and buy some popcorn.  My Rating: Bargain Matinee   Kong: Skull Island Website

Indiefest:  The Last Word  (2017)  R  Harriet (Shirley MacLaine) is a retired businesswoman who needs to control everything and everyone in her life. She decides to hire a young journalist, Anne (Amanda Seyfried), to write her obituary. Anne finds out that writing Harriet’s obit is going to be the hardest job she has ever had.  I enjoyed this film, mostly due to the performances of MacLaine and Seyfried. They have sparkling chemistry together and make the film entertaining to watch. MacLaine is a blast as the woman whom everyone can’t stand.  The plot is a little predictable, and the story takes a little while to take off, but this is an enticing and poignant film to watch.  My Rating: Bargain Matinee   The Last Word Website

Family Faire:  My Life as a Zucchini  (2016)  PG-13  After his mother dies in an accident, a young boy who likes being called Zucchini, is sent to a foster home with other orphans his age. There he meets and falls in love with a girl named Camille. This Oscar-nominated stop-motion animated film is a gem and a delight to watch. The animation is colorful and warm.  I will warn you that a few times this movie can be a little grim, and there aren’t a lot of laughs, but you will have a marvelous time watching a young boy find his place in the world.  I wish more animated films were of this quality and substance.  My Rating:  I Would Pay to See it Again   My Life as a Zucchini Info

Indiefest:  The Ottoman Lieutenant  (2016)  A strong-willed woman, Lillie (Hera Hilmar), meets an American doctor (Josh Hartnett) who runs a remote hospital within the Ottoman Empire. She decides to join him and she meets Ismail (Michiel Huisman), a lieutenant in the Ottoman Imperial Army. They quickly fall in love as the world begins to fall apart. This film has gorgeous cinematography and exotic locations, but that can’t make up for a storyline that plays out like a bad romance novel. I did like Hera Hilmar’s performance as the headstrong nurse who falls in love with “the enemy,” but she isn’t given much to work with in a script that wants to be a combination of Lawrence of Arabia with a little of The English Patient thrown in.  The film seems to never find its footing and just becomes slightly boring to watch.  My Rating:  Cable   The Ottoman Lieutenant Website

Forgotten Film:  Broadway Danny Rose  (1984)  PG  A talent agent, Danny (Woody Allen) who represents the worst talent out there, gets involved with trying to reconcile a lounge singer (Nick Apolo Forte) with his mistress (Mia Farrow). When Danny gets mistaken as her lover, the mob goes after him. This comedy is funny because Allen allows us to see Danny as a real man and not just another character he is playing. Mia Farrow is wondrous as the mob girl who is rough and tumble.  This is a fun and witty comedy that will keep you laughing until the end.  My Rating:  Full Price   Broadway Danny Rose Info   

Weird Credits:  From the credits of The Ottoman Lieutenant:  Turkish Dialogue Coach

Coming Soon to a Theatre Near You:  Prevenge  (2016)  This rather strange sounding comedy from actress Alice Lowe looks nuts but so much fun.  A pregnant woman (Alice Lowe) goes on a killing spree, but it’s not her idea; it’s her unborn baby giving orders from her womb.  I am making sure that I see this at SXSW Film Festival.   Prevenge Info

Until Next Time!

The Hateful Eight

Indiefest:  The Hateful Eight  (2015)  R   In post-Civil War Wyoming, John “The Hangman” Ruth (Kurt Russell) is escorting fugitive Daisy “The Prisoner” Domergue (Jennifer Jason Leigh) to Red Rock where the latter will face justice for murder. They encounter a group of strangers at a stagecoach stop, including another bounty hunter named Major Marquis Warren (Samuel L. Jackson).  I had a blast watching this film, but be warned, this is a violent and bloody film full of some very uncomfortable scenes.  The second half of the movie mostly takes place in one room, but the movie fully utilizes the 70mm format, taking what could have been a very claustrophobic film and turning it into a film that thrills the senses. This is truly an ensemble piece with Jennifer Jason Leigh as the unruly prisoner and Samuel L. Jackson as the wisecracking bounty hunter who stand out from the rest of the cast. I also enjoyed Tim Roth as a chatty hangman. The film doesn’t feel like it’s almost 3 hours long, as it moves at a quick pace with witty dialogue. I will warn you -  there is a scene near the end of the film that is quite disturbing and not for someone with a weak stomach. While not for everyone, if you like or love Quentin Tarantino movies, you will have a great time watching this one. The film is being shown in select theatres in 70mm film and nationwide in the standard digital format.    My Rating: I Would Pay to See it Again   The Hateful Eight Website

The 50  (A Movie from My Best/Worst Films of All Time)  #3 Best Film:  The Godfather Part II (1974)  R   We see the origins of The Godfather as Vito Corleone (Robert De Niro) finds his way in the streets of 1920’s New York City. We also experience Michael Corleone (Al  Pacino) tightening his grip on his growing crime syndicate in 1958 as it stretches from Lake Tahoe, Nevada to pre-revolution Cuba. This is one of the few times that a sequel is better than the original movie. De Niro gives a masterful performance as the young Vito Corleone. There is a sequence where Vito is moving across rooftops, tracking the man he is going to kill as he winds his way through the streets of a neighborhood celebration. Al Pacino is equally impressive, especially in a scene with John Cazale, who plays his older brother, Fredo. Pacino delivers one of the great lines in cinema as he tells his brother “I know it was you, Fredo. You broke my heart. You broke my heart!” The final sequence of the film is a brilliant piece of filmmaking by a director, Francis Ford Coppola, who was in his prime.   My Rating: I Would Pay to See it Again

Forgotten Film:  Medium Cool (1969)  R  John Cassellis (Robert Forster) is a hard nose reporter who always gets his story. He discovers that his network is cooperating with the FBI to give them ways of identifying protesters of the Vietnam War. When he protests this, he is fired. Cassellis decides to document the planned protests at the 1968 Democratic National Convention in Chicago, Illinois. The film was written and directed by one of the greatest cinematographers of all time, Haskell Wexler. Wexler uses a documentary style to mix real footage of the convention with dramatic pieces, which makes you feel as if you are there, in the middle of scenes. The camera work in this film is beautiful and brilliantly blended between conventional  shooting and handheld shots. The film is enhanced by a soundtrack that includes songs by Frank Zappa.  Forster is perfect in the role of a reporter who won’t let the system beat him down.    My Rating: Full Price   Medium Cool Info

In Memory of Ed Wood (A Movie I’ve Only Seen in Trailers But Just Looks Like a Bad Idea):  Fifty Shades of Black (2016)  A parody of the film Fifty Shades of Grey.  Is there any way we can stop Marlon Wayans from putting out any more of these crappy types of films?

In Case, You Missed It (A Film Just Released on DVD/Blu-ray):   Ant-Man  (2015)   PG-13   Scott Lang (Paul Rudd) is a car burglar who is hand-picked by Dr. Hank Pym (Michael Douglas) to become Ant-Man.  Ant-Man can decrease in size but, also, can increase in strength. I enjoyed this film that is more in the vein of Guardians of the Galaxy with the amount of humor in it and the hero of the story who is dependent on his wits, rather than a superpower. I liked Rudd in the role, as he has a smart-ass quality to him, but not so much that you don’t like him. He plays off of both Michael Douglas and Evangeline Lilly (who plays the daughter of Dr. Pym), and there are some real sparks between Lilly and Rudd. Corey Stoll plays the villain well, bringing just enough menace to the role to make it enjoyable to watch. The action sequences are fast moving and exciting with some creative scenes that make the film a blast to watch. Once again, I think you can save some money and see it in 2-D. There are two bonus scenes worth staying for; one after the first portion of credits and one at the very end of all the credits.    My Rating: Full Price   Ant-Man Website  

Weird Credits:   From the credits of The Hateful Eight: Cat Trainer

Coming Soon To a Theater Near You:  Deadpool  (2016)  A former Special Forces operative turned mercenary (Ryan Reynolds) has cancer and is about to die. He is offered a way to live if he lets himself be the subject of a rogue experiment. That procedure gives him accelerated healing powers, and he decides to become Deadpool. The studio has done an excellent job in marketing this film with very funny print ads and even better trailers.   Deadpool Website

Until Next Time!

Robocop

My View:  Robocop (2014)  PG-13  In the near future, the United States is the last country in the world to not use some sort of robotic police force. When Alex Murphy (Joel Kinnaman), a loving father and good cop, is critically injured in the line of duty, the corporation behind most of the world’s robotic police force, OmniCorp, sees an opportunity. They plan on using what is left of Murphy to create a one-man police force called, Robocop.  I enjoyed this film as it attempted to bring something new to the Robocop franchise.  The supporting cast is perfect, including Michael Keaton as the slimy CEO of OmniCorp, Samuel L. Jackson as a pro OmniCorp TV host, and Jay Baruchel as a sleazy marketing guru.  I didn’t like the action sequences as the PG-13 violence seemed too rooted in video games.  I also didn’t like that the film takes way too long for Robocop to hit the streets to kick some bad guy butt.  Kinnaman is enjoyable as the Robocop, but I just wish the creators had really upped the action sequences.   My Rating:  Bargain Matinee  Robocop Website

The 50  (A Movie from My Best/Worst Films of All Time) 
#4 Best Film:  The Godfather (1972)  R  The story of a mafia crime family trying to stay on top is one of most brilliant films of the past 50 years.  The cast of Marlon Brando, Al Pacino, James Cann and Diane Keaton is brilliant in this stirring film directed by Francis Ford Coppola.  Every scene in this movie could be studied in a film class, with its perfect framing and lighting.  Pacino is magnificent as Michael, a war hero who naively thinks he can leave the family business.  Brando dominates every scene he is in, and Keaton is never more appealing.  It’s a film that makes you root for the bad guys and feel good about doing it.  My Rating:  I Would Pay to See it Again  The Godfather Info  

Forgotten Film:  Outland (1981) R  William Neal (Sean Connery) is a Marshall, assigned to a mining colony on Io, one of Jupiter’s moons.  When Marshall starts investigating the mysterious deaths of a number of miners, he discovers that a drug trade is responsible for the deaths, and the dealers are out for the Marshall’s death.  Now the Marshall must face a gang of ruthless killers, and the population that he has protected is letting him go against them all alone.  This is a new take on the western theme of one man against many, like the 1952 film, High Noon.  Connery is at his charismatic best, playing the tough-as-nails Marshall who is willing to take on the bad guys.  My Rating:  Bargain Matinee  Outland Info

In Memory of Ed Wood (A Movie I’ve Only Seen in Trailers But Just Looks Like a Bad Idea):  The Other Woman (2014) A wife (Leslie Mann) and her husband’s girlfriend (Cameron Diaz) team up to get revenge on the husband when they discover he is cheating on both of them.  Just what we need. A female buddy movie about cheating.  The Other Woman Info

In Case You Missed It (A Film Just Released on DVD/Blu-ray):  The Best Man Holiday (2013)  R   When old college friends get together for the Christmas holidays, they find out just how easy it is to pick right back up where they left off, which is good in the romance department but not so much when dealing with a rival.  I thoroughly enjoyed the first film in the series, The Best Man, and while this film isn’t quite as enjoyable as the first one was, it’s still a fun movie with a great message about love and family.  My Rating: Bargain Matinee   The Best Man Holiday Facebook Page

Weird Credits:  From the credits of Robocop:  Balloon light technician

Coming Soon to a Theater Near You:  Captain America: The Winter Soldier  (2014)  Captain America (Chris Evans) is struggling to adapt to the modern world while there is also a new threat from an old foe, a Soviet agent known as the Winter Solder.  I really liked the first Captain America film, but I wanted a little humor in it.  They say this one will have that humor that I was looking for.  Captain America: The Winter Soldier Website

Until Next Time!