The Lost City

My View: The Lost City (2022) PG-13  Romance novelist Loretta Sage (Sandra Bullock) is on a book tour with her dimwitted cover model Alan Caprison (Channing Tatum). While on tour, Loretta is kidnapped by Abigail Fairfax (Daniel Radcliffe), an eccentric billionaire who is convinced that Loretta’s latest book is the key to a lost fortune. Consequently, Alan sets out to rescue Loretta…good luck with that. Too often, romantic comedy films that add in action/adventure have been poorly done and overacted (I'm looking at you, Melissa McCarthy). I am happy to say that The Lost City is a fun and well-done comedy with two stars who know how to do physical comedy, an art that has been all but forgotten. Fans of the 1984 film Romancing the Stone will love this film, as it plays on that type of film, both making fun of that type of action film and, at the same time, lovingly referencing it. Bullock and Tatum look to be having a blast making the film, though I have a feeling that Bullock got very tired of the purple, sequined jumpsuit that she spends most of the adventure in. The action sequences are well done and very funny. The playful banter between the two is hilarious, and Daniel Radcliffe, as the off-the-wall nuts billionaire, is a blast to watch. I had a great time going on an adventure with Loretta and Alan, and you will too.   My Rating: Full Price   The Lost City Website  Now playing in theatres nationwide.

Indiefest: Topside (2020)    Deep in the underbelly of New York City, a five-year-old girl (Zhaila Farmer) and her mother (Celine Held) live among a group that has claimed the abandoned subway tunnels as their home until authorities discover them. Now, mother and daughter must go on the streets of NYC, a world the young girl knows nothing about. One of the oldest subjects in the history of film is the story of a mother trying to decide if her child is better off without her. In the case of Topside, Nikki, a woman who has a drug problem and leaves her daughter alone for hours at a time to support her drug habit, must decide to keep battling the system and her homelessness to keep her daughter or let the system take her daughter because she can’t provide much more than her love for the daughter she calls Little. Celine Held gives a powerful and moving performance of Nikki, a troubled woman who loves her daughter but can’t cope without drugs to survive. The film is a gut punch from the start, as we see Little exploring the lonely and dangerous world of the abandoned tunnels on her own as she waits for her mother to return. We are torn, as is Nikki, because we see how much Nikki cares for and loves Little, but we know, like Nikki, that it isn’t enough. When the two are forced to go ‘topside’ into the real world, the film comes to a crashing, emotional end that just might wreck you, much like it does with Little and Nikki.   My Rating: I Would Pay to See it Again    Topside Website  Now playing in select theatres.

Indiefest: 7 Days (2021)    Ravi (Karan Soni) and Rita (Geraldine Viswanathan) are two single people being set up by their mothers through a dating website. After a very uncomfortable pre-arranged date, they must shelter in place together after the COVID pandemic lockdown forces them to stay in Rita’s apartment. This is a funny, sweet film about two people who have very different outlooks on life and love. Ravi is best described as a mama’s boy who is desperate to fulfill his family's dream of him getting married and having a family. Rita is an independent woman who only goes along with the whole arranged marriage ordeal to keep her mother happy, while Rita carries on an affair with a married man. The film puts these two people together and lets them figure out that maybe, just maybe, they can find love in an unexpected place with someone who isn’t their perfect mate on a website. I loved the chemistry between Karan Soni and Geraldine Viswanathan, who worked together on the Daniel Radcliffe TV series Miracle Workers. The two play off each other with a light touch, making us believe that they could and should end up together in an unconventional love story for unconventional times.   My Rating: Full Price    7 Days Website  Now playing in select theatres.

Indiefest: You Are Not My Mother (2021) R  In a North Dublin housing estate, Char’s mother, Angela (Carolyn Bracken), returns after mysteriously going missing, her personality radically changed. Despite her grandmother's objections (Ingrid Craigie), Char (Hazel Doupe) decides to uncover the truth of her mother’s disappearance and in turn, unearth the dark secrets of her family. Char is a young woman who is dealing with a lot. She is doing well academically but doesn’t have any friends and is constantly threatened by the school's bullies. She is shy and is very affected by the scar on her face, which she claims is a birthmark. She is being raised by her elderly grandmother, as her mother rarely comes out of her bedroom. Char’s life becomes complicated when her mother, after a disaster of a trip to take her daughter to school, almost ends in a car wreck disappears without a trace. When Char’s mother reappears without an explanation, Char notices that her mother’s personality has changed, so much so that Char can’t decide if it’s a good or a bad thing. Things began going badly in the house as Angela starts acting weird, and Char starts to feel that her mother may be dangerous. You Are Not My Mother is more of a suspense film than a horror film. Though Angela can be scary at times, it’s the psychological effects on Char that are most pressing in this film, as she realizes that the mother she once knew is no longer in the body of Angela. What we, along with Char, have to figure out is Angela’s change has been brought about by a mental breakdown, or is there something more sinister going on?   My Rating: Full Price    You Are Not My Mother Website  Now playing in select theatres.

My View: Infinite Storm (2022)    Pam Bales (Naomi Watts), an experienced climber, is forced to turn back on her climb of Mt. Washington due to a massive blizzard that is fast approaching. On her way down, she encounters a lone, stranded man and takes it upon herself to get the both of them off of the mountain before nightfall and certain death. Infinite Storm is a harrowing story of survival and how one person can give another person help both physically and spiritually. We meet Pam, and we can tell that she is a determined woman who has had something painful happen in her past. We are given clues to what but don’t know the details. Then, just when Pam is about to turn back due to the conditions on the mountain, she finds a man dressed like he was going out on a summer hike, on top of a snowy mountain, freezing to death. Pam puts her survival skills to work and makes it her job to get this man, who is out of his mind, down the mountain before it becomes dark. Watts gives us an emotional and physically draining performance of a woman who, despite her problems, is so driven that she will do anything to get this man back down to safety. Be sure to wear a sweater to the theatre, as you will feel the constant coldness of the mountain, even as you are warmed by the determination of Pam to get you off the damn mountain.    My Rating: Full Price  Infinite Storm Website  Now playing in select theatres.

Forgotten Film: Prefontaine (1997) PG-13  Steve Prefontaine (Jared Leto) was a man who was determined to beat the odds, no matter what the cost. Prefontaine was a runner who was a superstar in the long-distance running for a very short time. Leto is captivating as Pre, a man who didn’t care who he beat or how he got there, just that he was in first at the finish line. As the film shows us, Pre was a man that wasn’t always likable, and that is what I enjoy about this film. Too often, films based on sports stars make heroes out of their subjects and don’t show us who they really were. Prefontaine gives us a tragic hero who wasn’t afraid to run on his terms and not conform to what people thought he should be.   My Rating: Full Price   Prefontaine Info

Weird Credits: From the credits of The Lost City: Cutter-Fitter

Coming Soon to a Screen Near You: Morbius  (2022) PG-13   Biochemist Michael Morbius (Jared Leto) is trying to find a cure for a rare blood disease, one he has himself. In his attempt to find the cure, he inadvertently infects himself with a form of vampirism instead. This much-delayed film is finally being released, and we can see what all the fuss has been about. Recently Leto has given us The Joker and Paolo Gucci, so let's see what he can do with a vampire.    Morbius Website

Until Next Time!

Burnt

My View:  Burnt  (2015) R  Adam (Bradley Cooper) was an up-and-coming chef who flamed out due to his drug use and his arrogant behavior that caused him to lose his prized possession, his restaurant.  He now is trying to put his life back together, and, maybe, if everything goes well, he can open another restaurant. Chefs are supposed to be passionate about the food they prepare and serve. That’s the problem with this film. I never got a sense that Cooper’s character truly is passionate about anything, much less food. I felt more passion from Sienna Miller’s character, a fellow chef, and possible love interest than I did from Cooper’s Adam. Cooper does a lot of brooding, yelling and throwing of kitchen tools, but it’s more about being unhappy and not about the food. There is very little chemistry between Miller and Cooper though there are some sparks between Cooper and Daniel Bruhl, who plays the gay manager of the restaurant and who has a crush on Cooper’s character.  I never believed that Cooper was the charismatic groundbreaking chef as I just never felt or saw the passion he would need to be one.    My Rating: Bargain Matinee   Burnt Website

My View:  Our Brand is Crisis  (2015)  R  Jane (Sandra Bullock) is one of America’s premiere campaign managers. She is sent to South America to help get a new leader  (Joaquim de Almeida) elected. Her problem is the candidate is behind in the polls, and her rival (Billy Bob Thornton) is the manager of the opposition. What a mess of a movie! It doesn’t know if it wants to be a comedy, a hard-hitting political commentary film, or a drama about finding your passion in life. Instead, it tries to be all three and fails miserably, adding a bit of very bad satire (I think) to the mix. Bullock’s character is unlikeable from the start. You are supposed to love her because it’s Sandra Bullock, but we don’t like her “Crazy Jane” character. There are a number of scenes that Bullock has with Thornton’s character that just come off as bizarre, with Billy Bob spouting off line after line and Bullock’s character just sitting there like she is deaf and blind. Bullock’s character has had alcohol and substance abuse problems in the past, but no one bats an eye when she starts drinking again, and it’s even used as an attempt at humor in the film. This film fails at almost everything it attempts, including touching the hearts strings. If it were up to me, I would vote it out of the theatre.  My Rating: Cable   Our Brand is Crisis Website

Indiefest:  Room  (2015)  R  At age 15 Joy (Brie Larson) was kidnapped by Old Nick (Sean Bridges) and placed in a shed in his backyard.   Seven years later, Joy and her five-year-old son, Jack (Jacob Tremblay) haven’t seen the outside other than the small skylight in the ceiling. Joy has a plan to get her son out, but it may kill her.  From the opening frame, you are pulled into the strange and small world of Joy and Jack. Director Lenny Abrahamson and screenwriter Emma Donoghue have crafted a film that fully immerses you the characters’ tiny world. We very quickly learn what Joy deals with on a daily basis, living in a space that is only 10 x 10 and having a child who doesn’t understand just how big, bright and loud the world is outside the walls of the room. I think Brie Larson is one of the best young actresses in Hollywood, and she gives another brilliant performance in this film, but the film is made by the performance of Tremblay. He more than holds his own with Larson and is the core of the movie. Jack is the center of the film, and it takes an impressive actor to pull it off, which he does with flying colors. Everything we see and hear is from the viewpoint of Tremblay’s character, which makes his performance even more remarkable. Tremblay plays Jack as a loving son who isn’t afraid to pushes back when he feels he is being wronged. It takes a strong personality to grasp a role like this, and Tremblay gives an intelligent performance that, while filled with childlike wonder, is also brimming with emotion that is beyond his young age. Without giving anything away, “Room” is let down a little by its 2nd half, but it’s not too hard a fall, and the film doesn’t disappoint with its ending. However, it’s the performances Larson and especially Tremblay that make this movie so emotional and powerful. Both actors, with Oscar-worthy performances give us everything they have and that, in this case, is quite a lot.    My Rating: Full Price   Room Website

My View:   Scouts Guide to the Zombie Apocalypse (2015)  R   On the eve of their last campout, three scouts (Tye Sheridan, Logan Miller, Joey Morgan) band together to fight a zombie invasion of their town. Full of cliches, this film, has the stripper who is smarter than she looks, the nerds who save the day, and the beautiful high school girl who secretly likes one of the scouts. This film would have been a lot of fun if they had done it right. Well, they didn’t. They went for the easy, cheap, sophomoric comedy, which most of the time didn’t work. If you think singing a Britney Spears song with a zombie or feeling up a zombie’s breasts is funny, and then this movie is for you. If you can stay awake through the whole film, there is a bonus scene after the first portion of credits.    My Rating: (inspired by Halloween) I’d Rather Get Bit by a Zombie Than See This Film Again    Scouts Guide to the Zombie Apocalypse

My View:  Truth  (2015) R  In 2004 then-President George W. Bush was in the middle of a  tight re-election campaign.  Producer of the “Sixty Minutes 2,” Mary Mapes (Cate Blanchett) gets information, including some damning documents that Bush might have gone AWOL during his time in the National Guard. After the program detailing the AWOL airs, Mary, and CBS network star Dan Rather (Robert Redford) come under fire for possibly forged documents that they used in their program.  Disclaimer: I work for a CBS-owned TV station.  While not a bad movie, it is rather bland in its depiction of how a news department and its famous anchor were taken down. Redford basically plays himself, not trying to look or sound like Rather. Dennis Quaid plays a former army man who now helps with the news team stories. I would have liked this film more if Quaid had played Rather. Redford is too iconic an actor to play this part, and it’s hard not to see Redford the actor in this role. Blanchett tries hard to bring life to the story, but the film never quite gets the intrigue or the tension up to a full head of steam. You want this film to be another “All the President’s Men” but instead you get an average TV movie. My Rating: Bargain Matinee   Truth Info   

Forgotten Film:  Moonlight Mile  (2002)  PG-13  Joe (Jake Gyllenhaal) is dealing with the death of his fiancé at the hands of a murderer.  In the process of his grieving, he becomes friends with her parents (Dustin Hoffman, Susan Sarandon) and tries to put the pieces of his life back together.  This is a film about dealing with death and how grieving isn’t always an easy road. It’s a film that deals with the subject of death with a bit of a wry sense of humor. I love Ellen Pompeo in this film as she plays a postal worker who Joe starts falling for, much to his dismay. Gyllenhaal is perfect in the part, playing Joe with just the right touch of intelligence and humor.  It’s a film that will touch your heart and make you think about your loved ones. My Rating: Full Price   Moonlight Mile Info

Weird Credits:  From the credits of Our Brand is Crisis: Truck Costumer

Coming Soon to a Theatre Near You: Spotlight (2015)  The true story of how a group of reporters from the Boston Globe uncovered the huge scandal of child molestation and cover-up by the local Catholic Archdiocese. The film is directed by Tom McCarthy (Win Win, The Station Agent), and the cast includes Rachel McAdams, Mark Ruffalo, Michael Keaton, Liev Schreiber, Stanley Tucci and Jamey Sheridan. The film has won numerous awards at film festivals such as the Toronto International Film Festival and the Mill Valley Film Festival.   Spotlight Website

Until Next Time!

Minions

Family Faire:  Minions  (2015)  PG  The Minions have been looking for a leader for ages to no avail. Kevin is a minion with a plan, and he, along with Stuart and Bob, are on a quest to find their next potential master. Scarlet Overkill(Sandra Bullock) just might be that leader. The Minions were always my favorite part of the Despicable Me series. Unfortunately, the Minions should only be a supporting cast, never the leads like they are in this very boring film. The film is set in 1968, and there are cultural references to things that kids are not going to know anything about (like The Beatles Abby Road).  The film does have five or six funny scenes, but it takes so long to get there that the laughs aren’t as big as they should have been. There is also a lot of Minion singing, which gets very old very quickly with the Minion way of speaking and singing in that weird language they use.  Sandra Bullock brings nothing to the film, and it goes downhill after her appearance as the villain. Little kids might like the film but older kids and adults are going to be very board. Save your money and don’t see the 3-D version, as the movie never really takes advantage of that technology.  There is a bonus scene at the end of the credits, but I am not sure you and the kids will want to stay.   My Rating: Cable   Minions Website

Indiefest:  Amy  (2015)  R   Documentary on the late great singer Amy Winehouse, who died too soon. This movie is a stunning and heartbreaking film to watch. I wasn’t a fan of Winehouse, but I am now because we get to see Amy in her early years before fame came crashing down on her. The film uses home videos, behind the scenes shots of her recording studio sessions and live concert footage to give us an insight into her life and what she was really like. We also see her downfall, which was brought on by a person who was not ready or meant for the spotlight. It’s a moving film that uses Winehouse’s music to illustrate what was going on in her life, and the film uses it brilliantly. Even if you aren’t a Winehouse fan, you will want to see this documentary.   My Rating: I Would Pay to See it Again   Amy Website

My View:  The Gallows  (2015) R  20 years after a horrific accident during a school play, students decide to put the play on again to honor the anniversary.  It’s a decision they will soon regret. This is a cheaply done horror movie with bad acting and very few scary parts. It  takes almost half the film before the frightening scenes start happening.  The film is shone as a found footage movie, so there are a number of shots of ceilings and people's feet (so many so, I wonder if the director has a thing for shoes). The film is boring, and the characters are so uninteresting that you almost want them to get killed. I also hated the ending, which was predictable and like most of the film, pointless.   My Rating: You Would Have to Pay Me to See it Again   The Gallows Website

Indiefest:  Testament of Youth  (2014)  PG-13  A headstrong young woman, Vera (Alicia Vikander) enters Cambridge just as World War I is breaking out.  I was impressed with Alicia Vikander’s performance once again (she was stunning as Ava in Ex Machina) but I was let down by the slow pace of this coming-of-age film set in England. We get to see a war through the eyes of a woman who knows what she wants and is ready to fight to get it. The scenes set in the war zone, as Vera works as a nurse, are gritty and well done. It’s the time on the home soil of England that I felt slowed the film down, so much so, that, at times, I felt I was swimming in the river that Vera loves to visit. It’s a beautiful looking film that just doesn’t have enough for Vikander to do.   My Rating: Bargain Matinee  Testament of Youth Website

Indiefest:  Hippocrates: Diary of a French Doctor  (2014)  Benjamin (Vincent Lacoste) is an intern working in a busy Parisian hospital ward that is run by his father.  Benjamin is convinced he will be a great doctor. Abdel (Reda Kateb) was a doctor in his native Algeria but is now having to work as an intern to get his license in France.  Both men will be tested like never before. This is an excellent film about what it’s like to be a doctor in a small hospital. Lacoste is perfect in the role of the young Benjamin, who quickly learns that the job isn’t going to live up to his ideals. Kateb, as the world-weary doctor having to start over from scratch, gives a profound and impressive performance. The film was directed by Thomas Lilti, who is a doctor, and that realism is one of the main strengths of this movie.  It’s a film well, worth seeing.   My Rating: Full Price  Hippocrates Info

My View:  Self/Less  (2015)  PG-13  Damian (Ben Kingsley) is a rich man dying of cancer. He undergoes a radical medical procedure that transfers his consciousness to the body of a healthy young man (Ryan Reynolds).  This isn’t a horrible film, but it’s too long, takes forever to get going, and it’s rather easy to figure out. Kingsley barely has any screen time and Reynolds, while doing an admirable job as an action scenes, is rather boring in the rest of the film. I also never bought the fact that when Damian was old he was a jerk, but when he takes over the new body, he become compassionate. If you want to see an action film, go see Mad Max again.    My Rating: Cable   Self/Less Website

Forgotten Film: Tucker: The Man and His Dream  (1988) PG   The story of the rise and fall of Preston Tucker (Jeff Bridges), who creates a revolutionary car and tries to take on the established car industry. Francis Ford Coppola directed this moving and fascinating film about a man with a dream who gets squashed by the system.  Jeff Bridges is brilliant as Tucker and gives us a stunning and riveting performance that makes the film worth watching.  You root for Tucker even though you know that the outcome is not going to be good.    My Rating: Full Price   Tucker: The Man and His Dream Info

Weird Credits:  From the credits of Minions:  Score Vocalist

Coming Soon to a Theatre Near You:  Boulevard (2015)  This film features Robin Williams in his last starring role.  Enough said.   Boulevard Info

Until Next Time

Son of God

My View:  Son of God (2014)  PG-13  The story of Jesus (Diogo Morgado), from his humble beginnings, his lifelong teaching, his crucifixion and his resurrection.  Morgado is admirable in the role and has a pleasing presence on the screen with the perfect amount of charisma the part needs.  The supporting cast is a little weak, with the exception of Darwin Shaw, who plays the hot-headed Peter.  It is very evident that this film was made on a very small budget, especially when the film keeps showing very obvious shots of miniature models of the towns of Jerusalem and Bethlehem. This isn’t a bad film, but it’s a film that brings nothing new to the story of Jesus.  My Rating: Bargain Matinee  Son of God Website

Indiefest:  Kids for Cash (2014)  PG-13 A documentary about the “kids for cash” scandal that unfolded in Pennsylvania in 2008.  A hard-line judge, who was known for his stiff sentences of juveniles, was accused of accepting bribes from privately-owned juvenile prison facilities. By handing down the harsh, long term sentences, the judge increased the number of inmates at the prisons, making the facilities more profitable. This is a film that could have been better as it never quite finds its emotional punch. The film does a excellent job of letting both sides express their opinions, including letting the judge accused of taking the bribes, keep digging his case for prosecution deeper and deeper.  But we only see the emotional impact of the case near the end of the film, and it's not an impression that this type of film needs to make.  My Rating:  Bargain Matinee  Kids for Cash Website

Forgotten Film:  A Private Function  (1984)  R  In 1947 England, rationing due to World War II is still going on, but that doesn't discourage a small town from having a party to celebrate the marriage of Princess Elizabeth.  Soon the whole town is in a frenzy on how to provide food for the celebration, and a plan is hatched to steal a pig, that is until the pig the townspeople want to steal is missing.  This is a light British comedy that makes fun of life in small town post war England.  The comedic talents of Maggie Smith and Michael Palin are on display to enjoy and savor.  My Rating:  Full Price  A Private Function 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 (2014)  I don’t know what the plot is but does it really matter?  This film is directed by Jonathan Liebesman, the same man who brought us Battle: Los Angeles (2011) and Wrath of the Titans (2012).  Enough said.  Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles

In Case You Missed It (A Film Just Released on DVD/Blu-ray):  Gravity (2013)  PG-13  A medical engineer, Dr. Ryan Stone (Sandra Bullock), and a veteran astronaut, Matt Kowalsky (George Clooney), are on a space mission. During a spacewalk, satellite debris crashes into the Space Shuttle and sends Dr. Stone adrift into space with limited oxygen.  I hope you took my advice and saw this film in the theatre.  Sandra Bullock is perfect as the astronaut who is tries to survive in space.  The storyline is so strong that even if you see the film on a small screen, you will still be wowed.  My Rating:  I Would Pay to See it Again  Gravity Website

Weird Credits: From the credits of 3 Days to Kill (2014):  ripper

Coming Soon to a Theatre Near You:  Chef (2014)  Jon Favreau wrote, directed and starred in this film about a chef, who, at the sacrifice of his family life, rises to the top of the culinary world, only to lose it all.  Now, he starts a food truck business to not only resurrect his career but to give him time to reconnect with his family.  An all-star cast includes Scarlett Johansson, Robert Downey Jr., Dustin Hoffman, John Lequizamo, and Oliver Platt. Chef Info 

Until Next Time

Carrie

My View:  Carrie  (2013)  R  Carrie (Chloe Grace Moretz) is a shy girl who is made fun of at her high school.  Her home life isn’t any better as her life is run by her deeply religious mother (Julianne More).  Carrie soon learns that she has telekinetic powers, powers that she may use to get revenge on everyone who has made her life a living hell.  When a remake is done, new ideas and scenes must be developed to make the current film stand out from the original.  Unfortunately, this film brings nothing new to the subject and has a number of weak points.  I love Chloe Moretz, and I feel she is one of the best young actresses out there, but she is just too good looking to play the part of the isolated, quirky and disliked Carrie.  Moretz tried to cover her appearance with no makeup, tangled hair and slumped shoulders, but she is still beautiful on-screen.  When Sissy Spacek put on the prom dress in the original, she came across as kind of cute but still quirky.  When Moretz puts on the prom dress, she is gorgeous.   I did like the destruction of the prom sequence, but the rest of the film felt as though it was just a retelling of the original and not something new to watch.  Also, one of the great things about the original 1976 film was the supporting cast, filled with stars of the future like Nancy Allen, P.J.Soles, Amy Irving, William Katt and especially, John Travolta.  There isn’t anyone, other than Gabriella Wilde, who plays Sue, the good girl of the bunch, that stood out.  I was also disappointed in the performance of Julianne Moore, who didn’t bring a lot to a role that Piper Laurie played so well in the original.  My Rating:  Bargain Matinee   Carrie Website

My View:  12 Years a Slave  (2013)  R   Based on a true story, this film is about Solomon Northup (Chiwetel Ejiofor), a free Black man living in upstate New York with his wife and child in the year 1841.  On a business trip, he is kidnapped and sold into slavery.  His life is filled with misery and hard work as he is shipped from plantation to plantation in Louisiana at the mercy and whim of the plantation owners. This is an incredibly moving film with some of the best performances of the year, including Ejiofor, who plays the lead of Solomon.  What I really liked about this film is that it took its time at the beginning, so that we could get to know Solomon and his family, which makes it much more heartbreaking when he is wrongfully taken from his family and put into slavery.  Michael Fassbender gives a fascinating performance as the sick and tortured plantation owner, Epps.  Lupita Nyong’o is astonishing as the defiant slave Patsey, who would rather die than keep living under the conditions of the plantation.  Ejiofor is the heart and soul of this film, and he has us in the palm of his hand with one of the best performances of the year. This is a film that you may only see once, as it is hits you to the core, but it’s an experience you will never forget.  My Rating:  I Would Pay to See it Again   12 Years a Slave Website

Indiefest:  A.C.O.D.  (2013)  R  Carter (Adam Scott) finds out that he was an unknowing participant in a study about children of divorce when he was younger, and now the study wants a follow-up.  When Carter’s younger brother (Clark Duke) decides to get married, Carter must get his long divorced parents (Catherine O’Hara, Richard Jenkins) to not only attend the wedding, but also not wreck it with their bickering.  This film has a great cast, which makes it more disappointing to watch as it never finds its comedic voice.  I liked Adam Scott in the sort of everyman role who attempts to deal with his crazy family.  Richard Jenkins steals every scene he is in with an over-the-top performance that is a joy to watch. The film doesn’t give the rest of the cast much to do other than scream at each other, and the second half the film just gets silly and unbelievable.  This should have been a fun film to watch, but it comes off boring and unfunny.  My Rating:  Cable   A.C.O.D. Website

My View:  Escape Plan  (2013)   R   A world renown security expert (Sylvester Stallone) is asked to test the world’s most secure prison from the inside, as a prisoner.  Now he realizes that he was set up and must gain the help of one of the prison's most notorious criminals (Arnold Schwarzenegger) for help to escape.  When is an action film not an action film?  When your two stars are getting up there in age and can’t handle a full-fledged action film.  The film can’t decide if it wants to be a drama, an action film or a snarky comedy and, therefore, fails at all three.  There are holes in the plot the size of Schwarzenegger’s chest, and this has to be the worst run maximum security prison in the world for our heroes to get away with some of their escape plans.  It is fun to see Stallone and Schwarzenegger on-screen together, but this film has way too much talking and not enough action to make it worth watching.  My Rating:  Cable  Escape Plan Website

Indiefest:  Wadjda  (2012)  PG  A young Saudi girl’s dream is to own a bicycle.  She enters a school competition where she will need to recite the Koran better than her schoolmates.  This is a smart, touching film with a great performance from the actress who plays Wadjda (Waad Mohammed).  We instantly like Wadjda, as Mohammed has a charisma that just comes across on the screen.  The film is told with a deft touch as it deals with a number of complicated subjects that guides us through them without hitting us over the head with an agenda.  This film shows beautifully that even under very difficult circumstances, if you are determined and have faith in yourself, you can achieve your dreams.  My Rating:  Full Price   Wadjda Website

Forgotten Film:  The Spitfire Grill  (1996)  PG-13  A young woman named Percy (Alison Elliott) is released from prison and arrives in a small town in Maine, hopeful that she can start a new life.  She gets a job at the local restaurant run by a set-in-her ways woman (Ellen Burstyn).  Elliott does a masterful job of giving us a multilayered performance in a film filled with powerful scenes and makes the film worth watching.  It’s a film about redemption, forgiveness and the need of people to accept the help of others.  My Rating:  Bargain Matinee  The Spitfire Grill Info

In Case You Missed It (A Film Just Released on DVD / Blu-ray):  The Heat (2013)  R  I love this film about a button-downed FBI agent (Sandra Bullock) who has to team with a reckless detective (Melissa McCarthy) to bring down a ruthless drug lord.  Paul Feig (Bridesmaids) directed this very funny film where Bullock held her own on screen with McCarthy.  My Rating:  Full Price

Weird Credits:  From the credits of Escape Plan:  Acting coach for Mr. Schwarzenegger

Coming Soon to a Theatre Near You:  The Counselor  (2013)  R  Michael Fassbender plays a greedy lawyer, only known as The Counselor, who becomes involved with the seedy world of drug trafficking. This could be an Oscar contender with Ridley Scott directing and a cast made up of Penelope Cruz, Cameron Diaz, Javier Bardem and Brad Pitt.   The Counselor Website

Until Next Time!

Gravity

My View:  Gravity (2013)  PG-13   A medical engineer, Dr. Ryan Stone (Sandra Bullock), and a veteran astronaut, Matt Kowalsky (George Clooney), are on a space mission. During a spacewalk, satellite debris crashes into the Space Shuttle and sends Dr. Stone adrift into space with limited oxygen.  This is one of the most spectacular looking films I have ever seen, and it is worth every penny to see it in IMAX 3-D.  This is one of those films where you want to see a full length feature on how they made it.  The action sequences in Space are incredible, scary and beautiful, all at the same time.  Clooney is perfect as veteran astronaut Matt Kowalski, a man who enjoys what he does and lets everyone know it.  When things go wrong, Kowalski is the man you want, and he always has a plan and the nerves of steel to carry it out, which is fortunate since Bullock’s character, Dr. Stone is a space rookie who, when things start to go wrong, panics.  Bullock has to show a wide range of emotions in the film, and she is up to the task, making us like a character who, at the start of the film, is closed off and reserved.  I credit director/co writer Alfonso Cuaron, for making a film that must have seemed impossible to make but develops into an astonishing movie-going experience. My Rating:  I Would Pay to See it Again   Gravity Website

Indiefest:  Parkland (2013)  PG-13   The movie recreates the day of and days that followed John F. Kennedy’s assassination in Dallas, Texas on November 22, 1963. The story is told from the perspective of the men and women who witnessed the shooting and tried to save the President’s life.  I liked this film because, instead of going into the conspiracy angle as so many films about the JFK assassination do, this film lets us see the shooting through the eyes of the people who had to deal with the aftermath on that fateful day in Dallas.  This is a large ensemble cast, and there really isn't a weak-point in the group, though several actors stand out with their performances.  Paul Giamatti plays Abraham Zapruder, the man who would shoot the most famous home movie in the history of film.  Giamatti is stunning as the likable Zapruder, who seems to a good man at heart.  The film’s most moving image is Zapruder's expression while he films the tragedy, as we don’t see the actual shooting, but we see the horror and sorrow in Giamatti’s eyes.  I also liked Marcia Gay Harden, who plays the head nurse in the emergency room where the injured President is taken.  Harden's character shows part equal compassion and guts as she takes charge of a situation where everyone is in shock or panicking.  This is an interesting film that I think history buffs will enjoy.   My Rating:  Bargain Matinee   Parkland Website

Indiefest: The Patience Stone (2013)  R  While war and strife wage around her, a wife (Golshifteh Farahani) faithfully sits watch over her husband (Hamid Djavadan) who is in a vegetative state after he was shot. As she sits at his bedside, the wife begins to tell her husband all the things that she has remained silent about during their ten years of marriage.  Farahani is the reason to watch this film in a tour de force performance.  She is in almost every frame of this film and exhibits touching, heartfelt emotion, and at times, heartbreaking soliloquies where she tells her comatose husband her deepest, darkest secrets.  It’s a fascinating film that shows how hard war is on the civilians, especially on the women as they try to keep their families together under extreme circumstances.  My Rating: Bargain Matinee  The Patience Stone Website

Forgotten Film:  Lone Star  (1996)  R  Sherriff Sam Deeds (Chris Cooper) is a local Texas lawman who gets called in when human bones are found out in the desert.  Deeds begins investigating the murder, which occured over forty years ago and he gets deeper and deeper into an investigation that has many mysteries, some involving his father, the former sheriff (Mathew McConaughey).  This is a dark murder mystery directed by John Sayles, a mystery that delves into not just a murder, but a number of interwoven relationships, all of which are very messy and dangerous.  My Rating:  Full Price  Lone Star Info

In Case You Missed It (A Film Just Released on DVD / Blu-ray):  This Is The End  (2013)  R I loved this raunchy comedy about a bunch of actors hanging out at James Franco’s house when the end of the world starts happening.  The film is filled with cameos, some of which were really surprising, and is loads of fun.  But, be warned.  This film is full of strong language and scenes that really push the edge of good taste.  My Rating:  Full Price  This is the End Website  

 

Weird Credits:  From the credits of Gravity:  Movement coach

 

Coming Soon to a Theatre Near You:  The Hunger Games: Catching Fire (2013)   PG-13 The continuing saga of Katniss Everdeen (Jennifer Lawrence) and Peeta Mallark (Josh Hutcherson) after winning the 74^th Hunger Games starts a rebellion in the Districts.  I thought the first Hunger Games was brilliant, and Lawrence was the perfect Katniss.  I am excited to see if Writers, Directors, Production Crew and Cast can keep up the quality of the story-line and acting.   The Hunger Games: Caching Fire Website

Until Next Time!

Riddick

Thursday, September 05, 2013 9:16 PM

My View:  Riddick  (2013)  R  Betrayed and left for dead on an isolated planet, Riddick (Vin Diesel) is now facing his most dangerous enemy, a race of alien predators that inhabit the planet. To make matters worse, the word has gone out that Riddick may be vulnerable, so bounty hunters are coming to the planet to destroy Riddick once and for all.  Let me first say that this is an “action” movie without a lot of action.  Several of the fights / killings are done off-screen to make Riddick look scary to the bounty hunters he is terrorizing, but it makes the film seem as though it was made on the cheap, and producers didn’t want to shoot the fight sequences.  Riddick, Vin Diesel’s character,  does way too much talking in this film, and the movie takes way too long to get going as the first fifteen minutes of the film are just Riddick alone, trying to survive on the planet.  The dialogue in this film is some of the worst I have heard in a long time, and the special effects / CGI look cheaply done.  I think Riddick fans or action fans, in general, will be disappointed in this weak sequel. Next time, Mr. Diesel, less talking and more butt kicking.   My Rating:  Cable   Riddick Website

Indiefest:  Austenland  (2013) PG-13  Jane (Keri Russell) is obsessed with the author Jane Austen and the world Austen described in her books, especially “Pride and Prejudice."  Now, against the wishes of her friends, Jane uses her life savings to go to a Jane Austen theme park where, she hopes, to find her own “Mr. Darcy,” her ideal Regency-era gentleman.  Will her fantasies become reality and can her new reality live up to her lofty expectations?  I enjoyed this film mostly for the performances of Russell and the two male leads, JJ Field and Bret McKenzie, who are Jane’s love interests.  I didn’t like Jennifer Coolidge’s character, Miss Charming, who plays her part of a pampered American way over-the-top, so much so, that I got tired of her character very quickly.  I did like the last third of this smaller, Indie film.  It had a nice twist to the normal romantic comedy genre plots that we see in the big Hollywood films.  My Rating: Bargain Matinee   Austenland Website

Indiefest:  Adore  (2013)  R  Lil (Naomi Watts) and Roz (Robin Wright) grew up being best friends.  Now both women live near each other on the coast of Australia. Lil is a widow with a son named, Ian (Xavier Samuel), and Roz is married to Harold (Ben Mendelsohn) and has a son named, Tom (James Frecheville). Just like their moms, Ben and Tom grow up to be best friends. When Harold moves across the country for a job, the two women will be challenged by changes in their lives and relationships.  I normally try to stay away from describing major plot points, but I think that it’s important to point out that a third of the way into this film, both women have affairs with each other’s son’s.  So, many people may not go see the film because it deals with such a taboo subject, but if you don’t, you will miss two amazing performances by Watts and Wright, who give meaning and depth to a very complex storyline.  The film is beautifully shot on the coastline of Australia, showcasing the easy, small town life in a stunning setting.  I didn’t like the dialogue in this film as I thought it was clumsy and didn’t fit the characters, which gave this film, at times, an almost “soap opera” feel.  The film is worth seeing for the exquisite coastline shots and for Wright’s performance.  My Rating:  Bargain Matinee   Adore Website

Forgotten Film:  The Black Stallion (1979)  G  Alec (Kelly Reno) is on a ship with his father (Hoyt Axton) when he discovers that also on board is a black stallion.  Alec is fascinated by the horse and tries to make friends.  The boat comes into bad weather, ultimately sinks, and Alec barely escapes with his life, landing on a deserted island.  He soon discovers that the stallion also made it to the island, and Alec befriends the horse, which creates a bond between the two.  When the two are rescued, they make their way back to America where they meet a trainer named, Henry (Mickey Rooney), who sees the potential of the stallion as a race horse.  This is a beautiful film, especially the first half. The scenes where Alec and the Stallion bond over time on the beach are quite magical and moving.  The film does slow down a bit once the two get back to America, and it becomes very predictable at that point, but the first half is worth watching over and over.  My Rating: Bargain Matinee  The Black Stallion Info

In Case You Missed It (A Film Just Released on DVD / Blue-ray): Pain & Gain  (2013)  R I didn’t really like this film about a trio of guys led by Daniel Lugo (Mark Wahlberg), who decide to kidnap a wealthy client.  I hated the last third of the film that treated serious crimes like they were cartoons.  My Rating: Bargain Matinee  Pain & Gain Website

Weird Credits:  From the credits of Riddick:  Leather master

Coming Soon to a Theatre Near You:  Gravity  (2013)  PG-13  A Medical Engineer, Dr. Ryan Stone (Sandra Bullock), and a veteran astronaut, Matt Kowalsky (George Clooney), are on a space mission.  During a spacewalk, satellite debris crashes into the space shuttle and sends Dr. Stone adrift into space with limited air.  This is Bullock’s first attempt at Sci-Fi, and the trailers for the film have been exciting and fascinating.   Gravity Website

Until Next Time!