Wild Tales

Indiefest:  Wild Tales (2014)  R   Six stories of people who have been or think they have been wronged and seek revenge.  If you liked the old TV show, Tales from the Darkside, this movie is for you.  The running theme throughout this film is revenge, sometimes it works out for the person getting the revenge, and sometimes it doesn’t. This is an imaginative film that continues to surprise you up until the very end. This is a strange and violent film that is one of the most creative and enjoyable films I have seen in the past year.   My Rating: I Would Pay to See it Again   Wild Tales Website

In Memory of Ed Wood (A Movie I’ve Only Seen in Trailers But Just Looks Like a Bad Idea): The Transporter Refueled (2015)  A reboot of the popular Transporter series. I don’t recognize anyone in the cast, and not a good sign.  Let’s face it, the only reason the original series worked was the on-screen magnetism of Jason Statham.   The Transporter Refueled Info

Forgotten Film: White Nights (1985) PG  I could explain that plot (expatriate Russian dancer’s plane is forced to land in Russia, then forced to dance with the Bolshoi) but what is important about this film is that you get to see Mikhail Baryshnikov and Gregory Hines, in their prime, dance!  Nothing else about this movie matters.  My rating: Cable

Weird Credits:  From the credits of Mr. Turner:  Special Effects Teeth

In Case You Missed It (A New Release Out on DVD and Blu-Ray): Song of the Sea (2104)  PG  Saoirse is a child who is the last of the Selkies, a legendary group that can transform from seals into people. Now, she is on a journey to free fairy creatures who are trapped in the modern world. This beautiful and moving film is one of the best-animated films I have seen in the past five years.  It’s destined to become a classic. My Rating: I Would Pay to See it Again   Song of the Sea Info

Coming Soon to a Theatre Near You: Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015)  The Avengers was one of the best films of 2012.  Can Marvel do it again?  Let’s hope so.  The trailer looks bonkers.  Avengers: Age of Ultron Facebook page

Until Next Time!

The Boy Next Door

My View:    The Boy Next Door (2015)  R  High school teacher Claire (Jennifer Lopez) has just come off a messy divorce. She has a one-night stand with a young neighbor (Ryan Guzman) who then develops an obsession with her. I was looking for the door about five minutes into this film. The idea that Jennifer Lopez's character, who looks like Jennifer Lopez and therefore, could get any man out there, would lust for and have a one-night stand with a nineteen-year-old is laughable, but then again, so is the dialogue. The plot holes in this film are about as wide as the empty theatres.  My Rating: Cable   The Boy Next Door Website

Indiefest:   Cake (2014)  R   Claire (Jennifer Aniston) suffers from constant pain. Not only does Claire have physical scars, she also has mental ones. She has driven away everyone, including her chronic pain support group. Now she only has her housekeeper (Adriana Barraza). Claire’s world is shaken when a fellow group member commits suicide. This film was written, it seems, to give Aniston every advantage of getting an Oscar nomination. Make her look slightly ugly but still look like Jennifer Aniston. Check. Make her character slightly unlikable but not so much that she isn't redeemable. Check. Have a bunch of well-respected actors show up for bit parts so we can put their names on the poster. Check. Have something in her past that we don't talk about for two-thirds of the film and then finally reveal what we already knew happened. Check. The one thing the producers missed to get Aniston her Oscar?  Write a good script.  My Rating: Cable  Cake Website

Familyfaire:   Song of the Sea (2104)  PG  Saoirse is a child who is the last of the selkies, a legendary group that can transform from seals into people. Now she is on a journey to free fairy creatures who are trapped in the modern world. This is one of the best-animated movies I have seen over the past five years, and it will become a classic, I believe. The film is beautiful and moving. The classically done animation is a joy to watch, and the storyline is original. Great blending of classic Celtic folk tales and a modern setting make this film one of the most inventive and imaginative films I have seen.  My Rating: I Would Pay to See it Again   Song of the Sea Website

Indiefest:   The Humbling (2014)  R   Simon Axler (Al Pacino) is an actor whose world is turned upside down when he starts an affair with Pegeen (Greta Gerwig). This is Al Pacino playing Al Pacino with an insecurity complex. For most actors, the amount of scenery chewing scenes would be overwhelming and tedious, but Pacino pulls it off. There is great chemistry between Pacino and Gerwig. Their scenes together are the best moments in the film. I thoroughly enjoyed this film and watching a esteemed actor in an impressive part was the reason.  My Rating: Full Price   The Humbling Website

Forgotten Films:   Martin (1977)  R   An awkward, teenage boy (John Amplas) has a secret; he thinks he is an 84-year-old blood craving vampire. He has just moved into a new town to live with his cousin and doesn’t know anyone. Trying to make new friends isn’t easy, especially when you tend to kill the people you meet and drain their blood. With an unusual and interesting take on the vampire movie, this film, directed by horror legend George a. Romero, never lets you know if Martin really is a vampire or just nuts. The directors of current horror films could learn a lot from watching this film.  My Rating: Bargain Matinee   Martin Info

Weird Credits:   From the credits of The Boy Next Door: cat trainer

Coming Soon to a Theatre Near You:   Jupiter Ascending (2015)  PG-13  Not sure exactly what this film is about other than Channing Tatum has a dye job but it got him, Mila Kunis and Eddie Redmayne, so I will watch it.   Jupiter Ascending Website

Until Next Time!