Bridge of Spies

My View:  Bridge of Spies (2015)  PG-13  Brooklyn lawyer James B. Donovan (Tom Hanks) works for an insurance company during the height of the Cold War. He is volunteered by his company to be the lawyer of an accused Russian spy.  Donovan finds himself at the center of a “war of nerves” between the United States and the Soviet Union.  This is a big, sprawling Hollywood film that Steven Spielberg is so good at directing, and it opens with an almost silent sequence that perfectly sets up the remainder of the film. This is a role that is tailor-made for Tom Hanks who plays the determined lawyer who seems part every man and part brilliant lawyer. Hanks plays Donovan as a man who, while somewhat easygoing, is committed to do the right thing and is compassionate about his fellow man. Hanks plays his character as a man who can find humor in almost any situation. It’s that sense of humor that helps his character deal with the desperate situations that he gets into in the film. I had a hard time coming up with anyone else who could play this role so well. George Clooney, maybe, but he would have to tone down the smart aleck vibe that Clooney often tends to give out on the screen. Bridge of Spies is the type of big “Hollywood “ film that is so hard to pull off, but Spielberg succeeds. He brings us a tale that is tension filled and thrilling but also filled with small, emotional scenes that make this film so enjoyable to watch. It helps when your leading man is up to the task of a very demanding role of a character that is willing to take on the world.   My Rating: Full Price   Bridge of Spies Website

My View:  Crimson Peak  (2015)  R  Set in England in the late 19th century, Edith (Mia Wasikowska) falls in love and marries Sir Thomas Sharpe (Tom Hiddleston). They move to Sir Sharpe’s mansion, a crumbling home that harbors some sinister entities that will threaten Edith’s life. Crimson Peak is not a horror story but a Gothic romance with a mystery built-in. There are some stunning looking ghosts, but they never deliver the scare that you want. The film looks incredibly beautiful and striking; with a set design that creates a mansion that is gloomy and menacing, making it another character in the movie. This movie is all flash and very little substance, with the cast being let down by a script that is highly predictable. I did enjoy Jessica Chastain as Sharpe’s very strange sister, but it doesn’t make up for a script whose ending I figured out almost from the start of the film. There is a rather gruesome death in the first half that may disturb some viewers.     My Rating: Bargain Matinee   Crimson Peak Website

My View:  Steve Jobs  (2015) R   A look at the founder and leader of Apple, Steve Jobs (Michael Fassbender). The film is set backstage at three iconic product launches and gives us a look at the man, the myth and the legend.  This is a scintillating film about a complex, brilliant but flawed man who changed the way we use technology. The film is revealed in three sections and takes place before three separate product launches. The film isn’t about the product launches, but it’s mostly about the relationships that Jobs has with his fellow workers and family. Fassbender is mesmerizing as Jobs, and while he does not look or talk like Jobs, he has still captured the essence of the man. Kate Winslet gives a sure Oscar-nominated performance as Jobs’ Marketing Manager who is the only person who can tell Jobs the truth about how badly or well he is handling his personal relationships. The script, by Aaron Sorkin, is fast moving with witty and dazzling dialogue. The direction by Danny Boyle is perfection with some luminous camera work. It’s a fascinating film that gives us an inside look at the man who changed how we deal with daily life.    My Rating: Full Price    Steve Jobs Website  

Indiefest:  Drunk Stoned Brilliant Dead: The Story of the National Lampoon (2015)   R   Documentary about the humor magazine that created a culture through its magazine and movies that changed comedy forever.  National Lampoon was a humor magazine long before it started putting out movies. It was irreverent, sometimes vulgar and always contained shots of topless women in humorous situations. Its covers were legendary, and some of the most brilliant comedy writers got their start at the magazine.  This film is funny and  insightful with excellent interviews  from Lampooners like Chevy Chase and P.J. O’Rourke. There is fascinating footage of people like John Belushi and Gilda Radner who worked on National Lampoon projects, and the stories of the glory days of the magazine will amaze you. I do want to warn you that there many on-screen inappropriate things   My Rating: Full Price   Drunk Stoned Brilliant Dead Website

Indiefest:  Beasts of No Nation (2015)  R  Agu (Abrahma Attah) has a good life. He lives in a village with his family and goes to school that is run by his father. It’s a loving family, and while Agu gets into a bit of mischief from time to time, he’s a good kid. All that changes when civil war breaks out. His mother and his baby brother are sent away to escape the war, and then government forces invade the village and kill his father and brother. Agu escapes into the wilderness, eventually being captured by Commandant (Idris Elba) and his band of rebels. Agu is soon indoctrinated into the rebel army, and he is now a soldier in a war that will destroy a lot of lives. This is a powerful movie that is tough to watch at times due to the extreme violence of war and the psychological abuse by Commandant to get Agu and the rest of child warriors to commit to the cause. Idris Elba is superb as the fascinating but brutal Commandant, a man who expects his men to lay down their lives for the cause. Abrahma Attah is amazing in the role of Agu, a child whose life is turned into hell by a war that no one seems to win. Beasts of No Nation is a film that will stay with you for a while, and you will feel that you have spent time in a world that has been turned upside down.   My Rating: Full Price   Beasts of No Nation Website

Family Faire:  Goosebumps (2015) PG   Zac (Dylan Minnette) moves to a small town and meets Hannah (Odeya Rush) and her father, the famous writer R.L. Stine (Jack Black) the creator of the children’s horror series “Goosebumps.”  Zac mistakenly opens one of R.L. Stine’s manuscripts that releases every ghost and ghoul from Stine’s works. Now Zac, Hannah, and her father must team up to try and get the monsters back where they belong. Fans of the book series are going to love this film and parents will enjoy it also. It’s a funny and creative film that tells a new original tale that is an imaginative take on the horror film. I thought Minette had great chemistry with Rush, making their attraction seem real. The monsters are fun (though maybe too scary for the under six crowd), and the story moves quickly once the Stine’s creations are released. Goosebumps was not shot in 3-D, so save the extra bucks. It’s a fun film that while not a great movie, was a blast to watch.    My Take: Bargain Matinee   Goosebumps Website

Forgotten Film:  Matinee (1993)  PG  At the height of the Cold War, exploitation filmmaker, Lawrence Woosley (John Goodman), has brought his latest film, “Mant,” to town. Woolsey’s “Mant” is a grade B-picture about a man who has mutated into a giant ant. To bring in an audience, Woolsey is setting up the theatre with devices to thrill theatre goers and possibly keep them from noticing how bad the film is. Gene (Simon Fenton) is attempting to woo a girl by taking her to the film. This is a fun, funny film about a time when technology was simpler and movies were trying to stand out from TV shows. There are some great laughs, and the film shows just how far and how desperate filmmakers were.    My Rating:  Full Price   Matinee Info

Weird Credits:  From the credits of Crimson Peak: Piano Coach for Jessica Chastain

Coming Soon to a Theatre Near You:  Rock the Kasbah (2015) R  Richie (Bill Murray) is a rock manager who has seen better times. While taking his last remaining artist on a USO tour in Afghanistan, he finds himself in Kabul and discovers a young Afghan girl who he mentors while she competes on the Afghanistan version of American Idol.  Besides Bill Murray, the cast includes Bruce Willis, Kate Hudson, Zooey Deschanel and Danny McBride. Rock the Kasbah Website

Until Next Time!

The Intern

My View:  The Intern  (2015)  PG-13   70-year-old widower Ben (Robert De Niro) isn’t happy in his retirement, and he wants to experience something new,  so he decides to become a “senior intern” at an online fashion site. The fashion site was founded and is run by Jules (Anne Hathaway), but sales are slow, and the company’s board is considering cutting Jules’ power. Jules needs help, and Ben might just be the right man for the job.  I liked this film and enjoyed De Niro and Hathaway’s performances. De Niro, in this film, plays a man who you would want as a father.  Ben is kind and wise with a knack for giving his co-workers just the right advice. Hathaway’s character, Jules, is someone who is worth rooting for, and you want her to succeed. The first two-thirds of this film was enjoyable but with a lightweight story with two likable leads. My problem with this film is that the final third doesn’t match the rest of the movie. The screenplay,  written by the movie’s director, Nancy Meyers, puts Hathaway’s character into a corner that she just can’t get out of with any real resolution. The ending feels shallow and way too easy.  This is a feel good film that you will quickly forget, maybe as soon as you get to the theatre parking lot.      My Rating: Bargain Matinee   The Intern Website

Familyfaire:  Hotel Transylvania 2 (2015)  PG  Dracula (Adam Sandler) and the hotel gang are back. Jonathan (Andy Samberg) and Mavis (Selena Gomez) get married and have a baby, Dennis (Asher Blinkoff). The question is, will Dennis turn into a vampire or will he be human? And, if he remains a human, will Dracula, and the gang be okay with that?  This is a fun family film that kids will love and one where adults won’t fall asleep. I am not an Adam Sandler fan, but he does an admirable job as the dad vamp who just wants his daughter to be happy and his grandson to have a great life. The film moves at a quick pace but loses steam about 15 minutes from the ending.  While not on the level of a Pixar film, it’s not bad, and kids over six will enjoy it.  The film is a little violent toward the ending, and the kindergarten group probably should skip it.  My Rating: Bargain Matinee   Hotel Transylvania 2 Website

Indiefest:  Sleeping with Other People  (2015)  R  Jake (Jason Sudeikis) and Lainey (Alison Brie) make unlikely friends. Jake is a womanizer, and Lainey is a serial cheater. After losing their virginity to each other in college, they meet up at a “sex addict anonymous” session years later and decide to strike up a non-sexual friendship. The big problem is they are attracted to each other but think that sex will ruin the friendship.  The two leads of Sudeikis and Brie are brilliant together. They play off each other like a stand-up comedy team. This is the best performance I have seen Sudeikis do in years. He is quick to the draw with a quip and makes you root for a guy whom you should loathe. He gives a character a lovable vibe that just comes off in waves on the screen. The chemistry between Brie and him is outstanding, and there seems to be a real connection between the two. Brie gives a masterful, comedic performance of a girl who is obsessed with a man who will never truly fulfill her. She makes Lainey relatable even though we don't understand why her character is so messed up. I loved this film and especially enjoyed the unconventional ending. This is a “rom-com” for today's app dating, “swipe right” world. “Sleeping with Other People”  is funny and touching, filled with characters you might not want to date but would like to spend some time getting to know over a beer or two.    My Rating: Full Price   Sleeping with Other People Website

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Indiefest:  A Brilliant Young Mind  (2014)  Ethan (Asa Butterfield) is autistic and has trouble dealing with people. He takes comfort in numbers, and his mother (Sally Hawkins), a widow, is determined to keep Ethan’s life as normal as possible.  A math teacher (Rafe Spall) at Ethan’s school thinks that he is talented and could be a candidate for the International Mathematics Olympiad. This is a marvelous film that overcomes a slightly schmaltzy script with terrific performances by Butterfield, Hawkins and Spall. The story starts to move when Martin and Nathan began bonding over each other's love of math. Asa Butterfield is the reason to see this film. He does a marvelous job in a part where his character rarely talks. He uses his physical skills to create the wonder and emotion as his character starts opening up to the outside world. We see the delight in his eyes when he solves a problem. He has great screen presence, and he works well with Sally Hawkins and especially Rafe Spall.   “A Brilliant Young Mind” is a moving film about finding your place in the world. It might be a little scary and overwhelming at times, but life deserves the effort. It's a winning film that uses the strong performances of its leads to make a film that is well worth seeing.     My Rating: Full Price   A Brilliant Young Mind Website

Indiefest:  Ashby  (2015)  Ed (Nat Wolff) is a 17-year old high school student who is just trying to figure out his place in the world.  He makes friends with his neighbor, Ashby (Mickey Rourke), a terminally ill ex-CIA agent who killed people for a living. Their friendship will change both their outlooks on life. This film attempts to marry to genres:  the hard-nosed story of a man trying to come to terms with his past sins and the teen rom-com where a boy tries to find a way to face his fears and get the girl. The problem is the two just don’t mix. This is a film that tries too hard to be witty and fails most of the time. I liked both Nat Wolff and his love interest in the movie, Emma Roberts, but I never believed that Nat’s character, Ed, could just come off the street and be a starting wide receiver for a high school team. Rourke doesn’t have to work too hard with his character Ashby as he mostly just has to be a worn out Mickey Rourke. The film’s ending is too predictable to have any real impact. This is an Indie film that tries way too hard to be the ultimate “Indie” film.    My Rating: Bargain Matinee

Forgotten Film:  Near Dark  (1987)  R   Caleb (Adrian Pasdar) is from a small town in Oklahoma.  He meets a beautiful girl named Mae (Jenny Wright). They spend the night together flirting and talking. At the end of the night, she suddenly turns into a vampire and bites him on the neck.  Now Caleb is a vampire and has to join a band of southern vampires who roam the highways looking to steal cars and kill innocent drivers.  This is a combination modern western/vampire tale written and directed by Oscar-winning Kathryn Bigelow. It’s a dazzling take on the vampire genre with a storyline that will keep you guessing. The film moves at a quick pace and takes advantage of its accomplished cast led by Lance Henriksen and Bill Paxton. If you like horror movies, then this will be a treat.    My Take:  Full Price   Near Dark Website

Weird Credits: From the credits of Hotel Transylvania 2:  Hair Technical Director

Coming Soon to a Theatre Near You:  Steve Jobs  (2015)  The true story of the man who created Apple.  All I have to say is that Michael Fassbender is in the title role. That’s all I need to want to see this film.   Steve Jobs Website

Until Next Time!

A Walk in the Woods

My View:  A Walk in the Woods (2015) R  Bill Bryson (Robert Redford) is a world famous travel writer whose humorous books were once on the best seller list, but he hasn’t written a thing in 5 years. Bryson decides to hike the 2,200 mile Appalachian Trail with an old friend, Stephen Katz (Nick Nolte).  Robert Redford has been trying to make this film, based on Bryson's book of the same name, since the late 90s. He initially wanted to star with Paul Newman in the Katz role. While that would have been fun to watch, the pairing of Redford and Nolte in a movie based on a beloved and hilarious book should have been a hit out of the park. Unfortunately, I think the script has been rewritten so many times that the final product, by screenwriters Bill Holderman and Rick Kerb, feels flat and stale. The film never really gives Redford and Nolte much to work with. The brilliant supporting cast is given nothing to do, with the exception of Kristen Schael, who briefly breathes some comedic life into the film.  While the +50 age crowd may have an enjoyable time watching the two old master actors stumble about on-screen, I think the rest of us, and especially fans of the book, will not want to go on this trip.    My Rating: Cable   A Walk in the Woods Website   

My View:  The Transporter: Refueled  (2014)  PG-13  Frank Martin (Ed Skrein) is a former special-ops mercenary who is now transporting classified packages for questionable people.  He gets caught up in a cat and mouse game between some bank robbers and a Russian kingpin. This is the typical movie written by Luc Besson, who created the Transporter series. The film has lots of action and flash but no real character or content. Ed Skrein is asked to fill the very large shoes of the star of the first three Transporter films, Jason Statham. Unfortunately, Skrein doesn’t have the charisma or screen presence. The action, while well-choreographed, is almost comical, reminiscent of an old Jackie Chan film, where the hero uses various devices like a life buoy to subdue his attackers. The acting is horrible, with the exception of Ray Stevenson, who comes off stylish and cool as Frank Martin’s father, an ex-CIA agent. The film is one big ad for Audi.  Instead of “Refueled,” I think this whole series needs to be retooled.   My Rating: Cable   The Transporter: Refueled Website

Indiefest:  Learning to Drive  (2015)  R  As Wendy’s (Patricia Clarkson) marriage falls apart, she decides to take driving lessons from a Sikh instructor (Ben Kingsley) who has relationship troubles of his own. This is a charming film about the development of a friendship between two lonely adults. Clarkson and Kingsley work extremely well together in this understated film. It’s a film about learning to believe in yourself and that a person can succeed if they just give it their all.  I especially enjoyed the performance of Clarkson, who just sparkles on the screen. Kingsley gives a powerful yet restrained performance.  This is a movie that moves at a slow pace, but that’s OK, because, like with good friends, sometimes it’s just fine to sit and talk for a while.   My Rating:  Full Price   Learning to Drive Website

Indiefest:  Steve Jobs: The Man in the Machine (2014)  R This is a documentary by filmmaker Alex Gibney on Steve Jobs, the founder of Apple. Through archival interviews and videos of Jobs, Gibney lets Steve do most of the talking in the film, making him almost a personal tour guide to the story of his life. Jobs had the uncanny ability to spot talent and the ability to inspire people who worked for him to achieve the impossible. Gibney interviews former employees from both the early days of Apple and the latter years, when the company that Jobs started had become a powerhouse not only in the computer world, but in the business world. Gibney shows Jobs as a driven man who expected his employees to create perfect products but demanded that the job take over their lives, so much so that their personal lives suffered. With this film, Alex Gibney shows us that Jobs was a man who helped connect the whole world through his products, but he couldn’t connect to people in his own personal world. It is truly ironic that Jobs created products like the iPhone, something that was meant to connect us to other people, but instead seems to isolate us as we stare at our iPhones at the bus stop or at the dinner table. The film is a fascinating, unflinching look at an extremely complicated and ego driven man. I just wonder that after seeing this film, will the fans of Apple and Jobs hold him in such high, almost god-like esteem and will they look at his products with the same reverence? Or will they just go back to staring at their iPhones?    My Rating: Full Price   Steve Jobs: The Man in the Machine

Forgotten Film:  The People Under the Stairs  (1991)  R  Two adults and a juvenile break into a suburban home rumored to have a large stash of cash. What they find is their worst nightmare, a house filled with secrets, secrets that may cost them their lives. This is a film written and directed by the master of horror, the late Wes Craven. It’s a film that starts out as an ordinary heist film that quickly turns into a film filled with mystery and horror, and with any Craven film, it also has some humorous bits. It’s a brilliant piece of filmmaking that is just plain fun to watch.   My Rating: Full Price   The People Under the Stairs Website   

Weird Credits:  From the credits of The Transporter: Refueled:  Patina & Tint

Coming Soon to a Theatre Near You:  The Visit  (2015)  PG-13  A single mom sends her two young children to visit their grandparents. Something very wrong is going on in the house, and their grandparents are acting strange. I have high hopes for this horror film, but writer/director M. Night Shyamalan’s track record lately hasn’t been stellar.   The Visit Website   

Until Next Time!