Tag: Movie

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“Book Club” Review

Sharon: We are four successful women. I don’t need a man. What is the point? 

Diane: Who still has any interest?

Vivian: Ladies, I am not going to let us become those people who stop living before they stop living. I would like to introduce you to Christian Grey.

Carol: It says, “For mature audiences.”

Diane: It certainly sounds like us.

It’s Fifty Shades for seniors as four women well past their prime are introduced to a different type of book in their Book Club.  It is through the book that one realizes age is just a number as each woman is awoken with a sexual urge that is both surprising and intriguing.

Written and Directed by Bill Holderman with collaboration from Erin Simms who also worked with him in A Walk In The Woods, the two capture the meaning of what women over fifty are really thinking as they go through life.  Like A Walk In The Woods, Holderman takes the notion of the older generation who attempts to do the unspeakable and adds new meaning to what it means to be a senior.    In this story, it centers around four woman, all of which are dealing with some sort of life changing event that has brought them to the point of ‘why living’.  

Overall, the film is wonderfully cast as each of the four actresses capture the role so fluidly as if they are just living their lives. Diane (Diane Keaton) is a recently widowed woman who is dealing with how to live again especially when her daughters long to take care of her by relocating them closer to them.  Meanwhile her 3 friends keep her thinking that there is more when Carol (Mary Steenburgen) introduces the women to their next “book club” reading.  

Then there is Sharon (Candice Bergen), successful court judge who has long given up on men and is a comfortable “cat lady” and Vivian (Jane Fonda) is still living life as if she is twenty something, using men for only pleasure without any emotion.  Ultimately Holderman knew what he was doing when casting four powerful women in these roles.  Their dynamic chemistry and witty banter made the movie fun and lively as it ultimately sends a message to all to “Not stop living”.

Shot on location in California, there were some recognizable locations including the Santa Monica Pier with the ferris whale when Diane and George (Richard Dreyfuss) go on their first date as well as the airport scenes which was more than likely Burbank or Van Nuys Airport for its less commercial look.  Ultimately, the setting didn’t really matter too much though other than just a nice touch to try to guess where they are.  Aside from that, it didn’t really add or distract from the film as it was dealing with a topic that could have ultimately taken place anywhere.  The only thing about being in California, especially for Sharon who is a successful court judge, that makes since for her location as it might be a little less believable in another state.

The bottom line, Book Club is a entertaining movie that brings women of all ages together to see what life over 50 is all about.  It captures the same witty banter of the younger movies that are out including Life of the Party and I feel Pretty, but it does it in a cleaner, more sophisticated way so it doesn’t just pay off as a piece of mindless trash.  Rather has a little more meaning to what it’s like to be “more mature”.

Book Club came out May 18th and is currently playing in a theater near you.

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‘Life of The Party’ Review

“Deanna: What am I going to do? I’m a forty-something year-old woman that doesn’t even have her degree. Oh, my God. I know what I’m going to do.”

This is the main point of the movie as Deanna, on the eve of her daughters senior year in college, finds out that her husband wants a divorce.  Heart broken, she doesn’t want to have any regrets as the biggest regret of her life faces her head on, that of the fact that she had to drop out of college being so close to graduating with her degree in Archeology.  The problem is, she is now enrolled in the same school as her daughter.

The Warner Brother film stars Melissa McCartney as the middle age woman who seeks to do just that and surprisingly the crowd that she encounters in college is remarkably accepting of her as she navigates anew around the campus that she once receded at more than 20 years ago.

Overall at first mention of having another “party” film starring McCartney, might sound a little like “over the top”, with that of her stand up comedy and crude humor, but all in all, this film is the best that I’ve seen in a while by her.  The film has  a solid message of the power of the mother daughter bond that even though there are a few funny, yet embarrassing moments where McCartney and daughter Maddie (Molly Gordon) strive to succeed in getting back on top after her father runs off with another younger woman.

The plot thickens when McCartney meets Jack, an attractive younger man and the two of them form a intimate relationship, especial when she realizes whose mother is Jacks.

The film is packed with the same quirkiness that makes McCartney appealing with just a touch of maturity as it enters into a slightly elevated storyline.  In addition the chemistry between McCartney and Gordon is exceptional and realistic as it shows just how close a mother- daughter relationship can be while at the same time, the same embarrassing thought of ‘mom in college’ haunts Gordon all throughout.  Seeing as Gordon is a relative unknown, it’ll be interesting to watch her grow and mature as a rising actress. She definitely has a knack for comedy going up against McCartney who is known for it.

Overall LIfe of the Party came out in theaters, in perfect time for the Mother’s day weekend.  It’s a film that is best to see for women with their moms as it perfectly captures the uniqueness and emotion that goes into someone facing divorce and having to start anew with a daughter as the only good thing in one’s life.  It came in second at the box office with just over 17.8 million, though it wasn’t enough to catch the Avengers: Infinity War which is topping 1 billion domestically.

See Life of the Party in a theater near you.

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“Kings” Review

“They’re on West Adams there are boys fighting the police and neighborhood boys are running there.”

In 1991, this was the norm in the midst of the Los Angeles Riots where african american teens and young adults took to the streets in the wake of the Rodney King verdict where the police responsible got away scot free.  The latest drama starring Halle Berry and Daniel Craig follows one foster mother in the wake of this in South Central Los Angeles as she attempts to keep her children safe and out of the clutches of the LAPD.

Altogether, the film is exceptionally cast as Halle Berry, similar to her other roles including The Call where she plays a telephone operator on the phone with a young girl who has just been abducted.  Honestly one can see how Berry got chosen as she captures the same drama and suspense of a woman who just wants to keep as many kids safe as possible.

In addition the chemistry between she and Daniel Craig is a great match as two individuals that go from disliking each other to one of needing the other to survive for the young boys they are trying to protect.  Craig is seen trying to step out of the shadows of his  007 spy espionage that he is known for.  In this role, he is a character that does some dramatic growing from a next door white neighbor who just seems to be annoyed with living in the low life area of South Central to one that actually develops compassion for the kids that used to annoy him.  Ultimately there is just one part that found it distracting to the story line and that is the sex scene, though it is in Berry’s mind, as a director, I couldn’t quite grasp why it was included, unless it just tied to the fact of wanting to see Craig and Berry together in the end.  For me as a viewer, I could have done without it, as it didn’t really do anything for the initial storyline.

There was one breakout actor to point out and that was the young man who played Berry’s son, Jesse, (Lamar Johnson).  As a relatively unknown actor, Johnson’s mannerism throughout the movie was right on point.  One knew that something was going to happen as he was watching everything from being the one to help with the other kids to his first encounter with Nicole, the young girl who he rescues similar to his mom, from the store owner who accuses her of shoplifting.  His strong, yet silent acting built up to the climax at the end with him and one of his friends over the girl and showed just how the riots affected even the youngest of children as he shifted his attention from himself to his foster brothers and sisters all throughout the movie.  It’ll be interesting to watch Johnson grow in other films that he might be involved in.

Because of the films deep roots in Los Angeles, the director did her research and carefully used both archived footage interchangeably with her own actors which ultimately helped to draw the audience into the emotion of the Angelenos affected by the events.  The film wouldn’t have captured the same emotion without it, though the footage is somewhat hard to experience, it does show why the riots resulted  from it.

Kings came out in theaters April 27 and is rated R for graphic language, violence and brief nudity.  Viewer discretion is strongly advised.

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“I Feel Pretty” REVIEW

“I’ve always wondered what it feels like to be just undeniably pretty.” Renee Barrett

Amy Schumer is defining the idea of what pretty is in her latest comedy about a woman who just wants to be looked at for who she is and is doing an exceptional job at it.  Starring as Renee, a woman who works as an off strip online advertising coördinator in the shadows of a high-class fashion empire, she dreams of being in the forefront of the fashion world rather than hidden in a building in Chinatown, but her self-esteem keeps her from reaching for it.  Meanwhile her friends, love her for who she is, though Renee is blinded by the one thing that all women struggle with, body image issues.  While in a spin class, she hysterically falls off the bike and bumps her head, causing her to think that she suddenly changed on the outside.

With a new persona, Renee now has a new confidence which helps her land her dream job as receptionist for LeClaire, though it is her attitude that Avery LeClaire (Michelle Williams) falls in love with and gives her the job, not her appearance like she thinks.

Overall, the movie does an exceptional job, hilarious as Schumer drops one joke after the other as she awkwardly navigates through the world of fashion unaware that people are looking at her not for her looks but for her talents.  It also portrays Schumer as confident enough in her own body to do anything, which is definitely something that today’s women and girls need in the face of society.

Set in the Chinatown section of NYC, those who know the city will feel comforted in seeing it accurately portrayed, though the story itself could have taken place in any part of the United States, even California, as when I watched it, I kept wondering if it was LA or New York.  Even that thought doesn’t take away from the movie.

The directors, Abby Kohn and Marc Silverstein as well did an exceptional job in helming this film.  Similar to Never Been Kissed where Josie struggles with the same body image issues as to goes undercover for her job in order to accurately portray teenagers in high school.  The duo has a knack for bringing a piece of work that touches the audience and makes them think about what we are doing to kids that gives them these perceptions. 

Despite the looming title, which I feel does not do ample justice, I Feel Pretty is a film that is meant to give new meaning to the word pretty.  It allows women to be comfortable in their own body and has a sense of innocence similar to what one feels as a child, before the body image takes over.   Rated PG 13, I Feel Pretty is moderately safe for perhaps mid teenage girls to see with parent supervision.  There is a brief nudity scene but nothing terribly revealing.  What the film does do is give girls the confident to be who they want to be regardless of what they look like.  It shows the message that “I am beautiful”.

I Feel Pretty came out in theaters April 20, 2018 and is currently playing in a theater near you.

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“Rampage”: REVIEW

Scientist #1: It’s weird you like hanging out with animals more than people.
Davis Okoye: Yeah, well, animals get me.

Rampage stars Dwayne Johnson as Dr. Davis Okoye, a scientist who develops more of a relationship with the animals then with people.  The opening scene shows how his relationship with George, the silverback gorilla will ultimately be the number one key that drives the film.  That and the witty humor in the humanistic characteristics that are given to George.  There are some scenes and lined that are definitely more for an adult audience, despite the PG 13 rating.

Starring as Johnson’s partner is James Bond’s Naomie Harris as Dr. Kate Caldwell who quickly takes on the same co partner role that she is most familiar in the latest 007 films.  She quickly captures more of a serious, yet flirtatious role as one can definitely see that there is something there, though Johnson is to distracted by his ape and saving the world to get it.  That being said, one see why Harris was chosen.  She fits with Johnson perfectly to round out the adventure and ultimately save the ape.

Based loosely on the 1986 video game about a series of monster set out to destroy cities, the WB blockbuster is bringing life and story to why.  In short, the film pays homage to the classic monsters in a new way.  Sort of like a Dr. Dolittle meets King Kong, Godzilla and the werewolf, the film captures elements of the films all in one.  Just one word of warning, if you go into the movie expecting more video game references, one might be disappointed.

That being said, Rampage came out in theaters April 13th and is already giving last week’s box office winner, A Quiet Place,  a run for its spot as its Friday totals were exactly one million away with 11.5 million in box office revenue.  It’s currently playing in a theater near you.

Viewer discretion is strongly advised as it may not be suitable for young children.

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“Chappaquiddick” Review

“To tell the truth, even if it’s my version” (Senator Ted Kennedy (1969)

This line haunts  Senator Ted Kennedy in the days following the tragic car accident in which his car went over the infamous bridge off the Island of Chappaquiddick.  In the car, he had one passenger, Mary Jo Kopechne a former campaign secretary of his late brother, President Robert Kennedy, who he was convincing to rejoin the Kennedy family as his campaign secretary for the upcoming presidential campaign. But that is all cut short when she drowns in the car, causing a series of complications involving the Kennedy family scandal.

The film, directed by John Curran, paints a picture of the grief and conflict that young Senator Ted Kennedy, must have gone through as he must both analyze and cope with the tragedy that almost destroyed his political campaign and Curran for sure, did his homework, with the research and details that went into the film.  He captured the information that the public didn’t necessarily know about the incident as well as what was in the mainstream media as the actors portrayed how the Kennedy family might have reacted to the trouble that the youngest Kennedy son found himself in that one day in 1969. 

Ultimately, all the actors that were cast as well did an exceptional job, especiallyBruce Dern (from various westerns including The Hateful Eight and Django Unchained).  Though Dern doesn’t have many speaking lines, it is the way he portrayed the late Joe Kennedy, Ted’s father that is exceptional.  The fact that he was playing someone who had suffered from a stroke and thus couldn’t speak, it is so realistic with the emphasis of how to communicate nonverbally.  One could see his expression that is conveyed both when he finds out about the scandal from his son that progresses to the end with his final line , “Be Great” as Ted Kennedy is about to make his final speech.

The other actor that did a great job is the one who played the role of Ted Kennedy, Jason Clarke (Everest, Zero Dark Thirty).  Clark had so much emotion both during the moments leading up to the tragic accident as well as following, especially as we see how it affected him.  His line after, “I’m not going to be president” set up the conflict which was building up to the famous speech at the end in which he ultimately considers resigning as senator. 

His performance  also had a humanistic touch where, the same as he was trying to touch the voters, the audience watching could sympathize with him as though it was really just a misfortunate accident.  The interviews afterward with the voters, which looked as though were real footage from the actual speech, were a nice touch because it also showed that, despite the tragedy, people still loved him and wanted him to stay as senator.

One thing that might have made it a little stronger and I was disappointed, there was no flashbacks of the actual events.  Building up to the speech, I kept expecting the director to show the actual speech from Ted Kennedy, either as a split screen, or photos at the end with the text explaining the outcome of the real Ted Kennedy, but there was nothing.  Because of that, it made me wonder just how accurate the validity of the story was.  It also left me with a question:  was there items that were left out strategically to make Ted Kennedy look like the victim? 

Ultimately Chappaquiddick is an hour and forty five minutes based on the “True” story of Ted Kennedy and what happened on July 18, 1969 with campaign strategist Mary Jo Kopechne.  It came out in theaters April 8, 2018 and is currently playing in a theater near you.  See it and make your decision as to whether it is true or not.

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“Sherlock Gnomes” Review

Two stories come together in this new twist of the classic tale Sherlock Holmes gnome style.  MGM’s Sherlock Gnomes picks up where Gnomeo and Juliet left off with the Montagues and Capulets finally living in peace and harmony as the garden gnomes venture to a new garden this time in London.  Little do they know that someone is out to get rid of all the gnomes as Sherlock Gnomes and Watson seek to protect all gnomes from being smashed.

All in all, the story is told in the same fashion as the original, set to the iconic music of Sir Elton John who produced both animated adventures for new eyes. 

Emily Blunt and James McAvoy return to voice the star crossed lovers in the new adventure and ultimately the two don’t disappoint with a new comic relief as Gnomeo and Juliet, now named leaders of the new garden, must figure out how to grow everything for Spring, while battling their first quarrel as lovers.  The dialogue is crisp and new, as the writers purposely tried to keep the story moving with the witty banter between the two.

The new addition of the voice talent of Johnny Depp as Sherlock Holmes is typical as his own character illuminates in the image of Sherlock.  I literally felt as though the character was made for him and I was watching the same character portrayal as seen in his Jack Sparrow role.  Depp brought his own wit and humor to the character as well as his self love for himself that he is most definitely know for.  Sherlock’s partner, Watson (Voiced by Black Panther star, Chiwetel Ejiofor) also provided a more serious side as Watson purposely made sure that Sherlock was always one step ahead of his notorious arch nemesis, Mankini (Julio Bonet). 

The animation was lively and colorful as the scenes flowed at a fast pace adding to the need of Sherlock with the help of Gnomeo and Juliet to save their family.  At times in the beginning the fast pace was a little unexpected and one might say, “Hold On”, but it also gives the audience the feeling of a new story inside another.

Overall Sherlock Gnomes is a film for everyone to enjoy.  There are moments when literary fans will enjoy the twist of the story, similar to how the writers of the original Gnomeo and Juliet put the beloved Shakespeare play to the rock and roll music.  Though, one might say, the sequel isn’t quite as well done as its predecessor.  The beginning kind of comes out of nowhere as they try to mesh the to stories together.  That aside, one does eventually understand what the plot is and shall hope to find the overall story somewhat enjoyable.

Sherlock Gnomes came out in theaters Friday April 23 and is currently playing in a theater near you.  Watch the trailer below.

 

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“Love, Simon” Review

The Next Gay love story is bringing a handful of people to the theaters this weekend at the box office as it brought in roughly 11.5 million ranking number 5 for its opening weekend.

20th Century Fox’s Love, Simon stars Nick Robinson in his third consecutive teen romance film, this time as he is playing a character with a huge secret.  In this day when the world is becoming much more acceptable of the LGBTQ, it still brings light to the fact that these people are the only ones that have to come out about their identity.  All in all, Simon does a good job of trying to conceal his feelings, that is until he falls in love with a mysterious “Blue” online.

Throughout the movie, the love grows making Simon brave enough to come out to his family finally by encouraging Blue to do the same, but will it be enough to make them realize that they can be together outside the email messages and not worry about what others will say.

The film also stars, Josh Duhamel and Jennifer Garner, who play Simon’s liberal parents who must confront the truth and be okay with it.

At an hour and 50 minutes, Love Simon will have you wrapped around the story and rooting for love in a new way that is becoming more the norm as the lgbtq community is accepted by the freestyle world.

Love Simon is currently out in theaters.

 

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“Imagine” Review

“Imagine.”

It’s one word that has powerful depth when put into song and it is what drives both the movie as well as the inspiration behind what is said to be one of the most known songs in America.

The movie, based on the real life story of songwriter, Bart Milliard, (played by J. Michael Finley, in his debut role) shows the journey of Bart, as a singer songwriter, from childhood to musical sensation as we see the emotional struggle that ultimately shaped the song as a whole.   The acting captures the heart of the story as a true piece of artwork and ultimately a love letter of redemption between a son to a father.  In that way, regardless of religion or not, anyone who sees the movie or hears the song is immediately touched by its message.

Filmed primarily in Oklahoma City, the imagery captures the time period perfectly as the film picks up in 1985 when Young Bart (played by Brody Rose, from the film Gifted) is listening to a old school tape player which we learn is how he’s able to cope with the abuse in his house of both himself and his mother.  Early on, we learn that music is going to be essential to what drives the young boy to overcome his father (played by Dennis Quaid), but we also see a shift in the boy after a trip to church camp tied to his mother leaving, where he suddenly wants to do everything to please his angry father, even by following in his father’s footsteps and joining the football team.

All in all, everything seems to be going well, until an injury his senior year haults his career and helps him rediscover the music in joining Glee club.  From that moment, Bart is finally old enough to rebel against his father and he takes off, also leaving his childhood crush, Shannon (played by Madeline Carroll from the Resident Evil film) and venture out in search of himself with a church band called MercyMe, [a name given by his memaw (Cloris Leachman)].

From there, things continue to grow for the small town band as through a letter, Bart convinces music manager, Brickell (played by Trace Adkins) to help them find their voice, but ultimately it takes Bart finally realizing he must forgive his father and create a few special moments, in order to find the right song.

Ultimately, the audience also receives a little extra satisfaction of knowing the real life Mercy Me and Bart Milliard, when the director choses to let us know that Bart does reunite with his mother again.

At an hour and fifty minutes, “I Can Only Imagine” is a film that will have you fully engaged in the back story and once you know the truth, you won’t be able to listen to the song without a new sense of emotion.  The film contains all that and more and although when one puts it next to other religious movies including “God’s Not Dead”, maybe it’s not as strong as the others, but still it gets the point across and by the end, the message  of redemption will bring even the hardest of souls over swept with a bit of emotion, though may not be enough to shed a bit of tears.

Watch the trailer below and see “I Can Only Imagine” in a theater near you.   It’s a great addition to be added to the long list of religious movie great.

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“Every day” Review

It’s a tragic love story of an individual doomed to live in a person’s body every 24 hours, though the audience doesn’t understand why, they see a struggle in the person as they fall in love with a girl only to have to convince her that they are still them only in a new body.

Based on the best selling novel by David Levithan, Every day stars a long cast of teenagers including Angourie Rice as Rhiannon, the girl that A falls in love with as well as Justice Smith, who plays Rhiannon’s boyfriend, whom A first possesses and creates the perfect first date for them, as well as Jeni Ross as Amy, Lucas Jade Zumann as Nathan, Rory McDonald as David, Katie Douglas as Megan, Jacob Batalon as James, Ian Alexander as Vic, Sean Jones as George, Colin Ford as Xavier, Jake Sim as Michael, Nicole Law as Kelsea, Karena Evans as Hannah, Owen Teague as Alexander and Hannah Alissa Richardson as Katie.

15 days and 15 bodies inhabited and A for the first time wishes to stay in them to be able to fully love Rhiannon, but the question is can they really live in another body and be their full self?

At an hour 35 minutes, Every Day is a typical teenage love story similar to others including The Vow, where we see how deeply teenagers and first loves can be, but ultimately it stands out, because the outcome is not at all what you would expect.  It’s a daily journey that shows the importance of living for the day and not for the week or even month and it’s a great message for any adolescent to cherish every moment, because you never know when it might me your last.

Every day was produced by Orion Pictures as it’s first full length motion picture to be produced and distributed by the company.  It came out February 23, 2018 and is currently playing in a theater near you.