It Chapter Two
Day 40
Movie 40
I have been waiting to see It Chapter Two since the first film came out. I was terrified by the first film and was so thrilled when I heard the casting for the second film. I am a massive chicken when it comes to horror films. I have a love/hate relationship with them. Most of the time, I avoid horror films because I can't sleep for 3 days after I watch them. Even with the linger fear, I knew I wanted to see It Chapter Two. I purposely went to an earlier showing so I would have time to get de-terrified! I would also like to share that there were red balloons everywhere!!! I found one in the seat next to mine in the theater and there was a massive one floating around the parking lot after. Not.Helpful.
Here is my spoiler free review of It Chapter Two
Let's start off with the biggest bit of information. The movie is 2 hours and 50 minutes long but it goes by so fast. At no point was I bored or looking at my watch. I had no idea that's how long the movie was. I didn't even notice until I got into my car and saw the time. I'm so happy I went to an earlier showing because I wanted to get out before nightfall. You know....to avoid monsters and killer clowns. Anyways, it is a long movie but the flow of the film is so well done that you don't even notice how long it's been. Just make sure you use the bathroom before the movie or you might pee yourself out of terror!
Was It Chapter Two scary?
Yes, the film was scary but not as terrifying as the first film. It Chapter Two seemed to focus more on the shock value of gore as opposed to jump scares. It had moments of blood, gore and you could see the jump scares coming from a mile away. You knew when something was going to flash on screen and you had a moment to prepare yourself. The movie only made me jump once. It made me look away from rotting flesh a bit more. Other than that, the film focused more on shock value. A pools of blood and gore but it was beautifully done. The makeup on It Chapter Two is masterful. It looked so real which made it even more unsettling. I don't know how they do it but it all looked so real to me. Yuck!
Is it better than the first film?
Yes and No. I would say It Chapter One is a little bit better than Chapter Two. It Chapter One was much scarier because we didn't know what was coming. The mystery behind Pennywise was lingering and we were not sure what the tone of the film would be. With Chapter Two we know what Pennywise looks like. We understand the tone and we know what to expect little more. The acting has greatly improved with Chapter Two. We see the child actors come into their own. They were able to bring a wonderful maturity to these young characters. With great ease Chapter Two includes the young actors from Chapter One. We see them grow into adults and it naturally flows into the grown up versions we are follow in Chapter Two.
Let's talk actors.
I am a massive Bill Hader fan. Once I heard he was in this film, I knew I had to see it. Bill Hader plays grown up Richie. He brings a much needed comic relief to the film and he shows his dramatic range. Bill Hader is a talented dramatic actor but most people are unaware of his range. Bill Hader brings a layer of vulnerability and genuine fear to Richie. He masks his real feelings with humor to avoid letting people in.
I was also impressed by Bill Skarsgard who plays Pennywise. What is with these Skarsgard men being so good at playing terrifying characters?! He's so good at being scary. I kept forgetting I was watching an actor and not a clown from my nightmares. Bill Skarsgard gives Pennywise a terrifying lingering presence that stays with the characters and the viewers. Still gives me the chills thinking about it.
My other favorite actor is James McAvoy who plays grown up Bill. James flows from brave hero to lost child effortlessly and does so with one glance. He brings a raw vulnerability to Bill. A lost little boy, filled with regret and fear. He really is the heart of this film.
Should you go see It Chapter Two?
YES! If you liked the first film you will really enjoy this one. For all my fellow horror movie chickens, I think you will be ok with this film. It's not nearly as scary as I thought it was going to be but it's still an entertaining ride. I think you will be fine just keep an eye out for red balloons in the parking lot.
Thursday, September 5, 2019
Friday, July 19, 2019
The Lion King
The Lion King
Movie 39 Day 39
Have you ever heard a song but it sounds a little off and you find out it's actually a cover and not the original song? That is what The Lion King feels like. Except for Mufasa, no one but James Earl Jones could be Mufasa. Don't get me wrong, The Lion King is a visually STUNNING film. Absolutely gorgeous, lush and beautiful. I had a hard time separating what was real from CGI. I'm pretty sure it's all CGI but it's so unbelievably realistic. The directing by Jon Favreau was detailed and proves this man knows how to make a good movie but the Lion King lacks originality. Let me explain....
The Lion King feels like a shot for shot remake of the animated classic. What I have loved about the re-imagining of Disney Classics is they bring something new to the screen. Beauty and the Beast brought a deeper story into who Belle and the Beast were. We saw new songs and new elements of the story. The same goes for Dumbo, Cinderella, Maleficent, and Aladdin. One of the great successes of Aladdin was not trying to be the animated version. Guy Richie didn't want to recreate the original, he wanted to make it his own. We don't feel like Will Smith is trying to be Robin Williams. One of the flaws with the Lion King is it hardly separates from the animated classic. There are hardly any new character developments. It was a missed opportunity to go full Shakespeare on this story. (You realize The Lion King is basically Hamlet with a happier ending, right?)
Moving on...
Where were the Broadway songs? I understand there are rights and legal issues but now that this film has come out, it's very unlikely the Broadway show will be on film. This movie would have been a perfect opportunity to bring some of the Broadway magic to the big screen. How can you cast Beyonce as the voice of Nala and NOT have her sing Shadowland?!?!?!?! WHAT A MISSED OPPORTUNITY!!! How are you not going to have He Lives In You sung by Rafiki to help a struggling Simba figure out who he is? I was so disappointed none of the Broadway songs were in this movie. Instead of making the film something new, they stuck way too close to the animation. There were only two new songs, one by Beyonce that hardly stands out and a new song during the credits sung by Elton John. It would have been such a boost if the movie would have thrown the Broadway Show's songs.
Some of the voice acting seemed a little flat at times. I'm not sure if it was the sound quality but the voice acting lacked passion. The cartoon animation voices had so much emotion and the CGI just lacked that enthusiasm. I will say Chiwetel Ejiofor as Scar was brilliant, except for his singing. Scar does not really sing, he does more of a sing talk of Be Prepared. Other than that, Chiwetel was full of rage, danger and mystery. He gave me chills with every word he said. Some of the other actors fell flat. You could tell they were reading a script instead of living in the character. At least that's how it felt to me.
Where the film succeed Timon, Pumba, Kamari, and Azizi. The only part of this film that felt fresh was the new take on these four characters. Billy Eichner and Seth Rogan voiced Timon and Pumba and they were hilarious. I found myself laughing every time they were on screen. You can tell they did a lot of improv with these characters. It brought a freshness and an originality that the film desperately needed. Keegan-Michael Key and Eric Andre were the voices of Kamari and Azizi. Think of them as modern Banzai and Ed. They are the comic relief of the terrible hyenas. In the animated film, the hyenas were bad but they were also really funny. In the CGI version, they are dark and terrifying creatures of the night. Shenzi, voiced by Florence Kasumba is the sinister leader of the hyenas. She wants to kill all the lions and is a dark character to have in a children's movie. Thank goodness for Kamari and Azizi, they are goofy and bring a little joy to these unredeemable characters.
Over all The Lion King is a visually stunning piece of CGI art. I don't know how they made all of the animals look so real. I swear Disney must have a real talking Rafiki hidden in Disney Wold! The film still made me cry 3 times! I even knew it was coming and I still cried! Is it worth seeing? I would say yes. The animation is something to be marveled at. The story may not be original but it is still beautifully told. I listened to the Broadway soundtrack immediately after leaving the theater. Kids will love it and you will laugh with Timon and Pumba.
Movie 39 Day 39
Have you ever heard a song but it sounds a little off and you find out it's actually a cover and not the original song? That is what The Lion King feels like. Except for Mufasa, no one but James Earl Jones could be Mufasa. Don't get me wrong, The Lion King is a visually STUNNING film. Absolutely gorgeous, lush and beautiful. I had a hard time separating what was real from CGI. I'm pretty sure it's all CGI but it's so unbelievably realistic. The directing by Jon Favreau was detailed and proves this man knows how to make a good movie but the Lion King lacks originality. Let me explain....
The Lion King feels like a shot for shot remake of the animated classic. What I have loved about the re-imagining of Disney Classics is they bring something new to the screen. Beauty and the Beast brought a deeper story into who Belle and the Beast were. We saw new songs and new elements of the story. The same goes for Dumbo, Cinderella, Maleficent, and Aladdin. One of the great successes of Aladdin was not trying to be the animated version. Guy Richie didn't want to recreate the original, he wanted to make it his own. We don't feel like Will Smith is trying to be Robin Williams. One of the flaws with the Lion King is it hardly separates from the animated classic. There are hardly any new character developments. It was a missed opportunity to go full Shakespeare on this story. (You realize The Lion King is basically Hamlet with a happier ending, right?)
Moving on...
Where were the Broadway songs? I understand there are rights and legal issues but now that this film has come out, it's very unlikely the Broadway show will be on film. This movie would have been a perfect opportunity to bring some of the Broadway magic to the big screen. How can you cast Beyonce as the voice of Nala and NOT have her sing Shadowland?!?!?!?! WHAT A MISSED OPPORTUNITY!!! How are you not going to have He Lives In You sung by Rafiki to help a struggling Simba figure out who he is? I was so disappointed none of the Broadway songs were in this movie. Instead of making the film something new, they stuck way too close to the animation. There were only two new songs, one by Beyonce that hardly stands out and a new song during the credits sung by Elton John. It would have been such a boost if the movie would have thrown the Broadway Show's songs.
Some of the voice acting seemed a little flat at times. I'm not sure if it was the sound quality but the voice acting lacked passion. The cartoon animation voices had so much emotion and the CGI just lacked that enthusiasm. I will say Chiwetel Ejiofor as Scar was brilliant, except for his singing. Scar does not really sing, he does more of a sing talk of Be Prepared. Other than that, Chiwetel was full of rage, danger and mystery. He gave me chills with every word he said. Some of the other actors fell flat. You could tell they were reading a script instead of living in the character. At least that's how it felt to me.
Where the film succeed Timon, Pumba, Kamari, and Azizi. The only part of this film that felt fresh was the new take on these four characters. Billy Eichner and Seth Rogan voiced Timon and Pumba and they were hilarious. I found myself laughing every time they were on screen. You can tell they did a lot of improv with these characters. It brought a freshness and an originality that the film desperately needed. Keegan-Michael Key and Eric Andre were the voices of Kamari and Azizi. Think of them as modern Banzai and Ed. They are the comic relief of the terrible hyenas. In the animated film, the hyenas were bad but they were also really funny. In the CGI version, they are dark and terrifying creatures of the night. Shenzi, voiced by Florence Kasumba is the sinister leader of the hyenas. She wants to kill all the lions and is a dark character to have in a children's movie. Thank goodness for Kamari and Azizi, they are goofy and bring a little joy to these unredeemable characters.
Over all The Lion King is a visually stunning piece of CGI art. I don't know how they made all of the animals look so real. I swear Disney must have a real talking Rafiki hidden in Disney Wold! The film still made me cry 3 times! I even knew it was coming and I still cried! Is it worth seeing? I would say yes. The animation is something to be marveled at. The story may not be original but it is still beautifully told. I listened to the Broadway soundtrack immediately after leaving the theater. Kids will love it and you will laugh with Timon and Pumba.
Friday, April 12, 2019
Stoker
100 Movies in 100 Days
Movie 38 Day 38
Stoker
I was looking for something unique to watch today. So often I see so many mainstream movies but it's refreshing to find something a little bit odd and more independent. I had heard about the movie Stoker in the past. I knew it starred Nicole Kidman as the mother, Mia Wasikowska as India and Matthew Goode as Uncle Charlie. The trailers always seemed a bit odd, like you weren't really sure if it was a thriller, independent or creepy. It's a little bit of everything! I must say that if you have the patience, this movie is absolutely stunning and terrifyingly creepy.
Stoker starts off with India's father passing away on her birthday. From there the story develops as a long-lost uncle appears out of nowhere and begins to assist her mother after her father's death. Now India is a very unique girl. She doesn't like to be touched, she has heightened sensory. She can hear things and see things that go unnoticed by most people. She's very socially awkward but incredibly brilliant. And her uncle Charlie seems to have a connection with her but you aren't exactly sure why that is. Members of the family seem shocked that Charlie is back after claiming he's been in Europe all these years. You know there's something sinister under the surface but you're not exactly sure what it is. I don't want to spoil the movie for you because it has so many creepy twists and turns. Stoker leaves you guessing until the screen fades to black and the credits roll.
The film making in this movie is breathtaking. Director Park Chan-wook uses to sound and sight to give another layer of depth and intimacy. You feel like you're watching something you're not supposed to see. He also has a beautiful artistic eye, the whole movie is inter laid with greens and Earth Tones that represent India and her emotions. Even Mia wears green contacts to give India an interesting look to match Uncle Charlie's eyes. The cinematography was so on point you feel like you're looking at a painting. Every detail, every bird wing flapping, every creak the floorboards is so intimate and invasive. It's absolutely eerie and wonderful.
The acting by the cast is something to be praised. Nicole Kidman plays a brilliantly washed up, former debutante. She is struggling with the loss of her husband but she's clearly the type of woman who is always needed a man in her life. For the first time she has to evaluate herself and it's not a pretty picture. Mia as India is phenomenal, she is so wise beyond her years. She's conflicted and deep but incredibly damaged but you're not exactly sure why. It's incredibly fascinating to watch her develop this character. Then of course there's Matthew Goode who is charming and delightful but there's some type of evil cynicism buried underneath the surface. I don't know how he can become dark and twisted but likable. I think he's incredibly underrated, he's so talented and can play charming, sweet, kind and sexy but terrifying and sinister.
If you have an opportunity and you are looking for a movie that's a little bit odd I highly recommend taking a look at Stoker
Movie 38 Day 38
Stoker
I was looking for something unique to watch today. So often I see so many mainstream movies but it's refreshing to find something a little bit odd and more independent. I had heard about the movie Stoker in the past. I knew it starred Nicole Kidman as the mother, Mia Wasikowska as India and Matthew Goode as Uncle Charlie. The trailers always seemed a bit odd, like you weren't really sure if it was a thriller, independent or creepy. It's a little bit of everything! I must say that if you have the patience, this movie is absolutely stunning and terrifyingly creepy.
Stoker starts off with India's father passing away on her birthday. From there the story develops as a long-lost uncle appears out of nowhere and begins to assist her mother after her father's death. Now India is a very unique girl. She doesn't like to be touched, she has heightened sensory. She can hear things and see things that go unnoticed by most people. She's very socially awkward but incredibly brilliant. And her uncle Charlie seems to have a connection with her but you aren't exactly sure why that is. Members of the family seem shocked that Charlie is back after claiming he's been in Europe all these years. You know there's something sinister under the surface but you're not exactly sure what it is. I don't want to spoil the movie for you because it has so many creepy twists and turns. Stoker leaves you guessing until the screen fades to black and the credits roll.
The film making in this movie is breathtaking. Director Park Chan-wook uses to sound and sight to give another layer of depth and intimacy. You feel like you're watching something you're not supposed to see. He also has a beautiful artistic eye, the whole movie is inter laid with greens and Earth Tones that represent India and her emotions. Even Mia wears green contacts to give India an interesting look to match Uncle Charlie's eyes. The cinematography was so on point you feel like you're looking at a painting. Every detail, every bird wing flapping, every creak the floorboards is so intimate and invasive. It's absolutely eerie and wonderful.
The acting by the cast is something to be praised. Nicole Kidman plays a brilliantly washed up, former debutante. She is struggling with the loss of her husband but she's clearly the type of woman who is always needed a man in her life. For the first time she has to evaluate herself and it's not a pretty picture. Mia as India is phenomenal, she is so wise beyond her years. She's conflicted and deep but incredibly damaged but you're not exactly sure why. It's incredibly fascinating to watch her develop this character. Then of course there's Matthew Goode who is charming and delightful but there's some type of evil cynicism buried underneath the surface. I don't know how he can become dark and twisted but likable. I think he's incredibly underrated, he's so talented and can play charming, sweet, kind and sexy but terrifying and sinister.
If you have an opportunity and you are looking for a movie that's a little bit odd I highly recommend taking a look at Stoker
Monday, March 25, 2019
Agatha Christie's Ordeal by Innocence
100 Movies in 100 Days
Movie 36 Day 36
Agatha Christie's Ordeal By Innocence
I love when a new movie pops up on Amazon Prime. As you are well aware, I'm a very big fan of British Cinema. I'm also a big admirer of the British mini-series as well. Today I stumbled across Agatha Christie's Ordeal by Innocence. What an amazing movie! I've heard of a few of Agatha Christie stories but I've never been a huge follower follower of hers. What drew me to this one was I really enjoyed the cast. It's stars Morven Christie, Anthony Boyle, Christian Cooke, Bill Nighy, Matthew Goode, Luke Treadaway, Anna Chancellor, Crystal Clark, Ella Purnell, and Eleanor Thomlinson.
Ordeal by Innocence is about an adoptive mother who was murdered and one of her adopted children is accused. Before he can be brought to trial, he is murdered in prison. 18 months later the family has joined together, as the father is going to remarry but the truth about mother's death starts to come out. And unexpected stranger shows up claiming to be The Alibi of the son who is accused of killing the mother. From there the story unfolds into a who did it, are they telling the truth, is The Alibi legit, and which among them is capable of murder?
The casting for this movie was absolute perfection. Morven Christie plays the down-on-her-luck maid that knows so many family secrets but never speaks up. She really is the heart and conscience of the entire movie. The way she observed the children and knew all the secrets but could never tell them. Matthew Goode is, once again, terrifying! Matthew Goode plays Phillip, the wheelchair ridden, morphine addict husband of one of the daughters and he is absolutely horrific. He loves to meddle, create problems and cause drama. He's absolutely brilliant at it. More than once I found myself cringing at the sight of him. The best part is, he the only character that couldn't have killed the mother! He is the one that you were scared of the most just because of his mannerisms. The other standout performance is Anna Chancellor who plays Rachel, the mother. She goes between stern and cold. It's absolutely baffling to watch.
I know Agatha Christie wrote a long time ago but I must say her stories still resonate with people today. I was on the edge of my seat the entire time. I had no idea who the killer was. I kept guessing and I did not guess the correct answer until the very end. The whole film had this dynamic and sinister feel to it. There was a deeply talented cast that brilliantly portrayed the overwhelming sense of dread. We see the mother is horrible to these adopted children. She was merciless and any one of them could have killed her. The whole time you're just trying to figure out who it might be. The ending is phenomenal! I will not spoil the ending but I literally gasped out loud. Fantastic film that you really should watch if you get a chance. It's only 3 episodes and they're absolutely brilliant.
Movie 36 Day 36
Agatha Christie's Ordeal By Innocence
I love when a new movie pops up on Amazon Prime. As you are well aware, I'm a very big fan of British Cinema. I'm also a big admirer of the British mini-series as well. Today I stumbled across Agatha Christie's Ordeal by Innocence. What an amazing movie! I've heard of a few of Agatha Christie stories but I've never been a huge follower follower of hers. What drew me to this one was I really enjoyed the cast. It's stars Morven Christie, Anthony Boyle, Christian Cooke, Bill Nighy, Matthew Goode, Luke Treadaway, Anna Chancellor, Crystal Clark, Ella Purnell, and Eleanor Thomlinson.
Ordeal by Innocence is about an adoptive mother who was murdered and one of her adopted children is accused. Before he can be brought to trial, he is murdered in prison. 18 months later the family has joined together, as the father is going to remarry but the truth about mother's death starts to come out. And unexpected stranger shows up claiming to be The Alibi of the son who is accused of killing the mother. From there the story unfolds into a who did it, are they telling the truth, is The Alibi legit, and which among them is capable of murder?
The casting for this movie was absolute perfection. Morven Christie plays the down-on-her-luck maid that knows so many family secrets but never speaks up. She really is the heart and conscience of the entire movie. The way she observed the children and knew all the secrets but could never tell them. Matthew Goode is, once again, terrifying! Matthew Goode plays Phillip, the wheelchair ridden, morphine addict husband of one of the daughters and he is absolutely horrific. He loves to meddle, create problems and cause drama. He's absolutely brilliant at it. More than once I found myself cringing at the sight of him. The best part is, he the only character that couldn't have killed the mother! He is the one that you were scared of the most just because of his mannerisms. The other standout performance is Anna Chancellor who plays Rachel, the mother. She goes between stern and cold. It's absolutely baffling to watch.
I know Agatha Christie wrote a long time ago but I must say her stories still resonate with people today. I was on the edge of my seat the entire time. I had no idea who the killer was. I kept guessing and I did not guess the correct answer until the very end. The whole film had this dynamic and sinister feel to it. There was a deeply talented cast that brilliantly portrayed the overwhelming sense of dread. We see the mother is horrible to these adopted children. She was merciless and any one of them could have killed her. The whole time you're just trying to figure out who it might be. The ending is phenomenal! I will not spoil the ending but I literally gasped out loud. Fantastic film that you really should watch if you get a chance. It's only 3 episodes and they're absolutely brilliant.
Death Comes to Pemberley
100 Movies in 100 Day
Movie 37 Day 37
Death Comes to Pemberley
Sometimes I wish I lived in a Jane Austen novel. Except when I have the realization that I would probably end up a maid with no prospects and no fancy husband. It's so nice to pretend that you live in a world of Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth Bennet. What happens after the fairy tale ending? What happens in 10 years once Darcy and Elizabeth are married? What about the rest of the family? That is the question Death Comes to Pemberley asks. It is a retelling of the classic Jane Austen story, more of a sequel. I will say it is quite dramatic compared to its original literature. It seems like a mix between Jane Austen and Agatha Christie. The cast on this mini-series is very impressive. We have Matthew Rhys as Mr. Darcy, Matthew Goode as the gorgeous Mr Wickham, Jenna Coleman playing Lydia and Anna Maxwell Martin playing Elizabeth.
Death Comes to Pemberley starts with Elizabeth and Darcy having a young son. They're just getting ready for a fancy ball and many people are coming to visit. One surprise is Lydia and her husband Mr. Wickham decide to come, uninvited, to the party. Keep in mind from the Jane Austen novel Lydia and Mr. Wickham were not welcome in the family anymore. Mr. Wickham tried to get Georgiana Darcy to run away with him and elope, quite the Scandal back then. He then tried again with Lydia. He married Lydia but it almost tore apart the Bennett Family. The movie begins with Mr. Wickham and a friend getting into an argument in the woods on their way to Pemberley. The man storms off, ends up injured in the woods and then dies. Everyone assumes Mr Wickham did it and the whole community is turned upside down. Keep in mind, this could ruin a family's reputation back then.
The movie follows the ups and downs of life during the Regency Era but it adds a murder mystery. I've never seen a murder mystery set during the Regency Era. It was kind of odd to see the way the courts were conducted, it almost felt play like. It had the air of a Shakespearean thriller but it was very odd when you Jane Austen into the mix. The film does a good job of sticking the original source material, Pride and Prejudice and keeping the characters relatively similar. It also makes you wonder how what these characters react to something so dramatic. Back when you think of Pride and Prejudice Lydia was always so flighty and crazy and they continue that tradition it's so interesting to see. She drives you absolutely bananas for the majority of the series but then you kind of see how much she's actually grown. She becomes a manipulative Mastermind and her actions are kind of brilliant. Of course there's Matthew Goode as Wickham and he brings charm in the chaos. The line smooth operator comes to mind. Matthew Goode is charming but he also can turn to sinister in a moment's notice. You find yourself questioning Mr. Wickham. We are unsure if he's capable of murder or not. Mr Wickham continues to be a horrible person and they don't shy away from that. We know from Pride and Prejudice that he's a dishonorable man but does that mean he's capable of murder? That is something that Mr. Darcy has to ask himself.
This is a three part mini-series with each episode being an hour. I will say it flew by and it's very interesting if you like Murder Mysteries and you appreciate a good Jane Austen novel. I would definitely check this out. I didn't know what to expect and again I'm a pretty true blue Jane Austen fan, so I went into it with skepticism. I didn't know if I was going to like it and I really enjoyed it. Plus, it's from the BBC and they're usually very good at what they produce. So if you get a chance I would say take a look at Death Comes to Pemberley and give it a go.
Movie 37 Day 37
Death Comes to Pemberley
Sometimes I wish I lived in a Jane Austen novel. Except when I have the realization that I would probably end up a maid with no prospects and no fancy husband. It's so nice to pretend that you live in a world of Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth Bennet. What happens after the fairy tale ending? What happens in 10 years once Darcy and Elizabeth are married? What about the rest of the family? That is the question Death Comes to Pemberley asks. It is a retelling of the classic Jane Austen story, more of a sequel. I will say it is quite dramatic compared to its original literature. It seems like a mix between Jane Austen and Agatha Christie. The cast on this mini-series is very impressive. We have Matthew Rhys as Mr. Darcy, Matthew Goode as the gorgeous Mr Wickham, Jenna Coleman playing Lydia and Anna Maxwell Martin playing Elizabeth.
Death Comes to Pemberley starts with Elizabeth and Darcy having a young son. They're just getting ready for a fancy ball and many people are coming to visit. One surprise is Lydia and her husband Mr. Wickham decide to come, uninvited, to the party. Keep in mind from the Jane Austen novel Lydia and Mr. Wickham were not welcome in the family anymore. Mr. Wickham tried to get Georgiana Darcy to run away with him and elope, quite the Scandal back then. He then tried again with Lydia. He married Lydia but it almost tore apart the Bennett Family. The movie begins with Mr. Wickham and a friend getting into an argument in the woods on their way to Pemberley. The man storms off, ends up injured in the woods and then dies. Everyone assumes Mr Wickham did it and the whole community is turned upside down. Keep in mind, this could ruin a family's reputation back then.
The movie follows the ups and downs of life during the Regency Era but it adds a murder mystery. I've never seen a murder mystery set during the Regency Era. It was kind of odd to see the way the courts were conducted, it almost felt play like. It had the air of a Shakespearean thriller but it was very odd when you Jane Austen into the mix. The film does a good job of sticking the original source material, Pride and Prejudice and keeping the characters relatively similar. It also makes you wonder how what these characters react to something so dramatic. Back when you think of Pride and Prejudice Lydia was always so flighty and crazy and they continue that tradition it's so interesting to see. She drives you absolutely bananas for the majority of the series but then you kind of see how much she's actually grown. She becomes a manipulative Mastermind and her actions are kind of brilliant. Of course there's Matthew Goode as Wickham and he brings charm in the chaos. The line smooth operator comes to mind. Matthew Goode is charming but he also can turn to sinister in a moment's notice. You find yourself questioning Mr. Wickham. We are unsure if he's capable of murder or not. Mr Wickham continues to be a horrible person and they don't shy away from that. We know from Pride and Prejudice that he's a dishonorable man but does that mean he's capable of murder? That is something that Mr. Darcy has to ask himself.
This is a three part mini-series with each episode being an hour. I will say it flew by and it's very interesting if you like Murder Mysteries and you appreciate a good Jane Austen novel. I would definitely check this out. I didn't know what to expect and again I'm a pretty true blue Jane Austen fan, so I went into it with skepticism. I didn't know if I was going to like it and I really enjoyed it. Plus, it's from the BBC and they're usually very good at what they produce. So if you get a chance I would say take a look at Death Comes to Pemberley and give it a go.
Sunday, March 17, 2019
Leap Year
100 Movies in 100 Days
Movie 35 Day 35
Leap Year
Happy Saint Patrick's day everyone! It seems like a perfect day to reflect on an Irish film. I wasn't sure which one I should choose. I don't know many Irish movies except for slightly depressing ones. I decided I would go with a delightful romantic comedy called Leap Year.
Leap Year stars Amy Adams as Anna, an uptight house Stager who desperately wants to get married to her boyfriend Jeremy, played by Adam Scott. Anna and Jeremy go out to dinner where Anna hopes for a proposal but instead is surprised with a pair of diamond earrings. Obviously, she is incredibly disappointed by this. Here is a tip for my male readers. Don't ever present a girl a pair of earrings in a wedding ring shaped box. It's not nice! Moving on! Anna decides to take matters into her own hands. tYhere is an Irish tradition, a woman can propose to a man on the 29th of February during the leap year. Jeremy is at a conference in Dublin and Anna decides to surprise him. She goes to Dublin with the intent of proposing to Jeremy.
As in many romantic comedies, things do not go according to plan. Anna's flight is rerouted and she has to find her own way to Dublin. At her first stop she meets the charming Declan, played by the beautiful Matthew Goode. Declan is the owner of a bed and breakfast Pub and is in desperate need of money. He offers to drive Anna to Dublin for five hundred pounds. Right from the start you can tell these two are going to clash but the clashing is what makes them so adorably endearing. With all romantic comedies there are ups and downs with the couple. It takes time for them to realize they like each other, then they hate each other, then maybe they like each other again. Who knows how it's going to go!
Leap Year is charming and very fun but I will say it had some slight pacing issues. Sometimes it was hard to get into the story and it was not for a lack of charm from the actors. Amy Adams is adorable and so charismatic in this film and Matthew Goode is equally witty and sexy. The two have pretty decent chemistry but they're bickering so much through the movie that you really don't get to see their potential. I almost wish the film focused on them more as a couple instead of bickering/fighting. I get that they wanted it to be a dynamic ending but it it just didn't feel right. The film is filled with awkward spots that don't flow very well. I don't know if it was from misdirection or poor editing but the film it needed a little something extra.
One thing I will say for this film is it had beautiful locations. The film is shot throughout the Irish Countryside and it is absolutely breathtaking. We see green cliffs, rolling hills, dark moors and ancient castles. It's absolutely stunning. It makes anyone watching want to go to Ireland. I was more excited to see where they were going to be filming next as opposed to the actual drama of the film. The locations add a deeper layer to this movie. How could you not fall in love driving across an Irish Countryside? I have no idea! I would be head-over-heels but it is Matthew Goode, who I am secretly crushing on.
This beautiful Saint Patrick's Day, if you're looking for something fun maybe take a peek at Leap Year. It's not the best romantic comedy I've ever seen, it's not the worst romantic comedy I've ever seen. Watch it for the Irish Countryside, for the beautiful Amy Adams and for the handsome Matthew Goode.
Movie 35 Day 35
Leap Year
Happy Saint Patrick's day everyone! It seems like a perfect day to reflect on an Irish film. I wasn't sure which one I should choose. I don't know many Irish movies except for slightly depressing ones. I decided I would go with a delightful romantic comedy called Leap Year.
Leap Year stars Amy Adams as Anna, an uptight house Stager who desperately wants to get married to her boyfriend Jeremy, played by Adam Scott. Anna and Jeremy go out to dinner where Anna hopes for a proposal but instead is surprised with a pair of diamond earrings. Obviously, she is incredibly disappointed by this. Here is a tip for my male readers. Don't ever present a girl a pair of earrings in a wedding ring shaped box. It's not nice! Moving on! Anna decides to take matters into her own hands. tYhere is an Irish tradition, a woman can propose to a man on the 29th of February during the leap year. Jeremy is at a conference in Dublin and Anna decides to surprise him. She goes to Dublin with the intent of proposing to Jeremy.
As in many romantic comedies, things do not go according to plan. Anna's flight is rerouted and she has to find her own way to Dublin. At her first stop she meets the charming Declan, played by the beautiful Matthew Goode. Declan is the owner of a bed and breakfast Pub and is in desperate need of money. He offers to drive Anna to Dublin for five hundred pounds. Right from the start you can tell these two are going to clash but the clashing is what makes them so adorably endearing. With all romantic comedies there are ups and downs with the couple. It takes time for them to realize they like each other, then they hate each other, then maybe they like each other again. Who knows how it's going to go!
Leap Year is charming and very fun but I will say it had some slight pacing issues. Sometimes it was hard to get into the story and it was not for a lack of charm from the actors. Amy Adams is adorable and so charismatic in this film and Matthew Goode is equally witty and sexy. The two have pretty decent chemistry but they're bickering so much through the movie that you really don't get to see their potential. I almost wish the film focused on them more as a couple instead of bickering/fighting. I get that they wanted it to be a dynamic ending but it it just didn't feel right. The film is filled with awkward spots that don't flow very well. I don't know if it was from misdirection or poor editing but the film it needed a little something extra.
One thing I will say for this film is it had beautiful locations. The film is shot throughout the Irish Countryside and it is absolutely breathtaking. We see green cliffs, rolling hills, dark moors and ancient castles. It's absolutely stunning. It makes anyone watching want to go to Ireland. I was more excited to see where they were going to be filming next as opposed to the actual drama of the film. The locations add a deeper layer to this movie. How could you not fall in love driving across an Irish Countryside? I have no idea! I would be head-over-heels but it is Matthew Goode, who I am secretly crushing on.
This beautiful Saint Patrick's Day, if you're looking for something fun maybe take a peek at Leap Year. It's not the best romantic comedy I've ever seen, it's not the worst romantic comedy I've ever seen. Watch it for the Irish Countryside, for the beautiful Amy Adams and for the handsome Matthew Goode.
Wednesday, March 13, 2019
Day of the Western Sunrise
100 Movies in 100 Days
Movie 34 Day 34
Day of the Western Sunrise
A few days ago, a friend of mine told me there was a new film coming to the Knickerbocker Theater in Holland. The film was a documentary written and directed by a friend he went to high school with. I was so excited to see someone from Western Michigan making films! I didn't know much about the film. I knew it was a documentary that was done with live footage and animation. Color me intrigued. I was excited to meet the filmmaker and asks questions after the viewing. It's the inner film scholar, I love to dive a little deeper.
Day of the Western Sunrise is a documentary written and directed by Keith Reimink. It is the true story of a group of Japanese fisherman who accidentally witnessed one of the United States' nuclear tests at Castle Bravo in 1954. Day of the Western Sunrise uses paper animation, survivor interviews and narration to retell this horrifying moment in history. This film is done in Japanese with English subtitles, which is the way it should be. I always get frustrated when people don't want to see something because it's in another language. Personally, the film has a deeper impact on the audience because the story is told in the survivor's mother tongue.
The animation in Day of the Western Sunrise is absolutely beautiful. I have no idea how they did it! It looks like individually cut out pieces, overlapping together. I'm sure it was done with a computer but it looks handmade. Absolutely gorgeous and a wonderful way to tell such a horrific story. So often documentaries relay on historical news footage or reenactment with actors. In Day of the Western Sunrise, Reimink uses the animation to create a unified story.
The soundtrack and music for Day of the Western Sunrise was done by Troy Reimink. The soundtrack is eerily haunting and tragically beautiful. The music never pulls focus away from the story but it does intensify the emotional drive behind the film.
Since the film is mostly animated, the sound effects were vital in the emotional telling of the story. Keith Reimink's use of simple sounds added depth and emotion to the animation. I felt like I was on a fishing boat in the middle of the ocean. I can hear the birds and the waves. It's amazing how little sounds and details can take you away to a different time.
How have we never heard this story? That was the question the film left me with. Day of the Western Sunrise does a brilliant job of trying to be unbiased. Reimink is there to tell a story from the survivor's perspective and not push a political agenda. I can respect and appreciate that but I was left with so many questions. What was the United State's involvement? What about the Japanese government and relationship with the fisherman? Leaving with questions is a good thing. A documentary should make you think and Day of the Western Sunrise will leave you wanting more. I highly recommend taking a look at this film.
Movie 34 Day 34
Day of the Western Sunrise
A few days ago, a friend of mine told me there was a new film coming to the Knickerbocker Theater in Holland. The film was a documentary written and directed by a friend he went to high school with. I was so excited to see someone from Western Michigan making films! I didn't know much about the film. I knew it was a documentary that was done with live footage and animation. Color me intrigued. I was excited to meet the filmmaker and asks questions after the viewing. It's the inner film scholar, I love to dive a little deeper.
Day of the Western Sunrise is a documentary written and directed by Keith Reimink. It is the true story of a group of Japanese fisherman who accidentally witnessed one of the United States' nuclear tests at Castle Bravo in 1954. Day of the Western Sunrise uses paper animation, survivor interviews and narration to retell this horrifying moment in history. This film is done in Japanese with English subtitles, which is the way it should be. I always get frustrated when people don't want to see something because it's in another language. Personally, the film has a deeper impact on the audience because the story is told in the survivor's mother tongue.
The animation in Day of the Western Sunrise is absolutely beautiful. I have no idea how they did it! It looks like individually cut out pieces, overlapping together. I'm sure it was done with a computer but it looks handmade. Absolutely gorgeous and a wonderful way to tell such a horrific story. So often documentaries relay on historical news footage or reenactment with actors. In Day of the Western Sunrise, Reimink uses the animation to create a unified story.
The soundtrack and music for Day of the Western Sunrise was done by Troy Reimink. The soundtrack is eerily haunting and tragically beautiful. The music never pulls focus away from the story but it does intensify the emotional drive behind the film.
Since the film is mostly animated, the sound effects were vital in the emotional telling of the story. Keith Reimink's use of simple sounds added depth and emotion to the animation. I felt like I was on a fishing boat in the middle of the ocean. I can hear the birds and the waves. It's amazing how little sounds and details can take you away to a different time.
How have we never heard this story? That was the question the film left me with. Day of the Western Sunrise does a brilliant job of trying to be unbiased. Reimink is there to tell a story from the survivor's perspective and not push a political agenda. I can respect and appreciate that but I was left with so many questions. What was the United State's involvement? What about the Japanese government and relationship with the fisherman? Leaving with questions is a good thing. A documentary should make you think and Day of the Western Sunrise will leave you wanting more. I highly recommend taking a look at this film.
A Discovery of Witches
100 Movies in 100 Days
Movie 33 Day 33
A Discovery of Witches
So as I said I've been wanting to mix things up a little bit and I've been watching a lot more television series. I love magical shows, books and movies. I've read all of the Mortal Instruments stories, I've read all the Twilight books (Don't judge me!) I've seen all of the magical movies from the Labyrinth to The Craft to Practical Magic and so many more. I love a good witch, vampire, daemon, werewolf story. So when I heard about A Discovery of Witches I was intrigued. Until this point, I have never read the books. To be honest, I went out and got the book as soon as I finished season 1. Moving on, before the show, I never even heard of the books. I followed Teresa Palmer, who plays Diana in the show, on Instagram. She posted about filming the show and I loved the cast. I've seen Matthew Goode in a few different things from Downton Abbey, Chasing Liberty, Leap Year and The Crown. I was mostly intrigued by the elements magic in A Discovery of Witches. I always wanted to be a witch when I was little. I was very disappointed when I found out I couldn't be a real witch. I blame years of Harry Potter! Let's take a short look at A Discovery of Witches.
A Discovery of Witches takes place in 2018. It is about a historian and witch named Diana Bishop, played by Teresa Palmer. One day while doing research at Oxford University, she finds a book hidden in the classical section of the library. When she opens the book weird event start to occur. Magic words start coming off of pages. The book is otherworldly, covered in magic and not only do the witches feel the power but vampires and daemons as well. Diana's experience with this book drew a lot of attention and the most attention is by a vampire named Matthew, played by Matthew Goode. All of the magical creatures are attracted to this book, which Diana has returned and is now nowhere to be found. Diana becomes a person of interest to all creatures. Matthew becomes completely fascinated and infatuated with Diana and her abilities. Let me tell you, the chemistry between Palmer and Goode is completely electric. Gives me total chills!
What's the big deal, it's just another witch story! Yes, it's a witch story but it has fantastic layers of History woven within each scene. It is clearly seen the author of the book series is a historian. Plus, what's not to love about forbidden romance? Obviously, Matthew is attracted to Diana. He's intrigued by Diana magical potential. He's interested in her because something is off with Diana's magic. Her magic is untamed, unchecked and unbalanced. Who wouldn't love the idea of magic appearing whenever you need it or sensing danger whenever it's near? I think that is what draws the viewer in. We all imagine ourselves as a witch, vampire, or daemon. We humans are attracted to the unknown and the darkness. A Discovery of Witches allows you to tap into that part of your imagination. It's a fun escape for the boring Human world.
This show does not shy away from strong female characters. It's wonderful to see Diana as a smart academic but also a powerful witch. A Discovery of Witches is about women empowerment across all species. The female vampires are wise matriarchs of their families. Female witches are powerful and can save themselves. Diana doesn't need Matthew's help to survive, she can survive on her own and it's brilliant to see. There is a great contrast where maybe the witch can save the vampire. A Discovery of Witches is not afraid to challenge societal norms. It's uplifting to see Diana was raised by two women, her aunt Sarah and partner Emily. Both women are strong capable witches. The fact they are lesbians is never mentioned. It doesn't matter who you love, it's the power of the love. Yes, I know that's so girlie and cheesy but I'm a secret romantic. Shhhh, don't tell anyone.
My only criticism of the some are the side stories. There are a few smaller stories happening in the background and they pull focus from the main characters. There is this whole plot line about an ancient council with Daemons, Vampires, and Witches. I found myself a little bit bored with that plot line. I'm sure it will be important in later seasons but I kept thinking, get back to Diana and Matthew now. Oh well, it is still a strong show!
I could write so much more on this show. I could write and entire thesis paper on it very easily but that's not why you are here. You, my dear reader are here to get a taste for something new. I highly recommend finding and watching A Discovery of Witches. Be warned, it's massively addictive.
Movie 33 Day 33
A Discovery of Witches
So as I said I've been wanting to mix things up a little bit and I've been watching a lot more television series. I love magical shows, books and movies. I've read all of the Mortal Instruments stories, I've read all the Twilight books (Don't judge me!) I've seen all of the magical movies from the Labyrinth to The Craft to Practical Magic and so many more. I love a good witch, vampire, daemon, werewolf story. So when I heard about A Discovery of Witches I was intrigued. Until this point, I have never read the books. To be honest, I went out and got the book as soon as I finished season 1. Moving on, before the show, I never even heard of the books. I followed Teresa Palmer, who plays Diana in the show, on Instagram. She posted about filming the show and I loved the cast. I've seen Matthew Goode in a few different things from Downton Abbey, Chasing Liberty, Leap Year and The Crown. I was mostly intrigued by the elements magic in A Discovery of Witches. I always wanted to be a witch when I was little. I was very disappointed when I found out I couldn't be a real witch. I blame years of Harry Potter! Let's take a short look at A Discovery of Witches.
A Discovery of Witches takes place in 2018. It is about a historian and witch named Diana Bishop, played by Teresa Palmer. One day while doing research at Oxford University, she finds a book hidden in the classical section of the library. When she opens the book weird event start to occur. Magic words start coming off of pages. The book is otherworldly, covered in magic and not only do the witches feel the power but vampires and daemons as well. Diana's experience with this book drew a lot of attention and the most attention is by a vampire named Matthew, played by Matthew Goode. All of the magical creatures are attracted to this book, which Diana has returned and is now nowhere to be found. Diana becomes a person of interest to all creatures. Matthew becomes completely fascinated and infatuated with Diana and her abilities. Let me tell you, the chemistry between Palmer and Goode is completely electric. Gives me total chills!
What's the big deal, it's just another witch story! Yes, it's a witch story but it has fantastic layers of History woven within each scene. It is clearly seen the author of the book series is a historian. Plus, what's not to love about forbidden romance? Obviously, Matthew is attracted to Diana. He's intrigued by Diana magical potential. He's interested in her because something is off with Diana's magic. Her magic is untamed, unchecked and unbalanced. Who wouldn't love the idea of magic appearing whenever you need it or sensing danger whenever it's near? I think that is what draws the viewer in. We all imagine ourselves as a witch, vampire, or daemon. We humans are attracted to the unknown and the darkness. A Discovery of Witches allows you to tap into that part of your imagination. It's a fun escape for the boring Human world.
This show does not shy away from strong female characters. It's wonderful to see Diana as a smart academic but also a powerful witch. A Discovery of Witches is about women empowerment across all species. The female vampires are wise matriarchs of their families. Female witches are powerful and can save themselves. Diana doesn't need Matthew's help to survive, she can survive on her own and it's brilliant to see. There is a great contrast where maybe the witch can save the vampire. A Discovery of Witches is not afraid to challenge societal norms. It's uplifting to see Diana was raised by two women, her aunt Sarah and partner Emily. Both women are strong capable witches. The fact they are lesbians is never mentioned. It doesn't matter who you love, it's the power of the love. Yes, I know that's so girlie and cheesy but I'm a secret romantic. Shhhh, don't tell anyone.
My only criticism of the some are the side stories. There are a few smaller stories happening in the background and they pull focus from the main characters. There is this whole plot line about an ancient council with Daemons, Vampires, and Witches. I found myself a little bit bored with that plot line. I'm sure it will be important in later seasons but I kept thinking, get back to Diana and Matthew now. Oh well, it is still a strong show!
I could write so much more on this show. I could write and entire thesis paper on it very easily but that's not why you are here. You, my dear reader are here to get a taste for something new. I highly recommend finding and watching A Discovery of Witches. Be warned, it's massively addictive.
Chasing Liberty
100 Movies in 100 Days
Movie 32 Day 32
Chasing Liberty
Sometimes you need a little blast from the past. I was feeling a little nostalgic and in need of some 2004 influence. I was looking on Hulu and realized I have never watched the movie Chasing Liberty. The movie stars Mandy Moore, Matthew Goode and Mark Harmon. I thought this movie looks kind of cute, it's from 2004! It seemed like a good day to take a peek and see what Chasing Liberty had to offer. I was pleasantly surprised to find that chasing Liberty is so nostalgic of my senior year in high school. I remember wearing the bell-bottoms, having the short dark choppy hair, short crop tops and all the glitter and bling that went along with the year 2004. Chasing Liberty was a fun little experimentation.
Chasing Liberty is the story of Mandy Moore playing Anna, she is the first daughter to the president of the United States. Jokingly the president is played by Mark Harmon and he does a beautiful job of playing the stern, yet funny president. Anna decides she wants to have a weekend to herself, away from the Secret Service and her parents prying eyes. She sneaks away from the Secret Service in Prague and meets Ben, who she thinks is just a friend. Ben actually ends up being a Secret Service agent who is supposed to be guarding the first daughter without her knowledge. That charming man is of course played by the beautiful Matthew Goode.
What makes Chasing Liberty so gosh darn charming? Honestly it's all about young, naive love. It reminded me of my first crush and how your whole world revolved around being young. The adult in me watches the film and is yelling at the characters. You don't know them? Be safe, where is your passport...ect ect ect. Chasing Liberty reminds viewers of wanting to backpack through Europe during those college years. This movie will definitely make you want to travel to Venice, Prague, Austria and all over Europe. I think that was my favorite part about the entire movie, watching Mandy Moore and Matthew Goode run along the streets of Venice. It was a fun rom-com with a lot of jumps and bumps along the way.
Was this a good movie? It wasn't a bad movie, it definitely wasn't the best rom-com I've ever seen but it was charming. Matthew Goode stands out for his brilliant performance, he makes Ben seem kind instead of a lying creep. One odd thing I did notice was during some points of the movie it feels like a made-for-tv movie. There are large breaks in between scenes where the screen just goes to black. The break between scenes felt like a dramatic, hold for commercial moment. It was very distracting and didn't help the pacing of the film at all.
Again the real highlight of the movie is the locations. It really reminds its viewer to travel and exploring new cultures. That being said it also reminds you of the dangers of travel and remind you that you have to watch out. It was still a fun little hour and a half's adventure. If you have a spare moment, check it out but again it's not on my must-see list but it was still fun to watch
Movie 32 Day 32
Chasing Liberty
Sometimes you need a little blast from the past. I was feeling a little nostalgic and in need of some 2004 influence. I was looking on Hulu and realized I have never watched the movie Chasing Liberty. The movie stars Mandy Moore, Matthew Goode and Mark Harmon. I thought this movie looks kind of cute, it's from 2004! It seemed like a good day to take a peek and see what Chasing Liberty had to offer. I was pleasantly surprised to find that chasing Liberty is so nostalgic of my senior year in high school. I remember wearing the bell-bottoms, having the short dark choppy hair, short crop tops and all the glitter and bling that went along with the year 2004. Chasing Liberty was a fun little experimentation.
Chasing Liberty is the story of Mandy Moore playing Anna, she is the first daughter to the president of the United States. Jokingly the president is played by Mark Harmon and he does a beautiful job of playing the stern, yet funny president. Anna decides she wants to have a weekend to herself, away from the Secret Service and her parents prying eyes. She sneaks away from the Secret Service in Prague and meets Ben, who she thinks is just a friend. Ben actually ends up being a Secret Service agent who is supposed to be guarding the first daughter without her knowledge. That charming man is of course played by the beautiful Matthew Goode.
What makes Chasing Liberty so gosh darn charming? Honestly it's all about young, naive love. It reminded me of my first crush and how your whole world revolved around being young. The adult in me watches the film and is yelling at the characters. You don't know them? Be safe, where is your passport...ect ect ect. Chasing Liberty reminds viewers of wanting to backpack through Europe during those college years. This movie will definitely make you want to travel to Venice, Prague, Austria and all over Europe. I think that was my favorite part about the entire movie, watching Mandy Moore and Matthew Goode run along the streets of Venice. It was a fun rom-com with a lot of jumps and bumps along the way.
Was this a good movie? It wasn't a bad movie, it definitely wasn't the best rom-com I've ever seen but it was charming. Matthew Goode stands out for his brilliant performance, he makes Ben seem kind instead of a lying creep. One odd thing I did notice was during some points of the movie it feels like a made-for-tv movie. There are large breaks in between scenes where the screen just goes to black. The break between scenes felt like a dramatic, hold for commercial moment. It was very distracting and didn't help the pacing of the film at all.
Again the real highlight of the movie is the locations. It really reminds its viewer to travel and exploring new cultures. That being said it also reminds you of the dangers of travel and remind you that you have to watch out. It was still a fun little hour and a half's adventure. If you have a spare moment, check it out but again it's not on my must-see list but it was still fun to watch
Saturday, March 9, 2019
Captain Marvel
100 Movies in 100 Days
Movie 31 Day 31
Captain Marvel
It's about damn time Marvel had a female led superhero film! I have been waiting for this film since 2016 when it was announced at Comic Con. There have been so many rumors over the years of a female centered superhero movie for Marvel Studies. I thought it was going to be Black Widow or Scarlet Witch but I am so happy the studio went with Captain Marvel.
A Quick Summary
Captain Marvel aka Carol Danvers is played by Oscar winning actress Brie Larson. The movie takes place in 1996, that's before the first Ironman. Captain Marvel goes back and shows how modern day SHIELD is formed. Carol Danverts wakes up one day with special abilities and no memory of where they came from. She is trained in space by a group of warriors called Kree. Her mentor and commander is Yon-Rogg played by Jude Law. One day Carol and the other Krees are sent to a planet where Carol is captured by Skrull alien warriors. They are looking for something on Earth and they crash land there. Carol meets Nick Fury, played by Samuel L Jackson and together they fight to save mankind. I don't want to give away too much. It's a Marvel movie and spoilers are a big no no!
Hello 90's
Captain Marvel is complete blast from the past. I loved watching this film because so much of the 90's culture is reflected in the movie! I wore the grunge t-shirt and went to Blockbuster video. There were so many great Easter eggs for anyone who lived in the 90's. It's an added bonus to an already brilliant film!
What's the big deal with this movie?
Captain Marvel is a huge milestone for the Marvel Universe. Never before has Marvel had a female centered superhero film. Captain Marvel is the first Marvel film to have one of the co-directors be a woman. So many studios assumed a female centered film would not be as successful as a male superhero movie. Clearly, that is no longer the case. I am completely desperate for this film to do well at the box-office because I want more female focused films. I am so sick of powerful women being the side-kick to some guy. Marvel has done a great job of changing the male perception of heroes. Black Widow is a force to be reckoned with, Pepper Potts is a powerhouse CEO, Scarlet Witch is stronger than all the men, Okoye is a general of the King's guard in Wakanda and that's only a few of the amazing women Marvel has to work with.
Representation Matters
Captain Marvel is so important in the fight for representation in media and film. Little girls need to see that a woman can do anything a man can do. It's important to point out that Captain Marvel is the one saving both men and women in the film. She doesn't need a man to help her, she can fight on her own. It's beautiful when we see fear in the eyes of the powerful male characters. Not all women have to be superheros. Carol's best friend is a single mother pilot who is hard working and brilliant. She is teaching her daughter to grow up strong and fight for what is right. I wish the film would have focused more on Carol's past in the air force. We see flashes for her having to fight for her right to be there. I would love to watch an entire film of Carol fighting her way to the top. Either way, it will show all the little girls that watch Captain Marvel that no one defines you. You don't need to prove yourself to anyone. You are enough. You are powerful.
Slight Spoilers Ahead.....
SPOILERS
There are two great Stan Lee tributes. The one at the opening credits put tears in my eyes. Stan was a brilliant man and I will always be grateful for the amazing legacy he left behind. Marvel has been my refuge when life kicks me down. It has brought me closer with my family. We are all going to miss him so much!
Stay for the post credits scenes! We get a massive Avengers: End Game spoiler.
I can not wait to see how Carol fits in with the rest of the Avengers. She is a powerhouse and she is going to be so pissed when she finds out what Thanos did. Seriously, Thanos is so screwed! The film does explain where she has been all these years. It makes sense. It will make you mad a Fury for waiting so long to reach out to her. All I can say is we have one more month until Avengers: End Game and I can not wait!
Movie 31 Day 31
Captain Marvel
It's about damn time Marvel had a female led superhero film! I have been waiting for this film since 2016 when it was announced at Comic Con. There have been so many rumors over the years of a female centered superhero movie for Marvel Studies. I thought it was going to be Black Widow or Scarlet Witch but I am so happy the studio went with Captain Marvel.
A Quick Summary
Captain Marvel aka Carol Danvers is played by Oscar winning actress Brie Larson. The movie takes place in 1996, that's before the first Ironman. Captain Marvel goes back and shows how modern day SHIELD is formed. Carol Danverts wakes up one day with special abilities and no memory of where they came from. She is trained in space by a group of warriors called Kree. Her mentor and commander is Yon-Rogg played by Jude Law. One day Carol and the other Krees are sent to a planet where Carol is captured by Skrull alien warriors. They are looking for something on Earth and they crash land there. Carol meets Nick Fury, played by Samuel L Jackson and together they fight to save mankind. I don't want to give away too much. It's a Marvel movie and spoilers are a big no no!
Hello 90's
Captain Marvel is complete blast from the past. I loved watching this film because so much of the 90's culture is reflected in the movie! I wore the grunge t-shirt and went to Blockbuster video. There were so many great Easter eggs for anyone who lived in the 90's. It's an added bonus to an already brilliant film!
What's the big deal with this movie?
Captain Marvel is a huge milestone for the Marvel Universe. Never before has Marvel had a female centered superhero film. Captain Marvel is the first Marvel film to have one of the co-directors be a woman. So many studios assumed a female centered film would not be as successful as a male superhero movie. Clearly, that is no longer the case. I am completely desperate for this film to do well at the box-office because I want more female focused films. I am so sick of powerful women being the side-kick to some guy. Marvel has done a great job of changing the male perception of heroes. Black Widow is a force to be reckoned with, Pepper Potts is a powerhouse CEO, Scarlet Witch is stronger than all the men, Okoye is a general of the King's guard in Wakanda and that's only a few of the amazing women Marvel has to work with.
Representation Matters
Captain Marvel is so important in the fight for representation in media and film. Little girls need to see that a woman can do anything a man can do. It's important to point out that Captain Marvel is the one saving both men and women in the film. She doesn't need a man to help her, she can fight on her own. It's beautiful when we see fear in the eyes of the powerful male characters. Not all women have to be superheros. Carol's best friend is a single mother pilot who is hard working and brilliant. She is teaching her daughter to grow up strong and fight for what is right. I wish the film would have focused more on Carol's past in the air force. We see flashes for her having to fight for her right to be there. I would love to watch an entire film of Carol fighting her way to the top. Either way, it will show all the little girls that watch Captain Marvel that no one defines you. You don't need to prove yourself to anyone. You are enough. You are powerful.
Slight Spoilers Ahead.....
SPOILERS
There are two great Stan Lee tributes. The one at the opening credits put tears in my eyes. Stan was a brilliant man and I will always be grateful for the amazing legacy he left behind. Marvel has been my refuge when life kicks me down. It has brought me closer with my family. We are all going to miss him so much!
Stay for the post credits scenes! We get a massive Avengers: End Game spoiler.
I can not wait to see how Carol fits in with the rest of the Avengers. She is a powerhouse and she is going to be so pissed when she finds out what Thanos did. Seriously, Thanos is so screwed! The film does explain where she has been all these years. It makes sense. It will make you mad a Fury for waiting so long to reach out to her. All I can say is we have one more month until Avengers: End Game and I can not wait!
Juanita
100 Movies in 100 Days
Movie 30 Day 30
Juanita
I am pleasantly surprised when I find a random movie on Netflix. You never know what you're going to get but normally they're pretty good. Today when I logged on to Netflix a preview for a movie called Juanita popped up. I decided why not it's only an hour and a half movie let's see what this has to offer. And I have to say it was a very charming and sweet foam to watch especially an international women's day.
Alfre Woodard plays Juanita. She is taking control of her life and shaking things up. She is a single mother of three. Her family has had its ups and downs. Her eldest son is currently in prison for a crime he didn't commit. Her daughter has a one-year-old child and her other son is in and out gangs and trouble. Juanita works long hours at a nursing home to try and keep her family together. Juanita's only escape is the occasional fantasy about Blair Underwood. It's actually very funny because Blair Underwood plays fantasy Blair Underwood and it's absolutely hilarious. It's fun to see a sophisticated actor like Blair Underwood make fun of himself. Juanita decide that she's had enough. She packs a bag, hops on the bus and takes off out West. She tells our kids they're on their own and she needs to do this for herself.
Juanita ends up in Butte, Montana where meets a random trucker named Peaches. Peaches is a fun-loving lesbian woman who decides to befriend Juanita. Peaches tells Juanita she needs to get out of Butte and travel to a small town called Paper Moon and Peaches will take her there. In Paper Moon, Juanita meets a local Native American restaurant owner named Jess. Jess is trying to be a fancy french chef but the locals are not big fans of the food. They want normal diner food and Juanita comes in and teaches Jess how to cook southern food. She tells the restaurant clients to tell everyone there is a black lady cooking in the kitchen.
One of the best parts of the film is it combines two very rich cultures. We see aspects of both the Native American and the African American experience is in America. How both these rich cultures can come together and thrive. Juanita gets to experience real Native American culture in the mountains of Montana but she also gets to show her own personality and flare.
It also is a story for anyone who feels stuck in their life. Juanita finally realizes that she needs a change in her life. She knows it's going to be difficult but it's what is best for her and maybe even her children. It's never too late to start over. But it's also never too late to continue on a new adventure. This movie encourages women to find their own voice and to just be who they are truly meant to be.
Movie 30 Day 30
Juanita
I am pleasantly surprised when I find a random movie on Netflix. You never know what you're going to get but normally they're pretty good. Today when I logged on to Netflix a preview for a movie called Juanita popped up. I decided why not it's only an hour and a half movie let's see what this has to offer. And I have to say it was a very charming and sweet foam to watch especially an international women's day.
Alfre Woodard plays Juanita. She is taking control of her life and shaking things up. She is a single mother of three. Her family has had its ups and downs. Her eldest son is currently in prison for a crime he didn't commit. Her daughter has a one-year-old child and her other son is in and out gangs and trouble. Juanita works long hours at a nursing home to try and keep her family together. Juanita's only escape is the occasional fantasy about Blair Underwood. It's actually very funny because Blair Underwood plays fantasy Blair Underwood and it's absolutely hilarious. It's fun to see a sophisticated actor like Blair Underwood make fun of himself. Juanita decide that she's had enough. She packs a bag, hops on the bus and takes off out West. She tells our kids they're on their own and she needs to do this for herself.
Juanita ends up in Butte, Montana where meets a random trucker named Peaches. Peaches is a fun-loving lesbian woman who decides to befriend Juanita. Peaches tells Juanita she needs to get out of Butte and travel to a small town called Paper Moon and Peaches will take her there. In Paper Moon, Juanita meets a local Native American restaurant owner named Jess. Jess is trying to be a fancy french chef but the locals are not big fans of the food. They want normal diner food and Juanita comes in and teaches Jess how to cook southern food. She tells the restaurant clients to tell everyone there is a black lady cooking in the kitchen.
One of the best parts of the film is it combines two very rich cultures. We see aspects of both the Native American and the African American experience is in America. How both these rich cultures can come together and thrive. Juanita gets to experience real Native American culture in the mountains of Montana but she also gets to show her own personality and flare.
It also is a story for anyone who feels stuck in their life. Juanita finally realizes that she needs a change in her life. She knows it's going to be difficult but it's what is best for her and maybe even her children. It's never too late to start over. But it's also never too late to continue on a new adventure. This movie encourages women to find their own voice and to just be who they are truly meant to be.
Bodyguard
100 Movies in 100 Days
Movie 29 Day 29
Bodyguard
Again I'm going to switch it up with another TV series because this one was so amazing! Now as some of my readers may know, I am a very big fan of the BBC. I'm a fan of anything British really. I think British television is so good and the US is finally starting to catch up. The UK has no fear on taking risks and pushing stories to the next level. I've always been a fan of Sherlock, Doctor Who, Downton Abbey and so many others. I figured I would give Bodyguard on Netflix a chance.
I went into Bodyguard with very little knowledge. I knew star Richard Madden was in it and he won a Golden Globe for his role. Other than that, I didn't know much. So yesterday I had a few hours of downtime and I decided I'll watch one episode. I ended up sitting and watching all six episodes in a row! I did not go to sleep until after 3 a.m. That's how good this show is! Every single episode has you on the edge of your seat. You are holding your breath and praying all the characters are going to make it out alive. You would think the high energy would burn out but it just keeps coming. It was like running a marathon!
The premise of Bodyguard is Richard Madden plays a former military operative named David Budd. Since returning from war, he works for the British government as a bodyguard for the Home Secretary of the British government. It's kind of like protecting a Vice President or Secretary of State. David has to protect a woman who is constantly under threat. She is going against terrorists and criminals and she needs a magnificent bodyguard.
The first 15 minutes of the first episode has you on the edge of your seat. We see David's training and how brilliant a soldier and bodyguard her is. The series does a brilliant job of shedding light on PTSD and stress related to soldiers coming back from war. It does it in a way that is respectful but also incredibly eye-opening. These men and women have served their country for years and when they come home they need time to heal but they're afraid. If they admit to having a PTSD issue they will not be able to get good employment. It's a weird messed-up system and Bodyguard handles it with the dignity and respect that it should be addressed.
Bodyguard also tackles issues on a global scale. Topics like terrorism, counterterrorism and how far is too far when it comes to the government. Again, I don't want to give too many spoilers away because it's so brilliant but it will definitely leave you wanting more. Richard Madden was absolutely brilliant and earned every bit of that Golden Globe he won. He was emotional and yet tough, caring and endearing. He was absolutely brilliant in this role. If you have a free afternoon, I highly recommend watching Bodyguard. But be prepared, if you're like me you may end up watching all six episodes in a row. Enjoy this amazing edge-of-your-seat suspense mini series
Movie 29 Day 29
Bodyguard
Again I'm going to switch it up with another TV series because this one was so amazing! Now as some of my readers may know, I am a very big fan of the BBC. I'm a fan of anything British really. I think British television is so good and the US is finally starting to catch up. The UK has no fear on taking risks and pushing stories to the next level. I've always been a fan of Sherlock, Doctor Who, Downton Abbey and so many others. I figured I would give Bodyguard on Netflix a chance.
I went into Bodyguard with very little knowledge. I knew star Richard Madden was in it and he won a Golden Globe for his role. Other than that, I didn't know much. So yesterday I had a few hours of downtime and I decided I'll watch one episode. I ended up sitting and watching all six episodes in a row! I did not go to sleep until after 3 a.m. That's how good this show is! Every single episode has you on the edge of your seat. You are holding your breath and praying all the characters are going to make it out alive. You would think the high energy would burn out but it just keeps coming. It was like running a marathon!
The premise of Bodyguard is Richard Madden plays a former military operative named David Budd. Since returning from war, he works for the British government as a bodyguard for the Home Secretary of the British government. It's kind of like protecting a Vice President or Secretary of State. David has to protect a woman who is constantly under threat. She is going against terrorists and criminals and she needs a magnificent bodyguard.
The first 15 minutes of the first episode has you on the edge of your seat. We see David's training and how brilliant a soldier and bodyguard her is. The series does a brilliant job of shedding light on PTSD and stress related to soldiers coming back from war. It does it in a way that is respectful but also incredibly eye-opening. These men and women have served their country for years and when they come home they need time to heal but they're afraid. If they admit to having a PTSD issue they will not be able to get good employment. It's a weird messed-up system and Bodyguard handles it with the dignity and respect that it should be addressed.
Bodyguard also tackles issues on a global scale. Topics like terrorism, counterterrorism and how far is too far when it comes to the government. Again, I don't want to give too many spoilers away because it's so brilliant but it will definitely leave you wanting more. Richard Madden was absolutely brilliant and earned every bit of that Golden Globe he won. He was emotional and yet tough, caring and endearing. He was absolutely brilliant in this role. If you have a free afternoon, I highly recommend watching Bodyguard. But be prepared, if you're like me you may end up watching all six episodes in a row. Enjoy this amazing edge-of-your-seat suspense mini series
Umbrella Academy
100 Movies in 100 Days
Movie 28 Day 28
Umbrella Academy
Time to shake things up. We are living in a time of amazing streaming services and brilliant television. We have amazing miniseries, television series and movies being produced by Hulu, Amazon and Netflix. I decided to mix it up a bit and review a couple of great TV series I've recently come upon because they are just too good not to be talked about. I know it's a movie review blog but these shows are kind of like extended movies. Today, I'm going to take a look at the amazing Netflix series the Umbrella Academy.
To start off, I should let you know I have never read any of the Umbrella Academy comic books. I am a very big fan of the comic book genre, so I figured I would probably like this show as well. Plus my 14 year old nephew told me it was amazing! He said I would be on the edge of my seat until the very last moment. He was 100% correct! This show is action packed and will leave you guessing until the final episode.
The Umbrella Academy has a unique beginning, it's never explained but you just have to let it go and go with it. One day, in the not-so-distant future, a group of women suddenly became pregnant and had children within minutes. We don't know why but we find out the children born on that day have special abilities. The billionaire Sir Reginald Hargreeves takes it upon himself to buy / adopt seven of these children and raise them to be superheroes. The show goes back and forth between present-day the future and the past. The timelines get a little confusing, you need to just let it happen and try to follow along.
The children have a variety of abilities like super strength, space and time travel, mind deception but my personal favorite was Klaus. His ability is seeing and speaking with the dead. He had a difficult time coping with his abilities and turns into a drug addict. He says it's the only way to keep the spirits away is for him to be high. I'm talking very VERY high. It's a very interesting to watch him spiral in and out of his sobriety trying to make sense of his abilities.
My other favorite character is Vanya, played by Ellen Page. She is the seventh adopted child but she is different from her siblings. She has been raised to believe she is not special. She has no powers or ability and was constantly separated from the other children. Her character is genuine, sweet and so human compared with the other children. Vanya reminds me of a normal child just trying to find her place in the world. The show does a wonderful job showing Vanya dealing with depression, anxiety and trying to fit in with her family.
I will say about halfway through the season of Umbrella Academy it starts to slow down a little bit, stay with the show. There is this weird side story about two assassins coming from the future to kill the children. It get a bit tedious but I promise it picks up in the last two or three episodes. It's an entertaining story with a brilliant soundtrack. The ending, oh my gosh I was totally mind blown so good! So if you have some spare time I highly recommend checking out the Umbrella Academy not only is it interesting and fantastic but it's unique and has a lot of important issues to discuss.
Movie 28 Day 28
Umbrella Academy
Time to shake things up. We are living in a time of amazing streaming services and brilliant television. We have amazing miniseries, television series and movies being produced by Hulu, Amazon and Netflix. I decided to mix it up a bit and review a couple of great TV series I've recently come upon because they are just too good not to be talked about. I know it's a movie review blog but these shows are kind of like extended movies. Today, I'm going to take a look at the amazing Netflix series the Umbrella Academy.
To start off, I should let you know I have never read any of the Umbrella Academy comic books. I am a very big fan of the comic book genre, so I figured I would probably like this show as well. Plus my 14 year old nephew told me it was amazing! He said I would be on the edge of my seat until the very last moment. He was 100% correct! This show is action packed and will leave you guessing until the final episode.
The Umbrella Academy has a unique beginning, it's never explained but you just have to let it go and go with it. One day, in the not-so-distant future, a group of women suddenly became pregnant and had children within minutes. We don't know why but we find out the children born on that day have special abilities. The billionaire Sir Reginald Hargreeves takes it upon himself to buy / adopt seven of these children and raise them to be superheroes. The show goes back and forth between present-day the future and the past. The timelines get a little confusing, you need to just let it happen and try to follow along.
The children have a variety of abilities like super strength, space and time travel, mind deception but my personal favorite was Klaus. His ability is seeing and speaking with the dead. He had a difficult time coping with his abilities and turns into a drug addict. He says it's the only way to keep the spirits away is for him to be high. I'm talking very VERY high. It's a very interesting to watch him spiral in and out of his sobriety trying to make sense of his abilities.
My other favorite character is Vanya, played by Ellen Page. She is the seventh adopted child but she is different from her siblings. She has been raised to believe she is not special. She has no powers or ability and was constantly separated from the other children. Her character is genuine, sweet and so human compared with the other children. Vanya reminds me of a normal child just trying to find her place in the world. The show does a wonderful job showing Vanya dealing with depression, anxiety and trying to fit in with her family.
I will say about halfway through the season of Umbrella Academy it starts to slow down a little bit, stay with the show. There is this weird side story about two assassins coming from the future to kill the children. It get a bit tedious but I promise it picks up in the last two or three episodes. It's an entertaining story with a brilliant soundtrack. The ending, oh my gosh I was totally mind blown so good! So if you have some spare time I highly recommend checking out the Umbrella Academy not only is it interesting and fantastic but it's unique and has a lot of important issues to discuss.
Friday, March 8, 2019
Ocean's 8
100 Movies in 100 Days
Movie 27 Day 27
Ocean's 8
The inner feminist within me was so excited when I heard about Ocean's 8. I love the idea of women coming in, taking over a franchise and putting their own mark on it. I was a little nervous because the Ocean's Eleven series is so popular and I was afraid Ocean's 8 would not be able to stand up to the original. Ocean's 8 made it's own mark on the genre. The fill has a star-studded cast featuring Sandra Bullock, Cate Blanchett, Anne Hathaway, Mindy Kaling, Sarah Paulson, Awkwafina, Rihanna and Helena Bonham Carter. These brilliant women dominate this film, once again proving women can kick just as much butt as the boys.
The premise of Ocean's 8 is Sandra Bullock's character Debbie Ocean is the sister of Ocean's Eleven character Danny Ocean. She has just released from prison and she decides to do her own heist. The plan is her and her crew will come together and steal a necklace that is worth millions of dollars during the Met Gala in New York. Not only does this film have an amazing cast, an interesting plot, full of the glitz and glamour but a bazillion movie star cameos. It's kind of like a Where's Waldo of famous people. It's highly entertaining, engaging and funny
So why is this so important? Ocean's 8 was considered a gamble because it's an all female cast. I mean, how are women supposed to succeed in their own franchise? (Clearly that is dripping with sarcasm!) Most film studios do not want to take a chance on an all-female cast, which is complete rubbish. Ocean's 8 was and is important because it successfully show women, when given an opportunity, will not only meet but exceed expectations. It's important for young women to see successful females of all shapes, sizes, ethnicity and age coming together on screen. As I've said before, representation is important and vital! Ocean's 8 shows women and young girls that you can do anything a man can do and maybe even with a bit flair!
Movie 27 Day 27
Ocean's 8
The inner feminist within me was so excited when I heard about Ocean's 8. I love the idea of women coming in, taking over a franchise and putting their own mark on it. I was a little nervous because the Ocean's Eleven series is so popular and I was afraid Ocean's 8 would not be able to stand up to the original. Ocean's 8 made it's own mark on the genre. The fill has a star-studded cast featuring Sandra Bullock, Cate Blanchett, Anne Hathaway, Mindy Kaling, Sarah Paulson, Awkwafina, Rihanna and Helena Bonham Carter. These brilliant women dominate this film, once again proving women can kick just as much butt as the boys.
The premise of Ocean's 8 is Sandra Bullock's character Debbie Ocean is the sister of Ocean's Eleven character Danny Ocean. She has just released from prison and she decides to do her own heist. The plan is her and her crew will come together and steal a necklace that is worth millions of dollars during the Met Gala in New York. Not only does this film have an amazing cast, an interesting plot, full of the glitz and glamour but a bazillion movie star cameos. It's kind of like a Where's Waldo of famous people. It's highly entertaining, engaging and funny
So why is this so important? Ocean's 8 was considered a gamble because it's an all female cast. I mean, how are women supposed to succeed in their own franchise? (Clearly that is dripping with sarcasm!) Most film studios do not want to take a chance on an all-female cast, which is complete rubbish. Ocean's 8 was and is important because it successfully show women, when given an opportunity, will not only meet but exceed expectations. It's important for young women to see successful females of all shapes, sizes, ethnicity and age coming together on screen. As I've said before, representation is important and vital! Ocean's 8 shows women and young girls that you can do anything a man can do and maybe even with a bit flair!
Need For Speed
100 Movies in 100 Days
Movie 26 Day 26
Need For Speed
With he Oscars right around the corner, I felt the need to catch up on a few movies from Rami Malek's past. Now I've seen several of his films including Bohemian Rhapsody, Night at the Museum Trilogy, and his show War At Home. I had never had the opportunity to watch the movie Need For Speed starring Aaron Paul, Dominic Cooper and Rami Malek. I have a shocking confession, I am one of the few people who have never watched a single episode of Breaking Bad. I know shocking! I was excited to see what all the hype is about Aaron Paul and I must admit I was surprised.
Need For Speed is about Toby, played by Aaron Paul and an epic adventure across America to make it to a California drag race. Toby is determined to defeat Dino, play by Dominic Cooper, in this exclusive and illegal car race. The majority of the film is men racing across America in exotic, fancy cars. The premise of the movie itself is pretty simple but the action is what stands out in the film.
Need for Speed is a high action, high-speed, intense movie about fast cars and great stunts. I think the biggest takeaway from the film is the amazing stunts performed. Every stunt looks like a practical effect. There were very little, if any special effects, which is terrifying! It also looks like the majority of the actors were doing their own stunts as opposed to using stuntman. I was highly impressed!
Overall this film is action-packed and highly entertaining. It's really fun to see Aaron Paul and Rami Malek go back and forth in these high intensity cars. If you aren't a big fan of the story, you will love the sexy cars. Need For Speed puts Gone in 60 Seconds to shame with stunts. I say go check it out if you have an opportunity and you will enjoy this fun engaging phenomenal movie.
Movie 26 Day 26
Need For Speed
With he Oscars right around the corner, I felt the need to catch up on a few movies from Rami Malek's past. Now I've seen several of his films including Bohemian Rhapsody, Night at the Museum Trilogy, and his show War At Home. I had never had the opportunity to watch the movie Need For Speed starring Aaron Paul, Dominic Cooper and Rami Malek. I have a shocking confession, I am one of the few people who have never watched a single episode of Breaking Bad. I know shocking! I was excited to see what all the hype is about Aaron Paul and I must admit I was surprised.
Need For Speed is about Toby, played by Aaron Paul and an epic adventure across America to make it to a California drag race. Toby is determined to defeat Dino, play by Dominic Cooper, in this exclusive and illegal car race. The majority of the film is men racing across America in exotic, fancy cars. The premise of the movie itself is pretty simple but the action is what stands out in the film.
Need for Speed is a high action, high-speed, intense movie about fast cars and great stunts. I think the biggest takeaway from the film is the amazing stunts performed. Every stunt looks like a practical effect. There were very little, if any special effects, which is terrifying! It also looks like the majority of the actors were doing their own stunts as opposed to using stuntman. I was highly impressed!
Overall this film is action-packed and highly entertaining. It's really fun to see Aaron Paul and Rami Malek go back and forth in these high intensity cars. If you aren't a big fan of the story, you will love the sexy cars. Need For Speed puts Gone in 60 Seconds to shame with stunts. I say go check it out if you have an opportunity and you will enjoy this fun engaging phenomenal movie.
Monday, March 4, 2019
Alita: Battle Angel
100 Movies in 100 Days
Movie 25 Day 25
Alita: Battle Angel
As some of my readers know, I enjoy taking my 14 year old nephew to the movies. Alita: Battle Angel was a film we both really we wanted to see. My only fear was the rating of the film. I saw it was directed by Robert Rodriguez and I assumed it was going to be rated R. Now I know this is the same director who directed Spy Kids but I still wasn't sure on where the where Alita would fall. Finally found out that Alita was rated PG-13 and I knew I could take my nephew to it. And what an action-packed adventure it was!
Alita: Battle Angel takes place in the far future after the fall of civilization. Only one city in the world remain standing. The city is separated into two parts, the Iron City where the poor live and the powerful sky city of Zalem. The ultimate goal of most people is to leave Iron City and ascend to Zalem. Most people gamble, steal and fight their way to the top. One way to gain access to Zalem is to become a champion of Motorball, a violent race game played by cyborgs.
Alita: Battle Angel has an amazing all-star cast, the most notable of them is Christoph Waltz who plays Dr. Ido. Dr. Ido is a doctor who specializes in humans and cyborgs. One day he is in the junk yard, looking for parts when he comes across Alita. She only has her chest and head in tact but her human brain is still fully functioning. Dr. Ido takes Alita home and is able to rebuild her body and awaken her mind. He begins to raise her like a daughter and he starts to quickly realize there is so much more to Alita than just another part human part robot girl. She's an amazing fighter and has technology way beyond her years. Alita must then decide what type of a life she's going to lead. Will she be the doctor's daughter, the well-behaved young girl or was she built for something more? Is she secretly a military weapon that can be used to help others?
Two other notable performances are by Jennifer Connelly as Dr. Ido's wife, Chiren. The whole movie you can't tell if Chiren is good or bad. I feel like only Jennifer Connelly can pull off that type of role, you know there's more going on under the surface but you don't quite know what her motives are. Jennifer Connelly does a brilliant job of portraying that fine line between corrupt and motivated. Mahershala Ali plays Vector, an underworld Kingpin and ruler of Motorball. He is determined to keep people in their place and it's clear he is working with sinister motives. He plays the perfect bad guy, you are terrified by the creepy look in his eye.
Overall I really enjoyed the message that Alita: Battle Angel was trying to project. Director Robert Rodriguez seems like he was making a statement about the poverty disparage between people. How can people at the bottom of the food chain ever climb up to the top? Even in today's society, so many people are struggling to get out of poverty and the opportunity does not arise. Alita: Battle Angel challenges the idea of who controls your fate. What matters is what is right.
If you are someone who enjoys futuristic movies I think you will appreciate Alita. The special effects in this movie are stellar and absolutely amazing! I had a hard time telling difference between what was a special effect and what was practical. I'm always impressed when that happens. It's wonderful to see how far technology has come in such a short amount of time. The special effects are something to marvel at.
I really hope this movie gets a sequel. The ending was left wide open with so many possibilities for a future series. I imagine Alita was a very expensive film to make and that means it's going to have to make a ton of money at the box office to get a sequel. My nephew and I both agree, we would love to see more installments in the series. If you're looking for something fun and entertaining to see I highly suggest you check out Alita: Battle Angel.
Movie 25 Day 25
Alita: Battle Angel
As some of my readers know, I enjoy taking my 14 year old nephew to the movies. Alita: Battle Angel was a film we both really we wanted to see. My only fear was the rating of the film. I saw it was directed by Robert Rodriguez and I assumed it was going to be rated R. Now I know this is the same director who directed Spy Kids but I still wasn't sure on where the where Alita would fall. Finally found out that Alita was rated PG-13 and I knew I could take my nephew to it. And what an action-packed adventure it was!
Alita: Battle Angel takes place in the far future after the fall of civilization. Only one city in the world remain standing. The city is separated into two parts, the Iron City where the poor live and the powerful sky city of Zalem. The ultimate goal of most people is to leave Iron City and ascend to Zalem. Most people gamble, steal and fight their way to the top. One way to gain access to Zalem is to become a champion of Motorball, a violent race game played by cyborgs.
Alita: Battle Angel has an amazing all-star cast, the most notable of them is Christoph Waltz who plays Dr. Ido. Dr. Ido is a doctor who specializes in humans and cyborgs. One day he is in the junk yard, looking for parts when he comes across Alita. She only has her chest and head in tact but her human brain is still fully functioning. Dr. Ido takes Alita home and is able to rebuild her body and awaken her mind. He begins to raise her like a daughter and he starts to quickly realize there is so much more to Alita than just another part human part robot girl. She's an amazing fighter and has technology way beyond her years. Alita must then decide what type of a life she's going to lead. Will she be the doctor's daughter, the well-behaved young girl or was she built for something more? Is she secretly a military weapon that can be used to help others?
Two other notable performances are by Jennifer Connelly as Dr. Ido's wife, Chiren. The whole movie you can't tell if Chiren is good or bad. I feel like only Jennifer Connelly can pull off that type of role, you know there's more going on under the surface but you don't quite know what her motives are. Jennifer Connelly does a brilliant job of portraying that fine line between corrupt and motivated. Mahershala Ali plays Vector, an underworld Kingpin and ruler of Motorball. He is determined to keep people in their place and it's clear he is working with sinister motives. He plays the perfect bad guy, you are terrified by the creepy look in his eye.
Overall I really enjoyed the message that Alita: Battle Angel was trying to project. Director Robert Rodriguez seems like he was making a statement about the poverty disparage between people. How can people at the bottom of the food chain ever climb up to the top? Even in today's society, so many people are struggling to get out of poverty and the opportunity does not arise. Alita: Battle Angel challenges the idea of who controls your fate. What matters is what is right.
If you are someone who enjoys futuristic movies I think you will appreciate Alita. The special effects in this movie are stellar and absolutely amazing! I had a hard time telling difference between what was a special effect and what was practical. I'm always impressed when that happens. It's wonderful to see how far technology has come in such a short amount of time. The special effects are something to marvel at.
I really hope this movie gets a sequel. The ending was left wide open with so many possibilities for a future series. I imagine Alita was a very expensive film to make and that means it's going to have to make a ton of money at the box office to get a sequel. My nephew and I both agree, we would love to see more installments in the series. If you're looking for something fun and entertaining to see I highly suggest you check out Alita: Battle Angel.
The Spy Who Dumped Me
100 Movies in 100 Days
Movie 24 Day 24
The Spy Who Dumped Me
Sometimes you just need to laugh your face off. I was having one of those days where I just needed a good laugh. Seemed like the perfect time to watch Mila Kunis and Kate McKenna pretend to be secret agents in The Spy Who Dumped Me. I always knew I was going to enjoy this film, I love bad-ass women coming together to dominate the silver screen.
Mila Kunis plays Audrey, she gets dumped by her boyfriend Drew, played by Justin Theroux. She is heartbroken and thinks he's just a jerk. During this sad time, Audrey turns to her best friend Morgan, played by Kate McKinnon, for support. Audrey is finally getting over Drew when she gets thrown into the back of a van by Agent Sebastian, played by Same Heughan, and finds out Drew is a spy! So the real question becomes did Drew dump Audrey because his spy life was dangerous or is he a jerk who happens to be a spy? These are just a few of the questions you will have watching The Spy Who Dumped Me.
The movie is hilarious, Kate McKinnon and Mila Kunis really shine in this buddy comedy film. They both have brilliant comedic timing and know exactly how to make you laugh. The movie is not just action and spy life, it's about best friends. It's having that one best friend that will be with you through thick and thin. The one you can always count on no matter what. The Spy Who Dumped Me does a brilliant job of focusing on positive female image and the way women can uplift one another. So often Society tells women that they need to compare themselves to each other. Instead we should be praising each other and lifting one another up. We want women to succeed and this film is an example of women coming together and forming a deeper bond.
Not only was this movie funny and action-packed, it was also filmed in Budapest. Now you probably don't know this, but I love to travel. And this past summer I had an opportunity to visit Budapest. I really enjoyed watching this movie and recognizing the landmarks and locations filmed there. If you ever have an opportunity to go to Budapest, you really should go. It was a wonderful trip filled with culture, fantastic food and adventure. Sorry, I digress let's get back to the movie.
The Spy Who dumped me is is filled with talented actors and actresses. The main stars Mila Kunis and Kate McKenna shine and have brilliant on-screen chemistry. I want to believe they are secretly best friends in real life. You can not fake that kind of chemistry and closeness, at least I hope not! We have the ever sexy and slightly scary Justin Trudeau as the horrible ex-boyfriend spy. The whole film, we don't know if we can trust him. It's kind of fun to watch him play off the two comedic geniuses that are Mila and Kate. We also have Sam Heughan as Sebastian, he's also very funny. I've never seen Sam in a comedy and he keeps up very well. He's all charm and sass!
If you're looking for a good laugh and want to take your mind off of the heavy burdens of life, please watch The Spy Who Dumped Me. I promise you will laugh, you will want to call your best friend and book a girls trip as soon as possible. As I said before I highly recommend Budapest, Hungary.
Movie 24 Day 24
The Spy Who Dumped Me
Sometimes you just need to laugh your face off. I was having one of those days where I just needed a good laugh. Seemed like the perfect time to watch Mila Kunis and Kate McKenna pretend to be secret agents in The Spy Who Dumped Me. I always knew I was going to enjoy this film, I love bad-ass women coming together to dominate the silver screen.
Mila Kunis plays Audrey, she gets dumped by her boyfriend Drew, played by Justin Theroux. She is heartbroken and thinks he's just a jerk. During this sad time, Audrey turns to her best friend Morgan, played by Kate McKinnon, for support. Audrey is finally getting over Drew when she gets thrown into the back of a van by Agent Sebastian, played by Same Heughan, and finds out Drew is a spy! So the real question becomes did Drew dump Audrey because his spy life was dangerous or is he a jerk who happens to be a spy? These are just a few of the questions you will have watching The Spy Who Dumped Me.
The movie is hilarious, Kate McKinnon and Mila Kunis really shine in this buddy comedy film. They both have brilliant comedic timing and know exactly how to make you laugh. The movie is not just action and spy life, it's about best friends. It's having that one best friend that will be with you through thick and thin. The one you can always count on no matter what. The Spy Who Dumped Me does a brilliant job of focusing on positive female image and the way women can uplift one another. So often Society tells women that they need to compare themselves to each other. Instead we should be praising each other and lifting one another up. We want women to succeed and this film is an example of women coming together and forming a deeper bond.
Not only was this movie funny and action-packed, it was also filmed in Budapest. Now you probably don't know this, but I love to travel. And this past summer I had an opportunity to visit Budapest. I really enjoyed watching this movie and recognizing the landmarks and locations filmed there. If you ever have an opportunity to go to Budapest, you really should go. It was a wonderful trip filled with culture, fantastic food and adventure. Sorry, I digress let's get back to the movie.
The Spy Who dumped me is is filled with talented actors and actresses. The main stars Mila Kunis and Kate McKenna shine and have brilliant on-screen chemistry. I want to believe they are secretly best friends in real life. You can not fake that kind of chemistry and closeness, at least I hope not! We have the ever sexy and slightly scary Justin Trudeau as the horrible ex-boyfriend spy. The whole film, we don't know if we can trust him. It's kind of fun to watch him play off the two comedic geniuses that are Mila and Kate. We also have Sam Heughan as Sebastian, he's also very funny. I've never seen Sam in a comedy and he keeps up very well. He's all charm and sass!
If you're looking for a good laugh and want to take your mind off of the heavy burdens of life, please watch The Spy Who Dumped Me. I promise you will laugh, you will want to call your best friend and book a girls trip as soon as possible. As I said before I highly recommend Budapest, Hungary.
The Man Who Invented Christmas
100 Movies in 100 Days
Movie 23 Day 23
The Man Who Invented Christmas
Yes, I know it's March and I shouldn't be watching Christmas movies but Dan Stevens is in it! If we are being honest, his blue eyes suck me in every time. I really wanted to watch this around Christmas but I didn't get the chance. On a personal level, I adore A Christmas Carol. It's my favorite holiday story and I love The Muppet Christmas Carol version. I was intrigued by the story-line of The Man Who Invented Christmas, a film about Charles Dickens writing a Christmas Carol. It's like Behind The Music but with a Christmas Carol!
The man who invented Christmas is a story about Charles Dickens and his holiday classic A Christmas Carol. Charles Dickens is played by Dan Stevens and he brings real heart and soul to this charming holiday film. The movie also stars Jonathan Pryce as Charles Dickens' father. We see how the ghosts of Charles' past come back during this holiday time. H uses inspiration from his childhood Christmas to create A Christmas Carol. Charles Dickens method to creating and writing his story is by giving the characters life, in his own mind. Once he creates the character of Ebenezer Scrooge, played by Christopher Plummer, Scrooge appears to Charles. I love the idea that a writer has conversations with their characters. It is a wonderful plot devices to show the creative side to Charles.
We see how hard Charles Dickens fought for A Christmas Carol to be published. Charles has to convince his editors and publishers to print this story mere weeks before Christmas. Dan Stevens brings his usual charm and passion to the film. We see how badly he wants to write a holiday story, not only for himself but for his family and the common person. There's a great moment in the film when Charles is reading his first draft of A Christmas Carol to his maid. She's a simple girl but she loves a good a tall tale. She is the conscience behind the story and Charles starts to see life from a simpler perspective. It's delightful to see Charles becoming more childlike and embracing the innocence of Christmas Even though adulthood has made him a cynic.
The acting by Christopher Plummer is what you'd expect, wonderful and charismatic. He makes old crotchety Scrooge into someone you care about. He knows how to balance Scrooge, his bitterness and cold-hardheartedness and see the man under the surface. A man who's simply lonely and needs a mirror held up to his life.
Overall a Charming holiday film. I do think calling it The Man Who Invented Christmas is a bit of a bold claim, even for Charles Dickens. I was intrigued on how historically one story can affect an entire holiday season. Setting aside a bold claim that Charles Dickinson invented the holiday, I would say the film is still charming. If you enjoy finding out the history behind the tail you will enjoy this holiday film.
Movie 23 Day 23
The Man Who Invented Christmas
Yes, I know it's March and I shouldn't be watching Christmas movies but Dan Stevens is in it! If we are being honest, his blue eyes suck me in every time. I really wanted to watch this around Christmas but I didn't get the chance. On a personal level, I adore A Christmas Carol. It's my favorite holiday story and I love The Muppet Christmas Carol version. I was intrigued by the story-line of The Man Who Invented Christmas, a film about Charles Dickens writing a Christmas Carol. It's like Behind The Music but with a Christmas Carol!
The man who invented Christmas is a story about Charles Dickens and his holiday classic A Christmas Carol. Charles Dickens is played by Dan Stevens and he brings real heart and soul to this charming holiday film. The movie also stars Jonathan Pryce as Charles Dickens' father. We see how the ghosts of Charles' past come back during this holiday time. H uses inspiration from his childhood Christmas to create A Christmas Carol. Charles Dickens method to creating and writing his story is by giving the characters life, in his own mind. Once he creates the character of Ebenezer Scrooge, played by Christopher Plummer, Scrooge appears to Charles. I love the idea that a writer has conversations with their characters. It is a wonderful plot devices to show the creative side to Charles.
We see how hard Charles Dickens fought for A Christmas Carol to be published. Charles has to convince his editors and publishers to print this story mere weeks before Christmas. Dan Stevens brings his usual charm and passion to the film. We see how badly he wants to write a holiday story, not only for himself but for his family and the common person. There's a great moment in the film when Charles is reading his first draft of A Christmas Carol to his maid. She's a simple girl but she loves a good a tall tale. She is the conscience behind the story and Charles starts to see life from a simpler perspective. It's delightful to see Charles becoming more childlike and embracing the innocence of Christmas Even though adulthood has made him a cynic.
The acting by Christopher Plummer is what you'd expect, wonderful and charismatic. He makes old crotchety Scrooge into someone you care about. He knows how to balance Scrooge, his bitterness and cold-hardheartedness and see the man under the surface. A man who's simply lonely and needs a mirror held up to his life.
Overall a Charming holiday film. I do think calling it The Man Who Invented Christmas is a bit of a bold claim, even for Charles Dickens. I was intrigued on how historically one story can affect an entire holiday season. Setting aside a bold claim that Charles Dickinson invented the holiday, I would say the film is still charming. If you enjoy finding out the history behind the tail you will enjoy this holiday film.
Friday, March 1, 2019
Period: End of Sentence
100 Movies in 100 Days
Movie 22 Day 22
Period End Of Sentence
I am a big fan of any film that supports and empowers women. I had not heard of Period End of Sentence until it won the Academy Award for Best Documentary Short Subject. I was intrigued by a film that shows how something as simple as a girl's period, could stop her from going to school. This documentary explores India and the reality of menstruation and the stigma that goes along with it within the Indian culture.
Period End of Sentence is directed by Rayka Zehtabchi. This film takes a deeper look at the stigma surrounded by women and menstruation and the impact it can have on a young woman's education. Many girl in India are told that their period makes them dirty and unclean. They are unable to attend temple because they are dirty and God will not hear their prayers. Whenever these girls are asked about their period, they completely shut down. When the men are asked about it, they have no idea. They think menstruation is an illness women get. No wonder their is such a stigma to it.
In this village there is a machine and it helps employ women to make sanitary pads for other women and girls in the community. So many girls and women use dirty rags and they bleed through them so quickly. It is not sanitary and pressures girls to quit school because dealing with monthly menstruation is too embarrassing for then. These pads allow girls to stay in school and not have to worry about bleeding on themselves and the shame of being unclean. The pads are called Fly because it allows women to succeed and fly away to better things. Not gonna lie, that part made me cry. They are also employing women to make the pads and sell them to other women. This helps empower, not only the women manufacturing the pads but the girls that are buying them. They see these successful women who have no shame in what they are doing and the girls want to be like them.
The part of the film that moved me the most was a note at the credits. It said, "This machine and documentary were funded by students at Oakwood School in Los Angeles via bake sales, Kickstarter, and yogathons." I was completely moved to tears. To read American students wanted to reach out and help other women was wonderful. To see feminism on a global scale without stigma gives me so much hope. It's also brilliant that a documentary on menstruation won an Oscar! I'm so proud of the Academy for recognizing this important subject. We need to support and inform women on a global scale. No girl should stop going to school because she started her period.
Everyone should watch Period End of Sentence on Netflix. If the subject matter makes you uncomfortable, woman up and watch it anyways! It's an important topic and a brilliant documentary.
Movie 22 Day 22
Period End Of Sentence
I am a big fan of any film that supports and empowers women. I had not heard of Period End of Sentence until it won the Academy Award for Best Documentary Short Subject. I was intrigued by a film that shows how something as simple as a girl's period, could stop her from going to school. This documentary explores India and the reality of menstruation and the stigma that goes along with it within the Indian culture.
Period End of Sentence is directed by Rayka Zehtabchi. This film takes a deeper look at the stigma surrounded by women and menstruation and the impact it can have on a young woman's education. Many girl in India are told that their period makes them dirty and unclean. They are unable to attend temple because they are dirty and God will not hear their prayers. Whenever these girls are asked about their period, they completely shut down. When the men are asked about it, they have no idea. They think menstruation is an illness women get. No wonder their is such a stigma to it.
In this village there is a machine and it helps employ women to make sanitary pads for other women and girls in the community. So many girls and women use dirty rags and they bleed through them so quickly. It is not sanitary and pressures girls to quit school because dealing with monthly menstruation is too embarrassing for then. These pads allow girls to stay in school and not have to worry about bleeding on themselves and the shame of being unclean. The pads are called Fly because it allows women to succeed and fly away to better things. Not gonna lie, that part made me cry. They are also employing women to make the pads and sell them to other women. This helps empower, not only the women manufacturing the pads but the girls that are buying them. They see these successful women who have no shame in what they are doing and the girls want to be like them.
The part of the film that moved me the most was a note at the credits. It said, "This machine and documentary were funded by students at Oakwood School in Los Angeles via bake sales, Kickstarter, and yogathons." I was completely moved to tears. To read American students wanted to reach out and help other women was wonderful. To see feminism on a global scale without stigma gives me so much hope. It's also brilliant that a documentary on menstruation won an Oscar! I'm so proud of the Academy for recognizing this important subject. We need to support and inform women on a global scale. No girl should stop going to school because she started her period.
Everyone should watch Period End of Sentence on Netflix. If the subject matter makes you uncomfortable, woman up and watch it anyways! It's an important topic and a brilliant documentary.
Thursday, February 28, 2019
John Carpenter's Cigarette Burns
100 Movies in 100 Days
Movie 21 Day 21
John Carpenter's Cigarette Burns
I'm mixing things up a bit. I love finding movies that no one has ever heard of. It's my hope that all my readers will hop on Amazon and rent them immediately after reading. I know that's not the case but it's fun to pretend. Side topic, thank you to all my loyal readers. It means so much to me to see the little counter go up with views. Sometimes I write and wonder if anyone else is reading. It's a wonderful feeling to come back and see people are enjoying the little movie reviews. Any who, let's crack on with Cigarette Burns.
I found this little gem when I went on a Norman Reedus kick last winter. It was part of a series called Masters of Horror. This is one of the short films that came out of that show and it's creepy!!! Norman Reedus stars as Kirby, a recovered heroin addict who owns and lives a movie theater. (Owning and living in a vintage movie theater is my dream!) Kirby paid for the theater with a loan by his deceased girlfriend's father. He hates Kirby and wants his money back. Kirby takes side jobs finding rare movies for rich people. (Another dream of mine!)
Kirby is hired by this eccentric millionaire Bellinger, played by Udo Kier. Bellinger wants a film called La Fin Absolue du Monde, an urban legend film. At the premiere of La Fin Absolue du Monde, the entire audience became violent and killed each other. Everyone claimed the movie made them do it and the film, the only copy, was destroyed. Bellinger believes the film is still out there and wants Kirby to find it.
Ok slight spoilers ahead because it's too good!! Bellinger's source of the film's survival is an angel he has chained up in his mansion. The angel tells Kirby the film still exists because he is stuck on earth. It's a total WTF moment and it's in the first 15 minutes! What the heck is on this movie?!?!? Kirby becomes obsessed with finding it. The closer he gets to the film, the more his demons start to appear.
What are Cigarette Burns? For those of you not in the film industry, Cigarette Burns are in 35 MM film reels. They were put in the corner of the film to let the reel operator know when to change the reels. In this film, Kirby starts to see Cigarette Burns in real life. The closer he gets to finding the film, the more he starts to see things. He sees ghost of his past.
Why this film? I love the idea of movies having power over people. I love to think that films can leave a lasting impression. Cigarette Burns poses the question what if a film is evil, pure evil. Will the darkness follow you? What if a movie is demonic and you open up a darkness inside of yourself? Gives you chills doesn't it?!
If you are in the mood for something twisted but brilliant, check out this film. I promise, it will stay with you long after the credits roll.
Movie 21 Day 21
John Carpenter's Cigarette Burns
I'm mixing things up a bit. I love finding movies that no one has ever heard of. It's my hope that all my readers will hop on Amazon and rent them immediately after reading. I know that's not the case but it's fun to pretend. Side topic, thank you to all my loyal readers. It means so much to me to see the little counter go up with views. Sometimes I write and wonder if anyone else is reading. It's a wonderful feeling to come back and see people are enjoying the little movie reviews. Any who, let's crack on with Cigarette Burns.
I found this little gem when I went on a Norman Reedus kick last winter. It was part of a series called Masters of Horror. This is one of the short films that came out of that show and it's creepy!!! Norman Reedus stars as Kirby, a recovered heroin addict who owns and lives a movie theater. (Owning and living in a vintage movie theater is my dream!) Kirby paid for the theater with a loan by his deceased girlfriend's father. He hates Kirby and wants his money back. Kirby takes side jobs finding rare movies for rich people. (Another dream of mine!)
Kirby is hired by this eccentric millionaire Bellinger, played by Udo Kier. Bellinger wants a film called La Fin Absolue du Monde, an urban legend film. At the premiere of La Fin Absolue du Monde, the entire audience became violent and killed each other. Everyone claimed the movie made them do it and the film, the only copy, was destroyed. Bellinger believes the film is still out there and wants Kirby to find it.
Ok slight spoilers ahead because it's too good!! Bellinger's source of the film's survival is an angel he has chained up in his mansion. The angel tells Kirby the film still exists because he is stuck on earth. It's a total WTF moment and it's in the first 15 minutes! What the heck is on this movie?!?!? Kirby becomes obsessed with finding it. The closer he gets to the film, the more his demons start to appear.
What are Cigarette Burns? For those of you not in the film industry, Cigarette Burns are in 35 MM film reels. They were put in the corner of the film to let the reel operator know when to change the reels. In this film, Kirby starts to see Cigarette Burns in real life. The closer he gets to finding the film, the more he starts to see things. He sees ghost of his past.
Why this film? I love the idea of movies having power over people. I love to think that films can leave a lasting impression. Cigarette Burns poses the question what if a film is evil, pure evil. Will the darkness follow you? What if a movie is demonic and you open up a darkness inside of yourself? Gives you chills doesn't it?!
If you are in the mood for something twisted but brilliant, check out this film. I promise, it will stay with you long after the credits roll.
Tuesday, February 26, 2019
War On Everyone
100 Movies in 100 Days
Movie 20 Day 20
War On Everyone
I do enjoy a great dark comedy. They can be a bit twisted but I'm always up for a good laugh. As an added bonus you get to see Alexander Skarsgard dance to Rhinestone Cowboy. What's not to love?!
War on Everyone is written and directed by John Michael McDonagh and he is not afraid to cross the line on dark humor. The premise of War On Everyone is Terry (Alexander Skarsgard) and Bob (Michael Pena) are two corrupt cops looking for their next big score. They are not afraid to commit a crime to get it. Even if they must bribe, beat, steal or sleep with someone to get it. To them it's just another Tuesday.
The big score is a million dollar hit from a British Lord (Theo James) and his stripper club manager Russell (Caleb Landry Jones). The Lord is a twisted man who has no problem killing anyone who gets in his way. Terry and Bob see him as just another guy to rip off. Let's just say there is a ton of drama along the way. Bob and Terry see Russell as a stain upon their town and have no problem kicking the crap out of him.
War On Everyone is so freaking funny! I laughed so hard. The back and forth dialogue between characters is so wonderfully written. Bob and Terry are not afraid to have real conversations, no matter how taboo the topic. It's a great dark buddy comedy and Skarsgard and Pena have magical chemistry. I really hope they make more movies together.
Alexander Skarsgard takes his character Terry to the dark place. Terry has clearly been traumatized in the past and he uses alcohol to cope. We don't know exactly what happened to him but we assume it was child abuse and molestation. This explains why he is so unhinged and unafraid to kick the crap out of someone. He's twisted but he pulls it off so well.
Everyone should see War on Everyone. Well unless you are easily offended but crass humor. Don't be such a party pooper. Let your hair down and laugh your face off!
Movie 20 Day 20
War On Everyone
I do enjoy a great dark comedy. They can be a bit twisted but I'm always up for a good laugh. As an added bonus you get to see Alexander Skarsgard dance to Rhinestone Cowboy. What's not to love?!
War on Everyone is written and directed by John Michael McDonagh and he is not afraid to cross the line on dark humor. The premise of War On Everyone is Terry (Alexander Skarsgard) and Bob (Michael Pena) are two corrupt cops looking for their next big score. They are not afraid to commit a crime to get it. Even if they must bribe, beat, steal or sleep with someone to get it. To them it's just another Tuesday.
The big score is a million dollar hit from a British Lord (Theo James) and his stripper club manager Russell (Caleb Landry Jones). The Lord is a twisted man who has no problem killing anyone who gets in his way. Terry and Bob see him as just another guy to rip off. Let's just say there is a ton of drama along the way. Bob and Terry see Russell as a stain upon their town and have no problem kicking the crap out of him.
War On Everyone is so freaking funny! I laughed so hard. The back and forth dialogue between characters is so wonderfully written. Bob and Terry are not afraid to have real conversations, no matter how taboo the topic. It's a great dark buddy comedy and Skarsgard and Pena have magical chemistry. I really hope they make more movies together.
Alexander Skarsgard takes his character Terry to the dark place. Terry has clearly been traumatized in the past and he uses alcohol to cope. We don't know exactly what happened to him but we assume it was child abuse and molestation. This explains why he is so unhinged and unafraid to kick the crap out of someone. He's twisted but he pulls it off so well.
Everyone should see War on Everyone. Well unless you are easily offended but crass humor. Don't be such a party pooper. Let your hair down and laugh your face off!
The Ticket
100 Movies in 100 Days
Movie 19 Day 19
The Ticket
I am a big fan of Dan Stevens, ever since I saw him in Downton Abbey. He is charming, wonderful and has eyes as blue as the sky. You immediately want to trust him. The Ticket is a movie where you want to believe the best in people but people are flawed.
What would you do with a miracle that could change your life? The Ticket was written and directed by Ido Fluk. It is the story of James, played by Dan Stevens, regaining his sight after half a life of blindness. One morning he wakes up and can see again. James refers to this as his miracle. So what do you do when you get an opportunity to change your life? James and his wife come from a religious background. He believes God has given him a second chance. Slowly, James starts to become selfish. His old life is not enough for him anymore. He wants a better job, he wants a better home and he wants a beautiful new girlfriend.
The writing and visual styling of The Ticket is wonderfully haunting. When James first gets his sight back, everything is bright and colorful. As James becomes more corrupt the surroundings become more gray and dark. It's as if his world becomes as gray as his soul.
Dan Stevens acting is tragic and wonderful. There is a raw scene where James prays and his starts sobbing to God. He begs God that things can be different and he begs for forgiveness. His entire soul is shown in that scene. I felt like I was watching something I wasn't supposed to seen. It was so intimate and personal.
It's a film that makes you think about what life has given to you. It also proves how grateful we should be with the life we have.
Movie 19 Day 19
The Ticket
I am a big fan of Dan Stevens, ever since I saw him in Downton Abbey. He is charming, wonderful and has eyes as blue as the sky. You immediately want to trust him. The Ticket is a movie where you want to believe the best in people but people are flawed.
What would you do with a miracle that could change your life? The Ticket was written and directed by Ido Fluk. It is the story of James, played by Dan Stevens, regaining his sight after half a life of blindness. One morning he wakes up and can see again. James refers to this as his miracle. So what do you do when you get an opportunity to change your life? James and his wife come from a religious background. He believes God has given him a second chance. Slowly, James starts to become selfish. His old life is not enough for him anymore. He wants a better job, he wants a better home and he wants a beautiful new girlfriend.
The writing and visual styling of The Ticket is wonderfully haunting. When James first gets his sight back, everything is bright and colorful. As James becomes more corrupt the surroundings become more gray and dark. It's as if his world becomes as gray as his soul.
Dan Stevens acting is tragic and wonderful. There is a raw scene where James prays and his starts sobbing to God. He begs God that things can be different and he begs for forgiveness. His entire soul is shown in that scene. I felt like I was watching something I wasn't supposed to seen. It was so intimate and personal.
It's a film that makes you think about what life has given to you. It also proves how grateful we should be with the life we have.
Green Book
100 Movies in 100 Days
Movie 18 Day 18
Green Book
After the Oscars I had to check out Green Book. I was excited to see if it was as charming as it appeared in the trailers. I also had a very good friend tell me how much she enjoyed it. I must say it was a beautifully crafted film. Green Book is also based on a true story and co-written by Nick Vallelonga, son of Tony the main character.
Green Book is about Tony Vallelonga, played by Viggo Mortensen. Tony becomes the driver for world renown pianist Dr. Don Shirley, played by Mahershala Ali. Dr. Shirley is going on a concert tour in the deep south in the 1960's and need protection as well as a driver. The film explores the relationship between two people as different as night and day.
Green Book is a reference to the travel guide for African Americans in the south. The green books inform African Americans where hotels and restaurants are that will accommodate them. I never knew such a book existed. It's a sad reality to some of the struggles during segregated times. The film is not afraid to unapologetic call out the blatant racism portrayed in the south. Dr. Shirley has to endure the humiliation of being asked to perform but not use the house bathroom. He can play the piano for these people but he also can't eat a meal in the restaurant. It seems so backwards and makes me so angry. Dr. Shirley endures all of it with grace and patience. I'm more like Tony, he gets angry. He sees it happening and it pisses him off. Over time, Tony learns to use his words and not his fists.
Green Book is like a reverse Driving Miss. Daisy and I mean that with respect. So often people do not leave the comfort of their own neighborhoods. In the beginning, Tony is racist towards African Americans, he doesn't trust them. It's not until Tony spends 2 months traveling with Dr. Shirley that his eyes are opened to the struggles of African Americans. Both men see who the other really is. A beautiful friendship is formed. I love how two men, from two completely different worlds, can still form a meaningful friendship. It's a beautiful thing.
Movie 18 Day 18
Green Book
After the Oscars I had to check out Green Book. I was excited to see if it was as charming as it appeared in the trailers. I also had a very good friend tell me how much she enjoyed it. I must say it was a beautifully crafted film. Green Book is also based on a true story and co-written by Nick Vallelonga, son of Tony the main character.
Green Book is about Tony Vallelonga, played by Viggo Mortensen. Tony becomes the driver for world renown pianist Dr. Don Shirley, played by Mahershala Ali. Dr. Shirley is going on a concert tour in the deep south in the 1960's and need protection as well as a driver. The film explores the relationship between two people as different as night and day.
Green Book is a reference to the travel guide for African Americans in the south. The green books inform African Americans where hotels and restaurants are that will accommodate them. I never knew such a book existed. It's a sad reality to some of the struggles during segregated times. The film is not afraid to unapologetic call out the blatant racism portrayed in the south. Dr. Shirley has to endure the humiliation of being asked to perform but not use the house bathroom. He can play the piano for these people but he also can't eat a meal in the restaurant. It seems so backwards and makes me so angry. Dr. Shirley endures all of it with grace and patience. I'm more like Tony, he gets angry. He sees it happening and it pisses him off. Over time, Tony learns to use his words and not his fists.
Green Book is like a reverse Driving Miss. Daisy and I mean that with respect. So often people do not leave the comfort of their own neighborhoods. In the beginning, Tony is racist towards African Americans, he doesn't trust them. It's not until Tony spends 2 months traveling with Dr. Shirley that his eyes are opened to the struggles of African Americans. Both men see who the other really is. A beautiful friendship is formed. I love how two men, from two completely different worlds, can still form a meaningful friendship. It's a beautiful thing.
Monday, February 25, 2019
BlacKkKlansman
100 Movies in 100 Days
Movie 17 Day 17
BlacKkKlansman
Post Academy Awards I was dying to see BlacKkKlansman. I was so happy to hear Spike Lee finally won his Oscar. It really has been a long time coming. I have not seen a ton of Spike Lee's films. I've seen a few and he has a beautiful cinematic eye. I was intrigued by BlacKkKlansman, a true story about a black man infiltrating the KKK in the 70's?! What?!?! I mean how the heck did that happen. Once again proving that real life is incredibly interesting and ironic.
As I've said, BlacKkKlansman is a film starring John David Washington as Ron Stallworth. Ron is the first African American on the Colorado Springs police force. He desperately wants to make detective and when given the opportunity, he shines. One day he takes it upon himself to try and infiltrate the KKK and it works! They want to meet Ron but he's obviously black and that won't fly. So Detective Flip Zimmerman, played by Adam Driver, steps in to be Ron in person at the KKK meetings. Topher Grace plays Grand Wizard David Duke, I can't imagine that was easy. The film is unafraid to ask the hard questions and hold a mirror up to current events in the US.
Amazing performances from Adam Driver and John David Washington. There is an emotional scene where Flip, pretending to be Ron, has to stand in front of David Duke and deny he is Jewish. Driver is brilliant in this scene. You can feel his emotional torment deny who he truly is. I see why he was nominated for an Oscar. Driver's performance has so many layers to it. You can see the pain Flip has pretending to hate people of color. Saying horrible words, names and shaking hands with these hateful people. I know I would never be able to do it.
This film is surprisingly funny, now don't get me wrong, it's very serious but it also makes fun of itself. It's not afraid to make fun of people. The humor is what gave the film balance. It's so difficult to sit through some of the horrible things said in the film. The laughter helped break it up. We are relieved to laugh just after we've cried. It takes the brilliance of Spike Lee to pull off that balance.
BlacKkKlansman is an incredibly insightful and a terrifying film...I say terrifying because there are so many parallels with today. We want to act like we've come so far from the 70's but the reality is, we still have so many hateful people voicing their ignorance towards people of color and minorities. It made me feel physically ill hearing some of the KKK chants in the film. At one point, the KKK chant make America great and I felt like I was punched in the gut. Spike Lee is unafraid to make you feel uncomfortable. We need to take a long, hard look at our country and speak for those who can not. Speak for those who have no voice and speak for those that have passed but who fought. Honor those who have fallen and use our voice to make sure it doesn't happen again.
Spike Lee connected the ending with the marches in Virginia in 2017. If you don't remember, a group of KKK supported student marched and chanted horrible hateful thing. The following week was filled with violence as protesters showed up. A young woman was killed at a peace rally when a car drove into a crowd of people. It reminds the audience how far we really have to go. A good film makes you think and BlacKkKlansman does just that. Please see this film, it's important and insightful.
Movie 17 Day 17
BlacKkKlansman
Post Academy Awards I was dying to see BlacKkKlansman. I was so happy to hear Spike Lee finally won his Oscar. It really has been a long time coming. I have not seen a ton of Spike Lee's films. I've seen a few and he has a beautiful cinematic eye. I was intrigued by BlacKkKlansman, a true story about a black man infiltrating the KKK in the 70's?! What?!?! I mean how the heck did that happen. Once again proving that real life is incredibly interesting and ironic.
As I've said, BlacKkKlansman is a film starring John David Washington as Ron Stallworth. Ron is the first African American on the Colorado Springs police force. He desperately wants to make detective and when given the opportunity, he shines. One day he takes it upon himself to try and infiltrate the KKK and it works! They want to meet Ron but he's obviously black and that won't fly. So Detective Flip Zimmerman, played by Adam Driver, steps in to be Ron in person at the KKK meetings. Topher Grace plays Grand Wizard David Duke, I can't imagine that was easy. The film is unafraid to ask the hard questions and hold a mirror up to current events in the US.
Amazing performances from Adam Driver and John David Washington. There is an emotional scene where Flip, pretending to be Ron, has to stand in front of David Duke and deny he is Jewish. Driver is brilliant in this scene. You can feel his emotional torment deny who he truly is. I see why he was nominated for an Oscar. Driver's performance has so many layers to it. You can see the pain Flip has pretending to hate people of color. Saying horrible words, names and shaking hands with these hateful people. I know I would never be able to do it.
This film is surprisingly funny, now don't get me wrong, it's very serious but it also makes fun of itself. It's not afraid to make fun of people. The humor is what gave the film balance. It's so difficult to sit through some of the horrible things said in the film. The laughter helped break it up. We are relieved to laugh just after we've cried. It takes the brilliance of Spike Lee to pull off that balance.
BlacKkKlansman is an incredibly insightful and a terrifying film...I say terrifying because there are so many parallels with today. We want to act like we've come so far from the 70's but the reality is, we still have so many hateful people voicing their ignorance towards people of color and minorities. It made me feel physically ill hearing some of the KKK chants in the film. At one point, the KKK chant make America great and I felt like I was punched in the gut. Spike Lee is unafraid to make you feel uncomfortable. We need to take a long, hard look at our country and speak for those who can not. Speak for those who have no voice and speak for those that have passed but who fought. Honor those who have fallen and use our voice to make sure it doesn't happen again.
Spike Lee connected the ending with the marches in Virginia in 2017. If you don't remember, a group of KKK supported student marched and chanted horrible hateful thing. The following week was filled with violence as protesters showed up. A young woman was killed at a peace rally when a car drove into a crowd of people. It reminds the audience how far we really have to go. A good film makes you think and BlacKkKlansman does just that. Please see this film, it's important and insightful.
A Star Is Born
100 Movies in 100 Days
Movie 16 Day 16
Sorry for the delay in posting. I had a weekend youth retreat. I was busy running around with 40 awesome kids under the age of 17! Needless to say, it was a bit hectic but a ton of fun.
It seems right to write about Oscar nominated films because it is Oscar season. Today I am writing about the remake of A Star Is Born. I must preface that I adore the 1954 version with Judy Garland. I went into the new version a bit skeptical because of my admiration for Judy. I also knew how the movie was going to end because I've seen the original. I believe that is why I wasn't as emotional as everyone else in the theater.
The 2018 A Star Is Born is directed by Bradley Cooper and stars himself as Jack, Lady Gaga as Ally and Sam Elliott as Jack's older brother Bobby. Jack is an alcoholic country singer who stumbles across Ally singing at a drag show in LA. Jack is immediately taken by Ally's haunting music and intrigued by her look. He decides he is going to help her become a singer and they fall in love in during the process. Along the way, Jack battles with his own demons AKA his sever alcoholism.
Is the movie about Jack or Ally?
My friend described this movie as Bradley Cooper's passion project for Bradley Cooper. The movie focuses so much on Jack that you forget it is titled A Star Is Born not A Star Slowly Falls. In fact, the movie jumps so fast from Ally being an unknown to a superstar that you are jarred by the change. Like woah, when did that happen? Instead, A Star Is Born focuses on Jack's self destructive actions. He pushes away his brother, the only one who had his back. He falls in love with Ally, becomes jealous of her fame and starts to mentally abuse her for her success. This is all accepted and allowed because Jack is drunk the entire time. Jack blames all of his actions on the alcohol. It's tragic to see this talented artist hit rock bottom.
Lady Gaga is a brilliant singer, one of my favorites. I even enjoy her acting but where she really shines is when she sings and acts. The moment she walks on stage to sing her first original song was film magic. I literally cried when Jack and Ally sing Shallow. It's a powerful song and by far, my favorite scene in the entire movie. Ally finally has the courage to use her own voice and it's a beautiful moment. There is an emotional song at the end of the film where Lady Gaga pours her entire heart into it. I felt like I saw of piece of Lady Gaga's soul on screen.
The stand out performance was Sam Elliott as Bobby. He was the conscience of the film. He sees life for how it really is. He sees who Jack is, he loves him but he also knows he can't "fix" him. He wants Jack to sober up but Jack finally pushes Bobby away. The final scene with Bobby moved me to tears. It was a classic performance with heart and pain.
My problem with this movie
SPOILERS AHEAD
I feel like Bradley Cooper missed a massive opportunity to talk about depression and suicide. The movie's climax is Jack deciding Ally will be better off without him and he kills himself in the garage. I had to turn away from the screen. It was a horrible and painful moment to see on screen. I've lost friends to suicide, it's painful and it hurts. I wanted the movie to end with something more than credits rolling. I wanted to see a suicide prevention website or email. Maybe a PSA about alcoholism but instead it was another emotional song with credits. It was a missed opportunity to help people struggling with addiction.
The soundtrack of this movie is magic. If anything, watch the movie to hear Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper sing Shallow.
Movie 16 Day 16
Sorry for the delay in posting. I had a weekend youth retreat. I was busy running around with 40 awesome kids under the age of 17! Needless to say, it was a bit hectic but a ton of fun.
It seems right to write about Oscar nominated films because it is Oscar season. Today I am writing about the remake of A Star Is Born. I must preface that I adore the 1954 version with Judy Garland. I went into the new version a bit skeptical because of my admiration for Judy. I also knew how the movie was going to end because I've seen the original. I believe that is why I wasn't as emotional as everyone else in the theater.
The 2018 A Star Is Born is directed by Bradley Cooper and stars himself as Jack, Lady Gaga as Ally and Sam Elliott as Jack's older brother Bobby. Jack is an alcoholic country singer who stumbles across Ally singing at a drag show in LA. Jack is immediately taken by Ally's haunting music and intrigued by her look. He decides he is going to help her become a singer and they fall in love in during the process. Along the way, Jack battles with his own demons AKA his sever alcoholism.
Is the movie about Jack or Ally?
My friend described this movie as Bradley Cooper's passion project for Bradley Cooper. The movie focuses so much on Jack that you forget it is titled A Star Is Born not A Star Slowly Falls. In fact, the movie jumps so fast from Ally being an unknown to a superstar that you are jarred by the change. Like woah, when did that happen? Instead, A Star Is Born focuses on Jack's self destructive actions. He pushes away his brother, the only one who had his back. He falls in love with Ally, becomes jealous of her fame and starts to mentally abuse her for her success. This is all accepted and allowed because Jack is drunk the entire time. Jack blames all of his actions on the alcohol. It's tragic to see this talented artist hit rock bottom.
Lady Gaga is a brilliant singer, one of my favorites. I even enjoy her acting but where she really shines is when she sings and acts. The moment she walks on stage to sing her first original song was film magic. I literally cried when Jack and Ally sing Shallow. It's a powerful song and by far, my favorite scene in the entire movie. Ally finally has the courage to use her own voice and it's a beautiful moment. There is an emotional song at the end of the film where Lady Gaga pours her entire heart into it. I felt like I saw of piece of Lady Gaga's soul on screen.
The stand out performance was Sam Elliott as Bobby. He was the conscience of the film. He sees life for how it really is. He sees who Jack is, he loves him but he also knows he can't "fix" him. He wants Jack to sober up but Jack finally pushes Bobby away. The final scene with Bobby moved me to tears. It was a classic performance with heart and pain.
My problem with this movie
SPOILERS AHEAD
I feel like Bradley Cooper missed a massive opportunity to talk about depression and suicide. The movie's climax is Jack deciding Ally will be better off without him and he kills himself in the garage. I had to turn away from the screen. It was a horrible and painful moment to see on screen. I've lost friends to suicide, it's painful and it hurts. I wanted the movie to end with something more than credits rolling. I wanted to see a suicide prevention website or email. Maybe a PSA about alcoholism but instead it was another emotional song with credits. It was a missed opportunity to help people struggling with addiction.
The soundtrack of this movie is magic. If anything, watch the movie to hear Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper sing Shallow.
Thursday, February 21, 2019
Can You Ever Forgive Me?
100 Movies In 100 Days
Movie 15 Day 15
Can You Ever Forgive Me?
Flying home from Florida, I was able to watch Can You Ever Forgive Me. I didn't know much about the movie but I enjoy everything Melissa McCarthy is in. I was interested to see if the film could stand up to the Oscar hype. I was unaware it was based on a true story and it gave me more interest in the film. I'm always curious about the Based On A True Story because real life is always so interesting. Who needs fiction when people create their own drama everyday!?
The premise of Can You Ever Forgive Me is Melissa McCarthy plays Lee Israel, an author who is down on her luck. She is a difficult woman to work with and would rather spend her days drunk, hanging out with her cat. As an author, she specialized in the biographies of famous people. She was known for her voice, she became the people she was writing about. She was able to capture their emotions and "voice". Years later, Lee is washed up, broke, and can't get a writing contract because she's too difficult to work with. You burn a bunch of bridges when you drink on the job and belittle everyone you meet. Once Lee is down to her last few dollars, she sells a personal letter from a famous person written to her. She ends up getting some good money for the letter. Lee realizes, people pay a lot of money for persona letters from famous people. Remember, Lee is brilliant at capturing others people's literary voice. She starts to forge letters and sells them all over New York City, making a ton of money along the way.
Melissa McCarthy is tragically unlikable and I mean that in the best possible way. She isn't supposed to be someone you want to succeed. She is selfish and horrible but we realize it's because she has no one to trust. Melissa is haunting as Lee. She brings the character depth and justifies her actions. Melissa earned her second Oscar nomination for this film and she completely deserves it. I forgot I was watching the same woman that made me laugh so hard I cried during Spy. I think people forget what a fantastic dramatic actor she really is. Can You Ever Forgive Me was Melissa's moment to shine and shine brightly she does!
Richard E. Grant plays Jack Hock. He is Lee's only friend and he's not a very good one. He's a hustler and a scam artist but he's charming and funny while he does it. Grant plays Jack beautifully and effortlessly. Grant is transformed into a character you should disapprove of but instead you are cheering for him. You want to see what other scam he can pull off next. Grant is also nominated for an Oscar and I would love to see him win. He gives a stellar performance that is tragic and hilarious.
I was incredibly impressed how director Marielle Heller represented Lee and Jack's sexuality. Both the characters are homosexual but it's filmed it a way that doesn't put too much focus on it. It was natural and neither character judged the other too harshly. So often a character's sexuality is made the central focus of that character. Heller allowed these characters to be so much more than their sexual preference. They were interesting and not defined by who they loved. It was there but in a natural way. Beautifully done.
Over all a heavy but well done drama.
Movie 15 Day 15
Can You Ever Forgive Me?
Flying home from Florida, I was able to watch Can You Ever Forgive Me. I didn't know much about the movie but I enjoy everything Melissa McCarthy is in. I was interested to see if the film could stand up to the Oscar hype. I was unaware it was based on a true story and it gave me more interest in the film. I'm always curious about the Based On A True Story because real life is always so interesting. Who needs fiction when people create their own drama everyday!?
The premise of Can You Ever Forgive Me is Melissa McCarthy plays Lee Israel, an author who is down on her luck. She is a difficult woman to work with and would rather spend her days drunk, hanging out with her cat. As an author, she specialized in the biographies of famous people. She was known for her voice, she became the people she was writing about. She was able to capture their emotions and "voice". Years later, Lee is washed up, broke, and can't get a writing contract because she's too difficult to work with. You burn a bunch of bridges when you drink on the job and belittle everyone you meet. Once Lee is down to her last few dollars, she sells a personal letter from a famous person written to her. She ends up getting some good money for the letter. Lee realizes, people pay a lot of money for persona letters from famous people. Remember, Lee is brilliant at capturing others people's literary voice. She starts to forge letters and sells them all over New York City, making a ton of money along the way.
Melissa McCarthy is tragically unlikable and I mean that in the best possible way. She isn't supposed to be someone you want to succeed. She is selfish and horrible but we realize it's because she has no one to trust. Melissa is haunting as Lee. She brings the character depth and justifies her actions. Melissa earned her second Oscar nomination for this film and she completely deserves it. I forgot I was watching the same woman that made me laugh so hard I cried during Spy. I think people forget what a fantastic dramatic actor she really is. Can You Ever Forgive Me was Melissa's moment to shine and shine brightly she does!
Richard E. Grant plays Jack Hock. He is Lee's only friend and he's not a very good one. He's a hustler and a scam artist but he's charming and funny while he does it. Grant plays Jack beautifully and effortlessly. Grant is transformed into a character you should disapprove of but instead you are cheering for him. You want to see what other scam he can pull off next. Grant is also nominated for an Oscar and I would love to see him win. He gives a stellar performance that is tragic and hilarious.
I was incredibly impressed how director Marielle Heller represented Lee and Jack's sexuality. Both the characters are homosexual but it's filmed it a way that doesn't put too much focus on it. It was natural and neither character judged the other too harshly. So often a character's sexuality is made the central focus of that character. Heller allowed these characters to be so much more than their sexual preference. They were interesting and not defined by who they loved. It was there but in a natural way. Beautifully done.
Over all a heavy but well done drama.
Wednesday, February 20, 2019
Aquaman
100 Movies In 100 Days
Movie 14 Day 14
Aquaman
I know very little about Aquaman. I know that The Big Bang Theory likes to make fun of his powers. I remember Family Guy doing a few parodies of how crazy his fish talking ability is. To be fair, I was raised on Marvel but I have always loved Tim Burton's Batman films. I went into Aquaman with low expectations. I adore Jason Memoa and enjoyed him in Justice League but I didn't know how well Aquaman would do as a stand alone film. He meshed so well with The Flash and Wonder Woman, I was almost disappointed to see him on his own. I will say I was pleasantly surprised.
One major difference between Marvel and DC is DC is not afraid to go dark. They want to show humanity at our lowest and they succeed. So many DC characters act without thinking. In Aquaman there is a scene where Arthur aka Aquaman, has an opportunity to save a bad guy. Instead, he walks away, lets the guy dies in front of his kid, the kid wants revenge for his father and Aquaman creates a whole new enemy. You would never see Captain America leave someone behind like that! It was such a sinister moment. Even my 14 year old nephew was shocked! A very dark side to the DC Universe is characters only thinking of themselves.
Jason Momoa portrayed Arthur as funny and witty. I did not expect to laugh as much as I did. He mocks himself and his abilities. Jason seems to have a good sense of humor in real life, it shows during Aquaman. He makes up for the lack of chemistry between him and love interest Amber Heard. Maybe I just prefer Aquaman to be with Wonder Woman, either way Jason is the reason to watch the movie.
I was delighted to see Nicole Kidman play Arthur's mother. She is a run away queen that falls in love with a human. Tale As Old As Time has magically popped into my head! Nicole is a totally Bass A$$ in Aquaman. She fights off water demons with her trident and is a hero in her own right. I always love seeing the ladies fighting and standing up for themselves!
Regardless if you like the story or not, the special effects are next level amazing! I was worried the underwater scenes were going to be cheesy or look fake, not at all! The special effects were crisp and clear. I was impressed at the realism of the sea creatures and water. It all came together beautifully!
Over all a fun and entertaining movie. Not as good as Wonder Woman but still a fun film.
Movie 14 Day 14
Aquaman
I know very little about Aquaman. I know that The Big Bang Theory likes to make fun of his powers. I remember Family Guy doing a few parodies of how crazy his fish talking ability is. To be fair, I was raised on Marvel but I have always loved Tim Burton's Batman films. I went into Aquaman with low expectations. I adore Jason Memoa and enjoyed him in Justice League but I didn't know how well Aquaman would do as a stand alone film. He meshed so well with The Flash and Wonder Woman, I was almost disappointed to see him on his own. I will say I was pleasantly surprised.
One major difference between Marvel and DC is DC is not afraid to go dark. They want to show humanity at our lowest and they succeed. So many DC characters act without thinking. In Aquaman there is a scene where Arthur aka Aquaman, has an opportunity to save a bad guy. Instead, he walks away, lets the guy dies in front of his kid, the kid wants revenge for his father and Aquaman creates a whole new enemy. You would never see Captain America leave someone behind like that! It was such a sinister moment. Even my 14 year old nephew was shocked! A very dark side to the DC Universe is characters only thinking of themselves.
Jason Momoa portrayed Arthur as funny and witty. I did not expect to laugh as much as I did. He mocks himself and his abilities. Jason seems to have a good sense of humor in real life, it shows during Aquaman. He makes up for the lack of chemistry between him and love interest Amber Heard. Maybe I just prefer Aquaman to be with Wonder Woman, either way Jason is the reason to watch the movie.
I was delighted to see Nicole Kidman play Arthur's mother. She is a run away queen that falls in love with a human. Tale As Old As Time has magically popped into my head! Nicole is a totally Bass A$$ in Aquaman. She fights off water demons with her trident and is a hero in her own right. I always love seeing the ladies fighting and standing up for themselves!
Regardless if you like the story or not, the special effects are next level amazing! I was worried the underwater scenes were going to be cheesy or look fake, not at all! The special effects were crisp and clear. I was impressed at the realism of the sea creatures and water. It all came together beautifully!
Over all a fun and entertaining movie. Not as good as Wonder Woman but still a fun film.
Tuesday, February 19, 2019
Bohemian Rhapsody
100 Movies in 100 Days
Movie 13 Day 13
Bohemian Rhapsody
How the heck have I not done a review on Bohemian Rhapsody?! I swear I wrote one but it looks like I must not have. I am a big Rami Malek fan, I blame A Night At The Museum. Some may say Mr. Robot, which is brilliant but I had a big crush on Rami in The Night At The Museum movies. He was charming and super cute. Rami aside, I really wanted to see Bohemian Rhapsody because I am a big Freddie Mercury fan. I love his story and think he was an absolutely brilliant artist. I didn't just see Bohemian Rhapsody once in the Theater but 3 times. Each time I noticed something new and unique.
Bohemian Rhapsody follows Freddie Mercury's journey from college kid to Queen lead singer. We see how he became the artist we all adore. The film does a lovely job showing Freddie's struggle as he comes to terms with his homosexuality. We see how he the truth, even from himself. It's tragic and wonderful when he finally starts to embrace his truth.
If Rami Malek doesn't win the Oscar for Best Actor, I'm going to be so pissed! He completed transformed himself into Freddie. He mastered the way Freddie moved, spoke and performed. I would have never thought anyone could be Freddie Mercury but Rami comes pretty dang close. His performance is the stuff of Hollywood Legend. If you want to watch something fun, go on youtube and look up the side by side performance of Rami and Freddie at Live Aid. It's completely mind-blowing how in sync Rami's performance is with Freddie's.
My biggest concern of this film was going to be how they handle Freddie's death. I know people love a heavy drama but I don't want to see someone I admire die a slow horrible death from aids. How does the film handle Freddie's Aids diagnosis? Bohemian Rhapsody handles Freddie's diagnosis with respect and grace. We didn't watch him slowly get sick, we saw him rise above. Instead of ending with his death, the film focused on the Live Aid concert. The ending made the film about Freddie's life and legacy, not his death.
What about the other 3 guys? Freddie himself did not like being called the leader of Queen. He said he was the lead singer and they were all a team. The film makes sure to show Queen was a collaborative family. We see what a horrible flirt Roger is. We laugh with John's one-liners. We see Brian May give his heart and soul on the guitar. It was a film about Queen, not just Freddie. It also helped that the movie was produced by Brian and Roger!
If you have ever heard a Queen song or rocked out to Bohemian Rhapsody, this is a movie for you!
Movie 13 Day 13
Bohemian Rhapsody
How the heck have I not done a review on Bohemian Rhapsody?! I swear I wrote one but it looks like I must not have. I am a big Rami Malek fan, I blame A Night At The Museum. Some may say Mr. Robot, which is brilliant but I had a big crush on Rami in The Night At The Museum movies. He was charming and super cute. Rami aside, I really wanted to see Bohemian Rhapsody because I am a big Freddie Mercury fan. I love his story and think he was an absolutely brilliant artist. I didn't just see Bohemian Rhapsody once in the Theater but 3 times. Each time I noticed something new and unique.
Bohemian Rhapsody follows Freddie Mercury's journey from college kid to Queen lead singer. We see how he became the artist we all adore. The film does a lovely job showing Freddie's struggle as he comes to terms with his homosexuality. We see how he the truth, even from himself. It's tragic and wonderful when he finally starts to embrace his truth.
If Rami Malek doesn't win the Oscar for Best Actor, I'm going to be so pissed! He completed transformed himself into Freddie. He mastered the way Freddie moved, spoke and performed. I would have never thought anyone could be Freddie Mercury but Rami comes pretty dang close. His performance is the stuff of Hollywood Legend. If you want to watch something fun, go on youtube and look up the side by side performance of Rami and Freddie at Live Aid. It's completely mind-blowing how in sync Rami's performance is with Freddie's.
My biggest concern of this film was going to be how they handle Freddie's death. I know people love a heavy drama but I don't want to see someone I admire die a slow horrible death from aids. How does the film handle Freddie's Aids diagnosis? Bohemian Rhapsody handles Freddie's diagnosis with respect and grace. We didn't watch him slowly get sick, we saw him rise above. Instead of ending with his death, the film focused on the Live Aid concert. The ending made the film about Freddie's life and legacy, not his death.
What about the other 3 guys? Freddie himself did not like being called the leader of Queen. He said he was the lead singer and they were all a team. The film makes sure to show Queen was a collaborative family. We see what a horrible flirt Roger is. We laugh with John's one-liners. We see Brian May give his heart and soul on the guitar. It was a film about Queen, not just Freddie. It also helped that the movie was produced by Brian and Roger!
If you have ever heard a Queen song or rocked out to Bohemian Rhapsody, this is a movie for you!
Monday, February 18, 2019
Eighth Grade
100 Movies in 100 Days
Movie 12 Day 12
Eighth Grade
I knew I wanted to see this film but I kept forgetting about it. A friend and I had been talking about it when it first came out. We were intrigued that it was written and directed by comedian Bo Burnham. It seemed like an interesting connection, this goofy guy writing about the eighth grade experiences of a girl. Whatever magic it was, the film was beautifully heartfelt.
Eighth Grade is the story of Kayla played by Elsie Fisher. Kayla is a very shy girl who just wants to survive her last week of eighth grade. She tries to be outgoing and even does youtube videos, giving advice to teenagers about gaining confidence. She struggles to make friends and all she wants is to be accepted. At one point she write a list of her goals and one is to make friends and have a best friend. Her goal list crushed my heart. I remember how difficult it was to be in middle school. I was always the loud girl but I was lucky enough to have great friends.
Eighth Grade does not sugarcoat the real issues of being a teen. At one point she wants to talk to a boy but it's known that he is more sexually experienced. Kayla has to decide if sending nude photos is something she is ready for. She is so innocent and sweet but she is afraid that's why she isn't making friends. Kayla will hurt your heart in the best way. Eighth Grade shows the modern struggles teens today are fighting through. It's eye-opening to see the good and bad things that come for a generation fully immersed in technology.
Elsie Fisher does a beautiful job bringing Kayla to life. She shows her vulnerabilities and that's terrifying for anyone, let alone a 13 year old girl. Her acting was enduring and charming. You wanted to protect and hold her. Kayla is a character you can relate to and care for.
The movie is rated R which surprised me. I thought it was made with teens in mind and it was. Slight spoiler here, there is a scene where Kayla has to learn about consent. A high school boy is pressuring her to have sex in the car, it's unbearably uncomfortable to watch. It's intimately filmed and I was terrified the whole time. I didn't want this sweet girl to lose her innocents to some jerk high school boy. The sad reality is teens are dealing with these types of pressures everyday. It is a reality to them and the film is a cautionary tale to parents trying to deny it is really happening.
If you were ever a teenager I think you will enjoy this movie. Eighth Grade is a heartfelt film about the awkwardness of growing up. I think you will really enjoy it.
Movie 12 Day 12
Eighth Grade
I knew I wanted to see this film but I kept forgetting about it. A friend and I had been talking about it when it first came out. We were intrigued that it was written and directed by comedian Bo Burnham. It seemed like an interesting connection, this goofy guy writing about the eighth grade experiences of a girl. Whatever magic it was, the film was beautifully heartfelt.
Eighth Grade is the story of Kayla played by Elsie Fisher. Kayla is a very shy girl who just wants to survive her last week of eighth grade. She tries to be outgoing and even does youtube videos, giving advice to teenagers about gaining confidence. She struggles to make friends and all she wants is to be accepted. At one point she write a list of her goals and one is to make friends and have a best friend. Her goal list crushed my heart. I remember how difficult it was to be in middle school. I was always the loud girl but I was lucky enough to have great friends.
Eighth Grade does not sugarcoat the real issues of being a teen. At one point she wants to talk to a boy but it's known that he is more sexually experienced. Kayla has to decide if sending nude photos is something she is ready for. She is so innocent and sweet but she is afraid that's why she isn't making friends. Kayla will hurt your heart in the best way. Eighth Grade shows the modern struggles teens today are fighting through. It's eye-opening to see the good and bad things that come for a generation fully immersed in technology.
Elsie Fisher does a beautiful job bringing Kayla to life. She shows her vulnerabilities and that's terrifying for anyone, let alone a 13 year old girl. Her acting was enduring and charming. You wanted to protect and hold her. Kayla is a character you can relate to and care for.
The movie is rated R which surprised me. I thought it was made with teens in mind and it was. Slight spoiler here, there is a scene where Kayla has to learn about consent. A high school boy is pressuring her to have sex in the car, it's unbearably uncomfortable to watch. It's intimately filmed and I was terrified the whole time. I didn't want this sweet girl to lose her innocents to some jerk high school boy. The sad reality is teens are dealing with these types of pressures everyday. It is a reality to them and the film is a cautionary tale to parents trying to deny it is really happening.
If you were ever a teenager I think you will enjoy this movie. Eighth Grade is a heartfelt film about the awkwardness of growing up. I think you will really enjoy it.
Sunday, February 17, 2019
Mr. Right
100 Movies in 100 Days
Movie 11 Day 11
Mr. Right
Sometimes you just need a feel good, dark comedy movie. As you may know, I am a big fan of Sam Rockwell. I think he is a brilliant actor and I was so pleased he won an Oscar last year. He also has some serious dance moves! Sam can totally cut a rug!
Mr. Right is a film where Sam Rockwell plays a hitman named Francis who goes around killing people who hire him to kill other people. It's confusing so let's try to explain it. Sarah wants to kill Bob. Sarah hires Francis to kill Bob. Instead Francis kills Sarah because wanting Bob dead is wrong. Francis has this weird reverse hitman motto. He's also hilarious! Instead of just shooting people he dance fights them. It's sounds odd but it totally works because Sam is amazing.
Anna Kendrick plays Martha. She is going through a very ugly break up and she meets Francis at the supermarket. They hang out all day and are completely adorable. Francis tells Martha he is a hitman and she just thinks he's joking and bring funny. Nope, he's telling you the truth!
There is this whole other story about a mafia family trying to fight Francis. To be honest, that story is a bit boring when you have sparks flying with Martha and Francis. There was a great secondary character named Hopper played by Tim Roth. He is Francis' mentor when they were in the CIA. Now Hopper is also trying to track Francis down. I had no idea Tim Roth was so funny. He has this dry wit that flows so well in the movie. Tim dry jokes counter very well with Sam larger than life humor.
If you are looking for something fun to watch on a Sunday evening, take a look at Mr. Right. Great script, brilliant cast and a dark comedy. You'll love it!
Movie 11 Day 11
Mr. Right
Sometimes you just need a feel good, dark comedy movie. As you may know, I am a big fan of Sam Rockwell. I think he is a brilliant actor and I was so pleased he won an Oscar last year. He also has some serious dance moves! Sam can totally cut a rug!
Mr. Right is a film where Sam Rockwell plays a hitman named Francis who goes around killing people who hire him to kill other people. It's confusing so let's try to explain it. Sarah wants to kill Bob. Sarah hires Francis to kill Bob. Instead Francis kills Sarah because wanting Bob dead is wrong. Francis has this weird reverse hitman motto. He's also hilarious! Instead of just shooting people he dance fights them. It's sounds odd but it totally works because Sam is amazing.
Anna Kendrick plays Martha. She is going through a very ugly break up and she meets Francis at the supermarket. They hang out all day and are completely adorable. Francis tells Martha he is a hitman and she just thinks he's joking and bring funny. Nope, he's telling you the truth!
There is this whole other story about a mafia family trying to fight Francis. To be honest, that story is a bit boring when you have sparks flying with Martha and Francis. There was a great secondary character named Hopper played by Tim Roth. He is Francis' mentor when they were in the CIA. Now Hopper is also trying to track Francis down. I had no idea Tim Roth was so funny. He has this dry wit that flows so well in the movie. Tim dry jokes counter very well with Sam larger than life humor.
If you are looking for something fun to watch on a Sunday evening, take a look at Mr. Right. Great script, brilliant cast and a dark comedy. You'll love it!
Saturday, February 16, 2019
The Hate U Give
100 Movies in 100 Days
Movie 10 Day 10
The Hate U Give
My cousin and I spent the entire day together. We actually went to an open casting call a few hours from our home. Sadly, we were there for 3 hours and still had 100 people a head of us. It was a fun experience but we didn't get a chance to audition. On the way home we decided to watch a movie and eat rootbeer floats. We had a whole list of movies to watch but we decided on The Hate U Give.
The Hate U Give is about Starr an African American girl and her family. Starr must learn to balance living in the hood, going to private school, and the fear of living a black kid in today's day and age. She becomes the sole witness in a cop killing an unarmed black teenager. The Hate U Give is not afraid to talk about the hard topics such as police brutality, gang violence and race relationships.
I cried several times during this movie. The first 5 minutes are about a father explaining to his young children how to react when you are pulled over by the police. How you might have done nothing wrong but you will still be labeled as a thug based on the color of your skin. It was a moment that made me cry because it's a reality for young black children. They have a layer of fear that white children will never understand. It's a harsh and horrifying truth.
The Hate U Give should have been nominated for a Best Picture Oscar this year. I'm not sure why the academy did not acknowledge this meaningful film. Maybe The Hate U Give was a little too real for some audiences. We live in a world where an unarmed black child can be killed and no justice is served for that child. This film took a big risk at showing how we, as a society, perpetuate and allow these wrongs to grow and thrive. It's tragic and painful to see.
The Hate U Give shows how beautiful a family can be. Starr's parents are not perfect, her father was in prison but he tells the children they are worth being better for. The parents put their kids into private school because they want them to break the cycle of poverty and oppression. Starr is caught in the middle of two worlds. Garden Heights is her home but it's an impoverished community. Her private school is wonderful but she can't be too ghetto or hood. She must speak like the white kids and show she belongs there. It's a lot of pressure for a 16 year old girl.
Starr has to learn to use her voice to speak for those who can not. She must risk everything to tell the story of another child taken too soon. It's a painful and beautiful film all at once. Go see it.
Movie 10 Day 10
The Hate U Give
My cousin and I spent the entire day together. We actually went to an open casting call a few hours from our home. Sadly, we were there for 3 hours and still had 100 people a head of us. It was a fun experience but we didn't get a chance to audition. On the way home we decided to watch a movie and eat rootbeer floats. We had a whole list of movies to watch but we decided on The Hate U Give.
The Hate U Give is about Starr an African American girl and her family. Starr must learn to balance living in the hood, going to private school, and the fear of living a black kid in today's day and age. She becomes the sole witness in a cop killing an unarmed black teenager. The Hate U Give is not afraid to talk about the hard topics such as police brutality, gang violence and race relationships.
I cried several times during this movie. The first 5 minutes are about a father explaining to his young children how to react when you are pulled over by the police. How you might have done nothing wrong but you will still be labeled as a thug based on the color of your skin. It was a moment that made me cry because it's a reality for young black children. They have a layer of fear that white children will never understand. It's a harsh and horrifying truth.
The Hate U Give should have been nominated for a Best Picture Oscar this year. I'm not sure why the academy did not acknowledge this meaningful film. Maybe The Hate U Give was a little too real for some audiences. We live in a world where an unarmed black child can be killed and no justice is served for that child. This film took a big risk at showing how we, as a society, perpetuate and allow these wrongs to grow and thrive. It's tragic and painful to see.
The Hate U Give shows how beautiful a family can be. Starr's parents are not perfect, her father was in prison but he tells the children they are worth being better for. The parents put their kids into private school because they want them to break the cycle of poverty and oppression. Starr is caught in the middle of two worlds. Garden Heights is her home but it's an impoverished community. Her private school is wonderful but she can't be too ghetto or hood. She must speak like the white kids and show she belongs there. It's a lot of pressure for a 16 year old girl.
Starr has to learn to use her voice to speak for those who can not. She must risk everything to tell the story of another child taken too soon. It's a painful and beautiful film all at once. Go see it.
Friday, February 15, 2019
The Giant Mechanical Man
100 Movies In 100 Days
Movie 9 Day 9
The Giant Mechanical Man
Will this winter ever end? Thank goodness for movie days. Sometimes you need to watch a movie to help keep away the winter blues. My process for picking movies varies from week to week. The majority of the time I find an actor I like and watch everything I can get my hands on. In the case of The Giant Mechanical Man, I watched it because I found out Chris Messina was in it. If you ever have an opportunity to watch a movie with Chris Messina, you will not be disappointed. He is such a brilliant actor, he's brilliant on The Mindy Project.
Anyways, this review is about The Giant Mechanical Man. This movie stars Jenna Fisher as Janice, she is a woman walking aimlessly through life. She works from temp job to temp job like a zombie. Janice falls on hard times and moves in with her sister Jill, played by Malin Akerman. Jill keeps trying to set Janice up on dates with annoying motivational speaker Doug, played by Topher Grace. Janice decides to take a job at the zoo where she meets Tim, played by Chris Messina. Tim has a secret, he dresses as a mechanical man on stilts and dancing around the city for tips.
I found myself relating and connecting to Janice. She is having a hard time figuring out what she is supposed to be doing with her life. Everyone is trying to "fix" her and claim they know what is best. Janice has a hard time expressing what she wants and gaining her courage. She meets the Mechanical Man, not knowing it's Tim. She feels connected to him, she feels like an outsider. It's wonderful seeing Janice grow and become her own woman. She learns to love herself and opens herself to loving someone new.
Tim is a beautifully written character. He wants to bring people happiness, even if he has to wear metal paint to do it. He is desperate to connect with others but isn't sure how to do it. Once he meets Janice, he starts to see hope. He sees someone he can connect with. I think connecting with other people is something we can all relate to.
The only part I didn't enjoy was Topher Grace's character. He is a horrible, selfish cliche on the motivational speaker. It's probably not Topher's fault because the character is so dreadful. I found his character to be distracting from the plot and not in a good way. I would have preferred more time on other characters in the film. The rest of the movie is Brilliant if you can get past the Doug character.
Over all a charming independent film that I enjoyed. It made me want to work at a zoo. The Giant Mechanical Man reminds us that happiness is unique to our needs. It's okay to be selfish when it comes to your own happiness. Putting your foot down and knowing what you need for your future.
Movie 9 Day 9
The Giant Mechanical Man
Will this winter ever end? Thank goodness for movie days. Sometimes you need to watch a movie to help keep away the winter blues. My process for picking movies varies from week to week. The majority of the time I find an actor I like and watch everything I can get my hands on. In the case of The Giant Mechanical Man, I watched it because I found out Chris Messina was in it. If you ever have an opportunity to watch a movie with Chris Messina, you will not be disappointed. He is such a brilliant actor, he's brilliant on The Mindy Project.
Anyways, this review is about The Giant Mechanical Man. This movie stars Jenna Fisher as Janice, she is a woman walking aimlessly through life. She works from temp job to temp job like a zombie. Janice falls on hard times and moves in with her sister Jill, played by Malin Akerman. Jill keeps trying to set Janice up on dates with annoying motivational speaker Doug, played by Topher Grace. Janice decides to take a job at the zoo where she meets Tim, played by Chris Messina. Tim has a secret, he dresses as a mechanical man on stilts and dancing around the city for tips.
I found myself relating and connecting to Janice. She is having a hard time figuring out what she is supposed to be doing with her life. Everyone is trying to "fix" her and claim they know what is best. Janice has a hard time expressing what she wants and gaining her courage. She meets the Mechanical Man, not knowing it's Tim. She feels connected to him, she feels like an outsider. It's wonderful seeing Janice grow and become her own woman. She learns to love herself and opens herself to loving someone new.
Tim is a beautifully written character. He wants to bring people happiness, even if he has to wear metal paint to do it. He is desperate to connect with others but isn't sure how to do it. Once he meets Janice, he starts to see hope. He sees someone he can connect with. I think connecting with other people is something we can all relate to.
The only part I didn't enjoy was Topher Grace's character. He is a horrible, selfish cliche on the motivational speaker. It's probably not Topher's fault because the character is so dreadful. I found his character to be distracting from the plot and not in a good way. I would have preferred more time on other characters in the film. The rest of the movie is Brilliant if you can get past the Doug character.
Over all a charming independent film that I enjoyed. It made me want to work at a zoo. The Giant Mechanical Man reminds us that happiness is unique to our needs. It's okay to be selfish when it comes to your own happiness. Putting your foot down and knowing what you need for your future.
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