MOVIE REVIEW: MAESTRO

 

On the verge of securing a golden opportunity, American conductor Leonard Bernstein begins a tumultuous relationship with actress Felicia Montealegre, upturning their lives.

Director: Bradley Cooper

Cast: Bradley Cooper, Carey Mulligan, Matt Bomer, Maya Hawke, Sarah Silverman

Release Date: December 8, 2023 

Genre: Drama, Music, Romance

Rated R for some language and drug use.

Runtime: 2h 9m

Bradley Cooper's Maestro contains all the trappings of an awards contender but some strangle choices in this biopic leave you feeling disconnected from the story's central character.  Cooper stars and directs the film with a tangible sense of energy on both sides of the camera.  His direction is steady and confident particularly in the open half which he shoots in black and white while having characters exchange dialogue in quick fire succession.  It gives the film a fun, old school look and feel as we are introduced to Bernstein after his debut.  Cooper clearly studied his subject to great extents to deliver a level of mimicry in an attempt to capture Bernstein's speech patterns and mannerism with its effectiveness varying from scene to scene.  Capturing such a large persona is a huge undertaking and Cooper can't quite find the right mix resulting in a uneven performance which never finds the emotional center of the character.  Carey Mulligan fares far better and practically steals the show as Felicia Montealegre with a more nuanced and subtle performance.  As a result we get far more insight into Mulligan's character than we ever do with Cooper's Bernstein.  A handful of sizzling sequences between the two prove to be the high points during the film runtime which feels rushed as it spends very little time on Bernstein's work or his impact.  Its a strange choice which leaves the central character feel more like a supporting player in his own story with Mulligan serving as the film's beating heart.  Cooper does deliver a rather impressive performance of Bernstein conducting in a sweaty but passionate sequences which gives us more insight into his love of music than any other portions of the film.  The energy and passion seeping through that sequence leaves you wondering why the film doesn't bother to explore it in great detail which ultimately leaves Maestro a well intentioned but misguided biopic.

B-

MOVIE REVIEW: MARRY ME

 

Pop superstar Kat Valdez is about to get married before an audience of her loyal fans. However, seconds before the ceremony, she learns about her fiance's cheating ways and has a meltdown on stage. In a moment of inspired insanity, Kat locks eyes with a total stranger in the crowd and marries him on the spot. As forces conspire to separate the unlikely newlyweds, they must soon decide if two people from such different worlds can find true love together.

Director: Kat Coiro

Cast: Jennifer Lopez, Owen Wilson, John Bradley, Sarah Silverman, Chloe Coleman

Release Date: February 11, 2022 

Genre: Comedy, Music, Romance

Rated PG-13 for some language and suggestive material

Runtime: 1h 52m

Review:

Marry Me is a preposterous rom-com that takes the general idea of Notting Hill and updates it with a modern spin.  Kat Coiro's film doesn't break any new ground but it's a breezy surprisingly likeable rom-com.  There's honestly no good reason for this film to be as watchable as it is almost in spite of itself.  Jennifer Lopez and Owen Wilson do most of the heavy lifting with both turning in charming and likable turns as the two leads.  There is a bit of real life synergy with some elements of the script veering close to some of Lopez's past relationships which makes her performance feel more grounded and authentic.  Wilson is his usual likable self with him and Lopez having a good rapport together even if they don't quite sizzle with romantic chemistry.  The film suffers from structural issues which are ingrained into the genre with the situations getting more and more ridiculous as the film heads into it's finale.  Marry Me doesn't change the genre but it doesn't really try to instead it just has fun with it's ludicrous conceit and runs with it.  

B-

MOVIE REVIEW: WRECK-IT RALPH

WRECK-IT RALPH




An 8-bit video-game character attempts to shed his bad-guy image by escaping into a popular first-person shooter, but inadvertently wreaks havoc in the video-game universe by freeing a digital villain who can only be contained with the help of a most unlikely ally in this colorful animated adventure. Wreck-It Ralph (voice of John C. Reilly) is the arch nemesis of Fix-It Felix (voice of Jack McBrayer), one of the most beloved video-game icons of all time. In a noble bid to prove he is more than the sum of his programming, Ralph sneaks from his cozy retro home into a highly advanced combat game featuring battle-hardened soldier Sergeant Calhoun (voice of Jane Lynch), and strives to prove his bravery by winning a medal. In the process, however, Ralph accidentally frees the greatest threat the video-game world has ever seen. But all hope is not lost, because if Ralph can just convince unpredictable cart racer Vanellope von Schweetz (voice of Sarah Silverman) to help set things right, perhaps he can finally unleash his inner hero and save the arcade from certain destruction. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi

Director: Rich Moore

Cast: John C. Reilly, Sarah Silverman, Jack McBrayer, Jane Lynch, Alan Tudyk

Release Date: Nov 02, 2012

Rated PG for some rude humor and mild action/violence

Runtime: 1 hr. 41 min.

Genres: Animated, Comedy, Family

Review:

Wreck-it Ralph is a surprise on many levels. A smart script with a strong emotional center works on various levels and for various age groups. Thrity-somethings will find enough 8 bit nostalgia to keep them grinning throughout with each tasty Easter egg they run into. Children will find a candy coated story with a good story and message for them to chew on. Rich Moore does what few outside of Pixar have been able to do, deliver an emotional bond with these computer creations. He handles his 2 leads characters with a tenderness which comes through especially with some impressive voice work. John C. Reilly as the lumbering Ralph is just perfect throughout, his voice works so well for the character reminding me of his work in Chicago singing Mr. Cellophane in particular. Sarah Silverman’s precocious misfit character fits her voice like a glove. Both establish a strong chemistry with each other, so much so that it’s hard not to get caught up in their story. Supporting characters are all just as strong. Jane Lynch delivers excellent work as the tough as nails FPS character who spends most of the movie with Fix-it Felix. Jack McBrayer’s southern prep fits the character to a T. Alan Tudyk, drawing inspiration from Ed Wynn, just loses himself in his work here as a fitting villain for the story. If there are a few small drawback in the film is its length and its need to keep us in the Sugar Rush world for nearly the entire film. The latter is understandable considering the plot. Still it’s hard to feel that there’s a wealth of story that could have been told in all the video game worlds hinted at but never explored. It would have been a lot of fun had they not gone with a Wizard of Oz inspired plot line. A few cuts or trims could have streamlined the film by a good ten minutes to deliver a sleeker product. Still it’s a very impressive family film.

B+