Jack Malik is a struggling singer-songwriter
in an English seaside town whose dreams of fame are rapidly fading, despite the
fierce devotion and support of his childhood best friend, Ellie. After a freak
bus accident during a mysterious global blackout, Jack wakes up to discover
that The Beatles have never existed. Performing songs by the greatest band in
history to a world that has never heard them, Jack becomes on overnight
sensation with a little help from his agent. Director: Danny Boyle Cast: Himesh Patel, Lily James, Ed Sheeran,
Kate McKinnon Release Date: June 28, 2019 Biography, Comedy, Fantasy, Music Rated PG-13 for suggestive content and
language Runtime: 1 h 56 min Review: Yesterday is an uplifting musical fantasy
grafted onto a romantic comedy. Danny
Boyle’s film is energetically directed resulting in a film with a strong pulse
beating throughout. Himesh Patel is
pitch perfect in the central role, carrying the film with impressive ease. He’s likable throughout the entirety of the
film but is greatly helped by being paired with Lily James. The film works best when they are on screen
together because of the strength of their onscreen chemistry. James hasn’t ever really left much of an
impression beforehand but here she’s just perfect playing the part of a
lovelorn love interest. Patel has an
impressive singing voice which makes his renditions of a bevy of Beatles
classics infinitely more toe tappingly good.
If there are a few drawbacks it’s the story itself outside of the
initial premise is a fairly straight forward romantic comedy, thankfully the
two leads make you invest emotionally into their story arches. Kate McKinnon, who I usually enjoy, is just
terribly miscast and just sticks out in all the wrong ways. Also, there is a late act reveal that’s sure
to be divisive amongst fans. It’s a strong
impactful moment that’s probably one of the bolder decisions in an otherwise
safe film. Even with a few drawbacks
Yesterday is one those rare films that will have you leaving the theater with a
smile on your face.
After moving to a new city, young Andy Barclay receives a special present from
his mother -- a seemingly innocent Buddi doll that becomes his best friend.
When the doll suddenly takes on a life of its own, Andy unites with other
neighborhood children to stop the sinister toy from wreaking bloody havoc.
Director: Simon Kinberg
Cast: Gabriel Bateman, AubreyPlaza,
Brian Tyree Henry, Mark Hamill
Rated R for bloody horror violence, and
language throughout Release Date: June 21, 2019
Genres: Horror
Runtime: 1h 30 min
Review:
The remake of Child’s
Play bears only passing resemblance to 80s original which isn’t a terrible
thing.Sure purist will complain about
it but this new version does feel a bit cleaner and more straightforward which
is a good and bad.The film itself it
fairly lean and moves at a decent pace although it does feel a tad rushed in
spots.Gabriel Bateman who plays Andy is
solid if unimpressive in the lead role while AubreyPlaza
feels miscast and under utilized at the same time.Brian Tyree Henry sparks up the film when he’s
on screen but much like Plaza, the film doesn’t take advantage of their
talents.Mark Hamill’s voice as Chucky
is distinctive enough from Brad Dourif’s work in the previous films to leave an
impression.Still, Dourif’s work is so
iconic at this point that it’s hard to believe that anyone would choose this
new iteration as their favorite.Simon
Kinberg directs the film with an odd sense of humor but it’s never all that
edgy or scary.Even the violence feels
somewhat sanitized and bland, not to mention the general silliness of the whole
thing.Still it wasn’t as if the original
films where any bastion of high end writing so perhaps the remake is still in
line with the older films.
Last night I was fortunate to catch an an early screening of Danny Boyle's Yesterday.
Spoiler level here will be mild, nothing you wouldn't know from the trailers.
During a freakish worldwide blackout, a young musician is hit by a bus and wakes to find no one else remembers the Beatles.
Dear Reader(s), a disclaimer: Yesterday is not a science fiction film. It does not get into the hows and whys of the blackout or the items subsequently missing from memory. The story simply moves forward on the premise that it happened, and it expects viewers to do the same.
Yesterday presents an interesting quandary: What if you were the only person who remembered something as previously well-known and well-loved as the music of the Beatles? What if you could return to the world a wonderful thing it was suddenly missing? What if you stood to gain from doing so? These questions weigh heavily on Jack Malik, portrayed with humble charm by Himesh Patel, and his struggle gives anchor to what otherwise might seem a flighty premise. Lily James is endearing as Jack's stalwart manager/number-one fan, and Ed Sheeran is terrific playing Ed Sheeran With a Bigger Ego. Ed gets full marks for being a good sport here, and as a fan I am excited that what I expected to be a cameo is actually a significant role, complete with a new song! Kate McKinnon is a little too much (as she often is) as the brash Big Deal Music Manager, but she's a small misstep in what's otherwise a pretty perfect movie.
Yesterday tells its unique tale in flawless fashion, with nary an instant where your attention might stray. The Beatles' music is as magical as ever, and Patel sings their songs as if he were born for it. The film's humor is self-deprecating and well placed, offering laugh-out-loud moments as well as sympathetic chuckles. If you are a Beatles fan, there's a gut-punch in the final act that hurts like hell, but, objectively speaking, it adds yet another layer to an already well-crafted story and the movie is better for it.
Yesterday clocks in at 116 minutes and is rated PG13 for "suggestive content and language."
Yesterday takes a horrifying idea--a world without the Beatles--and turns it into an uplifting story about the power of music, truth, and love.
Of a possible nine Weasleys, Yesterday gets nine. Fangirl points: I mean, Ed, obviously.
Also great to see Sanjeev Bhaskar and Sarah Lancashire!
Until next time, as Sir Ringo would say, "Peace and love!"
Woody, Buzz Lightyear and the rest of the
gang embark on a road trip with Bonnie and a new toy named Forky. The
adventurous journey turns into an unexpected reunion as Woody's slight detour
leads him to his long-lost friend Bo Peep. As Woody and Bo discuss the old
days, they soon start to realize that they're worlds apart when it comes to
what they want from life as a toy.Director: Dexter Fletcher Cast: Tom Hanks, Tim Allen, Annie Potts,
Tony Hale, Keegan-Michael Key, Jordan Peele, Madeleine McGraw, Christina
Hendricks, Keanu Reeves Release Date: June 20, 2019 Biography, Animation, Adventure, Comedy Rated G Runtime: 1 h 40 min Review: Toy Story 3 really felt like a proper and
fitting send off for the venerable franchise while leaving fans an emotional
wreck. This fourth entry had some work
to do to explain its reason for existing besides an obvious money grab. Thankful this fourth entry is a fitting
epilogue to the franchise that ties up storylines while maintaining the high level
of layered storytelling that’s always been a calling card of the
franchise. The story isn’t going to
level your emotions the way part 3 did but it’s still got a solid bit of bite
in spots particularly in the final frames.
Thematically it’s got some heady issues at play, particularly finding
your personal worth and self actualization which is hefty stuff for a kid’s
movie. That’s not to say kids won’t
enjoy it because they will, it’s probably one of the most vibrantly animated entries
in the series. The setting like the
antique shop and carnival are visual cornucopias of colors and details that you’re
liable to need a few views to see everything they put in. The cast delivers across the board like they
always do even though some of the characters are regulated to the 2nd
or 3rd tier. The new
additions of Christina Hendricks, Keanu Reeves, Tony Hale, Keegan-Michael Key
and Jordan Peele make that easier to deal with but I would have liked a bit
more of a spotlight on some of the established characters. Tom Hanks’ Woody is
the primary focus here with most of the story serving his character arch. Adding Annie Pott’s Bo Peep back into the mix
as a strong self realized female character makes for an interesting dynamic
that really adds to the overall impact of the story. If this truly is the end of the series, it’s
a fitting bittersweet send off.
Having zero interest in sleeping through the latest Men in Black installment, this weekend I enjoyed another double-shot of Rocketman at the cinema while turning to Netflix for something new. On the docket, the suspenseful comedy Murder Mystery.
Spoiler level here will be mild, nothing you wouldn't know from the trailers.
Americans on a belated honeymoon accept an invitation from a mysterious stranger, only to find themselves at the center of a murder mystery.
Of late, Netflix originals have done a fine job of competing with the big studios. It comes as something of a surprise, then, that Murder Mystery feels more like an old-school network Movie of the Week.
Murder Mystery moves quickly through a by-the-numbers, "Clue"-like plot. It's amusing enough, and a stable of reasonably-famous faces keeps it from feeling *too* low-rent, despite the fact there's very little mystery in the murder. None of the leads plays against type: Jennifer Aniston is the girl-next-door, Adam Sandler her over-earnest husband, and Luke Evans the dashing and mysterious stranger. Netflix won't be hanging its hat on this one come awards season, but it's decent fun nonetheless.
Murder Mystery clocks in at 97 minutes and is rated PG13 for "violence/bloody images, crude sexual content, and language."
Murder Mystery is unmemorable, but if you're looking to shut off your brain with a bit of entertainment that doesn't challenge, it's just the ticket. Of a possible nine Weasleys, Murder Mystery gets five.
The Men in Black have expanded to cover the globe
but so have the villains of the universe. To keep everyone safe, decorated
Agent H and determined rookie M join forces -- an unlikely pairing that just
might work. When aliens that can take the form of any human arrive on Earth, H
and M embark on a globe-trotting adventure to save the agency -- and ultimately
the world -- from their mischievous plans.
Director: F. Gary Gray
Cast: Chris Hemsworth, Tessa Thompson, Kumail Nanjiani, Rebecca
Ferguson, Rafe Spall, Laurent and Larry Bourgeois, Liam Neeson, along with Emma
Thompson
Release Date: June 14, 2019
Genres: Action, Adventure, Comedy
Rated PG-13 for sci-fi action, some language and suggestive material.
Runtime: 1h 54min
Review:
Men in Black: International is a half hearted reboot that does boast a
pair of a game stars that almost makes the film memorable. F. Gary Gray captures some of the feel from
the original but its never maintained for a consistent amount of time. As such, the film is better in parts than it
is as a whole. The scripting doesn’t
help much with it playing to the most basic and predictable story beats. So ultimately it’s up Chris Hemsworth and
Tessa Thompson to make the whole thing watchable, luckily their chemistry makes
the whole thing an enjoyable romp even if it’s ultimately forgettable. The Men In Black series has always had
trouble nailing the original’s feel in the sequels. The third entry in the film came close and is
an underrated entry in the series, International will probably fall just short
of that entry. It did take on the
gargantuan task of replacing the Will Smith/Tommy Lee Jones dynamic and it does
reasonably well even if the story is generic and ultimately mundane.
Yesterday I preceded my day-long Rocketman festival with an early screening of the Secret Life of Pets 2.
This review will include some very specific spoilers that--as a pet mom and animal lover--I feel obligated to mention. However, I will put them at the end after the rating, with a warning, for anyone who wants to read to that point for a general overview.
The Secret Life of Pets 2 revisits our old friends from the first installment, sending them in mostly different directions, adding new friends and adversaries, and giving us a movie that feels a little disjointed.
The Secret Life of Pets 2 features three separate plotlines, two of which converge at film's end, and one that mostly stands on its own. It's not really a problem, but it does make the whole seem a bit jumbled. That aside, pieces of the movie are laugh-out-loud funny. If the dogs are broadly drawn, the cats are spot on. These writers, they're cat people! The art and animation are sharp and colorful, and a cheerful score is peppered with familiar tunes sure to appeal to young and old alike. Kevin Hart's voice work as the unhinged bunny Snowball is again the movie's highlight, and this time he's playing off a familiar costar, Tiffany Haddish, a new addition as Snowball's puppy pal, Daisy. This is a fun outing that doesn't overstay its welcome, making the movie’s shortcomings easy enough to forgive.
An aside: This was my first experience with a sensory-friendly movie screening, and I want to give props to my local theater, Marquee Cinemas, for offering this option. The film itself is unaltered, but the volume is lowered, the lights don't quite go all the way down, and there are subtitles on the screen. This screening also skipped the trailers. It was a good experience that seemed to go over well with its target audience, and it did my cold heart good to see kids who mightn't otherwise get to experience the cinema enjoy a movie.
The Secret Life of Pets 2 runs a quick 86 minutes and is rated PG for "some action and rude humor."
The Secret Life of Pets 2 is nothing special, but it's a fun enough summer outing to get folks by until Toy Story 4 hits screens in a couple weeks.
Of a possible nine Weasleys, the Secret Life of Pets 2 gets five.
Hereafter there be spoilers!
Fangirl Demerits (a first!):
I have never been a person who blames people's behavior on entertainment; on the contrary, I greatly value personal accountability. However, when it comes to anything targeting children, I do think we need to be careful what we put out there, and this movie does a few things that bothered me.
Near the beginning of the movie, there's a scene of a baby pulling on a dog's ears and tail. In the real world, this is how children get bitten and innocent animals get put down. Pets are not toys. This cannot be stressed enough, and it's no joke.
In one scene the little dog Gidget is using the dishwasher as a sauna. A silly enough gag, but how long until somebody's child puts a small dog in the dishwasher, much like kids were flushing fish down the toilet to “set them free” after seeing Finding Nemo? The movie loses nothing without that scene, so just don't do it.
Finally, in one plotline, the apartment-dwelling Max and Duke visit a relative on a farm, and are told, "Dogs sleep outside." Decent people don't make dogs sleep outside, and decent pet owners don't bring their dogs to places where they aren't welcome indoors. I docked this movie a full Weasley point for that one.
This is the story of one
of the X-Men’s most beloved characters, Jean Grey, as she evolves into the
iconic DARK PHOENIX. During a life-threatening rescue mission in space, Jean is
hit by a cosmic force that transforms her into one of the most powerful mutants
of all. Wrestling with this increasingly unstable power as well as her own
personal demons, Jean spirals out of control, tearing the X-Men family apart
and threatening to destroy the very fabric of our planet. The film is the most
intense and emotional X-Men movie ever made. It is the culmination of 20 years
of X-Men movies, as the family of mutants that we’ve come to know and love must
face their most devastating enemy yet -- one of their own.
Director: Simon Kinberg
Cast: James McAvoy,
Michael Fassbender, Jennifer Lawrence, Nicholas Hoult, Sophie Turner, Tye
Sheridan, Alexandra Shipp, Jessica Chastain
Rated PG-13 for intense sequences of sci-fi
violence and action including some gunplay, disturbing images, and brief strong
language Release Date: June 7, 2019
Genres: Action,
Adventure, Sci-Fi
Runtime: 1h 54 min
Review:
It’s typically not the
biggest compliment for a film when you start comparing it to past entries in
the franchise only to confirm that it’s not as bad as some of the series low spots. In this case, Dark Phoenix isn’t the
collective disaster that X-Men The Last Stand was and it’s far more palatable
than X-Men Apocalypse. That doesn’t
necessarily make a good film though, it’s serviceable at best. The first two acts of the film rush through
exposition and tries to get the audience to care about Jean Grey whom we’ve
spent barely anytime with as a character in the previous films. Sophie Turner just isn’t terribly engaging as
the titular character, her acting ranger here seem to consist of staring
blankly into space angrily. The real
shame is that the film is stacked with excellent actors and actresses across
the board. Jennifer Lawrence is barely
given much to do and her character’s storyline doesn’t land the way it
should. It’s a consistent issue with the
film, its first two acts feel like an emotionless slog peppered with some
respectable action sequences. Jessica
Chastain’s character and performance exemplify this since she’s a walking
talking emotionless villain who’s not so much a character but a plot device to
move the story forward. She’s utterly wasted throughout the film, much like Michael
Fassbender whose role feels more like an extended cameo. James McAvoy fares slightly better but it not
enough to turn the tide, the films final battle is solid but strangely Simon
Kinberg decided it was a good idea to uses certain beats from The Last
Stand. Since the final act was entirely
reshot, it’s hard not to see a problematic production turn into a messy
uninspired film.
An epic musical fantasy about the uncensored
human story of Sir Elton John’s breakthrough years.
Director: Dexter Fletcher Cast: Taron Egerton, Jamie Bell, Richard
Madden, Bryce Dallas Howard Release Date: May 31, 2019 Biography, Drama, Music Rated R for language throughout, some drug
use and sexual content Runtime: 2 h 1 min Review: Rocketman is a thoroughly entertaining jukebox
musical/biopic of Elton John. Director
Dexter Fletcher style and structure give the film a pulsating energy from the
get go. Fletcher’s direction gives the
film a certain type of energy that differentiates from the more paint by the
numbers feel of Bohemian Rhapsody. As
such, it’s feels like a better made film from start to finish and it’s hard not
to think about Julie Taymor’s underrated Across The Universe which had a
similar feel. At the center of the
entire thing is Taron Egerton who deserves all the accolades that are sure to
come his way during award season.
Egerton has long been doing impressive work across multiple films
outside of The Kingsman series but here he just embodies Elton John. His performance and singing are just superb
throughout the entire film. The supporting
cast is just as strong even if some of the characters feel a bit more like
types as opposed to fully formed characters.
Richard Madden is impressively enigmatic as John’s first manager and
lover while Jamie Bell performance is quieter and more subtle but just as
effective. Ultimately, your enjoyment of
the film will come down to your enjoyment of musicals and Elton John’s timeless
music, outside of those caveats, Rocketman is sure to please.
Members of the crypto-zoological agency
Monarch face off against a battery of god-sized monsters, including the mighty
Godzilla, who collides with Mothra, Rodan, and his ultimate nemesis, the
three-headed King Ghidorah. When these ancient super-species-thought to be mere
myths-rise again, they all vie for supremacy, leaving humanity's very existence
hanging in the balance.
Director: Michael Dougherty
Cast: Kyle Chandler, Vera Farmiga, Millie
Bobby Brown, Bradley Whitford, Sally Hawkins, Charles Dance, Thomas
Middleditch, Aisha Hinds, O'Shea Jackson Jr., David Strathairn, Ken Watanabe,
Zhang Ziyi.
Release Date: May 31, 2019
Action, Action, Adventure, Fantasy
Rated PG-13 for sequences of monster action
violence and destruction, and for some language Runtime: 2 h 11 min
Review:
Godzilla: King of the Monsters is a movie at
war with itself.The obvious main
attraction is the monster mayhem promised in the title and on that basis alone
it succeeds.The battle sequences are
beautifully shot even if they tend to be a bit dark in spots.Portions of the epic battle sequences almost
look like some sort of insane renaissance painting of carnage.So is that enough to make a film enjoyable if
the human portion of the film feels like it was lifted out of a bad 90s summer
blockbuster?It’s difficult to tell
since those portions are just so bland and terribly scripted.The cast assembled is incredibly strong but
they’re mostly wasted spouting hackneyed lines.Character motivations vary from act to act and the logic behind some of
the people’s actions are ludicrous.To
say that the film lags in spots would be an understatement since it’s a series
of ups and downs in terms of excitement.On the most basic level, Godzilla: King of the Monster works as a
mindless and summer blockbuster that delivers some of the best kaiju action
ever.Sadly the overstuffed run time
could have excised entire portions of the human side of the story and the film
would have been better for it.
Yesterday I abandoned my coworkers, turned my back on the best weather day of the budding summer, and hid inside a dark cinema with a monster monarch and pop music king.
Spoiler level here will be mild, nothing you wouldn't know from trailers and clips.
First on my agenda, Godzilla: King of the Monsters.
With Earth threatened by Titans and eco-terrorists, it's the King of the Monsters himself to the rescue.What I expect from a Godzilla movie, first and foremost, is for the monsters to be huge and impressive. Godzilla: King of the Monsters delivers that in spades, and I didn't even see it on the biggest/best screen at my cinema. I can only imagine how spectacular it looks in IMAX! The CGI sleek and effective, and the light effects on various creatures add some punch to a movie that, overall, is rather dark and sometimes hard to see. The disaster and even weather effects are also a sight to behold. A cast that boasts names like Bradley Whitford, Sally Hawkins, Vera Farmiga, Kyle Chandler, and Ken Watanabe might ordinarily be relied upon to elevate a movie beyond "just a monster movie," but, unfortunately, this monster movie is the equivalent of cement shoes on its actors. I was a little embarrassed to watch such quality talent utter this poorly-crafted dialogue, and I groaned out loud more than once at putrid attempts at humor. That aside, Bear McCreary's score smacks of old-school Godzilla pictures, and solid wall-to-wall action makes for a fast-moving couple hours of summer escapism.
Godzilla: King of the Monsters runs 131 minutes and is rated PG13 for "sequences of monster action, violence, and destruction, and for some language."
It's not the best Godzilla movie ever, but King of the Monsters certainly isn't the worst. Of a possible nine Weasleys, Godzilla: King of the Monsters gets six.
Next on the docket, a movie for which it feels like I've been waiting forever: Rocketman, a musical fantasy based on the life of Elton John.
Dearest reader(s), I am utterly in love with Rocketman. I want to talk about this movie. I want to talk about this movie a LOT. If you don't care to dive right into the thousand words that will undoubtedly follow, just get off the couch, put away the laptop, and get out to the cinema now. Do it. If you *do* want to dive right into my thoughts on Rocketman, well, here ya go...
The first words I said to anyone about Rocketman were: "That's not just the best movie I've seen this year; that's the best movie I've seen in ten years." While it'd take a bit more careful consideration to see how close that statement is to actual fact (it's only been nine years since two new entries, The Social Network and How to Train Your Dragon, jumped into my all-time top ten), I'll stand by the enthusiasm. Rocketman is a truly extraordinary cinematic achievement.
Rocketman is staged like a Broadway musical, with John recounting his childhood, rise to fame, and difficulties with addictions and relationships through musical numbers. The film moves deftly from heartbreak to passion to euphoria without ever feeling disjointed or like it's lost its way. Though the real strength of the musical numbers lies in John's timeless tunes, the staging bursts with fantastic choreography and brilliant costumes. John's story is fascinating enough in its own right, but here it's brought to life with a theatrical flair reminiscent of Bob Fosse's brilliant biopic All That Jazz, another of my all-time top-ten movies, which I was disappointed to discover recently is not available for rental or streaming...if I want to watch it, I have to dig out my old DVD. How very 1998!
Rocketman features top-notch work from a delightful cast. Taron Egerton gives up every inch of himself to *become* Elton John, and if I had the whole of the Internet I couldn't say enough about his performance. Masterful, exceptional, and entirely expected of Egerton, who is unfailingly extraordinary. He does his own singing here, too, in case anyone was wondering. If Egerton perfectly captures the cacophony of Elton John, Jamie Bell's stalwart Bernie Taupin serves as the movie's quiet cornerstone. Bell has been turning in brilliant performances literally since he was a child, and this one moved me to tears more than once. The remainder of the cast, particularly Richard Madden as John's sexy, sleazy first love and manager John Reid, fantastically fleshes out the highs and lows and brights and darks of John's world, nary a weak link to be found among them; even the young kids are terrific.
Following so quickly on the heels of the Queen/Freddie Mercury biopic Bohemian Rhapsody, comparisons are inevitable, so, for whatever it's worth, here's how the two films stack up for me. Throwing no shade at Bohemian Rhapsody, which I loved, Rocketman is a much better film. The most objective and therefore critically relevant reason is simple: It's just more self-aware. Bohemian Rhapsody wanted so very badly to be taken seriously, and ultimately it succeeded, but for my money it skimmed too lightly over the dark times and hard questions to earn it. Rocketman was only ever billed as a fantasy, so, though it's based on some real-life people and happenings--and not all happy ones--it could always be whatever it wanted...and it is EVERYTHING. More subjectively, though I'm a big fan of Rami Malek, I've always believed Taron Egerton could do anything, and in each and every project he proves me right. Malek was terrific as Freddie Mercury, but Egerton inhabits Elton John in a way I've seldom seen, not even from the most experienced and decorated performers. Finally, Queen made some epic, legendary music and I love all of it, but it's never moved me in the way Elton John's music does, and that's allowing for the fact that my favorite Elton John songs--Madman Across the Water and Funeral for a Friend/Love lies Bleeding--are unrepresented in this picture. So...if you're going to make the comparison, for me it's not a hard call: Rocketman is a better movie than Bohemian Rhapsody by far and in every way.
Rocketman clocks in at 121 minutes and is rated R for "language throughout, some drug use, and sexual content."
Rocketman will break your heart and mend your soul. I haven't stopped smiling since I saw it, and I can't wait to see it again. There aren't nearly enough Weasleys to give this movie the rating it deserves, so I'm just going to beg you: GET OUT AND SEE ROCKETMAN NOW!
