Ruth Bader Ginsburg is a struggling attorney and new mother who faces adversity and numerous obstacles in her fight for equal rights. When Ruth takes on a groundbreaking tax case with her husband, attorney Martin Ginsburg, she knows it could change the direction of her career and the way the courts view gender discrimination.
Director: Mimi Leder
Cast: Felicity Jones, Armie Hammer, Justin Theroux, Jack Reynor, Cailee Spaeny, Sam Waterston, and Kathy Bates
Release Date: December 25, 2018
Genres: Biography, Drama
Rated PG-13 for some language and suggestive content
Runtime: 2h 0min
Review:
On The Basis of Sex is an engaging if cliched bio pic that is elevated by it's direction and performances. Mimi Leder directs the film with a steady caring hand that treats it's characters with a gentle hand. Leder moves the film at a steady pace but the film would have been better served focusing on a tighter timeline since it covers a fairly large portion of Ginsburg's life. At the film's center is Felicity Jones who provides the story it's heart. Jones turn as Ginsburg captures that intensity and drive that propelled her throughout her early years. Sure her Brooklyn accent comes and in and out through the film but she does a fine job of carrying the film. A swoon worthy Armie Hammer is excellent as Ginsburg's loving and ever supportive husband. The supporting cast is made up of familiar faces along with a rare evil turn from Sam Waterston. There are a few missteps mostly due to the script which over does the schmaltz factor that makes certain sequences feel a bit too "Hollywood" which robs moments of authenticity. Still it's a solid film enough biopic of an amazing woman who deserves this type of recognition. B+
A young boy (Lewis MacDougall) befriends a wise tree monster (voiced by Liam
Neeson) while coping with bullying and the terminal illness of his mother
(Felicity Jones). He moves in with his grandmother (Sigourney Weaver) as his
mom's condition deteriorates, and uses his imagination and friendship with the
monster to escape reality. J.A. Bayona (The Impossible) directed this fantasy
drama. ~ Daniel Gelb, Rovi
Director: Juan Antonio Bayona
Cast: Felicity Jones, Sigourney Weaver, Liam Neeson, Toby
Kebbell, Ben Moor, Lewis MacDougall
Release Date: Dec
23, 2016
Rated PG-13 for Thematic Content and Some Scary Images
Runtime: 1 hr. 48 min.
Genres: Drama, Sci-Fi/Fantasy
Review:
Juan Antonio Bayona’s A Monster Calls is an interesting
fantasy parable with a very human message.Bayona crafts together a beautifully gothic tale with some impressive
visual flourishes peppered in throughout.Its pace is decidedly measured and methodical throughout.It might be a turnoff to some because it does
move at snail’s pace during large portions of the film.The monster and his tales are wonderfully
animated through lush water colored animation which is as striking as it is
effective. The cast lead by Lewis MacDougall is stellar through out and you’d
think with the bigger names in the film, MacDougall might get lost in the
shuffle but he never does. He turns in an impressive performance filled with
melancholy and visible pain.Its finale
delivers a simple and
straightforward lesson but do so with a strong emotional
punch sure to leave many in tears.
This prequel to the very tells the thrilling story of how a ragtag band of
freedom fighters -- including a former soldier-turned-prisoner (Felicity
Jones), a Rebel Alliance insider (Diego Luna), a Jedi (Donnie Yen), and a
sentient robot (voiced by Alan Tudyk) -- worked together to steal the Death
Star's secret blueprints. Ben Mendelsohn, Forest Whitaker, Riz Ahmed, Mads
Mikkelsen, and Jimmy Smits co-star in Rogue One, the first of several Jimmy
Smits spin-offs planned after J.J. Abrams' J.J. Abrams reboot. ~ Violet LeVoit,
Rovi
Director: Gareth Edwards
Cast :Felicity Jones, Diego Luna, Ben Mendelsohn, Donnie
Yen, Mads Mikkelsen
Release Date: Dec
16, 2016
Rated PG-13 for Sci-Fi Violence and Action
Runtime: 2 hr. 13 min.
Genres: Action/Adventure, Sci-Fi/Fantasy
Review:
It’s probably best to start with a small disclaimer.I’ve never been a diehard Star Wars fan and watched
all of them mainly out of duty.That’s
not to say I don’t like a few of them but I can’t say I really love them with
any deep rooted passion.A fact that was
reiterated after watching The Force Awakens last year, a film I liked the first
time and instantly disliked after a 2nd viewing.The biggest issue with that film was how
lazily it played on nostalgia with very little in the way of innovation.Rogue One thankfully brings some fresh energy
to the franchise by opening up the established world and telling a story free
of major shackles outside of major events from the first film.Gareth Edwards delivers a film that offers a
fresh perspective with a decidedly more grounded and visceral approach.At its center is Felicity Jones who plays Jyn
Eros with a tormented but heartfelt energy throughout.She’s a well rounded character which serves
the film well.Diego Luna is a bit more
of a cipher as the film only gives passing moments of depth to his character
which is a shame since Luna is a talented actor.Alan Tudyk, Donnie Yen and Riz Ahmed all
bring a strong sense of heart to the film.It’s a testament to the film that we meet some of these characters well
into the film but form a strong connection with them quickly.It’s nice to see that Mads Mikkelsen fairs
better here than he did in Dr. Strange even if his screen time is much smaller.Ben Mendelsohn plays a perfect villain even
if he leans a bit too much toward the mustache twirling variety.Darth Vader is used sparingly but when he
appears it makes a strong impact, particularly in the third act.A bit of trimming here and there could have
streamlined the film a bit but considering how troubled the production was,
it’s a bit of a minor miracle that the film came out as well as it did.I go even as far as to say it’s probably one
of my favorite Star Wars films in general.
Dearest Blog: Yesterday I (or, more specifically, the driver) braved inclement weather to get to Marquee Cinemas for the promising double-bill of Rogue One and Collateral Beauty.
Spoiler level here will be mild, nothing you wouldn't know from the trailers.
First up: Rogue One: A Star Wars Story.
Episode 3.5: The Rebel Alliance risks everything in hopes of finding the key to destroying the Death Star.
Rogue One is basically the story you don't (or didn't) know that lays the foundation for the one you do.
Familiar elements provide a nice touch, but the movie makes every effort to stand on its own. It's a little slow getting started, but, ultimately, it's solid enough to recommend to even those who have never seen a Star Wars movie before. That being said:
The first act of Rogue One could have been better paced.
The movie spends a good deal of time laying groundwork that really isn't all that complicated; then, as if that weren't enough, it wastes even more time flashing back to stuff that happened only 20 minutes before. It's awkward and frustrating. Warming up to our heroine, Jyn Erso (Felicity Jones), is no easy task; she's not even half-likeable until she meets up with Rebel pilot Cassian Andor (Diego Luna). (Disclaimer: Opinion may be based entirely on the fact that I don't like Jones or her weird teeth.)
Once the picture gets moving, there's plenty of action to go 'round, and it becomes much easier to get invested in the characters...perhaps because they're just better characters. The movie really finds its heart when Chirrut Imwe (Donnie Yen), Baze Malbus (Wen Jiang), and Bodhi Rook (Riz Ahmed) turn up, and, unlike Jyn, it's very easy to root for them. Ahmed, in particular, is terrific and does scared and conflicted about as well as anyone. Rogue One has a fair bit of humor, some that hits the mark and some that's just too silly for the situation.
Michael Giacchino provides a rousing score, though, ultimately, it's those hints of John Williams' original music that really feel like home. Large sections of the picture are too dark to see what's going on, and the runtime is a little excessive (which could have been remedied easily if only that first half had been better plotted), but, for my money, Rogue One: A Star Wars Story is a fun outing that's even better than The Force Awakens.
Rogue One: A Star Wars Story clocks in at 134 minutes and is rated PG13 for "extended sequences of sci-fi violence and action."
Rogue One is another worthy installment in one of the greatest movie sagas of all time. Do see it on the big screen while you can.
Of a possible nine Weasleys, Rogue One gets seven and a half.
Fangirl points: Ben Mendelsohn! Mads Mikkelson! Jimmy Smits! *swoon*
Next up: Collateral Beauty.
After the loss of his young daughter, a grieving man begins writing theraputic letters to Love, Time, and Death. Much to his surprise, Love, Time, and Death offer the favor of a personal reply.
When I went to buy my ticket for Collateral Beauty, I accidentally asked for Collateral Damage, which anyone who knows anything about me will TOTALLY understand. Collateral Beauty isn't really my thing, but the trailer promised some Oscar-worthy performances, and, since none of the really good awards contenders--La La Land, Manchester By The Sea, Nocturnal Animals--have played here (I'll hopefully add a "yet" to the end of that bit), it became my default option for a weekend so deep into Awards Season I couldn't afford to take a pass.
Collateral Beauty has two chief strikes against it: First, it is a criminal waste of everything that normally makes Will Smith such a compelling lead. Smith is more than capable of tackling this sort of drama, but he's got an inherent charm that's suffocated by this lifeless character.
Even when he gets really angry, it's a flatline. Secondly, everyone outside of Smith is just SO. DAMN. EARNEST. A little of that goes a long way, and so much makes these individuals seem insincere, like one-dimensional paper dolls. Helen Mirren is always a delight, and, if there's something that's almost as cool as Helen Mirren with an RPG in RED, it's Helen Mirren as Death, even if that's not *quite* what the trailer leads you to believe.
The remainder of the cast is more than solid, but they're drowning in broadly-drawn characters that are about as subtle as a dollar-store greeting card. Collateral Beauty's finale is unspeakably hokey, but, if you didn't guess from the trailers that hokey was on the menu, you probably weren't paying attention.
Ultimately, Collateral Beauty fails to tick any of the boxes that make a quality motion picture, but it's got a warm-and-fuzzy holiday vibe and, to be honest, I liked it better than it probably deserves. (But Collateral Damage is still way better.)
Collateral Beauty runs a very reasonable 97 minutes and is rated PG13 for "thematic elements and brief strong language."
The awards contender that wasn't, Collateral Beauty will still satisfy any cravings for sentimental holiday fare.
Of a possible nine Weasleys, Collateral Beauty gets four and a half.
Fangirl points: My beautiful New York City! Naomie Harris (even if her accent is all over the place)!
Dearest Blog: Yesterday it was off to Marquee Cinemas for the latest in Dan Brown's Robert Langdon series, Inferno.
Spoiler level here will be mild, nothing you wouldn't know from the trailers.
After waking in a hospital, suffering from amnesia, Professor Robert Langdon (Tom Hanks) teams with Doctor Sienna Brooks (Felicity Jones) to thwart a global threat.
Okay, dear reader(s), here's the thing about this Langdon series: these movies just oughta be better than they are.
All the pieces are there, yet the finished product is always decidedly mediocre...in fact, the middle installment was so forgettable I had to double-check to make sure I'd even seen it before moving on to the new one! Inferno, like its predecessors, is fortunate to have the eminently likable Tom Hanks reprising his role as Langdon.
No matter what else a movie has going for or against it, Hanks generally guarantees it'll be at least watchable, and certainly that's the case here. Jones, on the other hand, is her usual blandly irritating self; if not for her weird teeth, you might mistake her for ten other actresses of similar age and appearance. Inferno boasts more of the series' usual lovely locations and tidbits of historical interest.
There's action aplenty, with our heroes spending much of the picture running through crowded streets and imposing buildings, but ultimately the whole thing just feels too silly for something that pretends to be so intellectual.
Inferno clocks in at 121 minutes and is rated PG13 for "sequences of action and violence, disturbing images, some language, thematic elements, and brief sensuality."
Inferno is a passable afternoon's entertainment, but, sadly, it's nothing special.
Of a possible nine Weasleys, Inferno gets five.
Until next time...
PS: Dear Cinemas Everywhere: I know Chris Pratt and Jennifer Lawrence are the cutest people on Earth, but that Passengers trailer is getting old REAL DAMN FAST.
Starring Eddie Redmayne ("Les Misérables") and Felicity Jones
("The Amazing Spider-Man 2"), this is the extraordinary story of one
of the world's greatest living minds, the renowned astrophysicist Stephen
Hawking, who falls deeply in love with fellow Cambridge student Jane Wilde.
Once a healthy, active young man, Hawking received an earth-shattering
diagnosis at 21 years of age. With Jane fighting tirelessly by his side,
Stephen embarks on his most ambitious scientific work, studying the very thing
he now has precious little of - time. Together, they defy impossible odds,
breaking new ground in medicine and science, and achieving more than they could
ever have dreamed. The film is based on the memoir Travelling to Infinity: My
Life with Stephen, by Jane Hawking, and is directed by Academy Award winner
James Marsh ("Man on Wire").
Director: James Marsh
Cast: Eddie Redmayne, Felicity Jones, David Thewlis,
Emily Watson, Charlie Cox
Release Date: Nov
07, 2014
Rated: PG-13 for suggestive Material and Some Thematic
Elements
Runtime: 2 hr. 3 min.
Genres: Drama
Review:
The Theory of Everything is the type of Awards fodder you
expect to see around this time of year.It’s structured in a fairly conventional manner but director James Marsh
keeps everything moving at a steady pace.It’s a lovely looking film that carries some real heart with it.Marsh allows his actors to really find their
characters which they do in spades.Eddie Redmayne is going to get the most accolades and it’s all well
deserved.He disappears into his role
completely, mimicking every stage of Hawking’s disability while still conveying
a sharp mind and wit throughout.Redmayne’s role is the highlight but Felicity Jones performance really
anchors the film.She displays so many
emotions over the course of the film.The film doesn’t keep a storybook track for the love story; as such it
feels much more real and packs a stronger punch.The film is packed with emotion and it covers
the gamut from inspirational to heartbreaking and back.
