MOVIE REVIEW: POOR THINGS

 

Brought back to life by an unorthodox scientist, a young woman runs off with a lawyer on a whirlwind adventure across the continents. Free from the prejudices of her times, she grows steadfast in her purpose to stand for equality and liberation.

Director: Yorgos Lanthimos

Cast: Emma Stone, Mark Ruffalo, Willem Dafoe, Ramy Youssef, Christopher Abbott, Jerrod Carmichael

Release Date: December 8, 2023 

Genre: Comedy, Drama, Romance, Sci-Fi

Rated R for strong and pervasive sexual content, graphic nudity, disturbing material, gore, and language

Runtime: 2h 21m

Yorgos Lanthimos' Frankenstein-like fable, Poor Things, is a darkly comedic and bold exploration of self-discovery of oneself.  Its a fascinating journey with a distinctive style and feel that permeates the film from its opening act, shot in black and white, before the world and color palate of the film opens up with great effect.  Lanthimos' approach is aggressive but self assured as a bevy of themes and concepts that range from the grotesque, to the perverse and philosophical are thrown at the screen in steady succession.  Its a fearless approach that unafraid of losing portions of the audience along the way.  The film and story is held together and propelled by Emma Stone's central turn as Bella Baxter.  Stone's performance carries the film as she makes her character's journey believable and organic with an effortless ease as we see the character move from innate, instinctive, impulses into a fully defined persona. She has an impressive ability to make every step of journey feel authentic all the while never losing her comedic timing during some of the film's more insane and absurd moments.  If not for Stone's fearless turn, Mark Ruffalo could have easily stolen the entire film from a lesser actress.  Ruffalo's turn as the swarmy and nefarious lawyer is a true testament to his talent as actor.  Ruffalo works against his nice guy type to deliver an overconfident lothario who quickly loses control of Baxter before being ultimately ruined financially and emotionally by her.  Ruffalo and Stone work off each incredibly well which really gives the film an almost manic and vibrant energy it never manages to recapture in the back half of the film.  There's a definite sense that film starts to lose a bit of  steam in the final act which drags here and there which would have been helped with some judicious edits.  Willem Dafoe, Ramy Youssef and Jerrod Carmichael round out the cast with each turning in subtly effective performances in limited screen time.  Much like one of Dr. Godwin Baxter's experiments, Poor Things, is a fascinating amalgam of ideas and concepts that results in something singular and distinctive.  

A-

MOVIE REVIEW: AVENGERS: ENDGAME

Adrift in space with no food or water, Tony Stark sends a message to Pepper Potts as his oxygen supply starts to dwindle. Meanwhile, the remaining Avengers -- Thor, Black Widow, Captain America and Bruce Banner -- must figure out a way to bring back their vanquished allies for an epic showdown with Thanos -- the evil demigod who decimated the planet and the universe.

Director: Anthony Russo, Joe Russo

Cast: Robert Downey Jr., Chris Evans, Mark Ruffalo, Chris Hemsworth, Scarlett Johansson, Jeremy Renner, Don Cheadle, Paul Rudd, Brie Larson, Karen Gillan, Danai Gurira, Bradley Cooper, Josh Brolin

Release Date: April 24, 2019

Genres: Action, Adventure, Fantasy

Rated PG-13 for sequences of sci-fi violence and action, and some language

Runtime: 3 h 2min

Review:

Avengers Endgame is the final chapters of the first season of Marvel long running superhero show.  It’s been a bit of an issue that I’ve had with Marvel mainly because very few of the movies have ever just wowed me, that’s not to say I haven’t enjoyed them but they’ve never been the type of films that have blown my mind.  The episodic nature of them always reminded me more of a TV show than movies.  The Russo Brothers do have a nailed down their ability to manage all the various character and plotlines and this culmination does feel like a bit of a victory lap through the last 10 years of films. There are plenty of moments where fan service seems more important than actual plot but it works because the film is ultimately entertaining.  The first hour plays out like a Marvel version of the under watched HBO series The Leftovers with the 2^nd hour pushing into something very reminiscent of the classic series finale of Star Trek The Next Generation.  Much like that series finale the story focuses on the characters we’ve come to know over years as opposed massive action.  Sure it all leads to a climatic showdown but it’s smart to keep the focus on the main 6 characters since they’ve always been the focus of the entire endeavor.  Once the big show down comes it’s a massive spectacle that delivers some incredibly satisfying moments.  The only small drawback is that some of it feels fairly familiar with one moment seemingly channeling an iconic shot from Game of Thrones legendary Battle of the Bastards episode.  I’ll throw in the fact that if anyone whose familiar with another long seeded collection of superhero stories from DC animated universe will get a sense of déjà vu since that series ended with a very similar final battle.  Once the battle is over there are a few more lingering issues because there are plot holes aplenty if you think about many of the choices made, a few are particularly glaring,  It’s really a testament to the work of the cast and directors that film works because in lesser hands it could have been a real mess.  The film is a fitting end to this chapter even if the finality of it doesn’t quiet resonate much like that cliffhanger at the end of Infinity War. 

B-

Cindy Prascik's Review of Avengers Endgame

Yesterday I, along with three-quarters of the world's population, hit the cinema for Avengers: Endgame.

An important note on spoilers: The vast majority of movie-goers, and plenty of people who don't usually bother with the cinema, too, will see this movie. A smaller number wouldn't see it if it were the best film ever made; it's just not their thing. A movie like this is probably the only time that literally NOBODY needs someone else's input to decide whether or not to watch. Couple that with the fact that people are so twitchy about spoilers that I barely understand what constitutes one in some people's eyes, well, best not to risk it, I suppose. So...rather than a review, we'll call this a conversation. I'm starting with my thoughts, and--after you've seen the movie--I hope you'll revisit this and join me in the comments. In other words: HERE THERE BE SPOILERS. Also, this is gonna get long, as is only fitting for a three-plus-hour movie. Forewarned is forearmed on both counts.

Endgame marks the culmination of the Avengers Infinity Saga, and is the next-to-last film in Phase Three of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. It's all about the endings as the remaining Avengers attempt to undo the damage done by a snap of Thanos' fingers in Infinity War.

As I've noted time and again, I am not really a Marvel Person. I enjoy most of Marvel's films, but I don't find them to be anything special and I always have plenty of complaints, both legit and nitpicky. I'd read some spoilers for Endgame that left me thinking I wouldn't like it even as much as I do the average Marvel flick, but I am happy to say I was pleasantly surprised. Not only did I well and truly enjoy the picture, but many of the recurring beefs I have with Marvel product proved to be non-factors.

Endgame kicks off with Traffic's Dear Mr. Fantasy in glorious surround-sound. That right there is good for a whole lot of Weasleys, before I put even half an eyeball on the other two hours and 59 minutes. Epic.

The first hour of Endgame is not just good, it's excellent. The people who embody these heroes are decorated actors and adept at emotional as well as physical heavy lifting. Watching the survivors cope with the aftermath of Infinity War, interacting among themselves and with others, is a real treat. Robert Downey, Jr. is especially effective and, for the first time since maybe Tropic Thunder, it doesn't seem like he's playing an exaggerated version of himself. Sure, Tony Stark is still Tony Stark, but this performance is--dare I say it?--even a little understated, setting a perfect tone. Helping matters is the fact that the usual shoehorned one-liners are in short supply here. There is some unfortunate comedy (more on that later), but this go-round it's not Iron Man's fault.

Come the middle hour, Endgame starts to bog down a bit. I wasn't clock-watching (except for purposes of wanting to know when this or that happens), but it definitely didn't hold my attention like hour one. The third act has the big action, and--while it isn't as pointlessly bloated as Captain America: Civil War or Avengers: Infinity War--it probably could have used a trim. Having said all that, at no point in this three hours did it feel like I'd been sitting for 12 (a welcome change for me with Marvel) and, truly, through the end, the only times I looked at the clock were those times I wanted to mark at what point a certain scene happened or a character turned up. Performances: RDJ isn't the only one doing great work in Avengers: Endgame. Bradley Cooper continues to mesmerize as Rocket; he is extraordinary. Scarlett Johansson and Jeremy Renner are magical when they share the screen, reminding me very much of Eva Green and Rory Kinnear's all-too-infrequent scenes together in Penny Dreadful. Paul Rudd...seriously, who doesn't love Paul Rudd? While most of the film is comparatively somber, Scott Lang gives us those lighter moments that--when done well and timely placed--provide important relief in such a grim tale. Tom Holland shows, again, that he's become the heart of the MCU, and Sebastian Stan--reminiscent of "...but I knew him..." in Captain America: the Winter Soldier--proves he needs only his two eyes and 15 seconds on camera to outshine a veritable gaggle of award-winning actors. The movie does a fair job of shaking out screen time among the principals, but the previously-dusted characters turn up late and don't get much to do. The bulk of the attention is (rightly) on the original Avengers, whose time with Marvel allegedly ends with this film. *cough cough* It remains Marvel's greatest strength that they've been able to find just the right people to inhabit their much-loved characters, which, for me, is what makes even their worst movies pretty enjoyable.

A couple quibbles, and let none of these be mistaken for reasons not to see this on a big screen: Wow is the God of Thunder ill-used here. Sure, the Thor movies are probably the lightest of Marvel's offerings (and also my favorites, for the record), but here he's straight-up comic relief, and it seems very unfair, especially as the character is visibly dealing with PTSD. Iron Man gets a scene straight out of a Best Picture nominee, but Thor's just a boozed-up fat joke? I call shenanigans! Thor's handling in Endgame is almost totally missed opportunities and dubious humor, very unfortunate for such a great character and an actor who deserves better. I also feel like Endgame craps on Steve Rogers a bit. Steve's friendship with Bucky is the cornerstone of his story, so it seems implausible that he would abandon Bucky to his (horrible) fate to stay in the past with Peggy. Steve being Steve, it's also unlikely he'd have upended Peggy's life in such a way, when she'd gotten married, had a family, and (as far as we know) been happy. Considering Peggy passed--what, three movies ago?--of natural causes, it felt very forced that half of Steve's close-ups in Endgame were of him mooning over that photo of her in the locket. I knew all that was coming and I honestly thought it would make me hate the movie, but...well...on down the line here I'll explain why it didn't.

As I said 18 years ago at the beginning of this dissertation, Avengers: Endgame is a climax, a torch-passing, an ending. As such, there are significant deaths and impending disappearances of long-loved characters. Tony Stark's passing hit me harder than expected, given how uninvested I've been in the character, but losing Nat? Well...that one about murdered me. Romanoff is a great character and ScarJo an even better actor; the movie feels her absence immediately and consistently once she's gone, despite the fact there are some super-badass female warriors carrying the girl-power mantle going forward. (Can Shuri have her own movie now, please and thank you?) Given the weight and volume the deaths, you'd think I might have shed a tear or two, but...nope. I, who ran right over two cinema employees on my way out of Saving Mr. Banks because I didn't see them through the veil of my tears...I, who had to be consoled by a stranger over the end credits of American Sniper...I couldn't muster so much as a sniffle here, and therein lies a big problem not only for Marvel, but for fantasy entertainment in general: "Death" has no real consequence, especially once the universe starts fiddling with time travel. If RDJ's next couple movies are flops? No worries, we'll just go back in time and un-kill him for Iron Man 12. Yes, I know they've stressed "dead means dead." I know this installment very specifically brings back only the characters who were dusted by Thanos, and not those who were killed otherwise. And I know everybody and their brother's Marvel contract is up. BUT...yeah, I'm still not buying it. If the demand is there and the principals are willing, any or all of them could pop back up at any time, and some of them seem quite likely to. (Lookin' at you, Loki!) The silver lining--and what allows me to not hate what they did with Steve Rogers--is I don't believe that was really Steve Rogers, or at least not the only Steve Rogers. Somewhere, there's a Steve Rogers who meant "'til the end of the line" when he said it. The way the scene played out, Bucky standing back, seemingly knowing what was happening and allowing Steve to choose his own happiness for once, also made it less horrible than it could have been, though, far as I'm concerned, still not the sendoff Steve Rogers deserved. (And may I mention again the quiet, heartbreaking genius of Sebastian Stan, which makes the scene?)

Moments: I'm nobody's feminist--or at least I stand so accused because I don't like Captain Marvel--but there's a bit where all the female heroes charge together against Thanos and...oh my...the chills! I loved the Cap vs. Cap fight, and the "America's ass" joke was genuinely funny and not over-used. It was great that Hot Tub Time Machine (probably not Sebastian Stan's proudest cinematic moment?) was name-checked, and the call-back to the elevator fight in CATWS--for my money, Marvel's greatest film--was terrific. Timeline tomfoolery often becomes muddled and, as mentioned, can result in a lack of investment in the proceedings (who cares what happens if they can just make it un-happen?), but I can't pretend I wasn't happy to see some familiar faces who have passed on or simply disappeared from the MCU. (Huzzah, Brock Rumlow!) Finally, though there are no mid- or post-credits scenes at the end of Endgame, the first credits sequence--which ends with a sort-of curtain call for Cap, Iron Man, Black Widow, Hulk, Thor, and Hawkeye--is quite epic in and of itself and entirely worth sticking around for. After that, it's okay to take off like a person who's consumed a bathtub-sized Diet Coke and has been waiting three and a half hours to pee. I see you. You're good.

Avengers: Endgame runs 182 minutes (yikes!) and is rated PG13 for "sequences of sci-fi violence and action, and some language."

Avengers: Endgame is one of Marvel's best offerings, and definitely finishes the Infinity Saga on an uptick. Of a possible nine Weasleys, Avengers: Endgame gets eight.

Fangirl points: I mean, you noticed I really, really like Sebastian Stan, right?

Until next time...

MOVIE REVIEW: AVENGERS INFINITY WAR

Iron Man, Thor, the Hulk and the rest of the Avengers unite to battle their most powerful enemy yet -- the evil Thanos. On a mission to collect all six Infinity Stones, Thanos plans to use the artifacts to inflict his twisted will on reality. The fate of the planet and existence itself has never been more uncertain as everything the Avengers have fought for has led up to this moment.

Director: Anthony Russo, Joe Russo

Cast: Robert Downey Jr., Chris Hemsworth, Mark Ruffalo, Chris Evans, Scarlett Johansson, Benedict Cumberbatch, Don Cheadle, Tom Holland, Chadwick Boseman, Paul Bettany, Elizabeth Olsen, Anthony Mackie, Sebastian Stan, Danai Gurira, Letitia Wright, Dave Bautista, Zoe Saldana, Josh Brolin, Chris Pratt

Release Date: April 27, 2018

Genres: Action, Adventure, Fantasy

Rated PG-13 for intense sequences of sci-fi violence and action throughout, language and some crude references.

Runtime: 2h 29min
 

Avengers Infinity War is the culmination of a massive and unprecedented shared universe.  The biggest question is does this huge ensemble of A list actors work, the answer is mostly.  Infinity War is an intensely busy film that carries multiple story lines throughout the film.  Most directors would easily get lost but Anthony and Joe Russo have steadily been prepping for this moment.  They expertly juggle everything while avoiding most of the pitfalls that could easily pop up and don’t make it a chore to watch.  The film has a strong verve to it mainly due to the collection of characters which have such wonderful charisma.  The interplay between all these characters makes the whole thing chug along.  Familiarity helps since we’ve been exposed to these characters in the past, so even if a particular role is small in this film, we’re invested.  The actors and actresses are all on their game, so it’s fun to watch all these top level talents appear onscreen like some sort of cinematic red carpet.  The biggest surprise though is Thanos, the CGI super villain voiced by Josh Brolin, who has far more depth than expected.  It’s a strong cog to the entire film which delivers epic action and iconic moments.  There is only a tad bit of fatigue that starts to set in before the final act starts.  It’s not surprising with so much happening and the finale is a somber closer but it’s hard not to see the set up for the next installment.  So while the film delivers real deaths, some of them do seem like they’ll be reversed as soon as the next film starts.  

B+

Cindy Prascik's Review of Avengers: Infinity War

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dearest Blog: Yesterday it was off to Marquee Cinemas for Avengers: Infinity War.

 

Regarding spoilers: Because it's essential to my overall impression of the movie, I have to drop a pretty consequential "what" without giving away the "who," "how," "where," or "when." If you are overly concerned, by all means, put this aside until after you've seen the movie.

 

Onward to the review that's nearly as long as the film...........

 

The Avengers & Company face their (and the universe's) greatest threat yet in the mighty Thanos.

 

As regular reader(s) may remember, I'm often a little vexed by Marvel. On the one hand, there's Captain America: The Winter Soldier, second only to The Dark Knight as a benchmark of excellence for the superhero genre...or any genre, really. On the other hand, there's Age of Ultron and Civil War, a.k.a. "the eight-dollar naps." Spoiler junkie that I am, I knew a lot about Infinity War going in, and I was prepared to be both bored and annoyed by it. Thanks to a great cast and some spot-on humor, I was neither.

 

Infinity War is a jumble of plotlines that share a common endgame, but that never really feel like the same story. Marvel has thrown just about everyone in its existing cinematic universe at the screen for this one, the exclamation point at the end of the MCU's first decade. While it's iconic seeing them all (sort of) together, in many ways it makes a mess the film can't quite clean up, even with its ... erm ... "considerable" runtime. There are some eye-popping special effects, yet there's some wonky CGI as well, which I never understand in movies that cost this much to make. Alan Silvestri's score, much like the picture itself, reaches for epic without ever quite getting there. I think most everyone expected consequential deaths in Infinity War, but the movie goes for quantity rather than quality with the cull. So safe is it to assume most of what's done will be undone in part two that it's impossible to invest in any of it. It's easy to become frustrated with a film that's not much more than a setup for the next one and that doesn't achieve much of consequence (at least not much you can expect to stick) in its own right.

 

The good news is Infinity War is a supremely enjoyable two and a half hours. Credit first goes to its extraordinary cast, which is a delight almost to a person, both individually and in tandem. Whoever your favorites are, it's a fair bet they won't have enough screen time for your liking, but, really, everyone works together so well it's hard to complain. Being aware of real-world considerations like how many films certain actors have left in their Marvel contracts or the Marvel rollout schedule through 2022 may keep fans from taking the film's mammoth losses too seriously, but such complacency is entirely absent onscreen, and the cast proves itself more than capable of the emotional heavy lifting. Special shout-outs to Benedict Cumberbatch, a boundless genius; Tom Holland, the picture's heart and soul; Robert Downey, Jr., who is as good here as he's ever been; and Sebastian Stan, who expresses more with a single word or look than most actors do with a franchise. It's also worth saying again (and again and again) that Bradley Cooper doesn't get half enough credit for what he achieves with a CGI raccoon. It's easy to write off that character as comic relief, but Cooper's evocative work always gives Rocket real depth. Amidst the high stakes and great losses, Infinity War also has some legitimately funny stuff. The humor is organic and well placed, and not once did I feel my usual annoyance with Marvel shoe-horning in jokes and wisecracks that are ill-timed or ill-advised or sometimes both. As the end credits rolled, I was delighted and not just a little surprised to realize I'd hardly felt the passage of two and a half hours. The last time I could say that about a Marvel movie was never.

 

Avengers: Infinity War clocks in at two hours and twenty-nine minutes, and is rated PG13 for "intense sequences of sci-fi violence and action throughout, language, and some crude references."

 

Avengers: Infinity War is a big, fat mess and a tremendously good time, proof that a movie doesn't have to be technically great to be wholly worth seeing. 

 

Of a possible nine Weasleys, Avengers: Infinity War gets eight.

 

Until next time...

MOVIE REVIEW: THOR: RAGNAROK

Imprisoned on the other side of the universe, the mighty Thor finds himself in a deadly gladiatorial contest that pits him against the Hulk, his former ally and fellow Avenger. Thor's quest for survival leads him in a race against time to prevent the all-powerful Hela from destroying his home world and the Asgardian civilization.

Director: Taika Waititi

Cast: Chris Hemsworth, Tom Hiddleston, Mark Ruffalo, Cate Blanchett, Jeff Goldblum

Release Date: Nov 03, 2017

Genres: Action/Adventure, Sci-Fi/Fantasy

Rated R for language throughout and some sexuality/nudity

Review:

Thor: Ragnarok is a much needed infusion of originality in the Marvel cinematic juggernaut.  Most the Marvel movies are enjoyable but tend to lean towards formulaic plots outside of some rare exceptions.  Thor: Ragnarock is a solid step outside of the tried and true Marvel formula delivering a huge dose of wacky fun.  Taika Waititi delivers a film brimming with fun from start to finish.  It’s a Technicolor fever dream that feels like a thoroughly enjoyable acid trip.  Stripping away the self serious tone of most comic book movies and going for a more comedic tone pay huge dividends.  Chris Hemsworth has always been a strong comedic actor and this slant plays well for him.  As a result, Hemsworth is free to deliver his best “Mimbo” interpretation of Thor.  The supporting cast embraces the lighter tone and everyone seems to be having a ball.  Tom Hiddleston keeps Loki interesting while lightening him up a bit.  Mark Ruffalo and Tessa Thompson are great counter balance to Hemsworth’s Thor with both doing strong work.  Cate Blanchett gleefully vamps it up as primary villain this go around.  If there’s a bit of a negative about Blanchett’s character it’s that she’s not given much to do except wait for Thor to come back to Asgard so they can get to the final battle.  It’s a real shame because she’s really impressive in her screentime, it would have really made the film even better had she’d been given something more substantial to do.  It’s a minor quibble for the film which really is one of most fun superhero films of the year.

A-

April Sokol's Reviews of Thor: Ragnarok & A Bad Moms Christmas

Hello readers!

This weekend was a big movie deal. Two big hit movies in the making both opened and so without further ado, to the theater I went.

First up was Thor: Ragnarok.

Thor: Ragnarok is the latest installment in the immensely popular Marvel Universe.

Directed by Taika Waititi

Run time is 2hr 10 min

Starring: Chris Hemsworth, Tom Hiddleston, Mark Ruffalo, Cate Blanchett, Tessa Thompson. Karl Urban, Idris Elba and Anthony Hopkins

Thor Ragnarok is the seventeenth offering in the Marvel Universe. So the players are well known and broken in. While a lot of familiar faces abound (super quick fan girl shoutout to the adorable Matt Damon cameo) Thor Ragnarok introduces some new faces to the Marvel world. First and most impressive is the stunning Cate Blanchett. Cate chews her way through every second of screen time she's given. Gorgeous, powerful and absolutely deadly, Hela is just 100% joy to watch. I can feel all of next year's Hela Halloween costumes springing to life as I type this. We're also introduced to Valkyrie, a member of an all female warrior squad played to perfection by Tessa Thompson. I'm glad to see that someone seems to have gotten the memo that we are loving these strong woman characters. That high that so many women felt after Wonder Woman is going to be back after this.

Mark Ruffalo is back doing his thing as Bruce Banner/The Hulk. He's always so solid I hope people aren't taking him for granted. We finally get more of Idris Elba as Heimdall. Unfortunately he is STILL absolutely wasted in this role.  The PG 13 rating felt correct as there was comic book violence but certainly nothing to genuinely frighten the little members of the audience.

Thor Ragnarok feels quite a bit referential to Guardians of the Galaxy for me. Same level of laughter. Funny quirky characters portrayed on a stunning canvas. Queue the fight scene with iconic 70s rock song and it's almost too on the nose....but I found that I still enjoyed the ride. This isn't new ground for Mavel. This is what a fast ball right down the middle of their fanbase feels like.

My rating: 4 out of 5 stars.

And the answer to the question I always have at Marvel movies....2...there are 2 in credit scenes. You're welcome.


Next I moved down the hall to the highly anticipated (by me) A Bad Moms Christmas

Directed by: Jon Lucas and Scott Moore

Starring: Mila Kunis, Kristen Bell, Kathryn Hahn, Christine Baranski, Susan Sarandon, Cheryl Hines, Jay Hernandez and Peter Gallagher

Running time of 1hr 44 min. It is Rated R for crude sexual content and language throughout, and some drug use

My review:

Ok America. It's time. We can't seem to agree on much of anything as a country anymore. But I think we need to come together as 1 nation and appreciate the sheer brilliance that is Chrstine Baranski. Has she ever been anything less than flawless...ever? I think not. However much she is making, it's certainly not enough. Can we make this a thing?

We pick up shortly after our last adventure with the suburban Moms as Christmas is upon them. Of course they're all over worked, over stressed, under appreciated and exhausted....aren't we all? Every single Mom in America is going to find something familiar in these women. Lots of laughs and another chance for a really beautiful friend tribe to shine here. The biggest take away for me is how these women are so very true to life. These are my friends and family. This is actually how we talk when we get together. I do not know a single parent who actually deep down believes that they're not screwing it all up in some way. It's nice to be reminded of our shared humanity.

If you loved the first Bad Moms movie, you'll almost certainly enjoy this as well. This is a wonderful case of a bunch of actors really seeming to enjoy their work. You will smile. You will laugh. And you will want to have drinks with your best friends ASAP when the credits roll.

Bonus points to those who stay through the credits to realize that Peter Gallagher is actually the best dancer of the whole bunch. Who knew?! I give A Bad Moms Christmas a solid 4 out of 5 stars.

Cindy Prascik's Review of Spotlight & The Danish Girl

 

 

Dearest Blog: Yesterday I had the opportunity to catch a couple of awards darlings before they're chased out of town by Adam Sandler or Transformers 47: The Search for Shia LeBeouf. On the docket: Spotlight and The Danish Girl. Spoiler level here will be mild, nothing you wouldn't know from the trailers. 

 

First up: Spotlight. The Boston Globe exposes the cover-up of a horrifying pattern of sexual abuse by Catholic priests. Spotlight is simultaneously one of the most brilliant and one of the most difficult-to-watch movies I've ever seen. 

 

The events depicted in the film turned my stomach more than any death-defying stunt or gratuitous gore, not just a systematic failure to protect the defenseless, but, worse, a conspiracy to hide and excuse (EXCUSE!) such abuse. 

 

Performances are top notch across the board, with Mark Ruffalo especially impressive in what amounts to the leading role among the strong ensemble. Liev Schreiber is outstanding as always in a smaller part, one of the top five actors in the world, for my money. 

 

The plot is gripping, as the reporters dig deeper and deeper into a plot that reaches higher and higher into the hierarchy of the Catholic Church. Despite a runtime that's well over two hours, I was riveted the entire time, even though I wanted to scream at the screen as family members, Church authorities, and legal officials made excuses and attempted to keep the story from getting out. 

 

As the end credits began to roll, and the film presented a list of the many, many communities impacted by this epidemic, I was overcome with grief, not only for what happened, but for how much could have been prevented. 

 

I cannot remember the last time a movie left me this angry and heartbroken. Spotlight runs 128 minutes and is rated R for "some language, including sexual references." 

 

This year's Oscar Best Picture race is a tight one, but Spotlight has won my heart and my vote. 

 

Of a possible nine Weasleys, Spotlight gets nine. 

 

Next on my agenda: The Danish Girl. Oscar winner Eddie Redmayne stars as transgender pioneer Lili Elbe. 

 

Whereas Spotlight is a captivating story featuring stunning acting, The Danish Girl is mostly noteworthy for the performances alone. 

 

The story itself *should* be fascinating, but, as told here, is just slow and somewhat dull. 

 

Though much decorated, I find Eddie Redmayne an awkward performer, almost painful to watch in this film. It's undeniably a brave performance, but I'm not sure it's a great one. 

 

Ben Whishaw, delightful in a smaller role, would have been far more effective in the lead, if you ask me. (And, if you're reading this, I guess you're asking me!) 

 

Alicia Vikander is stellar, really a co-lead even though she's been considered a "supporting" player for awards purposes, and Amber Heard provides some welcome light in what's overall a pretty angsty tale. 

 

The film boasts beautiful locations and a lovely score, and, though we may have a long way to go, it's a nice reminder of just how far the world has come on the issues faced by transgender individuals. 

 

The Danish Girl clocks in at 119 minutes and is rated R for "for some sexuality and full nudity." (And they really, really mean that last bit!) 

 

Though sluggishly paced, The Danish Girl is worth seeing for its solid performances and important subject matter. 

 

Of a possible nine Weasleys, The Danish Girl gets six. 

 

Until next time..

MOVIE REVIEW: AVENGERS: AGE OF ULTRON

Joss Whedon returns to write and direct the follow-up to the ultra successful Joss Whedon film. The picture completes Marvel Studios' Phase 2 films, which includes Joss Whedon, Joss Whedon, Joss Whedon, and Joss Whedon. ~ Jeremy Wheeler, Rovi

Director: Joss Whedon  

Cast: Robert Downey, Jr., Chris Evans, Mark Ruffalo, Chris Hemsworth, Scarlett Johansson

Release Date: May 01, 2015

Rated PG-13 for intense Sequences of Sci-Fi Sction, Violence and Destruction, and Some Suggestive 

Comments 

Runtime: 2 hr. 21 min. 

Genres: Action/Adventure, Sci-Fi/Fantasy 

Review:

Avengers: Age of Ultron is successful enough to keep the status quo established by the first team up film.  It doesn’t do anything spectacularly more impressive that its predecessor and some of the beats and moments feel similar for good reason.  The old saying “if it ain’t broke don’t fix it” is incredibly fitting.  The new characters add a smattering of freshness to it but all of them feel as underdeveloped as Elizabeth Olsen’s variable accent.  Ultron is an interesting villain but I couldn’t help feeling his characterization was rather rushed throughout.  James Spader does a fine job of keeping the character interesting even if he’s not as devilishly charismatic as Loki.  The main cast of characters all slip into their roles easily and honestly by this point it’s old hat.  Scarlett Johansson and Mark Ruffalo share some of the film’s quieter moments which also deliver the biggest emotional impact.  Jeremy Renner gets a deeper back story and some of the film’s best lines; one can’t help but wonder if Joss Whedon was making up for his limited role in the first film.  As for Whedon, you can’t help but admire the guy’s dexterity at keeping most of the ball in the air all throughout.  It’s not perfect and you can’t help but feel like some subplots got left on the cutting room floor, even then the film’s a tad overlong.  Still, it’s an enjoyable Marvel superhero film which does everything you want from a solid blockbuster.

B

Cindy Prascik's Review of Avengers: Age of Ultron

Dearest Blog, yesterday it was off to the cinema for THE FIRST TIME IN A MONTH. I know, right? Nearly forgot what the place looked like. At any rate, a new superhero blockbuster was just the ticket for drawing me out of retirement, so I ditched the office a bit early to see Avengers: Age of Ultron.

Spoiler level here will be mild, unless you consider starry-eyed, non-plot-related commentary on Jeremy Renner's arms, wardrobe, and screen time spoilerey. If that's the case, then read no more 'til you've seen the movie!

Earth's mightiest protectors face their most frightful foe yet. (I should just save that synopsis for every super-hero review ever.)

I presently harbor a simmering resentment towards Marvel for extorting fans into watching their crap product (*cough* Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. *cough*) just to be sure we can keep up with their good product (pretty much everything else...so far).

Having said that, nobody enjoys a dude in a cape quite like I do, so I don't think that had undue influence on my opinion of Ultron.

What does negatively impact the movie right out of the box is some ridiculously terrible CGI in the opening sequence.

For such a big-budget picture, it would have been inexcusable wherever it fell, but when it's the first thing you see it doesn't set a very good tone.

The movie also overstays its welcome by a good 20-30 minutes, and feels every minute of WAY TOO LONG. Having said that, it rebounds rather nicely from a sketchy start, spelling great action with some quieter personal moments among the heroes. If the wisecracking wears a bit thin, it also made me laugh out loud at times.

New good guys and new bad guys and new somewhere-in-betweens are smartly cast and fit well enough that you almost forget they ever WEREN'T there. As is always the case with a cast this size, some are a bit underused, but since it's not Jeremy Renner (Hawkeye) this time, I'll not be complaining!

And how about Hawkeye? The only Avenger who didn't get a Doritos flavor OR a Dr. Pepper can in the promo buildup is actually sort-of featured this go-round, and even gets a back-story. A BACK STORY! Concerns about the new costume proved unfounded, as his lovely arms are frequently on display. The Renner prominence more than made up for any small disappointments I had with the picture.

The rest of the cast is expectedly terrific and, by this point, feels like a bunch of old friends. Various folks from the stand-alone movies turn up in what amount to little more than cameos, but it's still great to see them. Even with a bunch of Oscar nominees among the primary cast, though, there's no one else who is even in James Spader's orbit.

One of only two actors who has ever made me stand up and applaud in my own living room (the other is Peter MacNicol if anyone's asking...and I'm pretty sure they're not), the guy is simply incomparable. Ultron is a good enough movie, but overall nothing special; Spader makes it great.

Avengers: Age of Ultron clocks in at a bloated 141 minutes and is rated PG13 for "intense sequences of sci-fi action, violence, and destruction, and for some suggestive comments.

A big, loud, fun bit of brain candy, it's the perfect kickoff to summer blockbuster season.

Of a possible nine Weasleys, Avengers: Age of Ultron gets seven and a half.

Until the Hawkeye standalone movie...erm...I mean, until next time...

[Official Trailer] The Avengers: Age of Ultron

Check out the first look at the Avengers sequel, hurry up since this will probably be taken down soon....


Will update with the official trailer once it's released....

UPDATED OFFICIAL TRAILER 8:50PM CST 10/22/14

MOVIE REVIEW: THE AVENGERS

IN THEATERS

MARVEL’S THE AVENGERS 3D



Marvel Studios delivers the ultimate comic-book film, which ties together such characters as Iron Man (Robert Downey Jr.), Captain America (Chris Evans), The Hulk (Mark Ruffalo), and Thor (Chris Hemsworth) for a big-screen franchise team-up like no other. Taking center stage this time is Nick Fury (played once again by the note-perfect Samuel L. Jackson), leader of the peacekeeping agency known as S.H.I.E.L.D. Fury, along with former Russian spy Black Widow (Scarlett Johansson), recruits a super team to combat Thor's ever-deceptive brother Loki (Tom Hiddleston) after he brainwashes ace archer Hawkeye (Jeremy Renner) while stealing a cosmic cube from an underground base. Thus the heroes must learn to work together alongside outlaw scientist Bruce Banner (Mark Ruffalo), who can track down the artifact's gamma signals when he's not hulking out into a giant green monster. Show runner Joss Whedon (Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Firefly) adapted and helmed the script by Zak Penn. ~ Jeremy Wheeler, Rovi

Director: Joss Whedon

Cast: Robert Downey, Jr., Chris Evans, Mark Ruffalo, Chris Hemsworth, Scarlett Johansson.

Release Date: May 04, 2012

Rated PG-13 Intense Sci-Fi Action/Violence and A Mild Drug Reference

Runtime: 2 hr. 23 min.Genres: Action/Adventure

Review:

Marvel’s huge gambit started with Iron Man’s post credit scene and went on from there. It was a terribly risky and ambitious. Once all the stand alone films were done Joss Whedon was tasked with the incredibly difficult task of putting it all together and giving each character its due while creating a story that would justify these characters coming together. Whedon, to his massive credit, delivered a spectacle which will be remembered by children for years to come. Whedon’s love of the characters and genre is readily apparent in the ever single frame of the film. Whedon knows his audience and delivers the kind of film that fans want. Massive action set pieces that give each character a time to shine as the film goes along, leading up to a an insane climatic battle that gives us more destruction than Transformers Dark of the Moon. It would have been easy for Whedon to just deliver an endless battle royale but he gives his film time and allows each character to have simpler quieter moments that let you into their head and motivations. The cast is on target throughout and while it would have been easy for Robert Downey Jr. to have run the show, he’s kept in check and gives the other actors room to breathe and shine. Mark Ruffalo’s take of Bruce Banner is impressive, so much so that I’d say we finally have a definitive film version of the character. Scarlett Johansson and Jeremy Renner do as much as they can with less screen time than the other stalwarts. Tom Hiddleston provides a great villain for the super group to fight, sadly he only lacked a long twirly mustache. 2 post credit scenes provide more fun to ease you off your high. The first sets up a sequel and latter is a wonderful moment showcasing Whedon and the cast. A perfectly fitting end to a film that’s blockbuster filmmaking at it’s finest.

A

[Official Trailer] Avengers Assemble

New name, new poster and new trailer, geekness levels rising……..

More footage is on hand it makes everything look appropriately fun and epic….

[Official Trailer] The Avengers

Official trailer is finally out and it’s pretty damn Geektastic, watch it for yourself.

You get a nice sense of the scale that Whedon is going for and some nice action shots of all the heroes, of course Robert Downey Jr’s Tony Stark gets the best line in the trailer…..

MOVIE REVIEWS: SHUTTER ISLAND

Tuesday, February 23, 2010

MOVIE REVIEWS: SHUTTER ISLAND

IN THEATERS

SHUTTER ISLAND

Mark Ruffalo and Leonardo DiCaprio team up as a pair of U.S. Marshals who travel to a secluded island off the coast of Massachusetts to search for an escaped mental patient, uncovering a web of deception along the way as they battle the forces of nature and a prison riot in this Martin Scorsese-helmed period picture. Laeta Kalogridis adapts Dennis Lehane's novel of the same name, with Paramount Pictures and Columbia Pictures splitting production and distribution duties. Ben Kingsley co-stars as the head of the institution where the patient resided, while Michelle Williams portrays Leonardo DiCaprio's deceased wife, whose memory haunts him during the investigation. Max von Sydow, Emily Mortimer, Michelle Williams, Patricia Clarkson, and Jackie Earle Haley round out the supporting cast. ~ Jeremy Wheeler, All Movie Guide

Director: Martin Scorsese

Cast: Leonardo DiCaprio, Mark Ruffalo, Ben Kingsley, Michelle Williams, Max von Sydow.

Release Date: Feb 19, 2010

Rated R for disturbing violent content, some nudity and language

Runtime: 2 hr. 18 min.

Genres: Action, Thriller

Review:

Martin Scorsese’s visually stunning Shutter Island is a mind bending trek through heady themes that leave you asking yourself questions long after you’ve finished watching it. Scorsese’s visual flair is apparent from the start and his creativity truly shows during the classic dream sequences that pepper the film. He creates a visual landscape that is unsettlingly and unnerving. He accomplishes this with such flair that I’d be hard pressed to find any diehard movie fan who finds faults with its construction. Scorsese does a wonderful job of channeling Hitchcock’s style and music but making it distinctively his at the same time. The director’s go to guy, Leonardo DiCaprio, is more than up to the challenge as well. DiCaprio is appropriately intense and conflicted throughout, adding another layer to the performance as the film heads into its finale. He does a wonderful job of showing the characters inner struggle throughout without going over the top. Mark Ruffalo is engaging and steady, providing a nice anchor point for DiCaprio’s character. Ben Kingsley is stoic throughout. The remainder of the supporting players Max von Sydow, Emily Mortimer, Michelle Williams, Patricia Clarkson, and Jackie Earle Haley all make the most of their small but impactful parts. Shutter Island’s plot and central mystery are best left to be discovered on your own even if it’s fairly obvious from a healthy dose of Easter eggs dropped throughout the film. Admittedly, this type of story has been done before but what makes Shutter Island special is talent in front of and behind the camera.

A-