Dearest Blog: Yesterday it was off to Marquee Cinemas for a highly-anticipated pair of pictures: John Wick: Chapter 2 and the Lego Batman Movie.
Spoiler level here will be mild, nothing you wouldn't know from the trailers.
Ladies and gentlemen, dear reader(s), what follows is the historic, first-ever, perfect-nine-Weasley double-bill! Steel yourselves!
First on yesterday's agenda: John Wick: Chapter 2.
John Wick is dragged out of retirement when an old marker is called in.
The first John Wick was a pleasant surprise. With very little buzz and a not-quite-A-list lead, it turned out far better than the generic actioner promised by the trailers. Following up such unexpected success almost unfailingly leads to disaster, but I am pleased to report John Wick: Chapter 2 actually breaks the mold and improves upon the original.
Beginning with the obvious: Keanu Reeves has found the role for which he was born. Sure, the guy has all the acting chops of "Shepherd #3" in your local elementary-school Christmas pageant, but he's given us a few iconic leads over his long career, and John Wick seems destined to become one of his best remembered. Reeves works even the film's corniest lines to perfection and still manages to be the perfect stoic killing machine. A solid supporting cast includes Ian McShane, Common, Laurence Fishburne, and the suddenly-ubiquitous Ruby Rose. John Wick: Chapter 2 boasts epic fight choreography, a dark humor that always hits its mark, and stellar production design. A shootout in a hall of mirrors is a real standout, along the lines of the original's red room scene. The extraordinary body count undoubtedly renders a picture like this not everyone's cup of tea, but if you're able to set aside genre bias, you'll have to admit John Wick: Chapter 2 is one hell of a great movie.
John Wick: Chapter 2 clocks in at 122 minutes and is rated R for "strong violence throughout, some language, and brief nudity."
John Wick: Chapter 2 is a strikingly filmed, beautifully executed movie that's well served by its self-awareness. I pondered long and hard, looking for a reason to dock it even a half-Weasley, and I couldn't find one. Of a possible nine Weasleys, John Wick: Chapter 2 gets nine.
Fangirl points: My beloved Ian McShane! Peter Serafinowicz!
Next on the docket, The Lego Batman Movie.
The Bat goes brick.
The Lego Batman Movie has all the sharp colors, cool artwork, and constant motion that are hallmarks of most good animation these days, but considering it a kids' movie does it a great disservice; it is straight-up comedy gold, and I mean hilarious. I can't remember the last time I heard a cinema crowd laugh as hard or as much. The movie lovingly makes fun of the Bat-verse, from Will Arnett's sulking, self-centered Bruce Wayne to hilarious callbacks to various film faceoffs with his arch-nemesis the Joker. If Gotham's Clown Prince isn't your favorite baddie, never fear, the Lego Batman Movie not only features many of Batman's classic enemies, but cameos by villains from the furthest reaches of fiction. A rockin' score by Lorne Balfe occasionally echoes past Batman themes, underlining the movie's nods to Bat-history, while standing firmly on its own Lego feet.
The Lego Batman Movie runs 104 minutes and is rated PG for "rude humor and some action."
The Lego Batman Movie is everything a moviegoer could want, be he die-hard Batfan or casual walkup.
Of a possible nine Weasleys, The Lego Batman Movie gets nine.
In this third installment in the horror franchise, a young woman tries to
save her boyfriend from a haunted video that kills people seven days after they
watch it. However, she soon discovers that the video's secrets go far deeper
than anyone has ever suspected. Matilda Lutz, Vincent D'Onofrio, Johnny
Galecki, Laura Wiggins, Aimee Teegarden, Alex Roe, and Bonnie Morgan star.
Directed by F. Javier Gutierrez. ~ Jack Rodgers, Rovi
Genres: Drama, Horror
Director F. Javier Gutierrez
Cast: Aimee Teegarden, Johnny Galecki, Alex Roe, Zach
Roerig, Bonnie Morgan, Vincent D'Onofrio
Release Date: Feb
03, 2017
Rated PG-13 for thematic Elements, Some Sexuality, Brief
Drug Material and Violence/Terror
Runtime: 1 hr. 47 min.
Review:
The horror genre is littered with massive valleys and
huge peaks in terms of quality.The
original Ring film was an impressive piece of filmmaking and one of my favorite
horror films of all time.Sadly, after
that a lesser sequel followed and the franchise seemingly died off.Rings is an ill conceived attempt to restart
the series.F. Javier Gutierrez borrows
heavily from Gore
Verbinski’s visual style which creates an effectively moody look.Unfortunately there’s not much else to the
film since the story decides to sideline Samara for the better part of the
film.Instead we’re treated to another
origin story which isn’t nearly as interesting as it was the first two times
we’ve seen it.Making matters worst is the
cast that’s made up of uncharismatic leads.It’s hard to tell if the actors are just bad or if the direction has to
do something with it because even name actors like Johnny Galecki and Vincent
D’Onofrio deliver incredibly stiff and uninspired performances.Sadly, we are left with nothing more than a boring
slog of a film that doesn’t even offer cheap scares to keep you awake.
Dearest Blog: Today it was off to Marquee Cinemas to see my beloved Gary Oldman's latest picture, The Space Between Us.
Spoiler level here will be mild, nothing you wouldn't know from the trailers.
A boy born and raised on Mars yearns to come to Earth.
Well, dear reader(s), I can't sugar coat it: The Space Between Us might be the worst movie I've ever seen. Almost everything about this film is so embarrassingly terrible that it's hard to know where to start, so, just to keep you on your toes, I'll start with the few things I actually liked. First, Gary looks amazing. Like, even-better-than-Air-Force-One amazing. He's in the movie a LOT more than I expected, too. I thought he'd be on the periphery of the main story between the two kids, but actually he's kinda the star, with commensurate screen time (which he already may be regretting). There's some lovely scenery as our kids traverse the country, a handful of genuinely funny/cute moments (though few and far between), and a few bits of the score that really caught my ear. That's the good news. The bad news is this movie is otherwise awful to the last detail. It sells its premise so poorly that you're laughing at the very idea before it really even gets started. Awkward, hokey dialogue sounds like it was written by someone who has never heard a real person speak before. It's hard to fault the actors, given the material, but nobody does anything to elevate this mess, either. Mostly what we've got here is two hours of smitten teens acting all teeny and adults scampering around, overwrought, in the most predictable series of events ever. On the Gary Oldman scale, it's about as bad as Lost in Space.
The Space Between us clocks in at an interminable 120 minutes and is rated PG13 for "brief sensuality and language."
As always, I encourage everyone to get out to the movies this weekend. Please just go see something besides The Space Between Us. Of a possible nine Weasleys, The Space Between Us gets one, for giving me my Gary on the big screen.
Struggling actress Mia (Emma Stone) and aspiring jazz pianist Sebastian
(Ryan Gosling) begin a whirlwind romance as they both pursue their dreams in Los
Angeles. However, their blossoming relationship is
challenged when their careers pull them in different directions. Damien
Chazelle (Damien Chazelle) wrote and directed this musical love story, which
co-stars John Legend, J.K. Simmons, and Rosemarie DeWitt. ~ Daniel Gelb, Rovi
Director: Damien Chazelle
Cast: Ryan Gosling, Emma Stone, John Legend, Finn
Wittrock, J.K. Simmons
Release Date: Dec
09, 2016
Rated PG-13 for some Language
Runtime: 2 hr. 7 min.
Genres: Comedy, Drama, Music/Performing Arts
Review:
La La Land is a rousing bit of filmmaking which is as
fizzy and bubbly as the best champagne.Like said champagne, it is a bit light on body.Instead Damien Chazelle dresses up his retro
musical with impressive shots and flashy choreography.It’s an incredibly fun film, especially in
the first 2 acts, with two magnetic leads.Ryan Gosling and Emma Stone bring a dizzying sense of adorableness to
their roles.You can’t help but get
sucked into this love story as their relationship begins to blossom and
grow.It’s an engrossing experience but
once you peel back all the frills it’s a pretty bare bones love story tinged
with a palatable sense of bitter sweetness.Still it’s a credit to Damien Chazelle that he could take a simple story
and infuse so much energy and passion into it.Is it the best film I’ve ever seen, not even close, but it’s a still
fine piece of film making.
Dearest Blog: After missing out last week, this weekend it was off to Marquee Cinemas for four--yes, FOUR--big-screen blasts.
Spoiler level here will be mild, nothing you wouldn't know or have guessed from the trailers.
First on my agenda: Resident Evil: The Final Chapter.
Alice makes a last(ish) stand against the Umbrella Corporation.
With this ostensibly "final" chapter of Resident Evil coming so quickly on the heels of Underworld's potential finale, for me it was inevitable to draw comparisons between the two badass-broad-fronted movies. I think Resident Evil comes up on the short end, but it's still a fun watch.
Like Underworld: Blood Wars, RE6 kicks off with a refresher on how we got to where we are. In both cases, this proved a waste of time. These movies do a good enough job of (over)explaining themselves as they go along that a person wouldn't be too lost to enjoy, regardless of what he did or didn't remember. It's to Milla Jovovich's benefit that acting chops are immaterial, as she acrobatically faces off with living and undead. Iain Glen is about as subtle a baddie as Snidely Whiplash. Though it's hard, these days, not to see him as the perpetually-friendzoned Ser Jorah Mormont, he does his best to prove himself a Wicked, Wicked Person here. The 2D effects are nothing to write home about, and certainly nothing to recommend the 3D upcharge and headache. There's some nice disaster footage (think Deepwater Horizon, if everybody hated the undead instead of the planet), and some truly wacky stunts, but much of the action is so dark all you can do is cross your fingers and hope your favorite character is still standing when it finally gets light again. Clumsy storytelling makes the film feel overlong. There's a nice thank-you message from director and star before the show, and, if it turns out this really is The End, it's a satisfying--if hokey--finish.
Resident Evil: The Final Chapter runs 106 minutes and is rated R for "sequences of violence throughout."
The premise is less interesting and the cast less enjoyable than Underworld, but Resident Evil: The Final Chapter is big, dumb fun. Of a possible nine Weasleys, Resident Evil: The Final Chapter gets four.
Next on the docket, xXx: The Return of Xander Cage.
The original Triple X is back in business.
Well, dear reader(s)... Now. We. Are. Talking. Were you in the market for a great, fun actioner? Well, you found it! xXx: The Return of Xander Cage is filled with absurd stunts, good-natured humor, pretty faces, and hardbodies all 'round. The plot obviously won't tax those little grey cells too much, but there are a few nice surprises wrapped around edge-of-your-seat action and a truly likable cast. And did I mention ridiculous stunts? Over the top in the most fun way. Vin Diesel knows his niche as well as any actor, and, while there may come a day when I no longer get a kick out of watching him do what he does, it is not this day.
xXx: The Return of Xander Cage clocks in at 107 minutes and is rated PG13 for "extended sequences of gunplay and violent action, and for sexual material."
It's not brain surgery, but The Return of Xander Cage is about as much fun as I can imagine having at the cinema. Of a possible nine Weasleys, xXx: The Return of Xander Cage gets seven.
Movie Catchup Day Two kicked off with Gold.
Against all odds, a down-on-his-luck prospector and a geologist strike gold in Indonesia.
Initially, Gold appeared to be another potential awards goldmine (see what I did there?) for Matthew McConaughey, but his loony performance doesn't help this too-talky tale get off the ground. McConaughey underwent another extreme physical transformation to portray Kenny Wells, a doughy dude with a receding hairline, and nothing says "Oscar bait" like a handsome actor who looks nothing like himself in a based-on-a-true-story role. Sadly, neither the performance nor the picture is very memorable, and Wells' appearance is played mostly for mean-spirited laughs. Edgar Ramirez is the film's highlight, understated as Wells' partner Michael Acosta. The picture moves slowly and is never really that interesting, thanks to unlikable characters and twists that can be seen a mile out. Ultimately it's a nasty little tale about greed and willful cluelessness, The Wolf of Wall Street without the gripping relevance.
Gold runs 121 minutes and is rated R for "language throughout and some sexuality/nudity."
Gold is a dull, disappointing movie with little to recommend it. Of a possible nine Weasleys, Gold gets four.
Fangirl points: An Iron Maiden t-shirt is pretty prominent in one important scene. This is not a drill: an Iron Maiden t-shirt is in the movie!
The final installment on the weekend's busy schedule: Oscar hopeful Lion.
A young man who was lost as a child in India, then adopted by an Australian couple, searches for his birth family.
Lion is a moving true story of love and, if we're being honest, not a little good fortune. The film points out that over 80,000 children go missing in India each year, but this is a story about one of the lucky ones. Lost and miles from home, Saroo faces many threats to his well-being before being adopted by a childless, loving Australian couple. The setup drags on too long, and, for my money, the film would have been better served if it were trimmed a bit and/or spent more time on the young man's search for his birth family and less on the travails of his younger self. Having said that, newcomer Sunny Pawar is delightful and absolutely heartbreaking as the younger Saroo, owning the screen like a seasoned pro. Early scenes of his time on the streets are tense and uncomfortable, but effective. Nicole Kidman and David Wenham are almost too good to be true as the boy's adoptive parents, challenges touched on but mostly airbrushed like an unfortunate wrinkle before botox. (Sorry, Nicole.) As grownup Saroo delves ever more deeply into his search, Dev Patel is brilliant; eager and terrified, desperate for information, but hiding his intent from even those who might be able to help. It's a testament to the power of this story that, in an age where everyone seems to have forgotten how to behave appropriately at the cinema, there was nary a peep from my audience for the duration.
Lion clocks in at 118 minutes and is rated PG13 for "thematic material and some sensuality."
Lion is a sobering but uplifting tale of love and luck. Of a possible nine Weasleys, Lion gets seven.
An outing takes a sinister turn for three teenage friends (Anya Taylor-Joy,
Haley Lu Richardson, and Jessica Sula) when they are kidnapped by a ruthless
stranger (James McAvoy) and imprisoned in his basement. They soon learn that their
captor has multiple-personality disorder, forcing them to plot their escape
without ever knowing which of his 23 personas -- young or old, male or female,
benign or monstrous -- they will confront on the way out. Written and directed
by M. Night Shyamalan. ~ Violet LeVoit, Rovi
Director: M. Night Shyamalan
Cast: James McAvoy, Anya Taylor-Joy, Betty Buckley, Haley
Lu Richardson, Brad William Henke,
Sebastian Arcelus
Release Date: Jan
20, 2017
Rated PG-13 for Some Language, Disturbing Thematic
Content, Disturbing Behavior and Violence
Runtime: 1 hr. 57 min.
Genres: Horror, Suspense/Thriller
Review:
M. Night Shyamalan hasn’t made a good movie in a long
long while.I’ve personally found him to
be one of the most frustrating and annoying directors in recent memory.Typically his films have an interesting
premise but he can’t help but show us exactly how clever he thinks he is.Spilt suffers from similar issues.Shyamalan is helped greatly by some stellar
performances from James McAvoy and Anya Taylor-Joy.McAvoy is fully committed to the role and its
fun watching him switch through personalities with incredible ease.McAvoy’s role is the center piece but Anya
Taylor-Joy is nearly as impressive in a more subtle role.Taylor-Joy continues to impress after her
star making turn in last years The Witch.She displays some impressive talent that bodes well for her in the
future.Sadly, both performances can’t
save a messily made child abuse allegory.In a better filmmaker’s hand, this could have been a special film that
could have really taken advantage of the strong performances.Instead Shyamalan delivers a heavy handed
child abuse parable all the while sexualizing his young stars with some
outright creepy shots and plot devices.Like
every M. Night Shyamalan there’s a twist and a pointless cameo by the
director.The twist is entirely
inorganic and comes entirely out of left field, its sole purpose is to remind
audiences that Shyamalan made decent films a long time ago.
Dearest Blog: This weekend it was off to Marquee Cinemas for La La Land (finally!) and Live By Night.
Spoiler level here will be mild, nothing you wouldn't know from the trailers. I will offer thumbs-up or thumbs-down on endings, without divulging specifics; if that's more than you want to know, read no further until you've seen these.
First up: Oscar hopeful La La Land.
An aspiring actress and a jazz musician chase their dreams in Los Angeles.
Let it be noted, dear reader(s), that, from its first trailer, I've anticipated La La Land as a great movie and likely Best Picture winner. I generally love musicals, and--while romances aren't my favorite--who could resist a pairing as adorable as Emma Stone and Ryan Gosling? Certainly not I! Well...as it turns out, La La Land IS a great movie, and the probable Best Picture winner...but it's a lousy musical.
Getting the bad news out of the way first: La La Land features forgettable original tunes and unimaginative choreography. Neither Gosling nor Stone is a great singer, at least not as demonstrated here. (Stone has done Broadway, so I know she has to be better than this.) The musical numbers are exactly why some folks hate musicals: random songs dropped in mostly random places; there's no flow whatsoever. Finally, the movie has a disappointing finale that's so at odds with the rest it feels as if someone accidentally tacked on the ending of a different film. As La La Land's final impression, it casts a heavy shadow on the whole. (This is not a judgment of a happy or unhappy ending; it's about how the ending fits the rest of the picture.)
Having said all that, the good news is, there's lots of good news! La La Land is a compelling enough story that its musical failings are almost entirely forgivable. Stone and Gosling manage to out-cute Lawrence and Pratt as the movie year's most lovable couple, a feat I would have thought impossible. Remarkably, their weak singing voices play as part of a self-deprecating charm, and their characters' struggles and dreams should be relatable to just about anyone. La La Land boasts lovely production design and costumes, and there is one smokin' number, performed by John Legend, that even manages to break the movie's tired-old-showtunes mold.
La La Land clocks in at 128 minutes and is rated PG13 for "some language."
La La Land is a very good movie, a terrible musical, and a love letter to Los Angeles that fails to sell Los Angeles as anything worth loving.
Of a possible nine Weasleys, La La Land gets seven.
Next on the docket: Ben Affleck's mob thriller Live by Night.
A Boston mobster takes over Florida operations for a former rival.
By now you've probably heard enough negative commentary to guess Live by Night won't go down in the annals of legendary gangster movies. While that's probably true, that's not to say it isn't a worthwhile afternoon at the pictures.
Writer/director Affleck has created an interesting--if deliberately paced--story full of twists and turns. Per usual, he's crafted himself a role that plays to his stoic style and, while he does an admirable job, it's Sienna Miller who steals the show as his sometime girlfriend. If you're into mob movies in general, there are some...erm...offers people can't refuse, but the violence isn't overly graphic, and the movie never feels like a shoot 'em up where the story only occasionally interrupts.
Live by Night runs 128 minutes and is rated R for "strong violence, language throughout, and some sexuality/nudity."
Live by Night may not rank among the all-time great gangster pictures, but it's a well-executed tale with a satisfying payout.
Of a possible nine Weasleys, Live by Night gets six and a half.
Fangirl points: Christian Clemenson! Brendan Gleeson! Titus Welliver!
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.
Death dealer Selene (Kate Beckinsale) must fend off brutal attacks from both
the Lycan clan and the vampire faction that betrayed her. Joining forces with
allies David (Theo James) and Thomas (Peter Andersson), she embarks on a quest
to end the eternal war between the two races, even if it means making the
ultimate sacrifice.
Director: Anna Foerster
Cast: Kate Beckinsale, Theo James, Charles Dance, Tobias
Menzies
Release Date: Jan
06, 2017
Rated R f or strong bloody violence, and some sexuality
Runtime: 1 hr. 31 min.
Genres: Action/Adventure, Horror
Review:
Underworld: Blood Wars is exactly what you would expect
from this 5th entry into the on going franchise.Kate Beckinsale slips back into her latex bodysuit
with relative ease but the film’s biggest failing is taking her off screen for
large chunks of time to deal with an unnecessarily convoluted plot.While Game of Throne alums, Charles Dance and
Tobias Menzies, are welcome additions to the series, Beckinsale is the reason
people turn out to these films.Anna
Foerster delivers the same stylish wire work action people have come to expect
and I appreciate that she’s trying to deliver a meatier plot.Unfortunately, she loses sight of the fact
that this series has always been a solid B movie franchise with a singular
star.Losing focus on Beckinsale’s
Selene is a major misstep and severely limits how enjoyable this film is.
Dearest Blog: Yesterday it was off to Marquee Cinemas for a pair of unlikely bedfellows: Hidden Figures and Underworld: Blood Wars.
Spoiler level here will be mild, nothing you wouldn't know from the trailers.
First up: Hidden Figures.
A trio of female, African-American mathematicians helps put America's first man in orbit.
Things you've probably guessed about Hidden Figures: It boasts excellent performances from Taraji P. Henson, Octavia Spencer, and a noteworthy supporting cast, and tells a compelling story about some unsung heroes of the early space race. Something you might not have guessed: Hidden Figures is actually a lot of fun, like, legitimate, ear-to-ear smiling fun. That's not to say the movie is without its disturbing and serious moments--the early sixties weren't a super-easy time for women or people of color in these United States--but overall I am shocked by how entertaining this picture is. Hidden Figures goes light on the math-ey details (thank goodness) and instead presents a lively tale of three determined ladies who changed the face of the nation for the better and forever. Cut with snippets of historical footage, the movie provides a timely and important message about the harmfulness of prejudice, the value of everyone's contributions, and, yes, even the importance of the right bathroom facilities.
Hidden Figures runs 127 minutes and is rated PG13 for "thematic elements and some language."
Hidden Figures sheds welcome light on a little-known bit of American history in uplifting fashion, kicking off 2017 in fine form. Of a possible nine Weasleys, Hidden Figures gets seven and a half.
Fangirl Points: Taraji (one of my best girl-crushes), and Aldis Hodge!
Next on the docket: Underworld: Blood Wars.
Betrayed by her own kind, a world-weary Selene is drawn back into the Vampire/Lycan war.
The most recent Underworld installment has a cheap television feel to it, right down to the "previously on..." segment that kicks it off. The story is unimaginative, with dialogue straight out of a 14-year-old's AO3 fanfic, BUT...you officially may file this movie under "so awful it's almost great." The rehash of previous installments is a waste of time--you wouldn't have trouble following this empty-headed nonsense even if you'd never seen an Underworld movie before--and the picture suffers a few dull spells where the lovely Kate Beckinsale is nowhere to be found. Theo James does the best he can with his silly, underwritten role, and Bradley James is a brooding highlight who appears poised to carry the franchise forward, should anyone feel that's really necessary. Blood Wars has a properly gloomy look and feel, with a melodramatic score and a good deal of stylized, slow-mo action, but it's always a bit disappointing when flippin' vampires and flippin' werewolves end up taking each other out with plain old handguns. Highlight/lowlight of Blood Wars: A Vampire Elder, in all his gravitas, sends off one of his warriors with a smirk and a smack on the ass, just like your garden-variety first-base coach.
Underworld: Blood Wars clocks in at 91 minutes and is rated R for "strong, bloody violence and some sexuality."
Blood Wars is dopey fun, as unnecessary a sequel as ever there was. Of a possible nine Weasleys, Underworld: Blood Wars gets five.
Fangirl Points: Theo James, ever since he had deadly relations with Lady Mary Crawley!
In the immediate aftermath of the assassination of President John F.
Kennedy, his wife Jacqueline Kennedy (Natalie Portman) deals with her immense
grief while making plans for his funeral procession. Confiding in her close
friend and secretary Nancy Tuckerman (Greta Gerwig), as well as her
brother-in-law Robert Kennedy (Peter Sarsgaard), Jackie tries to care for her
young family as a bereaved nation watches on. Pablo Larrain directed this
nonlinear biopic. ~ Daniel Gelb, Rovi
Director: Pablo
Larrain
Cast: Natalie Portman, Peter Sarsgaard, Greta Gerwig,
Billy Crudup, Beth Grant.
Release Date: Dec
02, 2016
Rated for R some Language and Brief Strong Violence
Runtime: 1 hr. 39 min.
Genres: Documentary
Review:
Pablo Larrain’s fascinating biopic about Jackie Kennedy
is an incredibly power piece of filmmaking.It’s a disorienting movie that takes you through the throws of grief on
a personal level.Natalie Portman is
pitch perfect as the titular first lady.It’s a deeply layered performance throughout.Portman is able to go through so many
psychological levels with impressive ease.It’s a multilayered performance covers everything from grief, public persona
and legacy building all rolled into one.Larrain’s film isn’t your typical biopic in that it’s also concerned
with myth making and how history can be created or skewed.It’s a dense bit of story telling filled with
excellent performances all around.
Dearest Blog: Here we sit, on the first square of the first page of a brand new calendar. Last year will be remembered for extraordinary losses--in both number and impact--but there were good times to be had at the cinema, almost always.
What follows will hopefully remind you, dear reader(s), of some of those good times...and maybe some of the other times too.
Disclaimer #1: Around here most of the awards contenders turn up all at once, for a single week, just before the Oscars. The Academy and I sometimes (*cough*) don't see eye to eye, but it's fair to guess this list would look at least a little different if I'd seen La La Land, Manchester by the Sea, Nocturnal Animals, Moonlight, and/or Lion, to name just a few.
Disclaimer #2: A movie's original Weasley score will not necessarily be reflected in its year-end positioning. Time and repeat screenings (or the lack of opportunity for same) may favor or handicap some films.
So...let's start with the good, then, shall we?
My Top 10 Movies of 2016
"The soul of our country is at stake."
10. The Purge: Election YearThe third outing in the Purge series didn't quite match its nearly-perfect middle installment, but timely subject matter, stunning visuals, and another strong leading turn by Frank Grillo make Election Year one of 2016's best offerings.
"God doesn't have children. He's a bachelor. And very angry!"
9. Hail, Caesar!Behind-the-scenes machinations at a 1950s movie studio drive this clever comedy from the Coen brothers, blessed with a terrific all-star cast and some wonderful choreography by Tony Award winner Christopher Gattelli.
"It is time to follow my own path."
8. Kubo and the Two Strings2016 was a super year for animation. Moana, Sing, Finding Dory, and even the Secret Life of Pets could have made a run at this list, but, in the end, beautiful storytelling, combined with stunning and unique art, set Kubo and the Two Strings head and shoulders above the rest. Bonus: Regina Spektor's lovely cover of the Beatles' While My Guitar Gently Weeps over the end credits.
"I've killed things from other worlds before."
7. Batman v. Superman
Yeah, Internet, you hated it; I got that, but I absolutely loved DC's much-maligned Justice League opening act. The baddies were well and properly bad, the good guys were brooding, and the story effectively laid the groundwork for what's to come. Ben Affleck's Batman/Bruce Wayne was universally praised, and if you thought BVS was humorless...well...you just weren't paying attention. ("I like those shoes!")
"I never met nobody got away with anything, ever."
6. Hell or High WaterThis masterful little heist tale is blessed with stellar peformances, a compelling story, and one of the more satisfying and perfectly-suited endings I've ever seen. Do. Not. Miss.
"You're different. Sooner or later, different scares people."
5. The AccountantBen Affleck was kinda the highlight of my 2016 cinema year, following his perfect Batman with a strong, authentic turn as a socially-awkward mathematical genius in this mesmerizing thriller.
"Fear of death is what keeps us alive."
4. Star Trek Beyond
The latest installment in Hollywood's best franchise may well be its most fun yet. The story's exciting, the one-liners always hit the mark, and the ensemble is my favorite of any film franchise. (RIP, dear Anton Yelchin.)
"So far, so good."
3. The Magnificent Seven
The Magnificent Seven remake is a rare beast in today's Hollywoodland. It's an old-school Western. It doesn't shoehorn in a romance, bloat itself with never-ending fight or chase scenes, or attempt to set up a sequel. The film boasts gorgeous cinematography, a perfect cast, and well-timed, genuinely funny humor. The very definition of "must see."
"We were normal, and the rest of the world was crazy."
2. The Beatles: Eight Days a Week-The Touring Years
Eight Days a Week is a cheerful look at the early days of the world's biggest, best, and most influential band. It's a nice reminder that John, Paul, George, and Ringo are more than monumentally talented individuals; first and foremost, they're four pals who thought they could make a go of their little band and got caught up in a tornado of worldwide superstardom. Peppered with snippets of their magical tunes, behind-the-scenes clips, and interviews with the four lads and assorted others who experienced Beatlemania firsthand, Eight Days a Week is a joyous experience.
"I had to question the mermaids! What were you doing while I was working?"
1. The Nice GuysFrom its first trailer, The Nice Guys very nearly cemented a place on my ALL-TIME favorites list, and the finished product more than lived up to that promise, earning it the year's top spot. Russell Crowe and Ryan Gosling are brilliant as a pair of mismatched private investigators on the trail of a missing girl. This is a movie that ticks all the boxes: fantastic performances, exciting action, a smart, surprising mystery, and spot-on humor...an all-'round perfect cinema experience. I'm confident even the most-favored of the critical darlings could not have knocked this one out of my number-one spot.
Movies It Hurt Me to Leave Out (Honorable Mentions)
Eddie the Eagle: A fun, fictionalized story about English Olympian Eddie Edwards, with entertaining performances by Taron Edgerton and Hugh Jackman.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles-Out of the Shadows: The most fun I had at the movies this year, and something I've watched over and over again since getting the DVD.
Bleed for This: A fascinating comeback story anchored by Miles Teller's outstanding lead.
Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them: This kick-start of a whole new Harry Potter series is well acted, beautifully filmed, and utterly magical.
Anthropoid: Magnificent performances (especially from Cillian Murphy) elevate this meticulous WWII story far above its big-budget competition.
Deadpool: Sharp wit and Ryan Reynolds' hilarious leading turn shook up the superhero business in 2016. Some of the more juvenile bits wear thin on repeat viewings, but, still, a fun outing.
Suicide Squad: It plays like a series of frenetic music videos, but nifty visuals, Will Smith's unyielding magnetism, and a star turn from Margo Robbie make Suicide Squad worth watching.
Triple 9: A tense thriller with a superb cast. Real edge-of-your-seat cinema.
Moana/Sing/Finding Dory/The Secret Life of Pets: Strong year for animation, don't think I saw a bad animated film in 2016.
2015 Winners I Didn't See in Time for Last Year's ListSpotlight, which certainly would have made the cut.
The Revenant, which would have had a fair chance based solely on the beauty of its locations.
2016: The Year of the Disappointing Sequel
London Has Fallen, Captain America: Civil War (only Black Panther saves this lumbering bore), X-Men: Apocalypse, Independence Day: Resurgence, Jason Bourne (I liked you better when you were Jeremy Renner), Snow White & the Huntsman, Mechanic: Resurrection (shoulda stayed dead), Inferno, and Jack Reacher: Never Go Back (please go back, the first one was good), all failed to live up to even middling expectations set by their predecessors.
On the other hand, Alice: Through the Looking Glass actually wasn't half as bad as the original!
2016's Bottom of the Barrel (a.k.a. I Paid to See That??)Gods of Egypt, which is actually so terrible it's almost great.
The Bronze, one of the worst movies I've EVER seen.
Hardcore Henry, worse than The Bronze.
The Legend of Tarzan, but at least they didn't make Skarsgard do that yodel-thing onscreen.
Assassin's Creed, no...just no.
2016: The Year Jack Huston Made Such Bad Movies That Pride & Prejudice & Zombies Was Actually the BEST! (Not counting Hail, Caesar!, in which he turns up for all of 60 seconds.)
And Ben Hur reviews apparently scared him off social media.
Come back, Jack...I miss you! *cries*
2016: How to Spit-Shine A HeroSully: YES.
Snowden: NO.
And The Winner Is...
Best Actor: Ryan Gosling (The Nice Guys)
Best Actress: Jessica Chastain (Miss Sloane)
Best Supporting Actor: Ben Foster (Hell or High Water)
Best Supporting Actress: Kate Winslet (Triple 9)
Best Director: Ethan & Joel Coen (Hail, Caesar!)
So, dear reader(s), there you have my take on the year just ended. May the new one be happy and healthy for you all. See you at Marquee Cinemas!!
Dearest Blog: Today it was off to Marquee Cinemas to spend the afternoon with my favorite leading man, Denzel Washington, doing double-duty as director and star of August Wilson's Fences.
Spoiler level here will be mild, nothing you wouldn't know from the trailers.
A family in 1950s Pittsburgh struggles with an imperfect home life and its place in a changing world.
August Wilson's Fences is storytelling at its finest. It needs no bells or whistles to grab your attention and hold it tight. Leads Denzel Washington and Viola Davis are appearing on awards shortlists everywhere, but the entire cast is quite stellar enough to be mentioned in the same breath.
Washington--for my money, Hollywood's most magnetic leading man--also displays a deft touch in a rare outing behind the camera. Sets/locations are few and simple, retaining the feel of the movie's stage origins.
The story is so real that it's often as difficult to watch as it is impossible to look away, becoming especially tense as the household grows increasingly contentious. Fences is a mature film that doesn't always have to be pretty to be beautiful.
Fences clocks in at 138 minutes and is rated PG13 for "thematic elements, language, and some suggestive references."
Fences is a smart, wordy outing for grownups, deliberately paced but never dull.
Dearest Blog: The holiday week provided the opportunity for an early trip to Marquee Cinemas for Assassin's Creed and Sing.
Spoiler level here will be mild, nothing you wouldn't know from the trailers.
First up: Assassin's Creed.
After being conscripted into a dangerous experiment, a former death-row inmate discovers he's descended from a member of a secret society of assassins...or something like that.
Just before heading out to the theatre, I saw a headline that called Assassin's Creed "an insult to gamers."
I can't speak for gamers, but it's certainly an insult to, in no particular order: Brendan Gleesan, Charlotte Rampling, my intelligence, theatre workers who might accidentally have to watch some of it while sweeping up, and the seven dollars I invested in my ticket. I well and truly lack the words to express how terrible this film is, but I think the guy behind me who snored loudly for two hours about covers it.
The real crime of Assassin's Creed is that it's too terrible to be fun, too dull to work up a healthy bile about it. It doesn't explain itself very well, so, by the time it settles in, you've already stopped caring. Michael Fassbender and Marion Cotillard are ridiculous, a pair of cookie-cutter characters uttering lines so stupid you'll facepalm right there in your seat.
The rest of the cast doesn't fare much better, but, with less screen time, they have fewer opportunities to embarrass themselves. The effects and stylized stunts are mostly mediocre, though the movie does boast some dramatic, pretty frames, and Fassbender spends a fair bit of time shirtless, so there's that.
Never let it be said I don't try to give you the silver lining, dear reader(s).
Assassin's Creed clocks in at 115 minutes and is rated PG13 for intense sequences of violence and action, thematic elements, and brief strong language.
If you were looking for a fun actioner to break up the drama of awards season, sadly, you're going to have to keep looking.
Of a possible nine Weasleys, Assassin's Creed gets two.
Fangirl Points: Michael Kenneth Williams!! (The only reason I don't regret seeing this.)
Next on the agenda: the highly-anticipated animated feature, Sing.
With his venue in financial ruin, a theatre manager stages a singing competition to try to earn the money to save it.
As you will know from the trailers, all the characters in Sing are animals: the koala theatre manager and his best friend, a sheep; competition hopefuls that include a gorilla, a snail (my favorite!), a porcupine, and an elephant. The art an animation are bright, colorful, and entirely kid-friendly, so even creatures who might normally be intimidating are cute and appealing.
Noteworthy voice talent (Oscar winners Matthew McConaughey, Jennifer Hudson, and Reese Witherspoon, to name a few) is in fine form.
Sing kicks off with a Beatles tune. It's a so-so cover of Golden Slumbers, but, as openings go, you could do a lot worse.
From there, the movie includes snippets of dozens of different songs, some terrific (My Way is chill-inducing, even when performed by a mouse); some...not so much (disappointing that a half-dozen youngsters sitting next to me seemed to know the lyrics to only one song, a charming little ditty that goes: "Oh. My. Gosh. Look at her butt!").
Sing is a real family movie, with a positive, upbeat story, songs that cover many generations, and humor that's appropriate for all ages. Sing understands that eight-year-olds don't bring themselves to the movies, and it makes sure to entertain mom and dad, too, truly a film with something for everyone.
Sing runs a quick 108 minutes and is rated PG for "some rude humor and mild peril."
Sing is a solid, entertaining outing that'll be great for families this holiday season.
Of a possible nine Weasleys, Sing gets seven and a half.
Fangirl Points: Peter Serafinowicz! Jennifer Saunders!
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)!
