A devout Puritan family in 1630s New England are
exiled from their village, and struggle to survive in their new home situated
at the edge of a mysterious forest. The sinister, witching forces in the
wilderness emerge silently to terrorize them, first by kidnapping the youngest
of their five children. As their life-sustaining crops fail, the clan fall
victim to paranoia and fear as they begin to turn on one another, eventually
suspecting teenage daughter Thomasin (Anya Taylor-Joy) of witchcraft. With the
vast majority of the dialogue culled from primary sources from the time period,
Robert Eggers' debut feature The Witch is a terrifying glimpse into a family
descending into madness. ~ Daniel Gelb, Rovi
Director: Robert Eggers
Release Date: Feb
19, 2016
Rated R For disturbing violent content and graphic
nudity.
Runtime: 1 hr. 30 min.
Genres: Horror
Cast: Ralph Ineson, Kate Dickie, Julian Richings,
Vivienne Moore
Review:
The Witch is a impressive moody period horror film that
is expertly crafted from the top down.Robert Eggers’ debut film is meticulously crafted exercise in subtly.Eggers builds and maintains tension
throughout the film by using the solitary setting for a maximum effect.The film owes a cinematic debt Kubrick’s The
Shining by playing up a lot of similar themes even though the build up more
tempered and methodical.Eggers is
blessed with a fully committed cast who deliver excellent performances all
around with Anya Tayor-Joy leaving a lasting impression.Taylor-Joy, who looks like the world saddest
Hummel figurine, conveys so much through her face and eyes, it’s a terribly
impressive performance for such a young actress.The Witch is the type of high quality horror film
that that rarely comes around in a genre which is usually littered with
garbage.
Dearest Blog, today it was off to Marquee Cinemas for the first of February's sports biopics, Race.
Spoiler level here will be mild, nothing you wouldn't know from the trailers or from Googling Jesse Owens.
Race is the story of legendary track and field star Owens, from his early days at Ohio State University through the controversial 1936 Olympic Games.
There's no denying Race is little more than your run-of-the-mill Inspiring Sports Movie, but still-timely issues, nail-biting sports action, and some nice performances make it worth a look. Stephan James is a delight as Owens, earnest and sympathetic.
The film boasts strong supporting turns by Jason Sudeikis, Shanice Banton, William Hurt, and David Kross. Characterizations are pretty broad--the city of Berlin even has its own super-villian-sounding musical cue--but if the storytelling is a bit hokey, it's easy enough to forgive in such a compelling tale. Race runs just a tad overlong and is by no means comfortable viewing. The issues it raises are too near for that, evidence the ugliness in my Facebook newsfeed during the Grammys, or the casual way acquaintances assume it's okay to drop racist comments around me because we both happen to be white.
Race is a long overdue "thank you" to Jesse Owens for his courage, but also hopefully one small step towards a day when bigotry really is a thing of the past.
Race clocks in at 134 minutes and is rated PG13 for "thematic elements and language."
It's not the best sports movie you'll ever see--it might not even be the best sports movie you'll see this month--but Race has a story worth telling and a message worth hearing.
Of a possible nine Weasleys, Race gets six and a half.
Past-their-prime male models Derek Zoolander (Ben Stiller) and Hansel (Owen
Wilson) are recruited by Interpol to investigate a conspiracy after a number of
beautiful celebrities are assassinated while posing with Zoolander's signature
"Blue Steel" look. Their probe uncovers an ingenious plot by fashion mogul
Mugatu (Will Ferrell) to locate and harness the source of the legendary
Fountain of Youth. Directed by Ben Stiller. Olivia Munn, Kristen Wiig, and
Penélope Cruz co-star. ~ Tom Ciampoli, Rovi
Director: Justin Theroux, Ben Stiller
Cast: Ben Stiller, Owen Wilson, Will Ferrell, Penélope
Cruz, Christine Taylor
Release Date: Feb
12, 2016
Rated R for crude and sexual content, a scene of
exaggerated violence, and brief strong language.
Runtime: 1 hr. 42 min.
Genres: Comedy
Review:
Zoolander 2 isn’t nearly as terrible as some of the
reviews suggest but it’s not nearly good enough to warrant its existence.Once the nostalgia of seeing Zoolander and
Hansel passes, we’re left with a fairly routine comedy that’s never quite as
funny as the original.Ben Stiller and
Owen Wilson slip back into their roles easily and they do have some funny bits
but its never consistent overall.There
are plenty of dead spots along the way with the film perking up substantially
once Will Ferrell’s Mugatu reemerges.Penélope Cruz is game as the biggest new addition to the cast but it
leaves you asking why the film isn’t funnier with all the talent
assembled.
In this irreverent spin on the superhero genre, mercenary Wade Wilson (Ryan
Reynolds) agrees to participate in a top-secret experiment after learning that
he has terminal cancer. When the procedure leaves him with advanced healing
powers and a disfigured face, he reinvents himself as a wisecracking,
spandex-clad antihero known as Deadpool, and seeks revenge on those
responsible. Morena Baccarin, Ed Skrein, T.J. Miller, and Gina Carano co-star.
Directed by Tim Miller. ~ Jack Rodgers, Rovi
Director: Tim Miller
Cast: Ryan Reynolds, Morena Baccarin, Ed Skrein, T.J.
Miller, Gina Carano
Release Date: Feb
12, 2016
Rated R for language Throughout, Graphic Nudity, Sexual
Content and Strong Violence
Runtime: 1 hr. 48 min.
Genres: Action/Adventure, Comedy, Sci-Fi/Fantasy
Review:
Deadpool is a fun send up of the superhero genre, one
that Ryan Reynolds has been talking about since 2002.Its story is a pretty basic origin story
which would been fairly forgettable if it’d played it straight but since
Deadpool is a comic book character who knows he’s a comic book character, it
rarely does so.The first half of the
film is the strongest with a hefty serving of super hero jokes and 4th
wall breaking madness.Ryan Reynolds is
totally in his element as the wisecracking merc.His comedic timing is tailormade for the
character, which is probably why he’s been such a huge fan.The film works best when it’s poking fun at
the genre, Reynolds and Huge Jackman.It’s got an anarchic spirit when it’s rolling along at brisk pace.First time director keeps the film moving at
a steady pace with the main potholes occurring when the film has to take care
of the rudimentary parts of the superhero plot particularly defeating the
baddie and saving the girl.Still, it’s
different enough to give the genre a nice pinch of variety to keep the genre
fresh.
Dearest Blog: Yesterday I took my Valentine (me!) to Marquee Cinemas for the first of 2016's bucket of superhero offerings, Deadpool.
Spoiler level here will be mild, nothing you wouldn't know from the trailers.
After being diagnosed with terminal cancer, a mercenary undergoes a series of experiments that leaves him with some unique powers.
Ryan Reynolds has long been ridiculed as box-office poison, fronting flop after flop, but I've always said he's great, he just needed the right vehicle.
In Deadpool, he's finally found the right vehicle.
Deadpool is all about the attitude. Frequently breaking the fourth wall to address the audience directly, he's snarky, rude, and foul.
The movie contains some nudity, a boatload of in-jokes, maximum carnage, and pretty much nothing but bad language, so it's definitely not for the kiddies; however, the incessant puerile humor may wear thin with many adults, too.
Certainly not *this* adult (#driveby!), but...well...some folks may find it a bit much. Deadpool takes its time with a solid story, spelled by well-crafted action and fight sequences, and, though it's Reynolds' movie to carry, he's lucky to be backed by a great supporting cast, particularly the hilarious TJ Miller.
Neither as light as most other Marvel product, nor dark in the same way as DC, Deadpool may be exactly the superhero movie die-hards have been waiting for.
Deadpool clocks in at 108 minutes and is rated R for "strong violence and language throughout, sexual content and graphic nudity."
Deadpool's explicit content will take it off the table for some viewers, but, if you're not among the easily offended, you can't go wrong with this funny and thrilling costumed-hero outing.
Dearest Blog: Yesterday it was off to Marquee Cinemas for unlikely bedfellows Pride & Prejudice & Zombies and Hail, Caesar!
Spoiler level here will be mild, nothing important that you won't have gotten from a couple of pretty awesome trailers.
First on the docket: Pride & Prejudice & Zombies.
A bit of classic literature gets the Walking Dead treatment.
Oh, Jack Huston, the things I do for you. Nevermind the things I *would* do for you...the things I *do* do for you. Zombies are kind-of the "it" monster these days, but, being more of a vampire girl myself--and not having gone anywhere near Jane Austen since a forced high-school acquaintance--I might have taken a pass on PPZ if not for the presence of the talented and dashing Mr. Huston.
Not surprisingly, though, it was a far less annoying experience than that Nicholas Sparks disaster I was forced to watch last year.
Getting the obvious out of the way first: If you look at the name "Pride & Prejudice & Zombies" and think "That's stupid!" well...this isn't the movie for you.
Like Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter, the concept's chief appeal is in its utter ridiculousness. PPZ isn't quite as tongue-in-cheek as one might expect, but it's still good fun. Highlights include a strong leading turn by Lily James, a solid array of impressive female heroes, nice costumes, good fight choreography, and some sweet zombie effects.
Like World War Z, these undead don't just shuffle along; if you're running, odds are they can catch you. Of all the non-traditional aspects of PPZ, that one is, perhaps, the most disquieting! On the downside, it takes a full 39 minutes for Jack Huston to appear onscreen. (Did I clock it? Yes, I did.) Sam Riley is so miserable looking throughout I feel sure he'll be tapped to play Athos in some future version of The Three Musketeers.
The movie's not overlong, but it does feel slow at times; a little trim might have served it well.
Pride & Prejudice & Zombies clocks in at 108 minutes and is rated PG13 for "zombie violence and action and brief suggestive material."
A definitive answer to Hollywood's female problem, Pride & Prejudice & Zombies is a good time that's well worth a look.
Of a possible nine Weasleys, PPZ gets seven.
Next on my agenda: Hail, Caesar!
In 1950s Hollywood, a studio "fixer" has his hands full when a marquee name goes missing.
My smarter, funnier cousin once said that the Coen brothers' idea of a comedy is about the same as Iron Tail's idea of coloring Easter eggs. (If you're young, look it up.) I don't find that as true here as it sometimes is, but their humor is an acquired taste; if you don't love Hail, Caesar!, you'll probably hate it.
Though the movie's been touted as a love letter to Hollywood's Golden Age, if we're being honest, it's more of a hate letter, spotlighting everything hilariously stupid about the big studio experience of the 50s. Josh Brolin is fantastic in the lead and, even after all these years, it does my tiny heart good to see his name atop such a list of Hollywood A-Listers.
George Clooney's buffoonish superstar is a laugh every time he's onscreen. Channing Tatum continues to surprise as a real asset to seemingly every movie that'll have him. (And does he have the MOVES!)
I wouldn't be me if I didn't name check a couple of my favorites who turn up in roles so small the characters don't even have names: Fisher Stevens and Patrick Fischler.
Great to see ya, guys! Hail, Caesar! features a solid mystery that ties together the various movies within the movie. The film is consistently funny, with some laugh-out-loud moments, and boasts top-notch performances from a bunch of top-notch names, as well as charming choreography from the master, Tony winner Christopher Gattelli.
There's also a small cameo by Mr. Jack Huston, which allows me to deem yesterday a "Jack Huston Film Festival." Day = Made!
Hail, Caesar! runs 106 minutes and is rated PG13 for "some suggestive content and smoking."
The finished product falls a little short of its stellar trailer's promise, but Hail, Caesar! is a fun, clever picture that should please most moviegoers.
Of a possible nine Weasleys, Hail, Caesar! gets seven.
Hope everyone enjoys their Super Bowl Sunday. Until next time...........yay, football!!
