Tonya Harding rises through the ranks of
competitive figure skating only to find disgrace when her husband tries to
eliminate her rival.
Director: Craig Gillespie
Cast: Margot Robbie, Sebastian Stan,
Julianne Nicholson, Caitlin Carver, Bobby Cannavale, Allison Janney
Release Date: Dec 8, 2017
Genres: Biography, Drama, Sport
Rated R for pervasive language, violence,
and some sexual content/nudity Runtime: 1h 59 min
Review:
I, Tonya is a solid biopic that overcomes
some of the story’s drawbacks with stellar performances from the cast.Craig Gillespie keeps his film interesting by
framing the film as a pseudo documentary with interviews spliced through the
entire film.What we get are 3
unreliable narrators who weave together a story stranger than fiction even as
it occasionally veers into high end Lifetime movie territory.That’s not to say it’s not intriguing as it
touches on themes of tabloid fame and illusion of the American Dream.At its center is Margot Robbie in the titular
role.Robbie presents Harding as a
doggedly determined individual who can’t reach the summit because of a variety
of reasons even if some are not entirely her fault.Underneath it all, there’s a frayed and
broken person who is looking for acceptance and love.It’s an impressive performance that’s topped
off with a silence sequence of Robbie looking into the mirror running a gamut
of emotions before the climatic performance at the Lillehammer Olympics.The supporting roles played by Allison Janney
and Sebastian Stan are just as strong with each leaving a lasting
impression.Allison Janney gives the
cinematic world another legendary evil mother to pantheon of evil mothers.It’s an engaging and arresting performance
that just as strong as Robbie’s.Sebastian Stan’s turn as Jeff Gillooly equally impressive as he
disappears into the role, he captures the mannerisms and vocal inflections
perfectly.The film builds to the final
act where we’re witness to the bumbling cast of characters that lead to the
attack on Nancy Kerrigan and the subsequent aftermath.It’s all anti climatic since we all know how
the story ends but watching this collection of actors deliver top notch
performances is the real treat.
When scientists discover how to shrink
humans to five inches tall as a solution to overpopulation, Paul (Matt Damon)
and his wife Audrey (Kristen Wiig) decide to abandon their stressed lives in
order to get small and move to a new downsized community — a choice that
triggers life-changing adventures.
Director: Alexander Payne
Cast: Matt Damon, Christoph Waltz, Hong Chau,
Kristen Wiig, Jason Sudeikis, Udo Kier
Release Date: Dec 22, 2017
Genres: Comedy, Comedy Drama, Satire
Rated R for language including sexual
references, some graphic nudity and drug use. Runtime: 2h 15min
Review:
Downsizing is a fairly surprising film that
sports some stellar supporting turns but ultimately lacks enough focus to make
it truly special.Alexander Payne has
plenty on his mind in this film and he covers bevy topics from
environmentalism, class warfare and self actualization.Its dense film that feels as unfocused as it
is polished.Matt Damon is fine in the
lead role but his character is a bit simplistic throughout while everyone
around him feels more interesting and nuanced.Christoph Waltz and Udo Kier make for some fun neighbors to Matt Damon’s
Paul but its Hong Chau who ultimately steals the show.Hong Chau injects the film with a palpable
sense of humanity and heart, something the film sorely lacked until her
arrival.The cast’s chemistry really
fuels the film even as the film meanders trying to find a definite direction or
purpose.Ultimately, it never nails any
of its points and feels like it could have used some trimming and focus.
After the highs of
winning the world championships, the Bellas find themselves split apart and
discovering there aren't job prospects for making music with your mouth. But
when they get the chance to reunite for an overseas USO tour, this group of
awesome nerds will come together to make some music, and some questionable
decisions, one last time.
Director: Trish Sie
Cast: Anna Kendrick, Anna
Camp, Rebel Wilson, Brittany Snow, Hailee Steinfeld, Hana Mae Lee
Rated PG-13 for crude and
sexual content, language and some action.
Genres: Comedy, Music
Runtime: 1h 33min
Review:
Pitch Perfect started off
as a spunky girl power film that took people by surprise.Sadly, by its third go around it’s lost a
large chuck of its forward momentum simply because it’s not the type of story
that really warranted 3 feature length films.The cast remains the strongest component of the franchise and their
chemistry is still just as strong as it was before.Their interactions are the high points of the
film even though the story feels hacked together.The plot this go around seems to have two
primary purposes, to get to the next song and dance routine and move along a
paper thing story about the USO, DJ Khaled and Fat Amy’s father.It’s weak and really feels more like an after
thought.It’s a shame because they
probably could have gotten more run out of these characters if they’d put just
a tad bit more effort.Sadly, it’s more
of a final victory lap before these characters are put to pasture for
good.
Dearest Blog: Saturday I kicked off the busy Christmas weekend with Downsizing and Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle.
Spoiler level here will be mild, nothing you wouldn't know from the trailers.
First on the docket, Downsizing.
In the interest of saving the planet, scientists perfect a process that reduces humans to a fraction of their size.
Ladies and gentlemen: I didn't hate this movie, and that's far better than anything I expected to be able to say about it. At least as far as my reaction, Downsizing reminded me of Collateral Beauty: I suspect it isn't a very good movie, but I liked it maybe better than it deserves.
First, a few of the problems. Downsizing clears two hours by a quarter, and that's just too long for as slow as it gets in places. In the film's defense, I'll admit I was never *quite* bored, but the length is cumbersome. Matt Damon, generally a pretty likable if unspectacular actor, somehow misses the mark in the lead, failing to earn much sympathy for a character who struggles mightily to be a good guy and do the right thing. For the second week in a row, I also had to endure Laura Dern's presence in a movie, thankfully, this time very briefly. Downsizing feels like a "message" movie, but ultimately muddles too many messages for any of them to have much impact.
Now, the good news: Downsizing does boast a pair of extraordinary performances, from Christoph Waltz, who leaves any movie better for having him, and from Hong Chau, who steals the show with a moving and powerful turn. Downsizing is quite funny at times, though the the whole feels tinged with the natural melancholy of irreversible choices. If the movie has one message that ultimately does hit home, it's the importance of being honest with ourselves and accepting the real reasons we do the things we do.
Downsizing clocks in at 135 minutes and is rated R for "language including sexual references, some graphic nudity, and drug use." (There are penises a-plenty in this movie, a fact I mention only because it is so unusual. If you're not okay with that sort of thing, take a pass.)
Downsizing is a confused morality tale that's more entertaining than expected. Of a possible nine Weasleys, Downsizing gets five.
Fangirl points: YOU GUYS THERE'S A BODEANS SONG IN THIS MOVIE!!
Next on my agenda: Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle.
Four high schoolers are sucked out of detention and into the world of an old video game, where their avatars must play for their very lives.
Dear reader(s), full disclosure: I have no special affection for the original Jumanji, so I was never as appalled as the Internet-at-large over the idea of a remake/reboot/sequel. However you may feel about the original, I suggest you give the fun, funny 2017 version a try; I don't think you'll be sorry.
Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle has end-to-end action and plenty of laugh-out-loud moments. Dwayne Johnson, Kevin Hart, Karen Gillan, and Jack Black have great chemistry and do a remarkable job of channeling their real-world, younger selves. It's a testament to the four youngsters--Alex Wolff, Ser'Darius Blain, Morgan Turner, and Madison Iseman--that you'll actually miss them when they're replaced by their more famous "avatars." Johnson leads with his usual easy charm; it would be impossible not to enjoy a film with him in the lead. (Yes, I even liked Tooth Fairy!) Bobby Cannavale chews the scenery in a terrific turn as the picture's primary baddie, and Karen Gillan only gets more and more amazing with every movie. The movie's effects are solid, and a lively score by Henry Jackman perfectly underscores all the action. The crowd at my screening broke into applause multiple times over the course of the film.
Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle runs 119 minutes and is rated PG13 for "adventure action, suggestive content, and some language."
It can be a hard pill to swallow when the things we love reach the age of being re-done for a new generation, but Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle got a better reaction from my theater than The Last Jedi, Justice League, and Thor...combined. It's an action-packed family comedy with a little something for everyone. Of a possible nine Weasleys, Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle gets eight.
Dear reader(s), I hope you enjoy these final, festive days of December, and I'll look forward to seeing you at the movies.
Luke Skywalker's peaceful and solitary existence
gets upended when he encounters Rey, a young woman who shows strong signs of
the Force. Her desire to learn the ways of the Jedi forces Luke to make a
decision that changes their lives forever. Meanwhile, Kylo Ren and General Hux
lead the First Order in an all-out assault against Leia and the Resistance for
supremacy of the galaxy.
Director:
Rian Johnson
Release Date: Dec 15, 2017
Cast: Mark Hamill, Carrie Fisher, Adam
Driver, Daisy Ridley, John Boyega, Oscar Isaac, Laura Dern
Rated PG-13 (for sequences of
sci-fi action and violence)
Runtime: 2 hr. 32 min.
Genres: Action, Adventure, Fantasy
Review:
Star Wars: The Last Jedi is an
enjoyable entry into the long running series.It has some moments that feel iconic but as a whole it never really
captures a consistent feel that some of the better Star War films like The
Empire Strikes Back and Rogue One.Rian
Johnson delivers a solid entry that doesn’t deliver a bevy of familiar beats
like The Force Awakens did three years ago.Instead we get some interesting story choices that don’t necessarily hit
as well as they should have.I do give Johnson
credit for trying something different instead of playing it safe but none of
the choices really make for any sort of memorable moments.Instead we get 3 disparate storylines that
run concurrently but never seem naturally cohesive.Separating the 3 new leads robs the story of
letting these new generation characters form any sort of ongoing
chemistry.Daisy Ridley is just as
energetic and magnetic as she was in The Force Awakens.Ridley and Mark Hamill share solid chemistry
together with Hamill adding impressive range and depth to Luke Skywalker.Oscar Issac is given more screentime, to the
films benefit, this go around and Issac takes full advantage.He brings a strong sense of bravado and charm
to the role which feels like a new generation’s Han Solo.John Boyega is still a little broad for my
taste, it’s not his fault.The character
is written very broadly much to Boyega’s detriment because he’s a solid actor
but he isn’t given much to do here until the final act.Carrie Fisher delivers her final bow on film
and it’s very much a fitting swan song even if her character is taken off the
board for a large chunk of the film.My
biggest issue is still Adam Driver’s Kylo Ren whose character is nothing more
than a whiny emo man baby.There are a
few choice bits written into his character which posits some interesting ideas
about legend and legacy but it not enough for me to get past the fact that’s
the character is eerily similar to Anakin Skywalker in the prequel
trilogy.The film does boast some
impressive set pieces sprinkled throughout even though you can’t help but think
it all could have been trimmed down by a good 45 minutes.One subplot in particular feels like it could
have been excised entirely while finding something slightly more interesting
than a casino planet or the worlds slowest space chase.Star Wars: The Last Jedi is at the very least
better than The Force Awakens in that if finds its own path.It’s not the perfect entry some have made it
out to be but it’s an enjoyable entry.
Dearest Blog: 'Tis the season where I never work a five-day week, so yesterday I took advantage of a Friday away from the office to beat the (worst) crowds to The Last Jedi and Ferdinand.
Spoiler level here will be mild, nothing you wouldn't know from the trailers, BUT...as people are uber-sensitive about Star Wars I'm gonna say spare us all the stress and just don't read this until you've seen the movie. I might have a thought that hints at an idea that will utterly destroy your experience or something.
Normally I write in the order I see, but as a courtesy I'm going to drop Ferdinand first so parents who are wondering, "Should I take my kid to this?" don't have to wade through 2,000 words on why I've been in love with Luke Skywalker since I was ten before getting their answer.
A gentle bull called Ferdinand has to save himself and his friends from the bullfighter's ring and the Burger King.
Ferdinand is a cute, mostly benign kids' movie. I hesitate to call it a family movie because, really, there's not much here to entertain anyone over the age of ten...or most people over the age of ten, I guess, because I liked it well enough. Ferdinand's art and animation are merely decent, and the predictable story--while enjoyable--is certainly not on par with its most recent animated competition, the extraordinary Coco. A lively score from the brilliant John Powell works especially well with the film's brighter and more colorful bits. Wrestler John Cena isn't overtaxed in the lead, and, oddly, my screening seemed mostly filled with Cena fans, just one little kid among them. There's not much to say about the supporting crew other than Kate McKinnon is marginally less annoying than she was in Ghostbusters, and the animated David Tennant has WAY more lines than the animated David Tennant did in How to Train Your Dragon. To me some of Ferdinand's themes seem a little harsh for smaller kids. The film is pretty clear on what happens to the bulls, whether or not they make it to the ring, so if you still hope to feed your kids that Hamburger Helper on a busy night, maybe take a pass on this one. I don't have children and always assume kids of any age know more than I'd guess, but I also thought the language was somewhat crass for very young audiences, so, again, skip it if your kids aren't already at an age where everything "sucks."
Ferdinand runs 106 minutes and is rated PG for "rude humor, action, and some thematic elements."
Ferdinand is a passable kids' movie that offers little for the rest of the family...but I liked it.
Of a possible nine Weasleys, Ferdinand gets five.
Fangirl points: David Tennant! Raul Esparza!
Okay, now onward to Star Wars: The Last Jedi.
With hope all but lost, the Resistance seeks a new hope. Erm...hang on.......
When a property is as iconic as Star Wars, it's more important than usual to offer a disclaimer on where these opinions come from, because I feel like most opinions on such things come from more than whether or not the movie itself is any good. So...I was ten when the first Star Wars came out. If memory serves, it was the first movie I ever saw in a theater. I fell in love with Luke Skywalker and have been in love with Luke Skywalker ever since. Thus, even though The Force Awakens is pretty universally well loved (and I, myself, loved much of it), it was also a bitter disappointment to me due to the lack of Luke. You can keep your Han. You can keep your Leia. For me it's all about Luke.
As advertised, The Last Jedi features a fair bit of Luke. Surly, difficult, fed up, conflicted, heroic Luke. Mark Hamill turns in an epic performance worthy of an epic installment in an epic series. Luke Skywalker, you remain my hero. The rest of the cast is great and terrible and a little bit in between. Kudos to John Boyega (who needs more to do) and Oscar Isaac, who engage with honesty and charisma. Of course Carrie Fisher is amazing, though her every appearance is a kick-in-the-gut reminder of what we've lost. Domhnall Gleeson's General Hux is a moustache-twirl away from a cartoon, but for my money is a more entertaining and menacing baddie than Kylo Ren, who always feels more like a kid sulking in his room with a comic book than a genuine threat to the galaxy. Much of that may have to do with Adam Driver, who is ineffective at portraying the conflict within this tormented character. Despite her closet full of awards, Laura Dern is about as exciting as a paper doll, and I'm only grateful her screen time is limited enough that it didn't ruin more of the movie for me. Annnnnnnd...Daisy Ridley is somewhere in between all that. Rey is so critical--both to Star Wars in particular and movies in general--sometimes I feel like the actor just doesn't do the character justice.
The Last Jedi starts fast out of the gate, but suffers great lags across its bloated runtime. In addition to my usual complaints (really, there are only so many moves that are interesting and necessary in any fight or chase scene), there are a couple places where the picture drops asides that seem extraneous and could have been eliminated with no real damage to the end result. The effects and CGI look pretty great, and much of the film is simply stunning, visually. The action is exciting and often takes unexpected turns, and there's a good bit of humor that mostly hits the mark without feeling forced. It goes without saying that John Williams' score is once again the very definition of iconic. The Last Jedi does a fine job of giving new players their due, while never seeming to shaft the old favorites, then tying both together in such a way that fans can probably envision this series going on forever, passing the baton from one generation of rebels to the next.
Star Wars: The Last Jedi clocks in at a massive 152 minutes and is rated PG13 for "sequences of sci-fi action and violence."
The Last Jedi has won over critics, while leaving the fandom bitterly divided. I found a lot to love about it, but was left without the euphoria I expected when the end credits rolled. As always, though, I beg you, dear reader(s), not to let the Internet make up your mind about this movie. Get on out to the theater and see it for yourself.
Of a possible nine Weasleys, Star Wars: The Last Jedi gets eight and a half, which includes one (1) bonus Weasley for having an actual Weasley in the cast.
Fangirl points: You guys...ADRIAN FREAKING EDMONDSON is in this movie!
