Cindy Prascik's Reviews of Star Wars: The Last Jedi & Ferdinand

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!

Until next time...

Cindy Prascik's Review of Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri

Dearest Blog: Having returned from the Big City, yesterday I utilized my recovery day to sneak in another Justice League screening, justified by pairing it with likely awards favorite Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri.

Spoiler level here will be mild, nothing you wouldn't know from the trailer.

A grieving mother finds a unique way of holding local law enforcement to account for its failure to find her daughter's killer.

Dear reader(s), Three Billboards left me adrift, so the following may seem disjointed and even contradictory at times. Know that this movie is, without question, worth your time, but it is challenging.

The quality of the performances in Three Billboards is breathtaking. It seems almost unfair to call out anyone individually when the ensemble as a whole is so extraordinary, BUT...Sam Rockwell. Just give this man an Oscar already! Frances McDormand and Woody Harrelson are magnificent beyond words, and Peter Dinklage will manage to break your heart with less than 15 minutes total screen time. Incredible all 'round.

Much of Three Billboards is laugh-out-loud funny, despite the somber subject matter and sad consequences of the characters' actions. For the most part, said characters are are bigoted rubes who behave badly and selfishly, yet they aren't unlikable. The story is riveting, but the picture moves slowly and seems quite a lot longer than it actually is. Language throughout is nearly as brutal as the incident that propels the film, not just your garden-variety swearing, but also racial and homophobic slurs. While it may be realistic, it's also jarring and wears thin very quickly, ultimately making the film feel a lot like work. Without divulging any specifics about the ending, I will say simply that it is sure to be one of those controversial love-it-or-hate-it endings that leaves folks talking for months to come. (For the record, I loved it.)

Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri runs 115 minutes and is rated R for "violence, language throughout, and some sexual references."

Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri has been called the best movie of the year. For my money it's not that, but it is a thought-provoking exercise and an acting master class that's well worth your movie dollar.

Of a possible nine Weasleys, Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri gets eight.

Fangirl points: Zeljko Ivanek! John Hawkes!

Until next time...

Cindy Prascik's Reviews of Coco & Roman J. Israel, Esq.

Dearest Blog: Yesterday it was off to Marquee Cinemas for a double-bill of Coco and Roman J. Israel, Esq. Talk about mood swings!

 

Spoiler level here will be mild, nothing you wouldn't know from the trailers.

 

First on my agenda was the wonderful animated feature Coco.

 

A young Mexican boy learns the importance of family, and of being true to yourself, on Dia de los Muertos.

 

Coco is preceded by a short called Olaf's Frozen Adventure. It runs about 20 minutes and feels like about 20 years. Outside of an amusing number about different holiday traditions, the songs are pedestrian and the story even more so. The animation is lovely, as you'd expect, but that's really about all this one has going for it. Do yourself a favor, dawdle an extra minute at concessions and turn up late.

 

Once you've survived this latest attempt to cash in on Ana and Elsa, your reward is sweet. Coco is a beautiful, heartfelt story featuring delightful characters, stunning artwork, and a magical score by Michael Giacchino. If the movie is a bit heavy-handed with its message, it's sincere enough that you probably won't mind. Myriad skulls and skeletons could seem a bit macabre to unfamiliar eyes, but bright colors and cheerful patterns keep the tone friendly enough for even very young children. The picture's climax drags just a hair, but it's a petty quibble with a pretty perfect movie.

Coco clocks in at 109 minutes and is rated PG for "thematic elements." Coco is a sweet story brought to life by glorious artwork and enjoyable characters. With just four weeks left in 2017, I’m inclined to call it the year's best animated feature. Of a possible nine Weasleys, Coco gets eight.

 

Next on my agenda, the perplexing legal thriller Roman J. Israel, Esq.

 

When his longtime partner passes away, a brilliant lawyer is thrust from the shadows into the spotlight.

 

Dear reader(s), Roman J. Israel, Esq. is one weird little movie. The titular attorney is a far cry from the cool tough guys Denzel Washington often portrays; instead he's an awkward loner whose odd mannerisms are portrayed by Washington with meticulous attention to detail. Colin Farrell and Carmen Ejogo are both solid in supporting roles, though I'd have liked them both to have a bit more to do. The story is never dull, but clunky pacing and a sense of moral ambiguity make the movie feel awkward and unsatisfying. Complicated characters are one thing, but this is poorly-fleshed-out enough that it's hard to grab onto anyone's real goals or motivations. I saw a headline over the weekend that called this film "one of the most confounding misfires of 2017," and that says it better than I ever could. There's really no excuse for this not being better than it is.

 

Roman J. Israel, Esq. runs 129 minutes and is rated PG13 for "language and some violence."

 

Roman J. Israel, Esq. is a terrific showcase for the acting tour de force that is Denzel Washington, but it doesn't have much else going for it. 

 

Of a possible nine Weasleys, Roman J. Israel, Esq. gets five.

 

Fangirl points: DAMN does Trouble Man sound awesome in that glorious surround sound!

 

Until next time...

MOVIE REVIEW: COCO

Despite his family's generations-old ban on music, young Miguel dreams of becoming an accomplished musician like his idol Ernesto de la Cruz. Desperate to prove his talent, Miguel finds himself in the stunning and colorful Land of the Dead. After meeting a charming trickster named Héctor, the two new friends embark on an extraordinary journey to unlock the real story behind Miguel's family history.

Release Date: Nov 11, 2017

Genres: Action/Adventure, Sci-Fi/Fantasy

Director: Lee Unkrich, Adrian Molina

Cast: Anthony Gonzalez, Gael García Bernal, Benjamin Bratt, Alanna Ubach

Rated PG for thematic elements

Review:

Pixar’s Coco is a wonderful exploration of Mexican culture packaged in a heartwarming multigenerational story.  Directors Lee Unkrich & Adrian Molina deliver a lively and vivid world that’s decidedly Mexican through and through.  Anyone coming from Mexican heritage will find so many tidbits here and there sprinkled throughout the film that just adds to the film’s overall authenticity.  Once the film moves to the land of the dead, it’s a Technicolor explosion of colors and wonderfully realized characters designs.  The dead are brought to life as delicately adorned skeletons keeping with traditional Day of the Dead adornments.  The voice cast is strong through with newcomer Anthony Gonzalez  leaving a lasting impression in the lead.  His performance is confident and endearing.  He and Gael García Bernal share excellent chemistry that’s paid off later in the film after a slight twist.  The finale is a tear jerking exploration of family, memory and death.  Coco is everything I’d hoped The Book of Life was going to be years ago.  Coco succeeds on multiple levels and is sure to become a classic.

A