MOVIE REVIEW: SEARCHING

 

David Kim becomes desperate when his 16-year-old daughter Margot disappears and an immediate police investigation leads nowhere. He soon decides to search the one place that no one else has -- Margot's laptop. Hoping to trace her digital footprints, David contacts her friends and looks at photos and videos for any possible clues to her whereabouts.

Director: Aneesh Chaganty

Cast: John Cho, Michelle La, Debra Messing

Release Date: August 24, 2018

Rated PG-13 for thematic content, some drug and sexual references, and for language

Runtime: 1 hr. 42 min.

Genres: Drama, Mystery, Thriller

Review:

Searching is the type of film that’s based off a gimmick.  It’s not the first film to occur entirely on a computer screen but it’s one of the best.  First time director Aneesh Chaganty unfurls and impressively crafted mystery that’s entirely engrossing.  It’s hard to watch the film and not appreciate the effort and planning involved to create such a detailed and layered story using only computer screens.  John Cho is the heart of the film with his performance being the life blood that drives the entire endeavor.  Cho delivers a subtle measured performance that works perfectly for his character.  There’s an air of authenticity to his turn that grounds the film and helps you forget the gimmick quickly.  Debra Messing and Michelle La are both solid in supporting roles.  Messing is a tad robotic for my taste but it’s a small issue once the twist and turns really start unwinding in the film’s final act.  Searching is the type of film that is impressive on multiple levels and announces the arrival of Aneesh Chaganty as a fascinating director.

B+

Cindy Prascik's Review of An Actor Prepares

Dearest Blog: Thanks to a slow weekend at the cinema, yesterday I had the opportunity to catch up with Jack Huston's latest picture, An Actor Prepares, via XFinity On Demand.

 

Spoiler level here will be mild, nothing you wouldn't know from the trailers...if you've seen one, which I sure as heck didn't around here.

 

Declared too ill to fly from LA to New York for his "favorite" child's wedding, an aging, self-absorbed actor sets out on a cross-country road trip with his estranged son.

 

The burning questions:

 

1.) Will this film be as pretentious as its name? 

 

2.) Has Jack Huston finally found another vehicle worthy of his exceptional talent? (Been a long dry spell since Boardwalk Empire.)

 

Unfortunately, the answers are yes and no, respectively.

 

An Actor Prepares suffers a terminal case of Pilot Syndrome. You know, that very first episode of a television series, where every aspect of every character is super-sized to bring viewers up to speed as quickly as possible? Comic-book movies devote entire films to back story with their origins stories. Well-crafted movies educate with subtext so skillful as to be unnoticeable. This movie bangs you over the head again and again for the duration. The main characters not being very likable anyway, the exaggeration quickly grows old. Jeremy Irons has a gleeful ol' time as a self-centered thespian whose charisma fools all but those closest to him. For the first half of the movie, he almost fools the viewer as well, his escapades seeming hilarious to anyone not in the path of the fallout. As the obviously-NOT-favorite child, Huston does a terrific job of conveying the weariness that comes from surviving in the direct orbit of such a person, forever painted the bad guy, the buzz-kill, the wet blanket. The character is uptight and a little whiny, but layer on a troubled relationship and a failing career, and I didn't have a hard time forgiving him for it. (Your own ability to do so may rely solely on your position within your own family's pecking order.) An Actor Prepares is handicapped by poorly-written dialogue that is frequently crass just for the sake of it. "Deeper" moments are scored by dreadful emo songs as the film trudges to a predictable finale. The big screen dodged a bullet by sending this one straight to download.

 

An Actor Prepares clocks in at 97 minutes. The movie is unrated, but features adult situations, adult language, some nudity, and drug use.

 

An Actor Prepares is a slog that proves unworthy of its talented cast. 

 

Of a possible nine Weasleys, An Actor Prepares gets four and a half.

 

Until next time...

Cindy Prascik's Review of BlacKkKlansman

Dearest Blog: Yesterday it was off to Marquee Cinemas for Spike Lee's BlacKklansman, touted as one of the year's best films thus far.

 

Spoiler level here will be mild, nothing you wouldn't know from the trailers or from the news if you're old enough.

 

Colorado Springs' first black police officer goes undercover to infiltrate the Ku Klux Klan. (Seriously.)

 

Unarmed with knowledge of the true story, one might naturally assume a yarn as absurd as BlacKklansman to be fictional comedy. The movie does, in fact, feature several laugh-out-loud moments. These ridiculous situations that seem hilarious in fiction are decidedly less so when based in reality (especially in today's climate), but the moments of levity are well-placed and necessary in a story that's pretty hard to stomach at times. Despite deliberate pacing, BlacKkKlansman never feels slow, though the harsh, hateful language and the tension of the case itself definitely made me fidgety. Much of the picture is so surprisingly quiet that, on those occasions when Terence Blanchard's score really rears its head, it feels a little jarring and out of place, but otherwise the musical selections are choice! Outstanding leads John David Washington and Adam Driver have terrific chemistry; Washington, in particular, carries the film with the ease of an old pro, despite having just eight acting credits on his resume. Director Lee expends a great deal of quality screen time focusing on individual faces in the crowds, as if begging viewers to remember we're all just people, no matter our ethnicity or heritage. BlacKkKlansman is the kind of essential film making that makes getting out to the cinema not just something you want to do, but something you HAVE to do.

 

BlacKkKlansman clocks in at 135 minutes and is rated R for "language throughout, including racial epithets, disturbing/violent material, and some sexual references."

 

BlacKkKlansman is that rare gem that truly earns the hype. 

 

Of a possible nine Weasleys, BlacKkKlansman gets nine.

 

Fangirl points: Well, dear reader(s), this basic 70s white girl sure did enjoy hearing Emerson Lake & Palmer's "Lucky Man" in digital surround sound!

 

Until next time...

MOVIE REVIEW: BLACKKKLANSMAN

From visionary filmmaker Spike Lee comes the incredible true story of an American hero. It’s the early 1970s, and Ron Stallworth (John David Washington) is the first African-American detective to serve in the Colorado Springs Police Department. Determined to make a name for himself, Stallworth bravely sets out on a dangerous mission: infiltrate and expose the Ku Klux Klan. The young detective soon recruits a more seasoned colleague, Flip Zimmerman (Adam Driver), into the undercover investigation of a lifetime. Together, they team up to take down the extremist hate group as the organization aims to sanitize its violent rhetoric to appeal to the mainstream. 

Director: Spike Lee

Cast: John David Washington, Adam Driver, Laura Harrier, Topher Grace

Release Date: August 10, 2018

Genres: Biography, Comedy, Crime

Rated R for language throughout, including racial epithets, and for disturbing/violent material and some sexual references

Runtime: 2h 15 min

Review:

Blackkklansman is one of Spike Lee’s best films in a while.  It’s funny, uncomfortable and incredibly timely.  Spike Lee isn’t shy about being fairly vocal and direct on his message and it fits perfectly for this stranger than fiction true tale.  John David Washington, Denzel’s son, has a strong screen presence which translates well to the big screen.  Washington is the driving force to the film and he handles it with an experienced ease that’s rare to find.  He and Adam Driver share a strong chemistry with both delivering strong performances.  I’m usually not the biggest fan of Driver but he fits the role well.  The supporting cast is made up of strong character actors like Topher Grace and Jasper Pääkkönen who really shine in their roles.  If there’s a small complaint its that Lee’s film could use a tad bit of trimming since the romantic subplot feels oddly forced.  It’s a minor complaint since the film is fairly enjoyable for the majority of its runtime.  It’s a rare kind of message movie that’s as funny as it’s impactful.  

A-

MOVIE REVIEW: THE HAPPYTIME MURDERS

In the seedy underbelly of Los Angeles, two clashing detectives -- one human and the other a puppet -- must work together to solve the brutal murders of former cast members of a beloved puppet TV show.

Director: Brian Henson

Cast: Melissa McCarthy, Bill Barretta, Maya Rudolph, Joel McHale,  Elizabeth Banks

Release Date: August 24, 2018

Genres: Action, Comedy, Crime 

Rated R for strong crude and sexual content and language throughout, and some drug material

Runtime: 1h 31min

Review:

Your enjoyment of The Happytime Murders will depend on how “cutting edge” you consider the conceit.  If you think it’s the first time felt puppets have gone R rated raunchy then it’ll be a more enjoyable experience than those are familiar with an old Peter Jackson film.  The Happytime Murders isn’t Meet The Feebles.  It’s raunchy and vulgar but it’s never as offensive as it thinks it is.  To its credit, the film does hold some solid laughs for people who came to see R rated hijinks on the puppet side of life.  Melissa McCarthy seems to be enjoying herself while partnering with her puppet partner.  McCarthy and Bill Barretta share some solid chemistry even if his character is just a 40’s noir detective.  The biggest drawback of Brian Henson’s film is that once you get past the puppet sex, drugs and vulgarity your left with a pretty standard film noir complete with a femme fatale.  It plays along those beats predictably throughout making it’s 90-minute runtime feel longer than it actually is.  It’s a shame that they didn’t take some more risk with their story and go for something truly outrageous.  Instead it plays it safe and starts to overstay it’s welcome as it heads toward the finale.  The Happytime Murders is one of those high concept films that has a great idea but doesn’t take advantage of its full potential.

C+

MOVIE REVIEW: CHRISTOPHER ROBIN

Christopher Robin -- now a family man living in London -- receives a surprise visit from his old childhood pal, Winnie-the-Pooh. With Christopher's help, Pooh embarks on a journey to find his friends -- Tigger, Eeyore, Owl, Piglet, Rabbit, Kanga and Roo. Once reunited, the lovable bear and the gang travel to the big city to help Christopher rediscover the joy of life.

Director: Marc Forster

Cast: Ewan McGregor, Hayley Atwell, Jim Cumming, Brad Garrett, Bronte Carmichael, Mark Gatiss

Release Date: August 3, 2018

Genres: Animation, Adventure, Comedy

Rated PG for some action

Runtime: 1h 44 min

Review:

Christopher Robin is a saccharine sweet bit of nostalgia that’s enjoyable and entertaining even though it’s an uneven tone.  Marc Forster’s film is well crafted from start to finish with a strong cast and impressive CGI.  Ewan McGregor turns in a charming performance even though character seems eerily similar to Georrge Banks from Mary Poppins.  The character is a bit more complex than expected and probably could have been explored a bit more.  Hayley Atwell makes for an equally charming wife to match McGregor.  The voice work turned in by Jim Cummings and Brad Garrett really stands out for Pooh and Eeyore, giving the film its sweet center.  The film does have a tinge of melancholy running through the entire film which makes for a strange tone for a children’s film. Christopher Robin never seems to decide if it wants to be a straight forward children’s film or a most measured meditation on rediscovering your youth. 

B