February 29th is upon us. It should be a National Holiday. Schools should be closed. Everybody should be home to watch this film.
Okay I went too far.
LEAP YEAR
Directed by Anand Tucker
Screenplay by Deborah Kaplan and Harry Elfont
Starring Amy Adams; Matthew Goode; and Adam Scott
Okay I will get the negatives out of the way:
Yes the main idea in the plot of proposing on Leap Year Day is kinda silly, but I am reading it is now a thing in the states!!
Yes Matthew Goode said he did the movie for just the money.
Yes you see where the plot is going before you even start watching it.
Yes awful green screen work.
Yes the worst/uncomfortable wedding crasher scene in film. You see it in the above trailer!
Yes silly and not necessary physical comedy including falling down a hill....which hurts to watch.
However I am here in defense of Leap Year!!! SOOOOOO..................
It has Amy freaking Adams so take that.
You go into the movie looking for a love story/comedy/with corny ending and you get just that!!!!!!! You don't go in looking for superheroes to swoop down and save Amy Adams here.
It is a pretty good road trip movie actually filmed in Ireland!!
At one point the question is asked in a fire what would you grab first. Which is later tested by Amy Adams, it makes you think, as the viewer, what would you grab first.
Great lines like:
Amy..I am a stager, I bring furniture into a place that is for sale to make the property look nice
Mattew...so they keep the furniture/
Amy...No it is just for show
Matthew ...so you are just a con-artist
or
"When my 60 seconds came around I realized I had everything I ever wanted...but nothing I really needed"
It brilliantly made a piece of luggage a character...Louie. It was pretty funny.
Leap Year was not made to win an Oscar. It was made to sit ...park your brain and enjoy. It is a harmless romantic comedy.
\3 1/2 stars out of 5 for Leap Year and you can stream it on Netflix!!!!!
Happy Leap Year Day February 29th!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Directed by Dexter Fletcher
Screenplay by Sean Macaulay and Simon Kelton
Based on the book by Simon Kelton
Starring Taron Egerton; Hugh jackman; and Jo Hartley
Eddie The Eagle follows Eddie Edwards in his quest to make the Calgary Olympics.
I will start with the negatives. Loosly based is really loosly based. He was not shunned by fellow teammates. He had to work to get equipment. Things like that are stretched.. Also, you can tell that the story line for Eddies trainer Bronson Peary played by Hugh Jackman was bumped up because , well, they had Hugh Freaking Jackman.
Then watching this I thought yes, it goes to extremes to show Eddie as a socially awkward individual, However i needed to chill and take my so called "Critic" mind out of it, because it still is a nice story. It is an exciting story. It is an uplifting story. It is a crazy story as we watch how brave he is. It has many funny parts to laugh at. It is a story that the whole family can watch. It has a very good performance by Egerton who is in almost every scene. It is just fun, Why not go???!!! It is uplifting...4 out of 5 for Eddie The Eagle. Just do not over think it and enjoy it.
Directed by John Hillcoat
Screenplay by Matt Cook
Starring: Casey Affleck; Chiwetel Ejiofor; Anthony Mackie; Aaron Paul; Woody Harrelson; and Kate Winslet
A gang of criminals and corrupt cops plan the murder of a police officer in order to pull off their biggest heist yet across town. It is no secret the cast is amazing. Big time actors are everywhere. It is an odd film. It is so dirty you feel like you have to take a bath afterwards. You have police who are greedy. Police who are blackmailed. Police have drinking and drug problems. Russian mob hiding kids and killing people. Gang member who are up to no good. Now as a movie goer the stars can suck you in to the theater to watch this. It is not a bad movie, however not great either, which you would expect with the star power. There is a confusing beginning and once you get by that the movie has a nice slow burn leading up to the main "Triple 9" part of film. Now the Triple 9 part seems to go to fast and it ends up being kind of flat. All leading up to a really bad ending. As for the stars. Another problem. There are so many stars to fit into this film you really do not have much development which means you do not really get to know the characters. Well if I had to choose highlights I will go with Casey Affleck for the second time this year (The Finest Hour) he shines. He plays the part of Chris Allen here so soft as every one around here is just extremely wired. You can almost see his thoughts. I know his brother will get a lot of attention for Batman/Superman this year but so far Casey is killing it on the big screen this year. Also it was kind of fun to Kate Winslet in this evil role with the Russian accent. She almost felt like a Bond villain. Well back to the film...Yes it has a nice slow burn, and you cheer on Woody Harrelson as an investigator as he slowly fights through his drunken haze to figure the mess out, but as noted before the ending is just awful....it leaves just to many open story lines, so I am giving it 3 1/2 stars out of 5. Maybe wait to watch this one at home. From the shadows as always thanks for your time.
Oscar weekend is upon us!! After all the controversy I know there is a damper put on this year. The "White Out" of the Oscars has been written about and has been given, unfairly so, more attention than the Nominees themselves who really did nothing here.
My opinion? We are dealing with three individuals:
Michael B Jordan from Creed
Ryan Cooler Director Creed
Will Smith Concussion
I know some are thinking are thinking Beast Of No Nation's Idris Elba. That issue is not color there. That issue is bringing out the film one day to a theatre and then showing it on Netflix. No luck Netflix. The Academy rightfully so avoided him and that film. The Academy has to stand with the National Theatre Ownership. They cannot bite the hand that feeds them, and I agree. Maybe an Emmy? But not an Oscar. And yes people say.... What about short films? Get back to me when an actor from a modern short film gets an Oscar nod and then I will discuss.
As for the controversy..I would replace Bryan Cranston in Trumbo with either Jordan or Smith. Cranston was just okay in my opinion. As for director...I cannot fight for Cooler who did well with Creed but Ridley Scott not being nominated for the Martain is a bigger issue.
Now here is the big problem, look what I did I named three African Americans. Three. Just three. Out of all the films just three. Back when I did my review of Benghazi I noted that the world and press love to go after the who and not focus on the why. Just three snubs should show the press the bigger problem. The who, people were looking at the Academy. Huh? What did they do? They picked who they thought was the best. Simple. You can disagree but in reality, it is fun and I enjoy the award show but in the grand scheme of things, it is just an awards show. In reality a bunch of rich famous people patting themselves on the back. Me, I just like to watch the competition. Now back to the problem. The why. It is because people of color are not getting the opportunity to make or be hired for parts in well written movies. It runs much deeper than the stupid Oscars. It is all about opportunities. That is what needs to change. And that may be getting rid of the old guard in studios. Or more people of color getting the opportunity as screenwriters or more people of color wanting to be screenwriters. This is where change has to start not with stupid Oscar votes. I kind of feel bad for winners this year because their win gets dampened by this controversy that they had nothing to do with.
Oh......look for Birth Of A Nation at the Next Oscars.
NOW WHO WILL WIN/ WHO I WANT TO WIN /WHO SHOULD/WHO WAS IGNORED!!
BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR
Nominees:Christian Bale, The Big ShortTom Hardy, The RevenantMark Ruffalo, SpotlightMark Rylance, Bridge of SpiesSylvester Stallone, Creed
Who I Want.....Sylvester Stallone
Who Should......Tom Hardy...great performance also a good performance in Mad Max
Who Will..........Sylvester Stallone sort of a lifetime achievement which is okay.
Snub?! Jacob Tremblay in Room. One of the best performances of the year period!!
BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS
Nominees:Jennifer Jason Leigh, The Hateful EightRooney Mara, CarolRachel McAdams, SpotlightAlicia Vikander, The Danish GirlKate Winslet, Steve Jobs
Who I want.....Alicia Vikander ...I mean a great performance but she also had a great year.
Who Should ....Alicia Vikander
Who Will......... Kate Winslet
Snub?!...Julie Walters is funny and sweet in Brooklyn as Mrs Keogh
BEST ACTOR
Nominees:Bryan Cranston, TrumboMatt Damon, The MartianLeonardo DiCaprio, The RevenantMichael Fassbender, Steve JobsEddie Redmayne, The Danish Girl
Who I Want/Who Should/Who Will...Leonardo DiCaprio just an outstanding performance
Snub? Oscar Issac for Ex Machina. Yes this great pilot in Star Wars was amazing in Ex Machina and can dance...sadly!
Who I want...Oh it is so hard!!! Larson or Ronan I cant decide!!!!
Who Should...Larson
Who will....this is really close because Brooklyn has been gaining in popularity..I think Ronan may sneak away with this.
Snub?Daisy Ridley in the Force Awakens. Why not????!!! She carried the film!!! She was amazing!!
BEST DIRECTOR
Nominees:Lenny Abrahamson, RoomAlejandro González Iñárritu, The RevenantTom McCarthy, SpotlightAdam McKay, The Big ShortGeorge Miller, Mad Max: Fury Road
Will/Should Win...Alejandro Gonzales Inarritu
Who I want To See Win Lenny Abrahamson I thought it was a tough film to direct because of the subject and directing a child is never easy.
Snubbed???!! I would love to go with JJ but..... What happened here???!! Ridley Scott for The Martain!!
BEST PICTURE
Nominees:The Big ShortBridge of SpiesBrooklynMad Max: Fury RoadThe MartianThe RevenantRoomSpotlight
Maybe the closest Oscar race ever. Every film here except maybe Bridge of Spies has a shot.
Who Should Win....The Martian was popular and close to perfect. So different.
Who I Want....Brooklyn..it is gaining steam..it is just a simple film that stays with you
Who Will....The Revenant right now has a little edge over Mad Max and Spotlight
Maybe The Force Awakens but it was too similar to the first. Not that it was not great..but that gave Ex machine the edge in the snub. It is just so different.
Well there are my picks, be careful not to trip on the red carpet.
As always thanks for the time from the Oscar shadows.
Well only two releases this week for home viewing to note.
SPOTLIGHT
Directed by Tom McCarthy
Screenplay by Tom McCarthy and Josh Singer
Starring Rachel McAdams; Mark Ruffalo; Michael Keaton; John Flattery; and Live Schreiber
The true story of how the Boston Globe Spotlight Team uncovered the massive scandal of child molestation and cover-up within the local Catholic Archdiocese, shaking the entire Catholic Church to its core.
Let me take you back to a different time. When newspapers did not have an agenda. They just worked hard on a story to get the truth out. And, as in this story, they push for the truth despite all the obstacles in front of you. Lets face it. These reporters were not just fighting priests they were fighting the beliefs of most of Boston who were Catholic. In the face of all the push back...they worked very hard to get the truth out to the public. These reporters were heroes who opened up a can of worms.
This film is very good, an Oscar Nominee, and made it on my top ten list for the 2015 year
Every single actor in this film gives a fantastic performance. Highlighted by Ruffalo as Rezendes. He pushes and pushes and gets emotionally involved.
Yes, it is a hard film to see. However you have to watch it. Take the awful subject matter out of it and watch these reporters work. At one point they could have just settled for going after 6-7 people, but no, they decided to work harder and see how far this goes.
If you want to see a really good film the harkens back to All The Presidents Men and good journalism go see this 4 1/2 out of 5 stars.
SECRET IN THEIR EYES
Directed by Billy Ray
Screenplay by Billy Ray
Based on the screenplay by Juan Jose Campenella
Starring: Julia Roberts; Nicole Kidman; Chiwetel Ejiofor
A tight-knit team of rising investigators Ray and Jess (Roberts and Ejiofor), along with their supervisor Claire (Kidman), is suddenly torn apart when they discover that Jess's teenage daughter has been brutally murdered.
Well, it is hard to come into this movie knowing the whole story and already knowing what is coming. I have seen the Argentinian version of this film. The Argentianian version is better. Still...that is not saying much, as in the Argentinian version, this American version is creepy and sad.
Positives?
This is Julia Roberts best performance in a long while. You see her melt before your eyes and never recover.
Ejiofer is terrific as the guilt ridden investigator.
Well that is all I have for positives. There are a lot of negatives.
The film flips back and forth between time periods which can be confusing.
There are ridiculous, almost laughable searches including one at Dodger Stadium.
Nicole Kidman really struggled with the American dialect. She kept slipping, and you can pick up her Aussie twang often.
The so called relationship between Ray and Claire goes nowhere and it almost seems like filler.
The ending almost made the film irrelevant...No Spoilers Here...but that is why the Argentinian version I felt failed also. You are just left with a creepy factor, with a lot of sadness.
This film should not have been remade...2 out if 5 stars for Secret In Their Eyes.
THE WITCH
Directed by Robert Eggers
Screenplay by Robert Eggers
Starring Anya Taylor-Joy; Ralph Ineson; Kate Dickie; Harvey Scrimshaw; and Kate Dickie
Well there is a witch. In the woods. As a rabbit or a ram or something.
At first I thought the film as about my 2nd grade teacher Mrs Waslick who was upset with me one day because during a bomb drill, yes an air raid drill, I kneeled with my hands over my head in front of a glass window in the hallway. So she cracked my knuckles with a ruler. Witch!!! However I found out that this film is not about Mrs Waslick.
This The Witch is came out of Sundance, just last month, and getting very good reviews, it has landed in our theatres.
I think......it was just okay.
A family is kicked out of their community for something dad did. We never find out and I hope it is not what I think or it hints at.
Then they move close to a wooded area. And months later all hell breaks loose. A baby disappears, and the family becomes unsettled and starts to point fingers at each other.
This film is highlighted by an incredible performance by newcomer Ana Taylor-Roy as Thomasin. It is her movie. She is amazing. You cannot help but feel for her and care about her. When she is upset we get upset. She pulls us in.
Other than that...the movie is tense, yes, but flat. It almost comes across as stage play. We only really see the witch twice. Other than that we are scared, as the family seems to turn on each other. Yes there is a "power" there, so that keeps you involved but it seems uneventful all the way until a boring ending. No spoilers here.
2 1/2 out of 5 stars, just for the incredible performance by Taylor-Roy. Also a pretty good performance by Harvey Scrimshaw s Thomasin's brother. The rest of the family was annoying. Highlighted by the most annoying two little kids in film in years.
Worth a look for home viewing but ...not a trip to the theatre. They should have moved to a gated community!
RACE
Directed by Stephens Hopkins
Screenplay by Joe Shrapnel and Anna Waterhouse
Starring: Stephen James; Jason Sudeikis;Shanis Banton; William Hurt; and Jeremy Irons
Jesse Owens (James) quest to become the worlds greatest track athlete leads him to the 1936 Olympics where he faces Hitlers crooked vision of supremacy.
This is a very hard film to review. Mainly because this film slightly just lays there and does not go very deep. At the same time for what it is, it is a pretty good film.
It is well acted highlighted by Stephen James perfectly cast as Jesse Owens. He has the mannerisms down and he really does not over due it saying a lot by just letting empty space quietly speak for it self. Shanice Banton as Jesse's wife has great chemistry with James. Jason Sudeikis as Jesse's coach may have been miscast a bit but he does do a good job in the part.
Now for the screenplay. The screenplay works if you have never heard about Jesse Owens. You get a glimpse of his early life. You get surprisingly a tiny look at his poor treatment as a black man. You get the clash of "Owens vs Nazi Hitler" the battle. If you have never heard of Jesse you probably learn a lot.
As for me, and it is me who is posting the review, it misses a big chance at telling an interesting story. The Director (Hopkins)/Screenwriters (Shrapnel/Waterhouse) decided to just focus on the lead up to that Olympics while Jesse was at Ohio and the Olympics itself. I just think there is a bigger story to tell and that is his life. His love for his wife. His poor treatment by racist Americans when he returned. A White House that refused to acknowledge him. His relationship with his parents before and after the Olympics. The first Olympic athlete to take on advertisements and the Olympic committee then dumping him, then that is followed by the same advertisers dumping him also. Jesse racing a horse as he gets desperate for money, Jesse filing for bankruptcy. There is more of a story here. They elect not to dig deep.
So as I said it is difficult to review this film for what it is and what it could have been.
However I have to be fair to the film I saw .
I saw a well acted film that was a bit to long. It could have left out the parts played by Irons and Hurt. Their story lines were not needed, it was almost like the studio wanted star power so that part of the story which had nothing to do with Owens was added. Also, they went with to much cliche drama and some of it was not true. The Hitler non hand shake was not true. It was seen by many people. By the way, they tried to make us feel upset that Hitler did not want to shake his hand, which was not true, but even if it was, why should I care or Jesse care. Hitler was pure evil. Who cares if Hitler never shook his hand. If I was Jesse I would not sweat it.
4 stars out of 5 for a well done film that could have been more. It is worth a trip to the theater, and after you watch the film read Triumph The Untold Story Of Jesse Owens, for more detail.
Well there are 4 home viewing releases this week to note.
First I wanted to let people know who get to my blog through a link on Facebook, yes it is messy. There is an ongoing problem with links to Facebook. Not just for me but for other bloggers. I am watching sites to see if anyone comes up with a way to solve it. Word is....it is a new Facebook blocker. Well anyway it may look messy but you can still click it and get to the blog, or just go right to my blog and see what is new.
STEVE JOBS
Directed by Danny Boyle
Screenplay by Aaron Sorkin
Based on the book by Walter Isaacson
Starring Michael Fassbender; Kate Winslet; Seth Rogan; and Jeff Daniels
In this revealing film we explore the trials and triumphs of a modern day genius and maybe carnival barker, the late CEO of Apple inc. Steven Jobs (Michael Fassbender).
It is like a stage play, most of the film taking place behind the scenes right before three important product launches in 1984 The Macintosh; 1988 NEXT Cube; and 1998 the IMAC.
Fassbender is fantastic as Jobs, he takes Sorkin's rapid fire dialogue and never misses a beat even with many conversations going on at the same time, always looking confident. He is in every scene. He is a jerk. He is confident. His social skills are just way off. He is Steve Jobs!
Then you have Kate Winslet as Joanna Hoffman as Steve's right hand assistant and advisor. The only one who could tell him off. She is wonderful. Nervous and frustrated and almost caring and motherly.
Seth Rogan as Steve Wozniak, Steve's partner who is constantly being treated as an assistant, in reality he is the inventor. There is no doubt this is Rogans best performance ever.
Then we come to Jeff Daniels as John Sculley. Jeff Daniels could be one of this countries most underrated actors. Like in the film Martian he comes in here and just commands the screen as Job's mentor/father. He is an interesting actor, alongside his screen work, Daniels is the founder of The Purple Rose Theater Company in Chelsea, Michigan in the town where he lives. Then he pops in to films and TV roles and then leaves for a couple years then pops back in. He always seems to find good roles (ignoring dumb and dumber 2).
As for Boyle he made an interesting decision to have each part of the movie filmed differently. 1984 was filmed with 16mm. 1988 in 35 mm. 1998 in digital. You can clearly see the difference and it really works. It gives the film a great feel of time and place.
Sorkin, as noted before, gives his usual rapid fire dialog. Surprisingly the focus is not on Jobs and Apple, but his relationships with people close to him and mostly spotlighting on the relationship with his daughter Lisa. However, here is the film is not true. Yes it is true that Jobs was a very difficult person, but 95% of this movie is false....including the final scene with his daughter that did not happen in 1998 but a year earlier. I do not know how fair it is to write real facts into a script and then use them all in a consolidated different time span, and almost selling it as being true. I guess it is up to you, the viewer to decide if that is right or wrong.
I give it 4 out of 5 stars for the wonderful performances highlighted by Fassbender bringing Jobs back to life.
The Good Dinosaur
Directed by Peter Sohn
Screenplay by 7 people
What if the big meteorite missed. Thus begins an epic journey into the world of dinosaurs where an Apatosaurus named Arlo makes an unlikely human friend.
Yes going in I knew that this Pixar film has had a lot of trouble. I mean 7 writers. I hear that at one point they scrapped a storyline and all the artwork and had to start over again. I also knew going in that this Pixar film had the tough job of following in the foot steps of Inside Out. I tried to go in however with a fresh look. Just judging the film on its own merits. This film is not bad but it really has many a problem.
Yes you can see that they had an idea.... boy meets dinosaur... but I really don't think they knew where to go with it. It felt like I was watching the same scenes over and over again, Walk attacked walk attacked walk attacked. It became boring a bit. Another problem I did not care for the dinosaur or the boy. I found them both annoying, and like most good Pixar characters you fall in love with them and care about them. Here, not so much. This film just seemed flat and by the way...very violent. Animals are getting eaten constantly it seems like. The film can be scary.
Now I know this film is not meant for me, it is for kids and the kids in the theatre seemed to sit still and enjoy it. So I will push my rating up a notch just for that.... 2 1/2 stars for The Good Dinosaur. 3 out of 5 for kids. A Pixar miss.
BLACK MASS
Directed by Scott Cooper
Screenplay by Mark Mallouk and Jez Butterworth
Based on the book by Dick Lehr and Gerard O'Neill
Starring Johnny Depp; Joel Edgerton; and Benedict Cumberbatch
John Connolly ( Edgerton) and James "Whitey" Bulger (Depp) grew up together on the streets of South Boston. Decades later, in the late 1970s, Connolly was a major figure within FBI's Boston office and Whitey had become head of the Irish Mob. What happened between them - being a one sided informant and the take down Boston's Italian Mafia would spiral out of control. All leading to murders, drug dealing, racketeering, and finally to Bulger and Connolly being brought down.
Johnny Depp is fantastic in this saying so much with a look and stare. However the movie is not about him. It is more about John Connolly played by Edgerton. He may even be better than Depp. We follow him as he gets deeper and deeper into the mob mess.
Surrounding these two main characters are a bunch of wonderful small performances. Dakota Johnson, is not in the film as much as the press releases would have you think, is very good as Whitey's wife. A fantastic performance by Julianne Nicholson as Connolly's wife. Come to think about it does she ever give a bad performance. She stole Osage County away from the bigger stars. Cumberbatch as Whitey's brother, like Depp, says so much without talking. He is stuck between being a good man and being a loyal brother to Whitey. And then there is Kevin Bacon as FBI Boston Office head who cannot seem to get anything on Whitey because Connolly continuously blocks the office.
All these fine performances are blocked by a cold...sterile screenplay. Yes Depp drips of evil but we are really never allowed to see the "Whys and What" of his life. We constantly see the end product which is a sadistic killer. We rarely get his thoughts. So we are then left with a film that leaves us walking away thinking, well that was okay and interesting...and that is about it. We even have people like his wife who just disappear, we do not get below the surface of Whitey. Maybe they did not have that much info on Whitey, they only knew what he did.
3 1/2 out of 5 for this violent cold film. I would have started the film from his life out in California and how he lived out there then bring in flashbacks. It would have let us know more about him. We, as a viewer would be more involved.
TRUMBO
Directed by Jay Roach
Screenplay by John McNamara
Based on the book by Bruce Cook
Starring Bryan Cranston; Diane Lane; Elle Fanning; and John Goodman
In 1947, Dalton Trumbo was Hollywood's top screenwriter until he and other artists were jailed and blacklisted for their political beliefs.
The film sounds deep and thought provoking, touching on the Hollywood Blacklist. However in reality, the film almost comes across as funny, because of the combination of Trumbo's eccentric behavior and the way he got around being black listed.
There is a lot of talk about Cranston's wonderful performance. I just think that this performance is one note and that is hold the cigarette and lecture. Also, his character is mean, which makes it hard to cheer him on. He treats everybody around him like employees including his family. Communist or not, he is sort of an ass.
Diane Lane really does not have much to do here, Her talents were wasted. Elle Fanning (My favorite young actress) also, not much to do here. John Goodman however as Frank King a producer is awesome and hilarious, think about it...he is always good but has not received an Oscar nomination along the way.
Louis CK as Arien Hird is quietly good as a friend of Trumbo who also gets treated like an employee also. His part is just sad.
Well it was an interesting film, it just seemed, a little better than okay. I never felt bad for Trumbo. I felt bad form his friends and family, and I do not think that was suppose to be the point of the film. 3 stars out of 5.
Directed by Ben Stiller
Screenplay by Justin Theroux; Ben Stiller; Nicholas Stoller; and John Hamburg
Starring Ben Stiller; Owen Wilson; Penelope Cruz; and Will Ferrell
Lets get right to it. I liked it. I did not love it, but that is okay, I laughed many times.
It is just stupid fun. Either you get it or you do not. I get it.
I think the issue that makes it not as good as the first Zoolander is that it pulled away from a spoof of the fashion industry and became almost a Wayan's like parody of a spy film. Zoolander is searching for his lost son. He was taken from him because of an unfortunate spaghetti incident. Thus is the plot, and if course the fashion industry is involved. Again, you have to laugh at the stupidity. This film is filled with many funny lines. Are they as quotable or memorable as the first one? I guess time will tell.
Here is what you learn here or do not learn:
-Hansel is still really hot right now
-How does spaghetti get soft????!!!
-Not many people worry about the death of Justin Bieber
-Swimsuit models feel less but they can swim
-If Anna Wintour is not heading toward the red carpet there is an issue
- Blue Steel takes a lot of work.
-Watch who you put in charge of building the school, for kids who cannot read good.
-Rocky Horror Picture reference? If you see the film find it. I \laughed but I was the only one.
-Sting is a hero!!!!!!!!!!!!
Okay...no spoilers. I am just saying it is not as funny as the first film, but I laughed many times watching this one.
3 out of 5 stars for Zoolander 2.
HOW TO BE SINGLE
Directed by Christian Ditter
Screenplay by Abby Cohn; Dana Fox; and Mark Silverstein
Based on the book by Liz Tuccillo
Starring Dakota Johnson; Rebel Wilson; Leslie Mann; Jake Lacy; Anders Holm; and Damon Wayans Jr
I am getting right to the point here. I saw this trailer and then I thought uhoh.
I am here to say or blog......I liked this movie!!
The one thing to know is....this is not a comedy. It is real life. It works. What looks like what could be a predictable film really is not.
Lets see why:
Dakota Johnson...Leaving her long time boyfriend to see how she does being unattached. First my blinders may be on for her. I love her. I loved her going back to a wonderful TV series called Ben and Kate. If you can find it watch it. She is fantastic in it. Yes, she got beat up a bit in Fifty Shades, However I thought she was great in it playing off a guy being stiff (no pun intended). Here as Alice she steals the film. You feel her confusion as she seems to be swimming up stream trying to find her place and single life.
Leslie Mann....I think she is always wonderful and here she is again. She represents the older single woman trying to be a successful career woman and trying to figure out how to bring a partner into it. Now Jake Lacy plays the young man chasing her. He is coming off a good performance in Love The Coopers, here he plays almost the same character. The chemistry between him and Mann is fantastic. I wanted to see more of them.
Rebel Wilson....I worry about her being a one act actress as I watched this. I also thought in the beginning her character was not really needed. However as the film went on she becomes a more rounded individual or single person. A different type of single person.
Alison Brie....who played Lucy in this film was good but...I really did not care about her or the bartender she was friends with. I just did not care and she could have been cut from the film and I would have been fine with the focus just being on the other three ladies.
One more quick note Damon Wayans Jr is wonderful in this film playing a single father.
Well all in all I was pleasantly surprised by this. It just felt well written and real.
3 1/2 stars out of 5 for How To Be Single. At the end you feel like the film just lays there but it sticks with you.
DEADPOOL
Directed by Tim Miller
Screenplay by Rhett Reese and Paul Wernick
Created by Rob Liefeld and Fabian Nicieza
Starring Ryan Reynolds; TJ Miller; Morena Baccarin; Ed Skrein; and Leslie Uggams
Wade (Ryan Reynolds) finds out he has cancer and is offered a way to live forever. With
I have to admit I went in to this film all superheroed out!!
I was pleasantly surprised with this film. There is a lot to like.
Every performance is spot on. Ryan Reynolds is all in playing this over the top superhero and his chemistry with Morena Baccrin, who plays his girlfriend Vanessa,is fantastic. They play off each other real well. Very believable as a couple. No spoilers here but this is what makes the film work in the second part.
It also works because the film has a real good nasty bad guy, Ajax, played by Ed Skrein.
There are also two really good small performances by TJ Miller as Deadpool's best friend and Leslie Uggams, you read that right, the great Leslie Uggams soo good and funny as Blind Al.
The screenplay is hit and miss. The plot takes awhile to get going. Many jokes fall flat. Like real flat. One liners I just did not laugh at. The second half is when Deadpool's plot really kicks in. It is exciting and a little funnier than the first half, with Reynolds often breaking the fourth wall. Also in the second half we get to meet other, mutants/superheroes: Angel Dust (Gina Carono); Stefan Kapicic voicing Colossus; And Negasonic Teenage Warhead played by Brianna Hildebrand. All of them add a little bit of fun to the second half of the film.
I was pleasantly surprised by this movie. I went in thinking I was not going to like and it mostly worked.
A couple final notes: It is rated R for a reason, in fact the R rating made it work for me a little more. The R separates from other Superhero films Also great intro credits in the beginning (Which made me right away think this is going to be different) and at the end. Watch until the end of the credits we get a tip of the hat to Ferris Bueller.
4 out of 5 stars for Deadpool,
