Directed by:Michael Showalter
Screenplay by Laura Terruso and Michael Showalter
Starring: Sally Field: Tyne Daly; and Max Greenfield
After her mother passes away, Doris (Sally Field) slowly makes some changes in her life including developing a crush on John (Max Greenfield) at work.
Sally Field!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Will Oscar voters remember this!!!
I am telling you right now...shame on the voters if they do forget. What a performance. A little humor and filled with sadness and a little hope.
Then they throw in a lot of nice smaller performances with Max Greenfield as John; Tyne Daly as Doris's best friend Roz (a wonderful touching scene at the end); Elizabeth Reaser as Doris's therapist (I have yet to see her give a bad performance); and a little fantastic part by Beth Behrs (2 Broke Girls).
So with all those fantastic performances, does the script hold up?
It depends on how you approach it. This movie is not a comedy. It sure looks like it from the trailer.
This film is close to heartbreaking. There is nothing funny about what Doris is doing and clearly there are issues there. No spoilers here, but there are two scenes at the end that just are soooo well acted and at the same time I had to cover my eyes it was so hard to watch. Heartbreaking.
It is not an enjoyable film. There is almost a sad desperation you are watching on the screen.
So it is a good film, however not enjoyable to watch. I know!!!! All depends how you approach it.
3 1/2 stars out of 5 for the acting in Hello My Name Is Doris. Sally Field is unbelievable I wish the script was less...sad. I know I contradict myself here about this film often, because I want you all to go see this performance!! UGH!!
Directed by John Carney
Screenplay by John Carney
Starring Ferdia Walsh-Peelo; Lucy Boynton; and Jack Reynor
Set in Ireland, Cosmo's (Walsh-Peelo) family is having money trouble. So now he has to go to a "rougher" school. Along the way he meets a beautiful girl (Boynton) and he tries to impress her by starting a band with some of his new classmates.
I was able to make the private screening of Sing Street! No spoiler review here!!
WOW!!! What a surprise!!!
First this film would make a great Broadway Musical, and it probably will end up being so..
It is a musical. It is a comedy. It is a love story.
What makes it work? The three leads perfectly cast. Three actors I have never seen before in film!!
Walsh-Peelo as Cosmo. He is smart and funny and brave. Yes, he does not have the perfect voice, however that even works. He is a teenager with dreams. His voice is not going to be perfect but that makes the film real. Walsh-Peelo owns this character.
Lucy Boynton as Raphina is a find!! She is beautiful. Smart and funny. She also adds a sensitivity to her role. Just wonderful. Boynton understands that sometimes a look says a lot more than a word. Sometimes young actors try to push and explode in their parts. She lets her character almost smolder.
Jack Reynor as Brendan, Cosmo's brother. I think I love his character the most. He is like a Yoda to his brother. He also has a little remorse or longing for things he did not do, or that he was not brave enough to do. I thought Reynor. was really good.
Screenplay:
It is almost a teenage version of another Irish film, The Commitments.
A sweet love story with humor.
Some pretty good 80's music, and some bad 80's music. Strangely, even the bad music is enjoyable.
There is a story line about being bullied and how to handle it. Also, there is something here about finding your niche in an atmosphere where you feel like you are on the outskirts.
Still all these story lines are under one big umbrella about following your dreams.
This film was a wonderful surprise 4 1/2 out of 5 stars. The best picture I have seen this year!! It is a small film, and I hope it gets a wide release so everybody has a chance to see it in the theater.
THE HATEFUL EIGHT
Directed by Quentin Tarantino
Screenplay by Quentin Tarantino
Starring Samuel L Jackson; Kurt Russell; Jennifer Jason Leigh; Walton Coggins; Demian Bicher; Tim Roth; Michael Madsen; and Bruce Dern
In the dead of a Wyoming winter, a bounty hunter and his prisoner find shelter in a cabin currently inhabited by a collection of interesting characters.
Welcome to Minnie's Haberdashery.
2 hours 45 minutes of tension.
Is it Tarantino's best? No. But I really liked it.
First it is beautiful to just look at. Every scene is gorgeous. Even little details inside the cabin...like you notice in the back of the cabin snow is falling inside, with a little bit of light it almost seems oddly peaceful within the tension of the room.
The screenplay may be one of his best. It could easily be put on stage in NY, 3/4 of the film takes place inside one room. It is an old school/western showdown (no spoilers here).
As for the acting. Again no spoilers. Leigh, recieved a lot of well deserved love for her part here as Daisy. She is Dirty/vulgar/funny all rolled up into one ball of fire. So, yes she is getting the well deserved love but I want to note a couple more standouts. Sometimes I think Jackson is such a good actor he makes it seem so easy that he can be overlooked. Jackson is fantastic here, he is the center here, he commands your attention. Also, Tim Roth as Oswaldo, gives a great performance, sometimes scary also a bit hilarious by almost giving play by play in the room.
Negatives? Well almost 3 hours is long, so yes it could have been edited a bit. Also, it has to be addressed, the N word. It is used so often here it becomes cringe worthy at times. Yes, I understand it was a different time and place, however the word being used every 5 minutes it seems like Tarantino is just using it as shock value.
So, many critics are saying Tarantino's ego got in the way here and the film is him being over indulgent. But what do you expect when going to see a Tarantino film?
A good script. He delivers (still a bit long)
Violence. Oh yes, you get over the top bloody violence.
Humor. Yes you get humor. "Close the door!!!"
So I disagree with most of the critics.
4 stars out of 5 for The Hateful Eight. He delivered a good film that looks wonderful. Try and see it in digital Blu Ray.
CONCUSSION
Director Peter Landesman
Screenplay by Peter Landesman
Based on a GQ article by Jeanne Marie Laskas
Starring Will Smith; Albert Brooks; Alec Baldwin; Davis Morse and Gugu Mbatha Raw
In Pittsburgh, accomplished pathologist Dr. Bennet Omalu (Smith) uncovers the truth about brain damage in football players who suffer repeated concussions in the course of normal play.
Well. It is well acted. Let me start there.
Will Smith as Dr Omalu. His accent throws you off in the beginning, but after the film gets rolling you find you adapt to it. He is brilliant here. Passionate.
Albert Brooks. Also very good as Dr Wecht. Mentor of Dr Omalu. He does a wonderful job at showing Dr Omalu the ways of the country...and how to get your point across without doors shutting in your face. He is so on top of his game here.
David Morse. As Mike Webster. He is on the screen maybe for 10 minutes and may have given his best performance of his career.
Alec Baldwin as Mike Webster's Dr.. He is driven by guilt. For not detecting the brain issues of Webster. Sometimes I think Hollywood and the public have trouble separating Baldwin's wacky life and his acting career. He is one of the finest actors working today....see this and Still Alice, and Rogue Nation.
Gugu Mbatha Raw as Prema, Dr Omalu's wife. She really does not have much to do here which is a shame, she is a very good actress, see Belle.
Now we come to the screenplay and this is where problems start.
There is a disconnect here. It pretty much is a film about trying to get a big organization to admit there is a problem with the health and welfare of many of their employees. There really is not much of a story. So Dr Omalu discovers the cause and the NFL does not want to listen.
Problem here is we never see the other side, we never see their strategy of denial. The movie would work better if they took us into the NFL offices and watch how they try to get out of this. The film constantly speculates what the NFL is doing. We just see the results, that now in the NFL they have constant concussion tests. It would be more interesting watching behind the scenes.
While watching I thought a couple of things:
-This would have been better as a documentary with interviews with the real Dr Omalu and maybe an inside source on the NFL. Also with a look into ESPN..who are as guilty as the NFL here by showing their hard helmet to helmet hits and laughing live.
-Spread this out a little more. How about Hockey. In Philadelphia one of the biggest stars in hockey Eric Lindros was taken from the game. See he was huge on skates and other teams realized the only way to stop him was taking him out of the game. Hits to the head. After many concussions he had to stop. Then, the fans being uneducated at the time about head injuries (Like in this movie), pummeled Eric with boos and rants, stating he was no longer tough. He was big baby. This story falls right in line with the Concussion story.
I am not dissing Dr Omalu. He is a hero. He also may have saved many a life. It is an important topic for books and documentaries. However here as a movie....there seems to be missing elements. 3 out of 5 stars for Concussion. It may end up better on the small screen.
Directed by Kirk Jones
Screenplay by Nia Vardalos
Starring Nia Vardalos; John Corbin; Michael Constantine; and Elena Kampouris
Another wedding!! And a daughter deciding on college options.
Well that is the synopsis.
This film is a missed opportunity. It should have been called MY BIG FAT GREEK FAMILY.
Thats it. It should have been just focused on the teenage Paris, played wonderfully by Elena Kampouris. The story line that follows her struggles with trying to break away from the family and navigate her school life as a member of this family was funny and touching. Every time the film pulls away from her and focuses on this ridiculous and unrealistic wedding I lost interest.
The film relies on funny bits from the last film including Windex. However many and I do mean many bits fall flat.
Well, the acting is serviceable. The funny thing is this Kampouris acts circles around everyone.
Corbin who really does not have much to do here still has great chemistry with Vardalos.
Michaele Constantine is back as Gus the patriarch of the family is back. Sadly he is looking old and is struggling. They obviously try to hide it by having most of his scenes with him sitting.
When you go to this film you want to see some humor and some sweetness. This film delivers, I just wish the film was not soooo wide open with way to many story lines.
3 out of 5 stars for My Big Fat Greek Wedding 2. Enjoyable sweet film. By the way there is one really nice montage scene toward the end that had me raise the stars by a half. A great moment in the film. If your interested just go and do not over think it.
Directed by Zack Snyder
Screenplay by Chris Terrio and Davis Goyer
Starring: Ben Affleck; Amy Adams; Henry Cavill; Jeremy Irons; Laurence Fishburne; Holly Hunter; Jessie Eisenberg; Gal Gadot; and Diane Lane
Batman vs Superman that is the plot. Throw in Wonder woman and Doomsday.
Okay I have to get on my pedestal. Up I go. I will never understand the MPAA ratings system. If a woman shows a breast in a film there is an automatic R and it may be just a flash. So now I sit through Batman vs Superman.....I see a man get shot in the head. I see stabbings. I see a building blow up (coming 3 days after the Brussels incident??!!). I see a kid lose its parents. I see a young girl see that her mom was crushed by a building However...it gets a PG13. I do not get it.
This review will probably be all over the place mainly because I have to be spoiler free.
The acting:
Henry Cavill is back as Superman. I know a lot of people do not like this Brit as Superman. I like him. Yes as people say he is stiff. However I think Superman should be stiff....he is an Alien.
Ben Affleck as a very dark Batman. Very very dark. He needs therapy. However he is very good as an aging Batman.
Gal Gadot as Wonder Woman!!! I loved her!! I thinks she looks great and looks the part. Sadly she really did not have much to do in this film, I wanted more!!
Amy Adams/Jeremy Irons/Laurence Fishburne/Diane Lane all have small roles, but they are meaty and bring value to the story line.
Jessie Eisenberg as Lex Luthor. Way over the top. He is suppose to be a light on his feet funny bad guy. No. He was just annoying.
The Look:
Apparently the sun never shines in Gotham and Metropolis. Gloomy as the script.
Doomsday looks awful!! I mean it looked like a cartoon was thrown into the middle of the film. Real bad.
The Script:
I remember when I reviewed the last awful Avengers film I noted that people are in those buildings that are being destroyed. Here in this film it becomes a major plot point (and it looks like it will be in Captain America also. I should be a screen writer!!). In fact the story here is pretty good. It is just soooo dark and some times you just want Batman to lighten up. At 2 hours and 30 minutes some editing was needed ( a funeral scene could have been shortened and a dream sequence could have been left on the floor, and the last battle was too long and messy). Still, the main plot points kept me interested.
3 1/2 stars out of 5 for this well acted, yet violent, and dark, and a little sloppy Superhero film. When you go to this film you want action and you get it, but it is a long build up to that point.
Oh this may be a spoiler but .....You see Aquaman! You see the Flash! You see Cyborg! And word is JLA will be less dark. Producers just saying that lets you know, that they know this Batman vs Superman was very dark.
HUNGER GAMES MOCKINGJAY PT 2
Directed by Francis Lawrence
Screenplay by Peter Craig and Danny Strong
Based on the book by Suzanne Collins
Starring Jennifer Lawrence; Josh Hutcherson; Liam Hensworth; Julianne Moore; and Donald Sutherland
As the war of Panem escalates to the destruction of other districts by the Capitol, Katniss Everdeen, the reluctant leader of the rebellion, must bring together an army against President Snow, while all she holds dear hangs in the balance.
I am kind of glad I did not read the books. I hear that this film has a lot of differences from the book. I can clearly judge this based on just the film, and it is a very good film. In fact I would rank it 2nd best just under the first Hunger Games film.
It is a very exciting film, it is pretty much a war movie, and because it is a war film it is violent.
I am almost shocked this was a youth novel. Still this film was just under 2 1/2 hours and it flew by going from one battle scene to another. Just edge of your seat excitement.
Negatives?
I never really took to Peeta/Josh Hutcherson. I thought he was miscast and was always annoying and to the end I never really saw what Katness did see in him. That negative I have is a big flaw I find in the film, it is the underlying theme of the film, love and war.
I also thought the character of Gale Hawthorne/Liam Hensworth was not really fleshed out (However I hear he was in the book). Which is sad because I found him more interesting than Peeta.
My final thoughts:
Two actors. First Jennifer Lawrence as Katniss. Katness has been in almost every scene in all 4 films. Here in the last one, she is an emotional mess and you feel for her and cheer her on. I do not think she gets enough credit. In fact I thought this performance was better than her performance in Joy.
Donald Sutherland as President Snow. The evil button pusher. Through the past films he has had a slow burn coming into this one. In this one he shines at pure smiling evil.
Well 4 out of 5 stars for Mockingjay Part 2. Coming off the awful part 1, the series redeemed itself in the big finally.
DADDY'S HOME
Directed by Sean Anders
Screenplay by Brian Burns; Sean Anders; and John Morris
Starring: Mark Wahlberg; Will Ferrell; Thomas Haden Church; and Linda Cardellini
A mild-mannered radio executive Brad (Ferrell) strives to become the best stepdad to his wife's Sara (Cardellini) two children, but complications ensue when their freewheeling and freeloading real father Dusty (Wahlberg) arrives, forcing him to compete for the affection of the kids.
This film surprisingly is not as bad as the trailer makes it out to be. However it still is not very good.
It kind of just sits there.
Many jokes fall flat...in fact most of the jokes fall flat.
The story line is thin, and where it goes is very predictable. The jokes are mainly, as you can tell by the trailer, physical, and unrealistic.
Almost every one in this film is irritating including the wife Sara. Thomas Haden Church gives us some of the best laughs just by telling stories.
On the other side there is a sweetness at the end and a funny conclusion that makes the film almost less....detestable I guess. It finishes well, if that is anything. Plus Wahlberg and Ferrell again have pretty good chemistry, they play off each other well.
One of the huge problems is they market this as a family film and it is far from a family film. There are some scenes that are rather...I guess sexual in subject. Who is this for? I guess teens. The market for this may be thin.
2 stars out of 5 for Daddy's Home. Well there are more laughs than Sisters. If that helps.
