This Weeks New Releases For Home Viewing

Three films this week for home viewing to note highlighted by this small movie pictured above.


ROGUE ONE A STAR WARS STORY
Directed by Gareth Edwards
Screenplay by Chris Weitz and Tony Gilroy
Based on a story by John Knoll and Gary Whitta
Based on characters by George Lucas



Well. I love the story how it connects Revenge Of The Sith and New Hope.

Like The Force Awakens, it is a beautiful looking film.

As for the story. While watching this I was thinking of Saving Private Ryan. Rogue One is a war story period. As in most war stories, the group of soldiers are all not returning. I thought this in the middle of the film, this is not going to end well for some of them. This is not New Hope where Stormtroopers keep missing. This is a war story. I thought often, yikes kids should be prepared. Yes we all know they get the plans. We see that in New Hope. We just never knew at what cost. Not turning you away from this film,  it was fun and had a lot of action, still, it is a war story.
I loved all the characters in the troop. They were bold and all had different personality's, they were fun to watch. I also loved K2SO. He was such a wise ass which was hilarious. Just what the film needed because it was really an intense film. It needed levity.
Problems?
Oh Yes!!!!
See the trailer above? About half of it is not in the film. They really had trouble with at 3/4 mark of the film, You can see they changed the story. And the editing at some points made the story all of  a sudden seem all over. I got confused.
The score!! Was annoying and over the top. Even during soft scenes it would sound like it was over the top meaningful. It was so distracting to me.
They kept showing Forest Whitaker in the trailers. He was in it for 15 minutes. As noted in Arrival, he is wasted. He is Forest Whitaker!!!!!!!!!!! Respect!!!!

If it did not have a Star Wars connection I would have given it 3 1/2 out of 5 stars, but I love the connection leading to New Hope. I also think people are not giving Felicity Jones, playing the part of Jyn Erso, enough credit. She is believable here at being smart and tough. So in the end, I give Rogue One 4 out of 5 stars.




OFFICE CHRISTMAS PARTY

Directed by Josh Gordan and Will Speck
Screenplay by Justin Malen; Lauren Solon; and Dan Mazer
Story by Jon Lucas; Scott Moore; and Timothey Dowling
Starring Jason Bateman; Olivia Munn; TJ Miller;




Despite the CEO (Aniston) saying NO, the branch manager (Miller), the CEO's brother decides to throw an office Christmas party to lure in a major client, thus trying to keep their branch open.

It is not a bad film. I laugh often. Yes the party is unrealistic, still I laughed.
TJ Miller I find to be really funny, however he seems to be playing the same character in all his parts.
Jason Bateman also as the straight man seems to be doing the same (by the way Bateman and Munn have no chemistry whatsoever!!).
Still I guess they are good at what they do because this film was working until they left the office.
When they left the office the film dies a fast death. I felt it was obvious they came into the film with an idea that I felt was funny, and they did not know how to close it. To a point, yes the office party was out of hand and kind of stretched belief, but the ending is ridiculous. No police???!!! No jail time???!! Wrapped up in a bow???!!
3 out of 5 stars for Office Christmas Party. Just above average, and that is mostly for the party itself.






PATTERSON

Directed by Jim Jarmusch
Screenplay by Jim Jarmusch
Starring Adam Driver and Golshifteh Farahani




Patterson is a bus driver who lives in...Patterson NJ. No Shit!!! He is also a poet. Which is to say he writes poetry and looks and then goes home.

You know I can like a soft quiet film. I always use The Linklater's Before movies as an example.
The difference is those characters were interesting.
Here Patterson played by Adam Driver is so quiet he is boring.Other than one incident in a bar. He is just a nice guy driving a bus as we here his poetry or thoughts.Then we see him at home, living with his girlfriend who seems to be not happy there.
The Girlfriend, Laura, played by Farahani is oddly, annoying. I think she is suppose to be annoying. My thinking is Patterson finds peace in his poetry because there is no peace anywhere else. She seems oddly to be a user taking advantage of a kind soul.
All that being said, I still go back to the lead, Patterson, just being boring and nothing much happens.
Now...the one thing important to note is Driver is really good in this part. Yes he is boring but he has us, as the audience, kind of falling in love with his sweetness or his humbleness. It just....the script does not help him.
2 out of 5 stars for Patterson. Some movies can be too quiet.

From the shadows as always thanks for your time.