Directed by James Franco
Screenplay by Scott Neustadter and Michael Webber
Starring James Franco; Dave Franco; and Seth Rogan
As you would figure...this is odd..and real!!!
Well acted.
Strangely moving, often uncomfortably sad.
It follows Greg Sestero, an ambitious young actor played wonderfully by Dave Franco, he befriends Tommy Wiseau, played by James Franco, who is....I have know idea. An actor I guess. A film producer. We follow them as they make one of the worst films in history The Room.
It all revolves around a wonderful performance by James Franco. If you watch to the end you will see side by side comparisons between James and Wiseau....it is all spot on. From his physical quirks to his odd accent which no one can figure out where he comes from.
The film has funny moments but it really needed to be shorter, at one hour and forty five minutes it felt real long. I went from oddly funny, to painful, to looking at the time on your phone.
Tommy is such an odd mystery, he was a perfect subject and so was The Room. Yet...still no answers on where he came from or where did all his money come from.
I did not hit her...I did noooooot...oh hi Mark.
3 stars out of 5 for The Disaster Artist. Well worth a look for home viewing when it comes out. And no, you do not need to see The Room to understand what is happening here. I wish I laughed more instead of cringed...it may be too oddly strange.
WONDER WHEEL
Directed by Woody Allen
Screenplay by Woody Allen
Starring Jim Belushi; Kate Winslet; Juno Temple; and Justin Timberlake
This is getting trashed by critics. I do not think it is that bad. Yet sadly it is not that great.
It is just flat.
Here are positives:
Kate Winslet: As Ginny. She plays the part as a New York wife who is unhappy with her life and wants to find a way out. She is her usual great self, nailing the New York dialect.
Jim Belushi: As the hubby Humpty. He is so mean and so clueless and oddly likable. Yet you can see why she wants out..he is a bully. He almost is too real here...he is that good.
Now the negatives:
I feel like the story lays there. It does not push through the idea. It is one big circle (Not spoiling).
I get a feeling that Timberlake breaking the fourth wall was added after the shooting...to maybe add perspective..and help explain and push things. Still again...it is just stayed in one place. With two triangles going on...it should not be flat.
Then you have Juno Temple as Carolina. Just wasted. I am a huuuuge fan and was so disappointed she did not have a bigger part.
Then they threw in an odd storyline which was annoying about Ginny's son lighting things on fire. I think it was supposed to be funny or relevant but it was just annoying.
The strange thing is this film seems almost like a stage play. Maybe it would work as one. Most of the action takes place in on room. Just a thought.
2 stars out of 5 for Wonder Wheel. May be worth a look for home viewing.
DOWNSIZING
Directed by Alexander Payne
Screenplay by Alexander Payne and Jim Taylor
Starring: Matt Damon; Christoph Waltz; Hong Chau; Kristen Wiig; and Jason Sudeikis
It is interesting that is for sure. Not as quirky as the trailer wants you to think.
I really thought the idea was fascinating.
I also thought it had some wonderful performances:
Matt Damon: Well Matt Damon as Paul, being Matt Damon.
Christoph Waltz: He has a very interesting part here playing Dusan a playboy living above Paul. I really liked his character. It showed no matter what size you are....people are still the same. Yet....they left that storyline.
Kristen Wiig: As Audrey the woman who leaves him in the dust. Sadly they also leave that storyline. I would want them to meet up...him small, her big. Just to talk about their lives. Sadly they left her in the dust.
So what is left?
It is just odd.
He just goes through the motions like when he was big. The point being, I am sure, that you cant run from who you are, no matter what the size.
Then he meets Ngoc, the house cleaner.
Ngoc is played by Hong Chau and she moves in and steals the movie.
As we follow her we learn that, again, no matter the size, things are the same. She lives outside of the Leisure area and shows us...that there are levels of money, just like the big world. It gives Damon someone to play off of.. ..and she give an Oscar worthy performance.
Again the problem is they do not know where to go..they cannot decide if it is a love story or save the earth story. It waste a lot of time...circling the idea but never really nailing it. Leaving interesting ideas or characters in the dust.
It is hard to discuss without spoiling.
I am saying it is worth going to see because it is so different. Again, it has wonderful performances.
I just thought it had no focus. 3 1/2 out of 5 mainly for the acting and the idea. I wanted more talk about the downsizing. It just felt it was just a story of regular size people.
PITCH PERFECT 3
Directed by Trish Sie
Screenplay by Kay Cannon and Mike White
Starring Anna Kendrick and Rebel Wilson
It is a strange film. It almost seemed dated. Like the old musicals from the 30's and 40's.
"Hey! Lets put on a show with the USO tour!!
"Okay, I am sure we can. I know an obscure person"
Then in the 30's in 40's you just go with it.
You do not question...just let it go.
This is a last film of a trilogy.
It is rather silly and stupid.
It has good music...yet with bad lip singing.
It has a couple funny moments highlighted of course by Rebel Wilson.
Only Rebel Wilson, not Elizabeth Banks and John Michael Higgins who are not as funny as what they think they are.
It tries to throw in a kidnaping storyline with John Lithgow (Does Lithgow ever say no).
Still no matter the goofy premise and the faux competition, for of all people DJ Khaled, (Yes. I rolled my eyes also), people cheered at the end of the film. People just love these characters.
So I am saying people got what they came for. A couple laughs; characters they like; and music. No matter the goofy storyline.
2 1/2 out of 5 for Pitch Perfect 3. Better than 2, but not close to how good 1 was.
JUMANJI WELCOME TO THE JUNGLE
Directed by Jake Kasdan
Screenplay:Chris McKenna; Erik Sommers; Scott Rosenberg; and Jeff Pinkner
Starring:
Story 1-Alex Wolf; Ser Darius Blain; Madison Iceman; and Morgan Turner
Story 2-Dwayne Johnson; Jack Black; Kevin Hart;Karen Gillan; Nick Jonas; and Bobby Cannavale
Sometimes I get a nice surprise. Jumangi Welcome The Jungle happens to be one.
Very well written. Brilliant idea by using two story lines. It helped with character development/
To a point that you get a little teary eyed at the end.
The beginning story line reminds you of the most recent Spiderman movie, where they take time letting you know the personalities of the high school students.
Geek...Jock.....Outcast....Beauty, all played wonderful by the leads (However they looked a bit too old for their parts).
Then they play Jumanji ...this time a video type game and they get sucked in.
That's when things get interesting...
Dwayne Johnson is who the geek used to be. He really has fun with the part. He keeps touching his muscles and it is funny to see a big guy who is afraid of his shadow.
Kevin Hart is who the jock used to be. He is almost embarrassed and humbled by being well...Kevin Hart. We have all seen Hart play this part. However here...he swallows his pride and takes a smaller part. It is perfect for him.
Jack Black is the Beauty. He is fantastic. He has to play a guy who is really a girl who is learning to be ....well get dirty and fight. I think Jack Black as Bethany is the best character in the film.
Karen Gillan who plays the shy outcast is almost a fighter. I never scene her in a film. She is the surprise. She is the action star along with Johnson, and she holds her own along side these big stars. She is the best dance fighter this year in film lol.
The story has these four misfits, who just do not go together, combine their ...well skills to try and return a glowing rock to a mountain before they lose their three lives each. This is actually exciting. It helps that they have an over the top bad guy named Van Pelt played by Cannavele, to go up against.
There is a couple negatives:
-The end during the Jumanji game is very sloppy. Sloppy writing and special effects that look really bad. No spoilers here...but in involves Johnson on a motorcycle, He turns into a superhero. I know it is fantasy and a video game...but it does not match what happened in the film earlier. A motorcycle cannot do things that he does. And it looks way to fake. The end of that part seemed thrown together. Sad because it was going so well.
-This film is marketed to younger kids. However it seems more for teenagers with jokes about having a penis and such and what happens to such. A little un-comfy if you bring little ones.
You come for laughs and action and it delivers what you pay for...with even a little bit of emotion.
Oh you also get a Nick Jonas who is well cast as a mystery character.
4 out of 5 stars for Jumanji Welcome To The Jungle
THE GREATEST SHOWMAN
Directed by Michael Gracey
Screenplay by Jenny Bicks and Bill Condon
Starring Hugh Jackman; Michelle Williams; Zac Efron; Zendaya; and Rebecca Ferguson
This is not a history lesson, that is for sure.
It is a fun musical.
It throws you off with a time period film using modern sounding music. If you liked Moulin Rouge you will like this film.
Positives:
-It is just fun. The writing is strong. It is an exciting story. You cheer for the underdog to win.
-The music is really good. Music was done by Justin Paul and Benj Pasek from La La Land.
The highlight is of course Golden Globe nominee This Is Me performed by the wonderful Keala Settle. This song will no doubt win the Oscar. There is no competition, it is that good.
Then you have a sweet song sung by Michelle Williams, yes Michelle Williams, called Tightrope.
Then Zac Efron and Zendaya, who have great chemistry, had a good song together called Rewrite The Stars.
In other words...the songs and music are very strong, like noted before. It seamlessly puts pop music in a story out of the 1800's. Credit goes to the song writers and director Gracey.
-One quick note, Zendaya may be the newcomer of the year in film. She almost stole the film...In the new Spiderman, and now here the screen lights up every time she is on the screen!! She is a star.
Yes there are negatives:
-I know this is a movie Hugh Jackman has been wanting to make since 2009. I also know he has done stage musicals on Broadway. He is really good in this part so do not get me wrong, but the songs he sings seem to be out of his range. Not saying he cannot sing...we saw it in Les Miserables, here he was off a bit. Yes, I know everybody lip synced (Zendaya was hilariously singing while rolling down a rope, you just have to go with it), yet that says it was his best.
-Why Rebecca Ferguson? She is a wonderful actress. However she cannot sing so they used The Voice singer Loren Allred to sing her songs??!! I do not understand. They could not find an actress who could sing? I know Ann Hathaway was in mind, but there has to be someone else.
-Coming off La La Land, this movie should be successful. However like La La Land...the ending is real soft. Not bad, but after all the music that feels like it has bite and attacks, it finishes...oddly soft.
Anyway, this is a fun, entertaining, harmless film. Go see it.
4 stars out of 5 for The Greatest Showman.
STRONGER
Directed David Gordon Green
Screenplay by John Pollono
Based on the book by Jeff Bauman and Bret Witter
Starring Jake Gyllenhaal; Tatiana Maslany; and Miranda Richardson
Gyllenhal plays Baumann, a reluctant hero in Boston after the Boston Marathon bombing.
We follow his recovery as he learns to deal with his loss of legs and his mental struggles.
Stronger does a lot of things right:
The Story:
It is an interesting story from many angles.
Bauman...who is held up as a hero. He has no interest in it. It kind of confuses him. Still he is a hero, with many faults. He is unreliable, before and after the bombing, in his relationship with his girlfriend Erin Hurley. He also has a bit of a drinking problem which is exasperated by his family.
Bauman's family..... led by Patty his mother. They relish in his fame, and like to party too much.
Erin Hurley.....Bauman's on and off again girlfriend. She has a lot of guilt, because she is the reason he is at the marathon. Hurley becomes the voice of common sense between Bauman's family and Bauman.
As you can tell this film is not about the bombing and capture of the cowards who did this awful act of violence. It follows Baumann and the aftermath. Bauman struggles with the hero tag, as much as he struggles with the loss of his legs. It takes him awhile to understand he is a symbol of hope. Lives were lost. People needed a person to be them...to represent.
Casting:
If Gyllenhaal does not get an Oscar nod here something is very wrong!! His mannerisms are so on point. There is a moment when he falls right on to his face. Everyone in the theatre went "OOOF". They felt it. He had us! That is the sign of a good performance.
Maslany also should get a nod for best supporting actress as Hurley. I love that she is just an ordinary woman. Stuck in a no win situation.
Richardson as Patty. She may be the front runner for best supporting actress with this performance. She becomes Boston with the accent, the pushiness, and sadly... throw in too much liquid refreshments.
Negatives? Yes...small negatives.
-The family is a lot to watch. I mean so abrasive ...you want them to go away. It is tough...I think they get highlighted too much while the rehab and relationship between Hurley and Baumann gets overrun by that abrasiveness. I wish they would have pulled back on the family. I think whenever Gyllenhaal and Maslany are not on the screen together the film loses some heart.
In fact I felt the film was rushed at the end. I wanted to see how they repaired things...how they get from point A to B.
Still do not let that push you away from this true story of a reluctant hero, with perfect performances.. 4 out of 5 stars for Stronger.
MOTHER!
Directed by Darren Aronofsky
Screenplay by Darren Aronofsky
Starring Jennifer Lawrence; Javier Bardem; Ed Harris; and Michelle Pfeiffer
What did I know before entering the theater to see this:
-That the Cinema Score, which is a letter score given by patrons of the theatre when they leave, is a big old F!!!!!!
-That this is one of these movies that critics criticize the public, pretty much pointing fingers at the movie going public saying, without saying, that we are not smart enough to understand the complexities of the film. UGH!! AHHH NOOO!! We pay for the movie ...we pay to be entertained or maybe learn something. We don't pay to go WTH!!!
-Darren Aronofsky. I am not a fan. Black swan. Requiem for A Dream. The Fountain. To me they all seem like movies he did not know how to end. Also....he always seems like he makes it up as he goes on...and then critics go HE IS BRILLIANT! No. He throws crap at the wall and see if it sticks. Spielberg is brilliant and he has clear stories and has a beginning...middle...and end.
So...Mother!...I have no idea what I watched. There are no spoilers here because...I just do not know. Here is my guess: I think Bardem is the devil...needs a muse to write his thoughts/poetry....he needs followers which excites him. Once he is successful...then he moves on to another muse. That is what I think happened here. Now I hear it may have been Martians. Or just a dream. I am sticking with my theory lol.
Now here is the strange thing I want you to know. It was not as awful as what people say. Why?
-Jennifer Lawrence gives a wonderful, frightening performance. She really does not have many lines and has to act often with the camera tight on her face. I just do not get the hate for her in this film. In fact I think it is one of the best performances by a female lead this year. Maybe what people cant get past is the awful chemistry between Lawrence and Bardem. There is not one moment I believed them as a couple. In fact I found them, kinda gross as a couple, OR MAYBE WE WERE SUPPOSE TO THINK THAT!!! SOOOOO CONFUSED!!!!!
-The return of Michelle Pfeiffer, who is wonderfully dark!! Plus throw in a creepy performance by Ed Harris. Great casting !!
So...what I am saying this is not an F movie. It has wonderful performances...and odd I could not take my eyes off it. I was trying to figure out what was happening and where it was going. I was going to go 3 stars but the baby scene has me dropping it a whole star (I just prepared you for that). 2 out of 5 stars for Mother!.
DUNKIRK
Director Christopher Nolan
Screenplay by Christopher Nolan
Starring Mark Rylance; Tom Hardy; Kenneth Branagh; and a bunch of ...young male actors.
Allied soldiers from Belgium, British and France squads are surrounded by the German army and are in a holding pattern waiting to be evacuated.
I say often that critics are sheep. They want to look smart. So Dunkirk comes out and they fall all over each other. The Best film Of The Year!!! Riveting!!
Well...no. It is not bad, but not great.
Positives:
As with all of Christopher Nolan's films it is just gorgeous to look at. Beautiful. So beautiful you can skip the three pages of dialog (More on the dialog later) and just watch the film and understand the story completely. When the attack planes came flying over I felt like I was on the beach with the young soldiers. The look of this film is perfection.
Negatives:
-Now I will discuss the maybe, three pages of dialog. That is a problem. There is not much being said here. Nolan elected to just put us on the beach, and have us feel it. However because of the lack of dialog there is no character development at all. Plus when there is dialog I had an awful time understanding it, everything was loud or muffled. With no character development I had trouble feeling for the young men. I know that sounds awful but I did not feel vested. I cheered for them to be safe but....I did not know them...or never got a chance to know of them. It is a big problem. When I left my full screening you can see the look on other movie goers faces in the theater, it was like....ooookay..ahhh. I think it was a bad decision. He did let us know a little about a character played wonderfully by Barry Keoghan (George) but he was in the film for maybe 10 minutes.
-Also he had three great actors...maybe some of the best actors of our time in Rylance; Branagh; and Hardy....and he really does not give them much to do or say. They are just there. In fact the wonderful Hardy barely says a word.
I was a bit disappointed in the story but like noted it looks wonderful. Maybe best looking film of the year. 3 1/2 stars out of 5 for Dunkirk. A good looking film. A stunning true story. That just seems cold.
VICTORIA AND ABDUL
Directed by Stephens Frear
Starring Judi Dench and Ali Fazal
Screenplay by Lee Hall
Based on the book by Shrabani Basu
In this true story (Mostly, the script in the film says) about the strange and lovely relationship between Queen Victoria and a humble servant from India Abdul Karim.
Oh boy was I disappointed. The film went in totally the wrong direction. What looks like a wonderful spotlight of two individuals from different backgrounds and different social statuses, ends up spotlighting waaaay too much on the reactions to their friendships. As you are watching the film you really feel it, when the two leads are not together the film crumbles. Which means we have to spotlight the failure of the screenwriter Hall and Director Frear. It is on them.
I am not saying the film is one big failure, there is a lot of good here starting with Oscar worthy performances by Dench and Fazil. Two actors from different cultures and age have just amazing chemistry. We already know how good of an actress Dench is, but Fazil is a find!! Charming and saying so much without saying a word. Sad that the screenwriter did no believe in the strength of the actors.
Now, the story is not a complete bust, there is a fair amount of humor and love mixed in with all the negatives that the director elected to highlight.
2 1/2 stars out of 5 for Victoria And Abdul. A beautiful relationship. It is worth a look when it comes out to home viewing.
