New Film Review: Money Monster

MONEY MONSTER

Directed by Jodie Foster
Screenplay by Jamie Linden; Alan Difore; and Jim Koulfe
Starring: George Clooney; Julia Roberts; and Jack O'Connell




Well no explanation needed, the trailer says it all.

I went in to this film really not looking forward to seeing this. For the strangest reason. George Clooney. I am tired of seeing George Clooney and listening to him on my TV. George telling me who to vote for and what is wrong with the country when he really does not live here. He spends almost all of his time in Greece and other countries. And if I was a betting man, to avoid taxes that is where the money he makes hangs out. But I got over myself and went to see this film. You know what? This film is really good!! As always no spoilers here.
What works?
Jack O'Connell as Kyle Budwell, the young man who lost his money, it is his film. He is wonderful. Yes Julia Roberts is in this and she is really good with not much to do but give directions and be tense. George, as noted is in this and yes he is really good being the guy with a gun to his head. Still, Jack o'Connell he is amazing in this. Rollercoastering from wacky, to scared, to angry, to complete sadness. I hope they remember him at Oscar time for supporting actor.....he is that good. Like noted so good he takes the film from the two stars.
Jodie Foster, the director, as always really knows how to tell a story when she is in charge. This film not just a hostage movie, but equally a corporate greed movie. Exciting; tense; and sometimes exasperatingly sad (The scene where Kyle is talking to his girlfriend is stunning, it had me covering my mouth and ears). So yes she sure knows how to tell a story....................which brings me to a problem........
Foster often has trouble closing her films, and in this one I felt the same. The film gets a little wacky at the end. Also, no spoilers here, but when the credits roll, I am thinking whats the point? The whole thing is just sad. Even sadder is...life goes on like nothing happened. Maybe that is the point. We are numb to corruption and violence.

Well 4 stars out of 5 for Money Monster. A very good film. Just some trouble closing. Jack O'Donnell!!!!!

As always thanks for your time from the shadows.

New Release For Home Viewing This Week: Deadpool

Only one film to note this week for home viewing, as you can see:


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 this. Surprisingly 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 this film 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,

As always thanks for your time from the shadows.

New Film Review: Captain America Civil War

CAPTAIN AMERICA CIVIL WAR

Directed by Anthony Russo and Joe Russo
Screenplay by Christopher Marcus and Stephen McFeely
Starring Chris Evans; Robert Downey Jr; Scarlett Johansson; and a bunch of Superheroes




Captain America Civil War is the story of the Republican Party in 2016. Oh...no? Oh okay.

"For the second film in a row I felt like I was watching  a video game for more than half the film while buildings get destroyed (with out mentioning in the real world people live and work in them and most likely died as the fight continues)."

The above was part of my review of The Avengers Age Of Ultra. Which was not a very good film but I wanted to note the above because it is a major plot point in this film. The film divides the Avengers, with one group agreeing with the UN on a policy that The Avengers need okay by governments before moving in to fight evil, The other side thinks waiting causes more deaths.

This film is the best superhero movie I have seen in years. In fact this is what Batman vs Superman should have been.
The screenplay is very good and happily does not rely heavily on fight scenes. It relies heavily on..if you fight bad guys and hurt or kill others while doing so with out government an okay are you then a criminal.
A very interesting premise.
Another highlight of this film are the performances. Every performance is well done. I will highlight a few:
Chadwick Boseman as the Black Panther is introduced. He come across as a classy superhero which is kind of cool. I liked him a lot.
Elizabeth Olsen returns as the Scarlet Witch, and she has a much bigger part and she is a kind of a down to earth superhero which I like.
Paul Rudd as Ant-man adds a lot of humor.
Tom Holland is wonderful as Spiderman. I always thought the past Spidermen came across as asses. Holland, at least for now, came across as smart and funny. Also the hottest Aunt May played by Marisa Tomei.
Roberty Downey the veteran of all these superheroes has a very interesting part here. Tony Stark who use to be cocky, he comes across as old and humble and wise in this film. His character is changing a bit and is no longer one note.

As for the battles. I feel they were not overdone and I felt often they were hard to watch. It is like a family picnic and you are standing on the sidelines while a fight breaks out and you hope it just stops. You care for all of them and you hate to see anyone get hurt. Even though in this film Captain America comes across as close minded and a little bit of a jerk.

Negatives?
I felt the Captain America story line with Bucky was annoying and I struggled to really care. Even though I understand it is necessary for the Civil War story line.
The ending. I note often when there is a series of movies like this, I feel there should be a solid ending. Here again the ending left too much open. In fact the ending made the Bucky storyline a little...bit of a waste.
And the reason for the Bucky storyline reveal at the end as almost using him as a guinea pig was almost lazy and silly.

4 out of 5 stars for Captain America Civil War. I wonder if it will make money.

As always from the shadows thanks for your time.

Star Wars Day From The Shadows A Revisit Of The New Hope

Well happy Star Wars Day. Sooo lets take a revist to the original-----Star Wars The New Hope!!

First lets start with the original trailer:




That trailer is hilarious!! It is soooo bad!! "From the people who brought you American Graffiti". Hilarious!!

Okay it is time for fun and not so fun facts!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

-The film only had an 11 million dollar budget.

-George Lucas was so sure this film would flop that he skipped the premier and went on vacation in Florida.

-In the first day of taping in Tunsia the country experienced its first major rainstorm in 50 years.

-It took George Lucas a full year to write A New Hope. It came in at 200 pages.

-The score by John William is ranked number 1 by AFI as the greatest score of all time.

-Body count was 2,002,795,192

-That well known sound of the Star Destroyer was actually a broken air conditioner.

-Jabba The Hutt was originally in The New Hope. Hutt was cut from the film but later added for a home viewing special edition.

-The second USA film to take in 100 million dollars. The first was Jaws.

-Lucas pitched the film to Universal; United Artist; and Disney. They all passed. Fox took a chance. Ironically Disney years later will acquire the franchise.

-Opening weekend Star Wars made 1.554 million on fewer than 40 screens.

Well ...what is next???!! Rogue One is next and here is the first trailer!!!!!!



Awesome looking and it comes to theaters in December!!!

From the shadows...May The Fourth Be With You!!

This Weeks New Releases For Home Viewing

I have two new releases to note this week for home viewing:

JOY
Directed by David O Russell
Screenplay by David O Russell and Annie Mumolo
Starring Jennifer Lawrence; Robert Deniro; Isabella Rosellini; Diane Ladd; Virginia Madsen and Bradley Cooper



Joy is the story of the title character, who rose to become founder and matriarch of a powerful family business starting with the Miracle Mop.

Silver Linings Playbook. American Hustle. Now David O Russell is back with his muse Jennifer Lawrence. And in this one he swings and  kind of misses.
I am willing to bet that this film was not originally narrated by Dianne Ladd's character, and O'Russell knew he had trouble getting the story to push through and he needed a narrator. He knew there was a problem.
The first  and biggest of problems is that Jennifer Lawrence is miscast here. She is much too young for the part. Sometimes when she is arguing she comes across not as a smart businesswoman and inventor but she comes across as young and naïve. She is also too young to have the daughter. What was she 12 when she had her?!
Another problem, lack of character development. We really do not know much about her mom. Her Grandma. Rossellini's character pops in with money but we really know nothing about her. Coopers character is only in the film for like 15 minutes and he has to give a big speech about who he is. There is a step sister here that Joy is butting heads with and we know nothing about her.
This movie is cold and sterile and not a "JOY" to watch. It pushes on until it comes to a even colder ending.
The plus?
 Jennifer Lawrence is miscast but she does act the hell out of this film.
 It is an interesting story of a woman trying climb out from beneath the blanket of crazy upbringing.
There is also an actor by the name of Edgar Ramirez who plays Joy's ex husband Tony. He is fantastic here I just loved his character.

2 1/2 stars out of this just okay film. An interesting story with a miscast lead and a cold script. Oh and by the way look at the poster. It is misleading with Bradley Cooper when he is only in it for 15 minutes and they have Isabella freaking Rossellini and she does not get a top billing. Shame!!!!


THE CHOICE
Directed by Ross Katz
Screenplay by Bryan Sype
Based on a book by Nicholas Sparks
Starring: Benjamin Walker; Teresa Palmer; Maggie Grace; Tom Wilkinson; and Alexandra Daddario



We follow the relationship between Travis and Gabby over many years.

I, unlike most critics, am a sucker for a good love story on the screen. I was a fan of the last Sparks film The Longest Ride. Here......it was a disappointment.

I enjoyed the first hour while watching the relationship start. Then...it blew up.
Every Sparks trick was used....car accident...ex or present day boyfriend showing up to cause trouble.... throw in a coma.
While everything was being used, the film draaaaaaaged. I rolled my eyes often.
The script became predictable.
The chemistry between the two leads was way off. Now Walker was a bit stiff but he did  grow on me a bit.
Time rolls by 8-10 years and no one ages!!! How can they not think about aging someone!!
Someone is veeeerrrry ill and they look like they have not missed a meal and is perfect looking!!
No, I am not nitpicking...I promise you while watching this these points will cross your mind.
The saddest thing about this film is, is that it is just boring. There really is not much happening for most of it.
The two big positives are: Teresa Palmer until the car accident was really good in this; and Maggie Grace as Travis's sister is very good and I wish she was on the screen more.

Sadly the two positives cant make The Choice better then  2 out of 5 stars.
Wait for home viewing if you want to see it.....want romance go see Brooklyn!!


As always thanks for your time from the shadows.

New Film Review: Keanu

KEANU

Directed by Peter Atencio
Screenplay by Jordan Peele and Alex Rubens
Starring Jordan Peele and Keegan-Michael Key




Rell has lost his girl. Now, has lost his cat. Rell and his best friend Clarence will stop at nothing to get his cat Keanu back.

Damn that cat is cute.

I saw that this film is not getting great reviews. I disagree with them. After you see the trailer or the commercials you go for comedy and action. I think it delivers.

Damn That cat is cute.

This film at times is laugh out loud funny. Even the whole idea is so ridiculous, fighting gangsters for a kitten, is so far out there it is funny. Then you throw in two gentleman who try to be street and gangster like and clearly are not. That is funny. As you see in the trailer, the Wham/George Michael scene is funny, however there is another scene that had me laughing out loud (As always no spoiler review). In fact George Michael is a running joke through out the film. They throw in some action pretty much for us to see the main characters reactions. That works also.
What also works is there are a lot of small parts played by the "gangsters" here that are hilarious because they are all in. They are often as funny as Key and Peele.

Damn that cat is cute.

Negatives? The plot is very thin, and at one hour and thirty five minutes it oddly seems long. Again, it has to be the thin plot. There is only so many funny/ridiculous gunfights I can watch without getting bored and after awhile it ceases to be funny. It almost seems like a plot from their TV show they they stretched out too long.

Damn that cat is cute.

4 stars out of 5 for Keanu. It delivers what it promises. Just a little long.

As always from the shadows thanks for your time.

Did I note that cat is cute.

New Film Review: Mothers Day

MOTHERS DAY

Directed by Gary Marshall
Screenplay by Tom Hines; Lily Hollander; Anya Konchoff; and Mathew Walker
Starring: Everybody in Hollywood



Jennifer Aniston, Sandy, is a single mom dealing with her exhusband's new younger wife while raising 2 boys.
Kate Hudson, Jessee, is dealing with the visit of her prejudice parents.
Jason Sudeikis,Bradley, is a single father raising 2 girls and dealing with the death of his wife.
Juliet Roberts, Miranda, is a home shopping network host who meets her daughter, Brit Robertson's Kristen, who she gave up for adoption.

I liked Gary Marshall's Valentines Day. Did not love it but I liked it. New Years Eve was unwatchable. So now Mothers Day. Mothers Day is not good but not bad. It just lays there, and does not do much.
Casting: This film has a star studded cast that all look like they rather be in a dentist chair than in this movie. I know they all love Gary Marshall, who does not, but if you don't want to be all in, do not be in. I felt like I was watching a bunch of  actors sleep walking. The best performance was by Britt Robertson but she is barely in the film. Plus, they put sooo much makeup on this pretty girl, to make her look older I guess, she is almost unrecognizable.
As for the script? It comes across as a serviceable ABC Friday night sitcom. However...I hate calling it "sitcom like' because I honestly did not laugh once. It is bogged down with too many story lines and because of that it lacks character development and lazy story lines that all tie up "Blah, at the end. One story line involving Kate Hudson seems so dated it is hard to watch. I almost wanted to know where Jack Tripper and Mr Roper was (For the youth that is a Three's Company reference).

After all that that trashing, I have to say, if you are a mom or plan on taking a mom it is fine. There is nothing really bad, it works as a lite safe film. 1 1/2 stars out of 5 for Mothers Day.

Note: You see two kids cart wheeling in a wedding scene. That is the debut of Hazel and Henry Moder the children of Juliet Roberts.
This is the 18th film that Hector Elizondo has been in that Gary Marshal directed.

Well from the shadows as always thanks for your time.