A Quick Guide To Movies This Weekend

Thanksgiving weekend. Time to eat. Time to shop. Time to eat. Time to go to the movies!!!!!
And eat at the movies.


Well here are some quick looks at films I recommend for the weekend.


Looking for the best film out there??!!





WONDER


Why? Well just turn on the TV. Bad behavior. Negative speak. This film is perfect for the time and place. A film about kindness. Throw in humor and emotion. I did not read the book, but what I know is it works pretty good on its own. 4 1/2 out of 5 stars.


Which super hero film to see?





THOR


While Justice league just lays there for us to watch CGI. Thor takes a hint from Guardians Of The Galaxy. 4 out of 5 for Thor Ragnarok. Very funny. Full of action. In a full theater it is kind of fun with a lot of people in the theater. It is a fun event film.


Which Christmas Film?
The Star is cute for real little ones and is harmless. The decision is between two other Christmas films for older groups.





DADDY'S HOME 2
Yes Bad Moms Christmas..comes off a better first film...but Daddys Home 2 delivers some emotion and many more laughs this go around. Far from perfect, 2 1/2 out of 5 stars. Still if you want Christmas...this is the better out of the 2.


Which Small Film?
Two Billboards. Florida Project....but the best is...


LADY BIRD





Ronan coming off the wonderful Brooklyn... she shines again. With help from Greta Gerwig and Laurie Metcalf. Yes the ending lacks a bit but the ride getting there is fun.
4 out of 5 stars.


Then there is Disney...


COCO





I..thought it was beautiful looking, with a great score.
Yes the story is odd, but it has some lovely characters which pushes the odd story along.
3 1/2 out of 5 stars.


After you eat at the theaters make sure you go home and eat leftovers!!


Eating in the shadows....as always thanks for your time!!

New Film Review COCO

COCO
Directed by Lee Unkrich and Adrian Molina
Screenplay by Lee Unkrich; Jason Katz; Matthew Aldrich; and Adrian Molina




A story of a dreamer. A little boy named Miguel who wants to play music...even at risk of staying in the Land Of The Dead.
If you have been following my blog you know I am a big PIXAR fan. I was excited to see COCO.
It is a very strange film.
Positives:
-Just a gorgeous looking movie. The colors pop. With bright backgrounds and bright colorful creatures. PIXAR at its best.
-The score is great. The story revolves around music so the score beautifully puts you into a place and time. Has to be the front runner to win an Oscar. Tip of the hat to Michael Giacchino.
-Miguel is adorable. You cheer him on. He is a dreamer, which kind of makes him naive. He will learn the dangers of putting people on a pedestal without really knowing them.

Sadly there are negatives:
-It is kinda creepy. I mean...Miguel is stuck with dead people.  Now PIXAR tried to make them funny, and often they are....still..."Johnny lets go watch a movie about a little boy stuck in the land of the dead...good times". There is an umbrella of creepiness. I am not sure if PIXAR, who used jokes and bright colors to distract us from the creepiness, was successful and relaxing the tone.
-AAAAHHHH the movie BOOK OF LIFE!! Yes not the same...but close. Look it up!!

3 1/2 stars out of 5. Yes maybe my PIXAR blinders are on...but even though it is kind of creepy it has a young boy with dreams you cheer for. A wonderful score setting the tone. Gorgeous color, popping off the screen....avoid 3D.

From the shadows as always thanks for your time

New Film Review: Lady Bird

LADY BIRD
Directed by Greta Gerwig
Screenplay by Gretta Gerwig
Starring Saoirse Ronan; Laurie Metcalf; Tracy Letts; and Beanie Feldstein




If you follow my blog often you know I am a big Greta Gerwig fan. Now Lady Bird is written and directed by Gretta Gerwig!!! Uh oh my blinders may be up on this one...but YES!!!

This film follows the relationship between Christine McPherson or Lady Bird (Ronan) and her mother Marion (Metcalf). Lady Bird is a bit ...well.....she beats to her own drum....which makes her time in Catholic school interesting. Then she clashes with her mother who is a worrier...a little obsessive compulsive. That combination of the two women, as you can imagine, is not good.

Gerwig does a lot right. The film is quick and does not over stay its welcome. At the same time it seems to be slow enough, so that we see all the development of all the personalities on the screen. It is funny and awkward and touching.
Gerwig also put together a great cast of art house film familiar faces:
We already know there Ronan is just a wonderful actress and she does not let us down here.
Metcalf finally gets a lead part!!! And makes Gerwig look brilliant!! She is so real here that often you feel for her and often you want her to just be quiet....she is a rollercoaster of involvement!! Fantastic!!
Tracy Letts as Metcalf's hubby and Lady Bird's father...flies under the radar as the calming force of the family...but he has sad secrets. He and Ronan have great chemistry and their small moments together are just precious and he delivers a master class in acting. I know his part is quiet and soft...I hope not too soft that he gets ignored during awards season.

Are there negatives:
Yes. People are calling this the best picture of the year. I think it falls a bit short because the end ...the last 15 minutes seem rushed...and I am not sure I like the quick ending. No spoilers here but I feel  Metcalf's character deserves a final touching say.

4 out of 5 stars for Lady Bird. I left the theater thinking...just okay...but it slowly grows and stays with you. Just a poignant, funny film. Did I happen to mention to you that Greta Gerwig the wonderful actress wrote and directed this???!!! Oh I did.


From the shadows as always thanks for your time.

New Film Review: The Florida Project

THE FLORIDA PROJECT
Directed by Sean Baker
Screenplay by Sean Baker and Chris Bergoch
Starring William Dafoe; Brooklyn Prince; and Bria Vinaite




The film is getting a lot of buzz for award season. Set during one full summer , the film follows the adventures of Moonee (Prince) as she lives in a hotel in Orlando Florida in the shadows of Walt Disney World.

A very difficult film to watch:
-I found that Halley (Vinaite) was one of the most annoying mothers in film history. Which makes the movie a tough watch. Yes she is in a bad situation, I understood that. However the things that she does to get by, note...not to get herself out of the situation... I found annoying. Basically she is not a good person. Her language in front of her child and her actions in front of her child, leave a lot to be desired. By saying "Leaves a lot to be desired"...is being kind. Now, I know she is in an unfortunate situation and my mind is open to that, however it does not mean your actions have to be so abrasive and so .....misguided. There is no point in the film where she is helping herself.
-The film is true. I have seen areas like this in Orlando. My interpretation at the end could be different than many. I think, at the end of the film it gives you a thought about living in the shadows of "The Happiest Place In The World", Walt Disney World. A company who is the biggest employer not only in Florida but in America, pays so little that you have people in the area living under the poverty level. Plus, because Walt Disney World can pay so little, other companies in that area seem to follow suit with the same salary...because they can. So you have many people like Halley and the others living in the hotel who cannot find a way out and do not have the ways or means to even move away. So there they are...that is my interpretation of the last scene of the film...which seemed like a rogue shooting without Disney's permission. I know this is a long winded, but the point is the situation is sad, again a hard watch.

Is there any good?
Yes...the performances are wonderful.
Dafoe as hotel manager Bobby is fantastic. Bobby has to deal with many issues each day adults and children!! He runs the spectrum of emotions without a hiccup.
Yes, often Vinaite is close to unwatchable as Halley, still, that is not her, that is her character. She crawls under Halley's skin and believably lives there. Our emotions...or dislike for Halley is all because of the fine performance by Vinaite.

This is a well acted tough watch...2 1/2 stars out of 5 for The Florida Project.
Maybe not worth a visit to the theatre, but maybe when available for home viewing.


From the shadows as always thanks for your time.

New Film Review Justice League

JUSTICE LEAGUE
Directed by Zack Snyder
Screenplay by Chris Terrio and Joss Whedon
Starring Ben Affleck; Amy Adams; Gal Gadot; Ezra Miller; Jason Momoa;Ray Fisher; Jeremy Irons; and Diane Lane




Well Batman has got the Justice League together.
JLA has many problems:
-The battle story. I did not care. I do not even think I understood it. Something about three boxes that are all powerful and have energy and do something. Some bad guy with a bunch of flying thingies want to fight something. Why does it have to be so complicated??!! Why so unrealistic?!! Why not fight somebody on earth like terrorist (maybe too controversial?)? I just did not care about the bad thingy or bad guy and when they were on screen I really did not care. I was always disappointed when they showed up, it bored me
-The CGI. Waaay too much CGI. Plus the CGI often never looked good. Just bad.


Now trust me the film is all not negative...
-The cast is really good. You cant really help but love them. They are so likable. It is funny to see that actually Batman's super power is being rich. Along the other heroes he seems....less.
Batman-Speaking of Batman, I know it is not the popular choice but I do like Affleck as Batman. He seems more human, he sports a little grey hair. He seems more vulnerable.
Aquaman- Jason Momoa is well cast...I am just not to sure I get the character.
Cyborg- Now I do not remember Cyborg from any comic books in my youth. So I came in thinking he would be a throw away character. Surprisingly for some one who is part cyborg his back story and where he is now has a lot of heart, you really love this kid. As the film moves along he picks up a little humor. He grows as the films plays on.
Flash-Speaking of humor. I really like Ezra Miller as an actor (Perks of Being A Wallflower; Trainwreck), so I was excited to see him cast as Flash. His super power is cool yet he is like us...in aw of the other heroes. He also has the best lines out of JLA.
Wonder Woman- She is the big star here coming off her film. Gadot is just meant to be Wonder Woman. I just wish they would give her a personality. Yes she is a bit of a wise ass sometimes but she is always monotone.
Surprise hero-Well not much of a surprise, but good to have him back. Yes, people still call him stiff but I say he is not suppose to have a big personality...he is not us. I like him.


I really like the group of them. They are so damn likable I just wish it was a better story and looked better. Stay for the credits because it looks like the next JLA will be more down to earth and there will be more chairs for the JLA.
3 out of 5 stars


From the shadows as always thanks for your time.


3 cstars