Friday, July 31, 2015

Movie #1042 ........................."Ant-Man"

Movie #1042 "Ant-Man" I found very refreshing!  And I don't ever like anything Marvel or super hero type stuff at all (sorry, all of you who do).  But this was different --- it didn't take itself seriously at all!  There was lots of humor --- the film explained quite thoroughly the limitations and powers this creature has so that I could understand it (wow! that's a first!) and there was some heart (scratch that -- lots of heart) in this film!  Above all, the film proves you don't need weapons to succeed --- you don't have to be the biggest or strongest, you just need to problem solve.  And that's what I liked most about it.  And he does it all for the love of his little girl --- schmaltzy, but my kinda guy!  Now, what I didn't like?  (or why is it a 4?)  I have to be honest, after the frolic, I was very tired (getting older) so I fell asleep in the first 20 minutes ---- somewhere ----- I'll blame it on the film, somewhat?  in that the exposition was TOOOOOOOOO long --- he didn't become Ant-Man until about 30 minutes into it.  And the first scene seemed soap opera-y , but then it got better once Paul Rudd brought realism to the screen.  I kept looking at Michael Douglas thinking he was playing Kirk Douglas.  i.e.  chewing up thew scenery, seething with disgust, etc.  But actually, Douglas simmered down, too, after awhile, and it became a nicely acted film.  The ending is kind of hard to believe (with a big change in one of the characters' attitudes toward Ant-Man, but I forgave it because I liked all the stuff in between ---- even the fighting .  And I usually hate all the fighting!  Also, for those out there who aren't sure if a kid could see it.....Yes, yes, yes!  we took a 10 year old and she loved it.  But I think younger would work, too.  As long as the kid wouldn't get freaked out by a big hairy bug in his bedroom.  That's all I'm gonna say!  except....(I'm sure this isn't original, but what the heck!) "Ant-Man is a good flick --- a real picnic!"











Ant-Man2015PG-13   I give it 4 stars out of 5
Fresh out of prison and looking for a new start, master thief Scott Lang is approached by Dr. Pym, creator of a technology that can shrink a man to insect size and boost strength. Together the duo must protect the discovery while saving the world.
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Thursday, July 23, 2015

Movie #1041 ........................."Ex Machina"

Movie #1041 "Ex Machina" was a bit disappointing to me.  When I read an article about it, I was really looking forward to seeing it, but the pacing was so slow and plodding, and it ended up not saying all that much.  I did enjoy the technological part of it, enjoyed the CG work, but the pay off wasn't that good to spend time sitting through it.  I also enjoyed the give and take between the boss and Caleb (ace programmer) because they were mostly cerebral in their games.  That's was most enjoyable to me about the film.  The modern day "sleuth" part of it.  But I wouldn't recommend it.










Ex Machina2015R108 mins   I give this 3 stars out of 5 stars
After winning a chance to spend a week at his boss's Alaskan compound, tech whiz Caleb Smith finds he's been selected to help evaluate a sentient humanoid dubbed Ava -- whose feminine wiles prove more formidable than expected.
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Movie #1040 ........................."Predestination"

Movie #1040 "Predestination" is based on a short story by Heinlin (Who wrote "Stranger in a Strange Land") which I had read before seeing this.  It is a time traveling story about an agent  who travels so much to straighten something out that you can easily get lost in any of the branches of the story.  It didn't sustain my interest, and I gave up on it after awhile. The revelation was done well, and the film helped me understand the story so much better.  But I wouldn't recommend this film if you aren't ready to see a "puzzle" at work.








Predestination2015R97 mins     I'd give this 3 stars out of 5
Dispatched on a mission intended to alter the fabric of history, a temporal agent from a remote reality travels through time to prevent a criminal madman from carrying out a devastating attack on New York City.
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Movie #1039 ........................."The Big Empty"

Movie #1039 "The Big Empty" was just that.....a big empty, to me.  This is not one of my favorite films at all, but I am glad I saw it because it did have some funny moments, esp. those involved with Rachael Leigh Cook, whom I was quite surprised about, since I don't know her work very much.  I've watched her in the t.v. show "perception" and saw her in the teen angst film with Freddie Prinz, but that's was pretty much it.  She was very funny in this film.  The plot here was a bit too convoluted and "out there" for me to like it, but I can say it was different, and like I said, it offered a few funny moments, but I wouldn't recommend it.










The Big Empty2003R92 mins    I give this two stars out of 5
Struggling actor John Person (Jon Favreau) is hopelessly mired in debt. But things start to look up -- or do they? -- when a strange man (Bud Cort) extends an offer that could solve all his financial woes. All he has to do is deliver a blue suitcase to a cowboy (Sean Bean) in the small California desert town of Baker. Once there, however, John discovers he's become part of a situation that's way over his head.
Streaming Availability: streaming until 8/1/2015
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Friday, July 17, 2015

Movie #1038 ..........................."Passion"


Movie #1038 "Passion" -- A few days ago I watched the french film "Love Crime" that this one is based on, and I can happily say that the two films are pretty even.   Maybe because I had seen the story before, but I thought the Americanized version was easier to follow, and I appreciated the creepiness of the tone more often than the first one.  However, in the French one, the surprises seemed to work better, and it came across even creepier in some scenes, but I really really liked the ending of the American one more.  It was hard at first to like what Rachel McAdams was doing --- 1) I love Kristin Scott Thompson so much so it is hard to picture anyone else in the role, 2) this is so different for Rachel McAdams, America's sweetheart so many times in films, to play this snarky older businesswoman.....And what a joy to see the "girl with the dragon tattoo,"( swedish (and better) version)as the mousier "victim" here in this film  -- what with the story, she has more to do and Noomi Rapace does a wonderful job !    It seems to be an attitude that the French invented film noir, and they may or may not, havem but we definitely know HOW to do it well!  and that's shown in this film.








Passion2012R102 mins       I give this 4 out of 5 stars
Christine, an ad exec with ice water in her veins, has no qualms about taking the credit for a plum idea dreamed up by her mousy assistant, Isabelle. But the incident sparks shy, passive Isabelle to undertake a campaign of revenge against her boss.
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Movie #1037 ........................."Begin Again"


Movie #1037 "Begin Again" -- there are very few movies that actually celebrate music and the writing and performing of it!  This one, along with another gem of a  film this director did entitled  "Once, " concerns, once again, two unlikely people who meet, make music, and it changes them forever.   And Once again, the story, acting and directing are  so real, you get sucked into it and  the beauty of music, and that's what it's all about.  So I liked this one, but not quite as good as "once" --- that film was more focussed (didn't try to cover so many minor stories), and didn't have someone like Keira Knightley steal the film from the guys (at least I felt that way most of the time, but of course, Ruffalo has to be one of the most giving actors in all of Hollywood, and that's what he's best at) -- Adam Levine does do well, but it's just hard to look at anyone but Keira when she's on the screen --- she just has that something that demands your attention.  I recommend the film if you saw and liked "once" or even if you didn't, if you want to watch a film that truly celebrates music.  and P.S.  James Corden shows that he can do something else (and not just singing in "Into the Woods," or emceeing like in the late late show every night) and do it well!










Begin Again2014R105 mins      I would give it 4 out of 5 stars
Moving to New York City proves disastrous for a young singer after her boyfriend yields to the temptation of another woman. But opportunity comes knocking when she meets a recently axed music producer looking to launch her career -- and save his own.
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Saturday, July 11, 2015

Movie #1036 ........................."Big Hero 6"


Movie #1036 "Big Hero 6" is a fun Disney romp through robot world.  I see it as Disney's answer to the comic con generation, giving backstory to the Hero and his sidekicks, much like the Hulk or Ironman.  I enjoyed the strong females, the intelligence of all the major characters (even the bad guy), the use of that intelligence to get out of some of the scrapes (I wish it was MOST of them), and the diversity and humor of the group of 6, including the robot (as big and lumbering as Klaatu (and other film roots) , but so much more loving).  What I didn't like is all the fights, esp. the last 1/4 of the film.  It took a different direction and that's the reason for the 4, but lots of strong themes on friendship, sibling love, grief, and so many more.  I wish I had seen it on a big screen and not waited so long to watch it, but it was well worth the wait.











Big Hero 62014PG102 mins         I'd give this 4 out of 5 stars
In this animated adventure, genius robotics engineer Hiro Hamada finds himself enmeshed in a nefarious scheme to wipe out the city of San Fransokyo. Accompanied by his robot best friend, Hero joins a ragtag team intent on saving the City by the Bay.
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Friday, July 10, 2015

Movie #1035 ..........................."Love Crime"

Movie #1035 "Love Crime" is a French film that I just found out was remade by Brian De Palma with Rachel McAdams and the woman from the swedish "Girl with the dragon tattoo" --- so I want to see the remake and plan to do that very soon because I'd be interested to see if there are any big differences.  To me, this is what I have always thought about French subtitled films ---- there's a particular noir style that pulls the watcher in ---- people are having affairs, women are seeking revenge, and then the rug is pulled out from under us.  I love watching Kristin Scott Thomas in French or English --- she is always fun to watch, and the new woman here is very strong in this film --- put them both together, with lots of style and good plot turns, and you have a good, solid film.  It's a bit slow in parts, and some things didn't seem to finish out (but that could have been me because of the pacing --- I might have zoned out -- it was kind of late in the evening when I watched this) but I would recommend this as a good mystery.  But if you would rather not read subtitles, wait and check back here in the next couple of days when I should be watching the American version of this film.










Love Crime2010NR104 mins           I'd give this 3.8 stars out of 5
French director Alain Corneau delivers a chilling tale of two ambitious women -- a senior executive and her eager young assistant -- whose professional appetites grow dangerously personal as they jockey for power.
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Movie #1035..........................."Love Crime"

Movie #1035 "Love Crime" is a French film that I just found out was remade by Brian De Palma with Rachel McAdams and the woman in the Swedish film "Girl with the Dragon Tattoo" so I'm interested to see that one very soon because I would like to see the differences.  I enjoyed the French film part of it --- i.e., the noir style, the deceptions (with affairs, etc.), the revenge, the rug pulled out from under us toward the end......it's all here, along with very capable actresses, one being Kristin Scott Thomas --- I always enjoy seeing her speaking French or English.  The pacing here was a little slow (so because of the late hour, I had a tough time sticking with the subtitling) but by the end, I felt it well worth the wait.  I recommend this for a good solid mystery --- if you'd rather not watch the subtitles, look in the next couple of days for the remake blog and see what you think.









Love Crime2010NR104 mins            I would give this 3.8 out of 5 stars
French director Alain Corneau delivers a chilling tale of two ambitious women -- a senior executive and her eager young assistant -- whose professional appetites grow dangerously personal as they jockey for power.
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Wednesday, July 8, 2015

Movie #1034 .........................."Words & Pictures"

Movie #1034 "Words & Pictures" has very strong acting from both Juliette Binoche, and esp. Clive Owen.  It's the best I've seen him.  I thought I would LOVE this picture, but I didn't.  I just mildly enjoyed it.  I guess I would rather have it a movie about a love story of these two very different people who both have debilitating diseases (her rheumatoid arthritis and he, alcoholism) than the "war between words and pictures" --- is there any doubt one is NOT better than the other, and that life is so much better with them both?  It really is slow moving, esp. their relationship which has to go from A to Z here (hating to loving).  Typical romantic story with conflicts ---- most of the kids seem stereotyped and the situations are all over the place ---- film would have been better focusing on their relationship even more ---I don't think they actually start to "like" each other until maybe more than an hour into the film.  But it does make valid points of the power of words (he's a writer &  an English teacher) and the power of pictures (she's an artist and an art teacher) .  I'm not sure how these two were so popular of teachers (he was drunk some of the time and she was really mean most of it --- but the script expects us to believe they are well loved.  Anyway, things just aren't that "real" sound the two very capable actors, and I hope I see them in another film in the future.  Something with a better script perhaps.









Words and Pictures2013PG-13111 mins     I would give it 3 stars out of 5
A picture is worth a thousand words -- or is it? That's the question prep school students must answer as their teachers egg them on in this diverting romantic comedy starring Clive Owen and Juliette Binoche as the instructors who spark the debate.
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Movie #1033 ........................."Life Itself"


Movie #1033 "Life Itself" was a good , sound documentary on the life of Roger Ebert.  Full of interviews, film footage, lots of recent film footage on his hospital stays, early footage of his growing up days, outs takes of episodes of "At the Movies" (those were my favorite), all of these make a nice varied study on this great critic, one of my favorites.  i didn't realize that Siskel and He had a love/hate relationship, and that Siskel never told many people (including Ebert) that he was dying from a brain tumor that last year of his life.......I won't reveal other interesting details of his life that the film covers, but sufficeth it to say that if you find film criticism or dealing with a hugely debilitating disease for several years good stories for a film, you will find both in this documentary.











Life Itself2014R120 mins                   I would give it 4 out of 5 stars
Follow Roger Ebert from his school newspaper days to his status as America's premier film critic in this documentary drawn from his memoir. The film covers his rivalry with fellow critic Gene Siskel, his alcoholism and his personal philosophies.
Genre:
Documentary
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Friday, July 3, 2015

Movie #1032 ..........................."Spy"

Movie #1032 "Spy" I loved this film , and I think it will be a franchise.  What did I love?  the script, the strong female (of course), the ability McCarthy has (working with this script) to be naive, loving, funny, down and dirty, relentless, strong, SMART (smartest in the room, at times), physically adept, and many more traits all in one character, the omission of fat jokes (the only jokes on her looks are due to clothes --- they take the "fat" factor out!, the humor, the wacky sidekicks, the ability of the secondary actors, the pacing....you could actually hear all the lines (not too fast to keep up), and you could follow the action (not too fast so you can keep up) --- I esp. LOVED the kitchen scene (how appropriate for two women to really get into a big fight, and yet they are both capable enough to be worthy fighters -- none of the pulling the hair or biting stuff that women are usually relegated to when fighting --I just know this is a movie I want to own (and I only buy one or two movies a year , and I only buy with the intent on showing it to others) and that it will be one of the best I see this year.  All I can say is that it is about time that there's a female James Bond, and I can't wait for the next one.




hrust into the field to investigate the disappearance of her partner, she turns into an improbable superspy.

Spy2015R               I would give this 5 out of 5 stars
Unassuming CIA analyst Susan Cooper is far from being a James Bond type, but when she's thrust into the field to investigate the disappearance of her partner, she turns into an improbable superspy.
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Movie #1031 ........................."Shopgirl"

Movie #1031 "Shopgirl" is a strange film, and I wasn't sure what to think while I was watching it.  I knew it was about being lonely and desperate, searching for someone who will care about you, but then realizing you want even more, something like commitment.  Claire Danes goes through all that as the shopgirl, and the rich guy who woos her is Steve Martin --- the relationship bothered me because of the huge age difference ---- it came across as creepy, at times, esp. in one nude scene she had with him.  (and Claire Danes doing nudity? I kept picturing her as Temple Grandin and kept thinking that this movie really didn't need that nude scene.....it just pushed it into the "creepy" realm) Anyway, I decided that it was the casting that most bothered me.  I liked Ms. Danes (I usually do), but disliked the other alternative to Steve Martin --- Jason Schwartzman -- yikes, he seemed duddy, and that left little to decide upon between the two men.  But then, Steve Martin seemed so much older.  It was debatable through the whole film if he really loved her or not --- I like to think that he did, so it would add a sad dimension to the film (and remove the creepy factory -- hah!)  But on the whole, I don't recommend this one.  I usually like what Steve Martin writes, and maybe this worked better on paper, but I don't think you have to see it at all.






Shopgirl2005R106 mins               I would give this 3 out of 5 stars
Lovely but lonely Mirabelle feels purposeless selling gloves in a world where they're hardly ever worn. But her days are soon enlivened by a rich suitor who showers her with attention. Mirabelle soaks it all up but yearns for more commitment.
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Movie #1030 ........................."Inside Out"

Movie #1030 "Inside Out" was just okay to me.  I know I am going to be in a minority here, and I'm sure many of you will enjoy this film , so you can disregard this critique, but I can't help what I felt throughout --- I thought it was simple and fluff, like Saturday cartoons, which I never liked when I was young.  So that would be okay if it was written FOR little kids, but   I felt it was written for  adults--- there were retro references they would have to have explained --- in fact, if I had a child watching this, I wouldn't know how to explain half of it....I wouldn't want to because the film itself doesn't explain the deeper concepts --- it just slides right by and shoves another train wreck or destruction of another island  --- i.e. it  puts some action in to distract the watcher.  I remember halfway through turning to Dave and saying, "Now that's the first deeper thought that has been voiced here."  I know that the whole idea is that it is a child's mind, so that there are just basic parts of her brain like joy, and sadness shown, and the obvious theme is that we have to have all the emotions to become a whole person.  But if that's it, I'd rather watch something else.  There are some funny moments, but I never got a good sense of where they were and where she had to go and WHY things were actually happening........so to me, this was just a romp through a big amusement park (maybe a future one?  is that what is on their minds?), and it wasn't my cup of tea.  









Inside Out2015PG      I give it 3 out of 5 stars
When her family relocates across the country, tween Riley Anderson struggles with the stress of her new situation and her animated emotions get carried away -- quite literally -- on a fantastic journey through her mind.
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Movie #1029 ........................."Love and Mercy"

Movie #1029 "Love and Mercy" is an excellent biopic on the genius  Brian Wilson, song writer for the Beach Boys in their heyday.  I remember listening to the Beachboys and noticing that they had excellent vocals, but their songs sounded a lot alike, esp. when you compare their music to the Beatles (their contemporary).  Well, this film shows how Brian strove to push the music to the limits and the mental illness he showed along that way.  His manager is the bad guy here  (Paul Diamatti) pulling on one end while Elizabeth Banks, the good girl, is pulling him in the other way (she plays his future wife).  I like the stylishness of the film, the idea that two people play Brian, and the way the film explores how he puts together some of the songs.  However, I gave it a 5 instead of a 4 because I think it could have explained some sections even more (like the brothers' relationship with him).....I would recommend it if you don't mind a slower movie film tat is a character study of a musical genius.







Love & Mercy2015PG-13     I would give this 4 stars out of 5.
This candid biopic traces the winding path of Brian Wilson, creator of the Beach Boys' unique sound. Battling mental illness, Wilson traded stardom for an isolated existence in the 1960s but returned to the stage in the '80s after taming his demons.
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Movie #1028 ........................."Cake"

This film, Movie #1028 ....."Cake,"   is truly a tour de force for Jennifer Aniston, esp. if you think she can only do what she did on "Friends."  Here, she must be in pain through the entire film, while also going through other ups and downs in dealing with a friend's suicide and the grief for a loved one.  You get to see another side of the very fine actress Anna Kendrick, too, in this film, since she plays the suicidal friend.  If you ever wanted to know what entails chronic back pain every minute of the day, this is the film to see.  I only gave it a 4 instead of a 5 because of how uncomfortable it is in the viewing, but I'm here to tell you it is well worth the effort.






Cake2015R102 mins  (I give it 4 stars out of 5)
Saddled with chronic pain, Claire Simmons has kept a sense of humor, even if it's of the acidic, angry variety. Upset but gripped by curiosity when a member of her support group kills herself, Claire decides to excavate the truths behind the suicide.
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