Movie #2161 ........................."Fences" (hulu, amazon, HBO/you tube)

 Movie #2161 "Fences"  -- I saw this in the movie theater, but now it is on several platforms where you can stream it.  An alum asked if I had seen it/blogged it, and I said yes, but when I looked to find it, I couldn't it.  So I am doing this from memory (uh-oh).  Anyway, I had seen the play a couple of times, the most memorable being the broadway premier with James Earl Jones as the lead that Denzel Washington takes on here.  I want to say a few things about that before I get to the movie ---I remember the play was a big deal as far as sound because the actors, in a Broadway playhouse, all decided not to wear microphones to make the show more intimate --- of course, James Earl Jones never needed one  (Darth Vader) so it was an easy choice for him.  The other thing I remember is how wonderful he and Mary Alice were in that show, and that it made me like this one of all the August Wilson shows I have ever seen.  For those who don't know, Wilson's shows included 10 plays covering the 20th century, and "Fences" is his 1950s one.  The film was well done, starting with the Denzel character establishing from the first shot that he's a hard working garbage truck driver who is unhappy with "the man" and with dreams of being an MLB baseball player snuffed out because of being of color.  Denzel is good, but I didn't think he quite got to the high point in the big monologue he has toward the end of the film.  However, to me Viola stole the movie --- she was sooooooo good she brought me to tears.  And the last moments of the film, when she takes his little girl in to the family (knowing it's still another mouth to feed and take care of) , were exquisite.  It made me thankful that Washington enabled more people to experience this show by putting on the screen. Many of us see the 50s as "Happy Days" --- but then, we were seeing that through our white privileged eyes and didn't see what was going on with others, less fortunate.  I'd give this a 4 out of 5 stars.  

"FENCES"     PG-13,  2016     2 hours and 19 minutes    

A working-class African-American father tries to raise his family in the 1950s, while coming to terms with the events of his life.

Director:

 Denzel Washington

Writers:

 August Wilson (screenplay by), August Wilson (based upon his play "Fences") 

Stars:

 Denzel Washington, Viola Davis, Stephen McKinley Henderson

Movie #2160 ........................."Moxie" (netflix)

 Movie #2160 "Moxie" (netflix)  Recommended by an ohs theatre alum, I also found this a good film about teens --- yes, it is full of teen angst, but the lead girl holds her own in a tough coming of age story.  Vivien in the opening seems like a lot of kids --- isn't popular enough to be in the "in" crowd, has one friend who is also lonely, and they depend on each other.  But when she becomes inspired by looking through her mom's school year activities or protesting, and she sees an african america girl being bullied by THE football guy in the school, she starts to perk up and take a stand.  She just doesn't know how much bravery it takes to do that.  The acting of the rest of the teens (besides her bestie, the girl  being bullied and herself) is a bit suspect --- her sensitive guy friend is right on the money and memorable, too.  The film starts pretty low key, but that's because the main character is, but as the film progresses, there's more action and emotion portrayed and it all seems worth the watch.  There are some clunky dialogue moments esp. in groups, but then they are offsetted by some good dialogue scenes between two people, like her and her mom, her and the girl being bullied, and her and her bf.  I'd give it a 3.5 out of 5.  Nice diverse cast.  (the teacher, of course, is cringe-worthy - ugh!)

"MOXIE"     PG-13              2021            1 HOUR & 51 mins.

Inspired by her mom's rebellious past and a confident new friend, a shy 16-year-old publishes an anonymous zine calling out sexism at her school.

Director:

 Amy Poehler

Writers:

 Jennifer Mathieu (based upon the novel by), Tamara Chestna (screenplay by) 

Stars:

 Hadley Robinson, Lauren Tsai, Alycia Pascual-Pena, Amy Poehler

Movie #2159 ........................."Waterloo Bridge" (TCM)

 Movie #2159 "Waterloo Bridge" (TCM)  Shown in February on TCM because it was  Oscar- nominated for cinematography and music , I didn't realize that it was quite popular for portraying a "bad girl" and as a love story.   It was also made about 10 years earlier and this was a remake --- IMDB points out that "the flower lady" on the bridge was played by the same woman in both versions.  Anyway, Vivien Leigh, famous for GWTW the year before, does another stellar performance --- she is able to be melodramatic but still believable (think:  Streetcar Named Desire, end scene she also shined in) so I expected her to run the film, but Robert Taylor, whom I never really liked in what I have seen him in, wasn't bad -- and supposedly this was his favorite film that he ever made.  So I'm glad I got a chance to see it.  It has the frame of a "citizen Kane" story --- one object that he focuses in on the bridge, and the rest of the film is a flashback that explains the meaning behind the object.  It was meant to be a tearjerker and a romantic film, and it was.  But I still prefer "Random Harvest"  was the best romantic script of all time.  One note of interest --- 1940, doing a WWI film.  hmmmmm. I wonder whose idea that was?

"WATERLOO BRIDGE"   TCM   1940       1 hour and 48 mins

During World War I, believing her fiancé to be dead, a young ballerina loses her job and is forced to turn to prostitution.

Director:

 Mervyn LeRoy

Writers:

 S.N. Behrman (screen play), Hans Rameau (screen play)  |

Stars:

 Vivien Leigh, Robert Taylor, Lucile Watson