Movie #983 ........................"Whiplash"

Movie #983 "Whiplash" was a unique and tense film about a very particular subject that I haven't studied before in film ---- drumming.  Up until now, I hadn't really thought much about drumming --- I didn't even think drummers read music that closely when performing.  Well, was I wrong!! This film is about so much more than drumming, though.  After watching this film, Dave and I discussed how important of a factor competition is in coaching , how effective the bullying technique is when coaching vs. having a rapport with your student, how much sacrifice a person who wants to be the next Buddy Rich has to do in order to succeed, power struggles between mentor and mentee, how powerful it is to say "good job" when coaching at times vs. never saying it, how far should you push your student in order to get the best from him/her, and many other subjects.  Now, to the technical aspects of the film ---- the script is tense and engrossing, the acting is superb (surprisingly by BOTH teacher and student, yet the teacher is the only one getting accolades), the music is driving the story, the high point is very unique and i thoroughly got sucked in to it (excellent film editing there, too) and yes, I highly recommend it, but with reservations....it isn't for everyone.  You have to like music and find the comments above interesting. Otherwise, you may dismiss it because the coach seems so over the top and unbelievable ---- and also so overly mean, that you wouldn't believe anyone would stand for it for a single minute.













Movie #983 "Rosewater" Whiplash2014R          I would give this 4.0 out of 5

Driven by his demanding music teacher, drummer Andrew is determined to succeed as a jazz musician -- even if it destroys his personality. Under the shadow of his father's failed artistic attempts, Andrew practices until his hands bleed.

Cast:

Miles Teller, J.K. Simmons, Melissa Benoist, Paul Reiser, Austin Stowell, Nate Lang

Genre:

Drama

Movie #982 ........................."The Barkleys of Broadway"

Movie #982 "The Barkleys of Broadway" -- I think I had seen this a while ago, after all it is an Astaire & Rogers' film, and so I wasn't going to watch it, but I had TCM on in the background and was listening to all the pre-comments and didn't know the real story behind it, and when I did, I was pulled in to watching it again.  I didn't know it was the only color Astaire-Rogers film, that this is the last one and that there was a decade from the last one to this one.  Also, Judy Garland was supposed to be in it, but she pulled out, wanting to do more serious acting (ironically, that's what Ginger Rogers had been doing all this time, winning an academy award during that time) and so if you look and see what the film is about, both ladies would understand this character in the film ---- a woman dancer (with her hubby as her partner) wants to see what life would be like on her own seriously acting ---- anyway, when Judy left the project, she took all the great music with her (because she's a much better singer) so that left a bunch of not so good songs, but in a way, that was okay to me because I always thought Ginger Rogers was the best dancer with Astaire ---- she brings style, class, smoothness, that sexual tension in dance that no one else was ever able to accomplish.  Judy was a hoofer, so the numbers had to be character numbers like hobos or whatever.....but with Ginger, it's class, spins, ballroom dancing in heels....I adored them, and had a tear in my eye in the last number, knowing that they would never be seen dancing together again.........well, until the next time you watch the movie, but you know what I mean.  If you are interested in all of the history here, and just want to watch these two getting back together again in an okay movie with some great dancing, see this.  You won't be wasting your time.  Gosh, I love watching these two!

The Barkleys of Broadway

1949 NR

Average rating: 3.8

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I'd give this 3.5 out of 5 stars (if I was just rating the dancing it would be 5 out of 5, but there's a story in between)

Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers play the Barkleys of Broadway in this delightful MGM musical. Fed up with being in the shadow of husband Josh (Astaire), Dinah Barkley (Rogers) decides to switch gears from a song-and-dance woman to a dramatic actress. Co-starring Billie Burke and Oscar Levant, the film includes Fred and Ginger dancing to "They Can't Take That Away from Me," the song they made famous in Shall We Dance.

Cast: Fred Astaire, Ginger Rogers, Oscar Levant, more...

Movie #981 ........................."The Hunger Games: Mockingjay - Part 1"

Movie #981 "Mockingjay - Part 1" --- Well, I saw this alone the other day, knowing pretty much that this was going to be the least interesting part of the series for me, so I probably wouldn't like it --- and I was right.  I missed the games, I missed the relationship between Peta and Katniss, they skipped life underground with her family (only one or two scenes). Unlike most of you reading this, I really can't remember much of this part at all (read the book a couple of years ago, I think) so I can't really compare the details in the book to this, but I can say that they should have reminded us of where the last movie ended ---- I could remember it was the games (with the clock) and I  remember that I really liked the movie because I thought the book was difficult to follow and hard to really "see" the clock and all the things happening to the tributes , but I couldn't remember names and needed a creative way to remind me who Annie was, etc.  Now, what I did like is seeing Philip Seymour Hoffman in probably the last scenes we'll see him in --- for a small part, he really fleshed out the character and humanized him, and also I was impressed with Juliana Moore as the President (even though I really didn't think the character in the book was that memorable).  What I didn't like here is the action scenes --- they were confusing to follow, with the camera too close or moving too quickly to figure out what was going on.  I also did not like the lack of action ---- there was a lot of Katniss staring at a t.v. monitor reacting.....she is very very very good, and that's honestly why this viewer continued to watch this, but without a foil there in the same environment with her, there's just so much she can do to sustain our interest.  Bottom line?  Can't wait for the ending, which was terrific reading in the book ----- at least the way I remember it.  I guess before I see the last part, I should re-read a summary of plot and characters.  hah!











The Hunger Games: Mockingjay - Part 12014PG-13

In this chapter of the post-apocalyptic epic, intrepid Katniss Everdeen is called on to lead her people in a rebellion against the all-powerful Capitol. As the conflict escalates, everything Katniss treasures hangs in the balance.

Cast:

Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson, Liam Hemsworth, Woody Harrelson, Elizabeth Banks, Julianne Moore, Philip Seymour Hoffman

Genre:

Action & Adventure

I would give this 3.8 stars out of 4

Movie #980 ........................."Theory of Everything"

Movie #980 "The Theory of Everything" is going to be listed as one of my favorite movies of 2014 because I really found the story intriguing and the character inspiring.  First off, I don't think anyone could critique this movie without commending the two leads, Eddy Redmayne (marius from the movie "les Mis") and Felicity Jones (somewhat of a newcomer).  And what a tough job they had facing them in this --- they are in most of the scenes, and their lives are full of lots of struggling.  The focus of the movie is NOT on Mr. Hawkings' scientific life, but more his personal, family life, with the major thrust on the life of a caretaker, in this situation his stalwart wife.  I was not surprised with a few of the turns in the film because I had read a summary of his life with his wife before seeing the film, but let's just say theirs is not a normal relationship at all ---- so much trust and respect between the two, with their own nonverbal (oftentimes) way of communicating---- so different but then it would have to be to be able to bet through the conflicts they had facing them.  Great acting, photography and editing, and you'd think it would be boring after a while since Eddy can't speak a lot of the time, but not with me.  I really enjoyed this and left the theatre marveling at how he (along with the support of his wife) accomplished so much in his lifetime!  I recommend this.

The Theory of Everything

2014 PG-13

You rated this movie: 4.0

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I'd give this 4.7 stars out of 5.

With his body progressively ravaged by ALS, world-famous physicist Stephen Hawking must rely on his wife, Jane, to continue his life's work as he faces various challenges. This affecting biographical drama centers on the couple's fertile partnership.

Cast: Eddie Redmayne, Felicity Jones, Charlie Cox

Movie #979 ........................."When the Levees Broke - in Four Acts"

Movie #979 "When the Levees Broke - in four acts" goes through a short history of how NOLA was made, how it was prior to Katrina, and footage of the Katrina tragedy, and then the start of rebuilding.  We watched most of this before we went to NOLA so we would better appreciate what has been done so far, and we are glad we did.  This is a very well done film that we recommend if you want to see an overview of the tragedy.  Spike Lee is the director and we noticed that some of the speakers ended up starring in the t.v. show "Treme."  It is a very well researched documentary that won a deserving  golden globe.  4 out of 5 stars.


When the Levees Broke2006TV-MA256 minutes

Spike Lee commemorates the people of New Orleans with a four-hour epic documentary that not only recounts the events of late August 2005 but asks why they unfolded the way they did in the first place. Weaving interviews with news footage and amateur video, Lee uses the film to give meaningful voice to the people who were left behind. With a detached and unsentimental eye, he delivers a poignant account of a major moment in recent U.S. history.

Genre:

Social & Cultural Documentaries, Historical Documentaries, Political Documentaries, Documentary

Movie #978 .........................."Treme" (t.v.)

Donna Kramer Barnes

3 mins · 

Movie #978 "Treme" is a show I watched to introduce NOLA to me before our trip, and we got through about 20 episodes. That's about where a very disturbing act (shooting point blank of someone in the street) made us put it down ---- we didn't want to be put off before we visited. Now, after coming back safely, we may pick up the series again, but until then, I thought I'd review what we watched so far. I think you have to watch a few shows to get used to the multitude of characters that the t.v. show covers. This show is one of the few NOLA residents think really shows what it was like just after Katrina, and it takes you through the months of rebuilding that all these people faced: John Goodman, an English professor at a local college, his wife, a lawyer, a woman who owns a bar in New Orleans, but lives in Baton Rouge, her ex husband, who is a philandering trombonist with several children and a new wife to clothe, house and feed, so he is in constant flux to find a job, a chef who moves away from New Orleans when it is too hard to rebuild her place, her ex boyfriend, Steve Zahn, who is a disc jockey who gets high on music, a Krewe chief, his son who plays music, and several other musicians, esp. a down on his luck guitarist and his ex partner who is an outstanding violinist, and finally a transplanted person who is trying to make money on the rebuilding process. Some of these people are more interesting than others, but I must say, about 50% of most of the shows are filled with music and introduction of the food and culture, and all of those parts we thoroughly enjoyed. Hope we get back to this someday.................I give it 4 stars out of 5

Treme
2010-2013 TV-MA 4 seasons
Average rating: 3.7
Our best guess for you: 3.7 stars
Average of 88161 ratings: 3.9 stars
Set in post-Katrina New Orleans, this multifaceted drama follows the challenges facing the devastated city's frustrated yet determined residents, including trombonist Antoine (Wendell Pierce), Mardi Gras Indian Chief Albert (Clarke Peters) and restaurant owner Janette (Kim Dickens). Created by David Simon ("The Wire") and Eric Overmyer ("Homicide: Life on the Street"), the HBO series also stars Steve Zahn, John Goodman and Melissa Leo

Movie #977 ........................."Nightcrawler"

Movie #977 "Nightcrawler" was one of the most uncomfortable film viewing I have ever experienced.  The pacing is low and measured, the scenes usually dark and bloody (usually accidents or homicides), and Jake G. is so much inhabiting this character of "Lou,"  You as the watcher want to walk away and say "enough is enough" but Lou keeps descending those steps into hell (or in this case the media world) and WE watch, much like we would watch an accident.  I have never seen such a movie; the closest thing is probably Rupert Pupkin in "Taxidriver" but it is even more depressing than that film, so that tells you something.  There's some dark humor but it mostly exists as an indictment to our news and how we are prepared to distort, and yes even manufacture the news to stay on the top!  We watch Lou as he learns, along with us, just what he has to do to succeed in this business, and it's intriguing to see just far he will go.  At one point, he is moving a body and I found myself saying (almost out loud)  ohmygod!  I might have said too many nice things about this film --- it isn't for everyone, for sure. You need a strong stomach, and you shouldn't be going to the movie to come out "feeling good" ---- and no kids!  This movie is going to be around for a while because I think it might garner a few nominations for the actors, and maybe music score?  and editing?  Not sure, but the script is nominated, too, besides the above, for spirit awards the night before the oscars, so attention has been paid already.

Nightcrawler

2014 R                 I gave this 4 out of 5 stars

Average rating: 3.2

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Our best guess for you: 3.2 stars

Average of 2337 ratings: 3.9 stars

Eager for any work that will make ends meet, Lou Bloom joins the flock of camera crews prowling the nighttime streets of Los Angeles in search of scandal and crime. But before long, Lou finds himself caught in the tabloid limelight.

Cast: Jake Gyllenhaal, Rene Russo, Bill Paxton