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.

Cast:

Melissa McCarthy, Jason Statham, Rose Byrne, Jude Law, Miranda Hart, Bobby Cannavale, Allison Janney, 50 Cent

Genre:

Comedy

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.

Cast:

Melissa McCarthy, Jason Statham, Rose Byrne, Jude Law, Miranda Hart, Bobby Cannavale, Allison Janney, 50 Cent

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.

Cast:

Steve Martin, Claire Danes, Jason Schwartzman, Bridgette Wilson-Sampras, Rebecca Pidgeon, Shawn Christian, Frances Conroy, Sam Bottoms, Jesse Burch, Henry T. Yamada, Anne Marie Howard

Genre:

Romantic Comedies, Dramas Based on the Book, Romantic Dramas, Romance

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.

Cast:

Amy Poehler, Diane Lane, Kyle MacLachlan, Bill Hader, Mindy Kaling, Phyllis Smith, Lewis Black, Kaitlyn Dias

Genre:

Anime & Animation

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.

Cast:

Bill Camp, Jake Abel, Paul Dano, Elizabeth Banks, John Cusack, Paul Giamatti

Genre:

Drama

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.

Cast:

Daniel Barnz, Jennifer Aniston, Adriana Barraza, Felicity Huffman, William H. Macy, Anna Kendrick, Sam Worthington, Chris Messina, Mamie Gummer, Lucy Punch, Britt Robertson, Paula Cale, Ashley Crow, Manuel Garcia-Rulfo, Camille Guaty, Allen Maldonado, Camille Mana, Julio Oscar Mechoso

Genre:

Drama

Movie #1027 ........................."Gracie & Frankie"

Movie #1027 "Gracie & Frankie" unites two beloved friends from another movie "Nine to Five" and has them married to the great Martin Sheen and Sam Waterston, only to be told in the first couple of minutes that their husbands have been having a love affair for 20+ years and now they want divorces from their wives so they can get married.  That's quite a bit to believe and take in, but these consummate actors make the show worth watching.  We just got through the first episode and not sure we will do much more, but we'll see.  It seems to be a winning combination, just a bit over the top at times.








Grace and Frankie20151 season  I would give this first episode 3 out of 5 starsMo

Jane Fonda and Lily Tomlin co-star as two women forced to reinvent their lives in this funny, honest new Netflix Original series.

Cast:

Jane Fonda, Lily Tomlin, Martin Sheen, Sam Waterston, June Diane Raphael, Brooklyn Decker, Ethan Embry, Baron Vaughn

Movie #1026 ........................."Who is Harry Nillson...."

Movie # 1026 "Who is Harry Nilsson (And Why is Everybody Talkin' About Him?)" was quite informative about the songwriter/singer Harry Nilsson, and how he was great friends with the Beatles, esp. John Lennon, how he drank quite a bit for a while but how he stopped, his kids, his wife, his ups and downs as a songwriter, how he made hits on the songs he wrote (or ironically didn't write) .  It was quite informative, just a bit long.  But I would recommend it if you would be interested in this guy's writing.  Of course, his most famous song is "Everybody's Talkin' at Me" from "Midnight Cowboy," but there was so much more to him and his music.  

Who Is Harry Nilsson (And Why Is Everybody Talkin' About Him?)

2006NR 1hr 56m  --- I would give it 3 stars

This documentary reveals the mercurial career of brilliant singer-songwriter Harry Nilsson and his influence on the 1960s pop-cultural landscape.