Movie # 764 ........................."Free the Mind"

Movie #764 "Free the Mind" is a documentary that concerns a way to deal with mental illness that isn't drugs ---------so I'm very much in support of the suggestions here --- they mostly deal with mindfulness, a dali lama idea that he has been traveling to Madison about the past couple of years ------ohs theatre alum Deb Hoffman has been asked to join this study and she has been on Q & A panels that follow some showings of this film. We got to see it at Sundance (it isn't showing everywhere) and get the next best thing than attending one of the panel discussions --- we got to have dinner and discuss the film afterwards with Deb. That added to the quality of the film experience for us. As far as the film, it is well done in showing how successful yoga, meditation, proper breathing techniques, etc. have been with several patients. It introduces the idea of mindfulness, has some nice graphics, it makes you feel strongly for the 3 subjects it follows. I just wanted it to give even more information, and maybe cover a female -----but maybe that will be in the next film I assume they will make on the subject. I see this topic as taking off very soon, and that this is just the beginning --- a nice introduction of it to the public. At least I hope this is the case. Thanks, Deb, for suggesting to see this. Well done! Free the Mind 2012 NR I give it 3.8 stars out of 5. This documentary follows the efforts of neuroscientist Richard Davidson as he prescribes yoga and meditation in an attempt to ease the suffering of two war veterans with PTSD and a child with anxiety and ADHD. Cast:Richard Davidson, Travis Leanna Genre:Science and Nature Documentaries, Social & Cultural Documentaries, Meditation & Relaxation, Documentary

Movie #763 ........................."Now You See Me"

Movie #763 "Now You See Me" is going to be one of the best movies I've seen this year, regardless how the jaded critics compare watching magic on film to experiencing ventriloquists on the radio. I have always enjoyed magic, and heist films, so this would be a perfect fit for me --- very enjoyable. I don't want to spend a lot of time on the plot because anything I say about what happens in the plot would probably give it away. Sufficeth it to say that the film sets up a reason why 4 magicians, each skilled in a different area of magic, form the 4 Horsemen, to make the biggest score that anyone has ever tried. Morgan Freeman is a debunker, so he's there to help us understand what we've missed. And the script has twists and turns throughout ---- I tried to keep guessing, and with this kind of film there are lots of red herrings along the way to prevent you from guessing correctly, and I fell for many of them. Of course, the ending has to be worth the journey, and that's where the critics and I disagree. It was fine for me ---- it's a summer movie, and I know it has lots of excellent actors here, but it still doesn't have to have this grand theme it shoots for ---- it was entertaining,with a fine script, full of humor and now- you- see- it -now -you -don't- stuff, so I recommend it. The first two people I recommended it to, they loved it, so I don't think I'm wrong here. But I do think some critics are too tough on it, and they are jaded. The computer graphics bother them,& they write cutesy critiques twisting magic terms to slam the film, but I think they are wrong on this one. It's a fun summer movie you want to put on your list to see! 4.8 stars out of 5 Brainy magicians Atlas and Henley lead a troupe of illusionists who specialize in robbing from the rich, in the form of banks, and giving to the poor, their audiences, all while trying to outwit a team of FBI agents determined to bring them down. Cast:Morgan Freeman, Isla Fisher, Mark Ruffalo, Dave Franco, Woody Harrelson, Michael Caine, Jesse Eisenberg, Mélanie Laurent, Common, Elias Koteas, David Warshofsky, J. LaRose, Caitriona Balfe Genre:Crime Thrillers, Heist Films, Thrillers

Movie #762 ..........................."Mud"

Movie #762 "Mud" is a film most people will want to see. First, it is rated the highest of any of the films out right now (with a 98 percent of critics recommending it), second, it is EXCELLENT acting, including Matthew McConaughey and the kid The Sheridan --- what a find he is! and his folks are terrific, too (Sarah Paulson, Ray McKinnon) and put that with Michael Shannon playing an uncle, Sam Shephard a mysterious neighbor and Reese Witherspoon as Mud's gal, and you have one top-notch cast. Third, the story has a lot of twists and turns in it, along with it being an excellent rite of passage film --put in a first love, hero worship, and unrequited love and you have quite a film which I very much recommend. Hats off to the director of this one ---- it really gives the flavor of living in Mississippi, too! I gave this film 4.5 out of 5 stars Two Mississippi teens, Ellis and Neckbone, meet a mysterious drifter named Mud hiding on a deserted river island and get caught up in his tangled web of tall tales about bounty hunters, crimes of passion, lost love and a perfect woman named Juniper. Cast:Sarah Paulson, Matthew McConaughey, Michael Shannon, Reese Witherspoon, Sam Shepard, Ray McKinnon, Tye Sheridan, Joe Don Baker, Jacob Lofland Genre:Indie Dramas, Drama

Movie #761 .........................."The Great Gatsby"

Movie #761 "The Great Gatsby" was eye candy to the eye. As I watched it (in 3D, no less), it fleetingly moved from one image to another, while the camera kept busy throughout. Sometimes I got motion sickens from the movement (zooms, etc.)but the film really made you feel like you were Nick Carraway on this big ride through Gatsby's mansion and parties, the roaring 20s and life itself. I thought the film was well cast with Di Caprio as JG --- he can do it all and does it all to get across the very complex tragic hero. I didn't think I'd like Carey as Daisy, but she added layers to the character , and can do so much with just a look or sideways glance. What I liked most of all was the way the film told the story. The whole frame is that Nick is now in an insane asylum troubled by the story he has to tell ---- and tell he does, while writing it all down committing it to memory. The words he types float on the page, and linger sometimes so that we can study the individually beautiful spoken moments that have made this book the true classic it is. The action, the time period all come across beautifully with very few changes to the novel --- and the ones here, I think are well done. This is one individual's interpretation of the book and I found it to be very helpful ---- for example, why is it titled "The Great" Gatsby? Well, Baz Luhrmann gives his idea on the matter. I recommend it, but it isn't for everyone ---- the camera moves a bit much, and everything else is pretty much in-your-face, but if you like a Citizen Kane type of film, here's another one you might enjoy. It takes chances, and I liked that about it. I was surprised more critics didn't recommend it, but then that's the way they treat film that takes chances sometimes. I heard one on the t.v. yesterday, not only complain about this rendition of the novel, but also slammed "Moulin Rouge," which I thought was also beautifully done. So, I guess it's just a matter of opinion, and my opinion is that this does service to the book, and one that Fitzgerald would also prize, I think. Leonardo DiCaprio stars as literary icon Jay Gatsby in this adaptation of F. Scott Fitzgerald's novel. Fascinated by the mysterious, affluent Gatsby, his neighbor Nick Carraway bears witness to the man's obsessive love and spiral into tragedy. Cast:Leonardo DiCaprio, Tobey Maguire, Carey Mulligan, Joel Edgerton, Isla Fisher, Jason Clarke, Adelaide Clemens, Callan McAuliffe, Amitabh Bachchan, Elizabeth Debicki Genre:Romantic Dramas, 20th Century Period Pieces, Dramas Based on Classic Literature, Drama

Movie #760 .........................."42"

Movie #760 "42" was an excellent biopic that I thoroughly enjoyed. It was well acted--- Chadwick Boseman made an excellent Jackie Robinson, even though I heard him say he only had little league baseball in his background --- could have fooled me. The players were good, esp. Pee wee Reese, and the people who surround Rickey were colorful and interesting. The only one I wasn't as convinced of as the others was Branch Rickey, played by Harrison Ford. I have really hardly ever been impressed with Ford's acting --- to me, he winks into every part, but this tested his chops and I think it's the best he's done. But I couldn't get past that he was Harrison Ford. It could be my fault and not his --- the character is just so big. I kept thinking if they got someone who WAS old and talked in a colorful way and played it down a bit, Branch Rickey's scenes might have come across more sincere. I don't know. I think they worked, but not as well as they could have. Anyway, the most important reason to see this film is the subject matter and the theme. There are some cool photographic movements (like in the first 3 minutes) but really it's seeing the signs"White's Only," seeing how cruel people can be with their racism --- we need to constantly be reminded of how we used to treat some people and how we can't ever let that happen again to any race. The film is very inspirational, it has a good love story with several laughs , and it's full of wonderful baseball scenes. In my opinion, who could ask for anything more? I recommend it. I give it 4.5 out of 5 stars. This biopic focuses on the relationship between baseball icon Jackie Robinson and Brooklyn Dodgers general manager Branch Rickey, who signed Robinson and in 1947 made him the first black Major League Baseball player of the modern era. Cast:Harrison Ford, Alan Tudyk, Lucas Black, Christopher Meloni, Brett Cullen, John C. McGinley, T.R. Knight, Brad Beyer, Chadwick Boseman, Jud Tylor , Ryan Merriman Genre:Biographies, Sports Dramas, Social Issue Dramas, Drama

Movie #759 .........................Lonely Boy

Movie #759 "Lonely Boy" was based on an interesting concept, that of living with schizophrenia, and that's very topical nowadays --- the film suggests there should be other ways to tackle the disease besides with the use of drugs, so I applaud any film that tries to do that. However, the acting isn't up to par, and the script has lots of weak moments in it. And it's a bit too long and should have been cut more. But that's what is very typical with an early showing of a print at a film festival. I really, really liked the opening --- the freneticness of his life, with the hallucinations and all! But then the girl makes her entrance and she's quirky, but she staccatos a lot of her lines and that pushes her away from the audience. And then it takes quite a while to get to the end --- lots of extra scenes, I thought. So i thought it was a hopeful showing, but it could still use some work in the editing room. Lonely Boy, 2 hours 4 minutes. Directed by: Dale Fabrigar, Cast: Alev Aydin, Greg Vrotsos. I give 3.8 stars out of 5. Synopsis: Franky is stuck in a directionless rut of cold isolation. He lives in a hauntingly bare apartment and works a deadend job. As a uniquely spirited young man in constant pursuit of romance, Franky attempts to navigate the mercilessly harsh world of dating. There's just one caveat: he suffers from schizophrenia and recently decided to liberate himself from his medication. After losing his job because of his illness, things take a tragically funny turn for the not-so-good. When he finds a genuine connection with Alex, he inadvertently sets on a path towards self-actualization. Frankie searches to uncover the truth about his family's past in hopes to bring him peace and clarity. However, what he finds may in fact cloud his reality further. The writer is the main actor and this movie was elected as Festival Choice at the Phoenix Film Festival.

Movie #758 .........................Stuck in Love

Movie #758 "Stuck in Love" --- we saw this movie on the closing night of the Phoenix Film Festival and boy we really enjoyed it. I got totally engrossed in this family's story, and there wasn't one member of the family who was less interesting than the others. All of the actors are very competent in their parts, kids included, in fact, mores! Kids really rule the film, but the parents never relinquish their hold on the whole shebang. But what really makes the film work is the script -- since this is a movie about writers and writing (after all, a famous writer makes a guest appearance), the script better be extra good ---- and it is. I really recommend this film --- there's something in it for everyone! Stuck in Love 2012 R I gave it 5 out of 5 stars. By turns funny and affecting, this quirky indie tale follows a turbulent year in the lives of the literary Borgens clan, which is in a tailspin thanks to the family patriarch's obsession with his former wife. Cast:Logan Lerman, Kristen Bell, Jennifer Connelly, Lily Collins, Rusty Joiner, Greg Kinnear, Liana Liberato, Spencer Breslin, Nat Wolff Genre:Indie Dramas, Indie Comedies, Indie Romance, Drama