The Big Short
Before the housing and credit bubble of 2007 triggers an international economic meltdown, a handful of financial outsiders sees the crash coming and bets against the big banks in a daring play that could reap them huge profits.
Tuesday, January 19, 2016
Movie #1141 ..................................."The Big Short"
Movie #1141 "The Big Short" was a good, solid film that attempts to explain the upheaval of our economical system back in 2008 and what the banks had to do with it --- and how a couple of people saw it coming and tried to cash in on the downfall by betting against our economy! The guys who could foretell the problem included : Christian Bale, who plays a guy who walks around his office in bare feet, rarely comes out to see people, and plays his music loudly while he bangs drumsticks on his desk ---in other words, a very strange guy. Ryan Gosling is a guy who works at a failing bank so he tries to get Steve Carrell and his crew to put money up against the loans so when they crash, Carrell and crew would get the money --- and of course, Ryan Gosling would then get a huge percentage, too! And finally, there are two twenty year olds that know their math and figure out the problem before it happens and they make money, too. The film is somewhat humorous (not laugh out loud really, but ironic, etc.) esp. with how various economy terms are explained to the audience by people like Selena Gomez, etc. I liked this a lot, but I wished it explained what was happening even more, esp. toward the end, when Steve Carrell and crew waited so long to make a decision on what to do --- I wasn't sure I adequately understood the dilemma --- mostly the fall out could have been explained more, is what I am saying. Otherwise, I enjoy all the performances, I like the quick editing, the dialogue was at a fast pace but didn't talk down really to us, and it moved along at a good pace. I recommend it , if you are interested in the subject matter, or want to see one of the top films this year.
2015 I would give this 4 stars out of 5Rated R
Thursday, January 14, 2016
Movie #1140 .........................."The Revenant"
Movie #1140 "The Revenant" is all Leo and photography and nature. And that's all you need, really. We've seen the story before, but it's the way it is told. I think all the dialogue could fit on one page, at least what Leo says, so he has to rely so much on everything else he in his actor's tool bag to get across his character. Tom Hardy depends on mumbling, and I can't fathom why he was nominated for an oscar this a.m. I guess it's for his physical presence in his scenes, because he really truly mumbles (and that's not just me the old lady saying this!) The cinematography is wondrous, and the film is in epic proportions in shooting the landscape, what Leo has to go through (5 minute maul by a bear, for example) , and the dreams he has of his lovely native american wife whom he lost to senseless violence. There is a lot of violence here, and it is done in epic proportions, too, but in the end, it is so well done, that it will probably win Leo an academy award, and possibly the picture as well. As long as you know going in that there is a big and bloody bear maul and a big fight scene that is hard to watch at the end, your stomach should be able to get through it without much trouble, and hopefully, you'll come out of it saying you saw a truly well done film.
2015 Rated R
The Revenant
I'd give this 4.5 stars out of 5.
Set in the 1820s American frontier, this snowy thriller follows fur trapper Hugh Glass as he relentlessly seeks retribution against the companions who left him for dead in the Missouri River's icy waters after he was mauled by a bear.
Movie #1139 .........................."The Walk"
Movie #1139 "The Walk" is another entertaining film from Zamekis (back to the future, etc.). From the opening minutes, you can tell the film is in the hands of a very stylish, creative thinking director (it is filmed in black and white, with only the props he juggles (the strawberries, etc.) in color) Joseph Gordon Levitt is more than capable, donning a very particular accent to play Phillip Petit (true story of the guy who walked a line between the twin towers before it was ever finished being built). I saw the documentary a few years ago when it was nominated for an academy award, but I found that tedious and long ---- slow going prep and the actual walk took long. And in this film, a big portion of it is prep work, but the director gets that across in an entertaining way -- the people he gets help from are all characters (including Ben Kingsley, and Charlotte LeBon (from "Hundred Foot Journey") who are standouts and most memorable!) The actual walk is even done creatively --- i.e. as the cops try to get him down because he is breaking the law, he keeps turning away from them and going back to the other side ON the line. What I liked most about the film is the homage it plays to the twin towers --- as Phillip looks at what he has just accomplished, he tells us he got a pass for the twin towers that said "forever" --- I got a lump in my throat when I think that no one would have guessed what would actually happen to the buildings, and it is very sad, but the spirit of the building stays on, and it elevates activities like what Phillip does here to the building! Another thing I liked is that it concerns someone living out his childhood dreams! And it shows how focussed, how talented, how smart this guys is! I recommend this, esp. if the subject seems at all intriguing to you. I'd give it 4 out of 5 stars.
2015 Rated PG123 mins I'd give it 4 out of 5 stars
The Walk
In 1974, French aerialist Philippe Petit made headlines worldwide with his daring high-wire walk between the twin towers of the World Trade Center. This elevating drama recalls the unauthorized and unforgettable feat pulled off by Petit and his team.
Movie #1138 ........................."Shameless" (U.S.) Season 4, Disc 2 (and various other shows)
Movie #1138 "Shameless" --- in the past I have not liked this show, but I wanted to see our ohs theatre alum Adam Poss in the particular episode he was in, and we finally got it sent to us and we got to watch it. Adam was wonderful, and I'm glad we saw him in it, but I don't like this show at all. I am a huge fan of William H. Macy, and I have enjoyed Emily Rosum in the past in other shows, but this is sooooooooooo depressing. I find no humor in it --- the characters are sad. This family just wallows in dysfunctionality, and I don't need to watch it. I'd give it the score of two because there are some moments that seem to work, but it isn't a likable show at all. I'm probably making lots of people angry by writing this, but every episode I have seen just shows the family get deeper and deeper in a mess. This one shows the "matriarch" of the family having to wear an ankle bracelet (under arrest) in the home because she was caught with cocaine (I gathered it wasn't her fault directly). And she's lamenting the fact that she has let the members of her family down. They didn't seem much to care because they were all staying somewhere else, including the dad. Not much more to say except I wouldn't recommend this.
Sunday, January 10, 2016
Movie #1137 ........................."Infinitely Polar Bear"
Movie #1137 "Infinitely Polar Bear" is an autobiographical movie of the director's bipolar dad, and the year he took care of his two smart aleck daughters (somewhat) when mom went back to school to get a degree. The director's own daughter plays the little girl (herself) in this film (and she is very good, one of the high spots). I felt the movie was all over the place, with pacing jumping around like bipolar --- if that was on purpose, then they succeeded, but it seemed to me to be a bit far fetched and hard to believe. And overdone in places. BUT there were some endearing moments. but on the other side of the coin, the language is really raw, and if you are a parent, I think you would think the foul -mouthed way of handling the kids very negligent on the parents' part, so you needn't see this --- or then again, it might make you feel on top of the world because you're such a better parent! hah! Mark Ruffalo is one of my very favorite actors, and I'm glad I fell into watching this one --- very unusual, but not a movie for everyone to see.
2015 Rated R88 mins I would give it 3.5 stars out of 5
Infinitely Polar Bear
When his wife heads to New York for an 18-month job, bipolar Harvard dropout Cameron is left to care for their two daughters. Struggling with his illness, Cameron brings his innate creativity -- and love of his children -- to the challenge.
Movie #1136 "Suddenly, it's spring" - I watched this on TCM the other night, and it was not that good of a romantic comedy for the 1940s. There are some so much better --- I always like watching Fred MacMurray, but Paulette Goddard isn't that funny to me. The story was really silly --- he keeps staying on a train, getting off at stations and calling his future wife, promising her that he will get his present wife to sign some divorce papers --- Goddard, the present wife, is in a particularly bad situation because she gives speeches about how to keep your marriage in tact even during the war years --- see the problem? I have to be truthful and say, I am writing this critique without having seen the last five minutes becauseI seriously I fell asleep because I was so bored. so sufficient it to say, I don't recommend this one much -- there are so many better ones, i.e.
screwball comedies that are so much more believable!
screwball comedies that are so much more believable!
SUDDENLY, IT'S SPRING 1947 I'd give it 3 stars out of 5
Fred wants to start a new life with a new wife, but it isn't easy to give Paulette the gate for another mate.
Director:
Mitchell LeisenWednesday, January 6, 2016
Movie #1135 ........................."The Bigamist"
Movie #1135 "The Bigamist" was a movie I happen to see advertised on TCM --- female director Ida Lupino, and first woman director directing herself. Another fun fact is that the writer-producer Marcus was married to Joan Fontaine (playing Eve Graham) but who was also the exhubby of Ida Lupino (playing the other woman in this film) --- small world, isn't it? But what I found most intriguing about this movie is the sensitivity it approaches the bigamy issue --- most of the time the viewer is supposed to say: how dare he do this? what a cad! But this film shows a guy who possibly finds love with these two women --- they each serve a place in his life and he is able to keep both of the relationships going ---- as long as they don't know about each other! It makes you think twice about he issue, for sure. I would bet this was very controversial, esp. having a baby with another woman while being married to the first one! Wow! But it is not covered in a slimy way at all..but in a loving way. You can tell that it is a 50's film when the judge is very clear about the consequences --- but he says basically that he didn't think that Harry did this maliciously --- he only had love in his heart for both women and did not want to hurt each one, but Harry learns that he hurts both of them deeply. The judge suggests that maybe one might take him back, and that is left up in the air as he two women leave the courtroom while Harry looks on and "the End" comes across the screen. I enjoyed it because it was a different angle on the subject, and the acting was good. I'd give it 3.5 out of 5 stars.
Harry Graham leads a double life and is caught out when he and his wife Eve apply to adopt a baby. They live in San Francisco but in fact, Harry has a second wife Phyllis and a baby living in Los Angeles. When Mr. Jordan from the adoption agency finds his second home Harry tells him how it came about. He loves Eve but she seemed to be more interested in their family run business and they had grown apart over the years. While on a trip to Los Angeles he met Phyllis Martin and after spending time together, he realized that he had better break off the relationship before they go too far. Unfortunately, the relationship continued and when Phyllis became pregnant, he married her. Now that he's been found out, he must face the consequences
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