Shari K. Green, Author at tmc.io 🍿 watch movies with friends 174

Lizzie Movie Review

September 21, 2018 (updated November 16, 2018) Published by Shari K. Green

There’s a nursery rhyme, for lack of a better term, that you probably heard while you were growing up that goes as follows, ‘Lizzie Borden took an ax and gave her mother forty whacks; When she saw what she had done she gave her father forty-one.’ This was based on Lizzie Borden and the murder of her parents and the movie does a great job of getting down to ‘IF’ Lizzie was guilty, why did she do it? The very thought of it is horrible and you immediately think her a monster but was she guilty? If she were, was she pushed too far? Was she in her right mind? At trial, a jury of all men deliberated for ninety minutes and returned a not guilty verdict because they, ‘refused to believe a woman of her social standing could commit such a heinous crime.’

During the film, we learn that Lizzie’s (Sevigny) father, Andrew (Sheridan) and his icy cold second wife Abby (Shaw) are very wealthy. Andrew requires an undeserved amount of respect from everyone, from those he employs to work around the house and from his daughters and their stepmother. All are to do as he says and to submit. He takes advantage of those in his charge and when the movie picks up, in the year 1892, we learn that everyone does do as they’re told… everyone except for Lizzie. She’s very strong willed and refuses to be ruled over. Lizzie has seizures, something he sees as an embarrassment to his name. He doesn’t even want her going to the theatre in case she has a ‘spell’ that others may see.

Lizzie is very kind to animals and staff, paying particular notice to the new maid, Bridget (Stewart) who starts teaching to read. The film then leads to Lizzie and Bridget having a lesbian affair. This is handled quite beautifully with one woman offering love to someone who had never been allowed to experience it before. Before this, we see Andrew at his worst after he discovers that Lizzie had pawned some of her mother’s jewelry. He does something appalling and Lizzie lets him know that she’ll not be victimized by his fear tactics. Soon after she finds out that her father is changing his will. This is when it’s suggested that a plan has already been in place for her to murder her father for his misdeeds and his mistreatment of her, her sister and of Bridget.

The blows to the head come next, which are no surprise, of course, but it’s gripping to find out how it actually happens and what happens directly after. Since all we ever really knew of were the whacks themselves, if it were Lizzie, we, at this point, could certainly find a reason to empathize. Even though they were beyond brutal to sit through and watch. So brutal it hardly leaves room for doubt who would have delivered to these people such savagery but someone who was greatly pained by them. The film’s pacing can be slow at times but the sets, the acting and the history of it all are fascinating. Stewart and Sevigny are fantastic, and I have to strongly suggest you see this for the performances if nothing else.

In Phoenix, it’s playing at the following theatres:

AMC Desert Ridge 18

Camelview at Fashion Square

Tempe Marketplace 16

Arizona Mills 24

Harkins Arrowhead Fountains 18

Fahrenheit 11/9 Movie Review

September 21, 2018 (updated November 16, 2018) Published by Shari K. Green

This is a frightening but very important film to see. As impactful as it is, it’s arguably Michael Moore’s best. As hard as the issues are Moore manages, in his own unique and masterful way, to make you laugh even when you’re aghast. The man who goes all out to uncover corruption for all to see has this time gone after the highest office in all the land. He brings with him not only experience but also brings to light the anxiety of the American people. True worry about losing the rights we all have but wouldn’t think in a million years we’d have to voice our fear of losing. We’re promised their well taken care of by The Constitution, right? We have faith and certainly hope that when a president takes his oath of office, he’ll fight for those rights and oppose all enemies both foreign and domestic. This film exposes the problems with having faith and hope and the issues that stem from not paying close attention to politics. As stated, what goes on in Washington concerns us all and since our elected officials speak for us, we should keep close tabs on what’s going on. Unfortunately, far too many of us haven’t.

If you have been watching politics before and since Trump got into the White House, which is hard to avoid since every news station covers it continually, and you aren’t happy with it, you’ll pretty well know a lot about what the film covers. However, you’ll also be astonished and to put it bluntly, sickened, viewing how Moore has packaged it all together for you. No matter what side of the aisle your political views lean, he manages to reveal what both sides have done and where they need to improve if the nation is ever going to be able to come together and heal. No one wants to hear that they’re wrong but it’s time we’re open to. Watching this could help people agree to do just that. For our children’s sake, we need to meet in the middle somewhere, agree to disagree and settle our differences. Want it or not, with Trump in office, we could lose our Democracy. This is a point that Moore makes very clear by splicing what’s going on in America today in relation to what Germany went through when Hitler took power in Germany. America is headed toward an Authoritarian regime and I don’t think anyone wants that but they’re not paying attention. With voiceover and historic information about Germany at the time the Nazi party took over, Moore exposes that Trump’s, like Hitler’s, best interests lie not with the people but with himself. It’s scary to see what America fell for.

I won’t go down the list of everything Moore brought up but instead say that, whether you like Trump or not, you should give this your time. Maybe you, as many are, will see that it’s time to get involved to try and change your country so nothing like this will ever happen again. You’ll be outraged but to get mad at the man who’s exposing it all for you isn’t where to direct your frustrations. That anger needs to be turned toward the subjects of the film.

FOLLOW MICHAEL MOORE ON SOCIAL MEDIA

fb.com/mmflint

twitter.com/MMFlint

instagram.com/michaelfmoore

The House with a Clock in its Walls Movie Review

September 21, 2018 (updated November 16, 2018) Published by Shari K. Green

Eli Roth, known for making horror films that leave nightmares in their wake, this time tries his hand at something for the younger crowd with, ‘The House With a Clock in its Walls,’ based on the novel by John Bellairs. While this is a family movie, it does have a touch of darkness I wasn’t quite expecting to see. With its creepy puppets and dolls, the frightening CG creatures, some nice some not so nice, and the house itself which appears to be alive and often crabby, the film just might not be right for someone under the age of eight. This would especially be the case if a child has never been exposed to anything similar to Goosebumps. Magic swirls around the story and the world a young boy, Lewis (Vaccaro), who finds himself forced to live with his kooky uncle in Michigan after the death of his parents from a car accident.

Lewis is still upset about his loss but immediately warms to the idea of living with his eccentric uncle Jonathan (Black) after getting to know him more. He’s helped by getting to know his uncle’s friend and neighbor, Florence (Blanchett), and he begins to see that through them he might eventually be part of a family once more. Jonathan and Florence’s relationship is much like that of a married couple. They bicker and argue but also care about one another and seem to have Lewis’ best interest in mind as they introduce him to the life of witches and warlocks. They give him some books and he quickly learns spells of his own. At school, he’s told by his friend, Tarby (Suljic), that his uncles’ house is haunted. Lewis believes it at first due to the strange noises and loud ticking clocks but is shown that the rumor is far from the truth. Wanting to impress his friend, Lewis gets himself into trouble when he decides to prove to Tarby that he’s wrong by showing him some of the magic he’s learned. Not easily able to impress the boy, Lewis goes further. He opens a forbidden cabinet and offers a blood oath to a book on necromancy that he finds which raises from the dead the previous owner of the house, Isaac Izzard (MacLachlan). Isaac has been waiting for someone to bring him back to life so he could wipe all people from existence.

‘The House With a Clock in its Walls’ is solid entertainment. The CGI is well done, Blanchett is dramatic and comical, Jack Black’s crazy warlock is impressive and the barking chair that seems to be his pet will leave smiles on the faces of the young and old alike. In fact, this might be a good introduction for kids to watching something heavier. Again, this will appeal to the older kids in the family, but you might want to leave the much younger ones at home. I don’t think you want this film to be how they learn about death which is a subject well breached here. It can be scary but its intentions of teaching a boy about his spirit and about being adventurous are not missed. I can see where the studio might be able to take this trip a little further if they were so inclined.

The new trailer for “Mary Poppins Returns” has arrived!!

September 17, 2018 Published by Shari K. Green

In Disney’s “Mary Poppins Returns,” an all-new original musical and sequel, Mary Poppins is back to help the next generation of the Banks family find the joy and wonder missing in their lives following a personal loss. Emily Blunt stars as the practically-perfect nanny with unique magical skills who can turn any ordinary task into an unforgettable, fantastic adventure and Lin-Manuel Miranda plays her friend Jack, an optimistic street lamplighter who helps bring light—and life—to the streets of London.

“Mary Poppins Returns” is directed by Rob Marshall. The screenplay is by David Magee and the screen story is by Magee & Rob Marshall & John DeLuca based upon the Mary Poppins Stories by PL Travers. The producers are John DeLuca, p.g.a., Rob Marshall, p.g.a. and Marc Platt, p.g.a. with Callum McDougall serving as executive producer. The music score is by Marc Shaiman and the film features all new original songs with music by Shaiman and lyrics by Scott Wittman and Shaiman. The film also stars Ben Whishaw as Michael Banks; Emily Mortimer as Jane Banks; Julie Walters as the Banks’ housekeeper Ellen; Pixie Davies, Nathanael Saleh and introducing Joel Dawson as the Banks’ children, with Colin Firth as Fidelity Fiduciary Bank’s William Weatherall Wilkins; and Meryl Streep as Mary’s eccentric cousin, Topsy. Angela Lansbury appears as the Balloon Lady, a treasured character from the PL Travers books and Dick Van Dyke is Mr. Dawes, Jr., the retired chairman of the bank now run by Firth’s character.

Twitter: https://twitter.com/disneystudios

Instagram: https://instagram.com/marypoppinsreturns

YouTube: https://youtube.com/disneymovietrailers

Hashtag: #MaryPoppinsReturns

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In theaters nationwide December 19

http://www.fandango.com

The Basement Movie Review

September 14, 2018 (updated November 16, 2018) Published by Shari K. Green

Before the film starts, there’s an introduction that tells us the third sign of the Zodiac is known as the Gemini… which is also referred to as ‘the twins.’ This is because Gemini’s are known to have a dual nature.

We open on a man we learn is Craig (Long), a popular and wealthy guitarist. He stops at a gas station and is texting who appears to be his wife or girlfriend and who hopes to see him soon. He finishes a message to her and puts his phone away. At that moment, he’s grabbed from behind and stuffed into a van.

Craig awakens, in a dark basement, tied to an old school desk, unable to move. He’s frightened and confused when a clown (Davis) comes out of the darkness and approaches him. The clown refers to Craig as Bill. Craig is abused by the sadistic clown who also oddly admits that he, himself, may be smiling on the outside but is very lost on the inside. He leaves. Soon after, another man comes down. Craig is accused by the man of killing seven people. The drama intensifies and so does the terror as this man makes demands of Craig to reveal something about the murders that he couldn’t possibly know as he, Craig, is not the killer. One after the other, men come and go, and Craig realizes that with each accusation of the murders and slight revelation of themselves, the men are only one man and that this man is Bill, screaming at himself and at those who hurt him at some point in his life. A cop, a prison guard, even a priest all with stories of their own torture and humiliation are Bill. This is who he became from enduring a life of pain.

Craig attempts to break through… to get to one of the personalities but finds that he not only isn’t being successful but they’re getting more and more hostile. They ignore his pleas for help. One cuts off his fingers… his livelihood. Craig, horrified and in pain, begs the ‘doctor’ who performed the removal to get him to the hospital but is only met with calm instruction on how to care for his injury. Bill eventually comes down as a woman; his own mother. Craig plays the role of her son and attempts to save his life. She hands him a nail file and leaves. The Prison Guard explains that Craig is about to be executed and he’s treated to his final meal and a priest who lets him confess his sins. The executioner soon arrives. He has three minutes left to live… I’ll let you discover what happens on your own.

While all of this is going on, we see that Craig’s wife, Kelly (Barton) is frantic, calling everyone looking for her husband. She’s beside herself with worry but luckily for her, her best friend Bianca (Borders) is there to hold her hand through this tough time.

This movie is demented, bloody, gory and twisted! I had a nightmare after watching! It’s hard to get over. The effects could have been a lot better but the twist at the end and the acting, especially by Jackson Davis, is absolutely outstanding. He was completely believable as each personality he came down the stairs as, magnificently keeping his cool, showing slight empathy one moment and then becoming a cold monster a mere second after. Though you could tell it was him, the slight changes Jackson Davis displayed made all the difference in the film and without him, it’s reasonable to consider the movie wouldn’t have been as good. If you’re not a true horror fan but love an incredible performance, you’d do worse than to witness what Davis does here.

*In Phoenix, ‘The Basement’ is playing exclusively at AMC Arizona Center

A Simple Favor Movie Review

September 14, 2018 (updated November 16, 2018) Published by Shari K. Green

Allow me to start this with a simple and direct message to you… see this movie this weekend. Director Paul Feig works very well with powerful women allowing them to show their strengths, such as Melissa McCarthy, Sandra Bullock, Mary-Louise Parker and now he does the same with Anna Kendrick and Blake Lively in this dark film, ‘A Simple Favor.’ Lively is exceptional and I wouldn’t be surprised if we see her on stage during award season.

With this film, Feig gives these two women the opportunity to have something brilliant added to their resumes and a chance to shine in the type of story usually given to the opposite sex. This is an intriguing, provocative crime-drama that leads you down a fascinating trail and you won’t want it to end. The characters are following the same bread crumbs and with how the narrative plays out, it manages to do something not always achieved these days… surprise the hell out of you.

First, we meet Stephanie (Kendrick), a widowed, overly energetic, devoted but bored mother of a young son named Miles (Satine). She’s a vlogger who, when we first see her, is telling her followers about the simple favor her friend Emily (Lively) has asked of her. Staring into the camera she says she’ll start from the beginning for her new friends, presumably us, and she tells everyone what happened. This goes on throughout the film. We go back to when she first met Emily who she instantly clutches onto. Emily’s son Nicky (Ho) and Miles ask to have a playdate. Stephanie would like this as she wants to know Emily. Emily is everything Stephanie isn’t. She’s tall, uncommonly beautiful, confident with a scent of arrogance Stephanie can’t help but admire. Though a play date isn’t something Emily usually does, she agrees. They end up at Emily’s gorgeous home which Stephanie would die to have and they begin to reveal secrets about themselves… secrets that will prove to be useful later. Emily warns Stephanie that she doesn’t want to be friends with her. Little things like this are said as Stephanie, and you, become more interested in knowing who she is.

Though the script is heavy on the dramatic aspect of the story, it’s reasonably amusing, as well. Nicky is relatively colorful most of the time, delivering rather comical lines, however subpar they may be. It’s obvious Feig doesn’t work as well with children as he does with adults.

Now we’re to the favor… and we’re all caught up with the vlog. Emily asks Stephanie to pick up Nicky and watch him until she gets home. She happily does, however, Emily never returns. Days later, she still hasn’t and single mom with time on her hands, Stephanie, begins playing Jr. Sleuth, looking for her friend. Unable to forget the mystery woman who so intrigued her, Stephanie gets to know her attractive husband, Sean (Golding), who adds that, like Stephanie, he didn’t know much about Emily. He tells her that he tried to get close, but she was hard to reach; she was like a ‘beautiful ghost.’

Deciding she likes playing Nancy Drew, she goes to the office building where Emily worked in public relations and finds a shady character and clues. After putting up posters and trying desperately to find out who she was and where she went, Emily’s body turns up in another state. As Stephanie gets closer to Sean, she kicks pursuing answers as to what led to Emily’s death, into high gear. What happens next is something she isn’t quite prepared for. Luckily, instinct and some advice she received from the friend who still haunts her, literally as well as figuratively, helps her handle herself surprisingly well when faced with moments of challenge and deception.

This film is impressive in so many ways. The music, the costumes, the characters, and the script but what stands out most is Lively whose performance, though not always on screen, infects you as you watch this play out… and stays with you long after.

Website & Socials:

Official Site: http://www.ASimpleFavor.movie

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/ASimpleFavorMovie

Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/ASimpleFavor

Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/ASimpleFavor

Hashtags: #ASimpleFavor

The Predator Movie Review

September 14, 2018 (updated November 16, 2018) Published by Shari K. Green

Though the violence and blood were unsettling and a touch schizophrenic, it added to what made this offering in the ‘Predator’ franchise the best. Some will argue that the first was superior but is that just nostalgia talking? I guess you’ll have to see to find out, won’t you? I believe you should.

Anyway, I liked this one for overall tone and for the fact that it’s a Shane Black film. Though he was an actor in ‘Predator,’ here he writes and directs, adding his special touch that improves what we’ve seen in the past. He takes what worked and makes it bigger and better. Black likes dark humor and with the characters he has built here, he gets gritty and nasty right away but keeping the laughs near the front. Predator himself has a sense of humor? Hmmm… who would have thought?

We open with a ship hurtling toward earth. A piece of it breaks off, you’ll find out why near the end of the film. Predator bails from his ship but without all of his gear. Said gear is discovered and removed from the site by a military sniper named McKenna (Holbrook) who Predator then spends almost the rest of the film hunting down. McKenna has sent his take home which is found, opened, removed and toyed with by his autistic son, Rory (Tremblay). Tremblay, a fantastic young actor who’ll be forever remembered for his outstanding performance in ‘Room,’ will probably be directing the next series in fifteen years. The military eventually captures Predator and sedates him. Once the government gets involved they bring in, Casey (Munn), a scientist excited to help and learn all she can about the alien. Munn is a complete bad-ass and her scenes are exciting and amusing as is her banter with the rest of the cast. Of course, as expected, Predator awakens from his stupor and all hell breaks loose and she’s in the thick of it.

In the meantime, they’ve apprehended McKenna to grill him about what he saw and what he has. He’s being taken by bus to a holding facility, probably to meet his maker, where he finds himself getting to know a group of military misfits who have no future either. Each character is different from the next, well written and extremely well portrayed by the actors given the roles; one of them being Thomas Jane who played ‘The Punisher.’ Seeing his character in this, you can’t help but think to yourself that if only he had his t-shirt on, he’d be tougher!!

This movie is just… fun! The chemistry is unmistakable, the script is unique and Black keeps you involved and sensitive to the plight of his characters. This rogue unit, led by Coyle, played ferociously Keegan-Michael Key, ends up with Casey and they all head to McKenna’s to reclaim the package and save Rory before it’s too late. The subplot going on involving Rory is needed to give a reason for Predator to visit earth this time but seems to be the weakest part of the story, however, I did appreciate the way Black was able to address the powerful message of climate change and that autism is nothing to be feared. By the way, the ending was left wide open for another ‘Predator’ film.

THE PREDATOR Official Channels:

OFFICIAL WEBSITE: www.ThePredatorMovie.com

INSTAGRAM: www.instagram.com/Predator

FACEBOOK: www.facebook.com/PredatorMovies

TWITTER: www.twitter.com/Predator

HASHTAG: #ThePredator

President Evil – Trailer

September 10, 2018 (updated September 10, 2018) Published by Shari K. Green

A parody of the original “Halloween” film, President Evil sees Michael Myers disguised as Trump as he gets about suburbia, hell-bent on killing minorities.

Days before the November mid-term Elections, three young girls who are a Muslim, Mexican and Haitian, are stalked by a deranged killer dressed as the POTUS.

Starring: Jose Rosete (The Walking Dead : Red Machete), Christian Hutcherson (Dark) and Johanna Rae (Psychos)
Directed by: Richard Lowly
Written by: Lowry and Gregory P. Wolk.

President Evil is coming soon.

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Available 2018

The Nun Movie Review

September 7, 2018 (updated November 16, 2018) Published by Shari K. Green

I’ll say it right here. James Wan, director, and creator of the original ‘Saw’ film knows a hit series when he sees it but needs to learn when to let it go. In fact, he has a number of record-setting credits under his belt and is best at taking something that previously worked and keeping it going but he so far lacks the awareness of when to let something die; literally and figuratively. In ‘The Nun,’ the horror-fest that started from ‘The Conjuring’ series, he takes us into the world of the frightening character that was the evil presence in ‘The Conjuring 2.’ She was magnificently terrifying and ultimately what made the film but in this new narrative, one in which you’d expect great things based on what you had previously witnessed, she’s not all that terrifying but instead, rather anemic. In this film, what should have been its strengths seemed little trusted and scarcely used.

When the story begins it’s 1952. We’re in an abbey in Romania and are witness to a tantalizing introduction. From the start, there’s hope that ‘The Nun’ is going to be the noteworthy horror film we’ve been waiting for. Something purely evil needs a vessel to continue to survive so a nun sacrifices herself to stop it from using hers by hanging herself. Her body is discovered dangling from the window of the church. The Vatican is notified, and they send a priest by the name of Father Burke (Bichir) and a young nun, Sister Irene (Farmiga), who is about to take her final vows, to check it out. With the help of Frenchie (Bloquet) the very nervous man who found the Sister’s body, they root around in the Abbey and discover quickly that it’s an unholy place. Frenchie believes the crosses surrounding the place are there to keep evil in rather than out. It seems there’s little to prove otherwise.

After Father Burke is haunted by very real demons of his own, demons who wake the audience from a slow start, he and Sister Irene discover that Valak, the defiler and the profane, built a gateway to hell on the grounds so the wicked could walk amongst the living, but the church secretly sealed it hoping to keep Valak at bay. However, as evil usually does, it manages to, quite predictable, escape.

‘The Nuns’ downfall is that there’s very little about it that’s unique and try I did but I found little of the acting remarkable, as well. Having been scared frozen by her character in ‘Conjuring 2,’ I assumed I’d get much more from her yet was largely disappointed. If you’re a fan of the franchise I’d say you will most likely enjoy parts of the film, especially its ending… except the part that suggests there’s a way they could continue the storyline further. Quite frankly, after seeing this, I’d like them to bury any idea they have of doing such a thing.

Instant Family – Trailer

September 5, 2018 (updated September 5, 2018) Published by Shari K. Green

INSTANT FAMILY

SYNOPSIS:

When Pete (Mark Wahlberg) and Ellie (Rose Byrne) decide to start a family, they stumble into the world of foster care adoption. They hope to take in one small child but when they meet three siblings, including a rebellious 15 year old girl (Isabela Moner), they find themselves speeding from zero to three kids overnight. Now, Pete and Ellie must hilariously try to learn the ropes of instant parenthood in the hopes of becoming a family. INSTANT FAMILY is inspired by the real events from the life of writer/director Sean Anders and also stars Octavia Spencer, Tig Notaro and Margo Martindale.

DIRECTED BY:

Sean Anders

WRITTEN BY:

Sean Anders and John Morris

STARRING:

Mark Wahlberg, Rose Byrne, Octavia Spencer, Isabela Moner, Tig Notaro and Margo Martindale

Social Media:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/InstantFamily/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/instantfamily

Twitter: https://twitter.com/instantfamily

Hashtag: #InstantFamily

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In Theaters November 16

http://www.fandango.com

Author: Shari K. Green

Lizzie Movie Review

Fahrenheit 11/9 Movie Review

The House with a Clock in its Walls Movie Review

The new trailer for “Mary Poppins Returns” has arrived!!

In theaters nationwide December 19

The Basement Movie Review

A Simple Favor Movie Review

The Predator Movie Review

President Evil – Trailer

A parody of the original “Halloween” film, President Evil sees Michael Myers disguised as Trump as he gets about suburbia, hell-bent on killing minorities.

Days before the November mid-term Elections, three young girls who are a Muslim, Mexican and Haitian, are stalked by a deranged killer dressed as the POTUS.

Starring: Jose Rosete (The Walking Dead : Red Machete), Christian Hutcherson (Dark) and Johanna Rae (Psychos)
Directed by: Richard Lowly
Written by: Lowry and Gregory P. Wolk.

President Evil is coming soon.

Available 2018

The Nun Movie Review

Instant Family – Trailer

In Theaters November 16

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Author: Shari K. Green

A parody of the original “Halloween” film, President Evil sees Michael Myers disguised as Trump as he gets about suburbia, hell-bent on killing minorities.

Days before the November mid-term Elections, three young girls who are a Muslim, Mexican and Haitian, are stalked by a deranged killer dressed as the POTUS.

Starring: Jose Rosete (The Walking Dead : Red Machete), Christian Hutcherson (Dark) and Johanna Rae (Psychos) Directed by: Richard Lowly Written by: Lowry and Gregory P. Wolk.

President Evil is coming soon.

Available 2018

Leaderboard 🏆

Recent Reviews

Latest Photos

Starring: Jose Rosete (The Walking Dead : Red Machete), Christian Hutcherson (Dark) and Johanna Rae (Psychos)
Directed by: Richard Lowly
Written by: Lowry and Gregory P. Wolk.