Author: Shari K. Green

Green Book – Trailer

August 15, 2018 Published by

Inspired by a true friendship.

 

Academy Award® nominee Viggo Mortensen (Eastern Promises, The Lord of the Rings trilogy) and Academy Award® winner Mahershala Ali (Moonlight, Hidden Figures) star in Participant Media and DreamWorks Pictures’ Green Book.  In his foray into powerfully dramatic work as a feature director, Peter Farrelly helms the film inspired by a true friendship that transcended race, class and the 1962 Mason-Dixon line.

When Tony Lip (Mortensen), a bouncer from an Italian-American neighborhood in the Bronx, is hired to drive Dr. Don Shirley (Ali), a world-class Black pianist, on a concert tour from Manhattan to the Deep South, they must rely on “The Green Book” to guide them to the few establishments that were then safe for African-Americans.  Confronted with racism, danger—as well as unexpected humanity and humor—they are forced to set aside differences to survive and thrive on the journey of a lifetime.

Jim Burke (The Descendants), Charles B. Wessler (The Heartbreak Kid) produce alongside Farrelly’s fellow writers, Brian Currie and Nick Vallelonga, and Farrelly.  The drama is executive produced by Participant’s Jeff Skoll (The Help) and Jonathan King (Lincoln), along with Octavia Spencer (Fruitvale Station) and Kwame L. Parker (Kill Bill series), as well as Cinetic Media’s John Sloss (Boyhood) and Steven Farneth.  Linda Cardellini (Brokeback Mountain, The Founder) co-stars.

Genre: Drama

Cast: Viggo Mortensen, Mahershala Ali, Linda Cardellini, Sebastian Maniscalco, Dimiter D. Marinov, P.J. Byrne

Directed by: Peter Farrelly

Written by: Nick Vallelonga, Brian Currie, Peter Farrelly

Social Media

Official Site| Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | #GREENBOOKMOVIE

In Theaters November 21

http://www.fandango.com

The Meg Movie Review

August 10, 2018 (updated November 16, 2018) Published by

‘The Meg’ is as entertaining and campy as any remake based on a huge success is; in that you’ll enjoy seeing it for what it reminds you of but then you’ll be irritated by its lack of living up to the goal you undoubtedly set for it. Here, you’re looking for that other film, I’m obviously speaking of ‘Jaws,’ and what you get is a cheap knockoff. I say that because what bothered me most was Meg, herself. Speilberg did a better job in the ‘70’s of making Jaws something to fear than Turteltaub does here. You never get a true sense of the beast except in what the people have to say. When you do see her, its digital performance isn’t all that beastly, to be honest.

There are elements of indulgence that make ‘The Meg’ the perfect film for your youngsters to view because they need to have something to talk about when they go back to school. They can talk about their first scary movie and they will also learn some things they can take back to science class. There were several younger viewers at our screening, ages around nine and ten, and they were thrilled and excited by the film. This could be because they don’t have anything to compare it to. That being said, it’s not a bad movie, it’s just not a good ‘remake.’ Since it isn’t a remake and you just want to watch a nonsensical action/horror, you could definitely do worse. Jason Statham brings you a believable enough hero to root for and the little treasure, Shuya Sophia Cai, plays a darling character for you to hope is ultimately saved.

Meg is a Megalodon, a prehistoric shark that’s discovered when scientists, who should know better by now, move beneath what has been thought to be the ocean floor but is really a freezing thermal cloud that houses a new ecosystem and keeps new species safe below. They intend to find these new species by cruising a sub down and busting into this ecosystem. When they actually do this, they never prepare for the worst, of course. They’re happy they made the discovery but that’s short-lived when Meg, bothered by their lights, finds them and isn’t interested in letting them tell the world about her home. Morris, (played badly by Rainn Wilson) an annoying billionaire who is interested only in his profit margin, insists the team do whatever it takes to keep the operation going. Jonas (Statham) enters because one of the team members below is his ex-wife. He comes to the rescue because he has been in the position before and this ends up being a chance to prove himself… not that he needed one. You’ll learn about as the film opens.

There are a lot of incredibly tense scenes in the film, especially after Meg is tagged. When this happens, the action never stops, but it is a bit slow to get started. There’s a lot of humor, as well, which surprised me. One hysterical moment that the entire audience chuckled at was when Jonas tries not to think about the beast as he’s swimming in her waters. To himself, he sings Dora’s ‘Just Keep Swimming’ song from ‘Finding Nemo.’ There are several well-placed jump scares to keep you on the edge of your seat and when you think they’ve done about all they can, they give the audience a little more so don’t think it’s over just cuz Morris thinks it is. If you go to see ‘The Meg,’ please pull for Pippin. She’s the cute little pup who falls in the water during the trailer. I won’t tell you if Meg finds her to be an adequate snack or not, but I was heartbroken by her fear, as I’m sure you will be, too… I hope.

In the mood for some action with Statham? Check out ‘The Meg.’ It’ll be a better view if you can catch it on IMAX but if you’re not a huge Statham fan, you’d probably do well to watch during a matinee or wait and see it at home. It’s too predictable to be mind-blowing but Turteltaub gives you enough with a few characters to keep you interested and amused.  One last note. Just about everything out of the mouth of Morris is weak and tired. This character could have and should have been improved.

BlacKkKlansman Movie Review

August 9, 2018 (updated November 16, 2018) Published by

Getting straight to the point, no credits or anything to distract from the message the filmmaker is presenting, ‘BlacKkKlansman’ starts with an old fake news clip. An actor, played by Alec Baldwin, tells his audience about how white American children have been forced to go to school with an inferior race, the black race, who are listening to Martin Luther ‘Coon,’ and have become super predators. I’m actually being nice in telling you what the despicable character and his distorted vision of reality says as he looks straight into the camera and into the racist soul of certain people in that period of time. However much the film may depict a particular year in the past (BlacKkKlansman is based in the 70’s), it’s really showing you our present, especially at the end of the film… it’s shattering to see, on the big screen, who we are today.      

Director Spike Lee gives us the racial issues going on in the Black Power movement by introducing us to strong activists trying to get the message of their struggle through to people while showing that they are no different than Black Lives Matter, a group born from the police brutality and racial discrimination of today. Juxtaposed to that is their KKK and white supremacists and today’s very vocal and bigoted alt-right. He does so this is a powerful way that’s emotionally disturbing and will have you thinking way beyond the theatre doors.

Director Spike Lee gives us the racial issues going on in the Black Power movement by introducing us to strong activists trying to get the message of their struggle through to people while showing that they are no different than Black Lives Matter, a group born from the police brutality and racial discrimination of today. Juxtaposed to that is their KKK and white supremacists and today’s very vocal and bigoted alt-right. He does so this is a powerful way that’s emotionally disturbing and will have you thinking way beyond the theatre doors.

The film is set in Colorado Springs and is actually based a retired African-American police officer Ron Stallworth’s (played expertly by John David Washington), book which is hard to believe is true, though it all is. Stallworth, tired of being treated like a second-class citizen and participating in infiltrating the rallies of the Black Power Movement, he decides to turn the tables. With help from fellow officers, he dupes the local chapter of the Ku Klux Klan, and eventually David Duke (Grace) himself, to become a card-carrying member of, the KKK. His skin tone would never allow him to get close to members of the Klan so Stallworth sets everything up via the phone and his partner, Flip (Driver), who has to deny to the members that he’s Jewish, meets with them. Though the film has plenty of comedic moments, here is where it gets really intense and shows what a master of the narrative Spike Lee is. This is the best piece of work he has put out since his earlier films and you won’t want to miss this on the big screen.

Throughout the film, images and verbal messages are used to get an incredibly important directive out to the audience. People are people, you are powerful and, chief among them, believe what you see. The alt-right and the KKK and white supremacists exist, they’re not something made up in a film or by a news channel, who is just trying to tell the American people the truth. Racism is a horrible thing yet more common than anyone wants to admit and ‘BlacKkKlansman’ has been made because the people that racism targets are tired of it. There is no superior race as characters in the film, in scene after scene, suggests and SAYS there is but there are a great many people out there who honestly believes there is. This film is fascinating and incredibly entertaining but also, it’s a reminder that what we have done in our past, can be… is being mirrored in our streets today. I can’t possibly express to you all the reasons why but as an American with an open mind, it’s crucial you don’t miss this eye-opening, impressive film. 

 

Official Website: http://www.blackkklansman.com/  

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

Twitter: https://twitter.com/BlacKkKlansman                 

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

A24’s ‘Never Goin’ Back’ – Red Band Trailer

August 6, 2018 Published by

NEVER GOIN’ BACK

Written & DirectedBy: Augustine Frizzell

Starring: Maia Mitchell, Cami Morrone, Kyle Mooney, Joel Allen, Kendal Smith, Matthew Holcomb, Atheena Frizzell, Spencer Rayshon, Marcus Mauldin, Liz Cardenas

Running Time: 86 minutes

Rating: R for crude sexual content and language throughout, drug use and brief nudity – all involving teens.


Synopsis:

Never Goin’ Back is a fresh and funny look at female friendship, following lifelong best friends Angela and Jessie, who dream of escaping their waitressing jobs at a low-rent Texas diner. Taking place over the course of just a few days, the film follows their hilarious and unpredictable misadventures on the streets of suburban Dallas, as they attempt increasingly madcap and wild schemes to try and raise some cash.

Friday, August 10th at Harkins Valley Art

http://www.fandango.com

McQueen Movie Review

August 3, 2018 (updated November 16, 2018) Published by

This is top notch documentary filmmaking. It’s both incredibly entertaining and highly inciteful.  It’s exceptionally well done not only in its value for its own artistic endeavors but its ability to show how truly talented fashion designer Alexander McQueen was. You may not be into fashion but you don’t have to be to enjoy this you just have to want to see an entertaining documentary on an interesting subject… that would be this film.

Alexander McQueen was an artist who, at a young age, was bitten by the fashion bug. Once he realized what it was he wanted to do he never let the fantasy of doing it die. At the age of seventeen, he was making his sister skirts. From very humble beginnings, he knew he didn’t have the money to go to expensive schools for his craft, so he got a job tailoring suits and thus began his dream. Realizing his talents, his aunt (who always supported and encouraged him), helped him get into Saint Martin’s School of Art. There, he felt he could let his true self out and it wasn’t long before he expressed what that was for the entire world to see. He had a legitimately dark side and after reading ‘Perfume,’ a book about the murder of women, he started doing research on Jack the Ripper and out of these influences came his ’92 graduation show in London called, ‘Jack the Ripper Stalks His Victim’s.’ It’s here where he catches the attention of Isabella Blow who was enamored with the craftsmanship, intensity and passion in his work. His ability to capture beauty and violence made her decide to take him on as her prodigy to which a deep friendship developed, one peppered, sadly, with ups and downs until her death at only forty-eight years of age. I don’t want to get into that too much here but know that their relationship was, most likely, more important than either one of them ever realized. This is stated and captured very well in this film.

McQueen was so good at what he did, such a uniquely complex visionary, that he didn’t even have to measure people before he made their clothing. He could size a person up and make something for them by just his eye just as a pianist might play a piece of music they’ve heard only once. His gifts were noticeable and vast as he always had a natural, physical association with what he crafted.

In this documentary we see him move from England, who loves him, to Paris, France where his work isn’t quite as understood. He is asked to be the creative director of Givenchy and with boyfriend Murray Arthur in tow, he goes to expand his technique and portfolio. He has more money than he ever dreamed of, but it hasn’t changed him… not yet. He tries the best he can to fit into the world of Paris fashion and does this by exposing a softer side. As far as fashion went, it didn’t matter which side he disclosed, it was always brilliant… but not necessarily for him.

Of all people, he deserved to be successful and by the end of this documentary, you’ll wish, for yourself, he had left one move in his life behind. If he had, we’d still be enjoying his broad, unconventional completely stunning work today. God knows how far he would have gone. That said, his last show will devastate you. What Ian Bonhôte and Peter Ettedgui reveal is a man crying out for help but too quietly to be heard. You can tell the filmmakers appreciated and loved him and his work because you can feel it in the way the movie was shot. By the time it’s over, you’ll feel the same way and want to Google everything you missed. So, do that and watch this, too. It’s a good way to get to know Alexander McQueen and it’s the least he and his intellectually complicated collections deserve. 

Official Website: www.McQueen.film

The Spy Who Dumped Me Movie Review

August 3, 2018 (updated November 16, 2018) Published by

‘The Spy Who Dumped Me’ is entertaining but highly predictable. It isn’t a terrible movie, hence the reason the rating I gave it didn’t destroy this comedic narrative, but outside of the two leads making you chuckle, there isn’t a lot to be thrilled about. Mila Kunis seems to be top billed, but Kate McKinnon definitely steals the show as Audrey’s (Kunis’) best friend, Morgan, who would do anything to protect her friend… just as McKinnon does anything to make an audience laugh. McKinnon alone is responsible for why the film will have a modestly successful theatrical run because she lives a breathes insanity into unpretentiously deranged characters. She’s a treasure. Which leads me to the story.

Audrey’s recent break up with Drew (Theroux) and her being angry at him, gives license to her bestie, Morgan, to determine the worth of Drew’s things that had been left in Audrey’s apartment. Once defined as worthless, Morgan wants to burn his possessions to rid her friend of this slug once and for all. Drew is warned and, as expected, shows up to stop it. This is when the women learn he’s a secret agent. During all of this, we flip back and forth as to who he’s working for and whether he’s a good guy or not. Suddenly, Audrey and Morgan are being followed, dodging bullets and being shoved into vans. Again, it’s unclear as to whether or not Drew is a good guy, a question we are left to ponder until the very end of the film. They learn who Drew is, around the same time they meet the hunky Sebastian, (Heughan), who Audrey can’t help but drool over. Drew says he’s a spy; Sebastian says he’s intelligence. Who to believe? It isn’t easy so, as Morgan puts it in the film, they’re going to own their intelligence and figure everything out on their own. It’s on to Europe to sort out the mess. They’re told a lot of people will die if a trophy in their possession isn’t at a certain location on time. That won’t happen on their watch.

To make a film an action/comedy, and that’s what ‘The Spy Who Dumped Me’ is billed as you must have fight sequences and car chases and such. You’ll be quite impressed with how well director Susanna Fogel embraced that convention when, after viewing the trailer, it seemed as if the movie originally sold itself as a chick flick of sorts. Leaving the bad digital blood aside, they’re superbly choreographed, well shot and in beautiful locales, all the things needed to please today’s action audience. Another highlight for some may be the addition of Gillian Anderson as the head of the British Secret Service. Though it was great to see her in the role of a boss who pulls no punches, it was hardly a stretch for her. Perhaps she took the part to remind us all that she’s out there to which she does in spades.

I liked the film, but I didn’t love it. Having said that, you should see it at a matinee because what works is worth seeing. McKinnon. Anderson. Strong characters and complete insanity. It will work for you as a laid-back, informal summer spy thriller during your easygoing, passive summer weekend.

STANLEY KUBRICK’S SCI-FI CLASSIC “2001: A SPACE ODYSSEY” COMING TO IMAX® THEATRES FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER

August 1, 2018 (updated August 1, 2018) Published by

STANLEY KUBRICK’S SCI-FI CLASSIC “2001: A SPACE ODYSSEY”

COMING TO IMAXŽ THEATRES FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER

The one-week IMAX engagement follows the ongoing success of the 
50th anniversary release of the “unrestored” 70mm print

            BURBANK, CA – August 1, 2018 – Continuing the 50th anniversary celebration of Stanley Kubrick’s science fiction masterpiece “2001: A Space Odyssey,” Warner Bros. Pictures is bringing the film to more than 350 IMAX® theatres across North America for one week only, beginning on August 24th.  This marks the first time ever that moviegoers will have the opportunity to view the seminal film on the largest possible screen, creating a truly immersive experience.  The announcement was made today by Jeff Goldstein, President, Domestic Distribution, Warner Bros. Pictures.

The IMAX engagement comes on the heels of the widely successful “unrestored” 70mm film release of “2001: A Space Odyssey,” which was overseen by acclaimed filmmaker Christopher Nolan, a lifelong admirer of Kubrick.

As part of the week-long IMAX release, four select theatres will be showcasing the feature on IMAX® 70mm film: AMC Universal Citywalk IMAX, Universal City, AMC Lincoln Square IMAX, New York City, AMC Metreon IMAX, San Francisco, and Ontario Place Cinesphere IMAX, Toronto.  The IMAX 70mm film print, to be shown exclusively in these four locations, was created from the recently released “unrestored” 70mm print—a true photochemical film recreation struck from new printing elements made from the original camera negative with no digital tricks, remastered effects, or revisionist edits.  The additional IMAX theaters will be presenting a brand new 4K restoration of “2001: A Space Odyssey” in IMAX® with Laser and IMAX® Xenon projection formats.

Tickets for the IMAX engagement go on sale this Friday, August 3rd.

            Widely considered among the greatest films of the 20th century, “2001: A Space Odyssey” was originally released on April 4, 1968, igniting the imaginations of both critics and audiences.  With the film, Kubrick redefined the limits of moviemaking and cemented his legacy as one of the most revolutionary and influential motion picture directors of all time.

            “2001: A Space Odyssey” was directed and produced by Kubrick from a screenplay he co-wrote with legendary science fiction author Arthur C. Clarke.  The film stars Keir Dullea and Gary Lockwood.

It Lives Inside – Trailer

August 1, 2018 Published by

IT LIVES INSIDE

This August, stay out of the shadows.

From High Octane Pictures, the studio that brought you Jurassic Games and Clowntergiest, comes It Lives Inside, premiering on digital this summer.

A chronic sleepwalker reads from a mysterious book that foretells his impending demonic possession. He then struggles to hold his family together as the ancient evil threatens to consume everything he holds dear.
Rett Terrell (The Jurassic Games) and Alissa Rose Ford (Army of Frankensteins) star in this Jeff Hall film.

August 7 on VOD and September 4 on DVD

Hunter Killer – Trailer

July 26, 2018 Published by

‘HUNTER KILLER’

Deep under the Arctic Ocean, American submarine Captain Joe Glass (Gerard Butler, Olympus Has Fallen, 300) is on the hunt for a U.S. sub in distress when he discovers a secret Russian coup is in the offing, threatening to dismantle the world order. Captain Glass must now assemble an elite group of Navy SEALs to rescue the kidnapped Russian president and sneak through enemy waters to stop WWIII.

Also starring OscarŽ winner Gary Oldman (Best Actor, Darkest Hour, 2017), Common (John Wick: Chapter 2), Linda Cardellini (Avengers: Age of Ultron) and Toby Stephens (Die Another Day), HUNTER KILLER is a high-stakes thriller that unfolds both on land and at sea. Only in theaters nationwide by Summit Premiere on October 26th, 2018.

Directed by Donovan Marsh and written by Arne L. Schmidt and Jamie Moss, HUNTER KILLER is based on the book Firing Point written by retired naval officer George Wallace and author Don Keith. The production of HUNTER KILLER was also fully supported by the United States Navy.

Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Official Site

In Theaters October 26

http://www.fandango.com

OPERATION FINALE with Ben Kingsley and Oscar Isaac – Trailer

July 26, 2018 (updated July 26, 2018) Published by

‘OPERATION FINALE’

Metro Goldwyn Mayer Pictures’ razor-sharp thriller, Operation Finale, brings to life one of the most daring covert operations in modern history. Starring Academy Award winner Sir Ben Kingsley (Gandhi, Schindler’s List) and Golden Globe winner Oscar Isaac (Star Wars: The Last Jedi, Ex Machina), the film vividly captures the ingenious and brilliantly executed mission to capture Adolf Eichmann, one of the chief architects of the Holocaust.

Fifteen years after the end of World War II, acting on irrefutable evidence, a top-secret team of Israeli agents travel to Argentina where Eichmann (Kingsley) has been in hiding together with his family under an alias Ricardo Klement and execute an extremely dangerous abduction. In attempting to sneak him out of Argentina to stand trial in Israel while being pursued by the country’s right-wing forces, agent Peter Malkin (Isaac) is forced to engage Eichmann in an intense and gripping game of cat-and-mouse with life-and-death stakes.

Genre: Thriller

 
Director: Chris Weitz
Cast: Oscar Isaac, Ben Kingsley, Lior Raz, Melanie Laurent, Nick Kroll, Joe Alwyn, Haley Lu Richardson, Michael Aronov, Ohad Knoller, Greg Hill, Torben Liebrecht, Mike Hernandez, Greta Scacchi and PĂŞpĂŞ Rapazote

#OperationFinale

Official Site| Facebook| Twitter| Instagram

In Theaters August 29th

http://www.fandango.com

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