Bernard and Huey Movie Review

‘Bernard and Huey’ was a favorite at the Phoenix Film Festival this year. The originality or the story, characters and the acting were refreshing, and it became even more so when the director, Dan Mirvish, stood before us and gave us a little history of how the film came to be. ‘Bernard and Huey’ is based on a cartoon strip of these two men that were in Playboy magazine in the 1950’s. The characters were created by Jules Feiffer who later wrote a script about the two pals who reunite many years after college to find they’re nothing like they once were. Learning the history of the story made the film much more fascinating but the writing had already won me over. The fact that Jim Rash and David Koechner are Bernard and Huey leads one to ask, what could go wrong? Why ask this? Based on characters they’ve played before I knew the characters would be colorful, to say the least. So, the answer to the question is nothing. Nothing goes wrong. Not for the film, that is.

When they were young, Bernard (Rash) was a shy kid who couldn’t speak to girls and Huey (Koechner) was a jerk who took advantage of them whenever and wherever he could; he couldn’t care less who he tortured along the way. Huey enjoyed telling him tales of how he treated lovers and Bernard would learn but was shocked and disgusted as he listened. He tried to be a good influence but nothing doing… Huey and his lack of maturity wouldn’t budge.
When we meet the men, Bernard is rather successful and Huey, having just lost his wife and child due to being a chump, needs a place to crash.

Though he’s no longer a pushover, he’s still kind-hearted and Bernard gives him a place to stay. He’s also loving seeing his hero dethroned. However, letting him back into his life, he recalls all the reasons why they didn’t remain friends. A very ‘Odd Couple’ feeling begins to emerge, and these reasons come rushing back to him when Huey starts taking advantage of him. Bernard has done well but who he once was comes flooding back and he begins to lose faith in himself, especially when it comes to women who he was doing very well with until Huey came back into his life.

Flashbacks are revealing and help you see that Bernard is reverting to his old self because he’s now attempting to one-up Huey and goes too far. Zelda is that too far. Keep in mind, Bernard sees himself as better, more advanced mentally, than Huey but really, they are one and the same and that’s what Bernard has tried so desperately not to reveal to anyone. He hates that Huey’s arrogant, nasty attitude has taken him to have to dive into his own hubris because he has gone to such great lengths to appear above the norm.

Why you’ll love this film so much is the dialogue. It seems perfectly written for Jim Rash to deliver and when he goes head to head with his attempt at getting back at Huey, it works even better. Zelda is that ‘too far’ he’s willing to travel. Bernard starts seeing Zelda, (Whitman) a twenty-something aspiring graphic novelist who is also… Huey’s daughter. Bernard tries to but cannot resist her charms. She likes being with him but is looking for help to get published. Bernard doesn’t want Huey finding out about them, but Huey does find out and doesn’t have the reaction to the news one might think he’d have. Knowing that his child is an extension of himself, Huey knows Zelda is only going to devour him. Bernard isn’t prepared for her but at the same time maybe needs her before he can ever fully grow up.
I’ve spoken of how wonderful Whitman and Rash are but can’t leave out Koechner’s brilliance as a modern-day Neanderthal. His bold hilarity as he works impeccably opposite Rash to bring to life a script based on a comic strip is frustratingly precise. Mirvish couldn’t have cast this film better.

Wont You Be My Neighbor? Movie Review

Fred Rogers or ‘Mister Rogers’ as he was always called later in life, was once a child. As a child, he was known to those who bullied him as ‘Fat Freddy.’ This bullying made him become the man he was, a philanthropic humanitarian and caretaker of young minds. He grew up to understand, feel for and love children to the degree that he changed his life’s path of becoming a minister and having his own church. He grabbed ahold of a wildly new medium at the time, television, and created an avenue in which to speak to children, one on one, and let them all know that they were special and that no matter what they were hearing from people around them, that they were loved and worthy of love. He saw television as a way to educate children and what was mostly seen as a tool used to entertain, he could use to add value to their lives, help them understand how to communicate, how to handle adversity and how to… love their neighbor.

This documentary goes deeply into why certain characters on the show were created. It fills in the blanks of who Fred Rogers was, speaking not only to cast and crew but to his family members, friends and his children, who must have felt that they had millions of siblings across the globe.

Puppets were originally given life as a way to fill in time. One puppet, in particular, Daniel the Tiger, was believed to be who Fred used therapeutically to speak words he himself could never utter. Though it was a kids show, Fred spoke of serious issues, even those paralleling the real world, knowing full well that subliminally children would pick up on and understand the theme he was conveying to them.

Through this documentary, I was immediately taken by this person I never gave much thought to and was thoroughly impressed by the lengths he went through to do the right thing. President Nixon wanted to cut funding to PBS, the Public Broadcasting Station Fred’s show was spread across America through. Upon hearing this and without hesitation, Fred went to Washington and in front of Congress he told them of the great importance to our youth public television was and managed to do did what no one else could have done. He changed their mind on the spot.

He considered the space between the TV and the receiver, where he spoke to the nation’s youth, very sacred ground, filling it on occasion with special episodes when children needed him most, such as the assassination of  Robert F. Kennedy and what happened to American during 9/11. For a short time, he tried a show focusing on helping adults but it didn’t take; best he works his magic with the kids who receive him better.

Director, Morgan Neville, shows some of the parodies that had been created and though he had a sense of humor about them, it was said that what bothered Fred most was when they made fun of the ideology behind the message. There was heartfelt, touching moments with the cast. They spoke highly of him and always felt his love and they, too, were open to receiving that special gift. The end of this film leaves you to wonder what he would have thought of how we live today. Would he be having a special episode for us right now? Believing that true evil came from people who try to break your spirit, he didn’t fear any ridicule and was never afraid to tackle any issue where a tremendous lesson had to be learned. This is why we needed him then and why we need him now.


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Hereditary Movie Review

A24’s done it again and with Toni Collette starring in their latest film, ‘Hereditary,’ they’ve created a must-see horror film; one that will be remembered for a long time to come. She’s one of the most underrated actors working today so I’m glad to see her get this role. Forgive that the film is a bit slow because Collette is outstanding as Annie a, fundamentally, cursed soul. This script allowed Collette a great deal of room to play more than one entity and gave her character above average depth. Horror films usually give female characters one dimension, but Collette’s Annie is to frighten you and throw you off course and she does so with ease.

Annie is writer/director Ari Aster’s female lead, a mother who is fighting many demons in the present as well as evil in her bloodline she was previously unaware of. When her mother passes away, grief-stricken, Annie inherits complications she doesn’t understand but must now deal with, ready or not… like it or not. Though she tries to avoid the truth about her ancestry, several horribly events push her to acknowledge who she is. She says things she never knew she felt, experiences the mythical and sees what she once thought unreal. The complexity of the death of her daughter moves her in a direction the filmmakers made sure the audience would never see coming. This is well hidden in trailers because they lead you to believe her daughter, Charlie (Shapiro), is a problem child to be feared when it turns out that it’s Annie we all need to be concerned with. After all, she is next in line. How this unravels is just a slice of what makes the film such a delightful fright. True or not, making your audience imagine that Annie is the protagonist before they even sit to watch the story unfold is a brilliant move. Centered around her behavior for how she loses her child, the suspense builds in a most unusual fashion, taking this mother down a most unexpected path. The shock and terror come from who you envision she’ll be and you never expect who she ultimately becomes.

In his feature debut, Aster manages to surprise horror fans by giving them a feeling of isolation with the story and making it almost impossible to grasp onto a lifeline that could pull them to safety… because there isn’t one in or around them to find. Annie is unredeemable. As she becomes more desperate, Aster uses fewer clichés and relies a limited amount on what makes a traditional horror film grim and ghastly which will endear you to his style and drive you wild with anticipation for the next nightmare he’ll drag you through.

I did have one issue but didn’t want to give anything away by revealing too much. However, I feel compelled to mention what I thought was a tragic error so I will. The storyline Annie’s son, Peter (Wolff), is involved in won’t be divulged because it’s very jarring, but I must mention that the actor chosen was not a good fit for the part. This felt so wrong that it pulls you out of the story at times. The creepy level is high and the tension you’ll feel will startle and impress. Horror doesn’t work when it’s predictable. ‘Hereditary’ is anything but that.

Ocean’s 8 Movie Review

Back in 2001, there was a spiffy little heist movie called “Ocean’s 11”. It proved popular and was well-done, so that called for sequels called “Ocean’s 12” and “Ocean’s 13”. But the original people behind it moved on to other things. The high-concept idea of a major heist in a large public place pulled off with much style and flair then fell to — an all women crew. Hey, that worked for “Ghostbusters”, right? Well perhaps this one  — “Ocean’s 8” — will be done much better…

Debbie Ocean (Sandra Bullock), who is sister to the recently deceased Danny Ocean (from the three other Ocean movies), is getting out of jail. She is a master con artist and a flim-flam gal. But she wins over the parole board with the promise to stay out of that life. When she is released, she is back into ful swing with her prior partner Lou (Cate Blanchett). Debbie has gone over all the details of a ‘perfect heist’ while in prison, and it gets Lou very interested. She sets up a work space and gets a crew together. This will involve fashion design, so first they get Rose Weil (Helena Bonham Carter).

They also need jewelry expert Amita (Mindy Kaling) and someone who can move stolen goods named Tammy (Sarah Paulson). On top of that they need a high-tech hacker named Nine Ball (Rihanna) and good thief named Constance (Awkwafina). They plan on getting a major celebrity named Daphne Kluger (Anne Hathaway) to wear a super pricey necklace to the Annual Met Gala, held at the Met Museum in May. According to Debbie’s master plan, they take the real necklace, then substitute a fake necklace and authorities will not know where to look.

Of course, the heist runs into bumps in the road and other hiccups that cause anguish. But that night, after perfect planning and exquisite execution, the plan works. Sort of. There are other ramifications, but Debbie Ocean has also made some plans for that. Her ex-boyfriend, Claude Becker (Richard Armitage), had been the reason she was sent to jail in the first place. So, he will have a little surprise coming. And an insurance investigator named John Frazier (James Corden) needs to get at least a portion of the pricey jewels back, so he and Debbie work out a deal. And, by the way, the huge necklace was the not the ONLY major haul that Debbie was planning for that night…

This movie is breezy and fashion-friendly, so expect the ladies who crave beauty and high-class outfits to eat it up. The acting is right on par with what is needed. Sandra Bullock provides the steady hand with the belief in her plan, and Cate Blanchett makes the right pieces fall into the right places. Mindy Kaling, Awkwafina and Sarah Paulson are nice partners in the heist plan. Helena Bonham Carter and Anne Hathaway duke it out for the ‘Slightly Ditzy Award’. Rihanna gives herself some acting cred in this role, and perhaps she will make into other movies, too. If John Legend and Common and do it, then so can she!

Gary Ross takes the existing trio of other “Ocean’s” movies and does a fairly good gender swap on the way those movies work. They took the suave charm of leading men (such as George Clooney, Brad Pitt and Matt Damon) and gave it a fanciful story line with high-stakes outcomes in over-the-top locations. The main leads in “Ocean’s 8” (Bullock, Blanchett, Hathaway and the rest) have acting ability and also a lot of style. So the formula looks like it works when it gets done correctly.

“Ocean’s 8” has made a spot for itself in the series of earlier “Ocean’s” movies. It takes a little different view of the landscape, but the ride to the finish line is just as fun. Perhaps there can be an “Ocean’s 9” or even “Ocean’s 10”. I guess they would have to stop before they hit the next number…

Hotel Artemis Movie Review

If you put yourself into the year 2028 and you are in L.A. then the “Hotel Artemis” might be the safest place to stay. There are riots (over lack of water) out on the streets, and the hand-basket is full on its way to Hell. The problem is that the Hotel is about to experience the worst night ever, which makes for crazy, loopy movie full of odd characters and violent situations. Kinda like a normal day in L.A. The Artemis is a members-only hotel, which also operates as a make-shift hospital for criminals. But something major is afoot…

The person in charge is Nurse Jean Thomas (Jodie Foster), who runs the underground operation on the penthouse floor of the building, located in mid-town L.A. She is quick with a kind word and high-tech medical supplies that can fix up all types of bad guys and gals. There is an elaborate list of rules that all the guests must follow, the most important is not to hurt or kill other guests or the staff. When the other person on staff is the muscle-bound hulk called Everest (Dave Bautista), it is better not to get him riled up.

But on this night, all the valued guests are checked into their rooms. And each guest then referred to by the decor theme of that room. Waikiki (Sterling K. Brown) is an injured thief checked into a room with Pacific Ocean scenes on the walls. Nice (Sofia Boutella) has a bullet wound in her room with an Italian countryside flair. Acapulco (Charlie Day) is a loud and obnoxious arms dealer with a room that shouts Ole. Waikiki has a brother in very bad shape in room Honolulu (Brian Tyree Henry), and he might not make it. But the final open room is going to Niagara (Jeff Goldblum) who is a major crime kingpin in L.A. — and he owns the building.  He is also known as ‘The Wolf King’ because — it’s a cool name…

But this will be no ordinary night. There is a mobster in Detroit that is paying Nice for an assassination of a highly prominent person at the Hotel. Acapulco is attempting to get out of the country and flee from some bad deals he made. Waikiki and Honolulu are fresh from a robbery that has laid up Honolulu bad. They also are in possession of some precious jewels but these belong to ‘The Wolf King’ and he gets upset when they go missing. Nurse also happens to see a police officer named Morgan (Jenny Slate) right outside the back door who needs help. Everest tells Nurse it is a terrible idea to try and help her, and things will not go right. He is right, as usual…

When ‘The Wolf King’ arrives with his crazy son Crosby (Zachary Quinto) the wheels are set in motion, just before it all goes off the track. The people in the Hotel are avoiding the riots below, but there are plenty of violent moments up in the penthouse. Some of the guests will not survive the night, and there will be many blood infusions — but just as much blood spilled.  Nurse has some deep secrets in her past, and the Officer Morgan helps her to remember the awful truth of her history. ‘The Wolf King’ has more to do with the Nurse’s tragic back-story than she first thought, and now revenge creeps into her mind.

The story is a little clichĂŠ and the concept a bit derivative of the “John Wick” universe. All the characters are mostly stereotypes, and only Nurse Jean Thomas has any real humanity in her story. Jodie Foster does a fine job with her portrayal of a shut-in with issues from the past and issue with any spaces bigger than the hallway. Every other character is pretty much a one-note look at a specific type. Dave Bautista does have a lot of fun as an orderly with pretty big chip on a pretty big shoulder. More likely than not, this set up would work for ‘John Wick’ just as well as it does for ‘The Wolf King’. But even as a copy of other ideas, this works out well.

Drew Pearce does a lot with the concept, even when it does not become fully-fleshed out. The idea is wild, and the futuristic setting has some nice touches. The characters are stock, for the most part — but everyone plays them with a lot of gusto. There are a few big fight sequences, and a much longer series of build-ups to the finale. The production design goes full Art Deco for the interior of the Hotel, which gives it a glamorous, yet old-timey look.

At the “Hotel Artemis”, you can check in any time you like, and only if you are still alive – then you can leave…

Mountain Film Review

BAFTA-nominated director, Jennifer Peedom, follows up her film about an angry mob fighting on Everest called ‘Sherpa’ with ‘Mountain’ which keeps us looking in a more positive direction. This film starts impressively with the Australian Chamber Orchestra setting up in front of a screen that begins to play the film. They play along with the movie. It’s synched perfectly which is such a good way to prepare you for the beauty you’re about to witness. Surprisingly, not only does the Orchestra lead you into the story but it stays there the entire time, caressing your ears with breathtaking notes while the screen cradles your eyes visually. Now, one cannot exist without the other; it’s mystifying how well the two go hand in hand.

These mountains do put those who climb them into precarious situations at times but how each circumstance is captured is shocking and or awe-inspiring. One might think the people who are drawn to reach the summit of a mountain mad for not feeling at home at or near the base but it’s not for us to decide who and what is in the hearts of others. The film, with Willem Dafoe as narrator, explores why people are driven to new heights and when it all began. It makes for an appealing subject whether you would have first thought so or not.

Mountains were once considered either hostile or holy there was no middle ground. That changed as people got more familiar with them and more daring. Though people created new ways to soar they never gave up on the introspection and high they achieved when tackling some of their deepest fears… ocean depths, outer space and mountains. One by one the mountains were conquered and some, sadly, turned into tourist traps, for a limited base. Here, you’ll see it all happen along with eye-opening before and after photos of mountains being cleared for play. However, nothing is more surprising to see than the downfall of Everest, the king of all. What I mean by downfall is that of its mystery and of its allure. You’ll see footage of what goes on there, especially at night, and it’ll leave you to wonder if there’s anything left in this world to pursue or since it has been reached, will man ever be satisfied and leave nature be?

The narration is deep and profound, informing as it entertains. It asks what is the ‘siren song of the summit’ that moves us upward? We’re told that fascination replaced fear and skyward we climbed. This abundant planet that we call home offers delights that some feel necessary to explore while others want only to protect it from harm.

From the filmmaker’s curiosity comes this enchanting and gripping footage which stretches beyond the expectations of any documentary of its kind. Aching fingers, soaring bodies, bikes riding trails where bikes should not be, men sleeping where there is no air; it’s exceptional to witness and you get to watch it all without packing your bags.

If you go see this you will not be let down… you’ll only be propelled up. Please, do yourself a favor when watching. You must be seen on the big screen. Watching at home would not do it the justice it deserves.

See this in Phoenix at *Harkins Shea 14

Adrift Movie Review

“Adrift” is a harrowing tale of survival at sea after a massive hurricane wreaks havoc on a small sailboat. In 1983 there was Raymond, a hurricane in the Pacific that set two people adrift in the ocean with little chance to survive. The story of this against-all-odds journey is what makes “Adrift” ‘see’ worthy. All puns aside, this is a cross between the movies “The Perfect Storm”, “Cast Away” and “All Is Lost”. But there is a deep sense of love that is the driving force in this movie, and it calls out for careful viewing.

Tami Oldham (Shailene Woodley) is adrift in her own life, travelling around the Pacific and winding up in Tahiti. She meets a man with a fine sailboat. He is Richard Sharp (Sam Claflin) and the two of them fall in love. Tami has no need to head home back to San Diego, but when an older couple offer Richard the opportunity to take their sailboat back – he must take that offer. There will be a nice payoff and a couple of first-class tickets back to Tahiti so that the two of them can start on their own adventures. Richard and Tami get everything ready for the journey out to sea.

It is all going so well, until Mother Nature intrudes and brings along hurricane Raymond. It is a monster of a storm and it rips the boat from stem to stern. The main sail is gone, and the radio is dead and there is precious little food and water. Tami wakes up in a panic. She was knocked out by the storm, and she cannot find Richard. Later, she sees that he is clinging to a lifeboat, and she swims out and drags him in. But things are not in good shape, as his ribs are broken and his leg is shattered. Even if she conserves all the food and water, there will not be enough.

They have no method to sail fast enough with just a small jib sail, so getting back to the States is impossible. She decides to change course and attempt to sail to Hawaii. But that will also take a great deal of time and it is also very risky. Tami is not an experienced sailor, but with encouragement from Richard, she is able to adjust the course and track the progress of the ship. But many days at sea can cause very weird things to happen, delusions and hallucinations are all too common. Tami thinks she sees a huge cargo vessel go right past her in the night, but she then thinks it was just a dream. Every past encounter with Richard is recalled and she thinks of all the love that they have, and it pushes her on to survive and make it out of this disaster. Richard will be her touchstone and her reason to overcome the obstacles.

There is a point in the movie that will redefine most everything that came before it, and it would be wrong to say too much. But the way the story moves up to that point, and the acting of the two lead characters just do a beautiful job to make it a very emotional moment. The writing does a great job to unfold the history of Tami and Richard’s love, and how they came to be soul mates. Shailene Woodley is very moving as Tami, with an emphasis on how this character grows into a much more capable and self-reliant being. Her soulful looks and painful eyes show that she is deeply affected by the trip. Sam Claflin is close to her equal, but his role is much more limited due to the difficulties that Richard has during the movie. Together, they make a very tragic couple, who can turn it all around and can find triumph.

The difficulties portrayed in “Adrift” are brutal, and look very realistic. You get a feeling that, at any point, the situation could change and become unbearable. But there are single moments that Tami clings to: an unexpected rain shower that brings much needed fresh water, the sky in the evening as the sun sets and how it lights up the clouds with so many tints of red, the bird that comes to perch on the deck – showing that land is nearby. These all make for mosaic that tacks left and right, into misery and then into beauty.

The love that Tami and Richard shared fueled the passion for survival that finally brought the crew in for a rescue. The overall story is sad, but there is another story of hope and struggle that shows how people can face adversity and come out on top.

Troll, Inc. Movie Review

“Troll, Inc.” is a case study of how the online experts in cracking and hacking systems are treated like modern-day terrorists. There are groups of elite hackers who know all of the insecure weak points on the Internet, and then they know how to kick open the door and cause havoc. One such person is Andrew Auernheimer, who goes by the online handle ‘weev’. What he did in 2010 is what can be called either a wake-up call to a large company, or a large-scale attempt at computer sabotage and extortion.

There are some computer experts who can find web site exploits and they inform the company in charge. These are sometimes called ‘white-hat hackers’. But there are other people who can locate some of the same security flaws, and they steal lots of valuable information. These are known as “black-hat crackers”. These people are in for a profit, or just to mess up a company real bad. But sometime there is a person in the middle, a guy like Andrew Auernheimer. He can find out about a flaw and he can set up a way to ‘obtain’ over one-hundred thousand valid e-mail addresses.

In this case, it was 2010 and Apple had just released the iPad. Apple had partnered with AT&T to be the data provider for the iPad product. To make it super easy to sue, the security was minimal. That was a selling feature. It also opened up a door to allow Auernheimer to capture all the e-mail addresses that people used to sign up for the data service. There were many celebrities, military and academics in this huge list of addresses. He contacted Apple and AT&T, but neither was interested. So ‘weev’ did the next logical thing (for him). He dumped all of the data  out on the open Internet, mostly to shame the companies.

But the Justice Department and the FBI were not amused. They found out that Andrew Auernheimer was pretty much the guy behind that massive ‘data breach’. But AT&T even agreed in internal e-mails that the security was so poor that it was not really a criminal event. Regardless, Auernheimer was treated like a data terrorist, and he was  pursued for years and then arrested,  before the eventual trail and conviction. He has a bit of an anarchist streak, and he basically told the court where to go and what they could do there. So the ruling came down pretty hard on him.

There was a successful appeal, and Andrew Auernheimer eventually had the conviction overruled. It was a technicality on where the trail was held, no on if he was innocent. So the thing that he did was not excused, but he was free once again. He decided to get better results elsewhere so now he lives overseas. Plus he is in a country that will never be extradited back to a USA prison anytime soon.

“Troll, Inc” is a short but to-the-point documentary about this event and this man. There are plenty of ‘talking head’ interviews with professors and other “white-hat hackers”, plus a handful of people who helped with the ‘involuntary email address extraction’ process. There are plenty of talks with Auernheimer, also. He gives his side of the story. He explains that he has no love for companies that have no idea about how important security is for keeping the public’s data safe and locked up.

So, when he could, he would make the company feel they were the butt of a huge practical joke. But that joke was not funny and the tables got turned on him.

First Reformed Movie Review

Okay. It starts slow but, if you’ve read my reviews before, you might know what I’m about to say… stick with it. It’s slow for a reason and that’s okay! You can’t rush art. ‘First Reformed’ is simply one of the best pictures of the year. It has been created for us for a reason. One of Hollywood’s best, Paul Schrader (Taxi Driver; American Gigolo; Affliction), has decided to make something quite exceptional that will last beyond his years. It’ll be memorable because he knew what he wanted to say and purposely set out to grab you and shake you up. You won’t soon forget what you see which, of course, is the point… he doesn’t want you to forget anything about it as it’s vital you don’t. It’s a narrative but holds so much truth and knowledge that you feel as if you’re getting schooled at the same time, but not so much so that you won’t feel the storyline that’s being playing out. Everything was well designed.

 

‘Will God Forgive Us?’ is a question that is posed in the film with regard to what man is doing to the environment. You don’t see this as the ultimate message coming at you when you’re first introduced to the character of Reverend Toller (Hawke) but when he agrees to counsel Michael (Ettinger) the husband of a young pregnant woman, Mary (Seyfried), Toller grows as a priest and as a man in ways he couldn’t avoid and the film changes. What Toller always knew to be true of institutions he holds in high regard comes crashing down around him when he, instead of talking, listens to what Michael is saying about man’s responsibilities toward the larger picture; Earth. Schrader set it up so you won’t miss it either.

 

Toller is the Reverend of a small church known more for its historical significance as being a stop along the Underground Railroad rather than its parishioners, so he finds himself salesman of its small store, more than Priest, and he’s rather bored. He journals and sips on what’s supposed to go in the chalice on Sunday’s. Counseling is an escape and he’s happy to do it but when suicide becomes Michael’s only answer to his extreme hate for living in such a cruel world, Toller picks up his cause.

 

Abundant Life, the larger church that keeps Toller’s afloat, is putting on a show to commemorate its being there for 250 years. Abundant Life is run by Pastor Jeffers, played exceptionally well by Cedric the Entertainer, who preaches the word of God but who cares more about what goes into the collection plate. When Toller looks into Michaels environmental research, he finds out that one of the biggest polluters of the planet sponsors Abundant Life, even the restoration of his own church, and he makes a vow to fix things. Feeling as if he failed the activist, he then becomes the activist and decides to do something for God and all mankind… as God would have wanted. Though Schrader doesn’t refer to Trump and what the head of the EPA, Scott Pruitt, is doing to actually stop environmental causes, rather than increase or protect them, you can feel his concern for the near future of man as a species and he wants you to see what people are willing to do to save the only home we have. We all need to do more.

 

‘First Reformed’ is heavy on the religion but for a reason. Trust that Schrader must use this as a vehicle to get you to a certain destination… even though a few times you’re not sure where he’s going. Things go a might askew when Toller seems to be building a relationship with Mary, but it’s done in a way that, as an audience member, you can choose to see it or totally ignore it and stay within the spirit of the calculated directive. Ethan Hawke has you so mesmerized by the time you hit the halfway point that it’s easy to stay focused on the importance of the film’s objective.

Always At The Carlyle Movie Review

At the corner of Madison Avenue and 76th Street in Manhattan’s Upper East Side sits an exquisite and beautiful Rosewood hotel called The Carlyle, which has been described as the very definition of class. It’s a 35-story, 190 room hotel that has been there since 1930, complete with galleries, boutiques, and a famous Café’. The Carlyle has housed many of the most famous and well-off clientele from around the world who feel comfortable there, knowing that what goes on in the hotel stays at the hotel. In this documentary, director Matthew Miele does his best to get some private information out of people and though he has a hard time getting staff and other guests to give anything up, the goal he does achieve is letting us know of the existence of this distinguished landmark. While many of us can’t afford thousands of dollars to reserve a room at the elegant Carlyle, after watching this documentary I wish I could and you will, too.

I feel compelled to tell you that watching this on the big screen would be ideal for it may be the best way to appropriately appreciate its grandeur. If you can’t be there, this is the next best thing. Through watching ‘Always at the Carlyle’ you’ll be totally awestruck by what an exceptional experience staying there would be without stepping one foot inside its lobby.

Miele interviewed entertainers about the hotel who’ve stayed within its walls, as well as other ‘Loyal Guests’ and peppers their comments throughout the film. Some speak so highly of it and spend enough time there that it’s considered their second home. All throughout the hotel are magical reasons to stay, from dining to the personal touches they give each guest. Then there are the paintings that hang on the walls and the nostalgia one has for who stayed there previously such as Princess Diana, Paul Newman, Elizabeth Taylor and more. Some mention the energy each guest has left behind in their wake. The Carlyle is popular with famous guests of all types; Royals, those involved in the film industry, politicians, and sports figures, because most important to the guests is that whatever is said or done there stays there. JFK often stayed, and it’s rumored that Marilyn Monroe had a special way in. True or not true… what’s your opinion?

The Elevator Operator is said to have the best stories as they see everything going on, but they also have the ‘tightest lips,’ so you won’t learn anything from them! This is a key argument for paying such high prices, not to mention the luxurious surroundings you’re bathed in. Regardless of who’s on duty when someone checks in, the staff will not divulge their presence to anyone, not even their own spouse. With so many famous people walking through their doors, the staff does get blown away, they are human after all, but they don’t show it outwardly. They do seem to have some fun getting to talk about who they’ve seen for the documentary, however. They reveal very little but what is said is both fascinating and provocative.

Several staff members have become somewhat famous themselves. Dwight, a departing concierge at the time this was filmed, is one such example, very well known. Another is pianist and cabaret singer, Bobby Short, who played at the Café Carlyle for over thirty-five years. Bobby Short not only had an appearance in Woody Allen’s ‘Hannah and Her Sisters’ in 1986, but Allen used Short’s version of the song ‘I Happen to Like New York,’ which is excellent by the way, for the opening to his film ‘Manhattan Murder Mystery’ in 1993. Several talented musicians speak of how much they adored his music stylings, some of whom play there now. Lenny Kravitz tells of how much he was influenced by the man.

Possibly not surprisingly, Donald Trump says the Carlyle is a joke. This is a comment Bill Murray has a little fun with as he happens to love the place and feels obliged to protect it. Others, and there are many, have only positive things to say. Vera Wang mentions how unique it is, George Clooney can’t help but go on and on about how much he loves it there and why wouldn’t he? He is a staff favorite and knows it. He and Anthony Bourdain talk about the rooms breathtaking views but one of it’s biggest compliments comes from Jon Hamm who says when you’re there it, ‘feels like you made it.’ Piers Morgan covers the monarchy and fills us in on how loved it is by the palace, calling it a royal place which makes sense as the builder of the hotel built it to rival the glorious, stately hotels of Europe.

This is a special documentary. I recommend it because it’s not often you get to see celebrities talk about something other than their latest projects. Here we also have, before she died, Elaine Stritch, a legend, talking about how wonderful it was to stay there. Watch for a special scene during the credits regarding what the hotel did for her. The examples of extraordinary service this establishment delivers that are shown in this film, are enchanting. Shots of the building in the gorgeous New York Skyline will make you wish upon a star that you could be whisked away to a room there during any time period and get a chance to experience just a hint of what the well to do have… if even for a moment. Wes Anderson describes being at the Carlyle as though you’re, ‘Stepping back in time.’ One guest has had over 11,000 overnight stays, a record for which he carries as a ‘Badge of Honor.’ See the film at a theatre near you today to see what they’re all talking about.

Opens in Phoenix this weekend at the Mary D. Fisher Theatre and the Harkins / Shea.

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For more information please visit the Carlyle’s website or follow the hotel’s social media channels

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