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Father Figures Movie Review

December 22, 2017 (updated December 21, 2017) Published by JMcNaughton

“Father Figures” is a movie about fraternal twins who go out on the road to find their real father. The two guys were told by their mother that dad died soon after they were born. But she has hidden the truth, and now these two brothers want to find out what really happened. The mom had lied because she was embarrassed at how she behaved in the swinging 70’s and she did not want the boys to know too much. But now forty years later, the truth must come out.

Peter Reynolds (Ed Helms), an uptight and repressed doctor, had always thought that his dad was long gone. But when his mom, Helen Baxter (Glenn Close) , gets married – he and his brother found out the truth. His brother Kyle (Owen Wilson) is a easy-going surfer dude from Hawaii. He happened to get picked for a gig posing for a hot sauce label picture when he was young, and it has paid him off handsomely. Peter has always been jealous that Kyle never had to work hard to get ahead…

Peter and Kyle find out that Helen was a free-love hippie type in the 70’s, and she went with many different guys. She knows that one of them is the father, but she still will not say for sure. She first thinks it was probably her love interest back then, Terry Bradshaw. Yes, the former quarterback and Fox Sports analyst Bradshaw. They travel to meet him, and they get along really well. But that potential father does not exactly pan out, so they try another man named Ronald Hunt (J. K. Simmons).

Hunt is weird and mysterious, but turns out to be a thief and a miscreant. And he also cannot be related to Kyle and Peter. Hunt does give them a name of another man only known as ‘Sparkly P’. The brothers are very confused about where to go next. They find a guy out on the road needing a ride north. They pick up the hitchhiker (Katt Williams) who is first mistaken as a black serial killer, but later becomes a back-seat therapist to the constant bickering between Peter and Kyle.

Peter meets a very nice woman named Sarah (Katie Aselton) that turns into a long awaited one-night stand. Peter had been divorced for many years, and is too tense with women to ask anyone out. He and Sarah hookup, and Kyle acts a polite wingman for the occasion. Sarah disappears early the next day, they lose track of her. But later the two brothers find a lead on the ‘Sparkly P’ character and it leads them to a retired policeman. But he winds up dead a few days prior, and the wake is at his house. That is where they happen to see Peter’s new girlfriend. But could they be related? The policeman’s brother says no, it was another of Helen’s boyfriends in the 70’s.

They travel back home to see if it is Helen’s final boyfriend. He is Dr. Walter Tinkler, a local veterinarian (Christopher Walken). But soon after meeting Tickler and their mother, she tells them the truth. That makes all the difference, and they a no longer interested in doing any more searching for anyone.

This movie seems to spend a lot of time traveling, but it never seems to get anywhere. The plot meanders quite a lot. The jokes are funny in some parts, but they can also fall very flat. The whole concept is OK, but there is not a lot of meat on this bone. The characters are mostly dull and without too much spark. The ridiculous nature of what is going on strains the humor. Oh yeah, it’s funny when someone gets run into by a car… Wow, what a gag – the car gets hit by a train, and now his brother might be dead. What a riot…

Owen Wilson plays the person that Owen Wilson always plays. He is a good-natured slacker with an offbeat sense of humor. Ed Helms plays the white and uptight guy that he is known for in most all his performances. Glenn Close is OK as a mother with a mysterious past. J. K. Simmons looks like is having fun playing a nasty bastard. Katt Williams is good, but his role is short and they do not treat his character very well. Christopher Walken is in a quick cameo in a short segment. Katie Aselton is cute and spritely in a mindless role.

So, if it comes time to hit the road to look for your own father, you can do better than these clowns did in “Father Figures”. This is a road trip that quickly runs out of gas…

The Greatest Showman Movie Review

December 20, 2017 (updated December 20, 2017) Published by Shari K. Green

This movie is incredibly entertaining. The only reason you would maybe consider not seeing it is if you don’t like good music and if you don’t want to be entertained. The story is fantastic, the performances are glorious; it’s a legitimate musical and a captivating yarn, as well. Director, Michael Gracey, did an exceptional job handling the script by bringing the story of a man who dreams big and makes big dreams come true. You’d probably think it’s impossible to make a compelling musical about the beginning of The Greatest Show on Earth but Gracey did just that and made one of the greatest romances of the year, too.

The beginning number prepares you instantly for something extreme and magical. Once you’re fixed and ready, you get just a spectacular show and much, much more. In fact, it isn’t inconceivable that everyone in your row will be tapping their feet and singing along to some of the tunes as they’re quite easy to pick up on. Directly after the screening I attended, I went to the nearest store that carried the soundtrack and bought a copy. I have been listening to it in my car ever since. Some songs are better than others but they’re all good and knowing the lyrics, I can’t wait to see this again.

Gracey takes us from Hugh Jackman, as P.T. Barnum, singing ‘The Greatest Show’ into ‘A Million Dreams’ where young Barnum is a poor child in love with a rich man’s daughter… and she with him. They sing together as he ages and becomes a man of the same dreams of having it all in the world he designs for himself, and more.
The song ‘The Other Side’ is very memorable. Phillip Carlyle (Efron) and Barnum dance in a well-choreographed scene where Carlyle, a rich socialite who enjoys theatre, is being asked to join the show. Realizing he needs a business partner who can bring his theatre more attention, Barnum approaches him in a creative scene as they work out the details. Pay attention to the bartender as the number progresses.

A theatre critic who comes to the show abuses Barnum on a regular basis but the dialogue when he’s on screen, as well as the interaction between them, is some of the best the film has to offer. You’ll appreciate the irony created by his presence. He considers the show Barnum has put together to be a circus and Barnum capitalizes on that. He’s protective of his performers but embraces the idea of bringing more people in, using the word circus to describe what the audience has to look forward to. Once he does, the show explodes and it becomes instantly more popular and profitable.
Sadly, when some performers get cut out of fancy champagne galas, they begin feeling like the sideshow freaks he sells them as.

I could go on and on but maybe you should just see it and hear it for yourself. I promise you that you’ll be blown away by Jackman, Williams and Efron and the rollercoaster of emotions that you go through watching this person try to be the World’s Greatest Dad, as well as have the Greatest Show on Earth. The film is engaging, stimulating, and quite humorous at times and I haven’t even told you about the best song! I’ll let you discover that on your own. See this with the family, or better yet, cuddle up with the one you love. Either way, you’ll appreciate every frame, note and routine and if you enjoyed La La Land, these two musicals share the same lyricist so that’s another thing for you to consider. My recommendation is, see it at the theatre and see it as soon as you can!

Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle Movie Review

December 20, 2017 (updated December 20, 2017) Published by JMcNaughton

Back in 1995, the movie “Jumanji” was made from the book, ad Robin Williams was again top with audiences. But that time is gone, so now the next best thing will be.. ‘The Rock’? Yes, Dwayne Johnson has found his way into “Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle”, and world is a better place for that. The old-style board game of Jumanji is now updated to a 1995 ‘Jumanji’ Nintendo-style video game, with all the basic danger and suspense intact. Instead of Williams getting sucked into a board game, there are four 2017 teens who get the Jumanji video treatment, getting sucked into a world of avatars and multiple lives.

Four teens in high school get detention and are placed into a dusty and dank basement. They are Spencer (a video-game nerd), “Fridge” (a black football star), Bethany (a phone-obsessed drama queen) and Martha (a shy and bookish girl). These four get sucked into “Jumanji”, a video-game version of the original board game. They take the appearance of the character they have selected. Spencer becomes Dr. Smolder Bravestone (Dwayne Johnson), a muscle-bound explorer. Fridge as selected Franklin “Moose” Finbar, who is short zoologist with a large weapons cache. Martha picked Ruby Roundhouse, and she is a powerful commando and fighter. Bethany is now Professor Sheldon “Shelly” Oberon, an older man who has a lot of knowledge that can be very useful.

They find that they all have various strengths and weaknesses as the avatars. Well, except for Bravestone, he is so tough that he has no weaknesses. They also find that they have three ‘lives’. Each one can die in the Jumanji game, and then they will come back to play it again. There is some video-game type plot of finding a missing jewel and returning it to the jaguar statue, then calling out the name to win the game — blah, blah, blah… But they all need to work together to make this happen so they can return to the real world. They also find another player, named Jefferson “Seaplane” McDonough (Nick Jonas). Seaplane is an avatar for a guy named Alex, who had gone missing back in 1995. He has hidden himself away to prevent using up his final life.

There is also a Jumanji evil ruler named John Hardin Van Pelt (Bobby Cannavale). He is looking for the magic jewel and will at nothing to prevent Bravestone and company from achieving the goal. He has a bunch of evil henchman and can use the creatures of the forest to help him find and stop the group from winning the game. There are many places that they all visit, and some clues that they must figure out. But mostly, they learn to trust in each other and dig deep to find the special talents that each of them possesses.

This a movie that not an ordinary sequel. It is a sequel in spirit, but it comes at it in a whole new way. The idea of somehow becoming part of the inside of the video game makes it more fun. In a way, this is like “Tron”, but this does more to get into the game specifics. The group of avatars are so different than the actual people that they portray, that it becomes a funny gag just itself. All of the main actors get a chance to poke a little fun at their own image, and joke about the things that make them unique.

Dwayne Johnson is as he always is – playing a version of Dwyane Johnson. But he is very funny to play against his own type. Kevin Hart is OK, but his character does wear a little thin after a while. Karen Gillan seems to have a lot of fun, playing an uptight girl in the body of a strong and wild woman. Jack Black does a major, classic and amazing job getting the nuances of speech and behavior of teenage girl — just perfectly getting everything just right. Nick Jonas does not have as much time on the screen, but his role is fun and he does a really good job. Bobby Cannavale plays the villain, and that is about all that can be said.

Perhaps this version will not become a treasured childhood movie, like the original “Jumanji”. It does have some big shoes to fill, with the original starring Robin Williams and being very high up on most people’s list. But if you give this one a chance, you can find that regardless if you play board games or video games, this movie will have a solid place in your trophy chest.

Star Wars: The Last Jedi Movie Review

December 15, 2017 (updated December 13, 2017) Published by JMcNaughton

“Star Wars: The Last Jedi” continues the new story of the Skywalker Saga begun in “Star Wars: The Force Awakens”. That prior movie was a smash hit, and it set the table set for many options and story lines. So, now this next step in the story takes some very bold moves and it makes a solid impact on the Star Wars legacy. Rian Johnson has created a masterful addition to the line of ‘Star Wars’ movies, and he can be proud that his is among the best.

Based on the prior ‘Force Awakens’ movie, there are some old favorites and some new characters in the current movie. The Resistance is led by General Leia Organa (Carrie Fisher). The secluded Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill) has been located by Rey (Daisy Ridley). Luke had been isolated on a remote planet by choice because he failed in training new Jedi students, including his nephew Ben Solo (Adam Driver). Ben has turned to the Dark Side of the Force, led by Supreme Leader Snoke (Andy Serkis) a cruel master of the First Order. His group has taken over the galactic government and rules by military might. Ben Solo is now known as Kylo Ren, and he is responsible for death of his father. His mother is Leia and she is on the run from the First Order.

General Hux (Domhnall Gleeson) is Snoke’s current henchman, and his troops are hunting down the Resistance. Poe Dameron (Oscar Isaac) is a hot-shot Resistance pilot who leads a daring raid on Snoke’s star fleet. His new friend Finn (John Boyega) is ready for action. Finn is a former Stormtrooper, but he switched sides to join the Resistance. He meets up with Rose (Kelly Marie Tran), who has low-level job but will become a major asset to Finn.

Rose and Finn set out on a quest to find a person who can get them access into First Order Star Destroyer craft. Luke meets Rey on his isolation planet, but he is not moved to join up and help the Resistance. Chewbacca (Peter Mayhew) is assisting Rey to convince Luke to come back. Chewy soon becomes friends with the little creatures on the island called Porgs. They are like mini penguin-type birds with huge expressive eyes.

Rey has a strong connection with the Force that is unexplained. Her power becomes big concern for Luke, because he had seen that before in Ben Solo. But when Ben turned to the Dark Side and became Kylo Ren, Luke knew he had failed. Rey had fought Kylo Ren (in the prior movie) and now they have some type of telepathic bond. They can communicate and they know that something big is about to happen.

Rose and Finn find a nameless thief (Benicio del Toro) on a distant planet called Canto Bight. This low-life thief says he is a master codebreaker who can get into the Star Destroyer and stop General Hux from catching Leia and the Resistance remnants. Leia suffers in an attack and is put into medical sick bay. The command passes to Vice Admiral Amilyn Holdo (Laura Dern), who stops Poe from attempting to attack Snoke’s star fleet. They have suffered too many losses.

Rey and Kylo Ren join up in a light saber battle in Supreme Leader Snoke’s headquarter office, with red-robed Guards protecting him. Thsis sequence is a magnificent production of fight choreography that just elevates the entire movie. Rose and Finn are caught and are threatened by Captain Phasma (Gwendoline Christie). Phasma was Finn’s old boss as the commander of the Stormtroopers. BB-8 is a personable little droid, who was saved in the prior movie by Rey, and now is very helpful to Rose and Finn.

Poe is working to undermine Vice Admiral Holdo’s command, but Leia comes back to be in control. There is a major sacrifice made to allow the remaining Resistance fighters to escape Hux and Kylo Ren. There is a final battle in an old Resistance base on a nearby planet. This allows for a major one-on-one battle between Kylo Ren and Luke Skywalker, which can be described as an ultimate ‘Jedi Mind Trick’.

The build-up for this movie has been huge, and Rian Johnson has delivered a major success. The story line fits in perfectly with the prior movie, and the original characters are well placed in the overall structure. There is a welcome amount of humor and lightness, along with the heavier aspects of life and death, sacrifice and treachery, and good versus evil.

There are strong characters and a good mix of people facing tough decisions, and then dealing with the consequences. The acting is top notch all around. Special kudos to Mark Hamill, who is coming back to a character he has not portrayed in decades. Plus, the visual shot selection and special effects are outstanding. Also, the wonderful John Williams is back doing the music that made him a legend back in the day…

Is it the most perfect movie? It is a bit over-long, and there are some extra moments that go on too long. The whole section with Finn and Rose going to Canto Bight and meeting up with the ‘thief’ breaks the rhythm of the overall movie. There dangerous villains that are disposed of too quickly. The plot point of Luke refusing to help out, but then changing his mind is a bit obvious. But beyond the nit-pick items, this is one damn fine movie. There are even little bits with R2-D2, and C-3PO, and with the Master Yoda’s ghost…

And the most important thing – no Porgs were injured during the filming of this movie!

Darkest Hour – Movie Review

December 8, 2017 (updated December 14, 2017) Published by Shari K. Green

The nominations for ‘Darkest Hour’ alone will make you want to bolt to the theatre and see it but spectacular are the performances of Gary Oldman and Kristin Scott Thomas. Now that I got that out of the way, let me introduce the film by saying that there is a particular audience for it. If you love history and if you love war pictures, well, the behind the scenes drama of war, this could very well be one of your favorites for the year. It’s the best of its kind to come along in a long time. Gary Oldman gives an exceptional Oscar-worthy performance and for that alone, it’s well worth your time.

It’s long at two hours and five minutes but only a few times do you feel its length. The film centers around a very short period of time in 1940 during World War II. With Nazi soldiers breathing down their necks, Parliament makes a decision. The Prime Minister of England is hoisted from his position for being too weak with Hitler, but they struggle with knowing that quite a crisis will befall his replacement. They now toil with who that replacement will be. Who can handle the evil that Hitler has shown himself to be? They need someone strong and, as you already know, decide to give Winston Churchill a try though many have their doubts.

We go heavily into the life of Churchill during these days. We even see him in bed, as he demands his breakfast, to get to know him more. It’s easy to see that he’s gruff with everyone he’s around, his wife and his secretary, but for some, it’ll take a while to see another thing… Churchill is played by… Gary Oldman! It really is Oldman peeking out from behind a pound of makeup and camouflaged beneath tons of padding to make him more believable. He’s outstanding and watching this on the big screen will allow you to absorb the performance that much more which is something I truly hope you do. He deserves that much, and you’ll be the richer for having witnessed it the way director Joe Wright (Atonement, Hanna, Pride & Prejudice) meant for you to see his portrayal. If you’re not aware of the importance of who this man was in the grand scheme of things and in the larger picture of ‘what could have been,’ this movie can serve not only as a captivating piece of history or reminder for you but a cautionary tale of how close we once came to no longer being who we are today and how close things still can escalate to put us in that same position.

Churchill kept his wits about him and saw that England was done for sure if Hitler wasn’t stopped. He had a broad strategic approach and unlike the previous Prime Minister, he knew the situation couldn’t be met with talks of peace. He realized Hitler knew nothing of peace. He approached the United States for help but was sadly turned away and as Hitler got closer, he had another political battle. He had to convince his own party that fighting was the only thing they could do if they were to survive the assault on their country. He went to the people of England and put it to them, in a scene you won’t soon forget, and got his answer. Fight. As the enemy swarms the shores of Dunkirk, Churchill calls on all of England to help and is on his way to victory.

Darkest Hour is remarkable and I recommend you get your ticket early and get to the theatre to see this TONIGHT! You’ll be moved, you’ll be that impressed and I think you’ll agree… Oldman is on fire in this film. His supporting cast is equally as good. You’ll be thoroughly entertained. By the way, after seeing this movie, one might feel compelled to watch Dunkirk. It’s only logical that you do. Though they feel quite different because they’re made by different directors they are perfect for back to back viewing.

The Disaster Artist – Movie Review

December 8, 2017 (updated December 14, 2017) Published by Shari K. Green

This is a film for the dreamers. If you’ve ever been told you can’t do something or if you’ve let a dream go because you felt it was impossible to continue to strive for, no point in continuing to reach for the sky, see ‘The Disaster Artist’ to be reminded that your limitations only lie within you. Nothing is truly impossible if you put everything you’ve got into your goals and if you accept the fact that sometimes… you need a helping hand. Anyone who has been driven wild by doubt, especially if you’ve wanted to work in the film business in any way, will be inspired by the story of Tommy Wiseau who is played absurdly and honorably by James Franco. He and his friend Greg (Dave Franco) set out to make their dreams come true and Tommy would never have made it had he not been open to listening to someone, something not that easy for him. Greg never left his side, he believed in him every step of the way and remained loyal, constantly reminding him to never give up.

Tommy Wiseau made a film called ‘The Room’ in 2003, which has overtaken Ed Wood’s 1959 film ‘Plan 9 From Outer Space’ as the worst movie ever made. ‘The Room’ did find its audience in almost the same fashion as 1975’s ‘The Rocky Horror Picture Show’ built its congregation of loyal fans. Some may have considered the films bad, others loved them and they created cult followings after playing at midnight for people looking for late night entertainment that wasn’t like everything else… and where they felt a part of something special. Any film, even if considered the worst, should hold its head high to be in the company of Plan 9 and Rocky Horror. If they prove anything, it’s at least that Tommy’s film could continue to be seen by many and will be around for decades to come.

‘The Disaster Artist’ is about the making of ‘The Room.’ James Franco is the director of the film but not only does he tackle this incredibly eccentric character from behind the lens but, as I previously mentioned, he also brings him to life in what’s arguably his best character yet. In fact, he could possibly be getting a gold statue for the role. He does a more than adequate job directing, as well.

He doesn’t try to remake ‘The Room’ here but instead demonstrates the incredibly long and difficult road it takes to get ‘The Room’ from Wiseau’s script, which was a very heady idea to be sure, to the screening of the film. He meets Greg, a young actor who is about to give up on his dreams of ever getting to Hollywood and they move to LA together after knowing one another for a short time where unbeknownst to Greg, Tommy has an apartment where they can hunker down and start the process of auditioning.

About halfway through the film, you’ll realize you’re continually being eaten away by wanting to know who this Tommy Wiseau is exactly. As you get further in, his quirks, his aggressive nature, his weaknesses will intrigue you more and more and you’ll want to know more. Who is this man? Where did he come from? Where did he get his unending supply of money? Why does he look like the walking dead… why does he talk like that?! He has no specific talent and it seems that by helping Greg, who makes a pact with him that they’d always push one another, his true goal is to only help himself.

In the end, he pays five million dollars to make his film and it tanks. It’s awful. This might have ended things for most people but through the support of others he has met along the way, ‘The Room’ still thrives and now has this solid piece, ‘The Disaster Artist’, paying homage to it and to Tommy himself.

‘The Disaster Artist’ isn’t mocking the movie but instead, it’s acknowledging what strong-willed people, when not jealous of the others’ successes, will go through for something and someone they believe in. The scenes showing the crew and actors on set waiting around for something to happen are fantastic. If you’ve ever made a film or even been part of a large group of people working toward one common goal, you’ll appreciate the humor used here. The movie is hysterical and it’s not going too far out on a limb to say it very well could develop its own cult following. A24 never disappoints and this is definitely one to see!

The Shape of Water

December 8, 2017 Published by Shari K. Green

This film is, essentially, a sonnet. A sonnet to love that bursts to life with a breathtaking opening. It’s presented to you with intricate imagery and topped with a poem at the end to nicely complete the fable. ‘The Shape of Water’ is called a fairy tale and from the poster, you can see it certainly looks like one. Director Guillermo del Toro (Pan’s Labyrinth, The Devil’s Backbone) was quite obviously inspired by ‘The Creature from the Black Lagoon.’ Regardless of what it’s labeled, a love story, a fairy tale, a thriller, it’s hard to really describe it as any one thing in particular. That task seems better left for the individual viewer of this magnificent work of art. At one moment you’ll see it as a thriller where you’re biting your lip, filled with anxieties, another you’ll feel the anguish that makes it a drama but there’s no doubt it’s a brilliant fantasy.

The plot of the story is a woman falling in love with an amphibian. We see beauty in all things. She most certainly does. The movie is an ode to love, for people and for other creatures no matter who or what they are, and that’s the strong central message del Toro makes very clear. That and how important the color green is to him. Everything is green. The start of the film is waterlogged and wonderful and you’ll appreciate how green lends to the temperature of the film as a whole. As we begin the story in the apartment (above a theatre) that belongs to our protagonist, Eliza Esposito (Hawkins), we are swept away to another time and place. Eliza is a perfect damsel in distress. She’s short, mute and low on friends but appreciates everything she has, especially a little alone time in her bathtub where she relieves herself from the tensions of the day.

The year is 1962, right before the death of Kennedy and the death of what people considered to be their hope for their country… did I mention the film gets political at times? Eliza works with Zelda (Spencer) in a secret government laboratory. They’re cleaning women and generally keep to themselves but due to a wrong place, wrong time situation, are one day pulled into something they weren’t expecting. Asked to clean up a bloody mess after Mr. Strickland (Shannon) gets a horrific injury, the women are privy to more information than they care to be. For Zelda, it’s just, ‘do the job, move on and forget it happened.’ For Eliza, very curious by nature, it’s a matter of finding out the ‘why’s’ of the bigger picture. She sees a creature, known as only the asset, wrongly imprisoned and feels sorry for it as it’s tortured by cold, heartless men. When next she sees the creature, not intimidated by it, she gives it part of her lunch. A bonding begins.

The creature is possibly going to be used for space exploration and the lab Eliza works is not the only research facility that wants him. She tells her friend and neighbor Giles, played magnificently by Richard Jenkins, about the creature who is intrigued but when she speaks of a plot to rescue her new charge, he’s more than concerned. Sadly, you’ll grow concerned, too, as the film nears its conclusion. Up to the point where her plot to remove the asset from his imprisonment ends, it’s a well-structured, beautifully formed and stunningly shot film. It’s a fascinatingly violent film with peculiar lusts along with joy and guilt hidden in dark places BUT the end seems rather flat. Be that as it may, don’t be deterred from seeing it.

Afterall, it’s not as if your imagination can’t move beyond what del Toro does on screen and fill in a few blanks… it’s a shame that it must.

Wonder Wheel Movie Review

December 8, 2017 (updated December 6, 2017) Published by JMcNaughton

“Wonder Wheel” is a new movie from Woody Allen full of drama and dialogue, Allen’s favorite topics. However, in this case the drama is weak and the dialogue is ponderous and overblown. Woody Allen is not devoid of talent, but in this case, he seems to have misplaced his writing skills. They were replaced with a first-year college student attempt at writing ‘serious’ drama. The story is very slim and the characters are two-dimensional at best. The actors are giving it their best shot, but it’s hard to make an impact with such light-weight material.

In 1950 at Coney Island, there is a large Ferris wheel ride called (strangely enough) “Wonder Wheel”. Ginny (Kate Winslet) is a failed actress with a young son, and her first husband left her. She is now married to Humpty (Jim Belushi), an easy-going guy who works at the merry-go-round in the amusement park. Humpty and Ginny, who works as a waitress at a bar in the park, both live with her son in a tiny apartment next to the Wonder Wheel. They have little money, and things are usually tense between them. But it is about to get worse.

Humpty has a grown daughter from his first marriage, named Carolina (Juno Temple). She had left and gotten married to a gangster, and Humpty was not pleased. But her marriage went bad, and she left the mob life, and then talked with the FBI. Carolina is now a marked woman, and she is being chased by some thugs who want to kill her. But Carolina goes back to the one place that she knows will have someone to take her in. She goes back to Humpty and his meager life. But she will now share a space with Humpty and Ginny and her son, and this makes everyone feel on edge. She also has dangerous thugs coming after her, so everyone is also very nervous.

Ginny destroyed her first marriage by being unfaithful, and she is again falling into this same pattern this time. She is sneaking away to make time to be with Mickey (Justin Timberlake). He is a grad student and works as a summer lifeguard in the park. Mickey also acts a narrator during the entire movie, which makes his character seem even more awkward. He talks a good game to Ginny, so much so that she thinks he is truly in love with her. Mickey then meets Carolina, so his infatuation is torn between the two women. Ginny is furious and makes several bad decisions that will affect everyone involved.

There are numerous loose ends and unanswered plot points. Ginny takes a lot of money that Humpty had saved, and she spent it on Mikey. Ginny’s son has a habit of starting fires and causing destruction. Ginny’s first husband was a drummer and she was an actress, but all of these things are mentioned and appear to have some deeper meaning. But nothing becomes of any of the things that get mentioned and discussed. So why bring any of these up at all? No answer…

There is something very odd about the screen images at some points. There are times when the screen is awash in a garish reddish-orange color, but it slowly turns into a dark blue tint. Sometimes a character is in a harsh bright light, and then other times when they are hidden in shadow and darkness. Part of this is supposed to reflect living under the lights of the Ferris wheel next door. But it is not a good look for the movie. The characters are subject to a weird pattern of lighting that does not look realistic.

The screenplay is a major sticking point. The dialog seems very ‘theater’ based, and not so much prepared for a cinematic experience. The script feels very full of high ideals and expectations. But it fails to deliver on any of it. There is talk of metaphors and allusions to great theater works, but it just shows how weak this story line is compared to those major works. The actors are doing a admirable job putting their best effort into the movie. However, the result is off-the-mark because the story and the dialog lets them down. Woody Allen has made some very memorable movies. This is not one of those movies.

Coney Island is probably a great place to visit in real life. The actual Wonder Wheel looks very impressive and must be a fun ride. But the Woody Allen treatment of “Wonder Wheel” is not all that good. His version goes around and around, but it never gets you anywhere. This one from Allen is not worth the ride.

Roman J. Israel, Esq. – Movie Review

November 22, 2017 (updated November 22, 2017) Published by Shari K. Green

Another fabulous film coming at you before we close out 2017 is Roman J. Israel, Esq. If you love Denzel Washington, see it now because in this film you’ll see him, simply put, in a way you’ve never seen him before. His character Roman is a criminal attorney with a civil-rights background who has been working for low wages for thirty-six years. Instead of becoming a lawyer to get what he can out of people who hurt for his expertise those most, he became one because he’s passionate about helping those individuals who are in desperate need. He fights for those who have been wronged and despairs when he sees the lawyers of the day allow their first-time offenders to receive sentences of ten years in prison rather than spending the time to go to bat for their clients as they should.

Roman J. Israel, Esq., so named for the dignity the title possess, is a bit of an egghead and a savant, with a photographic memory. He believes in social justice and wants to do the right thing as did his mentor and his hero’s but as it becomes harder to be an idealist in a world who’ll fight you tooth and nail for their right not to be protected, Roman feels the earth his career was based on begin to shift out from under his feet. That earth is not as steady as it once was.

Washington brings Roman to life so convincingly that you wonder if this wasn’t the real Washington all along. Going through the loss of all that is dear to him, Roman gets upset and nervous and it shows. When he’s most troubled, Washington gives him ticks such as playing with his glasses, pulling at his hair. He displays other behavioral abnormalities that ultimately sell the role. His performance is magnificent and as the story builds to its inevitable conclusion the more you’re lost in this character and feel for his circumstances. We learn he’s a forceps baby which tells Roman that he’s fully aware of this world not being one he wanted to enter, especially since he sees what others choose to ignore but in a city that has hardened from corruption, his heart has remained in the right place… until now, that is.

His partner and owner of the law practice, a well-known civil-rights litigator by the name of William Jackson, falls very ill. While he’s in the hospital, Roman, who has always been the brains behind the operation doing a lot of the grunt work, takes on the cases. He’s only to go to court and get continuances for the cases but due to his strong beliefs, he can’t help but get involved to try and right what he sees is wrong and fight against the racism, greed and authoritative tendencies of society in the United States and its court system.

George Pierce (Farrell), who was a former student of Jackson’s, handles the liquidation of the company after Jackson’s death and has to let Roman go. Aware of his intelligence, George hires him for his company and the story picks up speed. A lot of the dialogue here seems very deliberate, to speak of what is going on in the country today which, if you’re following politics at all, you could find very engaging and appreciate hearing. It isn’t tedious and it doesn’t assault you but watching an optimist become a realist the way writer/director Dan Gilroy (Nightcrawler) shows Roman slowly become is both heartbreaking and frightening. Working for George isn’t easy for him because he’s forced to do what he hates and he metamorphoses into what he ultimately despises. He also becomes ‘Tired of doing the impossible for the ungrateful.’ However, as Roman loses himself, we see who he is turning around and that is someone with the power and control to achieve what Roman sadly never could.

I recommend Roman J. Israel, Esq. for anyone who likes a powerful story with characters driven not by lust or ambition but by the dedication and the commitment to do what’s right. This is a heavy drama that requires your full attention and once you give it you’ll applaud what you get in return.

The Man Who Invented Christmas Movie Review

November 22, 2017 (updated November 21, 2017) Published by JMcNaughton

“The Man Who Invented Christmas” is a spritely look at the creation of a small book in 1843 that led to a revival and appreciation for the Christmas holiday. Charles Dickens came up with “A Christmas Carol” a couple of months before Christmas in that year. It was major effort on his part, but he felt inspired to create a book that would counter his critics. They had called him out after poor reviews on his recent books. This is a fanciful retelling of how Dickens came up with the ideas for “Carol”, and how he got inspirations to write the characters of the novella. In this version, the actual characters of the book become real to Dickens and lead him on to finish the book.

Charles Dickens (Dan Stevens) is a popular author in London who has had a major hit with ‘Oliver Twist’. But his recent work has been lackluster and the public is less than enthused. Dickens needs to create a new book and do it soon, and it must be a smash hit. His agent, John Forster (Justin Edwards) tries to get the publishers to advance Dickens money to create a new book. Dickens wants to do a book about Christmas, and he decides to handle it all himself. He will write and book in two months’ time, get it illustrated, published and into the stores by Christmas time. Too bad he is suffering from major writer’s block…

Dickens starts to come up with a way to tell the story of a miserly old man and how three Christmas spirits visit him one Christmas Eve and change his life. The old penny-pinching scoundrel is named Scrooge (Christopher Plummer) and that character comes alive in Dickens’ real world. Scrooge, and many other fanciful characters from “A Christmas Carol”, join with Dickens on his quest to write the book. His wife (Morfydd Clark) thinks that Charles is acting a little funny, but that is par for the course. His father, John Dickens (Jonathan Pryce), also comes to stay for a few months and that adds to the commotion. John had been an uneven influence on Charles growing up. John had spent time in the Debtors Prison, which caused Charles to be put into a terrible workhouse environment.

As Dickens becomes more obsessed with getting the book out in time, the figure of Scrooge and others from the book haunt him all the time. In his first draft, he decides to let Tiny Tim perish from illness. But his agent and his wife overrule the cruel outcome that would have pleased Scrooge. Scrooge’s delight at the little Tim’s passing makes Dickens change the story and makes Scrooge change his mind. The story gets completed and the illustrator gets the pictures done. The final book gets into bookstores before Christmas and soon everyone loves “A Christmas Carol”. The book is resounding success, and it has never been out-of-print, beginning in 1843

The idea to delve into the back-story of how the influential book was created is a fresh approach to the Christmas classic. Luckily, the story behind the story is enthralling and it is filled with as many interesting people as the book. Charles Dickens life and times growing up in London and becoming a famous author is a fun and uplifting story. Dan Stevens does wonderful job with such an expressive face and knowing eyes. His portrayal is also balanced with Christopher Plummer as Scrooge. It is a role that is comfortable for the experienced actor and he nails it.

The movie moves quickly into a world filled with Dickens’ imagination and his literary friends. The soundtrack, by Mychael Danna, is bright and gives an appropriate bounce to the proceedings. The story gets into a somewhat dark area right near the end, but it rebounds again into a light and breezy ending. The treatment of the events that surround the creation of “A Christmas Carol” can make even a Scrooge be thankful for the holiday spirit.

Category: Reviews