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Anything Movie Review

May 18, 2018 (updated May 22, 2018) Published by Shari K. Green

If you’re interested in a narrative that has layers and depth, you need to see ‘Anything,’ a film that represents anyone who has ever loved for any reason and who will give of themselves… anything. It’s a moving piece because we can all relate to the characters and their powerful emotions of love. I say this with certainty as we’ve all, for the most part, experienced a love where we have given and where we have received.

The characters in the film are complex and more intricate then one might think based on the pedestrian one-word title it was saddled with. However, that word, as you can tell based on what I’ve written so far, plays an important role in the overall message of the story.

The main character is Early Landry. He’s a middle-aged widower, played by character actor John Carroll Lynch of ‘Fargo,’ who easily manipulates the audience into seeing this individual as both the prey and the preyed upon. At the moment Early is introduced to us, we’re seeing him through the eyes of his overbearing sister, Laurette (Tierney). He’s depressed, suicidal and since the passing of his wife, needs some love and support, but not as much or the kind Laurette has in mind. Not really giving him much of a choice in the matter, she makes him aware of the fact that she wants him to move in with her so she can help him with his feelings of despair and with settling things from his old life in Mississippi to his new life with her in L.A. Early does move in with her. Though he doesn’t speak up for himself, it’s not hard to tell that he’s quickly growing tired of her. She speaks to him and treats him as if he were a child and it’s not long into his stay that he decides he has to move out and be on his own.

Without informing her, he gets himself a little apartment in an area of town she wouldn’t approve of. This is most likely done to keep her away. In a short time, he meets his transgender neighbor Freda Von Rhenburg (Bomer), who works the streets and often gets into trouble with men and when money gets tight. Being the gentleman that he is, he’s there for her, no matter what she needs and a hot and cold relationship develops. It doesn’t take long for them both to see what’s good about the other and how deeply they need what the other has to offer. Perhaps at first getting to know Freda just might be the right thing to agitate Laurette but if that’s what he had in mind then he was just as surprised by the materialization of their romance as we, the audience, are.
They’re an odd pairing but the performances both actors give to their roles accommodates the concept of their love and what the significance of a man from Mississippi being open-minded enough to accept the love of a man means today. I highly recommend this even though an obvious misstep is not casting a transgendered actress in the role of Freda. Regardless, Bomer is exceptional and deserves to be seen.

Opening in Phoenix at HARKINS VALLEY ART

Deadpool 2 Movie Review

May 18, 2018 (updated May 18, 2018) Published by JMcNaughton

Deadpool 2. Nobody can now say this guy ain’t got a pair!

Of movies, of course. I meant movies. What, did you think I was referring to something else?

“Deadpool 2” is the unholy spawn of the first movie “Deadpool”. That is where Wade Wilson (Ryan Reynolds) was introduced to the world as a Special Operations soldier turned mercenary who became Deadpool. It was quick-witted, raunchy, rude, satiric, graphically violent — and bust-your-gut funny. If you get past the heavy R-rated everything in that movie, you were in for a treat. Nothing was sacred, everyone got skewered, and every fourth wall was broken down. They took a ‘Special Powers Super-Anti-Hero’ and made him into a household name.

Deadpool is back for a Number 2, wait… that did not sound right. Deadpool is coming again… huh – oh yeah, scratch that last one. Anyway, there is a “Deadpool 2” movie and if you think it can live up to the first one (or maybe live down to the first one) then you are right. Deadpool (Ryan Reynolds) lives with a roommate Blind Al (Leslie Uggams) and he has a special girlfriend Vanessa (Morena Baccarin). But things are a-changin’ and Deadpool is soon on a mission to change his heart. He goes back to the X-Men mansion to find Colossus (Stefan Kapicic) and Negasonic Teenage Warhead (Brianna Hildebrand). He becomes an X-Men trainee. They all get a ride from taxi driver Dopinder (Karan Soni) who also wants to be a superhero, with no special powers.

They meet with Russell (Julian Dennison) who’s a young mutant at a different school. He is angry and ready to use his flame-throwing fists to burn down the school. Russell and Deadpool are taken into custody and put into a special prison for mutants. But while there, a time-travelling cyborg soldier from the future named Cable (Josh Brolin) finds Russell. He is on mission to kill Russell for his own personal reasons. Deadpool tries to help Russell because he is just a kid, but Russell gets away from Cable and from Deadpool. Russell is on his way to becoming a very powerful future mutant crime boss.

Deadpool teams up with his buddy Weasel (T.J. Miller) who owns a dive bar for mercenaries. Deadpool creates a new team of super-powered mutants called ‘X-Force’. One of the ‘Force’ members is Domino (Zazie Beetz) who has the special power of ‘luck’. After a big fight against Cable, Cable decides to join forces with Deadpool, because it will be the only way to find Russell. Cable is still set to kill him, but he will give Deadpool one chance to save Russell. There is so much anger in Russell that it is near impossible to stop him from becoming evil. But Deadpool needs to change his heart. Vanessa would be so proud…

Laying out the plot details of ‘Deadpool 2’ is like putting a big spread of cheeses out for a meeting of the Lactose Intolerance Society. It is all there, but in the end it does not matter. The action scenes, the violent special effects, and crazy banter between Deadpool and Cable; these and many other aspects overshadow what happens in the plot. The driving force is Deadpool’s desire to become a better person for Vanessa. But he still has his low-brow, crude humor and snarky attitude, and that will never change.

Ryan Reynolds and Josh Brolin are both super amazing in the roles of Deadpool and Cable. They are polar opposite in attitude, but bounce quips (and firsts) off of each other. Julian Dennison as Russell and Zazie Beetz as Domino are both very fun to watch. By the way, don’t take anything from Russell after he’s taken it out of his ‘Prison Wallet’.

The action scenes are heart-pumping, and the dialog and the smart-alec remarks come a mile a minute. Watch out for the quick ‘Thanos’ reference and the ‘You’re so dark, do you come from the D.C. Universe?” line.

Oh, and even if your bladder is calling you away at the end of the movie, stay for the end-credit scene. It is hilarious and it cuts right to the point.

Book Club Movie Review

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

In case you think this film might not appeal to you, I implore you… don’t be afraid of attending a romantic comedy just because it stars women over a certain age. It’s okay for men to show their sexuality at any age and now, due to this fierce cast of outstanding actresses we’ve all grown to know over the years, it’s acceptable for women to desire, talk about and be playful when it comes to the topic of sex. And are they ever playful. The comedic part of the film is represented well, as is their gender. The main characters are played with masterful timing by Diane Keaton, Jane Fonda, Candice Bergen and Mary Steenburgen. I couldn’t imagine a better lineup for such a film. Diane (Keaton), Vivian (Fonda), Sharon (Bergen) and Carol (Steenburgen) are introduced to us by Sharon talking in Voice-over about her longtime friends and how they started their Book Club. This isn’t completely necessary for such a narrative but does seem to be all the rage in films these days. We even see edited pictures of the four of them together when they were younger. Damn those gals were good looking… and still are!

Vivian is an extremely wealthy woman who wouldn’t dare let a man get close enough to her that he could hurt her as she did in her youth. See Don Johnson’s character Arthur for an example of that. They once had a relationship and now he’s trying to slip back into her life, but Vivian has all she needs with her money and best pals to keep her warm.

Sharon is a divorced federal judge who finds out her ex-husband Tom (Ed Begley Jr.) is remarrying someone half his age. She’s talked into trying an online dating site which at least gets her out there and moving on.

Diane is a widow who fights her children for control of her own life. They fear she’s too old to be alone and want her to move to Arizona to be with them. She doesn’t want to disappoint them but when she meets a pilot named Mitchell (Garcia), who supports her and offers her a new start, she has a hard time deciding who to let down. The very act of picking one over the other ultimately leaves her still losing out.

Carol is married to Bruce (Nelson) who hasn’t touched her in months and though she’s trying to get his attention, he doesn’t seem interested in making up for lost time.

These women have their bugaboos, their issues, but when they’re together, they have the kinship they need and the love they need to get them through any obstacles that momentarily stops them from being happy. If something gets in the way of their seeing one another they still get together, at least once a month, for their Book Club meeting which is something they cherish. This particular month, they are introduced to Christian Grey from the book ‘50 Shades of Grey.’ They enjoy it so much they’re tickled pink when they find out it’s a trilogy. Their discussions about and attitudes toward the book had the audience I was screening the film with, completely in tears. How it was edited was particularly clever to enhance the more witty elements of the film and endears the audience to the women even more as we got to know them one by one.

Their friendship, their love for one another and their refusal to give up on life are cherished and as far as summer movies go, is one worth watching… maybe more than once. It’s entertaining to see these gifted actresses work together. Their characters know each other so well, that they serve as a check on and call one another out when they know they’re lying or holding something back but embrace when it’s needed to hold someone up. The cast gave such believable performances it was effortless to believe they’ve been friends as long as suggested. It’s easy to say the wonderful script Bill Holderman and Erin Simms wrote together had a lot to do with that. He wrote a fun script and together everyone made a very fun movie.

Measure of a Man Movie Review

May 11, 2018 (updated November 16, 2018) Published by Shari K. Green

The film ‘Measure of a Man’ is an adaptation of the book ‘One Fat Summer’ by Robert Lipsyte. It’s directed by Jim Loach, whose father Ken Loach has been working in the film business for over fifty years. Seeing this movie makes me certain Jim will have the same kind of staying power. Jim had writer David Scearce write the screenplay and make some changes to it to create a more relatable world for him to work with. Doing this has made his twenty-second directing achievement a triumph. His casting choices also helped. Topping off a fabulous cast of young actors whom you may not know quite yet is Judy Greer, Luke Wilson and the crème de la crème, Donald Sutherland.

‘Measure of a Man’ is set in the 1970’s and is a story about an awkward teenager, Bobby Marks (Cooper), trying to fight bullies and his own lack of confidence to grow up and become a man. Depending on how one interprets that, what he wants to do is be helpful to those around him and be a good person but has so much anxiety, he can barely help himself. He’s overweight, uncomfortable in his own skin and outside of his mother (Greer) and sister Michelle (Liberato), is too nervous to talk to girls, save one, Joanie (Danielle Rose Russell), who he grew up knowing. He knows Joanie because his family gets together every year with hers after upstate travel for summer vacation brings them together for picnics, swimming and county fairs. The chubby kid certain that one day her acceptance of him over summer break will blossom into love.

However, this summer, things are different. A lot has changed. Bobby hasn’t changed but other things have and he’s even more uncomfortable. The people upstate have finally let the vacationers know what they think of their visitors, the locals are harsher and less tolerant of the mess they leave and find an easy target in Bobby to take it out on. Joanie frightens Bobby more than anything a thug could do to him. She has matured and is now taking off for a month and won’t explain to him why. Heartbroken, he gets a summer job helping Dr. Kahn (Sutherland) with his lawn and basic yard maintenance. It’s this relationship that becomes the turning point of the film. Kahn is a rich elite who you think is being severe but you come to realize, through his own experience, he’s guiding him into manhood. Kahn also accidentally stumbles onto a sort of friendship he wasn’t quite expecting.

The characters in the film are well thought out and the acting is convincing. Bobby and Michelle’s relationship as brother and sister is hateful yet compassionate and Cooper and Liberato’s performances are spot on. Loach is largely to thank for pulling performances out of his young cast that keep you both amused and captivated. When feeling for the poor youngster, you’ll also feel inflamed when he’s confronted with more than he can handle. I like the movie and believe you will, too. Jim Loach knows how to handle a story. This movie is potent and effective and one not to miss. Include ‘Measure of a Man’ in YOUR summer vacation films.

Playing in Phoenix Exclusively at *Harkins Camelview

READ MY INTERVIEW WITH JIM LOACH AND LIANA LIBERATO

Life of the Party Movie Review

May 11, 2018 (updated May 9, 2018) Published by JMcNaughton

“Life of the Party” is a new movie that relies on the comedy talents of the star, Melissa McCarthy. There is no problem with that, because McCarthy is a totally likable and engaging comic presence. She has the star power and charisma to pull off being a major player when given the right role. That is the biggest problem. Her abilities far overpower the meager gruel that this movie. She tones down her snappy and sarcastic style to play the neutral beige of her character, and jokes fall like gentle snowfall – when she is best suited for a full-scale blizzard of snark.

Deanna Miles (Melissa McCarthy) is dropping her only daughter Maddie (Molly Gordon) off at college for her senior year. Little does Deanna know that her husband Dan (Matt Walsh) is dropping Deanna – he wants a divorce from the bland matronly woman that he married. She is broken apart, and she knows she must propel her life in a new direction. She decides to go back and finish college herself. She had dropped out in her senior year to get married and have Maddie. Now it’s her time to shine. Her best friend Christine (Maya Rudolph) gives her the encouragement to get out on her own.

Deanna bring her cheerfulness and Hallmark-card sentimental gooey nature into the college dorms and classrooms and Greek houses. She is a little unusual, and some of the ‘mean girls’ make fun of her gentle and uplifting manners. But she endures, and even Maddie and her friends are brought over her sunny-side-up attitude. She attends the frat parties and becomes the teacher’s pet. She gets something going with a boy toy that is less than half her age. You go girl!

But her divorce proceeding threatens to bring the whole house down around Deanna. She gets a little bent out-of-shape and ruins Dan’s wedding reception. She is close to failing her favorite class and dropping out of school. But her friends that she made in the sorority will help to throw a big bash for cash. And to get everyone to attend and pay the cover charge, they start the rumor that a big celebrity will stop by after her concert. But is all just a lie, or is it? Does her roommate actually have a secret of her own, one that will save the day?

Melissa McCarthy is the main player in this show, but she gets very little in the way of good material to work with. Mostly all the jokes are a variation of ‘Dad jokes’ just told by the Mom. There are a couple of snappy lines here and there, but most of the script seems to have been warmed over like a week-old stew on the low burner. There could have been much more zing in the story line, but Deanna is forced to get by on phrases like “I’m down to clown”. There is hardly any chemistry between the actors and almost no character development.

There is basically not much Life in this Party. It seems too toned-down to have any edge, and all that is left is a frumpy bedazzled sweater of a movie. It may look nice on the rack in the clothes store, but is not the right style that would have you wear it home.

Breaking In Movie Review

May 11, 2018 (updated May 10, 2018) Published by JMcNaughton

“Breaking In” is a taut little thriller that echoes back to a similar situation in the movie “Panic Room”. In this case, there is not just a single room that is fortified and protected, it is the entire house. Maybe call it “Panic House”? Like in “Panic Room”, there are thugs after hidden money, and a mother is all alone while defending her kids against the murder and mayhem. She has the willpower to overcome some evil creeps who want to make off with the money and ‘eliminate’ and problems. The power of motherly love can battle against criminal sleaze, and she might be able even the odds.

Shaun Russell (Gabrielle Union) has found out that her estranged father was killed in a hit-and-run accident. The old man was perhaps into some bad things, since he was on the radar of the DEA. Shaun must go to his estate to clear it out and get it ready for sale. He brings her two kids, teenage daughter Jasmine (Ajiona Alexus) and younger brother Glover (Seth Carr). She finds that the old man had taken the family home and had given it a full protective make over. There are multiple security doors and lights and sensors, plus shields that come down on the unbreakable glass windows. The place is a fortress, so nothing can get in, right?

Not so fast there, bucko. A group of murderous thieves is about to get into the house to find some hidden cash that the old man stored in a safe. Shaun’s dad was up to no good, but it did pay well. But now he is dead, and the gang of misfits and ex-cons is ready to ransack the house. But then they find that there are two kids inside, while mom is out on the phone ordering a pizza. She gets attacked by a thug but runs, and soon she gets the upper hand. She finds that the main bad guy is Eddie (Billy Burke), who found out that the money was hidden in the house from another ex-con Sam (Levi Meaden). Eddie also has with him Peter (Mark Furze), but he has been tied up by Shaun. The wild-card psycho on his team is Duncan (Richard Cabral), who could kill a real estate agent just to make sure that she does not call the police. Which he does…

Shaun is alone there with the gang holding her children hostage. She needs to find a way to get them safe and to get the bad guys removed. Eddie wants to get the money, but with Shaun and her kids there, it poses a problem. They have weapons, but she has her wits. She also has a fierce protective streak that not even polycarbon-resin based shields can resist. She uses her brains and the tools that she has at hand to play a game of cat and mouse to slowly eliminate the bad guys one by one. She only wants the safety of her family, and if there are people who get in her way – they had best beware. Her husband could not make the trip with her, so she is left to her own resources. And she becomes very resourceful…

This movie is a nice take on the ideas from “Panic Room”, with perhaps a little touch of “Die Hard” thrown in. When Shaun is first attacked and runs away, she had left her shoes behind and is running barefoot. Gabrielle Union does a very powerful job as mother put into a bad situation. She has a screen presence that shows Shaun is resourceful and smart, but she is still scared for the safety of her kids. Billy Burke does a nice job as thoughtful, yet merciless bad guy. The rest of the cast is quite good. For the brief times that they have on screen, they get across a decent idea of that character and what they are capable of doing.

“Breaking In” does take a bit of thunder from some prior movies, but it does present it in a clear and straight-forward way. The movie moves along very quickly, and you can get a pretty good idea of the layout of the entire estate and who is located where. That helps to ratchet up the tension in many scenes. It comes across as an interesting look at how one woman can become a very real nightmare for a gang of thieves. When Shaun gets her “John McClane” going, she is an unstoppable force to be reckoned with.

As Shaun might say “Welcome to the wooded estate home protected by massive security measures, pal!“

The Endless Movie Review

May 6, 2018 (updated May 10, 2018) Published by JMcNaughton

Sometimes a movie can sneak up on you and take your idea of reality and throw it in the trash can. “The Endless” can do just that. It can lift out your brain, put it in the blender, and hit ‘Frappe’. But when you are finished watching, you realize that the movie that you just saw has taken you on a trip into an alternate dimension Fun House. Be careful, you still might be stuck somewhere in the Hall of Mirrors.

Two brothers have escaped ten years ago from a weird ‘UFO death cult’, as they called it. Aaron Smith (Aaron Moorhead) rememebers things much differently than his older brother Justin (Justin Benson). Being far removed from that time, they both feel isolated without contact with the cult members. They are living dull and drab lives, and they wish to make a final closing statement to the other cult people. So they head back for just single night to confront them. But at the same time, Aaron thinks they might be able to take them back.

Justin and Aaron stop at the roadside marker that shows where their mother was killed in a car crash and the cultists found the two boys alone. The cult took them in and cared for them, and Aaron has some fond memories. Back at Camp Arcadia, Aaron and Justin meet with many of the people with whom they used to live. The group has no actual leader, but Hal (Tate Ellington) is the one who talks the most and explains things to them. But how to explain that 10 years have gone by, yet the entire group seems to have not aged? There is Anna (Callie Hernandez) who is sweet to Aaron and might be using her charm to make him stay. There is Tim (Lew Temple) who is big and brawny and might be an enforcer who can make people stay.

Justin wants to get going quickly, because he feels something is not quite right at the camp. The members of the group never leave, and there are very odd things that he sees. Gravity does not seem to work in the same way. The full moon is shown to be two moons in the sky. There are things that Justin cannot explain, Aaron is not paying attention at first, but soon he also gets the idea that there are unnatural forces at work. Justin tries to leave, and he gets lost in the woods.

Justin finds a fellow named Carl (James Jordan) and he explains some things to Justin. But he does not believe Carl, until he sees the results of what happens. There is an unseen force or an entity that is controlling these people, at the camp and in Carl’s cabin. Justin goes not he finds a couple of guys in a cabin where unusual things happen with time. In some areas, there is repeating loop where time is not advancing into the future. Justin and Aaron reconnect and both decide that it is time for them to go. But will they be able to get out of the mystery location, without a way to know what the hell is going on?

Justin Benson has come up with a story that takes you and gives you a very strange tingle of your spidy-sences. Justin Benson and Aaron Moorhead manage to not only direct the entire film, but also two play the two key roles. As brothers who had been able to escape the clutches of a strange death-cult, they return to find things were more bizarre then they thought. The story unfolds very slowly and methodically, with just enough unexplained images and dialog to make you wonder if the two guys are just insane.

For a very small independent movie, this reaches and succeeds far better than a handful of major Hollywood releases. It explores the presence of an unseen entity better than “Annihilation”. It takes a stab at displaying time loops that can rival the movie “Edge of Tomorrow”. It takes a clever look at what being in a cult can do to mess up the brain of young kids, better than any other major movie.

“The Endless” does a credible job of breaking out of a ‘cult status’ movie and being able to become a well-respected and interesting movie that will be talked about for ages.

In Phoenix, playing the FilmBar

Disobedience Movie Review

May 4, 2018 (updated May 4, 2018) Published by JMcNaughton

The movie “Disobedience” is a deep dive into the inner workings of an Orthodox Jewish enclave located in London. The focus is on two women, and how the community reacts to the sexual attraction between them. The pacing of the story is slow and methodical, as the ramifications of their forbidden love spreads even deeper. Since one of the stars is Rachel McAdams, the shortcut title might be “The Notebook for Orthodox Jewish Lesbians”. All that is missing is the kiss in the pouring rain and the swans on the lake…

Ronit (Rachel Weisz) is the daughter of the main rabbi in a small London Jewish community. The elder rabbi is much respected, and Ronit is estranged from everyone in the Orthodox group. She has moved far away and does not communicate with anyone from back home. That is, until the rabbi dies suddenly. She is informed that he has passed away, and she decides to make a trip from New York back to her old community. That is, if anyone there will put up with her. There was some undefined incident that caused the falling out with her father and the rest of the people. But she comes back and stays with a childhood friend.

That friend is Dovid (Alessandro Nivola) who is a young man getting setup to be the new rabbi for the community. He is married to their childhood friend Esti (Rachel McAdams) who is the one that secretly contacted Ronit. Dovid is surprised to see Ronit return, because he thought that nothing would make her come back to the place that caused her so much pain. Esti is secretly pleased, because she and Ronit have a hidden past of passion and love. It was this relationship that caused Ronit to leave in the first place.

Passions get reignited and emotions get all tumbled when Esti and Ronit reconnect. The community around them start to get wind of the underground love affair that has rekindled. Dovid becomes very angry and at the same time confused. The things that Ronit assumed would be part of her father’s will that he would leave to her are instead being funneled to the synagogue. So, she left with nothing, and she is coming back for nothing. Only the subversive and illicit love between her and Esti will bring her anything resembles joy. Yet the passion that connected them is tearing apart the community in which they live.

The keys of this movie are ‘The Two Rachels’, Rachel Squared as it were. Rachel Weisz and Rachel McAdams are very enlightening as the two leads, Ronit and Esti. They pour a lot of talent into the lost and longing looks and steely gazes of the two characters. They are the reason that a very mediocre story line can be enhanced into a higher level of viewing. Also, Alessandro Nivola does a very fine job as the poor guy who gets stuck in the middle of something that he does not understand. Every other actor is well suited to be a typical Jewish community member. Perhaps a bit too stereotypically, in some of the cases.

This will, in most cases, be a must-see movie for a very small and select slice of the audience. It does have two strong female leads. They are in a very interesting situation where they rebel against a very traditional religion. But for a clear majority of people, it might be a little languid in the pacing of the movie. It might also be a little non-specific in the final resolutions. There are many loose ends, and many times an audience likes to see most of the situations wrapped up. There is not a huge excitement factor in the plot or the pacing. The movie simply exists to give ‘Rachel Squared’ a platform to give a very powerful pair of performances.

In Phoenix, playing exclusively at Harkins Camelview…

Tully Movie Review

May 3, 2018 (updated November 16, 2018) Published by Shari K. Green

Going into ‘Tully’ I didn’t know what to expect. Sometimes when I know ahead of time that I’ll be reviewing a film, I avoid all mention of the said film, so I can go in without any knowledge of the concept and therefore don’t build any preconceived notions. I especially avoid trailers as I believe, this is especially true of the last few years, they give away too much of the plot. I’ll try not to reveal too much here, myself.

What I knew of ‘Tully,’ and all I needed to know to sell me on it, were the stars, the director and the writer. Charlize Theron, Mark Duplass and Ron Livingston in a film directed by Jason Reitman who directed the wonderful ‘Up in the Air’?! Enough said! But then written and produced by Diablo Cody, too?! Cody first came on the scene when she wrote her smash hit film ‘Juno” for which she procured a BAFTA, Writers Guild, Critics Choice and Academy Award® for Best Original Screenplay. Quite the accomplishment. ‘Juno’ was also directed by Reitman. ‘Young Adult,’ which I considered to be rather good, as well, Sees Cody and Reitman together also and stars Charlize Theron. Knowing this, I was chomping at the bit for this new film. Still I refused to learn too much of the story, instead, I went in trusting the team that designed the piece. I had heard all I needed to know to get me in the theatre and should do it for you, too. Reitman and Cody make a good team. ‘Tully’ is very well written, quite charming and whether you think you can relate to the characters or not, very much worth your time.

Theron plays Marlo, a pregnant mother of two, who’s about to have baby number three shortly. One of her children, her son, has difficulties in school, shows all the signs of autism, and makes getting through the day quite a struggle. She has to brush his body to reduce the anxiety of everyday stimulation for him. Her husband Drew, played by Ron Livingston, of ‘Office Space’ fame, works a lot and when home he spends more time playing video games than he does noticing if Marlo has had a good day, is okay or needs his help. He is a good father and they do have a loving relationship, but their communication is more about the kids and problems that arise rather than relaxed and problem free. Then, of course, when she has the baby things get more chaotic for Marlo and, seeing less of him, she begins feeling drained and sleep deprived.

Her concerned and very wealthy brother Craig, played by the charismatic Mark Duplass, offers to pay for Marlo to have a night nanny come over in the evenings and help her. This is so she can get some rest and be more prepared to handle the sunrise. At first, the idea of someone coming into her home and taking care of her child doesn’t thriller Marlo but she eventually finds herself unable to dig herself out from underneath mounds of housework piling up around her. She feels neglectful and, realizing how good it’ll be for her family to have someone help, she accepts the generous gift.

This is when Tully, (Mackenzie Davis from ‘Blade Runner 2049’), a young woman in her twenties, enters her life. Still a little nervous about the situations, when she finally meets Tully she feels genuine warmth come from her. Knowing that all will be well, Marlo puts her head on the pillow, closes her eyes and gets the first good night’s sleep she’s had in years.

As the relationship deepens and the help she’s receiving becomes more about the bond between the two women, their conversations and the film itself gets more engaging. It’s also considerably witty. Whether you’re a woman or have been a parent or not, you’ll enjoy the banter between all the characters in the film. The Reitman/Cody union has always been strong and this time it’s not only good but has matured, as well. A twist they throw at you at the end of the film is not only kept well-hidden but is a testimonial to how Cody has evolved as a writer which makes you giddy for her future work. Whatever she has coming up for us, hopefully, she’ll not stray too far from her formula and from these partnerships that work.

For more information, visit the website and check out the social pages:

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

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

Twitter: @TullyMovie

Instagram: @TullyMovie

#Tully

Kings Movie Review

May 1, 2018 Published by JMcNaughton

The movie “Kings” is an attempt to tell the story of the LA riots in 1992. It zooms in to a close-up level on a black foster mother raising quite a few kids while living in the South Central section of LA. After the beating of Rodney King, there were four cops on trial for the incident. The verdict came back ‘not guilty’, and much of the town exploded in violence. Black people were outraged and took to the streets in droves.

Mille (Halle Berry) somehow has seven or so children in her care. She gets some money from the state for raising the kids, but she also gets some more cash by selling bundt cakes. Which is a very black thing to do, I hear. There are some her kids with names, but there are so many it all seems a blur of who is who. There is an incident at night where Millie pulls another young black boy off the streets, who is being stopped by the cops. She just takes him in and that’s that. Also, there is some young black girl who drops out and maybe gets involved in a gang, but it is not clear.

There is a neighbor who lives alone named Obie (Daniel Craig) and he is one of the only white men left in that part of the city. He plays classical music (it figures) and he gets annoyed when Millies younger boys play ball in the alley. There is one day when Mille is mad at the three younger boys and tells them to stay outside, because they misbehaved will not get supper. Obie sees them and takes the three smaller kids in and gets them some food and cares for them. Millie is panicked, but she sees that her grumpy neighbor has a softer side.

The weeks go on and there is a rising sense of tension, until the verdict comes in from the trial. Then a match that has been thrown onto a puddle of racial gasoline ignites the city into flames. There are roving gangs of violent gangs and multiple stores being looted. There are multiple fires across the city, and the firemen and policemen cannot come out to save structures or people. The raw power of hatred has overcome society, and Millie and Obie are trapped in the middle.

This movie very uneven and it has a place that it wants to get to. But it never seems to get to that place. In a time where there are major true stories to tell (LA race riots), this movie would rather serve up a weak fictional story of a black mother and some white guy. There is a very awkward sort-of romance that is tacked onto this relationship. But that does not feel deserved at all. The characters of each of the kids is so fuzzy that I could not tell which black teenage foster son was the ‘good son’ and which was the ‘mean streets son’.

And there is no indication of that silly movie title and what it means. “Kings’, does that mean LA Kings, the NHL team in LA? Does it mean that LA cops see all the inner-city black dudes as ‘Kings’, as in a bunch of Rodney Kings? Does it mean there was a defective deck of cards, and it contained only face cards, the ‘King’ type card? Inquiring minds what to know!

If this movie wants to see what an excellent movie about a race riot looks like, then they can check out ‘Detroit’. It is a movie from last year, but it also had some similar themes of racial injustice and black rage. This movie “Kings’ is a Hallmark version of a real gritty, down-to-earth expose of a race riot.

Playing in Phoenix area at Harkins Shea 14

Category: Reviews