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Wild Nights with Emily Movie Review

April 19, 2019 (updated April 19, 2019) Published by Shari K. Green

Brilliant. Simply, brilliant! Using everything she knows to apply her subtle wit, Molly Shannon, formerly with Saturday Night Live, has given us quite a pearl with her take on Emily Dickenson. Working with an excellent script from the writer/director Madeleine Olnek, she gives us a fresh look into the life of this American poet and anomaly. In 1914, Emily’s niece published a book of Emily’s poems which she dedicated to the love that her mother Susan and Emily shared. Interestingly enough, in 1998 the New York Times used technology to restore her mother’s name in the love letters that Emily had sent her. Her mother’s name, Susan (who was also Emily’s sister-in-law) could be erased by the family for a time but could not be erased from history.

The vehicle Olnek uses to tell this story is through the words of Mabel Todd (Seimetz) who is giving a lecture about the poet to a group of women. Mable had an affair with Austin, Emily’s brother, and though she had never actually met Emily, she pushes that she’s the authority on her and Emily’s work and life. This is no doubt done by Mable to get herself some recognition.

Emily was thought to have lived somewhat similarly to a hermit who’s the shy-type and may have been disliked because of it. It was rumored she may have been so disagreeable she wasn’t interested in being published because she thought her work wasn’t good enough to be published. But maybe she thought the publisher wasn’t worthy of publishing it. In an innovative and comical way, this film not only dispels many myths about this woman, her work and her life but enlightens the audience. Emily Dickenson was anything but a recluse. Growing up next to a cemetery created a bit of a dark side in her but she had plenty of fun-filled days… and nights. She participated in life heart and soul… when she was with her love. Reminder. Being a woman in those days meant you couldn’t be too successful lest you step on a man’s toes.

This is represented adequately with incredibly well-written and impressive, potent dialogue, when Emily attempts to get the editor at The Atlantic, Higginson (Gelman), to put some of her poems in his magazine. He believes women should have the right to be recognized and to vote. He thinks more intelligent women need to be heard but also says that he’s, ‘barely able to find any.’ He insults Emily’s work by saying that when he reads her poetry, ‘He’s left feeling… I’m not sure what.’ He discloses to her that unless he’s able to edit the hell out of her poems, she can forget being published by his magazine. She thanks him for his surgical suggestions but isn’t happy about them.

Then there’s being a woman in love with another woman which would have been even more difficult on poor Emily. All things considered, it’s not hard to see why she may have seemed cranky at times. The love between Emily and Susan (Ziegler), her muse, had to be hidden. This being the case, no one but Susan would have seen her at her most lively and happy. For the era, Emily was anything but what she was expected to be. She was unapologetically selfish when it came to who she loved and who she spent her time with. She loved Susan wildly but had to live the ruse. She was willing to accept it because Susan married her brother, Austin (Seal), which meant they would always be near one another without being accused of anything. Emily is upset about the marriage at first but realizes Susan did it not to be with Austin, but to be with her. As teenagers, young women stole kisses when they could. Now, as adults living next to one another, they could still do the same… undetected.

There are so many creative and shamelessly open scenes in this movie that not only reveal to us how Emily worked but who she was on the inside. Especially when it came to love. She had jealous moments, was intelligent, strong and had a great sense of humor. This woman wrote poetry with the same passion she reserved only for Susan. It’s a shame that a puny amount of her poems was actually published while she was alive. It’s unfortunate that she never got to see how she influenced others. You’ll learn more about this in the postscript before the credits. ‘Wild Nights With Emily’ is an amusing movie and it’s playful. It’s original, captivating and engaging. I recommend it highly.

*Opening today at Harkins Camelview Fashion Square

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Stuck Movie Review

April 19, 2019 (updated April 19, 2019) Published by Shari K. Green

With the popularity of musical films lately, 2016 gave us ‘La La Land.’ 2017 was the year of ‘The Greatest Showman’ and ‘A Star is Born’ was remade, once again, in 2018, naturally, 2019 needed to release something, too. Let’s keep the momentum going! Luckily, Phoenix, Arizona native Michael Berry, who has had a successful career as a director and actor on the stage and on screen, heard the call and did just that. He gave us ‘Stuck,’ starring ‘Breaking Bad’ actor Giancarlo Esposito. ‘Stuck’ is about six people who find themselves forced together when their New York City subway stops moving. Rather than sit there in silence, they get to know one another through, of course, song.

At the outset, it was a musical play written by Riley Thomas. When Berry heard about it, he was in right away to direct the film version. He was hooked by the fact that people everywhere are angry, especially these days, and he could definitely take that premise and make it work. Not only are people angry but through electronics, human beings are getting more and more distant. So, when these six individuals are, begrudging, made to spend time with one another, even connect, things happen that help each of them… heal, honestly. It’ll remind you some of ‘Rent’ in a way but it’s different. Maybe that doesn’t make any sense, but the songs feel the same… sound the same. Don’t let the fact that it isn’t its equal deter you from enjoying it. Nothing can be ‘Rent’ but ‘Rent.’ It came along and blew everyone away and got everyone excited about musicals, even if they had never seen one, and ‘Stuck’ will simply continue to draw interest to the genre. A few things happen at the end of the film that suggests a sequel could result from this effort should they ever get the urge.

The lyrics to the songs are meaningful and reach across lines of culture and race. In fact, the entire film purposefully deals with racism, sexism, class, and grief in several different ways that reflect the current climate rather than attempt to escape it. Some passengers try and help others, but a few arguments happen and are dealt with through gorgeous melodies and verses replacing unnecessary dialogue in songs like ‘Gone,’ ‘Make It Better’ and ‘Draw You.’ I assure you that the ballads will simply delight your ears. The performances, the songs and the incredibly uncommon way to bring us a story such as this, one of harmony and anguish, is worth seeing on the big screen if you can. As I do with most musicals that get released, I’ll be buying this soundtrack the moment I can. You might want to do the same.

*MJW Films and Eammon Films will theatrically release the film on April 19th in Phoenix at multiple Harkins Theatre locations.

Teen Spirit Movie Review

April 19, 2019 (updated April 19, 2019) Published by JMcNaughton

“Teen Spirit” is a ‘been there, done that’ standard story of a young teenage girl who wants to break out of her humdrum existence by becoming a famous star. The pathway to stardom is an English talent contest called ‘Teen Spirit’. But she is a basic nobody who lives with her mother on the Isle of Wight (off the southern coast of England). She has a difficult to pronounce last name (her mother was from Poland). But she has a beautiful voice, even with little formal training. She wants to take on this contest, to see if she can conquer the world.

Violet Valenski (Elle Fanning) is that down-and-out farm girl, and her father left many years ago. She attends school and works at a bowling alley with her mother as a waitress. But she sings in the church choir and really breaks out in song when she feeding the pigs or tending to the horses. She finds out that the ‘Teen Spirit’ squad will be in town to select new contestants. She knows her mother will not let her go, so she finds a older guy who has heard her sing ballads at the local talent night in the bar. His name is Vlad (Zlatko Buric) and he knows that Violet could be a very amazing singer. He knows a bit about singing himself. He is a former world-famous opera star.

Violet makes the first cut, but she has to explain to her mother Marla (Agnieszka Grochowska) that she and Vlad are going to audition for ‘Teen Spirit’ for a second time. Her mother is quite angry that Violet did not come to her, and she has many suspicious about Vlad. Why does he look so disheveled, and why does he smell of alcohol? She has misgivings, but then somebody else is selected for the contestant from the Isle of Wight. So it appears that Violet will put her dreams on hold for a while longer. But there is a phone call, telling here that the other person was rejected for the show. Violet will have a pass to the final program in London to compete for the big show.

In London, Violet is ready to take on the competition. She is with Vlad, who has agreed to take her there as long as he becomes her manager. She is getting ready for the performance, and she meets one of the main leaders from the ‘Teen Spirit’ program. Her name is Jules (Rebecca Hall) and she thinks Violet could have quite a future. Even if she does not win the final competition, she offers Violet a nice record contract. Of course, she would have to dump Vlad. Jules would become her real manager, so that Violet could have all the doors opened for her…

There are conflicts and drunken fights, and televised competitions. There are people’s feeling that will be hurt, and a small town on the Isle of Wight who will ecstatic that a local girl is competing. There all sorts of things that you would normally think you would see in a movie like this. There are many fairly standard turn-of-events before the final announcement of the winner. And while that all goes on, Violet just keeps her eyes focused on what she could have if she wins the whole enchilada.

Max Minghella has taken a step out from being just a regular actor to becoming the writer and the director for “Teen Spirit”. His vision is one that has been done over and over again, and he adds very little that is new or refreshing. He does a competent job, but there is not an above average aspect to this movie. Elle Fanning is quite fetching in this role, and her voice is good enough to carry the weight of the role. She has a breathy intensity to her vocals that can be quite pleasing to the ear. Zlatko Buric is pretty good as the down-on-his-luck former opera superstar. Rebecca Hall is also good in a very limited role.

Perhaps the best thing with this movie is that it can be paired with another movie coming out at the same time (“Her Smell”). So you can mix and mash-up these two movies as “Her Smells like Teen Spirit”…

MUSIC FEATURETTE

Watch how music producer Marius De Vries (La La Land) prepared Elle Fanning for her role in this new “Music” featurette:

Peterloo Movie Review

April 19, 2019 (updated April 18, 2019) Published by JMcNaughton

“Peterloo” is an overly ambitious retelling of a British historical event from 1819. It was soon after the Battle at Waterloo and the War was over. British common folk thought that good times would come. But the English royalty and Parliament, plus the wealthy land owners and merchants, continued to abuse the lower classes. They rose up with noble ides, like their American cousins, to rally for more freedom and equality – universal suffrage, voting rights, the end of tariffs and better wages.

This all led up to a sunny day in St. Peter’s Field in Manchester, where a crowd of 60,000 or more came to cheer on a reformist speaker. But at the end, they were trampled, stabbed and shot by the King’s Army and local police. Thus the “Massacre at Peterloo” was born, a play on name “Battle of Waterloo”.

At the end of Waterloo, a single British bugler, Joseph (David Moorst) remains in a field. He stumbles all the way back to his hometown of Manchester. Back with his father Joshua (Pearce Quigley) and mother Nellie (Maxine Peake), life is harder than ever. The end of wartime has ended the hardship, suffering and toil of the common British worker. The dawning of the Industrial Age has made 16-hour days and child labor a big thing. Common people look for a way to get a better deal out of life.

The dream of Radical Reform, a way to change government and society to be more equal and just, is coming to the lower classes. The King and other Royalty are not impressed by the ideas of change. Major speakers, such as Henry ‘Orator’ Hunt (Rory Kinnear) are well known in the country and they are spreading the ideas of equal representation and voting rights.

Many people in Manchester decide that getting Henry Hunt up to the northern reaches of England would spark the population and help to bring about change. The local farmers, small shop owners and textile mill workers plea with him to visit and speak to a crowd of local folk. The District magistrates and local constables are spying on the townsfolk to see if they are getting out of hand. They are worried that a new fresh change in the politics could put them all out of a job.

The Home Secretary in London sends an Army officer to the area to amass a large group of soldiers. They are all back from war in France, so they can be a military show of force at home. Mistrust and bad manners are also getting in the way of a united English people. Various newspaper people are also interested in how the large group of people in Manchester will react when Henry Hunt speaks to them.

The day comes, and Henry Hunt is ready for a big crowd. He has some stirring words to say to everyone. During Hunt’s speech, one of the magistrates reads the Riot Act out of open window – out to the crowd. The crowd does not hear any of that, but now the magistrates are able to disperse the meeting. They will use any means that they require to end Hunt’s speech and to arrest the people in charge.

The Army cavalry charges out riding horses to attack the peaceful assembly with sabers at the ready. Hunt and the others are arrested. The army forces try to clear St Peter’s Fields. But there are too many people, and the entire event ends in bedlam and mayhem. Some people in the crowd are killed and many more injured. The bugler Joseph, now returned home, is stabbed with a sword. He dies, along with a little over a dozen others. There are many more injured and hurting. Word gets out that the “Massacre at Peterloo” was an affront against the English people from their out-of-control government.

“Peterloo” is an honest effort to teach people about a savage and unfortunate event in British history. The biggest problem is the medium that is used. The ideas that are brought up and explained in this movie could have been expanded and given more time to digest – but only if this had been created as a limited mini-series. Perhaps on Amazon Prime, because they are the movie’s main producer. With a length of over two and a half hours, the movie still feels rushed, just because there are too many threads that are left unresolved.

Perhaps Mike Leigh, as the writer, was thinking that he would be paid by the word. There are so many speeches and speechifying in this movie that it eventually gets like verbal assault on the ears. There are never any true human characters in the movie, nobody that makes an emotional connection. Each person was mostly just a symbol – the Old Farmer, the Drunk Townsman, the Sneaky London Political Player, the High-Minded yet Soft-Spoken Leader…

All of these people are given words (lot and lots of words) that seem to written as a dry dissertation by a boring English Professor of British History. Very little of it could be relatable to the honest common workers of Manchester. There is even a part when a woman a small group meeting stands up and complains that everyone is using too many big words that they she does not understand. The same could be said for the audience, most of the time.

Penguins Movie Review

April 17, 2019 (updated April 17, 2019) Published by Shari K. Green

If you like supporting causes that help nature, seeing this movie does just that for you! Without having to go through the trouble of finding a worthwhile cause, simply buying a ticket to ‘Penguins’ lets you see an entertaining film and make a donation to the Wildlife Conservation Network (WCN) to help protect penguins across the southern hemisphere at the same time. To do this, see ‘Penguins’ in theaters today through April 23. During that time, for every ticket sold, Disney Nature is making a donation to them to support Global Penguin Society’s work to protect these penguins. Outside of being an outstanding nature film, I can’t think of a better reason to see this than that. Take as many people with you as you can and spread the word so your friends and family can help, too. Now I’ll tell you some about the movie.

‘Penguins’ starts out by introducing us to ‘Steve’ who’s an adorable Adélie penguin. This breed is found along the entire coast of the Antarctic. When they become adults, they make a one-hundred-mile trek every year to mate with the females. Steve is an adult, albeit a somewhat naïve one, who we get to see meet and mate, purportedly, for the first time. The camera follows Steve, and Steve ‘stunt doubles,’ as producer Roy Conli told us, to keep the film moving along to complete the journey of the life of a male penguin. Before he gets to where everyone else is, he accidentally ends up in Emperor penguin territory, where he’s not at all welcome. When the poor little guy finally gets to the correct colony, he starts building a rock nest, hoping to attract a young lady with his skills. It takes him longer than he has expected because his neighbor keeps stealing his rocks when he’s off getting more! Ed Helms narration here is particularly invaluable because his voice impeccably captures the frustration Steve must be feeling. You’re definitely feeling it for him. When this occurred, there were several disapproving grumbles from the audience. This happens to everyone several times as your attachment to Steve and your concern for his welfare grows. You just want to see him triumph over all the horrid obstacles this cute little guy encounters.

Steve finally gets his nest made and next, he starts to do what instinct tells him to do… which is to sing! The filmmaker inserts REO Speedwagon’s ‘I Can’t Fight This Feeling Anymore’ into the soundtrack of this moment of Steve’s life. Speaking of, the songs that were chosen for the entire soundtrack, fit perfectly with his entire expedition. After Steve gets his groove on, which is how Penguins meet their beloved, he finds the one to have a family with. It takes him a while, but he manages to draw the attention of one young lady they’ve named Adeline. This is just your typical Hollywood story of romance. You didn’t think he’d be left hangin’, did you? By the way, once they sing and dance together, they will forever be able to use their song to find one another amongst all the rest. You have to admit, that’s astonishing considered how many penguins there are in the world. So, after they get their home life sorted out, and she’s performing the egg hatching thing, he goes for some much-needed R&R. In fact, the males take a long hike to swim and get some food to bring back for the hatchlings. Roy Conli explains that after all of his hard work, it was as if Steve was on ‘Summer Break… only colder.’ Usually, summer break doesn’t include the threat of killer whales, but they appear here… looking for snacks. Even though Conli said, ‘When in the water, they’re incredibly beautiful.’ I wanted to scream at the screen for Steve and the others to ‘Hurry! Get out of the pool!’ There were some beautiful underwater shots of Steve swimming around alone, not paying a bit of attention to the dangerous creatures around him, but they made me nervous. And hungry whales aren’t the only threats these little penguins have to worry about. They also face the bitter cold of 150 miles an hour winds, bitter cold and awful, barbaric Leopard Seals, that can eat approximately 100 baby penguins a day. Baby-snatching birds of prey are problems, too. Some of these scenes may be a touch to watch but only for little ones… if they understand what’s going on. The film is fairly sensitive to everyone while still getting their point across. Long treks parents have to take for food, away from their family, could be the biggest issue because, with only one left there to protect the babies from the elements, it’s difficult sometimes to survive.

Watching this film makes you realize that with what nature has in store for them, it’s amazing we have any penguins at all. At the end of the film, we’re left with Steve waddling again, this time to the song, ‘Here I Go Again’ by Whitesnake, in what looks similar to the opening scene. If all goes to plan and they survive to next mating season, Steve and Adeline will see each other again.

‘Penguins’ is the first Disneynature film to be released in IMAX®. See this on the big screen if you can. It’s worth every minute and every penny. Also, stay to watch a making of during the credits.

Breakthrough Movie Review

April 17, 2019 (updated April 14, 2019) Published by JMcNaughton

“Breakthrough” is a faith-based story of Missouri family rocked by a tragedy that turned into medical miracle. It was all because of the unshakable faith of the mother. Based on a true story from 2015, a young adopted son fell into an icy river and was submerged for over 20 minutes. But the faith and prayers of his mother seemed to bring him back to life at the hospital. The family struggle is depicted in a very straight-forward and moving way.

Joyce Smith (Chrissy Metz) and her husband Brian Smith (Josh Lucas) have an adopted son named John (Marcel Ruiz). They are very involved with their local church. Joyce and Brian went on a mission trip to Guatemala where they adopted John. Joyce has loved John with a fierce protective nature, even when he would rather ignore her feelings. He is a star player on the basketball team, and the family attends church every Sunday. Joyce is not happy with the new leader, Pastor Jason Noble (Topher Grace). She likes more traditional ways, and Pastor Jason is there to shake things up. Joyce still will not call him by his first name, and she hates his 90’s boy band style haircut.

Over a long weekend in February, John and his friends go over to the frozen lake in the town and are goofing around on the ice. The ice suddenly breaks, and the boys are in the icy water. The Fire Department rescue people show up quickly, but by then John Smith has sunk down into the murky depths. A water rescue EMT named Tommy (Mike Colter) is in the water, about to give up on the search – but he hears a voice telling him to “Go back”. He tries again, and finds the body of John underwater. John is brought to the ER, and the doctors are unable to revive his lifeless body.

Joyce is beside herself when she gets to the hospital. She is allowed time with John, until they need to take his body to the morgue. She prays and cries and prays and yells and prays for God to answer her prayer. John’s pulse revives and he is a weak condition. But John is still alive, so they rush him to the Children’s Hospital. A specialist is there named Dr. Garrett (Dennis Haysbert), and he has treated many drowning patients. But there has never been a patient who had been underwater for so long. John might survive, but he could have severe mental difficulties. Brian Smith is so distraught that he cannot be in the hospital room. But Pater Jason shows up to support Johan, and especially Joyce.

Dr. Garrett has put John into an induced coma, so that his body can adjust to trauma that he has gone through. Many of the nurses and other doctors openly speak about John’s condition is tenuous, and that Joyce and Brian should prepare for the inevitable. Joyce is a fierce Mama Grizzly, and she chastises anyone who does not believe that John will be OK. Her strength, which can sometimes turn into pig-headedness, is overwhelming. She finally breaks down and realizes that Pastor Jason is doing the right thing, and she accepts him. She has some medical issues herself, but is strong enough to be a powerful voice for John. She wants the doctors to give him a chance to fight on his own, and orders him taken out of the induced coma.

At the moment of greatest need, Joyce unites her church and her community with enough faith and power to see John back from the dead. Even medical EMT Tommy comes by to tell Joyce that he heard a voice that day to ‘Go back’. But it was not his Fire Chief, or any other human voice that told him to do that. Tommy is not a religious man, but he says that he knows that there is someone above looking out for John. The people from church sign outside of John’s window at the hospital to show their support. So, will John make a ‘Breakthrough’?

Given that a story such as this could be very predicable and could turn very mawkish, the level of acting and direction raises it up to higher standard. You actually do start to care for the predicament that Smith family find themselves in. The human and emotional honesty with the characters turns it into a very uplifting and heartwarming story. Chrissy Metz is a large woman, but she needs to be to contain the size of her heart. Her performance was really emotional and true. Topher Grace is also really good in his role. Dennis Haysbert has the type of gravitas to pull off the role of an experienced Doctor. You just wish that he would turn to Joyce when John is put into the hospital room and tell her – “He’s in Good Hands”…

All in all, it is strong contender for a wide and positive audience reception, even outside a faith-based community. There is a little bit of a play on words with the title of the movie, “Breakthrough”. It could stand for the time when the boys ‘break though’ the ice of the river. But it could also be reflective of the medical ‘break though’ when John recovers. God Only Knows…

Mary Magdalene (2018) Movie Review

April 13, 2019 (updated April 14, 2019) Published by Shari K. Green

This is an origin story unlike any other. What the filmmaker (award-winning director Garth Davis of ‘Lion’) is attempting to get across to the world, and he does a fair job of making his message clear, is that Mary Magdalene was a good human with substance. He does this especially with the summation at the end of his movie. Mary was a woman with great spiritual convictions who was not a prostitute but someone who followed Jesus, touched people in the name of Jesus and believed, as his apostles did. The title of the film alone may lead you to think that this is just another movie that’ll condemn and denigrate her, like so many before it has done. This feels different. It is different. It’s often said that Mary’s presence in Jesus’ life was that of a temptress. She was vilified as an adulterer to simply blame, as women often were, maybe still are.

However, at the end of ‘Mary Magdalene,’ there’s an epilogue that says Mary was present at the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ. That it was a popular misconception to even suggest she was a prostitute. More interestingly, in 2016, she was formally identified by the Vatican as an Apostle. She was their equal and the first messenger of the resurrection.

She was never truly recognized for her role in history. As the only woman amongst all of these men, she was made out to be, basically, a whore… to put it bluntly. ‘Mary Magdalene’ sets out to correct that.

We meet the young woman, played by Rooney Mara, when she’s living and working in a small fishing community. She’s about to be forced to marry someone with whom she doesn’t love, most likely, barely knows. Her father has ordered her to wed and being the sort of freethinking flower-child that she is, she bolts. Well, I got a little ahead of myself.

See, what happened is, she has seen, from afar, this Jesus fella (Joaquin Phoenix), who had gotten a lot of buzz about town. Naturally, she just had to check him out for herself.

Mary instantly likes what she sees. She’s very drawn to his charisma, his energy, and spirit. Who wouldn’t want to be around someone who loves life and spreads messages of goodwill and hope? Doesn’t hurt that he helps baptize people several times a day and therefore probably doesn’t smell of sheep dung constantly. He also promises those who follow him that a kingdom awaits them at the end of their journey. All things considered, many willingly and happily march with him toward Jerusalem, spreading the word of God and love along the way.

She wants in. The last straw for her is when her father insists there’s a demon living inside of her and almost drowns her in an attempt to force the demon out. He chillingly screams at her when she asks that she be allowed to marry on her how timeline. He accuses her of shaming her family. How dare she desire to be her own person, right? She discovers Jesus is leaving town in the morning to move onto the next so, here’s her chance. It’s now or never. She’s told she’ll never be allowed to return. Those terms are acceptable to her. She gets in line with the others, including Peter (Ejiofor) and Judas (Rahim).

Soon, she’s baptized by Jesus in what looks like water as cold as Lake Michigan in October. And now you know why actors are paid the big bucks. I would have been screaming for the green screen on that shot, but that’s me. Anyway, Jesus has asked they all spread his message to the people in his absence. ‘You go here while I get this group here,’ kind of thing. Word of what he’s capable of has gotten out so he’s swamped. Mary takes the job so seriously that she helps those who Peter cast as, ‘Beyond help.’ She comforts them, prays with them, gets them water and soothes them as they slip away into the great beyond. It’s here where Peter sees her true worth… and sees doubt in his own. He thought they were only to baptize those who could follow not waste time on those who couldn’t carry the load! He watches her show true mercy and is humbled by it.

There was something fascinating about what we see next. Jesus being hailed the Messiah. Rome catching word. His mother, the Virgin Mary, making her appearance. These things happen in the third and most intriguing act of the picture. The pacing picks up when we get here and observing Mary and Mary face one another… it seemed surreal. I’m not religious but was seduced by the idea of it. Mary gives Magdalene a bone-chilling warning to prepare herself for the loss. The words haunt her. The story doesn’t get into why Judas was who he was, only glosses over the fact that he sold Jesus out but does touch upon his guilt some in the end.

Except for the pacing and the absolutely gorgeous musical score that overpowered much of the intense dialogue, the movie, genuinely, captivated me. Mara does walk around with a dumbfounded look on her face throughout the flick that never really speaks of her maturity, but she was tender when she needed to be and had a strong presence.

Phoenix was heavy. He looked the part; acted the part. During the crucifixion, he became Jesus. He was so convincing, I’d believe we were watching a long-lost video of the historic event itself. This man who wanted only peace and love was killed for it. Incredible story. Deep film. Outstanding performance by Phoenix. A little bit of a yawner BUT, good for a matinee or cable watch. Curious? I wouldn’t miss it. Lover of music? I wouldn’t miss it. Joaquin Phoenix fan? Don’t even think about missing a chance to see this on the big screen.

Opening today at the Harkins Shea 14 and the Mary D Fisher Theatre.

The Chaperone Movie Review

April 12, 2019 Published by Shari K. Green

Before the film starts a card reads, ‘In 1922 Louise Brooks traveled from Wichita Kansas to New York City with a chaperone. Within a few years, she was to become one of the most famous film stars in the world.’ So, I had to look her up. This film is in fact inspired by a true story. Louise Brooks was a sensation up on the silver screen during the Jazz Age. Her film ‘Pandora’s Box’ was an instant classic.

In this film, Louise (Haley Lu Richardson) is headed toward New York. Her mother’s friend, Norma (McGovern) agrees to be the chaperone that accompanies her. She’s going to attend a dance class at a brilliant school. Being that she has only been in Kansas her entire life, Louise has no idea of the type of dangers that await an unsuspecting, pretty, young lady, especially the type who are spoiled and have something to prove. On the train on the first night, as Norma was sleeping, Louise slipped off and had dinner with a cute young man and his uncle in the dining car. Louise isn’t pleased with Norma and she explains to Louise that dining alone with men could get her into trouble. It’s all in appearances. She tries to get Louise to understand that word can spread and, ‘Men don’t like candy that’s been unwrapped.’ This makes Louise laugh while Norma grows frustrated, but still, she continues trying to keep the girl straight.

On their first night in NY, Louise wants to go out, but Norma doesn’t allow her to. Dance is in the morning and she refuses to help her miss it. She takes her job seriously. By now, your eyebrow is raised and you’re curious as to what might Norma have missed when she was in her youth?

While Louise is in her dance class, Norma visits the old orphanage where she was first raised. She meets with a nun and asks if she could learn who her birth parents are. The nun tells her that all files are to be kept confidential. Norma may want to know who she is by knowing her parents but knowing she’s a child of God should be adequate enough. She tries several more times, pleading, but the sister will have nothing of it and Norma eventually leaves.

Back at dance class, the lively, independent, free-wheeling, Louise, catches the eyes of the teachers. Having left early, she heads to the soda fountain for a snack. She has caught the eye of a one Floyd (Burnap) from behind the counter, too.

When the film stays on her storyline, it’s cheerful, lighthearted and playful. When we dig into Norma’s life, one we see as less and less joyous or tranquil by the moment, we feel emptiness. The two characters are so undeniably different, it feels as if you’re jumping into two entirely different films when we hop back and forth between the storylines. To be honest, maybe two films would have been good, too. But we do learn some reasons for Norma’s negative, almost jealous attitude toward Louise having so much fun. The façade begins to crumble, and cracks show themselves as she goes back to the orphanage to try once again and retrieve her records. She finds herself engaged in a conversation with someone willing to help. He’s Joseph (Géza Röhrig). Too easily, but convenient to move the story along, with his help, she gets what she needs. After, she’s lighter… her shoulders have less baggage. Being that Norma and Joseph are now smitten with one another, we flashback to what’s wrong with Norma. FINALLY! Scenes involving her husband revealed that she has every reason to be sour toward love… and everything that goes with it. I won’t tell you what those are but there’s an incredibly intense scene where Norma confronts her husband with the kind of rage, you’d never expect Elizabeth McGovern to muster. Anger rears its ugly head again when she meets someone from her past, yet she chokes it down, once again burdening her shoulders.

Soon, Louise is going off on her own, but Norma is still there encouraging her through every moment. The future star tells her chaperone something that shocks her to her core but instead of stopping her from advancing and jumping in with what the advice of what she SHOULD do, Norma praises her charge on her strength and attempts to give her more. She’s good at keeping secrets, Norma. She attempts to steer but doesn’t sit in judgment of the direction the youngster is going. It reveals a lot about Norma’s character. She’s a good woman with good intentions. Regrettably, her morals keep her from her own happiness but as the film progresses, she does learn there’s more and when the moment comes, I’m happy to inform you she does seize an opportunity to have it all. It’s an ambitious move, but no one gets in Norma’s way when she wants something.

See ‘Chapparone’ for the characters, the acting, the history and for Blythe Danner who has one small but memorable scene. In Phoenix, see this exclusively at Harkins Shea 14.

Little Movie Review

April 12, 2019 (updated April 14, 2019) Published by Shari K. Green

I was absolutely taken with the little dynamo in ‘Little.’ 14-year-old Marsai Martin (Black-ish), who’s also executive producer of the film, blew me away with her performance. The rest of the main cast was memorable with their well-rounded characters as well, but Martin had… ‘it.’ You’d be hard pressed to find someone her age with as much talent in the recent past… maybe ever. She can dance, she can sing, she can act… but she also writes, directs and produces. She pitched the idea for this movie when she was ten. TEN! Asked what she wants when she grows up, she responded, ‘I want to be a legend.’ Well, I’d say you’re well on your way.

In ‘Little,’ Jordan Sanders, played by the delightfully witty Regina Hall (Think Like A Man, Girls Trip), has a difficult time in Jr. High School. So difficult that she vows that when she grows up, she’s never going to be bullied again. Instead, she’ll be the bully. She’ll make sure she’s the boss and always in charge, especially of her feelings. No one will ever get close enough to hurt those feelings again. There’s a lengthy set up that gives you time to see how evil she’s become. No doubt the set up also gives poor Regina some screen time. You’ll be so dazzled by her tiny replacement and the high jinks written for the kid that you won’t miss her.

Jordan walks through her building and everyone runs to avoid being abused by her. One unlucky employee who has no choice but deal with her is April who’s played by actress Issa Rae from ‘The Hate U Give.’ Jordan likes to push her around because she thinks April is weak. She treats her as if she’s a used tissue but hoping to be able to move up in the company, April does her best to please Jordan while at the same time taking the brunt of the maltreatment for her co-workers. She makes sure Jordan gets her coffee at just the right temperature, warns everyone when she’s about to walk through the door so they can hide, and she also stashes the carbs, so Jordan doesn’t see them. These things usually do the trick, but things change when Jordan is given some bad news. She’s told that her biggest client is leaving unless she and her team can come up with a reason for him to stay. They have forty-eight hours. Hearing this, Jordan is particularly cruel and when she runs into a child who’s practicing a magic trick, she takes everything out on the enterprising enchantress.
This is where Regina Hall gets to release a line of dialog that had the audience rolling with laughter. Her Jordan snaps off an order to April to, ‘Get that little chocolate Hogwart out!’ Welp! That’s all it took. The little girl pulls out her wand, waves it and wishes Jordan to become little so that she can be put in her place.

As you would expect, the spell works overnight. Jordan awakens the next morning to discover that her ‘natural teardrop boobs’ are gone. She looks in the mirror and realizes she’s once again that little child who was always laughed at and tormented.

Low on options, because she has no friends, she does the only thing she can think to do. She calls the person who puts up with the most… April. She steps in and helps, of course, but not for free. Knowing the desperate situation her boss is in, she demands to be made ‘Creative Executive’ at the firm. This shows she has a spine and Jordan steps back, sneers and says something you wouldn’t expect to hear from such an adorable face. Mockingly, Jordan acknowledges the blackmail and suggests to April that her ‘balls have dropped.’ Part of why Jordan is in such dire straits is because Child Protective Services has gotten wind of the fact that she’s an unaccompanied minor running about. She must get enrolled in school; her old school, in fact. She gets just what the young magician had wished upon her when she ends up back in her own personal hell. Meanwhile, April has to run the office and get people to come up with ideas for their dissatisfied client.

Almost every scene has young Marsai Martin handling its demands with ease. She uses her eyes, facial expressions, her voice inflections and her body in ways that work to enhance the comedy in this film. After the madness, it comes to a smooth, natural and foreseeable conclusion but doesn’t feel too contrived or cheesy. Most reason is that Martin was that damn good. In the end, Jordan learns her lesson and when this happens, Martin turns down the comedic side she finds in herself to play Jordan and turns on the compassion switch. Everything about her completely changes.

I’m happy I saw this movie. Sure, the idea that this filthy rich woman’s entire, embarrassingly successful company’s future hangs in the balance because of one spoiled Gen-Xer is extremely weak BUT I ask you to overlook it and just enjoy the message, the comedy, and the bright new star and you won’t even notice the trivial things. I wasn’t sure I wanted to see it because I thought ‘Little’ was going to be ‘Big.’ Interestingly enough, it was BIG, but nothing like it. And that’s a good thing.

Hellboy Movie Review

April 12, 2019 (updated April 11, 2019) Published by JMcNaughton

“Hellboy” is another reckless reboot that nobody had asked for and was not handled with much care. Based the dark comics “Hellboy”, this ground has been previously trod by director Guillermo del Toro and Ron Perlman (as Hellboy). With del Toro’s flair for visual style and Perlman’s knack for tough guys with a heart of gold, it did not seem that there would be any more areas for growth.

But of course, that never did stop Hollywood from cranking up the old Reboot Machine to start the whole mess over again. Because you can’t go wrong with a movie that includes a Demon child, an undead sorceress, fairies, giants, King Arthur, Merlin, Excalibur, Nazis, Rasputin, giant human-warthog hybrids, Mexican Lucha libre, seers, secret societies, Alice in Wonderland, a man who can turn into a jaguar, Baba Yaga and Lobster Johnson. You can’t go wrong with all that, right? Well, maybe so…

Hellboy (David Harbour) is a spawn of the devil and was brought to Earth years ago. He was raised by Professor Bruttenholm (Ian McShane) who now leads a group called the Bureau for Paranormal Research and Defense (B.P.R.D.). This group hunts down odd creatures who invade the Earth from time to time. Hellboy is sent down to Mexico to find an agent who has gone missing. He finds the agent who is now working as a Lucha libre wrestler. There is darkness coming, and the end – says the agent in his last dying words.

Hellboy is next sent by Bruttenholm to England, to help a secret society take out a band of Giants. They explain that an ancient undead sorceress named Nimue the Blood Queen (Milla Jovovich) is sending her minions out to resurrect her. The members of the secret society want to ambush Hellboy. The Giants beat them to the punch, and all of them are dead – except for Hellboy. He finds himself saved by Alice Monaghan (Sasha Lane) who knew him from way back. He saved her from being kidnapped by fairies at a young age.

Hellboy is joined by Alice and a special British M-11 agent named Major Ben Daimio (Daniel Dae Kim). They need to locate Nimue before she can bring about the end of the world. Alice has special psychic abilities, and Daimio can turn into a were-jaguar. So, they have a great team going. Nimue is using human-warthog to do her bidding and she is gaining strength. She will be able to take over the world, and she wants a huge Demon spawn to be her king. Are you interested, Hellboy? Once that Hellboy learns of his heritage going back to King Arthur, he is offered the Sword Excalibur. But if he takes it, he will be the one to bring ruin to the world.

But will Hellboy give in to the wishes of the Nimue the Blood Queen? Will Professor Bruttenholm, Alice and Major Daimio survive the onslaught of the newly freed minions of Nimue? Will you be able to handle the curse words and the buckets of digital blood sprayed over the screen? Will the number of red herrings and loose ends drive you crazy? Will the clunky dialog land easy on your ears, or be a bombastic buzzsaw of clichés? Will the movie make any sense at all, or will it be overwhelmed by the superior versions that have come before? You can decide…

This movie is attempting to make a new version of Hellboy, one that is darker and more bloody and vicious. Yet the story does not hold together very well, and the dialogue might be cursed in the same way as the evil monsters. It is bad, but not ‘so Bad it is Good’. Ever since Deadpool showed that is was possible to have an R-rated comic book anti-hero that rocks the box office, Hellboy thinks it can follow the same path.

David Harbour does an adequate job as Hellboy, but he is just too nice to be so nasty. Ian McShane is terrific as the Professor, and he kills it. Thomas Haden Church has mostly a cameo role in this movie, and he might have been a superior Hellboy – if he had the role. The direction is good in the action and fight sequences, but elsewhere is tends to drag. Most of that is due to the off-kilter writing and the extended story lines, because there are multiple ones.

“Hellboy” needed a reboot the same way that an electric car needs an oil change. But with an oil change, you don’t get all the violence and bloodshed. Unless you have a very unusual mechanic…

Category: Reviews