Destroyer Movie Review

December 28, 2018 (updated December 28, 2018) Published by Shari K. Green

This crime-drama is stirring, and Nicole Kidman gives her best performances in a long time which should be admired on the big screen. She’s haunting as Erin Bell, a veteran police officer in L.A. who comes face to face with the turmoil of her past when she was an integral part of a covert operation that went horribly wrong. She’s now a shadow of her former self. She’s no longer being taken seriously and receives little to no respect from her fellow officers. The latter being mostly because she has no respect for others or herself. She’s hardened after the undercover effort trying to capture a nefarious gang of bank robbers leads to her losing almost everything she ever loved.

Director Karyn Kusama (Æon Flux, Jennifer’s Body) has chosen Julie Kirkwood (The Blackcoat’s Daughter, Hello I Must Be Going), as her cinematographer… a wise decision. Together, they’ve built for you an extremely suspenseful story. Every movement of the camera spirals you further into Erin’s out of control world, bringing you down with her. Lighting is used brilliantly to focus and force your attention to Erin’s overall mood. Excessively heavy music by incredibly diverse and talented composer, Theodore Shapiro, who has an exceptional body of work and worked with Kusama on ‘Jennifer’s Body,’ keeps you involved by setting an intriguing and intense tone from the word go. For this, you’ll be rather appreciative. It’s eerily good.

A tattoo on a dead body and some money marked with blown dye packs pulls Erin back into needing to find Silas (Toby Kebbell), the leader of the brutal gang who got away with the murder of her partner turned lover, Chris (Stan). In gritty flashbacks, we see more of why she’s so jaded and more of what she’s fighting for. We find out she has an angst-ridden daughter named Shelby (Pettyjohn). Shelby not only pushes Erin away but challenges her at every turn. She’s ill-tempered and questions her mother’s authority over her. Due to Erin’s horrible parenting and boozing, Shelby becomes bitter and clings to any bad boy who’ll have her and take her away someday. She needs someone, anyone, to be that person who’ll truly love her. It’s apparent Erin hasn’t the capacity to love. Her love was gunned down along with Chris.

We continue to meet the supporting characters of the narrative as the backstory builds and moves into the discovery phase. The clue’s come and holes are filled. What’s penetrating about the script is that it has Erin on a mission to not only unpack a case that will lead her to the criminal who took her sanity but that will also bring her back to her life. As in many films of the genre, we don’t see what’s necessarily going on and there are a few moments where the audience will experience an epiphany or two.

See this. The cinematography must be experienced. It’s unlike anything you’ve seen all year. Julie Kirkwood captures the complexity of each character’s drive, pain, guilt, anger, and lust so passionately that, though you may not like them, you’re mesmerized by them and cheer them on. ‘Destroyer’ is solid and is perfect entertainment for any weekend at the movies.

22 July Movie Review

October 10, 2018 (updated November 16, 2018) Published by Shari K. Green

‘22 July’ is shocking, stirring, it’s heart wrenching, unsettling and hard to wrap your mind around. Greengrass is best known for making several of the ‘Bourne’ films and ‘United 93’ which was a real-time account of United Flight 93, the plane that was hijacked on 9/11, but crashed due to passengers willing to take drastic measures to stop the terrorists in their tracks. ‘22 July’ is, again, the story of a terrorist’s actions as he carries out brutal killings only this time it’s a right-wing extremist named Anders Behring Breivik, played very coolly by Anders Danielsen Lie, in 2011 near Oslo Norway, who feels that he, as a white man, is being discriminated against.

He attacks what he refers to as a political summer camp which is located on an isolated island. He sees this camp as a place where the ‘Marxist, Liberals and members of the elite’ send their children to learn to accept minorities.

Dressed as a police officer, he packs guns, plenty of ammo and explosives and leaves the house. He drives a van near the Prime Minister’s office and parks. He gets out, lights a fuse, and slyly walks down the street where he easily slips into another vehicle and drives away, headed for the teenagers who await their fate like sitting ducks. He gets onto the island where the children are and starts, one by one, picking them off. They run but he knows there is absolutely nowhere for them to go. He’ll get them all eventually.

The explosion is well done, along with the confusion in its aftermath, but watching the children run screaming is brutal. Anders goes into a building where people are hiding and tells them, ‘You will die today!’ It’s hard not to put yourself in that scenario once you start thinking of how often murder in the name of someone’s beliefs goes on in this world.

One child, Viljar, gets a call off to his mother to tell her what has happened. She’s involved in politics and was near the explosion so she’s able to alert the police about what her son informed her of and they head to the island immediately. An intense scene shows us that, sadly, Anders is still shooting and gravely injures Viljar. When he’s found by his parents, he’s only clinging to life. Greengrass does a beautiful job of making all the events seem as realistic as possible. What follows is how these people restore their lives in the wake of such a tragedy but on top of that, being very much alive, the gunman has ways to still twist the knife. He doesn’t care about his victims, he tells his lawyer, Geir Lippestad, he would do it all again for the cause. He also tells Geir his demands or a third attack will be coming. He wants the liquidation of the political camp and a ban on immigration. This is where my interest was piqued even more. I knew of this story but it so parallels what’s happening in my own country today which makes it more relevant than I thought it would be.

It’s frightening to take a good hard look at certain activities in our world, but I rather like that films are bringing these subjects to light. It’s important not to hide racism and pretend it’s not going on.

The rest of the film is court filings, Viljar’s struggle to come back from what happened to him and the Prime Minister realizing where he went wrong. All of this is notably well done. It’s an explosive, captivating story of good versus evil with meaningful dialogue and pacing that doesn’t bore. Don’t think for one minute you have to see it on the big screen to appreciate it. Netflix is doing more and more and with this proves they’ll continue to get better and better. But if you’re lucky enough to be in a city where it’s coming out… it would be good to experience it that way.

In case you were curious, the only reason ‘22 July’ didn’t get a higher score is for the few times it felt as if it went a little long and one other mistake that writer/director Paul Greengrass made, which was crucial, and that’s where we first find ourselves in the story. Coming in at two hours and twenty-three minutes, he captured us by getting straight to the meat of the matter. That said, to the viewers, it felt as if he had nowhere to go but down. Turns out that it’s quite enough to be considered a must-see, but had he stretched out the action a bit… had the action happened a little later in the film, instead initially introduced to us some of the characters, it wouldn’t have become the long-lasting drama it felt it became. Then again, maybe this was done on purpose because what these Norwegians endured didn’t end with Anders Behring Breivik’s massacre of seventy-seven people, not to mention the hundreds of others he injured. The slaughter was only the beginning.

*22 JULY will debut Wednesday, October 10th globally in select theaters and on Netflix.

The Old Man and the Gun Movie Review

October 5, 2018 (updated November 16, 2018) Published by Shari K. Green

‘The Old Man and the Gun’ is one of the most curious films of 2018, so far, that’s for certain. I’m not saying I disliked it but it’ll take some maneuvering to describe just what it was I liked about it. You’ll see what I mean by that when you see it and I recommend that you do. The way the story is told is incredible. It’s set in the 80’s just as the country was coming out of the 70’s with its long hair and darker colors but before florescent clothing and the mullet hairstyle hits. The country is open to change but isn’t quite there yet. To structure the film properly, Director David Lowery used all the tools he could, such as a grainy, VHS quality look to the picture, its comfortably casual canter, it’s pitch and vernacular appropriate for the time and as I mentioned, the drab color scheme everywhere. He doesn’t miss a thing. What’s particularly special is this… to make it feel even more real Lowery uses clips of Redford from films of his past. Very clever.

Lowery designs his films in such a way that you get deeply involved in the characters and take the utmost interest in their survival and success; no matter what it is their entangled in; good or bad. Honestly, I thought his film ‘A Ghost Story’ was one of the best and most overlooked films of 2017. Like ‘A Ghost Story,’ people may not appreciate ‘The Old Man and the Gun’ or see the brilliance right away but given the talent involved, I do hope you overlook any criticisms and view it despite anything you hear. It’s different but there’s nothing wrong with different. In fact, it’s refreshing.

Redford plays Forrest Tucker who has spent most of his life in and out of trouble. He’s been in prison and has escaped over fifteen times for which he has become famous. He even escaped from San Quentin. Did I mention this was based on a TRUE story?! So, we meet him, learn of his criminal activity and then move directly into discovering who he is on the inside. He meets Jewel (Spacek) and is smitten with her right off the bat. He tells her who he is and what he does, but she doesn’t believe him. No one would be honest about a thing like that, right? He’s an elderly, seemingly trustworthy fellow and is very kind so she warms to him as they sit in a café getting to know one another. This is what’s so exceptional about Lowery ’s technique. He makes us aware of the two-sided nature of Forrest that even Forrest isn’t cognizant of. You, as does Jewel, immediately like his gentle personality.

As you watch, you see that one side of him just wants to do what it’s told it can’t do. This is what he and his friends have been doing for years… robbing banks. He’s the gangs’ guy who nonchalantly strolls in, tells the bank manager or the teller that he’ll need their money and he exits with no fuss. He always keeps everyone calm, doesn’t bring attention to himself by smiling, being polite, hurting no one and then he leaves.

He and the audience are aware that perhaps his age has brought him to a moment in time where he’s finally conflicted with this side of him. Maybe it’s time to stop running and settle down?

Detective John Hunt (Affleck) knows of Forrest after he and his son happen to be inside one of the banks he robs. He makes a personal commitment to himself to bring this thieving gang of old-timers to justice. The character of John Hunt isn’t all that impactful at first but toward the end of the film, you realize how important he was in the grand scheme of things. As his search widens, he gets to know Forrest more and gets to respect the man he was and who he’s become.

I told you this would be a bit difficult to analyze for you but let me finish with this. It’s short, it’s a fascinating mix between comedy and drama and the cast is spectacular. It opens this weekend. Go see it. I can’t think of one reason for you not to.

If Beale Street Could Talk – Trailer

September 24, 2018 Published by Shari K. Green

IF BEALE STREET COULD TALK

Academy Award-winning writer/director Barry Jenkins’ first film since the Best Picture Oscar-winning Moonlight is If Beale Street Could Talk, his adaptation of James Baldwin’s novel — the first English-language feature film based on the work of the author, to whom the movie is dedicated.

Set in early-1970s Harlem, If Beale Street Could Talk is a timeless and moving love story of both a couple’s unbreakable bond and the African-American family’s empowering embrace, as told through the eyes of 19-year-old Tish Rivers (screen newcomer KiKi Layne). A daughter and wife-to-be, Tish vividly recalls the passion, respect and trust that have connected her and her artist fiancé Alonzo Hunt, who goes by the nickname Fonny (Stephan James). Friends since childhood, the devoted couple dream of a future together but their plans are derailed when Fonny is arrested for a crime he did not commit.

Through the unique intimacy and power of cinema, If Beale Street Could Talk honors the author’s prescient words and imagery, charting the emotional currents navigated in an unforgiving and racially biased world as the filmmaker poetically crosses time frames to show how love and humanity endure.

Director: Barry Jenkins

Writer: Barry Jenkins

Producers: Megan Ellison, Barry Jenkins, Adele Romanski, Sara Murphy, Jeremy Kleiner, Dede Gardner

Cast: KiKi Layne, Stephan James, Regina King, Colman Domingo, Teyonah Parris, Brian Tyree Henry, Michael Beach, Ed Skrein, Diego Luna, Dave Franco, Pedro Pascal

#BealeStreet

Official Site: BealeStreet.movie

Facebook: /BealeStreet

Instagram: @BealeStreet

Twitter: @BealeStreet



In Select Theaters November 30

http://www.fandango.com

Lizzie Movie Review

September 21, 2018 (updated November 16, 2018) Published by Shari K. Green

There’s a nursery rhyme, for lack of a better term, that you probably heard while you were growing up that goes as follows, ‘Lizzie Borden took an ax and gave her mother forty whacks; When she saw what she had done she gave her father forty-one.’ This was based on Lizzie Borden and the murder of her parents and the movie does a great job of getting down to ‘IF’ Lizzie was guilty, why did she do it? The very thought of it is horrible and you immediately think her a monster but was she guilty? If she were, was she pushed too far? Was she in her right mind? At trial, a jury of all men deliberated for ninety minutes and returned a not guilty verdict because they, ‘refused to believe a woman of her social standing could commit such a heinous crime.’

During the film, we learn that Lizzie’s (Sevigny) father, Andrew (Sheridan) and his icy cold second wife Abby (Shaw) are very wealthy. Andrew requires an undeserved amount of respect from everyone, from those he employs to work around the house and from his daughters and their stepmother. All are to do as he says and to submit. He takes advantage of those in his charge and when the movie picks up, in the year 1892, we learn that everyone does do as they’re told… everyone except for Lizzie. She’s very strong willed and refuses to be ruled over. Lizzie has seizures, something he sees as an embarrassment to his name. He doesn’t even want her going to the theatre in case she has a ‘spell’ that others may see.

Lizzie is very kind to animals and staff, paying particular notice to the new maid, Bridget (Stewart) who starts teaching to read. The film then leads to Lizzie and Bridget having a lesbian affair. This is handled quite beautifully with one woman offering love to someone who had never been allowed to experience it before. Before this, we see Andrew at his worst after he discovers that Lizzie had pawned some of her mother’s jewelry. He does something appalling and Lizzie lets him know that she’ll not be victimized by his fear tactics. Soon after she finds out that her father is changing his will. This is when it’s suggested that a plan has already been in place for her to murder her father for his misdeeds and his mistreatment of her, her sister and of Bridget.

The blows to the head come next, which are no surprise, of course, but it’s gripping to find out how it actually happens and what happens directly after. Since all we ever really knew of were the whacks themselves, if it were Lizzie, we, at this point, could certainly find a reason to empathize. Even though they were beyond brutal to sit through and watch. So brutal it hardly leaves room for doubt who would have delivered to these people such savagery but someone who was greatly pained by them. The film’s pacing can be slow at times but the sets, the acting and the history of it all are fascinating. Stewart and Sevigny are fantastic, and I have to strongly suggest you see this for the performances if nothing else.

In Phoenix, it’s playing at the following theatres:

AMC Desert Ridge 18

Camelview at Fashion Square

Tempe Marketplace 16

Arizona Mills 24

Harkins Arrowhead Fountains 18

Assassination Nation Advance Movie Screening

September 17, 2018 Published by markdeli

Movie Screening Summary

High school senior Lily and her three best friends live in a world of selfies, emojis, snaps and sexts. But when their town of Salem is besieged by a massive data hack, resulting in half the citizens’ private info spewed into the public view, the community descends into anarchy. Lily is targeted after being falsely blamed for the hack—and bands together with her friends to survive a long, blood-soaked night.

Starring Odessa Young, Hari Nef, Suki Waterhouse, and ABRA. Written + Directed by Sam Levinson.

Social Media:
Website: https://www.anationmovie.com/synopsis/
Facebook: /ANationMovie
Instagram: @ANationMovie
Twitter: @ANationMovie
#SlayEm

See more advance movie screenings from tmc

Advance Movie Screening For ASSASSINATION NATION

Find your chance to receive special advance movie screening passes below.

Phoenix, Arizona

Advance Movie Screening Details

Movie Screening Date: Wednesday September 19th
Location: Harkins Tempe Marketplace
Movie Screening Time: 7:30pm
[button link=”https://goo.gl/forms/QjLcSk6Uyhi4dDO03″ type=”big” newwindow=”yes”] Enter To Win[/button]



Advance Movie Screening Information

To redeem a pass, simply click the Get Passes button. You will taken to our movie screening partner site (where you can sign up for a free account). Once you’ve done so, you’ll be able to print out your pass and bring it with you to your screening or event.

Admittance into a screening or event is not guaranteed with your pass. Events and advance screenings are filled on a ” first come, first served ” basis. To ensure that you stand a good chance of being admitted, we recommend that you show up 30 minutes to one hour early.

The number of admissions that are permissible for each pass are printed clearly on the ticket that you print out. You are allowed to bring as many guests as is indicated on your pass. For example, if your pass is for ” Admit Two, ” you can bring yourself and one guest. If you have an ” Admit One ” pass, you can bring only yourself.

If you have any other questions or comments, please contact us.

A Simple Favor Movie Review

September 14, 2018 (updated November 16, 2018) Published by Shari K. Green

Allow me to start this with a simple and direct message to you… see this movie this weekend. Director Paul Feig works very well with powerful women allowing them to show their strengths, such as Melissa McCarthy, Sandra Bullock, Mary-Louise Parker and now he does the same with Anna Kendrick and Blake Lively in this dark film, ‘A Simple Favor.’ Lively is exceptional and I wouldn’t be surprised if we see her on stage during award season.

With this film, Feig gives these two women the opportunity to have something brilliant added to their resumes and a chance to shine in the type of story usually given to the opposite sex. This is an intriguing, provocative crime-drama that leads you down a fascinating trail and you won’t want it to end. The characters are following the same bread crumbs and with how the narrative plays out, it manages to do something not always achieved these days… surprise the hell out of you.

First, we meet Stephanie (Kendrick), a widowed, overly energetic, devoted but bored mother of a young son named Miles (Satine). She’s a vlogger who, when we first see her, is telling her followers about the simple favor her friend Emily (Lively) has asked of her. Staring into the camera she says she’ll start from the beginning for her new friends, presumably us, and she tells everyone what happened. This goes on throughout the film. We go back to when she first met Emily who she instantly clutches onto. Emily’s son Nicky (Ho) and Miles ask to have a playdate. Stephanie would like this as she wants to know Emily. Emily is everything Stephanie isn’t. She’s tall, uncommonly beautiful, confident with a scent of arrogance Stephanie can’t help but admire. Though a play date isn’t something Emily usually does, she agrees. They end up at Emily’s gorgeous home which Stephanie would die to have and they begin to reveal secrets about themselves… secrets that will prove to be useful later. Emily warns Stephanie that she doesn’t want to be friends with her. Little things like this are said as Stephanie, and you, become more interested in knowing who she is.

Though the script is heavy on the dramatic aspect of the story, it’s reasonably amusing, as well. Nicky is relatively colorful most of the time, delivering rather comical lines, however subpar they may be. It’s obvious Feig doesn’t work as well with children as he does with adults.

Now we’re to the favor… and we’re all caught up with the vlog. Emily asks Stephanie to pick up Nicky and watch him until she gets home. She happily does, however, Emily never returns. Days later, she still hasn’t and single mom with time on her hands, Stephanie, begins playing Jr. Sleuth, looking for her friend. Unable to forget the mystery woman who so intrigued her, Stephanie gets to know her attractive husband, Sean (Golding), who adds that, like Stephanie, he didn’t know much about Emily. He tells her that he tried to get close, but she was hard to reach; she was like a ‘beautiful ghost.’

Deciding she likes playing Nancy Drew, she goes to the office building where Emily worked in public relations and finds a shady character and clues. After putting up posters and trying desperately to find out who she was and where she went, Emily’s body turns up in another state. As Stephanie gets closer to Sean, she kicks pursuing answers as to what led to Emily’s death, into high gear. What happens next is something she isn’t quite prepared for. Luckily, instinct and some advice she received from the friend who still haunts her, literally as well as figuratively, helps her handle herself surprisingly well when faced with moments of challenge and deception.

This film is impressive in so many ways. The music, the costumes, the characters, and the script but what stands out most is Lively whose performance, though not always on screen, infects you as you watch this play out… and stays with you long after.

Website & Socials:

Official Site: http://www.ASimpleFavor.movie

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/ASimpleFavorMovie

Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/ASimpleFavor

Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/ASimpleFavor

Hashtags: #ASimpleFavor

White Boy Rick Movie Review

September 14, 2018 (updated September 14, 2018) Published by JMcNaughton

“White Boy Rick” must be the most truthful movie title yet. The main character is white, and yes, he is basically a boy. Oh, and his name is Rick. This is based on a true story. It tells a complex drama of what becomes of a lower middle-class family from Detroit. This is set back in the mid 1980’s, when the American Dream turns into a virtual nightmare for many inner-city people. Many jobs dried up in the city. Yet – guns flowed into the streets, along with crack cocaine. And that result was the set up for this story.

Richard Wershe, Sr. (Matthew McConaughey) lives in a very run-down section of Detroit. His daughter Dawn (Bel Powley) is living with drug addiction. His son Richard Wershe, Jr. (Richie Merritt) is 14 years old, and he works with his dad. Rich (the Senior) does gun sales to make money for the family. Rick (the Junior) goes with him to gun shows. Ricky sometime takes this merchandise to the local black street gang to sell the illegal small arms. The black gang takes a liking to ‘White Boy Rick’, since he has the guts to approach the gang. He becomes an accepted and trusted member.

But there are FBI agents on the horizon (played by Jennifer Jason Leigh, Rory Cochrane, and Brian Tyree Henry). They force Ricky to act as undercover informant to the street gang. It is either that or the Feds will shut down Rich (the Senior) and his semi-legal weapons operation. They also get Ricky into setting up a small side-deal business of distributing crack cocaine. That way, Rickey can get information on the street level dealers, who can lead the FBI up to the top-level distributors. Ricky is in with the gang, he is running his own drug operation and he is still getting orders from the Feds.

But after the big parties and trips to Vegas, there is an incident that comes to a head. The main gang leader (Jonathan Majors) believes that Ricky is really a rat, and he orders up a hit on the young boy. When the bad things all go down, it goes down hard. Ricky survives, and Rich and Ricky have to start over. They also get his sister Dawn out of a drug flophouse and work to get her off the crack. Rich (the Senior) also has his parents who live across the street (Bruce Dern and Piper Laurie). They help out with Dawn and get her back to normal life. Ricky also finds out that he has a new-born daughter.

Ricky feels the need to get back into the drug trade, so he can get some cash flow back into the family. He gets approval from his dad and the rest of the family. Ricky is still only 17, and he has become a big shot in the underground crime network. The FBI comes back to visit, and they are not too happy. Ricky is forced to (again) go undercover and try to get the goods on some of his cocaine contacts. But if he does not help them, he and his family will all face charges. The outcome for ‘White Boy Rick’ does not look good at this time. At his age (17) – he could be sent to prison for life. That would be a lo-o-ong time.

“White Boy Rick” is a thoughtful retelling of Ricky’s true life adventure into the seedy side of life. Matthew McConaughey nails it as a caring father with great intentions and horrible execution. Richie Merritt is very new actor, and he holds his own in the midst of some very talented co-stars. Bel Powley has a very difficult character, but she makes Dawn’s pain and struggle with addiction a real thing. Bruce Dern and Piper Laurie are both good, but wasted in such minor roles.

This movie has something to say, but it has trouble picking a single topic. Drugs are bad, no wait, so is inequality in criminal sentencing for blacks versus whites. Guns are trouble for the neighborhood, but crime is commonplace and violent crime is on the rise. The Feds are smart to set up a young white kid as an informant, but no – there is so much police corruption and dirty cops are everywhere. To reduce crime, get tough on criminals, but wait – mandatory sentencing is bad…

So the acting is superb, but the story bobs and weaves and never chooses a single lane.

The Happytime Murders Movie Review

August 24, 2018 (updated November 16, 2018) Published by Shari K. Green

With this film, director Brian Henson, son of Jim Henson, is definitely leaving his mark. Not unlike the way a dog covers what the last one left behind, it’s as if he wants you to know that these aren’t your father’s Muppets… definitely not his. Some might not care for how he brazenly bastardizes his families legacy but for those of you who saw the Red Band trailer and liked the idea of raunchy puppets cursing at one another, watching porn and having sex, this most likely won’t be an issue. ‘The Happytime Murders’ would have been a really fun short film. Stretching it into a feature was reaching too far but it doesn’t mean you won’t have some laughs; it’s just ego on Henson’s part to believe adults will be so enraptured by foulmouthed puppets to bear with the time it takes to watch all the way through.

One could argue that there’s something twisted and devious about Henson using the puppets in this manner when his father, much to the delight of millions of people all over the world, utilized them to educate young children and entertain families but depending on how you look at it, Brian Henson is very much entertaining a specific audience, as well… just not the same one and not in as artful a way. Essentially, many of you won’t appreciate this type of crude humor and that’s okay. This film wasn’t designed for you and it seems Henson is okay with that because it doesn’t make it any less funny to those he created it for.

‘The Happytime Murders’ brings together a detective named Edwards (McCarthy) and former detective turned private investigator, Phil Phillips (voice of Bill Barretta) when members of The Happytime Gang (an old puppet television show) are murdered one by one. Phil’s brother Larry, who was ‘police officer Shenanigans’ on the show (which brought up thoughts of ‘Super Troopers’) is one of the victims. Edwards and Phillips were once partners in the department until an incident occurred that caused Phil to be released and excommunicate from the department. The tensions are high between these two but they’re both on the right side of the law and with only one goal in mind, they agree to work together. To bring some mystery in a caper that has little of it, Phil, who we know is a good guy, gets fingered for the killings and it’s up to Edwards, with help from Phil’s secretary Bubbles (Rudolph), to clear his name and find the real killer.

McCarthy is believable in her character to the degree I honestly don’t believe anyone, but she could have pulled this off. It’s time someone gives her a role in something other than a comedy, but she makes Edwards and all her animosity toward her old partner believable and thus more palatable when the jokes wear thin.

What I liked very much but think may have been largely missed because of the sexual perversions that you end up surprised with, was the discrimination by humans toward the puppets, who now must live among us. It seems they still ‘sing and dance for the man,’ even though they don’t want to… but how will they be taken seriously when they’re just colored felt and fluff? Even animals attack them on a daily basis, dogs especially, as they’re seen as nothing but a plaything. One of my favorite scenes is of two smalls dogs barking at a puppet while he screams at them that he isn’t a squeaky toy. Pay attention closely because there are several gems like that hidden in the background.

It isn’t difficult to shock people using sex, but it is challenging to keep the interest of an audience for over an hour using nothing but dirty jokes. I can’t say this is worth seeing at the theatre unless you’re paying matinee price but for those curious enough to see it, as you may have been with seeing ‘Sausage Party’ and ‘Team America,’ please know what you’re getting into. It’s going to be naughty but just have fun. And be sure to stay during some of the credits to watch a little of how they made this world come to life.

BlacKkKlansman Movie Review

August 9, 2018 (updated November 16, 2018) Published by Shari K. Green

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

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

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

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

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

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

Twitter: https://twitter.com/BlacKkKlansman

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

Tag: crime