Megan Leavey Movie Review

This is a film about Megan Leavey, a Marine K9 Handler and the bomb-sniffing German Sheppard, Rex, with whom she’d do anything to save as he did her on the battlefields of Iraq.  They were involved in over 100 missions and saved countless lives but now, she must save Rex.  It begins by introducing us to Megan (Mara) and what ultimately leads her to make the decision to join the Marines.  Like many stories that lead to this same resolution, she’s from a broken family and after her best friend kills himself, she feels displaced and assumes the Military will give her what she’s desperately missing; some discipline and some personal strength.

Being new on base and still a bit naĂŻve, she gets caught urinating in a bush and finds herself on kennel cleaning detail as her discipline.  She’s not happy but it could be worse.  She’s not terribly fond of a dog named Rex when their paths first cross and he’s not too fond of her either but before long, she likes how being around the animals makes her feel and the respect they give her is unlike any she’s gotten in her entire life.  She does the only thing that would possibly make her happy at this point in her life; she convinces Gunny Martin (Common) to let her train to be a handler.  It’s explained to her that being in control and being confident at all times is key to this job.  She’s told that everything she feels goes ‘down leash.’  If you can’t control yourself, you can’t control the animal.  When she has this down, Megan finally feels she has grown up and it shows in character. 

Soon, she and Rex are off to Iraq and she’s warned to be careful as there are large bounties out for female handlers.  She learns a lot, especially by making mistakes, but she also teaches the men in her unit that a woman is just as good as a man.  Similar to the views of this particular enemy, women only go so far in battle and Megan and Rex are somewhat relegated to only working at checkpoints; not allowed to go on missions.  This frustrates her.  This doesn’t last long, though.  Three months after her arrival, being the only handler available, she finally gets the opportunity she’s been hoping for and is directed to the front lines.  Well trained and following the prompting of this master, Rex finds a massive stash of arms, saving many lives in the process.  And just like that, they are the heroes of the unit.  Moving forward, their courage and abilities make them the team most wanted for missions.

After being incredibly successful, Corporal Megan Leavey and Rex are both wounded by an IED.  She’s sent to the hospital and is separated from the dog, who she now considers hers.  Another thing handlers are warned never to do is to ever see the dogs as theirs.  They belong to the Marines.  The dogs are soldiers, not pets.  Unable to forget him and his unconditional love, she does everything in her power to track him down.  Deciding not to re-enlist, she continues her quest after being told he is going to be retired.  Desperate to adopt him, she’s then told he’s not adoptable because he’s too aggressive and the military would rather put him down than take the chance Rex would mistake a child’s toy gun as a real gun and possibly take an innocent life.  All of that said, she fights harder to save him.  Putting her life on hold, she gets a petition going and even approaches Senator Chuck Schumer in the hopes of being listened to about what Rex means to her.  He may not stand on two legs, but being that he was a soldier in battle, he deserves the chance to live. 

Megan Leavey is a touching film and if you’re in need of a good cleansing cry, this would be the picture for you to see this weekend.  Mara is delightful, the script is engaging and the story is powerful.  There’s also a special treat so stay for the end because you get to see the real Rex and Leavey which adds more heart and even more of a reason to see the film.

My Cousin Rachel

My Cousin Rachel starts with a letter from one cousin to the other; cousins who love and respect one another but have been apart for a very long time.  This is writer/director Roger Michell’s (Notting Hill, Changing Lanes) take on the novel by Daphne Du Maurier and it’s rather entertaining, even if you do leave scratching your head. 

Having been orphaned as a child when both of his parents had died, Philip (Claflin) is raised by Ambrose who gladly took him in.  He, while single, managed to even play father figure while contemporaneously playing best friend to Philip.  One day, Philip gets a letter from him and within the letter, he notices a secret message to him regarding his cousin’s wife, Rachel (Weisz).  Ambrose believes that she is a danger to him and requests that Philip come as quickly as possible to help him.  Sadly, he isn’t fast enough.  Ambrose passes and he is beyond devastated.  He was already looking to help Ambrose with his problem, now he wants desperately, to hunt her down and exact his revenge.  

Philip speaks to the family lawyer, Kendall (Glen) about the estate and learns that Rachel had received no inheritance.  This being the case, what would she have to gain from doing anything to hurt Ambrose?  Philip is not deterred by this.  Kendall may think she’s innocent but Philip, now head of the estate, will use all of his power to find Rachel and acquire the truth.  Guessing she’s a foul beast, he calls on her and she comes to stay as a guest in the worst room Philip can put her in.  She’s ever grateful and sweet about everything; fine with the accommodations and pleased to be so welcome.  Once he sets his eyes on her, all plans Philip had are out the window.  As his cousin surely did, he falls instantly in love.  Is she a witch?  Is she a vixen?  Has she cast a spell on the impressionable young master of the house?  Louise (Grainger), Kendall’s daughter, who had joked with Philip about what an awful person this Rachel must be and knew of his plans to ruin her, had set her eyes on Philip long ago.  Once she sees Rachel with him, she knows she has no chance. 

As her heart breaks, the audience grows suspicious about who this woman is and what she’s really after.  If she is who Ambrose said she is, this young man who has zero experience with women has no chance against the likes of her.  Let the games begin.  It’s intriguing watching Rachel work her magic, both the actress and the character.  With just one look from her, he changes in an instant… one tiny little kiss and he’s wrapped around her finger.  She tells him intimate things such as the time she lost her baby and shows him honesty when people try to prove her anything but which leaves him more vulnerable and finds him more beguiled than before.  Seems all is going according to plan, wouldn’t you say?

That’s where I got a little lost.  I’m not certain of that.  As I previously mentioned, by the time the credits role, this could be a little bit of a head scratcher for you.  I must mention, however, that the performances were more than acceptable.  His infatuated boy trying to become a man is very good and Weisz is strong as a woman to be suspicious of.  She shows range as her character becomes sickeningly sweet one minute, full of despair the next, then suddenly turns back into someone you may have never known at all.  I recommend a theatre watch, but maybe just a matinee.  It’s beautiful to watch and the music is more than satisfactory for the period and is pleasing to your ears.    

The Book of Henry Advance Movie Screening

Movie Screening Summary: Sometimes things are not always what they seem, especially in the small suburban town where the Carpenter family lives. Single suburban mother Susan Carpenter (Naomi Watts) works as a waitress at a diner, alongside feisty family friend Sheila (Sarah Silverman). Her younger son Peter (Jacob Tremblay) is a playful 8-year-old. Taking care of everyone and everything in his own unique way is Susan’s older son Henry (Jaeden Lieberher), age 11. Protector to his adoring younger brother and tireless supporter of his often self-doubting mother – and, through investments, of the family as a whole – Henry blazes through the days like a comet.

Susan discovers that the family next door, which includes Henry’s kind classmate Christina (Maddie Ziegler), has a dangerous secret – and that Henry has devised a surprising plan to help. As his brainstormed rescue plan for Christina takes shape in thrilling ways, Susan finds herself at the center of it.

The Book of Henry is directed by Colin Trevorrow ( Jurassic World, Safety Not Guaranteed) from an original screenplay by acclaimed novelist Gregg Hurwitz ( Orphan X).

A Focus Features presentation of a Sidney Kimmel Entertainment/Double Nickel Entertainment production. A Colin Trevorrow Film. Naomi Watts. The Book of Henry . Jaeden Lieberher, Jacob Tremblay, Sarah Silverman, Lee Pace, Maddie Ziegler, and Dean Norris. Casting by Jessica Kelly and Suzanne Smith Crowley. Associate Producer, Jeff Gernert. Co-Producers, Gregg Hurwitz, Mark Mikutowicz, Adam Callan. Costume Designer, Melissa Toth. Music by Michael Giacchino. Edited by Kevin Stitt, ACE. Production Designer, Kalina Ivanov. Director of Photography, John Schwartzman, ASC. Executive Producer, Sue Baden-Powell. Executive Producers, John Penotti, Nick Meyer, Bruce Toll. Produced by Sidney Kimmel, Carla Hacken. Produced by Jenette Kahn, Adam Richman. Written by Gregg Hurwitz. Directed by Colin Trevorrow. A Focus Features Release.

Please enjoy the trailer here.

Official Website: TheBookOfHenryMovie.com
Facebook: Facebook.com/TheBookOfHenryMovie
Twitter: @TheBookOfHenry
Instagram: @TheBookOfHenry
Hashtag: #TheBookOfHenry

See more advance movie screenings from tmc

Advance Movie Screening For The Book of Henry

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

 

Phoenix, Arizona

Advance Movie Screening Details

Movie Screening Date: Tuesday, June 13
Location: Harkins Scottsdale 101
Movie Screening Time: 7:00pm
[button link=”http://focusfeaturesscreenings.com/TXT.Phx” type=”big” newwindow=”yes”] Get Passes[/button]

Las Vegas, Nevada

Advance Movie Screening Details

Movie Screening Date: Tuesday, June 13
Location: AMC Town Square
Movie Screening Time: 7:30pm
[button link=”http://focusfeaturesscreenings.com/TXT.25″ type=”big” newwindow=”yes”] Get Passes[/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.

Murder on the Orient Express Trailer

What starts out as a lavish train ride through Europe quickly unfolds into one of the most stylish, suspenseful and thrilling mysteries ever told. From the novel by best-selling author Agatha Christie, “Murder on the Orient Express” tells the tale of thirteen strangers stranded on a train, where everyone’s a suspect. One man must race against time to solve the puzzle before the murderer strikes again. Kenneth Branagh directs and leads an all-star cast including Penélope Cruz, Willem Dafoe, Judi Dench, Johnny Depp, Michelle Pfeiffer, Daisy Ridley and Josh Gad.

MURDER ON THE ORIENT EXPRESS Official Channels

WEBSITE: CluesAreEverywhere.com

FACEBOOK: Facebook.com/OrientExpressMovie

TWITTER: Twitter.com/OrientExpress

INSTAGRAM: Instagram.com/OrientExpressMovie/

#OrientExpressMovie

MURDER ON THE ORIENT EXPRESS

Mystery

Release: November 10, 2017

Director: Kenneth Branagh

Screenplay by: Michael Green

Based upon the Novel by: Agatha Christie

Produced by: Ridley Scott, Mark Gordon, Simon Kinberg, Kenneth Branagh, Judy Hofflund, Michael Schaefer

Cast: Tom Bateman, Kenneth Branagh, Penélope Cruz, Willem Dafoe, Judi Dench, Johnny Depp, Josh Gad, Derek Jacobi, Leslie Odom Jr., Michelle Pfeiffer, Daisy Ridley, Marwan Kenzari, Olivia Colman, Lucy Boynton, Manuel Garcia-Rulfo, Sergei Polunin

The Mountain Between Us Trailer

THE MOUNTAIN BETWEEN US

Directed by: Hany Abu-Assad

Screenplay by: Chris Weitz and J. Mills Goodloe; Based on the Book by Charles Martin

Cast: Kate Winslet, Idris Elba, Beau Bridges, Dermot Mulroney

SYNOPSIS

Stranded after a tragic plane crash, two strangers must forge a connection to survive the extreme elements of a remote snow covered mountain. When they realize help is not coming, they embark on a perilous journey across hundreds of miles of wilderness, pushing one another to endure and discovering strength they never knew possible. The film is directed by Academy Award nominee Hany Abu-Assad and stars Academy Award winner Kate Winslet and Golden Globe winner Idris Elba.

THE MOUNTAIN BETWEEN US Official Channels

WEBSITE: MountainBetweenUs.com

FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/MountainBetweenUs

TWITTER: https://twitter.com/MountainBetween

INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/mountainbetweenus/

#MountainBetweenUs

In Theaters October 2

http://www.fandango.com

Victoria & Abdul Trailer

Story: The extraordinary true story of an unexpected friendship in the later years of Queen Victoria’s (Academy Award winner Judi Dench) remarkable rule. When Abdul Karim (Ali Fazal), a young clerk, travels from India to participate in the Queen’s Golden Jubilee, he is surprised to find favor with the Queen herself. As the Queen questions the constrictions of her long-held position, the two forge an unlikely and devoted alliance with a loyalty to one another that her household and inner circle all attempt to destroy. As the friendship deepens, the Queen begins to see a changing world through new eyes and joyfully reclaims her humanity.

Director
: Stephen Frears (“The Queen,” “Philomena,” “Mrs. Henderson Presents”)

Writer: Lee Hall (“Billy Elliot”), based on Victoria & Abdul: The True Story of the Queen’s Closest Confidant by Shrabani Basu

Cast: Judi Dench, Ali Fazal, Adeel Akhtar, Simon Callow, Michael Gambon, Eddie Izzard, Ruth McCabe, Tim Pigott-Smith, Julian Wadham, Olivia Williams, Fenella Woolgar

For more info, please follow the film on social:

Official Site I Facebook I Twitter I Instagram

#VictoriaAndAbdul

In Theaters Sept 29th

http://www.fandango.com

Wonder Trailer

Based on the New York Times bestseller, WONDER tells the inspiring and heartwarming story of August Pullman.  Born with facial differences that, up until now, have prevented him from going to a mainstream school, Auggie becomes the most unlikely of heroes when he enters the local fifth grade.  As his family, his new classmates, and the larger community all struggle to find their compassion and acceptance, Auggie’s extraordinary journey will unite them all and prove you can’t blend in when you were born to stand out.

Lionsgate presents, in association with Walden Media and Participant Media, a Mandeville Films / Lionsgate production.

Directed by: Stephen Chbosky

Starring:  Julia Roberts, Owen Wilson and Jacob Tremblay

#ChooseKind   #WonderTheMovie

In Theaters Nov 17th

http://www.fandango.com

The Glass Castle Trailer

The Glass Castle

Lionsgate presents, a Gil Netter/Lionsgate production.​

Directed by: Destin Daniel Cretton.  Starring: 

Chronicling the adventures of an eccentric, resilient and tight-knit family, THE GLASS CASTLE is a remarkable story of unconditional love.  Oscar® winner Brie Larson brings Jeannette Walls’s best-selling memoir to life as a young woman who, influenced by the joyfully wild nature of her deeply dysfunctional father (Woody Harrelson), found the fiery determination to carve out a successful life on her own terms. 

Visit the Site

#TheGlassCastle

In Theaters August 11th

http://www.fandango.com

Paris Can Wait Movie Review

This film is pure escapism.  Anne (Lane), wife of Michael (Baldwin), a movie mogul who is so successful he’s usually too busy to spend time with her, is on a car trip from Cannes to Paris with her husband’s business partner, Jacques, played ardently by Arnaud Viard, to then meet her husband there for vacation.  They live in L.A. but are in Cannes for the film festival and always end up in Paris after. 

This time the trip will take her to Paris by land, rather than by air as she usually does.  She’s never seen the countryside in France, though she had always wanted to.  Lucky for her, she gets a chance to see it by an enthusiastic escort.  She assumed the trip will be seven hours but it turns out to be two days.  When she admits she had always wanted to see the lavender in bloom, and beams with joy when they drive passed some, Jacques knows he can’t let her get to Paris without experiencing all France has to offer. 

They stop for the night and have a romantic dinner; a dinner that Michael never would have been interested in taking her on, as well as one that he couldn’t have taken her on.  He hasn’t the knowledge of the land nor does he have an interest in pleasing her quite so much.  She is being treated to the vacation of her dreams.  They have tastes of almost everything on the menu and, fluent in French, Jacques speaks romantically of the dishes and the wine and speaks to her with palpable delight. 

As the miles closer to Paris dwindle, the film becomes more and more romantic.  There’s flirtation and both parties drop obvious hints of interest but things are fairly innocent.  Lane’s Anne is very sweet and gracious.  They stop at such beautiful places that she can’t help but jump out and take pictures, a new hobby of hers.  Jacques can’t help but ask to see them and is quite taken with her eye.  His genuine interest in her passions arouses, springs back to life, something in Anne that had been long expired.  You get the feeling that romance may be on Anne’s mind but she’s too innocent to ever act on it.  When the car breaks down and he suggests having a picnic rather than tending to it immediately, she tries to persuade him to get them back on the road but he reminds her that the car will be there when they’re done and so will Paris. 

The trip is lovely and she opens up a little yet a private tour through a museum, where a friend of Jacques works, shows her that men are not to be trusted, especially French men, and a piece of her heart seems to break a little.  The trip segues’s enough and along with her smiles she imparts on him a tragic and painful loss.  This scene is magnificent; everything about it delicate and done with a qualified touch, come to think of it, everything else about the film is, too.  It’s written and by Eleanor Coppola, wife of filmmaker Francis Ford Coppola (Apocalypse Now).  Though she isn’t new to filmmaking, this is her first narrative feature… and she’s 81 years of age.  This film is quite an accomplishment for a newbie.  

Paris Can Wait felt very much like a Woody Allen Film in its subject matter, style and in how the male lead, Jacques, expresses his dialogue and what the dialogue in the film reveals.  It’s even in France, a favorite location that Allen shoots.  It also has beautiful and appropriate music that accompanies us on our journey with these characters; it lightly flutters about in the background and between lines of dialogue belonging to Jacques and Anne.  I really liked it and would recommend it to anyone who likes romance and wouldn’t mind a character in a film giving you a tour through France.  From beginning to end, it held my interest seeing these two get close.  I liked how it ended and I hope that this isn’t the end for Coppola.  I thought she did a fine job and I’d be first in line to see what’s next.

Everything, Everything Movie Review

Who’s ready for a teenage girl version of “The Boy in the Plastic Bubble”? What, no show of hands? Well, get ready anyway – because “Everything, Everything” will have you wishing you were inside your own bubble. The disease that forces you keep away from everything, everything is severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID). This is reason for the main character never leaving the house.

Maddy (Amandla Stenberg) is 18 and she has been kept in a sterile cocoon that is her house, where she lives with her mother, Dr. Whittier (Anika Noni Rose). Dr. Mom has lost her husband and son in a terrible car crash 16 years ago, so she is determined never to lose Maddy. So Maddy has been determined to have SCID, and as a result, her Dr. Mom has made the house into a germ fortress. There is an airlock at the front door. There are antibiotic soaps everywhere, and the place is kept spic and span. Maddy has a nurse, Carla (Ana de la Reguera) who tends to her when Dr. Mom is on duty elsewhere.

One day some new neighbors move in next door. They have a son about the same age as Maddy. His name is Olly (Nick Robinson), and he is very different that Maddy. Olly wears black, and he has an attitude. Maddy wears white and she always thinks of pleasant and interesting things. They have rooms that face each other on the second floor, so soon they are texting away. But since Maddy is not allowed out, and Olly is not allowed in, the movie makes many of these texting conversations as if they are done in real life. Maddy has a great imagination, so she imagines the actual Maddy and actual Olly – being together in a small model of a diner, or model of a library.

 

Maddy convinces Nurse Carla to let Olly come in to visit. Awkwardness ensues, and it gets worse when Dr. Mom finds out. Carla is fired and Maddy gets her phone and internet taken away. Oh, heavens – child abuse! But she is still infatuated with Olly, and she finds it incredibly easy to get her own credit card. She buys her own stuff, including a trip to Hawaii for herself and for Olly. Even when she does not have any type of identification and would not be able to board the plane? Of coure she bought two tickets and expects Olly to go with but has not checked with him one bit if he even could…

But, what the hey, let’s go to Hawaii. Someone might pay for it, sometime… The two lovebirds stay at a plush resort, drive a rental Jeep around the island, find deserted beaches and go swimming. Olly teaches Maddy to sort-of swim, float mostly. Until she decides they should go cliff-diving, into deep water when she cannot swim. They go on the merry way and make love, and Maddy gets deathly sick. She wakes up back in her room. So what all just happened? She lost it in Hawaii, and then she got back home again. But how…

Dr. Mom is terribly disappointed in Maddy and her behavior. She will be locked down ever more from now on. Maddy has become pretty much a prisoner in her own home, thanks to SCID. Good thing Dr. Mom has all the paperwork and results from the testing years ago that showed Maddy had a very severe case… Maddy goes to find the paperwork, and guess what?

Good grief, this movie is silly and pandering. There is no character arc for anyone. Nobody can truly be considered an antagonist, and there is no conflict and no resolution. The story just floats along on one ridiculous premise after another. This is a version of reality that even a young middle-school girl could not believe. At least the lead actors are good to look at.

 Amandla Stenberg has come a long way from playing young Rue in “The Hunger Games”. She is quite attractive and has a pleasant screen presence. Even with a flawed character, her performance is really good. Nick Robinson plays opposite her, and his role is to be her opposite. She wears white, and he wears black. She reads books, and he rides his skateboard. However, they do play the young lovers in a nicely awkward manner.

Would this movie been better if done as a “Hallmark Movie – Very Special Episode”?  Yes, because there is very little that requires a full studio production, except for the sequences shot in Hawaii. Is there anything silly and trivial about this movie? “Everything, Everything”…