Black Panther Movie Review

February 16, 2018 (updated February 14, 2018) Published by JMcNaughton

“Black Panther” is an exciting change-up in the Marvel movie line-up. Here is a hero who is a black African king, as well as being a superhero. Wakanda (a fictional nation) is a powerhouse of technology and civil order in the heart of Africa. An ancient meteor hit that place eons ago, and that meteor was loaded with Vibranium (the fictitious deep-space element that makes up Captain America’s powerful shield). The Wakanda people have enjoyed a hidden wealth of goods and services, along with their tribal rites and laws. But years ago, the king killed his own brother in a tragic incident.

King T’Challa (Chadwick Boseman) is the new young leader, and his country is behind him. He has a young sister named Shuri (Letitia Wright) who is a great teenage nerd with a sense of humor. Ramonda (Angela Bassett) is the Queen and mother to T’Challa and Shuri. Zuri (Forest Whitaker) is his uncle who will guide T’Challa. He also has an ex-girlfriend Nakia (Lupita Nyong’o) who wants to open up Wakanda to the outside and share the secrets. The palace is guarded with an all-female Special Forces group, led by Okoye (Danai Gurira). The kingdom is secure, except for a mercenary who is attempting to break in and steal much of the Vibranium. This is Ulysses Klaue (Andy Serkis) who has dealt with T’Challa once before.

King T’Challa goes to Korea to try and capture Klaue, along with Nakia and Okoye backing him up. After some cool chase scenes, they finally get Klaue. There is also a CIA agent named Ross (Martin Freeman) around to apprehend him, and they work together to bring down Klaue. Klaue then escapes with the help of a mystery person named Erik “Killmonger” Stevens (Michael B. Jordan). Erik has a background of growing up in Oakland, and he knows about Wakanda. He is also ready to confront T’Challa and take over the throne. The kingdom is in turmoil because T’Challa and Eric struggle for power.

Eric removes T’Challa from the throne and takes over. There are few that follow him, but some follow Eric as a new king. T’Challa is found alive, and he is helped by his tribesman. He also gets some outside assistance from CIA agent Ross. T’Challa needs all the help that he can get. When T’Challa goes up against the current king Eric, he will need powerful allies. There are many struggles before the end comes and the kingdom is peaceful once again. And when the issues are resolved, then Wakanda can become a major nation in eyes of the whole world. The nation will become stronger, and T’Challa will be known for being a beloved leader.

This Marvel movie is the first to have a black main character, a mostly black cast and a black director and co-writer. But even more important, it is beautiful movie with an epic sweep in terms of story and meaning. The themes echo Shakespeare, or with a more recent comparison, “The Lion King”. Brothers battle over who should be king, and even cousins are torn apart with different ideas of how the kingdom should evolve. Ryan Coogler, along with Joe Robert Cole, has crafted a story worthy of much praise.

Coogler also directed the movie, which make his contribution even more valuable. But to work out a very deep and meaningful story, it sure helps to have a cast of great actors. Starting with Chadwick Boseman and Michael B. Jordan, Coogler has found the two main character that make his story come alive. Boseman is strong and steady as T’Challa. Jordan is electric as the villain Killmonger, who is brutal and vicious – but he is doing the right thing is his own mind.

Also add in Andy Serkis as an over-the-top Klaue, who enjoys being in crazy-town. Martin Freeman plays the lonely white good guy willing to help as much as he can. But with some very strong female back up, the movie becomes even more special. Lupita Nyong’o, Danai Gurira, Letitia Wright and Angela Bassett all add much depth and some unique black woman characters that make the movie better.

“Black Panther” is a welcome addition to the group of fine Marvel superhero movies. The story is intriguing and thought-provoking. The production values are top-notch, and the soundtrack is evocative and haunting. There are many places where this movie does new and unusual things for a ‘superhero’ movie. Let’s hope that these can happen again and more often.

Permission Movie Review

February 14, 2018 (updated February 14, 2018) Published by Shari K. Green

The term, ‘You always want what you can’t have.’ may come to mind while watching this wickedly terrific and uncommon film, written and directed by thirty-five-year-old, Brian Crano. Crano hasn’t a large amount of work behind him but I have a sneaking suspicion this will change after Permission gets around.

Don’t make the mistake of missing this. It may seem like it could be a boring story of the typical relationship gone wrong by the trailer, but it is anything but typical. What Crano offers is a striking contrast to ordinary. The trailer, using hot pink neon letters throughout, making it appear as though the film were light and heavily comedic in nature, downplays what is. Behind the glitz of this trailer is a well-structured, deep and perplexing movie. It pulls you in with an outstanding setup and a brilliant cast of characters, right from the get-go.

In Permission, we meet and get entangled in the lives of Will (Stevens) and Anna (Hall) who are one another first love. We are shown that their sex life has become very familiar and routine and as Will and Anna speak to her brother Hale (Craig) and his lover Reece (Spector) about their relationship, the length of time they’ve been together comes up. Reece finds it almost unacceptable that the two have been together since childhood, never having an opportunity to get to know what it’s like to not only engage mentally with another person for it to be too meaningful outside of friendship, but also physically be with another person. Reece puts it out there to them that they truly must live a little. Almost immediately, Will and Anna begin to wonder if the other person wants to be with someone else, perhaps has wanted to all along. Since they’re about to move in together, they agree that they should both open their relationship so they can have experiences they’ve never had and agree to have sex with other people. There are rules put in place and you, the audience member, will slap your head and wonder what will become of them once they start this foolishness.

Quietly and sweetly, Crano has gotten you very attached to these characters. You want the best for both of them and you question their judgment… which is what makes the film so riveting. Permission breaches such a taboo subject that while you’re watching, you feel somewhat uncomfortable. You want them together and hope that at the end of the film, they will be.

Soon after the decision to be with other people has been reached, Anna meets Dane (Arnaud) a composer who shares her passion for music like no one ever has. This can’t be good. Anna stays in touch with Will through text the entire time she’s with Dane and feels somewhat guilty for enjoying herself but enjoys herself she does… maybe too much.

Will can’t bring himself to find someone right away but is eventually seduced by a sexy, older woman named Lydia (Gershon) who wanders into his shop and finds him attractive… she wants him. She takes control and once she gets her hands on him, he has no choice in the matter. Unlike the more loving and meek Anna, she is wild in bed and she allows him to do to her a certain act that he’d never ask Anna to go through with. He’s thrilled but also confused. Not only has he kept sexual desires from Anna, he keeps having sex with Lydia, too, breaking their agreement. Anna finds out and isn’t happy he’s being secretive but she breaks the rule, as well. She has been seeing Dane on a regular basis.

Permission is magnificent, filled with brave, strong characters. It’s an honest look at what happens when people have no experience with life and love, craving it for the first time. It sneaks in a lesson of what it takes to stay but also what it might take to bow out. You will care deeply for Anna and Will and you’ll find yourself chomping at the bit, nervously, awaiting the outcome of the yarn. It’s quite a reaction to the truth coming from their finally being open to change. Well done, Brian Crano. Bravo! You have made an intriguing, beguiling film that will live on for a long time. It’s as touching as it is agonizing and I anticipate those who see this will eagerly await your next project.

The cast of “Love, Simon” is going on tour and it’s Powered by your Love

February 14, 2018 (updated February 14, 2018) Published by Shari K. Green

LOVE, SIMON will hit theaters everywhere on March 16, 2018!

Everyone deserves a great love story, so Love, Simon has just launched two exciting ways to help make your Valentine’s Day romantic.

First, the cast of Love, Simon is going on tour and it’s Powered by your Love. Give your state some Love (Simon): visit PoweredByLoveTour.com or visit @LoveSimonMovie on Instagram and vote for your state to be a stop on the tour by liking your state’s image. The Love, Simon “Powered by Love” tour will visit the states with the most likes.

Hurry – voting ends February 18^th.

Second, you might have seen adorable love notes from Simon while waiting for the bus or getting popcorn at the theater. Now you can tell your SO or BFF how special they are with a #LoveSimon postcard. Visit http://DearWorldLoveSimon.com to create and share your #LoveSimon postcard today!

Happy Valentine’s Day!

Love, Simon

LOVE, SIMON

Release: March 16, 2018

Director: Greg Berlanti

Screenplay by: Isaac Aptaker and Elizabeth Berger

Producers: Wyck Godfrey and Marty Bowen

Cast: Nick Robinson, Katherine Langford, Alexandra Shipp, Jorge Lendeborg Jr., Miles Heizer, Keiynan Lonsdale, Logan Miller, Jennifer Garner, Josh Duhamel, Tony Hale.

Everyone deserves a great love story. But for seventeen-year old Simon Spier it’s a little more complicated: he’s yet to tell his family or friends he’s gay and he doesn’t actually know the identity of the anonymous classmate he’s fallen for online. Resolving both issues proves hilarious, terrifying and life-changing. Directed by Greg Berlanti (Dawson’s Creek, Brothers & Sisters), written by Isaac Aptaker & Elizabeth Berger (This is Us), and based on Becky Albertalli’s acclaimed novel, LOVE, SIMON is a funny and heartfelt coming-of-age story about the thrilling ride of finding yourself and falling in love.

LOVE, SIMON Official Channels

Website: LoveSimonMovie.com

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

Twitter: https://twitter.com/lovesimonmovie?lang=en

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

#LOVESIMON

The 15:17 to Paris Movie Review

February 8, 2018 Published by JMcNaughton

Europe be saved from extremists by a young group of Americans on vacation, going to France? Well, in one case, that is exactly what happened. In the summer of 2015, there were three friends who were backpacking across the continent, and they managed to be in the right place at the right time. It also helped that they did the right thing, that is – stop a major attack from happening on a high-speed train traveling to Paris. Everyone could have been killed, and they helped to stop the worst-case scenario. This movie is a depiction of that event, and the lives of the three young American men. They also happen to play themselves, not as a gimmick, but to keep the story as true as possible.

“The 15:17 to Paris” gets into the events of the train attack, but first it goes back to the high school days of the three guys who develop a bond that will last for many years. When they are finally out of school, each will decide what they will do with their lives. Spencer Stone (played by Spencer Stone) joins up with the Air Force and learns some life skills. Alek Skarlatos (played by Alek Skarlatos) gets into the National Guard and spends a tour in Afganistan. Anthony Sadler (played by Anthony Sadler) goes to college to become smarter and to learn about the world. They all decide that a trip to Europe would do them all a world of good. Spencer and Anthony get to Italy and then go to Venice. At that same time, Alek meets up with an exchange student in Germany.

The early years of the three guys get illuminated in flashbacks about how they all met. Young Spencer and his mom (Judy Greer) and neighbors to young Alec and his mom (Jenna Fischer) The two boys meet with young Anthony at school, and they all get along quite well. They spend time playing and sometimes get into trouble. But when they all grow up, that is when the real adventure starts. They all meet up in the Europe trip in Germany, and then spend some time in Amsterdam. But they are convinced by many people to make a final trip to Paris, just because it is a beautiful place. And they are in luck, because they can take the 15:17 to Paris…

However, on this particular train, there is also a passenger with very bad intent. Ayoub El-Khazzani (Ray Corasani) has brought aboard a few extra items, such as an AK-47, a hand gun, a knife, and large supply of ammo. This guy decides to take out as many people as he can in the train compartment. But little does he know that Spencer, Alek and Anthony are also aboard. It just so happens that they have a particular set of skills that just might save the day. They all face-off against El-Khazzani to give him a very bad, very no-good day. Of course, there are a couple of other people involved with taking down the terrorist and saving the day, but the biggest flag waves for the Americans.

Clint Eastwood has taken a big chance and made a bold gamble. With casting the actual guys that where there on that day, he gives a large responsibility to some people who are not professional actors. In fact, many of the actual passengers on that train are given an opportunity to recreate a moment of terror and the relief of getting control of the situation. The three come through with excellent results; after all they are playing themselves. They might have a handful of times that the acting is a tad bit rough and unrefined. But it does shine through to give a very unique view from the eyes of those who were deeply involved.

Eastwood takes his steady and trained hand to guide the (non) actors to perform the events of their lives again, but this time for our benefit. The movie is focused on the one main event, but it goes into details about how all three of these guys wound up there on that train. There are times where the movie starts to drag a bit, as you learn a little more about what these guys want out of life. But with a brisk run time, there is no time to get bored. That is because each scene is designed to being you to the main event.

This movie has the ‘true story’ aspect down to a tee. That is mostly because the actual participants are the actors. That says a lot about how important Eastwood thinks this movie will be. His vision keeps “The 15:17 to Paris” on track…

A Quiet Place – Trailer and Featurette

February 6, 2018 Published by Shari K. Green

IF THEY HEAR YOU, THEY HUNT YOU

DIRECTED BY

JOHN KRASINSKI

PRODUCED BY

MICHAEL BAY, ANDREW FORM, BRAD FULLER

STORY BY

BRYAN WOODS & SCOTT BECK

SCREENPLAY BY

BRYAN WOODS & SCOTT BECK AND JOHN KRASINSKI

STARRING

EMILY BLUNT, JOHN KRASINSKI, NOAH JUPE, MILLICENT SIMMONDS

IN THEATERS APRIL 6, 2018

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AQuietPlaceM…

Twitter: https://twitter.com/QuietPlaceMovie

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/AQuietPlace…

#AQuietPlace

#StayQuiet



In Theaters April 6th

http://www.fandango.com

The 15:17 To Paris Advance Movie Screening

February 4, 2018 (updated February 5, 2018) Published by markdeli

Movie Screening Summary: In the early evening of August 21, 2015, the world watched in stunned silence as the media reported a thwarted terrorist attack on Thalys train #9364 bound for Paris—an attempt prevented by three courageous young Americans traveling through Europe. “The 15:17 to Paris” follows the course of the friends’ lives, from the struggles of childhood through finding their footing in life, to the series of unlikely events leading up to the attack. Throughout the harrowing ordeal, their friendship never wavers, making it their greatest weapon and allowing them to save the lives of the more than 500 passengers on board. The heroic trio is comprised of Anthony Sadler, Oregon National Guardsman Alek Skarlatos, and U.S. Air Force Airman First Class Spencer Stone, who play themselves in the film.

http://www.1517toparis.com

See more advance movie screenings from tmc

Advance Movie Screening For The 15:17 To Paris

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

Phoenix, Arizona

Advance Movie Screening Details

Movie Screening Date: Wednesday, February 7
Location: Harkins Scottsdale 101
Movie Screening Time: 7:00pm
[button link=”http://www.wbtickets.com/tmcphx1517par” type=”big” newwindow=”yes”] Get Passes[/button]

Las Vegas, Nevada

Advance Movie Screening Details

Movie Screening Date: Wednesday, February 7
Location: Regal Red Rock
Movie Screening Time: 7:00pm
[button link=”http://www.wbtickets.com/tmclv1517par” 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.

The Insult – Movie Review

January 26, 2018 (updated January 26, 2018) Published by Shari K. Green

The Insult (original title L’insulte)

Directed by: Ziad Doueiri

Starring: Adel Karam, Kamel El Basha, Rita Hayek, Camille Salameh, Diamand Abou Abboud, Talal El Jurdi, Christine Choueiri, Julia Kassar, Rifaat Torbey, Carlos Chahine

Rating: R

Run Time: 1h 52 min

Genre: Drama

This movie is the ultimate story of someone needing to make peace with his past to have any sort of future. Lebanese director, writer and cinematographer, Ziad Doueiri, (West of Beirut, The Attack), who worked under Quentin Tarantino, can rest easy if he was attempting to make his magnum opus… because he just did.

At the beginning of the film, a message pops up that reads, the opinions in this film do not reflect the official policy or position of the Lebanese government. Knowing the film is a drama and not a documentary, I found that interesting. The Insult tells the story of Tony Hanna, played magnificently by Adel Karam who had to balance frustration, hate and anger with forbearing. Karam achieves a fantastic counterbalance which makes you both like and dislike him at the same time. It couldn’t have been easy. Tony is a Lebanese Christian who gets upset when he perceives just a misunderstanding to be a terrible insult; a slap in the face, if you will. To be insulted in his homeland of Beirut is one thing, to be disgraced in his own home is another.

The manager of the residential building in which Tony resides allows the foreman of a construction company, Yasser Salameh, (Kamel El Basha), a Palestinian living in a refugee camp, to fix a drainpipe as it’s getting all of his workers wet. They’re there to make repairs to the building anyway, so taking care of Tony’s pipe, which is not up to code, can get done quickly and they’ll be on their way. When Yasser tells Tony he needs to fix the pipe, Tony refuses to allow him to and closes the door in his face. He isn’t interested in change, which is part of his personality, as well. There is ultimately a reason for this, but it takes the entire film to get you there which is what makes this film so damn good. Tony’s character is revealed slowly and the justifications for his actions do come but will there be a large cost to his stubborn behavior? Who pays and why?

Without Tony’s permission, Yasser fixes the pipe. Tony then smashes and breaks it, screaming that they had no right whatsoever to make adjustments to his home when his life is fine. When the manager of the building attempts to make amends and apologize, it isn’t good enough for Tony. He wants to hear an apology from Yasser himself. When the manager finally talks Yasser into apologizing, Yasser and Tony, both very proud men, only stare at one another. When words are spoken, they are harsh and the problem escalates from there. Tony, who listens to propaganda all day, tells the Palestinian that he wished, ‘Ariel Sharon had finished you off.’ These words are more than an insult to Yasser and he strikes Tony.

What happens next is intense and dramatic, in that we see these two struggle for power yet also fight against the system. A court battle to prove guilt or innocence in what becomes a national debate ensues and the original point is skewed. Not allowing a simple fix to a pipe leads us on a journey into Tony’s dark past and it leads Yasser there, as well, which brings in the much-needed human aspect to the conflict. It’s exciting to watch these two men, both in complete control of their characters, spar.
They’re willing to be imprisoned, even die if they must, but they will not lose face. The final courtroom battle is extremely powerful and I enjoyed how you know there’s something brewing inside of Tony but you just don’t know what. Kudos to these performers and to Doueiri for getting them there. There is much more to be revealed about this film, but I’d rather you see it for yourself. It will be up for a few Academy Awards, that I can promise. It’s surprisingly moving and, again, the acting is unforgettable. Also, in our political climate today, such films need to be seen and I’m glad they’re being made… which explains the message at the beginning of the film.

Catch it at Harkins Fashion Square on FEB 2nd, 2018

Journey’s End Trailer

January 26, 2018 Published by Shari K. Green

Where courage was found…innocence was lost

March 1918. C-company arrives to take its turn in the front-line trenches of northern France, led by the war-weary Captain Stanhope (Claflin). With a German offensive imminently approaching, the officers (Bettany, Graham, Sturridge) and their cook (Jones) use food and the memories of their lives before the war to distract themselves, while Stanhope soaks his fear in whiskey, unable to deal with the dread of the inevitable. A young officer, Raleigh (Butterfield), arrives fresh out of training and abuzz with the excitement of his first real posting –not least because he is to serve under Stanhope, his former schoolhouse monitor and the object of his sister’s affections. Each man is trapped, the days ticking by, the tension rising and the attack drawing ever closer…

DIRECTED BY: Saul Dibb

CAST: Paul Bettany, Sam Claflin, Asa Butterfield

WRITTEN BY: Simon Reade

Facebook | Twitter | Youtube

#JourenysEnd

Visit the Site



In Theaters March, 2018

http://www.fandango.com

Small Town Crime Movie Review

January 19, 2018 Published by Shari K. Green

The opening scene of Eshom and Ian Nelms’ film, Small Town Crime, tells you all you need to know about Mike, (Hawkes) the protagonist of the film, and a damned engrossing protagonist might I add… however crude, crass and carnal he may appear. He’s an ex-cop who doesn’t take shit from anyone; just ask him. He tells everyone this about himself, especially people who want to hire him so… that they don’t hire him! A
drunk, when we meet him he’s vomiting during his daily workout. Preferring to spend most of his time inebriated he’d rather drive his muscle car to cash his unemployment check than have to actually work for his money. Always with a beer in his hand, he has gotten sidetracked in life when his partner on the force is murdered during a traffic stop. Mike, drunk at the time, is blamed for his death and is let go.

While out driving, drunk of course, he stops when he sees a very bloody young woman lying near the side of the road. She is beaten half to death but alive. He gets her into his car and races her off to the hospital, unfortunately, she doesn’t survive. With not much in life to keep him roused these days, he decides he’s going to kick his investigation tactics back into high gear. He will avenge her death no matter what it takes.
What he finds is that his local watering hole, one he frequents and where he knows everyone by name (from being kicked out all too often), is more than it appears. Underage prostitutes swarm the joint and it seems they have gotten themselves into trouble with people who aren’t looking for the girls for sex but rather are out to get them for what they know.

Mike tracks down the girl’s family and speaks to her grandfather (Forster). He’s a tough, well-to-do, older man who has nothing to lose, especially now that he lost his granddaughter. He’ll do everything to even the score and hires Mike to help track down her killers. He’ll even haul around his own weapon if needed! Clifton Collins Jr., who originally comes off as a miscreant about to give Mike a lot of trouble, ends up helping to try and solve the mystery they’ve all stumbled into. Hunches, expertise and cunning get them where they need to be for the answers to all of their questions but a growing body count will have you wondering if the need to solve one murder, sans the local detectives, played by Daniel Sunjata and an aged Michael Vartan, outweighs the need to keep the many alive.

Sure, a crime has been committed and needs to be solved but how many must die to solve the said crime before you get help? The answer to that question is answered in this gritty thriller that I recommend you see. I like, and believe you will, too, that things don’t go exactly right for anyone, that Mike is a walking catastrophe and that the viciousness of the picture is brutal. It gives you that much more reason to stay until the end to see if Mike gets his man or if he gets his adopted family of Octavia Spencer, Anthony Anderson and their children, all killed! Did I mention this cast is absolutely stupendous?? By the way, stay for one extra clip after the credits start to roll. Enjoy!

*Opens at the FilmBar and On Demand January 19th

Social Media:

https://www.facebook.com/SmallTownCrime/

https://www.instagram.com/smalltowncrime/

https://twitter.com/smalltowncrime

Forever My Girl Movie Review

January 19, 2018 Published by Shari K. Green

High School sweethearts, Liam (Roe) and Josie (Rothe) are about to get married. We open on Josie and her maid of honor, Kiera (Alexandria), getting her ready for her march down the aisle when through the door comes some devastatingly bad news… her groom isn’t coming. We cut to eight years later and find out why he left sweet and innocent Josie before her brother could walk her to meet Liam at the altar. Fame and fortune came knocking on his door in a big way (think Blade Shelton) and Mr. Liam Page answered it with a fast lurch of enthusiasm and a bit of self-indulgence, not thinking much about who was getting left behind and hurt in the process. He no longer had time for a wife; only for himself. When we see Liam again, he’s on stage singing “Don’t Water Down My Whiskey,” which is not only quite good but Alex Roe does sing it himself for the film. Liam performs for a sell-out stadium crowd and has a team of people taking care of him. Fans scream for him to return to the stage after his last song, but he makes his way to his manager and insists he gets him a particular girl in the front row that he had been eyeballing all night.
I’m thinking this is to get us a bit hot under the collar at his behavior. It doesn’t exactly work because we can tell right away that he’s isn’t like a sailor; isn’t ‘a girl in every port’ kind of guy. The girl he sees reminds him of Josie, for whom he has been unable to forget, though he had definitely left her behind to ache… alone. It’s obvious in some of the following scenes that he has never really tried to rid his memory of her and that outside of casual sex, thinking of her is his only real connection to anyone.

Liam learns that his best friend from High School is killed in a car accident and he takes off for home, leaving behind an already scheduled tour and stunned manager and publicist losing his mind.
Here, the narrative gets a little confusing because he has become incredibly successful, which takes a lot of discipline and when he goes back home, it’s implied or downright said buy his father, Pastor Brian (Hickey) that he had gotten into drugs and was a bit of a mess. That perplexity notwithstanding, it’s a good build up, even though you do see what’s coming. Though the story wants you to be really irritated with his character, you do like him and you hope that while he’s in town to go to his friends funeral, that he’ll run into Josie.
So, he runs into Josie and he tries to apologize for his behavior. He tells her that he knows he had put his wants and desires before hers. He wants her to believe him when he says he realizes that you can, basically, have your cake and eat it, too.

Happy to see she’s had success as well, he goes to the flower shop that she owns, to ask her out. She shows him something else that his selfishness caused him to miss out on when he left. She introduces him to her daughter, Billy (Fortson). She was named after Liam’s mother. Seeing her and hearing her name, he immediately knows what he could never replace and what he missed… the birth of his daughter and being there for her and watching her grow up. Billy is smart, cute and nothing gets by her, much like the actress who played her.
Liam begs to be a part of her life and must now prove he is worthy to be in it. A scene where Billy complains about riding in his convertible is simply priceless. She doesn’t make jumping into fatherhood easy on him but they get used to one another and she warms up to him rather quickly. When he buys her a guitar, they bond over music and suddenly you can just imagine where a sequel could go.

Forever My Girl follows the pattern of formulaic scripts that have come before it. It’s a, ‘boy leaves girl at altar to seek fame and fortune but his roots in the town and in family are buried deep and can’t be pulled out quite so easily’ story. But at its core, it’s loving and it has a good message of forgiveness. It works. It has a slow-motion, playful montage scene to complete the look but it gives us something that many films of the genre do not; a strong leading male character who’s sensitive and willing to admit he’s wrong and give up everything for his true love… loves.

Tag: Drama

Black Panther Movie Review

Permission Movie Review

The cast of “Love, Simon” is going on tour and it’s Powered by your Love

The 15:17 to Paris Movie Review

A Quiet Place – Trailer and Featurette

#AQuietPlace

#StayQuiet

In Theaters April 6th

The 15:17 To Paris Advance Movie Screening

Advance Movie Screening For The 15:17 To Paris

Phoenix, Arizona

Advance Movie Screening Details

Las Vegas, Nevada

Advance Movie Screening Details

Advance Movie Screening Information

The Insult – Movie Review

Journey’s End Trailer

In Theaters March, 2018

Small Town Crime Movie Review

Forever My Girl Movie Review

Leaderboard 🏆

Recent Reviews

Latest Photos