Stories We Tell
Sarah Polley is at the top of my always increasing pedestal of writer's that I admire and aspire to become.
She burst onto my radar in 2007 with the release of her wonderful movie, Away From Her (see my review earlier in this blog dated 6/2/07), about a woman dealing with Alzheimer's that SHOULD have earned an Oscar for Julie Christie--damn that Marion Cotillard, but I digress.
She returns to my radar in a documentary about her own life and how her family of storytellers (actors, directors and producers) can mix myth and memory to create the truth of their lives.
This started off a bit jumpy showing all the set-up of the camera's and interview participants. I loved how her father, Michael Polley was the narrator for most of it along with Sarah herself. The writing was filled with a so many great lines about truth, secrets and memories that I cannot possibly remember them all. It made me smile at points, cry due to Sarah's uncanny ability to make me think about my own writing aspirations and mostly induce thoughtfulness.
I will be seeing this again whether in the theater or at home after I purchase it.
In the mean time, I give this two thumbs up pointing to all those people we have lost (like Sarah's mom) and the truths, secrets, myths and memories they have taken with them in their journey to their heavens.
Saturday, September 7, 2013
Lee Daniels' The Butler
Will Haygood wrote an article in 2008 about Eugene Allen who served as the White House butler for eight presidents which inspired this movie to be made.
Forest Whitaker is a tremendous actor (Last King of Scotland) who seems a bit overwhelmed in playing this role of Cecil Gaines (film name for Eugene Allen) It feels like he was trying to make a statement (along with Lee Daniels) at the struggles of the African-American in the United States. Oprah Winfrey was a surprisingly good as Cecil's wife, Gloria. She portrayed the strength of a mother with the dutifulness of a wife and the humor of a friend. There were so many stars featured in the previews for this movie that became distracting to the movie waiting for the stars to make their appearance. It feels like the directors and producers wanted the stars in the movie regardless if they fit the roles or not. John Cusack is NOT Richard Nixon, Robin Williams looks more like he forgot to change out of his makeup from One Hour Photo than Eisenhower and Alan Rickman is more a caricature of Ronald Reagan than anything else. In fact all the females in this movie, especially Oprah, Mariah Carey (Cecil's mother), Jane Fonda (Nancy Reagan) and Minka Kelly (Jacqueline Kennedy) are far better than their male counterparts in this movie.
Lee Daniels who exploded in the film-making world when he superbly directed Precious has taken a step back and should re-evaluate the reason he loves to make films. If it is simply to make a statement, perhaps he should switch to documentaries.
I give this a one thumb up for an interesting story about a previously under-stated member of our American history (Eugene Allen--character Cecil Gaines) but what could have been a great movie was only good.
Will Haygood wrote an article in 2008 about Eugene Allen who served as the White House butler for eight presidents which inspired this movie to be made.
Forest Whitaker is a tremendous actor (Last King of Scotland) who seems a bit overwhelmed in playing this role of Cecil Gaines (film name for Eugene Allen) It feels like he was trying to make a statement (along with Lee Daniels) at the struggles of the African-American in the United States. Oprah Winfrey was a surprisingly good as Cecil's wife, Gloria. She portrayed the strength of a mother with the dutifulness of a wife and the humor of a friend. There were so many stars featured in the previews for this movie that became distracting to the movie waiting for the stars to make their appearance. It feels like the directors and producers wanted the stars in the movie regardless if they fit the roles or not. John Cusack is NOT Richard Nixon, Robin Williams looks more like he forgot to change out of his makeup from One Hour Photo than Eisenhower and Alan Rickman is more a caricature of Ronald Reagan than anything else. In fact all the females in this movie, especially Oprah, Mariah Carey (Cecil's mother), Jane Fonda (Nancy Reagan) and Minka Kelly (Jacqueline Kennedy) are far better than their male counterparts in this movie.
Lee Daniels who exploded in the film-making world when he superbly directed Precious has taken a step back and should re-evaluate the reason he loves to make films. If it is simply to make a statement, perhaps he should switch to documentaries.
I give this a one thumb up for an interesting story about a previously under-stated member of our American history (Eugene Allen--character Cecil Gaines) but what could have been a great movie was only good.
Love Is All You Need
This is a Danish movie with English subtitles and some English dialogue. This is the story of Ida (Trine Dyrholm), a hairdresser who loses her hair due to cancer and walks in on her husband having an affair. This happens a week or so before they are about to fly to Italy to see their daughter get married. On her way to the airport by herself, she runs into (literally-in a car) the bridegrooms father, Philip (Pierce Brosnan). Philip is a widower who blames the world for the loss of his wife and becomes a work-a-holic.
Trine Dyrholm needs to be seen in more movies here in America as she is a wonderful actress. She holds her own and even overpowers the more recognizable Pierce Brosnan. Paprika Steen is also a wonderful actress in a bad role as the sister of the deceased wife of Philip, Benedikte who flirts with Philip. Anders Thomas Jensen has written a beautiful screenplay with wonderfully developed female leads yet the male cast and youth are either under developed or under acted.
This was a romantic movie which I give two thumbs up mostly to Trine to hopefully propel to bigger and better roles and a bit to Pierce who is still as sexy now as when he played Remington Steele on TV in the 80's.
This is a Danish movie with English subtitles and some English dialogue. This is the story of Ida (Trine Dyrholm), a hairdresser who loses her hair due to cancer and walks in on her husband having an affair. This happens a week or so before they are about to fly to Italy to see their daughter get married. On her way to the airport by herself, she runs into (literally-in a car) the bridegrooms father, Philip (Pierce Brosnan). Philip is a widower who blames the world for the loss of his wife and becomes a work-a-holic.
Trine Dyrholm needs to be seen in more movies here in America as she is a wonderful actress. She holds her own and even overpowers the more recognizable Pierce Brosnan. Paprika Steen is also a wonderful actress in a bad role as the sister of the deceased wife of Philip, Benedikte who flirts with Philip. Anders Thomas Jensen has written a beautiful screenplay with wonderfully developed female leads yet the male cast and youth are either under developed or under acted.
This was a romantic movie which I give two thumbs up mostly to Trine to hopefully propel to bigger and better roles and a bit to Pierce who is still as sexy now as when he played Remington Steele on TV in the 80's.
The Way Way Back
This was written way back in 2007 by Nat Faxon and Jim Rash (who also co-wrote The Descendants) and was extremely worth the wait.
This is a refreshing coming of age flick about a 14 year old boy named Duncan (Liam James) being dragged to a beach house by his Mom (Toni Collette) and her boyfriend, Trent (Steve Carell). It starts out on the way to the beach house when Trent asks Duncan what he thinks he is on a scale of 1 to 10, Duncan replies a 6 and Trent replies back a 3 because he doesn't put himself out there. Steve Carell is really good as the straight man (almost villainous). Allison Janney is arguably the most under-rated supporting actresses in the business (see 2007's Hairspray and The Help) and proves it again in this movie as the drunk neighbor Betty.
The movie really becomes great when Duncan goes to work at a water park run by Owen (Sam Rockwell). Sam takes over the movie as the comic relief and heart of the movie. Maya Rudolph, Nat Faxon and Jim Rash are wonderful as the co-workers at the water park.
I give this two thumbs up pointing to the height of water park slides everywhere and a shout out to the 80's in Duncan's singing of REO Speedwagon.
This was written way back in 2007 by Nat Faxon and Jim Rash (who also co-wrote The Descendants) and was extremely worth the wait.
This is a refreshing coming of age flick about a 14 year old boy named Duncan (Liam James) being dragged to a beach house by his Mom (Toni Collette) and her boyfriend, Trent (Steve Carell). It starts out on the way to the beach house when Trent asks Duncan what he thinks he is on a scale of 1 to 10, Duncan replies a 6 and Trent replies back a 3 because he doesn't put himself out there. Steve Carell is really good as the straight man (almost villainous). Allison Janney is arguably the most under-rated supporting actresses in the business (see 2007's Hairspray and The Help) and proves it again in this movie as the drunk neighbor Betty.
The movie really becomes great when Duncan goes to work at a water park run by Owen (Sam Rockwell). Sam takes over the movie as the comic relief and heart of the movie. Maya Rudolph, Nat Faxon and Jim Rash are wonderful as the co-workers at the water park.
I give this two thumbs up pointing to the height of water park slides everywhere and a shout out to the 80's in Duncan's singing of REO Speedwagon.
jOBS
I am not a fan of Ashton Kutcher's acting ability. This may be unfair and judgmental but what the heck this is my blog. I think he is intelligent and his speech at the teen choice awards earlier this year was wonderful.
I also don't know much about Steve Jobs besides the obvious that he died too young and was rich and successful by founding Apple.
From what I hear, this movie is geared to those people like me who don't know much about Steve Jobs. I walked away from this movie not knowing a ton more about Steve's life but thinking that the casting was spot on. Jobs and Kutcher both seem like intelligent men who are egotistical about themselves and condescending to the people they hang around. I felt extremely sorry for Steve Wozniak as he seemed to be the brains behind Apple technology without the initiative to succeed in business.
I thought that it was a better movie than the Social Network as far as better acting but I have to wonder about the information technology field being run by intelligent people with little or negative social skills influencing our society so greatly over social networks/technology.
I give this a 1 thumb up for Ashton's total transformation into the role of Steve Jobs (probable Oscar nomination-hopefully not a win) and an enjoyable enough movie.
I am not a fan of Ashton Kutcher's acting ability. This may be unfair and judgmental but what the heck this is my blog. I think he is intelligent and his speech at the teen choice awards earlier this year was wonderful.
I also don't know much about Steve Jobs besides the obvious that he died too young and was rich and successful by founding Apple.
From what I hear, this movie is geared to those people like me who don't know much about Steve Jobs. I walked away from this movie not knowing a ton more about Steve's life but thinking that the casting was spot on. Jobs and Kutcher both seem like intelligent men who are egotistical about themselves and condescending to the people they hang around. I felt extremely sorry for Steve Wozniak as he seemed to be the brains behind Apple technology without the initiative to succeed in business.
I thought that it was a better movie than the Social Network as far as better acting but I have to wonder about the information technology field being run by intelligent people with little or negative social skills influencing our society so greatly over social networks/technology.
I give this a 1 thumb up for Ashton's total transformation into the role of Steve Jobs (probable Oscar nomination-hopefully not a win) and an enjoyable enough movie.
The Heat
Melissa McCarthy can carry (and often does) a movie all by herself. That is saying a lot when in this movie she costars with the academy award winning actress, Sandra Bullock.
This is a buddy cop movie typically reserved for male actors. The script is full of harsh profanity perhaps to prove women can swear as well as men. The plot is formulaic and predictable but the comedy is the draw. The humor was the redeeming quality as I believe that I missed some good lines because I was laughing so hard. The chemistry between Melissa and Sandra is good considering their roles are to not get along. The supporting cast of Jane Curtin, Michael Rapaport, an under-appreciated Michael McDonald and an under-utilized Marlon Wayons add to the enjoyment of the movie.
I give this a solid thumb up solely for the continued enjoyment of Melissa McCarthy's humor.
Melissa McCarthy can carry (and often does) a movie all by herself. That is saying a lot when in this movie she costars with the academy award winning actress, Sandra Bullock.
This is a buddy cop movie typically reserved for male actors. The script is full of harsh profanity perhaps to prove women can swear as well as men. The plot is formulaic and predictable but the comedy is the draw. The humor was the redeeming quality as I believe that I missed some good lines because I was laughing so hard. The chemistry between Melissa and Sandra is good considering their roles are to not get along. The supporting cast of Jane Curtin, Michael Rapaport, an under-appreciated Michael McDonald and an under-utilized Marlon Wayons add to the enjoyment of the movie.
I give this a solid thumb up solely for the continued enjoyment of Melissa McCarthy's humor.
Hangover Part III
Yes, I admit I have seen all three of these movies and shock of all shocks, the first one is the best. The best thing that I can say is that all the stars came back for this movie and they didn't need to cast replacement actors. This movie was a better movie than the Hangover 2 because it had a better story but the humor from the first was not to be found in either of the sequels. Stick around for the end credits for the funniest part of the movie--one scene, enough said.
Melissa McCarthy steals her scenes (as usual) as a love interest for Zach Galifianakais' character and John Goodman is again a good supporting character. If you really love the Hangover movies, by all means enjoy this otherwise there are plenty of other movies from which to choose.
I give this a half thumb up pointing to the movie marquees clearly listing better movie options to view.
Yes, I admit I have seen all three of these movies and shock of all shocks, the first one is the best. The best thing that I can say is that all the stars came back for this movie and they didn't need to cast replacement actors. This movie was a better movie than the Hangover 2 because it had a better story but the humor from the first was not to be found in either of the sequels. Stick around for the end credits for the funniest part of the movie--one scene, enough said.
Melissa McCarthy steals her scenes (as usual) as a love interest for Zach Galifianakais' character and John Goodman is again a good supporting character. If you really love the Hangover movies, by all means enjoy this otherwise there are plenty of other movies from which to choose.
I give this a half thumb up pointing to the movie marquees clearly listing better movie options to view.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
