Drummer Boy

Musical films have been making a comeback for a number of years prior and they can be quite entertaining. "Drummer Boy" is actually the first musical I've seen in which it is based during the Revolutionary War in 1774, and that makes the uniqueness interesting. 

As America's fight for independence begins, two young drummer boys, Jeremiah Clem (Joel David Smallbone) and his younger brother, Ben (Lucas Leach), an enslaved woman, Emmaline (India Brown) and a divided family each search for freedom in a world built to deny it. With music and lyrics carrying hope through battle and loss, "Drummer Boy" turns the Revolution into a deeply human story of faith, forgiveness and the belief that no person is born to live in chains or be forgotten. The problem with the two brothers is that each end up on opposing sides, hence the division.

Others to round out the cast are Melora Hardin as Rachel Clem, Ioan Gruffudd as Nathaniel Clem, Beth Easdown as Lady Elizabeth Balfour, Beverley Knight as Margret, Charles Esten as Lord Balfour, Iain Glen as Major John Ambrose and Scott Folan as Simon.

This was directed with grit, determination and exuberance by Ben Smallbone ("Priceless" '16, Steve McQueen: American Icon" (co-dir.) '17, "Christmas with the Chosen: The Messengers" '21, "Stoned Cold Country" '23, "Homestead" '24) plus TV, shorts and music videos, and Joel David Smallbone ("Unsung Hero" (co-dir.) '24, "For King + Country: A Drummer Boy Christmas - Live" '24). The character development of these roles were delineated with precision and this is amazing direction. Certainly Ben Smallbone has the lion's share of the experience, however it was definitely a collaberated effort. These two brothers obviously work as a great team. It was well penned by Richard L.Ramsey ("The Oath of Desormeau" '06, "The Song" '14, "Unsung Hero" '24) plus TV and shorts. That and the Civil War, was definitely a very divided time between families being torn toward opposing sides, and that was certainly showcased here. The script drew off of the human, emotional side of this war and how it was tearing families apart and this was told well in spades. If there was any negativity to this was that it was a bit long-in-the-tooth,where the running time went 128 minutes, it could've been cut to a couple of hours and would've been fine., And there were parts of it where the weather was snowy, but you couldn't see any breath coming out of the soldier's mouths when speaking, and Emmaline was outside in the freezing weather and didn't appear to be cold at all, not wearing winter clothes. While these were areas that I noticed, it certainly didn't impede on the impact of the story which was still gripping. I'm not particularly fond of musicals, however this did work. Not sure how it would've worked if not a musical. 

If you're a history buff, you'll love this. It has a great deal of historical elements in it to satisfy the most discerning film aficionado. Even with the musical numbers in it, it is still a great period film. The cinematography by Cathal Watters asc/isc ("Muide Eire" '11, "One Million Dubliners" '14, "Viva" '15, "The Flag" '16, "Rosie" '18, "Dark Lies the Island" '19, "Spilt Milk" '24) plus TV movies, TV and shorts, was simply breathtaking and definitely gives the audience that sweeping feeling. This is definitely a film for all.

Out of 4 Stars: 3.5                                    Rated: PG-13                                      128mins.

 

The Cat in the Hat

When the live version of "The Cat in the Hat" was released back in 2003, it came with much fanfare and anticipation only to receive lukewarm reviews and subsequently tanked in the box office. So, it's no surprise that this animated version of "The Cat in the Hat" was held off until now. Since this was a Dr. Seuss creation and his work is and should be animated, this version should surely perform better. 

Meet the Cat in the Hat you don't know! In the wonderfully whimsical tradition of Dr. Seuss, "The Cat in the Hat" comes to the big screen in the animated theatrical feature film debut, an all-new, epic adventure with an edge, where mischief, magic and mayhem reign supreme. Doing what he does best, the Cat--voiced by Bill Hader--spreads joy to kids in his hilarious, signature and singularly irreverent way, transporting them and audiences on a fantastical journey through a world they've never seen before. In the film, our hero takes on his toughest assignment yet for the I.I.I.I. (Institute for the institution of Imagination and Inspiration, LLC): to cheer Gabby (Xochiti Gomez) and Sebastian (Tiago Martinez), a pair of siblings struggling with their move to a new town. Known for taking things too far, this could be this agent of chaos's last chance to prove himself or lose his magical hat and his job. Will he succeed?

Others to round out the cast are Quinta Brunson as Sherrie from HR, Giancarlo Esposito as Mr. Hoogeboom, Bowen Yang as Gary, America Ferrera as Carmen (mom), Ryan Gaffney as Pig in a Wig, Paula Pell as Patty, Matt Berry as Waffles Tituss Burgess as The Psychic Narwhal and Asha Marie as Rosie. 

This was whimsically directed by Alessandro Carloni ("Kung Fu Panda 3" '16) and shorts and Erica Rivinoja. While these directors have limited experience, they truly know what it takes to put together animated productions. Considering that Carloni comes from an animation background surely served them both.The staging and pacing were spot on. I see more projects coming their way. It was also executed well by writers Rivinoja ("Extreme Movie" '08, "Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs 2" '13, "Trolls" '16, "Girls Trip" (story) '17, "The Addams Family" (story) '19, "Borat Subsequent Movie"'20, "The Gummibar & Friends Movie" '23) plus TV movies and TV, and Carloni, based on a screen story by Caroline Williams, which is based on the book by Dr. Seuss. The script in this was rollicking and funny, however there were a few areas of choppiness and incohesiveness in places right about the middle of the story. However, once it traversed that, the story only improved and became the film it was attempting to strive for. The sound editing by famed Ethan van der Ryn and Erick Aadahl was crisp and clear and the animation by Warner Bros Animation and Double Negative Animation were seamless in convincing its audience that this world was fun and whimsical. And, of course, this film wouldn't have been the film it was without Bill Hader as The Cat in the Hat. He's done many animated voice overs and this was his best. 

If you are a Dr. Seuss fan, you'll love this. Besides "How the Grinch Stole Christmas", my other favorite of Dr. Seuss is "Horton Hears a Who". This carried the whimsical rhyming that Seuss has always been famous for. It was a worthy attempt to honor Seuss and his work, and this should be seen by one and all!

Out of 4 Stars: 3.5                   Rated: PG                        114min. including a WB cartoon

Jimmy

Through the years, biopics have become increasingly popular--sometimes a film based on a real person or event can be more intriguing than fiction. In "Jimmy", the title role is played by K.J. Apa, the same actor that played the lead singer, Jeremy from the Christian group Mercy, and then there's biopics titled "Ray", "Get on Up"."Michael", "Aretha", and many others.

"Jimmy", the untold true story of America's most-beloved actor James Stewart (K.J. Apa) and the iconic role that saved him, focuses on the most transformative season in Jimmy Stewart's life--from winning the Academy Award for Best Actor in "The Philadelphia Story" to enlisting and becoming a combat pilot in the U.S. Army Air Corps at the beginning of World War II. He flew 20 missions over Europe, rising to the rank of colonel by the end of the war, only to return home broken and disheartened. Then director Frank Capra (Max Casella) was able to convince him in performing the role of George Bailey in "It's a Wonderful Life" and the rest is film history.

Others to round out the cast are Kara Killmer as Lady Julia Tyndall, Neal McDonough as Alexander, Sarah Drew as Hedda Hopper, Jason Alexander as Louis B. Mayer, Rob Riggle as Colonel Terrill, Julian Works as Second Lieutenant Martinez, Liam Bixby as Tex, Christopher McDonald as Lionel Barrymore, Jemma Donovan as Ginger Rogers and Jen Lilley as Gloria Stewart. 

This was directed with cohesiveness and amazing sequencing by Aaron Burns ("Legacy Peak" '22, "Birthright Outlaw" '23). While this filmmaker doesn't have a plethora of experience, what he has has served him well. This was sequenced in a flashback format, and where there could've been some scenes that could potentially be convoluted, this was streamlined with careful delineation.This director will receive more work. It was equally penned well by writer Justin Strawhand ("War Against the Weak" '09, "Birthright Outlaw" '23). As with the director, this filmmaker doesn't have a tremendous amount of experience, however his past writings have served him well. Again, this was filmed as a flashback, and as it starts with James Stewart winning the Oscar for actor for "The Philadelphia Story" then leads to his enlisting for the war effort during World War II, then after the fact, attempting to reenter the film biz again. This writer does have a short that is in post-production if you like his style. K.J. Apa as James Stewart was brilliant in his role where his stature and movements were very much similar to Stewart's body and mannerisms. And kudos to Adam Michael Rose, the Dialect Coach on the production for the coaching Apa received on the tonality of the dialect and tone of Stewart's voice. The film delved a great amount on Stewart's time as a pilot in the Army Air Corps, but did also gravitate on his making of "It's a Wonderful Life" with his friend and collaborator, director Frank Capra. 

Certainly, if you're a Jimmy Stewart fan, this will hit a home run, but even if you're not, the acting and directing were consummate. Stewart made 80 films in his career so it would be next to impossible to get all that in a 2 hour running time. "Harvey", 1950 was my favorite film of Stewart's. This was the film about a kindly gentleman who liked his drink whose best friend was an invisible, white, 6-foot rabbit. It was an amazing film."Jimmy" was a film that still covered a lot of territory and was satisfying by film's end. 

Out of 4 Stars: 4                                  Rated: PG-13                                       120mins.

The Only Living Pickpocket in New York

In the sea of large budgeted films along with animated films, Hollywood produces small independent movies that are lower budget, usually well written, directed and acted. When I saw the first trailer of "The Only Living Pickpocket in New York",I thought it had amazing promise mostly since it starred John Turturro who is an incredible actor. Well, what I received was worth the wait.

Harry Lehman (John Turturro) is an aging pickpocket who plies his trade with ever-diminishing returns in a drastically changed New York. Wallets stuffed with cash have been replaced by easily canceled credit cards, and Harry struggles to make ends meet as he cares for his disabled wife, Rosie (Karina Arroyave). When he unwittingly purloins and fences a valuable USB stick, Harry finds himself in a race against time to return the loot or face the rage of a vengeful crime family. Harry's longtime buddy, Ben (Steve Buscemi), a proprietor of the pawn shop Harry 'does business' with helps him as much as he can, however this family, particularly Dylan (Will Price) gives him the ultimate ultimatum. 

Others to round out the cast are Giancarlo Esposito as Detective Warren, Kelvin Han Yee as Frank, Jamie Lee Curtis as Moira, The Boss, Lori Tan Chinn as Gena, Echaka Agba as Annie, a neighbor, Rob Brown as Sammy, an orderly and Victoria Moroles as Eve.

This was directed as a 'fighting the clock' do or die film by Noah Segan ("Scare Package" (segment "M.I.S.T.") '19, "Blood Relatives" '22). This, yet again, is a filmmaker that has gone the route of writer/director while also being an actor. The list gets longer: Clint Eastwood, Ron Howard, George Clooney, Bradley Cooper, etc. Not that the requisite of being an effective director is one where one must be an actor, i.e. Steven Spielberg or Alfred Hitchcock, but it can give a director a leg up of being able to perceive the nuances of character development when they've come from the front of the camera. Even though John Turturro is a consummate actor, it certainly helped to know what kind of subtleties and nuances this character needed to convince the audience of the corner that Turturro's character, Harry was painting himself into. It was also well written by Noah Segan (" Scare Package" (segment "M.I.S.T.") '19, "Blood Relatives" '22) plus a short. It was an interesting premise in that Harry had no idea that he stole something valuable from this crime family when he was merely doing his 'job' as a pickpocket, but soon finds out and the writing was so subtle that Turturro looked as though he was under control while his world was falling apart. I believe this was a combination of the writer's expertise and Turturro's acting. Anyone else surely could've pulled off this role, however, after seeing Tuturro in this role, it would be difficult to envision another actor in the role as Harry, and this also is fine writing.

Not to spoil it, however it does ends bittersweetly, but satisfies the audience by films' end. The writing, directing and especially the acting by Turturro was amazing. Noah Segan will definitely receive more work, and it was truly great to see Tuturro in another film since, unless he's been doing TV, I haven't seen him in a film a bit of time.

Out of 4 Stars: 4                                            Rated: R                                      89mins.

Wildwood

When "Coraline" was released back in 2009, after researching the film, I felt that it would be a film worth seeing and I was certainly right.  Well, after my research and speaking to people about "Wildwood", I decided to see this, and it was an amazing film. One of the reasons is that both films were made by Laika Studios. That should've been all I needed to hear. 

This is a handcrafted epic fantasy that transports audiences into a secret, dangerous alive world. A girl's, Prue McKeel (Peyton Elizabeth Lee) desperate quest to save her baby brother, Mac (Arthur Knight) with assistance of her friend, Curtis (Jacob Tremblay) unfolds into a spectacular, high-stakes adventure through a forbidden forest full of enchanted creatures, endearing allies such as Brendan (Mahershala Ali), Owl Rex (Richard E. Grant) and The General (Angela Bassett), and formidable adversaries such as Alexandra (Carey Mulligan)--where an entire hidden realm hangs in the balance. In an era of automation, LAIKA delivers its most ambitious and globally accessible film yet--a bold fusion of human-crafted artistry and cinematic storytelling from the makers of "Coraline". 

Others to round out the cast are Awkafina as Septima, Charlie Day as Dimitri, Tom Waits as Maksim, Len Cariou as The Postmaster, Jermaine Clement as Roger, Jake Johnson as Dad and Maya Erskine as Mom.

This was directed with grit and whimsy by Travis Knight ("Kubo and the Two Strings" '16, "Bumblebee" '18, "Masters of the Universe" '26). Certainly this filmmaker is a relative newer director, however his style and the fact he can't be pigeon-holed into one genre or one kind of project makes him more marketable. His ability to stage and pace his scenes and actors is spot on and he sequences his scenes well also. If you like his style, his "Piranesi" is in pre-production at this time. It was penned well by writer Chris Butler ("ParaNorman" '12, "Kubo and the Two Strings" '16, "Missing Link" '19, "Masters of the Universe" '26) plus shorts, based upon the novel written by Colin Meloy, and based upon the novel illustrated by Carson Ellis. The script is filled with rich, developed characters that are all pivotal to their respective parts in this film. The story is written in a cohesive, tight, full-bodied way that will entertain all. And, like "Coraline", this movie is so well made--every scene is filled with beauty. color and awe-inspiring production work.The cinematography by Caleb Deschanel asc ("Intermission" '73, "The Black Stallion" '79, "Being There" '79, "The Natural" '84, "The Patriot" 2000, "The Passion of the Christ" '04, "Jack Reacher" '12, "The Lion King" '19) plus many others, is, as usual, stunning. His lighting and his angle shots are extremely effective. He's one of my favorite DP's. And the visual effects by Laika are simply amazing! 

The only thing I wasn't into as much personally was the mysticism involved to a degree, however its effect that allows Prue and Curtis to realize how well they had it in their lives after being in this dark world was the aspect I hope audiences will take home. You must see this on the big screen for the grandiose of the production. It exceeded a two hour running time, however you won't realize it.

Out of 4 Stars: 4                                      Rated:PG-13                                  131mins.

 

Clayface

I typically am not attracted to 'comic book ' films, however when I saw my first trailer for "Clayface" I felt that this would be a doable film, and I was correct. This, as opposed to most other of the comic book films, turns out to be more cutting edge then that of their counterparts. It gives a one two punch in the stomach that keeps its audience glued.

This story unravels one man's horrifying descent from rising Hollywood star to revenge-filled monster in a story that explores the loss of one's identity and humanity, corrosive love, and the dark underbelly of scientific ambition. Matt Hagen (Tom Rhys Harries) is attacked by a mob boss, Markos Szabo (David Dencik) by attacking Matt's face and ends Matt's career and life since being an actor is all about looks. Matt is shunned by all, so he accidentally comes across a scientist, Dr. Caitlyn Corr (Naomi Ackie) to help him. Since her specialty is in cell regeneration, he was healed. As with anything that is new, there are potential side-effects to contend with and these side-effects in this case are practically otherworldly. 

Others to round out the cast are Eddie Marsden as Frank Fitzpatrick, Max Minghella as John Borrelli, Dr. Corr's fiance, Sam Hazeldine as Chris, Daniel Betts as Carmine Junior, Nancy Carroll as Hildie Love, Matt's agent, Wil Coban as Bones,and Joshua James as Corey Bowery.

This film was directed with grit and with a cutting edge approach by James Watkins ("Eden Lake" '08, "The Woman in Black" '12,"The Take" '16, "Speak No Evil" '24) plus TV. Unlike other 'comic book' films, this movie was more slickly handled where its editing, photography and even visuals and prosthetics were treated with a more realistic way as compared to a typical comic book way. He certainly stays within his comfort zone which is how he stays fresh in his genre. It was creatively written by Mike Flanagan ("Makebelieve" 2000, "Still Life" '01, "Ghosts of Hamilton Street" '03, "Absentia" '11, "Oculus" '13, "Hush" '16, "Before I Wake" '16, "Ouija: Origin of Evil" '16, "Gerald's Game" '17, "Doctor Sleep" '19, "The Life of Chuck" '24, "V/H/S/Beyond" '24) plus TV and a short, and Hossein Amini ("Jude" '96, "The Wings of the Dove" '97, "The Four Feathers" '02, "Killshot" '08, "Shanghai" '10, "Drive" '11, "Snow White and the Huntsman" '12, "47 Ronin" '13, "The Two Faces of January" '14, "Our Kind of Traitor" '16, "The Snowman" '17, "Obi-Wan Kenobi: The Patterson Cut" '23) plus TV movies, TV and a short, based on a story by Mike Flanagan. With the culmination of these two screenwriter's experience, it's no surprise this film was written in this cutting edge and dark way since their resumes are a who's who of these type of films. The film was sequenced well and other than a couple of small places of inconsistencies in script, this story was spot on. The acting by both Tom Rhys Harries and Naomi Ackie were very believable and executed well and the prosthetic makeup effects by Legacy Effects were seamlessly designed and excelled well.

If you like 'comic book' films, you'll love this, but if not, like me, you'll enjoy the way this story was handled. And, as long as this film makes a truck load of money, there will be a sequel. I know, what a shock! A comic book film with a sequel--unheard of! It's a fun flick to enjoy for a couple of hours. 

Out of 4 Stars: 3.5                                       Rated: R                                           108mins.

Whalefall

Underwater films are typically presented in an extremely claustrophobic way in order to give it that suffocating aspect, i.e, "The Abyss", "The Meg", "U-570", "Crimson Tide" among a handful. So when "Whalefall" was released, it clearly showcased the claustrophobic  aspect in a very purposed way.

Following the death of his father, Mitt Gardiner (Josh Brolin), Jay Gardiner (Austin Abrams) goes diving off the central Coast of California in search of his remains, but is swallowed by a massive sperm whale. While trapped inside its belly with only one hour of oxygen left, Jay comes to realize that the hard-earned lessons his father imparted may be the key to his escape. Will he be able to figure it out and be able to escape the clutches of this whale before his air comes to an end?

Others to round out the cast are Elisabeth Shue as Zara Gardiner, Jay's mom, John Ortiz as Hewey, Mitt's friend, Jane Levy as Jay's sister, Emily Rudd as another of Jay's sisters and Nicholas Gould as US Coast Guard Perry Officer Third Class Whaley. 

This was directed with a gut-wrenching amount of grit and intensity by Brian Duffield ("Spontaneous" '20, "No One Will Save You" '23). Even though this filmmaker has limited experience behind the camera, he definitely gave a one two punch in his position to convince his audience that this young man, not only was swallowed, but how he is constantly challenged in his survival. The tension of the situation coupled with the tenacity of Jay, the scuba diver,  was amazing direction. Duffield's pacing, staging and sequencing were also crafted well. It was also executed well by writers Brian Duffield ("The Divergent Series: Insurgent" '15, "Jane Got a Gun" '15, "The Babysitter" '17, "Underwater" '20, "Sponraneous" '20, "Love and Monsters" '20, "No One Will Save You" '23) plus TV and a short and Daniel Kraus ("Jefftowne" '97, "Ball of Wax" '03) plus TV, based on the book by Daniel Kraus. The sequencing was stunning in this script, however considering Kraus, who wrote the book this film is based on, and was one of the screenwriters along with Duffield, the other screenwriter who is experienced, wrote this, it's no wonder it was sequenced and cohesive as it was. Unless Austin Abrams as Jay has been in a lot of TV, which I'm not really into, his performance was riveting even though I've never heard of him. Much of his performance was facial and emotional and not verbal since he was wearing a scuba device, and his expressions spoke volumes. The underwater cinematography by Jamie Alac was descript as it was stunning, and the visual effects predominantly designed by ILM (Industrial, Light & Magic) were seamless and were created in a very subtle way which added to the story. 

If you light this type of 'claustrophobic' fare in a film, this will certainly hit home, however if you are experiencing claustrophobia in your own life, this might create a feeling of uncomfortableness. It's truly a roller coaster ride and is a real nail-biter, but that's what makes this ride. 

Out of 4 Stars: 4                                    Rated: PG-13                                      105min.