In the middle of all the big-budget summer flicks being offered, that we've seen or will be seeing, it's encouraging to find a small indie film, "The Rover" straight from down under which will keep one riveted to that theater seat as much as one of its big-budget counterparts.
Ten years after a global economic collapse, a cold-blooded drifter, Eric (Guy Pearce) traverses the scorched Australian outback on a mission to track down the men-- Henry (Scoot McNairy), Archie (David Field) and Caleb (Tawanda Manyimo) who stole his last remaining possession-- his car. When he inadvertently crosses paths with a badly wounded member of the gang, Rey (Robert Pattinson) who he finds out Rey is Henry's younger brother, Eric takes the vulnerable, naïve young man along with him as his unwitting accomplice. Eric's original intent on bringing Rey with him and not killing him is that Rey has to take Eric to his brother, because Eric is not as familiar with the outback territory. So as they take this incredibly torturous 'road trip', they learn more about each other so as to come to a place of a restrained understanding.
Others to round out the cast are Gillian Jones as Grandma, Susan Prior as Dr. Dorothy Peeples, Anthony Hayes as Sgt. Rick Rickoffersen, Jamie Fallon as Colin, Richard Green as Storekeeper, Ethan Hanslow as Hanging Gardens Boy, Jacky Mayo as Fuel Seller and Scott Perry as Dying Soldier.
This was directed with incredible grit and intensity by David Michod ("Solitary Endeavor on the Southern Ocean" (Documentary) '08, "Animal Kingdom" '10). What made this intense drama different than that of "Mad Max", or something like "The Book of Eli" and even "Drive" is that the two lead characters in this play very underlying roles instead of other the top roles where all pandemonium breaks loose. This is not only the mark of skilled directing, but also talented acting as well. Both Pearce and Pattinson simply shined in this gripping thriller. It was written by Michod based on a story by Joel Edgerton and Michod. With the exception of a couple of slow parts in plot (it seemed a little long in the tooth), it was still riveting enough to keep you on the edge of your seat. This is not a warm and fuzzy feeling film--I was certainly hard-pressed to feel sorry for any of these characters, however I'm sure this was the intent of the writer.
One of the stars of this was of the cinematographer, Natasha Braier, adf ("RedMeanGo" '05, "Glue" '06, "XXY" '07, "In the City of Sylvia" '07, "Somers Town" '08, "Dolce vita africana" (Documentary) '08, "The Milk of Sorrow" '09, "The Infidel" '10, "Chinese Puzzle" '13) plus tons of shorts. The photography showcased the grit and 'dirtiness' of this film amazingly well.
If this premise is something that's not your thing--this certainly is not for everyone, then you've got to see it for the performances by both Pearce and Pattinson. These two consummate actors will be worth the price of admission alone.
Out of 4 Stars: 3.5 Rated: R 102mins.
You know that the summer movie season is in high gear when a Transformers film has been released. As with its predecessors, "Transformers: Age of Extinction" is a high-budget, high- adrenaline, high-explosive--basically high everything type of film. Break out the popcorn, because it's time to escape BIG time.
This installation of the franchise begins after an epic battle leaves Chicago torn, however with the world saved. As humanity picks up the pieces, a shadowy elite group, headed up by Joshua Joyce (Stanley Tucci), Harold Attinger (Kelsey Grammer) and James Savoy (Titus Welliver) reveals itself in an attempt to control the direction of history... while an ancient, powerful new menace sets Earth in its crosshairs.
With help from a new cast led by Mark Wahlberg as Cade Yeager, a mechanic/inventor, his teenage daughter Tessa (Nicola Peltz) and her boyfriend Shane Dyson (Jack Reynor), Optimus Prime (voiced by Peter Cullen) and the Autobots rise to meet their most fearsome challenge yet. In an incredible adventure, they are swept up in a war of good and evil, ultimately leading to a climatic battle across the world.
Others to round out the cast are Sophia Myles as Darcy Tirrel, Bingbing Li as Su Yueming, T.J. Miller as Lucas Flannery, friend and employee of Cade's, James Bachman as Gill Wembley, Thomas Lennon as Chief of Staff, Charles Parnell as CIA Director, Erika Fong as CIA Analyst, and Mike Collins as CIA Analyst.
This was directed by the 'father' of big-budget summer flicks, Michael Bay ("Bad Boys" '95, "The Rock" '96, "Armageddon" '98, "Pearl Harbor" '01, "Bad Boys II" '03, "The Island" '05, "Transformers" '07, "Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen" '09, "Transformers: Dark of the Moon" '11, "Pain & Gain" '13). By his very resume, I believe this guy would feel like a fish out of water if he decided to direct a small independent film. He clearly sticks to what he not only knows best, but probably what he prefers best, and we are the recipients of a project that we can truly escape into. It was written by Ehren Kruger who also wrote the predecessors with exception of the original. This was based on the Hasbro figures. Not that it should be of any shock, but he is also writing "Transformers 5" as we speak. This material isn't anything considered Oscar worthy, but, com'on, this is pure fantasy at its best. This wasn't without a few areas of choppiness, but ILM's (Industial, Light & Magic) visual effects more than made up for the choppy places in script. This certainly was not an acting stretch for Wahlberg, Tucci or Grammer as they graced the screen, but they must have realized this aspect allowing themselves to be upstaged by the Autobots.
If you liked the other installations of this franchise, you'll certainly love this, even with the new cast. As I stated above, the real stars here are the Autobots, and as long as Hollywood doesn't tamper with that cast, the investors will be able to keep saying CHA CHING for years to come.
Out of 4 Stars: 3 Rated: PG-13 165mins.
Could it be that the genre of comedies are starting to make a positive comeback, or with the recent "Chef" and this film, "The Grand Seduction", are they merely flukes amongst the barrage of banal films that claim to be comedies, but are actually tragedies? Hopefully this will start a trend.
The small harbor of Tickle Cove is in dire need of a doctor so that the town can land a contract to secure a factory which will save the town from financial ruin. The fishing industry is all but dried up, so this opportunity is just what this town needs. Village resident Murray French (Brendan Gleeson) leads the search, and when he inadvertently finds Dr. Paul Lewis (Taylor Kitsch), he employs-- along with the whole town including Simon (Gordon Pinsent)-- tactics to seduce the young doctor to stay longer than his committed one month-- they need him to stay permanently. Tactics from wiring his house phone calls so as to find out his likes to pretending the town likes the sport, cricket-- a game he loves, is all played out here. This becomes true desperation at its finest. Will this town actually succeed at such an outlandish charade?
Others to round out the cast are Liane Balaban as Kathleen, Mark Critch as Henry Tilly, the town's banker, Rhonda Rodgers as Samantha, Carly Boone as Lucy Tilly, Steve O'Connell as Joe, the town's bartender, Matt Watts as Frank Dalton, Michael Therriault as Tripp's Asst., Geoff Adams as Tripp's Asst. #2, and Anna Hopkins as Helen (voice).
This was directed by Canadian Don McKellar ("Last Night" '98, "Childstar" '04) plus a ton of TV and shorts. The desperation and sweetness of these town folk was certainly genuine and touching and McKellar conveyed this well. It was written by Michael Dowse and Ken Scott and even though the premise was a bit formulaic, the way these guys wrote this made the concept work. It is not a physical, pratfall comedy, rather it is a subtle, dry comedy which allows the sweetness and desperation in these people to be showcased that much more.
It may be a far stretch of a premise for a film, but wouldn't it be nice to see a film that makes the proverbial lemonade out of lemons once in a while, especially since our lives can, so often, be riddled with pitfalls way too many times?
Out of 4 Stars: 3.5 Rated: PG-13 113mins.
So much of the time fact can be better than fiction, which I feel is the reason why so many films in recent years have been based on a true story. I could list them, but it would be endless. So suffice it to say that when I saw my first trailer of "Jersey Boys" based on the smash Broadway play of the same name, it certainly peaked my interest--hey I listened to the Four Seasons a lot growing up.
This all starts in New Jersey in the year 1951. This is a musical biography of the 1960's rock group, the Four Seasons--the rise, the rough times and personal clashes, and the ultimate triumph of a group of friends, Frankie Valli (John Lloyd Young), Bob Gaudio (Erich Bergen), Nick Massi (Michael Lomenda) and Tommy DeVito (Vincent Piazza), whose music became symbolic of a generation. Far from a mere tribute concert (though it does include numbers from the popular Four Seasons songbook), "Jersey Boys" gets to the heart of the relationships at the center of the group--with a special focus on frontman Frankie Valli, the small kid with the big falsetto. In addition to following the quartet's coming of age as performers, the core of the show is how an allegiance to a code of honor learned in the streets of New Jersey got them through a multitude of challenges: gambling debts, Mafia threats, and family disasters. This is but a mere glimpse at the people behind a sound that has managed to endure for over four decades in the hearts of the public.
Others to round out the cast are Christopher Walken as Angelo 'Gyp' DeCarlo, good friend of the boys, Mike Doyle as Bob Crewe, recording manager and collaborator of the group, Katherine Narducci as Frankie's Mother, Lou Volpe as Frankie's Father, Johnny Cannizzaro as Nick DeVito, Tommy's brother, Steven R. Schirripa as Vito, DeCarlo's bodyguard, Lacey Hannan as Angela, Frankie's wife, Freya Tingley as Francine, Frankie and Angela's 17 year-old daughter, Michael Patrick McGill as Officer Mike, Donnie Kehr as Norm Waxman, and Barry Livingston as Accountant.
This was directed by the consummate artist, Clint Eastwood ("Play Misty for Me" '71, "The Outlaw Josey Wales" '76, "Bronco Billy" '80, "Sudden Impact" '83, "Bird" '88, "Unforgiven" '92, "True Crimes" '99, "Mystic River" '03, "Million Dollar Baby" '04, "Flags of Our Fathers" '06, "Invictus" '09, "J. Edgar" '11) plus many more. The way Eastwood was able to capture the essence of these four young actors during the transformation they ended up having to take was pure genius. The one actor here that soared was Mike Doyle as Bob Crewe. He pulled off his character with perfection and he will definitely receive more work. It was effectively written by Marshall Brickman and Rick Elice based on their musical book. Considering the same writers were used from which this film was based, it's clearly easy to recognize this as the effective script it was. This could have Oscar buzz written all over it come that time.
This was an amazingly well crafted American film second to none, but with the iconic Eastwood in the director's chair, how could it not be anything else but? This is like seeing a biopic and musical all rolled up in one film, so it's like you get two films for the price of one.
Out of 4 Stars: 4 Rated: R 133mins.
Of late we have seen a great many period, dramatic films that have been based on a person, place or even book based on a true story, however with "The Immigrant", we have in the offing a story totally fiction written directly for the screen. This makes this film almost original considering it's not based on anything factional which makes this refreshing.
Ellis Island, New York. January 1921. In search of a new start and the American dream, Ewa Cybulska (Marion Cotillard) and her sister Magda (Angela Sarafyan) sail to New York from their native Poland. When they reach Ellis Island, doctors discover that Magda is ill-- lung disease that could be contagious, and the sisters are then separated. Ewa is released onto the streets of Manhattan while her sister is quarantined. Alone, with nowhere to turn and desperate to reunite with Magda, she quickly falls prey to Bruno Weiss (Joaquin Phoenix), a charming but wicked man who takes her in and manipulates her into prostitution-- using the money she makes as to pay for her sister's care at the hospital as justification.
And then one day Ewa encounters a charming man who happens to be Bruno's cousin, Emil (Jeremy Renner) who, professionally, is the debonair magician Orlando. He sweeps Ewa off her feet and quickly becomes her only chance to escape the nightmare in which she finds herself.
Others to round out the cast are Dagmara Dominiczyk as Belva, Jicky Schnee as Clara, Yelena Solovey as Rosie Hertz, owner of the theater, Maja Wampuszyc and Ilia Volok as Edyta Bisticky and Wojtek Bistricky, Ewa's aunt and uncle, Antoni Carone as Customs Officer Thomas MacNally, Patrick Husted as Priest, Patrick O'Neill as Leo Straub, Sam Tsoutsouvas as Oskar Straub, Robert Clohessy as Immigration Officer and Adam Rothenberg as Officer DeKeiffer.
This is directed by James Gray ("Little Odessa" '94, "The Yards" 2000, "We Own the Night" '07, "Two Lovers" '08), and considering his resume which doesn't really cover period type films, he did an outstanding job. He has worked with Phoenix before in "We Own the Night", and through that and this film, he has demonstrated how well he and Phoenix work so effectively together. Both Phoenix and Cotillard shined in this, so much so, that their performances smell of possible Oscar material. It was written by Gray and Ric Menello, and allowing the fact that there were a couple of very small places of some jumping around in script, this was a very solid script and story.
This isn't a warm and fuzzy feeling film with a couple of twists and turns which makes it seem almost like a soap opera, but isn't life occasionally like a soap opera in our own lives at times?
Out of 4 Stars: 3.5 Rated: R 118mins.
DreamWorks Animation Studios has produced some incredibly creative features that span over a long period of time, so when "How to Train Your Dragon" came about in 2010, it, if nothing else they've done, definitely put them on the map. It was such a hit, and rightfully so, that they produced yet another appropriately titled "How to Train Your Dragon 2".
It's been five years since Hiccup (Jay Baruchel) and Toothless (voice designed by Randy Thom) successfully united dragons and Vikings on the island of Berk. While Astrid (America Ferrera), Snotlout (Jonah Hill) and the rest of the gang are challenging each other to dragon races (the island's new favorite contact sport), the now inseparable pair journey through the skies, charting unmapped territories and exploring new worlds. When one of their adventures leads to the discovery of a secret ice cave that is home to hundreds of new wild dragons and the mysterious Dragon Rider, the two friends find themselves at the center of a battle with Hiccup's father, Stoick (Gerald Butler) at their side to protect the peace. Now, Hiccup and Toothless must unite to stand up for what they believe while recognizing that only together do they have the power to change the future of both men and dragons.
Others to round out the cast are Cate Blanchett as Valka, Craig Ferguson as Gobber, Christopher Mintz-Plasse as Fishlegs, T.J. Miller as Tuffnut, Kristen Wiig as Ruffnut, Djimon Hounsou as Drago, Kit Harington as Eret, Kieron Elliott as Hoark the Haggard, Philip McGrade as Starkard, Andrew Ableson as Ug, and Gideon Emery as Teeny.
This was directed by Dean DeBlois ("Lilo & Stitch" '02, "Heima" (Documentary) '07, "How to Train Your Dragon" '10), and even though he doesn't have a ton of feature film work under his belt, he really knew how to pull emotion out of these characters--so much so, that I did shed a tear or two myself. This guy will receive more work--in fact "How to Train Your Dragon 3" has already been announced. This was also written by DeBlois and this installment was almost as good as the original. There were a couple of choppy places, but all in all it was creatively written. Speaking of creative, DreamWorks' animation was simply seamless and the sweeping score by John Powell was breathtaking.
If you liked the original you certainly will like this, but it was solid all on its own. Where can we go today and get entertainment, with a great message of peace and family all rolled up in a 3D format?
Out of 4 Stars: 3 Rated: PG 101mins.
One thing about most comedies is the fact if they are well cast, the premise and script can be mediocre and still be palatable. As with the case of "22 Jump Street", the extreme opposite casting in the title roles made this film easy to watch and even have some fun with.
After making their way through high school (twice), big changes are in store for officers Schmidt (Jonah Hill) and Jenko (Channing Tatum) when both Deputy Chief Hardy (Nick Offerman) and Captain Dickson (Ice Cube) have them go deep underground at a local college. But when Jenko meets a kindred spirit in Zook (Wyatt Russell) on the football team, and Schmidt infiltrates the bohemian art major scene, they begin to question their partnership. Now they don't have to just crack the case-- another drug bust in the college, they have to figure out if they can have a mature relationship. If these two overgrown adolescents can grow from freshmen into real men, college might be the best thing that ever happened to them.
Others to round out the cast are Peter Stormare as The Ghost, a drug supplier, Amber Stevens as Maya, Jillian Bell as Mercedes, dorm roomie of Amber, The Lucas Brothers as Keith and Kenny Yang, students at the college, Jimmy Tatro as Rooster, Caroline Aaron as Annie Schmidt, Joe Chrest as David Schmidt, Eddie J. Fernandez as Scarface, The Ghost's henchman, Marc Evan Jackson as Dr. Murphy, Craig Roberts as Spencer, and Rob Riggle as Walters.
It was effectively helmed by directors, Phil Lord and Christopher Miller ("Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs" '09, "21 Jump Street" '12, "The Lego Movie" '14). These guys are relatively new to the directing scene, but definitely a duo to contend with. A sequel to "The Lego Movie" has already been announced for 2017. This was written by Michael Bacall, Oren Uziel and Rodney Rothman based on a story by Bacall and Jonah Hill. "21 Jump Street" was obviously a better cut script wise, being the vehicle allowing us to see how these two extreme opposites met, but with this installment, the premise, as with the original, was fairly ordinary. Truly what makes these films work is the chemistry between Hill and Tatum. They are so different in character, looks, size, and demeanor that it is refreshing to watch them interact. This chemistry is why one would even see this film. It's not quite as funny as the original, but still funny enough to keep you yucking it up. One of the best parts of this film is at the end credits where the film is self-parodying itself in showing just how many sequels this film could have. Very funny stuff.
If you liked "21 Jump Street", you'll like this. There's just enough similarities and differences that it will keep one's attention just enough to make you wonder if we are going to see "23 Jump Street" a couple of years from now.
Out of 4 Stars: 2.5 Rated: R 111mins.
I have seen romantic comedies many times over and the majority of them are written with extreme predictability and laden with two-dimensional characters. I almost gave up on these type of films until I went to see "Words and Pictures".
An extremely unconventional, outspoken English teacher, Jack Marcus (Clive Owen) and a new stoic art teacher, Dina Delsanto (Juliette Binoche) collide at an upscale honors prep school. To give you an example, during a break in the teacher's lounge where Jack and fellow teacher Walt (Bruce Davison) have 'word wars', Jack decides to throw some word wars at Dina whereas she practically ignores him. Subsequently through Jack's charms, a high-spirited courtship begins and she finds herself enjoying the battle. Another battle they begin has the students attempting to prove which is more powerful and effective in communicating with one another, the word or the picture. However the true war is against their own demons, as these two troubled souls struggle for connection. With what and/or whom is this connection with they are striving for?
Others to round out the cast are David Negahban as Rashid, Amy Brenneman as Espeth, Valerie Tan as Emily, Adam DiMarco as Swint, Josh Ssettuba as Cole Patterson, Janet Kidder as Sabine, Christian Scheider as Tony, Jack's son, and Keegan Connor Tracy as Ellen.
This was directed by an artist that has an extremely eclectic resume. I call Fred Schepisi the chameleon director. His resume speaks for itself: ("Barbarosa" '82, "Iceman" '84, "Plenty" '85, "Roxanne" '87, "A Cry in the Dark" '88, "The Russia House" '90, "Mr. Baseball" '92, "Six Degrees of Separation" '93, "I.Q." '94, "Fierce Creatures" '97, "Last Orders" '01, "It Runs in the Family" '03, "Empire Falls" (TV movie) '05, "The Eye of the Storm" '11). The way Schepisi was able to emit an unusual way of connecting the two characters was refreshing and unique. Kudos to a real pro. It was written by Gerald Dipego and with the exception of a couple of very small places in script where it got a bit bogged down, the way these two characters were developed where they were clearly mismatched, but at times were not was incredibly talented writing. This was a romantic comedy with a dramatic angst, where Jack and Dina were real, but clearly dysfunctional. This made this definitely deeper and more fulfilling than the typical mediocrity that Hollywood doles out.
If you like romantic comedies with more substance than you're used to watching, this is the film for you. This way you learn a viable lesson all the while being entertained with something funny and with quality, and isn't this something we all strive to see in films anyway?
Out of 4 Stars: 3.5 Rated: PG-13 111mins.
You really come to realize we're in the summer season when a high-budget film with Tom Cruise stars in it. Not only is it a Cruise film but a sci-fi film on top of it, which means break out the popcorn and escape, escape, escape. I guess what makes "Edge of Tomorrow" a bit different from its counterparts is that it involves a 'time loop' element whereas reliving an incredibly bad day is the staple here.
An alien race has hit the Earth in an unrelenting assault, unbeatable by any military unit in the world, including the one run by Master Sgt. Farell (Bill Paxton). Major William Cage (Tom Cruise) is an officer who has never seen a day of combat when he is unceremoniously dropped into what mounts to a suicide mission by one, General Brigham (Brendan Gleeson). Killed within minutes, Cage now finds himself inexplicably thrown into a time loop-- forcing him to live out the same brutal, suicidal combat over and over, fighting and dying again... and again. But with each battle, Cage becomes able to engage the adversaries with increasing skill, alongside Special Forces warrior Rita Vrataski (Emily Blunt). And, as Cage and Vrataski take the fight to the aliens, each repeated encounter gets them one step closer to defeating the enemy.
Others to round out the cast are Jonas Armstrong as Skinner, Tony Way as Kimmel, Kick Gurry as Griff, Franz Drameh as Ford, Dragomir Mrsic as Kuntz, Charlotte Riley as Nance, Masayoshi Haneda as Takeda, Noah Taylor as Dr. Carter, Terence Maynard as Cruel Sgt., Lara Pulver as Karen Lord and Madeleine Mantock as Julie.
This was directed with intensity and grit by Doug Liman ("Getting In" '94, "Swingers" '96, "Go" '99, "The Bourne Identity" '02, "Mr. & Mrs. Smith" '05, "Jumper" '08, "Fair Game" '10). They way Liman was able to get such frustration and confusion out of Cruise was amazing because he gave that character a very real and vulnerable look. It was written by Christopher McQuarrie, Jez Butterworth and John-Henry Butterworth based on the novel, "All You Need Is Kill" by Hyroshi Sakurazaka. Certainly this had an over all original premise to it with the aliens and how these two characters had planned to overcome the aliens, however, this does beg the question: have you seen the film, "Groundhog Day"? This was about and individual forced to live the same hellish day over and over again. Sound familiar? There has to be a certain amount of permission here since the writers used this familiar premise within a story that made it work, but I couldn't help but not think of "Groundhog Day" when the time loop part of the film occurred. It became actually comic at that point because of Cage's reliving this combat continuously. The visuals were seamless and even the 3D process enhanced the impact of the film.
If you liked "Groundhog Day" you'll love this, however if Groundhog Day" did nothing more than frustrate you, this might do the same--certainly in particular sections of it. All in all, this was an effective film that's action-packed with a definite comic relief that made this story actually work.
Out of 4 Stars: 3 Rated: PG-13 113mins.
Why is it that within the genre of comedy, romantic comedies or romcoms are usually written in a predictable, cliché-ish way, whereas dramatic comedies or dramedies are usually written with compassion, pathos, and dash of something heart-warming? I don't know about you, but I'll take the latter in a heartbeat. As with the case of "The Fault in Our Stars", this covered all the aforementioned ingredients of a dramedy and then some.
Hazel (Shailene Woodley) and Gus (Ansel Elgort) are two extraordinary teenagers who share an acerbic wit, a distain for the conventional, and a love that sweeps them--and us--on an unforgettable journey. To make it more complicated, Hazel's best friend is an oxygen tank from thyroid cancer which eventually affected her lungs, and Gus' prosthetic leg which he obtained from an amputation of his leg due to cancer, is something he pokes fun at. Their relationship is all the more miraculous, given that they met and fell in love at a cancer support group.
After getting past the boyfriend/girlfriend stage, the one wish that Hazel has had before she dies is to go to Amsterdam and meet her favorite writer, Peter Van Houten (Willem Dafoe) who wrote her favorite book. After Gus realizes that she already used her wish back when she was a 13 year-old to go to Disney World, which Gus couldn't believe, he offered her his wish, since the trip would be too expensive for her to endeavor. This offer plus Gus' realness and being 'the genuine article' in Hazel's eyes only created a closeness that most people would not even believe. This film explores the funny, thrilling and tragic business of being alive and in love.
Others to round out the cast are Laura Dern as Frannie, Hazel's Mom, Sam Trammell as Michael, Hazel's Dad, Nat Wolff as Isaac, Gus' cancer buddy, Lotte Verbeek as Lidewij, Van Houten's assistant, Mike Birbiglia as Patrick, Milica Govich as Gus' Mom, Ana Dela Cruz as Dr. Maria, David Whalen as Gus's Dad, Randy Kovitz as Dr. Simmons, Toni Saldana as Flight Attendent, Emily Peachy as Monica, and Emily Bach as Monica's Mom.
This was extremely well delineated by director Josh Boone ("Stuck in Love" '12). This young director is new in the proverbial director's chair, but after viewing this and watching the chemistry of these two characters blossom in a careful, yet steady way was simply well played out. It was equally well written by Scott Neustadter and Michael H. Weber based on the book by John Green. Kudos to Green for writing a book with a unique and fresh approach to death and dying that we just don't like to tread on at all. Also kudos to Neustadter and Weber for adapting Green's book for the screen so others ,that aren't into reading very much, can learn so much in how we, as a society, can be open and communicate about diseases and dying in a healthy way. This was a superb, poignant, and even entertaining script and presentation thereof. Woodley and Elgort shined in this--both equally and are actors to look for in future projects.
If you're looking for well-crafted filmmaking at its finest, this is definitely one that will keep one riveted. The premise alone should get you in theater: two teenage cancer survivors getting to know one another and subsequently falling in love. This is not the typical love story, but this is why you are sitting in that theater seat.
Out of 4 Stars: 4 Rated: R 125mins.
As we've seen in the recent past, this last war--Afghanistan War, which is the longest war in American history, has been a great avenue in which to create some very good yet intense films we have seen in movie history. Look at the list and you'll be awed by it: "Stop-Loss", "Brothers", "Jarhead", "The Hurt Locker", "Zero Dark Thirty", "Act of Valor", "Lone Survivor" and now we have an all out documentary, appropriately titled "The Hornet's Nest".
Career war journalist Mike Boettcher takes his son, Carlos to the war zone in Afghanistan, covering U.S. Combat Troops on the front lines. What starts out as an effort to reconnect with his son, becomes a remarkable true story and fight for survival for all.
This is a groundbreaking and immersive film, using unprecedented real footage to tell the story of an elite group of U.S. troops sent on a dangerous mission deep inside one of Afghanistan's most hostile valleys. The film culminates with what was planned as a single day strike turning into nine intense days of harrowing combat against an invisible, hostile enemy in the country's complex terrain where no foreign troops have ever dared to go before. What results is an intensely raw feature film experience that will give audiences a deeply emotional and authentic view of the heroism at the center of this gripping story.
This was surprisingly directed by two newcomers, David Salzberg and Christian Tureaud, who are not new to documentary producing field, however as documentary directors they WILL undoubtedly receive more work. Even though these directors shined, the real stars are the cinematographers, Mike Boettcher and Carlos Boettcher. Their gritty, intense style kept the audience on the edge of their seats all the while biting their nails. It is truly difficult to believe that Carlos Boettcher has never done this work before--he must have picked up that photographic journalist gene from his dad, Mike Boettcher, whose been a war journalist for the last 34 years. These journalists probably put their lives on the line as much as the soldiers themselves did. This year alone, there have already been 22 journalists that have paid the ultimate price for covering this war. Staggering!
Whereas "Fed Up" was a great documentary about the horrendous diets in our country today, this was an equally comprehensive documentary about what our troops do, on a daily basis, to protect our very freedoms we all take so much for granted. This puts us up close and personal to get a crystal clear picture what others are willing to do for us. After seeing this, you will definitely be encouraged to go to any military person and thank them from the bottom of your heart.
Out of 4 Stars: 4 Rated: R 97mins.
When we see a film based on a true story, which we've seen a plethora of, it evokes up much interest as to how did this story evolve into what we see on the screen. Take that 'based on a true story' basis and add to it a story about horse racing, and you've got a story that is filled with an underdog premise which we all love. We've seen it before with "Racing Stripes", "Seabiscuit" and the most recent, "Secretariat". Now we have "50 to 1" to add to that list so we can route for the underdog all over again.
A misfit group of New Mexico cowboys, Chip Woolley, Mark Allen and Leonard 'Doc' Blach (Skeet Ulrich, Christian Kane and William Devane) respectively, find themselves on a journey of a lifetime when their crooked-footed small race horse qualifies for the Kentucky Derby in 2009. Based on the inspiring true story of Mine That Bird, the cowboys face a series of mishaps on their way to Churchill Downs, becoming the ultimate underdogs in a final showdown with the world's racing elite.
This story starts off with the two cowboys, Chip and Mark first meeting as Chip helps Mark in a bar room fight back in 1998. They part-- one going in one direction and the other the other direction quite literally. As Chip and his brother Bill (David Atkinson) try to keep a horse racing farm alive-- now being 2008, Chip ends up re-meeting Mark who is also in the same biz, however doing much better. Through chip's convincing that a horse he found named Mine That Bird is a winner, Mark agrees and they become horse business partners and fast friends. Chip ends up on crutches due to a motorcycle accident losing the use of his legs temporarily, so Mark hires a trainer, Alex (Madelyn Deutch) to help him out. Chip's and Alex's working relationship is tense, at best, but realizing there's too much at stake to lose, they 'grow up' and they, Mark and Doc receive an invitation to the world's most famous horse race.
Others to round out the cast are Todd Lowe as Kelly, Calvin Borel as himself (Mine That Bird's jockey), Bruce Wayne Eckelman as Bob Baffert, Hugo Perez as Miguel, Eloy Casados as Charlie Figueroa, Tish Rayburn-Miller as Joanne Blach, Doc's wife, Jessi Badami, Judith Jones and Benjamin Glenday as Serena, Pamela and Kevin Blach, respectively, the kids of Doc and Joanne, and Bernardo P. Saracino as Saeed Bin Suroor.
This was directed with grit and determination by Jim Wilson ("Stacy's Knights" '83, "Smart Alec" '86, "Head Above Water" '96, "Laffit: All About Winning" (Documentary) '06, "Whirlygirl" '06). The way that Chip and Mark not only became friends, but also great business partners, albeit not without problems, was surely a mark of solid directing by Wilson. It was written by Faith Conroy and Wilson based on a story by Elizabeth Gaylynn Baker, Conroy and Wilson. With the exception of a couple of choppy places in script, this was a solid screenplay, and keeps one's attention consistently.
Like the previous horse racing films, this takes these unlikely underdogs and against all odds, 50 to 1 in this case, has you standing and cheering not only for the horse, but the cowboys as well.
Out of 4 Stars: 3.5 Rated: PG-13 110mins.
In the middle of all the big-budget summer flicks being offered, that we've seen or will be seeing, it's encouraging to find a small indie film, "The Rover" straight from down under which will keep one riveted to that theater seat as much as one of its big-budget counterparts.
