CREED   3.5***

       The original  Rocky won the Oscar for Best Picture  in 1976 that became a long-running franchise.  The series (6 movies) became sillier as it went along although each of the individual films had some merit to some degree. The latest sequel, Creed, takes a slightly new approach. It's not so much a Rocky sequel as it is a movie set in the Rocky universe. That's a crucial difference, and one that marks the film as a high point in the franchise.

Michael B. Jordan plays Adonis Johnson, the illegitimate son of Apollo Creed (famously played by Carl Weathers). A troubled youth, he is eventually taken in by the wife (Phylicia Rashad) Apollo cheated on. As a young man, Adonis decides that he, too, wants to be a professional fighter, so he makes his way to Philadelphia, where he convinces Rocky (Sylvester Stallone) to train him. He initially tries to hide his connection to his famous father, but others are intent on bringing the secret to light.  

The smartest thing Sylvester Stallone did was to not write and/or direct this film, as he did with all but one the previous sequels. Ryan Coogler (Fruitvale Station), as the Director, brings a fresh set of eyes to the project. He clearly understands and respects the appeal of the 1976 original, and he pays tribute to the franchise as a whole.. But Coogler also brings his own touches. One of them is some innovative staging, including a dazzling boxing match done entirely in one unbroken shot. Another is providing a more internal motivation for the central character. Whereas Rocky wanted to prove himself to the world, Adonis needs to prove himself to himself.  

Michael B. Jordan proves himself to be the real deal, effectively making Adonis' inner struggle feel true. We sense how deep and real the stakes are as he looks for a way to establish himself outside of his famous father's shadow.  Sylvester Stallone gives a stunning performance  as he returns to his iconic role of Rocky Balboa. Stallone acts as both a mentor and hero to Adonis, delivering a heart wrenching and emotional performance that's should snag him an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor. Stallone has finally turned to a dramatic role rather than adding another action hero credit to his repertoire, and pulls it off quite well.

Creed is also just a good old-fashioned underdog story, one that has you rooting early on, then continues build.  Creed works both as part of a larger franchise and on its own  entertaining terms..

Clark

   

SECRET IN THEIR EYES   2.5****

"Secret in Their Eyes", stars some heavy hitters: Chiwetel Ejiofor, Julia Roberts and Nicole Kidman. The movie is a mystery/thriller that is a remake of an Argentina movie from 2009 which won the Oscar for Best Foreign Film.. In the original film, the Julia Roberts character was a man and his wife was killed. In this one, Julia plays an F.B.I. agent in Los Angeles who is on the terrorism squad. This is around 2002, right after 9/11. A suspected terrorist Mosque is being watched when a girl's body is found in a dumpster, out back. The girl is Julia's daughter and, as can be expected, she is overcome with grief. Chiwetel is her partner and feels guilty about the death. It seems he was supposed to meet the girl just hours before the murder and he bailed on her for something else. Nicole plays the  district attorney and friend of both Julia & Chiwetel who tries to put the killer behind bars but the man is quickly released since he is supposedly an invaluable snitch for the FBI for providing names of terrorists. . For 13 years, Ray logs onto the criminal database and eventually finds a man who might have been responsible for Julia’s daughter’s death and tries to get Nicole to reopen the case. You do have to pay close attention because the story jumps back and forth  between 2002 & 2015 quite a bit, and sometimes it's hard to tell what year it is and thus detracts from the momentum of the film. However the story does show the effects of vengeance and how it can drastically change a person.

One of my problems with the film is that Kidman and Ejiofor share a side story where it's strongly hinted and somewhat revealed that they have a romantic history. I'm fine with romance where it works within the context of the story. But for the life of me I couldn't find a good reason for this romance to be in the film at all. It just doesn't fit within the story. Also, I don’t think the actual investigation is as intriguing as it could have been which is in part due to the frequent flashbacks.

All in all it isn’t a really bad movie, it just ends up being a very forgettable one….an unnecessary remake and a waste of some high powered talent. Wait and catch It, if at all, on a free streaming TV station.

It's rated "PG-13" for violence, language and some sexual content-no nudity- and has a running time of 1 hour & 51 minutes.  

Clark

SPOTLIGHT  3.7***

  Spotlight is the true-story behind the 2002 exposure of the Catholic Church's cover-up of decades of sexual abuse.   Writer/director Tom McCarthy (The Station Agent, Win Win) is a splendid curator of  movie ensembles, and with Spotlight he follows the  investigative team called “Spotlight” and the various editors at the Boston Globe as they go about their jobs.  Over the course of the 2 hour movie, we watch the Spotlight team chase down leads, go through archives, interview subjects, but know when to push harder and when to fall back. Day-by-day and week by week they build their case to expose the massive sex abuse corruption within the Catholic Church.  We don't really get to know any of the journalists on  a personal level ; they are defined by their tenacity and competence. We don't get much time for reflection on the culpability of those within systems of power that chose to ignore the monstrous truth.  With its nose to the grindstone, Spotlight is an affecting and absorbing news story that comes to life.

Tackling a true story with this subject matter like Spotlight does is very difficult to portray on film. You have to accurately tell the true story well enough to not create an outcry while also not relying too much on the weight of the source material so you can still induce emotion. It is difficult, but certainly not impossible and Spotlight did pretty much everything right. The acting from one of the best ensemble casts of the year is phenomenal. Everyone gave such a great performance that no one ended up stealing the spotlight, pun intended.

 Spotlight" is spotless in its focus and makes crystal clear why a free press matters. It very much reminds me of "All The President's Men”’ which was an excellent investigative journalism film about the Watergate scandal. The abuse of power and influence of the Catholic Church that is revealed is simply appalling. At one point, someone comments "it takes a village to raise a child, and it takes a village to abuse a child", pinpointing the collective failing of all of Boston for so many years.  Kudos to the various performers, including Michael Keaton, Mark Ruffalo, Rachael McAdams, Stanley Tucci, and Liev Schreiber, just to name a few." Even so it was the incredible chemistry between and among the entire cast that was most impressive

 Make no mistake: This is not a thriller, nor is it docu-drama. This is smart, focused, intelligent story-telling with a great ensemble cast that pulls you into its story and never lets go.

This will be in the Oscar mix !!!!!

Clark

THE HUNGER GAMES:: MOCKINGJAY Part 2   3.0****

     The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Pt. 2 delivers an ending that satisfies, but does not truly blow you away. There are plenty of tense action sequences, but not as many as was expected. There are emotional scenes, but not quite as dramatic as anticipated.. It is very well-shot with excellent special effects, but not the special effects that blow away the competition of late.  

Katniss and the rebels begin the film trying to do everything they can to get all the Districts on their side against President Snow and the Capitol. Sounds a  lot like the Mockingjay Pt.1 and that's because it is. As Katniss and the other main rebel characters from the earlier movies go on their mission in route to the Capitol, it feels like a rehash of the first Mockingjay. That is one of my main issues with the film in that there was a huge  built up to an epic ending and satisfying closure, but we don’t get it There is an exception though in that the middle part to the film delivers some epic action and CPI scenes . Katniss’ team is forced to take their invasion underground to the sewer lines to get to Pres. Snow’s Mansion in the Capitol. The most intense segments/action of the film follows.. The sewer scenes are brilliantly shot and directed to create a claustrophobic feel and an intense “hold your breath” tension.  

The film's themes are the impossible choices faced by leaders during wartime, the corruption of personality for those who suffer captivity and torture, the vengeance and hatred of the oppressed, and opportunism and corruption among those who seek to manipulate crises for their own benefit. Overall,
Mockingjay: Part 2 does a solid job of revealing the darkness and cruelty of war without glorifying it.

From Julianne Moore and Donald Sutherland to the final screen performance from Philip Seymour Hoffman, The Hunger Games movies have always had great established actors. They all do great work as usual, but I don't think anyone quite realizes how much the filmmakers lucked up with the first film in locking down the main trio of Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson, and Liam Hemsworth, before they all went through the star-fame stratosphere (in particular Oscar winner Lawrence). These three are just such good actors that it has always looked effortless for them, with Jennifer Lawrence once more affirming with this film that Katniss Everdeen was a once-in-a-lifetime role for her. The three stars all manage to round out the series with some of their finest work to date

 The ending is what you make of it, but I will say it follows the plot line of the book. Nonetheless, the problem with the film is that it never quite blows you away. The trailers and the advance hype promised such, but it doesn't happen and you feel let down. It’s one of those ”it that all it is” moments.

Clark

UNDEFEATED  3.2***

       The 2012 Oscar-award winning documentary "Undefeated" is a great example of  being at the right place at the right time. The movies focuses  on a failing high-school football team, the Manassas Tigers in located in Memphis, Tennessee., This football team  has never won a play-off game in the 110 years of its existence.  Manassas high-school is located in an all-black neighborhood suffering from extreme unemployment. Most of the black teens lack parental guidance, being raised by grandmothers or single parents  Almost everyone on the team has friends or close relatives convicted of various  of crimes.  Into this backdrop of  hopelessness comes Bill Courtney, a white successful businessman, whose true calling and passion is coaching football teams. Having already coached the Tigers for six years, the year of the documentary is supposed to be his best team ever. His key player is  O.C. Brown,  a 6’4” and 315 lbs powerful lineman who is as fast as a running back and plays both offense and defense.. Will the school be able to break the 110 year play-off jinx? To do so they must win their region to have a playoff chance.

Molded into the all too familiar underdog sports story of a team of misfits conquering the odds, it is easy to understand how it won the Oscar for Best Documentary The film spends a significant amount of time  showing the challenges and ordeals of Bill Courtney and his challenged young team, capturing a spectacular moment in time when the team turns from being the perennial loser into a dominant regional team.

The thing that makes all of this truly special, is that these are REAL PEOPLE. This is not some scripted Hollywood sports movie with the latest pop-culture stars. 'Undefeated' cuts deep into real emotions and isn't afraid to show the reality of life whether good or bad .. And as it moves along, you never truly know what will happen, giving it a unique, engaging quality, that is often missing in fictional movies... Full of heart, passion and a hopeful outlook, it is one of the better documentaries out there and one of the BEST football sports stories you’ll ever see.

It’s currently streaming on Netflix and could be found elsewhere. It’s worth finding and watching.

Clark

BRIDGE OF SPIES  3.2****

      Directed by the great Steven Spielberg, BRIDGE OF SPIES tells the story of the Cold War prisoner exchange in 1950's that was brokered by the character portrayed by Tom Hanks . Taking his time telling this story in a script that was punched up the Coen brothers, Spielberg  creates a gray, grainy and, yes, cold world that accurately depicts the feelings of the time.

Not only is Spielberg at the top of his game but so too is Tom  Hanks in the lead role. He imbues lawyer James Donovan with strength, courage and decency ( and a disarming sense of humor) while also showing the fear of the unknown that permeates the movie and the Cold War times of the  '50's. It is Hanks best performance in a while and further highlights him as one of the best actors of our generation.

Spielberg, Hanks, and the Coens are all "veteran" movie names that show, yet again, that they know what they are doing and create a film/world that is interesting to look at and satisfying to experience. An added plus is film newcomer Mark Rylance, as Russian spy Rudolf Abel who almost steals the show. This veteran theater actor has a remarkably expressive face that shows more emotion in a raised eyebrow than most actors show in an entire performances.

 If you are looking for an "action" spy movie – go the James Bond film that is now out. If you are looking for a smart, atmospheric, well-acted movie that accurately depicts the mood, feeling and atmosphere of the Cold War, go to BRIDGE OF SPIES.

  Clark

CRIMSON PEAK  2.9***

   First, 'Crimson Peak' is not a horror film; it is a 'gothic romance' with some mild horror thrown in.  The genre hasn't been visited upon for decades, yet Director Del Toro does a fine job of offering his own take on it.  Despite some narrative problems, 'Crimson Peak' is a grand visual experience that needs to be seen on the big screen if at all. Del Toro's immense talent for creating wondrous images for the screen has not faltered one bit, and he truly has come up with an original concept that we haven't seen in a  long time. And although I didn't completely fall in love with this film, I will say I enjoyed it for those unique visuals which are so glorious, they are almost overwhelming. The sets are spectacular visions of beauty and decadence; the costumes are intricately detailed and gorgeous; and the lighting and  saturated color bring depth and meaning;  

The tale takes place first in America in the late 19th century. A family tragedy occurs near the beginning of the film starting the horror for Edith (Mia Wasikowska) while also driving her into the comforting arms of Sir Thomas Sharpe (Tom Hiddleston), who she falls in love with and marries. . Edith travels to rural England with Sir Thomas and his sister, Lady Lucille Sharpe (Jessica Chastain), to live in his  giant creepy  mansion which is in great disrepair, even with a huge  hole in the massive roof …but still it would have suited Vincent Price and Edgar Allan Poe quite well. After her arrival, things take a turn for the worse. Edith begins hearing and seeing strange noises and frightening apparitions that seem to be after her, or at least trying to tell her something.  

As for the horror side, I felt the ghosts/apparitions weren't striking or distinctive enough to achieve the haunting effect they deserve. Director Del Toro went to incredible lengths  to craft the house and other visuals,  yet he did not fully utilize his fantastical  design talents on these tormented creatures. I also felt the pacing dragged along in certain sequences and some scenes did appear repetitive at times.

The trio of leading stars are fine.. Wasikowska delivers a familiar turn as the frail victim and Hiddleston's charm is on show in droves but it is Chastain whose dark cynicism casts a shadow over any sign of happiness in this tale. There's something unnerving every time she appears on screen that only adds to the drama unfolding between the web of on screen relationships.

Rated R for bloody violence, some sexual content and brief strong language 

Clark

MASTER AND COMMANDER, The Far Side of the World   4.0**** 

   Peter Weir is a Director who has made some interesting movies over the years, for example: The Truman Show, Witness, Dead Poet's Society and  Fearless,  But, for me, Master and Commander ( played in 2003) is not only his best, but also one of the best period epics for its authenticity in all respects. Based on a novel written by Patrick O'Brian, it follows Captain Aburey and his ship HMS Surprise, as it seeks out and does battle with a larger and faster French ship around 1805.

Movies like “Master and Commander” only come around once in a while, and not often enough. It is, without question, the finest movie ever made about tall ships and their sea battles.  The cinematography is superb, as is the music through-out the movie. The climax of the movie, a fantastic battle between and on the ships is gripping, well shot and very exciting. I've read that the way the battle is shown is also historically accurate. I can believe that.

The casting is spot-on. There are probably not many actors who can pull off a part like Captain Aubrey, but Russell Crowe is one of them. Aubrey as Captain has to be a strong leader, but also an almost father figure to the young boy officers on board his ship. He certainly has to look the part when he has to fight. and in all these areas, Crowe easily convinces.    But this is not totally Crowes' movie. There is a fantastic performance from Paul Bettany as Mauturin, the ship's doctor, and Aubrey's close friend. The relationship is at the heart of the movie, despite the clashes with the French vessel, and both actors are very convincing. Aubrey and Maturin are particularly bound together by music and are never in more accord than when they are playing together the cello (Bettany) and violin (Crowe learned and actually plays the violin during the movie).  For many who have seen the movie, they remember it for its music.
  
Master And Commander was nominated in 2004 in 10 Oscar categories and won 2 (Best Cinematography and Best Sound Editing). It was beaten in its other categories by Lord of the Rings, Return Of The King (which won everything else!). I think in any other year, it would have also won best film and director.

 

Clark

       THE MARTIAN  4.0***

          From director Ridley Scott, the amazing visionary behind the sci-fi classics  Alien (1979) and Blade Runner (1982) (and other genre films:: Blackhawk Down(2001), Gladiator(2000) & Thelma & Louise(1991)) comes a visually stunning science fiction survival movie. . Matt Damon plays astronaut Mark Watney whose team is sent on a mission to Mars. The mission has to be aborted when an intense dust storm hits and Watney is left behind when he is injured and presumed dead.. Watney wakes up and discovers he is now stranded alone on a deserted planet . Watney must put all his skills and intelligence to the test in order to survive. As luck would have it, Damon's character is a botanist, and his biggest problem is having enough food to survive on until the next manned space crew can come back to rescue him.. So he gets to work planting crops using his own  body waste for fertilizer.  He also has to figure out a way to communicate with NASA back home. It's “Cast Away” meets” Apollo 13”, a survival thriller with men/women using ingenuity and good old fashioned brainpower to get the job done.. and dogged determinism that it makes what could otherwise be a very  depressing film upbeat and hopeful . However, when he has to put on his dramatic chops in certain scenes, he truly commits to  the situation adding to the suspense and sizzle of the movie. The supporting cast, everyone involved, all do great work as well. Jeff Daniels, Jessica Chastain, Kate Mara and particularly Chiwetel Ejiofor.  

The visual effects and cinematography are awesome. With the Wadi Rum Valley in Jordan serving as the backdrop for the filming of Mars together with the addition of marvelous CGI, the audience is treated to the most realistic depiction of Mars ever shown in cinema . Another delightful aspect is the storytelling. Unlike most sci-fi films where there is a continuing sense of urgency and doom, this film carries a very hopeful tone and the characters remain optimistic, particularly as to Watney saving himself, and then the  others to rescuing him.  The “Martian” is a must-see on the BIG screen for all sci-fi fans, and actually everyone else. Matt Damon is amazing  and the almost 2 1/2 hour story never disappoints. I believe this film has  Oscars Nominations on the way for Best Visual Effects,  Best Cinematography, Best Sound Editing and perhaps Best Actor and Best Picture/Director.

This is the best science-fiction movie I've seen in the last few years, equal to and even better than “Gravity”. It is now in my top 5 to 10 Best Sci-Fi movies of all time.

 

 

SICARIO  2.5***

 

     This is another time I disagree with the critics who are hailing this movie as excellent, saying it’s one of the best films of the year. A majority of the audiences seem to agree. I do not.

Yes, Sicario is well-made — in the sense that it looks, feels and plays like a professional piece of filmmaking. Yes, it is well acted by its stars. No complaints so far, but in my opinion it is quite overrated.  It is slow,  confusing and even obtuse. It takes what  is basically a lurid thriller and tries to make you believe there is  significance that simply isn’t there.  Apart from an exciting opening sequence (that promised a far more intriguing film than was delivered), this is basically just another violent movie about drug trafficking. It’s efficient enough at what it does, but what it does is neither new nor significant.

 Following the  opening in which two FBI agents are killed, a seemingly naïve FBI lead agent Kate Macer (Emily Blunt) finds herself   recruited to work with a shadowy agency  to fight a Mexican drug cartel. No one seems to be even slightly inclined to tell her exactly who her new bosses are — the flip-flop-wearing  Matt Graver (Josh Brolin) and his perplexing partner Alejandro (Benicio Del Toro) —  or who they work for.. She goes along with it because she’s idealistic and because she’d like to get revenge for the two dead agents.  

At this point, the movie turns full throttle on drug war stuff that feels  like it’s playing on a kind of Donald Trump view of all-things-Mexican. As presented in the film, everything in Mexico  is corrupt and no one can be trusted. But, for that matter, things don’t seem that much better stateside, and that, I suspect, is the supposed point of the film. The rest is for you to see and try to figure out (good luck) although I don’t recommend seeing this one..

Despite being well-made and well-acted, what we end up with is essentially just another violent crime drama straining — and failing — to make a significant statement.

 

Rated R for strong violence, grisly images and language.

Clark

     THE  WALK    3.5***

   “The Walk” is not just a  retelling of the story of Phillipe Petit's "coup" of a tight-wire walk  between the Twin Towers of the World Trade Centre in the 1974, it’s also a moving tribute to those beautiful icons. I actually felt a sense of loss when I looked upon the towers’ majestic beauty on the amazing IMAX 3D screen and could almost feel  Petit’s sense of wonder and awe upon his first seeing them and their immenseness.  Director Robert Zemekis (  Back to the Future I, II, and III, Forrest Gump, Cast Away, and Polar Express) has bought them back to life so well it was nearly impossible to believe that they are actually gone.

The slow build up covering Petit's early life as a street performer in Paris, France and his first and then many steps/walks on a high wire made the last 30 to 45 minutes of the film all the more remarkable. Even though I knew of his audacious plan and it's outcome through having seen the excellent 2008 documentary "Man On Wire", the heart stopping moments of  the culmination of the actual walk still had me on the edge of my seat.  When you see the  magnificent and captivating  scenes surrounding Petit's walk , you’ll agree that it was a spectacular event that was unspeakably tranquil yet grippingly suspenseful . The way Zemeckis and cinematographer Dariusz Wolski  focus on the sky, the clouds and New York spread out below ( make that 110 stories below ) during the walk ( a distance of 140 feet), the audience can feel the risk and  danger that comes with this unimaginable feat and thus the film transcends fiction in a way that gives audiences a real experience ( Petite had NO safety wires or anything else…if he fell , he was a dead man !!!)

 

Joseph Gordon-Levitt did a solid job playing Philippe Petit. He really got into his character because he actually learned wire walking and how to do it correctly by Philippe Petit himself. I know a lot of people have been talking about and criticizing  Joseph Gordon-Levitt’s  French accent in the movie… but you get used to it . And here's the thing, Philippe Petit apparently doesn't have an normal French accent and  Gordon-Levitt did a great job of  emulating that.  Also, Gordo- Levitt does a fine job of bringing Petit's "joie de vivre" eccentricity and earnestness to the screen.

 

“The Walk”  give us some of the most amazing and marvelous  visuals of the year and in so many ways the film is a gorgeous love letter to the Twin Towers

 

See this in 3D and IMAX if you can. It's worth it.

 

Clark

 

WAR ROOM     3.0***

 

 

      This is a movie by Christian writers, producers and directors who pull no punches in sharing their faith and beliefs. Christians will love the movie, and hopefully non-Christians will consider the message.

 

While many Christian films sacrifice good writing and acting for the sake of having a spiritually authentic movie, "War Room" makes no such sacrifice. I recommend this movie to all, keeping in mind that faiths outside of Christianity and more so those with no faith are not likely to get the same message from this movie as will Christian audiences The. film touches on the concept of prayer in a very effective and hard-hitting way and the power of God/Christ in a person's life.. Themes such as adultery,  marital distress  and parenting are also addressed as difficult challenges the main characters  must face. 

 

Tony, a pharmaceutical salesman and his realtor wife Elizabeth along with their son have a great life materially, but their marriage is in serious trouble. Then Elizabeth meets Miss Clara, an older Christian lady who teaches the power of prayer. The acting starts off wooden but gets better, and there are some genuinely good moments, such as when Elizabeth exorcises Satan from her home (it's way better than it sounds) or when Tony helps the antagonistic V.P. of his Company who made things difficult for Tony. .There are also some nice touches of humor. When Tony describes his wife's prayer closet to his Christian gym buddy, the buddy replies "Dude, this is serious. When did you ever hear of a woman giving up closet space?"

The writing, acting, and directing are competent and above average for this genre but would probably be slightly below average for the film industry in general. Not enough character development nor enough explanation for  why the family h gotten into trouble in the first place. Nonetheless, It is a heart-warming, inspirational movie, and a good reminder to Christians that prayer is important, powerful, and something we could all stand to do a lot more often.

Clark



  

 

 

THE INTERN .. 4.0***

 

You know how every once in a while a film just all fits together perfectly? Well, “The Intern” is one of those films. Absolutely delightful, perfect casting, with just a little tension because you're not sure where things are going.  

 

“The Intern” brings you to the life of a 70 year old who doesn't want to live an average retired old man routine because he still feels he has some sizzle left in him. So he applies for and gets a senior intern job at a very successful online fashion company with a youthful environment and people that are quite different from any he was used to. . He meets the founder  and is assigned to be her intern..

 The story is simple and very well knit. The characters have been well conceptualized and sketched. What is interesting to see is how a rapid fire, anxious, no non-sense, always on top of everything boss (Anne Hathaway of the Millennium generation) works with a composed, experienced, 70 year old  intern (Robert De Niro of the Baby Boomer generation).  With pros like Anne Hathaway and Robert De Niro, one doesn't  need to worry about the acting. But even so they do a great job  projecting the aspirations, principles, beliefs and challenges their respective generations  not just in terms of dialogue but also with their expressions and mannerisms.    

I especially liked the way the movie focuses on projecting how two different generations can working together  and learn from each other rather than showing the friction we normally see. This gave the entire movie a very nice feel good quality.  Furthermore for me, also being in my 70s, it was refreshing to see  how the character of Robert D'Niro was written, how even after being 70 he is still enjoying his life to the fullest anal knows  how to be a .true gentleman.  

 

There really wasn't a single thing or character I would change in this one, and that's saying something. The casting, the plot, the dialogue, and  especially to be  praised is the fact that it was a funny, touching, enjoyable picture with NO foul language and  NO overly-suggestive scenes that often  make you  cringe. It was well written, well -acted, and well presented. All rare these days where writing ability in particular seems to have dwindled into the dirt. This one is evidence that there are still creators, directors and actors who value values !. More movie producers should make a point of seeking them out! This is a fun movie that you are going to be recommending to everyone. It is one of the best feel good movies my wife and I have seen in some .

 

Clark

 

EVEREST  3.0***   

 Remember when the IMAX format was used sparingly?  Now a day’s more IMAX films are being  released  but few  take full advantage of its awesome format and sound capabilities. Then along comes a film like” Everest”. It is more than just a film experience as was the IMAX effects of “Gravity”. While it doesn't reach the same visual heights as “Gravity”,” Everest” takes full advantage of the larger image and sharper sound that the IMAX format offers plus here they further enhance the visuals with  the 3D effect.

The movie is based on a true story. In 1996, a climbing expedition  aimed to reach the summit of Mount Everest which is regarded as one of the most dangerous places on the planet. Everest takes no prisoners; a fact you are made well aware of shortly after the film  gets going. When a severe snow storm hits the mountain while two climbing parties are on their way down from the summit, they face a monumental challenge to stay alive. The brutality of Mother Nature eventually will take  its toll  but brings out the one thing that most every human possesses; the natural instinct to survive.

“Everest” is not a classic but it is a powerful example of how spectacle and narrative can be combined to great effect. We generally know just how big and dangerous Everest is but through the film’s IMAX 3D cinematography. the sheer scale  and awesome challenge of the mountain becomes something else entirely. The mountain is brought to life  as one of the most beautiful and scary places on Earth.

At the heart of Everest and amidst all the glorious visuals is a moving story about survival with a well written screenplay which avoids turning “Everest” into  a cheesy disaster movie.

 
Each and every one of the cast delivers a solid performance . Jason Clarke, Josh Brolin and Emily Watson stand out.

“Everest” is quite an intense ride that pushes the IMAX format to its absolute limits. Stunning visuals and solid performances make it a film you should see see on the biggest screen possible and is one of the best films about the huge challenges of mountain climbing.

Clark

AMERICAN ULTRA      3.2***

         Small-town stoner ( a hard core pot user) Mike Howell (Jesse Eisenberg) spends most of his time getting high with his girlfriend (Kristen Stewart) and writing a graphic novel about a superhero monkey. What Mike doesn't know is that he was trained by the CIA to be a lethal killing machine. When the agency targets him for termination, his sympathetic former handler activates his latent skills, turning the mild-mannered slacker into a deadly weapon. ( shades of the “Bourne Identity” with same plot of the CIA trying to kill the sleeper agent) Now, the utterly surprised Mike must use his newfound abilities to save himself and his girlfriend from getting wasted.

Obviously, this isn't Jesse Eisenberg and Kristen Stewart's first rodeo together. You can see how effortless  the dynamic is between the two, such ease, so in sync, they can read and understand each other very well. And because of that, there's something real about their characters' relationship. So even at its silliest or most frenetic points, the movie lets its romantic heart shine through. The picture seems to say that when the world is at its craziest, having someone who loves you by your side is the surest way to survive.

Jesse Eisenberg nails the role of stoner/sleeper agent perfectly. He's a chilled out lovable guy who just wants to be with his girlfriend and a joint of marijuana. Stewart is strong as the loyal steadfast girlfriend.  I also have to give credit to Topher Grace who plays the villain, he's like a little brat demanding respect which he doesn't deserve and Grace plays it perfectly.  

American Ultra is a film with many pleasures, but the one that stands out is watching a stoned, utterly baffled Eisenberg stab, shoot, and dismember highly trained killers bent on his destruction. It is a weird little movie—a somewhat careless, all-over-the-place mishmash. But the film is entertaining because of the acting and the way it fearlessly marches to the beat of its own drummer. American Ultra is a real odd duck, and I like odd ducks.

Warning here: The movie is Rated R for strong bloody violence, language throughout, drug use and some sexual content.

Clark

THE DIARY OF A TEENAGE GIRL  4.0***  

     Big summer action movies can be thrilling, but if you really want to feel your heart pounding out of your chest, try being a 15-year-old girl for 101 minutes.

Coming-of-age stories told from a girl's perspective can go off in many different directions. But what about a story where a teenage girl explores her sexuality with enthusiasm (just like a boy would), and disaster does not  ensue? Those stories are harder to come by..  "Diary of a Teenage Girl," from first-time writer/director Marielle Heller is one of those stories. It's a refreshing, and a rare take on a  girl coming into her own. Once Minnie (played by Bel Powley, in a major performance) discovers how great sex is, she wants more of it. Her choices are not always smart (she's only 15), her primary partner is wildly inappropriate for her (not to mention illegal). The result is a film that is funny and sad, scary and sweet, disturbing and revealing.

"Diary of a Teenage Girl" starts with Minnie walking through the park with a triumphant smile on her face. She says in voiceover, "I had sex today...Holy shit!" She smiles at strangers around, and the whole world seems beautiful. It's San Francisco in the mid-1970s. The times are loose, the mood is wild. Minnie's mother (Kristen Wiig, in yet another strong performance) is a single mom raising two daughters alone, as she parties, does drugs, and cavorts through a loose relationship with a 35 yr. old Monroe (Alexander Skarsgård, excellent job in a difficult role). Minnie, absorbing the  adult sexuality around her, is curious about sex, and teases Monroe  to take her virginity, which he promptly does. And they do it again, and again, and again as Minnie discovers she likes sex. Meanwhile she details her experiences on audio cassette, forming the narrative voice-over for the film.

The Diary of a Teenage Girl"  is a hugely interesting film featuring brave performances all around, particularly from Powley, a British actress who was 21 at the time of shooting. But she easily passes for fifteen. Her big eyes and pouty lips, combined with a not-quite-svelte figure, plus her confident, playful personality make her a captivating presence on the screen.. She is an amazing actress.

What makes this film so special is the fact that it presents the teenage girl at the centre of its story without judgment. It doesn’t gloss over Minnie’s true feelings about sex ( she likes it… a lot)   and it doesn’t demonise anyone involved, least of all Minnie. Instead, it’s a rare depiction of the truth of a young girl growing up.

If you're at all squeamish about nudity and graphic sexual language and situations, you might think twice about seeing this movie. On the other hand, you'd be missing one of the year's best films.

Rated R for strong sexual content including dialogue, graphic nudity, drug use, language and drinking-all involving teens.

Clark

I’ve just finished the 2^nd week of my NC State film course “Women in Film” which is being taught by Professor Ora Gellar . She is excellent. I had her for my film class this past spring. There are about 25 students and they are actively engaged in the course . And then there is me,  the Star Wars  “ Yoda” of the class .. just a little taller and less green. I’d prefer Obi-Wan Kenobi, I’m more his age and have my beard.

Below is a list of the movies we’ll view and discuss in class this semester:

1. Rome Open City (Roberto Rossellini, Italy, 1944)

2. The Blue Angel (Joseph von Sternberg, Germany, 1929)

3. The Diary of a Teenage Girl ( Marielle Heller, USA, 2015)

4. Rebecca  (Alfred Hitchcock, USA, 1940)

5. Lady from Shanghai (Orson Wells, USA, 1947)

6. Gilda  (Charles Vidor, USA, 1946)

7. Coming of Age  (Alfred Hitchcock, USA, 1943)

8. The Texas Chainsaw Murders  (Tobe Hooper, USA, 1974)

9. Halloween  (John Carpenter, USA, 1978)

10.  Daisies  (Vera Chytilova, Czech, 1966)

11. To My Sister (Fat Girl)  (Catherine Breillat, France, 2001)

12. The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo  (Swedish version by Oplev or American Version by Fincher)

13. Spring Breakers  (Harmony Korine, USA, 2012

14. Girls (TV, USA) Eps 2, 5 & 8 from Season 1 and Ep 5 of Season 2 ( 2012-2013)

15. Zero Dark Thirty  (Kathryn Bigelow, USA, 2012)

As you can see it is quite a interesting lineup of diverse and even controversial movies which I look forward to seeing. I have only seen 5 of the 15 so a lot of new film to take in.

REVIEWS:   I have seen a couple of oldies but goodies on TV and briefly describe them below by borrowing from their summaries as set forth in IMDB:

SEVEN  (4.0)*** A 1995 film about two homicide detectives' desperate hunt for a serial killer who justifies his crimes as absolution for the world's ignorance of the Seven Deadly Sins. The movie takes us from the tortured remains of one victim to the next as the sociopathic "John Doe" sermonizes to Detectives Sommerset (Morgan Freeman) and Mills (Brad Pitt) -- one sin at a time. The sin of Gluttony comes first and the murderer's terrible capacity for torture and violence is graphically demonstrated in the dark and subdued tones characteristic of film noir. The seasoned and cultured but jaded Sommerset (Freeman) researches the Seven Deadly Sins in an effort to understand the killer's modus operandi while the bright but green and impulsive Detective Mills ( Pitt) scoffs at his efforts to get inside the mind of a killer.  

Suffice to say I have never seen so evil and complicated a serial killer or his diabolical plan in a movie before or since. The cinematography of the film is quite dark but beautiful, and throughout the film it is either night or raining or both except for two very brief moments. It is such an emotional movie that you can't keep from being caught up in what is happening.. The twist at the end is a total surprise… gruesome but brilliant.  Bottom Line: If you haven't had the opportunity to see Seven yet then you must at least rent it. It is so damn good that I know you will like it. The only reason you wouldn't is because you may be too  fragile to take something this hardcore

. WARNING:: It is Rated R for grisly afterviews of horrific and bizarre killings, and for strong language. In other words, not for the faint at heart.

TIME AFTER TIME (1979)  3.2***  It's 1893 London. Futurist H.G. Wells (Malcolm McDowell) believes that the future holds a Utopian society. He also believes in time travel. He has just built a time machine which he is displaying to a group of skeptical friends, including surgeon Dr. John Leslie Stevenson (David Warner). Unbeknownst    to Wells or anyone else among his circle, Stevenson is Jack the Ripper. Just as the police are about to capture Stevenson, he uses the time machine to escape, with Wells being the only one who knows what happened to him. Not telling anyone  Wells follows Stevenson in order to capture and bring him back to face justice. Where Stevenson has gone is 1979 San Francisco. There, Wells is dismayed to find that the future is not Utopia as he had predicted. But Wells  also meets and is charmed by a young woman named Amy Robbins (Steenburgen). As Wells and Amy search for Stevenson, Stevenson conversely is after Wells to obtain the master key to the time machine.  Stevenson, resuming his Jack the Ripper murders will stop at nothing to achieve his desires, which places Amy in danger.

This is an interesting movie to watch because of the unique storyline: two famous characters in history traveling ahead in time and then opposing each other in the modern world. Time travel stories appeal to me, anyway, so it's not surprise I found it fascinating. Malcolm McDowell is particularly good as H.G. Wells and David Warner is chilling as Jack The Ripper. Mary Steenburgen is also appealing  probably because of her face and voice… and acting.

Rated PG

Clark

STRAIGHT OUTTA COMPTON   3.2***

         Five young men - Dr. Dre, Ice Cube, MC Ren, Eazy E and DJ Yella - walking towards you, lined up in a row coming into the picture frame like modern-day gunslingers - full of swagger and the defiant air of young men who have grown up and experienced the brutality that comes with being black and living in one of the poorest and most dangerous communities in 1980's America - the city of Compton, CA., south of downtown Los Angeles.  These are the members of the pioneering "gangsta rap" and West Coast hip hop group N.W. A. (an abbreviation of Niggaz With Attitude) whose "rags-to-riches" story is told in “Straight Outta Compton”.. They have been friends since childhood and band together to express the rage they feel at society's inequities; to bring to attention to the destructive nature of racism practiced by the authorities in their neighborhoods; police who are supposed to be the "enforcers" of justice but instead interact with urban black men by treating them like enemies with no regard for their civil rights. N.W.A. fought back with raw screaming authenticity – RAP lyrics that told their stories, attacking with the heavy rat-a-tat-tat of drum beats and rhythms and with words shouted out with the passion of long pent up anger ……

The group's 1988 song "F**k tha Police" is prominently featured in the movie  While taking a break outside their recording studio, the group is humiliatingly searched and taken down by the local cops  Motivated by the incident, the group puts voice to the abuse experienced by them and by black Americans in general at the  hands of the police, and "F**k tha Police" was born. As seen in the movie, the song became an anthem in many riots and demonstrations.

The characters are brought to life by the compelling performances of its young cast. They exude good  chemistry and contagious camaraderie.        
“Straight Outta Compton” is a relentless and brutish piece of art. It is sharp and honest and shameless.. Fan or not, one can't help but acknowledge the vivid lives of the men behind the new  gangsta rap.

WARNING: This is a hard hitting, often crude story with a lot of bad language, wild parties and violent conduct. It is not for the regular somewhat conservative movie goer.

Rated R for language throughout, strong sexuality/nudity, violence, and drug use.

Clark                                                                                                                                                                                 

RICKI AND THE FLASH   3.0***

       She was Julia Child. She was Margaret Thatcher. She was Mamma Mia. And now Meryl Streep is Ricki Rendazzo,an aging, nearly bankrupt rock singer living uneasily with a big  choice she made along the way—career over family. Her band, The Flash, plays at the modest Salt Well bar in Tarzana, California, but they rock it. We already knew Streep could sing, and for this film she spent six months learning how to play guitar. Ricki's lead guitarist and boyfriend Greg is played by Rick Springfield. Back home in Indiana, her ex-husband Pete (Kevin Kline) is dealing with their adult daughter Julie, abandoned by her two-timing husband, and she is now depressed, and suicidal. He calls Linda—Ricki is her stage name—to let her know, and she scrapes together enough money to fly back to see what she can do. Precious little, it appears—a classic case of too little, many years too late. Mother and daughter struggle to reconnect, and it isn't easy or even certain. Julie is played beautifully by Streep's real-life daughter, Mamie Gummer.  There are some excruciatingly wonderful scenes, including a fancy-restaurant "family dinner" with all three of Ricki's kids ( 2 sons and the daughter), where accusations are the main course  The pain and even humor of the situation are so sharp, you know no matter who gets the check, theyall have already paid.           

. Director Jonathan Demme keeps the film moving with no unnecessary drag and made the great choice of putting lifelong musicians in the band. They, including Streep, performed all the movie's songs live and with no overdubs.. Academy Award-winner Diablo Cody wrote the script which has been criticized for being too predictable. It may in retrospect be predictable, but I didn't especially feel that while I was watching, and it was never boring. Director Demme was quite focused on the film's musical segments that highlighted Streep and the band. I really enjoyed the musical numbers even though this was at the expense of missed opportunities with the characters and their splintered relationships.( The list of the more than 30 songs played in part or in whole can be found by clicking the website below )

“Ricki and the Flash” is entertaining mostly due to its cast ( especially Strepp) and the music but the film rarely gives off any real sparks. It could have been better with a better screenplay..

Clark

http://www.what-song.com/Movies/Soundtrack/1817/Ricki-and-the-Flash

 

                    

SOUTHPAW  3.2***     

           Let's start by saying what everyone may be thinking: "What else is new?" We have all seen this movie before. It follows the usual  Hollywood formula that has been used for years now.  We see a champion at the top of his game, he is later faced with tragedy and then he spends the rest of the film trying to repair his life and regain his title in one last do-or-die fight against an impressive opponent who has done him  wrong. It even includes a good old training montage overseen by an old one-time boxer now trainer.. Southpaw really does hit all the clichés of the genre so there is nothing cutting edge about the premise/story of Southpaw.

Where it defied expectations was in its performances and raw emotion. Everything that makes Southpaw good lies in the performance of the entire cast. Jake Gyllenhaal, in particular, simply could not have been more exceptional. His portrayal of loss, victory, sorrow, shame, anger, guilt, and love were unbearably believable, and made the movie an intensely dramatic work. This is a performance you simply should not pass up. Other notable performances: Forrest Whitaker as the trainer; Oona Laurence as his pre-teen daughter and Rachel Adams as his wife.

Being a boxing film some comment is due regarding  the boxing scenes.  Frankly they were superb and on the same level as “Raging Bull” and more realistic than “Rocky”. The filming of the fight scenes is very raw and it's clear that realism was important . There were some brilliant shots in one of the fights where the camera acted as a first person point of view from one of the boxers and the opponent fighter would punch at the camera while it ducked and swayed. It was executed with skill and was therefore effective at throwing the audience straight into the brutality of a boxing match.

I  enjoyed this movie. Yeah, yeah.. We all have seen at least upteen movies of a successful man losing everything that could ever possibly matter to him; however, the difference is that seldom have I experienced it more vividly than in Southpaw. BRAVO to Gyllenhaal again for making me feel things that most actors  continue to fail to do.

Clark

PS: The movie also features the final music score of the late James Horner ( Titanic; Braveheart; Avatar;  A Beautiful Mind); who worked for free, and the film is dedicated to him. The soundtrack also features multiple songs by Eminem, who was originally set to star in the movie (reprising his role from '8 MILE').  

Also note below the results of Jake spending 6 months to get in shape to portray a boxer !!!!!!!