Movies

COME HELL OR HIGH WATER – DON’T MISS THIS MOVIE!

Hell or High Water is a classic American movie that we can all be proud of. It’s far better than we could have imagined. And this is coming from a WOMAN sick to death of all-male violent movies! But, good is good. How often do you find a brilliant and sensitive script combined with exquisite photography and perfectly cast actors? Who knew Star Trek robot Chris Pine was such a touching and appealing actor! He finally got the role that will change his career. His relationship with his bat-crazy brother, played skillfully by Ben Foster, is what life is all about. Even if this movie doesn’t appeal to you on paper – give it a chance. You won’t be sorry.

By Janet / August 21, 2016

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Little Men Movies

“LITTLE MEN” GIVES BOYS A GOOD NAME

To be honest we get a little tired of seeing movies about BOYS, but this one is special in a lot of ways. Mid-summer is when many movie-goers grow weary of the abundance of mindless action and super-hero movies. So this film, full of tender feelings, is a delight. It’s much like real-life – sometimes happy or problematic, and sometimes sad. The friendship that develops between two awkward boys from opposite upbringings in New York is touching and sweet. Their parents problems are all too real. But life goes on. And this movie is well worth the price of admission.

By Janet / August 12, 2016

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Movies Plot

THE NEW STAR TREK MOVIE IS BEYOND DEPLORABLE

Through no fault of the actors, Star Trek Beyond is a huge embarrassment to the TV series and films that preceded it. It’s so amateurish from the start that we imagined a couple of 19 years old guys smoking weed and dashing off the script in a weekend – and being proud of it. Along with the awful script was a total lack of decent production values. Much of the movie is dark and blurry and tinted blue. The Entreprise crew is still wearing those polyester shirts that zip in the back, and women in space wore MINISKIRTS AND BOOTS! It takes place hundreds of years in the FUTURE, but there are no delightful new inventions or advancements to marvel at. Apparently the two stoned scriptwriters we imagined writing this plotless nightmare decided that special effects of explosive space battles would thrill viewers. We couldn’t get out of the movie theater fast enough.

Photo: Paramount

By Janet / July 18, 2016

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Captain Fantastic Movies Viggo Mortensen

CAPTAIN FANTASTIC: DON’T LET THE TITLE SCARE YOU OFF!

If the movie title “Captain Fantastic” repels you, you are not alone. We imagined another one of THOSE superhero movies and almost skipped seeing it. That would have been a HUGE loss. The story summation – about a father raising and teaching his six kids to live off the grid in the remote Pacific Northwest, isn’t all that inviting either, but the film is EXCEPTIONAL. It’s a well-written family drama with humor and abundant life lessons. Inevitably the family clashes with the real world and everyone comes out wiser. Fans of Viggo Mortensen are in for a real treat – he’s never been better as the self-reliant dad. This movie is hard not to like.

By Janet / July 6, 2016

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Les Cowboys Movies

“LES COWBOYS” WILL AMAZE YOU IN MANY WAYS

Les Cowboys is the kind of epic sweeping drama that Hollywood used to make fifty years ago, but has long since been replaced by special effects action movies. It is ASTONISHING. The opening scene was mind-boggling because it revealed a down-home cowboy get-together with country singing and two-step dancing – you’d think you were in Texas,the but this was actually the French countryside. There ARE French people who love American cowboy customs and music. (News to us!) The story does begin like the movie The Searchers with a missing 16 year old daughter and a father in hot pursuit. But this daughter has run off with her Arabic boyfriend to convert to Islam and start a new life. The search leads the father and his son through Europe and the Middle East with many incredible adventures and lessons in humanity. If you love engrossing stories and experiencing varied cultures- don’t miss this film. It is almost indescribably special – and unforgettable.

By Janet / June 24, 2016

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Movies The Jungle Book

ANIMAL LOVERS ALERT: DON’T MISS “THE JUNGLE BOOK”

The animals in Disney’s latest version of Rudyard Kipling’s The Jungle Book are as realistic as they are incredibly appealing. Especially the wolf pack. Kids will learn to appreciate and respect the computer generated jungle creatures (including armadillos) who all have their own amusing personalities. (And, of course, there are a few lessons to be learned.) The director, Jon Favreau, had a hard time finding the right boy to play Mowgli – he auditioned thousands of kids before he found New Yorker Neel Sethi and he’s absolutely perfect. The only drawback to this exquisite film is the violence. It’s a shame to see kids get accustomed to and NEED violence to hold their attention. Sensitive children under 10 might get quite upset. Sometimes we long for the old Disney films that relied on stories rather than conflict. But overall, this movie is a delicious experience.
Above, Jon Favreau and Neel Sethi at the Paris premier

Photo Credit: AKM-GSI

By Janet / April 12, 2016

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Movies

WHATEVER YOU DO THIS WEEKEND, DO NOT MISS THE MOVIE “10 CLOVERFIELD LANE!”

If you happen to love smart science fiction thrillers – RUN, DO NOT WALK to the nearest theater to see 10 Cloverfield Lane. And DO NOT read a word about it before you see it! We will not reveal any spoilers here because that would be a crime. The less you know about this movie the more you will enjoy it! What we CAN say is that it is full of surprises and a few real shockeroos. For once, a sci-fi movie that isn’t loaded with clichés. It is a perfectly cast, cleverly written gem. Take our word for it, you are going to LOVE this unexpectedly original movie!

Photo: Paramount

By Janet / March 10, 2016

5 Comments

Caesar! Movies

HAIL, CAESAR: PRETTY TO LOOK AT, NOT SO PRETTY TO SIT THROUGH

It’s got a great cast and Technicolor visuals, but the Coen brothers’ movie Hail, Caesar! is as lame as the title. What could be more fun than a Hollywood studio loaded with stars and drama in 1951? The Coens drained most of the fun out of it with heavy doses of religion, morals and politics, but most of all, their elitist view of early Hollywood was just NOT FUNNY. It fell flat. Two redeeming features: Tilda Swinton’s Lilli Anne inspired suits, and a cute singing cowboy named Hobie, played by Alden Ehernreich (above) struggling to play a drawing room socialite.

By Janet / February 3, 2016

3 Comments

Brooklyn Movies Saoirse Ronan

WE STILL NOMINATE “BROOKLYN” FOR BEST MOVIE OF THE YEAR

Saoirse Ronan (we still can’t pronounce her name!) is in New York promoting her incredible movie Brooklyn, and she needs all the help she can get. It’s a magnificent film and not getting the attention it deserves. It’s not flashy and features no big name stars, so you may not have heard a lot about it. But it’s beautifully and sensitively written and acted, and transports the audience to another time and place. It happens to be surprisingly timely because it deals with immigration and adaptation. You walk out feeling like you just read a great book – with a happy ending.

Photo Credit: Pacific Coast News

By Janet / January 12, 2016

11 Comments

Daddy's Home Mark Wahlberg Movies Sisters Will Ferrell

“DADDY’S HOME” IS SMARTER AND FUNNIER THAN “SISTERS”

Wanna take a break from the holidays and have a few laughs this week? Head to your local movie theater and see “Daddy’s Home.” We hate to admit it, but Will Ferrell and Mark Wahlberg’s comedy leaves Tina Fey and Amy Poehler’s “Sisters” movie in the dust. It’s not that Tina and Amy aren’t as funny – they just have a lame script to work with. Surprisingly, Will and Mark’s movie is not only entertaining, but suitable for kids. Translation: it’s less vulgar than “Sisters.”

By Janet / December 27, 2015

8 Comments