Movies

IT’S YOUR DUTY AS A WOMAN TO SEE “SUFFRAGETTE”

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“Suffragette” should be required viewing for all young women. (Those of us who are not so young don’t need to be encouraged – we’ll be there.) Few movies have been made about the grim necessity of the women’s movement because MEN are in charge in Hollywood and they don’t like to be reminded of their despicable behavior. This movie was made BY women (another reason to see it) and it clearly illustrates the fact that until well into the 20th century, women were literally SLAVES with no rights at all, in what passes for CIVILIZED COUNTRIES! (They STILL have no rights in Saudi Arabia and other places -can’t even vote!) Remember what Gloria Steinem said: “Women have to choose – either she’s a feminist or a masochist!” (Above, Cary Mulligan’s character in the sweat shop)

MERYL STREEP’S DAUGHTERS: GOOD GIRL AND BAD GIRL?

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Two of Meryl Streep’s three lookalike daughters turned up for the premier of mom’s new movie “Suffragette.” It’s a British drama about the feminist movement in the late 19th and early 20th century and – hooray- it’s directed by a WOMAN (Sarah Gavron.) Mamie Gummer, 32, above left, is making a good living as an actress – TV series, movies, and onstage. Louisa, 24, is working as a model signed with the IMG agency in NY. Side by side, they look like Good Girl and Bad Girl. Unfortunately, it looks like Mamie is wearing one of her mother’s sensible outfits.

Photo Credit: AKM-GSI

STEVE JOBS IS A QUALITY MOVIE WITH A LETHAL MESSAGE

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It’s ASTONISHING how much admiration Americans have for Steve Jobs – who was THE CEO OF A LARGE (and we assume GREEDY) CORPORATION! How often are CEO’s put on a pedestal? Especially in the current political climate! (Hey – we admire him too.) Danny Boyle’s new bio of Jobs is filled with Aaron Sorkin’s clever rapid-fire dialog – words which Jobs may or may not have ever spoken. The movie presents Jobs (played excellently by Michael Fassbender) as an egomaniacal, self-serving, disloyal and downright cruel person, by all accounts. But it was implied that’s all right, because he was a “genius.” Gullible men walking out of the movie actually commented that a person as accomplished as Jobs HAD to be despicable to succeed! Does success EXCUSE being an unethical person? THAT is the nasty idea this movie suggests. Don’t believe it. And most of all, don’t use your success as an excuse for being a jerk!

JESSE EISENBERG’S “THE END OF THE TOUR” IS EASY TO DISMISS – BUT DON’T

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The description of Jesse Eisenberg’s new movie is off-putting, to say the least. The film, “The End of the Tour,” is described as being about a Rolling Stone journalist following a successful author for the final days of his book tour in the Midwest in the winter. In other words, a prolonged conversation between an interviewer and his subject – and we’d never heard of either of them. But what a SURPRISE! Jesse Eisenberg is perfectly cast as the admiring Rolling Stone reporter and Jason Segal is a REVELATION as the quirky and sensitive author. It takes place in the mid-nineties and this movie perfectly captures a moment in time. It starts out as two smart guys talking and becomes unexpectedly touching as a fleeting friendship develops. That’s all we can say. This movie has to be seen to be appreciated.
(Above, Jesse Eisenberg doesn’t forget his helmet as he rents a Citibike in NYC.)

Photo Credit: AKM-GSI

ROBERT REDFORD TAKES A WALK IN SOHO

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You don’t often see Robert Redford, 78, shopping in Soho, NYC, with his German-born artist wife Sibylle Szaggers, 59, but here they are. Redford has a new movie coming out called “A Walk in the Woods.” He stars as a sophisticated travel writer who wants to challenge himself by hiking the 2000 mile Appalachian Trail from Maine to Georgia. Nobody wants to go with him except an old friend he hasn’t seen in years – played by gruff Nick Nolte. The mismatched pair have many adventures in this true story based on a bestselling book.

Photo Credit: Pacific Coast News

WHAT WENT WRONG WITH THE ENTOURAGE MOVIE

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We loved watching Entourage on TV and couldn’t wait to see the movie, despite negative reviews. What a letdown. The naïve wide-eyed young men who just arrived in Hollywood from Queens were gone. We could no longer identify with them because success had turned Vinnie and his pals into those self centered white men who celebrate excess and male privilege in Hollywood. Ego, money, and trophy women were all that mattered. Almost all the guys became as obnoxious as Ari Gold and HIS overacting was unbearable. The F word was in almost every line of dialogue – have never seen ANY movie with more F bombs. Even Jessica Alba awkwardly hurled several in her brief cameo. Jessica Alba! In fact EVERY guest star used the F word repeatedly. The guys we liked on TV had morphed into first class sexist jerks. Success has obviously gone to writer/director Doug Ellin’s head and he’s turned into a real life Ari Gold. It’s not pretty.
Afterthought: The movie’s opening credits were awesome and photography was exceptional.

IT’S NOT COMPLICATED – “THE INTERN” LOOKS LIKE A SURE THING

Now HERE’S a movie we can sink our teeth into! “The Intern” with Robert DeNiro and Anne Hathaway reminds us a tiny bit of “The Devil Wears Prada” and we can’t wait to visit that world again! Deniro plays a 70ish widower who is hired by Anne Hathaway’s online fashion site in their Senior Intern Program. Anne plays the CEO he reports to. It looks to be an amusing culture clash – brilliant writer/director Nancy Meyers rarely disappoints. Meyers’ last movie was “It’s Complicated” with Meryl Streep.

“HEAVEN KNOWS WHAT” IS LIKE NO MOVIE YOU’VE EVER SEEN

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We experienced a horrifyingly real movie this weekend and it’s impossible to forget. It takes “reality” to a new level. Heaven Knows What is the story of a young drug addict and her daily struggles and experiences – romantic and otherwise, on the upper west side of New York. The subculture of druggies and homeless people has never been more closely examined. The tragedy of it all is overwhelming. Difficult to watch – but it’s impossible to pull yourself out of their seedy world. The female star Arielle Holmes actually lived this story – the film was based on her book. It has to be seen to be believed. Click HERE to see the trailer.

BLACKHAT IS AN ACTION MOVIE DISGUISED AS A SMART MOVIE

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Photo: Universal
Chris Hemsworth’s new movie Blackhat delivers in all the wrong places. We entered the theater looking forward to seeing the very watchable World’s Sexiest Man, in a story about hackers and cyber terrorism. Hemsworth seems to be following in the footsteps of Tom Cruise. We mistakenly assumed that a film about upscale hacking would NOT include the usual gun battles and car chases that Cruise movies always have. We were wrong. Blackhat is very much a teenage boy action movie with a dollop of romance for the girls. Chris isn’t given much to work with and appears a little stiff, but even his watchability doesn’t make up for a plot we’ve seen before, too many times. Pass the aspirin.

NIGHTCRAWLER: AT LAST! AN ORIGINAL STORY!

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With so many good films to choose from right now, whatever you do, don’t overlook Nightcrawler. It’s a deliciously noir Los Angeles story about a sleazy freelance guy who photographs crime scenes and sells the pix to the highest bidding TV news station. This is a smart movie – well written and well acted. Jake Gyllenhaal is super creepy and Riz Ahmed is astonishing as his jittery young sidekick. “Astonishing” because we thought he was straight out of East LA, but Ahmed is a trained English actor! This is NOT a movie you’ve seen before, so don’t miss it.