Category: Film

Genre:  Film

Grade  A

Notable People:   Joel Edgerton, Ruth Negga, Directed by: Jeff Nichols

Title:  Loving

 

Review:  Must see film for the social value. The Lovings were an inter-racial coupe in Virginia in late 50s, who were arrested for co-mingling and made to leave the state. This became a landmark supreme court case on civil rights, and is wonderfully portrayed, with a deep sense of time and place. The two principles are wonderful in these roles, and Edgerton is purely amazing at capturing a very reluctant hero. Well shot, good music. My not be a totally A grade film- but it is so important it gets boosted in my opinion.

 

Genre:  Film     

Grade  B+

Notable People:   Helen Mirren, Ryan Reynolds, Katie Holmes, Directed by: Simon Curtis

Title:   Woman in Gold

Review:  It seems the Nazis are everywhere these days. Nice little film about an aging American –Austrian woman’s quest to fight the Austrian government to regain a treasured family masterpiece stolen by the Nazis. Available on Amazon through Show Time (you can sign up for a free one week trial), this is not groundbreaking film, but quietly well done with the usual outstanding performance by Mirren. The reflections on these times never ceases to amaze and always feels somewhat profound. Worth a winter evening’s watch.

 

Genre:  Film

Grade  A

Notable People:   Dev Patel, Mara Rooney, Nicole Kidman, Sunny Pawar, Directed by: Garth Davis

Title:   Lion

Review:  An absolutely beautiful film in every way. A Homeric journey to find his roots leads Dev from his Australian life back to remote India to find the family he was separated from at age four. A disturbing picture of the plight of children in India mixed with truly moving epic story. Patel is wonderful playing against type, the supporting cast is great and the young boy who plays the lead as a child, Sunny Patar, is beyond brilliant. Be prepared to shed tears for this one.

 

Genre:  Film

Grade  A-

Notable People:   Denzel Washington, Viola Davis, Directed by Denzel

Title:   Fences

Review:  INTENSE…The film adaptation of the last of August Wilson’s brilliant ten play sequence on the post war African American experience, this film was written by Wilson and is rightly predicted for many awards. The acting in towering with Denzel unrecognizable from more recent roles and Davis her always amazing understated self. The dialog is beyond powerful and the small supporting cast is superb. I reduced my rating only because I thought it was overly long and very slow at times. In fairness, this is really due to the fact the film is really a cinematic play, all taking a place in a few small stage sets. Brilliant and intense- perfect if you’re in the right mood.

Genre:  Film

Grade  A

Notable People:   Casey Affleck, Michelle Williams, Kyle Chandler, Lucas Hedges, Directed by: Kenneth Lonergan

Title:  Manchester by the Sea

 

Review:  This is a moving film about death, perseverance and family. You’ve probably all seen the promos and know the basic story. Well filmed, well lit, good score and the directing and acting are quite impressive. This is  a breakthrough role for Affleck, continued excellent work from Chandler (check him out on Bloodlines on Netflix) and  Williams, and a brilliant run by young Hedges who brings an air of humor to an otherwise depressing story. The characters seem very solid and real and the setting is uniquely Boston and Southie. Excellently done.

 

 

Genre:  Film

Grade  A-

Notable People:   Brad Pitt, Marion Cotillard, Jared Harris, Lizzy Caplan, Directed by: Robert Zemeckis

Title:  Allied

Review:  A different kind of film from the director of Back to the Future and Forrest Gump, this is a love and heartbreak story set in Casablanca and London during the middle years of World War Two. Filled with great detail of the times and the underground resistance movement, it morphs into a spy thriller halfway through. Cotillard is simply luminous- a landmark actress and a vision in 40s wartime garb. Pitt is his usual self- not particularly noteworthy , but a good role for him. Lots of twists, turns and surprises and suddenly quite emotional. I liked this film a lot- a good addition to the recent spate of movies about the great war. The early scenes shot in Casablanca will have you waiting for Rick and Ilsa to appear at Rick’s Café American.  Round up the usual suspects….

Genre:  Film

Grade  A-

Notable People:   Andrew Garfield, Theresa Warner, Vince Vaughn, directed by: Mel Gibson

Title:  Hacksaw Ridge

Review: This is an unusual film; in many ways a very traditional WWII story with all the usual characteristics and not for the squeamish. The battle scenes in Okinawa in 1945 are draining and full of bloody violence. But…this is an amazing true story about the only soldier in the war who fought overseas without a weapon. a conscientious objector, Desmond Doss insisted on serving as a field medic , but refused to carry a gun. Ridiculed and almost court- martialed by the army, he turns out to be one of the greatest heroes in the annals of war with his unbelievable courage in the battle of Hacksaw Ridge. Garfield is wonderful it the title role, and Vince Vaughn continues to expand his repertoire. Not for the feint hearted, but very moving film.  

Genre:  Film

Grade  A-/B+

Notable People:   Emily blunt, Haley Bennett, Rebecca Ferguson, Jason Theroux, Directed by: Tate Taylor

Title:  Girl on the Train

Review: . Very faithful film adaptation to the mega-best-selling novel. Fine suspenseful drama with a  wonderful Blunt as THE  girl on the train. Lots of twists and turns and commendable acting. Well shot in the New York area- as opposed to London area locale for the novel. Nice rainy day film, and you can catch in at the Cineplex (for us that means a 20 minute drive instead of over and hour though the mountains to get to the art house). Worth the viewing.

 

Genre:  Film   

Grade  A

Notable People:    Jeff Bridges, Chris Pine, Ben Foster, Directed by: David Mackenzie

Title:  Hell and High Water

 Review: Dusty, West Texas shot film about two brothers becoming bank robbers to remedy the sins brought against their family by the oil- greed consumed local banks. Pine and Foster are excellent as the one go out in a blaze of glory and one sullen, reluctant brother. Bridges owns the role of the about to be retired Texas ranger – hoping for one last gasp. Dark and gritty, compelling, full of sadness. On a par with the Coen Brothers “No Country for Old Men” film a few years ago. and…great West Texas outlaw music to boot. This one’s a keeper. (and only drove an hour each way to see it!)

Genre:  Film   

Grade  A

Notable People:    Jesse Eisenberg, Kristen Stewart, Steve Carrell, Parker Posey, Corey Stoll, Blake Lively,  Written and Directed by: Woody Allen

Title:  Café Society

 Review: The Wood-Man is back! I must admit that I have an unbelievable bias towards Woody’s movies- so they are almost always an “A” in my book- though I’m sure many would disagree. My leanings are large enough that we drove an hour and ten each way to Brattleboro to see the new offering (you don’t get the Wood-Man in the mountain cinemas)..and totally worth it. This one is a convoluted love story set in LA and New York in the 30s. Eisenberg follows in a long recent line of actors channeling what Woody used to do himself…. and does it really well. Stewart is too cute for words and Carrell is magnificent as a fast talking big-shot Hollywood agent. Check out the lighting, and the costumes and the general attention Woody gives to detailing the era….and the story…what’s not to like? It has 30’s Cinema sirens, legendary studio types, Errol Flynn legends, mobsters, the usual Woody-Jewish mother (“if Jews believed in the afterlife, we’d have a lot more customers”), great shots of New York, and a perfectly cast cameo from Paulie-Walnuts (The Sopranos). As expected, the music is marvelous and the whole production creates an aura only Woody can give you. And though he no longer appears, Woody narrates the whole shebang. Added bonus- at every twist and turn, an older woman in the rear of the theater would loudly shout ”OY”…..Loved it. Want more……and soon.