Category: Stu’s Reviews

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.

Genre:  Film

Grade  A-/B+

Notable People:    Meryl Streep, Hugh Grant, Simon Helberg, Directed by: Stephen Frears

Title:  Florence Foster Jenkins

 Review: Well- we finally got to movie up here in the mountains. Surprisingly, the local teen action flick cinema had this one- not sure why. Guess it is the drawing power of Meryl Streep. Wild story about an infamous patron of the arts in NYC in the 1940s, who was determined to have her own singing career, despite not being able to carry a single note. Alternately funny and tragic, it is decent movie, elevated to much loftier heights by Streeps’ typically virtuoso performance. Since she is actually a quite talented singer, she had to learn to sing really off key opera in a convincing way…and boy, does she. Grant does well as her kept and doting husband, and Helberg is magnificent as her reluctant accompanist. The acting makes it a passable A-.