Thursday, November 30, 2017

Wizard of Lies

At the final line of Wizard of Lies I answered "yes." Bernie Madoff was a monster who belongs in jail, this film is his story. The largest Ponzi scheme in history unfolds in an alarming fashion. The performances are excellent, but what a sad story. Glad I saw it, but pretty depressing.

The Little Hours

The delight of an outrageous story set in 1347 in a convent is the ride I took with the film The Little Hours. When a man hides out with a group of young nuns, posing as a mute, there is plenty of room for dark comedy. The performances in this are outstanding, there are so many talented actors in this cast. I'd like to watch this one again.

Monday, November 27, 2017

The Hitman's Bodyguard

Chasing, shooting, revenge and crime are all on point in The Hitman's Bodyguard. That a hit-man needs a bodyguard sort of cracks me up. This is not high drama, but the action is worth watching. I was entertained by this film.

Sunday, November 26, 2017

Lady Bird

The film Lady Bird left me with feelings of hope. Hope for growth, hope for acceptance, hope for assistance, hope for love. The relationships explored in this film are real, honest and heartfelt. Lady Bird finds her way through her senior year of high school with passion and determination. I heard this film described as a photo album and I couldn't agree more. The performances are outstanding. I wasn't the only one in the theater crying. One of the best films of the year.

Friday, November 24, 2017

Crown Heights

When a man is unjustly imprisoned, his friend works on his behalf to prove his innocence. The events and time frame of Crown Heights are compelling. The performances are strong. The story is frustrating and true.A good rental.

Tuesday, November 21, 2017

Lemon

At first I was charmed by the film Lemon. As the story unfolds an unlikable vibe grows. I like this cast, but what they had to play out was disappointing. I really did not like this film.

Sunday, November 19, 2017

Wonderstruck

My daughter recommended the film Wonderstruck to me saying, "this is your kind of film." First of all I'm so pleased that I have a film "type", second, she was right. Two characters' stories are told in different time periods, and converge at the end. The look of each is different, and there is an audio element that figures in. The story takes place in and around New York City and where they meet is very nice. The less you know going in is helpful and I will be visiting the Queens Museum of Art in this coming year. Lovely film.

Saturday, November 18, 2017

Murder on the Orient Express

My Dad wanted to see Murder on the Orient Express so we saw it in the theater. This probably would have been a rental for me. The Agatha Christie story is well told with a stellar cast. The story is a bit contrived and overly complicated, but an effort is made to make it understandable. This film is beautifully shot, artistically edited and a pleasure to look at. As my Dad said, "I loved that train!" I'm glad that I saw it on a big screen.

Friday, November 17, 2017

Girls Trip

I enjoyed the movie Girl's Trip but man is it long! This would have been a fun film at around an hour and a half, but it is over two hours long. The fun of a girls trip, with serious situations running underneath, spends a little too much time on the serious. The silly is fun and the cast is great. It's a decent rental, though I heard that seeing it in the theater was a lot of fun.

Wakefield

In Wakefield a man reaches his breaking point and hides out in the garage over his house. The film is his narration of the aftermath of his disappearance, as he watches his family and friends. In some situations he is pleased, in others not so much. Bryan Cranston is great. This is an interesting take on relationships and how the world and those in it are perceived. Well done.

Thursday, November 16, 2017

Three Billboards Outside Ebbing Missouri

Themes of grief, guilt and anger ring true in Three Billboards Outside Ebbing Missouri. The actions and reactions to blatant racism and domestic abuse are severe. The acting is excellent, but it is an often uncomfortable story with an ambiguous ending.

Wednesday, November 15, 2017

The Lost City of Z

World exploration in the 1920s was arduous and difficult. The search for The Lost City of Z shows that struggle. The run time is much too long and the story is not that interesting. The locations are beautiful. It is a pretty film.

Thursday, November 09, 2017

The Glass Castle

An unconventional family is at the center of The Glass Castle.The eccentric parents want to pursue their creative dreams, while all the kids want is stability. There are many times that the children are at risk and their long game is a patient, practical plan. This is based on a true story, which makes it a bit disturbing. The film is a decent rental.

Tuesday, November 07, 2017

Mask

In preparation for listening to the new podcast Movie Crush, I re-watched Mask. I'm pretty sure I saw it in the theater in 1984, but it's been a long time since I've seen it. The story of Rocky and Rusty Dennis made me smile from beginning to end. The director's cut included the music Bogdonavich originally intended. This is a story of hope, resilience and family. I'm happy for the re-watch.

Sunday, November 05, 2017

Restless Creature: Wendy Whelan

The ballerina Wendy Whelan is naturally gifted, hard working and devoted to the art of ballet. In the documentary Restless Creature: Wendy Whelan we learn how she deals with an injury and aging in an art form that is so physically demanding. She is positive, tenacious and determined to continue dancing. It is inspiring to watch. I liked this documentary a lot.

Saturday, November 04, 2017

Thor: Ragnarok

There is a level of entertainment in Thor: Ragnarok that reminds me of why I love superhero movies. There is action, humor, story and a wink at past and future characters. There are also some very clever cameo appearances. I like what they did with this Avengers story. Lots of fun.

Thursday, November 02, 2017

Person to Person

The stories of people in Brooklyn plays out over the course of a day in Person to Person. Some of the people are cocky, some are tentative, some are innocent, some are guilty. Their stories are OK, but the pace of this film is a bit slow. Truthfully some of the people weren't' very interesting at all. A bit boring in spots. I liked the cast and I recognized a lot of the locations. This was an  OK rental.