Ford v Ferrari

I love the world of race cars, and the film Ford v Ferrari takes us inside that world. Specifically, Le Mans in 1966, when the Ford Motor Company challenged the ever-dominant Ferrari. They hired engineer/designer Carroll Shelby to topple the champion. As interesting as I found the story, the sound design is the true shining star of this film. All of the driving sequences are thrilling. The relationships are also portrayed very well, not only between the characters, but also with the joy of driving and corporate meddling. With outstanding performances and an excellent portrayal of the period, I enjoyed this film a lot.

Bohemian Rhapsody

The rise and fall and rise of the rock band queen is told in the movie Bohemian Rhapsody From the formation of the band, to their negotiations with record executives, to Freddy Mercury's departure from the band, to their triumphant performance at Live Aid, this film covers a lot of ground. Some details are glossed over in an effort to touch on everything. The music is fun to relive and the performances are sincere. I liked this movie more than I expected to.

Ferdinand

The animated film Ferdinand goes for the heartstrings. With about 15 minutes of editing, this would have had me. Near the end of the film a few of the little ones were running up and down the aisles in the theater, and I wanted to join them. The peril of the bull fight was a bit unnerving for me. The animation was lovely and Ferdinand is a sweet character, but there was no need to drag it out.

Star Wars: The Last Jedi

The 8th installment of Star Wars: The Last Jedi is a satisfying addition to the franchise. We follow some familiar characters across the galaxy and meet a few new ones. There is humor, adventure, peril, space chases and oh those light saber battles. Carrie Fisher's last appearance is poignant, and her daughter delivers a nice tribute performance to Leia. The music and visuals are thrilling. Well done.

Freeheld

Real life drama is plentiful when people fight for their rights. The quest for equality between races and gender are age-old. In Freeheld we see the story of a woman with a terminal illness who tries to have her pension benefits transferred to her domestic partner, as they would be for a heterosexual couple. The fight is well fought and the relationship between the two women and their community is honest and loving. This is a film I wish more people would see and take to heart.

Bridge of Spies

Listening to people talk about the film Bridge of Spies, I feel like you may have had to live through the Cold War to get the depth of the drama in this story.The true story of the trade of a Russian spy for American soldier and a student is well done. It is amazing to me how much is done in secret in the world. The cinematography is great and the tone of the time is captured well. Some are calling this film old fashioned, I'd say that authentic is more accurate.

The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies

Peter Jackson successfully made three films out of a little book called The Hobbit. As a film fan I dutifully saw all three. The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies expands the characters and their struggles, first with a dragon, then with Orcs. The battle scenes are chaotic and creative. The final battle runs about 45 minutes and is intricate and surprisingly immersive. I'm sorry that the journeys to Middle Earth have ended, but Mr. Jackson and all involved should be proud of the work.

Inherent Vice

About an hour and a half into Inherent Vice you feel like you should be high from the second-hand smoke of all the weed being smoked. The story is set in the 70s in LA, and a private detective is trying to track down the kidnapper of an ex-girlfriend. Joaquin Phoenix gives an amazing performance as the PI, with intensity and humor. Constantly high, constantly smoking, he works his way through clues and bad guys to find his lady love. Crazy story, crazy film with a great cast. Well done.

Into the Woods

There is nothing quite like a Sondheim musical. Into the Woods is brought to the big screen, blending familiar fairy tales to create a whole new tale. A bit dark, but sometimes very funny. Familiar stars show off their singing talents, some pleasantly surprising.The special effects make this one to see on the big screen. Very entertaining.

Foxcatcher

With wealth can come eccentricities masked by good intentions. In Foxcatcher we see this with John duPont and his training camp for Olympic level wrestlers in the 80s. Money meets creepy. That bully mentality of "look at everything I'm doing for you" while asking athletes to turn their backs on their families and lives is unnerving. The acting in this film is outstanding and I was a bit shocked by the ending. Excellent drama.

About Time

There is more to romance than a guy and a girl. In About Time we see mature love in a family as well as in a couple. There is a little fantasy twist that gives the stories more dimension and depth. This film was a pleasant surprise, and now I understand why it was so highly recommended. So glad I saw it!

Rush

For seven years I was in a relationship with a man who loved cars and car racing. He took me to racetracks and events once in a while. His knowledge was amazing. I called him the walking talking program. He made it interesting, and I developed a real appreciation of car racing and the people involved. The Formula One races are especially thrilling. In Rush, Ron Howard tells the story of a Formula One track rivalry in the 70s with heart and drama. The editing and sound are amazing. I have come to appreciate the thrill of the sound of a race car, Howard nailed it. The camera work is stunning and this film is so well crafted. I also was wowed by Chris Helmsworth and Daniel Bruhl. They bring the relationship of James Hunt and Niki Lauda to the screen with charm, passion and charisma. Great film, I'd see this one again.

The Impossible

It is one thing to hear about a natural disaster in the news from half way around the world, it is another to be placed in the middle of that disaster in a film. The Impossible does just that. A lot of practical effects and tank work show the tsunami that hit Thailand in 2004 in graphic detail through the eyes of a family on vacation there. Another film where I knew the ending, but I still found it harrowing to watch. An excellent film.

Hyde Park on Hudson

The best part about Hyde Park on Hudson is Bill Murray's interpretation of FDR. The story addresses the former President's multiple affairs. The film takes place on a weekend visit with King George and Queen Elizabeth before the war. It is not a flattering portrayal, I came away from the film with a sad feeling about the man. Good movie, sad story.

Anna Karenina

I saw Anna Karenina presuming that it would get an Oscar nod for costumes. Joe Wright took theatrical liberties with the staging that was a bit distracting. That said, this is a gorgeous film, and the costumes are beautiful. In the end, I realized that it was not a very interesting story. Thankfully, Keira Knightley and Jude Law are interesting to watch.

Wreck-it Ralph

Wreck-it Ralph is a cute story of video game characters looking for happiness in their arcade games. I saw this on the chance that it would be an Oscar nominee and it was OK. There's an alien story line that felt out of place, but on the whole this was entertaining enough.

Life of Pi

I'm not a big fan of 3D, but when a respected film friend recommended that I see Life of Pi in this forma,t I took his advice. I had read the book, so I was familiar with the story. A boy is trapped on a lifeboat with a tiger after a shipwreck. I was quite impressed by the quality of the visual. Ang Lee has mastered the 3D filming well and the CGI animals were outstanding. A film that is strong enough without the 3D, but I'm glad I saw it that way.

The Iron Lady

Once again, Meryl Streep brings her acting skills to a real life biopic. This time as Margaret Thatcher in The Iron Lady. The central story shows Thatcher in the present, with declining health and mental faculties. This felt a bit invasive to me. The history is done in flashbacks, I like the way the time line is presented. Another OK film with great performances.

Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy

Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy is a slow, subtle spy thriller. A bit confusing, but this is another film where the performances forgive all the flaws of the structure.

War Horse

War Horse gives us a dramatic, visual war film. The World War I story is a bit hokey and melodramatic. Near the end, there was a comic scene that was a bit Monty Python. Very odd. I listened to an interview with Steven Spielberg about this scene, and was glad to know that the barbed wire they used was plastic. It's hard for me to watch horses in peril. Beautifully shot, but the story didn't do it for me.